Town&Gown FEBRUARY 2016
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Inside: Football recruiting and signing day • PSU’s good works “Beyond THON”
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features 32 / 100 Years of AAUW State College branch of the American Association of University Women has been leading the way for women since 1916 • by Tracey M. Dooms
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40 / Beyond THON While many Penn State students do an amazing job with raising tens of millions of dollars to fight pediatric cancer, other smaller student groups also are doing inspiring work in helping others • by David Pencek
48 / The Season Begins with Paper and Pen
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Before the first weekend in September, and even before spring games are played across the country, the next college football campaign actually begins in February with national signing day. The day, along with the recruiting that takes place months and even years beforehand, continues to grow more popular and garner more attention as college football fans desire to know who will be wearing their team’s colors in the future • by Frank Bodani
On the cover: State College AAUW copresident Alison Franklin (left, photo by Darren Andrew Weimert) has helped continue the rich history of the organization that started in 1916.
48 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 2016 by Barash Media. All rights reserved. Send address changes to Town&Gown, 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801. 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. townandgown.com
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departments
10 Letter From The Editor 12 Starting Off: The List, People in the Community, Q&A 20 Living Well: Avoid the dangers of “poisoning” yourself with negative thoughts and words • by Meghan Fritz
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22 Health: Take important steps to help children avoid accidents around the house • by Craig Collison, MD 24 About Town: Daughter of “Mrs. Hospitality” brings back holiday coffee gathering • by Nadine Kofman
26 On Center: Singer-songwriters Griffin, Watkins, and Mitchell perform as trio in March 16 concert • by John Mark Rafacz 28 Penn State Diary: Once a popular way for students to travel back home, bus services experience a revival • by Lee Stout 56 This Month on WPSU 59 What’s Happening: The Wedding Singer, THON, Dr. Seuss, Rock the 80s, and more highlight February’s events 68 On Tap: Central Pennsylvania welcomes new breweries • by Sam Komlenic 72 Taste of the Month/Dining Out: Happy Valley Learn to Cook shows the joy and value of cooking at home • by Vilma Shu Danz 84 Lunch with Mimi: Adoption worker for Bethany Christian Services helps bring children into loving homes
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90 State College Photo Club’s Winning Photos 92 Snapshot: New THON director brings passion to the cause • by Lianne Galante
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Town&Gown February
A State College & Penn State tradition since 1966.
Publisher Rob Schmidt Founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith Editorial Director David Pencek Creative Director Tiara Snare Operations Manager/Assistant Editor Vilma Shu Danz Art Director/Photographer Darren Weimert Graphic Designer Cody Peachey Ad Coordinator Laura Specht Account Executives Kathy George, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello Administrative Assistant Hailee Miller Interns Madison Lippincott (editorial) Distribution Handy Delivery
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. Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn State’s Pattee Library.
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letter from the editor
The Good All Around Helping others and doing inspiring work doesn’t just stop at THON Each February, one of the best moments of the year happens. Inside a packed Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State students stay on their feet for 46 hours and raise tens of millions of dollars to help families who have children with cancer. THON has become one of the biggest events in Happy Valley, ranking up there with football weekends and Arts Festival. And the fact that it’s all for a great cause makes it that much more special. But just as the accomplishments of some Penn State sports can be overshadowed by the giant that is the football program (heck, February has even become an important time for football, as you can read about in Frank Bodani’s story, “The Season Begins with Paper and Pen”), the great work some student groups do that isn’t affiliated with THON receives little attention. My goal in reporting and writing the story “Beyond THON” for this month’s issue isn’t to take anything away from what THON does — it’s simply remarkable and inspiring what Penn State students do each year with that event, and the “Snapshot” profile this month is on THON director Katie Mailey. “Beyond THON” is meant to show that Penn State students in other clubs and organizations also are helping many causes and people — it was difficult to narrow down the groups to profile to just four. That’s one of the many benefits of attending a school the size of Penn State — whatever interests you have, you’ll likely find at least one group or organization devoted to each of them. One student group is the Penn State
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chapter of the AAUW (American Association of University Women). The State College chapter, which most are familiar with because of its used-book sale event that happens each spring, celebrates its centennial this year. You can read about the chapter’s proud history and the work it’s done in Tracey M. Dooms’s story, “100 Years of AAUW.” Other stories to check out this month include a Q&A with State College native and soprano Danya Katok, who is returning home this month to perform with Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra, “Taste of the Month” and its spotlight on Happy Valley Learn to Cook, and Robin Regan of Bethany Christian Services has “Lunch with Mimi.” Also, don’t forget to look through our special insert, Town&Gown’s Parenting. It has stories for parents of kids of all ages. Finally, we received so many wonderful remarks about our 50th anniversary issue in January, and the Borough of State College even proclaimed January as Town&Gown month. So thank you again for being a major part of our tradition and success!
