First Friday — Friday, Oct. 4
October’s First Friday will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, in downtown State College. The monthly event offers art, people-watching, mingling, shopping and food at many downtown State College restaurants. With after-hours access to galleries and shops, free food and drinks, live music, retail and dining specials and more. Free parking will be available in Pugh, Fraser and Beaver parking garages, with validation from participating First Friday merchants.
***
St. John’s Light the World Clothing Bank — Friday, Oct. 4
The Light the World Clothing Bank will be at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Bellefonte from 2:30 to 5 p.m. for one day only on Friday, Oct. 4. There will be free clothing available for everyone from babies to adults in addition to bed and bath linens, winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves.
***
Central Pennsylvania Observers Sky Watch — Friday, Oct. 4
The Central Pennsylvania Observers invites guests to view the skies through telescopes at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, at Circleville Park in State College. Participants will have the opportunity to see planets, stars and more. All are welcome to the free event. This month’s event is only a few days after the new moon.
***
East Penns Valley Library at Dutch Fall Festival — Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6
The East Penns Valley Library will be selling soups, books and baked goods to support the library from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, as part of the Dutch Fall Festival in Aaronsburg. The East Penns Valley Library will be located in the Old Country Store along with the Aaronsburg Civic Center.
***
Knit Wits — Monday, Oct. 7
Members of the community are invited to bring their knitting or crocheting projects from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, at the Holt Memorial Library in Philipsburg. All skill levels are welcome to join Knit Wits. There is no set project, so guests are asked to bring what they are currently working on.
***
Nittany Valley Writers Network Meeting — Tuesday, Oct. 8
The Nittany Valley Writers Network is hosting its second “Local Resources for Writers” event at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the Community Room of the Schlow Centre Region Library in State College. Head of Adult Services for the library and librarian, Maria Kenney Burchill, will lead a discussion sharing programs and resources the library has to offer for local authors as well as how to get your book in the library’s collection. The State College native has worked at Schlow since she was a teen and with more than 30 years of library experience, Burchill will share observations about the current state of publishing. The event is free and open to the public.
***
Bird Walks with The State College Bird Club — Tuesday, Oct. 8
The State College Bird Club is inviting participants to start off their day observing local birds from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center in State College. The bird walks are guided by members of the State College Bird Club and are open to all ages. Guests are asked to dress weather-ready and bring binoculars. The program is free but a donation of $5 per participant is encouraged and supports Millbrook Marsh Nature Center.
***
‘Honor Our Veterans’ Mural Dedication — Tuesday, Oct. 8
There will be an official dedication of the “Honor Our Veterans” mural at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Louis Jenkins Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3450 in Philipsburg. In addition to the mural dedication, a check will be presented by officials from the County National Bank and the Philipsburg VFW. The mural project, spearheaded by Philipsburg native and former state representative Lynn Herman, has been in the works over the past year.
***
Centre Pieces Quilt Guild Evening Meeting — Tuesday, Oct. 8
The Centre Pieces Quilt Guild is hosting its monthly evening meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Blue Course Community Church in State College. Barb Zeger will present how to make a potato chip quilt. Guests are invited to come out for an evening of fun and a chance to meet other quilters and learn about Centre Pieces Quilt Guild. More information can be found online at centrepiecesguild.org.
***
Central PA Civil War Round Table — Tuesday, Oct. 8
The Central PA Civil War Round Table is meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the auditorium of the PA Military Museum in Boalsburg. At this round table event, Fergus Bordewich will be presenting “Ulysses S, Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction,” sharing how the KKK got its start, went on to become a “national disgrace” and how former President Grant attacked these issues.
***
Communicating with Someone Living with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias — Tuesday, Oct. 8
The Adult Children of Aging Parents Centre County is offering a free monthly education program at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Centre Region Active Adult Center in State College’s Nittany Mall. The topic this month is “Communicating with Someone Living with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias.” The discussion will guide participants through the changes in language skills and how to connect through gestures, behaviors and sensory cues. To register for the event, visit acapcommunity.org/centrecounty or email centrecounty.acap@gmail.com.
***
State College Women’s Welcome Club General Meeting — Wednesday, Oct. 8
The State College Women’s Welcome Club is hosting a general meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Port Matilda. The State College Women’s Welcome Club is for women 21 years old or older in the Centre Region and other nearby areas. The club is open to all long-time residents and newcomers. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there will be finger food and socializing. Also at the event, a guest speaker will lead a discussion on feeling safer using cellphones and computers. Guests are encouraged to come wearing a Halloween costume.
***
Global Implications of the US Presidential Election — Wednesday, Oct. 9
The Penn State School of International Affairs is hosting a panel to discuss the upcoming U.S. presidential election and how it’ll affect international politics. The event is from 4 to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, in the Sutliff Auditorium in University Park’s Lewis Katz Building. Registration for the program is required and can be found online at sia.psu.edu/events/global-implications-2024-election. The panel will feature four SIA professors examining the election through an international lens. Questions from the audience are encouraged.
***
Life Recovery Meeting — Thursday, Oct. 10
There will be a Life Recovery Meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Access Church in State College. The group will go over the 12 steps of recovery, a set of biblical principles in substance use disorder treatment that outlines a plan of action for taking on drug and/or alcohol addiction.
If you would like to see your event featured on The Gazette’s Community Calendar, email dblake@centrecountygazette.com.
