GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Hitting the links
It’s that time of year again! Time to dust off the golf clubs and get out on Centre County’s golf courses. This week, the Gazette breaks down each course with a special directory. Find out everything you need to know before you start swinging./Pages 19-21
April 14-20, 2016
Volume 8, Issue 15
FREE COPY
Co-op brings local produce to area residents By ALEXA LEWIS news@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — The Meetinghouse on Atherton opens its doors to the aromas of fresh, local produce every Tuesday afternoon. Volunteers and staff of the food co-operative Friends & Farmers meet at 2 p.m. to package and distribute orders customers made the week before on the online retail market, which sources in-season produce, prepared foods, meat, dairy and eggs from 11 farms within 50 miles of each other. “Although we live in an agricultural paradise, State Collegearea residents are limited to where and when (they) can purchase these local foods, primarily at farmers markets or through CSA programs —and on a very limited basis at some grocery stores,” said Michele Marchetti, Friends & Farmers’ board president. In 2013, Centre County reported that the demand for purchasing local goods and services was becoming a trend among
county residents, with more individuals interested in supporting the local economy, purchasing products at lower costs and eating foods without chemicals and additives. In an effort to increase accessibility to the county’s produce, a group formed in January 2012 with the idea of opening a grocery store focusing on local products that would be owned, operated and financed by the people who shop there. The group calling themselves Friends & Farmers incorporated in 2013 and the following year they launched an online market, where owner-members and nonmembers can browse and order local food in one convenient location. “When someone joins the co-op they become a member of what will become a brick and mortar store,” said Diana Griffith, the co-op’s marketing manager. “But they are also building a community that is passionate about locally grown fresh food.” Friends & Farmers is the only Co-op, Page 6
ALEXA LEWIS/The Gazette
HELPING HANDS: Deontay Mcintyre, left, and Ben Gelenberg, right, volunteer at Friends & Farmers on April 5 at the Meetinghouse on Atherton. Both are seniors at State High and have been volunteering at the co-op for about one month.
Senior Institute Dinner rallies community to help teenager By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
CHRIS MORELLI/The Gazette
SPECIAL NIGHT: Bellefonte Area High School students in the Senior Institute gathered for a photo following a pasta dinner that raised funds for fellow senior Devon Anderson, center.
BELLEFONTE — Make no mistake about it: When someone is in need, the Bellefonte community steps up. The latest example came on April 6 at the Senior Institute Dinner. The community packed Faith United Methodist Church in Bellefonte to support Bellefonte Area High School senior Devon Anderson, who had been battling testicular cancer. “I think it exceeded our expectations,” said Senior Institute adviser Jessica Lloyd. “I think
we had around 300 people. We didn’t get a definite count. We had close to 100 takeout orders, which was excellent.” The pasta dinner featured pasta, several different types of meats and sauces, garlic rolls, salad, dessert and drinks. All of the food came from local businesses. “We had all sorts of donations,” Lloyd said. “Even when people came in, they were throwing extra money in, that sort of thing.” For Meg Barton, a teacher at BAHS, this was her final Senior Institute Dinner. She’s retiring at the end of the school year. For
her final act, she manned the dessert table. “I can tell you our table was very busy. There were times when I felt like we weren’t keeping up … but there were lots of good desserts that were baked and donated.” According to Lloyd and Barton, the 17 seniors who make up the Senior Institute deserve the majority of the credit. “Every kid worked so hard … every kid worked to his or her full capacity. Everybody broke a sweat and filled in where they were needed. They went above Dinner, Page 6
Commissioners announce PBI design contest winner By G. KERRY WEBSTER correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — The Centre County board of commissioners announced the winner of the Philipsburg Business Incubator design contest during the board’s April 12 meeting in Bellefonte. A total of 71 submissions were received from county residents over the past month, and — after inspection of the Opinion ................................ 9 Health & Wellness ......... 11-13
entries by commissioners Mark Higgins, Steve Dershem and Michael Pipe, Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership executive director Stan LaFuria and Philipsburg Borough council president Barb Gette — Sierra Metcalf, a CPI student from Bald Eagle Area High School, was proclaimed the winner.
Education ............................14 Community ................... 15-18
Golf Course Directory ... 19-21 Lawn & Garden ............ 22, 23
For her efforts, Metcalf received a check in the amount of $250 and the logo she designed will grace correspondence, signage and other materials associated with the opening of the new business incubator on Philipsburg’s Front Street. “The contest proved to be very successful,” said Higgins. “With all the subSports ............................. 24-27 Spring Car Care ............ 28, 29
missions we received, it was very difficult narrowing them down. But, we think we picked the best logo for what we’re trying to do in Philipsburg.” According to Metcalf, her logo design was based on growth throughout the entire region. “I wanted to incorporate a leaf and the mountains into the design because that’s Contest, Page 7
Family Matters ............. 30, 31 Around & In Town ........ 32-34
What’s Happening ............. 35 Puzzles ................................ 36