December Town&Gown 2015

Town&GownDECEMBER 2015 FREE

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Inside: Santa Crawl returns to State College • Holiday Gift Guide

By starting the Jared Box Project, Cindy Kolarik has shown how one simple idea can grow to inspire

many across the country

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2015 December T&G - 5

Town&Gown is published monthly by Barash Publications, 403 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801. Advertising is subject to approval of the publisher. COPYRIGHT 2015 by Barash Media. All rights reserved. Send address changes to Town&Gown, 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any process except with written authorization from Town&Gown or its publisher. Phone: 800-326-9584, 814-238-5051. FAX: 814-238-3415. Printed by Gazette Printers, Indiana, PA. 20,000 copies published this month, available FREE in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and motels & travel depots. SUBSCRIPTIONS and SINGLE COPIES: $45/1yr; current issue by 1st-class mail, $10; back copy, $15 mailed, $12 picked up at the T&G office. townandgown.com

30 / 50 Years of Town&Gown: WorshipLocal congregations maintain a faithful following as population changes • by Tracey M. Dooms

38 / People Who Make a DifferenceTown&Gown’s annual salute to some of those who do amazing work to help others and make this region so special • by Rebekka Coakley

46 / For A Good ClauseNow in its 12th year, the State College Santa Crawl has not only grown in popularity but also in helping the Pat Boland Memorial Internship Award • by Lori Wilson

Special Advertising Section52 / Holiday Gift GuideEverything from stocking stuffers to unique, special presents for loved ones, the “Holiday Gift Guide” can help you find where to go and what to buy

On the Cover: Photo by Darren Andrew Weimert. Jared Box Project founder and director Cindy Kolarik (center) with Meghan Mullin (left) and Alex Kelly as they fill Jared Boxes with toys and games.

featuresT&G

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10 Letter From The Editor

12 Starting Off: The List, People in the Community, Q&A 20 Living Well: Honor your peace of mind this season • by Meghan Fritz

22 Health: Give the gift of healthy hearing this Yuletide • by Leslie Purcell, AuD, audiologist

24 About Town: PhD student making a name for himself on local music scene • by Nadine Kofman

departmentsT&G

26 On Center: Hubbard Street’s return to State College • by John Mark Rafacz

28 Penn State Diary: Author pays tribute to trio who taught about preserving history • by Lee Stout

45 This Month on WPSU

75 What’s Happening: Holiday happenings, celebrating Frank Sinatra, Penn State wrestling at the BJC, First Night, and more highlight December’s events

84 On Tap: Belgium has made a major impact on craft brewing • by Sam Komlenic

88 Taste of the Month/Dining Out: New Elk Creek Café chef creates diverse menu • by Vilma Shu Danz

100 Lunch with Mimi: Jared Box Project founder shows how one simple idea can grow to inspire many across the country

106 State College Photo Club’s Winning Photos

108 Snapshot: Pepper Lotus founder and director promotes the art of belly dancing • by Lianne Galante

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To contact us: Mail: 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801 Phone: (814) 238-5051, (800) 326-9584 Fax: (814) 238-3415

[email protected] (Editorial)[email protected] (Advertising)

We welcome letters to the editor that include a phone number for verification.

Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn State’s Pattee Library.

PublisherRob Schmidt

FounderMimi Barash Coppersmith

Editorial DirectorDavid Pencek

Creative DirectorTiara Snare

Operations Manager/Assistant Editor Vilma Shu Danz

Art Director/PhotographerDarren Weimert

Graphic DesignerCody Peachey

Ad CoordinatorLaura Specht

Account Executives Kathy George, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello

Administrative AssistantHailee Miller

InternsLianne Galante (editorial),Alissa Pendorf (graphic designer/photographer)

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Strawberry Fields (a nonprofit that helps people with intellectual disabilities), one who opened a daytime shelter for the homeless, and one who helped organize a food drive to help families in need during Thanksgiving.

You can read about how each saw a need and then went to work to create something that filled that need.

Over the years, the people and communities here have done a wonderful job when it comes to filling needs. Organizations and efforts such as Tides, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, and Out of the Cold have been created to give help where help is needed.

This is the most wonderful time of year, and, not to boast, this is one of the most wonderful places to be because of the giving nature of the people who live here.

Speaking of giving, from everyone at Town&Gown, we want to thank you for giving us a wonderful 50th year in 2015! Whether by advertising or reading each issue, you helped make it a special year for us, and we hope you have a Merry Christmas and the best of holiday seasons!

We also look forward to seeing you in 2016 when we’ll give you more great stories of the people, places, and events in Happy Valley!

David PencekEditorial [email protected]

Where November has much to do with giving thanks, December becomes more about just giving. From presents to dropping our loose change into buckets to simply saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” to people we meet, we tend to give a little more of our time, money, and ourselves during this month.

This month’s issue of Town&Gown features several people who give all of that throughout the entire year. While collectively they represent a small sample of the amazing work many in our communities do, what is special is that each of these people saw a need in our communities and acted — they created something out of nothing, thanks to their generous hearts.

A perfect example is Cindy Kolarik, who is featured on the cover and is this month’s “Lunch with Mimi” interview. Nearly 15 years ago she began the Jared Box Project after a family she had known through church and school had lost their young son, Jared, to cancer. Kolarik saw a need — that when children are in a hospital they should have something that brings smiles to their faces. She and others in the community filled plastic boxes with toys and games, which were then distributed to children who were in the hospital.

What was supposed to be a one-time endeavor has turned into a national effort, with individuals and groups across the country creating Jared Boxes to give to their local hospitals.

In Rebekka Coakley’s story “People Who Make a Difference,” which had been Town&Gown’s “Happy Valley Heroes” the past few years, Town&Gown profiles four women — two who started a shop that resells fabrics and knitting materials while raising money for

The Gift of Giving Happy Valley is rich with those who find ways to help

letter from the editorT&G


2012-2015February 2012 — Former

Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno dies on January 22, and Town&Gown runs “Joe Paterno: In His Own Words,” which highlights the one-on-one interviews Paterno did with Town&Gown’s Penn State Football Annual. In 2010, he was asked what he thought his life has been about. He said, “I would hope when everything is said and done, when I’m out of here, they’ll go

around saying, ‘You know, Paterno made this a better place. And the kids he coached are better for being in the program.’ If I get that out of it, that’s a pretty good legacy.”

April 2012 — Penn State’s new football head coach Bill O’Brien is featured in the cover story “Right Man for the Moment.” “Everybody gets their first head-coaching job somewhere, and I’m lucky enough for it to be here,” O’Brien says.

June 2012 — Penn State president Rodney Erickson, who became the university’s president in November 2011 following Graham Spanier’s resignation, has “Lunch with Mimi." When asked what he hopes his legacy will be, he says, “I would hope that people would say that he helped to build a better academic institution, that he helped us to heal during a difficult time, that he helped us keep our sense of perspective and humility.”

January 2013 — Penn State is in the middle of its first season of Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey, and “Perfect Fit” looks at what it took to make it happen. “The passion of the student body and alumni is a big reason why I came to Penn State,” men’s ice hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky says. “I really value that spirit, that enthusiasm.”

April 2013 — Led by senior and Bald Eagle Area alum Quentin Wright, Penn State’s wrestling team wins its third consecutive national title. Wright, who is featured in the story “A Championship Career,” wins his second individual national title in his career.

January 2014 — Town&Gown begins a yearlong series, “12 Months of Giving,” that profiles an organization, group, or individual that does noteworthy work to help others. The first

The List Highlights from Town&Gown’s first 49 years of publication

starting offinstallment features the Food Bank of State College as it prepares to move into its new location on South Atherton Street. Executive director Carol Pioli says, “… we’re more than a food bank. Our clients are family.”

February 2014 — In “A Return Home,” Town&Gown looks at Penn State’s new football head coach James Franklin, who replaces Bill O’Brien following O’Brien’s departure to become head coach of the Houston Texans. Franklin, a Pennsylvania native who had been the head coach at Vanderbilt for three seasons, describes himself as the “Pennsylvania boy with a Penn State heart.”

April 2014 — With a referendum vote a month away, “The Future of State High” looks at the proposed renovation and construction project for the State College Area High School. The referendum would eventually pass by an 11,121 to 3,975 margin.

May 2014 — “Returning to Lead Dear Old State” looks at Eric Barron as he prepares to become Penn State’s next president. Richard Antes, who worked with Barron when he was director at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, says, “I thought that probably he was exactly what Penn State needs at this time: a leader of unquestionable integrity.”

September 2014 — Town&Gown devotes its issue to the 50th anniversary of Penn State women’s athletics. Softball head coach Amanda Lehotak says, “Penn State has a reputation among coaches of doing things right. … I wanted to be at a university that respected the role of women’s athletics, and Penn State is one of those schools.”

January 2015 — Town&Gown begins its 50th year and begins its yearlong series “50 Years of Town&Gown” that looks at “various parts of life in Centre County and how they’ve changed over the past 50 years.” T&G

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14 - 2015 December T&G

People in the CommunityAmy Anderson and Eve Evans

Two State College Area School District teachers were named best teachers in the state in their subject areas.

Amy Anderson, an eight-grade art teacher at Mount Nittany Middle School, was named the Pennsylvania Art Education Association’s Outstanding Art Educator of the Year, while Eve Evans, a fifth-grade teacher at Radio Park Elementary School,

won the Gilder Lehrman Pennsylvania History Teacher of the Year award.

Anderson has been a teacher in the State College Area School District since 1998, and Evans has been teaching in the district for more than 25 years. With her award, Evans received $1,000 and an archive of Gilder Lehrman books and resources for the school’s library.

Anderson told the Centre Daily Times, “I feel so fortunate to get to know so many students through their ideas about art and the processes of creating.”

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts elected new officers and board

members as it prepares to mark the 50th festival in 2016.

The new officers elected were Steve Watson (board president), Amy Caputo (vice president), Bob Hicks (treasurer), and Sue Haug (secretary). New members elected include Moses Davis, Jonathan Friedman, and Kathleen Raupach.

Founded in 1967, the 50th Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is scheduled for July 13-17, 2016.

Paul CliffordPaul Clifford has been named

chief executive officer of the Penn State Alumni Association and associate vice president for alumni relations for the university. He will take over the

position January 11 and is the alumni association’s 11th chief executive in its 145-year history.

A Pennsylvania native, he comes to Penn State from the University of Oregon, where he has served as associate vice president of advancement and executive director of the University of Oregon Alumni Association. While at Oregon, he directed all programs, events, communications, and services for the university’s 190,000 alumni and led a team of 40 professionals across four locations.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Penn State Alumni Association and serve the most loyal alumni base in the world,” Clifford said in a released statement. “I am overwhelmed with delight and excitement to be coming home to serve a university that my family cares for deeply. It is the realization of my greatest professional dream to have been chosen for this important role at this critical moment at a premier public institution.” T&G

Amy Anderson

Eve Evans

Give the giftof Safety this year

Happy Holidaysfrom our family to yours.

www.goh- inc .com1.800 . 221 .1355


Happy Valley has many great events that happen around the holidays, and one of them is the Winter Craft Market, which is celebrating its 40th year this year.

This year’s market is December 5-6 at Mount Nittany Middle School in State College and features more than 70 artisans. The market also helps raise

money for local organizations each year, and this year’s event is helping the Centre County Women’s Resource Center and the Childbirth Education Association of State College.

In 2010, Heidi Urbanski was a vendor selling her jewelry at the market. Since 2012, she has been the event’s director. She took time to talk about the market and the charitable work it does.

T&G: What are your responsibilities as director?Urbanski: I am in charge of pretty much everything —

organizing the artisans, finding the artisans, finding the venue of where to have it, making sure all the forms are turned in and are compliant with all of the regulations. It’s a Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen show, so we are umbrella-ed under their guidelines.

T&G: This year, you’re helping the Centre County Women’s Resource Center and the Childbirth Education Association. How do you choose what charities to help?

Urbanski: We try to change it up every year, if not every two years. In the past, we’ve done a food bank and Happy Valley Animals for the animals. This year, we chose the Women’s Resource Center because we think it’s really important in our community to support women. The Childbirth Education Association, they are in charge of running our door, so when people come in and pay, they are the ones who take the money. They are great volunteers. It’s a

Q&A with Heidi Urbanski,marketing director of the Winter Craft Market

By Lianne Galante

wonderful outlet for the community — new moms, expecting moms — we’re happy to support them.

T&G: What is the hardest part of running this event?

Urbanski: I would say the hardest part would be keeping 75 artisans happy — just the organization. I start planning this in February the year out. There is a lot of work that goes into it, and I just want everybody to be happy in the show and to enjoy it. I hopefully minimize any bumps in the road. We keep the artists happy by having a venue that’s easy for the customers to get to and publicly advertising the show as much as we can — we’re on the radio, we’re in newspaper, Town&Gown, everything like that. One of my bigger jobs for the show is to do that. The more people we get in the door, the happier our artisans are. Last year, there were almost 2,800 people who attended.

T&G: What is your greatest accomplishment as director?

Urbanski: Breathing fresh air into it, getting more people there, making it more recognizable, and having new artisans interested, because it is such a good show. T&G

The Winter Craft Market is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 5 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. December 6 at Mount Nittany Middle School. For more information, visit wintercraftmarket.com.


Visit our Facebook site for the latest happenings and opportunities to win free tickets to concerts and events!Follow us on Twitter @TownGownSC.

• In 5 Questions, actor Seth Tucker of New York City talks about performing in Fuse Productions’ Santaland Diaries, a one-man show written by David Sedaris.

• Nittany Valley Society’s in-depth interview with Patton Township supervisor Elliot Abrams on the changes and growth he’s observed as Centre County’s longest-tenured elected official.

• A special recipe from Elk Creek Café for brisket, demi glace, and bourbon sweet mashed potatoes.

• Order your copy of Town&Gown’s 2015-16 Penn State Winter Sports Annual.

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Seth Tucker

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major increase in referrals and receive many calls from clients “in crisis.” In order to feel clear-headed, rested, and enjoy our day-to-day lives, we have to honor the basics of self-care.

Good sleep, healthy nutrition, exercise, and spending time with close friends and family are the basics to looking and feeling great. The basics are the first thing to go when we feel stressed and overwhelmed. Don’t abandon your day-to-day routine to accommodate a few days of holiday celebrations.

Take the time you need to plug in and refresh so that you avoid entering the new year mentally and physically exhausted. Know what recharges your batteries and make a commitment to honor your self-care plan daily.

It takes only a few days of neglect to feel the effects of stress and anxiety. Safeguard yourself from the holiday hangover by taking small steps daily to refresh and recharge.

Say NoThe holiday season brings

endless opportunities to socialize and get together. Don’t put pressure on yourself to attend every invitation you receive. Take the time you need to sort out your schedule and attend the gatherings that work best for you. If you have to attend the office holiday party but are dreading an evening with colleagues, make a plan to go for a short time and have an exit strategy in place. Don’t put yourself in situations with people that will drain your energy and cause you to feel uncomfortable.

Say No when you need to, and attend gatherings that will be fun and lift your spirits.

The holiday season is here, and while it can be a magical time of the year, for some, the holidays are a trigger for stress, exhaustion, anxiety, and depression. Learning to set boundaries and have a strategy in place to get through the holidays are keys to keeping yourself healthy and sane.

Be ProactiveBefore you rush out to begin frantic days of holiday

shopping, take a few minutes to stop and reflect on years past. Are you always rushing to buy last-minute gifts? Do you dread visiting certain family members, but torture yourself spending time with them because it’s “the holidays?” Do you wake up frantic worrying about finances and the expectations of your family members? Take some time to think about how you can change your approach and come up with a holiday strategy that leaves you feeling more in control and clear-headed. Take the time you need to think about what matters most to you and your family during the season and take action steps to honor your vision of a peaceful, enjoyable holiday. Cover the Basics

It is no coincidence that during the holidays I see a

living wellT&G

Creating Healthy Boundaries during the HolidaysHonor your peace of mind this seasonBy Meghan Fritz


these triggers and do what you need to do to feel healthy.

Don’t be bullied into putting yourself in a situation that will cause you emotional distress. Your peace of mind and sense of security are far more important than someone’s reaction to it.

Anytime you override your peace of mind to accommodate someone else, you are putting someone else’s agenda and comfort ahead of your own.

Be real about what your triggers are and take the steps you need to honor your well-being. Self-care is not being selfish; it’s about making your health and well-being priorities in every season.

As we enter the holiday season in full swing, take a deep breath, stick to the basics, have a strategy in place, and enjoy! Let the joy, peace, and fun that the season brings lift your spirit and bring light into your heart!

