16

Energy Savers

You can receive

d i s co u n t s f o r

energy efficient

light bulbs and

other appliances from your electricity provider by visiting

www.firstenergycorp.com/save_energy.

Stop the phantom menace: Even when electronics are off they may

still draw power. Connect electronics to power strips and turn off

when not in use.

Conserve & Protect Water Resources

Reduce stormwater pollution by installing a

rain barrel or planting a rain garden. Runoff

during intense rain events overloads the

stormwater system and pollutes local streams

with excess nutrients from pet waste, road and

lawn chemicals, and litter.

Fix leaks fast, because every drop counts. On

average, more than 10,000 gallons of water

leaks from U.S. homes each year due to running

toilets, dripping faucets and other household

leaks.

Install a water-efficient showerhead. They are inexpensive, easy to

use, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month. Visit

www.epa.gov/WaterSense to find more steps you can take to

conserve water.

Dump the Pump & Save Some Gas

By speeding, breaking, and accelerating less often you can increase

your gas mileage by as much as 30%.

Take the CATA bus or carpool. Public transportation is an easy

inexpensive way to get around State College. Find out how much

you could save at www.PACommutes.com.

Even better – walk or bike to your destination. State College

recently received “Bicycle Friendly Community” status from the

League of American Bicyclists. State College also has a large

amount of residents who walk to work (42.2% of residents walk and

over 2% bike to work).

Incandescent CFL

Power used (Watts) 60 13

Lifetime Energy Cost $40 $10

Bulb Life (Hours) 750-1,000 6,000-15,000

FRONT PAGE

Fall 2012

2

What is the LION Walk?

The LION Walk is a neighborhood welcoming program, which is

jointly sponsored by the Borough of State College, Penn State

University Student Affairs, and the Off-Campus Student Union

(OCSU).

Our community prides itself on its diversity

and openness. The foundation of our

community includes both students and

permanent residents – Living In One

Neighborhood (LION). We would like to

provide you with some helpful tips and

information that will enhance your State

College experience. Whether you are a renter

or homeowner, student or non-student – you can always learn

something from your community and the people in it!

How to Use This Handbook

This year’s neighborhood guide comes as a handbook. It will provide

you with information essential to being a resident of State College. Feel

free to share this information with other members of your household,

neighbors and friends.

Sponsor’s Websites

State College Borough

http://www.statecollegepa.us

Off-Campus Student Union

http://ocsu.psu.edu

Penn State Student Affairs

http://studentaffairs.psu.edu

Use your smart

phone to scan

this code and be

directed to the

State College

Borough’s

website.

15

Greening Your Neighborhood

Reduce Waste

Instead of buying books; rent

them! You can rent textbooks

for a fraction of the cost of

buying the books. Also, take

advantage of local libraries.

If you live at a residence with

curbside refuse pick up, you will

be provided with both a refuse

cart and organics cart. Food

waste makes up the largest

fraction of the material that ends

up in landfills and can be

composted—do your part by

collecting food scraps and yard

waste in your organics cart.

Bottled water is 10,000 times

more expensive than tap water

and puts strain on other

communities’ supplies; instead,

choose a reusable water bottle

and fill it with local tap water.

Save Energy

Stop leaks! Finding and properly

sealing air leaks around doors,

windows and pipes is the

number one thing you can do to

reduce your energy bills.

Residents living in apartments

can purchase window treatments

that reduce heat loss in the

winter and heat gain in the

summer.

Did You Know? You are required, by law, to

RECYCLE in the Borough.

You can recycle…

Clear, green and brown glass

bottles and jars (lids removed

and discarded);

Aluminum cans, foil and pie

plates;

Steel and tin (lids removed,

placed inside cans);

EMPTY aerosol cans and

paint cans;

Narrow-neck plastic bottles,

only, with caps removed

(caps can be placed in bin);

Clean, dry newspaper,

phonebooks, paperboard,

magazines, & office paper;

Clean, dry corrugated

cardboard (no waxed or oily

cardboard, pizza boxes, or

Styrofoam peanuts);

Wide-neck plastics containers

are now accepted at drop-off

locations.

Recycling costs only $5/ton,

whereas trash disposal costs the

Borough $70/ton.

The Borough’s recycling efforts

save over 93 billion BTU’s of

energy each year, the equivalent

of avoiding the use of 10

thousand barrels of oil.

The amount of paper recycled

in the Borough is equivalent to

the paper produced from over

90,000 seedlings if grown for

10 years.

Simple tips that will save you some green, protect our

environment, and beautify your neighborhood.

