GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Mature Lifestyles
The Gazette’s special section includes a little bit of everything for Centre County seniors, including a look at technology, travel, heart health, dementia, finances and overall wellness./Pages 17-24
February 18-24, 2016
FREE COPY
Volume 8, Issue 7
Centre County readies for THON By SAMANTHA CHAVANIC and CHRIS MORELLI Centre County Gazette
UNIVERSITY PARK — It’s back. Break out the neon knee socks, fanny packs and water guns — the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon will soon have Penn State students dancing for a cure — for the kids. The Bryce Jordan Center, located at the corner of University Drive and Curtin Road, will host the annual public and free 46-hour IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, which brings children and families of the Four Diamonds Fund, volunteers and all others together after months of fundraising efforts. THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world and is committed to enhancing the lives
IF YOU GO What: THON 46-hour IFC/ Panhellenic Dance Marathon When: Friday, Feb. 19, through Sunday, Feb. 21 Where: Bryce Jordan Center Admission: Free More info: www.thon.org
of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. According to THON.org, the mission of the dance marathon is “to conquer pediatric cancer by providing emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers and staff of the Four Diamonds Fund.” Throughout the year, THON focuses on raising funds and awareness for Four Diamonds, a fund that states its mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $127 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. THON weekend begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, and continues until 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21. All spectators can use the Gate A entrance to access the Bryce Jordan Center. No identification is needed to gain entry. To provide entertainment to more than 700 dancers from across the university, thousands of volunteers and Four Diamonds families, the weekend includes events THON, Page 4
Gazette file photo
FOR THE KIDS: Once again, THON will take over the Bryce Jordan Center for 46 hours beginning on Friday, Feb. 19. The event is again free and open to the public.
Students lobby Wolf to pass budget By ALEXA LEWIS news@centrecountygazette.com
G. KERRY WEBSTER/For the Gazette
CRIME SCENE: The body of an unidentified woman was found along the side of the road near the 500 block of Plainfield Road.
UNIVERSITY PARK — Seven months and counting and Penn State, along with the Pennsylvania’s three other state-related universities, has yet to see its state appropriations. When Gov. Tom Wolf first announced his budget plans for the 2015-16 fiscal year, he said Penn State would pick up an extra $49 million in funding. But Wolf’s administration and the Republican-led majority are now more than 200 days into a back-andforth budget dispute that has bottled up funding to state-related schools. That has students frustrated and concerned that the state’s record-long budget stalemate could impact students receiving loans through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and could increase tuition rates, despite Penn State’s
JEN HECKMAN/For the Gazette
HE’S GOT MAIL: Members of UPUA mail a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Legislature on Feb. 11 expressing discontent with the budget impasse.
Police report woman found dead was dumped Scout award renamed for Paternos Budget, Page 5
By ALEXA LEWIS
news@centrecountygazette.com
FERGUSON TOWNSHIP — Ferguson Township police think the still-unidentified woman whose body was found on Feb. 14 along the 500 block of Plainfield Road was dumped out of a vehicle and abandoned there. Opinion ............................ 9 Health & Wellness .......... 10
According to police, “There are no indications that the woman walked on her own to the place where she was found.” Police said they believe the woman’s body was dumped between 11 p.m. on Feb. 12 and 3:20 a.m. on Feb. 14 when a Police, Page 5
Education 1 ....................... 1 Community Profile ........ 12
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By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — The times are changing. For more than 40 years, the Juniata Valley Council Boy Scouts of America have presented the Good Scout Award. This year, the award will have a different name — the Joseph and Sue Paterno Community Impact
Community ............... 13-16 Mature Lifestyles ...... 17-24
Sports ......................... 25-29 Summer Youth Fair .. 30-32
Award. The award is given to the Centre County resident who most embodies the service-oriented ideals and values of the organization and its youthful charges. In 1974, Joe Paterno was the first-ever honoree. Now, the award is named for the late Penn State football coach. Scout, Page 7
Around & In Town .... 33, 34 What’s Happening .... 34, 35
Puzzles ............................ 36 Business ..................... 37, 38
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