Last month, the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP), Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association (PWIA) and the Keystone Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (Keystone SWANA) recognized Pennsylvania’s most outstanding recycling programs/projects.   We are pleased to announce that the Borough of State College again received a 2009 Waste Watcher award for recycling, waste reduction, reuse and composting programs that have exhibited exemplary performance.    This is the 10^th year that the Borough has received this award.

 

This year 70 plus municipalities, counties, private businesses, individuals and community organizations from throughout Pennsylvania are being recognized for going above and beyond what is mandated under Act 101. Fifteen awards were received by Centre County organizations, including Harris Township, the Pennsylvania State University, and the Centre County Solid Waste Authority.

State College Borough and the Schlow Centre Region Library are pleased to be hosting the Mark Pilato sculpture “Ascent”.  The sculpture will be on display through the remainder of 2009 in front of the Library at 201 South Allen Street.  Mark Pilato, a State College native, created Ascent as a “celebration of life”, to honor those who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Ascent has been previously displayed at Ground Zero in New York City, and at the Pentagon, and now the Borough is honored to have it here for viewing by the residents of and visitors to State College.

 

The Borough and the Library will be holding a dedication ceremony for the sculpture on Friday, September 11, 2009 beginning at 3:30 p.m. in front of the Schlow Centre Region Library.  The community is invited to attend the dedication and to hear more about the sculpture from Guy Pilato, father of the sculptor.

 

The LION Walk, the premier event of the Living In One Neighborhood (LION) program, took place on Wednesday, August 26, 2009.  In its second year, the event saw significant expansion from its initial outing.  LION Walk participants visited over 500 homes in the Holmes-Foster, Highlands, and College Heights neighborhoods. Teams welcomed students back to State College and distributed information packets highlighting tips for hosting safe parties; information on dangerous drinking; pointers on how to be a good neighbor; ordinance details regarding trash, noise, parking, and recycling; and emergency contact information.

 

Key participants included Penn State President Graham Spanier, Borough Council President Elizabeth Goreham, Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims, Borough Police Chief Tom King, Borough Manager Tom Fountaine, University Park Undergraduate Association President Gavin Kierans, and Off-Campus Student Union President Meg Furey.

 

Residents greeted teams appreciatively.  One student stated, “It’s great to see the Borough coming to us with such helpful information.”  Non-student residents were pleased to see the borough and university taking proactive measures to promote a more positive atmosphere in their neighborhoods.  A nonstudent resident encouraged officials to continue the initiative; “Please keep this going and do more!  It is very helpful.”

Mary Vollero, Instructor in Art at Penn State DuBois and local artist, is currently displaying photographs in vertical banners at the municipal building during the month of September. The banners depict photographs of nature and inspirational quotes about peace and social justice.