14

Biking Around the Neighborhood

In State College, bicycles must be registered. Registering your bike is

easy and will assist the police in locating your bicycle if it is stolen or

lost. Register your bike with the State College Police Department, at

participating bicycle shops or online through Penn State’s

Transportation Services at www.transportation.psu.edu. To register your

bike, you will need the make, model and serial number. Registration is

free and good for up to 2 years.

Did You Know?

When passing a cyclist, Pennsylvania Law now requires you to

provide a four-foot buffer between the cyclist and your vehicle.

Cycling regularly can increase your lifespan by up to 14 months!

The average annual cost to maintain a bicycle is approximately

$300, more than $7,000 less than the cost to maintain a car.

Remember to Follow these Rules of the Road:

As a cyclist, you must obey all traffic signs as if you are driving any

other vehicle.

You can be fined for locking your bike to trees, sign posts or parking

meters in the Borough.

Bike racks and posts provided by the Borough on streets and sidewalks

can be used to secure bikes for up to 3 consecutive days.

Bike posts and racks inside Borough parking garages can be used to

secure bikes for up to 30 consecutive days.

Riding on downtown sidewalks between Atherton and High Streets and

College and Foster Avenues is not permitted.

If cycling between sunset and sunrise, your bicycle must be equipped

with front and rear reflectors and front and rear bike lights

that are visible for at least 500 feet.

Children under the age of 12 are required to wear a

helmet.

For links to more information about cycling in

State College visit www.statecollegepa.us/bikes

3

Off Campus:

Centre County Non-Emergency Toll Free .................... 800-479-0050

Centre County Women’s Resource Center .................... 877-234-5050

Centre Region Code Administration ............................. 814-231-3056

Centre Volunteers in Medicine ...................................... 814-231-4043

Community Help Centre (24 Hour Hotline) .................. 814-237-5855

Community Help Centre (24 Hour Help Line) .............. 800-494-2500

Mid-Penn Legal Services .............................................. 814-238-4958

Mount Nittany Medical Center ...................................... 814-231-7000

National Poison Control Center ..................................... 800-222-1222

State College Borough Office ....................................... 814-234-7100

State College Borough Parking Department ................. 814-234-7131

State College Police ....................................................... 814-234-7150

On Campus: Center for Women Students .......................................... 814-863-2027

Counseling and Psychological Services ........................ 814-863-0395

Office of Student (Financial) Aid .................................. 814-865-6301

Office of Student Conduct ............................................. 814-863-0342

Off-Campus Living ....................................................... 814-865-2346

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life ........................... 814-863-8065

Registrar ........................................................................ 814-865-6357

University Health Services ............................................ 814-863-0774

University Park Undergraduate Association ................. 814-863-4326

University Police ........................................................... 814-863-1111

UPUA Legal Services .................................................... 814-867-2197

Walking Service ............................................................ 814-865-9255

Emergency: 9-1-1

Important Numbers to Know

4

Meet Your Neighbor: Next time you see your neighbor, take the time to say

“Hello!” and engage in some light conversation.

Keep in Touch: Exchange

contact information. This aids

you in being seen as an

individual and not as another

random student or resident that

just lives on the street.

Communicate: Keep neighbors

informed when you are about to

have a party, getting a new pet,

or going away for the weekend.

These events may affect them

too and making them aware is the polite thing to do. Give your neighbors

your phone number so they may contact you if there is a problem.

Put Yourself in Your Neighbor’s Home: Realize that a major source of

irritation is noise. If you are out on the street late at night, don’t shout into

your phone or burst into a random song. Someday, you may have to be at

work or class at 8 a.m.

Resolve Conflicts Civilly: If you have a problem with a neighbor, try to

work it out informally with a friendly phone call or note. Put yourself in

your neighbor’s shoes.

Give a Helping Hand: If your neighbors need a hand, give them one. They

will appreciate your friendliness and will be more willing to help you when

you are in need.

Keep it Clean: Keep up the appearance of your dwelling: put trash in proper

receptacles and remove the receptacles from the curb after collection, do

not place overstuffed furniture on the porch, install curtains in windows,

and clean lawns and sidewalks of litter.

Drive Smart: Watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists. Don’t block

driveways or sidewalks when you park. The speed limit in residential

areas, as well as on Beaver and College Avenues, is 25 miles per hour.

Be Considerate of Differences: A person’s age, faith, ethnic background

and family status can dramatically affect his or her daily life. You’ll find

that your neighbors have diverse backgrounds, careers and experiences. Be

aware of the differences and respect them.

