GAZETTE THE CENTRE COUNTY
www.CentreCountyGazette.com
Boalsburg beckons
Official Guide to the
24th Annual
tiva People’s Choice Fes
l
The 24th annual People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts and Crafts will be held next week in Boalsburg. The official guide has everything you need to know about the event, from artists to food vendors and more./Inside
Laurie Leonard
of Pennsylvania Arts
& Crafts
July 14-17, 2016
July 7-13, 2016
Ave., Boalsb urg Museum , 51 Boal Pennsy lvania Military festiva l.com www.p eoples choice
FREE COPY
Volume 8, Issue 27 n of
A special publicatio
July 7, 2016
4thFest 2016 draws successful turnout over holiday weekend By G. KERRY WEBSTER kwebster@centrecountygazette.com
UNIVERSITY PARK — Mother Nature played tricks on 4thFest goers this past weekend, but when it was time to send the rockets into the air, she dismissed the clouds and allowed for an enjoyable evening celebrating the country’s 240th birthday. “I think we had a great event this year,” said Karl Libhart, executive director of the 4thFest Committee. “Sure, we had a little rain and things were damp, but when it came time for the fireworks, there was just
a slight drizzle. People didn’t seem to mind at all.” Libhart said estimated crowd numbers were not yet available, but he feels this year’s event was one of the best attended in the celebration’s history. “We’re confident the numbers are going to be high, just by judging from the crowds we’ve seen,” said Libhart. “I think when we do put an estimate on the number of people who attended, it will be right up there with some of our best shows ever.” This year, the 4thFest was celebrated 4thFest, Page 6
PATRICK MANSELL/Penn State University
SOGGY SKY: Rain and cloud cover made it an interesting night to watch fireworks July 4. Despite some heavy rain, the fireworks went off without a hitch during the Central PA 4thFest.
Local woman selected to RNC rules committee
UP, UP … AND AWAY
By G. KERRY WEBSTER
kwebster@centrecountygazette.com
CHUCK FONG/Special to the Gazette
DAVID “THE BULLET” SMITH spent the holiday weekend bursting through the air, first during a State College Spikes baseball game and then at the Central PA 4thFest. He has performed more than 5,000 cannon shots around the world.
STATE COLLEGE — Joyce Haas, a Centre County resident and vice chairwoman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, has been appointed to represent the state on the Republican National Convention’s rules committee. The appointment was made at a meeting of the Keystone State’s delegation in Harrisburg in early June. In May, she was elected as an at-large delegate by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. “I’m truly honored to be able to represent Pennsylvania on the rules committee,” said Haas. “I’m very fortunate to work with some great people and I’m looking forward to going to Cleveland and being part of a wonderful process.” The event will be held Monday, July 18, through Thursday, July 21, in Cleveland. It signifies the end of a presidential primary season and
the start of campaigning for a general election. According to Haas, the convention’s purpose is to nominate an official candidate in the upcoming JOYCE HAAS U.S. presidential election and to adopt the party platform and rules for the election cycle. She has attended six conventions in the past and this will be the second time working on the rules committee. She has also served on the platform committee four times and she co-chaired the convention on one other occasion with then-Gov. Tom Ridge. Rules committee members RNC, Page 6
Millbrook Marsh welcomes visitors with new native garden By ANNE WALKER correspondent@centrecountygazette.com
COLLEGE TOWNSHIP — The lazy days of summer have officially arrived. But, for two Centre County Parks and Recreation workers, the next few months mean plenty of excitement, energy and education. Mandy Maguffey, program coordinator, and Melissa Freed, supervisor, work as curators, guides, educators and proprietors of the Millbrook Marsh Nature CenOpinion ............................ 7 Health & Wellness ......... 8, 9
ter. Tucked away on Puddintown Road in College Township, the center sits on more than 60 idyllic acres dedicated to environmental appreciation. And, every season brings new features for park visitors to enjoy. “In 2015, we had over 13,000 visitors for our programs or facility rentals, not counting folks who just came and walked around,” said Freed. This summer, a pollinator garden and a new native garden offer chances for both
Education ....................... 10 Community ............... 11-15
Centre Spread ........... 16, 17 Children’s Day .......... 18, 19
learning and simple enjoyment. Additionally, both gardens give native wildlife protection and food, while enhancing the propagation of plant varieties so essential to a healthy ecosystem. After parking in the new lot along Puddintown Road, a few steps lead to the pollinator garden. A fence surrounds the garden, “to deter deer,” according to Maguffey. A makeshift gate allows entrance to the site. Healthy stands of spiderwort, echinaSports ......................... 20-24 Around & In Town .... 25, 26
cea, ninebark and elderberry keep company with anise hyssop and plenty of the milkweed, which is so vital to monarch butterfly populations. A trellis stands at the south side of the garden. “That was built by a Girl Scout and her father,” Freed said. Freed said volunteers planted the garden, using many donated materials. “Danielle Lanagan, from the Native Plant Millbrook Marsh, Page 4
What’s Happening ......... 27 Puzzles ............................ 28
Business ..................... 29, 30 Classified ........................ 31
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