Wishing you a blessed holiday season! T&G

Tell the TruthThe holidays are all about spending

time with family and the people we love. Unfortunately for many, the holidays can be a trigger for negative feelings that may lead to a downward spiral of major depression.

If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, the holidays may represent chaos, insecurity, loss, and feelings of hopelessness. Likewise, if you are going through a divorce, the holidays can bring on paralyzing fear and dread. Many of us plow through these uncomfortable feelings and put on our survival suits just hoping to make it through the season.

Be real about any feelings of depression that may creep into your heart and talk it out with a spouse, friend, or therapist. Do not avoid or minimize your feelings if you are struggling and feeling blue.

If we never stop to acknowledge a traumatic time in our lives, we never allow ourselves to heal and move forward to emotional and spiritual health. If there are certain family members that can be a trigger for depression and anxiety, be honest with yourself about

Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College.

1612 North Atherton St. State College, PA 16803

814.238.8080

2300 South Atherton St. State College, PA 16801

814.234.4000

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This is my favorite time of year. Decorating a tree, enjoying meals together as a family, and shopping for gifts are all great ways to celebrate the holiday season. While you probably hear a lot about trying to eat healthy during the holidays, it’s also important to consider your hearing-health needs.

From children through elderly adults, protecting our hearing is of lifelong importance. While out shopping for gifts for the little ones, you may not realize the toys children are asking for may be harmful to their hearing. Sure, it’s always funny to see the look on parents’ faces when their child opens the coolest drum set or the newest guitar on the market. What about the racetrack with real racetrack sounds? Children love noisy toys. They love to sing and dance along with the music of that new guitar, and boys especially love all the sound effects that go along with a new remote-control car or truck. But when you stop to think about it, some of these toys are really noisy.

Annually, the Sight & Hearing Association publishes a list of the noisiest toys of the year (check out its Facebook page for the details). I am always surprised that many of the top toys of the season typically appear on that list.

Because you’re given only one precious set of ears, it’s important to recognize that exceptionally noisy toys can really affect your child’s hearing later in life.

Oftentimes, toys can produce sounds in excess of 100dB — that’s louder than a lawn mower and almost as loud as a jet plane taking off! Federal regulations restrict exposure to noise of 100dB to only two hours per day. If employees in an industrial setting are exposed to noise of this level, they are required to wear hearing protection. So why do we allow our children to get by without any protection?

Even minimal exposure to these toys can do some serious damage to children’s hearing. Children’s ears are very sensitive to loud sounds, and, over time, these noises damage structures in the ear. The effects may not be seen immediately, but noise at this level is painful, and children will have a cumulative impact throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Here are some tips to limit such exposure to noise and long-term hearing damage:

• Test a toy in the store before buying it. If it sounds too loud to you, then it is too loud for your child. Either don’t purchase the toy or limit the duration of play.

• Turn the volume down if it has a variable volume control. If not, place clear packing tape over the speaker

• Monitor children’s play to ensure they are using the toys correctly and not holding them closer to their face or ears than necessary.

• Now also is a great time to inventory your children’s current toys. If they’re too loud, consider replacing them with something less noisy.

Another popular item for older children is a music player and headphones/ear buds. Limiting use to one hour at a time is recommended, and the volume control should not be any louder than 50 percent.

By taking steps now to protect

health

Sounds of the SeasonGive the gift of healthy hearing this YuletideBy Leslie Purcell, AuD, audiologist, Mount Nittany Physician Group

T&G

Dr. Leslie Purcell, audiologist at Mount Nittany Physician Group, knows the importance of protecting one’s hearing health.

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your child’s hearing, you can prevent hearing loss as they become adults. Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 percent preventable, and it is never too early to protect your hearing.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, when getting together with friends and family over the holidays, it’s not uncommon to interact with someone who has hearing loss. Rather than avoiding this person, there are a few key communication strategies that can help improve your conversation.

Talk face to face: Always make eye contact with the person with whom you are speaking. It is easier to hear when you can see facial expressions, hand gestures, and even read lips. Ensure there is adequate lighting in a room to see these visual cues. Also, do not cover your face or mouth with reading material, hands, or other objects.

Speak at a slower pace: There is no need to shout. For some individuals with hearing loss, louder speech becomes distorted and more difficult to understand. By slowing your speech and pronouncing your words clearly, this will allow time for the listener to process speech. When asked to repeat yourself, rephrase what you are saying rather than repeating the same sentence again. Concise, clear speech is best.

Try to reduce background noise: Background noise is a challenge, even for individuals who do not have hearing loss. Turn off the television or lower the volume, or move to a different room or hallway, if possible. Move closer to the listener when speaking, and ensure you are making eye contact so they can use visual cues.

By using these simple tips, you can help ensure a more lively conversation for all people involved, whether they experience hearing loss or not. These cues, combined with quality hearing devices and other technology, will keep loved ones involved in social interaction, which is good for his/her overall well-being. T&G

For more information on a hearing test or to schedule a hearing evaluation, call Mount Nittany Physician Group Audiology at (814) 466-6396 or visit mountnittany.org.

More than 11 percent of the population has hearing loss that affects everyday life — that’s more than 34 million people. How can you tell if you need a hearing test? Answer the following questions to help determine if a hearing evaluation is necessary for you:

Do you have a problem hearing while on the telephone?

Do you have difficulty following a conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time?

Do people complain that you turn the TV volume up too high?

Do you have to strain to understand a conversation or feel tired after a long conversation?

Do you find it difficult to hear in a noisy background?

Do you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves?

Do you misunderstand what others are saying and respond inappropriately?

Do you have trouble understanding the speech of women and children?

If you answered Yes to any of these questions, you will benefit from a hearing evaluation.

Test YourHEARING


Eric Ian Farmer is a learner. “I’ve always loved singing,” he says, but “I’m still finding my voice.”

He gets high marks as a gentleman, a singer/songwriter, and more. Performance requests and concert applause mean a lot.

“I’m so thankful for the reception,” he says. His style is reminiscent of Bobby McFerrin’s, some say;

others are reminded of Marvin Gaye or Otis Redding. Farmer is stepping out, musically, in State College. “I wasn’t performing as a solo artist until I came here in 2009

[from Durham, North Carolina],” he says. “I wasn’t performing with a guitar until I came here.”

Previously, he was a singer with groups in a few other states. He performs one Friday a month in the place where he

made his start in State College, Kaarma Indian Cuisine, and on Thursday nights in The Tavern’s Adam’s Apple. He also pops up at other places — Zeno’s, for one. On stage in both Happy Valley’s Got Talent (where I first heard him) and Penn State’s Got Talent, he’ll next be in the lineup for “Strawberry Fields Forever,” The Beatles tribute show January 23 at the State Theatre.

Mentioning his name brings responses such as, “Amazing!”

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Usually he strums along to songs he composed. But the high note for him is letting his voice be his instrument. When he first tried a cappella, “The lights in my life came on!,” he says, discovering, “That’s my heart!”

Melody (and second stanza) aside, here are the chorus and first stanza of “one of my favorites,” an a cappella song he composed “not long after I moved to State College.” He rarely performs it, and it isn’t on his CD:

“In the Making”

“So much power was spokenwhen the silence was awkwardlybroken between the two lovers who were secretly hopingfor the other one to admit to being wrong.

“The other lover said,Thank you for your truth, although it’s hard to take in.See, I’m struggling with fear. I hope we can make it, now that I finally realizelove is never madebut always in the making.”

To assume that Farmer is a new resident of this Penn State community is incorrect — although he’s looking at a spring graduation from the university. He’s come home.

“State College is my birth home,” he says proudly.

Coming home for Christmas no longer involves a long-distance trip. Farmer “debuted” in 1976 at the Mountainview Unit of Centre Community Hospital — now Mount Nittany Medical Center — one of three children born to two Penn State faculty members currently in retirement: Edgar, a professor in the College of Education’s Workforce Education Program, and Barbara, multicultural-affairs director in the College of Information Sciences and

Talent on the RisePhD student making a name for himself on local music scene

By Nadine Kofman

While working toward his PhD in educational leadership, Farmer also is creating a buzz in the Centre Region with his music.


Technology. (I met her when she was principal of the Lemont/Houserville Elementary Schools).

“It’s very nice to live here and to spend time with people who knew me at the beginning,” Farmer says, and one comes quickly to mind. “I do believe Gary Abdullah has known me since day one.”

Farmer’s rearing took place in Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina. In the 1990s, his parents and sister returned to State College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s in teaching from the University of San Francisco. He taught secondary school students in Estes Park, Colorado, and in San Francisco. The Penn State degree he’s working on is a PhD in educational leadership.

“The apple doesn’t fall far,” he says. “I’m trying to bridge both of my passions [education and music]. Music can help to lower defenses and put people more at ease.”

In March 2014 and last April, he was a speaker on the origins of Black History Month in African American History classes at State College Area High School.

“The first thing I did was play them a song,” he says. Music can “sharpen ideas” and “help students feel more comfortable talking with me about race, identity.” It also “helped to open the door to conversations” in a songwriting course he taught at a Colorado high school.

For his performance gigs, the usual collaborators are Denise Strayer on accordion, drummer Josh Troup, and guitarist Eric Burkhart. Sometimes he appears with friends Eli Byrne on saxophone and Andrew Jackson on drums. His sister, Rebecca, a Penn State theater arts graduate now in TV and film costume design in Los Angeles, used to sing with him; brother, Edgar Jr., is a basketball coach and poet in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Once, on a night at Zeno’s, he was called up to sing with Melanie Morrison Zeigler of Miss Melanie and the Valley Rats. He hopes that won’t be their only duet.

Much is probably yet to come. T&G

Nadine Kofman is a native Centre Countian and historian.


“It’s important to support United States-based companies that receive, in many cases, far less funding and subsidies than companies from other countries, making the support from presenters critical to their vibrant artistic future,” Vashaw says.

A Washington Post critic advises, “Take a deep breath because Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is going to take your breath away.” T&G

Despite being set in a Pennsylvania town known around the planet for its meteorological rodent, the perennially popular movie Groundhog Day was filmed near Chicago. The comedy starred Bill Murray, who was born and raised in suburban Chicago. So perhaps it’s fitting that a Chicago dance company celebrated across the world for its modern moves is returning to a Pennsylvania town to perform this Groundhog Day.

“If variety is the spice of life, then Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is one of the spiciest — not to mention liveliest — companies around,” asserts a New York Post reviewer.

Celebrating 38 years as one of the most original forces in contemporary dance, Hubbard Street, which performs February 2 at Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium, has long been known for its exceptionally talented dancers and a diverse repertoire of adventurous choreography.

Hubbard Street’s 18 dancers display unparalleled versatility and virtuosity. The troupe transcends preconceptions by juxtaposing works inspired by a variety of genres, including jazz, modern, ballet, and theatrical.

Under the artistic direction of Glenn Edgerton, the company is at the top of its game. One of the only American dance companies to operate year-round, Hubbard Street produces bold and passionate performances in the Windy City, across the United States, and abroad.

“There are so many dynamic dance companies from all over the globe that feature powerful, athletic dancing and interesting and varied repertoire. Given that, there are several reasons we chose Hubbard Street Dance Company specifically for our season,” says Amy Dupain Vashaw, audience and program development director for the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State.

“One, the caliber of the programming — the artistic vision of the company and the blend of superstar and emerging choreographers as well as their fierce support for their home-grown choreographers. Two, Central Pennsylvania audiences love them. Three, they are amazing, excellent teachers.”

In addition to performing works from its repertoire, Hubbard Street, which last appeared at Eisenhower Auditorium in 2008, is expected to work with student dancers at Penn State.

on center

Midwinter ModernThe forecast calls for vibrant dance with Hubbard Street’s return to State College By John Mark Rafacz

T&G

Kirk and Beth Moon of Moon Brothers Landscaping sponsor the performance. For more information or tickets, visit cpa .psu.edu or phone (814) 863-0255.

John Mark Rafacz is the editorial manager of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago performs February 2 at Eisenhower Auditorium.


Over the past year, I have written several columns about people and places that influenced me over the last 25 years of producing “Penn State Diary.” I’ll conclude these with this entry about Centre County history.

I’ve spent the better part of my career focused on the history of Penn State, but one cannot explain the history of Penn State without understanding the local context in which it evolved. Thus, since retirement, I have become more interested in the history of Centre County. In a similar manner, experiences as a consultant for a wide variety of archives and historical organizations have helped me to better serve the board of the Centre County Historical Society.

Reflecting on my interest in the county’s history, there are three individuals who have strongly influenced my approach to this subject. The first is Jacqueline Melander, who recently retired from the presidency of the Centre County Historical Society after more than 33 years of service.

I have always been impressed by her continuing dedication as president to care for the day-to-day business of the historical society. At the same time, she has exhibited a profound interest,

I might even say affection, for the built environment of Centre County. In the 1980s and 1990s, she led surveys of the county’s historical buildings, resulting in the creation of a number of historic districts and inclusion of individual properties on the National Register of Historic Places. In this work, she quietly but persistently helped communities recognize the importance of their historical places and made the society a resource for all those interested in protecting and preserving them.

For example, she played a vital role in initiating the Borough of State College’s Historic Resource Commission. The society’s John Ziegler Historic Preservation Awards bring recognition to those across the county who act to preserve and share our common heritage.

While work on the society’s board is rewarding, it should come as no surprise that I’m also interested in researching and writing about the history of our county. Writing local history is a uniquely challenging form of historical writing. Like institutional history, it focuses on small-scale subject matter, but requires that it be placed into a broader historical context.

As I consider the history of Centre County, I realize that there has not been a new comprehensive history of the county written in almost 50 years, and the prospect of doing one is a challenge in which I’m increasingly interested. Fortunately, there is a wealth of resource materials available to help create such a work, including a number of borough and township histories and wonderful primary-source collections in the Penn State and Centre County libraries, the Centre County Historical Society, and other local historical organizations and museums.

Recognizing that county history

Influential FiguresAuthor pays tribute to trio who taught about preserving historyBy Lee Stout

penn state diaryT&G

Jacqueline Melander, shown telling the story of Centre Furnace Mansion to visiting students, helped communities recognize the importance of their historical places and made the Centre County Historical Society a resource for all those interested in protecting and preserving them.

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can be done on both the small and large scales reminds me of two historians who also have stimulated my interest in Centre County history. They were, in some ways, models of the two approaches that I try to bridge in my Town&Gown columns — personal and local on the one hand, and collective and academic on the other.

One of these gentlemen was J. Marvin Lee, an elementary school teacher and principal in State College. He began teaching in one-room schools at the age of 18 and had taught in most of the schools in the State College district by the time of his retirement. He served a number of years as president of the society and persuaded David Garver to donate the Centre Furnace Mansion to the society. He delved deeply into the history of the county and its families, producing several volumes of county history as well as articles for Town&Gown and for the society’s Centre County Heritage periodical. He provided me with an outstanding example of crafting local history from the ground up.

The other was Philip S. Klein, the well-known Penn State professor who specialized in Pennsylvania history and was the biographer of Pennsylvania’s only US president, James Buchanan. Klein’s broader interest in Pennsylvania history did not prevent him from enthusiasm for the county’s past, and he also served on the society’s board of governors. At the time of the society’s restoration of the Centre Furnace Mansion, about 35 years ago, he frequently did presentations on the project. He knew the subject well, having edited the volume on the history of Centre Furnace, originally written as a graduate thesis by S.K. Stevens, later executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Both Lee and Klein were active participants in the society, writing, presenting talks, preserving historical documents, and encouraging us all to take our history seriously. These are all roles that I have sought to emulate. As I continue to research and write about the history of Centre County, the unique contributions and approaches of these three mentors also will continue to guide me. T&G

Lee Stout is librarian emeritus, special collections for Penn State.

Get to know...

www.psu.bncollege.com814-863-0205

Christian Brady: Discovering ‘what is right’

For Christian Brady, dean of the Schreyer Honors College, “honor” is not just about academic accolades — it’s about knowing what is right and doing it. “All our Scholars are outstanding students, but Schreyer Scholars are called to be men and women of integrity, of high moral character, who employ their knowledge and skills for the betterment of society,” he says. “This is the hallmark of Schreyer Scholars and what sets the SHC head and shoulders above other honors programs.”

Brady, who is also an associate professor of classics and ancient Mediterranean studies, came to Penn State in 2006 from Tulane University, where he was director of the Jewish Studies Program and of the university’s honors program. He holds two advanced degrees from the University of Oxford, including a DPhil in Oriental studies. He possesses a unique blend of dynamic teaching, focused academic research, and broad administrative experience. The dean enjoys standing by all Schreyer Scholars during their journey into discovering what is right.