Get to Know Your Neighborhood

Being a good neighbor is easy! Try these suggestions:

13

Getting Around Town by Bus

CATABUS

The CATABUS fixed-route community

bus system provides service between

Downtown State College, the Penn State

University Park Campus, and many special points of interest, as well

as service to Bellefonte, Pleasant Gap and Stormstown. It also

includes fare-free LOOP and LINK circulators and cross-campus

service.

Regular Fare: $1.50

CATARIDE

CATA provides curb-to-curb

transportation for all patrons

and provides the service at a

reduced fare for senior

citizens, age 65 and over, as

well as persons whose

disability makes using CATA

buses impossible. The

program requires an

application (which must be

approved in advance by

CATA) and reservations for

each trip.

CATACOMMUTE

Long-distance commuters can

utilize CATACOMMUTE,

a variety of transportation

services that includes RideShare, Vanpool and Guaranteed Ride Home

programs and various other services, providing easy and economical

commute alternatives.

Service, Route, Schedule and Pass Information:

(814) 238-CATA(2282)

www.catabus.com/realtime.catabus.com

Did You Know?

Based on ridership, CATA is the third

largest transit Authority in PA.

Cash, tokens and passes may be used

for fare on all routes.

CATABUS drivers do not carry change. If paying cash, have exact

change.

You can purchase tokens or a pass at

the CATA office on the corner of

Beaver Avenue and Allen Street.

On CATA’s website, riders can view

online tutorials on how to ride the bus,

read bus schedules, use CATA’s bus-

mounted bike racks, and more.

At realtime.catabus.com you can see

where your bus is in real-time and

when it is expected to reach your stop.

Download CATA’s app for the iPhone

and Android devices to get real-time

information on the go.

12

Parking on Your Own Property

Whether you own or rent, all vehicles must be parked on approved

parking areas. Fines are issued for parking on lawns ($25) or between

sidewalks and curbs ($15). A fine may be issued each day the

violation is observed.

Parking on Someone Else’s Property

The Borough does not have jurisdiction in private parking lots.

Private lot owners may have unauthorized vehicles towed, but

warning signs must be posted. If your vehicle is not where you left it,

call the Police Department at

(814) 234-7150. If your vehicle has

been towed, they can tell you how to

reclaim it.

Payment and Appeals

If you get a ticket, you should promptly

respond whether you are paying the

fine or filing an appeal. Appeals may

be filed within 48 hours of the ticket

being issued at the Municipal Building

or online. If you do not respond in one

of the ways listed, your ticket will be

filed with the District Magistrate where

additional costs will be levied.

Tickets may be paid by:

Mailing a personal check or money

order (No cash please).

Paying in person at the Municipal

Building.

Leaving the ticket with payment in

the after hours drop box in the

Municipal Building lobby.

Paying online at the Borough’s

website, www.statecollegepa.us

(At the bottom of the homepage,

click on “Online Payments,” and

then click on “Parking Tickets”).

To avoid a parking

ticket DO NOT

park… At bus stops or in

loading or theatre

zones;

Between the sidewalk

and curb;

Within 15 feet of a

fire hydrant;

Within 20 feet of a

crosswalk or

intersection;

Within 30 feet of a

stop sign;

More than 12 inches

from the curb;

Overnight where No

Parking 2 a.m.- 6 a.m.

signs are posted;

Against traffic or

where traffic will be

obstructed;

In front of driveways;

In a handicap space

without a placard

(fines start at $50).

5

Noise & Disturbances

Noise disturbances are a serious problem in the

Borough neighborhoods. Excessive noise that can be

heard off of the property of the noise source is too loud

and must be turned down. Fines can be levied for

violations. The full Noise Control Ordinance can be

found at www.statecollegepa.us under Borough Codes.

Questions regarding these laws should be directed to the

police department at (814) 234-7150.

Alcohol

Open containers are prohibited on any public street,

sidewalk, alley, park, parking lot, or parking garage

whether in a vehicle or on foot.

Pets

All dogs are required to be licensed annually. Dogs

AND cats must be given a rabies vaccine every 3

years. Dogs off the owner’s property must be kept

on a leash. Owners of dogs are responsible for

removing their dog’s feces on all public and private

property, as well as complying with the Borough’s barking

ordinance. Fines can be issued for non-compliance. To check for a lost

pet, call the Department of Ordinance Enforcement

and Public Health at (814) 234-7191.

Recycling

State law mandates that residents recycle selected

materials. Failure to follow the required recycling

procedures may result in fines. Questions regarding

recycling should be directed to the Department of

Ordinance Enforcement and Public Health at (814)

234-7191 or the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority at

(814) 238-7005.

