Gazette The Centre County
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Winning formula
The State College Spikes couldn’t dodge the raindrops during a recent matinee, but they were still able to pick up a much-needed win./Page 19
July 25-31, 2013
Volume 5, Issue 30
FREE COPY
Community weighs in on trustee bills Penn State Reform Package proposes greater degree of transparency
By MARJORIE S. MILLER
mmiller@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — Joined by State Rep. Scott Conklin on July 17, members of the Penn State Board of Trustees welcomed both heated and heartfelt testimonies from the public at an open forum in which a package of bills concerning the board’s governance was revealed. The four bills, introduced by Conklin, propose amendments to various aspects of the board’s administration, such as the size of the board and who should or shouldn’t be voting members. Referred to as the Penn State Reform Package, the legislation was developed with the help of a report by Auditor General Jack Wagner, who was in attendance at the meeting. Held at the State College Municipal Building on South Allen Street, community members took a few minutes each to voice their concerns and suggestions regarding
such issues as term limits, voting anonymity, emeritus status, meeting minutes’ availability and transparency, board selection and the state’s involvement with the university. Board of trustees present at the meeting included board REP. SCOTT chairman Keith MassCONKLIN er, vice chairman Paul Silvis, Abe Harpster, Ted Brown and Anthony Lubrano. Also in attendance were Philip Falvo, research project manager for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and DJ Tor Michaels, who facilitated the meeting. Masser, who began the meeting, said one year ago the Freeh Report came out, in which various changes were recommend-
ed to protect the university. “The passing of this (anniversary) should not go unnoticed,” he said. On the heels of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, the report by former FBI director Louis Freeh presents 119 recommendations following an eight-month investigation. “People will continue to debate the conclusions (of the report),” he said. Masser said the Freeh Report focuses on improving the governance system of the university. As a result, the board has expanded its committee oversight and has opened up public comments at meetings. He said he believes the “vast majority” of Penn State University wants to move forward in a positive way. “We all share a willingness to take the hard but necessary road” to improve, Masser said. Silvis, who took a few minutes to speak next, said he comes to the meeting with an
School board trims options down to two
open mind. “I’m here to listen and take your suggestions back to the board,” he said. Harpster echoed Silvis’ comments: “I’m here to learn and listen so I can make good decisions.” Brown, who spoke next, said: “As a philosophy, I prefer the state government not be involved” in what’s going on at Penn State, referring to Conklin’s bills. However, he said, he would be “happy” if Harrisburg provided more financial support to Penn State. All other state schools receive more money per student than Penn State, he said. Brown also said he believes the three secretaries on the board should not be voting members. Next, Lubrano gave a statement, first saying he apologizes to the “entire Penn State University community” for failing Trustees, Page 4
Young singer OK after scare at game
By NATHAN PIPENBERG
By CHRIS MORELLI
correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
editor@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — The new high school project, if completed, will remain at Westerly Parkway. That’s the decision the State College Area Board of School Directors reached Monday, during three separate votes to reject four of the six original options for the school. The two remaining options both would keep the high school at its current location, and both would continue developing facilities on both the north and south side of the street. Concept B is a plan to renovate and add to both the North and South buildings, with a walkway over Westerly Parkway that would connect the two buildings. Students would have classes in both buildings. Concept D would include renovations and additions to the South Building, which would be the primary location for all core classes. Portions of the North Building, like the gymnasiums and natatorium, would still be used by students as well. Both options had majority support in a community survey the district conducted in May, with Concept B receiving 70 percent support and D receiving 61 percent. A third option to construct two new buildings at an alternate location, called Concept E, received 51 percent support in the survey, but was rejected by the board. Board member Amber Concepcion said that Concept E was too polarizing to continue pursuing. Forty-three percent of survey respondents also opposed the concept, compared to only 25 and 28 percent opposition for Concepts B and D, respectively. Board member Dorothea Stahl said that Concept E was among the most expensive options, and that it would “add a lot of barriers to the project” because it would require the school district to acquire more property for the new schools. “As a taxpayer, I can’t buy two new schools,” Stahl said. The meeting marks a turning point in the board’s process. The first four options were rejected due to lack of community support, but the decision between the final two options will require more input. One priority is to enhance student safety and security, said
BELLEFONTE — She’s only 10 years old, but Bellefonte’s Meredith Frey is a veteran when it comes to singing the national anthem. The young singer, a soon-to-be fifth-grader at Marion-Walker Elementary School, performed the national anthem for the fifth time at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on Saturday night. But it wasn’t singing the anthem that made the game memorable. Following her flawless performance, Frey and her family took their seats along the first base line. That’s when things got interesting. In the second inning, the Spikes’ David Washington was in the batter’s box. On a routine swing and a miss, Washington’s bat slipped out of his hands and landed in the crowd. The bat helicoptered into the stands, hit
School board, Page 6 Opinion ............................. 7 Health & Wellness .......... 8, 9
CHRIS MORELLI/The Gazette
RATE HIKE: Centre Area Transportation Authority hosted its biannual meeting Tuesday, in which an increase in senior citizen fare rates was announced.
CATA announces fare increase Senior citizens will ride for $3 By MARJORIE S. MILLER
mmiller@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — At its biannual public meeting Tuesday, CATARIDE announced its senior fare rate will increase to $3 effective Aug. 1, an announcement that evoked concern from some in attendance. Up from $2.50, the increase is part of a two-step process with the state in which the rate rose 50 cents last year and 50 cents this year, said CATARIDE Director of Operations Sherry Snyder. “Folks were aware that it was coming a year ahead,” Snyder said. Some participants at the July 23 meeting thought the increase has been too rapid, while others were worried about future bumps in fare, explaining that many of CATA’s riders are seniors.
Education ........................ 10 Community ................ 11-15
Centre Spread ............ 16, 17 Sports .......................... 19-22
Snyder said as of now, CATA has “every intention” of keeping rates where they are, and there is no immediate need for fare increase, at least within the next year. Fare rates are based on the cost to operate the system, Snyder said, and while she “empathizes and sympathizes, a lot of it is determined by what’s going on in the market,” such as fuel prices. Senior citizens can ride the fixed route for free, Snyder said. Some in the meeting proposed extending or adding options the fixed route, to which Snyder responded more ridership would be needed to further develop the service. Another rate increase, also announced Tuesday, includes the general public fare, which will rise from CATA, Page 6 Arts & Entertainment .23, 24 What’s Happening ..... 25, 26
Singer, Page 5
Submitted photo
CLOSE CALL: Meredith Frey takes the field to sing the National Anthem before Saturday night’s State College Spikes game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Group Meetings .............. 27 Puzzles ............................. 28
Business ...................... 29, 30 Classified ......................... 31