Outside the office, Brady and his wife, Elizabeth, are active in the community with their daughter, Izzy, who attends State College Area High School, and with the Mack Brady Penn State Soccer Fund, which they established in memory of their young son who had dreams of being goalkeeper for Penn State.

The Penn State Bookstore thanks Christian Brady and all faculty and staff who carry out the university’s mission every day.


In the early 1960s, Grace Lutheran Church had a problem — a good problem. Membership had increased so much that the congregation had outgrown its 50-year-old building on the southwest corner of Atherton Street and College Avenue.

For the new church, architect Harold Wagoner of Philadelphia designed a unique curved building that looked modern but was based on a much older chapel in France. In 1965, the congregation gathered for the first services in the new sanctuary at Beaver Avenue and Garner Street.

“It’s an iconic building, an evangelism in

itself,” says the Reverend Stevens Lynn, senior pastor, noting that college students refer to it as “the Dorito church” because the shape reminds them of the snack chip. “Kids who are in crisis and don’t have a church at all come to us because they know the Dorito church.”

With about 2,000 members today, Grace offers four Sunday services and a preschool and kindergarten program (started in 1966). Members serve the community by walking in the CROP Walk, delivering Meals on Wheels, providing shelter to homeless people through Out of the Cold, supporting Centre Volunteers in Medicine, and more.

Years of Town&Gown:WorshipLocal congregations maintain a faithful following as population changes

By Tracey M. Dooms

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Our Lady of Victory

Pasquerilla Spiritual Center

Russian Baptist Church

Islamic Society of Central Pennsylvania


“I love Grace’s worship life, I love the fact that it’s good to children, and I love that Grace reaches out into the community,” Lynn says. “And I think we do it well.”

Grace Lutheran Church is one of almost 200 religious congregations in Centre County. Like Grace, many were well established in serving their members and communities 50 years ago, when the first issue of Town&Gown was published. Others were founded more recently as the county’s population has grown and diversified. From the Church of Christ to Judaism to Quakerism, these widely varied congregations embrace a shared mission of nurturing faith and serving the community.

A long history of faithAlmost 50 years ago, in 1971, the dominant

religious bodies in Centre County were the United Methodist Church, the Catholic Church, and the Lutheran Church in America (which became the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1988), according to the Association of Religious Data Archives.

Together, these three religions accounted for almost one-third of the county’s population and 71 percent of county residents who reported adhering to a specific religion.

In State College, the primary houses of worship for these religions already were well established 50 years ago. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church dedicated a downtown building in 1888 to replace a small wooden church at Centre Furnace. By 1910, the growing congregation had broken ground on a larger building on its same site at College Avenue and McAllister Street. Expansions and renovations continued over the years, including the adjacent education building in 1959. In November 1987, fire destroyed most of the sanctuary building. Today’s church is built within the surviving stone walls of the original.

Mount Nittany United Methodist Church also branched out of the Centre Furnace church in the late 1800s, with members who chose to worship in Lemont. In 1968, the Lemont Methodist Church consecrated a new education building and fellowship hall on Branch Road.

Grace Lutheran Church

Brit ShalomSt. Luke’s Lutheran

St. Paul’s Methodist


Four years later, the Methodists joined with the neighboring Evangelical United Brethren to form Mount Nittany United Methodist Church, with a new sanctuary built in 1981.

In addition to St. Paul’s, the Albright-Bethune United Methodist congregation is located downtown, at Beaver Avenue and Burrowes Street. Decades ago, the former St. John’s United Methodist at this location had seen decreasing membership and combined with African-American and Chinese congregations, all worshiping in one building.

The Catholic church held its first services in State College in 1908, with a priest from St. John’s Church in Bellefonte traveling to the Penn State campus every other Sunday to celebrate mass. In 1917, Our Lady of Victory Chapel was dedicated at the corner of Fairmount Avenue and Frasier Street. In 1961, the church bought land on Westerly Parkway as the site for a larger church and a parish school. Our Lady of Victory held its first school classes in 1963 and dedicated its new church in 1969. Twenty years later, membership had grown enough to merit a second parish, Good Shepard Church, built on Gray’s Woods Boulevard in Patton Township.

With Grace Lutheran long established in downtown State College, the national Lutheran organization identified Patton

Township as a good location for an additional congregation. Trinity Lutheran Church held its first service in 1965 in a temporary building at its Park Forest site. In 1970, the permanent church opened.

Although the United Methodist, Catholic, and Lutheran religions were the dominant local faiths 50 years ago, many others have a strong history, particularly in the downtown State College area. State College Presbyterian Church members first worshiped in 1888 in a building at College Avenue and Locust Lane. In 1913, the larger Presbyterian “church beside the tower” opened at its current location on West Beaver Avenue. The church added its education building in 1942 and an education annex in 1994. Meanwhile, Faith Reformed Church (now Faith United Church of Christ), took over the Locust Lane site and erected its current stone church there in 1932.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1908, and services were held in a small building at Foster Avenue and Fraser Street. By the early 1920s, membership had outgrown the available space, and college students frequently sat on the floor during services. The congregation laid the cornerstone for its new church in 1928. In the second half of the twentieth century, the church installed its famed stained-glass windows, hand-painted by

The Helen Eakin Eisenhower Chapel served five faith groups when it opened. In 2001, the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center was added, and today, with the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development, it serves dozens of faith groups.


Willet Studios of Philadelphia.The State College Friends meeting began in

1912 to meet the needs of Quaker Penn State students and a few local residents. In 1927, the congregation built a meetinghouse on South Atherton Street (now the home of the University Mennonite Church). The present meetinghouse and adjacent education wing on Prospect Avenue were completed in 1980.

Beginning in the 1930s, the Jewish families of Bellefonte and State College had attended ceremonies at the Hillel Foundation on West Beaver Avenue. The Jewish Community Council of Bellefonte and State College, organized in 1954, dedicated its original Hamilton Avenue building in 1965 and expanded it almost 20 years later. In 1979, the organization took on a new name, Congregation Brit Shalom.

Worship practices evolveWhile some local religious organizations have

maintained steady support during the past 50 years, others have seen major changes — some affecting worship in general. Centre County’s

population grew from 99,267 in 1971 to 153,990 in 2010, an increase of 55 percent, and the number of local congregations increased from 135 to 192. However, over those same four decades, the number of county residents who adhered to a particular religion increased by just 36 percent, from 42,381 to 57,774, according to the Association of Religious Data Archives. The percentage of the total population who said they adhered to any particular religion fell from 43 percent to 38 percent.

This coincides with a national trend toward less frequent religious-service attendance. In 1972, 35.6 percent of the US population reported attending religious services at least once a week; by 2010, that figure had dropped to 26.5 percent.

Within Centre County houses of worship, other changes took place, following national practices of religious bodies. Catholic churchgoers saw major differences 50 years ago when priests began saying mass in English, facing the congregation. The 1950s and 1960s also marked the time many religious denominations began ordaining women to

The Helen Eakin Eisenhower Chapel served five faith groups when it opened. In 2001, the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center was added, and today, with the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development, it serves dozens of faith groups.

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ministerial roles, although growth has been slow. The Faith Communities Today survey in 2010 of 11,000 US congregations found that 12 percent had a female as their senior or sole ordained leader. Another major change for many congregations has been acceptance of more casual attire for worshipers at many services.

In recent years, the State College area has seen new houses of worship built to serve growing groups within the community. Among the most recent additions was the Suzanne

Pohland Paterno Catholic Student Faith Center, which opened in 2012 to serve Penn State’s Catholic community. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints added a second local chapel, downtown on Beaver Avenue, in 2014. This fall, Calvary Baptist Church opened its 26,000-square-foot Calvary Harvest Fields church outside Boalsburg.

Immigrants from the former Soviet Union founded the State College Russian Baptist Church in 1990 and later built their current church along College Avenue in Ferguson Township, holding services primarily in Russian. The State College Chinese Alliance Church conducts services in Mandarin Chinese and English. The Islamic Society of Central Pennsylvania grew from a small apartment prayer area in 1982 to its Masjid building in College Heights.

Serving diverse populationsCentre County’s most diverse representation

of faith is on the Penn State campus, where students from all over the country and all around the globe come together to study — and to

Members of Grace Lutheran Church attend a ground-breaking ceremony in 1963 for the new church that would be built on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Garner Street.


Tracey M. Dooms is a freelance writer in State College and a special-projects editor for Town&Gown.

worship. The Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development traces its history back 60 years, when US President Dwight Eisenhower laid the cornerstone for the Helen Eakin Eisenhower Chapel, named for the late wife of Eisenhower’s brother, Penn State President Emeritus Milton Eisenhower. At that time, the chapel served five faith groups — United Campus Ministry, Catholic Ministry, Lutheran Ministry, Episcopalian Ministry, and Penn State Hillel.

As student enrollment and the number of faith groups grew over the years, so did the need for a larger worship center. In 2001, construction began on the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center addition to the chapel. Today, the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Development serves dozens of student faith groups, including 17 Christian groups, five Buddhist, three Jewish, two Muslim, and everything from Hindu to Baha’i to Wicca.

“Most people don’t really think about how many traditions are out there, especially in their own community,” says Robert Smith, CSED director.

As the largest multifaith facility of its kind in the country, the center has attracted the attention of

other universities who want to see how Penn State makes it possible for such a wide variety of faith groups to coexist in the same physical space.

In November, as Islamic State terrorist attacks in Paris spurred anti-Muslim rhetoric, Smith maintained steady communication with Muslim students, asking if they were the subject of threats or negative comments.

“There really haven’t been any incidents toward them to be concerned about,” he said in mid-November. “All of our groups are using this as a way to talk about the role of faith and how people can move beyond and heal. Everyone is very supportive of our Muslim population and students.”

According to Smith, this attitude has its roots in mission of CSED, to “host a culturally diverse, multifaith community and celebrate our differences and similarities in a safe, supportive environment.”

How does it all come together? Smith responds, “It’s a miracle!” T&G

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PEOPLE Town&Gown’s annual salute to some of those who do amazing work to help others and make this region so special

By Rebekka Coakley

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Whether it’s through fiber and fabric or giving someone a warm place to stay during the day or collecting food to give to families for the holidays, this year’s “People Who Make a Difference” (formerly “Happy Valley Heroes”) are shining examples of the heart of Happy Valley.

• • •

Knitters. For a lot of them, joining a knitting group is a great way to make new friends, share tips, learn different techniques, and enjoy conversation while creating something such as a baby blanket, warm socks, or a winter hat. For Ellen Campbell, her knitting group not only helped inspire her to start a nonprofit organization to help Strawberry Fields Inc., it also was a good place to find her volunteers.

At the start of 2015, Campbell and her friend, Lynn Rogers, opened Scraps & Skeins, a creative reuse store that “rescues” and resells knitting, quilting, sewing, and other fiber arts donated by members of the knitting group and others in the community. All the proceeds benefit Strawberry Fields Inc., a United Way agency that provides comprehensive services and support for people with mental disabilities and their families. Campbell serves on the organization’s board of directors, and

her son has benefited from its services. “Our store mission is multifaceted,” says

Campbell. “We provide job-development opportunities for men and women facing mental-health challenges, offer the community affordable, creative materials beautifully arranged in an inviting shop, and provide an outlet for knitters and quilters to pass on overflow materials, which saves reusable textiles from the landfill.”

Rogers says that the inspiration for the nonprofit store came from a store Campbell had visited in Ithaca, New York, called Sew Green. It also sold yarn, fabric, and similar items that the original owners no longer wanted. She presented the idea to her knitting-group friends, and they were in support of starting the organization.

Rogers, a member of the group, was looking for a project where she could make a difference. When she heard Campbell’s idea, she was eager to help her friend launch Scrapes & Skeins. The two began selling their products in September 2014 at a booth at the Millheim Fiber Festival. In January, they relocated to 5034 Enterprise Drive in State College. The shop is located directly behind Strawberries Fields and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Thursday.

“In the beginning, we were overwhelmed by the interest the community took in bringing

Earlier this year, Rogers (left) and Campbell started Scraps & Skeins, which helps raise money for Strawberry Fields.


donations to avoid throwing them away and the interest in buying the rescued fabrics, yarns, and notions,” says Rogers. “Now we are overwhelmed by the difference it can make in someone’s life to have a place to go and do valuable work and to develop skills.”

Another member of the Campbell’s knitting group, Chris Murphy, is a regular volunteer at Scraps & Skeins. The State College native makes it a point to serve her community in various ways. Scraps & Skeins not only allows her to help others while supporting a pastime she loves, it also helps her emphasize the importance of something she firmly believes in: reusing and recycling instead of putting more in landfills. Overall, she just loves being in the shop.

“It’s fun to be with others who enjoy knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, weaving, tatting, cross stitch, and needlepoint. Opening and delving into the donations is exciting and interesting,” she says. “We might get precious items from the past, fabric from other lands, or things we cannot identify. Ellen and Lynn are good organizers with great ideas on how to lovingly display what we are given. They are also good people managers, providing training sessions for volunteers and making sure there are enough volunteers on hand for prep day and sale days. The best part of Scraps & Skeins is seeing what a difference it is making in the Strawberry Fields consumers who come to help. They feel successful in a workplace where they are welcomed, cared about, befriended, and needed. They gain confidence by having purposeful work to do.”

• • • For Ginny Poorman, working 9 to 5 is just

the title of a movie. The director and founder of Hearts for the Homeless (H4H), a community-funded daytime shelter and assistance program for the homeless, is known for helping her clients at all hours of the night. She works tirelessly to keep the organization functioning as effectively as possible.

“Being the director of Hearts isn’t just Ginny’s job, it’s a huge part of her life and passion,” says Evan Higgins, a H4H volunteer and a Penn State student from State College. “Ginny has personal relationships with the clients at Hearts. She knows them as people, not just as cases that

need to be handled. When I talk to the clients who have been involved with Hearts for the longest, the level of respect that they have for Ginny is immense.”

Poorman, who works full time and is a single mother, in addition to running H4H, started the shelter because she wanted to offer people a warm place to be during the day. She learned that State College’s shelters were open only at night and found that the area’s homeless people were eating meals only at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Having worked in homeless ministry in Pittsburgh for many years, she decided to change that. Open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, H4H provides many services beyond shelter, including warm coffee and meals, clothing, winter clothes, shoes, and cell phones. It also connects clients with mental-health professionals, cares for those with drug and alcohol addiction, teaches clients how to fill out job applications, offers them assistance in getting jobs (H4H has built connections with employers in State College that are eager to hire willing employees), and assists with filling out applications for food stamps. It even provides fun activities such as playing Frisbee or football to

In addition to working full time and being a single

mother, Poorman started Hearts for the Homeless,

a daytime shelter and assistance program for

the homeless.


distract people from the struggles they’re facing.“Basically, if it’s a need and we are able to help

with it, we do,” says Poorman. “Our day shelter serves a variety of people in a variety of ways.”

Higgins tells a story of how Poorman’s kindness and dedication to others has affected people’s lives.

“A man in State College was arrested for stealing tips from a tip jar,” he says. “Whoever sent him to jail had not realized that he had a mental illness or had not bothered to do anything about it, and so they told Ginny that he had no mental-health diagnosis and he was not taking any medication. Ginny is not a clinical psychologist, but it was obvious to her, from her brief interaction with this client, that he had some sort of difficulty with mental illness, and she was in disbelief at the fact that so little attention could have been paid to this person. Ginny helped this client get help from mental-health professionals. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and he started taking medication. He now has an apartment through Hearts, and he is doing better than anyone would have ever thought possible

had they met him a few years ago. No one ever helped this man during the course of his whole life. His family failed him, society failed him, and the criminal-justice system failed him. Ginny, however, did not. She actually tried where other people had simply decided they didn’t want to deal with a person they saw as inconvenient and not worth the trouble.”

While Poorman and her team of volunteers, including assistant director Ashton Munoz, work hard to provide the many services H4H offers its clients, she emphasizes that it’s a nonprofit, community-funded organization.

“We depend solely on the generosity of this community,” she says. “As much as it would be nice to have some big huge grant, they come with rules you have to follow, and a lot of those rules would exclude a lot of our clients — that’s not helpful, so we just don’t do it.”

Still, she says she has been awestruck at the help she’s received not only from volunteers but also from those who liked the H4H page on Facebook and are ready to give anything when she puts a call out on the page.


• • •

When Eleanor Tsai was tasked as a freshman in a Leadership Jumpstart course at Penn State to come up with a way to give back to the community, she was excited. As a State College native, she wanted to address the “invisible need” of State College, which people often overlook due to the town’s stability and prosperity.

When someone in her group suggested a food drive in the residence halls — each hall would gather food for one specific family in need — the group all agreed that it was a great idea.

