GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Flyin’ Lions
The State College Area High School boys’ basketball team took care of business against Norristown in the Skip Coleman Tip-Off Tournament. The Little Lions evened their record at 1-1 on the young season./Page 24
December 10-16, 2015
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Volume 7, Issue 49
Hearts for Homeless prepares for winter By ALEXA LEWIS news@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — This fall may have been mild, but Ginny Poorman, executive director of Hearts for Homeless, knows it’s not time to celebrate just yet. As temperature lows begin to steadily drop and local overnight shelters begin to fill up, Hearts for Homeless — a daytime shelter in downtown State College — is prepared to start its Emergency Winter Overflow Shelter initiative for the second winter in a row. In February 2011, the Community Safety Network serving Centre County established an Out of the Cold program offering overnight shelter from 9 p.m. to 7
a.m. at county churches between October and May. Many clients who get off work after Out of the Cold’s doors close are left sleeping outside in the cold, according to Heart for Homeless’s website. Out of the Cold cannot accommodate many more than 15 clients at a time, and when demands exceed this capacity it leaves many more people looking for nighttime shelter. “When that happens, it leaves people sleeping outside,” said Poorman. Poorman had previously told the Gazette that the shelter has spent thousands of dollars paying for motel rooms for these individuals, but for the first time in December 2014 it launched
its emergency overflow shelter. The program is hosted at Halfmoon Christian Fellowship, a church located in Port Matilda, and it accommodates up to six individuals who would otherwise not be able to find safe shelter overnight. Last winter, the shelter also offered extended hours during the winter months, staying open between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. to fill in the gap between its regular daytime hours and the hours where Out of the Cold is closed. “In the summer, people are able to be outside more; it’s warmer,” Poorman said. “In the winter, it’s just too harsh to be standing outside all day long, so Hearts, Page 8
ALEXA LEWIS/For the Gazette
HELPING HAND: Bobby Haupt, of Tyrone, poses for a photo while hanging out in Hearts for Homeless in State College on Dec. 7. He has been a client at the homeless shelter for more than a month, but said that he enjoys the volunteers, staff and other clients at the shelter.
Longtime Santa tradition continues in Philipsburg
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
By G. KERRY WEBSTER
correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
Submitted photo
PHILIPSBURG — A longtime Philipsburg tradition is continuing thanks to a small committee and a lot of volunteers. A 37-foot lighted Santa Claus statue, and accompanying toy sack and soliders, was erected at the Cold Stream Dam and Recreation Area the weekend before Thanksgiving and will continue to tower over the community through Orthodox Christmas. “This statue has produced so many memories over the years,” said Jay Herrington, who spearheads the Santa Committee at Philipsburg Elks Lodge No. 1173. “It’s a tradition in the Philipsburg community that people can’t forget. There are a lot of people who grew up in the area in the 1960s and 1970s that still return to see it
each year. And, they bring their families, creating new traditions.” According to Herrington, in 1962, the late Bill Adams was inspired by a 5-inch Christmas card depicting the very same Santa as portrayed on the statue today. “(Bill) wanted to give something back to the community so he decided to create the large statue to display in town,” said Herrington. “He designed and built it in the basement of the American Legion building with the help of patrons and officers of the club.” The statue was first erected in the parking lot of the American Legion that same year and, thanks to the generous help of Penelec, lighting was installed. The statue was disassembled each year and stored at the legion. In Santa, Page 5
The Penn State women’s soccer team captured its first-ever national championship with a 1-0 win over Duke Dec. 6 in Clay, N.C. The team celebrated with fans inside Rec Hall upon its return. See story on Page 28.
Photographer Little makes big impression through his lens By HARRY ZIMBLER correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — This year marked the 40th year of the Winter Craft Market sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. According to show director Heidi Urbanski, 80 artists displayed their works for sale, with more than 3,000 people attending the event. One of those whose works were on display was art photographer and photojournalist Pat Little. Opinion ............................ 9 Health & Wellness .......... 10
CENTRE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT A question that has long been debated seems to find a confluence in Little’s work. That debate? “Is photography an art or a science?” “I think it’s both,” said Little, sitting at his booth while customers ambled by. “My works are more abstract than most other photographers, but I still do a lot of photojournalism.” Little, Page 8
Community ............... 12-16 Victorian Christmas ....... 17
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Shop Local ................. 18-23 Sports ......................... 24-29
G. KERRY WEBSTER/For the Gazette
STANDING TALL: The 37-foot Santa Claus statue and accompanying toy bag and soldiers once again helped welcome the holiday season to the Philipsburg area.
Worship Directory .... 30, 31 Around & In Town .... 32-34
What’s Happening ......... 35 Puzzles ............................ 36
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