Town&Gown

  • Festival Sips of Summer

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    From WingFest to Arts Fest, these local events pair craft beverages with musice, food, and outdoor fun As I write this, I am a little sad. And if you read last month’s column and keep up with the news, you might know why. In May, I wrote about the Hoppy Valley Brewers Festival which was…

  • Happy Valley Hosts Pennsylvania’s First-Ever Outdoor Economy Summit

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    Industry leaders say outdoor recreation is becoming a major force in the commonwealth’s economy The history of Pennsylvania was built upon its vast natural resources. Oil, coal, lumber, and natural gas helped build the nation and enrich those who tapped into them, often leaving behind environmental damage that is felt today. Luckily, thanks to those…

  • Paper Paradise Brings Pennsylvania German Folk Art to Life

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    Penn State exhibit spans three centuries of Fraktur and Schrenschnitte Inspired by the cultural value and beauty of the Pennsylvania German paper arts in the Special Collections Library, two Penn State professors, Julia Spicher Kasdorf and Christopher Reed, decided to plan an exhibit to share these objects with the public. Their exhibit, “Paper Paradise: Three…

  • High Stakes in Happy Valley

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    The Happy Valley Casino is open and so is the debate over what it means for the community There’s something beautifully American about a casino. The lights. The noise. The illusion that maybe — just maybe — tonight is your night. For generations, casinos have sold us the same dream, packaged in different neon colors:…

  • Pageant Perfect

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    The Ms. Pennsylvania Senior America Pageant celebrates “the Age of Elegance,” inspiring women to embrace lifelong learning, transformation, and adventure Several years ago, Tammy Miller, president of Pennsylvania Pink Zone, was going about her normal routine, acting as a sort of self-appointed mascot during the annual Penn State women’s basketball Pink Zone game, at the…

  • Inspiring Change in Happy Valley

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    Inside the Changemaker Collective’s mission to connect, support, and elevate women across Centre County On the final Monday in March, more than two dozen local women gathered on the second floor of the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub in downtown State College. Although their life paths varied, each found themselves in the building’s second-floor Happy…

  • Singing Together with State College Sacred Harp

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    Shape-note singing draws new voices into a powerful shared experience The 200-year-old Early American tradition of shape-note singing is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Singers of all abilities can try this unique folk art at the free, twice-monthly State College Sacred Harp singings held at University Mennonite Church. While the songs have Christian lyrics, everyone…

  • A Family of Traditions

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    Fire and Fig brings the comfort and warmth of familiar Persian dishes to State College To Sara and Sam Cyrus, providing healthy and satisfying meals isn’t just a business, but a way to share their love of food with the world, and to make those they serve feel like a part of the family. We…

  • The Local Legend Who Taught America to Sing

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    Fred Waring’s journey from Central Pennsylvania to radio, television, and American culture In the era of snap orchestras, swing, and the Big Band, one personality rose from the industrial heart of Pennsylvania to captivate audiences across the country and “taught America how to sing”: Fred Waring. When he was born in Tyrone in 1900, Fred…

  • Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest Expands Beyond Beer in Year Three

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    The festival returns with more craft flavors than ever One day a year, Happy Valley goes by Hoppy Valley, as some of the best craft beverage makers in the region and beyond find their way to our lovely town nestled between the mountains for the Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest. Indeed, what a wonderful thing to…