Town&Gown

  • Happy Valley’s Driverless Future

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    From Penn State labs to Pennsylvania highways, highly autonomous vehicles are moving closer to everyday reality By Angelique Redwood When leaving Happy Valley to visit our neighboring cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, you may find yourself staring into the window of a moving car with an empty driver’s seat. Although it sounds like something from…

  • Barash Award for Human Service Recipients Making a Difference in Centre County

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    The 2025 and 2026 honorees reflect a longstanding tradition of volunteerism, civic engagement, and public service. By Jason C. Klose Created in 1975 by the family of the late Sy Barash, a beloved State College businessman and philanthropist in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Barash Award for Human Service honors a full-time member of the…

  • Bellefonte’s Legacy of Innovation

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    The Cadillac Building By Dustin Elder The community of Bellefonte, nestled in the Alleghenies for more than 200 years, has been a “city upon a hill” for many of America’s movements, innovations and industries. From its beginnings as a hub in the heart of the famed Juniata Iron region and its involvement in America’s largest…

  • Learning Never Retires

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    Brynn Rousselin discusses how Penn State OLLI brings lifelong learners together through education, travel, and community engagement By Mark Brackenbury Brynn Rousselin began her tenure as executive director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State in late 2019, just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic sent everyone home. Not an ideal time…

  • Keeping the Magic Alive Over 60 Years

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    The Enduring Appeal of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts By Holly Riddle Is there any event that defines State College in the summer quite like the Arts Festival? The first event of its kind in Centre County, it has been a staple since 1967, drawing thousands upon thousands of attendees to downtown streets,…

  • The Great Pennsylvania Convenience Store Divide

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    A friendly feud over food, fuel, and fierce loyalty There are debates that shape nations, define generations, and test the strength of friendships. Then there is the question quietly dividing Pennsylvania, one coffee cup, hoagie wrapper, and late-night snack run at a time: Sheetz or Wawa? This is not merely a preference. It’s identity. In…

  • You Might Be Reading the Room Wrong

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    Researcher Laura Feibush explores how people communicate attention through gestures, body language and digital behavior.By Matt Farley According to Laura Feibush, Ph.D., listening is not simply hearing the words someone is speaking; it can also encompass a wide range of physical expressions that reveal how much — or how little — people are paying attention…

  • Function Follows Form

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    How StillHouse Distills Community, Comfort, and Craft in Penns Valley Story and photos by Sherri Jordan and Luciano Sormani In the heart of Spring Mills, a building that once housed a family restaurant and an ice cream shop has been transformed into something entirely new. Yet, for all its fresh ideas, The StillHouse is rooted…

  • Breaking It Down to Shapes

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    Through painting, improv, and teaching, Jackie Gianico champions everyday creativity By Karen Dabney Jackie Gianico believes everyone can be creative. In her “Cheers to Art” sip-and-paint classes at The Arena Bar and Grill, she breaks the painting process down into doable steps and helps people move past any anxiety they have, so they can complete…

  • Keeping Up With the Times

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    As beer trends continue to evolve, you can continue to support your local brewery By Vincent Corso I saw some news the other day that kind of hit me like a ton of bricks — or maybe it was more like a case of beer. Yes, indeed, when I learned that the last batch ever…