Coronavirus updates: Here’s what to know in Centre County on May 25

We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date coronavirus news as Centre County continues to reopen. Check back for updates.

Bellefonte Area School District announces plans for drive-thru commencement ceremony

As the academic year wraps up, the Bellefonte Area School District will say goodbye to its seniors in a drive-thru commencement ceremony.

Although COVID-19 posed challenges for the district, high school Principal Mike Fedisson announced plans for an in-person graduation ceremony. The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. June 5, with two cars allowed per family. A rain date is scheduled for June 6.

-by Marley Parish

Centre County commissioners change course, now support earlier entry into ‘green phase’

After asking to keep Centre County in the “yellow phase” until after the primary election, the board of commissioners intends to request approval to move into the “green phase” on May 29, as Gov. Tom Wolf’s office originally planned.

Commissioners Michael Pipe and Mark Higgins announced Sunday afternoon that they reconsidered their decision to keep the county in the yellow phase, which they made to prevent a potential “super-spreader event” at the June 2 primary election.

-by Marley Parish

How to celebrate Memorial Day in Centre County virtually and with social distancing

For the first time since the Memorial Day tradition started in 1864, Boalsburg is unable to have its large celebration to honor the lives of the fallen, but there are still ways to participate amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Known as the “birthplace of Memorial Day,” Boalsburg has adapted, inviting the community to take part in activities virtually and through social distancing.

-by Megan Swift

Education

Jobs

Community feedback

• A new survey is asking State College businesses about their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. The responses will guide the borough and Redevelopment Authority as they develop programs to help local businesses. The survey will close at 11:59 p.m. May 31 and can be found here.

• Penn State has teamed up with local leaders for the Centre County COVID-19 Data 4 Action Project (Data 4 Action). The first initiative of the project is an anonymous survey, which will document how the pandemic is impacting Centre County residents’ lives and their experiences they as return to work and school. The survey launched Monday at Data4Action.psu.edu and can also be taken by phone from noon-7 p.m. Monday-Friday at 753-4799. All adult Centre County residents are asked to complete the survey by June 12. For every 100 individuals who complete the survey, Penn State will make a $100 donation to the Centre County Food Pantries (serving residents throughout the county) and will donate up to $10,000.

Recreation

Sports

• The Centre County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame has decided to cancel its golf tournament and induction banquet scheduled for early October. “With the uncertainly we may face in the fall, we felt this was our most prudent choice. As one board member said, ‘we’re taking a red shirt year,’” board president Bucky Quici said.

Pennsylvania news

• The Wolf administration released guidance about summer camps and child care programs Friday. The document covers topics such as the types of summer programs that can operate during the state’s reopening, additional requirements beyond federal guidelines for youth programs, rules on face coverings and the status of playgrounds and team sports.

• The Department of Corrections will reopen state prisons starting Tuesday, Secretary John Wetzel said. The system will use a phased approach that ties into the statewide reopening plan. As counties move from red to yellow to green, prisons there will lift more restrictions, with level 5 being the most restrictive and level 1 the least. “While we may never return to pre-COVID operations, we do expect to return to near normal operations that includes social distancing and continued monitoring of staff and inmates for symptoms,” Wetzel said in a statement Friday. “We believe in acting quickly and aggressively when responding to this virus, while affording more out-of-cell time and allowing inmates to return to work, education, programming and activities.” Staff and inmates will be required to wear masks, while contact visits are suspended at all levels until the entire state is green. Benner Township and Rockview state prisons will move to level 3 on Tuesday, the DOC said.

Community outreach/appreciation

• The Centre County United Way’s Hamer Foundation Community Disaster Fund will provide financial assistance to county residents who are struggling due to COVID-19. Those in need must contact Centre Helps to be eligible for help from the fund. Centre Helps will decide whether to apply for funding on that person’s behalf or refer him or her to an organization that will seek out all available support before applying for funds. Requests for funding, which will be $150,000 in the first phase, can be for items such as rent, mortgage payments, food, utility bills, medication costs and child care. Nonprofits interesting in applying on behalf of a client can find out more at www.ccunitedway.org/hamer-foundation-community-disaster-fund.

• Discovery Space’s makerspace, The Rivet, has manufactured and distributed more than 1,000 face shields free of charge to more than 30 local organizations, according to a news release. Beneficiaries include senior housing facilities, local government organizations and a variety of nonprofits. The biggest recipient was Centre County Board of Elections, which recently received 400 face shields to use for both the upcoming primary and the November elections. Other notable recipients include CATA, The Village at Penn State, Centre Crest and Lifelink. The Rivet is also acting as a collection and distribution point for donated PPE in the area. To make requests or donations, email The Rivet at TheRivet@DiscoverySpace.org.

Things to do

• The third annual Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest will go virtual this year, June 19-21, with a weeklong series of events leading up to the three-day festival. For more information, visit Centralpatheatre.com.

• In a project called “Tying Us Together,” Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts organizers are calling for people to make friendship bracelets between now and July, sharing some with their friends and donating the remainder to the festival. Festival organizers will sell them at local retailers to support this year’s virtual Arts Festival, according to a news release.

A limited number of kits of embroidery floss and instructions are available at:

• Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, 403 S. Allen St., Suite 205A, State College
• The Makery, 209 W. Calder Way, State College
• State College Framing Company & Gallery, 160 Rolling Ridge Drive, State College
• Art a la Carte, 107 S. Allegheny St., Bellefonte

For more information, visit https://arts-festival.com/2020/05/tying-us-together/.

• Ridgelines Language Arts is launching a new program, “Being Heard Poetry Pen Pals,” to replace its in-person programs at Centre Crest. Volunteer pen pals will be matched with a Centre Crest resident who has signed up for the program and pen pals will exchange regular notes and share favorite poems. To get involved or learn more, email RidgelinesLanguageArts@gmail.com

• The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State moved its program online during the pandemic. The group offers courses, trips and activities for those 50 and older. OLLI’s summer course catalog is available online and registration begins June 1. The summer semester begins June 15.

• Penn State University Police and Public Safety is holding four public safety Zoom sessions each week through May 27. Two sessions each week will cover Penn State’s Active Attacker Response Program, and the other two will be open question and answer sessions with Penn State police officers. Participants should register with a Penn State email in advance; space is limited. Register here for the Active Attacker Response Program. Register here for the open public safety Q&A session.

Free meal options

This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 9:27 AM.