Mariana Forteza Site

Thousands of people flocked to downtown State College on a sunny Saturday afternoon to celebrate Pride and the LGBTQ community.



Presented by Centre LGBTQA Support Network, Downtown State College Improvement District and State College Borough, the third annual State College Pride <a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/articles/community/parade-festival-among-state-college-pride-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">included</a> a parade of colorful floats and marchers through town and a festival in Sidney Friedman Park, among other events throughout the weekend.



State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, served as grand marshal of the parade and festival. A frequent visitor to Centre County, Kenyatta is the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.



He called 2023 &#8220;probably the most important year for Pride in a really long time,&#8221; noting a vocal anti-LGBTQ contingent and legislation in a number of states, particularly related to transgender individuals. 



&#8220;In this moment, in this Pride year, what we are doing right now, showing up with joy in our hearts, showing up for and with each other in real community, that is critical right now,&#8221; Kenyatta said. &#8220;Because this is actually what our communities look like. This is actually where most people are&#8230; Do not believe the noise and the nonsense that most people are as hateful and vitriolic as some of the politicians who unfortunately get elected&#8230;. For Pride, it’s really critical for us as a community that we recognize our joy does not exist in contrast to their hatred.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-kenyatta-lane-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424953"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, State College Pride grand marshal, and Judge Timika Lane lead the 2023 Pride parade. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



Pennsylvania, Kenyatta said, should aspire to be the best place to live, raise a family and retire for everyone, including LGBTQ people.



&#8220;We deserve to be happy, to be joyous, to be just who you are every single day, no matter what they’re talking about, no matter what they’re doing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You just be who the hell you are.&#8221;



State College Mayor Ezra Nanes acknowledged that some in attendance may be feeling scared, worried or uncertain because of events nationally. 



&#8220;It’s OK to feel that,&#8221; Nanes said. &#8220;I want you to know that me, Ezra Nanes, my family, the Borough of State College, we are here for you. We will always be here for you. We’re going to keep building on the amazing work that you’ve already done, that we’ve already done together.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-3-1024x751.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424937"/></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-8-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424942"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photos by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



Nanes issued a proclamation last week declaring June as Pride Month in the borough, and as the parent of an LGBTQ child, he called Pride &#8220;not just principle,&#8221; but also personal.



&#8220;One of the greatest joys in life, whether you’re a parent or a sibling or just an adult with a child in your life that matters, is supporting that child in discovering who they are,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think that’s a really important principle of what Pride is, that we all believe in helping people discover themselves, not telling them who they should be.&#8221;



State Rep. Paul Takac, D-Lemont, said Pride is also personal for him and his family and called it a &#8220;joyful occasion.



&#8220;This represents the absolute best of what State College is and can be,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This sets the standard for what every day should be like. You are not only seen, you are not only accepted, but you should be celebrated and you should be loved. If we could bottle today and make every day like that, wouldn’t this be a better world, a better place to be?&#8221;



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<figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">Scenes from the 2023 Pride parade in downtown State College. Photos by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



Timika Lane, a Philadelphia judge who is running for Pennsylvania Superior Court in November, emphasized the importance of individuals making their voices heard to ensure all are treated with dignity and respect.



&#8220;We have to decide in Pennsylvania, what is it going to be? Are we going to be a place of love or are we going to be a place of hate?&#8230; Your voice matters,&#8221; Lane said.



Kenyatta urged those in attendance to be true to themselves, knowing that it will inspire someone else to do the same.



&#8220;If we lift each other up, if we encourage each other to be brave, if we remind ourselves that we are the majority of this commonwealth, that we are the majority of this nation, when we do that then we will continue to pull this nation closer to making the ideals of freedom, justice and fairness real for everybody,&#8221; he said. &#8220;No matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter who you love, no matter how you worship or choose not to, here in Pennsylvania it’s about you getting a fair shot and a fair shake. We’re going to keep doing that together.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-9-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424943"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



State College Pride has grown substantially since it was first held in 2021. Last year it drew an estimated 4,000 people and organizers expected that number would increase again for the third edition.



The <a href="https://www.centrelgbtqa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centre LGBTQA Support Network</a> (CLSN), which was founded in 2014, has been instrumental in that, as well as in providing resources year round. Sue Marshall, a founding member and current board secretary, said planning for next year&#8217;s Pride will start next week.



