GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
SEE THE SPECTACULAR Centre County’s annual Fourth of July celebration, 4thFest, will again fill the sky with red, white and blue during its fireworks display, slated for Tuesday, July 4, next to Beaver Stadium./Pages 16-17
June 29-July 5, 2017
FREE COPY
Volume 9, Issue 26
Winery to open in Harris Township By JAMES TURCHICK correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
HARRIS TOWNSHIP — Six years after moving back to his hometown of State College to start his own business, Jeff Proch needs more space to grow grapes. Recently, he received approval to build the University Wine Company’s first winery, in Harris Township. Construction will begin next year, and after it is completed, the company will have one building and 2 acres of grapevines on Misty Hill Drive. “Our production facility needs more room and we’ve been looking for a long time. Initially, we looked at existing buildings,” Proch said. When nothing fit the bill, Proch and his family, who help run the business, decided to build their own.
It will take about two years for the grapes to mature enough for Proch to turn them into wine, he said. Until then, the company will continue producing wine with grapes grown in Erie. Erie, known for its vineyards, is the location of Welch Food Inc.’s largest grape source. Concord and Niagara grapes are American varieties that thrive in Pennsylvania. According to the Penn State manual “Fruit Production for the Home Gardener,” they hold up through the winter better than their European counterparts. Proch’s not sure what kinds of grapes he’ll settle on, but said he will try more than one. “We’re narrowing it down. It’ll be a little experimental,” he said. Proch said he’s starting with four varieties and keeping the ones that do bet-
ter. If all goes according to plan, he believes the 2 acres of grapes could produce around 2,000 gallons of wine annually. When the winery opens, it will be the fourth in Centre County. Added to a single cidery, a handful of distilleries and numerous breweries, Proch hopes the area can become a tourist spot. “It’s certainly an attraction, and I’d like to see (Centre County) become a wine tourism destination,” Proch said. “People come to explore the wineries and the craft beverages. It’d be another reason to come and enjoy the scenery.” The company will need help in the tasting room from a few people looking for part-time work next year. “Hopefully, we’ll grow and need to hire more people,” Proch said. The Winery, Page 3
Organizers cancel Karoondinha Festival By GEOFF RUSHTON StateCollege.com
CENTRE HALL — The Karoondinha Festival, the major three-day music festival planned for Friday, July 21, through Sunday, July 23, at Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park has been canceled, for now. Organizers said they hope to still make something happen at the site, but that it will not be as had been scheduled for July. In an official statement posted to the festival website around 9 p.m. June 27, they said: “We are deeply saddened to announce that Karoondinha Music & Arts Festival will not take place during the scheduled dates of July 20-23, 2017. From the beginning, our vision was to create a unique destination experience that brings music fans and artists together for an amazing weekend in a beautiful setting. Our entire team has been working tirelessly to have the event take place as planned, but have found it necessary to reschedule. We are fully committed to returning and are working to confirm alternate dates and arrangements. To everyone who has believed in Karoondinha, we are
thankful and hope to continue to earn your support in the future.” The festival deleted its social media accounts and wiped all but a logo from its website. Co-organizer Paul Rallis told Billboard that costs soared while ticket sales did not meet expectations. “The event as planned will not take place July 21-31 (sic), 2017,” Rallis told Billboard. “We’re looking at other options at this moment and hope we can make something happen in some way. We’re not walking away from the vision of the idea in any way, because our commitment is still to make something great happen in this area — it’s just not going to take place on the scheduled days.” Rallis and his sister Kaleena Rallis reportedly raised $5 million from local investors to stage the music festival, which was to feature such big-name acts as John Legend, Chance the Rapper, Paramore, Odesza, Sturgill Simpson and the Roots, to name a few. But Billboard says they did not come close to reaching their expected sales of 25,000 to 30,000 tickets. Festival, Page 3
CONSTRUCTION APPROVED THE STATE COLLEGE Area School district has approved renovations and new construction at three of the district’s elementary schools. Shown is a rendering of the front facade for Corl Street Elementary School as included in the 60 percent design plans for additions and renovations. See full story on page 8. Image provided by SCASD
Police Blotter .................... 2 Death Notices .................. 6
Opinion ............................ 9 Health & Wellness .......... 10
Community .................... 12 4th Fest ........................... 16
Sports .............................. 18 Around & In Town ......... 25
Submitted photo
LOCAL BUSINESSMAN Jeff Proch, who is launching a new vineyard and winery this year, hopes the State College area becomes a tourism location for wine lovers.
County puzzled over Castor lawsuit By SEAN YODER syoder@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — County commissioners said June 27 they were puzzled over a suit filed by a lawyer representing Montgomery County attorney Bruce Castor that demands more than $50,000 in payment. The commissioners said they have never had contract with Castor and no agreement was approved through the salary board. They also said the new suit was unique and bizarre. Castor represented District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller in 2015 after she was accused of forging a judge’s signature. The case was handed over to the Attorney General’s Office and no BRUCE CASTOR charges were filed. Parks Miller then filed a federal lawsuit against the commissioners and other Centre County employees. Castor was then appointed by Parks Miller as a special assistant district attorney for Centre County. He then sent an invoice to the county in 2016 for repayment in the amount of $126,175 for Parks Miller’s defense, but that was denied by county solicitor Elizabeth Dupuis. When contacted, Castor said his firm, Rogers Castor, didn’t file a suit against Centre County and did not comment further. The suit was filed by Jonathan Young on behalf of Castor. Castor has been involved with other lawsuits involving Centre County. In 2015, he brought forth a suit on behalf of Parks Miller over a right-to-know request of her phone records. Parks Miller also had a separate suit against the county over the forging allegations, and she was facing a defamation lawsuit filed by a former paralegal. The commissioners said they never approved a contract with Castor and have no relationship with him or his firm. They are responsible for approving contracts and payment for services as part of their duties. Castor, Page 5 What’s Happening ......... 27 Puzzles ............................ 28
Business .......................... 29 Classifieds ....................... 31
Hey Happy Valley, when was the last time you got FREE PIZZA just because it’s Tuesday?
PIZZA MIA DOES IT EVERY TUESDAY ALL YEAR LONG!
TWO FOR TUESDAY: BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!* Sunday to Wednesday 9am-Midnight; Thursday to Saturday 9am-3am
FREE DELIVERY TO ALL OF BELLEFONTE & STATE COLLEGE! Bellefonte (814)355-3738 | State College (814)234-1606 | www.WeArePizzaMia.com
*of equal or lesser value, delivery is 1/2 off 2nd pizza