David Pencek Editorial Director dpenc@barashmedia.com
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starting off
The List What to know about February Black History Month is celebrated in February. To read about Black History at Penn State, visit the African American Chronicles Web site at blackhistory.psu.edu. February 2 is Groundhog Day, and, about 75 miles west of State College, Punxsutawney Phil tells the world if spring is coming early. Did you know in the classic movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s character spends 10 years living the same day in Punxsutawney, at least according to director Harold Ramis? February 3 is National Girls and Women in Sport Day. While no Penn State women’s teams are playing that day, that weekend you can check out the women’s basketball team, which hosts Rutgers February 7, the women’s ice hockey team, which hosts Syracuse February 6-7, and the women’s lacrosse team, which plays Towson in an exhibition game February 6. For Christians, the season of Lent begins
February 10 with Ash Wednesday. It’s a
time when many give something up until Easter. Last year, according to Christianity Today, the most popular “sacrifices” were school, chocolate, Twitter, alcohol, and social networking. It’s the day to show your significant other how much you love them. Valentine’s Day is February 14, and chocolate is usually the popular way to show your affection. According 12 - T&G February 2016
to the National Confectioners Association, 69 percent of Americans prefer chocolates to flowers on Valentine’s Day. Last year, the National Confectioners Association estimated that 40 million heart-shaped boxes and other chocolate items would be sold on Valentine’s Day. Centre County has several chocolate shops one can visit for their Valentine’s purchases, and Mount Nittany Winery has its popular Wine & Chocolate Pairing event Valentine’s weekend, of course. The weekend after Valentine’s is one of the biggest weekends in Happy Valley — THON weekend. What started out as a little event in 1973 has grown to the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. This is the 40th year THON is raising money for the Four Diamonds Fund, which helps families with children who have cancer. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $127 million for the fund. This year’s 46hour THON event is February 19-21 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
February 20 kicks off Centre County Reads for 2016. This year’s book is Karen Abbott’s Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War. The opening event is from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Centre County Library’s Historical Museum in Bellefonte and features a discussion of Civil War history and a trial reenactment. Abbott is scheduled to visit the HUBRobeson Center March 16. Of course, this February gives everyone an extra day since it’s a leap year. What you do with the extra time on February 29 is up to you! T&G
People in the Community Juliette Greer
Juliette Greer, 17, won the 2016 Nittany Valley Symphony’s Ann Keller Young Soloist Competition in January. Because of her winning, she will perform with the symphony at its February 21 concert at Bellefonte Area High School. Greer, who also won the competition in 2013, is a senior at State High and studies violin with Max Zorin. She has been playing violin for 11 years. She won first place in the Senior String MTNA 2015 state competition and has performed as a soloist with Nittany Valley Symphony, Williamsport Symphony, and Central PA Youth Orchestra, where she served as concertmaster for three years. For the February 21 concert, she will perform Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor, opus 47: Allegro by Jean Sibelius. Brian Curtin (violin) finished in second
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place, while Luisa Mei Bressan (flute), Baron Cao (piano), and Ay Kawasaki (flute) earned honorable mentions.
