Inside: Palmer Museum turns 40 • Local runners help CVIM
APRIL 2012
FREE
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Let’s Get to
Work! Actually, Bill O’Brien has been hard at work in his first three months as Penn State’s new head football coach. And the results so far have been impressive
IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOWN
Witness the world premiere of Transit Space, a dance theatre work inspired by skateboard culture.
D I AV O L O
Jacques Heim, artistic director The program also includes Fearful Symmetries, which explores the parallel between mathematics and the human soul.
7:30 p.m. April 19 • Eisenhower Auditorium A variety of free events related to DIAVOLO and Penn State’s Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program, The Secret Life of Public Spaces, take place in the week before the April 19 performance. Go to www.cpa.psu.edu/events/diav.html for details.
863-0255 • www.cpa.psu.edu • 1-800-ARTS-TIX
Angela Weiss
On sale now!
sponsor
Lynn Sidehamer Brown
This project is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
College of Arts and Architecture
C E N T E R F O R T H E P E R F O R M I N G A R T S AT P E N N S TAT E
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35
54
35
Back-to-Back! Penn State’s wrestling team rolls to its second consecutive national championship
40
Right Man for the Moment While Bill O’Brien’s hiring as Penn State’s head football coach initially caused some controversy in the Nittany Nation, those who know him believe that there is probably no one better prepared to take on the position and lead the Lions • by Frank Bodani
48
Fabulous at 40! The Palmer Museum of Art looks back on four decades of change, growth, and becoming a venue for all to enjoy • by Carolyne Meehan
54
Traditions No More Through its proud and tradition-rich history, Penn State has seen many of its most popular customs come and go • by Curtis Chan
74
Sci-Fi Scares Author Daryl Gregory has worked hard to set himself apart in the science-fiction genre with his strong characters who may not be human but deal with human concerns • by Jennifer Babulsky
Special Advertising Section
8 10 24 26 28 30
Letter From The Editor Starting Off On Center: Diavolo About Town: Making movie magic Community: Local runners help CVIM Health & Wellness: New treatments
for prostate cancer now offered locally 81 82
84 87 95 97
This Month on WPSU Penn State Diary: Student
gatherings have important place in school’s history Events: Happy Valley ’s Got Talent returns What’s Happening From the Vine: White wines Taste of the Month/Dining Out:
Salads 109 114 116
Lunch with Mimi: Howard Long State College Photo Club’s Photos of the Month Snapshot: Don Hahn
Cover Photo: Darren Weimert
63
Men in the Community Town&Gown’s ninth annual edition of profiling some of the outstanding men who serve this region.
Town&Gown is published monthly by Barash Publications, 403 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801. Advertising is subject to approval of the publisher. COPYRIGHT 2012 by Barash Media. All rights reserved. Send address changes to Town&Gown, Box 77, State College, PA 16804. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any process except with written authorization from Town&Gown or its publisher. Phone: 800-326-9584, 814-238-5051. FAX: 814-238-3415. Printed by Gazette Printers, Indiana, PA. 20,000 copies published this month, available FREE in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and motels & travel depots. SUBSCRIPTIONS and SINGLE COPIES: $45/1yr; current issue by 1st-class mail, $10; back copy, $15 mailed, $12 picked up at the T&G office. www.townandgown.com
5 - Town&Gown April 2012
Town&Gown April 12
A State College & Penn State tradition since 1966.
Publisher Rob Schmidt Founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith Editorial Director David Pencek Creative Director/Photographer John Hovenstine Operations Manager/Assistant Editor Vilma Shu Danz Graphic Designer/Photographer Darren Weimert Graphic Designer Amy Schmalz Account Executives Kathy George, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello 0% ion 10 sfact tee i ran t a S Gua
Advertising Coordinator Bikem Oskin
Doug Moerschbacher
Administrative Assistant Gigi Rudella Distribution Handy Delivery, Ginny Gilbert, Tom Neff
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To contact us: Mail: 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801 Phone: (814) 238-5051, (800) 326-9584 Fax: (814) 238-3415 dpenc@barashmedia.com (Editorial) rschmidt@barashmedia.com (Advertising) We welcome letters to the editor that include a phone number for verification.
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Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn State’s Pattee Library.
www.townandgown.com
6 - Town&Gown April 2012
SETTING THE PACE FOR THE REGION
Meet our new managing shareholder An experienced law firm requires experienced leadership. That’s why we chose John Snyder as our managing shareholder. He’s been a civil litigator for the past two decades, with an emphasis on employment and commercial litigation. A State High and Penn State alumnus, he earned his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law and then returned to his native State College in 1992, when he joined McQuaide Blasko. He’s dedicated to his law firm, his clients, and his community. For 90 years, McQuaide Blasko has been serving clients throughout the region. Contact John Snyder or one of more than 30 other McQuaide Blasko attorneys for sound advice on a full range of legal matters.
Experience. Integrity. Results. STATE COLLEGE 814.238.4926
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letter from the editor
A Positive First Impression In just a short time, Bill O’Brien has made his hiring at Penn State seem like a natural one He hasn’t coached a game yet as a head coach let alone win one — which puts him just a little bit behind Joe Paterno — but in the three months that Bill O’Brien has been Penn State’s head football coach he’s already had an impact. The “Who’s he” and “Why him” questions — that many of those in the Nittany Nation were asking when he was announced as Paterno’s successor — have turned into affectionate chants of his name and standing ovations for him at sporting events, and maybe even a new question — “Urban who?”— in reference to Ohio State’s new head coach who was once rumored to be Paterno’s possible successor. Granted, O’Brien’s time at Penn State will ultimately be judged by what happens each year between September and early January, but few could argue that when it comes to his first months on the job he has basically done everything right. Just two months after charges were brought against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, O’Brien set a positive tone in his first press conference by saying, “We are here now with you. You should be proud of Penn State’s numerous accomplishments.You should be proud of Penn State’s football program. You should love this school. You are why we want to be here.” From there, he has been seen cheering Penn State teams at several athletic events, even talking to the crowd and taking time to pose for photos whenever fans asked him. He’s been accessible to the media
Fore!
and allowed them to watch player workouts. And, he’s been receiving verbal commitments from some of the top high school players in the country. None of this is surprising to people who have known O’Brien over the years. In Frank Bodani’s story “Right Man for the Moment,” some who know O’Brien best talk about a confident but not egodriven man — a man who is loyal to his friends and seems to have a good perspective on everything. None of this should be surprising, either, given Penn State’s recent coaching hires, especially in some of its higher-profile positions. While the athletic department has certainly been rocked by the allegations against Sandusky, it is the athletic department and some of its newest members — women’s basketball head coach Coquese Washington, wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson, and men’s basketball head coach Patrick Chambers — who are playing a part in the healing process both for what their teams are doing on the court/mat and for their attitude and actions away from the competition. O’Brien is the latest and, without question, has the largest spotlight and most pressure on him. But based on initial impressions, he’s become a welcome member of the Penn State family — and the Nittany Nation can feel better about the football program being in good hands.
David Pencek Editorial Director dpenc@barashmedia.com
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What’s
New ClearWater Conservancy earns accreditation
ClearWater Conservancy was awarded accredited status by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. ClearWater is now one of 158 land trusts in the country that have been awarded accreditation since fall of 2008. “Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever,” commission executive director Tammara Van Ryn said. Accredited land trusts are able to display a seal indicating that they meet national standards of excellence, uphold the public trust, and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. “The two and a half years we took to assess our organization and prepare our accreditation application made our organization stronger and more focused going forward,” said ClearWater conservation easement manager Bill Hilshey, who led the accreditation effort. He and executive director Jennifer Shuey will attend the Land Trust Rally in Salt Lake City in the fall.
Groundbreaking for ice arena set for April 20 The official groundbreaking ceremony for Pegula Ice Arena will take place April 20 at the
A rendering of the Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The arena, which will be home to Penn State’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, is scheduled for completion in September 2013. Construction on the arena began in early February. “Pegula Ice Arena will be a first-rate facility that will provide wonderful opportunities for the Centre County region,” men’s hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky said. “April’s ceremony will be a great opportunity to celebrate the construction process and all the people who made it possible.” The ceremony will be attended by Gadowsky, women’s hockey head coach Josh Brandwene, university president Rodney Erickson, acting director of athletics Dave Joyner, a member of the university’s board of trustees, Terrence and Kim Pegula (whose $88 million gift paved the way for the arena that will carry their name), and associate athletic director for ice arena and hockey development Joe Battista.
Board of trustees changes structure At its meeting in March, Penn State’s board of trustees voted to amend its bylaws and standing orders to reflect changes in its committee structure. “This new structure will enable us to better develop a long-range strategy for the university, in addition to addressing current needs,” chairman Karen Peetz said. The changes replace three standing committees on educational policy, campus environment, and finance and physical plant with five new committees — academic affairs and student life; finance, business, and capital planning; governance and long-range planning; audit, risk, legal, and compliance; and outreach, development, and community relations. Committees consist of at least six appointed members in addition to ex-officio members. T&G
10 - Town&Gown April 2012
743 McKee Street
109 Creekside Lane
3161 Halfmoon Valley Road
MLS # 35508 $529,000
Ne w
Pri
ce
355 Johnson Road
MLS # 35333 $650,000
MLS # 35657 $475,000
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• 5 bedroom • 2.5 baths • Renovated
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625 Severn Drive
1604 Woodledge Circle
3 Fredericksburg Court
644 Exeter Court
MLS # 35671 $124,900
MLS # 35504 $369,900
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• 4 bedrooms • 2980 sq feet • Central Air
119 Winchester Court
910 Fairmount Avenue
MLS # 35022 $559,000
• 4 bedrooms • 3226 sq feet • 10.8 acres
MLS # 35458 $319,000
MLS # 34736 $245,000
• 4 bedrooms • 2.5 baths • Hardwood Floors
• 3 bedrooms • Carport • 2839 sq ft
2633 Penbrook Lane
4807 W Whitehall Road
ce Pri w Ne
Ne
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Pri
Pri
ce
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131 W High St
157 Rosehill Dr Sale Pending
MLS # 35756 $259,900
MLS # 35459 $187,500
• 3 bedrooms • 2 baths • Open Design
• 3 bedrooms • 2 baths • 1.7 acres
• 3 bedrooms • 2.5 baths • 1542 square feet
201 Elmwood Street
264 Kathy Street
550 Brittany Drive
Lot 4 Stoney Point Drive
MLS # 34075 $1800/mo
MLS # 35769 $189,900
MLS # 35724 $375,000 • 4 bedrooms • 2.5 baths • Walkout Lower Level
MLS # 34749 $139,000
MLS # 35198 $339,000
MLS # 24705 $145,000
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Lot 6 & 7 - 169 Bible Road
430 Shiloh Road
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202-212D E College Ave
161 Rosehill Dr Sale Pending
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206 Water Street 529 E Irvin Ave
Pri
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1140 Kathryn Street
MLS # 33131 $314,900 • 4 bedrooms • 3 baths • 1st floor master
MLS # 34925 $99,900 • 4 bedroom on Bald Eagle Creek
Ne w
Sale Pending
MLS # 33434 $240,000
MLS # 27644 $239,000
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Tom’s Cell: (814) 574-4345 Ellen’s Cell: (814) 280-2088 Bob’s Cell: (814) 574-0293 Bob Langton Associate to Tom Cali Ellen Kline
11 - Town&Gown Town&Gown & April 2012
cali.kline@gmail.com • www.statecollegeliving.com
People in the
Community
The 2011 CBICC Award Recipients: first row (from left), Denise McCann, Youth Service Bureau; Crystal Henry, Home Instead Senior Care; Edie Binkley, Clothes Mentor; Tom Kearney, West Penn Power; and Kym and Bruce Burke, One on One, Fitness Consultants, Inc. Back row (from left), Ed Marflak, Schoolwires, Inc.; Fran Stevenson, Kish Bank; Scott and Mary Ann Bubb, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars; and Georgia Abbey, Leadership Centre County.
CBICC Award Recipients
At its annual awards gala in March, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC) announced its 2011 CBICC Award Recipients. The winners were: Community Service Award: Georgia Abbey, Leadership Centre County. Corporate Philanthropy Award: One on One Fitness Consultants, Inc. Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award: Edie Binkley, Clothes Mentor. Outstanding CBICC Volunteer of the Year Award: Tom Kearney, West Penn Power. Outstanding Technology Company of the Year Award: Schoolwires, Inc. CBICC Ambassador of the Year Award: Crystal Henry, Home Instead Senior Care. Quality of Life Award: Youth Service Bureau. CBICC Spirit Award: Frances Stevenson, Kish Bank. Small Business of the Year Award: Seven Mountains Wine Cellars.
Penn State Student Awards
Penn State honored 26 students at its annual student-awards ceremony in March. Each year, the university honors undergraduate and graduate students for the highest levels of academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and meritorious service. This year’s winners were: Student Achievement Awards: Leah Matusow and Marcellus Taylor (Ralph Dorn Hetzel Memorial Award); Miguel Pineda and Erin Thomas (Ernest B. McCoy Memorial Award); Shruthi Baskaran and Rachel Dzombak (W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award); Jeremy LaMaster and Jinghua Lio (Jackson Lethbridge Tolerance Award); Natalie Ettl-athletics, James Baker-creative/performing arts, Adam Fracassijournalism, Erin Collins-scholarship, and Peter Khoury-social services (John W. Oswald Award); Ce Zhang (Eric A. Walker Award). The Graduate School: Jonathan Lozano (Graduate Student Service Award); Serge Ballif, Brandy Brown, Aaron Heresco, Nicole Laliberte, Gregory Lankenau, Alexandra Nutter-Smith, Sara Roser-Jones, Sarah Salter, Christopher Schulte, and April Woolnough (Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Awards); Emily Smith Greenaway (W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Graduate Award). T&G 12 - Town&Gown April 2012
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Q&A
with Eileen Wise of Smart Start Centre County By Sarah Harteis
In 2001, an organization called Smart Start Centre County was created in order to engage parents, educators, business professionals, civic leaders, and legislators in understanding the critical importance of investing in the health, care, and education of young children. Eileen Wise joined Smart Start in 2003 as a volunteer shortly after moving to State College from Sarasota, Florida. Seven years ago, after serving for a few years on one of Smart Start’s action committees, she became the executive director. She talked with Town&Gown about what Smart Start does and how it has been helping children for more than 10 years. T&G: What has been the biggest accomplishment of Smart Start Centre County? Wise: Our biggest accomplishment to date has been to help adults interact with young children in healthy ways. We’ve done this through Smart Start-created parenting resources, public
events such as Countdown to Kindergarten, the Children’s Art Show, and the One Book project, and through educational workshops such as the Early Childhood Mental Health Speaker Series. T&G: In what ways can the community get involved? Wise: We depend on community volunteers to plan and develop parent resources, serve on our board and committees, and assist at public events and workshops. The biggest way the community can help is to give young children a voice. They can do this by becoming a champion for children and advocating for public and private investments in young children’s health and early education. T&G: Tell me a little bit about the children’s art show in April. Wise: Art created by young children in local early education programs will be on display in the lobby of the State College Municipal Building throughout the month of April. Teachers at Bennett Family Center and the former Child Development Lab [now the Child Care Center at Hort Woods] collect and hang the art. Everyone is welcome! T&G: What other events or projects is Smart Start currently working on? Wise: We have a lot going on in the spring. We support early literacy through the PA One Book project. We have purchased 400 copies of the book Stop Snoring, Bernard by Zachariah O’Hora, and we will be mailing them along with a study guide to classrooms of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds throughout Centre County. We have gathered a group of parents who meet to share their stories and make suggestions to help us better serve the needs of families. This parent advisory group welcomes new families. T&G “Brian was very thorough in designing and installing my front walk. It looks beautiful and was very professionally done. He paid attention to detail and ensured I was happy with this project. I would highly recommend him.” – Nancy M.
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• Specializing in off-site catering & pick up orders including football tailgates on Saturdays.
In “School Libraries: The Happy Media,” Town&Gown looked at how libraries were changing and becoming more than just a place to take out books. “The term ‘library’ has become interchangeable with ‘Learning Resource Center’ or ‘Media Center’ or ‘Instructional Materials Center,’ and some librarians are instructional media specialists.”
1993
“Field of Dreams” told the story of the Beta Sigma Beta Sy Barash Regatta that raised money for the American Cancer Society. The regatta had raised more than $500,000 since it began in 1975. “The regatta honors Sy Barash, a past president of Beta Sig and an alumnus who died in 1975 after a two-year battle with lung cancer,” regatta chair Jeff Jubelirer said. “The regatta, as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, was his dream, but he died before his dream became a reality. The fraternity stepped in, organizing the first regatta in 1975.”
2009
• Rent Celebration Hall for banquets and conferences. • New! Special order cakes and other bakery items.
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“Fishing Paradise” spotlighted the great fishing waters that are found in Spruce Creek. The creek has attracted presidents, cabinet secretaries, and Oscar-nominated actors. Fisherman Wayne Harpster, an avid fisherman whose farm is near Spruce Creek said, “The casting is easy. The fish are hard to catch. You have to learn to read the water, and to realize the different fly hatches and use different tippets at different times. And if you learn to do all this, then you’re equipped to fish anywhere.” T&G
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This Month On townandgown.com • In 5 Questions, playwright Anthony Clarvoe discusses his new play Gizmo, which Penn State Centre Stage is running in April at the Playhouse Theatre. • Top things to look for at this year’s Blue-White Game. • Special salad offers and recipes from local restaurants. • More What’s Happening listings, and sign up for Town&Gown’s monthly e-newsletter. Anthony Clarvoe
And visit our Facebook site for the latest happenings and opportunities to win free tickets to concerts and events!
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Chamber Membership Benefits Your Business and Your Community
CBICC to Host Trip to China The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County is launching its international travel program by offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore exciting destinations in beautiful China. The trip, which is open to the public, is a nine-day adventure departing from JFK Airport on October 19 and returning October 27. The CBICC is working with Citslinc International, Inc. to provide this travel opportunity at an unbelievably affordable rate of $2,199, which includes round-trip international airfare, four- and five-star hotels, three meals a day, all in-country transportation, English-speaking tour guides, and transportation from State College to JFK. Citslinc International, Inc. has worked with more than 800 chambers of commerce in North America (49 states in the USA and some provinces in Canada) and sends more than 20,000 chamber passengers to China annually. A free, no obligation information meeting for anyone interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 3 at Hoag’s Celebration Hall. A representative from Citslinc will be there to provide an overview of the trip and answer any questions you might have. Please reserve your space at the information session by visiting the CBICC’s Web site at www.cbicc.org/china.aspx or by calling Jean Gerber, CBICC vice president of chamber operations, at (814) 234-1829.
Oct. 19-27, 2012
Chamber of Business & Industr y of Centre Count y Join the CBICC for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore exciting destinations in this beautiful and mysterious land! To learn more, please join us at a free, no obligation information session to be held on April 3, 2012 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Hoag’s Celebration Hall. To register for this session, call the CBICC at (814) 234-1829 or visit our website at http://www.cbicc.org/china.aspx This trip to open to the general public 20 - Town&Gown April 2012
Captain/Sponsor Reception, Thursday, May 31
Individual tickets availalble
16th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament Friday, June 1st
at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Courses • One of the top golf events of the season in Pennsylvania • Morning and Afternoon tee times available • More than 350 golfers participate annually • Great participation gifts and competition prizes • All the food you can eat on and off the course • Penn State coaches, former stars, and captains from across the sports world participate • Signature event for Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer organization which has raised more than $1.7 million to fight cancer.
www.cvcpennstate.org
PENN STATE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION The Penn State Federal Credit Union has come a long way since a few volunteers began operations in Lawrence and Rose Marriott’s dining room in 1959, and it hopes to be around for years to come, says Connie Wheeler, CEO. Credit unions are cooperative financial institutions that put people first and innovate to meet people’s needs. All Penn State Federal Credit Union employees are members, there are no stockholders, and every member is an owner of the credit union. This year is the International Year of Cooperatives in recognition of the unique role they play in social and economic development.
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“Credit unions are financial institutions where members help members. Penn State Federal Credit Union provides financial services in a place that the members own,” says Wheeler. The Penn State Federal Credit Union has locations in Bellefonte, State College, and on the Penn State campus. All Penn State students, faculty, and affiliates are eligible to open a membership savings account with a minimum deposit of $5. Penn State Federal Credit Union offers a full range of financial services. Wheeler says that the goal is to keep moving forward and work with members in providing financial services in ways that they like. The mission remains the same — “members helping members in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of their lives,” she says. “We started in order to help people — we’re still helping people, and that’s what we’ll do in the future.”
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on center
Transit Space Cadets Penn State students collaborate with Diavolo choreographer to create dance By John Mark Rafacz
When Diavolo dance theatre of Los Angeles performs the world premiere of Transit Space at Eisenhower Auditorium on April 19, a number of Penn State students will be in the audience. Some will be more than observers. Diavolo artistic director Jacques Heim created Transit Space, a work co-commissioned by the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, with the help of 10 university students who traveled to Los Angeles in June 2011 as part of a Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program collaboration called The Secret Life of Public Spaces. “The Penn State students participated in the intensive process that led directly into the company’s choreography,” says Jones Welsh, Diavolo associate artistic director. The students from Penn State quickly learned that Diavolo training is rigorous. Cristina Pesce, a kinesiology major who minors in dance, recalls that she and other participating students would run together to get in shape for the 10 days in Los Angeles. “But you can’t really prepare for the things that they threw at us,” she says. Welsh says, “We train them as if they’re going to be on stage and be performing our work as a company. They were very into the project. They were very interested in getting up there and trying things.” Heim, who has also come to University Park to work with students, says the Penn Staters were instrumental in changing his thinking about Transit Space, which was conceived as a 10- to 15-minute work inspired by skateboard culture. It’s grown to be 30 to 40 minutes long. “Now it’s basically one act by itself,” Heim says. “And that seed started with the Penn State dance students, and the Penn State architecture and landscape [architecture] students, coming to the Diavolo space and starting to brew the pot and starting to add elements to it. [They] basically opened my mind, and I realized, Wow! this is something not as small as we thought!” The French-born Heim, who founded the troupe in 1992, guides his 10 performers in collaboratively developing work on oversized sur-
Fearful Symmetries is one of the dance pieces the Diavolo dance theatre will perform when it visits Eisenhower Auditorium April 19.
realistic sets and everyday structures. “Somebody like Jacques brings such a big world to the students that the impact is huge in so many ways,” says Elisha Clark Halpin, associate professor of theatre and head of dance training at Penn State. “He’s intense in every way. He’s kicked their butts. He’s inspired them. He’s scared them. I think it’s been really great. The dancers in Diavolo are so strong,” she says. “For the kids to sort of see that this is a possibility in terms of what they can do after college, I think is really important, too.” The program at Eisenhower also includes Diavolo’s Fearful Symmetries, which starts and ends with a cube illuminating the parallel between mathematics and the human soul. T&G Lynn Sidehamer Brown sponsors the presentation. This project is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Creative Campus Innovations Grant Program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Audio description, which is especially helpful to patrons with sight loss, is available for this performance at no extra charge to ticket holders. Additionally, Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring a visiting artist or local expert, is offered in Eisenhower one hour before the performance. For tickets or information, visit www.cpa.psu.edu or phone (814) 863-0255. John Mark Rafacz is the editorial manager of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State.
