Gazette The Centre County
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Memorial Day
The unofficial start of summer features plenty of special events in Centre County. Boalsburg is widely recognized as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Find out where to go and what to do. Pages 19-22
May 21-27, 2015
Volume 7, Issue 20
FREE COPY
Front and State High breaks ground for renovations Centre By ALEXA LEWIS
correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — The State College Area High School renovation project broke ground on May 14 as the first shovels dug into a mound of dirt outside the school. After multiple speeches, board members, the district administrative and project design teams, the president of student government and the superintendent came before the audience of more than 200 people to each toss a shovel full of dirt. While the real construction begins within the next two to three weeks, the shovels at the groundbreaking ceremony were a way for State College Area School District administrators, teachers and students to celebrate years of efforts behind the State High project. “This ceremony marks a significant milestone toward realizing a resource that will support the impressive work of our students and teachers for many decades,” said Robert O’Donnell, the superintendent of the State College Area School District, during his speech at the event. An $85 million referendum vote to renovate the outdated buildings on Westerly Parkway passed last May with a 74 percent public consensus. The State High Project will update aging facilities, improve safety and security, and enhance the educational environment, according to Penni Fishbaine, a current member of the school board and past board president. “I really like how all the safety has been considered,” said Laurel Martin, who has three children who attend schools in the dis-
BUY FRESH, SHOP LOCAL: There are a variety of Farmer’s Markets in Centre County. Gazette columnist Connie Cousins checked them out and breaks them down for our readers. Page 9 SPECIAL SCOUT: Eagle Scout candidate Tim Breon, of Troop 20 in Centre Hall, recently constructed a permanent memorial for those at unmarked graves in Union Cemetery in Farmers Mills. Page 11 HEART OF A LION: The State College Area High School softball team pounded Altoona, 10-0, in the first round of the District 6 Class AAAA playoffs. The Lady Little Lions got a stellar effort from three pitchers in the win. Page 19 AWARD WINNER: The State College Community Theatre will perform Tony Award winner “Vanya and Sasha and Masha and Spike.” The play is being directed by Philip Vonada. Page 25
ALEXA LEWIS/For the Gazette
GROUNDBREAKING MOMENT: The State College Area High School recently broke ground on its renovation project. Pictured, from left, Robert O’Donnell, superintendent; Laurel Zydney, board member; Jim Pawelczyk, board member; Penni Fishbaine, member of the school board and past board president; Jim Leous, vice president of the school board; Reilly Ebbs, student representative to the board and State High student government president; Amber Concepcion, president of the school board; Ann McGlaughlin, board member and past board president; David Hutchinson, board member; Dorothea Stahl, board member; Scott Fozard, board member; Scott DeShong, State High principal. trict and will attend State High in the future. “It allow for a much more controlled flow, with the renovation allowing for more communication between teachers and students.” The current design of the school forces students to walk across the street throughout the day.
The project will span over the next 2.5 to three years. While it is still in its design process, current plans already include new art and athletic spaces, air-conditioned and heated classrooms, and a career and technical Renovations, Page 5
Local financial expert pens book on investing By HARRY ZIMBLER correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
Submitted photo
CIVIC DUTY: Election workers in Walker Township take a break to pose for a photo on Election Day, May 19. Voter turnout was light across Centre County.
Polls fairly quiet on Election Day By ALEXA LEWIS correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — About 16 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the 2015 primary municipal election on May 19, according to Centre County officials. A total of 83,963 voters registered to vote in the primary, which Opinion ............................. 7 Health & Wellness ............. 8
does not include minor and nonaffiliate parties, and 13,167 ballots were cast, according to the Centre County Elections Office. Jodi Neidig, assistant director of Centre County Elections Office, said the turnout this election cycle was normal. About 51 percent of county voters are registered Democrat and
Farmer’s Markets .............. 9 Education ........................ 10
about 49 percent are registered Republican. The pace still felt slow at the 91 precincts in Centre County. Susan Venegoni, who has volunteered at the 34th precinct since before the 2008 presidential election, said she remembers the long Election, Page 4
Community ................ 11-14 Memorial Day ............ 15-18
STATE COLLEGE — How do we prosper in an unstable economy? That’s the core question that local financial expert Daniel Nestlerode sets out to answer in his entertaining new book “Get Rich: Or Get Out of My Way.” With his typical sense of humor and good cheer, Nestlerode outlines a pathway to financial security and investment success. The book begins with a set of chapters that create a foundation based upon self-knowledge and a solid understanding of the markets. “A savvy investor knows what he knows and knows what he doesn’t know or, in other words, a savvy investor knows his limits,” Nestlerode said. “Most people who invest never consider this and as a result are at best naive about the markets and believe someone else can predict the future.” Financial success requires rigorous learning and disci-
Sports .......................... 19-24 Arts & Entertainment ..... 25
Submitted photo
ON THE SHELVES: State College financial guru Dan Nestlerode has written a new book, “Get Rich: Or Get Out of My Way.” pline, along with the willingness to take a risk. Commitment is key. “Any successful investor needs to cut through the media garbage and get to the root of the matter. One has to find the Author, Page 4
What’s Happening ..... 26, 27 Puzzles ............................. 28
Business ...................... 29, 30 Classified ......................... 31