In the shorter term, however, CLSN will be celebrating another advancement. A long-planned LGBTQ center for downtown State College will open sometime in August at the corner of Calder Way and South Pugh Street, Marshall said.



&#8220;We can’t wait,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We will have a big opening celebration.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-anchor-arrow-2-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424949"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Community members danced while Anchor &amp; Arrow played at the 2023 State College Pride festival on Saturday, June 10, in Sidney Friedman Park. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>

‘Showing Up with Joy in Our Hearts.’ State College Celebrates Pride

There may be just one person who claims not to know who will start at quarterback for Penn State football when the team begins its season against West Virginia on Sept. 2.



While Drew Allar has been set as the presumed successor to longtime starting quarterback Sean Clifford since the day that he stepped onto Penn State’s campus in January 2022, James Franklin didn’t declare a winner to the Nittany Lions’ quarterback competition with 86 days until the season opener.



“We have competition at every single position, every single year, returning starter or not,” Franklin told the media on Thursday. “I think that’s the right thing to do.”



Allar’s competition at the position is Beau Pribula, who, like Allar, was a member of the Nittany Lions’ recruiting Class of 2022. The difference between the two was that Allar was a five-star recruit by the time he arrived on campus. Pribula was a three-star.



More recently, Allar took snaps behind Clifford in the 2022 season. The youngster played in enough games that he was unable to take a redshirt season. By contrast, Pribula didn’t take a snap in a Penn State game until the Blue-White Game in April, when he attempted 22 of his 27 passes with second-string players.



Franklin’s hesitation to name a starter isn’t surprising. Entering his 10th year with Penn State, Franklin wants competition at the position. It’s likely that Allar will only stick around Penn State for two more years. Franklin will need someone to step up when the Ohio native is gone.



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It’s a situation that Franklin has had before. From 2016-17, he had running backs Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders on the same roster. Barkley was a shout for a Heisman candidate in college, and when Sanders turned pro, he reached last season’s Super Bowl as the starting running back for the Philadelphia Eagles.



At Penn State, Barkley was the evident starter. But Franklin said that competition between the two made them both better. If Franklin has his way, the same will happen to Allar and Pribula.



“I think at times there may have been some frustration with that, but I truly believe that type of competition in college really set them up to be successful in the NFL,” Franklin said. “[Barkley] always had somebody behind him trying to take reps away from him. And [Sanders], as a young player, was trying to overtake [Barkley]. So I think that is a healthy position to be in.”



Franklin also has to answer the question of how he’ll use each quarterback. As Mike Yurcich, Penn State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach said at the same press conference, each quarterback has different styles. Gameplans have to be tailored to those styles.



Allar’s been described as a quarterback who’s steady in the pocket. Teammates have raved about his ability to place passes in locations where only a receiver can catch them. Allar can be mobile but his arm is what really sets him apart from the pack.



Pribula, however, is described as athletic. He’s the quarterback that Franklin and Yurcich could turn to when they need to push a pile or in a situation that calls for a mobile quarterback. He’s the Nittany Lions’ alternate.



However Franklin plays the two quarterbacks, it will likely be some time before Penn State fans have an answer to the question that’s hung over the program for more than a year. Franklin noted that he wanted Clifford to compete for a starting role for the six years that the recent&nbsp;<a href="https://onwardstate.com/2023/04/29/sean-clifford-drafted-no-149-overall-by-green-bay-packers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL draftee</a>&nbsp;spent in Happy Valley. The same will apply to Allar.



If Franklin has 86 days to name a starter against the Mountaineers, he may just use all 86.

‘We Have Competition at Every Single Position’: Penn State Quarterback Question Still Unanswered

We should never put a label on worker safety.&nbsp;The men and women who toil every day to provide for themselves and their families should expect to have safe working conditions whether they are union or non-union.&nbsp; &nbsp;



We should never put a label on a livable wage.&nbsp;Workers deserve to be compensated fairly and have the right to trust that they are receiving the full pay and benefits they deserve regardless of if they are union or non-union.&nbsp; 



We should never put a label on dealing fairly with a company.&nbsp;The taxpayers should be sure that the companies that are engaged in public works have a stellar reputation in treating their employees with dignity and respect.&nbsp; &nbsp;



Public officials have a duty to make sure our dollars are being spent with firms who meet the highest standard without regard to whether they are union or non-union shops.&nbsp;There are many union and non-union companies that have great apprenticeship programs that foster quality work, create skilled craftsmen and understand that through these programs their reputations for high quality work are enhanced.&nbsp;This in turn creates a demand for their services.&nbsp; 



I have been a card-carrying member of a union since 1977.&nbsp;I also served as a Centre County Commissioner.&nbsp;I have dedicated my entire career in public service to being the voice of working people.&nbsp;The Responsible Contractor Ordinance is another tool in ensuring workers get the pay they deserve, the safety they need and the respect they have earned.&nbsp; &nbsp;



This discussion should not be about labels.&nbsp;It is about human beings.&nbsp;Protecting our workers should be the top priority of all public servants.



State Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township

Conklin: Responsible Contractor Ordinance Protects Workers

Fear mongering is leading the charge against the Responsible Contractor Ordinance (RCO), a proactive measure of governance that has been brought up for consideration within our Centre County Government. Instead of casting unfounded doubts, let’s focus on responsible governance with our tax dollars: ensuring we have responsible contractors doing our tax funded work instead of our government being forced to potentially award contracts to unethical or ineffective contractors who provide the lowest bid.



This ordinance will protect our county government from having to award contracts to those contractors who violate the law, skirt safety training and precautions or provide poor quality work. The only way to address such contractors now is to sue them. Suing is a reactive measure that increases the burden of costs to taxpayers through litigation.



We have had contractors within Centre County that were recently held accountable due to their unethical actions against their own workers. We have had five worker deaths at job sites within as many years, many of which would have been prevented with proper training and oversight. We have a problem here in Centre County and it needs to be addressed by taking a proactive measure like the RCO.



The RCO places a set of standards on the bidder of larger contracts, reducing the risk of taxpayer funds being spent haphazardly or going to employers with questionable ethics. Advocating for and ensuring responsible contractors for taxpayer funded projects is ethically and fiscally responsible governance.



Robert Zeigler Millheim



The author is a Millheim Borough Council member and a candidate for Centre County recorder of deeds.

Letter: Proactive Governance Is Responsible Governance

As the Fraud, Waste and Abuse investigator for Centre County, I take protecting taxpayer dollars seriously and will investigate problematic contractors that may not have fulfilled their contractual obligations with the county. Whether those instances amount to fraud, waste or abuse is to be determined but may be worth the look.



All employees and anyone doing business with Centre County Government are welcomed and encouraged to contact my office’s Fraud, Waste and Abuse hotline at 814-548-1143 or via the web at <a href="https://centrecountypa.gov/172/Fraud-Waste-Abuse-Hotline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">centrecountypa.gov/fraud</a> if they suspect any of these on county projects. These reports can be made anonymously. I only encourage those filing reports to provide as much detail as possible, especially if filed anonymously, so that I have as full a picture as possible to begin investigating.



While this may provide some reassurance when a project has started, if I receive a call, the potential problems have already occurred. The Responsible Contractor Ordinance proposed for Centre County provides the opportunity to prevent these issues before they occur and/or prevent those contractors not fulfilling the requirements of the RCO from bidding on future projects for a period of time. As it stands now without the ordinance, even if a contractor was found to have committed fraud, waste or abuse, there is nothing to prevent them from bidding on and being awarded future projects. This should concern any taxpayer within the county.



Remember we’re talking about protecting and guarding taxpayer dollars and preventing fraud, waste or abuse of them. If you see it, report it.



Jason Moser Centre County Controller

Letter: Responsible Contractor Ordinance Will Help Prevent Fraud, Waste and Abuse

Lord knows this agnostic county is ignorant of the origin of the word judge. It comes from the Book of Judges. In Judges, God sends the people of Israel leaders who shall deliver them from their oppression, referred to in the Bible as judges. While being a judge in a contemporary courtroom doesn’t require one to be handpicked by the almighty, we ought to treat our decision with that much respect. 



The role of a judge, especially to the most downtrodden of this community, is incredibly important. The person we choose will mediate custody, adjudicate crime and much more. Given the importance of this role, I am endorsing the candidate who has earned my trust, Gopal Balachandran. 



The two of us couldn’t be any more different in both identity and ideology. I am a fat hillbilly with a long beard that loves country music, Mr. Balachandran is a first-generation immigrant who plays the piano. I am a conservative Democrat, he’s a progressive. Despite our differences, I intensely trust this man. It takes true character to serve as a public defender; folks like me have needed them a time or two. Round my way, we don’t particularly trust the government, and we aren’t crazy for that given the history of the DA’s office, as well as the Court of Common Pleas in this county. 



