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THE CENTRE COUNTY GAZETTE
DECEMBER 1-7, 2016
Y program brings Christmas cheer to needy kids By G. KERRY WEBSTER kerry.ccgazette@gmail.com
PHILIPSBURG — Although Christmas is still nearly a month away, the wrapping paper, Scotch tape and gift tags have been flying around the Moshannon Valley branch of the Centre County United Way since long before Thanksgiving. The annual Christmas Program is in full swing, and with 180 kids on the list, longtime program organizer Judy Sinclair is making sure to check it twice to ensure the less-fortunate youngsters in the area have a very merry Christmas. “This is my favorite time of the year,” said Sinclair, who has worked as the executive secretary of the branch since it opened in the early 1970s. “It’s a lot of hard work. It’s a lot of stress. But, when it’s time to distribute the packages and knowing how many happy kids we’ll have, it’s all worth it. I always say this is going to be my last year, but it never is. I’m sure I’ll be back for the 2017 program too.” Each year, Sinclair collects not only the names and ages of the children, but also clothing sizes. She does not expect those donating to buy toys or games. She said she’s looking for what the kids need, not what they want. “We get each kid’s coat and pants size, and their boot size,” said Sinclair. “Some of these kids may need school supplies or something like that. We want to collect those kinds of things first and foremost. All the games and toys and dolls are a second thought in my book.” Sinclair said after a child is declared eligible for the program and their clothing size and needs lists are complete, she begins setting up the children with their “Christmas sponsor.” “It has really worked out well because we have such a caring community,” said Sinclair. “We have several churches and businesses who take a bunch of kids off our list every year. We’re very fortunate for them, as we are to all the individuals who help out, too.”
She said the sponsors then take the list and fulfill the needs on it. “It they want to buy a toy or a game or something fun, that’s totally up to who’s purchasing the gifts,” said Sinclair. “We don’t ask them to do that, but it’s really up to them.” Sinclair noted that many of the toys distributed through the program are a direct result from the local Toys for Tots program. After all the items and gifts are collected, they are taken to a special distribution area and families will be able to pick up their packages during the week of Christmas. Unfortunately, the building the group used last year (the former junior high school on Sixth Street) is under new ownership and won’t be able to be used for the Christmas Program. “We really need a lot of space for this, and we just don’t have it here at the Y,” Sinclair said. “The old junior high was perfect for us last year, but we can’t use it this year. We’ll figure something out. We always do.” In addition to the gifts for the children, the YMCA’s Christmas program also includes a basket containing a full holiday meal. “We just received a big donation for turkeys from the boot camp and we’ll get more turkey donations here in the next couple weeks,” said Sinclair. “We usually get a lot of the canned goods and boxed items through the different giving programs they put on at the school. But, we still need potatoes. We like to give each family a 10-pound bag of potatoes with their baskets, so that’s what we’re working on now.” Sinclair said the program has come a long way since its inception in 1976 by former YMCA executive director Keeno Beezer. “He just loved the Christmas Program,” said Sinclair. “It was all about bringing smiles to the kids’ faces, and he sure did a good job of it. I hope that’s what we’re doing, too.”
