GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Battle on the hardwood
The Penns Valley Area High School boys’ basketball team lost to West Branch in overtime in a classic District 6 Class AA playoff game. The Rams battled, but simply could not find the net in OT./Page 21
February 25-March 2, 2016
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Volume 8, Issue 8
Medical center announces plans to renovate By G. KERRY WEBSTER correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — Mount Nittany Medical Center has been serving the health care needs of Centre Region residents since 1972, and at this week’s meeting of the Centre County Board of Commissioners, hospital brass announced $20 million in campus renovations to even better meet those needs. “We are growing in many facets and we want to be able to keep up with everything that’s going on at the hospital,” said Steve Brown, MNMC’s president and CEO. “These projects will be paid through the Hospital Authority, and there will be no additional charge to the county. These project are in our five-year plan and now is the time to get them taken care of.” According to Rich Wisniewski, former CFO and vice president of MNMC, five projects are on the agenda, including: The construction of a two-story parking garage on the side of a current parking lot. The project will increase the number of parking spaces by 300.
The replacement of boilers. Four boilers are currently used at the facility, and, according to Wisniewski, the hospital is using two boilers that were originally installed when the facility was constructed in 1972. He said although the boilers have been well-maintained, replacing the old boilers will give MNMC a more sufficient way of heating the buildings and the water used within. The purchase of a linear accelerator for treatment of cancer patients. The expansion of the cardiovascular suite. The suite was originally constructed in 2000, and since has seen a drastic increase in patients seeking cardiovascular services. Improvements to the ground floor. Wisniewski said particular attention needs to be paid to the kitchen area, which has not been updated or improved since the building’s construction. He said the kitchen was originally designed to serve between 60 and 90 meals per day; however, recent counts show between 160 and 190 meals prepared and served each day. “I think all our facilities are in good
CENTRE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
Graphic courtesy Mount Nittany Medical Center
PLENTIFUL PARKING: This is an artist’s rendering of what the renovated parking garage will look like at the Mount Nittany Medical Center. The garage would be used for employee parking. shape and up-to-date; however, there are still things we have to do to keep things improving,” said Brown. “All these projects are based on growth and the need in the community. We’re now drawing patients
THON 2016 raises nearly $10 million By JANE MIENTKIEWICZ correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
Submitted photo
BACK HOME AGAIN: Joe Battista has returned to State College following a short stint with the Buffalo Sabres and Terry Pegula. Battista has started his own business, PRAGMATIC Passion, LLC.
STATE COLLEGE — Bright colors, crazy outfits, music, squirt guns, laughter, dancing — and tears — the final four hours had it all. The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon ended Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. when, after 46 hours on their feet dancing for the cure, student volunteer dancers finally sat down. The Bryce Jordan Center, home to THON for 10 years, was filled with students wearing every color shirt, socks, tutus, bandanas and even capes, holding the letters of their organization names and dancing to cel-
ebrate the event. Despite the lack of sleep and the physical strain, the enthusiasm was present even past the end of the 46 hours. “Every dancer, I’m so inspired by, because it’s all like a mental game,” said Christina Quaglia, 21, a junior majoring in nursing. “I think, like, I knew that going in, but I didn’t realize how much you just have to push through it and remember, like, why you’re doing it.” Quaglia danced for Apollo, one of the special interest organizations participating in THON. THON, Page 6
Battista pursuing a new passion By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — It’s hard to miss Joe Battista. He’s one of the most recognizable faces in State College. And if you think you’ve seen him around town recently, chances are that you have. After 26 years with Penn State, he left for a “dream job” with Terry Pegula and the Buffalo Sabres. However, after a couple of years with the Sabres, he stepped down as vice president of hockey Battista, Page 4 Opinion ............................ 7 Health & Wellness ............ 8
Education ......................... 9 Community ............... 10-13
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HEATHER WEIKEL/For the Gazette
PROUD MOMENT: When the final tally was revealed on Feb. 21, THON raised nearly $10 million for the fight against pediatric cancer. See photos from the event on Page 26. Women’s Corner ....... 14, 15 Wedding Planner ...... 16, 17
Sports ......................... 18-22 Around & In Town ......... 23
from six different counties and we serve more than 500,000 residents. These expansions are important.” Renovate, Page 4
Fasta to open two locations on May 13 By ALEXA LEWIS news@centrecountygazette.com
PLEASANT GAP — After a Christmas Eve fire closed its doors, Fasta & Ravioli Co. is reopening its Pleasant Gap location, as well as opening a new Harrisburg location. While there was no one inside Fasta when the fire broke out shortly after 2 a.m. on Dec. 24, the damage left what the fire department predicted to be three to six months of renovations. “The fire caused a lot of damage to the front of the house, but the larger implications is the smoke damage,” Fasta owner Bob Ricketts told the Gazette in December. “Virtually everything in the store is covered in smoke.” With the abatement phase of construction, where contractors remove smoke particles, wrapping up, Ricketts said renovations should stay closer to a three-month timeline. Fasta will celebrate the grand reopening of its Pleasant Gap store at 157 W. College Ave., and its brand new store in Harrisburg in the Broad Street Market located at 1233 N. Third St. on Friday, May 13, with a free pasta day. Ricketts said that Fasta participated in the Hershey’s Farmers Market located just outside Harrisburg and was well received. He said opening a store in Harrisburg is a logical progression from a growth standpoint. “This shop will be a conduit for our wholesale in Carlisle, Harrisburg and Fasta, Page 4
What’s Happening .... 24, 27 THON photo page ......... 26
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