In order to restore trust in the court system in Centre County, I believe we ought to put our faith in Gopal.



Zacheray Womer, Philipsburg

Letter: Balachandran Has Earned Trust

As we head to vote on Tuesday, I write to share why I support Gopal Balachandran&#8217;s campaign for judge. When he ran for State College Borough Council in 2021, as a neighbor and friend, I knew he’d be an important voice and conscientious presence. Now in that role, I have appreciated his thoughtful yet gentle questioning about an array of topics, seeking through questioning to learn more. As a fellow parent of young kids, I&#8217;ve seen his dedication to supporting youth through a variety of community roles as well as welcoming my kids as they bounce over to his house. I appreciate deeply that we have such a committed public servant, and role model for our children, and I welcome greater racial diversity in our courts.



I also know he has deep experience that would serve the people of Centre County well. At times, his current role as a professor at the law school has been dismissed even though I know from professional collaborations with other law school clinics of the incredible work these students and their supervising professors do as they learn through direct engagement with the law. I value deeply his experience with the Pardon Project, supporting a chance at better opportunities for those who have completed their sentence, as well as his years of public defender work. These experiences suggest that he will be mindful of ensuring that he applies the law fairly, knowing deeply the consequences of the job.



Erica Frankenberg, State College

Letter: Supporting Balachandran for Judge

As a State College Area School Board member of almost eight years, I have been fortunate to witness the ongoing development of the board during my years of service.  During this time I have acquired an increasing appreciation for one board member who has always been diligent in her work with the board. 



Laurel Zydney has been an incredible resource to our school board. Laurel adds value to our work by reminding us to look back, reflect, explain and justify our position on a financial decision, a program or a policy when we might otherwise be inclined to overlook further reflection. Laurel routinely helps us to refine our efforts to identify evidence based programs for student growth and learning while remaining attentive to the goals of efficiency and cost effectiveness.



All school boards in Pennsylvania have a mandated membership of nine. With such a large group it can become comfortable for members to hang back and coalesce with the larger group, falling into a pattern of “groupthink.” Laurel’s readiness to question, challenge and bring our attention back to the fundamentals empowers the board to avoid groupthink.  



Laurel Zydney is an almost 12-year board member veteran who deserves another term of service on the SCASD board. Laurel has shown her commitment to the delivery of district programs that represent what is best for students and their families, while remaining mindful of the costs involved. Voters of both parties should include Laurel Zydney among their choices for SCASD school board in the May 16 primary.



Dan Duffy State College



Rater Highly Qualified for Centre County Judge



I am enthusiastically giving my vote to Julia Rater for Centre County Judge. Here’s why: In my 50 years of voting in Centre County I have rarely seen a wider gap — a chasm really — between the qualifications and experiences of two candidates. Julia Rater is one of the most qualified and most experienced candidates we have seen for any position in a Centre County election.



Rater has represented clients in our Centre County courtroom for 27 years, appearing there over 1,100 times. Gopal Balachandran has never represented a client in a Centre County courtroom. Rater has been a member of the Centre County Bar Association for 21 years. Balachandran has been a member of the Centre County Bar for seven months.



Rater has served on the board of Strawberry Fields, Tides, Bellefonte EMS and volunteers for the Special Olympics. She and her family have lived here for 21 years and have deep roots in Centre County. Balachandran and his family have lived in Centre County for five years.



There’s simply no comparison in their legal experience, Rater’s personal commitment to all of Centre County, or in her ability to run a positive campaign.



Hopefully Gopal Balachandran will run for office again in a few years after he’s had a chance to build a deeper legal and community resumé. But for now, Julia Rater is the superior candidate and merits strong support from all of us.



I urge you to vote for Julia Rater for Centre County Judge.



Hodge Barton State College



Volunteers Make a Difference in the Fight to End Alzheimer&#8217;s



The Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging local volunteers here in Centre County to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.



An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s. Here in Pennsylvania, there are more than 280,000.



As the size of the U.S. population age 65 and older continues to grow, so too will the number and proportion of Americans with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It is vital that we continue to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and engage more community members to consider volunteering for the Alzheimer’s Association.



My wife is living with Alzheimer’s and I share our story as an advocate and also participate in the State College Walk to End Alzheimer’s. I invite Centre County residents to join me in the fight to end Alzheimer’s by starting a team for this year’s Walk, which will take place on Nov. 4, 2023 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.



