​The 19 South Brown Street renovation project is finally on the home stretch! All four apartments are now occupied, and the first-floor commercial space is currently undergoing a major makeover. Tapestry of Health is set to move into one of the commercial suites early next year, and we have one more prime commercial space ready for your vision if you know any businesses looking for space. We can remodel to suit. www.19southbrown.com

Here are some before-and-after photos of Apartment D. Once again, our construction crew brings new life to a building that has sat vacant for years!
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While our products and services at One-Stop Communications change as technology evolves, our focus on connecting our community to the world has remained the same since 1996.
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https://www.lewistownsentinel.com/.../one-stop.../

For over a quarter-century, One-Stop Communications has been a cornerstone of the local community, providing reliable communication services to residents and businesses alike, With a deep-rooted commitment to exceptional customer service and technological innovation, One-Stop has earned a reputation as a trusted partner in staying connected.

This past December, One-Stop announced their merger with Mifflin County Wireless and Telecentive. This strategic partnership brings together a wealth of expertise and resources, which positions the company to provide comprehensive, cutting-edge communication solutions for Central Pennsylvania.

As a result of the merger, customers can now enjoy an expanded range of services under one roof. From high-speed internet and advanced IT solutions to home security systems and entertainment packages, One-Stop has something for everyone from residential to commercial businesses. The One-Stop team is a dedicated team of local experts who understand the unique needs of each customer and tailor solutions to meet those needs,

One-Stop’s dedication to the community is evident in its recent fiber-optic internet project at the Juniata Terrace. This ambitious undertaking, entirely self-funded by the company, brought lightning-fast internet speeds to residents, transforming the way they connect, work, and learn. This project serves as a testament to One-Stop’s commitment to investing in the community’s future and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.

And, the Juniata Terrace project is only the beginning. One-Stop is in the process of expanding its fiber network and bringing high-speed internet access to even more areas throughout the region. This investment in infrastructure will help bridge the digital divide, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the modern world.

Beyond its technological advancements, One-Stop prides itself on its local presence and personalized service. With their office conveniently located in downtown Lewistown, customers can easily visit for assistance, account management, or to explore new service options. The One-Stop team is available to address any questions or concerns promptly and efficiently. The company’s focus on building strong customer relationships has been a keystone of its success, and this tradition will continue as One-Stop expands its services.

In a world that is increasingly interconnected, One-Stop Communications is proud to be a local partner that empowers individuals and businesses to stay connected, informed, and engaged. With a strong foundation built on years of experience and a commitment to innovation, One-Stop is poised to lead the way in the future of communication.

Whether you’re looking for reliable internet, TV or advanced IT support, One-Stop Communications is your trusted partner. Experience the convenience and expertise of a local provider committed to keeping you connected to what matters most.

​Recently, I was asked what government program funded the fiber-to-home internet project on the Juniata Terrace completed by One-Stop Communications. The question took me by surprise at first, but in all reality, the question made sense. Many internet service providers are choosing not to invest in expansion projects unless they are being subsidized. The big telecom and cable companies are trying to block companies like ours from accessing these funds even though they have no plans to invest in our area unless they are forced to. However, we are taking a different approach and looking to improve connectivity in our community even if we cannot use government funds!

​The Juniata Terrace is like home to me. My mother's family moved here shortly after the American Viscose built these homes to escape the dangers of the coal mining industry. I have many fond memories of this community growing up and visiting family here. You could say the Juniata Terrace is part of my family's DNA. It's an honor and exciting to be involved in a project that improves connectivity to the world as the community celebrates 100 years.

My son graduated from high school yesterday with honors and gave the following speech. I may be biased, but I think he nailed it and had a great message. This definitely made his father proud! 

He had some amazing teachers who supported and encouraged him. 

​Welcome to downtown Lewistown Geisinger, and thank you for investing in our community!

​I've been watching and listening to the sounds of construction next to our offices for months as the former Bon Ton was being transformed into the new Geisinger School of Nursing. All this activity and work caused some minor interruptions at our offices. However, I couldn't be more excited about the changes that were occurring. 

The new School of Nursing is a major investment in downtown Lewistown that will continue to fuel the transformation happening in our community, which has been growing momentum for years. The amount of work completed to renovate the building is impressive. Geisinger took an underutilized anchor building and created a new use for the property with state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, and offices.

