Bill Horlacher
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A Townie Who Became a Trustee: Alvin de Levie Opens Up on Town and Gown Issues
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Alvin de Levie is a member of a growing local subculture that I call “RTRTs.” Yes, like me and so many others, Alvin was raised as a townie and is now a returned townie. Having graduated from State High in 1969 and Penn State in 1973, de Levie studied law at Villanova University and then…
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Joyce Porter, Mother of 14, Is My Pick for Happy Valley’s Mom of the Year
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She has a zest for life that exceeds anyone else that I know, an energy level that would be impressive for a woman 30 years younger. How to describe her approach to life? I simply can’t avoid a pun that makes a point: “Joyce de vivre.” Only a remarkable woman could raise 14 kids—nine biological and five…
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Discovery Space Offers Undiscovered Opportunities to Benefit All Ages
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Having seen the kid-friendly logo of “Discovery Space” on the building’s stone façade, I assumed I knew what was happening on the inside of 1224 N. Atherton St. What else could it be but a place where children enjoy hands-on learning? Well, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Fortunately, Alvin de Levie, a good…
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Penn State Wrestling: Jeff Byers Offers His Pre-NCAA Predictions, Plaudits & Perspectives
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If you think of Penn State wrestling from an audio perspective, it’s all about the radio voice of Jeff Byers. For the last 33 years, Byers has offered ecstatic appreciation for Nittany Lion successes while also being undeniably fair toward the opposition. Raised in the State College area, “Ironhead” loves Penn State, but it’s quite possible…
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Settled in Happy Valley, Stefen Wisniewski Shares Super Bowl Memories and His Love for State College
in Columns, Community, Local & Penn State Sports, Local News, Penn State Football, Penn State Sports—
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If you want to hear someone describe the thrill of playing in a Super Bowl, I recommend you talk to fellow Happy Valley resident Stefen Wisniewski. The former Penn State offensive lineman participated in last year’s NFL championship game, and although it’s not his favorite topic, he can talk about that defeat of his Kansas…
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Front Yard Mission Promotes Neighborly Bonds and Holiday Cheer
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It’s almost 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. The sun is setting and the temperature is dropping, but energy is beginning to build in a Park Forest cul-de-sac. Neighbors of all sorts — senior citizens, 30-somethings, kids and dogs — are making their way to the end of Douglass Drive for a holiday celebration. Tables…
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Penn State or Iowa? Jeff Byers Offers Predictions for College Wrestling Season
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It’s all about Iowa vs. Penn State. And, no, this isn’t another rehash of a painful football defeat. Rather, it’s a look forward to the 2022 NCAA Wrestling Championships where all the mat metrics point to a battle between the Hawkeyes and the Nittany Lions. Iowa, of course, won last year’s team championship over Penn…
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Still Celebrating 50 Years After Finding Purpose and Hope on the HUB Lawn
in Columns—
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Few Happy Valley residents had reason to circle September 29, 1971 on their calendars. It was an ordinary Wednesday with unremarkable weather that produced little in the way of headlines. Only the Pittsburgh Pirates made big news by starting their game with a history-making lineup of nine Black players. For me, however, that day stands…
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Lamentations & Vaccinations: Pastor Dan Nold Offers Perspective for Tough Times
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I don’t know anyone better qualified than Pastor Dan Nold to offer helpful insights to Happy Valley residents who have struggled during 2020 and 2021. Nold holds both a master’s degree and a doctorate from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He’s one of our community’s most senior pastors, having led Calvary Church for more…
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James Loses to Ben in Battle of Franklins but Happy Valley Wins Big with International Students
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You’ve seen them wandering around the community in recent weeks. Maybe you’ve offered them some guidance or a kind word of welcome. More than a thousand new international students from scores of nations have arrived for study at Penn State. But what are they thinking after arriving from countries as diverse as China, India and…