The Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (JATC) of Local #23 Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers of the Central Pennsylvania Area will be accepting applications for consideration for admission to apprenticeship in the Insulators and Allied Workers Trade.
Interested applicants of legal working age must complete a JATC application and take an aptitude test on the day of applying. Applicants should be prepared to present personal and trade reference documents, and a copy of their birth certificate, social security card, valid driver’s license if applicable, high school diploma or GED, and grade transcripts.
Applicants can apply on Monday, June 16, 2025 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at 8926 Jonestown Road, Grantville, PA 17028.
JATC states that “recruitment selection, employment and training of apprentices shall be without discrimination of race, religion, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.”
Selected apprentices will be required to participate in classroom training in Grantville, PA, and on the job training at job sites located in any of the following PA counties: Adams, Berks, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Northampton, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, and York.
For additional information, contact John Fritz, Training Director at JATC, at 717-930-0922.
Volunteer registration has just expanded for the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
Whether you’re a long-time IRONMAN fan or brand new to the scene, volunteering is a rewarding and fun way to be part of the excitement. You’ll get a front-row seat to the action, cheer on determined athletes, and play a critical role in bringing this race to life. Bring your friends, family, or coworkers, or come solo and make new connections—no experience is necessary. Volunteering is a great way to spend the day outdoors and show your Happy Valley pride.
Volunteering on the Bike and Run Courses
Help hydrate and energize athletes by volunteering at an aid station on the bike course or run course—including several key spots right on Penn State’s campus.
Bike Aid Stations:
Beach Creek Ave. (Between T383 & Ben Ave)
Nittany Valley True Value Hardware
Lower Brush Valley Rd & Black Hawk Rd.
Run Aid Stations:
Curtin Road (across from tennis courts and Wagner Building)
Curtin Road (between Kern Building and Irvin Hall)
Pollock Road (in front of the Millennium Science Complex)
Parking lot south of West Deck (next to West Campus Chiller)
Pollock Road & Henderson Drive (between McAllister Building and Davey Lab)
Hastings Road (by Football Family Friendly Lot and Lasch Football Building)
Is your organization making a difference in our community? The IRONMAN Foundation wants to help fuel your mission! By volunteering at the race, your nonprofit or community group could be eligible for grant funding to support your impactful work.
Eligibility:
Grants are available to:
Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits
Other community organizations aligned with charitable missions
Funding is awarded based on how your organization’s goals match the IRONMAN Foundation’s commitment to supporting athletics, community, education, health, and more.
STATE COLLEGE, PA – Scholar Hotels and Big Spring Spirits are proud to announce the grand opening this Memorial Day Weekend of a brand-new outdoor patio space at the Big Spring Spirits Tasting Room at Scholar Hotel in downtown State College. This addition offers guests a vibrant new way to enjoy Big Spring’s award-winning cocktails and hospitality in an al fresco setting.
The new outdoor space, located in the front entrance courtyard of the hotel, brings together thoughtful design and downtown energy—creating a casual, yet elevated experience for hotel guests, visitors, and locals alike. Outfitted with comfortable lounge furniture and table service, the space is perfect for sipping cocktails, gathering with friends, or unwinding after a day in Happy Valley.
“The addition of this outdoor space reflects our ongoing commitment to creating memorable, community-focused environments for our guests,” said Ronald Balle, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Scholar Hotels. “The combination of Big Spring Spirits’ unique cocktail offerings and our newly expanded footprint downtown allows us to enhance the overall experience of staying or visiting the Scholar Hotel.”
The new patio extends the immersive tasting room experience Big Spring Spirits first brought to the Scholar in 2024. Guests can now enjoy a full menu of handcrafted cocktails—featuring Big Spring’s locally sourced, sustainably produced spirits—as well as spirit tastings and cocktail flights, all while taking in the downtown ambiance under the open sky.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer our guests another way to enjoy our cocktails and hospitality,” said Jose Felix, General Manager of Scholar Hotel. “There’s something about sipping a locally made drink outside, surrounded by the energy of downtown, that just feels right.”
The Scholar Hotel State College is located in the historic Glennland Building and is part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. It features standard and extended-stay guest rooms and over 4,000 square feet of meeting space.
Image Attached: Shown left to right: Leslie Temple, Fulton Bank; and Lauren Bryson, Focus Central PA Chair
Milton, PA – Fulton Bank made a commitment to invest $3,000 in Focus Central Pennsylvania for 2025 to support their mission to attract investment that cultivates economic growth in Central Pennsylvania! This mission work drives smart regional economic growth by marketing the region to attract quality investment projects that cultivate economic growth. Recognizing the mission investment in the photo is Leslie Temple, SVP Market Leader/Business Development for Fulton Bank and Lauren Bryson, Executive Director of Focus Central PA.
“Fulton Bank is honored to invest and support efforts that contribute to creating economic growth and opportunity for the communities we serve. We are proud to partner with Focus Central PA to support its vital mission to attract investment to Central PA.” said Leslie Temple, Fulton Bank’s Senior Vice President Market Leader/Business Development.
