Before I get to my title story, congratulations to the Loyalsock Township Lady Lancers on their amazing season — we will have complete coverage in next week’s issue. We are operating a day ahead of our normal press schedule, so as their championship game is tipping off at the Giant Center, this has already been written. The reason for the early deadline is a special one here at our Webb Weekly offices; by the time you’re reading this, Mayor Derek Slaughter will have performed a very special wedding ceremony.
A heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the future to Steve and Editor Steph Noviello as they have exchanged vows. The couple is now enjoying a three-day honeymoon cruise aboard the Hiawatha, which made an early return to the waters of Susquehanna.
Now to my title feature. I’ve been asked by many what is going on behind Bayard Printing, which used to be Webb Communications along I-180 at Maynard Street and to the south of the Penn College campus. With a little quick research, I have the answers for inquiring minds, and it’s truly an amazing project.
Former Mayor Gabriel Campana was ahead of his time with his bringing of pickleball to Williamsport. Its popularity worldwide has grown to unprecedented levels. Current Mayor Derek Slaughter has done a great job with all recreation facilities, and now Billtown will add the most featured pickleball venue in the United States.
That work site, which I included a picture of, will now be the home of the Vlasic Pickleball Courts at Little Beaver Stadium. It will not only be home for the NPL — National Pickleball League, but it will also be the home and training facility for the United States Pickleball Team. Penn College, with facilities on site, will now have Division 1 men’s and women’s pickleball teams, and Penn State will also call Vlasic Courts home. This is where the Little Beaver Stadium naming rights come into play.
A combination of local business leaders, elected officials, and the Chamber of Commerce helped sell the naming rights for the new facility to the Vlasic Pickle company. The total amount of the deal has yet to be disclosed, but it is said to double the 50 million Penn State University received for selling West Shore Home naming rights to Beaver Stadium. The over 100 million dollars for the complex is only for a 3-year naming period. I, like many others, didn’t believe the Penn State got enough money for the naming rights for the house Joe Paterno built. I must add here that I do love the name Little Beaver Stadium, and a Penn State Nittany Lions versus Penn College Wildcats men’s and women’s doubleheader will open the facility.
Little Beaver Stadium will be the championship playing site within the complex. It will be built specifically to resemble a mini–Beaver Stadium. The state-of-the-art facility will use a large video scoreboard, which will allow traffic on 180 to see the events going on. In addition to the three courts inside Little Beaver Stadium, there will be another 750 courts around the facility. There will be access to the general public to these courts. Little Beaver Stadium and the adjacent Olympic training facility will only be open for public events and games.
I have reached out to the major players said to be involved, which include the Chamber of Commerce, Penn College, Penn State University, The Liberty Arena, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, and Glenn O. Hawbaker, and all acted like I was crazy. My guess is they’re trying to keep this quiet until the official press conference. Please remember, you read it here first.
I’m hoping to interview Mayor Slaughter at some point during Editor Steph’s wedding celebration and will provide more info when it’s confirmed.
Just to be clear, this is about 90% an April Fool! Other than Steph getting married, my friend Mayor Derek officiating, and Loyalsock being featured next week, the rest is a good spoof. And other than Steph, no one mentioned knew anything about it.
God Bless America.
