GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Celebrate Mom
A special section in the Gazette takes a look at ways to honor Mom and give her something memorable this year. We’ve also included some recipes in case you plan to pamper her with brunch./Pages 19-23
May 5-11, 2016
Volume 8, Issue 18
FREE COPY
Council votes to discuss marijuana penalties By ALEXA LEWIS news@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — Following a public hearing on May 2, State College Borough council unanimously voted to further discuss a proposed ordinance that would change how the borough and police department handle marijuana offenses. The ordinance would allow for police to issue a non-traffic citation to individuals found in possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana or 8 grams or less of hashish. According to the ordinance draft, police could issue a $250 fine to individuals found in possession of small amounts of marijuana and a $350 fine to individuals found smoking in public. That is similar to the fine
given for open container violations. Currently under state law, which the borough operates under, 30 grams of marijuana or 8 grams of hashish is considered a small amount of marijuana. The penalty is a misdemeanor that could include a fine not exceeding $500 and no more than 30 days imprisonment. King said that first-time offenders in State College are generally mandated to Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, a one-year probation program that allows individuals to file for expungement after a year if they are not charged with another violation in that time. Andy Shubin, a criminal defense attorney based in State College, said individuals who plead
guilty to a marijuana conviction during ARD have to wait five years for their records to be expunged. “Conviction for a marijuana violation can be a lifetime of punishment. If you look at an application for employment there is a box for if you were ever convicted of a crime,” said former council member Peter Morris. Morris and most people who spoke at the hearing were in favor of an ordinance that would make marijuana possession a summary offense. Luis Rolfo, a Penn State senior, first proposed the idea to council on March 14. At this meeting, he said that a drug conviction risks a student’s eligibility to receive federal student aid. Council, Page 6
ALEXA LEWIS/The Gazette
PACKED HOUSE: State College Borough Council held a public hearing on May 2 to gather public input on a proposed ordinance that would treat possession of small amounts of marijuana as summary offenses.
Agency on Aging seeks public input By JODI MORELLI correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — Assessing the needs of local senior citizens is at the forefront of an initiative being launched by the Centre County Area Agency on Aging over the next several weeks. According to J.R. Reed, director of the county’s Office of Aging, his office will be seeking public input to find out the most pressing needs and issues for the area’s aging population, and will take this feedback in the development of a four-year plan. This plan is a directive from the state Department of Aging.
“Every four years, every Office of Aging across the commonwealth develops a plan to address the needs of older adults,” Reed said. He said that the plan will be designed to implement innovative ways in providing services to Centre County’s senior residents. In order to get the information needed to develop the plan, the Office of Aging is calling on residents to voice their ideas, comments and concerns by attending a public meeting or by completing a survey to offer insight on issues faced by the elderly. The survey can be accessed online by clicking on “Services” and “Aging” at the
website www.centrecountypa.gov, or by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/B2HPY9L. Surveys also can be mailed to Centre County Office of Aging, Willowbank Office Building, 420 Holmes St., Bellefonte, PA 16823. All surveys need to be completed and returned by Friday, May 20. In addition to the survey, the agency is holding a series of public meetings over the next two weeks so residents will have the opportunity to voice their comments in person. “The requirement is that each agency on aging has one public meeting. We are Aging, Page 5
CENTRE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
CHRIS MORELLI/The Gazette
MAKING THE TRANSITION: Morgan Wasikonis is the new executive director of Housing Transitions in State College.
MEETING OF THE MINDS
Wasikonis embraces new role By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
HEATHER WEIKEL/For the Gazette
BELLEFONTE AREA High School head softball coach Fred Caldwell talks with his team in the top of the sixth inning in a game with rival Philipsburg-Osceola. The Lady Mounties would go on to win the game, 3-2. For more on the game, check out the story on PAGE 24. Police ................................ 2 Opinion ............................ 9
Health & Wellness ..... 10-13 Education ....................... 14
Community ............... 15-18 Mother’s Day ............. 19-23
Sports ......................... 24-28 Around & In Town .... 31-34
STATE COLLEGE — Change is never easy. But for Morgan Wasikonis, this change is for the good. Wasikonis was recently promoted to executive director at Housing Transitions in State College. Previously, she was the development and community relations coordinator. Wasikonis sat in the conference room at Housing Transitions and talked about her new role. “I think the focus is definitely different,” Wasikonis said of the changing Wasikonis, Page 5
What’s Happening .... 34, 35 Puzzles ............................ 36
Business ..................... 37, 38 Classified ........................ 39