“What made it so powerful, in my eyes, was that we were not only bridging a gap between Penn State students and locals, we were making students aware that hunger and poverty are still very much present in an ostensibly affluent college town and mobilizing them to provide direct, tangible relief,” says Tsai, now a college junior double majoring in political science and economics. “As they learned about their families, they would see these were parents and children, couples and individuals whom they could give

Tsai helped start and has continued doing

the Anti-Hunger Games project that

collects food for Thanksgiving meals for families in need.

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Rebekka Coakley is a freelance writer in State College.

to, even relate to — the ‘invisible need’ would become concrete.”

Three years ago, the group established the food drive in South Halls in the spirit of Thanksgiving, calling it the “Anti-Hunger Games.” The drive that year fed 11 families, and Tsai talked the members of the group into making it an annual drive.

Every year, the food drive takes place during four weeks in October and November in Penn State’s South Halls. Each building in South Halls is assigned a family, and the goal is to raise as much food as possible for that family’s Thanksgiving meal. The organization places a collection box in each building’s lobby. The box includes a profile of the family and a list of suggested donations, such as nonperishable goods, with an emphasis on Thanksgiving items. The profile of the anonymous family contains information such as how many people are in the family and their cultural background, ages, hobbies, traditions, and food preferences. Local churches help the group identify families in need.

Tsai, who is president of the group, says the food drive is a lot of work — the organization has to coordinate the logistics of the collection, stay in contact with everyone involved, and increase publicity, all while soliciting donations.

“But it’s gratifying to know that every step in the process brings a local family a more joyous Thanksgiving and also shows a Penn State student another side of the State College community,” says Tsai. “Every now and then, I remind myself why we started the Anti-Hunger Games in the first place and why I couldn’t completely let it go after Leadership Jumpstart. There are people right in our midst whose basic needs are not being met, who are entirely unknown to students. If we believe in a truly cohesive ‘town and gown,’ a relationship characterized by reciprocity and goodwill, this has to change.” T&G

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Good

a

For


Good

a

ClauseNow in its 12th year, the State College Santa Crawl has

not only grown in popularity but also in helping the Pat Boland Memorial Internship Award

By Lori Wilson


On one evening each December, downtown State College becomes awash with folks dressed as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, and other holiday characters. They travel from bar to bar, bringing glad tidings — and raising money for a good cause.

You may have heard about Santacon, an annual holiday spectacle that takes place in New York City and elsewhere across the nation. If not, the premise of the event is pretty simple: Revelers don their best Santa Claus or holiday-themed outfits and take to the streets to literally paint the town red, bouncing from pub to pub for some holiday spirits. At the heart of all the revelry, however, is charity. Often, money raised from these types of events goes toward a variety of causes and nonprofit organizations as designated by event organizers.

A little more than a decade ago, a group of

friends in State College decided to do their own version of this event. It has become known as the State College Santa Crawl, and it returns to downtown State College December 12 as it raises money for the Pat Boland Memorial Internship Award in Penn State’s College of Communications.

The crawl grew out of a simple tradition that Larry Fall, former program manager at IBM and 1972 graduate of Penn State, observed every year around Christmastime. He would dress up as Santa and hand out gifts to workers at local bars and restaurants. In 2004, a few of his friends, after hearing about what other friends were doing in other cities, joined Fall to make it more of a bar crawl.

“I had a bunch of friends in DC in the late 1990s who did a Santa-themed bus tour,” says Brian Allen, mortgage advisor at Core Mortgage Services, LLC, a 1989 Penn State graduate and former captain of the men’s basketball team, and one of the original founders of the Santa Crawl. “I knew Larry dressed up every year, and I suggested we do something similar.”

Fall recalls, “We gathered about five of us to start. Me, BA [Brian Allen], Johnny Mateo, Jeff Deitrich, and Kevin Hodge — all Penn State grads. We made it a tradition to meet at the Adam’s Apple at the Tavern before the crawl, just the five of us, and then head out. We still try to do that every year.”

The crawl gained additional followers,

“Pat’s passing really hit home. As soon as it was suggested that we ought to raise money for Pat, I knew that was the absolute best thing to do because he did participate in it and everyone in town knew him.”

— Larry Fall

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From left, Tracy Wagner, Kelly Swisher, and Rachel Rajkowski.


either through word of mouth or curiosity over the guys dressed in red.

“It got organic somehow,” says Fall. “When people started showing up and I didn’t know who they were, I said, ‘This thing kind of has a life of its own.’ ”

One of those early participants in the Santa Crawl was Pat Boland, a Penn State alum, radio newsman and personality for Forever Broadcasting in State College, and a professor in the Penn State College of Communications. According to friends, Boland was tirelessly dedicated to his profession and often worked with young reporters and interns at Penn State and at the radio station to guide their careers. In 2011, at age 42, Boland died after an extended battle with lung cancer.

“Pat was a wonderful person,” recalls Gary Sinderson, Centre County reporter at WJAC-TV. “He worked hard, was well respected, and did a lot

Pat Boland was known for helping young reporters as they began their careers in journalism.

of multitasking, covering news and sports. It wasn’t unusual for Pat to put in a full day on the newsbeat and then cover a Penn State sporting event in the evening or on weekends.”

Inspired by Boland’s efforts to help young reporters begin their careers in journalism, Sinderson helped start a scholarship fund in Boland’s name, which is now the Pat Boland Memorial Internship Award.

From left, Kevin Becker and Rob Peterson as Snow Miser and Heat Miser, respectively.


“Distributing accurate information to the community and improving communications were among [Boland’s] priorities,” says Sinderson. “He was more than willing to share his knowledge and experience with students and others once he determined they shared his passion for the business. It was one of the motivating thoughts in establishing the scholarship.”

Money raised from the scholarship goes toward living expenses for Penn State College of Communications students who take internships in cities and elsewhere and who otherwise have no means of incomes, since most internships in the field are unpaid.

Many of the early Santa Crawl participants remember Boland and knew him quite well as a friend and also as a mentor. One participant who was friends with Boland, former Penn State football player Keith Conlin, suggested that the Santa Crawl charge a fee for wristbands, and proceeds would go toward the scholarship.

“Pat’s passing really hit home,” says Fall, “As soon as it was suggested that we ought to raise money for Pat, I knew that was the absolute best thing to do because he did participate in it and everyone in town knew him.”

The crawl has become the biggest annual fundraiser for the scholarship.

“When we first established [the scholarship], it was like any charity or scholarship,” says Sinderson, “You find an initial interest in contributing and then donations will drop off. That’s why the Santa Crawl is so helpful. It’s an annual event that’s fun, and Pat was known for his sense of humor. Larry and his crew decided one year that the proceeds would go to the scholarship, and ever since, it’s been our annual holiday-season gift.”

Fall says, “We could give the money elsewhere, but it would be a drop in the bucket. We really mean something to the fund, and it’s a way of keeping [Boland’s] name going.”

Over the past four years, the Santa Crawl has collectively raised more than $17,000 toward the fund. In 2012, the scholarship hit the $20,000 mark, which allowed the college to begin awarding scholarships to students. The first award was given out in 2013, and three

more were given out over the next two years. With growing interest in the event, Fall

looks to raise $8,000 this year, up from the $7,200 raised last year.

Held annually on the Friday or Saturday before finals week, the Santa Crawl also accommodates local restaurant and bar owners who otherwise may see a bit of a slump in sales around that time of the year.

David Krauth, co-owner of Rotelli in downtown State College, says he looks forward to crawl every year.

“We love being part of the Santa Crawl,” he says. “Pat Boland was a good friend of ours — he used to come in to Rotelli all the time — and just to be part of something that honors his memory is awesome for us. And, it’s literally the most fun night of the year in State College.”

Besides Rotelli, about 18 other establishments in the downtown area participate in the event. Fall is in contact with them all, first asking of their interest to participate and then sending follow-up communications leading up to the event. Stops included in years past and that are on this year’s itinerary include Café 210 West, Indigo, Zeno’s, Bill Pickle’s Tap Room, Allen Street Grill, Kildare’s, Lion’s Den, Primanti Bros., the Adam’s Apple at the Tavern, The Brewery, the Shandygaff, the All-American Rathskeller, Mad Mex, the Darkhorse Tavern, the Phryst, and Local Whiskey.

In previous years, Santa crawlers would all start at the same location and move east or west down College Avenue, depending on the itinerary. But with the growing number of participants recently, organizers decided to do two starting points at either end of town, with everyone meeting in the middle toward the end of the night.

Not only has the itinerary become more elaborate but so also have the costumes. Santa outfits are obviously a staple of the event, but some participants have branched out to include some other notable holiday characters, including Heat Miser, the three wise men, the Abominable Snowman, and Olaf from Disney’s Frozen.

This year’s event also features the first “Run Rudolph Run” 5K Run/Walk. The


race, according to the Web site, “will provide another avenue of opportunity for folks who would like to participate in the Santa Crawl fundraising but who have not yet turned 21 or who just don’t enjoy the State College bar scene.” The race begins at 9 a.m. December 12 in front of the State College Municipal Building.

While the majority of Santa Crawl participants are from State College and surrounding areas, organizers say that a few will travel back to Happy Valley for the event. When they can’t, they may still find themselves tagged in photos on Facebook anyway, according to Allen, who put a picture of Kevin Hodge, one of the original five participants, on a stick for photos.

“[Hodge] moved to California after that first year,” Allen says. “I took a picture of him from that first one, blew it up, and put it on a stick. When people saw the photos on Facebook and tagged him, I got a text message from him saying ‘That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen!’ ”

Another favorite memory is the year Allen, Krauth, and friend John Schaffer built a sleigh.

“We spent an afternoon building it,” recalls Allen, “It was 4-by-8 feet, had lights, some fake reindeer, and a boom box, and we just pushed it downtown. People just looked at us like, ‘What?’ ”

All silliness aside, both Fall and Allen agree that the event has maintained a certain standard and has successfully gone on without major incident for more than a decade.

“I think there’s an advantage to doing an event like this in Happy Valley,” says Allen, “We started it at a time that not a lot of people were doing it, and now a lot of people are participating and everybody has a good time. It just started out as a bunch of knuckleheads just having fun, but when Pat died, it just made total sense that we do something. That helped take it to another level, too. And the bars are loving the fact that it’s professional.” T&G

Lori Wilson is a freelance writer living in State College.

Gif t GuideHoliday

107 Mountain Springs Lane, Spring Mills GPS Use 324 Decker Valley Road, Spring Mills

(814)364-1000 • www.sevenmountainswinecellars.com

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is now featuring their Twelve Days

of Christmas Wine Case! A spectacular sampling of 12 favorite

wines, each with a special holiday label featuring the Twelve Days of Christmas! Don’t delay! To order your case, contact [email protected] Available anywhere in the US!

Our beautiful lodge is decorated for the Holidays. Stop in for wine tasting

and unique gift ideas for the wine lover on your list OR visit our new wine bar “Mountains on Main”, conveniently located on the Diamond in Boalsburg!

Check out our web site for Holiday Hours and

Special Events!

Autumn Wood, Happy Valley Spice, and Three Sisters are our “red, white, and blue trio” of wines certain to please the palate over the course of the Holiday Season. Please join us for our third annual “Dickens

Christmas” open house December 13th. Holiday sweets provided by staff in period dress.

Give the Gift of Wine

Tasting Room Hours:

Tuesday -Thursday & Saturday 11-6PM

Friday 11- 8 PM Sunday 1-5 PM

576 S. Foxpointe Dr., State College • (814) 308-8756 • www.thehappyvalleywinery.com

56 - Special Advertising Section

Gif t GuideHolidayAurum Jewelers Earrings with the icy colors of winter featuring blue topaz and diamonds set in 14kt white gold. Just one of the selections from our gallery of unique jewelry designers. To help make your holiday shopping a little easier, we offer FREE gift-wrapping and one hour FREE parking validation in any of the downtown parking garages.

132 S. Allen Street, State College 814.237.1566 • www.aurumjewelers.net

Amish Furniture ConnectionNo one can deny the appeal of coming home to a comfortable rocker! Our Amish craftsmen specialize in bent oak, cherry, maple, and walnut, available in natural, light, medium, and dark stains, as well as a variety of painted colors (Yes, blue and white is available!). From start to finish our furniture is 100% hand crafted. This year give that someone special a truly unique gift that will last a lifetime. We’re open Monday through Saturday with later hours Thursday and Friday evenings. Stop by and visit with us.

2961 Benner Pike • Bellefonte, PA 16823 814.548.7199 www.AmishFC.com

Chocolates By LeopoldOnly the best for the holidays. That includes Leopold’s Chocolates. Leopold uses fourth generation chocolate recipes to satisfy every chocolate lover’s palate. Find specialties such as Buttercrunch, Peppermint Bark, and Hazelnut Truffles. Or, find holiday creations--Rudolph Pops, Christmas Trees, Menorah, and more. Everyone says Leopold’s is the way chocolate should taste.

107 West Main Street, Boalsburg (Next to Seven Mountains Winery)Hours: Mon-Fri 11-7, Sat 9:30 -7, Sun 12 - 5 814.808.6254 • ChocolatesByLeopold.com

Special Advertising Section - 57

Locally raised Farm to table pork producer since 1979.

Celebrate the holidays with Hogs Galore. We offer our naturally hickory smoked hams, fresh pork roast and customized gift boxes. Call to place your order!

330 Enterprise Dr., Philipsburg, 342-7060, www.hogsgalore.com

Stop by our BBQ restaurant

and retail market.

Having a holiday party? Let us do the cooking!

No party is too big or small for us to cater!

Home of Way Café, Bakery & Deli

Come enjoy a snack of an apple cider donut and coffee or even have homeade soup

and a sandwich for lunch in the Way Cafe!

To place your orders for the holidays, call or stop by!

814-692-5211 • www.wayfruitfarm.com2355 Halfmoon Valley Road, Port Matilda

Mon-Fri. 8 a.m. -6:30 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.Closed Sundays.

Monday - Friday 9am - 8pm Saturday 9am - 7pm • Sunday 12am - 5pm

424 West Aaron Drive, State College 814-231-8711 • www.wiscoypet.com

For Animals

Celebrating 25 Years

Thank you for letting us share the relationship you have with your pets

est.1990


Gif t GuideHoliday

A Gift that Lasts a Lifetime… Cooking Classes by Happy Valley Learn To Cook!LaCreta Holland spreads her love of cooking in Centre County by teaching cooking classes for cooks of all ages...even children! Develop a critical life skill that will help you cut calories, save money, and have fun making delicious food. Choose from classes on Pie Making, Italian Cooking (LaCreta lived in Italy for 5 years!!), Soups & Stews, Baking Basics...even a Grocery Store Tour! What to Cook and Class Size depends on you! Gift Certificates Make Yummy Gift Ideas!

www.happyvalleylearntocook.com [email protected]

Goot Essa Gift AssortmentsLooking for a gift that is unique AND delicious? Design your own gift assortment with Amish cheeses and other foods! Each cheese, spread and fudge are made from all natural ingredients and no added preservatives, from recipes and methods handed down for generations.Direct shipments include a personalized gift card.

Please call 800-490-4387 or email [email protected] to request our FREE catalog or to place an order!

Hogs GaloreStart a new tradition with our Hickory Smoked Hams. Our brown sugar naturally smoked hams capture the flavor reminiscent of an earlier time. We offer Boneless hams, ideal for sandwich and platter serving, and Bone-in Hams that are perfect for carving station presentation. Call and order your ham for the holidays! 330 Enterprise Dr., Philipsburg, (814) 342-7060www.hogsgalore.com


STATE AMUSEMENT BILL IARDS & DARTS

Why Buy at a Box Store?

1358 E. College Avenue State College814-234-0722

Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. by appointment

HASSLE FREE Shopping Here!!

• Selection of custom pool tables and cues, ping-pong, shuffleboard, air hockey & poker tables, dartboards, lighting, and other game room accessories. If we don’t have it, we can get it!

• Free delivery and set up

• 12 months same as cash with No Interest

Visit Our Showroom At:

We Stand Behind Our Products!

• Billiard table cloth recovering, repairs, and service

Pool Tables Pinball

Dart Boards Table Games

Give yo r fu nitu e a g eat makeo e

Painted Furniture Class starting Sunday January 3rd at 6pm

The Makery 209 W. Calder Way State College

Artist Kathleen Barrett invites you to an evening of fun and easy creativity at The Makery a beautiful studio in

downtown State College. All art supplies are included and Kathleen

will help everyone in the class create their own masterpiece to take home!