G. KERRY WEBSTER/The Gazette
CARMEN DAVIS, left, and Millie Gallaher have been volunteering their present-wrapping expertise for the YMCA’s annual Christmas Program in Philipsburg. “This is something we look forward to doing every year,” said Davis. “It wouldn’t be the holiday season without wrapping presents at the YMCA.” Budget, from page 5 ■ Approved the 2016 Community Development Block Grant Entitlement grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development in the amount of $389,713 to fund a water transmission main replacement project in Millheim Borough at a cost of $389,713, and a housing rehab-sewer lateral assistance in Potters Mills at a cost of $30,000. The amount of $51,984 will be set aside for grant administration. ■ Approved a contract renewal between the county and Kronos to provide maintenance and support for time and atCantorna, from page 1 several years, he and incumbent Stacy Parks Miller have bantered several times in a Centre County courtroom. Cantorna, however, said his disagreements with Parks Miller didn’t persuade him to run for the office. “This has been something I’ve been thinking about for the past six months, and after talking it over with my family, decided it would be a good choice to run for district attorney,” he said. “I’m running for district attorney. I’m not running against anyone. This has everything to do with finding a way to make the legal system treat everyone the same.” Parks Miller, who is seeking re-election, challenged Cantorna’s reasoning. She said his past actions led him to this week’s announcement. “Now we know why he and his cronies falsely and maliciously accused me of a crime; to get me out of the way because he covets the job for himself,” Parks Miller told the Centre County Gazette. “He was the first person to publicly falsely accuse me, and as I promised, I was completely innocent.” In 2015, Parks Miller and her staff were accused of being corrupt by Cantorna and a handful of other lawyers. After months of legal battles, a grand jury eventually acquitted Parks Miller of all charges. “Do our people really want such a man willing to do and say anything to win without regard to the truth?” Parks Miller said. “Including currently defending convicted baby abusers by attacking the way law enforcement professionals and doctors are trying to keep our community and children safe. “We send criminals to prison. We protect children. He tries, fortunately without much success, to get them off,” she continued. “He can’t beat us in the courtroom, so he cheats by making serial false accusations against me and my dedicated staff. The truth has finally come out.” Cantorna released a statement soon after Parks Miller made her comments. “I was one of the attorneys involved in the case that revealed that the district attorney’s office and a former judge were engaged in excessive texting during the trial,” Cantorna said. “The Superior Court reviewed the case and found that the DA did not give the defendant a fair trial, so
tendance. The contract total is $44,097.55. ■ Approved an addendum between the county and Strawberry Fields Inc. to add money to increase contract allocations to allow service providers to bill for services through the end of the fiscal year in the amount of $4,397. This increases the contract minimum from $395,000 to $399,397. ■ Approved a contract renewal between the county and Bowling Green Brandywine to provide drug and alcohol services to include inpatient non-hospital treatment and rehabilitation and non-hospital detoxification. The contact total is estimated at $5,000. they ordered a new trial.” Parks said the records revealed no such thing. “I did not engage in any texting during the trial with that judge and the Superior Court did not find his allegations about that even worthy of review or mention,” Parks Miller said. “Cantorna continues to lie to the public to get a job.” “I am running because all trials should be fair,” Cantorna said. “I am disappointed that the DA continues to engage in personal attacks rather than discussing the issues. I intend to discuss the issues and trust the voters to decide who they prefer to have in the DA’s office.” Cantorna pointed to the employee turnover ratio in the district attorney’s office as an example of just one thing that needs to be changed. He said in the past seven years, there has been a 300 percent turnover rate. “That speaks volumes as to just what’s happening in the courthouse,” Cantorna said. “We have done better in the past and we need to do better again.” Cantorna is a native of Chicago and is a staff member at the Trial Lawyer’s College, founded by renowned Wyoming lawyer Gerry Spence. As a senior staff member, Cantorna organizes and teaches graduate level law courses to other lawyers. Prior to moving to Centre County, he was a clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School for five years, after serving as a Wisconsin public defender for three. He attended the University of Wisconsin Law School where he graduated cum laude. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was a certified public accountant with Grant Thornton in Madison, Wisc. Cantora’s wife of 28 years, Margherita, is a distinguished professor in the College of Agriculture at Penn State, specializing in immunology and microbiology. Her research focuses on the effects of vitamin D on the immune system and diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s. The couple have two daughters, Elena and Gabriella, who attend Penn State and are All-Americans in women’s rugby. The sisters learned the game from their father, who is head coach of the State College High School girls’ rugby team and defensive coach for the national champion Penn State women’s rugby team. In his spare time, Cantorna is also a private pilot.