Respect Your Neighbors

Borough ordinances were developed with the expressed intent to keep

you and your neighborhood safe and the Borough a pleasant place to

live. Keep these regulations in mind to avoid any potential conflicts.

6

Refuse

All household refuse must be stored

in appropriate containers. Properties

must be maintained free of

accumulated refuse; fines are

provided for those in violation.

Party materials – cans, cups, bottles,

etc.—should be cleaned up

immediately after a party or other

event. Person(s) who accumulate

refuse will be held responsible for

its cleanup. When the person(s) are not known, then the property owner

will be held responsible. The fine for refuse violations is $100, at a

minimum. Questions about refuse collection should be directed to the

Public Works Department at (814) 234-7135.

Lawns

Grass and weeds must be kept less than 6 inches high; failure to do so can

result in a $50 fine. Lawns are also not to be used for the parking of

motor vehicles, and doing so will result in fines being levied.

Roof Occupancy

Any activities on a roof can result in citations with fines ranging from

$300 to $1,000.

Fire Pits & Bonfires

Burning outdoors is permitted for recreational purposes, but ONLY when

using an approved container. Fires must be contained within the diameter

of the container; camp fires and bonfires are prohibited. Gas and charcoal

grills can be used for outdoor cooking.

Snow Removal

All snow and ice must be removed from the full length and width of

sidewalks and sidewalks must be cleared at the intersections to allow for

safe crossing of pedestrians and wheelchairs within 24 hours after the

snow stops falling. If the sidewalks are not cleared, fines may be levied

against the property owner. In addition, the Borough can make

arrangements for the sidewalks to be cleared at the property owner’s

expense. Questions regarding snow removal should be directed to the

Department of Ordinance Enforcement and Public Health at

(814) 234-7191.

Respect Your Neighbors (cont.)

11

Where Do I Park?

Parking on the Street with a Permit

Some streets have been designated as commuter permit or residential

permit parking areas. On commuter permit streets, long-term parking is

restricted to those who have a permit. If you do not have a permit, you

may park there as posted. On residential permit streets, residents of

abutting properties may purchase a permit that allows long-term

parking. Without this permit, parking is limited to either 1 or 2 hours as

posted. Regardless of permits, overnight parking is not allowed. If you

are unsure if it is okay to park on a street, check out the green and

white or red and white signs along the street for more information on

where to park.

Parking Garages

There are three parking garages located

downtown:

100 block of South Pugh Street

100 block of South Fraser Street

200 block of West Beaver Avenue

These garages are open 24/7 at a rate of

$0.75/hr. Overnight parking is a reduced

rate of $0.50/hr from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Parking is free on Thursdays

after 6 p.m. and all day Sunday with the exception of special events and

home football weekends. A limited number of monthly parking rentals

are also available in the garages. Cash, credit cards, and Borough EZ

Cards are accepted.

Parking Decks, Lots & Meters

There are three lots and one parking deck with metered parking:

100 block of South Fraser Street (3 hour maximum)

100 block of West Beaver Avenue (3 hour maximum)

200 block of South Allen Street (5 hour maximum)

100 block of McAllister Street (3 & 5 hour maximum)

On-street meters are available throughout the downtown. Gold meters

offer either 90 minute or 2 hour parking, red meters provide 30 minute

parking, and silver meters offer 5 hour parking. The rate for on-street

meters is $1.00/hr. On-street meters are enforced Monday-Saturday

from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lots and decks are enforced until 10 p.m., with

the exception of Thursday when enforced until 6 p.m. only.

Where to Go? To purchase permits or find

additional information on

parking visit or call the

Parking Department:

Municipal Building,

1st Floor

243 South Allen Street

(814) 278-4769

10

Don’t Let Your Home Go Up In Smoke

Remember

Outside burning is not permitted. Setting off fireworks, firecrackers, sparklers,

rockets, or any other explosives is illegal in the Borough of State College.

Quick Tips that Could Save Your Life and Your Home:

Do not disable your smoke detector for any reason and never take

the batteries out of the alarm. You could be fined

$150, at a minimum, for tampering with your

smoke detector.

Smoke detectors are required to be installed

adjacent to sleeping areas in all dwelling

units. Test the alarm at least once a month

simply by pressing the “test” button.

Know at least two ways out of your house or

apartment, in case one is blocked by smoke or fire.

Never walk away from a hot stove or cooking food.

Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything flammable.

NEVER leave a candle unattended. Always blow out candles before

going to bed.

Turn off all decorations, including light strings, before leaving home

or going to bed.