[email protected] www.themakerypa.com


Gif t GuideHolidayState Amusement Company of State CollegeTable games are BIG this year, including Bubble Hockey, Air Hockey, Ping Pong, Foosball, Poker, and of course, Pool Tables! Maybe this is the year for a vintage pinball game! State Amusement has it all- the best selection in town in and an educated showroom staff that can help you choose the best pool cue, chess set, poker chips, dart board, or other unique gift idea. State Amusement has everything you need for your game room, including Penn State Pool Tables, Bar Stools, Penn State logo overhead lights, and lots more, for the ultimate Penn State Fan game room!

1358 E. College Avenue, State College 814.234.0722

The Family ClotheslineWe’re your one-stop shop to look delightfully tacky all season long! (We also have tasteful gifts.) Our thirty-year business is locally owned and operated by Penn State alumni. Come visit -- we’d love to see you!

352 E. College Ave, State College, PA 814.237.1946 • PennStateClothes.com

Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Beer Lover, from Otto’s!Stop by our gift shop this holiday season and check out what’s new from Otto’s, including this season’s hottest item- Beer Holder Hoodie with built in neoprene beer coolie, BPA Free Plastic growlers or double wall stainless steel growlers, carriers, Craft Beer Journals, T-shirts, hats, mugs, stout chocolates and of course…Gift Cards!

Otto’s introduces Jolly Roger Imperial Stout, a Russian Imperial Stout style beer, in 12oz 4 packs, and cases!

2235 North Atherton St. State College814.867.6886 • www.ottospubandbrewery.com


Display your Penn State Pride for all to see with this Hand Etched Crescent of the Nittany Lion Shrine. Measures Nine

inches across and is five inches tall. Licensed and proudly made in the USA. For personalization, please order by December 1st.

We are licensed to produce for the following schools:

Visit us on line or downtown, Reflections at 244 East Calder Way. Validated parking at all three municipal garages.

244 East Calder Way, State College Pa 16801 • (814) 234-1620 • www.reflections-pa.com/

Penn State, Drexel, Pitt, Villanova and St Joseph’s University.

Licensed Made in USA

www.Reflections-PA.com 814-234-1688

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Gif t GuideHoliday

ReflectionsEnjoy your favorite ice cream or beverage in our NEW Jumbo Penn State Mug/Bowl, the perfect gift this Holiday Season under $20. Holds 24.5 oz., microwave and dishwasher safe. Proudly Made in the USA. We currently are licensed to produce gifts for the following schools, Penn State, Pitt, Villanova, St. Joseph’s and Drexel.

244 E. Calder Way, State College, Pa 16801814.234.1620 • www.Reflections-Pa.com

Way Fruit Farm “Join us at the Farm”Whether you’re looking for a unique gift or just need fresh apples for your holiday pies, we have it all! While you’re here at the farm, plan to stay awhile and enjoy a snack of an apple cider donut and coffee or even have homemade soup and a sandwich for lunch in the Way Café. Need help with holiday baking? Our bakery has a full line of baked goods for you to take home and enjoy. To place you orders for the holidays, call or stop by for the best availability for baked goods and fruit baskets.

2355 Halfmoon Valley Road, Port Matilda814.692.5211 • www.wayfruitfarm.com Mon-Fri. 8 a.m. -6:30 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.Closed Sundays.

Moyer JewelersA gorgeous sapphire and diamond necklace to make you the envy of all your friends. Ladies be sure to come to our Ladies Night on December 3rd to make up your wish lists. Men be sure to see those wish lists during out Men’s Night on December 10th.

Moyer Jewelers Corner of College and Allen Downtown State College 814.237.7942 / 800.648.8494 www.moyerjewelers.com


This Holiday Season, Share the Taste of Amish Food!

Come See Us on December 12 at Bellefonte Victorian Christmas!

351 Wise Rd., Howard, PA 16841

Easy Ordering, Direct ShippingRequest Your Free Catalog Today!

Call 800-490-4387 Or Email: [email protected]


Gif t GuideHoliday

Ace Hardware of State College…is a great place for unique gift ideas. Swiss Army Knives, Bear & Sons Cutlery knives, ZIPPO lighters, and NEBO flashlights are just a small sampling of fun and functional stocking stuffers! Our large in-store selection and extensive catalog, for special orders, make Ace Hardware THE PLACE to find the perfect gift for your special someone. Our friendly staff is happy to help you in your Holiday hunt!

150 Rolling Ridge Drive Hills Plaza South (Next to Weis Market)814.237.3333 • www.acehardware.com

Mario’s Italian Restaurant “Best Italian” - of State CollegeMario’s Italian Gift Baskets are stuffed full of Italian goodies including their house scratch-made sauces and dressings. Mario’s Italian Vodka Sauce, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Gorgonzola Dressing are complimented by specialty dried pastas, olive oil, sweets and more. Stop by and pick from a pre-assembled and wrapped basket or have your own custom one built according to your budget and what you’d like inside. Buon Natale!

1272 North Atherton Street, State College814.234.4274 • www.MariosItalianStateCollege.com

Winter Craft Market, December 6-7Join us Saturday December 5th, 10-5 and Sunday December 6th, 10-4, for the Winter Craft Market, celebrating 40 years of supporting the arts in Centre County. Unique, handmade items created by 75 local artisans, make great gifts. We appreciate all of our returning shoppers for their continued support and look forward to welcoming our new patrons. Thank you for shopping local and buying handmade!

Winter Craft MarketMt. Nittany Middle School 656 Brandywine Drive State College, PA 814.237.7942 / 800.648.8494 www.wintercraftmarket.com


114 West College Avenue, State College, PA 16801

814-238-4767www.jackharpers.com

100 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte814-355-8836

www.confersjewelers.comMon.-Fri. 9:30-7, Sat. 9:30-5

Closed Sunday

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See the winery in its seasonal

finery, complete with Christmas

music, hot mulled wines and holiday sweets to enjoy.

Custom gift boxes available, many

locally-made food and gift items..

sure to be appreciated by

anyone on your gift list!

300 Houser Rd. (7 miles east of Penn State, above the Historic Village of Linden Hall) www.mtnittanywinery.com • 814-466-6373

December 12th, 12:00-5:00 & December 13,12:30-4:00


Gif t GuideHoliday

Gallery ShopVisit the Gallery Shop where you can purchase works of fine art and craft, created by Central Pennsylvania artists, for that special person on your gift list. Felting, jewelry, mirrors, pottery, paintings, weavings, cards, scarves, clothing, sculpture, woodwork, quilting, hand blown & fused glass, photography, and more! Conveniently located in Lemont-just minutes from State College.

824 Pike Street Lemont, PA 16851814.867.0442 • www.gallery-shop.com Mon - Fri 10:30 - 5:30 Sat 10 - 5 Sun 1 - 4

Happy Valley Vineyard & WineryStart a new family tradition for the holidays with Happy Valley Spice, a traditional German gluehwein with an old world taste, and Bondare, a port style wine with flavors of blackberry, cherry, and almond. As well as a locally hand-crafted Amish cheese will make a memorable gift for those who enjoy a ‘taste of the valley’. We have wine accessories for those special individuals on your holiday gift list. Please join us for our second annual “Dickens Christmas” open house December 13. Holiday sweets provided by staff in period dress.

576 S. Foxpointe Dr., State College814.308.8756 • www.thehappyvalleywinery.com

Confer’s Jewelers BellefonteWe need our loved ones to be close to us, we need to feel their touch. With these prints your loved ones are never far away, you can be reminded of their touch always. Fingerprint jewelry is a meaningful gift for the New Mom and Dad, New Grandparents, for those serving our Country away from their loved ones and as a Lasting Memorial for a loved one who’s passed on.

100 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte814.355.8836 • www.confersjewelers.com

1515 N. Atherton Street, State College, PA 16803814-237-1515 • mikesvideo.com

Starting as low as $799


Gif t GuideHoliday

Herlocher’s Dipping MustardWake up hotdogs, dazzle veggies, dunk cheeses, dip pretzels, slather meats, and spice up sandwiches all with the sweet and rough flavor of Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard. A gluten-free, salt-free tasty gift for the favorite people on your list. Available in these local stores: Weis, McLanahan’s, Wegmans, Giant, Ace Hardware, Honey Baked Ham, Tait Farm and many more.

Like us on Facebookwww.HerlocherFoods.com

The Hopshop Beer MarketArea’s Largest Beer SelectionAt The Hopshop, you’ll find gift ideas galore for that hop-head on your shopping list. With 1,000 unique selections of craft, specialty import and domestic beer, if you can’t find it at The Hopshop, you’re not going to find it in Happy Valley. They even have 8 different taps of draft beer for growler fills. Our favorite combination is a Hopshop logo growler, logo glass packed with a gift card to redeem on growler fills or anything else in the store!

117 Heister Street, State College814.308.9808 • www.hopshopbeermarket.com

Harper’s Varsity ClubInspired by a classic English sporting club, Harper’s Varsity Club has a unique collection of men’s Penn State apparel and accessories that can’t be found anywhere else! From our lambswool “S” sweater to embroidered Penn State Stadium pants. This season you’ll love our Penn State Blackwatch Plaid Shoulder Shep Shirt from Vineyard Vines.

114 West College Avenue, State College, PA 16801814.238.4767 • www.jackharpers.com


Gif t GuideHoliday

Mike’s Video, TV & Appliance EcoWasher Now Available!Stop using chemicals to wash your family’s clothes and start saving up to $700 or more ever year! The EcoWasher out cleans all chemical laundry detergents. Mike’s Video, TV & Appliance is State College’s ONLY local sales and service company with highly trained staff to help with your next purchase.

1515 N Atherton St, State College814.237.1515 • www.mikesvideo.com

At Squire Brown’s……Erstwhile Charm Prevails this Holiday Season when you choose a clutch leather wallet in Champagne from HOBO’s classic collection of handbags and small leather goods. Squire Brown’s selection of HOBO has a retro feel that is cool and hip, crafted in a harmony of rich colors, textures and eclectic prints. Wear JOHN WIND, MAXIMAL ART jewelry and make a statement! Either the chunky rhinestone cuff ($50), or personal, initial link bracelet ($60) are perfect for Holiday giving or (parties!).Squire Brown’s stunning collection of seasonal home décor, along with unique gift ideas, will make your Holiday Season “shiny and bright”!

HOLIDAY HOURS: Mondays thru Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-5717.667.2556 • www.squirebrowns.com

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is now featuring12 Days of Christmas Wine Case!A spectacular sampling of 12 Seven Mountains’ favorite wines, each with a special holiday label featuring the 12 days of Christmas! For more information or to order your case, contact [email protected]. Our beautiful lodge is decorated for the Holidays! Visit us for wine tasting and unique gift ideas for the wine lover on your list! Shipping Available!

107 Mountain Springs Lane, only 20 minutes from State College,GPS use 324 Decker Valley Road814.364.1000 • www.sevenmountainswinecellars.com


Like us on Facebook and catch up with old friends on

the Train Station Restaurant Facebook alumni group page!

www.HerlocherFoods.com

Bring your favorite Happy Valley Tradition

to any holiday and bowl game party!

gluten-free, salt free!

Available at Giant, Weis, Wegmans, McLanahan’s, Honey Baked Ham, Ace Hardware, Tait Farm and many more!


Gif t GuideHoliday

Conklin’s Corner Antique & Gift Barn of Philipsburgis packed full of unique holiday décor and everyday gifts such as the Lighted Canvases that are beautifully lit and are the perfect gift for the person who has everything or the Wind & Fire expandable bangles. They have meaningful, distinctive and beautifully familiar icons to create that perfect gift to symbolize aspects of the wearers personality and values with hundreds of designs to choose from. There is over 10,000 sq. feet of gift ship area, the barn is often called one of Central PA’s Best Kept Secrets for unique items. For your shopping convenience, Conklin’s Corner has extended holiday hours Black Friday thru Dec. 23rd, open 7 days a week until 8 p.m.

Rt. 350, 670 Tyrone Pike, Philipsburg, PA 16866814.342.0650 • www.ConklinsCornerBarn.com

Woolrich Company Storeis where you’ll discover a great selection of Woolrich apparel,outerwear, accessories and more. Plus woolen throws woven in Woolrich, PA., perfect for your cabin or home. A great experience and worth the trip.

Woolrich Company Store1039 Park AveWoolrich, PA570.769.7401

Wiscoy Pet Food Co. Not Just for Pets…..Wiscoy has something for all of your gift giving needs. We have a huge selection for all of your furry and your non-furry friends.Since 1990, Wiscoy for Animals has been engaged with our local community to strengthen and nurture the bond between humans and the animals with whom we share our homes and the out of doors.

424 West Aaron Drive, State College, PA 16803814.231.8711 • www.wiscoypet.com


Gif t GuideHolidayPennwood Home & HearthYETI- The Cooler You Always Wanted… The Last You’ll Ever NeedYETI’s are known for being indestructible and keeping things cold! Choose from the YETI Roadie 20 Cooler, extremely durable, pressure injected insulated, providing maximum ice retention, or the Hopper 30, 100% leak proof, soft side portable cooler, built for the long haul and keeping ice for days. Like all YETI Coolers, these are built for the wild. A perfect gift idea from Pennwood Home&Hearth!

West College Avenue, Pleasant Gap, on Rte. 26 between Nittany Mall and Pleasant Gap814.359.2761 • www.pennwoodcorp.com

Discovery Space Give the Gift of Science! Family or Grandparent memberships are available for $65-$75.One-day passes are available for $6 each. Memberships and passes make great gifts for anyone on your list!Check out our gift shop, where you can find unique, fun science gifts for children of all ages! Bug lollipops, sprout pencils, tornado tubes, Jabebo earrings, robot kits and more can be found at Discovery Space! Discovery Space 112 W. Foster Ave. State College, PA 16801814.234.0200 • MyDiscoverySpace.org


Coming to Bryce Jordan Center

December3

Lady Lion Basketball vs. Virginia Tech

8 p.m.

5Nittany Lion Basketball vs.

Eastern MichiganNoon

8Lady Lion Basketball vs.

Youngstown State7 p.m.

13Nittany Lion Wrestling vs. Wisconsin

1 p.m.

16Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:

The Musical7 p.m.

19Penn State Fall Commencement

9 a.m., 12:30, & 4:30 p.m.


Sacred HeartNoon


Northwestern2 p.m.


what's happeningT&G December

To have an event listed in “What’s Happening," e-mail [email protected].

5

11-13

The State Theatre hosts “That’s Life: A Celebration of the 100th Birthday of Frank Sinatra.”

4-5 Holiday happenings with Boalsburg Hometown Christmas, Christmas in Lemont, Merry Millheim, the Holiday Art and Ornament Sale at the Palmer Museum of Art, and the Stocking Stuffer Sale at Centre Furnace Mansion.

Go back in time and experience Bellefonte Victorian Christmas. Also, the Centre County United Way holds its Festival of Trees at the Central PA Institute of Science and Technology.

1

The Penn State men’s basketball team “Returns to Rec” for two games — against Canisius December 10 and against Louisiana-Monroe December 12.

10, 12

13

16-19Fuse Productions presents Santaland Diaries at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center.

26

The Vienna Boys Choir performs at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Penn State’s wrestling team has the first of two matches this season in the Bryce Jordan Center when the Lions host Wisconsin.

13, 16Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra performs Handel’s Messiah December 13 at Schwab Auditorium and December 16 at Faith United Methodist Church in Bellefonte.

Merry Christmas!

25

Ring in the new year at

First Night State College.

31

Penn State women’s basketball team hosts Northwestern at the Bryce Jordan Center in its Big Ten opener.

31

11-13The Nutcracker times two as Centre Dance presents its production of The Nutcracker December 11-13 at the State Theatre and Performing Arts School of Central PA presents its production December 12-13 at Eisenhower Auditorium.


4 – Paper Views Conversation: “Ways of Seeing Women” by Jennifer Wagner-Lawlor, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 1 p.m. palmermuseum.psu.edu.

4 – Gallery Talk: “1917 Revolution in the Arts: Burliuk, Stravinsky, and Archipenko” by Maureen Carr, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m. palmermuseum.psu.edu.

5 – Gadgets for Grownups: eReader and Tablet Buying Guide, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

Club Events

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – State College Rotary Club, Nittany Lion Inn, SC, 5:30 p.m., statecollegerotary.org.

2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – State College Sunrise Rotary Club, Hotel State College, SC, 7:15 a.m., [email protected].

2, 16 – Outreach Toastmasters Meeting, The 329 Building, Room 413, PSU, noon, [email protected].

3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – State College Downtown Rotary, Ramada Inn & Conference Center, SC, noon, centrecounty.org/rotary/club/.