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about town
Making Movie Magic
Projectionists play the final part in bringing films to the big screen
Filmgoers — as I’m one of them — get comfortable and then lose themselves in what materializes on screen. They rarely think about the person who turns on the projector. The most senior of those invisible people is probably John Guss of Boalsburg. He has been one of the two projectionists at the State Theatre in State College since it reopened at the end of 2006. In fact, these are the latest of his 40 years at The State. Guss started in the 1970s, when the 1938 theater was solely a commercial movie house — long before it became the nonprofit community stage for local and touring performers, with an Upstairs Studio for live drama. It now screens exceptional new films, classics, and simulcasts — particularly by the Metropolitan Opera (Manon and La Traviata on John Guss has spent decades as a projectionist at the April 7 and April 14, respectively, conclude State Theatre and other local movie houses. this season). A professional, Guss is dedicated to not making zenon lamps. Old projectors used film; newer ones have DLP chips.” The flammable nitrate a ripple. “When people don’t notice there’s a projection- film is a thing of the past. From the control booth, he mans the auditoist, that’s good. It means everything went smoothrium lights and the all-important sound. “When ly,” he says. Guss, who turns 60 in April, is a 1970 State the amounts of complaints about it being too loud High graduate and a 1974 Penn State graduate in equal the ones about it being too quiet, I know it’s business administration. While still in college, he perfect,” says the sage projectionist. Expectantly but not realistically, “People always was the manager of a small bygone movie theater, The Flick, successor to the hippie-applauded ask me how the films are [excellent or not]. I see Twelvetrees Cinema on South Atherton Street 15 minutes at a clip, then I have to work for five minutes or so.” (where the Atherton Hotel is today). Each reel lasts about 20 minutes and most films That was the beginning. In 1973, he joined the projectionists union and, in State College, worked have six reels — amounting to, generally, two “all over the place” — The Movies, at one time on miles of wound-up film per movie. And any day may bring surprises, like the time the northeastern corner of East Beaver Avenue at South Garner Street; Cinema 5, gone from Hiester he rushed to the roof. During a November snowfall, Street; the Garden Theatre, a revamping of the nearly the day of The Met broadcast of Satyagraha, “I had 100-year-old Nittany Theatre at 114 South Allen to brush the [two satellite] dishes off in the storm.” Away from the projector, as assistant techniStreet, now an M&T Bank; and the elegant 1926 Cathaum Theatre, once at 114 West College Avenue. cal director under Vonny Boarts, there are other He has, of course, seen technological tasks. During the summer Menopause shows, he changes. For instance, in the 1970s, “Part of moved set pieces around. “I was the only guy on the job was keeping an eye on the carbon rods the stage,” he says. “Since I was wearing black, [lighting the screen],” he says. “Now, we use no one saw me, I hope.” 26 - Town&Gown April 2012
Darren Weimert
By Nadine Kofman
He has stopped lifting sets once a month as a stagehand for productions in Altoona, Bloomsburg, Williamsport, and Johnstown — but he still helps with the park productions of the Nittany Valley Shakespeare Festival and for Singing Onstage’s shows at the high school. Hardly 9-to-5ers, Guss and State Theatre projectionist (and office manager and stagehand, when needed) Mark Srock have varied hours. One day a week, start time is 8:45 a.m. for a 9:30 a.m. Penn State class; other days are 6 to 11 p.m. or 3 p.m. to midnight. “Mark and I switch-off about every four or five days,” Guss says. At the end of the day, Guss goes to his other concern: Wash & Dri Laundry in the Hamilton Avenue Shopping Center. His shift is nighttime — “My business partner goes in during the day.” In 11 years as co-owner, he has seen much load crunching. “They put 50 pounds in an 18-pound washer, and then complain that the washer doesn’t work!” Guss was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and was brought to State College at age four. His mother, Jean, and his siblings are still in the Centre Region; his now-late father, Samuel, was a retired Pennsylvania Extension veteri-
narian and Penn State agriculture professor. Srock, 57, has been at The State for more than a decade. A native of Ramey, he is a Clearfield County resident who commutes from his maternal homestead in Houtzdale. With the encouragement of his nowlate father, a PennDOT civil engineer, Srock went to Penn State. After graduating in 1982 in health planning and hospital administration, he had several jobs but “I just kept coming back to the theater and I finally thought, ‘This is where I want to be working.’ ” He had early projectionist days at the Ritz Theatre, Clearfield; was executive director of the Rowland Theatre, Philipsburg; had duties at the former Garman Opera House Theatre, Bellefonte; at The Movies, at Cinemas 5 & 6 — not to mention positions for Eisenhower Auditorium, Bryce Jordan Center, and State College Community Theatre. Knowing that the films are in experienced hands, all we need to do now is turn toward the screen and tear open the munchies. T&G Nadine Kofman is a native Centre Countian and historian.
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community
Running with a Purpose Local runners raise money for CVIM
Chuck Fong
By Amy King
This year’s local runners who are training to run in marathons and raising money for Centre Volunteers in Medicine include: front row (from left) George Lesieutre, Meira Minard, Tom Cali, Tara Murray, Mike Weyandt, and Marty Klanchar; second row, John Wilcock, Kathy Koetje-Simin, Ken Davis, Nina Safran, Jenni Evans, Carole Dudukovich, Jim Moore, and Mike Renz; back row, Andrew Maguire, Beth Herndon, Dean Capone, John Domico, “coaches" Greg Fredericks, Sue Paterno, and Russ Rose, CVIM director Cheryl White, John Sheakoski, Andy Cunningham, Mark Lee, and Jeff Smucker.
It is the world’s oldest annual marathon, a race steeped in rich tradition. The course is challenging, winding its way in and out of eight different Massachusetts cities and towns, culminating at (affectionately known or not) Heartbreak Hill. Yes, the Boston Marathon is widely known for its prestigious reputation. Running 26.2 miles is no easy feat, no matter how much you prepare, no matter how strong your physical and mental capabilities. Yet for some local runners, dedicating a piece of their lives to countless hours of training reaps limitless benefits. These men and women devote their efforts not just to run in the Boston Marathon but also to raise money for Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM). CVIM provides free medical and dental care, case management, and prescription assistance to qualified uninsured persons of Centre County. Currently, 14 doctors/nurse practitioners, 11 dentists, and five pharmacists volunteer their time there. In addition, there are 175 total vol-
unteers who work at the clinic doing everything from nursing to counseling to answering the phones to taking out the trash. A small staff of employees oversees the volunteers to promote continuity of care. CVIM is run completely on donations — and it is because of this that local runners have taken to raising resources while performing the grueling physical task of running a marathon. State College resident John Domico, who learned about CVIM 11 years ago when it was in its birthing stage, planted the seed for this marathon endeavor. He heard a fellow parishioner at St. Paul’s United Methodist preach one day. At that time, Joe Faulkner spoke of his vision to start a clinic for those in the community who had no medical and/or dental insurance and didn’t have other options. Faulkner, along with Jill Plafcan and several others, was instrumental in building the clinic from the ground up. Domico knew from day one that he wanted to help — he just wasn’t sure how. His
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Contributed Photo
promotes a healthy activity and supports many charitable causes. It is a social outfit that is very giving. Members are continually asking, ‘How can I help?’ and then stepping up to the plate to actually help,” Domico says. CVIM executive director Cheryl White says, “We continue to be amazed that this dedicated group of athletes adds the task of fundraising to the already difficult feat of training for and running a marathon, all to (From left) Andrew Webb, Martha Nelson, and John support the patients of CVIM.” Domico at the finish of last year’s Boston Marathon. This year’s Boston Marathon is April 16, and the local runners are competing in memory of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterbackground wasn’t in medicine, and he couldn’t no, who died in January and had been the “head single-handedly bankroll the effort. coach,” along with his wife, Sue, to the runners for But he could run. At that time, he inwardly proclaimed a mes- the past nine years. Sue will continue on as coach sage. Since then, the mission has outwardly and will be joined this year by Penn State women’s grown to include the numerous others working volleyball coach Russ Rose and former Penn State runner Greg Fredericks. for the benefit of CVIM. Domico himself has recruited many runners “Our message is of an ongoing struggle — the struggle that hard-working members of our who have signed on to help CVIM. State Colcommunity experience when confronted with lege resident Tom Cali recalls, “In 2005, knowillness or injury,” Domico says. “The ‘working ing that I had qualified to run the Boston Marapoor’ are people who contribute to our commu- thon, John Domico asked if I would be part of nity and economy by choosing to work at low- the CVIM fundraising team, and, of course, I paying jobs rather than going on welfare. Our agreed. I was more than happy to lend my supsociety simply wouldn’t function without them. port to the CVIM mission, and I’m proud to be Unfortunately, the undervalued work they per- able to do my part to help sustain this wonderful form doesn’t provide benefits such as health- organization.” Others have simply heard about these moneycare insurance. Literally, these families face the decision of paying rent, buying groceries, or pay- raising efforts via word of mouth. “Wanting to be part of CVIM is what got me ing for needed medical care.” Domico drew his early inspiration from THON. to run my first marathon,” Bellefonte resident He had seen the dancers from Penn State and Tara Murray says. Her first Boston Marathon witnessed their labors in raising the millions of was in 2007, and she has been running for and dollars used to support the fight against pediatric contributing to CVIM ever since. “I wanted to cancer. He decided to run the Boston Marathon, run for CVIM because I am glad they are there chosen chiefly for its name recognition, and ask for those in our community who are working but his family and friends to financially support him cannot afford health care. I know many people in what he called a “meager experiment.” All who have had to go without health insurance contributed monies would be given directly to and have seen the kinds of difficult choices they CVIM. Ten years ago, he ran the marathon and face. I also like the way John has set up the fundraiser. All runners pay their own expenses, so raised $1,500. That was just the beginning. He knew that all donations go directly to CVIM.” On average, close to 30 runners are involved he wanted to grow what he had started, so he turned to the Nittany Valley Running Club in raising money for CVIM, running at least one (NVRC) for backing — and since Domico’s ini- marathon in the year. Because of a surge of intial Boston Marathon run one decade ago, run- terest, other marathons besides Boston’s are being run to help raise money for CVIM, includners of the NVRC have raised $333,000. “The NVRC is a gem in our community. It ing the marathon in Pittsburgh. No matter the 29 - Town&Gown April 2012
location, the end result is the same — CVIM is the beneficiary. “Everyone that is involved is special. But it especially floors me when [Penn State] students sign on for the cause. Most of them are not from this community, but they’re willing to help where help is needed. They’ve done us very well over the years,” Domico says. Because such a diverse group of individuals is involved, there is no minimal sum of money contributors are asked to raise. “We just encourage participants to get out and ask for donations without worrying about a set amount,” Domico says. “Every dollar that comes in is a dollar that CVIM would not have otherwise had.” In addition to the taxing amount of work that goes into a fundraiser program, training for a marathon takes a copious amount of time. “Keeping focus is a challenge when preparing for a race that requires 20-plus-mile training runs. We all have own way of shouldering the weekly burden of training, but we use some shared techniques as well,” Domico explains. “We run together as much as possible. The runs are an opportunity to share three hours with good friends,
and we learn a lot about each other over the miles. If we have to train alone, it becomes a time for self-reflection, meditation, and prayer. A lot of soul-searching happens, whether you want it to or not!” He humbly continues, “Most importantly, we draw focus by knowing we aren’t running for self-gratification alone. Running takes on a whole new meaning when you run for a cause such as CVIM. Doing so heightens the purpose and importance of our training. Many of us are running solely because doing so helps CVIM care for our friends and neighbors in need. “We take great pride in knowing that every penny goes directly to patient care at CVIM. I’ll stay with this as long as I’m physically able. But running isn’t the passion for me — the desire to make a difference is.” T&G For more information about helping local runners raise money for CVIM, visit www.cvim.net. Amy King is a contributor to Town&Gown, and teaches preschool at Grace Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten. She lives in State College with her husband and three children.
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health & wellness
Home-Field Advantage New ways to help win the fights over prostate cancer are available locally
John Hovenstine
John Hovenstine
By Jenna Spinelle
Dr. Howard Miller stands in front of the da Vinci robot at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, and while it’s considered one of the most treatable forms of cancer, local men diagnosed with the disease had to go elsewhere for up-to-date treatments. That’s changing now, as two new options — the da Vinci robot and Provenge — are now available in the Centre Region through the Mount Nittany Medical Center and Penn State Hershey Medical Group in State College,
respectively. Doctors in those practices have already treated their first patients and are eager to bring others on board. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 12,000 men in Pennsylvania will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, and it will be the cause of death for about 1,300 men statewide. The disease is most commonly diagnosed among men over 65 years old, and the risk tends to be higher for those with prior family history, says Dr. Howard Miller, a urologist with the Mount Nittany Physician Group. He says prostate cancer is largely symptom-free in its early stages, so screening is recommended to detect it as early as possible. The first step in that process is typically testing the ProstateSpecific Antigen (PSA) in a man’s blood. PSA testing was introduced in the 1990s and, since then, the rate of new diagnoses has increased while the death rate has declined. However, patients also have become more informed about the disease since then, and it’s difficult to definitively say whether the two are correlated. The question of whether PSA testing is really effective at reducing prostate-cancer deaths has caused controversy in the medical community, and many doctors, including Miller, recommend that patients learn about the test before agreeing to it. “Back in the day it used to be that the family wouldn’t talk about it, but now it seems like people are talking about prostate cancer at Elks Club meetings,” he says. “If nothing else, it gives patients questions to ask me, and I think that’s for the best.” If a diagnosis is made, the patient must then consider whether treatment is necessary in relationship to life expectancy. “Prostate cancer typically takes 10 to 12 years to kill someone,” Miller says. “If your life expectancy is shorter than the course of the disease, we don’t need to treat it. The thought process is that patients will die of something other than prostate cancer.” Many factors, including life expectancy and
32 - Town&Gown April 2012
the cancer’s severity, impact the type of treatment a patient undergoes. The decision about which treatment to choose should be made after input from urologists, oncologists, and primary-care doctors, says Dr. Jeffrey Allerton, an oncologist and medical director at the Penn State Hershey Medical Group’s Benner Pike location. The three most common types of prostatecancer treatment are surgery, radiation, and what doctors call active monitoring — no immediate treatment but a close watch on the disease for signs of progression. Surgical options range from complete removal of the prostate by way of radical incision on the lower abdomen to the newer da Vinci robotically assisted surgery. The da Vinci surgery is less invasive than traditional methods and involves much smaller incisions. Mount Nittany Medical Center began offering da Vinci surgery in December. “The next closest robots are in Harrisburg,
Danville, and Hershey, which has been a real problem for patients in the area,” Miller says. “Up until recently, most men in State College who had prostate cancer had to leave town to receive treatment.” Gregory Smits, 51, of State College, was among the first patients to have da Vinci surgery at Mount Nittany. Prostate cancer runs in his family and he took an active approach to testing and early detection. “Everyone has a different psychological approach to these things, but I chose to be pretty proactive,” he says. “The diagnosis wasn’t a surprise, but I thought it might happen years later than it did. The whole idea was to keep an eye on it and catch it as early as possible.” Smits says he’s pleased with his da Vinci experience. He was able to leave the hospital the day after the procedure and says all side effects were gone in about 10 days. “I tell anyone who asks me personally to check Darren Weimert
Warren Somers (left), shown with nurse practitioner Tara Baney, CRNP, was the first Provenge patient at Penn State Hershey Medical Group State College.
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for the disease as soon as they can and, if you’ve actually got it, don’t put off treatment,” he says. “If surgery is an option, I recommend robotic surgery because it provides the satisfaction of knowing it’s all taken care of.” One treatment is sometimes not enough to eradicate the cancer in some men. Recurrences can happen and consistent follow-up care is recommended to catch them early. For those in that position, a new treatment may help to make a second recurrence the last. Provenge, an immunotherapy treatment, trains a patient’s own cells to fight prostate cancer and has proven effective in those for whom an initial treatment of surgery or radiation was unsuccessful. Provenge is offered locally by Penn State Hershey Medical Group State College at its facility on Benner Pike, which opened in January 2011 and serves as the local home of the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute. The treatment consists of three plasmapheresis treatments in which the patient’s blood cells are extracted and infused with an antigen found in most prostate-cancer cells. The cells, equipped to fight the cancer, are then returned to the patient via blood transfusion. “The concept is that we’re trying to train the immune system of a patient on how to fight his own cancer … the blood circulates through a machine that looks like a regular dialysis machine,” Allerton says. “The ideal candidates are those who have minimal volume disease and who have already failed some form of treatment prior to this one.” Warren Somers, 79, of Bellefonte, is the group’s first Provenge patient and is under the care of Allerton. He was first diagnosed with
prostate cancer in October 1991 and underwent radical surgery in April 1992. He’s had two recurrences since, which made him an ideal candidate for Provenge. “It sounded like I would be a pretty good candidate, but I wanted to know details first, so I read up on it and even watched a few things on TV,” he says. “The side effects were a little inconvenient, but I always try to keep a positive attitude, and it seemed to be the right way to go.” Somers went to Williamsport for the cell extraction and had the blood transfusions at Benner Pike. His last treatment was February 24 and he says he’s already starting to feel better. “The next step from here is a wait and see what happens with the readings, but right now I’m having no discomfort and no pain,” he says. Prostate cancer cannot be prevented but there are several steps men can take to minimize their risk. Miller says he often finds patients looking for a “quick fix” that will prevent their risk of prostate cancer, but one does not yet exist. “The main things to do are the things that everyone already knows in regard to leading a healthy lifestyle,” Miller says. “Exercise, eat healthy … less meat, less salt, more fresh fruits and vegetables, and more physical activity.” T&G For more information about prostate-cancer diagnosis and treatment options, visit the Mount Nittany Medical Center Web site at www.mountnittany.org. There is additional information at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute Web site at www.pennstatehershey.org. Jenna Spinelle is a freelance writer in State College. She works in Penn State’s Undergraduate Admissions Office and is an adjunct lecturer in the College of Communications.
Help Dyslexic Children Learn To READ!
Wine/Food Pairing and Silent Auction Saturday, May 5, 2012 • 2:00 pm-4:30 pm Ramada Inn and Conference Center State College, PA
Proceeds benefit the Children’s Dyslexia Center 2766 W College Ave, Suite 2R, State College, PA 16801 Contact 814-234-2105 or mlcstatecollege@verizon.net for tickets
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Help children with dyslexia learn to read and write. Up to 1 in 5 U.S. school children are living with dyslexia. Dyslexia cannot be cured, but it can be overcome. The program at Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc. offers the most effective treatment of its kind in battling this disorder. No one else in the nation has a program remotely like it with one-on-one professional tutoring offered to children free of charge. 34 - Town&Gown April 2012
Mark Selders/Penn State Athletic Communications
The Nittany Lions celebrated their 2011 championship in Philadelphia
BACK-TO-KCAB Penn State’s wrestling team rolls to its second consecutive national championship
Steve Manuel/Penn State Athletic Communications (5)
This year’s championship and celebration took place in St. Louis
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Ed Ruth wins the 174-pound national title after a 13-2 win over Stanford’s Nick Amuchastegui.
Led by three individual champions, Penn State dominated the 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis and won its second consecutive national title. The Nittany Lions finished with 143.5 points, 25.5 more than second-place Minnesota. Sophomore David Taylor, who lost in the finals in 2011, put together one of the more dominant performances in the tournament’s history in winning the 165-pound title, and he was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the championships. He capped an undefeated season with four pins in the first four rounds followed by a 22-7 technical fall over Lehigh’s Brandon Hatchett in the finals.
“I’m not a history buff in any way, but I don’t know if there’s ever been a more dominant performance at the NCAA Tournament than what we just saw right there,” Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson said after the tournament. Sophomore Ed Ruth also finished a perfect season by winning the 174-pound championship. Like Taylor, he also had faced little trouble on his way to the title, and beat Stanford’s Nick Amuchastegui, 13-2, in the finals. Senior Frank Molinaro not only completed an undefeated season but also a stellar career. In winning the 149-pound championship, he became Penn State’s fifth four-time AllAmerican. In his final match as a Nittany
Frank Molinaro capped his Penn State career with a 4-1 over Minnesota’s Dylan Ness in the 149-pound championship match.
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State High graduate Steve Bosak of Cornell defeated Penn State’s Quentin Wright, a Bald Eagle Area alum, in sudden victory in the 184-pound championship.
David Taylor scored a 22-7 technical-fall win over Lehigh’s Brandon Hatchett to win the 165-pound title. Taylor also was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
Lion, he defeated Minnesota’s Dylan Ness, 4-1, to win the title. Two other Lion wrestlers reached the championship round. At 125, freshman Nico Megaludis lost to Iowa’s Matt McDonough, 4-1. At 184, defending champion Quentin Wright lost to Cornell’s Steve Bosak, a graduate of State High, 4-2, in sudden victory. After his win, Bosak said, “When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to go to an Ivy league school, and Penn State realized that, and it played a factor in them not recruiting me as hard. I’m happy for them. They had an awesome tournament. They were dominant throughout the tournament. If it wasn’t us winning it, I
wanted it to be them. But I’m glad I won this individual title.” Redshirt freshman Dylan Alton joined Penn State’s five finalists in becoming an AllAmerican with a third-place finish at 157. During his press conference after the tournament, Sanderson was asked about Penn State’s becoming a dynasty. He said, “We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing. We’ve had a lot of good fortune. We have a lot to be grateful for. We have some very good wrestlers. We have a lot of great support. We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing, try to make progress every day. And whatever happens after that, so be it.” T&G
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Tami Ogline Knopsnyder
Lindsey Mechalik
Molinaro hugs Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson after winning the national title in the 149-pound weight class.
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Tait Farm was purchased in 1950 by Marian and Elton Tait, who were both employees at Penn State in Cooperative Extension. On their hobby farm, they raised three children (Sandy, David, and John), had 4-H animals, grew Christmas trees, and bred a few basset hounds. In the late seventies, the two sons returned to the farm with the dream of being able to make a living off the land. They planted more Christmas trees, raised more basset puppies, and established new crops such as apples and raspberries, as well as asparagus. Tait Farm has evolved over the last 30 years into what it is today — with two family businesses on the land. The Christmas tree and basset hound business (Tait Farm Trees and Bassets) is run by John Tait, and 10 acres of organic vegetables, the manufactured specialty foods, and retail store and greenhouse (Tait Farm Foods) is run by sister in-law, Kim Tait. Two years ago, the farm started a community
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Nature’s Hue is a unique, eclectic gift shop located in the historic town of Boalsburg. Gift shop items include antiques, vintage artwork, and much, much more! 122 East Main Street, Boalsburg, PA 16827 (814) 466-7181
Serving You For 31 Years! Pharmacists Wayne Foster & Carol Younkins 814-466-7937 In the Boalsburg Medical Office Bldg. 3901 South Atherton Street 32 - Town&Gown April 2012 38
composting project. The initial stages of the project involve collecting leaves from Harris Township and combining them with vegetable waste from the farm and the kitchen scraps brought back to the farm from members of Community Harvest, the farm’s community supported agriculture (CSA) program. This spring is the first time they have been able to spread finished compost on the fields to improve soil fertility. This project was funded by a Department of Environmental Protection grant. This spring the farm also has completed putting up a new high tunnel, which is an unheated plastic-covered structure similar to a greenhouse that allows gardeners to plant cool-weather crops such as lettuce, spinach, chard, and kale right into the covered ground in March. This funding for the structure was made possible from a grant from the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The farm is always looking to improve, be more sustainable, and environmentally friendly. “We has been fortunate to find grants to help them expand these efforts,” says Kim Tait. “The farm has come such a long way from when it was purchased until now, and our family’s very proud of that. Farming is a very fulfilling and challenging business and there are always things that you can do better. Our goal is to keep doing what we’re doing, but do it really good.”
A line of colorful handbags & accessories inspired by seaside living on one of nature’s unspoiled treasures, Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. Now Available At A Basket Full Gift Shop & Gift Baskets 121 E. Main St. Boalsburg 466-7788 www.basket-full.com
Inside: Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years • Hot breakfasts are served at local restaurants
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Dynamic Duo
Jamie and Kerry Bestwick are not only living out their dreams here in Happy Valley but also finding ways to help others in need
Joe Paterno 1926-2012
IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOWN
Inside: The two sides of social media; Meet the judges of the Court of Common Pleas
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Soup’s
Centre County chefs have some great soups to try out and help you keep warm this winter
On!
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Inside: Home & Garden special section; Athletic tournaments help bring buisness to region
May 2011
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Inside: Palmer Museum turns 40 • Local runners help CVIM
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Let’s Get to
Work!
The New Generation
316 Boal Ave. Boalsburg 466-6251
Actually, Bill O’Brien has been hard at work in his first three months as Penn State’s new head football coach. And the results so far have been impressive
Whether for financial security or other reasons, today’s stay-at-home moms have taken on more responsibilities
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Catering & Private Dining available, call for details.
Centre County’s Premier Steak & Seafood Restaurant 33 - Town&Gown April 2012 39
IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOWN
Darren Weimert
40 - Town&Gown April 2012
Right
forMan
the
Moment While Bill O’Brien’s hiring as Penn State’s head football coach initially caused some controversy in the Nittany Nation, those who know him believe that there is probably no one better prepared to take on the position and lead the Lions
By Frank Bodani 41 - Town&Gown April 2012
Mark Selders/Penn State Athletic Communications (2)
It’s the kind of story they tell about the man over and again: When the high school coach led his team into big, shiny Gillette Stadium to get ready for a playoff game, the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator was there to greet them at the gate. “The first guy standing in the doorway for us was Billy O’Brien.” As longtime St. John’s Prep coach Jim O’Leary tells the story, you can hear the pride in his voice. O’Brien was one of his players more than two decades before. Since then, O’Brien has gone from a defensive plugger at Brown University to the one in charge of Bill Belichick’s Super Bowl offense in New England and future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. And now, he’s the new face of Penn State football. But while he’s known for innovative offenses, and even his motivating drive and temper, it’s his loyalty that seems to impress the most. O’Brien’s way with people, with young football men and their followers, may be his most critical quality at Penn State. “He doesn’t have an ego. He’s confident, but he doesn’t have an ‘It’s-about-me kind of attitude,” O’Leary says. “Everybody loved him. He’s had the ability to make friends and keep them. People follow him. “He was a tough guy. He was hard on his football players, but off the field he has the ability to shut it off and be a regular guy. He didn’t carry that through, the way some people do. You have to have that. You have to be able to
O’Brien set a positive tone during his first press conference after being announced as Penn State’s new head coach.
see beyond the moment and see the big picture.” Certainly, it will take a while to get to know O’Brien, to get used to the seismic shift in program leadership. Not only is he the first new Penn State head coach in 46 years, he was a rather anonymous college and NFL assistant until an animated exchange with Brady on national TV a few months ago. Of course, most of the football world will judge O’Brien only by victories on the field, starting in September. But that is still a spring and summer away.
