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NEWS & EVENTS
Taken from The Philipsburg Journal - December 2009
Oil Company Gives Gift of Heat
By G. Kerry Webster
A local oil company has given the gift of warmth to a local family this Christmas.
On Tuesday, Nittany Oil service technicians Mike Boyer and Pete Yeager installed a new Armstrong hot air oil furnace at the Gearhartville home of Mary and Ethan Dixon, replacing an inefficient coal/oil burner that has stood in their basement for the past 30 years.
“I’m still crying about the whole thing,” said Mary. “Things like this don’t happen to us, so we’re just so appreciative of everything. We are still in shock.”
The Dixons were chosen to receive the furnace after careful review by Nittany Oil service technician Bill Granville. Granville said he contacted local churches recently to find out what families in the area were in need of a new heating unit. He said several individuals mentioned the Dixons.
“We wanted to give the furnace to someone in the community that helps the community,” said Granville. “The Dixons seem to do it all.”
According to Granville, Mary and Ethan, who operate the computer company DCS Computers out of their home in Gearhartville, are active in their church and claim to have “hundreds of kids” through their youth groups, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and most recently, the newly started Venture Scouts.
“So it’s not like we’re giving the furnace to just one family,” said Granville, “it’s like we are spreading it out to the young people whose lives Ethan and Mary touch everyday.”
On Wednesday, Nittany Oil owner Jim Martin visited with the Dixons and thanked them for their community service.
“Life isn’t all about working,” said Martin. “There’s a lot more to it than that. I feel privileged that I can stand with you here today. You give so much to the community, and we’re pleased to do our small part to make your lives better.”
Ethan, who suffers from a chronic back illness and has dust allergies, said the furnace is truly a blessing.
“Because of my situation, we’ve had to stop burning coal and rely strictly on heating our home with oil,” he said. “It seemed like there was always something wrong with that old furnace and it sucked down a lot of oil.”
Granville said the Dixons’ oil bill this winter will be about a third less because of the efficiency of the new burner.
The new furnace was donated through R.E. Michael Co. of State College.
“When we work a contract with a company for furnaces, we always make sure we tell them we want a few furnaces donated to give to local families,” said Martin.
Last year, the company partnered with Krentzman Supply Co. Inc. to donate a furnace to a Milroy family.
“We’re going to give away two or three more this year,” said Martin.
Taken from The Sentinel - September 27, 2005
Going, going, gone
Minit Mart torn down to make way for bigger, better store
By Suzie Kozar, Sentinel reporter
LEWISTOWN - Out with the old and in with the new.
That was the motto of officials from Nittany Oil Co. Monday as they watched the Minit Mart store and oil company office on Walnut Street in Lewistown reduced to rubble. The demolition of the buildings took place to make room for a new state-of-the-art store and office, which are schedule to open by the end of the year.
A group of employees, construction workers and local residents watched intently as Nittany Oil Co. President James Martin manned the controls of a hydraulic excavator and took the ceremonial first swipe through the building's roof with the machine's large “claw.” After relinquishing the controls to the crew from Glenn O. Hawbaker Construction, it took less than 30 minutes before the building, built in the 1920's, was nothing but a memory.
 Once completed, Martin said the new Minit Mart will be the largest operation of the 14 stores owned by Nittany Oil.
“This will be our flagship store,” Martin said. "It will still be called Minit Mart."
Plans for the new facility began more than two years ago when Nittany Oil purchased 2 1/2 acres of land adjacent to the current site, said Sam Sleek, who oversees new projects and environmental compliance for Nittany Oil.
The new Minit Mart will total 5,000 square feet, Martin said, compared to the old store, which had 1,500 square feet. With the additional space will come more ready-to-eat foods, such as pizza, fish, hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. Food ordering will be done on touch-screen computers.
Enhanced fuel service also will be offered at the new Minit Mart. Martin said there will be 30 gasoline hoses under a 130-foot canopy, as well as a diesel island with 18 hoses. Nittany Oil will install new underground gasoline storage tanks with state-of-the-art monitoring systems.
Martin admitted the store and oil office were in need of a remodel.
"We want to give the Lewistown area an upgrade that was badly needed. There have been no upgrades since the mid-1980's (when the Minit Mart opened)," Martin said. "We let it deteriorate since we knew a new one was coming. It has been a long time coming."
A new office will be constructed behind the convenience store. Martin said the building will feature modern, computerized oil office and four garage bays. It will be three times larger than the previous office.
The oil tanks located at the rear of the property also will be upgraded.
The old Minit Mart store closed Thursday night. The new and improved store is scheduled to open around Thanksgiving, with the oil office open by New Year's Day. Martin said the oil service will not suffer because of the closure.
"We will not interrupt service to any customers. Call the Lewistown number and the same people will answer the phones. The same service people and the same drivers will be there," Martin said.
For the next few months, the Nittany Oil office in Belleville will handle the Lewistown store's calls.
None of the 10 company employees will be laid off because of the construction. Martin said they will be working at the Belleville and Mifflintown stores.
The new store will mean additional jobs. Martin said the Minit Mart will be open 24 hours a day and employ 32 people when it opens. One or two more oil truck drivers also will be hired. Penny Metz, store manager, said she has accepted applications for the positions in the past few months and will interview potential employees during the next two months.
Front Mountain Builders are the contractors for the building shell. Hawbaker is in charge of site development and Nittany Oil will do its own heating and air conditioning in the new buildings.
New paving, and improved traffic flow, yard lighting, a retaining wall and landscaping will complete the site.
Update:
The clock is ticking while the community awaits the completion of the new Minit Mart store that will feature a new brand identity of getting "In and Out in a Minit."
The Nittany Oil crew and their subcontractors have been working continuously to meet their opening date of December 9th. With the building shell and interior framing already in place, the next few weeks will be busy dry-walling to prepare for colorful red and white tiling, modern flooring and custom cabinetry.
Once the building interior is complete, it will be time to start training employees for the new food service station. Complete with state-of-the-art touch screens, customers will be able to order items never before offered, such as Nittany Dogs and Buffalo Bleu Chicken Wraps.
With a little more than a month until opening, Nittany Minit Mart is sure to show Lewistown and its loyal customers what a state-of-the-art convenience can really offer - great food and great service!
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