3, 10, 17, 31 – Comics Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 3:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

5, 12, 19 – Go Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 1:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

5, 12, 19 – Chess Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

9 – Women’s Welcome Club of State College meeting, Oakwood Presbyterian Church (not church affiliated), SC, 7 p.m., womenswelcomeclub.org.

9 – 148th PA Volunteer Infantry Civil War Reenactment Group, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, SC, 7:30 p.m., 861-0770.

15 – Women’s Welcome Club of State College Coffee/Tea, Oakwood Presbyterian Church (not church affiliated), SC, 9:30 a.m., womenswelcomeclub.org.

19 – Lego Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

21 – Parrot Owner’s Group, Perkins, 525 Benner Pike, SC, 7 p.m., 237-2722.

Children & Families

2, 9, 16 – Baby Explorers, Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 10:30 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org.

2, 9, 12, 16, 19 – Music Together free trial class for children 0-5, Houserville United Methodist Church, SC, 9:30 or 10:45 a.m. Wed., 10:30 a.m. Sat., 466-3414.

3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21 – Music Together free trial class for children 0-5, Oakwood Presbyterian Church, SC, 9:30 or 10:45 a.m. Thurs., 10:45 a.m. Mon., 466-3414.

3, 10, 17 – Science Adventures, Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 10:30 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org.

5-6 – Penn State Thespians present Junie B. Jones, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Sat., 2:30 p.m. Sun., schlowlibrary.org.

5-6, 12-13 – Polar Express, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., schlowlibrary.org.

5-6, 12-13 – Design and Decorate Your Own Gift, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., schlowlibrary.org.

6, 13, 20 – Music Makers, Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 10:30 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org.

11-13 – Festival of Trees, Central PA Institute of Science and Technology, Bellefonte, 4 p.m., ccunitedway.org.

23, 28-31 – Discovery Day, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.

Classes & Lectures

1 – Penn State Forum Speaker Series: “Drug Discovery: Ingenuity or Serendipity?” by Richard Silverman, Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, PSU, 11:30 a.m.

1, 15 – “A Joint Venture,” information session on hip or knee replacement, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11 a.m Dec. 1, 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 278-4810.


Community Associations Development

15 – Spring Creek Watershed Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC,

7:30 a.m., springcreekwatershed.org.23 – Patton Township Business

Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, noon, 237-2822.

Exhibits

Ongoing-December 6 – Erasing Borders/Borrando Fronteras, Cuban and Cuban-American Artists, HUB Gallery, HUB-Robeson Center, PSU, 865-0775.

Ongoing-December 6 – Jewelry Designs by Janise Crow, Display Cases, HUB-Robeson Center, PSU, 865-0775.

Ongoing-December 6 – You Have to See This: Abstract Art from the Permanent Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Ongoing-December 13 – Archipenko: A Modern Legacy, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Ongoing-December 13 – Images by Maggie Wolszczan, Art Alley, HUB-Robeson Center, PSU, 865-0775.

Ongoing-December 13 – Mining the Store II: American Drawings and Watercolors from the Permanent Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Ongoing-January 28 – Stomper Project, Sculpture Corner, HUB-Robeson Center, PSU, 865-0775.

4 – Paper Views: Ways of Seeing Women, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

4-27 – “Holiday Show and Sale,” Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, 1-4:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun., bellefontemuseum.org.

B u y H e r e L i v e H e r e . c o m


Health CareFor schedule of blood drives visit redcross.org or givelife.org.

4 – Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 1 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.

4, 8 – Juniper Village at Brookline’s Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, Mount Nittany Dining Room at The Inn, SC, 1 p.m. Fri., 6:30 p.m. Tues., 231-3141.

7 – Breast Cancer Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 5:30 p.m., 231-6870.

8 – Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, Mount Nittany Dining Room at The Inn at Brookline, SC, 6:30 p.m., 234-3141.

8 – Brain Injury Support, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 7 p.m., 359-3421.

9 – The Senior Center Diabetes Support Group, Centre Region Senior Center, SC, 10:15 a.m., 231-3076.

9 – The Fertility Issues and Loss Support Group, Choices (2214 N. Atherton St.), SC, 6 p.m., heartofcpa.org.

10 – Diabetes Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., 231-7095.

10 – Parent-to-be Class, Mount Nittany Health, Boalsburg, 7 p.m., 466-7921.

13 – The Ostomy Support Group of the Central Counties, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 234-6195.

16 – Alzheimer’s Support Group, Elmcroft Senior Living, SC, 6:30 p.m., 235-7675.

17 – Parents-to-be Orientation, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6:30 p.m., 231-3132.

21 – Cancer Survivors Association, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11:30 a.m., 238-6620.

27 – Neuropathy Support Group of Central PA, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 531-1024.

Music

1 – Vienna Boys Choir, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu.

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2 – Penn State School of Music: Percussion Ensemble II, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 5 p.m., music.psu.edu.

2 – Penn State School of Music: Percussion Ensemble I and Mallet Ensemble, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.

3, 17 – Thursday Afternoons with The Second Winds, American Ale House & Grill, SC, 3 p.m., 237-9701.

3 – It’s Christmas with John Berry, State Theatre, SC, 7 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

3 – Penn State School of Music: Inner Dimensions and Outer Dimensions, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.

4 – Penn State School of Music: Jazz Combos, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.

4 – Keller Williams, State Theatre, SC, 9 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

5 – “That’s Life: A Celebration of the 100th Birthday of Frank Sinatra," State Theatre, SC, 7 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

6 – Penn State School of Music: “Mosaic,” Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 4 p.m., music.psu.edu.

7 – Penn State School of Music: Horn Studio Recital, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 3:30 p.m., music.psu.edu.

7 – Penn State School of Music: Campus Band and Campus Orchestra, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.

9 – The Art of Music: Rob Nairn, Heidi von Bernewitz, Svetlana Rodionova, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

9 – Penn State School of Music: Philharmonic Orchestra, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.

10 – Penn State School of Music: Campus Band and Symphonic Band, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.

11 – Penn State School of Music: Essence of Joy “Our Gift in Song,” St. Paul’s Methodist Church, SC, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.

12 – State College Choral Society presents “Christmas with the Choral Society,” Grace Lutheran Church, SC, 3 p.m., scchoralsociety.org.


12 – Bellefonte Community Band Victorian Christmas with the Nittany Knights, Bellefonte Area High School, Bellefonte, 7:30 p.m.

12 – The Honey Dewdrops, Center for Well-Being, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., acousticbrew.org.

13 – Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah, Schwab Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., centreorchestra.org.

15 – Cherish the Ladies, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

16 – Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah, Faith United Methodist Church, Bellefonte, 7:30 p.m., centreorchestra.org.

Special Events

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Boalsburg Farmers’ Market, St. John’s United Church of Christ, 218 N. Church St., Boalsburg, PA, 2 p.m., boalsburgfarmersmarket.com.

3-5, 10-12, 17-19 – SERRV International Handcrafts Sale, 300 East College Avenue, SC, 11 a.m., faithucc.org.

4 – First Friday, Downtown State College, 5 p.m., firstfridaystatecollege.com.

4-5 – Boalsburg Hometown Christmas, Boalsburg, boalsburgvillageconservancy.org.

4-5 – Christmas in Lemont, Lemont Granary, 5 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m. Sat., 238-1288.

4-5 – Merry Millheim, Millheim, millheimpa.com.

4-6 – Stocking Stuffer Sale, Centre Furnace Mansion, SC, 9 a.m. Fri. & Sat., noon Sun., centrehistory.org..

4, 11, 18 – Winter Indoors Farmers’ Market, State Colege Borough Building, SC, 11:30 a.m., statecollegefarmers.com.

5 – Holiday Art and Ornament Sale, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

DECEMBER 11th-13th 2015 Bellefonte Victorian Christmas offers a taste of Christmas Past with an Historic Homes Tour, an Arts & Crafts Show,

concerts, horse-drawn buggy rides, gingerbread house contest, train rides, strolling entertainment, breakfast with

Santa and a Victorian Tea Party.

Bellefonte Victorian Christmas

State College Community

Theatre is coming to

Bellefonte Victorian Christmas!

www.bellefontechamber.orgwww.bellefontevictorianchristmas.com


5 – Polar Bear Plunge, Bald Eagle State Park, Howard, 10 a.m., ymcaofcentrecounty.org.

5-6 – Winter Craft Market, Mount Nittany Middle, SC, 10 a.m., wintercraftmarket.com.

5, 12, 19, 26 – Millheim Farmers’ Market, Old Gregg Mills Farmers’ Market, Spring Mills, 10 a.m., centralpafarmers.com.

7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Tribute, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 12:45 p.m., pamilmuseum.org.

11 – Arboretum Winter Celebration, Penn State Arboretum, PSU, 5 p.m., arboretum.psu.edu.

11-13 – Festival of Trees, Central PA Institute of Science and Technology, Pleasant Gap, ccunitedway.org.

11-13 – Bellefonte Victorian Christmas, Bellefonte, bellefontevictorianchristmas.com.

12 – Christmas Extravaganza & Cookie Sale, Calvary Church at Harvest Fields, Boalsburg, 8 a.m., calvarysc.org.

12 – Breakfast with Santa, Mountain View Country Club, Boalsburg, 10:30 a.m.

31 – First Night State College, Downtown State College, SC, firstnightstatecollege.com.

Sports

For tickets to Penn State sporting events, call(814)865-5555 or visit gopsusports.com.

3 – PSU/Virginia Tech, women’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 8 p.m.

4-5 – PSU/Michigan State, men’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 7 p.m. Fri., 3 p.m. Sat.

5 – PSU/Eastern Michigan, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, noon.

6 – Nittany Lion Open, wrestling, Rec Hall, PSU, 8:30 a.m.

8 – PSU/Youngstown State, women’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m.

10 – PSU/Canisius, men’s basketball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m.

11 – PSU/Princeton, men’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 7 p.m.


12 – Blue-White Meet, men’s and women’s track & field, Multi-Sport Facility, PSU.

12 – PSU/Louisiana-Monroe, men’s basketball, Rec Hall, PSU, 2 p.m.

13 – PSU/Wisconsin, wrestling, BJC, PSU, 1 p.m.20 – PSU/Sacred Heart, women’s

basketball, BJC, PSU, noon.31 – PSU/Northwestern, women’s

basketball, BJC, PSU, 2 p.m.

Theater

Ongoing-5 – Penn State Centre Stage presents Good Kids, Pavilion Theatre, PSU, 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. matinee December 5), theatre.psu.edu.

2 – The Art of Poetry: Nicole Miyashiro, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.

6 – Bolshoi Ballet presents Jewels, State Theatre, SC, 3 p.m., thestatetheatre.org.

11-13 – Centre Dance presents Nutcracker, State Theatre, SC, 7 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., thestatetheatre.org.

12 – Fuse Productions presents A Charlie Brown Christmas, State Theatre, SC, 1 & 3 p.m., fuseproductions.org.

12-13 – Performing Arts School of Central PA presents The Nutcracker, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m. Sat.,

3 p.m. Sun., pascp.org.16-19 – Fuse Productions presents

Santaland Diaries, Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, SC, 7:30 p.m.

(2 p.m. matinee Sat.), fuseproductions.org.20 – Bolshoi Ballet presents The

Nutcracker, State Theatre, SC, 12:55 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. T&G

The Lady Lions havefour home games

in December.


Ever since we started our journey through the world of beer and brewing in this column more than two years ago, we’ve mainly focused on great beers that are available from our own shores and, more specifically, those with a local or regional slant. Looking back, it seems that we may have been a bit too narrowly inclined. The craft beer we drink here in the US has been influenced a great deal from international brewers.

As brewing spread across Europe centuries ago, it developed geographically, mostly moving into countries situated north of the “grape/grain divide,” a serpentine line that separates the warmer southern countries, where grapes flourish, from their northern neighbors, where grain crops fare better. The line separates part of the north of France from the rest of the country, skirts under the eastern border of Belgium, then winds north around the Rhine Valley of Germany to eventually dip below all of Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

For the most part, beer became the beverage of choice in those countries, most of which made substantial contributions to brewing culture. We’re familiar with German lagers and Czech pilsners, which defined those countries’ styles, but it was in Belgium where the art of brewing really flourished, providing the world a diverse array of quirky styles

that never allowed just one to dominate the landscape. In the last 20 years or so, those strange, sometimes elusive brews have become the inspiration for much of the current craft-brewing culture here.

I first read about the significance of Belgium to brewing culture, as did many others, in Michael Jackson’s World Guide to Beer, where he did not hide his love of that country’s brewing traditions, styles, and brands.

In terms of square miles, Belgium is roughly the same size as Maryland, but packed into that diminutive area are about 180 breweries, ranging in size from the mammoth (Stella Artois) to the tiny (Saint Canarus, named for a local drinking club whose own name translates to “always drunk”). Among those many breweries exists a stunning array of styles, many of which have become favorites at craft breweries here at home.

Some of the most notorious Belgian brands are Trappist beers such as Chimay, Westmalle, and Westvleteren. By law, these must be brewed in Trappist monasteries under the direction of monks. Of the 10 monasteries that qualify for this designation worldwide, six are located in Belgium. Though not necessarily similar in style, beers from the various Trappist breweries tend to be fairly malty and strong. Abbey beers are a subcategory of Trappist beers and can be very similar, but need not be brewed in a monastery.

The more recognizable Belgian styles come from the Trappist/Abbey tradition and include dubbel, a strong brown ale, and tripel, a strong pale ale, both made famous by the

Belgium’s Big InfluenceThe small European country has made a major impact on craft brewingBy Sam Komlenic

on tapT&G


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Trappist monastery in Westmalle. Like many Belgians, these beers gain some of their strength from the addition of candi sugar, an invert sugar that works well with fermentation and also is used to prime the packaged product to ensure secondary or tertiary fermentation in the bottle, providing crisp carbonation.

Belgian lambics also are somewhat familiar here in the United States, mainly in fruit-enhanced versions. Lambics are wheat-based beers produced in the Senne river valley south and west of Brussels. Instead of pitching cultivated yeast into the beer to initiate predictable fermentation, lambic brewers expose the finished wort to the elements in broad, shallow tanks called “coolships” on the top floor of the brewery, usually a gable or attic where the windows are opened to allow the wild yeasts and bacteria of the valley to inoculate the beer, producing funky, lactic characteristics.

This process can occur only during cooler months, as warmer weather carries with it unsuitable types of yeast that won’t assure the desired result. In recent years, the brewing season has become increasingly shorter due to the effects of global warming.

Fruit lambics are flavored using whole fruit, juice, or syrups in a secondary fermentation. The most popular use sour cherries, while others include raspberries, peaches, and apricots.

Gueuze is a blended product, most often using a proportion of 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old lambics. These continue to ferment in the bottle, the older components consuming the residual sugars remaining in the younger beer. Gueuze can continue to age in the bottle for decades. The style is relatively uncommon here, but is considered to be the pinnacle of lambic production in Belgium.

Saison refers to a range of beers brewed in small farmhouse breweries, generally in Wallonia, a French-speaking region. Saisons are becoming increasingly popular in craft brewing and, though they don’t all necessarily hew to the same exact style, are generally lighter in body and have a bit of the “funk” found in lambics. They’re a little lower in alcohol than other Belgian styles and tend to be refreshing, quaffable beers.

Another Wallonian specialty is Blonde ale, a lighter version of pale ale, made with a

proportion of pilsner malt in the mash and then bottle conditioned. The most notable brands are Duvel and Maredsous, both of which are exported internationally.

Probably the most recognizable Belgian style on these shores is Witbier, a cloudy beer made from a mash of wheat and barley and flavored with herbs, including coriander and bitter orange peel. The style had gone extinct by the 1950s and was revived by a young farmer named Pierre Celis in 1966. The beer eventually took the name of its home village, Hoegaarden, and the ultimate success of the style would not only influence craft brewers but also would spawn national brands such as Blue Moon and Shock Top from major brewers Coors and Anheuser-Busch, respectively.

There is a laundry list of lesser-known styles from this motherland of individualistic brewing, too. Sour beers are an increasingly popular trend here, with their intentionally acidic, tart taste. They follow from the popularity of Rodenbach, a brand of Flemish red ale aged in oak. Oud bruin is an older version of a brown ale; faro is a sweetened gueuze; grisette is a lower-alcohol version of saison, and tafelbier (table beer) is even lower, around 1.5 percent alcohol for everyday drinking.

The Belgians also are known for the distinctive presentation their beers provide when served in brewery-specific glassware. Nearly every Belgian brewery has a glass of its own proprietary shape, made specifically to enhance the aroma and flavor of their beer as well as the overall drinking experience itself.