***
Go back to his days growing up in Andover, Massachusetts, and breathing in sports more deeply than most. The intensity you see in that sideline dispute with Brady? The simmering passion that contorts his face while answering a tough media question? It’s always been there, it seems. Friends in junior high remember how he would knock down teammates in practice with so much exuberance that the coach would make him run the huge hill behind their field — quickly nicknamed “O’Brien Hill.” Friends in high school remember the highenergy guy who simply willed himself to be named team captain. “He played hard. He had a few penalties in his day because he played to the whistle,” O’Leary says with a laugh. Everything then truly began forming at Brown University — coincidentally, Joe Paterno’s alma mater. O’Brien was only a so-so player there. But the intensity? The leadership? The football smarts? At the team’s senior-night banquet, most every player who rose to speak mentioned O’Brien. Even now, they still bring that up to their old coach, Mickey Kwiatkowski: Remember that night you asked us all to talk? Remember how we talked about Billy O’Brien? “I’ve been around great people who became greater people, who were never talked about like that,” Kwiatkowski says. At that point, O’Brien “was beginning to realize he was a football junkie and couldn’t get enough of it,” says Brian Aylward, a teammate at Brown and now a head high school coach in Massachusetts. “Billy did not just know what he had to do on the field, but what everybody had to do and why they had to do it.” This also was when O’Brien briefly met
42 - Town&Gown April 2012
continued on page 44
Remodeling Project Whether through new ideas or old ones, O’Brien is building on a strong foundation
Courtesy of the New England Patriots/David Silverman photo
By Frank Bodani
For years, the young football man watched the old football man from afar, and he learned. And so there will be much comparing how differently new Penn State coach Bill O’Brien will do things compared with legendary former coach Joe Paterno’s style. People will talk about O’Brien’s high energy. His recruiting on the road. His promoting his program through the media. He will change things (certainly more important things than allowing facial hair and dreadlocks). He will change things by doing them the same way, in a sense. Doing things the way Paterno used to be able to do them. To understand, start with how Paterno made his mark early on. He took over at Penn State after 15 years of learning on the job.
He was Ivy League-educated and confident. He didn’t need to reinvent Penn State football, which was already a solid program under Rip Engle. He needed to tweak it, then expand it. He needed to see possibilities where others did not. And so he trumpeted the idea of how standout students also could be standout football players. He was loud and tough and nonstop, and an image became created that would feed success on the field and off it. He created an identity that began building itself, one class of players at a time. Paterno was young and he relied on his determination and energy to tour the state and beyond to promote his ideas and his program and even the university. He built relationships. The success, the longevity, the ideals intrigued O’Brien over the years. He played and studied at Brown University, just like Paterno. He understood the need to win without sacrificing education and discipline. He also spent 15 years and more coaching and learning out of the spotlight, most all of it in college, some of it even recruiting against Penn State. His preparation peaked with the New England Patriots, with his leading the offense and coaching a Hall of Fame quarterback. And yet Penn State followers seemed perplexed when his name first appeared as a possible Paterno successor. Some were outraged when he got the job. He was not the sexy headline hire. But O’Brien knew he didn’t have to remake Penn State, that the splendid foundation was strong and intact. He simply needed to add on. He needed to refurbish, to tweak, and expand — just like Paterno did when he took over in 1966.
43 - Town&Gown April 2012
O’Brien understood that the devastating Jerry Sandusky child-sex-abuse scandal and possible fallout doesn’t change the possibilities. No doubt, O’Brien is breaking from the past regime with his strength-and-conditioning philosophy. Penn State has switched from workouts revolving around high repetitions on machines to a program stressing basic free-weight lifts and more team-building exercises. And that is one of the few true changes. Because even while recruiting will have a new approach, it really will resemble the one Paterno used to embrace decades ago. Once, Paterno recruited aggressively on and off campus. Once, he and his staff focused more on prospects through the South. Now, those ideas will return and get amped higher. O’Brien will sell Penn State harder, though he will be selling kids mostly on all of the things Paterno built — the huge stadium, the huge fan base, toplevel facilities, and tradition. So far, the results have been even better than expected. The Lions have already reeled in four national recruits for their class of 2013. “I’m surprised it’s been this quick, but I’m not surprised they’re getting guys,” says Bob Lichtenfels, a recruiting analyst with Scout.com. “I said this for years: Penn State is a sleeping giant. You got to understand Penn State has all the makings to be a powerhouse program, but they didn’t have a coach beating the streets and in the schools. Now, they have a whole staff of guys working their asses off [recruiting]. At a school like Penn State, that pays dividends.” T&G
Courtesy of Brown University
continued from page 42 Paterno and wrote him a letter in search of a graduate-assistant coaching job. Paterno sent back a note on the same letter, saying he appreciated the interest and would keep his name on file. O’Brien has kept it all these years. O’Brien then started his coaching career at Brown, in charge of tight ends barely younger than himself. Like Paterno, whose father became a lawyer in mid-life, O’Brien watched other family members loosen their grip on sports to be successful in other fields. His father made a fortune in the semiconductor business. One of his brothers was a state senator. And yet Bill O’Brien used his Ivy League education to become a football coach. “This kid could really compartmentalize,” Kwiatkowski says. “He could slice up his life to have a balance. It was his ability to be all business when it counted.
O’Brien became a leader on the Brown football team during the early 1990s.
Fly Easy!
44 - Town&Gown April 2012
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“He will experiment. With matchups, some of the creativity he demonstrates is off-the-charts. You could see that then.” Penn State didn’t have any openings nearly 20 years ago, but Georgia Tech did, and that would become his first big break. At the time, Tech coach George O’Leary knew an assistant at Brown, who recommended O’Brien. Of course, O’Brien first had to be accepted into a prestigious graduate school. “He hadn’t taken a test in 2½ years … and they don’t just let you in there,” says John Perry, who grew up with O’Brien and coached with him at Brown. “But he went in and nailed [the entrance exam]. Those things are always remarkable to me. An average person would take their time and study for six months — and he just went in and nailed it!” When O’Brien was eventually promoted to
offensive coordinator, Georgia Tech led the ACC in passing and finished third in scoring. He became assistant head coach the following year. He even was set to follow O’Leary to Notre Dame and lead the Fighting Irish’s offense until O’Leary’s resumé came into question and jobs for both of them fell apart. O’Brien was learning in survival mode at woeful Duke when he was rescued, in a way, by the Patriots in 2007. He was at the bottom of the job chain again, but it was a homecoming for him, and even for his wife. Colleen O’Brien had graduated in the top five of her law-school class at Boston College. Within a year, not only was O’Brien working under a Super Bowl coach in Belichick, he also was coaching Brady. Within two years he was in charge of New England’s offense. Despite the luxury of Brady, O’Brien assembled a rapid-fire offense heavy on spare
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45 - Town&Gown April 2012
Steve Tressler/Vista Professional Studios
100 or more former players and coaches from Brown to travel to Beaver Stadium for the season opener against Ohio University.
O’Brien has met with the media several times, including after early morning player workouts.
***
parts. His passing game relied on two tight ends and undersized wide receivers and an unheralded running back. He thrived with unpredictability and the masterful matchups, almost always seeming to place his players in situations to succeed. And through all of this, through the everymonth long hours of the NFL, he still found time for his lifelong football friends and coaches, the men who had helped make him. He still found time to be a husband and a father to two young sons, one with a rare developmental brain disorder. Take his buddy Brad Sidwell, whom he met at Brown University. When he became a high school coach and athletic director he asked O’Brien to meet with his staff — and O’Brien always made it work. “Shows you what kind of guy he is,” Sidwell says. It’s one little thing upon another. “He will return a call,” says longtime buddy Mike Lane, a police officer in Andover. “He really hasn’t changed since he was a kid.” Aylward says, “Without exception, anytime I’ve been with him, he’s really with you. He’s not one of those guys thinking about where else he could be or what else he has to do. He’s focused on whom he’s with. That’s a rare quality in a person, let alone in a coach.” And to pay him back, Aylward says he expects
O’Brien knows how valuable his first few months at Penn State are. Forget that the football season is still months away. He is busy creating a new routine in a new town. He must learn the nuances of the tradition and he must reach out to countless former players. He also must meet with an entire state’s worth of high school football coaches. He has an entire new team to figure out. And yet he may be as prepared as possible for his first head job at a place like Penn State. He told reporters at a recent clinic that he had written a coaching manual for this exact time. It’s nearly 100 pages thick. To pull all of this together, he has the support of a wife who understands. “We’ve really known each other since I started coaching,” Bill O’Brien says. “She’s been with me the whole time. She knows the hours when we started a family. She knows the demands. She’s very calm, very smart, very tough, and a great mom.” For now, his family still lives in New England, though they hope to join him in State College by summer. In the meantime, O’Brien told reporters he usually is at work from 5 a.m. to 11 at night to get his feet on the ground. “He’ll do anything to find an advantage and find a way to win,” says George Delaney, a high school teammate. “He’s tough, a little bit of a throwback guy. He’s not a big ego guy. He’s not a grandstander, will not beat his chest to say, ‘Look at me.’ He’s willing to learn. There are no shortcuts in this man.” As for early hints on his Penn State progress, look to recruiting. His first four verbal commitments have been four-star prospects, an impressive start in light of the negative feelings and publicity surrounding the school and program due to Jerry Sandusky’s alleged childsex-abuse scandal. All four high school juniors had scholarship offers from SEC power schools. All are standout students. The early rush has surprised experts, who figured O’Brien’s low name-recognition factor combined with the long-lasting tremors of the Sandusky scandal would slow any early-reward expectations.
46 - Town&Gown April 2012
“He’s a lot better recruiter than I expected,” says Mike Farrell, a national analyst with Rivals.com. “I thought his NFL ties would help. I think a lot of kids noticed how innovative his offense was. “He seems to be a guy who is handling everything in stride with confidence. I think a lot of that comes from working with Bill Belichick.” Look at the work O’Brien did running New England’s offense on mostly spare parts and turning it into arguably the most explosive in the NFL. This was much more than just Tom Brady. “He just did a lot with a little. It wasn’t like the Patriots were loaded with talent on offense,” Farrell says. “He had to be creative. I’ve never seen anybody use tight ends like that. The last thing you want is more good tight ends than wide receivers. It’s hard to be innovative with that — and he did it.” At Penn State, he quickly hired a staff featuring a mix of established, long-term assistants with young up-and-comers. He made strength and conditioning a backbone and convinced one of the nation’s best coaches in that field to leave South Carolina and Steve Spurrier for State College. From the beginning, O’Brien has talked admirably of Paterno and marveled at the
O’Brien with his wife, Colleen, and youngest son, Michael, after he was introduced as Penn State’s new head coach.
longevity of his success in one place. “This isn’t a stepping stone job for him,” says Jim O’Leary. “That’s not his motivation at all. “First of all, he’s the right age. He’s not some 30-year-old phenom coming in, and he’s also not so old that he’s set in his ways and won’t want to listen to anyone else. “The biggest thing is he’s a northeast guy — that kind of blue-collar kid who played at Penn State. He never forgot his roots.” Already, O’Brien has waded through tough times rather smoothly. While coaching the Patriots through the playoffs, he also hired a staff at Penn State, worked on recruiting, and met his new players. After Paterno died, he returned to State College to lead his new team to the viewing, spoke at a lunch gathering of hundreds of former players, then tried to settle into his office — Paterno’s old office. He seems to be moving step by step, methodically and yet enthusiastically, if that’s possible. “He game plans better than anybody I’ve seen,” says Kwiatkowski. “It’s all about matchups. You got to get your better people on their lesser people. “What Billy’s done blending a mixture of run, play-action pass, and drop-back is as creative as I’ve ever seen.” While he is gaining support with recruiting and clinic appearances, he still has not yet coached a game. Fans still do not really know what they’re getting. But at least they are beginning to learn. For example, when promising defensive end Shawn Oakman broke undisclosed team rules, O’Brien threw him off the team with no chance to return. “There’s always going to be naysayers,” O’Brien says. “There’s always going to be people saying, ‘Who is this guy?’ I’d probably be one of them. I understand that. “I feel now is the time. I’m prepared as much as I’ll ever be prepared, just based on who I’ve worked for and what I’ve learned. I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years. Everybody gets their first head-coaching job somewhere and I’m lucky enough for it to be here.” T&G Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record. He’ll be starting his 19th year on the beat.
47 - Town&Gown April 2012
Courtesy of the Palmer Museum of Art (10)
The Museum of Art opened in 1972 and had a three-room gallery.
1972
fabulous at
40!
The Palmer Museum of Art looks back on four decades of change, growth, and becoming a venue for all to enjoy
2012 48 - Town&Gown April 2012
By Carolyne Meehan
T
he “earth” without “art” is just “eh.” It’s difficult to disagree with this clever wordplay. The Friends — and patrons and staff — of the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State deeply value the presence of art in our world and are dedicated to helping people see and enjoy it. For 40 years the museum has housed an extraordinary collection of works, world-class exhibitions, and wide-reaching educational programs. What began as the Museum of Art in 1972 — a three-room gallery with no permanent collection — has grown into the Palmer Museum of Art as we know it today. After drastic renovations and a major addition completed in 1993, the museum has expanded to 11 galleries and an impressive permanent collection of more than 7,000 works of art. “For much of 2012 and even into 2013, the museum plans to celebrate 40 years of gifts and donations,” says museum director Jan Muhlert. She promises that the “focus will be on the art.” This fall, works on paper that spend most of their lives stored in the dark due to their light sensitivity will be on view as part of a special anniversary exhibition of the permanent collection. Each work will be designated with a special label recognizing the giver and the time in which the piece was given. The showing will represent the entire span of gifts given over the last four decades. It may even fill the walls floor to ceiling, as Muhlert and
Muhlert, shown in a 1997 photo, is in her 16th year as director of the Palmer Museum of Art.
her team of curators are having a hard time whittling down their selections. In May, the Friends of the Palmer Museum will hold the museum’s annual gala with this year’s theme being Fabulous at Forty. The honorary chairs of the gala, Barbara Weaver and Elizabeth Warner, will be recognized for their years of service and dedication to the museum. The two women have lovingly been referred to as the “institutional memory” of the museum.
The major additions to the museum were completed in 1993 and included its signature paws at the entrance. 49 - Town&Gown April 2012
The gala in support of the museum in 1985 took on a Mardi Gras theme.
“Dakota Grain Elevators" by Emil Bethke was purchased in 2008 with funds provided by the Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art.
Weaver served as an assistant to the dean of the College of Arts and Architecture before the museum was even open. She remembers one of the first pieces of art to join the collection, a mobile by Alexander Calder titled “Spring Blossoms.” She also recalls how portions of the monies from graduating class gifts were given to the museum each year through the seventies to help build its permanent collection. When Warner joined the museum staff as a clerk/typist in 1976, Weaver was her supervisor. When Weaver retired in 1994, she came back as a volunteer to help Warner, now the administrative assistant to the director. The museum found
Weaver’s knowledge so valuable to its team that in 1997 it found a way to keep her on part-time. Today, the relationship has come full circle as Warner is Weaver’s supervisor. “We were always a small staff and we accomplished a lot, but in a very different way when we were just starting out,” Warner fondly recalls. She and Weaver would run to the store to get paint, pick up artwork, help with research, and do whatever needed to be done to get an exhibition gallery ready. Over the years, they have been behind the scenes, processing donations, proofreading publications, and, most importantly, building relationships. The Friends of the museum have truly become their friends. Weaver and Warner also have seen the museum change and grow through the leadership of four directors over 40 years. The founding director, William Hull, is described as a man of enormous vision, both in terms of the institution and his connoisseurship. Responsible for the initial acquisitions, his broad perspective led him to choose major works of art that have withstood the test of time. “He was fundamental in establishing the standards and credibility for what was going to happen for the museum,” says John Driscoll, who worked with Hull as a graduate assistant and registrar in the seventies. Driscoll now owns Babcock Galleries in New York and continues his ties to the museum through his service on the museum board. He admired Hull for his constant efforts in getting the museum’s works shown and reviewed, taking exhibitions to large cities and put on view in places such as New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hull became a mentor to Driscoll and to many art lovers and collectors. He knew how to get people excited about art. He was instrumental in engaging the community, and under his direction the Friends of the Palmer Museum was formed in 1974. The now-late Ruth Robinson and Reed Ferguson, vice president of the university at the time, served as early leaders for the group. The Friends have been critical to the museum’s success as they provide funds for educational programs and art acquisitions, and work to organize the museum’s annual gala. Barbara Palmer served as the Friends’ board president in the seventies — the start of a relationship with the museum that would lead Palmer and her now-late husband James Palmer to become unfailing benefactors. With an art history
50 - Town&Gown April 2012
101 class under Barbara’s belt and James’ career in electrical engineering, the Palmers’ interest in art was mostly self-taught. They loved to go to museums together, and when they started their own art collection they turned to Hull for his “great eye.” They learned, as Barbara says, “The more you look the more you improve your eye to see what you like and what you want to live with.” As the museum’s collection began to grow, its galleries began to fill up with storage and office space. The Palmers saw firsthand that something needed to be done, and, in 1986, they gifted $2 million to initiate a campaign for a $5.6 million expansion and renovation. The process for selecting an architect for the new building which would bear the name of the museum’s most generous donors began with a committee formed by the then dean of the College of Arts and Architecture, James Moeser, in 1989. The goal was to have a “signature” building, built by a major architect. For Penn State, this selection process was unusual. Faculty was involved, and for the first time in university history, the board of trustees chose an architect from outside the state of Pennsylvania to build at Penn State. Architect Charles W. Moore with Arbonies, King, and Vlock was “the perfect choice for the job,” says Barbara Palmer. “It was a joy to work with him.” Moore was a skillful collaborator, and, when designing the new building, museum staff, docents, faculty and administrators, physical-plant personnel, and patrons were involved in discussions and workshops. In his client-oriented approach he posed the question, “What does the museum want to be?” Dr. Kahren Jones Arbitman, director of the Palmer from 1990 to 1996, had some very clear ideas on what she wanted the museum to be. She strongly believes that the quality of a museum rests in its permanent collection. Her primary goal was to enhance the museum’s ability to show and care for its growing collection. She also wanted for people to know where the art museum was. Arbitman claims that she could stand on Curtin Road in front of the original art museum and ask students if they knew how to get to the art museum. Many had no clue — even when they were standing right in front of it! Completed in 1993, the new state-of-the-art building is impossible to miss. Using what he called “the doctrine of immaculate collision,”
Moore synergistically joined the original museum building with a new addition in a way that allowed for serendipitous spaces within. The Palmer Museum of Art could now boast a 150seat auditorium, a sculpture garden, gift shop, and dramatic galleries. It wasn’t long after the renovations were completed that students began to say, “I’ll meet you at the paws.” During a lecture about plans for the new building, Arbitman presented her idea to A circa-1970s photo shows a museum docent talking to children who were on a class trip to the museum.
A marble bust of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Henry Dexter was purchased in 2005.
51 - Town&Gown April 2012
commission the giant brass paw sculptures that are at the museum’s entrance. People came up to her after the lecture and said, “You’re kidding about the paws, right?” Arbitman requested their trust. “Just wait,” she told them. Now, it’s hard to imagine the museum without them. The paws have become a landmark on campus, serving as a popular gathering place and perfect photo backdrop. As part of the Palmer’s mission as the academic art museum of Penn State, the aim is to entice
Top, the William Hull Gallery was remodeled as part of a renovation in 2002. Michele Tosini’s “Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist" is part of the museum’s permanent collection.
students to walk past the paws and through the doors of the Palmer Museum. Sanford Sivitz Shaman, the second director of the museum, who served from 1984 to 1989, made it his mission to have the student body become more actively involved in the museum. It was under his direction that the first educational director, Charles Garoian, was hired. Dana Carlisle Kletchka now plays this key role, the name of her position having changed to curator of education. Her job is finding ways to engage audiences of all ages through art and other creative offerings. “It is a museum’s responsibility to be an active force in the community,” she says. Whether through a summer concert series of jazz and free Creamery ice cream on the plaza or a workshop on quilt patterns and printmaking, Kletchka finds a variety of ways to connect people with art. She also works with and trains the more than 40 docents who serve as ambassadors of the museum. It is a volunteer group that is mostly women, a fair number being retired teachers. Docents Barbara Snow and Deborah Meszaros view their job as helping people to “get it.” “They don’t have to like it,” Meszaros explains, “but if we can point out a couple of things and get them to look harder — but not take it too seriously — then we are doing our job.” They understand that art museums can be intimidating to some people. As Snow says, “We are there to explain in a warm and casual way.” Another renovation to the museum in 2002 provided a remodeled William Hull Gallery and the addition of a print-study room. The Palmers again made the lead gift for these improvements. There was no place to show pieces that were not on view before this expansion. The registrar, Beverly Sutley, is the one who knows where everything is stored. She is happy to dig out treasures such as ancient coins, nineteenthcentury posters, African objects, and of course, prints for students and visitors to examine in the print-study room. The Palmer’s curators, Joyce Robinson and Patrick McGrady, take the spotlight every June at the museum’s “purchase party” attended by the members. On this night, each curator presents and argues for a piece that they feel should be purchased for the permanent collection. The vote is left to the Friends. A marble bust of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (circa 1868) by Henry
52 - Town&Gown April 2012
Dexter was the clear winner one year, filling what Robinson saw as a gap in the collection. At last year’s party, a very contemporary piece was selected — a giant Vic Muniz collage of colorful toys that forms a portrait of the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt. Historically, McGrady tends to bring in the very old, and Robinson leans toward the contemporary. This trend continues through the unique exhibits each creates for the museum. Robinson is the curator of the Painting the People: Images of American Life from the Maimon Collection exhibition that is on view now until May 13. The two, however, will proudly boast of each other’s work. They work as a well-balanced team and feel they have the freedom to go where their interests take them. Sometimes visitors to the museum can receive an art lesson from the director of the museum herself. When Muhlert came across two male college students staring blankly into “Still Life with Grapes c. 1860-1865,” a large still-life oil on canvas, she couldn’t help but interject after some time. “He paid his bar bills with his paintings,” she jokes. She’s referring to the artist, Severin Roesen, a major American still-life painter of the mid-nineteenth century who resided in Williamsport with his family for the latter part of his life. The students laughed and then stood there a little while longer. Maybe they stood there long enough to notice the slightly molded strawberries, the soggy watermelon oozing its seeds, or the leaves which have begun to turn a golden brown — clues that this painting was probably completed toward the end of Roesen’s life. Or maybe they spotted the tiny ladybug clinging to the raspberry leaf — and wondered. “All good Roesen’s have a bug,” Muhlert says. The Roesen painting is just one example from the museum’s permanent collection. More than half of the Palmer’s works have been donated or purchased with funds contributed to the museum. Some of the most significant donations have include the following: Dr. William E. Harkins has donated more than 500 Japanese prints since the mid 1970s; Mary Jane Harris and her now-late husband, Morton, have donated a significant group of Italian Baroque paintings; Janet and Joseph Shein have donated more than 30 contemporary paintings and sculptures since 2000; Jean and Alvin Snowiss have given primarily American works from their notable private collection; and Barbara and Lee Maimon donated
A circa 1972 photo shows (from left) Palmer Museum of Art founding director/Director Emeritus William Hull with College of Arts and Architecture dean Walter Walters and then-Penn State president John Oswald.
Severin Roesen’s “Still Life with Grapes c. 1860-1865."
a significant group of paintings by Pennsylvania impressionists in 2010 and a canvas by American artist Theresa Bernstein in 2011. Barbara Palmer also continues to support the museum. In honor of that support, the museum is publishing a major catalogue of the Palmers’ collection, some of which has already been donated to the museum. The rest of Palmer’s impressive nineteenthand twentieth-century American paintings and works on paper also have been promised to one day come to the museum. When she is asked which piece is her favorite, she smartly responds, “whichever one I’m looking at.” T&G Carolyne Meehan is a writer and educator. She lives in State College with her husband and two young boys.
53 - Town&Gown April 2012
Penn State University Archives (8)
The Phi Psi 500 took on a Mardi Gras-like atmosphere until it ended in the 1990s.
54 - Town&Gown April 2012
Through its proud and tradition-rich history, Penn State has seen many of its most popular customs come and go For the Phi Psi 500, participants would run more than one mile, but had to pause at six stops to drink a beer or soft drink.
