GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
KIDS’ DAY FUN
There’s plenty of opportunities for children to become involved in the fun at Central Pennsylvania’s Festival of the Arts. From painting and drawing, to sculpting and making collages, there are many activities scheduled for kids of all ages./Pages 16-17
July 6-12, 2017
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Volume 9, Issue 27
‘Broken’ system concerns local fire companies
SKIES LIGHT UP OVER STATE COLLEGE
Changing lifestyles mean less time, fewer volunteers By SEAN YODER syoder@centrecountygazette.com
owner has some documentation to provide to the state liquor control board about either taxes or something and it’s down to the final sign-off and there’s something held up at that level,” he said. According to prior statements from Bellefonte Borough administrators, Marian Bradley, of Montana, has been attempting to close on the Gamble Mill for some time. The community anticipated a closing on the historic property in May, but the month came and went. The Centre County Recorder of Deeds Office still shows the parcel remains the property of Dunlap Street LLC.
The number of volunteer firefighters has been on a long, steady decline, as fewer people have time to devote to training, fundraising and fire calls, according to local fire officials. Local officials say they fear for the future if volunteer departments “THE REALITY IS, do not get more support. “The reality is, this this system is broken. system is broken,” said The train is off the Steve Bair, fire director for Alpha Fire Compa- tracks and people ny and the Centre Re- are headed for a real gion Council of Governmess.” ments. “The train is off the tracks and people are Steve Bair headed for a real mess.” fire director for Alpha There are very few Fire Company and the Centre paid firefighters in Region Council of Governments Pennsylvania, and only in urban centers. This leaves the bulk of responsibility to volunteers for fighting fires, securing vehicle accidents and other scenes for safety, and rescuing people from crashed cars, planes, collapsed structures, natural disasters and just about every other emergency imaginable. On top of that, they are constantly engaged in fundraising in order to keep the lights on. The lives of citizens are in the hands of an ever-shrinking pool of fellow citizen volunteers, who spend much of their time training and trying to raise
License issues, Page 7
Fire companies, Page 7
TIM WEIGHT/For the Gazette
SIGHT AND SOUND erupted over Beaver Stadium during the Central PA 4thFest fireworks show, held July 4 to celebrate the independence of the country. The Parade of Heroes kicked off the daylong celebration, which included fun, food and activities for all who attended. See more about the parade on page 5.
License issues delay Gamble Mill sale By SEAN YODER syoder@centrecountygazette.com
BELLEFONTE — The sale of the Gamble Mill continues to be delayed, now with issues related to the transfer of the liquor license. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board website shows the license still in the name of KDP Bellefonte Inc., the entity that has been moving through bankruptcy proceedings. “We’ve been anticipating closing on the property for months,” said Ralph Stewart, Bellefonte borough manager, at a town hall meeting June 8. “The latest issue that we’re hearing is that the previous
Encampment reaches one month at proposed development site By SEAN YODER syoder@centrecountygazette.com
FERGUSON TOWNSHIP — It has been a month since protesters began camping on a section of the proposed site of a massive luxury cottage development along Whitehall Road at Blue Course Drive in Ferguson Township. About a dozen tents are pitched there, with a small makeshift garden and an array of signs calling for Penn State and Toll Brothers to call off the deal. The occupants haul in their own water and walk to nearby public bathrooms at High Point Park. There has not been a single night where someone has not slept at the protest site, said Kelli Hoover, of the Nittany Valley Water Coalition. Police Blotter .................... 2 Death Notices .................. 6
But in the coming years, that same slice of ground could become home to luxury accommodations aimed at attracting Penn State students, a development that protesters said could contaminate Slab Cabin Run, which provides drinking water for multiple municipalities. Toll Brothers is a Fortune 500 company that has designed and sold more than 100,000 luxury homes, making it the largest such company in the U.S. The company wishes to construct a 268unit cottage planned residential development on ground belonging to Penn State. Hoover said the wish of the NVWC is that Penn State and Toll Brothers find a site elsewhere, preferably closer to campus to keep the water from being contaminated and reduce congestion along Encampment, Page 4
Opinion ............................ 8 Health and Wellness ........ 9
Community .................... 12 Sports .............................. 19
SEAN YODER/The Gazette
DAVID STONE points to the gully the Nittany Valley Water Coalition is afraid could become contaminated if a proposed cottage development is built nearby. Stone is one of the campsite organizers for a protest on the property.
Around & In Town ......... 24 What’s Happening ......... 27
Puzzles ............................ 28 Business .......................... 29
Deed Transfers ............... 29 Classifieds ....................... 31
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