This school creates opportunities for local residents and attracts professionals and students from afar. We are so fortunate to have these new healthcare professionals being trained right here in Lewistown and becoming part of our community. In our businesses, we have already seen the impact the new school is having, as the professionals and students support all the local businesses in the area.
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The dynamics of downtown Lewistown are changing, and the School of Nursing will be an integral part of our community's success as we adapt to the ever-changing demands of the future.

www.lewistownsentinel.com/news/local-news/2024/05/state-of-art-school-of-nursing-opens-doors-to-students/

I find it extremely difficult to believe I've been doing this for over 27 years! What a fun ride it has been. I'm grateful for all the relationships and partnerships One-Stop has created over the years!
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Our merger with Mifflin County Wireless and Telecentive this year sets the stage for a future that I'm excited about and look forward to.

Lewistown is one of the 10 Most Vibrant Towns In Pennsylvania, according to World Atlas! 

Anyone involved in our community knows this, but it sure feels good to see it recognized by others who don't live here. So many good things are happening in Lewistown. It is so much fun to watch and be part of the transformation!

There is a reason my office is now in downtown Lewistown!

See the complete list at: 
https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/10-most-vibrant-towns-in-pennsylvania.html?fbclid=IwAR19kyRCo343p5CQba4ogIWngw023H2wR5uEIjwL7SPziC0XkeoBCjMy6-c

Then and now photos of 19 South Brown Street in downtown Lewistown (2024 & ca 1968). We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel for our renovation project of this building, but we need your help!

Do you have any stories from 19 South Brown Street to share? Do you have any photos of this building or events that happened here...inside or out? We would love to hear from you so we can share with others.​
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Thank you to Becky Graninger from the Mifflin County Historical Society for sending us the two ca 1968 photos. She also helped us fill in some of the blanks for this property. 

Learn more at www.19southbrown.com

As consumer and business demands change, our community is constantly adapting, just as it has in the past. Today will never be the same as yesterday. There are many things from the past that I wish still existed, but that is not reality. So, we focus on what can be done today by getting involved. So many good things are happening in our community. 

I'm incredibly grateful for everyone who is doing their part to make our community a wonderful place to live!
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Be sure to read Rhonda's article at https://mynewsonthego.com/sentinel/Reader/Story.aspx?id=8bc78ead-78f7-482d-8afc-5b93e7188518

Earlier this year, One-Stop Communications announced it was merging with Mifflin County Wireless and Telecentive to serve their customers better, which included relocating all their office and retail operations under one roof. One-Stop Communications is moving to 101 East Market Street in downtown Lewistown today. The location is currently the offices for Mifflin County Wireless, which can be found on the corner of East Market and North Brown Street.

Co-founder of One-Stop Communications, Michael Buffington, explains his enthusiasm for the move, “We are extremely excited to be moving our offices to Market Street. In recent years, our community has seen a renewal of activity in downtown Lewistown, and we want to be part of it. The merger of our companies provided the perfect opportunity to make this happen. I take great pride in knowing we are part of the new history being written for Lewistown as our businesses and community adapt to the ever-changing consumer and business demands that shape the landscape of businesses along Market Street.”

Buffington also noted how Market Street in downtown Lewistown is flourishing and finding vacant retail and office space is at a premium. Over the last few years, it has been commonplace to see construction crews in the heart of downtown Lewistown as many of the once-vacant buildings are being restored and transformed into new uses.

Cody Wian, the new President and CEO for One-Stop Communications has been working in downtown Lewistown for the last couple of years after Mifflin County Wireless relocated their offices to downtown Lewistown and stated, “We are excited to bring more jobs and service capability to our location in Downtown Lewistown. We pride ourselves on being an integral part of the community and this move only strengthens our position. We are very excited for the continued potential for our companies with the recent merger and look forward to serving the community for many years to come.”

One-Stop Communications will focus on expanding affordable high-speed internet to the area with local support and service from downtown Lewistown. Their teams have been working on wireless and fiber expansion projects that will be operational in 2024 that are the backbone of many of the other services that they support as a company, like residential and business phone service, satellite and streaming TV, managed IT services, cloud service, network security, security systems, security cameras, and more.