Belgian beer doesn’t end there, but because of space it’s got to end here. Every true connoisseur of great beer has a pilgrimage to Belgium on their bucket list. Until then, experience the variety and diversity of one of the world’s greatest brewing cultures the next time you have the chance at your favorite tavern, distributor, or six-pack shop! T&G

Sam Komlenic, whose dad worked for a Pennsylvania brewery for 35 years, grew up immersed in the brewing business. He has toured scores of breweries, large and small, from coast to coast.


By Vilma Shu DanzPhotos by Darren Andrew Weimert

Going Global

Taste ofthe Month

New Elk Creek Café chef creates diverse menu


Elk Creek Café & Aleworks, located at 100 West Main Street in Millheim, is a community gathering place centered on sustainable, local ingredients, fresh craft-brewed ales, live music, and local art.

Since its opening in 2007, the restaurant and brewery continue to partner with more than 20 local farmers such as Tait Farm Foods, Hidden Pond Farm, Patchwork Farm, and Penns Valley Meat Market to create menus that highlight the bounty in the area and utilize seasonal produce.

The menu changes with the seasons and also changes every two months. The current menu will be available through the rest of December. Customers have come to rely on the chalkboard to see what features are cooking up in the kitchen for that evening.

New executive chef Erin Snyder started in July and is quickly winning customers over with her unique take on favorites and adding a few global cuisine twists such as her Bahn Mi sandwich and her crispy pork belly steamed buns.

“The Bahn Mi sandwich at Elk Creek is my take on a Vietnamese sandwich with pâté, so ours has a pork meatloaf with basil, scallions, and fish sauce that is sliced after it’s cooked so it

Erin Snyder, executive chef

imitates pâté,” she says. “It’s served on a toasted baguette with siracha mayo, pickled vegetables, and Vietnamese cold noodle salad.”

Originally from Sugar Valley, Snyder has been cooking since she was 14 years old. After cooking professionally at a few restaurants in the area, she left in 2006 to pursue a culinary degree at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Upon graduating, she became a sous chef at the institute’s Apple Pie Bakery and

Going Global

Organic falafel and grilled pita


Local roasted root vegetable salad and dry-rubbed brisket

Café, where she stayed until 2012. Looking to return home, she recently held a position as chef at Waring Commons at Penn State.

Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, Elk Creek Café is open for lunch and dinner Wednesdays through Saturdays and serves Sunday brunch. Some must-try items from Snyder’s new menu include a dry-rubbed local beef brisket with organic bourbon mashed sweet potatoes, the prime rib French dip sandwich, and the arancini appetizer of fried risotto balls with local ham and fontina cheese.

Special chalkboard features may include a braised short rib pizza with caramelized onions and a cream sauce, a mushroom, beef, and barley soup, and wing sauces for chicken wings, including siracha honey, garlic parmesan, blueberry siracha, and chipotle ranch.

For vegetarians and vegans, Elk Creek Café promises to have options on the menu. The organic falafel and grilled pita and hummus platter are great choices.

Executive chef Randall Sherman

For a special recipe for brisket, demi glace, and

bourbon sweet mashed potatoes, visit townandgown.com.

For December, there are comfort foods, winter squashes, and hearty root vegetables. Going into the winter months, Snyder is planning on having some themed prix fixe dinners to encourage diners to come out and get excited about food.

As for the ale, head brewer Tim Yarrington makes six house standards with two seasonal varieties. General manager Amy Seaton will be happy to help suggest a beer to pair with your meal.

“The Brookie Brown Ale is good with the brisket, the Winkleblink Ale pairs well with the falafel sandwich, and the Poe Paddy Potter is good with the French dip,” she says. T&G

For more information on live bands and dinner features at Elk Creek Café, visit elkcreekcafe.net.

Sunday, January 10, 2016Bryce Jordan Center

Game Tipoff – 12:00PM

Join your Penn State Nittany Lions, the Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer (CVC) committee and your local American Cancer Society in support of cancer

patients and survivors in our region by attending the PSU men’s basketball game against Michigan State. The Coaches vs. Cancer Day event will also feature

a Silent Auction of sports and celebrity memorabilia on the BJC concourse. Auction begins when the doors open at 11:00am. All proceeds from

the auction benefit CVC.

Vs.

Coaches vs. Cancer

*A portion of individual game ticket sales will be donated to Coaches vs. Cancer!*

www.cvcpennstate.org


Full Course Dining

AE ...........................................................American Express CB ..................................................................Carte Blanche D ................................................................ Discover/Novus DC ........................................................................Diners Club ID+ ................................................ PSU ID+ card discounts LC ............................................................................LionCashMAC .......................................................................debit card MC .......................................................................MasterCard V ......................................................................................... Visa .............................................. Handicapped-accessible

Key

To advertise, call Town&Gown account executives Kathy George or Debbie Markel

at (814) 238-5051.

dining outT&G

Allen Street Grill, 100 W. College Ave., 231-4745, hotelstatecollege.com. Directly above the Corner Room at the intersection of College Avenue and Allen Street, the “Grill” promotes a casual gourmet dining experience, superb contemporary cuisine, specialty cocktails, entertainment, and one of the best Town and Gown views in State College. Priced reasonably and offering upscale cuisine is always a challenge but Bert and Becky Burger, the husband and wife French-trained executive chef and general manager, seem to pull it off with ease. From the moment you walk in the door and approach your seat overlooking the bustling sidewalk you become an integral part of this historic corner. Perfect for a business lunch or romantic dinner. Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.

bar bleu, 114 S. Garner St., 237-0374, bar-bleu.com. Socializing and sports viewing awaits at bar bleu. Don’t miss a minute of the action on 22 true 1080i HDMI high-definition flat-screen monitors displaying the night’s college and pro matchups. The bar serves up 16 draft beers in addition to crafted cocktails, including the “Fishbowl,” concocted in its own 43-ounce tank! Pub fare featuring authentic Kansas City-style barbecue is smoked daily on-site. AE, D, DC, ID+, MC, V. Full bar.

Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining, 2255 N. Atherton St., 308-9522, barrel21distillery.com. A new dining experience brought to you by Otto’s Pub & Brewery, Barrel 21 presents a tapas menu featuring fusion cuisine highlighting our local resources. Menu inspirations will celebrate new culture and cuisine brought to Central PA from around the world. Distillery and tasting room will open in the fall after we have produced our own craft spirits. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.

Bill Pickle’s Tap Room, 106 S. Allen St., 272-1172, hotelstatecollege.com. Not for Saints…Not For Sinners. Located in the heart of downtown State College, Bill Pickle’s is a

great place for lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack. Features include plenty of TVs and occasional live entertainment, along with a wide selection of craft beers and signature drinks! Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.

Carnegie House, corner of Cricklewood Dr. and Toftrees Ave., 234-2424. An exquisite boutique hotel offering fine dining in a relaxed yet gracious atmosphere. Serving lunch and dinner. Prix Fixe menu and à la carte menu selections now available. AAA Four Diamond Award recipient for lodging and fine dining. Reservations suggested. AE, MC, D, V. Full bar.

The Corner Room, 100 W. College Ave., 237-3051, hotelstatecollege.com. A Penn State Tradition, the Corner Room started out as Jack’s Road House in 1885, renamed The Corner Room in 1926. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner through a mix of American classics and contemporary cuisine, all at affordable prices. Daily Specials. Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.

Cozy Thai Bistro, 232 S. Allen St., 237-0139. A true authentic Thai restaurant offering casual and yet “cozy” family-friendly dining experience. Menu features wide selections of exotic Thai cuisine, both lunch and dinner (take-out available). BYO (wines and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V.

All restaurants are in State College or on the Penn State campus, and in the 814 area code unless noted.


Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 1229 S. Atherton St., 237-9000, faccialuna.com. A true neighborhood hang- out, famous for authentic New York-style wood-fired pizzas and fresh, homemade Italian cuisine. Seafood specialties, sumptuous salads, divine desserts, great service, and full bar. Outside seating available. Sorry, reservations not accepted. Dine-in, Take out. MC/V.

Galanga, 454 E. College Ave., 237-1718. Another great addition to Cozy Thai Bistro. Galanga by Cozy Thai offers a unique authentic Thai food featuring Northeastern Thai-style cuisine. Vegetarian menu selection available. BYO (wines and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V.

The Gardens Restaurant at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5090. Dining is a treat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Gardens Restaurant, where sumptuous buffets and à la carte dining are our specialties. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. Full bar, beer.

The Deli Restaurant, 113 Hiester St., 237-5710, The DeliRestaurant.com. Since 1973, The Deli has served up New York-style deli favorites on an American menu offering everything from comfort food to pub favorites, all made from scratch. Soups, breads, sauces, and award-winning desserts are homemade here early in the morning folks. Look for its rotating menu of food- themed festivals throughout the year. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

The Dining Room at the Nittany Lion Inn,200 W. Park Ave., 865-8590. Fine continental cuisine in a relaxed, gracious atmosphere. Casual attire accept- able. Private dining rooms available. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern, On the Diamond, Boalsburg, 466-6241. The Boalsburg Tavern offers a fine, intimate setting reminiscent of Colonial times. Dining for all occasions with formal and casual menus, daily dinner features, specials, and plenty of free parking. AE, MC, V. Full bar.


Gigi’s, W. College Ave, on the corner of Cato Ave., 861-3463, gigisdining.com. Conveniently located 5 minutes from downtown State College, Gigi’s is a farm-to-table dining experience inspired by the hottest southern trends. Outdoor Patio. Lunch & Dinner. Full Bar. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.

The Greek, 102 E. Clinton Ave., 308-8822, thegreekrestaurant.net. Located behind The Original Waffle Shop on North Atherton Street. Visit our Greek tavern and enjoy authentic Greek cuisine. From fresh and abundant vegetables to the most succulent kebabs, each dish has been perfected to showcase genuine Greek flavors. When we say “authentic,” we mean it. Full service, BYOB. D, MC, V.

Herwig’s Austrian Bistro, “Where Bacon Is An Herb,” 132 W. College Ave., 272-0738. Located next to the State Theatre. Serving authentic Austrian home cooking in Central PA. Ranked #1 Ethnic Restaurant in State College for 8 years in a row. Eat-in, Take-Out, Catering. Gluten-free options available. Bacon-based dessert. Homemade breads, BYO beer or wine all day. Sense of humor required. D, MAC, MC, V.

Hi-Way Pizza, 1688 N. Atherton St., 237-0375, HiWayPizza.com. The State College tradition for nearly 50 years, nobody does it better than Hi-Way! Offering more than 29 varieties of hand-spun pizzas made from scratch offer an endless combination of toppings. Its vodka “flaky” crust and red stuffed pizzas are simply a must have. Hi-Way’s menu rounds out with pasta dishes, calzones, grinders, salads, and other Italian specialties. Eat-in, Take-out, or Hi-Way delivery. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

India Pavilion, 222 E. Calder Way, 237-3400. Large selection of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes from northern India. Lunch buffet offered daily. We offer catering for groups and private parties. AE, D, MC, V.


Inferno Brick Oven & Bar, 340 E. College Ave., 237-5718, InfernoBrickOvenBar.com. With a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere, Inferno is a place to see and be seen. A full-service bar boasts a unique specialty wine, beer, and cocktail menu. Foodies — Inferno offers a contemporary Neapolitan brick-oven experience featuring a focused menu of artisan pizzas and other modern-Italian plates. Lunch and dinner service transi- tions into night as a boutique nightclub with dance- floor lighting, club sound system, and the area’s most talented resident DJs. AE, D, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Legends Pub at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5080. Unwind with beverages and a casual lounge menu. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.

Mario’s Italian Restaurant, 272 N. Atherton St., 234-4273, MariosItalianStateCollege.com. Fresh specialty dishes, pasta, sauces, hand-tossed pizzas, and rotisserie wood-grilled chicken all made from scratch are just a few reasons why Mario’s is authentically Italian! At the heart of it all is a specialty wood-fired pizza oven and rotisserie that imparts rustic flavors that can’t be beat! Mario’s loves wine and is honored with six consecutive Wine Spectator awards and a wine list of more than 550 Italian selections. Mario’s even pours 12 rotating specialty bottles on its WineStation® state-of-the-art preservation system. Reservations and Walk-Ins welcome. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

Otto’s Pub & Brewery, 2235 N. Atherton St., 867-6886, ottospubandbrewery.com. State College’s most awarded craft-beer pub and brewery featuring more than a dozen fresh, house-brewed ales and lagers on tap as well as fine, affordably priced, local American food with vegan and vegetarian offerings, a kids’ menu, weekly features, and seasonal menu. Open for lunch and dinner in a family-friendly, casual atmosphere. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.

INGREDIENT DRIVEN • SEASONAL • NEW AMERICAN CUISINE EXTENSIVE WINE LIST • BY THE BOTTLE & GLASS

MON. - THUR. 11:30 -9PM • FRI . - SAT. 11: 30 -10PM • SUN. 11: 30 - 8PM

ZOLAKITCHEN .COM814 . 237. 8474


Philipsburg Elks Lodge & Country Club,1 Country Club Lane, Philipsburg, 342-0379, philipsburgelks.com. Restaurant open to the public! Monday-Saturday 11-9, Sunday 9-3. Member-only bar. New golf-member special, visit our Web site for summer golf special. AE MC, V. Full Bar (members only).

The Tavern Restaurant, 220 E. College Ave., 238-6116. A unique gallery-in-a-restaurant preserving PA’s and Penn State’s past. Dinner at The Tavern is a Penn State tradition. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar.

Whiskers at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8580. Casual dining featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and University Creamery ice cream. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar.

Zeno’s Pub, 100 W. College Ave., 237-4350 hotelstatecollege.com. Located directly above the center of the earth, Zeno’s may be considered a “dive bar” by some, but it is still one of the best places downtown to drink a cold one! Craft beers, Happy Hours, live music, top-notch booze, and hearty food. Also check out Zeno’s 2 Go, nestled between Chumley’s and Indigo Nightclub, featuring a collection of yellow fizzies for mass consumption along with “the real good unique stuff.” Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.

Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar, 324 W. College Ave., 237-8474. Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar features ingredient-driven, seasonal, new American cuisine paired with an extensive wine list, certified wine professional, and exceptional service. Zola’s also features a new climate-controlled wine room, premium by-the-glass wine pours, fine liquor, and craft beer at its full-service bar. Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. Reservations recommended. Catering. Free parking after 5:30 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.


Diversions, Blue Burrito, Mixed Greens, Panda Express, and Sushi by Panda Express.V, MC, LC.

Irving’s, 110 E. College Ave., 231-0604, irvingsstatecollege.com. Irving’s is State College’s finest bakery café serving award-winning bagels, espresso, sandwiches, salads, and smoothies.

Meyer Dairy, 2390 S. Atherton St., 237-1849. A State College Classic! Meyer Dairy is the perfect choice for a quick, homemade lunch with fresh soups and sandwiches or treat yourself to your favorite flavor of ice cream or sundae at our ice cream parlor. Fresh milk from our own dairy cows (we do not inject our cows with BST), eggs, cheese, ice cream cakes, baked goods, and more! Plus, Meyer Dairy is the best place to pick up your Town&Gown magazine each month!

Night LifeChumley’s, 108 W. College Ave., 238-4446, hotelstatecollege.com. A quaint bar where you’re not judged because of your gender or sexual orientation. Chumley’s is a gay bar and grill where you’re encouraged to be one thing, and

Good Food FastBaby’s Burgers & Shakes, 131 S. Garner St., 234-4776, babysburgers.com. Love poodle skirts, a jukebox playing the oldies, and delicious food cooked to order? Then Baby’s Burgers & Shakes is your kind of restaurant! Bring the entire family and enjoy a “Whimpy” burger, a Cherry Coke, or delicious chocolate shake, and top it off with a “Teeny Weeny Sundae” in our authentic 1947 Silk City Diner. Check out Baby’s Web site for full menu and daily specials! D, MC, V, MAC, Lion’s Cash.

Fiddlehead, 134 W. College Ave., 237-0595, fiddleheadstatecollege.com. Fiddlehead is a soup-and-salad café offering soups made from scratch daily. Create your own salad from more than 40 fresh ingredients.

HUB Dining, HUB-Robeson Center on campus, 865-7623. A Penn State tradition open to all! Enjoy 13 different eateries in the HUB-Robeson Center on campus. Jamba Juice, McAlister’s Deli, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Higher Grounds, Sbarro, Soup & Gar den,

Open Daily 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. 2390 S. Atherton St. - (814) 237-1849

MeyerDairy

Dont forget the Eggnog from

Milk • Ice Cream Eggs • Cheese • Juices

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Call 466-6241 for Details and Reservations

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Located “On the Diamond” 113 East Main Street

Duffy’s TavernEst. 1819

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Award-winning pizza. and Italian Cuisine.