There are many ways that everyone in our community can get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association. Learn more at alz.org/volunteer. For information, resources and support services, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at <a href="https://www.alz.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alz.org</a> or call its 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900.



Greg Raleigh Volunteer, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter



Supremely Unethical



It’s hard to know which is more disgraceful—the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to develop a formal code of ethics or the GOP’s scoffing at the idea.



Clarence Thomas declined to recuse himself from a case involving Donald Trump’s subpoenaed documents (we know his wife was a leading MAGA operative working to nullify Biden’s victory). Recent revelations show that Justice Thomas also accepted ultra-lavish gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow, a Republican mega-donor and hardcore conservative who, despite claims to the contrary, had business before the court. Crow also paid for private school tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew.



The right-wing billionaire benefactor also purchased Justice Thomas’ ancestral home. The transaction was unreported. More recently, Justice Thomas “forgot” to report on their tax return a few hundred thousand dollars that his wife earned.



It has recently been reported that Justice Neil Gosrsuch sold a property to a CEO of a law firm that has extensive business before the high court. Jane Roberts, the wife of Chief Justice Roberts, made millions for recruiting lawyers for top firms, some of whom have business with the Supreme Court.



These are obvious ethical breaches. If it were a Democrat-leaning court and a Republican Congress, you can bet there’d be three impeachments. But I’m not suggesting we go backward, only forward. The court must impose a binding code of ethics—and live by it. Otherwise, the court has no legitimacy. This should be a bipartisan issue. These Justices can’t be above the laws they purport to uphold.



Marilyn Goldfarb Boalsburg

Letters: Zydney Deserves Another Term on SCASD Board; Rater Most Qualified for Judge; Support Fight to End Alzheimer’s; Supremely Unethical

Win4Bellefonte is disheartened by the Centre County Democratic Committee&#8217;s latest mailings that identify five Democrats running for Bellefonte Area School Board. The CCDC has ostracized Win4Bellefonte&#8217;s Democrats simply because they are willing to work together with Republicans to do what is best for our school district and community. 



Win4Bellefonte is student-first, and student-focused, and has five candidates with vastly different backgrounds that wholeheartedly believe in the mission. When asked how the CCDC&#8217;s decision has impacted them, Kim Weaver and Jennifer Barnhart stated that &#8220;The CCDC never reached out to either of us to discuss our platform, and we are saddened and offended that our own party has ostracized us because we&#8217;ve chosen to collaborate with candidates from a different party to put students first and be student focused.&#8221; 



Schools should not be political, and being able to cross-file as a school board candidate reflects that. The CCDC is only focused on getting five Democrats elected while Win4Bellefonte is focused on getting the BEST candidates elected. We are not defined by our political party — we are defined by our character and our mission to stay students-first, student-focused. Vote Democrat 2, 3, 5, 6, 11; Republican 2, 3, 4, 6, 10



Kim Weaver Bellefonte Candidate for Bellefonte Area School Board



Family Law Experience Needed on Bench



Although you wouldn’t know it from Gopal Balachandran’s campaign for Centre County Judge, all three of our county’s continuing judges are experienced in criminal law. All three have handled criminal cases; two of them overseeing murder trials.



It is simply not accurate to say we need additional criminal law experience on the Centre County bench and disappointing that Balachandran would base his campaign on that false narrative.



The Centre County Legal Journal tracks the judges’ daily schedules. The 2022 Journal shows that 72% of the judge’s court time was spent on family law and civil cases. Julia Rater brings vast experience in the areas of greatest activity in our Centre County courts. Gopal Balachandran does not.



Robert Potter Boalsburg



&#8216;Integrity, Dignity and Respect&#8217; Needed for PV School Board



The election for school board members in Penns Valley presents a clear choice. Throughout Penns Valley you will see some signs that have four names on who, as a group, want to take over the school board. They are extremists and have no interest in public dialogue or the exchange of ideas and opposing views. Last week, on Route 144, a man tried to remove a yard sign promoting Domer Smeltzer. The homeowner caught him. She stood in front of his car and demanded he return the sign. Finally, he threw the sign at her and left. Several of these signs have been taken from yards in Penns Valley. 



