GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
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It’s here!
The 141st Grange Encampment and Fair has begun. Inside, find out everything you need to know about entertainment, camping and tradition. The Gazette’s guide to the Grange has you covered./Pages 13-20
August 20-26, 2015
Volume 7, Issue 33
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Residents oppose extensive upgrades to park By ALEXA LEWIS news@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — Many local residents spoke out against proposed renovations for the Holmes Foster Park in a public hearing held during the Aug. 17 State College Borough council meeting. The park, which was given to the borough in 1921, is located off Sparks Street and surrounds mostly residential neighborhoods, bordering about 30 houses. The developers, Stomberg, Garrigan and Associates Inc., began gathering input on the park about a year ago. The plan, which includes replacing older trees, extending paved paths, creating more seating, replacing the existing pavilions and updating the restroom facility, first received mixed opinions when the developers presented it in February to the public. On July 20, the project’s architectural consultants presented the plan, which also includes integrating the old play areas into a new play zone and rotating the parking lot, to council. Residents continued to voice their opinions in opposition to the plan at the public hearing that borough council hosted.
CHRIS MORELLI/The Gazette
NO CHANGES: At a recent State College Borough Council meeting, area residents voiced their displeasure with a plan to make changes to Holmes Foster Park in State College. “This is an enormous waste of resources and of taxpayers’ money,” said borough resident Richard Eckhardt. “Rather than use the money to undo what is al-
United Way campaign off to strong start By CHRIS MORELLI editor@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — It was a memorable night for the Centre County United Way when it kicked off its 2015 campaign on Aug. 17 at Sound Technology in Ferguson Township.
Submitted photo
KICKING IT OFF: Pictured, from left, are Chris Hosterman, 2015 Campaign Co-Chair; Colleen Williams, 2015 Campaign Co-Chair and Steve Brown, 2015 Honorary Co-Chair, CEO Mount Nittany Health.
grabbing,” while the original idea — which is supported by many residents — was to stabilize the park making only necessary upgrades.
Goreham relishes role as mayor
By ALEXA LEWIS news@centrecountygazette.com
the plane upon her arrival here, she felt she was at home. “People are honest here, I remember being surprised. Unlike Houston, you could get change for a dollar; in Houston you have to buy something,” she said with a laugh. Goreham, who describes herself as an environmentalist, found her niche in local government after writing for Voices of Central PA and a failed attempt to start a juice bar. Her husband convinced her that running for borough council could serve as a way for her to introduce her environmental ideas to the community.
STATE COLLEGE — Police have concluded what happened during a June 22 crash that killed Joel Reed. Reed was driving a scooter traveling northbound on North Atherton Street when he collided with a Mini Cooper driven by Kimberly Griffin that was turning onto Park Avenue. State College police said in a statement that after a thorough investigation, the crash reconstruction investigator concluded that Reed failed to stop at a red light. “The investigator found that no traffic violation was committed by the operator of the Mini Cooper,” police said in this same statement. This crash was the second fatal crash that occurred at the intersection of Park Avenue and Atherton Street in the last year. Penn State freshman Eva O’Brian was struck by a pickup truck when she was jogging across Atherton Street in early July 2014. “The problem is there is no time for pedestrians,” said William Taylor, the
Goreham, Page 5
Crash, Page 4
By ALEXA LEWIS STATE COLLLEGE — State College Mayor Elizabeth Goreham never stops serving her community — even when she’s at the grocery store. “If I go to a grocery store, and if someone has something that they want me to act on or need a response from the borough, they will tell me,” Goreham said. “They think I represent them, that I am here for them — and I am.” Aside from graduating with a degree in political science from George Washington University, Goreham’s road to becoming one of the borough’s go-to political figures is a bit untraditional. Born and raised in Indiana, she moved to State College in 1993 from Houston. Even though she had lived in Texas for 20 years, Goreham said the second she got off
Health & Wellness ............ 8 Education ......................... 9
Community ............... 10-12 Grange Fair ................ 13-20
Park, Page 4
Police: Scooter driver at fault in fatal crash
CENTRE COUNTY SPOTLIGHT
news@centrecountygazette.com
United Way, Page 6
Police ................................ 2 Opinion ............................ 7
ready a very nice park, I’d like us to use the money for more pressing purposes.” He said the consultants created a plan that is “attention-
Eckhardt was not the only resident who spoke before council opposing large-scale upgrades and questioning the necessity of parts of the proposed plan. “It’s a lovely plan, but it belongs in a newer development,” said local resident Carol Lee. “Holmes Foster Park is old, like many of our residents, and it’s beautiful and it’s natural and I would hate to see anything done that would change the perception and feel of the park.” While Lee said the pavilions do need refurbishing and the bathrooms need improvements, some of the proposed changes such as rotating the parking lot and adding additional paths are unnecessary and would not better serve the local residents any better. “People walk everywhere because they like it, so I don’t see the need for additional trails or paths,” she said. Moreover, residents were also concerned about funding the project. “This is a time when the borough is facing some financial challenges and I’d like us to not spend money on something that
ALEXA LEWIS/The Gazette
IN CHARGE: State College Mayor Elizabeth Goreham sat in her office at the State College municipal building recently.
Sports ......................... 21-25 Arts & Entertainment .... 26
What’s Happening .... 26, 27 Puzzles ............................ 28
Business ..................... 29, 30 Classified ........................ 31