Fulton Bank was established in 1882 and strives to deliver the best banking experience for their customers. As a part of Fulton Financial Corporation, a $25 billion financial services holding company, Fulton Bank offers a broad array of financial products and services in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Fulton Bank offers convenience in neighborhoods across the region through over 220 financial centers and specialty offices and almost 300 ATMs. https://www.fultonbank.com/
Focus Central Pennsylvania is part of a committed team in the region that is driving economic growth for communities in Centre, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union, Snyder, and Mifflin Counties. Focus Central Pennsylvania proactively connects with site location consultants and companies looking to expand. This work helps our communities become an even greater place to live and work.
STATE COLLEGE, PA – May 16, 2025 – Kish Bank hosted its 8th annual Kish Celebrates Community reception at the newly renovated Nittany Lion Inn, where 250 attendees gathered in celebration of community and the heroic efforts of the community organizations, nonprofits, and dedicated volunteers of the Central PA region.
“We are here to share our pride in this region, celebrate your commitment to our communities, and recognize the work of so many outstanding organizations and individuals impacting the quality of life here in Central PA,” said William P. Hayes, Executive Chairman of Kish Bank, as he addressed the crowd. “Like you, all of us at Kish are so proud to call this place home, and proud to be part of the lives of the people who live here. And now, as Kish Bank celebrates its 125th anniversary of serving Central Pennsylvania’s communities, it becomes even more important to us that we focus on the tradition of community caring and reinvestment that has differentiated us since our founding in 1900.”
Humanitarians of the Year Award
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of Kish’s Humanitarians of the Year Award to Steve and Patricia Benkovic of State College. Called Penn State’s “first couple of chemistry” for more than five decades of pioneering contributions in their shared discipline to address threats to human health, the Benkovics’ Research Initiative is a funding mechanism designed to directly support fresh, bold research projects at the interface of chemistry and the life sciences.
As Hayes explained, “Together, they have dedicated their lives to unraveling the mysteries of enzyme mechanisms and catalysis. Their groundbreaking research has earned them prestigious accolades, including the National Medal of Science. They believed in the potential of their work and found innovative ways to support and advance their research. As we honor Steve and Pat Benkovic, we celebrate their unwavering commitment to science and humanity. Their journey is a shining example of what can be achieved through resilience, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in the power of science. They have shown us that even in the face of adversity, we can rise above and make a lasting impact on the world.”
The Humanitarians of the Year Award was sponsored by Strouse Electric Inc.
Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award
Girls Night Out, Altoona Inc. was awarded Kish’s Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award in recognition of being on the front lines of fighting breast cancer here in Central PA.
In presenting the award, Kish Bank President and CEO Greg Hayes said, “What began as a simple ‘pay it forward’ effort has grown into a movement. Since 2008, this entirely volunteer-led organization has raised more than $1.8 million—funds that directly support breast cancer research, life-saving screenings, and financial assistance for uninsured and underinsured patients right here in Central Pennsylvania. This group continues to show what’s possible when purpose meets perseverance.”
The Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award was sponsored by UPMC Altoona and its Foundation.
Other Highlights
Kish’s Community Impact Award, an award given annually to a Kish employee for their outstanding volunteering efforts, was awarded to Carolyn Donaldson, Vice President, Community Engagement. Donaldson was recognized for serving her Central PA community by volunteering over 200 hours each year serving on boards and committees, including The Central PA Festival of the Arts, The Altoona Symphony, Special Olympics PA, and as a Trustee for Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, PA.
Kish highlighted its unique partnership with Giv Local, a Certified Benefit Corporation that provides credit card merchant processing with a promise to donate 20% of the revenue back to a local nonprofit of each business’s choosing at no additional cost. Greg Hayes announced that in 2024, a total of $64,475 was donated to 133 nonprofits in Central PA through Kish and Giv Local’s partnership, bringing total donations since its launch in 2020 to over $188,000.
The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, PA Pink Zone, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Mifflin/Juniata were honored for leading the fight against cancer in the Central PA region. Kish celebrated the results of its 2024 Kish for the Cure Campaign, through which employees raised over $90,000 for the three beneficiary organizations. Since its inception, Kish’s annual campaigns against cancer have raised more than $625,000.
The evening also featured Katie Shumacher-Cawley, Penn State Women’s Volleyball Head Coach, as a special guest and keynote speaker. Schumacher-Cawley spoke of leading her remarkable 2024 team to the NCAA Division 1 National Championship, all while publicly battling her breast cancer diagnosis. As the first female head coach to lead a team to this title, Shumacher-Cawley thanked her family, her team, her staff, and her community for their ongoing support and resilience, and spoke of the hard work that continues this upcoming season to build on the success and strength of the team and her survivorship.
Humanitarians of the Year Award recipients. From left: Patricia Benkovic, Bill Hayes, Steve Benkovic
