Letters: I-95 reopening is a success story; Happy Valley delivered incredible Ironman

I-95 reopening is a success story

With so many screaming headlines last month, we might have missed a wonderful story.

Interstate 95 is open again.

After only 12 days since the accident that made it impassable around Philadelphia; after hearing the dire predictions of months of repairs and supply chain delays — and higher prices in the stores — the Governor reopened it on June 23.

It is a temporary patch until the permanent repair is done — and so cars and trucks move through it, and the supply chain is not disrupted. Things are back to normal.

All it took was the Governor’s leadership, the tireless work of the road crews that worked nonstop, and inventiveness — like borrowing a giant drier from NASCAR, and using a new fill material made from recycled glass.

So what did we learn?

1) We have an amazing Governor and wonderful road crews.

2) Recycling works. Thanks to recycling the raw material for the fill was there and did not need to be shipped.

So, when you read about the disasters happening, think that there was one that did not happen, and wonder why it did not.

Adriana Ines Pena, State College

Happy Valley delivered incredible Ironman

Having grown up in Altoona and attended scores of Penn State football games in my youth, I immediately signed up when they announced that the Ironman 70.3 was coming to Happy Valley in July 2023. Now living in San Francisco, I have competed in dozens of triathlons all across California — but I was super excited to do the sport I love in my beloved old Pennsylvania neighborhood. My anticipation level was high!

I was certainly not disappointed. The hills on the bike course were tough; however, the scenery was beautiful as we rode down from Bald Eagle State Park on country roads and through picturesque towns. Most importantly, the people of central Pennsylvania embraced the race and gave every athlete an incredibly warm welcome. There were dozens and dozens of enthusiastic volunteers making the race possible and helping us focus on racing. The restaurants, stores, hotels and other businesses all rolled out the red carpet for competitors from all 50 states and some foreign countries. And, the hundreds of folks that lined the route — in Beech Creek, Mill Hall, Pleasant Gap, Centre Hall, State College and everywhere in between — cheered us on and made us forget our sore legs and achy feet.

I knew it would be an incredible experience. Thank you Happy Valley!

David Kaufman, San Francisco

Republicanism is not our friend

We have smoke from large scale fires in Canada, and our western states. This smoke is just a very minor aspect of climate change, but one that can kill the vulnerable. With higher temperatures from global warming come areas of dryer conditions, more vulnerable tree populations and more and larger forest fires. Climate change brings many greater dangers however.

Climate denial serves big business, since changing their fossil fuel burning ways would cost them money. Fossil fuel burning is a major source of greenhouse gasses causing hotter weather. Uncapped, abandoned gas wells in the tens of thousands are also a concern here, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Capping would cost corporations money.

Profit motive and excessive greed drives everything and corrupts our governance. Big business applies a never-ending pressure toward autocracy as does the cult of Trump. Capitalist propaganda has ensured its dominance in the United States, with the largely false promise that you too can gain great wealth and the denigration of socialism. Large numbers of our people choose ignorance and blindly following the lead of big business dominated Republicans, making change difficult.

Great wealth is had by three people with more wealth than the bottom half of our population, while tens of millions are effectively poorer.

In democracy the will of the people matters. The people largely support individual freedoms, Medicare and Social Security. If corporations wanted democracy they would support paying living wages and safer working conditions. Republicanism today is not our friend.

Doug Keith, State College

NPAC would have big impact

Founded in 2017 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Nittany Performing Arts Centre began to address the growing need for an adequate performance facility for our community. They found that while there are spaces in the public schools, Penn State and area churches, all of these locations are difficult for community groups to use due to scheduling conflicts, problematic physical layouts, cost and poor acoustics.

Working with the State College Redevelopment Authority and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and with the support of more than 250 individuals, businesses, performing arts organizations and foundations, NPAC engaged nationally recognized theater consultants Wilson Butler Architects and WEBB Management Systems to create a solution. The result is a spectacular performing arts center with an attached parking garage that will serve as a home for our thriving community of performing artists, who have made Centre County a culture-rich destination.

The facility will provide a much needed 800-seat theater with a full-sized stage, orchestra pit, wings and fly space, adequate dressing rooms and a social lobby with concessions. More information at www.nittanypac.org.

A feasibility study by WEBB has determined that in its first year of operation NPAC will see more than 220 performances with more than 300 use days. The theaters will be available for conferences and meetings and for touring attractions as well. Total visits could surpass 78,000 annually and the economic impact for Centre County is expected to exceed $3 million/year.

Douglas Meyer, State College. The author is the Nittany Performing Arts Centre executive director.