By Curtis Chan
Traditions No More From fight songs to animal mascots to bonfires, campus rituals form a quilt of college tradition linking alumni to present-day freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. But for every Nittany Lion mascot, Homecoming, or Dance Marathon, there are other Penn State traditions that have fallen by the wayside over the years, confined to the fading memories of alumni and eventual posterity. Some of Penn State’s earliest traditions date back to the inaugural class of the original Farmers’ High School, according to historical accounts. Although today’s incoming freshmen are greeted by smiling upperclassmen wearing brightly colored T-shirts in an inclusive atmosphere, past first-year students weren’t always so warmly welcomed. In a 1953 essay, faculty member C.H. Brown recounted a freshman initiation rite described by G. Alfred Smith, a member of Penn State’s first graduating class of 1861. New students were essentially challenged to ride one of the two mules that worked the farm. One, Bill, was “sober and industrious.” The other, Lion, had a special talent — he was trained to throw anyone who tried to mount him from the left but was perfectly fine if a rider attempted to mount him from the right. “It was great sport to see the new and unsuspecting
55 - Town&Gown April 2012
During the 1920s, freshmen were often drenched in molasses and feathered.
Above, "scraps" between sophomore and freshman classes featured tug-of-wars, as shown in this 1924 photo. Right, Spring Week was a tradition for a number of years and included floats like this one from 1954. It also included carnival booths, as shown in a 1965 photo (below).
student who knew he could ride any beast initiated into a ride on Lion, mounting always by prearrangement from the left side and always getting a fall,” Smith wrote. Life as a freshman only became rougher as the Farmers’ High School grew and eventually became the Pennsylvania State College. “ ‘Hazing’ did disappear from the Penn State campus,” Brown wrote. “Initiation rites for freshmen were carried on under the politer name of ‘customs,’ rules for first-year students given under this heading for the first time in the student handbook of 1904.”
Under the innocuous banner of “customs,” college freshmen were forced to endure rituals, regulations, dress codes, humiliation, and even pain at the hands of sophomores and upperclassmen. An event college neophytes didn’t look forward to was the annual “Poster Night.” As summer gave way to autumn, the specter of Poster Night loomed. One evening — usually in September or October — sophomores armed with paddles would rouse the entire freshman class from their beds, marching the pajama-clad students through campus and town. It was, as Mike Bezilla’s Penn State: An Illus-
56 - Town&Gown April 2012
trated History described it, “an era when sophomores considered it their duty to manhandle freshmen as part of the newcomers’ initiation into college life.” As if parading around in your nightclothes wasn’t enough, freshmen were then brought to “Co-op Corner,” the present-day intersection of College Avenue and South Allen Street, and given posters, paint, and brushes to place all over town and campus. Poster Night wasn’t an orderly event, however. Bezilla’s book describes nearly uncontrollable students and extensive property damage. Vandalism was rampant and the town’s movie theaters and candy stores were favorite targets of student raids. The posters themselves displayed an omnipresent list of rules: freshmen were not allowed to talk back to upperclassmen when being instructed by them; freshmen had to carry matches at all times and furnish them to upperclassmen upon request; freshmen could not grow facial hair. Though Poster Night has long since disappeared, some of the posters still survive. Originals and replicas adorn the walls of Zeno’s Pub, the Hintz Family Alumni Center, and the Penn State Archives at Pattee Library. Officially, Poster Night was abolished in 1922 by the student council and replaced with a stunt night. Though Poster Night was gone, its cruel tradition continued. Freshmen were still paraded through the streets, but the procession ended at Holmes Field, now the HUB lawn. There, the freshmen were forced to perform a series of stunts, such as stripping down to their underwear and tossing their clothes in a pile. At the sophomores’ signal, the hapless freshmen had 30 seconds to find their clothes and get dressed. That was just the start of the hazing. Freshmen were often drenched in molasses and feathered, and sophomores made ample use of their paddles against the lower classmen. It was, in the most literal sense, class warfare. While the rules and little rituals served as vehicles to tweak and harass the newest Penn
Staters, “scraps” were open declarations of war between the sophomore and the freshman classes. There were physical contests — tug-of-wars, tie-ups, and numerous other activities — for campus supremacy. “The flag-scrap, the cider scrap, the classsupper scrap, the picture scrap, and the poster scrap were the leading cause of class friction and the battles were sometimes fierce and disastrous,” wrote professor Fred Lewis Pattee in his essay, “Penn State Traditions.” Brown wrote, “The attempt to control hazing by publishing rules did little to end the blood scraps between freshmen and sophomores. The killing of a student and the injury of several others in a melee in 1907 involving 500 students had only a temporary restraining effect.” The scraps lasted about 30 years, according to Pattee. By the 1930-31 academic year, the tug-of-war scrap was the only remaining one mentioned in the student handbook. By the following year, even that was gone.
“The attempt to control hazing by publishing rules did little to end the blood scraps between freshmen and sophomores.”
“Students during the Depression years of the 1930s were too serious to take class spirit seriously,” Brown wrote. “Moreover classes by then were too large for members to develop much of a feeling of unity.” World events often had strong influences on campus customs. As the Depression helped to end class scraps, the tradition of customs also ebbed and flowed with what was happening beyond Central Pennsylvania. As returning soldiers flooded American campuses in the immediate aftermath of World War II, the idea of forcing “freshmen” — hardened combat veterans — to wear green dinks was a nonstarter, to say the least. But as college life returned to normal in the 1950s, customs made a comeback, only to recede a decade later. By 1964, the freshman dink was extinct and students only had to wear nametags around their necks. Customs completely disappeared in the 1970s with the activist era.
continued on page 60 57 - Town&Gown April 2012
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The Sy Barash Regatta included canoe races and concerts that featured acts such as REO Speedwagon, Blue Traveler, and .38 Special. The event raised money for the American Cancer Society's Centre County unit.
continued from page 57
Our own “Animal House”
For some, remembering college also brings to life recollections of pranks and partying. Long before Faber College’s Delta Tau Chi caused a ruckus on campus by sneaking a horse into the dean’s office in the 1978 film National Lampoon’s Animal House, similar hijinks were happening at Penn State. In 1952, the university’s Alumni News recalled a tradition of taking a white mule aptly named Snowball into Old Main. Sometimes the students would even escort Snowball up the narrow stairway to the tower. But unlike the unlucky horse in Animal House, Snowball lived through the prank, though he sometimes received a paint job, courtesy of the students. Few may remember Snowball, but more Penn State alums may remember an event called the Phi Psi 500. Created by Phi Kappa Psi, the event was a fundraising race through downtown State College. It raised money for local nonprofit organizations. What set the Phi Psi 500 apart from most charity races was that participants would have to pause at a half dozen stops along the 1.1-mile route for beer or soft drinks. In 1983, the event raised $21,000 and included more than 1,800 runners, according to Bezilla’s History. By the early 1990s, alcohol was banned as part of the Phi Psi 500 and milk was substituted. Without beer to fuel the Mardi Gras-like atmosphere, the Phi Psi 500 too faded into obscurity.
Galas and regattas
Of course, not all of Penn State’s defunct cus-
toms had originated from hazing, partying, or pranks. Formal events were a large part of university life as Rec Hall hosted the Military Ball, Soph Hop, Junior Prom, and Senior Ball. Bonfires marked major celebrations in the 1890s and early 1900s. And students celebrated graduation at Whipple Dam. For a number of years, students looked forward to Spring Week, a celebration with float parades, he-man contests, carnivals, and the crowning of Miss Penn State. By 1979, Spring Week was gone and replaced by Greek Week. One of Penn State’s biggest traditions, Homecoming, didn’t begin until nearly 70 years into the university’s history.
60 - Town&Gown April 2012
Before Homecoming, Pennsylvania Day was a major celebration honoring the state’s governor and various dignitaries. Much like Homecoming, the event featured a football game and a student parade with floats. The tradition of celebrating Pennsylvania Day ended in 1920 when the university’s administration sought to honor alumni with parties, rallies, and other events around a football game against Dartmouth. Another major Penn State tradition, the Intrafraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, just marked its 40th anniversary in February. But for a number of years, THON, as it’s commonly called, wasn’t the only student-run charity focused on fighting cancer. The Sy Barash Regatta, named for State College businessman and civic leader Sy Barash, who died of cancer
ally ballooned into a concert,” Coppersmith says. Many up-and-coming acts played the regatta, and over the course of two decades the event hosted the likes of REO Speedwagon, Joan Jett, .38 Special, the Hooters, and Blues Traveler. Drawing more than 15,000 a year, the regatta outgrew Stone Valley and moved to Bald Eagle State Park. “The lines to get in during starting time got huge,” Coppersmith says. By its 10th year, it brought in $100,000 for cancer research. But by the mid-1990s, the regatta faded away. Coppersmith blames the event’s demise to poor leadership and its relocation to campus. “The regatta self destructed, unfortunately,” she says. “In the last couple of years, it didn’t get capable leadership from the fraternity.”
“... it was felt that Penn State needed a student event in the spring, so we did it outdoors.” — Mimi Coppersmith on the Sy Barash Regatta
in 1975, also was raising money to battle cancer. Sponsored and coordinated by Barash’s fraternity, Beta Sigma Beta, the regatta actually started out as a piano benefit concert at Schwab Auditorium. “From that quasi-success/failure, it was felt that Penn State needed a student event in the spring, so we did it outdoors,” recalls Barash’s widow and Town&Gown founder Mimi Coppersmith. The following year, the event was held at Stone Valley Recreation Area and featured canoe races, games, and live music. It raised $67,000, which was donated to the American Cancer Society’s Centre County unit. As time went on, the regatta became a major spring event for Penn State students. “It actu-
With its return to campus, lost were the nautical events and games that were a signature part of the event. “It lost a lot of its playful interest,” Coppersmith laments. “There was still a concert, sort of.” Though she regrets the discontinuation of her husband’s namesake event, she has moved on to other causes such as the Lady Lions’ Pink Zone effort against breast cancer. According to Coppersmith, who is a breastcancer survivor, the Pink Zone raised about $80,000 combined in its first three years. In the past three, the Pink Zone has raised $83,000, $197,000, and $250,000. “I’m passionate about the cause,” Coppersmith says. The cause may be well on its way to becoming yet another Penn State tradition. T&G Curtis Chan is coordinator of college relations for the College of Engineering at Penn State. He also is an adjunct instructor in the College of Communications, and graphics advisor for The Daily Collegian.
61 - Town&Gown April 2012
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Reservations required, please call Amanda Dutrow at Kish Bank 861-4660 ext. 8213. Co-sponsored by Town&Gown & Kish Bank Proceeds benefit Centre County Women's Resource Center Child Abuse Prevention Fund 62 - Town&Gown April 2012
in the
Community
s p e c i a l
Men
a d v e r t i s i n g s e c t i o n
Town&Gown’s ninth annual edition of recognizing some of the outstanding men who continue to help this region grow and prosper
Men in the Community JOHN E. ARRINGTON
ALFRED JONES, JR. Executive Director Centre County Community Foundation
2601 Gateway Drive, Suite #175 (814) 237-6229
Al has served as executive director of the Foundation since 2009, after being a practicing attorney for 37 years. He has served on the boards of Centre Homecare Inc., Centre County United Way, Community Help Centre, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of PA, Inc., the PA Bar Association, and the PA Bar Foundation, of which he is president. He is a member of the advisory council for the Center for the Performing Arts. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Patton Township. Sponsored by Tom Songer II
Executive Vice President, Sales and Retail Banking Kish Bank As leader of the Kish sales team, John is charged with developing and expanding customer relationships across the Bank’s three-county market area (Centre, Huntingdon, and Mifflin). A longtime veteran of the banking industry in Central Pennsylvania, John was a founding member of the Nittany Bank management team in State College before joining Kish in 2011. The University of Alabama graduate holds a B.S. degree in finance. His community leadership activities include service as Chair of the Centre County Youth Service Bureau and as Treasurer of the State College Jazz Festival. He has also served for 16 years as a youth football coach.
CHRISTIAN T. AUMILLER Owner Christian T. Aumiller Real Estate Appraisal & Consulting Services
248 E. Calder Way, Suite 400 (814) 234-0353
Christian understudied with J. Alvin Hawbaker in the State College market before purchasing his own business from Phillip E. Gingerich, MAI in 2002. A statecertified general appraiser and real estate broker, Christian conducts appraisals throughout Central PA, including numerous projects for Ferguson Township, State College Borough, and other municipalities. He is a member of the Centre County and Mifflin-Juniata County associations of Realtors and the Appraisal Institute. He and his wife, Sarah, have three daughters.
ALDEN BERRIER AND TIMOTHY FETZER The Arc of Centre County
1840 N. Atherton St. (814) 238-1444
MARK BIGATEL
Alden is a residential program worker at an Arc group home in Howard. He helps the three individuals, who have an intellectual disability, with daily life, from making meals to cleaning the house to going on outings. Alden is attending Lock Haven University and is leaning toward majoring in disability and community services. He enjoys sketching and painting.
Broker Associated Realty Property Management
456 E. Beaver Ave. (814) 231-3333 www.arpm.com
Upon graduating from Penn State in 1971, Mark stayed in State College and became involved in all aspects of real estate and his community. Associated Realty Property Management manages over 1500 properties and 11 Homeowners Associations. Mark is also the managing Broker of Kissinger Bigatel & Brower Realtors.
RICK BRYANT
RICH BUNDY
Executive Director Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
P.O. Box 1023 (814) 237-3682
Rick also serves as the Chair of State College’s Historic Resources Commission, and as the Board President of the Pennsylvania Rural Art Alliance. He first volunteered for Arts Festival in 1984 as a member of its trash crew, and became its executive director in 2005. In his spare time, he works on his blog, The Wandering Wahoo, a humorous trip through his life as a middle-aged doofus/hipster-wannabe. An alumnus of the University of Virginia, he seizes every opportunity to wear a blue and orange necktie.
sS pp ee cc i i aa ll
Tim is The Arc’s nursing supervisor, overseeing certified nursing assistants in the organization’s group homes. He studied nursing at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology and has worked a total of 20 years at The Arc, where he loves being able to advocate for his individuals every day. Tim lives in Howard with his partner of 14 years.
Candidate for Penn State Board of Trustees (No. 35) Penn State born and bred, Rich is a State College native, PSU graduate times two (undergrad and master’s), and the son of two Penn State employees — his father is director of the Blue Band, and his mother works in the College of Liberal Arts. Rich has 20 years of professional experience in higher education administration and brings the positive attitude and aptitude needed for our university’s leadership. To learn more about Rich’s background, experience, and platform, visit www.richbundy.org .
aA dd vv ee rr tt i i ss i i nn gg 64 2012 64- -Town&Gown Town&GownMarch April 2011
Ss ee cc t ti io on n
Men in the Community PATRICK CHAMBERS
DR. FRED CARLIN
Fred founded the Sight-Loss Support Group in 1982 with Rana Arnold. An optometrist with Nittany Eye Associates (a SLSG Circle of Light contributor), he is treasurer of the MidCounty Optometric Society and served on the Resolution and Bylaws Committee of the Pennsylvania Optometric Society. Active in the State College Community, he serves on the Mount Nittany Medical Center Golf Classic Committee and is a past president of the American Cancer Society of Centre County. Sponsored by Lions Gate Apartments
Head Coach Nittany Lion Basketball 113 Jordan Center (814) 865-5494 Patrick came to Penn State in June 2011 following two 20-win seasons at Boston University, where he led the Terriers to the 2011 America East Conference Championship and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2002. He has worked with two of the nation’s most successful college coaches, serving on Villanova Coach Jay Wright’s staff from 2004-09 and playing for Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee at Philadelphia University. Sponsored by Joel Confer Auto Outlet
PAT DAUGHERTY
DENNIS DITMER
Co-founder Sight-Loss Support Group of Central Pennsylvania
111 Sowers St., Suite 310 (814) 238-0132
Owner, The Tavern Restaurant
220 E. College Ave. (814) 238-6116
Pat waited tables at The Tavern while earning Penn State degrees in civil engineering, then returned here in 1980 to become restaurant co-owner. A fan and supporter of PSU athletics, he serves organizations including the Downtown Improvement District and the PA Restaurant Association, where he is on the Executive Committee. Pat was 1999 Renaissance Man of the Year. Sponsored by Bruce Lingenfelter & Mary Chuhinka Kurtz, TLC Group Investment Advisors, LLC
President Penn State University 201 Old Main (814) 865-2505 Rod became Penn State’s 17th president in 2011. He joined the university’s faculty in 1977, was promoted to professor in both geography and business in 1984, and has served in many leadership positions, most recently as executive vice president and provost. He is deeply committed to fulfilling the university’s mission of excellence in education, groundbreaking research and creative activity, and to sharing that knowledge with those in Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world. Sponsored by Mary Lou Bennett
BRUCE FLEISCHER
Chief Executive Officer Abundance Wealth Counselors, LLC 232 Regent Court (814) 861-3810
Jamie is the CEO of Abundance Wealth Counselors, an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm. Abundance focuses on wealth management for individuals and retirement plans. Jamie is responsible for the advancement of the company’s mission and objectives to enhance client relationships and growth of the organization. He also oversees the company operations to ensure quality, efficiency, and costeffective management of resources. Jamie currently serves as a board member for The Salvation Army of Centre County, the Old Gregg School Community & Recreation Center and Penns Valley Community Church. Jamie and his wife Sonia reside in Spring Mills with their two sons, Carter 11 and Cole 8.
JASON FRALICK Vice President
Herbert Rowland & Grubic, Inc. 474 Windmere Drive (814) 238-7117
Bruce is an attorney and executive director of the Centre County Bar Association. He is president of the Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art and also sits on the board of directors of the State College Community Theatre. Through membership dues and such fundraising events as the annual Gala, the Palmer strives to maintain a high profile as a vital cultural and educational center in the region and an admission-free resource available and accessible to all. Sponsored by the Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art
sS p p e e c c i i a a l l
Dennis started his YMCA career in 1973 at the Towson (Md.) YMCA. In 1997, he moved to Centre County to become executive director of the State College YMCA. He played a leading role in merging first the State College and Bellefonte YMCAs and then the Centre County and Moshannon Valley organizations. Dennis is an avid fisherman, hunter, and Civil War reenactor. He and his wife, Lyn, love to spend time with their two grandchildren.
JAMIE L. FELKER
RODNEY ERICKSON
President, Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art Board of Directors Curtin Road, Penn State (814) 865-7672
Retired CEO YMCA of Centre County 125 W. High St., Bellefonte (814) 355-5551
Jason joined HRG in 1991 and has been an integral part of the consulting engineering firm’s growth. Now, as vice president of the Central Region, he also serves on the HRG Board of Directors. This year, HRG is celebrating its 50th year in business. Jason is a Leadership Centre County graduate and board president. He also is a member of the Halfmoon Township Park & Recreation Board and the Windmere Park Association board, and a coach for Centre Soccer.
aA dd vv ee rr tt ii ss i i nn gg 65 2012 65- -Town&Gown Town&GownMarch April 2011
Ss ee cc t t i i o o n n
Men in the Community TYLER FURUKADO
GUY GADOWSKY
Service Manager P2P Computer Solutions 214 E College Ave. (814) 308-8404
Penn State Men’s Hockey Coach
Originally from Hawaii, Tyler has been with P2P in State College since the growing company was founded. He works on-site with clients most of the time, as P2P carries out projects such as server installations, internet service provider changes and data migration, always striving to achieve an optimal client working environment. Tyler enjoys spending time with customers, educating them on how to use their equipment and answering computer and printer related questions. He “lives and breathes” computers and enjoys gaming during his free time.
110 Jordan Center University Park (814) 867-7825
Gadowsky just finished his first season as Penn State’s men’s hockey coach, taking the team to the ACHA semifinals one last time before the Nittany Lions begin competing at the NCAA Division I level this fall. The Edmonton, Alberta, native came to Penn State following a successful seven-year stint as Princeton’s head coach and five years as Alaska’s bench boss. He led Princeton to two NCAA tournaments (2008, 2009) and, in 2001-02, guided Alaska to its first 20-win season since joining the CCHA. Sponsored by the Penn State Bookstore
WILLIAM P. HAYES
GREGORY T. HAYES
DANIEL HEIST
RON HENDERSON
Chairman, President and CEO Kish Bancorp, Inc., and Kish Bank Bill Hayes applies his more than 35 years of industry experience to the executivelevel management and strategic direction of the Kish Bancorp holding company, to Kish Bank as its principle subsidiary, and to its additional diversified business units in insurance, investment services, and travel services. Kish Bank currently has assets of $570 million and 13 community offices with 180 full-time employees. The Bellville native is also Past Chairman of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association (PBA) and is active in various leadership capacities with the American Bankers Association (ABA). An alumnus of Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, Bill is also a graduate of the PBA Advanced School of Banking at Bucknell University, the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and the ABA-Kellogg CEO Graduate Management Program.
National Board Member American Cancer Society 123 S. Sparks St. (888) 227-5445
Dan lost his mother to cancer when he was in college, so when an employer encouraged employees to become involved in the community, the American Cancer Society was a natural choice. Twenty-five years later, he’s a division board member, national board member and national treasurer, drawing on his professional financial experience as director of internal audit at Penn State. Dan encourages others to volunteer with ACS and help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
BILL HILSHEY
Conservation Easement Manager ClearWater Conservancy 2555 N. Atherton St. (814) 237-0400 Bill was a cardiologist in Altoona for 20 years before leaving medicine for a second career in the great outdoors. He interned at ClearWater while earning a master’s degree in forest resources from Penn State and then joined the Conservancy staff seven years ago. He manages ClearWater’s acquisition and stewardship of conservation easements, currently totaling 13 easements covering about 1,550 acres, plus land itself (two properties totaling 45 acres). Bill enjoys rock climbing, skiing, and traveling.
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Vice President, Business Banker and Branch Service Manager, Kish Bank Operating under a firm belief that businesses need a local partner who can provide a consultative approach to businesses solutions, Greg applies his expertise in commercial lending and branch management as he works closely with clients to help them achieve their financial goals. Greg earned a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from Lafayette College in Easton, PA. His avid, enthusiastic involvement with the community includes service with a variety of organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the Friends of the Palmer Museum, and the Centre County YMCA. He was recently recognized with the Centre County Community Foundation’s “Future of the Foundation Award.”
HEAD, PENN STATE DEPARTMENT OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, STUCKEMAN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE reh29@psu.edu
Ron came to Penn State from Tsinghua University’s Department of Landscape Architecture in Beijing, China. A licensed architect and landscape architect, he is the founder of L + A Landscape Architecture, an award-winning, international design practice. He was recently selected for the NEA/Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission’s Creative Artists Fellowship, and is the first landscape architect to be selected for the highly competitive fellowship since its inception in 1978. Sponsored by College of Arts and Architecture
LAMARTINE HOOD
Board President Housing Transitions, Inc. 217 E. Nittany Ave. (814) 237-4863 Lam works with Housing Transitions to provide housing services to Centre County residents in need. Among his many community roles are serving on the local Meals on Wheels board, on Penn State’s All Sports Museum’s board, as presidentelect of Sunrise Rotary, and as past president of Habitat for Humanity. He also does Medicare counseling at the Office of Aging. Lam is dean emeritus of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and professor emeritus of food science. Sponsored by Housing Transitions, Inc.
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Men in the Community THOMAS R. KING
ERIC HURVITZ
REALTOR® RE/MAX Centre Realty 1375 Martin St. (814) 231-8200, ext. 371
In his fifth year at RE/MAX, Eric has proved that local knowledge, a foundation in honesty, and the highest levels of client care are the keys to a successful business. He has helped more than 100 families achieve their real estate goals and has received RE/MAX’s Executive and 100% Club awards for excellence in the field of real estate. Eric, his wife Jasmine, and daughter Lauren are proud to call State College home.
NICHOLAS A. LINGENFELTER
BRUCE A. LINGENFELTER
Vice President and Market Manager, Central Mountain Region
Partner, TLC Group Investment Advisors, LLC
117 South Allen Street State College PA 16801 (814) 231-5422
270 Walker Dr. (814) 231-2265
An investment and retirement plan consultant for more than 45 years, Bruce is co-founder of TLC Group Investment Advisors, LLC, a firm specializing in wealth accumulation and preservation strategies. We focus on the client through innovative strategies and team dynamics for the family office. Sponsored by Vantage Investment Advisors, LLC
DANIEL J. LONG
Owner P2P Computer Solutions 214 E College Ave. (814) 308-8404
2121 Old Gatesburg Road, Suite 100 (814) 272-4546 (814) 238-7832 (fax) www.pooleanderson.com
A graduate of Penn State, Dan is responsible for all operations at Poole Anderson. He has worked for more than 20 years in the construction industry and has brought experiences gained from working on large design and construction projects, both domestic and international, to his role with Poole Anderson. Dan serves as a member of the Centre Lifelink EMS Board of Directors and vounteers time at his church and coaching youth sports. Dan and his wife reside in State College with their four young children.