Integrity, dignity and respect are what is needed in school board members as they set an example for all our young people. In our front yard are signs for Domer Smeltzer, Karla Groy, Scott Butler and Celeste Powell. We chose to support these candidates because they have integrity, dignity and respect. They care about our young people and not some extreme agenda. If anyone feels the need to remove signs from our front yard, please don&#8217;t. Instead show some courage (like the woman on Route 144) and knock on our front door so we can discuss your intentions. A few businesses in the area are displaying signs endorsing these extremists, which is their right. It is our right to boycott these businesses. We urge all voters to choose candidates who are truly interested in our young people and the entire community.



Scott and Dixie Vogt Centre Hall

Letters: CCDC Neglects Win4Bellefonte Democrats; Family Law Experience Needed for County Judge; Clear Choice for PV School Board

A recent letter to the editor in another publication cites “declining academic performance among SCASD students” as a reason to support particular candidates for the State College Area School Board. But is there evidence to support the claim of academic decline? In fact, there is very little.



Like all school districts, SCASD has experienced impacts on learning as a result of COVID. However, evidence presented at a school board committee meeting on 9/22/21 showed that, overall, SCASD students scored above the national norms during the pandemic, and there was no indication of significant learning loss. When equivalent testing data <a href="http://go.boarddocs.com/pa/stco/Board.nsf/goto?open&amp;id=CL83ZG0946D6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">was subsequently evaluated in November of 2022</a>, there was some evidence of delayed pandemic-related effects. However, in general, students continued to score in the upper percentiles nationally. This more recent study demonstrates the importance of addressing the needs of subgroups of students from different demographic cohorts, some of whom are struggling.



Which candidates support what these students need? The Slate for State candidates: Bader, Brandt, Demo, Kolbe and Miller. They make up the slate that supports <a href="https://www.scasd.org/Page/32981" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SCASD’s Educational Strategic Plan</a>, a plan that is designed to foster equity and to address the needs of every student in a proactive way. It is vital that the needs of all students—no matter their demographic fit —be addressed.



Painting SCASD as a poorly performing district is just plain wrong. Can SCASD do better for struggling students? Absolutely. The Slate for State candidates are the ones who will meet the challenge of making all students a priority.



Linda Barton, State College



Rater Demonstrates Progressive Democratic Values



I am writing to clarify some apparent confusion about the party affiliations of the candidates for Centre County Judge. Both Julia Rater and Gopal Balachandran are Democrats. Both candidates appear on the Democratic and Republican ballots, as often happens with a bipartisan position.



I support Julia Rater because she has the perfect experience and qualifications to be Judge, and she will act in that role using the law, not politics.



Julia Rater supports and enacts Democratic values. She is pro-choice, and an advocate for inclusion and equity. Through 27 years practicing law in Centre County, Julia has worked tirelessly to support our community and represent her clients.



For example:



Julia won a same-sex custody case in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.



Julia represented a father in proceedings under the Hague Convention, recovering his child following abduction by the mother.



Julia successfully defended clients in all three state appeals courts.



Julia does pro bono work for and through many nonprofit organizations, including Strawberry Fields, Tides, Special Olympics and Centre County Bar Association.



Julia is trained and experienced in mediation and collaborative law.



Julia has done all this while raising three successful daughters.



Julia’s experience and commitment make her the perfect judge for the cases coming before the court (40% family law, 32% civil law, 28% criminal law).



Please join other Democrats – vote for Julia Rater on May 16.



Lassie MacDonald, State College



Jim Jordan&#8217;s &#8216;Sham&#8217;



Under color of law, and on the shabby pretext of fighting crime in New York City, Jim Jordan and his band of MAGA neo-McCarthyites took its Off-Broadway act to the Big Apple. They attacked the rule of law, the grand jury, and career prosecutor Al Bragg for indicting Donald Trump for felony crimes—as if, for a change, the former President was to be held to the same standards as the rest of us.



The stunt was quickly exposed when their claim that crime had increased in NYC because Bragg has his priorities screwed up was totally debunked (homicides dropped 15% since Bragg took office.) They pointed out that Chairman Jordan’s home state of Ohio, whose district borders Columbus, the state capital, has a per capita murder rate three times that of NYC.



Game. Set. match.



Jordan and his gang of legislative thugs were interfering in a pending state court prosecution—and bordering on obstruction of justice.



And while the MAGAs harass Bragg, investigate Hunter Biden’s laptop, and chase after the mythical Deep State, they’ve done nothing to tackle our nation’s real problems, including crime, or to improve the lives of Americans.



This should come as no surprise since Chairman Jordan, for all his sound and fury, hasn’t been the primary sponsor of a single bill that has passed since arriving in Washington 16 years ago.



