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Business Matters
Penn
Cave’s
closing
has
major
impact
BY LILLY RIDDLE
For the CDT

Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park,

with its North American menag-
erie and guided motorboat tours,
is typically a hot spot for ele-
mentary and middle school field
trips.
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com The Penns Valley cave was
Josh Cone laughs with members in his Zoom exercise class at the State College YMCA. Cone, senior director of healthy living at the YMCA, teaches forced to close last year right
a Boot Camp and a cycling class once a day. before the height of field trip
season, which marketing director

State College YMCA

Terri Schleiden said is around
mid-April. The shutdown meant
102 scheduled class field trips
never happened — and the park
faced a significant loss in reve-
nue.

perseveres through
Schleiden said the pandemic’s
impacts are still being felt, both
by park employees and students
who didn’t get the chance to
learn “The Legend of Penn’s

COVID-19 challenges
Cave.”
“We have seen more home-
school groups, smaller groups
and some private schools that
have booked, but overall, I don’t
believe that within the next
month or two there’s going to be
a surge,” Schleiden said. “It’s so
unfortunate, because oftentimes
those field trips are designated
BY PARTH UPADHYAYA for a specific grade level ... so
pupadhyaya@centredaily.com they’re going to miss out on that
opportunity.”
As Josh Cone sets up for his virtual 6 a.m. Boot But some teachers have found
Camp class at the State College YMCA every morn- creative ways to re-create the
ing, the same thoughts run through his mind. Penn’s Cave field trip experience
I’m going to rock this. I’m going to do my best job to in a socially distanced way.
help keep people psychologically and physically One activity the park offers is
healthy with what I bring to the table. called “gemstone panning” and
Cone, the senior director of healthy living at the involves purchasing a bag of sand
YMCA, has felt a responsibility to be there for his with gemstones, arrowheads or
community ever since the coronavirus pandemic fossils, which students can then
first struck the United States last spring. unearth in a large water trough
It’s been about 11 months since the YMCA was called a sluice.
initially forced to shut down in mid-March, and the Schleiden said one teacher
facility has been back up and running at only a bought over 100 bags of the
limited capacity since June. But no matter the hur- gemstone collection so that her
dles they’ve faced, Cone and his co-workers have students could collect and identi-
been there every step of the way, trying to provide fy the stones. She and her family
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com
some sort of normalcy to members in an otherwise even built a temporary sluice in
abnormal time. the playground area of the
Above: Cone completes an exercise in an empty room as he teaches a When the YMCA was first forced to close, Cone school.
Zoom class. Below: Cone chats with class members after their workout. came up with the idea of teaching classes through “I was so impressed by that,”
Zoom — primarily thinking about the senior citi- Schleiden said. “And then as a
zens that made up a majority of his classes who result, there were a couple other
now didn’t feel safe leaving their homes. schools that heard about what
“I was like, ‘How can we reach out to those peo- she was doing, and they said,
ple?’ ” Cone recalled. “‘And I don’t know what’s ‘You know what, that’s a great
gonna happen to my own health — who knows idea, we’re going to do the same.
what tomorrow’s gonna bring. (But) I want to face We’re going to do a whole lesson
it with a smile and with some laughter and try to on geology and identifying these
lighten somebody else’s load.’” rocks.’ ”
In the early pandemic months, Cone said, at After the original shutdown in
times, he was teaching three or four Zoom classes March, the cave reopened in
per day because of several part-time staff members May, adjusting boat capacity and
being laid off. installing shields in retail areas.
But as the YMCA’s financial situation slowly im- The park was completely closed
proved, Cone was able to cut down his list of respon- for the season in January but
sibilities to a more manageable size. Now, Cone reopened Feb. 6 — on Saturdays
teaches a Boot Camp and a cycling class once daily. and Sundays — while the nature
Community members, especially the seniors, and wildlife attractions will re-
have been thankful for the opportunity to continue open in April.
to stay fit. Visitors contacted the park early
“I’ve talked to several of them, and they said our to make sure it would be open for
virtual classes have kept them going, have kept Valentine’s Day weekend, and
“At the end of the day, I’m just like, ‘Did I help people get a little bit
healthier?’ ” Cone said. SEE YMCA, 5G SEE CAVE, 7G

Hublersburg Inn
“That was was the hardest
thing,” Heidt said, before dab-
bing her eyes on a recent after-

sets itself up for

noon. “Like, my business feeds
other people’s kids, you know?
That was my biggest panic, early
on.”

future success
BY JOSH MOYER
jmoyer@centredaily.com
Andi Heidt, owner of the
Hublersburg Inn, wasn’t sure
what was going to happen to her
pandemic raged through the U.S.,
few business owners did. Heidt’s
eyes welled up with tears when
reflecting back on that early
uncertainty and the questions she
couldn’t escape: Would her res-
taurant survive? What about her
But thanks to a mixture of
grants and loans, smart business
decisions focused on the future
and a loyal customer base, the
building constructed 34 years
before the start of the Civil War
— at 449 Hublersburg Road —
has shown no signs of shutting
down. Although revenue is un-
derstandably down and the pan-
demic has not yet been beat,
Heidt isn’t full of fear anymore.
She’s hopeful. ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com