About One-Stop Communications of Pa Inc:
One-Stop Communications is an award-winning local retailer and service provider that has been delivering central Pennsylvania personal and business communication products for over 27 years. Originally founded to bring wireless and satellite services to the area, One-Stop adapts to current consumer and technology demands to help others stay connected to the world and provide exceptional service. www.onestop.biz  

About Mifflin County Wireless LLC:
Mifflin County Wireless is a local fixed wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP). Founded in 2020, their network has been rapidly expanding in Mifflin County, and they serve their customers with a local and friendly approach. Their internet service requires installing a small antenna on your home or business and running an ethernet cable into your home to a power supply and wireless router. They are locally owned and operated. www.mifflincountywireless.com 

About Telecentive LLC:
Telecentive LLC is a locally Managed Service Provider (MSP) specializing in small and medium-sized business IT solutions, providing business IT solutions to customers in Perry, Juniata, Mifflin, Centre, and Huntingdon Counties. Over the past several years, the company has grown from IT services to include VOIP phone service, technology security, cloud services, and many more technical areas of expertise. www.telecentive.com

Our three companies have been sharing resources for years. We have talented and experienced people working on similar projects. It only made sense to bring them together for a stronger company that can collaborate better as one. Just as we have done since 1996, we will continue to bring innovative technologies to the communities we live in to help residents stay connected to the world. I'm incredibly excited for 2024!

For details visting https://www.onestop.biz/news/one-stop-communications-mifflin-county-wireless-and-telecentive-announce-merger​

Permission to operate was issued this week for the newly commissioned solar system at 19 South Brown Street, and it is now producing electricity, even on these cloudy and rainy days.  

One of the challenges to renovating older buildings is finding ways to make them energy-efficient to help make them economically viable while still maintaining the integrity of the building. This is done in various ways, such as new windows, lighting upgrades, insulation, and HVAC upgrades. 

However, the benefits of solar go beyond the bottom line. This will be our third solar system operating on historic buildings in downtown Lewistown. Most people don't even know these systems are tucked away on the roofs of these buildings, quietly producing electricity. 
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For more information, check out the solar page at www.19southbrown.com

19 South Brown Street in Lewistown has been vacant for many years. The building was in good structural condition. However, it was in need of major renovations to bring it back to life. Planning and construction started almost two years ago on four new apartments and two commercial suites. 

After months of demolition and major building upgrades, the finishing touches are finally wrapping up on two apartments. Here are a few before and after photos of these two apartments. Now, our contractor will focus on the other two apartments, which are already spoken for.

Once the apartments are done, we will complete the renovations on the first floor for the two commercial suites. These suites will essentially be new from top to bottom and can be customized to suit. Please let me know if you know anyone looking for a retail or office space in Lewistown. 

I would also like to thank Gavin from GT Construction and Nathaniel and Aaron from Carlson Construction. These guys have been working tirelessly on all our renovation projects in downtown Lewistown. Their work speaks for itself!

For more information visit www.19southbrown.com.

Before and After Photos

Come see the new Mifflin County Wireless offices for yourself!

A few weeks ago, Mifflin County Wireless and GBTCloud moved to their new home in downtown Lewistown. These two businesses share resources under one roof and can now be found at 101 East Market Street in Lewistown. 

They welcome the public to stop in to say hello for a ribbon-cutting and open house on Friday, December 3rd during the Festival of Ice and First Friday in Downtown Lewistown. The ribbon-cutting will be at 5:30 pm, followed by an open house until 7:00 pm. There will be pretzel dogs, soft pretzels, and whoopie pies from The Square Cafe & Bakery and milk and hot chocolate from The Reedsville Creamery. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win a Google Nest IQ Wi-Fi camera.

For more information visit...
www.onestop.biz/news/mifflin-county-wireless-offices-relocate-to-downtown-lewistown

​Last week I took a 330+ mile journey on two wheels biking from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC, with my longtime friend, which oversees the day-to-day operations at One-Stop Communications. Not only did we have a great time completing this adventure together, but I feel it strengthened our personal and professional relationship. Everyone needs a break from the daily grind. We returned renewed and ready to tackle the world again!

