BELLEFONTE — For more than a decade, Centre County seniors have been reaping the rewards of local farmers markets, roadside produce stands and community-supported agriculture programs and, according to Centre County director on aging J.R. Reed, the program is up and running again in 2016.
“This is a great program that not just helps our seniors get good, nutritional food, but also helps our local farmers and food producers who have worked hard to bring these goods to market,” Reed told the Centre County board of commissioners May 31. “This program has been successful for us in the past, and there is no reason to believe it won’t be this summer as well.”
According to Reed, county seniors meeting income requirement guidelines are eligible to receive up to four $5 vouchers redeemable at a number of approved produce providers across the county. These vouchers are only redeemable for specific fresh produce items.
Reed said there are only 1,000 vouchers available and they are available one a first-come, first-served basis. Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers can be obtained at the Office of Aging in Bellefonte, or by calling (814) 355-6716.
In other business, the board of commissioners took action to approve several loss prevention grants totaling more than $11,000. These grants will be used to replace outdoor lighting at the Willowbank Building, purchase six new body armor vests for the sheriff deputies, reimburse funds used for the recent purchase of a walk-through metal detector, purchase 10 “No Trespassing” signs for the 911 tower sites, and purchase two pediatric packs for the county’s automated external defibrillator machines.
The commissioners also approved a contract renewal between the county and the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool for the county’s property casualty insurance, which provided the grants. The contact is $255,625 the end of May 2017.
In other business, the commissioners:
■ Approved a lease extension between the county and the Centre Hall Fire Company for the Centre Hall Senior Center. The contract total is $10,800 through June 30, 2019
■ Approved an application from Millheim Borough in the amount of $16,720 for traffic signal replacement at Route 45 and Route 445 intersections
■ Approved a contract renewal between the county and Breon’s Inc., to provide general maintenance for all 911 tower sites and Willowbank Tower. The contract total is $11,031.24 through June 8, 2017.