business. 30 employees? What about their To offer diners a safe experience, Hublersburg Inn converted several
Last March, as the COVID-19 families? SEE INN, 8G upstairs rooms into private dining spaces.
2G ......................................................................................CENTRE DAILY TIMES SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14 2021
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14 2021
Philipsburg
company cuts
hours, not pay
BY BRET PALLOTTO
bpallotto@centredaily.com
The coronavirus pan-
demic has served as a mas-
sive experiment in working
remotely for largely white-
collar jobs, giving workers
freedom do their jobs from
nearly anywhere.
Blue-collar workers
haven’t been afforded that
opportunity as often,
though that didn’t stop one
Rush Township production
company from implement-
ing a new work environ-
ment in the midst of a
pandemic.
DiamondBack Covers
trimmed one hour off their
employees’ eight-hour
shifts in the fall, freeing up
five hours per week and
260 hours per year. The
kicker? Employees’ pay-
checks didn’t change.
“The thing that is en-
couraging is — when we
ask people what they’re
doing with their time — the
most common answer isn’t
sleeping in or staying up
late to watch more TV,”
CEO Ben Eltz said. “... The
thing that really made this
a slam dunk for us is that
this made people’s lives
better.”
Sales for the company
that produces pickup truck
bed covers have boomed
during the pandemic, leav-
ing DiamondBack exec-
utives to consider starting
an evening shift to keep up
with increasing demand.
The move could’ve
forced employees to sacri-
fice time with their families
and their own outdoor
pursuits, a potentially
counterproductive decision
for a company looking to
hire people passionate
about the outdoors.
The company founded in
2003 began brainstorming
solutions in May, and a
weeklong trial of the 35-
hour week followed in
August. It was an imme-
diate success; the change
went into effect in Novem-
ber.
“I am able to take my
children off in the morning
to school, and then I’m
home in the evening to be
able to have dinner with
them as well,” team lead
DiamondBack Covers shifted employees to a seven-hour
workday in the fall.
Mandee Corrigan said. “It
was the best of both worlds
for me.”
Evaluating the feasibility
of the new model centered
on two main questions:
Were their about 100 em-
ployees happier? And was it
justifiable financially?
The former was mea-
sured through a series of
surveys, which showed
upward of 85% of employ-
ees liked the change either
as much or more than the
previous model.
The change shaved
CENTRE DAILY TIMES ...................................................................................... 3G
like it was going to be har-
der to find people,” pro-
duction manager Kirk Da-
vid said. “Now, with the
35-hour workweek, we
believe that people’s lives
are better because they
have more time away from
work. We’re finding more
people that fit who we are
and who we want to be.”
The change appears to be
a “win-win,” Penn State
Abington economics and
labor-employment rela-
tions professor Lonnie
ABBY DREY Centre Daily Times, file Golden said.
A reduction in hours
often means a reduction in
income, which can put
workers in a bind. But
12.5% of time off employ- instead, the company is
ees’ schedules, but Eltz betting the loss in time
said the goal was to have worked will pay off with
employees increase their better retention rates and
efficiency by about 10%. employee well-being, Gold-
The company has no en said.
plans to revert to eight- “I find this fascinating.
hour shifts, Eltz said. The They’re picking up on what
business employs 103 peo- those of us in academia
ple, 30 of whom were hired call ‘making the business
last year. About 10 posi- case,’ ” Golden said. “It’s
tions remain unfilled. in your long-term interest
“We thought that adding to not overwork your em-
additional capacity and a ployees and to protect
true second or third shift them in a downturn. It
would make people’s lives looks like they’re trying to
worse and it was looking do both.”
4G ......................................................................................CENTRE DAILY TIMES SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14 2021

Schools, government
among top employers
11. GEISINGER CLINIC
CDT staff reports What: A branch of Dan-
ville-based Geisinger
The following is a list of Health System, which
the top 40 employers in serves central, south-cen-
Centre County, compiled tral and northeastern Penn-
from the state Department sylvania and southern New
of Labor and Industry Cen- Jersey. Geisinger has Cen-
ter for Workforce Informa- tre County offices in Belle-
tion and Analysis. All re- fonte, Philipsburg and the
sults are from the second State College area.
quarter of 2020. Previous rank: 10

1. PENN STATE 12. BELLEFONTE AREA

University Park SCHOOL DISTRICT
President: Eric Barron 318 N. Allegheny St.,
What: A public research Bellefonte
university with about Interim superintend-
40,000 undergraduates ent: Tammie Burnaford
enrolled at its main campus. What: The district has
Previous rank: 1 one high school, one mid-
dle school and four ele-
2. MOUNT NITTANY mentary schools, and
MEDICAL CENTER serves residents of Belle-
1800 E. Park Ave., State fonte and Benner, Marion,
College Spring and Walker town- ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com

President/CEO: Kath- ships. The district has a A painting by Elody Gyekis is among the pieces displayed at the Green Drake gallery in Millheim.
leen Rhine 2020-21 budget of $53
Chief medical officer: million.

Community
Dr. Nirmal Joshi Previous rank: 12
Chief of medical staff:
Dr. Thomas Covaleski 13. WEGMANS FOOD

helps Millheim
What: Mount Nittany MARKETS INC.
Health is a regional health What: A family-owned
system that includes Mount grocery store chain based
Nittany Medical Center, a in New York with locations

gallery survive,
260-bed acute care facility, in seven states. It has a
and Mount Nittany Physi- store in State College.
cian Group, a practice with Previous rank: 13

transition
physicians practicing in
more than 60 specialties 14. RESTEK CORP.
and subspecialties. 110 Benner Circle, Belle-
Previous rank: 2 fonte
President: Bryan Wol-
3. STATE GOVERNMENT cott ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com

