COVID-19 Update
As I’m sure you know by now, there have been many changes implemented over the past few weeks in response to the government’s efforts to address the Coronavirus pandemic. Along these lines, Governor Wolf issued an order that all “non-life-sustaining” businesses close effective last Thursday evening. Given the critical nature of communications services, we’re considered to be a life-sustaining business, and, for this reason, we will continue to do our best to ensure that there are no interruptions in your service. Furthermore, as part of this effort, we will continue to perform our normal installation and repair work.
Regardless of my own personal feelings concerning the pandemic and the effort to deal with it, I have a fiduciary responsibility to our employees and customers to take the virus threat seriously. Accordingly, along with the other members of our management team, we must do our best to safeguard their health. With this in mind, we recently implemented the following procedures at each of our business offices:
- The doors to our business offices are being kept locked to minimize personal interaction. For this reason, we’re asking you to use one of the following methods to pay your bill:
- Mail your payments to our Stahlstown business office at: P.O. Box 168, Stahlstown, PA 15687. (If you are a Lackawaxen customer, please mail your payment to P.O. Box 208, Stahlstown, PA 15687.
- Pay online by visiting the LHTC Broadband website at: https://lhtcbroadband.com/.
- Pay over the phone by calling one of our business offices.
- Consider setting up an “auto-pay” arrangement whereby your payment would be deducted directly from your bank account or charged to your credit card each month. If you’re interested in this method of payment, please call one of our offices and speak to a Customer Service Representative who will be more than happy to assist you.
- In the event you still prefer to pay in person at one of our offices, you will be able to drop off your payment in the mail slot or other designated area that will be provided via a notice posted at the office.
On another note, please understand that we are here to assist in whatever way we can to help you deal with the hardships that you may be going through as a result of this unprecedented crisis. With that said, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you think we can provide such assistance.
Trust me when I say that we value our personal interaction with our customers, and as soon as it’s deemed safe to go back to our customary way of doing business, we will surely welcome the opportunity to do so. In the meantime, I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the change in procedures. Thank you for understanding and for the privilege to continue to earn your business. Best wishes for good health and a blessed Easter holiday.
As always, if you have questions concerning this matter or anything else concerning LHTC Broadband, please let me know.
Sincerely,
James J. Kail
President & CEO
Office Locations and Phone Numbers:
Stahlstown: 724-593-2411
Indian Head: 724-455-2411
Yukon: 724-722-3131
South Canaan: 570-937-4114
Lackawaxen: 570-685-7111
Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Department’s 58th Annual Fireman’s Fair Parade
What brings a community together more than the local fireman’s fair and parade? For 58 years our local Volunteer Fire Department has been attracting residents to its annual parade and fireworks display. For the second straight year LHTC Broadband participated in the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Department’s 58th Annual Fireman’s Fair Parade. The parade, which is an hour long, features firetrucks, antique cars, and of course this year, our float! This parade even has its own judging stand for Best Rescue/Squad Truck, Best Pumper Truck, Best Band, Best Show Car, Best Equestrian, Best Novelty and Judges Choice. The variety and excitement of the parade is enjoyable to kids and adults alike.
Last year was our first appearance in the parade and our float was a replica of what a typical home in the LHTC Broadband area would look like. This year our Marketing Department decorated one of our company trucks in a luau theme. The front of the truck was decorated with flowers and sea life, while the bed of the truck was decorated with birds, palm trees, and tiki torches; this gave the truck a real luau feel! It rained earlier in the day and the forecast didn’t look good for the start of the parade either. Fortunately the weather held off and the kids on the float threw candy along the parade route. Unfortunately our truck didn’t win, but don’t worry, we’ll be back again next year with a new float!
LHTC Broadband New Office Groundbreaking
As you’ve probably have heard, LHTC Broadband broke ground back on July 12th, 2018 for their new corporate headquarters in Donegal. Construction began in August and lasted until late October. Due to the winter weather, construction was put on hold from December through February. In March, the weather finally broke, and construction began once again. By late April, the shell of the first floor was completed and construction of the second floor began. As of early June, the second floor was is nearly complete, and work on the roof will begin soon. If all goes according to plan, the building should be completed by October of this year. The corporate building will be home to both business offices that are currently located in Stahlstown and Indian Head, as well as, the radio studios for 97.3 Lite FM Latrobe and 98.7 Jack FM Greensburg. As progress continues, we will be sure to keep you updated so be sure to check back to see how the construction progresses.