Today David Fisher and I started a seven day 330+ mile journey on two wheels from Pittsburgh to Washington DC traveling the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath. We started at Point State Park in Pittsburgh and covered over 60 miles to Connellsville. I've been looking forward to this trip for months. I'm thrilled Dave could join me for this adventure. We have been friends since high school and have worked together for over 26 years

Today was a short 30+ mile ride from Connellsville to Confluence. We welcomed the short ride for a little break and to take in the scenery between these two towns leading right through the Ohiopyle State Park. Plus, we had to wait for some nasty thunderstorms to roll through the area this morning before hitting the trail. We are by no means roughing it at night. Tonight we are staying at the Hanna House Bed & Breakfast located on a 100-acre working farm. This farmhouse was built in 1872 and has retained much of its architectural integrity.

Day 4  --  Today, our travels started on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath trail which will end in Washington DC. We covered 43+ miles in Maryland from Cumberland to Little Orleans. The terrain on the towpath is much more level compared to the last few days on the old railroad beds of the Great Allegheny Passage, except for a section of the towpath that was closed due to landslides at the end of the Paw Paw Tunnel. The detour for this closure is over the mountain which the tunnel cuts through. 
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Most of the day was spent on the towpath sandwiched between the Potomac River and the remnants of the once-thriving C&O Canal. It amazes me the amount of work that would have gone into designing and building this canal. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like in the heyday of its operation.

This morning, we woke up at the Town Hill B&B located on the top of the mountain above Little Orleans, MD. Not only was the sunrise incredible overlooking the valley from there, but they served one fantastic breakfast. I would go back to this place just to eat breakfast again! 
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We traveled 43+ miles to Williamsport, MD and the hardest part was not stopping every mile or so to take in the scenery. The weather has been perfect making this trek so enjoyable. Parts of the C&O Canal towpath take you right up to the edge of the Potomac River and there are plenty of areas worth stopping to explore.

This was our last day on C&O Canal Towpath. Our original plan was to cross the Potomac River into Leesburg using Whites Ferry to spend the night and then use the ferry to return to the trail the next day. Unfortunately, this ferry has suspended service. We made it to Leesburg, but to keep from backtracking we will follow the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad trail into Washington DC.   
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Our last 43+ miles on the C&O did not disappoint. Dam 4 was built in 1856 that created a pool reaching 13 miles upriver. Because of the rocky cliffs that reached down to the water's edge, canal boats entered the river, and the towpath was cut into the rocks, making for a spectacular trail to bike today.

Mile marker 0 of the C&O Canal in Georgetown ended our two-wheel journey from Pittsburgh to Washington DC yesterday afternoon. What an incredible way to explore this part of our country. The last leg was a short urban crawl covering just a little over 43 miles. After spending several days in some pretty remote areas, it was definitely a change pedaling into DC. We saw more people yesterday morning than we have seen in a week.  
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There was a sense of excitement completing this trip and making it to the end followed by sadness that it was over. Looking back it felt like it only lasted a few days. The best part was the unique experience of exploring a new part of the trails each day. It sure was good to get back home last night with my family and sleep in my own bed!

​I couldn't resist the urge to fly the drone and take a few photos last night on a quick run to take care of recyclables. The colors in the sky looked incredible!

​I am grateful for those that worked last night and this morning to complete repairs as needed! I love watching lightning storms, but they make me cringe when it comes to electronics. It is clear the tower in McVeytown took a direct hit last night. The light at the top of the tower was blown to pieces, and it fried the equipment for multiple service providers. It is not easy fixing equipment 300 feet off the ground. Fortunately, we get to work with some pretty incredible people!

I've had the pleasure of working with Valley View on several different projects over the years. Plus, several family members and people I care about have either lived there or used their services.  
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This organization is well run by some exceptional people. We are fortunate to have them in Big Valley!

A few weeks ago, my son and I started taking drone photos and videos highlighting Mifflin County and local businesses. 

Not only are we having a blast doing this, but capturing our community from a different perspective is a great reminder of how special the area, businesses, and people are!

You can find some of these photos and videos at www.onestop.biz/news or www.facebook.com/onestopcomm. And, there is more to come!

You will find many different things in this video and post that I am passionate about! Any guesses?