Harrisburg What: A corporation that Since December, the The Green Drake is revamping its leadership structure and
Governor: Tom Wolf manufactures chromatog- BY MARLEY PARISH fundraiser has garnered is looking at changing its business model.
What: The state govern- raphy products used in a mparish@centredaily.com more than $4,000 in sup-
ment has a 2020-21 budget wide range of scientific port toward its $10,000
of $36.5 billion. analysis. Restek was found- For a decade, the Green goal. As a result, the man- again. So once again, we under to having a poten-
Previous rank: 3 ed in 1985 in Centre Coun- Drake has served as a agers have been able to pay thank you all for your in- tially rosy future ahead of
ty. space for creativity in Mill- artists and outstanding valuable contribution. us as we strive to serve as a
4. STATE COLLEGE AREA Previous rank: 16 heim, but community sup- debts, complete a new Without you, we could not community center for arts
SCHOOL DISTRICT port has kept the space temporary lease agree- go on.” and culture.”
240 Villa Crest Drive, 15. ACCUWEATHER INC. alive as managers transi- ment, update and reorga- Moving forward, the
State College 385 Science Park Road, tion amid the COVID-19 nize mailing lists and mod- managers are considering Marley Parish:
Superintendent: Bob State College pandemic. ernize operations. shifting the business model 814-231-4619,
O’Donnell Founder, CEO and Located in a 130-year- “The Green Drake is and transitioning to a non- @marley_parish
What: The district chairman: Joel Myers old building on Main called a gallery and art profit, but Leitzel said
serves residents of State What: A weather and Street, the Green Drake center, but it has always nothing has been made
College and Benner, Col- digital media company has been host to dozens of been a lot more than that,” official.
lege, Ferguson, Halfmoon, headquartered in State art shows, music perform- Koós wrote. “Our goal is to “We are blessed to live in
Harris and Patton town- College that provides ances, poetry readings and continue this tradition this community,” he said.
ships with a 2020-21 bud- weather forecasting serv- receptions since it opened (and) make the Green “The strong show of com-
get of $158.1 million. ices around the world. in 2011. But when the pan- Drake a welcoming and munity support has taken
Previous rank: 4 Previous rank: 14 demic and subsequent lively community center us from the brink of going
mitigation efforts resulted
5. GLENN O. HAWBAKER 16. GIANT FOOD STORES in lost business, the space
INC. LLC had to reevaluate oper-
1952 Waddle Road, Suite What: The Carlisle- ations.
203, State College based supermarket chain “Since March, it has
What: An excavation has stores in Pennsylvania, been impossible to have
company that operates Maryland, Virginia and special show receptions,
quarries and asphalt pro- West Virginia. The compa- music concerts and music
duction facilities in Penn- ny also operates the Mar- jams — greatly limiting our
sylvania and nearby states. tin’s brand. Giant has two ability to bring people in,”
Previous rank: 5 locations in State College. Karl Leitzel, outgoing man-
Previous rank: 22 aging partner, said. “Be-
6. WAL-MART tween that and the general
ASSOCIATES INC. 17. RAYTHEON CO. reduction in people shop-
What: An Arkansas- What: Raytheon merged ping in brick-and-mortar
based retail business that with United Technologies establishments, our income
manages discount depart- in April 2020 and is now has been severely cur-
ment stores around the called Raytheon Tech- tailed.”
world. There are two Wal- nologies. The aerospace Though artists, including
mart stores and one Sam’s and defense company’s Leitzel, pay for studio
Club in Centre County. State College office is part space at the Green Drake,
Previous rank: 6 of Raytheon Intelligence some volunteer crew mem-
and Space. bers have been unwilling to
7. CENTRE COUNTY Previous rank: 19 cover gallery shifts due to
420 Holmes St., Belle- the coronavirus, he said. To
fonte 18. BALD EAGLE AREA adjust, Leitzel said the
Commissioners: Mi- SCHOOL DISTRICT gallery cut expenses to a
chael Pipe, chairman; Mark 751 S. Eagle Valley Road, “bare minimum” and
Higgins, vice chairman; Wingate shortened its already limit-
and Steve Dershem Superintendent: Scott ed open hours.
What: The county runs Graham “We were still losing
governmental functions not What: The district ground all year,” he said.
taken care of by the state serves residents of Boggs, But with help from
or local governments. Burnside, Howard, Huston, $5,000 in county CARES
Previous rank: 7 Snow Shoe, Union and Act funding, a strong
Worth townships, and holiday shopping season
8. FEDERAL Howard, Milesburg, Port and fundraising efforts, the
GOVERNMENT Matilda, Snow Shoe and Green Drake was able to
Washington, D.C. Unionville boroughs. There get by and transition into
President: Joe Biden is a combined middle/high what Leitzel hopes is a
What: There are 12 fed- school, and four elemen- “rosy future.”
eral agencies, including the tary schools. The district’s After serving as man-
Postal Service and the 2020-21 budget is $35.3 aging partner for 10 years,
Commerce and Defense million. Leitzel will be stepping
departments, with 48 es- Previous rank: 20 back from his role at the
tablishments in Centre Green Drake to focus on
County. 19. HRI INC. art, artisan services and
Previous rank: 11 1750 W. College Ave., family. Though he’s help-
Suite 1, State College ing with the transition,
9. WEIS MARKETS INC. What: The construction local artists and Penns
What: A Sunbury-based company was founded in Valley residents Niké Koós
supermarket chain with State College in 1947. Part and Kurt Grotz will be
locations in Pennsylvania, of Colas Inc., the compa- taking over managing the
New York, New Jersey, ny’s operations include Green Drake. They’ve
Delaware, Maryland, Vir- paving, water, sewer, air- already taken steps to en-
ginia and West Virginia. port, and highway and hance the Green Drake’s
There are five locations in bridge projects along with online and social media
Centre County. asphalt plants and aggre- presence — aspects Leitzel
Previous rank: 9 gate quarries. said are sure to outlast the
Previous rank: 18 COVID-19 pandemic.
10. MOUNT NITTANY “Art is the one language
MEDICAL CENTER 20. UHS OF that transcends political
HEALTH SERVICES PENNSYLVANIA INC. and civil divisions,” Koós
1800 E. Park Ave., State What: A subsidiary of wrote online, promoting a
College King of Prussia-based Uni- “Save the Green Drake”
What: Mount Nittany versal Health Services Inc., GoFundMe. “It is the one
Health is a regional health which operates more than expression that brings hope