LHTC BROADBAND SPONSORS FIREWORK SHOW AT CHESTNUT RIDGE COMMUNITY VFC FIREMAN’S FAIR
The 58th annual Chestnut Ridge Community VFC Fireman’s Fair will be held on July 8th – July 13th, 2019, at the Flax Scutching Grounds in Stahlstown, PA. This year LHTC Broadband will be sponsoring the fireworks show. The fireworks show will be on Saturday, July 14th, at 11:00pm. Admission this day will be $5 a car or $2 walk in. LHTC Broadband will also be providing Wi-Fi throughout the fairgrounds the entire week. The fair opens every night at 6:30pm, with rides, starting on Wednesday-Saturday, starting 7:00pm and lasting until 10:00pm. The first day of the fair, Monday July 8th, is the Kid’s Power Wheels Derby, which is for ages 4-10. On Tuesday July 9th, the Katelyn Rose Band will be performing. On Wednesday, July 10th, there will be music provided by DJ Rick Achhammer. Parade Day is on Thursday, July 12th, starting at 7:00. Be sure to look for the LHTC Broadband float!! The Garden Tractor Pulls are on Friday, July 13, which are provided by Listie Grove. Be sure to come out and support the CRCVFC. All proceeds benefit the CRCVFC. We hope to see you at the fair!
LHTC Broadband 11th Annual Customer Appreciation Day
Our 11th Annual Customer Appreciation Day was held on Saturday, August 25, 2018 from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Stahlstown Flax Scutching Grounds. The weather was perfect! The sun was shining and the temperature was great for August. Over 935 customers attended the event making it the biggest turn out yet! The first 500 customers received our annual LHTC Broadband Customer Appreciation Day t-shirt. For those of you have attended since 2007, you have quite the collection of t-shirts!
Not only did our attendance increase but so did our local vendors. We had over 15 local vendor’s who participated in our event this year. They add so much to the event and its great for our community to learn about new businesses and activities. G&D Market really made the customers happy with their amazing pizza samples!
So, what makes this event so much fun? For us it’s bringing the community together with food, games, and music. It feels like one big family reunion! The Katelyn Rose Band got everyone on their feet and singing along from classic country to today’s hits. And come on who doesn’t love hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and cookies! Then to top it off, B-I-N-G-O!!
The kid’s area was a big hit this year! This year we tried something new and added inflatable games like Skee Ball, Basketball, Soccer and Baseball. Plus, we brought the game of all games…Steel City Gamerz gaming bus with all the latest video games! Kids got to try out new gaming systems and new video games, plus they got to enjoy some A/C! And for the kids who wanted to connect with nature, Living Treasures Animal Park brought again this year a petting zoo. So many kids got their faces painted and the balloon art was super impressive. One of the best parts for us was giving away two bikes to two very lucky kids from the door prizes.
There were lots of cool giveaways this year like a cell phone ring, water bottle, notebook, and tote bag, plus over 15 door prizes, but the grand prize was what everyone was waiting for at 3:00; 65” Curved UHD 4K Smart TV!
A lot of work and preparation goes into this event every year and each year we keep trying to make it bigger and better. We see how much it is appreciated by our customers and we can’t wait to start planning for next year! We thank everyone that makes the day such a success, from our employee’s, to the vendors and sponsors, and of course our CUSTOMERS!
We hope to see everyone next year on Saturday, August 24th. (That’s right the date is already booked so mark your calendars!)
Click here to view photos from the event!
Ligonier Banner Contest
Last weekend LHTC Broadband entered a banner in the Summer in Ligonier Arts & Crafts Show. Ligonier businesses displayed the banners, which all had summer themes. The banners were also used as a Summer in Ligonier Scavenger Hunt to promote shopping in town.
