GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Waterlogged Lions
It wasn’t pretty, but the Penn State football team won its fourth consecutive game, a workmanlike 20-14 victory over Army. This week, the Nittany Lions face Indiana in a Homecoming tilt. For more on the game, check out Gazette Gameday./Pages 19-22
October 8-14, 2015
Volume 7, Issue 40
FREE COPY
Help create a “Stomper,” a testament to survival The Jana Marie Foundation helps those affected by suicide
By HARRY ZIMBLER correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — The statistics are staggering. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 41,149 suicides were reported during 2013, the last year for which full data are available. In that year, someone died by suicide every 12.8 minutes. After cancer and heart disease, suicide accounts for more years of life lost than any other cause of death. The Jana Marie Foundation was founded to honor the life of Jana Marie Vicere, whose life ended when she was 30 years old, following years of suffering with depression. The foundation seeks to help individuals whose lives have been affected by suicide and who are coping with the loss of a loved one. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Jana Marie Foundation will hold “An Invitation to Come Together” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at
IF YOU GO What: “An Invitation to Come Together” When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13 Where: State College YMCA Cost: Free
the State College YMCA. During the event, which is free and open to the public, participants will have the opportunity to contribute toward creating a “Stomper,” a sculpture that serves as a remembrance of loved ones. The “Stomper” is a piece of art that captures thoughts and symbols that provide real hope for the families and friends who have felt the pain of losing a loved one to suicide.
“It’s an open meeting for anyone across the community who has been touched or impacted in any way by suicide,” said Al Vicere, vice president of the Jana Marie Foundation. “The purpose of the meeting, and several others that will take place throughout the community this fall, is to bring people together to create a special ‘Suicide Survivor Stomper.’” Participants will paint pieces of recycled sneakers with messages, drawings,
thoughts or symbols to remember loved ones, offer hope and provide support to those experiencing difficult times. The decorated pieces will be laced together at a later time to create a “community Stomper.” “Our hope is that the event will reinforce the idea that those struggling with the after effects of suicide are not alone and will provide people with opportunities to share personal stories in an environment of support and understanding,” said Vicere. “It will be moving and important to those who attend.” The Jana Marie Foundation will offer a series of programs throughout the year dealing with the effects of suicide and its prevention. Many of these initiatives are focused on young people as the organization seeks to raise awareness of society’s mental health issues. These programs will include “Candid Conversations,” short videos that are the result of a partnership between the foundation and Penn State Public Media. The videos are discussions on topics related to mental, emotional and physical well being of children and teens. There also is a monthly series of presentations, “Straight Talk for People Who Care About Kids,” designed to encourage positive youth development across the region’s communities.
Submitted photo
SPECIAL PROJECT: A “Stomper” is created by those who have lost a loved one to suicide. The Stomper Project is part of the Jana Marie Foundation.
Canning weekend suspended By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
ALEXA LEWIS/For the Gazette
MOVING FORWARD: The construction portion of the State High Project continues at State High’s South Building.
Board members seeking bids for State High Project work By ALEXA LEWIS news@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — The State College Area School District board of directors met on Oct. 5 in a special meeting where they approved the district’s recommendations to bid the State High Project. “It’s nice that we can actually put it out to bid and then we can move on from there, so I appreciate all the extra Police ..................................... 2 Opinion ................................. 9
hours and getting documents together on weekends,” said board member Dorothea Stahl to the project team during the special meeting. The school board anticipated awarding contracts for the remaining site and facility work by late summer, according to a statement the district’s superintendent Robert O’Donnell made in the spring. But the State High, Page 8
Health & Wellness ......... 10, 11 Family Matters .............. 12, 13
Community ................... 14-18 Gazette Gameday .......... 19-22
UNIVERSITY PARK — THON canning, which was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 25, has been suspended, the student organization announced on Oct. 5. During that time, THON evaluate canning and consider additional safety precautions for student volunteers. The suspension of canning weekend comes on the heels of the death of Penn State student Vitalya “Tally” Sepot. The 19-year-old sophomore from Branford, Conn., was killed on Sept. 27 when she and six other students were involved in a one-vehicle crash along the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the King of Prussia exit. Sepot’s group was returing from a canning trip. Canning raises funds for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, an annual event that supports the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. In her “Letter to the THON Community,” THON executive director Katie Mailey said the organization will conduct a thorough review of policies, procedures and programs related to canning and THON’s fundraising model. “There is no doubt that this has been an extremely difficult week for many in our THON and Penn State communities after the loss of Tally Sepot. Our hearts continue to be with Tally’s family and friends during this heartbreaking time,” Mailey said. Fall Home Improvement ... 23 Sports ............................. 24-28
Photo courtesy Penn State Live
HALTED: The next Penn State canning weekend, which was scheduled for Oct. 23-25, has been put on hold. “This past week, we have received multiple emails and calls from community members concerned with volunteer safety. … (The suspension) is to ensure that the safety and welfare of our volunteers remains the top priority of our organization, while allowing for an opportunity to evaluate our policies and procedures before the third Fundraising Outreach & Canning Weekend, scheduled for Nov. 13-15.” Canning, Page 8
Around & In Town ........ 30-35 Puzzles ................................. 36
Business ......................... 37, 38 Classified ............................. 39