system that includes Mount 350 acute care hospitals, and joy to those struggling
Nittany Medical Center and behavioral health facil- through a pandemic. It is
and Mount Nittany Physi- ities and ambulatory centers one language that can unite
cian Group. communities — rural and
Previous rank: 8 SEE TOP 40, 6G urban.”
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14 2021
Susan Munnell works on a flower arrangement with the help of her cat Lucy at A Flower Basket in Bellefonte.
Munnell collected donations from the community to donate snacks and drinks to health
care employees, and took floral arrangements to the nurses stations at Centre Crest.
Bellefonte
shop finds
ways to
give back
BY ERIN HOGGE
ehogge@centredaily.com
Even during a pandemic,
one local flower shop has
found ways to blossom.
Susan Munnell — owner
of A Flower Basket, located
at 633 E. Howard St. in
Bellefonte — said the coro-
navirus mitigation efforts
have had pros and cons.
For example, the busi-
ness lost many events like
weddings, recognition
dinners, Christmas parties
and funerals due to govern-
ment mandated gathering
limits.
“Those are big items,
and when you look at your
bottom line they do affect
how your business is do-
ing,” Munnell said.
Munnell added that the
wholesalers from which
she buys flowers have had
a tough time keeping up
their supply with the de-
creased demand.
“It was the middle of
January until I saw a red
rose because I just couldn’t
get them,” Munnell said.
Still, Munnell said she
didn’t have to lay off any
employees because they’re
mostly retired community
members who work there
part time.
“There’s so many people
that would’ve gone some-
where else and tried to find
something when we were
shut down, but they’ve
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com
been wonderful and really
loyal and devoted,” Mun-
nell said.
Penny Williams, who has
worked at the shop for
about 17 years, said al-
though local customers do
come into the store here
and there, she misses see-
ing frequent faces daily.
“Everything’s kind of
been a standstill until all
the local events start pick-
ing back up again and word
of mouth gets out,” Wil-
liams said.
For now, Munnell said
business has been pretty
busy on a day-to-day basis
and especially around holi-
days because families
aren’t able to be together.
During a “stressful”
two-week period when the
pandemic began in March
2020, the shop was forced
to close, leaving Munnell
with all of the work. She
said she had to drive to
Bloomsburg to get her
flowers and would take
them home to cut, arrange
and ultimately deliver.
Throughout this time,
Munnell said she received
calls from customers of-
fering encouragement.
Once the two weeks were
up, she said some custom-
ers paid extra on their
orders to help out.
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com
“The customer base that
we have is phenomenal,”
Munnell said. “They’re just
so supportive.”
Dona Goldman — who
Munnell said is one of the
store’s most loyal custom-
ers — said she supports the
local business because it
has “clever and unique
items” and because Mun-
nell is a kind person.
“I shop local,” Goldman
said. “I think in our small
town we have to keep these
businesses going.”
Munnell said she tried a
curbside pickup option for
customers and has small
sales every once in a while,
but it’s still been difficult.
“It’s a challenge because
everyone wants to shop on
Amazon or go to Walmart
... to get their flowers be-
cause they think ‘Oh,
they’ve got them and
they’re cheap,’ but the
quality (is different),”
Munnell said.
Williams said when cer-
tain businesses were
deemed essential, includ-
CENTRE DAILY TIMES ...................................................................................... 5G
FROM PAGE 1G
YMCA
them healthy, have really
helped their mental and
physical (state),” said Cin-
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com dy Lupton, the YMCA’s
A floral arrangement by membership director.
Munnell is on display at A Lupton added that the
Flower Basket. YMCA’s membership num-
bers are just now “starting
to bounce back up” after
ing A Flower Basket, cus- they dipped significantly at
tomers rushed to chain the start of the pandemic.
stores. Still, she’s grateful for the
“You wonder why when people who kept their
the smaller businesses memberships, even if they
opened back up, why it didn’t feel safe coming to
took so long for people to exercise in person.
start coming back to us, yet “We’re just very fortu-
they went to the big-box nate to live in a community
stores,” Williams said. where they supported us
Despite any challenges and continue to support us
her business has faced through keeping their
during the pandemic, Mun- memberships and their
nell wanted to help others. donations,” Lupton said.
She recently collected do- Cone, who arrives at the
nations in the store and YMCA every day at 5:15
through a GoFundMe page a.m. and doesn’t leave until
to buy packaged snacks, about 2:30 p.m., makes
bottled drinks and fruit for sure to give participants the
roughly 250 Centre Crest chance to join classes in
nursing home employees person at a social distance,
and over 550 Mount Nitta- if they feel comfortable
ny Medical Center employ- doing so.
ees. Though adapting for
Munnell also distributed members has added work
gift baskets to the medical to his plate, Cone has been
center’s departments work- more than willing to make
ing with COVID-19 in- the necessary sacrifices.
patients and made arrange- “To think about what
ments for each nurse’s people are going through
station, the break room and right now and the impor-
the lobby. She said the goal tance to see each other’s
was to let the employees faces and to have that so-
working in “such bleak cialization to help psycho-
situations” know they are logically, the little extra
appreciated, and that she effort it takes to set some
hopes others are inspired to of that stuff up, it makes it
give. all worth it,” Cone said.
“(These employees) Just like Cone thinks
leave their homes and about the same thing at the
families to help total start of his day, he does the
strangers,” Munnell said. same at the end of his shift.
“We couldn’t have done it A few questions repeat in
without the generous sup- his mind daily as he walks
port of community mem- out of the YMCA’s double
bers and customers who doors to go home.
gave.” “At the end of the day,
I’m just like, ‘Did I help
Erin Hogge: @erinhogge people get a little bit
healthier? Did I help re-
duce somebody’s stress?’ ”
Cone said.
Parth Upadhyaya:
919-539-4208,
@pupadhyaya_
6G ......................................................................................CENTRE DAILY TIMES SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14 2021