Our Marketing team took part in the scavenger hunt and got to experience the unique charm that Ligonier has to offer its visitors. We started at the Ligonier Creamery and we have to say it’s a stop you need to make when in Ligonier! They have the best ice cream treats from hand scooped ice cream to homemade milkshake and even novelty treats. Next, we visited some of the towns local shops which featured everything from stationary to jewelry, new clothes to consignment stores, and gift shops to cafes. In each location was a banner with a specific charm and we had to locate the banner and match the store with the charm on the list. It was a lot of fun and a great way to see all that Ligonier has to offer!
Our banner was at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Office located on South Market Street. Our banner’s theme was “Flip flops are the glass slippers of Summer”. It featured tiny glass slippers, a pink flamingo, and flip flops! We are very happy to report that our banner took second place in the contest! If you got a chance to see it, we hope it made you smile. If not, here’s a photo! We can’t wait until the next town event.
Laurel Highland Total Communications, Inc. Breaks Ground on a New Corporate Office Building
Laurel Highland Total Communications, Inc. broke ground on Thursday, July 12th for its new corporate office building that will be the headquarters of its Pennsylvania and West Virginia operations, including LHTC Broadband and LHTC Media, Inc. Jim Kail, President & CEO, was joined by the Board of Directors, employees, local and state officials, and the Mountain Laurel Chamber of Commerce for the groundbreaking ceremony. The new facility will bring together two of LHTC Broadband’s business offices, which are currently located in Indian Head and Stahlstown, along with its radio station operations, 1480 WCNS & 910/98.7 WAVL located in Latrobe. The new building is located on the property next to the Caddie Shak Family Entertainment Center in Donegal that the Company purchased in 2016. Kail stated, “This is an important day in our company’s history. The building project that we are about to undertake should be viewed as part of our company’s commitment to the local communities we serve. We’ve been doing business in this area since 1908 and the significant investment we’re about to make in our new corporate facility is a good indication that we plan to be here for many years to come.”
The building will include a customer care center for LHTC Broadband customers to pay bills, pick up equipment, learn about new services, and discuss their accounts with service representatives. The building will have a separate entrance for LHTC Media, Inc., which operates 1480 WCNS & and 910/98.7 WAVL, and, in time, both stations will be broadcasted from the new facility. The new building will be occupied by over 50 employees.
Laurel Highland Total Communications, Inc. has grown significantly over the years and is the parent company for fifteen subsidiaries including the telephone, television and Internet operations doing business under the LHTC Broadband in Laurel Highlands, Yukon, South Canaan and Lackawaxen, and six radio stations; 1480 WCNS and 910/98.7 WAVL in PA and 94.3 WRLF, 100.9 JACK, 1490 WBKE, and 920/ 95.7 WMMN in WV. It also owns and operates the Caddie Shak Family Entertainment Center in Donegal. The planning and construction of this new state-of-the-art building will not only help the group of companies operate more efficiently but will also contribute to the economic growth and development of the local communities they serve.
CRVFD Parade
What brings a community together more than the local fireman’s fair and parade? Our local Volunteer Fire Department has been holding this event for 57 years! It attracts residents from neighboring communities as well because of its annual parade and fireworks display.
This year LHTC Broadband participated in the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Dept’s 57th Annual Fireman’s Fair Parade. The parade, which is an hour long, feature’s firetruck’s, antique cars, and of course this year, our float! This parade even has its own judging stand for Best Rescue/Squad Truck, Best Pumper Truck, Best Band, Best Show Car, Best Equestrian, Best Novelty and Judges Choice. The variety and excitement of the parade is enjoyable to kids and adults alike.
Our float was put together by our Marketing Department with the help of the guys from the Technical Operations Department. It was a replica of what a typical home in the LHTC Broadband area would look like with fiber optic services ran from the pole to the home. It featured a tiny house, green grass, potted flowers and even seating around the campfire. The tiny telephone pole was strung with fiber to the ONT mounted on the tiny house. While traveling along the parade route, our pretend technician worked on finishing the install while the other kids on the float threw candy and employees handed out LHTC Broadband Koozies.
While our float may have not impressed the judges enough to place this year, we will be back again next year with a new float!