Tawni O’Dell
Bestselling author Tawni O’Dell of State College released her latest book in January, Angels Burning. The book is a “thriller about a smalltown police chief who’s forced to dig into her own shadowy past as she investigates the murder of a teenage girl.” O’Dell’s past novels include Back Roads, Coal Run, Sister Mine, Fragile Beasts, and One of Us. Back Roads, according to O’Dell’s Web site, is currently in development to be made into a film by Michael Ohoven.
Raquel Rodriguez
Penn State senior women’s soccer player Raquel Rodriguez added another honor to her name when she won the MAC Hermann Trophy in January. The award is given to the top women’s soccer player. She is the second Penn State player to win the award; Christie Welsh won in 2001. Rodriguez led the Lions to the 2015 national title and scored six goals and had six assists during the season. She scored the game-winning goal in the national-title game against Duke. “It is just a huge honor,” she said after she won the award. “This trophy is not just mine, it is really the work of so many people, including my coaches, my teammates, my family, and friends, but most importantly, God. I understand these blessings come from Him. Aside from that, it is an honor to win this trophy; it is just a prestigious award to receive. I know that there have been so many great soccer players that have won this award. I am honored and very grateful.” T&G
Q&A with Danya Katok, soprano performer By Sarah Harteis Growing up in State College, Danya Katok never thought she wanted to be a singer. She spent her days dancing at Ballet Theater of Central PA and pursuing violin through Central PA Youth Orchestra. Today, she is an established soprano and is involved in choral singing and musical improv, as well as many projects of her own. “My experiences with ballet and orchestra really shaped my love for music,” she says. She currently lives in New York City but is coming back to her hometown to perform with Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra February 14 at the orchestra’s “Music for the Heart” concert at Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. She shared with Town&Gown her passion and love not only for music but also for the State College community. T&G: When did you live in State College, and what are some favorite memories from that time? Katok: I lived in State College from the time that I was 5 years old to my graduation from Penn State, so 17 years! I absolutely love State College. One of my favorite memories is volunteering at Arts Fest. I got to work backstage with one of the bands performing on the Old Main lawn. That was really fun! Taking ballet classes at the Ballet Theatre of Central PA is one of my fondest memories. I absolutely loved performing in The Nutcracker every year. It took leaving and then coming back to appreciate some things about State College. T&G: What are you looking forward to most when you come back and perform with the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra? Katok: I’m looking forward to performing with the professionals that I grew up with as role models, like Jim Lyon, with whom I studied violin my senior year of high school. I’m so honored
to perform professionally in my hometown! T&G: Where do you hope for your career to take you in the next five years? Katok: I hope to continue building my solo career, singing with orchestras and expanding my oratorio repertoire. I also hope to be regularly performing musical improv at The Magnet Theater where I currently study. I’d love to be coaching improv at that point, as well. T&G: What does music mean to you? Katok: Music is heightened emotion. It’s a way to express aspects of the human experience to which words alone cannot do justice. Despite being a performer, I tend to be rather shy, so singing gives me the voice that I can’t always find in ordinary life. For me, music is also tied closely with memory. Some people are sent back in time by a smell or a place, but all I need to hear is a song, and I’m transported back to the first time I heard it. I’ve read about the healing powers of music for Alzheimer’s patients, and I’ve experienced music’s powerful effect on the elderly when I’ve sung in nursing homes. T&G: What do you enjoy most about what you do? Katok: I love being in sync with an ensemble of musicians. I read something once about how people’s brain waves synchronize when they play music together — and I totally believe it! T&G
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• In 5 Questions, State College Community Theatre president Benjamin Whitesell looks ahead to this season and discusses future plans for the theater company. • Nittany Valley Society writes about Penn State’s first president, Evan Pugh, and his wife, Rebecca Valentine.
