I FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2010 Street light project held By Alex Ahmadi FOR THE COLLEGIAN An ongoing borough project to replace aging street light fixtures in downtown State College has been put on hold for at least a year and the funds will go ito another program. The project took a back seat when the State College Borough Council decided last spring to divert funds into the renovation of low to moderate-income housing on Kemmerer Road, Planning Director Carl Hess said. Both projects compete for funds coming from the Community Development Block Grant federal money that is largely intended for housing development projects, he said. "Opportunities like Kemmerer Road don't come along too often," Hess said. The borough has allocated money from the 2010 fiscal year toward the project, which is being led by a local non profit organization, he said. Despite next year's hiatus on the street light upgrade, the council intends to return to the project in the near future, Public Works Director Mark Whitfield said. According to the council's capital improvement plan, work is set to resume in 2012 and continue through 2015, beginning with fixtures on College Avenue between Garner Street and High Street, Whitfield said. Other areas targeted for lamp upgrades through 2015 include cross-streets between College Avenue and Beaver Avenue including Garner Street, Pugh Street and Burrowes Street, among others, he said. The plan also calls for the addition of new light fixtures as well as the reconstruction of handicapped ramps to meet standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The street light project began in 2005 and involves the replacement of light poles, fixtures and foundations many were originally installed in the 1980 s, Whitfield said. The intention, he said, is to replace all the older fixtures downtown. "This is an ongoing project, and it will be an ongoing project for some time," he said. Whitfield said the street light upgrades are designed to improve the safety, efficiency and aesthetics of downtown lighting. Existing fixtures use high-pressure sodium bulbs that cast an orange glow, but the new induction fluorescent lamps are white, he said. It is anticipated that the new bulbs will use less energy and last longer, reducing electricity and maintenance costs. The new lights are set in a clear globe fixture and directed downward to minimize light pollution. The fix tures themselves are also more pleasant to look at, Whitfield said. "The response has been positive," Whitfield said. The first lamps were placed on the 100 block of South Atherton Street, Whitfield said. Since then, he said stretches of College Avenue, Beaver Avenue and Allen Street have seen their lights upgraded. The housing project currently taking precedence over street light renovation involves the renovation of nine apartment units targeted toward the local work force, council member James Rosenberger said. The borough is serving in a supporting role, he said, and the development will be led by Housing Transitions, a non-profit organization based in Centre County Lights out State College borough officials pulled funding for a project that would replace street lights in the coming years. . 54 \ TN FFT 110 $ Source: Borou:h of State Colle Game to fundraise for THON tonight By Kathleen Loughran COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER At 7:05 tonight, the Pittsburgh Pirates will face the Houston Astros at PNC Park But it won't just be a typical baseball game. A portion of the ticket sales will benefit Penn State's Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. If people cannot travel to Pittsburgh to make the game but still want to support THON, they can go to Rotelli Pizza and Pasta, 250 E. Calder Way, for a "watch party" Overall Communications Chairwoman Elaine Tanella said. "Since a lot of people from State College can't travel to. Pittsburgh, they can go to Rotelli's_ you tell them you're with THON and 10 percent of your check will go to THON," Tanella (senior-bioengineering) said. Tickets for the game are $2O for the Outfield Box and $45 for the Pittsburgh Baseball Club and can be pur chased online at pirates.comithon or at 412-325-4928. Last year, a Penn State alumnus who works with the Pirates proposed the idea, and the THON overall com mittee thought it was a good fit for the organization, Tanella said. "Everyone is always trying to look for ways to spread awareness for THON," she said. "It's important because it stresses that THON is a year-long event and not just October through February" Overall Chairwoman Kirsten Kelly said she is excited for the game. "One of the things that I was thinking about is that I love that it gives the opportunity for THON alumni and students in the Pittsburgh area to get together and cele brate our efforts for the kids in the