Juan relocated back to his hometown of State College in 2007 and started P2P Computer Solutions as soon as he identified the need for a local, friendly IT source for both the residential and commercial community. In addition to leading the company and making plans for its future, he is committed to managing the day to day operations. He also enjoys tackling challenges like repairing “unrepairable” items. Juan is a member of several networking groups and the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County, and he devotes time to local organizations.
THOMAS MINICHIELLO
TED McDOWELL
Vice President Fulton Bank
Ted joined AmeriServ in 2005 and has a total of 40 years of business administration, commercial lending, and executive management experience. He is active in community organizations, currently serving as vice chair of the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County. Ted is on the boards of the Centre County United Way, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, and the Penn State Center for the Performing Arts.
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Nick is the Vice President and Market Manager for the Centre and Clinton Counties Markets for First National Bank. He is responsible for the sales, operations, and growth of 19 area branches. Lingenfelter started his career with First National in 1984. He has held various management positions within the organization over the last 28 years. Community-minded, Nick volunteers his time with many local agencies including: The Bellefonte Intervalley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County Board of Directors, The United Way of Centre County Board of Directors, and 2012 Campaign Co-chair.
JUAN MALDONADO
Vice President of Operations Poole Anderson Construction
Regional President AmeriServ Bank 734 S. Atherton St. 1-800-837-BANK Ext. 5458
Chief of Police, State College Police Department 243 S. Allen St. • (814) 234-7150 Chief of police since 1993, Tom has served as patrol officer, field training officer, narcotics detective, corporal, and sergeant. He is a member of University Park Campus Community Partnership on issues related to dangerous drinking; Youth Service Bureau board member; State College Presbyterian Church elder; PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency commissioner; and PA Chiefs of Police Association second VP. He and his wife, Kelley, have two adult children. Sponsored by Beta Alumni Association
2017 N. Atherton St. (814) 272-0166
A member of the Centre County banking community since relocating to State College in 1996, Tom manages all retail sales and operations for Fulton Bank in the State College market. Fulton Bank recently expanded its presence in the market by opening a full-service branch in Bellefonte. Tom serves as a Board member for the Centre County Youth Service Bureau. He and his wife, Sandy, have three children.
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Men in the Community KEN MOSCONE
President & CEO QBC Diagnostics and The Drucker Company 168 Bradford Drive Port Matilda In 1983, Ken purchased The Drucker Company, a Florida manufacturer of laboratory centrifuges, and in 1997 relocated it to State College. Drucker, renowned for high-quality products, was awarded a significant contract in 2011 by its premier competitor to build their centrifuge models at the Drucker facility in Philipsburg. QBC Diagnostics, a manufacturer of hematology instrumentation, disposables, malaria, and TB diagnostic kits, was purchased in 2005. In 2009, QBC ranked #50 in Inc. magazine’s fastestgrowing health companies. Sponsored by Urish Popeck & Co., LLC
GREG MYFORD
Associate Athletic Director – Business Relations & Communications Penn State University 101M Bryce Jordan Center (814) 865-9080 After earning a B.A in journalism at Penn State, Greg launched his sports marketing career in Washington, DC with the Home Team Sports cable network. He then joined the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment, finishing 12 years with PS&E as senior VP of corporate development with the 2004 NHL Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. In 2004, Greg returned to his alma mater to oversee revenue generation, brand management, marketing, broadcasting, and communications for Intercollegiate Athletics. Sponsored by Fran Fisher & Associates
MARK OLSEN
BILL O’BRIEN
Head Football Coach Penn State University We welcome Bill O’Brien in his first year as head coach of the Nittany Lions. Before coming to Penn State, he had been the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots for one season, helping the team reach the Super Bowl. He was on the Patriots’ staff for five seasons under head coach Bill Belichick. A graduate of Brown University, he also coached for Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Duke. He is the 15th head coach in Penn State football history. Sponsored by The Allen Street Grill
Head of M.F.A. Acting Program Pennsylvania State University
BERNARD ORAVEC
THEODORE J. OYLER, CFP
Publisher Williamsport Sun-Gazette
1524 W. College Ave. (814) 234-2500
Bernie is publisher of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. With more than 25 years of media experience, he is recognized as a leader in the PA newspaper industry. A lifelong resident and drummer in central PA, Bernie is active in the local arts community. A Penn State alumnus, Bernie serves on the Board of Directors for Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America Susquehanna Council and Williamsport Symphony Orchestra.
Assistant Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager Kish Bank Matt’s responsibilities focus on originating new business-customer relationships and managing an existing portfolio of commercial, industrial, and real estate loans. He came to Kish Bank with previous financial experience with M&T Bank and GE Capital, where he earned the GE Gold Award for outstanding achievement and teamwork. He is an accounting and marketing graduate of St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Michele, are the parents of two young children.
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Head of the Penn State Graduate Acting Program and a guest artist teacher at the Juilliard School in New York. He has been on the PSU faculty for fifteen years. His expertise is expressive movement and stage combat. His work is regularly seen on the New York stage and at Hartford Stage Company. Recently he has expanded his work to include orchestral and band conductors. Mark has also worked in the community as an artist with Galaxy Arts in Education, teaching theatre at schools in Stage College and surrounding areas.
Partner Diversified Asset Planners Inc.
252 West Fourth St. Williamsport boravec@sungazette.com
MATTHEW Q. RAPTOSH
110 Theatre Building, University Park (814) 863-1454
Having joined Diversified Asset Planners in 1991, Ted became a certified financial planner in May 2001 and a DAP partner that same year. He specializes in retirement planning, creating financial plans to meet retired clients’ portfolio goals and income objectives. He is a registered representative offering securities through J.W. Cole Financial Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. When he’s not at work, Ted plays golf, coaches youth sports, and spends time with his wife, Jennifer, and their son, Trey, and daughter, Linlee.
RUSS ROSE
Penn State Women’s Volleyball Coach
235 Recreation Building University Park (814) 863-7474
Russ is one of the most successful coaches in women’s volleyball history. He owns a career record of 1,058-172 and has guided his teams to 22 conference titles, including eight straight in the Big Ten. He is one of three coaches to achieve more than 1,000 career wins, and his 2010 Nittany Lion squad won its fourth consecutive and the program’s fifth overall NCAA National Championship title. Sponsored by Rick Tetzlaff
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Men in the Community PETE ROY, MD
COL. GERALD F. RUSSELL (RET.)
Chair, Mount Nittany Physician Group Board of Directors
In April 2011, Pete Roy, MD, was elected to serve as the chair of Mount Nittany Physician Group’s Board of Directors. In this role, Dr. Roy works to ensure that the board functions properly and meets its responsibilities. Board-certified in neurology, he provides care at Mount Nittany’s Park Avenue practice. Dr. Roy joined Mount Nittany in 1988, adding his considerable expertise and leadership abilities to Mount Nittany’s ongoing mission of providing high-quality medical care to the community and surrounding areas.
Head Wrestling Coach
Penn State University 238 Recreation Building
Coach Sanderson became a collegiate legend as an undefeated 4X NCAA Champ and OW with 139 straight wins for Iowa State. As a Junior, he passed Dan Gable’s record of 98 straight wins. He won Olympic Gold in 2004. He coached Iowa State (2006-08) to 3 Big 12 Titles and NCAA Silver. In his 3rd PSU season, his Lions became Big Ten Duals Co-Champions and have repeated as 2012 Big Ten and NCAA Champs. His wrestlers say their coaches and Wrestling Room challenges are all they had hoped for. Sponsored by Penn State Wrestling Club
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kish Bank With full responsibility for day-to-day operations, Brad has played a pivotal role in guiding Kish Bank’s continued exceptional financial performance. A finance graduate of Penn State, where he was a three-year letterman on the football team, Brad brought nearly 30 years of banking and financial services experience to Kish when he joined the team in 2009. Active in the community, Brad’s professional activities include the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, the Smeal College of Business at Penn State, and Financial Executives International.
WILLIAM W. SIEG
DANAN SHARER
Owner & President Corman Associates Inc.
Investment Advisor Nestlerode & Loy 430 W. Irvin Ave (814) 238-6249
Danan is an investment advisor with Nestlerode & Loy who is currently celebrating 75 years of service to their clients. Danan’s primary focus is helping businesses and individuals reach their financial goals. A Penns Valley Area High School graduate and Eagle Scout, he served in the Navy for 12 years and is studying finance at Penn State. He is a CBICC ambassador, Centre County Farmland Trust and Bellefonte Sunrise Rotary treasurer, and Leadership Centre County alumnus. Danan and his wife, Jody, reside in Bellefonte with their children.
1951Pine Hall Road, Suite 100 (814) 231-2214
Bill has been involved with the Family owned Real Estate business since the late 1970’s For more than 50 years Corman Associates has earned a reputation for excellent customer service. A Bellefonte native, Bill has twice served a president of the Centre County Association of Realtors. He and is wife Melissa are co-owners of the company and have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. Sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman
PETER SORENSEN
CHARLES SMITH
Board President Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau
800 E. Park Ave. (814) 231-1400
Charlie has worked at Foxdale for seven years and enjoys interacting with residents every day. He also puts his skills to work as president of Habitat for Humanity of Blair County. Charlie and his wife, Barbara, have five children and four grandchildren and live in the Blair County homestead that’s been in his family for four generations. The couple enjoys riding their Yamaha touring bike to places like Presque Isle, Maine.
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Sponsored by Friends of Glenn Thompson
J. BRADLEY SCOVILL
CAEL SANDERSON
DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE & SAFETY FOXDALE VILLAGE 500 E. Marylyn Ave. (814) 238-3322
Community Volunteer A Marine combat veteran of Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Korea, and the Cuban missile crisis, the colonel is a tireless community volunteer for causes including Pennsylvania Special Olympics, Centre County Toys for Tots, and United Way. The Nittany Leathernecks honored him in 2006 by establishing the Russell Scholarship Fund. Last year, as the longtime chair of the Day of Caring, he was the inaugural recipient of the Centre County United Way’s Gerald F. Russell Award, to be bestowed annually for long-term Day of Caring efforts.
Peter has worked in the local hospitality industry for 16 years, currently as senior sales manager for Penn State Hospitality Services, which operates the Nittany Lion Inn and Penn Stater. He has been involved with the CPCVB for the past decade and believes the bureau’s work improves the economic climate here for all businesses. Peter is a Meals on Wheels board member, Advisory board member for PSU All Sports Museum, and Tussey Mountain ski patroller.
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Men in the Community VERN SQUIER
DICK STRAW
President & CEO Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County 200 Innovation Blvd., Suite 150 (814) 234-1829
Volunteer, Centre Communities Chapter, American Red Cross
As president and CEO, Vern’s primary responsibility is to provide effective leadership for the CBICC and its members in carrying out the chamber’s mission, directing internal operations, and developing external relationships beneficial to business and community advancement. He came to the CBICC in 2011 from Overland Park, Kansas, bringing more than 30 years of chamber and economic development experience to his new position. Sponsored by AmeriServ Bank
205 E. Beaver Ave., Suite 203 (814) 237-3162
Dick delivers supplies for local Red Cross blood drives and has been donating blood since 1952, when the Army drafted him. “They marched 340 of us up to the hospital and said you will donate blood.” Since then, he has donated 14 gallons. Dick has been a plant engineer, worked for Corning, and was a corrections officer at Rockview for 23 years. He and his wife, Mabel, have seven children and 17 grandchildren. Sponsored by SPE Federal Credit Union
DAVID VACTOR
JAMES B. THOMAS, PhD,
Program Coordinator Centre County Youth Service Bureau
Vice Chair, Mount Nittany Health System Board of Directors
Mount Nittany Health System, the area’s healthcare leader, makes life better for the community as a trusted care provider. Jim Thomas, one of many local people on its board, brings passion and expertise to his duties of preparing for the future of Centre region healthcare. Thomas is the dean of The Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business and a professor of information services and management. A Mount Nittany board member since 2008, he currently serves as vice chair of the health system’s Board of Directors.
325 West Aaron Drive (814) 237-5731
Leading the Youth Service Bureau’s Family Group Decision Making program since its inception in 2003, Dave helps families maximize their own resources to solve problems that might otherwise tear them apart. Working with as many family members and friends as possible, he and his team help families create the opportunity to problem-solve using their own traditions, values, and strengths. Dave, his wife, Mandy, and son, Justice, are proud to be part of YSB’s family.
GENE WELLER
Personal Financial Representative Allstate Insurance 1380 N. Atherton St. (814) 234-9831
Although Gene has been an Allstate agent for almost 30 years, he’s best known for being Centre County’s local community coordinator for Toys for Tots. A former Marine and Marine Corps Reservist, last year he led the Nittany Leathernecks’ program in collecting and wrapping 16,954 toys for distribution to 6,766 kids. Gene’s wife, Donna, coordinates the wrapping, and he credits hundreds of community volunteers with the local program’s huge success. Sponsored by Penn State Hospitality Services
STEPHEN WRIGHT
Community Volunteer Steve is a graduate of Penn State, earning both Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Latin American history. Steve held several different administrative positions at Penn State, in the College of Liberal Arts, and the World Campus within the Division of Continuing Education. He additionally served as adjunct faculty at both Penn State and Bucknell Universities. After retiring from Penn State in 1999, Steve began his current career as a financial advisor with Diversified Asset Planners in State College. Steve joined the Board of the Centre County Women’s Resource Center in 2008 and presently serves as the Board’s Treasurer. Sponsored by Centre County Women’s Resource Center
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Men in the Community TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND: JOE PATERNO Football coach. Philanthropist. Family man. Joseph Vincent Paterno played many positions, but above all, he was “JoePa” to State College, Penn State, and fans around the world. Born in Brooklyn and a Brown University graduate, Joe came to Penn State in 1950, recruited by Head Coach Rip Engle, who had been his college coach at Brown. In 1966, after 16 years as an assistant coach, Joe was named Engle’s successor. Over the next 46 years, he led the Nittany Lions to 409 victories — the most of any coach in Division I college football — as well as a record 39 winning seasons and 24 bowl wins, plus two national championships. Off the field, Joe’s “Grand Experiment” in emphasizing academics for athletes led to his players consistently posting above-average graduation rates, compared with other Division I schools. He and his wife, Sue, placed a priority on academics in their philanthropy as well, donating millions to Pattee and Paterno libraries and the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center at Penn State. They also contributed to organizations including Mount Nittany Medical Center, Special Olympics, and the Suzanne Pohland Paterno Catholic Student Faith Center being built on Park Avenue. All five of the Paternos’ children are Penn State graduates, and their close-knit family includes 17 grandchildren. Joseph Vincent Paterno: 1926-2012 Sponsored by The Corner Room
T These men at Barash Media work hard to make Town&Gown a successful and enjoyable product for you each month. They are: (from left) John Hovenstine, creative director; David Pencek, editorial director; Darren Weimert, graphic designer; Rob Schmidt, publisher/general manager.
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Same Great Tradition! Get ready for a new season — and a new era — of Penn State football by ordering a copy of
Town&Gown’s 2012 Penn State Football Annual! This year’s Annual continues its great tradition of in-depth stories written by award-winning writers from across the state who cover the Nittany Lions. The 2012 edition includes a look at the Nittany Lions’ new head coach Bill O’Brien and what changes he’ll be bringing to the program. Player features have all the positions covered. A look at this season’s opponents. And special coverage on Joe Paterno.
Orders for Town&Gown’s 2012 Penn State Football Annual will be taken 72 - Town&Gown April 2012 starting June 1 at www.townandgown.com. The Annual is due out July 11.
Steve Tressler/Vista Professional Studios
New Era —
2012 Schedule Sept. 1 ...............OHIO UNIVERSITY Sept. 8 ..............................at Virginia Sept. 15 .....................................NAVY Sept. 22 ................................ TEMPLE Sept. 29 .............................. at Illinois Oct. 6 ..................NORTHWESTERN Oct. 20 ....................................at Iowa Oct. 27 ...........................OHIO STATE Nov. 3 .................................at Purdue Nov. 10 ..........................at Nebraska Nov. 17 ............................... INDIANA Nov. 24 .........................WISCONSIN
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Darren Weimert
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Daryl Gregory was a weird kid growing up — and proud of it. Now, he profits from the weirdness. The 46-year-old from State College writes [dot]net code at Minitab Inc. in the mornings and spends his afternoon at an area Starbucks typing away his latest science-fiction, fantasy, and comic-book stories. His writing has paid off — he has had numerous science-fiction and fantasy books published and become critically acclaimed, and he writes two ongoing comicbook series published by Boom! Studios. “I just want to write stories that are worth reading,” he says at a table inside a downtown Starbucks recently. “When I was a kid, we had a K-Mart near our house and I wanted to be one of those people in the paperbacks rack. I would read a book that excited me, and I knew I wanted to do that to someone else. Everything I wrote came out weird, so I knew I had to write science fiction.” Coming from a family of Southerners and growing up near Chicago, Gregory had a typical blue-collar upbringing. His father, Darrell — his parents thought they would be clever and change the spelling of the name for young Daryl — worked at Reynolds Aluminum for 30 years while his mother, Thelma, cared for Daryl and his sisters, Lisa and Robin, before going to work
Along with his novels, Gregory writes for the Planet of the Apes comic-book series.
Raising Stony Mayhall was Gregory’s third novel and was published in 2011.
as a nurse. No one except Daryl had any interest in science fiction. “My family always knew I was the weird one,” he says laughing. “They’ve always been supportive, and I think they’re happy I can find people to pay me for my writing.” Gregory’s first novel, Pandemonium, was published by Del Rey Books in 2008 and won the 2009 Crawford Award (an award given to a writer who has published their first fantasy book), along with being nominated for other awards, including the World Fantasy Award and the Shirley Jackson Award, which awards writers for outstanding achievement in the literature of “psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic.” His second novel — The Devil’s Alphabet — was named by Publisher’s Weekly as one of the best books of 2009 and was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. His third novel — Raising Stony Mayhall — was published in June 2011. Unpossible and Other Stories — a collection of his short stories — was named one of the best books of 2011 by Publisher’s Weekly. His comic-book series include Dracula: The Company of Monsters, co-written with Kurt
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(Clockwise from lower left) Pandemonium was Gregory’s first novel and won the 2009 Crawford Award. Unpossible and Other Stories was named one of the best books in 2011 by Publisher’s Weekly, while The Devil’s Alphabet was named a best book by Publisher’s Weekly in 2009. Gregory is one of the writers for the Dracula: The Company of Monsters comic-book series.
Busiek with art by Scott Godlewski and Damien Couceiro, and Planet of the Apes with art by Carlos Magno. Comic-book writing is relatively new to Gregory — his Dracula series has been running since August 2010 and Planet of the Apes first appeared in April 2011. About Gregory’s work, Rose Fox of Publisher’s Weekly wrote in a blog, “If you want to try to slap a label on his books, you can call them fantasy or horror or dark fantasy or slipstream or New Weird, but sooner or later all those labels will fall off, or perhaps peel themselves off and skitter away into the shadows, and you’ll be
left only with a deep, uneasy sense that maybe the world really is as he describes it — an amalgamation of the astonishly glorious and the quietly terrible, and what we call reality is only a comforting illusion.” Despite the acclaim from Publisher’s Weekly and others in the writing world, it was Gregory’s upbringing and not knowing how to become a writer that took him on paths that seemed to lead anywhere but writing. He graduated from Illinois State University in 1987 with degrees in English and theater. While in college, he met his now-wife Kathy Bieschke, and the two set out on the science-
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Contributed Photos (2)
Gregory with his daughter, Emma.
fiction journey together. After graduating, Gregory taught high school in Michigan for three years, then moved to Salt Lake City where Bieschke was doing a one-year internship. Gregory worked for the University of Utah training people how to use their phone systems. Bieschke then took a position at Penn State
and the couple moved to State College in 1991. Soon after, Gregory started working for Minitab as a temp. He then joined the company’s documentation department, where he was a technical and marketing writer. His job evolved until one day he decided a change was in order. “For several years I was manager of the Webdevelopment department until I decided to get serious about writing,” he says. “I went to halftime at Minitab and stepped down as manager.” But writing never came easy — until he worked on it. In 1988, he participated in a six-week workshop for aspiring science-fiction writers at Michigan State University. Despite selling a story he wrote at the workshop, he “pecked away” at a novel for eight or nine years that was “totally unsellable.” That is when he decided to “get serious” about writing. He reads a lot of nonfiction regarding physics, neuroscience, and more — things that help him develop his stories. He says he hopes that, more than just monster mayhem, his work shows well-developed characters who may not be your everyday people but still wrestle with issues that many of us deal with such as
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family struggles and finding one’s true self. Take the plot from Raising Stony Mayhall, for example. In 1968, after the first zombie outbreak, Wanda Mayhall and her three young daughters discover the body of a teenage mother during a snowstorm. Wrapped in the woman’s arms is a baby, stone cold, not breathing, and without a pulse. But then his eyes open and look up at Wanda — and he begins to move. The family hides the child — whom they name Stony — rather than turn him over to authorities who would destroy him. Against all scientific reason, the undead boy begins to grow. For years his adoptive mother and sisters manage to keep his existence a secret — until one terrifying night when Stony is forced to run and he learns that he is not the only living dead boy left in the world. “I love to hook people with strange ideas,” Gregory says. “That’s what science fiction is great at. But I want to tie those ideas to characters you care about. The story doesn’t work if the emotion isn’t there.” It is the connection to real-life emotions — despite using characters such as zombies — that make Gregory a talented writer, says Martha
Millard, Gregory’s agent and owner of New York City-based Martha Millard Agency. “Raising Stony Mayhall can be read as a riproaring zombie novel, a fast-paced story with a lot of action,” she says. “It also has the gorgeous prose style and great finely drawn characters that distinguish the best fiction. Daryl’s exploration of themes such as whether there is such a thing as free will and what families mean and how they shift elevates his writing and makes the work resonate with readers.” Millard says she sees Gregory’s career growing strong, including continued work in comics, along with strong possibilities for film and television adaptations. She says there is an option already in place on Pandemonium. While others might develop egos when their work receives positive recognition and the potential for expanding into film and television happens, Gregory is deeply grounded thanks in large part to his family. His daughter, Emma, is 19 and a sophomore at Penn State in the Schreyer’s Honors College majoring in nutrition. His son, Ian, is 15, a sophomore at State College Area High School,
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Gregory with his son, Ian, and wife, Kathy.
and a “thespian, choir kid, and tech-geek.” Then there is Gregory’s best critic, his own wife. “I definitely give it to him with both barrels, but that’s only because Daryl is so invested in writing the best book he possibly can and encourages me to give my honest opinion,” Bieschke, a psychologist and professor of counseling psychology at Penn State, says. “As a true lover of books, I feel like I so lucked out in this relationship. I get to influence the creation of novels without actually having to do the writing.” As Gregory writes a book or story, the characters take up residence with the family and Bieschke begins to care for them, she says. “We have definitely had some pretty intense discussions and arguments about whether what he’s written fits the character,” she says. “Given that science fiction and fantasy can be pretty idea driven, I think Daryl’s focus on developing believable characters readers care about — even if they’re zombies — sets him apart from other writers in the genre.” While Gregory’s writing is important to himself and his family, Bieschke says she has never felt that he values his writing more than his family. In fact, she says he has often put his writing aside to support her career and needs of the family.
“Daryl and I like to think about our family’s collective happiness, and we are constantly readjusting how we spend our time so that we can maximize this for the four of us,” she says. “Early in my career at Penn State, Daryl really put writing to the side while I focused on tenure and promotion. More recently, he really made it possible for me to be with my brother as much as possible while he was dying of brain cancer. And our kids pretty much trump either of our career goals. We feel very fortunate to have kids that have made it easy for us to be as involved in our careers as we both are.” Gregory is still working on finding the right balance between work and family, but he says he is heading in the right direction. He certainly appreciates the support of his family and also the satisfaction he gets in his work, something he hopes continues. “Writing is the hardest thing I can do well,” he says. “It’s just fun. I love being in the moment. If you can find something to get lost in, that’s the trick.” T&G Jennifer Babulsky is associate editor of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and a freelance writer based in State College.
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ThisMonth on INDEPENDENT LENS: BEING ELMO — A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY Thursday, April 5, at 9:30 p.m.
PENN STATE PUBLIC BROADCASTING
*For additional program information, log on to wpsu.org
Technology expert and communications attorney Yul Kwon (winner of Survivor: Cook Islands) is the series’ adventurous guide. In this exciting new PBS series, Kwon travels through time, space, and systems to reveal a nation of interdependent and intricately interwoven networks that feed and power the nation, produce millions of goods, transport people great distances, and still come together to make America work.
