As a State College Area School Board member of almost eight years, I have been fortunate to witness the ongoing development of the board during my years of service. During this time I have acquired an increasing appreciation for one board member who has always been diligent in her work with the board.
Laurel Zydney has been an incredible resource to our school board. Laurel adds value to our work by reminding us to look back, reflect, explain and justify our position on a financial decision, a program or a policy when we might otherwise be inclined to overlook further reflection. Laurel routinely helps us to refine our efforts to identify evidence based programs for student growth and learning while remaining attentive to the goals of efficiency and cost effectiveness.
All school boards in Pennsylvania have a mandated membership of nine. With such a large group it can become comfortable for members to hang back and coalesce with the larger group, falling into a pattern of “groupthink.” Laurel’s readiness to question, challenge and bring our attention back to the fundamentals empowers the board to avoid groupthink.
Laurel Zydney is an almost 12-year board member veteran who deserves another term of service on the SCASD board. Laurel has shown her commitment to the delivery of district programs that represent what is best for students and their families, while remaining mindful of the costs involved. Voters of both parties should include Laurel Zydney among their choices for SCASD school board in the May 16 primary.
Dan Duffy
State College
Rater Highly Qualified for Centre County Judge
I am enthusiastically giving my vote to Julia Rater for Centre County Judge. Here’s why: In my 50 years of voting in Centre County I have rarely seen a wider gap — a chasm really — between the qualifications and experiences of two candidates. Julia Rater is one of the most qualified and most experienced candidates we have seen for any position in a Centre County election.
Rater has represented clients in our Centre County courtroom for 27 years, appearing there over 1,100 times. Gopal Balachandran has never represented a client in a Centre County courtroom. Rater has been a member of the Centre County Bar Association for 21 years. Balachandran has been a member of the Centre County Bar for seven months.
Rater has served on the board of Strawberry Fields, Tides, Bellefonte EMS and volunteers for the Special Olympics. She and her family have lived here for 21 years and have deep roots in Centre County. Balachandran and his family have lived in Centre County for five years.
There’s simply no comparison in their legal experience, Rater’s personal commitment to all of Centre County, or in her ability to run a positive campaign.
Hopefully Gopal Balachandran will run for office again in a few years after he’s had a chance to build a deeper legal and community resumé. But for now, Julia Rater is the superior candidate and merits strong support from all of us.
I urge you to vote for Julia Rater for Centre County Judge.
Hodge Barton
State College
Volunteers Make a Difference in the Fight to End Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging local volunteers here in Centre County to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s. Here in Pennsylvania, there are more than 280,000.
As the size of the U.S. population age 65 and older continues to grow, so too will the number and proportion of Americans with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It is vital that we continue to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and engage more community members to consider volunteering for the Alzheimer’s Association.
My wife is living with Alzheimer’s and I share our story as an advocate and also participate in the State College Walk to End Alzheimer’s. I invite Centre County residents to join me in the fight to end Alzheimer’s by starting a team for this year’s Walk, which will take place on Nov. 4, 2023 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
There are many ways that everyone in our community can get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association. Learn more at alz.org/volunteer. For information, resources and support services, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at alz.org or call its 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900.
Greg Raleigh
Volunteer, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter
Supremely Unethical
It’s hard to know which is more disgraceful—the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to develop a formal code of ethics or the GOP’s scoffing at the idea.
Clarence Thomas declined to recuse himself from a case involving Donald Trump’s subpoenaed documents (we know his wife was a leading MAGA operative working to nullify Biden’s victory). Recent revelations show that Justice Thomas also accepted ultra-lavish gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow, a Republican mega-donor and hardcore conservative who, despite claims to the contrary, had business before the court. Crow also paid for private school tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew.
The right-wing billionaire benefactor also purchased Justice Thomas’ ancestral home. The transaction was unreported. More recently, Justice Thomas “forgot” to report on their tax return a few hundred thousand dollars that his wife earned.
It has recently been reported that Justice Neil Gosrsuch sold a property to a CEO of a law firm that has extensive business before the high court. Jane Roberts, the wife of Chief Justice Roberts, made millions for recruiting lawyers for top firms, some of whom have business with the Supreme Court.
These are obvious ethical breaches. If it were a Democrat-leaning court and a Republican Congress, you can bet there’d be three impeachments. But I’m not suggesting we go backward, only forward. The court must impose a binding code of ethics—and live by it. Otherwise, the court has no legitimacy. This should be a bipartisan issue. These Justices can’t be above the laws they purport to uphold.
Marilyn Goldfarb
Boalsburg