summer," Kelly (sen ior-marketing) said. Overall Public Relations Chairwoman Jony Rommel said the game is a unique opportunity. Rommel (senior-philosophy) said there will be a table set up at the game so that people can obtain information about THON and the Fbur Diamonds Flmd and get a gold ribbon pin. a. 2012 2013 ll= 2014 f 2015 Heather Schmelzlen/Collegtan To e-mail reporter: kdslo6@psu.edu o,r , 7 Art supply store Uncle Eli's, 129 E. Beaver Ave., is celebrating its 40-year anniversary this [hi ri Shop celebrates 40 years By Sky Friedlander F,"?i , ' THE COLLEGIAN Durin2, the 1970 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Douglas Albeit was opening the doors to his tins art supply store. This month. the store that has become the art supply, framing and gift center called Uncle Eli's, 129 E. Beaver Ave.. celebrates its 40th Albert ti his business while he was a stude ,;! fine art at Penn State.. - I wasnt I\ icDonald's material, but I needed a job to stay in school," Albert id - lie town truly did need. from IT. lier:-Tective, an art supply store.- The store slzuled in a very small location on Allen Street, only about 150 soti: . ! leer. On top of that, shopliltie was a major problem, Albert sap:'pith people just "helping themselve: Front to 1975, the store's loca c.everal times, finally set irrent and larger location \vo:lie. Albert said a :ii:)\ - ,cd him to "diversify tock. tion tling in it: on Bea \ move thi:i and UPUA works with officials non-voting student represemative The LiPU president met with the h, , rough manager to disco hving a student sit in on ,uncil meetings. By Nathan Pipenberg ,IAFF WRITER Fresh Iran; what he called a "pro gressive- i! - LiTling with the State College }1)) . ;;ti211 manager, Christian Ragland it , ': his goal to have a non voting sttrient liaison sit in on boromlll eli,Hl meetings is under way. Ragland. She University Park Undergrandaie Association presi dent, plan. , : to return to Tom Fount aine' !.,lace in two weeks' time with a toll pr(Tosal that should reach the ears of borough council members. But past that meeting, he said he doesn't have , cope of when the idea might be i•ekd i/cd. "1 would to u to have this in place by the fall seniust er," Ragland (senior political science) said. But were taking this one step at a The idea has been met with support from both Fountaine and Mayor Elizabeth G nreham, who said last week that she thought the idea would benefit everyone involved. Fountains kid his Thursday meet- 4 tro , 7 I ' I , -' ' ~. ~..- ~` v ~ Despite the passage of time, Albert said he has tried to keep the atmos phere Eli's has always had. "It's maintained its feeling," he said. "When people come back to town, they say it hasn't changed much.- The store even appeals to Downtown State College Improvement District Director Jody Alessandrine. "The fact that Douglas has been in business for 40 years land] has been in five locations over that time shows his commitment to downtown State College." Alessandrine said. "He's been able to survive." But even with its long history, Eli's is not impervious to competition. Albert said, particularly from online shopping. "The Internet is killing all small retailers, - said Albert. - The cry of buying local seems to stop at people's pocketbooks.- Albert said he remains cautiously optimistic about staying in business. "Whatever the future holds, we're going to do the best we can to fight all the forces that are making it tough on all small businesses now," Albert said. ing with Ragland was centered around the logistics of getting the pro posal before council. He said a tentative schedule might have Ragland pre senting the idea to council at an Aug. 9 work session From there, he said that if there's a con sensus among coun cil members, the pro posal will move on to another meeting, where council could vote on the issue or continue discussion. So far, it seems like Ragland and borough officials want to hold the potential student liaison to similar standards. Goreham said she would want the bor ough to have a say in choosing the liaison, who would have to attend every meet ing and be well versed in borough issues. In the same vein, Ragland said he that would be looking for a student who is passionate and knowledgeable about the student body, but also about community issues. 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He said he thil - *: increased his art "You Emp , An 117;,, in bags with _ ••:, them done thin:2„ purcha:-: O2l'_' ( 1 by L. Lynn '! seven veJr, ',,! see the ncv. out a pauite She even 1 ., store when "Oh, I lice .1- 4 , G t. 4 A 1. Jl 5 1 4. I "I \Nm:: this IP semrsi , ‘' Nit kii: ta a tiny ( temper: , borough r, Fountain , . - agreed :.at liaison is ..)pc, to repair lationship. .11tudents and ntrty‘ „ , .11t , rt: all of us u have not ndpso4s@psu.edu PENN STATE GOLF COURSES