Chairman Jordan, a loud-mouthed paper tiger, feverishly pounds the table, because he can’t pound the facts, with the pretext of appropriate congressional oversight exposed as a sham.



Dean Phillips, Ambler Former State College resident and borough council member

Letters: Slate for State Candidates Make Student Success Priority; Rater’s Bona Fides; Jordan’s Failed Stunt

As the continuing licensing battle regarding the Nittany Mall casino plays out in the Commonwealth Court and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, College Township leadership has recently realized and decided they can no longer burden staff to keep up with posting the latest barrage of legal documents filed every few days in Harrisburg. At the most recent College Township Council meeting on April 20, members of council discussed the matter with the township manager. All agreed that the township no longer has “a dog in this fight” and the escalating legal wranglings in Harrisburg are now solely between the two parties who originally bid on the right to apply for the casino license.



What began as just one case being heard by the Commonwealth Court has quickly ramped up with three additional cases now filed with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Members of the College Township Council also discussed the ability for community members to easily view the public documents that are available for anyone to review online. Of course, it is therefore especially important for the public to know exactly how to accomplish that online review.&nbsp;



The four respective links to the ongoing Nittany Mall casino-related court cases are provided here:



<a href="https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/PacDocketSheet?docketNumber=249%20MD%202021&amp;dnh=zeHye5ER%2FSijahXajxTlEw%3D%3D">249 MD 2021 &#8211; Stadium Casino case in Commonwealth Court against PGCB, SC Gaming OpCo LLC, and Ira Lubert</a>



<a href="https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/PacDocketSheet?docketNumber=20%20MM%202023&amp;dnh=wtpfYv%2Bm0UXq5cUYeW96aQ%3D%3D">20 MM 2023 &#8211; Stadium Casino appeal to Pennsylvania Supreme Court regarding PGCB casino license award to SC Gaming OpCo LLC</a>



<a href="https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/PacDocketSheet?docketNumber=43%20MM%202023&amp;dnh=thCuUuiwgi8wLuqmNAoHWA%3D%3D">43 MM 2023 &#8211; SC Gaming OpCo LLC &amp; Ira Lubert appeal to Pennsylvania Supreme Court</a>



<a href="https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/PacDocketSheet?docketNumber=44%20MM%202023&amp;dnh=nU8GgwPOnLHk%2FYrjZWICBg%3D%3D">44 MM 2023 &#8211; SC Gaming OpCo LLC &amp; Ira Lubert application for extraordinary relief to Pennsylvania Supreme Court</a>



Anyone can request copies of specific court filings and other publicly available documents at a cost of fifty cents per page. The documents will be emailed to the requestor as .pdf copies from the Court’s Prothonotary Office.



Send your email request to <a href="mailto:commcourtfiling@pacourts.us">commcourtfiling@pacourts.us</a>. Be sure to identify the specific documents requested by case number, date, and title.



An invoice from the court will also be included with details on payment by personal check; no credit cards are accepted.



The PA Gaming Control Board (PGCB) may have awarded the casino license to the winning bidder in January, but the license may not be issued until the legal battles have concluded. The case might continue to be fought in Harrisburg for as long as two more years. Any mention of the Nittany Mall Casino receiving a “green light” may have been just a bit too optimistic. The final decision is far from being the done deal some have hoped for. Follow the cases using the links provided because College Township is counting on you to do so.



Finally, here is why I believe the casino license will eventually be denied to the winning bidder. The PGCB&#8217;s interpretation appears to indicate that any casino operator or interested party in Pennsylvania has the right to act as a straw buyer for parties who would otherwise be ineligible to bid for a casino license &#8211; and if straw buyers are allowed, then anyone from anywhere can bid on a casino license in Pennsylvania as long as they can find a straw buyer to place the bid on their behalf.&nbsp; Do not hope for that brand new casino ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Nittany Mall any time soon. It might never happen!



Daniel Materna, Howard



Balachandran Offers County &#8216;an Incredible Opportunity&#8217;



I write in strong support of Penn State Law professor and former public defender Gopal Balachandran’s historic candidacy for Centre County Court of Common Pleas judge. Gopal offers our county an incredible opportunity to have a judge with important and unique experience. Gopal would be the first person of color elected to the bench in Centre County Court of Common Pleas and the first Indian-American to be elected to any judicial position in Pennsylvania’s history. His perspective and life experiences, which include serving the indigent and powerless, and diverse clientele, would be a great asset in our Court system. 