FROM PAGE 4G Spring Mills

TOP 40
in the U.S. and U.K. In Cen-
tre County, the company
runs The Meadows Psychi-
atric Center, a 119-bed pri-
vate behavioral health facil-
ity in Centre Hall.
Previous rank: 21
21. FOURGSC LLC
What: The company
operates McDonald’s loca-
tions across the region,
with several in Centre
County.
Previous rank: 25
22. SHEETZ INC.
What: A family-owned
convenience store and gas
station chain based in Al-
toona that operates in
Pennsylvania, Maryland,
North Carolina, Ohio, Vir-
ginia and West Virginia.
There are 10 Sheetz loca-
tions in Centre County.
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com
Previous rank: 27
Drew McDowell serves popcorn to a patron at the Rowland Theatre in January. Since being allowed to reopen with
23. MILTON S. HERSHEY
coronavirus mitigation efforts in place, the Rowland has been playing old movies on weekends.
MEDICAL CENTER
Superintendent: Brian
Griffith
What: The district
serves residents of Centre
Hall and Millheim and
Gregg, Haines, Miles, Penn
and Potter townships. The
district has one combined
middle and high school,
and three elementary
schools. The district’s
2020-21 budget is $29.5
million.
Previous rank: 30
29. KCF TECHNOLOGIES
INC.
336 S. Fraser St., State
College
President/co-founder:
Jeremy Frank
What: The company
develops and commercial-
izes products and tech-
nology for a variety of
American manufacturing
industries and the military.
Previous rank: N/A
30. YMCA OF CENTRE
COUNTY
125 W. High St., Belle-
fonte
President/CEO: Scott

