Last week, I had the opportunity to do something I haven’t done in 25 years. I got to eat cafeteria food, off of a cafeteria tray, in a middle school cafeteria. Pizza, pierogis and a kielbasa sandwich with sauerkraut.
I was back in my old stomping grounds of Philipsburg to talk to some of the good folk there about the community. For those who don’t know, I reported on Philipsburg and the surrounding area as the editor of a 10,000- circulation weekly newspaper. Through that experience, I was able to make some good friends in the Moshannon Valley, and fortunately, on March 9, I was able to visit with some of my favorite people talking about their favorite things — the community.
After a quick and unhealthy, yet tasty, breakfast at the local McDonald’s, I headed out. First stop was Cold Stream Dam.
This has been, and always will be, one of my favorite places in Philipsburg. I am too young, if you can believe that, to remember when there was swimming at the dam. But, I have tossed many a fishing line into it, as well as the streams leading into it, hoping to land that lunker. I never did.
The breast of the dam was recently replaced and the spillway was redesigned, making the area safe again for the visiting public.
The Fish and Boat Commission has already committed to stocking trout in the dam for the first day of the season. It will be nice to again drive by and see families along the shore, lines in, or picnicking or playing in the adjacent playground. There’s plenty of hiking trails in the area as well.
The dam is one of those little gems that everyone knows about, yet is little utilized. I hope with the new construction, more people will visit the park this summer.
My adventure took me back into the downtown and I had the opportunity to stop at state Rep. Scott Conklin’s office. He wasn’t there, but I wasn’t planning on seeing him; I wanted to chat with Catherine Parko-Hayes. She has kept the representative straight since he took office.
Parko-Hayes always seems to have the scoop. Maybe it’s because of her close ties with the community. After all, she was the P-O school board president for a number of years. She hears it all, and I was always glad to be her sounding board.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have the ‘scoop’ for me on that day, but the visit was well worth it. It was nice seeing her smile again.
I took some time to visit some Front Street merchants. It was nice to hear Brandi McGarvey from Thieves’ Market and the Country Peddlers say that business was going well.
‘I think I had my best January ever this year,’ she said.
McGarvey’s store includes more than 30 consignment businesses, and if you are looking for that unique gift, this is definitely the place to stop. From candles and jewelry to furniture and everyday use items, Thieves’ Market seems to have it all — and, a passionate and dedicated owner.
McGarvey talked about the economy of Front Street and the direction she thinks it’s going. She said foot traffic has increased over the last few years, and already, her numbers are looking good as she enters the second quarter of 2017.
My next stop wasn’t so encouraging. I visited Ron Rothrock at Rothrock’s Clothing on Front Street. The business has been a staple of the downtown community for 43 years. I was saddened by Rothrock’s take on the outlook for the downtown.
‘I’m just dead,’ he said. ‘I haven’t had a customer yet today and I only had three yesterday. It’s about time I call it quits I think.’
Saddened, yet not dismayed, I made a stop at Professional Satellite Repair. I was looking for Theresa Thompson to talk to her about her unique clothing store, Diva’s Bling Boutique. She was heading to the dentist when I stopped, but I was able to run into her significant other, Brian Hoopsick, owner of PSR.
He said, like McGarvey, that he has noticed more foot traffic in the downtown community, and I was happy to hear that again.
Although his business does have people coming in off the streets for electronic repair and such, the majority of his business is contracted.
As my tummy started to growl, I made my way to the P-O Middle School, where I was able to sit down with Superintendent Gregg Paladina for an in-depth discussion on the state of the P-O school district, and I must say, I was impressed.
When I attended P-O, I wasn’t interested in the politics of the school. I don’t even know who the superintendent was when I attended classes there.
But, just listening to Paladina talk about the district showed me this man has a passion for his work, and a lot of care in his heart for the students that learn there. He explained the financial success of the school, as well as the academic successes and the facility improvement projects so desperately needed in the district.
The visit with Paladina was enlightening, but my belly was still growling. It was time to head to the cafeteria. There, I was able to see students who came through the Little League. I umpire during the spring and early summer, so I get to know these kids pretty well.
It was nice walking through the cafeteria, hearing the kids shout my name and raising my hand to slap ‘high fives’ to the students I passed. I’ll see many of them soon on the baseball field again.
After my yummy lunch, I made my way to the Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership where I met with Stan LaFuria, the executive director. I’ve known this man for nearly two decades, and every time we talk, there’s nothing but positive remarks that come from his mouth.
He’s also a fan of the fight game, so when not talking economics, we can easily talk about fists and knees.
He explained the economic situation of the area in detail, and I must say, I left that conversation with some high expectations for the future of the Philipsburg area. I can’t wait to watch as new businesses and industries decide to make the Moshannon Valley their home, as well as watch the existing businesses thrive. We have the tools. We have the workers. We have the will.
My day ended with a stop at the Philipsburg Super Bowl, formerly the Moshannon Valley Super Bowl. I was able to talk with owners Paul Brimmeier and Jake Genna, and they told me of how they purchased the building simply for the need for space for their other business, Genna Ice. But, once they purchased the building, the dedication they put into their ice business, as well as the local beer distributor, transferred flawlessly into their bowling adventure.
They have plans — big plans — for the bowling center. They don’t want to be known as a bowling alley, but rather a family bowling center, offering several of activities outside of bowling.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make all the stops I wanted to. I wasn’t able to catch up with my good buddy Chuck Navasky, and I’m still kicking myself because I didn’t stop at the YMCA to talk to the most special lady in the world, Judy Sinclair.
I wanted to visit my old elementary school in Osceola Mills and go see some of my friends in the local government offices, but time ran short on me. And, that’s OK.
That just means I’ll have to figure out another day where I can spend some time in Philipsburg to talk to the good people of the community most close to my heart.
G. Kerry Webster is assistant editor of the Centre County Gazette.
