BELLEFONTE — A free mobile dental clinic for children could be coming to Bellefonte as borough officials consider partnering with the One Hand Foundation to provide services for families in need.
During Bellefonte Borough Council’s Sept. 21 work session, One Hand Foundation President Dr. Wael Jabr outlined the organization’s efforts to provide free health, food and literacy services throughout Centre County and surrounding communities.
Jabr said the organization has served approximately 1,500 people over the past year through its programs.
The foundation is working with the Penn State Health Lion Mobile Clinic to offer dental care to children. Its first dental clinic was held in State College in June and served approximately 30 children in three hours.
The organization is working to purchase an X-ray machine that would allow it to expand beyond dental hygiene services and potentially identify cavities and other dental problems.
“Ideally is we’d like to come back, especially when we purchase the X-ray machines to follow up on these kids,” Jabr said.
For a Bellefonte clinic, the foundation would need a location with enough room for the mobile unit, registration and families waiting for services.
Council members suggested the Bellefonte Area School District could be a natural partner because of the space available at the new elementary school and the district’s ability to identify children who may lack access to dental care.
Jabr said he previously contacted the district superintendent about the idea and received an initial positive response.
No date has been established, although Jabr said the organization hopes to hold the clinic on a Saturday sometime between October and December.
2027 Budget
Council also began reviewing portions of the borough’s proposed 2027 budget.
Borough Manager David Pribulka said Bellefonte does not anticipate increasing its current 0.5-mill tax dedicated to emergency medical services. The preliminary EMS fund includes approximately $50,735 in revenue.
Officials also discussed plans for approximately $200,000 in new streetlights and associated infrastructure along West Linn and North Allegheny streets. About $20,000 would come from the streetlight fund, with approximately $180,000 expected from the borough’s bulk water fund.
During the regular business meeting, council unanimously authorized the borough manager and solicitor to negotiate and execute a developer’s agreement with Bellefonte Waterfront Associates 1 and 2.
Pribulka said the agreement is one of the remaining steps needed for the waterfront project and construction of Dunlap Street which would create a public connection between Lamb and High streets.
The project is expected to be grant funded and officials said construction could begin this fall and continue into 2027.
Other Business
Council also approved an agreement with Mischief Managed LLC to provide digital forensic support to the Bellefonte Police Department at $50 per hour. Pribulka said the service would assist police in criminal investigations involving evidence from cellphones, computers and other digital devices.
“The demand is great and ever growing for digital forensics in law enforcement,” Pribulka said. “With the complexity of the criminal activity being more and more digital and involving the cell phones and other computers and hardware and software, it really is a ever evolving discipline that requires expertise that is often beyond what the local department can keep up with.”
Council additionally appointed Pribulka as the borough’s right-to-know officer effective Sept. 26 and authorized him as a signer on borough bank accounts.