Rowland Theatre
“You can’t beat the expe-
rience of attending a movie
here, and so our strong
What: Primary care Mitchell
physicians and specialists What: A not-for-profit
practice at several locations community-centered or-
in the State College area as ganization. There are

is letting history
point is (that) we’re not like part of the Penn State branches in Bellefonte,
a multiplex ... it’s an expe- Health Medical Group. State College, Philipsburg
rience, just attending a Previous rank: 26 and Spring Mills.
movie here,” Inlow said. Previous rank: 17
24. CENTRE CREST

be its guide
“And the people that visit,
they usually come back. So 502 E. Howard St., Belle- 31. BK MEDICAL
we’re hoping that people fonte What: The company
will still choose to enjoy a What: A nonprofit that designs customized ultra-
movie in a movie theater provides medical care and sound systems to help
once things do get back.” services through a resident- surgeons quickly make
Christine Wilson, anoth- centered care approach for critical decisions during
just kept going.” been installed, and fund- er member of the theater’s those in need of short-term procedures.
BY LILLY RIDDLE The theater — run by raising for the rest is un- board, also believes the rehabilitation, memory Previous rank: 35
For the CDT Rowland Theatre Inc., a derway. The upper balco- building will persevere. support or long term care.
group of volunteers who ny’s original wooden seats “It’s just an awesome Previous rank: 24 32. QUALITY PLAZA
The coronavirus forced meet monthly to operate will not be replaced for building full of original 1829 Pine Hall Road,
Philipsburg’s Rowland the small business and historical reasons. marble, and light fixtures, 25. FOXDALE VILLAGE State College
Theatre to shut down back 501(c)(3) nonprofit — was The reseating project and dressing rooms,” Wil- CORP. What: Minitab/Quality
in March, and since then, in the middle of showing started before COVID-19, son said. “I think people in 500 E. Marylyn Ave., Plaza creates data analysis
offerings have been limited Disney and Pixar’s “On- Inlow said, so “the timing a small community value State College software for businesses and
and attendance spotty. But ward,” before the virus could not have been the theater even though What: A Quaker-direct- educational statistics soft-
this isn’t the first time the forced them to close on worse.” they might be watching ed, nonprofit continuing ware for schools.
historic venue has weath- March 17. “By summer, maybe movies at home.” care retirement communi- Previous rank: 37
ered a global health crisis. Rowland reopened June we’ll be back on (a) path to The venue, a relic of the ty.
Built in 1917, the theater 5, offering showings on where we can finally look past that continues to ad- Previous rank: 29 33. MILLIPORESIGMA
also closed for about five Fridays and Saturdays. at possibly reopening back just to the present, also What: Manufactures
weeks during the 1918 While the theater contin- to where we were,” Inlow holds a special place in 26. LOWE’S HOME chromatography columns
Spanish flu pandemic. ues to follow COVID-19 said. “But at this point, we Wilson’s heart because her CENTERS LLC and other related products
Rebecca Inlow, who is on protocols, Inlow said ticket can’t plan anything be- husband’s great-great- What: The North Car- for analytical scientists.
the theater’s board of di- sales haven’t yet jumped cause it’s just so uncer- grandfather, Charles Row- olina-based home improve- Previous rank: 38
rectors, said she took some back to where they were tain.” land, was the Philipsburg ment retailer has a store in
solace in knowing there pre-pandemic. On top of that, many resident and U.S. congress- Patton Township. 34. ENCOMPASS HEALTH
was precedent for its clo- Over the course of 2020, studios — most notably man who had the theater Previous rank: N/A NITTANY VALLEY REHAB
sure. Inlow said expenses have Warner Bros. and Disney — built. 550 W. College Ave.,
“I remember when it exceeded revenue, both have opted to stream their “It’s sentimental for us, 27. AVEANNA Pleasant Gap
started, I was comparing it. because of a decline in films on services like HBO and another reason I’m HEALTHCARE LLC What: Encompass
I was like, ‘Oh, we’re not attendance and the cancel- Max and Disney Plus, in- happy to volunteer my What: Atlanta-based Health Rehabilitation Hos-
there yet,’ ” Inlow said. lation of live concerts and centivizing moviegoers to time,” Wilson said. “I want Aveanna has a State Col- pital of Nittany Valley
“We were doing a count- events, of which the thea- watch anticipated releases it to be there for my kids, lege location that offers provides comprehensive
down on our digital sign ter would normally hold from home instead. and my grandkids, and private nursing and person- rehabilitation services for
outside. ... But we hit the three or four a year. Despite the theater being future generations.” al care for children and recovery after stroke, brain
point where we evened up Rowland Inc. had also “in survival mode,” howev- adults. injury, spinal cord injury
with the 1918 Spanish flu been in the process of re- er, Inlow has hope that Previous rank: 23 and more.
pandemic, and I just re- placing 700 of the theater’s what drew people to the Previous rank: 32
member thinking, ‘Wow, so main level and lower balco- theater in the first place 28. PENNS VALLEY AREA
we’ve now been closed as ny seats — so far, only 200 will help it outlast CO- SCHOOL DISTRICT
long as that.’ And then we in the lower balcony have VID-19. 4528 Penns Valley Road, SEE TOP 40, 8G

hood classes, as well as
traditional or “Suzuki
Method” lessons — based
on an approach by Japa-
nese violinist Shinichi Su-
zuki — for older students.
Instructors teach voice,
piano, guitar, string, brass,
wind and percussion les-
sons, for instruments rang-
ing from the electric bass
to the recorder.
In March, all in-person
lessons were moved online.
Rutkowski said the switch
was especially difficult for
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com
younger students — while
Betha Christopher of The Music Academy has shifted to some early childhood les-
teaching her early childhood classes on Zoom. sons were held outside
over the summer to main-
“I think some of that is
families are just so stressed
and Zoomed out, and
there’s like, ‘We can’t do
one more thing,’ ” Rutkow-
ski said. “Parents used to
come and bring their stu-
dents to lessons and they’d
sit in our lobby, and work
and read. We stopped all
that with our protocols.”
Now, the academy is in
the middle of its spring
2021 semester. Rutkowski
expects that some lessons
can occur outside as soon
as weather conditions al-
low for it.
Both the Suzuki and
traditional students will
hold virtual concerts in
February, by means of
splicing together student-
recorded performances and
posting the finished prod-
uct to a private YouTube
channel.
Lundy said the concerts
allow students to continue
musical instruction in as
normal a fashion as pos-
sible.
“We’re making paths,
we’re finding new ways of
doing things,” Lundy said.
“It’s been a time to get
very creative in what you
do so that you can keep
doing it as well as possible,
and I commend the stu-
dents and the teachers for
being able to do that.”
Lundy said the program,
which has been operating
in the Centre County re-
gion for more than 55
years, is “resilient.”
“The school has probably
weathered many challeng-
es in its time with the sup-
port of the community ...
but it’s quite a marker that
we’ve been around for well
over 50 years,” Lundy said.
“We’re finding our way.”

