The Climb
2023
The creation and opening of The Summit Loop Trail made 2023 a year to remember. The trail was officially opened on Memorial Day weekend with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by close to 100 people, followed by an inaugural walk. Local and state government officials spoke at the event. The Summit Loop has since become a popular walking path for residents and visitors. It’s also generated great excitement for The Summit: Center for Wellness. Read more about The Summit Loop here.
Along with the newly installed trail, a temporary driveway and parking area was constructed in early spring, allowing public access to The Summit campus.
Loyalsock Foundation received $336,000 this year in corporate donations through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). These funds will be directed towards Phase 1 of the permanent driveway/access road, set for construction in 2024.
Loyalsock Foundation also was approved for $457,000 through Senator Casey’s Community Project Funding for construction of The Landing, a community wellness space designed as a treehouse.
Earlier in the year, Loyalsock Foundation made the airwaves with an in-depth news story on WNEP Channel 16. WNEP reporter Elizabeth Worthington traveled to Laporte in early January to interview Loyalsock Foundation and Sullivan County Recreational Association volunteers Mary Blondy, Sue Mullen, Mike Hedgecock, Darla Bortz, Darlene Fenton, and Kathy Worthington. The story aired several times on WNEP and may be viewed here.
In alignment with our mission of bringing wellness opportunities to Sullivan County, Loyalsock Foundation donated two Tower Garden Aeroponic systems to the Sullivan County Elementary School. First graders in Mrs. Amber Strain’s class used their garden to learn about the life cycle of plants. Mrs. Brandy Walker’s fourth and fifth graders enjoyed observing plant growth and learned how to make smoothies as part of an Earth Day celebration.
Samson Pennella, Sue Mullen and Mary Blondy cut the ribbon, officially opening The Summit Loop.
WNEP reporter, Elizabeth Worthington, interviewing SCRA president Sue Mullen.
SCES teachers, Mrs. Strain and Mrs. Walker, with the Tower Garden Aeroponic systems.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey meet with Loyalsock Foundation president, Mary Blondy.
2022
In early spring of 2022, C&N Bank made a $30,000 donation and Woodlands Bank contributed $15,000 to Loyalsock Foundation under the Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program offered through the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These contributions were used to purchase 18.2 acres of land from the Sullivan County School District. Loyalsock Foundation also purchased 2.4 acres from the Light Line Trust, which borders Rt. 42 and will house the site entrance. Sullivan County residents, Rich and Linda Baumunk, generously donated 13.6 acres of land in June. These three land acquisitions have completed the campus for The Summit: Center for Wellness, bringing the total acreage to approximately 70 acres.
In June, Loyalsock Foundation received an Endless Mountains Heritage Region mini-grant to design and install outdoor trail signs, benches, and chairs for recreational walking paths throughout The Summit campus. This grant was graciously matched by the Sullivan County Recreational Association. Plans are underway for The Summit Loop trail to be installed in spring of 2023.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey paid a visit to Laporte in August, meeting with Loyalsock Foundation founder and president, Mary Baumunk Blondy, to show support for the project. Several other legislators showed their support through site visits or a stop at The Summit display at the Sullivan County Fair. These visitors included U.S. Representative Dan Meuser, PA Senator Gene Yaw, and PA Representatives Tina Pickett and Joe Hamm.
Loyalsock Foundation was featured in several area and state newspapers, including The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Harrisburg Patriot-News. See our In The Press page for more media coverage.
2022 wrapped up with more corporate contributions through the DCED Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. $220,000 in donations were received from Coterra, Fish Real Estate, Cargill, and New Legacy Ford. These funds are designed for the engineering design and development of the permanent driveway.
Woodlands Bank representatives presented Loyalsock. Foundation volunteers with a $15,000 donation.
Spako’s Tree Service and Sullivan County REC working on trimming trees.
Overall site plan
Thank you Rich and Linda Baumunk!
2021
In March, PennDot provided a green light for the driveway permit. Spako’s Tree Service and Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative completed sight line tree trimming.