Portraits of Evan Pugh (right), who was Penn State’s first president from 1859 to 1864, and his wife, Rebecca Valentine.
• Special offer for 5 percent off your first cooking class at Happy Valley Learn to Cook, as well as recipes for pasta al forno with tomatoes and mozzarella, and individual flourless chocolate cakes! • Order your copy of Town&Gown’s 2015-16 Penn State Winter Sports Annual.
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living well
The Transforming Power of Love Avoid the dangers of “poisoning” yourself with negative thoughts and words By Meghan Fritz
A few weeks ago, a friend sent me a YouTube video of a 3-year-old girl standing on her bathroom sink first thing in the morning. She was shouting out with enthusiasm all of the things she loved. In a confident, clear voice she was saying, “I love my house, I love my toys, I love my sister, I love my hair, I love my school, I love my friends, I love my family ….” The list went on and on, and at the end of the video she hopped off the sink and skipped out of the bathroom ready to start her day from a place full of love. This short, sweet, and simple video stayed with me for several weeks. I sent it off to several family members and friends, and we all had the same reaction: What a simple way to lift your mood and start your day. 20 - T&G February 2016
How often does the alarm go off first thing in the morning and we immediately start our day with the list of things we have to accomplish. Perhaps the first thought of the day is, “UGGGG! I don’t want to get up, I don’t want to go to work, it’s cold and gray out again!” These thoughts weigh us down and immediately drain our energy without us being conscious of it. Think about when you put on your clothes and look in the mirror. Do you start body-shaming your appearance and hurl negative insults at your thighs? These thoughts weaken our immune systems and make us feel tired and cranky. If I handed you a bottle labeled “Poison,” would you drink it? What we don’t realize is our thoughts can actually be poisoning us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Begin to develop a consciousness of what you are thinking about and set a simple intention to start your day with love. As you get out of bed and walk to the coffeemaker or jump in the shower begin to recite a list of the things you love. It can be as simple as a cup of coffee, your warm bed, your car, your pinky — this simple act can help you start your day from a place of peace, love, and enthusiasm. During several studies in the 1990s, Dr. Masaru Emoto conducted a series of experiments observing the physical effects that words had on the crystalline structure of water. He took different positive and negative words and
taped them onto glasses of water and then studied the appearance of the molecules. The molecules in the glasses that had the words “love” and “appreciation” on them appeared clear, symmetrical, and beautiful to the eye — they looked like magical snowflakes. The water in the glasses labeled “hate” had a murky, clouded, asymmetrical look that was not at all pleasing to the eye. This is a powerful message to ponder, especially if you consider that the human body is made up of 60 percent water. Countless research shows that negative thinking and chronic stress suppress our immune system and make us prone to illnesses and chronic diseases. Take charge of your emotional, physical, and spiritual health today and begin to be conscious of your thoughts. Start each day using the transformative power of love versus the poison of negativity. The first day back to work postholiday season I got out of bed feeling tired, cranky, and less than enthused about the
end of my vacation. I pushed the “snooze” bar several times before finally getting out of bed and making my way to the coffeemaker, my head filled with fog. I remembered the video I had watched a few short weeks before that and began to recite a simple list of the things I love. I kept going all the way to the shower and while getting ready for work. By the time I left my home, I felt clearer headed, energized, and positive. This simple act is like infusing your body with wonderful healthy vitamins to energize and heal you from the inside out. Stop poisoning yourself with negative words and thoughts. Begin to acknowledge the transforming power of love and watch your mind and body change from the inside out. You are worth it! T&G Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College.