State College
tain the in-person experi-
ence, other beginner mu-
sicians relegated to Zoom

music school
had to learn brand-new
skills through their screens.
“It’s harder for younger

gets creative
kids because you don’t
have somebody right there,
looking at how you’re hold-

to keep teaching
ing the instrument direct-
ly,” Rutkowski said. “And
plus, they’re on Zoom with
school and everything, so
there is that Zoom fatigue.”
The Music Academy had The academy runs two
BY LILLY RIDDLE to get creative to keep semesters during the year,
For the CDT things running, according in the fall and spring, in
to Joanne Rutkowski — the addition to a summer ses-
In the past, going to a president of the State Col- sion. Currently, the school
music recital meant sitting lege organization’s board utilizes a mix of in-person
in an audience of parents and a professor emerita of and online lessons, de-
and listening to children music education at Penn pending on the teachers’
plunk out “Ave Maria” on a State — using a combina- and families’ preferences
spotlit stage. tion of virtual privates, and comfort levels, the
In the era of COVID-19, Zoom recitals and outdoor instrument type (voice and
however, recitals look a lessons. wind instrument lessons
little different — in Decem- Instruction is offered in a don’t allow for mask-wear-
ber, some students at The wide variety of instru- ing) and Centre County’s
Music Academy were each ments, for musicians of all positive coronavirus case
given a Christmas carol ages and skill levels. Jen- rate.
and told to arrange it for nene Lundy, the director of But while enrollments
their instrument. Then, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, were up through the sum-
their recorded perform- said students have spanned mer, Rutkowski said, num-
ances were compiled in a age 0 all the way up to 95. bers dropped sharply by the
virtual recital. There are early child- fall.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14 2021
Nature Inn
alters guest
experience
BY ERIN HOGGE
ehogge@centredaily.com
Tucked away in Howard,
The Nature Inn at Bald
Eagle has found new ways
to accommodate guests
throughout the coronavirus
pandemic, according to
innkeeper Charlie Brooks.
In late March, like many
other businesses, the lake-
side inn — located at 201
Warbler Way in Bald Eagle
State Park — was mandated
to close until mid-May,
leaving the doors shut for
roughly six weeks.
“It became apparent
during that time that when
we were able to reopen we
were going to have to be
very creative in order to
stay viable,” Brooks said.
Brooks, who has been
the innkeeper for 10 years,
said the pandemic forced
him to devise an altered
operation plan — some-
thing he said wouldn’t have
been possible without the
help of his “dedicated”
staff.
“I made sure that I went
out and sought that first
round of (Paycheck Protec-
tion Program) funding so
that even though we were
closed, I did not have to lay
off my employees and have
them go through the pro-
cess of trying to qualify
themselves for unemploy-
ment,” Brooks said.
One of the inn’s main
financial driving forces is
hosting events, such as
weddings and meetings —
all of which aren’t feasible
given the gathering limits
due to the pandemic.
Therefore, his employees
had to figure out what else
they could offer to make
guests’ experience safe.
The inn’s plan included a
strict mask policy inside
the building that Brooks
said his employees are
great at enforcing, as well
as updated cleaning proce-
dures. He said the inn’s
website was also updated
with information about
their changes to let poten-
tial guests know they would
be safe.
Emily Scordato, a house-
keeper at the inn, said
although the pandemic has
limited the service she can
provide guests, like switch-
ing out towels and chang-
ing their bed sheets, the
inn created a service menu
of sorts to let guests choose
which services they want.
“It’s way different and
just a completely different
approach to how we do
A bear in the hallway of The Nature Inn sports a mask to
remind guests to wear masks when not in their rooms.
FROM PAGE 1G
CAVE
some public schools have
called to tentatively reserve
field trips, which Schleiden
said gives her hope that
things will look more nor-
mal this spring.
“We’re a very cohesive
team here,” Schleiden said.
“We all took this very seri-
ously, and we also wanted
to protect each other, as
well as our families ... ev-
erybody was extremely
cooperative and consid-
erate and also took the
safety of our visitors very
seriously too.”
Penn’s Cave is the only
all-water cavern and wild-
life park in the country. It
usually brings quite a bit of
things,” Scordato said.
“Something that was a part
of your job has completely
shifted.”
Scordato added that she
and the other housekeepers
heavily disinfect every
surface, which they’ll con-
tinue to do after the pan-
demic ends.
“It doesn’t sound like a
lot, but when you’re going
through and doing each
room — we really do take
the time to wipe everything
down with disinfectant and
just try to give the cleanest,
most safe space for our
guests,” Scordato said.
Sharon Bitner manages
the inn’s front desk and
said she constantly checks
guidance updates from the
Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention to en-
sure the inn is doing the
right things.
“Once you get (the new
procedures) incorporated
in your daily routine it’s
really second nature then,”
Bitner said. “I honestly
think that it would be pret-
ty easy to (keep) a lot of
these (cleaning procedures)
even after it ends.”
Fortunately for the inn,
Brooks said state parks
have generally seen an
uptick in business during
the pandemic because
travelers want open spaces
after being cooped up at
home.
This has allowed local
businesses to continue to
receive support, which
Scordato said is “so impor-
tant.”
“It’s everything to sup-
port local businesses be-
cause you are providing
support to the people who
work there who then in
turn go and feed back into
the community,” Scordato
said. “When small busi-
nesses are successful
everything else around
them flourishes.”
Despite the pandemic,
Brooks said the inn
matched its previous occu-
pancy rates from July to
November — something he
attributes to the inn’s com-
munication, employees’
dedication and guests’
appreciation.
In terms of dining,
Brooks “retooled” the inn’s
offerings. During summer,
guests could purchase “grill
kits,” which were similar to
a prepackaged meal service
like HelloFresh, because
local restaurants were
closed, or were only of-
fering takeout. Now, in
winter, the inn offers hot
takeout meals, like soup.
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com
traffic to the Centre Coun-
ty region, according to Fritz
Smith, the president and
CEO of the Happy Valley
Adventure Bureau.
Smith said that since the
cave is the “No. 1 visited
attraction” in the county,
“you could probably guess
that 7, 8% of (Centre
County traveling) revenue
dropped” in the second
quarter as a result of them
being closed.
“It was pretty devas-
tating for the county as a
whole,” Smith said. “And
then, of course, the effect
of people visiting Penn’s
Cave is not just in Centre
County. I mean, some
people stay in camp-
grounds or hotels in Ly-
coming County, or Colum-
bia or Montour or Juniata
County, so the impact
CENTRE DAILY TIMES ...................................................................................... 7G
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com
From behind a plexiglass shield, Charlie Brooks checks in a guest at The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park in January.
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com
A checklist with item
requests hangs on a door so
housekeeping does not
have to enter the room
during a guest’s stay.
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com have done so people who
Miranda Jukes sanitizes and cleans a room at The Nature Inn. are feeling shut in or just
like they didn’t get any
vacation can come safely
Even when restaurants stores that are donating to sible without the dedicated enjoy a state park geta-
began to reopen for dine-in our local Little League kids staff. way.”
service, Brooks said his or the Boy Scouts and “They’re not front-line
guests “overwhelmingly” things like that,” Bitner workers like folks in the Erin Hogge: @erinhogge
continued to purchase the said. “We all help each medical (field), but they
inn’s takeout options. other out a little bit.” are dealing with the public
“We were proactive Brooks reiterated that in a way that exposes them
about replacing one seg- keeping business going potentially more to getting
ment of our lost business during the pandemic sick,” Brooks said. “They
and it’s worked out pretty wouldn’t have been pos- are proud of the work they
well for us,” Brooks said.
“And it’s met a need and a
customer expectation.”
Moving forward, Brooks
said the inn will continue
to serve takeout meals
post-pandemic because of
the great customer re-
sponse. He’s working on a
few ideas like including a
street corn recipe and Penn
State Berkey Creamery ice
cream.
Brooks said it will be
challenging to keep up with
the takeout food option
once guests are again able
to host big events because
of the inn’s small kitchen
size.
“It’s a good problem to
have to solve, and I’m sure
we’ll solve it,” Brooks said.
Still, Brooks said there
will always be guests who
prefer to dine at a local
restaurant, and the inn’s
website includes a section
for local attractions, which
Brooks said has caused
some guests to extend their
stay to explore the area.
“It helps me because I’m
picking up additional room
nights, but it’s helping all
those local businesses,”
Brooks said.
Bitner said supporting
local businesses puts
money back into the com-
munity.
“It’s not the big box
really goes beyond Centre
County.”
Ultimately, however,
Fritz said recreational areas
like Penn’s Cave are “per-
fectly positioned” to serve
those wanting to visit
spaces perceived as safer
from the virus. Instead of
hopping on planes and
going to Disney World, he
said, people will want to
visit outdoor, natural or
historic sites.
“I think this is the kind
of place that’s going to
appeal to people, rather
than crowded cities or a
crowded amusement
park,” Smith said. “So I’m
optimistic — I’m negative
about what’s happening
right now, but long-term
optimistic.”
8G ......................................................................................CENTRE DAILY TIMES SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14 2021