While the historic nature of this campaign is noteworthy, what really stands out about Gopal is his intellect, work-ethic, humility and empathy. I have seen first-hand his ability to assess complex, voluminous case files, and formulate legal arguments in cases of significant consequence. I’ve been very impressed by his dedication and skill. His clinic is known throughout the state for their willingness to help in difficult cases.



Expertise like Gopal’s is tough to find and one that the court here in Centre County desperately needs. Having practiced in the Centre County Court of Common Pleas and in federal court for more than 30 years, I recognize the importance of electing a judge with significant criminal law and a history of protecting our constitutional rights. The experience that Gopal has will allow him to remain independent and not become a rubber stamp for powerful interests. Judicial campaigns are mostly sleepy affairs, but I am truly excited about Gopal’s campaign and look forward to casting my vote for him.



Andrew Shubin, State College



Balachandran Would &#8216;Strengthen Centre County’s Judicial System&#8217;



It is not often that someone with the qualifications of Gopal Balachandran comes forward as a candidate for judge of the Centre County Court of Common Pleas. He has a background in criminal law, many years’ experience as a trial lawyer, and a distinguished record of service to our community. He thus has both the knowledge and the temperament necessary to render wise judicial decisions for the citizens of our county.



Balachandran’s candidacy represents a special opportunity to strengthen Centre County’s judicial system. Half of the cases that come up before our judges are criminal in nature, and our county judges spend more time studying criminal cases than all other types of cases. Since none of our current judges has a specific background in criminal law, Gopal’s election will significantly broaden the expertise that we need in order to handle all the cases that come before our courts.



A 10-year resident of Centre County and a father of two, Balachandran has already contributed to our community through his service at Penn State Law Clinic and on the State College Borough Council. Running for judge is an opportunity to even better use his expertise to benefit Centre County. Just as important, Gopal’s vision of justice includes an emphasis on fairness and equity. This orientation will go well with the focus of our county judicial system, which has recently established both a drug court and a mental health court. His candidacy comes at the right time for the needs of our county.



Janet Irons, State College



Balachandran as Judge Would Benefit All



I want to express my support for Gopal Balachandran for Centre County Judge. Gopal would bring almost 20 years of criminal law experience to his work on the bench, as well as a deeply held belief in fairness and justice that is evident both in his work and in his life.



Gopal has demonstrated a strong sense of civic duty in his work as a borough council member since November 2021. His support of the Tenant Bill of Rights and advocating for a new charging station in our town are just two examples of how he has prioritized and addressed issues that matter to people in our community.



Gopal is deeply connected to our community as a borough council member and as Director of Penn State Law&#8217;s Criminal Appellate and Post-Conviction Services Clinic, but also as a father and husband. My family has known him and his wife Jyoti since our kids went to preschool together. Gopal listens more than he talks, and is genuinely interested in what those around him have to say. Working formerly as a public defender, Gopal became familiar with the myriad factors in a person’s life that can bring them to a place of being the victim, or the perpetrator of violence. This compassion and sense of perspective on people’s lives are essential to the work of a county judge.



I believe we would all benefit by having Gopal Balachandran as a Centre County Judge.



Hannah Carney, State College



Permitting Reform Needed for Electric Transmission Lines



Renewable energy sources, mostly solar and wind, account for 92 percent of planned new energy installations in the U.S., according to a report by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.



​That’s progress. But there’s a problem. The nation needs new electric transmission lines to make those plans a reality.



​The bottleneck is a too-slow permitting process. It takes more than four years, on average, to approve permits for transmission lines. We don’t have that much time to waste.



​Many planned solar and wind farms are in rural areas. Long distance transmission lines are needed to connect them with population centers where energy demand is greatest. But the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission lacks authority to approve interstate transmission lines. Instead, such lines require state-by-state permit approval.



​ If we don’t build clean energy infrastructure faster, we will only achieve about 20 percent of the potential carbon pollution reduction from climate policies already in place through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, an analysis at Princeton University shows.



​These policies could prevent up to 180,000 premature American deaths over the next decade by reducing air pollution, according to Citizens’ Climate Lobby.



Urge your federal lawmakers to support permit reform legislation.



Diane Mills State College chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby member

Letters to the Editor: Stay Informed About Proposed Casino Developments; Balachandran Best Choice for Judge

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