Every day, millions tune in to Sesame Street, (Monday–Friday at 10 a.m. on WPSU-TV) to see one of the world’s most adored and recognizable characters — a furry red monster named Elmo. Yet, with all of Elmo’s EARTH DAY, Sunday, April 22 fame, the man behind WPSU will observe Earth Day with the icon is able to walk a trilogy of PBS specials hosted by down the street without Penn State’s Evan Pugh Professor of being recognized. Meet Geosciences, Richard Alley. The three Kevin Clash. As a teenager specials will offer a comprehensive and growing up in Baltimore in objective account of Earth’s climate the 1970s, Clash had very challenges and energy opportunities. different aspirations from Earth: The Operators’ Manual, at his classmates — he wanted to be a puppeteer. 6 p.m., addresses Earth’s problems and More specifically, he wanted to be part possibilities, of Jim Henson’s team, the creative force leaving responsible for delivering the magic viewers of Sesame Street. With a supportive informed, family behind him, Clash made his energized, and dreams come true. Combining archival optimistic. At footage with material from the present “If we approach Earth as if we have an 7 p.m., Energy Operators’ Manual, we can avoid climate Quest USA day, filmmaker Constance Marks catastrophes, improve energy security, and explores Clash’s story in vivid detail visits five make millions of good jobs.” and chronicles the meteoric rise of Jim —Richard Alley very different Henson in the process. American communities that are each, in their own AMERICA REVEALED ways, working to become more sustainable. Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Powering the Planet, at 10:30 p.m., is a Beginning Wednesday, April 11, a new provocative and inspiring assessment of what four-part series takes viewers on a journey it takes to build a sustainable infrastructure high above the American landscape to — a process that spans decades and requires reveal the country as never seen before. long-term government support.
wpsu.org U.Ed. OUT 12-0599/12-PSPB-TV-0017
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penn state diary
Come Together Student gatherings have important place in school’s history
With April, the end of the “winter semester” is in sight, and the blossoming flowers and warm days of real spring are not far off. In my days as a student, it also would have meant Spring Week. Of course, in the later 1960s, we were on the 10-week term system, and spring term typically ran from late March until early June. Back then, the spring carnival was the highlight with fraternities and sororities occupying tents on the grass fields between East Halls and Beaver A photo from the 1960s shows Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and Acacia Stadium. A fraternity would pair with fraternity performing their Spring Week skit. a sorority to present a skit of their own The president suggested that the new celdevising, in costume, which loosely followed a ebration focus on service projects to improve theme that changed every year. To say these were of questionable taste had the relationships between the community and more to do with the sketchy writing, acting, campus. The annual IFC-Panhel Sing was a vosinging, and dancing performances than from cal competition and part of Greek Week, along off-color content. The raucous laughter coming with a concert and often a campuswide formal from the tents resulted mostly from the audi- dance with a big-name orchestra. In 1960, ence watching their fellow students having fun Greek Week moved to the newly created fall term, and in 1963 to the winter term, as a winby looking foolish. Looking back at the news coverage of that ter carnival. Earlier students had fun too, of course. Before time, we can see that Spring Week and its predecessors and successors had a varying array of the turn of the century, most of it was relatively attractions, but often a set of common activi- unorganized. With the advent of fraternity houses ties that continued over the years — sometimes in the 1890s, there were parties, but women were switching seasons or events, but persisting, or always accompanied by chaperones. Alcohol was usually present to one degree or another, and into sometimes returning after a few years’ absence. A parade with floats was, from 1952 un- the Roaring Twenties, social life could generate til 1962, a Spring Week event. When it was quite an uproar. The Depression of the 1930s slowed the fridropped, even the Centre Daily Times lamented that Centre County parade-goers would miss volity, however. By the end of the decade, there it. That fall it joined lawn displays as a major was concern for the international situation, but feature of fall Homecoming that continues to antiwar rallies were sparsely attended because this day. Window-painting, another current students were more concerned with their own Homecoming event, also began in the 1950s as economic needs. They tended to gripe about poster displays during Greek Week. President the cost of living in State College, the relatively Milton Eisenhower urged the replacement of small number of women students, as well as Hell Week, the fraternities’ time of initiation compulsory ROTC. Naturally, America’s entry into World War II refocused all the energy on and hazing, with Greek Week in 1952. 82 - Town&Gown April 2012
Penn State University Archives
By Lee Stout
national defense and the war effort. All through the first half of the twentieth century, fraternities had dominated not only student social life but also student government. By the end of World War II, this began to change with the introduction of an all-college student government, including independent men and women students. The 1950s and first half of the 1960s saw the return to “normalcy,” including a return to traditional attitudes toward women and minorities. The later 1960s, however, began the seismic changes that have not yet ended. The Civil Rights movement and the war in Vietnam brought campus protests to unprecedented levels, and the growing consciousness of young feminists seeking women’s rights yielded numerous changes. Soon, limits on numbers of women students disappeared and women’s enrollment grew to near equality. These events also ended or diminished many celebrations and traditional forms of student life such as separate women’s government and honorary societies. Formal campuswide dances disappeared, as did Greek Week for a time. However, the seriousness of those days would not last forever — the desire for release and fun found new outlets. New forms of Spring Week and Greek Week, now enhanced with chariot races, returned. The Phi Psi 500, the Sy Barash Regatta, Gentle Thursday, and the Movin’ On concerts had their years. A spring arts festival in May of 1963 and 1964 on campus, and then on a blocked-off section of South Allen Street, gradually evolved into a summer festival of the arts on campus and in town. Now Homecoming has grown into an evenlarger event, along with parents’ weekend, and Blue-White Weekend, once just a football scrimmage and now a festival with carnival rides and development events. THON is the largest and best known of these activities; it is the ultimate service project for the student body and has become a proud tradition for Penn State. Student celebrations will always be a feature of college life, spontaneous or planned. Increasingly however, they have become integral to both the university and the community at large. T&G Lee Stout is Librarian Emeritus, Special Collections for Penn State.
Get to know...
Kim Steiner & The Arboretum Kim Steiner was 8 years old when he planted his first tree. “My mother said you can’t transplant trees in the summer, so I did it just to see if it would work.” It did. Eventually, the budding scientist left the Mississipppi River bluffs of southern Illinois to study forest biology and genetics in Colorado and Michigan before joining Penn State’s faculty 37 years ago. Now he is a professor of forest biology and director of The Arboretum at Penn State, a 370-acre teaching and research facility first proposed more than a century ago. This month, Dr. Steiner’s Arboretum crew is tending a new spring bulb display, working on the preliminary design for the conservatory and education center, and beginning construction of the children’s garden. The director says the latter is modeled after the region’s landscape of mountains and valleys and will be a place “where kids will fall in love with plants and nature.” To him, those “kids” include the 44,000 students studying across Park Avenue from the arboretum. “Having an arboretum or botanic garden is no less important to an institution like ours than having an art museum or an auditorium where we can have performances,” he says. “It’s part of the cultural life of a university of our stature.” The Penn State Bookstore thanks Kim Steiner and all faculty and staff who carry out the university’s mission every day.
www.psu.bncollege.com 814-863-0205
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events
Showing the Region’s Talent and Heart Happy Valley’s Got Talent returns to help Tides organization Contributed Photo
By Samantha Hulings
For those involved in the first Happy Valley’s Got Talent show last year, picking one highlight proves to be a challenge since there were so many that showed not only the area’s talent but also, and more importantly, the area’s heart. The show was organized to benefit Tides, a griefsupport organization for children and families who have Some of the performers from last year’s Happy Valley’s Got Talent. Cirque Éloize brings its show lost a loved one. This year’s show is April 28 at the State Theatre. ID to Eisenhower Auditorium The community’s generosity February 15. and response impressed Tides outreach coordi- is producing this year’s event as well. He says nator Holly Torbic. “Last year, one organization he was impressed by the number of auditions in town donated tickets to all the Tides families and the community’s response to the talent so they could go and enjoy the show,” she says. show last year. “We were blown away at the generosity of this “I was so glad we filled the house, but it community. We never anticipated we would didn’t really hit me until I had a meeting with have to turn people away. We received so much Leslie [Finton, executive director of Tides] support from the newspapers and radio. Of- and Holly,” he says. tentimes people feel helpless when it comes to Torbic says the growth of the Tides program grieving children, so if there is some small way over the last two years combined with a depeople can help, they will bend over backwards crease in funding caused the staff to think of to help in any way.” new ways to raise money. The idea for an area The talent show is back for a second year to talent show came after seeing the creation of benefit Tides, and it will be held April 28 at Uniontown’s Got Talent, which is put on by the State Theatre. Pediatric Dental Care & Tides’s sister organization in Uniontown. Happy Valley Orthodontics is the title spon“In the first year, Uniontown had 40 applisor for this year’s event. Open auditions will cants, and the second year they had 300,” Torbe held 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 14, and 10 a.m. bic says. “We were becoming self-sufficient and to 6 p.m. April 15 at Indigo (112 East College thinking of fundraising. We do get money from Avenue, State College). United Way, but we required more, so we deLast year’s auditions provided plenty of cided to try a Happy Valley’s Got Talent.” highlights and surprises. “We expected talent, Besides the performances on stage, the cobut we did not expect the stories that came ordinators worked to incorporate the children with the talent. One gentleman had lost his involved with Tides into the show. Torbic says wife five years ago, on the day he auditioned children drew a memory garden that was dislast year. He sang ‘Angels Among Us’ by Al- played in the lobby of the State Theatre. It abama while she was dying — and then he was complete with flowers, a bridge, and pond sang it at the auditions,” Torbic says. “A Tides in memory of those family members the chilgirl came and sang Carrie Underwood’s ‘Play dren had lost. All the materials used to create On.’ Her dad had died and her philosophy the garden were donated to the program. The now is to keep going and play on.” Tides program also created a slide show of reJerry Sawyer, who produced last year’s show, membrance, allowing Tides family members to 84 - Town&Gown April 2012
provide pictures of their loved ones to be shown. “Oftentimes the children feel as if someone has forgotten their loved ones, so we respect the idea of remembering,” Torbic says. Besides Sawyer, emcee Fred Metzger is back as are all of last year’s judges, including Sue Paterno, B94.5 program director P.J. Mullen, and Jeff Brown of 93.7 The Bus. State College mayor Elizabeth Goreham also will be a judge this year. Even though last year’s show was a success, organizers have made a few changes to try and make this year’s show run even more smoothly. Auditions will be specifically limited to those who live in the area known as “Happy Valley.” This includes Centre, Clinton, Blair, Cambria, Mifflin, and Clearfield counties. A 2 p.m. matinee performance has been added to allow families with young children to attend. During the afternoon performance, children in the audience can vote for their favorite performances. The winners will receive a Children’s Choice Award. Torbic says tickets will cost less for the matinee show and the judges and emcee will be only at the 7 p.m. performance.
Instead of three age groups, the show will now feature four age groups — Future Fame for ages 12 to 15, Rising Stars for ages 16 to 20, Prime Time for ages 21 to 39, and Local Legends for ages 40 and older. Three finalists will be chosen to compete in the finals for each division. Though Torbic and Sawyer have no preshow expectations for this year’s event, they hope it will continue to be a success. Sawyer says he hopes that this year’s Happy Valley’s Got Talent will at least equal the success of last year’s show. “Last year, we didn’t know what to expect and we still don’t know what to expect,” Torbic adds. “But because we are already getting phone calls, we are expecting more auditions because [the event] is so positive and brings joy to the area.” T&G Auditions are free but applications must be filled out ahead of time and e-mailed to Jerry Sawyer at jvs3@psu.edu. Entry forms can be downloaded from Tides’s Web site at www.tidesprogram.org.
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April 10~21 • Playhouse Theatre College of Arts and Architecture
814-863-0255 ✹ www.theatre.psu.edu 85 - Town&Gown April 2012
40
Fabulous at
Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art
G ala 2012 Friday, May 18, 2012 6:30 to 11:00 p.m.
COMING TO THE
Bryce Jordan Center
April 3 Mac Miller 8 p.m.
11-12 Dayglow 7 p.m.
24 Cirque du Soleil presents Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour 8 p.m.
Nittany Lion Inn Ballroom Honorary Chairs Betsy Warner and Barbara Weaver
Silent and Live Auctions Dinner and Dancing Preview auction items at
www.palmermuseum.psu.edu by clicking on the GALA 2012 icon
Benefits the Palmer Museum of Art
Preregistration and payment required ($175 per person; includes $60 tax-deductible donation)
For more information, please call 814-863-9182 Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.
29 Kevin Hart 8 p.m.
Coming in May 31 Riverdance 7:30 p.m.
April 1
what’s happening
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Anoushka Shankar performs at Eisenhower Auditorium for a 7:30 p.m. concert.
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Easter Easter
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Millbrook Marsh Nature Center holds its annual Earth Day Birthday Celebration.
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Penn State Centre Stage opens its production of Gizmo. The play runs through April 21.
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The Broadway hit Young Frankenstein visits Eisenhower Auditorium for a 7:30 p.m. show.
Humorist David Sedaris visits Eisenhower Auditorium to celebrate the release of his new book Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary.
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21 Get your first look at the 2012 Nittany Lions and first-year head coach Bill O’Brien at Penn State’s annual Blue-White Game.
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Cirque du Soleil brings its Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour to the Bryce Jordan Center.
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28 Happy Valley’s Got Talent returns to the State Theatre.
For more “What’s Happening,” check out townandgown.com. Deadline for submitting events for the June issue is April 30.
Announcements of general interest to residents of the State College area may be mailed to Town&Gown, Box 77, State College, PA 16804-0077; faxed to (814) 238-3415; or e-mailed to dpenc@barashmedia.com. Photos are welcome. 87 - Town&Gown April 2012
Academics 1 – State College Area School District, no school grades k-12. 27 – Penn State University, last day of classes.
Children & Families 5, 6, 9, 10 – No School Day, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 11 a.m., www.schlowlibrary.org. 7 – World Stories Alive: Tales in Many Tongues - Korean, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 11 a.m., www.schlowlibrary.org. 7, 14, 21, 28 – Juice Box Jams, State Theatre, S.C., 11 a.m., www.statetickets.org. 9, 23 – Drop-in Knitting, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 6:30 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org. 14 – World Stories Alive: Tales in Many Tongues - Persian, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 11 a.m., www.schlowlibrary.org. 15 – Medieval Faire Day, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 2 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org. 17 – Evening Book Discussion Group: Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 6:30 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org. 17 – Pajama Concert presented by Emily Hale, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 7 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org. 21 – Stories Alive: Tales in Many Tongues - Japanese, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 11 a.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.w.schlowlibrary.org. 24 – Afternoon Book Discussion Group: Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 2:30 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.
Classes & Lectures 2 – “Living in Media = Creating Art With Life” by Mark Deuze, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, PSU, 7 p.m., 865-9566. 3 – Lecture: “The Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas” by Dick Simpson, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7 p.m., www.pamilmuseum.org. 3 – Transition Towns State College Local Food Forum, Community Room, State College Munical Building, 7 p.m. 3, 19 – “A Joint Venture,” a free class on hip and knee replacements, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 11 a.m. Tues., 7 p.m. Thurs., 278-4810. 4 – Lecture: “Army Operations,” PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m., www.pamilmuseum.org. 5 – Author Helen Thorpe on Just Like Us, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 7 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.
5 – “Relocating Cemeteries” presented by Lawrence J. Pruss, Latter-day Saint Church, S.C., 7 p.m., www.centrecountygenealogy.org. 9 – “Social Responsibility and Seventeen Magazine” by Seventeen magazine publisher Jayne Jamison, Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, PSU, 1:25 p.m., 865-9566. 14, 21, 28 – Tait Farm Foods Classes, Tait Farm, Centre Hall, 466-2386, www.taitfarmfoods.com. 17 – American Art Lecture: “Picturing New Deal America: Visual Art and National Identity, 1933–1945,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 4 p.m., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu. 19 – “Calorie Restriction and Health,” Galen and Nancy Dreibelbis Auditorium, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 6 p.m., 234-6738. 20 – Gallery Talk: “Patriotic Pictures: American Boosterism and the Maimon Collection,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu. 22 – “Centre County Fraktur” presented by Bob Conrad. Centre Furnace Mansion, S.C., 2 p.m., www.centrecountyhistory.org. 27 – Gallery Talk: “Wood Engravings from the Permanent Collection,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu. 28 – The Nittany Valley Writers Network Writers Workshop, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 10 a.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.
Club Events 4, 11, 18, 25 – S.C. Sunrise Rotary Club mtg., Hotel State College, S.C., 7:15 a.m., kfragola@psualum.com. 4, 19 – Outreach Toastmasters Club mtg., room 413 in the 329 Building in Penn State Innovation Park, noon, http://outreach .freetoasthost.us/. 5 – Central PA Observers mtg., South Hills School of Business and Technology, S.C., 6 p.m., 237-9865. 5 – S.C. Lions Club mtg., Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar, S.C., 6:15 p.m., www.statecollegelions.org. 5, 12, 19, 26 – S.C. Downtown Rotary mtg., Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar, S.C., noon, http://centrecounty.org/rotary/club/. 11 – Women’s Welcome Club of S.C., Oakwood Presbyterian Church, S.C., 7 p.m., www.womenswelcomeclub.org. 11, 25 – Centre Squares Dance Club, Pleasant Gap Elementary School, Pleasant Gap, 8 p.m., 238-8949. 20 – Central PA Country Dance Association dance, S.C. Friends School, 7:30 p.m., www.cpcda.org.
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Community Associations & Development 11 – Member Information Session, CBICC, S.C., 8:15 a.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org. 12 – Centre County TRIAD: Crime Scene Processing, Centre LifeLink EMS, S.C., 8:30 a.m., 237-8932. 12 – CBICC Business After Hours hosted Nestlerode & Loy, 430 W. Irvin Ave, S.C., 5:30 p.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org. 17 – Spring Creek Watershed Association mtg., Patton Township Mun. Bldg., 7:30 a.m., www.springcreekwatershed.org. 17 – CBICC Membership Luncheon, Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, S.C., 11:45 a.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org. 25 – CBICC Business Before Hours, Hoag’s Catering/Celebration Hall, S.C., 8 a.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org. 25 – Patton Township Business Association mtg., Patton Township Mun. Bldg., noon, www.ptba.org. 26 – CBICC Member Spotlight, CBICC, S.C., 5 p.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org.
Exhibits Ongoing-22 – PSU Center for Arts and Crafts Artists and Instructors Exhibition, Art Alley, HUB-Robeson Center, PSU, 865-2563. Ongoing-22 – Stephen Althouse, HUBRobeson Gallery, PSU, 865-2563. Ongoing-24 – PSU School of Visual Arts Graduate Research Exhibition, HUB Gallery, PSU, 865-2563. Ongoing-29 – Everyday Objects, Centre Furnace Mansion, S.C., 1 p.m., 234-4779 or www.centrefurnace.org. Ongoing-29 – Lauren Down, West Halls, PSU, 865-2563. Ongoing-May 2 – Photos by Kelly Kostelnik, 206 Old Main, PSU, 865-2563. Ongoing-May 6 – Katelyn Monahan, Sculpture Corner, HUB-Robeson Center, PSU, 865-2563. Ongoing-May 6 – Luke Brezovec, Student Health Center, PSU, 865-2563. Ongoing-May 13 – Hogarth Restored, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., www.palmermuseum .psu.edu. Ongoing-May 13 – Painting the People: Images of American Life from the Maimon Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu.
Ongoing-May 27 – Me, Myself, and the Mirror: Self-Portraits from the Permanent Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu. Ongoing-November – Foodways, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, www.pamilmuseum.org. 1-30 – Jessica Cieply, State Theatre Lobby, S.C., www.statetickets.org. 2-30 – Famed Poetry II: Poems & Visuals by Robert Lima, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., www.schlowlibrary.org. 9-24 – Ingrained: The Art of Wood Turning, Borland Building Gallery, PSU, 10 a.m., 303-681-5708. 13-Aug. 30 – Paintings by Ruth Kempner, Conference Rm. 237, HUB-Robeson Center, PSU, 865-2563.
Health Care For schedule of blood drives visit www.cccredcross.org or www.givelife.org. 2 – Breast Cancer Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 4:30 p.m., 234-6175. 5 – Grief Support Group, Centre Crest, Bellefonte, 6 p.m., 548-1140 or amboal@co.centre.pa.us. 10 – Brain Injury Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 7 p.m., 359-3421. 10 – The Parent Support of Children with Eating Disorders, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 7 p.m., 466-7921. 12 – The Diabetes Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 6 p.m., 231.7095. 12 – Prenatal Discussion Night, Mount Nittany Physician Group’s pediatrics office, S.C., 7 p.m., 466.7921. 16 – Cancer Survivor Support Group, Centre County United Way, S.C., 11:30 a.m., www.cancersurvive.org. 17 – Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Outpatient Entrance, Pleasant Gap, 6 p.m., 359-3421. 19 – Better Breathers Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 2 p.m., 359-3421. 19 – The free H.E.I.R. & Parents class and tour of the maternity unit for expectant parents and support people, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 6:30 & 7:45 p.m., 231-7061. 24 – Stroke Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Outpatient Entrance, Pleasant Gap, 1 p.m., 359-3421.
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Music 1 – Pianists David Curtin and Hyun Ju Curtin, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, S.C., 3 p.m., 237-7605 or www.uufcc.com. 3 – Mac Miller, BJC, PSU, 8 p.m., www.bjc.psu.edu. 4 – Anoushka Shankar, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu. 11-12 – Dayglow, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m., www.bjc .psu.edu. 14 – Nittany Valley Handbell Festival Concert, State College Area High School, S.C., 7:30 p.m., 234-1655. 16 – Guster, State Theatre, S.C., 8 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 18 – Lucas Carpenter, State Theatre, S.C., 8 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 19 – EOTO, State Theatre, S.C., 7 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 21 – Nittany Valley Symphony: Family Concert, State High South Auditorium, S.C., 4 p.m., www.nvs.org. 24 – Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Schwab Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu. 28 – Acoustic Brew: Steve James, Center for Well Being, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., www.acousticbrew.org. 29 – Anne Sullivan, harp; Diane Toulson, flute; Cathy Herrera, flute; Susan Kroeker, flute, Centre County Library Museum, Bellefonte, 2:30 p.m., www.bellefontearts.org.
Special Events 1 – “April Fools” 5K, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, noon, www.cccpsaa.org. 1 – HouseWalk 2012, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 5 p.m., www.habitatgcc.org. 3, 10, 17 – Boalsburg Farmers’ Market, Boalsburg Fire Hall, 2 p.m., 466-2152. 4 – Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt for Teens, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, S.C., 8 p.m., 231-3071.
7 – Underwater Egg Hunt, Centre County YMCA, S.C., 1 p.m., 237-7717. 7 – CRPR Easter Egg Hunt, Orchard Park, S.C., 2 p.m., www.crpr.org. 7, 14, 21, 28, 29 – Centre County Women’s Resource Center Twilight Dinners, 7 p.m., 234-5050. 13 – Girls’ Night Out to benefit OLV Preschool, OLV Activity Center, S.C., 6 p.m., 238-6616. 13 – “Sing and Swing for Sight” Cabaret and Fundraiser, Toftrees Resort and Conference Center, S.C., 6 p.m., 238-0132. 13 – David Sedaris, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 8 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu. 14-15 – Battery B Drill Weekend, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, noon, www.pamilmuseum.org. 14-15 – Banff Mountain Film Festival, State Theatre, S.C., 4:30 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 15 – Earth Day Birthday Celebration, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, S.C., 2 p.m., www.crpr.org. 16 – Jeremy Herbstritt Memorial 5K Run/ Walk, Intramural Building, PSU, 6:30 p.m., http://nvrun.com. 18 – The Ron and Mary Maxwell Community Spelling Bee Fund Raiser for the Mid-State Literacy Council, Foxdale Village Retirement Community Auditorium, S.C., 6 p.m., 238-1809. 20 – Centre Volunteers in Medicine’s annual Give Kids a Smile and Vision for the Future event, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, S.C., all day, 231-4043. 21 – Watershed Cleanup Day 2012, various Centre County locations, 8 a.m., 237-0400. 22 – Beaver Stadium Run, BJC, PSU, 7:30 a.m., www.stadiumrun.org. 22 – Earth Day Spring Scavenger Hunt, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, S.C., 2 p.m., www.crpr.org.
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24 – Boalsburg Farmers’ Market, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 2 p.m., 466-2152. 28 – Clothes Closet Exchange, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, S.C., 8 a.m., 466-3107. 28 – Annual Dog Jog 5K and 1.5K Walk, Grange Fairgrounds, S.C., 10 a.m., 364-1725. 28 – Happy Valley’s Got Talent, State Theatre, S.C., 2 & 7 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 29 – Kevin Hart, BJC, PSU, 8 p.m., www.bjc.psu.edu. May 6 – An Eponymous Wine Tasting to benefit Center for Alternatives in Community Justice, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, S.C., 4 p.m., 234-1059 (RSVP by April 24).
