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June 2-8, 2016
Volume 8, Issue 22
tion of A special publica
THE CENTRE COUNTY
GAZETTE
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State High boys capture PIAA title By PHILIP CMOR Special to the Gazette
SHIPPENSBURG — Almost everyone else had cleared out of Seth Grove Stadium when the State College Area High School boys’ track and field team was taking a victory lap. It was a long, hot weekend at Shippensburg University, but the Little Lions were relishing the coolest of feelings after winning the Class AAA boys’ team title and capturing nine medals — including three golds — at the PIAA Track and Field Championships on May 27 and 28. “It’s awesome,” Little Lion senior distance runner Alex Milligan said. “Our school’s never even gotten a runner-up (before). To be the first to get the hardware is awesome. We didn’t even know if we had a chance.” Milligan won gold individually and as part of a relay, while Little Lion pole vaulter Griffin Thompson also ascended to the top spot on the medal stand. It was a big meet for Centre County athletes all around. Veronika Karpenko highlighted the State College’s girls performances by winning a pair of silvers despite competing with an injury, and Penns Valley’s Destiny Andrus was a triple medalist in Class AA.
State College clinched the boys’ team title by placing second in the 4x400-meter relay, when Milligan, Noah Oesterling, Tony Degleris and Noah Woods posted a time of 3 minutes, 16.57 seconds, about a second ahead of Downingtown West and nine-hundredths of a second in front of Milton Hershey. That gave the Little Lions 54 team points, one more than Downingtown West. “We rallied, and we pulled it off. That’s what it’s all about, coming down to the four-by-four for the state team title,” Milligan said. “We knew we had to get second, or, we knew we were ahead by three, score two less points than them, at the minimum. We assumed they would win (the 1600 relay), so we just did our best to hang with them. “We knew what was at stake.” State College maximized its chances by sending most of its team to states. About the only events in which the Little Lions weren’t represented were the hurdles, the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter relay. “We’ve always had talent. We’ve got a school of like 3,000 kids. But this is our first year having Steve Shisler as our head coach. He couldn’t have done a better job. It’s no coincidence that the first year he’s our coach that we get a state title,” Milligan said.
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GOLDEN BOYS: The State College Area High School boys’ 4x800 squad posted a school record time — 7:37.25 — in the final at the PIAA Track and Field Championships. Pictured, from left, are Nick Feffer, Owen Wing, Craig Hilliard, Alex Milligan and Tony Degleris. The Little Lion 4x800-meter relay posted the best time in the country this spring in the state finals, taking gold by almost seven seconds with a time of 7 minutes, 37.25 seconds — the PIAA meet record and national record is 7:33.48. “We had the U.S. top time in the indoor season for a little bit. To take it back feels really good,” Nick Feffer said. The national honor roll time is 7:48.00. “This feels really good. Coming here last
year and running a fast time but still coming in third was almost bittersweet, but running fast today and winning the title was a cool thing to do,” Degleris said. When Milligan got the baton, the outcome pretty much had been decided. “I knew we were going to run fast. It was just a question of how close the other teams were going to be,” Milligan said. PIAA, Page 6
County seniors reap benefits of farmers market program By G. KERRY WEBSTER news@centrecountygazette.com
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BEST OF THE FEST: Summer’s Best Music Fest was a big success in 2015. This year’s event is set for June 3 and 4 in downtown State College.
Summer’s Best Music Fest features impressive lineup By JODI MORELLI correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
STATE COLLEGE — From top-notch local artists to up and coming national talent, Summer’s Best Music Fest has something for every musical taste. Marking its 10th year in 2016, the event, slated for Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, in downtown State College, is exIndex ................................. 2 Opinion ............................ 7
pected to be bigger and better than ever, according to George Arnold, executive director for the Downtown State College Improvement District. “The festival started 10 years ago to Music fest, Page 5 INSIDE: For more about Summer’s Best Music Fest, see Pages 16-17.
Health & Wellness ......... 8, 9 Education .................. 10, 11
Community ............... 12-15 Centre Spread ........... 16-17
BELLEFONTE — For more than a decade, Centre County seniors have been reaping the rewards of local farmers markets, roadside produce stands and community-supported agriculture programs and, according to Centre County director on aging J.R. Reed, the program is up and running again in 2016. “This is a great program that not just helps our seniors get good, nutritional food, but also helps our local farmers and food producers who have worked hard to bring these goods to market,” Reed told the Centre County board of commissioners May 31. “This program has been successful for us in the past, and there is no reason to believe it won’t be this summer as well.” According to Reed, county seniors meeting income requirement guidelines are eligible to receive up to four $5 vouchers redeemable at a number of approved produce providers across the county. These vouchers are only redeemable for specific fresh produce items. Reed said there are only 1,000 vouchers available and they are available one a firstcome, first-served basis. Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers can Sports ......................... 18-21 Around & In Town .... 23, 24
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FRESH AND PLENTIFUL: There is an abundance of produce at Centre County farmers markets, and it has benefited the county’s senior population. be obtained at the Office of Aging in Bellefonte, or by calling (814) 355-6716. In other business, the board of commissioners took action to approve several loss prevention grants totaling more than $11,000. These grants will be used to replace outdoor lighting at the Willowbank Building, purchase six new body armor vests for the sheriff deputies, reimburse funds used for the recent purchase of a Benefits, Page 6
What’s Happening .... 25, 26 Puzzles ............................ 27
Business ..................... 28, 29 Classified ........................ 30
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