In April, the Sullivan County Commissioners approved a $15,000 grant from Act 13 Recreation Funds to assist in funding the architectural master concept plan and an economic and demographic feasibility study. The Geisinger Health Foundation also approved a $15,000 contribution towards the architectural plan and feasibility study. The Muncy Valley United Methodist Charge has committed to a generous donation of $10,000, and the Sullivan County Recreational Association will be donating $15,000. Loyalsock Foundation appreciates the support of these organizations in moving the vision forward.
May was filled with grant writing! Loyalsock Foundation volunteers spent hours writing, researching, and submitting grant applications to the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the PA Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCED) Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). In November, Loyalsock Foundation received the official approval of the NAP grant for $45,000. C&N Bank committed $30,000 and Woodlands Bank committed $15,000 to the purchase of the school district property. They each will receive Pennsylvania Tax Credits equal to 75% of their commitments.
Loyalsock Foundation hired Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site to develop a master concept plan. Ballard King Consultants will be conducting the economic feasibility study. A draft of the demographic study/market analysis for The Summit: Center for Wellness was presented to the Vortex Team over the summer. The team also reviewed initial concept plans for the center and continued to discuss potential programming, elements of the building, and square footage estimates.
In April, the Sullivan County School District Board of Directors approved a Letter of Intent for the sale of 18.2 acres of school district property to Loyalsock Foundation, subject to approval by the Sullivan County Court of Common Pleas. The Sales Agreement was then signed in June. On July 1, the Sullivan County Planning Commission approved the request to subdivide both of the school district properties, i.e., 10.3 and 7.9 acre parcels, and add these parcels to the approximate 10 acres owned by Loyalsock Foundation. President Judge Russell Shurtleff then approved the sale at a public hearing on November 2.
More progress was made with land acquisitions. The Sullivan County Planning Commission unanimously approved the Light Line Trust subdivision, which will allow Loyalsock Foundation to purchase the triangle parcel of land adjacent to State Route 42 for the entrance to The Summit: Center for Wellness. Linda and Rich Baumunk confirmed that they will gift an additional parcel of land from the 30-acre lot to accommodate the planned driveway. We are grateful for their generosity towards this project.
Loyalsock Foundation volunteers continued to spread the word about the wellness center throughout the county. Volunteers attended Founder’s Day in Dushore and the Eagles Mere Craft Festival. The Sullivan County Fair Association provided a booth free of charge to use during the week of the Sullivan County Fair. Volunteers walked around the fairgrounds, initiated conversations, and distributed post cards that included a QR code to the new community survey. Loyalsock Foundation also attended Sullivan County’s annual Health Fair on October 23. Despite the cold and rainy weather, almost 100 community surveys were completed.
2020
In June, Loyalsock Foundation received the necessary clearances from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) records indicate no known impacts to threatened and endangered species and/or special concern species and resources within the project area.
In October, a Sales Agreement was executed between Loyalsock Foundation and Light Line Trust regarding the purchase of a 2.4-acre parcel bordering SR 42 to allow flexibility for the driveway entrance to The Summit.
In October, The Summit: Center for Wellness was announced publicly in collaboration with the Sullivan County Recreational Association.
In November, Loyalsock Foundation finalized the purchase of the 10-acre parcel on which to build The Summit: Center for Wellness.
2019
In September, Senator Yaw and the Sullivan County Commissioners submitted a grant request in the amount of $7.5 million for the Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program (RCAP). The project will remain on the Pennsylvania RCAP budget until 2029.
Loyalsock Foundation was established.
In December, a Sales Agreement was signed by Loyalsock Foundation to purchase 10 acres of land contiguous to the Sullivan County School District from the Reibson family. Concurrently, in a separate negotiation, a Pledge Agreement was signed between Linda and Richard Baumunk and Loyalsock Foundation outlining a donation of a 10-acre parcel of land as well as a 100-year lease on 30 additional acres, both of which also connect to the school district property.
To see what’s happening in 2024, click here.