Bill Horlacher
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Renovated Shelter to Help Out of the Cold Offer Hope to People Experiencing Homelessness in Centre County
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I was privileged to attend an open house last week that celebrated the final preparations for Out of the Cold’s permanent overnight shelter. As an occasional supporter, occasional volunteer and perpetual well-wisher for this service to Centre County’s homeless folks, I wanted to see the renovated facility and gauge its potential impact. I wasn’t disappointed.…
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‘Peaceful’ State College Community Makes a Positive Impression on New International Students
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Do you ever feel a trifle insulated from the real world, my fellow Centre Countian? Do you ever feel like you’re out of touch with life across the globe as you’re basking in the luscious greens of our valley and the rousing blues and whites of our university? If so, I’ll offer a tried-and-true solution.…
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Jeff Byers Gives the Inside Scoop on Centre County’s New Sports Radio Station
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I’ve interviewed Jeff Byers at least 10 times over the last decade, mostly to capture insights into the powerhouse Penn State wrestling program. Byers, the team’s broadcaster since 1990, is the ultimate expert on the Nittany Lion dynasty. But until recently, I had never seen Byers randomly; never run into him downtown or on campus.…
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Rare Disease Diagnosis Offers Freedom, Support to Local Family
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Matthew James Campbell entered the world at Centre Community Hospital on October 13, 1972. His parents, Jim and Ellen Campbell, will never forget that date though 50 years have gone by. “Our hearts were overjoyed to begin our family with this firstborn son,” says Ellen. The little boy seemed normal and healthy at first, though…
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New State College Pastor Is a Michigan Man, but His Wife Is True-Blue for Penn State
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People in the State College area will readily take a liking to Nicholas Boonstra, the new senior pastor at Blue Course Community Church. An energetic 35-year-old, he’s brilliant and fun, and he has a lovely wife and three sweet kids, including 8-year old twins. And even though Boonstra is from faraway western Michigan, he’s got…
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Gone 39 Years, Back for 10: An Old-Timer’s View of Today’s Happy Valley
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I’ll never forget my sense of euphoria as I pulled into the Ebensburg Sheetz one day in May of 2013. My excitement was not anything Sheetzy, although I’ll always appreciate the taste of an MTO sandwich or the chance to save some pennies at the pump. No, my excitement on that day 10 years ago…
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Mom of the Year? Susan Strauss Adopted Six Kids in Two Years and Raised Them Well
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Happy Valley restaurants will be filled with Mother’s Day gatherings this Sunday, but no mom will deserve gifts or kind words from her kids any more than Susan Strauss. Strauss first became a mother at the age of 55 when she adopted three children from Ethiopia in early 2010. Then, due to her big heart…
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Harold and Sherren McKenzie: Unity Church Honors Long-Time Leaders Who Have Served Happy Valley
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I’m a big fan of unsung heroes. The kind of people who are more interested in doing the deed than in claiming the credit. Among our area’s most unassuming superstars, Pastor Harold McKenzie and his wife, Sherren, are near the top of my list. Although they are greatly beloved within their congregation, Unity Church of…
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Eggs-actly How Many? Churches Combine to Treat Local Kids with 20,000-Count Egg Hunt
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Maybe it was the largest Easter egg hunt in our community this year, maybe not. I’m sorry to admit I don’t have census statistics for Easter egg hunts in the Centre Region. But I will say this: the two-session egg hunt that was jointly sponsored by a pair of State College churches was certainly the…
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Penn State Wrestling: Jeff Byers Surveys Past Season and Shares NCAA Expectations
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It’s tempting to take Penn State’s wrestling success for granted. Yes, the Lion grapplers have won nine NCAA team titles in the last 11 years when the national tournament was contested. Yes, they’ve captured 32 individual titles over that period. Yes, according to any reasonable definition of “dynasty,” they qualify for use of the “D”…