lion guide 2012
DESCRIPTION
Living In One Neighborhood Neighbor GuideTRANSCRIPT
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