If you smoke, use a deep, wide ashtray, instead of potting soil

planters or soda cans.

Fire extinguishers must be in furnace rooms,

laundry rooms, and common hallways of every

rooming house or apartment building, as well as

in the kitchen of every rental dwelling unit.

Do not plug space heaters into extension cords.

Turn off your space heaters when you leave the

room. Keep space heaters at least three feet away

from anything that can burn.

When using a grill keep it at least 10 feet away

from siding, deck railings, and out from under

leaves and hanging branches.

Should a fire

emergency

occur,

call 911

immediately

7

Occupancy of Rental Units

Regulations limit 3 unrelated persons per unit, in one- and two-family

rentals. Some exceptions exist, but these must be designated by the

Borough. If you have reason to believe a rental

property is over occupied contact the Zoning

Office at (814) 234-7190.

Rental Housing

All rental housing is required to have a rental

permit that is regulated by the Centre Region

Building Safety and Property Maintenance Code.

The code requires that the property owner must

maintain the structure in a safe and sanitary

condition. The occupants are required to maintain those conditions as well.

Failure to comply may result in fines.

Tenant Notification

The property owner or manager is

required by the Borough to notify all

tenants (at least annually) of Borough

ordinance requirements and provide

information of whom to contact should

there be an unresolved maintenance/

safety/health problem in the unit.

Know Your Rights

As a tenant you have the following rights:

You cannot be denied housing based on race, color, religion, age,

ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation,

gender identity or expression, source of income, disability or

handicap, presence of a support animal, pregnancy, birth of a child or

marital or familial status..

During the first year of your lease, the security deposit cannot exceed

two month’s rent. If the lease is renewed for another year, the deposit

is then limited to the cost of one month’s rent.

If you have a problem or dispute with your landlord, you can call the

Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at

1-800-441-2555 for assistance.

If you have a

problem that the

owner or manager

refuses to correct,

call the rental

housing

hotline at

(814) 238-CODE.

If a property owner/manager

continually violates Borough

ordinances, their rental

housing permit may be

suspended. If this occurs, the

property must be vacated

and remain unoccupied for

the duration of the

suspension.

Renter’s Guide

8

Invite a manageable number of guests

and know whom you are inviting. Do

not publicize the event.

Inform your neighbors and encourage them to contact you if

there is a problem. Be sure to leave your name and phone

number so they can contact you if they have any questions.

Clean up any trash associated with

your party immediately.

Thank your neighbors for their

cooperation.

Know your guests. Turn away

those who you do not know and

those who are intoxicated. Do not

serve alcohol to minors; have someone check ID’s to be

sure.

Provide non-alcoholic beverages, as well as food for your

guests. No one should leave the house with a cup - empty or

full.

Be sure responsible individuals stay sober during the entire

party to monitor for noise or other problems.

Keep windows closed and periodically walk around the

outside of your house/apartment to check the noise level.

Keep balconies closed off and stay on your own property.

Have guests leave at a steady pace to reduce noise and

traffic congestion. Do not let anyone drive home

intoxicated.

During the

Party

After the

Party

A successful party means that everything went according to plan, no

one was inconvenienced and everyone enjoyed themselves. The

following are suggestions to guide your party in the right direction:

Before the

Party

Party Smart

Party Smart Guidelines, West Chester University Off-Campus and Commuter Association ‘06-‘07

9

Alcohol

Alcohol poisoning is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY: Call 911.

If you are drinking, make sure you eat something too. This will help

you absorb the alcohol you consume, lessening your chances of

alcohol poisoning and involvement in risky situations.

Know your limit! Check out the University Health Services BAC

Guide for more information.

NEVER leave your drink unattended or accept a drink that was

already opened or not made in front of you.

Drugs and alcohol do not mix. This includes over-the-counter (OTC)

and prescription medications.

Stay away from crowded balconies.

Combining energy drinks with alcohol does not make you less

intoxicated and will not lower your blood alcohol content. The

combination of the two may even cause you to

drink more alcohol than you would normally

consume.

Personal Safety

When out at night, have a friend walk with you.

If you think someone is following you, switch

directions or cross the street. Move quickly

toward an open store or lighted house.

Do not be afraid to yell for help or call 911 if

you feel threatened.

Safety at Home

When leaving your home, remember to lock the door.

Do not hide extra keys in easily accessible places or leave a schedule

of your times away from home on your answering machine, on the

door, or on social networking sites.

Do not let strangers into your home. Always ask to see proper

identification before allowing a repairman, inspector, or utility worker

into your residence.

Basic Safety Tips