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health
Home Safety Take important steps to help children avoid accidents around the house By Craig Collison, MD, pediatrics, Mount Nittany Physician Group
A child’s home is supposed to be a safe place, away from all the dangers of this world. Unfortunately, the home also can be a hazardous place if parents don’t take the necessary precautions to keep their kids safe. This also goes for grandparents, babysitters, and anyone else who routinely have children in their home. Now that the holiday season is behind us, it’s the perfect time to take a good look around your home. The following are the top-five dangerous items that should either be removed from the home or dealt with in a planned, safe way. Firearms: Adolescent suicide and gun violence are often in the news, yet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 2 million children live in homes with loaded guns that are not locked up. Simply removing guns from the home is one of the best ways to protect children and teens from gun deaths. If removing the firearms from the house is not an option, they should be stored unloaded in a locked cabinet, with keys or combinations 22 - T&G February 2016
made inaccessible to children. Poisons: Based on statistics from the CDC, more than 300 children in the United States are treated for poisoning each year in an emergency department, and two children die every day as a result of being poisoned. Keep toxic products in their original packaging and stored where children can’t see or reach them. Put the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ (AAPCC) phone number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every telephone in your home and program it into your cell phone. Call that number if you think a child who is still awake and alert has been poisoned; the AAPCC can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and your child has collapsed or is not breathing. Trampolines: According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, upward of 100,000 trampoline-related injuries occur in the United States each year, resulting in thousands of hospitalizations. Approximately 75 percent of trampoline injuries occur when multiple people are jumping on the mat. Common injuries include sprains, strains, and contusions. Falls from a trampoline can potentially be catastrophic. Many injuries have occurred even with adult supervision, so it’s just best not to allow your children to use a trampoline. Prescription Drugs: More than 60,000 young children are seen in an emergency department each year because they had taken medicines while their parents or caregivers were not looking. In order to protect your kids, follow these tips: • Safely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. To dispose of medicines, mix
activities such as playing cards, reading books, talking on the phone, and using alcohol or drugs. If you have a backyard swimming pool, make sure it is fenced off with self-closing and selflatching gates. Dr. Craig Collison Additionally, try getting your children involved in swimming lessons at a young age to help keep them safer around the water. T&G For more information on how to keep children safe, visit kids.mountnittany.org or sign up for Mount Nittany’s “Parents Need to Know” newsletter to receive monthly tips and news to help keep children healthy.
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Contributed photo
them with coffee grounds or kitty litter and throw them away. You also can turn them in at a local take-back program or during National Drug Take-Back events. • Never tell children medicine is candy to get them to take it. This may make them more likely to put another person’s medicine in their mouth and ingest something they shouldn’t. • Secure the child-safety cap completely every time you use medicines and put them away and out of sight in a cabinet where a child cannot reach them. Water: Drowning is the leading cause of injury and death for young children ages 1 to 4, and three children die every day as a result of drowning. This can happen in swimming pools, natural bodies of water, and even bathtubs and large buckets of water. Inside the house, supervising your kids around water is the most important way to try to keep them safe. Adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting
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about town
A Tradition Revived Daughter of “Mrs. Hospitality” brings back holiday coffee gathering Contributed photo
By Nadine Kofman
Virginia Dale Ricker (far right) was called “Mrs. Hospitality” and hosted gatherings at her home in State College.