Sports For tickets to Penn State sporting events, call 865-5555. For area high school sporting events, call your local high school. 1 – PSU/Nebraska, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 11 a.m. 3 – PSU/Pittsburgh, softball, Beard Field, PSU, 3 & 5 p.m. 4 – PSU/Binghamton, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, 6:05 p.m. 6 – PSU/Minnesota, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 5 p.m. 6-8– PSU/Canisius, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, 6:05 p.m. Fri., 2:05 p.m. Sat., 1:05 p.m. Sun. 6 – PSU/Sacred Heart, men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 6 – PSU/Northwestern, women’s lacrosse, Penn State Lacrosse Field, PSU, 7 p.m. 7 – PSU/Harvard, men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 2 p.m. 7-8 – PSU/Michigan State, softball, Beard Field, PSU, 2 & 4 p.m. Sat., 1 p.m. Sun. 7-8 – PSU/Rutherford Intercollegiate, men’s golf, Blue & White Courses, PSU, all day. 8 – PSU/Wisconsin, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 11 a.m.
11 – PSU/Temple, softball, Beard Field, PSU, 3 & 5 p.m. 13 – PSU/Northwestern, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 3:30 p.m. 13-15 – PSU/Michigan, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 5:05 p.m. Fri., 2:05 p.m. Sat., 1:05 p.m. Sun. 14-15 – PSU/Indiana, softball, Beard Field, PSU, 2 & 4 p.m. Sat., 1 p.m. Sun. 15 – PSU/Illinois, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 11 a.m. 18 – PSU/Bucknell, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, 6:05 p.m. 20 – PSU/Michigan, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 3 p.m. 21 – PSU/Johns Hopkins, women’s lacrosse, Penn State Lacrosse Field, PSU, 1 p.m. 21 – Blue-White Game, football, Beaver Stadium, PSU, 2 p.m. 21 – PSU/St. Francis, men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 21 – PSU/Delaware, women’s lacrosse, Penn State Lacrosse Field, PSU, 7 p.m. 22 – PSU/Michigan State, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, noon. 24 – PSU/Mount St. Mary’s, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 6:05 p.m. 25 – PSU/Kent State, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 6:05 p.m. 27-30 – PSU/Ohio State, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, 6:05 p.m. Fri., 2:05 p.m. Sat., 1:05 p.m. Sun. 28 – PSU/Hofstra, men’s lacrosse, Penn State Lacrosse Field, PSU, noon. 28 – PSU/Princeton, women’s lacrosse, Penn State Lacrosse Field, PSU, 3 p.m. 28-29 – PSU/Minnesota, softball, Beard Field, PSU, 2 & 4 p.m. Sat., noon Sun.
April 201
Family owned since 1913
F. Glenn Fleming, Funeral Director/Supervisor John H. “Jay” Herrington, Funeral Director Rebecca E. Sheetz, Funeral Director 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801 (814) 237-2712 • Crematory on Premises www.kochfuneralhome.com
Be a Part of the Olympic Spirit this summer at CEG!
Olympic Themed Summer Camp, Summer Classes, Olympian Visits, Birthday Parties, Open Gym & more!
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814-380-0894
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State College, PA
1 – State High Thespians present The Drowsy Chaperone, State High North High School Auditorium, S.C., 2 p.m., 231-4188.
1 – The Magic School Bus LIVE! The Climate Challenge, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 2 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu. 1, 6, 7, 8 – The Next Stage presents Circle Mirror Transformation, State Theatre, S.C., 2 p.m. Sun., 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org.
4 – Performance of John Stainer’s The Crucifixion, Grace Lutheran Church, S.C., 7 p.m., 238-2478. 7 – The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD! presents Massenets’s Manon, State Theatre, S.C., noon, 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 10-21 – Penn State Centre Stage presents Gizmo, Playhouse Theatre, PSU, 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. matinee April 14), 863-0255 or www.theatre.psu.edu. 11 – Young Frankenstein, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu. 14 – The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD! presents Verdi’s La Traviata, State Theatre, S.C., 1 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 17 – Whiplash, State Theatre, S.C., 2 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 19 – Diavolo, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu. 21 – Nerdist Podcast, State Theatre, S.C., 8 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 23 – Flamenco Dance Theatre, State Theatre, S.C., 7:30 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. 24 – Cirque du Soleil presents Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour, BJC, PSU, 8 p.m., www.bjc.psu.edu. 29 – Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop presents A Trip to the Big Apple, State Theatre, S.C., 7 p.m., 272-0606 or www.statetickets.org. T&G
www.pratimagatehouse.com
Pratima Gatehouse for Board of Trustees 2012
Spring is in the air at Squire Brown’s Vera Bradley, Crabtree & Evelyn, John Wind Jewelry, Beatrix Ball, exquisite Holiday décor and more! 8 Edgewood Drive, Reedsville, PA Milroy exit off Rte. 322, turn right at stop light. We are located approximately 1 mile on right (beside Honey Creek Inn Restaurant) HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 10-5; Sun. 1-5 For More Information Call 717-667-2556
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• Forward-thinking and comprehensive platform • Experience and tenacity to constructively effect change • Endorsements from distinguished Penn State Alumni, including ‒ Mimi Coppersmith ‒ John Black
We Are Penn State. I am
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Pratima Gatehouse. I hope you’ll support both.
Theater
www.thestatetheatre.org (814) 272-0606 130 W College Ave Downtown State College
THE PACT April 1 - 4:00, 7:30 & 10p.m April 2 & 4 - 4:00 & 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $8/$6 *Seniors and Students
MISS REPRESENTATION April 12 - 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $8, $6
LUCAS CARPENTER April 18 - 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10
CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION April 1 - 2:00 p.m. April 6 - 8:00 p.m. April 7 - 2:00 & 8:00 p.m. April 8 - 2:00p.m. Tickets: $18/$16 *Seniors and Students
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA LIVE: Verdi’s La Traviata April 14 - 1:00 p.m. Tickets: $22 Adult, $20 Senior, $18 Student & $15 Child
FLAMENCO DANCE THEATRE April 23 - 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $23/$18
*Seniors and Students 93 - Town&Gown April 2012
THE METROPOLITIAN OPERA LIVE: Massenets’s Manon
April 7 - 12:00 p.m. Tickets: $22 Adult, $20 Senior, $18 Student & $15 Child
BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL April 14 & 15 - 7:00 p.m. Advance: $16 one day, $28 both days. At Door: $18 one day Students: $14
HAPPY VALLEY’S GOT TALENT (Tides Fundraiser)
April 28 - 2:00 & 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $10 Matinee (2:00 p.m.) $20 Evening (7:00 p.m.), VIP $30
guide to advertisers
ATTRACTIONS, EVENTS, ENTERTAINMENT Bob Perk’s Fund ...........................111 Center for the Performing Arts ................... Inside Front Cover Children’s Dyslexia Center ..........34 Coaches Vs. Cancer ......................21 Lunch With Mimi Live ....................62 Palmer Museum of Art ...................86 Penn State Centre Stage ..............85 RE/MAX Children’s Miracle Network........................................112 State College Choral Society ......25 State Theatre....................................93 Toftrees Resort ................................18 AUTOMOTIVE Dix Honda ........................................... 2 Driscoll Automotive ...... Back Cover Joel Confer BMW ............................16 BANKS, FINANCIAL SERVICES Diversified Asset Planners .........113 Frost & Conn Insurance .................. 4 Northwest Savings Bank ...... 58, 59 Penn State Federal Credit Union ..............................................78 State College Federal Credit Union .............................................85 BELLEFONTE SECTION Black Walnut Body Works............22 Confer’s Jewelers ...........................23 Jake’s Cards & Games..................23 Mid State Awning & Patio Company .......................................22 Penn State Federal Credit Union ..............................................22 Pizza Mia............................................22 Reynolds Mansion ..........................23 BOALSBURG A Basket Full ....................................39 Boalsburg Apothecary ..................39 Duffy’s Tavern ..................................38 Kelly’s Steak & Seafood ...............39 Natures Hue .....................................39 N’v........................................................38 Tait Farm Foods...............................38
BUSINESS, INDUSTRY Blair County Chamber Of Commerce ....................................19 CBICC .................................................20 CANDIDATES Pratima Gatehouse .........................92 Richard J. Puleo, Esquire .............31 DINING Autoport .......................................... 107 Cozy Thai Bistro ........................... 106 Damon’s Grill................................. 107 Dantes ............................................. 105 Faccia Luna ................................... 104 Gamble Mill Restaurant.............. 106 Herwig’s .......................................... 107 Hotel State College ..................... 102 India Pavilion ................................. 106 Meyer Dairy Store & Ice Cream Parlor ..............................................90 Otto’s Pub ...................................... 105 PSU Food Services (Hub Dining) .............................. 107 Tavern Restaurant............................. 1 Wegmans........................................ 108 Westside Stadium ........................ 106 Whistle Stop Restaurant ............ 106 Zola New World Bistro................ 106 LANDSCAPING Happy Valley Curb Appeal...........30 JRS Landscaping, LLC .................14 Moon Brothers Landscaping ......17 LODGING Hospitality Asset Management Company ........................................ 103 Penn State Hospitality ..................... 4 MEDICAL Ginger Grieco, DDS ......................... 4 HealthSouth / Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital ............................................ 6 Mount Nittany Medical Center ...... 3 The Circulatory Center .................... 9 MEN IN THE COMMUNITY Abundance Wealth .........................65 American Cancer Society ............66 Ameriserv Bank ...............................70 Ameriserv Financial........................67 Appraisal & Consulting Services .........................................64
Arc of Centre County .....................64 Associated Realty Property Management ................................64 Barash Media ...................................71 Bennett, Mary Lou – RE/MAX .....65 Beta Sig Alumni Association .......67 Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau............................................69 Central PA Festival of the Arts ....64 Centre County Women’s Resource Center.............................................70 Centre County Youth Service Bureau............................................70 Clearwater Conservancy ..............66 College of Arts & Architecture ....66 Corman, Senator Jake ..................69 Diversified Asset Planners ...........68 First National Bank .........................67 Foxdale Village ................................69 Fran Fisher & Associates..............68 Friends of GT Thompson..............69 Fulton Bank ......................................67 Herbert Rowland Grubic...............65 Hotel State College ................ 68, 71 Housing Transitions .......................66 Hurvitz, Eric – RE/MAX..................67 Joel Confer Auto Outlet.................65 Judd Arnold ......................................69 Kish Bank ....................64, 66, 68, 69 Lions Gate Apartments .................65 Morgan Stanley ...............................68 Mount Nittany Medical Center..................................... 69, 70 Nestlerode & Loy ............................69 P2P Computer Solutions ...... 66, 67 Palmer Museum of Art ...................65 Penn State Bookstore ...................66 Penn State Centre Stage ..............68 Penn State Hospitality ...................70 Poole Anderson Construction.....67 SPE Federal Credit Union ............70 TLC Group Investment Advisors, LLC ..................................................65 Torron Group....................................64 University of Vermont Foundation ....................................64 Urish Popeck & Co .........................68 Vantage Investment Advisors LLC ..................................................67 Williamsport Sun-Gazette ............68 YMCA of Centre County ...............65
94 - Town&Gown April 2012
PHOTOGRAPHY Vista Pro Studios ............................25 PRINTING, COPYING, MEDIA Centre County Gazette ............ Inside Back Cover Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU)...........................................81 REAL ESTATE, HOUSING Cali, Tom-RE/MAX Centre Realty..............................................11 Chambers, Scot ..............................27 Kissinger Bigatel & Brower ..........18 Lions Gate Apartments .................13 Rittenhouse, Lisa – RE/MAX ....111 RETIREMENT SERVICES Foxdale Village ................................15 Home Instead Senior Care ..........33 Presbyterian Senior Living ............. 8 SERVICES Blair Plastic Surgery ......................17 Centre County Airport Authority ................................ 44, 45 Centre Elite Gymnastics, Inc .......91 Clean Sweep Professional Cleaning Services ........................ 6 Cuddles and Care Pet Sitting .....90 Goodall & Yurchak..........................62 Handy Delivery ................................19 Hoag’s Catering ..............................16 Koch Funeral Home .......................91 McQuaide Blasko ............................. 7 P2P Computer Solutions ..............17 Penn State Alumni Association .................................115 Red Cross .........................................62 Tire Town .........................................113 SHOPPING, RETAIL America’s Carpet Outlet ...............15 Aurum Jewelers & Goldsmiths ....78 Collegiate Pride ...............................30 Degol Carpet ....................................79 Home Reflections............................30 Moyer Jewelers ...............................13 Penn State Bookstore ...................83 Squire Brown’s ................................92 VISITOR INFORMATION Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau................................................12
from the vine
Time to Lighten Up
Warmer weather brings white wines to the forefront By Lucy Rogers
With the warmer weather that spring eventually brings, wine drinkers start to turn away from the heartier wines of winter and begin to turn to medium- and light-bodied wines, which usually means seeking out whites over reds. April seems like the perfect time to see what whites are available so we can plan our summer wine consumption accordingly. If you spend some time in the state store really looking at what’s on the shelves, it is nothing short of amazing — if not overwhelming — to see just how many different white wines are out there. Even when you eliminate the familiar go-to grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling, there is still a plethora of other white
varieties out there. The trick is knowing what these not-so-familiar grapes are, what kind of wines they make, and then determining if they will appeal to you or will pair well with your dinner. Our panel tasted a broad selection of wines to get a better idea of what some of these offbeat whites might have to offer. If you are looking for dry wines with good acidity that will pair well with food, we found several that would work well. From Italy we tasted a Falanghina, a Passerina, and a Gavi that were all quite dry and ready to be consumed with our Sicilian tuna and caper pasta. The Passerina was a bit of a disappointment in that this particular bottling, the Pharus Ninfa Ripana
95 - Town&Gown April 2012
Passerina 2010 (PLCB code 32267) from the Marche region, is currently in the state store for $14.99 and, as such, is the first bottling of this Italian grape ever to be sold in the United States. The La Scolca Oro Gavi di Gavi (PLCB code 32228, $8.99), however, showed more promise, with both peach and tangerine notes, light body, and — in spite of a touch of frizzante — was reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc. Other grapes notable for pairing well with food are Albarino and Godello from Spain, Verdelho from Portugal, and Gruner Veltliner from Austria. We really liked the 2010 Albarino from Mar de Vina (PLCB code 21692, $15.99) — from the Rias Baixas region in the northwest corner of Spain — for its unassuming, light and crisp character, and also for its surprisingly richness for a light-bodied wine. Albarinos in general are great pairs for seafood and particularly shellfish. Gruner Veltliner has come into vogue in recent years as better-quality Gruners are being made and exported to the US. These wines are light bodied with notes of petroleum and nectarines in the bouquet, but with impressive balancing acidity and flashes of white pepper in the finish. Gruners will go well with richer foods or even lightly fried foods. Look for producers such as Loimer and Laurenz, who consistently make good wines in the $15 range. If you are looking for something a little more full bodied, you could consider white blends from France’s Rhone Valley that are usually made of some combination of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and/or Rousanne. These are usually round, full wines with pretty floral noses, lush fruit flavors, and can even have an almost oily quality to them. We tried the M. Chapoutier Bellruche Blanc 2010 (PLCB code 515683, $14.09) and thought it was fairly representative of the region’s wines, if not a complete home run. Alternatively, you could turn to Argentina and try a Torrontes, a grape indigenous to the country where Malbec is king. Torrontes, too, is noted for its impressively floral nose of peaches and nectarines and its rich fruit-forward flavors. The most interesting aspect of Torrontes is that the wine finishes completely — and sharply — dry after being so sweet on the palate. It is an excellent
pairing for smoky, spicy foods as it is perfect for refreshing a peppery mouthful of food. Bodegas Lurton 2008 Torrontes (PLCB Code 23091, $9.99) is currently on the shelves at the state store and is a great expression of this South American grape. On the sweeter side, there are lots of options, but two to consider are Gewurztraminer and Chenin Blanc. Well-made Gewurztraminers will have full peachy bouquets but also will offer notes of spice on the palate and balancing acidity in the finish. Some Gewurztraminers can be too much sweet and not enough acid, rendering a wine that is almost like fruit cocktail syrup. But this should not steer you away from finding the right Gewurz for the right occasion, as it pairs quite well with spicy Asian cuisines, and can even be paired with not-sosweet desserts such as cheesecake. Chenin Blanc can be a bit of a chameleon, too, depending on the winemaker and the climate from which it originates. Many Chenin Blancs from the Loire Valley (Vouvray in particular) can be fruity but have minerally characteristics and substantial acidity that makes the wine just barely off dry. The Michel Picard Vouvray 2009 (PLCB Code 36024, $14.99) was more the latter than the former — in fact, we were surprised when the wine was revealed that it was Chenin Blanc because it was that sweet. The same can be said of the Chenin Blanc that comes from South Africa (where it also is called “Steen”) — some are lightto-medium bodied with steely character and stone-fruit flavors, while others can be characterized as just plain sweet. The trick is finding the producer who makes the style you prefer, which is often just a matter of trial and error (and dedication!). Whatever wines you choose, make note of what you like about the wine and where it came from. Continue to explore — there is a whole summer of deck dining, picnicking, and socializing that just begs for white wine. Reach for something besides Chardonnay. T&G Lucy Rogers teaches wine classes and offers private wine tastings through Wines by the Class. She also is the event coordinator for Zola Catering (off-site and at the State College Elks Club).
96 - Town&Gown April 2012
of
Month > Visit www.townandgown.com for: < • A coupon for buy two salads at regular price, get $5 off at Rotelli.
Papaya Salad from Galanga
• A coupon for a FREE Thai Ice Tea with your order of either the Papaya Salad or Spicy Grilled Beef Salad (Nue Nam Tok) at Galanga. • A coupon for buy one salad, get one FREE at Fresh Harvest Kafe. • A special recipe from Fiddlehead for its Pesto Vinaigrette.
97 - Town&Gown & &Gown April 2012
John Hovenstine (9)
Taste the
Going Green
Centre County restaurants offer an enticing variety of salad options • By Vilma Shu Danz
Spring brings forth the picking of fresh strawberries and a host of wonderful vegetables that are good for our bodies. All those ingredients can be added together to make a great salad. Nutritionists tell us that eating a salad every day is one of the simplest and healthiest habits you can adopt. After all, salads are easy to make, low in calories, and are packed with essential vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, all of which helps lower cholesterol as well as lower our risks for many diseases, including cancer. Town&Gown asked local chefs and restaurant owners what healthy and flavorful salads they are serving up to help trim our waistlines and maintain healthy bodies.
Galanga
454 East College Avenue, State College • (814) 237-1718 Opened in June 2011, Galanga is the newest Thai restaurant in State College, serving northeastern style Thai cuisine. Suksan Ruangpattana and his wife, Peeranee Musigchai, owners of both Galanga and Cozy Thai, are originally from two different regions in Thailand, and the cuisines, although similar, have very different flavors and spices. Ruangpattana explains, “My wife is from the central region and so the flavors are milder, and that is what is highlighted in the food at Cozy Thai. However, I am from the northeast, so there are more herbs, spices, and chili peppers that go into the dishes.” The word Galanga refers to an herb used in Thai cooking that has a flavor similar to ginger. “The smell and taste is like ginger and you will find it in almost every dish in Thailand,” says Ruangpattana. “So, at Galanga, we kept 15 percent of the menu from Cozy Thai, like our most popular dish, Pad Thai, but we also introduced spicier and more flavorful dishes like our spicy tilapia curry and our mussel curry. They have more shrimp paste and turmeric powder, so the flavors are very distinctively different.” There are six different salads offered at Galanga, including the Spicy Grilled Pork Salad (Mhoo Nam Tok), the Spicy Grilled Beef Salad (Nue Nam Tok), and the Papaya Salad made with shredded fresh green papaya in a spicy lime dressing, “Papaya salad is very popular in Thailand and there are so many different versions, but my version on the menu has a sweeter taste to it,” says Ruangpattana. “But I also serve another version that a lot of Thai students here love because it has Thai anchovies, so the smell and taste is quite different.” In Thailand, papaya salad is served with a fried chicken wing to balance the spiciness of the salad. “So, it you like the flavors of the dishes at Cozy Thai and you want to try flavors from a different region of Thailand, come to Galanga,” says Ruangpattana.
Spicy Grilled Pork Salad (Mhoo Nam Tok) 98 - Town&Gown April 2012
Fiddlehead
134 West College Avenue, State College • (814) 237-0595 Named after a fern, Fiddlehead is a new soupand-salad restaurant that focuses on fresh ingredients, healthy eating, and sustainability. Opened January 30 by Marya, David, and Jack Schoenholtz, who also own Irving’s, Fiddlehead offers six predesigned salads and the option to create your own salad. In addition, the restaurant also serves four different soups daily, and offers gelato for dessert. Manager Caleb Selders explains, “We took your standard salads, like your typical Caesar salad, and added our own twist. For example, we added a parmesan crisp to our version, which we call the Cardini after Caesar Cardini, who was credited for creating the Caesar salad.” The menu consists of healthy salads made from local ingredients such as cheeses from Goot Essa, bacon from Hogs Galore, and other foods from local purveyors. One of the most popular salads is the Ri-pear-ian that consists of baby spinach, red pear, dried cranberries, white cheddar, and candied walnuts in a lemon-poppy dressing. “It is essentially a fruit-and-nut salad that is light, and the dressing is a little sweet but tart at the same time, so it reminds you of something you would eat at a picnic on the riverside,” says Selders.
Shanghai'd
The Ri-pear-ian For those who want a salad with an Asian flair, there is the Shanghai’d, which has steamed shrimp, red bell peppers, carrots, scallions, and crunchy noodles over romaine and iceberg lettuce, and tossed with an Asian herb trio that combines fresh cilantro, basil, and mint. The Gaucho appeals to the lovers of steak and potatoes who expect a heartier salad. For the tailgating crowd, the Backyard BBQ is the perfect combination of crispy chicken, bacon, roasted corn, scallions, and grape tomatoes all dressed in a creamy and smoky homemade BBQ ranch. Or create your own salad starting at $6.95. You can pick your choice of leafy greens, up to four toppings, and any of the homemade dressings. The salads are all served in environmentally friendly, biodegradable plant-based plastic. Even the Fiddlehead interior was built with many recycled and sustainable materials. “The counters are made of recycled plastic bottles, the chairs from recycled aluminum, and the floor is sustainable bamboo,” explains Selders. “The restaurant is all about being natural, fresh, and good for your body, the environment, and the community.”
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Fresh Harvest Kafe 421 East Beaver Avenue, State College • (814) 272-6400
Opened in 2004 by Bruce and Jenny Fowler, Fresh Harvest Kafe has become a very popular eatery for Penn State students. They flock to the restaurant for healthy salads, wraps, soups, and paninis. On the menu are 14 different salads with truly unique ingredients that can’t be found anywhere else in town. The Quinoa, Bulgur Wheat & Edamame Salad has become a popular choice for vegetarians as well as semi-vegetarians who are looking for healthy and alternative sources of protein. Quinoa is a grain that provides all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, and it is naturally glutenSummer Harvest Salad free and cholesterol-free. Other unique salads include the Waikiki, which has seared Ahi tuna, the Buffalo chicken, which is a great alternative to Buffalo wings, and the most popular salad, the Summer Harvest, which is an Arcadian mix of greens, apples, pears, mandarin oranges, strawberries, candied walnuts, and feta cheese. “A lot of the football players like the Summer Harvest, and they add on two chicken breasts and they are happy,” says Bruce Fowler. “We have a lot of repeat customers who, once they try our salads, they come back, and many of the students who graduate, we see a lot of them come back.” The salads at Fresh Harvest Kafe are Mediterranean Chicken Salad available for dine-in, take-out, catering, or delivery.
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Rotelli
250 East Calder Way, State College • (814) 238-8463 Rotelli State College is unlike any other Rotelli franchise because of its constantly evolving menu that showcases different variations of Italian favorites from gourmet pizzas and pastas to homemade soups and healthy salads. Originally from Pittsburgh, owners Dave Krauth and Mike Hughes opened the restaurant in 2006. “Mike and I have been big Penn State fans our whole lives and it was always a dream to open a restaurant in State College,” explains Krauth. “I started
Gorgonzola Salad
Malibu Chopped Salad
Cobb Salad
working in restaurants since I was 15 and have done every job in the restaurant business.” The menu is a mix of classic Italian dishes such as veal or chicken parmigiana and margherita pizza to unique creations such as the Buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese and pasta alla Riccio, which was named after a former chef. Rotelli has eight different salads — from the most popular Malibu Chopped Salad with diced avocado to the traditional Italian La Caprese salad with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, Gor and basil. Other salads include Gorgonzola, Cobb, Warm Spinach, Steak, Caesar, and the Rotelli House Salad. Many of the salads also are served in a homemade bread bowl made from fresh pizza dough. “Everything on our menu is made vinai fresh in-house, and our balsamic vinaigrette is our most popular dressing for our salads,” says Krauth. Rotelli offers catering, dine-in, takeout, and delivery. T&G
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Dining Out Full Course Dining Allen Street Grill, corner of Allen Street and College Avenue, 231-GRILL. The food sizzles. The service sparkles. The prices are deliciously frugal. The menu is classic American grill mixed with popular influences from Mexico, Italy, and the Far East. AE, D, MC, V. The Autoport, 1405 S. Atherton St., 237-7666, www.theautoport.com. The all new Autoport offers exceptional dining featuring local produce and an extensive wine list. Tapas menu and special events every week. Catering and private events available. Live music. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar. Bar Bleu & Bar Q, 113 S. Garner St., 237-0374. Authentic Kansas City Barbeque featuring smoked ribs, pork, wings, plus down-home sides and appetizers. Roadhouse & Sports Lounge upstairs. Upscale martini bar downstairs featuring live music 7 nights a week. Open for dinner every night at 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, ID+, MC, V. Full bar.
