Gazette The Centre County
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Be my Valentine
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Centre County has several unique ways for you and your sweetheart to celebrate. Whether it’s dinner, dancing or a couple’s massage, the Gazette has your guide to something special./Pages 20-22
February 6-12, 2014
Volume 6, Issue 6
FREE COPY
Spike in flu cases prompts health warning By MARJORIE S. MILLER mmiller@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — With flu season in full swing, area medical providers stress the importance of the vaccine and warn about a possible uptick in cases over the next few weeks. As of Jan. 29 flu was considered widespread in Pennsylvania, meaning there are outbreaks of flu or increases in influenzalike illness cases and recent laboratoryconfirmed influenza in at least half of the regions of the state, with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in the state, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. From Sept. 29, 2013, through Jan. 25, 2014, 218 cases of flu were reported in Centre County, according to the health department, and as of Jan. 28, 38 influenzarelated deaths were reported in Pennsylvania. Geisinger Health System has documented 61 cases of influenza diagnosed through its medical laboratory as of Jan. 9. The most prevalent strain appears to be H1N1, and in Pennsylvania this strain
makes up 96 percent of the flu that is out there, according to officials at Geisinger. The H1N1 strain affects younger, healthier people. “Our concern is that this year will be worse than last year,” said Dr. Lisa Esolen, medical director of infection prevention, control and health services at Geisinger Health System. “We are seeing a higher incidence of younger adults with serious disease requiring hospitalization.” So far this year, 34 percent of all hospitalizations are in people ages 18 to 49, as compared with only 16 percent last year. The severity of flu season is influenced by the strain of virus that is circulating, Esolen said. “This year the strain is the H1N1 pandemic strain from 2009-10, which has a tendency to afflict younger adults more severely,” she said. The flu season is expected to get worse, Esolen said. She expects the incidence will dramatically increase over the next six to eight weeks. Flu, Page 4
MARJORIE S. MILLER/Gazette file photo
THAT TIME OF YEAR: Officials at the Mount Nittany Medical Center and other area hospitals are dealing with another strong strain of the flu this year.
Hope Express ready to roll once again
Borough delays selling College Heights school By NATHAN PIPENBERG correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
By BRITTANY SVOBODA correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — Temperatures in Pennsylvania were well below freezing most of the month of January. The beginning of February hasn’t exactly been pleasant either. But that won’t stop the runners of the Hope Express this year, though, as they prepare to travel more than 100 miles from Hershey to State College by foot in the 24 hours before the beginning THON on Feb. 21. When Hank and Connie Angus’ son, Gabe, was diagnosed with leukemia, they became a Four Diamonds Family. They attended their first THON in 2006, which led to the idea that became the Hope Express. In the 24 hours before THON starts, runners carry letters from the children and families at Penn State Hershey Medical Center who can’t attend the event to the dancers, who stay awake for 46 hours to raise awareness and money for pediatric cancer and the Four Diamonds Fund. Hope Express, Page 5
Submitted photo
TEAMWORK: Hope Express has a group of “Extreme Team” runners. In this file photo, a runner gets a head start on her fellow participants.
STATE COLLEGE — College Heights residents are urging the State College Borough to hold off on a decision to sell the former College Heights Elementary School building to Penn State. The borough gets to make the first decision on sales of all district property, which includes the former school building, at 721 N. Atherton St. Council has been in talks with Penn State, which has offered to purchase the building for $400,000. But at the meeting, College Heights Association president Donna Queeney said the process would be improved if the sale was discussed further and other interested parties had the opportunity to put in bids. Queeney said the building was never advertised publicly,
and bids have not been accepted from any parties besides Penn State. “Council should take advantage of the six-month time period to consider other offers,” she said. Council chose to heed this advice — and the recommendation of Borough Manager Tom Fountaine — and continue discussion of the sale at a council work session. If the sale to Penn State is approved, the university plans to use the building as office space for the Penn State Press. Council member Peter Morris voted to discuss the matter further, but also said the intended use by Penn State should not be a cause for concern. “They’re book people, editors and so forth,” he said. “I think they’d be excellent neighbors.” Borough, Page 5
Gardners Candies officially opens new location By CHRIS MORELLI
editor@centrecountygazette.com
CHRIS MORELLI/The Gazette
OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Sam Phillips, president of Gardners Candies, talks to local dignitaries about the the company’s chocolate. The new store is located along North Atherton Street in State College. Opinion ............................... 6 Health & Wellness ........... 7, 8
Education ...................... 9, 10 Community ................. 11-16
STATE COLLEGE — On a frigid morning in State College, the Centre County community welcomed Gardners Candies to North Atherton Street. As shoppers sampled some of the Tyrone-based company’s chocolates, president Sam Phillips cut the ribbon outside, signaling the official grand opening. Following the ribbon cutting, Phillips talked about Gardners Candies’ move from the Nittany Mall to North Atherton Street. “This is clearly the hub of business and activity in the Centre Region,” Phillips said. “Business has shifted, as it always does. Downtown is very popular for different reasons. But for the
Wedding Guide ........... 17-19 Valentine’s Day Guide . 20-22
retail consumer, the North Atherton Street corridor is clearly the busiest part of town. It’s where you want to be. It’s where we want to be.” The North Atherton Street store is one of Gardners Candies seven retail stores in central Pennsylvania. “We’ve got a great location, a great spot next to T.J. Maxx and Panera. We feel that with the parking and the visibility that this is the place to be,” Phillips said. There are many reasons why people shop at Gardners Candies, Phillips said. One of the main reasons is the fact that the candy is made fresh locally and not shipped across the country. “That’s always been the appeal of Gardners. We have seven stores in central Pennsylvania.
Sports ........................... 23-28 Arts & Entertainment . 30, 31
We manufacture everything fresh in Tryone and it’s delivered right to our stores. That’s always been a highlight of our candy. The homemade quality, the freshness has always been attractive,” Phillips said. The store had a soft opening in January on the heels of the official grand opening. Guests at the grand opening included CBICC president Vern Squier; state Rep. Mike Fleck, R-Three Springs; and T.J. Maxx plaza owner Mary Jo Yunis. Gardners Candies was founded in 1897 by a 16-year-old boy named James “Pike” Gardner in Tyrone. The young entrepreneur operated out of a small store in downtown Tyrone. Pike later Gardners, Page 4
What’s Happening ...... 32-34 Group Meetings .......... 34, 35
Business ....................... 37, 38 Classified ........................... 39