Gazette The Centre County
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Fairest of them all
The 140th Grange Encampment and Fair has begun. Inside, find out everything you need to know about exhibits, entertainment and food. The Gazette’s guide to the Grange has you covered. Pages 16-25
August 21-27, 2014
Volume 6, Issue 34
FREE COPY
Grange Fair set up presents challenges By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
BRITTANY SVOBODA/The Gazette
SWEET MEMORIES: A crowd surrounds Sentimental Journey, a historic B-17G that was used in the Pacific during World War II, during the first hours of its visit to University Park Airport.
B-17 takes flying enthusiasts on a ‘Sentimental Journey’ By BRITTANY SVOBODA
bsvoboda@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — One of the best ways to really see Happy Valley is from above. Some of the best viewing places, it can be argued, include Beaver Stadium and Mount Nittany. The view from 2,500 feet above ground in Sentimental Journey, a 70-year-old Boeing-17 that landed at the University Park Airport earlier this week, isn’t bad either. At about noon on Monday, a crowd greeted the B-17G and its crew from the
Airbase Arizona Commemorative Air Force outside the general aviation building. Crew members included pilot Russ Gilmore, copilot Brian Churchill, crew chief Al Wilson and loadmasters Jerry Washburn, Dave Gross and Mel Pepitone. All are volunteers who donate their time to fly Sentimental Journey throughout the country and share the history of those who fought in World War II. After a brief viewing period, Sentimental Journey took off again around 1 p.m. for its first flight around the county. The historic plane has been restored, but still
retains its original finishing and charm. World War II veteran Lt. Fielder Newton rightfully secured the best spot in the aircraft — in the plane’s nose in the bombardier seat. “It was great,” Newton said about the ride in Sentimental Journey. “I enjoyed every minute of it.” Newton, 90, enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserves when he came to Penn State as a student in 1942. Soon after, he and about 230 other students were sent to Journey, Page 4
CENTRE HALL — This week, thousands of fair-goers from Centre County and beyond will descend on Centre Hall for the 140th Grange and Encampment Fair. Those attending the fair will see plenty of tents and RVs, that’s for sure. What many of the fairgoers didn’t see was the hard work that went into setting up the grounds for those tents and RVs. According to RV secretary George Witherite, it’s a painstaking process. “It takes quite a bit of work, because RV campers aren’t all the same length,” Witherite explained. “They vary in length and people tend to buy newer campers and bigger campers.” Since RVs and campers have been supersized in recent years, Witherite said that presents some challenges. “Some of the new (models) don’t fit into the regular spots. I have to find a bigger spot for them. It’s a constant thing; you’re trying to fit people into holes. It goes on and on,” Witherite said. Nearly 1,000 tents and more than 1,500 RVs will be packed into the Grange Fairgrounds. Most people will only see the final product, Witherite said. Making the RVs fit is Grange, Page 6
INSIDE The fair is all about family and traditions. Page 16
Accuweather hosts meteorological conference By HARRY ZIMBLER For the Gazette
STATE COLLEGE — Accuweather Inc., hosted the summer conference of the American Meteorological Society from Aug. 12 through 14 in State College. Accuweather President Dr. Joel Myers delivered the Keynote address focusing on the future of technology and weather forecasting. The AMS exists to establish better relationships between government, commercial businesses and research institutions, with each of these entities having a role to play in delivering the best weather information to the nation. According to Myers, the United States has the best weather forecasts of any place in the world. The AMS helps to continue that excellence. The American system of data gatherOpinion ............................. 7 Health & Wellness .......... 8, 9
ing in the weather industry is unique. The National Weather Service and the commercial sector are dealing with rapidly accelerating change. “Parabolic change,” said Myers. “I have made calculations that show that 90 percent of all the weather data that has been created ever, was created in the last 700 days. Try to measure that against the 100,000 years of human history. It’s incredible.” Much of the success of his business — and the weather industry in general — is attributed to the “upward mobility of that the free enterprise system encourages. Competition leads to innovation and better products for everyone.” Myers’ plenary address was well-received by those in attendance. “In four years we’ll have 100 times more Accuweather, Page 5
Education ........................ 10 Community ................ 12-15
Grange Fair ................. 16-25 Sports .......................... 26-31
Gazette file photo
WEATHER SYSTEM: Accuweather Inc. hosted the summer conference of the American Meteorological Society from Aug. 12 through 14 in State College. Arts & Entertainment ..... 32 What’s Happening ..... 33, 34
Group Meetings .............. 35 Puzzles ............................. 36
Business ...................... 37, 38 Classified ......................... 39