The Corner Room Restaurant, corner of Allen Street and College Avenue, 237-3051. Literally first in hospitality. Since 1855, The Corner Room has served generous breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to the community and its guests. AE, D, MC, V. Cozy Thai Bistro, 232 S. Allen St., 237-0139. A true authentic Thai restaurant offering casual and yet “cozy” family-friendly dining experience. Menu features wide selections of exotic Thai cuisine, both lunch and dinner (take-out available). BYO (wines & beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar, 1031 E. College Ave., 237-6300, damons.com. Just seconds from Beaver Stadium, locally owned and operated, Damon’s is the premiere place to watch sports and enjoy our extensive menu. Ribs, wings, burgers, steaks, apps, salads, and so much more. AE, D, MAC, MC, V, Full bar. The Deli Restaurant, 113 Hiester St., 237-5710. The area’s largest menu! Soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, Mexican, Cajun. Dinners featuring steaks, chicken, seafood and pastas, heart-healthy menu, and award-winning desserts. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.
Bill Pickle’s Tap Room,106 S. Allen St., 272-1172. Not for saints…not for sinners. AE, DIS, MAC, MC, V. Full bar. Carnegie House, corner of Cricklewood Dr. and Toftrees Ave., 234-2424. An exquisite boutique hotel offering fine dining in a relaxed yet gracious atmosphere. Serving lunch and dinner. Prix Fixe menu and à la carte menu selections now available. AAA Four Diamond Award recipient for lodging and fine dining. Reservations suggested. AE, MC, D, V. Full bar.
Key
AE ...........................................................American Express CB ..................................................................Carte Blanche D ................................................................ Discover/Novus DC........................................................................Diners Club ID+ ................................................ PSU ID+ card discounts LC ............................................................................ LionCash MAC .......................................................................debit card MC .......................................................................MasterCard V ......................................................................................... Visa .............................................. Handicapped-accessible
To advertise, call Town&Gown account executives Kathy George or Debbie Markel at (814) 238-5051.
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The Dining Room at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8590. Fine continental cuisine in a relaxed, gracious atmosphere. Casual attire acceptable. Private dining rooms available. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar. Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern, On the Diamond, Boalsburg, 466-6241. The Boalsburg Tavern offers a fine, intimate setting reminiscent of Colonial times. Dining for all occasions with formal and casual menus, daily dinner features, specials, and plenty of free parking AE, MC, V. Full bar. Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 1229 S. Atherton St., 234-9000, www.faccialuna.com. A true neighborhood hangout, famous for authentic New York-style wood-fired pizzas and fresh, homemade It.alian cuisine. Seafood specialties, sumptuous salads, divine desserts, great service, and full bar. Outside seating available. Sorry, reservations not accepted. Dine-in, Take-out. MC/V.
Gamble Mill Restaurant & Microbrewery, 160 Dunlop St., Bellefonte; 355-7764. A true piece of Americana, dine and enjoy our in-house craft beers in a historic mill. Experience bold American flavors by exploring our casual pub menu or fine dining options. Six to seven beers of our craft beers on tap. Brewers Club, Growlers, outdoor seating, large private functions, catering. Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Dinner 5-9/10 p.m. Mon.-Sat. “Chalk Board Sunday’s” 4-8 p.m. All credit cards accepted. Galanga, 454 College E. College Ave. 237-1718. Another great addition to Cozy Thai Bistro. Galanga by Cozy Thai offers a unique authentic Thai food featuring Northeastern Thai style cuisine. Vegetarian menu selection available. BYO (wines and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. The Gardens Restaurant at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5090. Dining is a treat for breakfast, lunch and dinner in The Gardens Restaurant, where sumptuous buffets and à la carte dining are our specialties. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. Full bar, beer.
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Herwig’s Austrian Bistro, where bacon is an herb, 132 W. College Ave., herwigsaus trianbistro.com, 238-0200. Located next to the State Theatre. Austrian Home Cooking. Ranked #1 Ethnic Restaurant 5 years in a row. Eat-in, Take-Out, Catering, Franchising. BYO after 5 p.m., D, MC, V. Hi-Way Pizza, 1688 N. Atherton St., 237-0375. Voted best pizza. Twenty-nine variations of pizza, entire dinner menu and sandwiches, strombolis, salads, spectacular desserts, and beer to go. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.
Kelly’s Steak & Seafood, 316 Boal Ave., Boalsburg, 466-6251. Pacific Northwest inspired restaurant. Seasonal menu with rotating fresh sheet. Offering private dining for up to 50 people. Catering available. AE, MC, V, Full Bar. Legends Pub at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5080. Unwind with beverages and a casual lounge menu. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.
India Pavilion, 222 E. Calder Way, 237-3400. Large selection of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes from northern India. Lunch buffet offered daily. We offer catering for groups and private parties. AE, D, (call ahead.) MC, V.
Luna 2 Woodgrill & Bar, 2609 E. College Ave., 234-9009, www.luna-2.com. Wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta, wood-grilled BBQ ribs, seafood, burgers, and don’t forget to try the homemade meatloaf! Sumptuous salads and desserts. Full bar service. Outside seating. Sorry, no reservations accepted. Dine-In, Take-out. MC/V.
Inferno Brick Oven & Bar, 340 E. College Ave., 237-5718, www.infernobrickovenbar.com. Casual but sophisticated atmosphere — a contemporary brick oven experience featuring a lunch and dinner menu of old- world favorites and modern-day revolutions. AE, D, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.
Mario’s Italian Restaurant, 1272 N. Atherton St., 234-4273. The Italian tradition in State College. Homemade pasta, chicken, seafood specialties, veal, wood-fired pizza, calzones, rotisserie chicken, roasts, salads, and sandwiches, plus cappuccino and espresso! AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.
We continue the Luna tradition by using only the freshest ingredients!
1229 S o u t h A t h e r t o n S t r e e t S tAt e C o l l e g e 234-9000 A
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We offer wood-fired pizza, fresh homemade pasta, as well as wood-grilled items such as Baby Back BBQ Ribs, homemade meatloaf, various fish and seafood and our soon to be award winning burgers!
www.luna-2.com 2609 E. College Ave. • State College, PA • 234-9009 104 - Town&Gown April 2012
The Mt. Nittany Inn, 559 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Centre Hall, 364-9363, mtnittanyinn.com. Perched high above Happy Valley at 1,809 feet, the Mt. Nittany Inn offers homemade soups, steaks, seafood, and pasta. Bar and banquet areas available. AE, CB, D, MAC, MC, V. Full Bar. Otto’s Pub & Brewery, 2235 N. Atherton Street, 867-6886, www.ottospubandbrewery.com. Our new location provides plenty of parking, great ales and lagers, full service bar, signature dishes made with local products in a family-friendly, casual atmosphere. AE, D, DC, LC MC, V, Full bar. The Tavern Restaurant, 220 E. College Ave., 238-6116. A unique gallery-in-a-restaurant preserving PA’s and Penn State’s past. Dinner at The Tavern is a Penn State tradition. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar. Whiskers at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8580. Casual dining featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and University Creamery ice cream. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar.
We love People, Beer & Local Foods Bringing you craft beer and fresh food using local products in a family friendly, casual atmosphere.
Food & Beer TO GO!
Bottles • Cases • Kegs • Growlers ring Now offe e ad locally m dy, , can be er soap ! & mugs
2235 N. Atherton St. State College 814.867.6886 www.ottospubandbrewery.com
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Whistle Stop Restaurant, Old Train Station Corner, Centre Hall on Rte. 144, 15 minutes east of State College. 364-2544. Traditional dining in an 1884 Victorian railroad station decorated with railroad memorabilia. Chef-created soups, desserts, and daily specials. Lunch and dinner served Wed.-Sun. D, MC, V. Zola New World Bistro, 324 W. College Ave., 237-8474. Zola combines comfortable, modern décor with exceptional service. Innovative, creative cuisine from seasonal menus served for lunch and dinner. Extensive award-winning wine list. Jazz and oysters in the bar on Fridays. Catering. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.
State College’s newest hangout
Try our onsite Smoked Pork Sandwich!
1301 West College Ave. • 814-308-8959 www.westsidestadiumbarandgrill.com
Open Tuesday thru Sunday Closed Monday Lunch Buffet: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Dinner: 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Carry Out Available 222 E. Calder Way
237-3400 www.indiapavilion.net
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Good Food Fast HUB Dining, HUB-Robeson Center, on campus, 865-7623. A Penn State tradition open to all! Eleven restaurants stocked with extraordinary variety: Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Higher Grounds, Joegies, Mixed Greens, Burger King, Panda Express, Piccalilli’s, Sbarro, Sushi by Panda, Wild Cactus, and more! V, MC, LC. Meyer Dairy, 2390 S. Atherton St., 237-1849. Stop and get your favorite flavor at our ice cream parlor. We also sell a variety of delicious cakes, sandwiches, and baked goods. Taco Bell, 322 W. College Ave., 231-8226; Hills Plaza, 238-3335. For all the flavors you love, visit our two locations. Taco Bell, Think Outside the Bun! Westside Stadium Bar and Grill, 1301 W. College Ave., 308-8959, www.westsidestadium barandgrill. com. See what all the buzz is about at Westside Stadium. Opened in September 2010, State College’s newest hangout features mouthwatering onsite smoked pork and brisket sandwiches. Watch your favorite sports on 17 HDTVs. Happy Hour 5-7 p.m. Take-out and bottle shop. Outdoor seating available. D, V, MC. Full Bar. T&G
HUB-ROBESON CENTER ON-CAMPUS
Herwig’s Austrian Bistro As seen on ESPN’s “Taste of the Town”
Pre-Show Dinner Discounts
Truly Unique Dining Experience Authentic Homestyle Austrian Cuisine Mon-Wed: 11am-8pm (last seating) Thu-Fri: 11am-9pm (last seating) Sat: 11:45am-9pm (last seating) Eat-in, Take-out, Catering and Franchising.
Family friendly dining for all the sports enthusiasts.
7 big screens all now in HD, NHL, NBA, March Madness, catering tailgate and party packs available.
14 New Craft Beer Selections! Now accepting reservations for our annual Easter buffet, Mother’s Day buffet, and Spring Graduation. Check out our new outdoor patio!
We Now Make Our Own Bread! NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS!
132 West College Ave, Downtown State College (next door to the State Theatre) • 814-238-0200
1031 East College Ave. 814-237-6300 • damons.com
Dining “Al Fresco” Award Winning Patio – Outdoor Fire Pits Extensive Lunch & Dinner Menu Happies 7 Days a week 5-7! THE $1.99 BREAKFAST IS BACK! Monday-Friday 7am - noon
1405 South Atherton St. • State College, PA 16801 • www.theautoport.com • 814-237-7666 107 - Town&Gown April 2012
State College â&#x20AC;˘ Colonnade Blvd. (814) 278-9000 108 - Town&Gown April 2012
lunch with mimi
Ready to Lead Howard Long takes over as president and CEO of the YMCA of Centre County
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John Hovenstine
For more than 27 years, Howard Long has worked for the YMCA. He started as a volunteer and quickly worked his way up the ranks of four YMCAs between Connecticut and Massachusetts before coming to Bellefonte in 2005. In January 2009, the Bellefonte Family YMCA merged with the State College Area YMCA to become the YMCA of Centre County with Long serving as vice president and chief operations of- Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith (left) talks with ficer. With the retirement of Den- Howard Long at Mario’s Italian Restaurant in State College. nis Ditmer as president in March, Long was appointed by the organization’s board to est thing I like about my job is that every day is become the next president and CEO. different. No two days are the same. You never Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Copper- know what is going to happen when you walk smith sat down with Long at Mario’s Italian Restau- in. That’s probably more on an operational rant in State College to discuss his new role at the standpoint because you know you are serving YMCA of Centre County and what he envisions for the community with its programs and services. the future of the organization. Between the three YMCAs now, we are pushing Mimi: I had the good fortune of meeting close to 12,000 members, which means operayou a few months ago when Dennis Ditmer tions is the main focus. introduced you as the next leader of our great Mimi: Wow! And how many of those are free YMCA, which is even greater since the Belle- memberships? fonte and State College YMCAs merged with Howard: Twenty-five percent. Moshannon Valley, and pretty soon there will Mimi: Twenty-five percent. So, one of the be something happening in Penn’s Valley. things that most people know about the YMCA When did you come here? is you can be a member whether you can afford Howard: I came here in 2005 when I applied it or not. for the president/CEO position for the BelleHoward: And that is one of the other things fonte YMCA. We then merged and became the I love to say about my job, is that we don’t turn YMCA of Centre County in January of 2009 anybody away for their inability to pay. We have and that’s when I became vice president of op- an open-doors program that gives us the ability erations and Dennis was president. to do so, whether it’s a membership or it’s child Mimi: So, April 1 will be your first day in care or swim class or swim team or gymnastics, the big job. the Y is there. We make it available. Howard: Yes and I’m not sure if the joke’s on Mimi: And so the other 75 percent of the me, but I’m just very thankful that April 1 is a membership dues and fees for many of the proSunday and not a Monday. grams carries everyone in the community who Mimi: It’s a pretty exciting job, I’d have to needs the service? say. Give me some ideas of your vision coming Howard: Yes. into this job. Mimi: Some would argue that’s tough to susHoward: I think first and foremost, the great- tain.
Howard: We fundraise 12 months out of the year. Mimi: And what is your best profit center, so to speak? Howard: State College YMCA is very strong and that supports the association to some degree. Mimi: What is some of the good that’s come of the merger between the State College YMCA and Bellefonte YMCA? Howard: Well, last year we gave out $307,000 in financial assistance. Mimi: For things like? Howard: Well, any program or service that the YMCA offers — membership, child care, summer camp, after-school camp, preschool, and swim team. Mimi: And how many did that involve? Howard: Last year was over 18,000 people. Mimi: Wow! And you actually had to consolidate to get to the point where you could be that good at the philanthropic side. Howard: We are very streamlined. Our budget is very tight. We are very careful. It is monitored on a monthly basis. We are very prudent in how we spend the money because we can’t spend what we do not have, but through support from the United Way, through our annual giving campaigns, and some of our fundraisers, our auctions, and triathlons, we’re able to raise the funds to make it possible. Mimi: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Howard: I was born and raised in New Canaan, Connecticut, not more than 45 minutes from New York City. I didn’t go to the YMCA as a child. We were too far away. We lived almost right on the New York border and the Y was well over a half-an-hour away. I didn’t have the transportation because both my parents worked. Mimi: And there wasn’t public transportation between the places. Howard: There wasn’t, but we also didn’t have all the fancy electronics that kids have today, and we actually played outside. There was plenty to do. Mimi: Before you came here, what did you do? Howard: I’ve been with the Y for nearly 27 years. I graduated from Central Connecticut State University. I worked for the family business. My family was in the seafood business. We were a wholesale distributor for shellfish. I would deliver to fish stores in Westchester County. Mimi: For how many years did you do that?
Howard: I did that for close to five years. When the economy did its little dip in the late 1980s, I looked for a part-time job. I went and got a lifeguard job at the Norwalk YMCA. I actually started as a volunteer. I worked 350 hours before I was actually hired. I just worked my way up. I became the aquatic director; membership, fitness, wellness director; associate director; and then senior program director. When I got to the senior-director position, I thought I was ready to run my own YMCA, so I applied for a branch director position as part of the Old Colony YMCA in Middleboro, Massachusetts, and got the job. I was branch director there for a couple years and then got offered a position at the Quincy YMCA, about 15 minutes south of Boston. Very metropolitan; I think the town of Quincy was over 188,000. Mimi: Well, that is a little bigger than here. Howard: Yeah, and then I was recruited to the YMCA of South Coast. I was branch director at the New Bedford YMCA. At that point, I was looking for a change. I was looking for a smaller YMCA. The Bellefonte YMCA came up on the YMCA’s national vacancy list and I applied. I didn’t know if I was going to get it or not. I went down for an interview and absolutely loved the area. I can remember flying in on the airplane and seeing the university. Seeing the stadium and the area, it just looked absolutely beautiful. I met the people and I felt like I had gone back in time 20 years. I can remember a time where my parents didn’t lock the house or cars and you didn’t worry about those things. Mimi: Well, I think you should lock your door. Howard: I do because I am a creature of habit. Mimi: Good. What do you see in the next decade for the YMCA? Howard: That’s a wonderful and great question. The amazing thing is that I don’t know what opportunity or door is going to open tomorrow. We’re going to be concentrating very strongly on Moshannon and making it as strong as it can possibly be in the community by expanding its programs and services. We are working on licensed child care in that facility, which it never had before. The next big step for Bellefonte will be a new facility. Mimi: You don’t turn anybody away and you are constantly trying to elevate the capability of the people who take advantage of your services
110 - Town&Gown April 2012
and the quality of your programs. How do you measure success? Howard: Success is measured one family and one child at a time. Success is a child that grows in your program. Success is a family that comes in that needs child care, that without child care both parents wouldn’t be able to work. Mimi: In part you’re aiding the welfare system. Howard: Well, we’re here to help. We’ve just signed on with the SilverSneakers program for seniors. Mimi: What is that? Howard: Depending on the type of insurance you have, if you are eligible for SilverSneakers, their health-care provider will pay for a membership for the YMCA. Mimi: And they can take advantage of all the programming? Howard: Everything. Mimi: Who are your most significant volunteers? There has to be volunteers in each of these areas who truly make a difference. Who are they? Howard: Well, I will tell you right now, the YMCA would not be where it is today without volunteers. We have 61 policy volunteers. We
have the corporate board and we have three board branch managers, one for each branch. We have swim-team parent volunteers, gymnastics volunteers, and interns. We have half a dozen interns right now between Bellefonte and State College helping with our fitness programs. Mimi: How do you sustain it? How do you recruit them? Howard: We’re aggressive. If we see you are a good fit, we will come after you. We also have volunteers who come to us. Mimi: Now I’m sure that your awareness of child abuse is also in your mind these days. Is there any kind of thinking that you can add to the equation that helps reduce the risk of such a horrible thing to occur where young people gather? Howard: Before I answer that, I do want you to know that we’re out working on something as a collaborative in the community. Since childcare centers and the majority of what we do are centered around children, you have to take their safety very carefully and seriously. I believe that we have good procedures in place. Staff members are never alone with a child one-to-one. All the staff have gone through criminal-background
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checks and references. We have child-abuse training that all staff goes through. In light of what’s happened recently in the community, the YMCA, along with the United Way, the Youth Service Bureau, the Women’s Crisis Center, and the Women’s Resource Center, we have looked at a program called Darkness to Light. In doing the research, we found that there are about 27 other YMCAs in the country already doing this program. It is a twoand-a-half-hour training — but anybody can go through — that will help you identify the signs of child abuse and give you all the tools necessary to recognize and react responsibly. Darkness to Light will tell you one in four girls is sexually abused. One in six boys is sexually abused, and the abusers can be a neighbor, a relative, or who knows. Mimi: Well, that’s something that’s important. I’m glad I asked. Howard: I’m glad you asked and that’s something that they’re working on right now. Mimi: Well, I want to wish you the best of luck in this new leadership you have. You obviously have been trained for it. YMCA has been on a roll in my opinion and I hope you can keep that ball rolling even better. Howard: Amen. T&G
Taste of the Month Town&Gown’s Monthly Focus on Food The Penn Stater’s Leg of Lamb
The Elk Creek Café’s Duck Broth Soup
Café 210 West’s
Ultimate Angus Burger
If it’s happening in Happy Valley, it’s in Town&Gown!
Save The DaTe ! Children’s Miracle Network
Golf Tournament hosted by RE / MA X Centre Realt y
Thursday, May 24, 2012 Penn State Blue & White Golf Courses Contact Annie Foytack at 814-360-2936 or golfformiracles@gmail.com or www.statecollegehomesales.com for more information 112 - Town&Gown April 2012
Financial Wellness takes careful planning… We can help you get there! • Retirement Planning • Tax Planning • All Your Life Insurance Needs
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1524 W. College Ave., State College • 814-234-2500 Securities offered through J.W. Cole Financial – Member FINRA/SIPC. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification AND in the U.S. Diversified Asset Planners and J.W. Cole Financial are independent firms. marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ 113 - Town&Gown April 2012
State College Photo Club’s Photos of the Month The State College Photo Club provides photo enthusiasts with the opportunity to share their passion for photography with others and to provide an environment for learning and developing new skills. The club welcomes individuals from amateurs to professionals. One of the club’s activities is to hold a monthly competition. Town&Gown is pleased to present the winning images from the club’s competition. Here are the winning photos from the February competition.
Special Category (Geometric)
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“Optical Illusion Geometric” by Gary Perdue
“I was walking through the courtyard of the Museum of American Art in Washington, DC, when the ceiling caught my eye. I took out my Sony Cyber-shot pocket camera and got this shot. You never know when a great opportunity will present itself.”
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“I C ould Us e Some C offee” By Linda Hale
“Portrait of Chester, a man living by his wits in downtown Baltimore. Taken with permission.”
A copy of Gary Perdue’s photo may be obtained with a $75 contribution to the Salvation Army of Centre County. Contact Captain Charles Niedermeyer at 861-1785. You can select any size up to 11-inches wide. Due to the personal nature of the photo by Linda Hale, it is not for sale. The State College Photo Club meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Foxdale Village Auditorium.
Visit www.statecollegephotoclub.org for more information about how to join and how to enter your photos in competitions. 114 - Town&Gown April 2012
115 - Town&Gown April 2012
snapshot
Borough Boss
New council president looks for coopertion, not conflict By Tracey M. Dooms
During this presidential election year, candidates spend a lot of time promising what they’ll do if they make it to the White House — boost the economy, pay off the national debt, settle international conflicts, etc. Meanwhile, State College has a new borough council president — Don Hahn. What does he promise for his two-year term at the helm? “I would like to be more of a servant to council than anything else,” says Hahn, who took over the presidency from Ron Filippelli in January. Although the president presides over council work sessions and plays a key role in developing agendas, Hahn says, “A lot of the influence is probably more apparent than real.” Rather than campaigning for the job, he says, council members tend to rotate the presidency among themselves, with few presidents serving consecutive terms. As a council member, Hahn does have an agenda. His priorities are neighborhood preservation, fiscal moderation, and regional cooperation. Still, despite often divisive topics such as Fraser Centre, student housing, and tax rates, he says the council operates more agreeably now than during his early days in office. “We seem to have evolved from a conflict model to more of a cooperative model,” he says. Hahn is a State College native, born in 1964 in what was then Centre County Hospital, just a few months after his father became a Penn State math professor and his parents moved into Graduate Circle. Hahn grew up here, graduated from State College Area High School, and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Penn State before attending Villanova University School of Law. He had intentions of pursuing constitutional law somewhere other than in Centre County. However, the summer after his second year in law school, he worked for a local firm with an emphasis on bankruptcy law. He focused his third year of legal studies in that area and became an attorney with that same firm — now called Stover McGlaughlin Gerace Weyandt & McCormick — right out of law school, in 1992. (Twenty years later, he continues to practice bankruptcy law with the firm.) He learned more about his home county in 1993-94 when he went through the Leadership Centre County program, and was just 30 years old when he threw his hat into the ring as a
Don Hahn Family: Wife, Cynthia, director of CNET; and stepchildren, Lauren and Adam. Pets: Golden Retriever, Cookie, and cats, Abby and Skippy. Favorite State College restaurants: Corner Room, Spats, The Tavern, and Zola New World Bistro. Recent reading material: Histories of the British Empire.
candidate for borough council in 1995. “I knew State College was a great place to grow up, to go to school, and build a life,” he recalls. “I wanted to make sure it stayed that way.” He won his seat and served on the council through 1999, when he took a shot at a seat in the state’s House of Representatives in 2000. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary but lost to incumbent Lynn Herman that November. “The 2000 race was a great learning experience,” Hahn says. “I don’t think I have the personality to be a professional politician.” He regained his “amateur status” in the political arena when he returned to borough council in 2006. Making his home on Bradley Avenue, he says he still thinks State College is a great place to live. “Maybe it’s because I’m older now,” he says, “but I think it’s even better!” T&G
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