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1229 S. Atherton St.StAte College

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that’s yourself. Known as one of the friendliest bars in Happy Valley — and proud of it! Serving food and full bar service, including specialty cocktails. Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.

Indigo, 112 W. College Ave., 234-1031, hotelstatecollege.com. Tradition meets innovation. College party bar meets city nightclub. There’s a reason Indigo has been voted one of the top college bars in the nation. Featuring talented DJs from Mint DJ Events, a huge sound and lighting system, and the craziest happy hour in Happy Valley. When you visit Indigo you’re guaranteed to end up on the dance floor with your hands in the air. Thursday-Saturday 9 p.m.-2 a.m. T&G

Now Open 7 Days a WeekLunch Buffet:

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Dinner: 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

222 E. Calder Way237-3400www.indiapavilion.net

India PavilionExotic Indian Cuisine

Carry Out

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India PavilionExotic Indian Cuisine

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Lunch: Tue. - Sat. 11:30am - 2:30pm Dinner: Tue. - Sat. 5pm - 10pmSun. Brunch: 9am - 1pm Sun. Dinner: 5pm -10pm

NOW SERVINGLUNCHBEGINNING DECEMBER 1!

FREE Spicy Korean-Style Gochujang Meatball Slider(*Slider coupon is only valid at lunch

with food or beverage purchase from 12/1/15 – 12/8/15)

Next to Otto’s Pub & Brewery 2255 N. Atherton Street, State College

814.308.9522 barrel21distillery.com

RESERVE NOW FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES, BUSINESS MEETINGS, OR

OTHER GROUP CELEBRATIONS!


Cindy Kolarik believes that every child deserves the gift of play. She is the founder and director of the Jared Box Project, a nonprofit organization that fills plastic storage boxes with games, toys, and activities, which are then given to children who are in hospitals.

Started in 2001 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School in State College, the project honors Jared McMullen, a kindergartner who battled cancer. After McMullen’s passing, Kolarik was inspired to create special boxes for kids.

More than 200,000 Jared Boxes have been made in 47 states and delivered to more than 300 hospitals. Run entirely by volunteers and with the help of schools, scout troops, and churches, more than 400 boxes are made each month in Centre County and are delivered to area hospitals.

Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Kolarik earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting and a MBA from West Virginia University in 1985. After working for a number of years in accounting, auditing, and financial planning in Pittsburgh, she moved to State College when her husband, Joe, accepted a job in the area. The couple has two children, Lauren and Joseph.

Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith sat down with Kolarik at the Tavern Restaurant in State College to discuss how she started the Jared Box Project and how people can become involved in the organization.

Mimi: Cindy, I’ve known of you and this project for a long time. I remember seeing an ad in Town&Gown about the Jared Box Project. I’ve invited you here because you’ve created a “stadium” of Jared Boxes.

Cindy: When I speak to schoolchildren making Jared Boxes, I like to use that reference. I ask them, “Have you been to Beaver Stadium? Imagine the stadium filled with children holding Jared Boxes — twice over. That is how many Jared Boxes have been made. That is how many children are smiling and playing with Jared Boxes.” It is a great visual of how one little boy’s spirit has helped hundreds of thousands.

Mimi: Tell our readers how this all got started.

Cindy: The Jared Box Project was started in memory of Jared McMullen, a kindergartner who attended Our Lady of Victory School. Jared was a brave little boy who battled cancer with the courage, positive attitude, and love of life that continues to inspire us all. He maintained his sense of humor and the joys of childhood through play. After he passed away, I was left with a feeling that something needed to be done to honor his memory. It was also important to show his OLV classmates how to deal with their sadness, to make something good come out of something bad. Jared’s sweet personality set the idea in motion. While he was at the hospital getting his treatment, instead of being scared or overwhelmed, he noticed other children who were sad and nervous. He shared his toys and even invited them to join him in a game of Uno or Old Maid. Taking Jared’s example, we decided to give children the gift of play and

Boxes Filled with Hope and Love Jared Box Project founder shows how one simple idea can grow to inspire many across the country

lunch with mimiT&G

Jared Box Project founder and director Cindy Kolarik (left) chats with Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith at the Tavern Restaurant in State College.

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started with the simple idea of toys in a box. This was to be a one-time project to be done at OLV’s Vacation Bible School. What has happened since then is just incredible! The project just took off and grew beyond our wildest dreams. Soon after we started making Jared Boxes, Town&Gown offered to put an ad in the magazine about Jared Boxes. That ad ran for years and was our first true form of publicity. People from across the county called and asked about Jared Boxes, saying they read about the project in the Town&Gown — thousands of visitors to State College pick up the Town&Gown.

Mimi: How old was Jared?Cindy: Jared was in preschool when he was

diagnosed and passed away in his kindergarten year. [His parents] Craig and Ruth McMullen were such an inspiration to our community. They showed that a strong faith can provide strength and comfort in the face of one of life’s worst tragedies. Ruth’s goal every day was to make Jared’s life as normal and fun as possible. Through the good days and the bad, she forged ahead with a smile on her face and made sure

Jared enjoyed the simple, carefree life that other preschoolers enjoyed. I recall seeing Ruth push Jared in his wheelchair out to the school playground so he could play capture the flag with his buddies. I am sure the McMullens have no idea how many people admire and respect the example they set for all of us.

Mimi: How does the project work? Who makes all these Jared Boxes?

Cindy: The Jared Box Project is a service project. Groups such as schools, churches, scouts, businesses, etc. make Jared Boxes and deliver them to their local hospitals. Jared Boxes are the gift of play and are easy, inexpensive, and fun to make. A Jared Box is a plastic shoebox filled with games and toys, books, stuffed animals, and card games. In addition to the toys, each box contains a handwritten note to the child receiving the box. Each box is different and is filled with toys selected by the person making the box.

Mimi: You are now in all but three states: Hawaii, Arkansas, and Wyoming?

Cindy: Yes, but to be honest, Jared Boxes may be in those states, too. Anyone from across the country can learn about Jared Boxes on our


Web site. While I keep a list of how many and where boxes are made, Jared Boxes are certainly being made without me ever knowing it. Here is a perfect example: The King’s College (in Wilkes-Barre) baseball team has been making Jared Boxes for years, making well over 5,000 boxes in total. They just looked at the Web site and “figured it out” on their own. It wasn’t until I stumbled onto a story on Facebook about the King’s College effort that I learned about it!

Mimi: You have had nationwide impact essentially through word of mouth?

Cindy: Yes, that is true. Just in the past few weeks, I have heard from a Daisy Girl Scout Troop in Long Beach, California, a group of college students in San Juan, Puerto Rico, BYN Mellon in Pittsburgh, and the Moose Club in Clarence. Honestly, I get excited each morning when I open my e-mail — always something new!

Mimi: I was thinking somehow I have to contact NBC news. The evening program has a segment at the end called “Making a Difference,” and the Jared Box is a living example of what they report on. So these people just start making Jared Boxes, and they get the information and the ingredients from you. How do you do that?

Cindy: The Jared Box Project took a simple idea of toys in a box and created a nationally recognized service project. The simplicity of the project allows everyone to practice small

acts of kindness. It is really all in the way it is organized. From our Web site, you can learn about the project, obtain a list of ideas of toys to put in the boxes, and can print labels for the boxes. From our hospital directory, you can look up a local hospital in your area. Whether you make one or 1,000 Jared Boxes, the idea is the same. We have tweaked the process over the years to make it simple and straightforward. I think this has made the Jared Box Project a popular service project for kids of all ages. Again, the Web site is the key.

Mimi: Do the service groups that do this buy their own contents?

Cindy: Yes. Groups making the boxes provide their own supplies. Fortunately, Jared Boxes are inexpensive to make. Toys are readily available at Dollar Stores, Walmart, and Target. We estimate that a Jared Box can be made for around $10. Jared Boxes are made with a particular age group in mind. On the end of each box, we place a label. The label tells whether the box is for a boy or a girl. The label also allows you to check off an age category. So when boxes are delivered to hospitals, Jared Boxes can easily be stored by gender and age group. This insures that the boxes are age appropriate and helps the hospital, too. Many groups making boxes will hold toy drives, have fundraisers, or will ask businesses for donations. I often hear that Jared Boxes are as much fun to make as they are to receive!

Mimi: These boxes come with all the little decorations on it?

Cindy: That is part of the fun of making a Jared Box. We encourage groups to decorate the outside of the boxes with stickers. Plastic boxes are transformed into colorful boxes filled with well-wishes, hope, and love.

Mimi: There’s a wonderful message that goes along with it. The givers are giving unrestricted philanthropy and public service.

Cindy: You are exactly right! The Jared Box highlights how people want to help others. The Thank You notes we receive make it all worthwhile. Parents tell of how the boxes put a smile on their child’s face, make the stay easier, and make them feel special. As a parent, I can imagine how hard hospital stays can be on the entire family. I am brought to tears time and again as I read the Thank You notes and learn how the simple idea of toys in a box can be just

Jared McMullen

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what a child needed to get them through a scary appointment or painful procedure.

Mimi: In the beginning, the first major marriage with a strong organization was Mount Nittany Health System. Tell us about that relationship. How did it begin and what it looks like today?

Cindy: The Jared Box Project at Mount Nittany is well established and runs like a well-oiled machine. In working with the Volunteer Services Organization, we determined that Mount Nittany Medical Center can use over 200 boxes per month! Boxes are given to children in the emergency room, surgical center, patient rooms, at the cancer center. Boxes are also given to Centre Volunteers in Medicine and to the Children’s Advocacy Center. Through the generous help of local groups making Jared Boxes, we have been able to keep up with Mount Nittany’s needs. The Stor-All Self Storage Center on Science Park Road donated a large storage locker for our use. As local groups make Jared Boxes, we store the boxes there. Linda Lewis, a MNMS Volunteer, spends countless hours a week

to make sure the departments handing out Jared Boxes are well stocked! When we are running low, Linda contacts me, and we start getting to word out. It is so heartwarming to see how the State College community always answers the call. It’s incredible — I post it on Facebook, and my phone starts ringing.

Mimi: How many Jared Boxes do you think you circulate in a year in Centre County?

Cindy: Locally, I would guess about 5,000 Jared Boxes are made each year. One local family makes four Jared Boxes a month and has done so for years. Children often make Jared Boxes at birthday parties. Instead of asking for presents, guests bring toys and make Jared Boxes. In addition, local schools, businesses, scouts, and civic organizations make Jared Boxes.

Mimi: In the beginning, you developed a close relationship with Geisinger in Danville.

Cindy: Jared had his treatments at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville, so that is where it all started. Jared Boxes were first made by the children at Our Lady of Victory Vacation Bible School in 2001. The hospital staff absolutely

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H. Amos Goodall Jr., Certified Elder Law Attorney328 S. Atherton St., State College814-237-4100 • www.centrelaw.com

Protect what’s important now...for them.


loved the boxes. They explained how the boxes made the hospital less scary and provided their young patients with a home away from home. Jared Boxes calmed the nerves of the children and parents alike. At that point, I realized that Jared Boxes were something quite special. While most hospitals have toy closets or playrooms, Jared Boxes are unique because they are personal gifts to the children — theirs to keep. Since then, Our Lady of Victory Catholic School has made Jared Boxes annually for the children at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital.

Mimi: So what do you want to do next?Cindy: Since the beginning, we have been run

by a handful of volunteers. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and have a proven project in place. I have to say, we are ready for the next big step. We need a corporate sponsor, a grant, or the support of a foundation that can help us maintain and grow. I have a dream of having the funds available to hire a part-time director. Throw in some graphic design and public relations services. Jared’s favorite card game was Uno. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get Mattel as a sponsor and Uno cards in every box! Sorry you got me started! I could go on and on. Just imagine

the impact we could have with a few of these ideas in place!

Mimi: Maybe this interview will get you some additional inquiries. What a remarkable thing you have begun. Tell our readers how they can get involved and be in touch with you.

Cindy: Our email is thejaredbox@gmail .com, our Web site is www.thejaredbox.com, and our Facebook page is The Jared Box Project — they’re great places to learn more about the project. The Facebook page has been a great tool for us. I post pictures of groups making boxes, children receiving boxes, and Thank You notes we’ve received.

Mimi: This time of the year, when you have lots of people to thank, it’s important to thank an organization for the beautiful stuff they do. I think your story is the story of a woman who saw an important need and was motivated by grief to do something truly meaningful. I wish you a very special holiday — you’ve earned it! Thank you for sharing.

Cindy: Thank you Mimi for this opportunity to share this sweet story with your readers. It is blessing and such a joy to be a part of this project. Each day I get to see the best that people have to offer. T&G

Students at Our Lady of Victory show the Jared Boxes they made.


A copy of many photos taken by the State College Photo Club may be obtained with a $75 contribution to the Salvation Army of Centre County. Contact Captain Charles Niedermeyer at (814) 861-1785 and let him know you would like this image. You can select any size up to 11 inches wide.

The State College Photo Club meets on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Foxdale Village Auditorium. Guests and new members are always welcome.

The State College Photo Club provides photo enthusiasts with the opportunity to share their passion for photography with others and to provide an environment for learning and

developing new skills. The club welcomes individuals from amateurs to professionals. The club offers bimonthly workshops to improve skills and sponsors a bimonthly competition for its members.

Town&Gown is pleased to present the winning images from the club’s competition.Shown this month are the first- and second-place winners in the Open category from the judged September

meeting competition.

Visit statecollegephotoclub.org for more information about how to join.

September Meeting Open Category First Place

>

September Meeting Open Category Second Place

Winning Photos

>“East Quoddy Head Lighthouse,

Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada. This lighthouse is only accessible by foot during low tide and a rather treacherous hike/climb over slippery rocks and cliffs.”

“Imagining floating out to sea while playing in the living room. I enjoy bringing kids’ fantasies to life through photos.”

State College Photo Club’s

“Imagination” by Rebecca F. Kennedy

“Quoddy Head” by Linda Hale


Dance the Night AwayPepper Lotus founder and director promotes the art of belly dancingBy Lianne Galante

Twelve years ago, Shannon Bishop was invited by a friend to try a belly dancing class. Fast-forward to today, and the student has become the teacher — a teacher certified in multiple types of belly dancing and an annual performer at First Night State College.

After attending the class, Bishop, who grew up in Lewistown and has lived in State College for the past 24 years, was encouraged by her teacher to perform and eventually become an instructor herself. She now has her own studio, Black Cat Belly Dance, and her own dance troupe, Pepper Lotus, which, during First Night, will have a belly dance workshop at 1:30 p.m. at the State Theatre and then give a performance at 3:30 p.m. at University Baptist & Brethren Church. Bishop and Pepper Lotus also will perform on New Year’s Eve at Kaarma in State College, and Bishop performs regularly at The Greek restaurant in State College.

She says there can be a stereotype and prejudice about belly dancing and what it really is, and she hopes to erase some of the misconceptions associated with the art form.

“It is nice to show people how family oriented belly dancing can be,” says Bishop, who also teaches at Movement Arts studio in downtown State College.

When she does a workshop or teaches a class with first-time students, she says many are apprehensive about trying to belly dance.

“They are worried that they are too old, too young, not the right body type,” she says. “But belly dance is very inclusive by its nature. I’m essentially teaching a stage version of the way many people dance socially in the countries of origin — and that includes mothers, fathers, grandmothers, etc. — so everyone is welcome!

“I love when students learn to move their bodies in new ways, when they develop a new sense of self-esteem, and when they want to learn more about another culture.”

Pepper Lotus is the region’s only professional belly dancing group, and it performs in improvisational style as well as Egyptian, which is Bishop’s favorite style.

In Egyptian style, it is about bringing the music to life.

In March, Bishop represented the US and traveled to Egypt for the second time and performed for the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism.

“The more I studied Egyptian dance, I fell in love with the beautiful complex music and the poetry of the lyrics,” she says. “True Egyptian dance should always be about the music first and the dance second.”

Besides First Night, Pepper Lotus also performs at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and People’s Choice Festival.

“We love it,” Bishop says of the First Night performance. “It’s one of our favorite shows every year. There’s something for everyone there.

“I have definitely seen an increase in the number of people interested in belly dance. I think that many people are looking for fun new ways to get some exercise and to meet new people. I also think that my regular shows at The Greek have added to the interest because people are seeing the ‘finished product,’ so to speak, and how much fun it can be.” T&G

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Shannon Bishop

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eimert

HappyFrom Barash Media

From the staffs of Town&Gown and The Centre County Gazette, we’d like to say Thank You to all of our advertisers and readers for a wonderful 2015! We wish you the best of holiday seasons

and hope you have a healthy and happy 2016!

Holidays

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December Town&Gown 2015

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