FROM PAGE 6G

TOP 40
35. TARGET CORP.
What: The Minneapolis-
based retailer has two
stores in the State College
area.
Previous rank: N/A

36. THE COCA-COLA CO.

What: The company
sold its Centre County
water bottling plant to
Niagara Bottling in late
2020.
Previous rank: N/A

37. GRAYMONT (PA) INC.

What: The Canadian
lime and stone manufac-
turing firm operates a plant
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com in a Pleasant Gap and an
Funeral director Glenn Fleming closes the doors to one of the rooms at Koch Funeral office in Bellefonte.
Home in State College. Previous rank: 39

Funeral home
38. STRAWBERRY FIELDS
INC.
3054 Enterprise Drive,
ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com State College
The funeral home limits the number of people attending

adjusts, adapts
CEO: Cynthia Pasquinel-
visitations and provides reminders about social distancing. li
What: A private non-
profit that supports individ-
“But you have to do what offered, with fees ranging uals and families with de-

to pandemic
you have to do. These peo- from $550 to $650, and velopmental delays, in-
ple can’t choose when their families can choose a live- tellectual disabilities and
loved one passes away, so stream or recording. (Ini- mental illness. The organi-
you just have to put what- tially, only a livestream was zation provides employ-
ever’s in your mind away offered.) Celebrant Jackie ment for people with dis-
and do your best for the Naginey Hook can help abilities at two stores,
family you’re assisting.” create a virtual remem- Scraps & Skeins and Good
The state’s COVID-19- brance circle, with family Day Cafe.
related restrictions applied virtually sharing stories. Previous rank: 33
were either forced, or able, to funeral homes, including And visitations, which
BY JOSH MOYER to close for a few weeks decreased business capac- some might refer to as 39. BOROUGH OF STATE
jmoyer@centredaily.com and reorganize, the 107- ities and limited outdoor viewings, can be held in- COLLEGE
year-old building at 2401 S. gatherings, so Koch Funer- person, via drive-through 243 S. Allen St., State
Glenn Fleming, super- Atherton St. was forced to al Home was forced to or virtually. College
visor and co-owner of Koch adapt and adjust on the fly. adapt like everyone else. It Fleming isn’t sure when Manager: Tom Foun-
Funeral Home, offered a People may have stopped restricted the number of his next vacation might taine
slight chuckle when asked going to restaurants, or visitors inside to 25, then come. Business has picked Interim mayor: Ron
the last time he was able to limited their shopping, but ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com 15, then 10 — and then up about 8% since October, Filippelli
take a vacation. deaths — unsurprisingly — Koch Funeral Home offers back to 15. After speaking so he’s fortunate to find an What: The borough
After all, pandemics and continued. virtual options for grieving with two consultants, occasional Sunday to take oversees local government
funerals don’t often leave “You have to under- families. drive-up and virtual serv- off. But, whatever the fu- services.
room for weekend trips. stand, funeral services ices were quickly offered. ture brings, Fleming said Previous rank: 31
“Last February,” he said, move like a turtle; it And the building, which Koch Funeral Home isn’t
behind a navy-blue mask. doesn’t make big leaps and Still, they had a duty. So could comfortably hold going anywhere. 40. PHEAA
“I went back to working bounds,” Fleming said. Fleming made sure he did separate events, was also “We’re not getting many What: The Pennsylvania
and being available all the “It’s still essentially the all he could do. He locked limited to one at a time. days of rest, and that’s not Higher Education Assist-
time because there wasn’t same now as it was in 1962 down the building at the In some ways, the busi- good for the soul,” Fleming ance Agency, based in
enough staff to deal with when I became a funeral pandemic’s start, allowing ness is still adjusting. But, said matter-of-factly. “That Harrisburg, is a national
this. We’re still on that director. It’s changed more only those who were although some services being said, we do it anyway provider of student finan-
schedule. I don’t know how in the past year than it has masked and/or had an have been tweaked, much because we’re here to serve cial aid services.
to get out of it until it slows in the past number of appointment to walk of what Koch Funeral the community as best we Previous rank: N/A
down.” years.” through the entrance. He Home offers has remain can. That’s our mission.
Fleming, who took over That didn’t just apply to swore he was never afraid unchanged over the last “It’s what we do.”
the State College business the funeral services them- — “As long as you protect few months.
in 1973, offered a calm selves. Blue circles were yourself and take the ap- Remote viewing is still Josh Moyer: @byjoshmoyer
voice throughout a recent fixed to the floor of the propriate steps, that’s all
afternoon. His muted laugh funeral home to promote you can do,” he said — but
was one of the few times social distancing, plexiglass he admitted his staff was a
he wavered from a steady was installed where he little jumpy.
demeanor, but the CO- would meet with families, “It was always kind of in
VID-19 pandemic has cre- and masks were required at the back of your mind
ated challenges — and all times. Safety (and clean- when you met with some-
solutions — that he’s never ing) fast became the top body,” said Katie Monsell,
before seen. priority, for both his clients a funeral director who’s
While other businesses and his employees. worked there for six years.

FROM PAGE 1G that initial transition,” panding the outdoor dining

INN
bartender Bette Toth area, performing landscape
agreed. “But all those little work ahead of what turned
things that used to be ‘an- into a booming summer.
noying,’ it’s just part of — I “If it wasn’t for that,”
Instead of investing in hate to use the phrase ‘new Heidt said, referring to the
plexiglass dividers at the normal’ — but it’s just part PPP, “I don’t know where
bar, something that of your day now.” we would’ve been. .... But,
wouldn’t have been utilized Once capacity was limit- now, I think we’re posi-
past the pandemic, she ed by the commonwealth, tioned well. I’m good. I
enlarged her outdoor din- Toth and Co. removed don’t want to steal Joe
ing space and later in- tables and reorganized the Biden’s ‘Build back better’
stalled heaters. (There are main dining room. When thing, but that’s kind of my
currently no seats at the dining in was temporarily thought process.”
bar.) She also subscribed to eliminated, they offered She was later given a
part of a new system that curbside pickup. When $10,000 grant by the
allowed for online order- masks were required, they county for COVID-19 ex-
ing, implemented private ordered supplies from one penses. And she used an-
dining spaces upstairs — of their distributors — their other recent $2,500 grant
and she’s now in the early monthly bill tripled — and from a female business
planning stages for an charged dine-in customers group to help renovate
extension to the restaurant, $1 to offset the costs. When those private dining rooms
one where the kitchen alcohol was allowed for upstairs, in place of unused
would be enlarged and the takeout, they taped the lids bedrooms.
bar moved, possibly in to meet guidelines. Heidt doesn’t know what
2022. With daily challenges the future holds. But she
“Oh, I’m really positive came daily solutions — and her employees have
about the future, to be some easy and some hard. taken everything the pan-
honest with you,” Heidt But even Heidt acknowl- demic has thrown at them
added. “We’ve had such a edged she couldn’t have so far, turning lemons into
good reaction so far with solved them all on her own. lemon-flavored cocktails.
what we’ve been able to do After early news of the With customers embracing
limitedly.” pandemic, she immediately the changes, and with
The pandemic has forced took out a $10,000 loan vaccinations underway,
business owners to adapt, from the bank for antici- there’s finally cause to be
get creative and be proac- pated expenses. positive.
tive. To fail at one of those, As COVID-19 droned on, Sunday brunch returned
Heidt intimated, was to fail and sales at one point were last month. (One local
her business — and, by about 25% of the normal recommended the fried
extension, her employees. total, Heidt knew she need- chicken eggs Benedict.)
But she exceeded those ed another infusion of More than two dozen bot-
standards by following an cash. Had it not been for tled beers remain available,
important rule of thumb: If the federal Paycheck not including what’s on
it’s going to help the cus- Protection Program, Heidt tap. And weekly specials,
tomer during the pandem- likely would’ve faced the like half-priced “Wednes-
ic, and can still be used prospect of refinancing her day Wings,” are all still
after the pandemic’s end, house or maybe even cut- staples.
then figure out a way to do ting her losses and calling The Hublersburg Inn, a
it. it quits. 20-minute drive from Penn
That was just a lot easier But she was able to take State, first operated as a
said than done in the be- advantage of that program, tavern in 1827. With any
ginning, even for a locals’ hiring back everyone who luck, pandemic or not,
hot spot known for its fresh wanted to return. The customers will now be able
sandwiches, crisp wings problem? Business was to enjoy another 194 years.
(and spicy garlic ranch down in the spring; there
sauce) and seasonal/classi- was little for her employees Josh Moyer: @byjoshmoyer
cal entrees. to do. The solution? Her
“The hardest part was employees worked on ex-