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Bridge at Lily Lake named in memory of fallen officer Eric Williams

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Big Brothers Big Sisters scoops up $1000 courtesy of from Turkey Hill

<p>HAZLETON &#8212; Mayor Joe Yannuzzi wants people to get a good first impression of the city of Hazleton. He thinks recent renovations to the Hazleton Municipal Airport will do just that.</p><p>&#8220;When we took over the airport about three years ago, it was in deplorable condition,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Because of solicited volunteers and donations, it has become a showpiece.&#8221;</p><p>Friday&#8217;s terminal dedication provided opportunity for visitors to tour the airport, especially the newly renovated Pilots Lounge.</p><p>Yannuzzi said the Phase I terminal renovations make it more likely pilots will return to the airport, spend money on fuel and explore Hazleton.</p><p>Not only did the Pilots Lounge get an upgrade, the airport&#8217;s entire interior is being remodeled.</p><p>&#8220;The interior is about 75 percent finished,&#8221; Yannuzzi said.</p><p>His commitment to the airport has not gone unchallenged in the last several years with many residents and city officials calling it a &#8220;money pit&#8221; and questioning its management.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s never been a money pit,&#8221; said Yannuzzi. &#8220;But, because we had limited money, it did take some time.&#8221;</p><p>Yannuzzi said the city is also in the process of extending the runway to 5,000 feet, which will allow more jets to land there.</p><p>&#8220;In the past, we were hearing that jets couldn&#8217;t land at the airport because our runway wasn&#8217;t long enough,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This extension will allow those jets to be covered by their insurances when they are landing here at our airport.&#8221;</p><p>Yannuzzi looks forward to the upgraded airport facilities creating a ripple effect.</p><p>&#8220;If an increasing number of corporate jets begin to land here, it&#8217;s possible that businesses will be attracted to our area,&#8221; he said, &#8220;resulting in economic benefit to Hazleton and its residents.&#8221;</p><p>Council President Jack Mundie also believes the airport has the potential to benefit the area economically.</p><p>&#8220;I think that it&#8217;s going to help and give us some revenue,&#8221; said Mundie. &#8220;I look forward to companies having executives in and out of here because of easy access to Humboldt and Valmont Industrial parks.&#8221;</p><p>Mundie said city ownership of several hangars will also provide increased revenue for the city.</p><p>Council member Jean Mope hopes the airport will achieve financial stability in the long term, drawing businesses from outside the area and continuing to thrive.</p><p>Mope hopes the airport will provide opportunity for residents to gather, emphasizing a spirit of community.</p><p>For example, she said, a recent display of military planes attracted military enthusiasts and history-minded residents, for both recreation and learning.</p><p>Also,Yannuzzi said one of the biggest draws of the airport continues to be the availability of skydiving, for both participants and onlookers.</p><p>He credits those who volunteer their time, talent and finances for making the success of the airport a reality.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Checking out the newly renovated Pilots Lounge at the Hazleton Airport are Michael Shay of U.S Rep. Lou Barletta&#8217;s office, Ross Valenti of Keystone Job Corps Center, Mark Grochocki of state Sen. John Yudichak&#8217;s office, Dominic Yannuzzi, airport director and Mary Malone of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL103115HazletonAirport.jpg</photo0><caption0>Checking out the newly renovated Pilots Lounge at the Hazleton Airport are Michael Shay of U.S Rep. Lou Barletta&#8217;s office, Ross Valenti of Keystone Job Corps Center, Mark Grochocki of state Sen. John Yudichak&#8217;s office, Dominic Yannuzzi, airport director and Mary Malone of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. </caption0><photoCredit0>Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Hazleton officials: Renovations to municipal airport will help region take off