Normally, a ladies’ coffee wouldn’t be newsworthy, but this one was a revival. During the recent holidays, Heather Ricker-Gilbert of East Whitehall Road in State College greeted around 50 women at a late Saturday morning get-together, reviving a 1970s to early 1990s custom — one of many in her mother’s impressive history of entertaining. Virginia Dale Ricker — an applauded Penn Stater and an unassuming State College grand dame who tooled around in a green 1949 Plymouth convertible, loved words, spoke her mind, and made lasting friendships — was once dubbed “Mrs. Hospitality.” She threw elegant bashes, both inside and outside her imposing 1929 hillside home, nestled beside Whitehall Road. Remaining in the house until the end — on land that marked the western edge of the family farm — her long life ended in 2012. She was nearly 105. Virginia had two daughters — Jinny Wilkes in Arlington, Virginia, and the younger Heather, whose family (she, husband Harvey, and their three children) used to live in the newer structure at the lower end of their shared circular gravel drive. Several years ago, after more than two decades in Connecticut, Heather and Harvey returned to be with Virginia. They now own 24 - T&G February 2016
her stately house. “It’s nice to be here again” was heard from at least one guest arriving at the coffee. Speaking for many others, guest Grace Jeffries Coder found the event “very warm and welcoming. It’s fun to get together with people you’ve known for a long time and to meet new people.” “I really liked it,” said the youngest guest, Melanie Devon, a neighbor and State College Area High School junior. To make guests feel comfortable, “Heather introduced everybody.” The oldest guest there, 94-year-old Mary Fran “Molly” Gregory, was “delighted to be back;” she found the experience “touching” and “nostalgic.” For several years, the hostess had helped her mother with the holiday coffees. “I invited my friends, she invited her friends; so, we had an intergenerational coffee,” says Ricker-Gilbert. In total, about 100 came. She held this revival because, “I had the time and I thought it would be fun,” she says. “Like my mother, I love entertaining.” For attendees, she felt, a two-hour drop-by wouldn’t be too much at a busy time of the year. As passed down from her mother, “entertaining” has a capital E. For the impeccable buffet table, “I polished my silver bowl [for flowers] and set the table as it would have been years ago.” There were silver utensils and antique china cups, saucers, and plates. She and good friends supplied the baked goods. For the coffee, brewed by Harvey, there were topping choices: whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and, true to the past, whiskey and bourbon. A major difference between then and now was unavoidable. It was, pointed out “Molly” Gregory, the absence of doughnuts made by Mrs. Catherine Lee, wife of Centre County historian Marvin Lee who had passed away.
Only a handful of guests were old-timers. Many were seeing the Victorian interior for the first time. Ricker-Gilbert had brightened the living room by having furniture reupholstered, wallpaper removed, and paintings replaced. “I thought Heather’s home was a wonderful blend. She had made the home so much hers but also Virginia’s,” says guest Janet Kretchmar, who subsequently lived in the house down the drive and was a frequent visitor. Virginia Dale Ricker lived her whole life in Pennsylvania, mostly in Centre County. She was a descendent of Christian Dale, one of Centre County’s original settlers who arrived here in 1790. “Dale” is on the map — there’s Dalevue, Dale’s Summit, Foxdale, and the previously flourishing Woodsdale Trailer Park (beside the farmhouse that was Virginia’s birthplace). Most of these places were on her family’s 150-acre “Shadydale Farm.” Virginia’s life started and ended only a few miles apart. After graduating from State College High School, she became the first in her family to earn a college degree, graduating from the Pennsylvania State College in 1929 and earning a master’s there in l936. Beginning her 40 years of teaching, she
taught English and other courses at various high schools. She wed another master’s candidate — Ralph Ricker, who would receive a PhD from Penn State. The two used the inherited Whitehall Road house (built by her brother, Raymond, a Florida housing contractor, for their parents’ retirement) as a summer home until 1952 when, because of Penn State appointments, they and their two young daughters moved there. Ultimately, she was an English faculty member and taught the nucleus course for women’s studies; he became assistant to the dean of the former College of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics. The two helped start Penn State’s Nittany Lion Club. Virginia’s soirees grew out of large fundraising house parties for the then new Levi Lamb Fund for athletes. The recent get-together may or may not be held next winter. If it is, it will continue a tradition. If it isn’t, it will have been one-of-a-kind. Either one would be fitting. T&G Nadine Kofman is a native Centre Countian and historian.
ACAP- Centre County offers monthly educational programs for caregivers.
“Proud Supporter of the ACAP Centre County”
For more information please visit www.ACAPcommunity.org 2016 February T&G - 25
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on center
Americana Women Singer-songwriters Griffin, Watkins, and Mitchell perform as trio in March 16 concert Ted Caloroso
By John Mark Rafacz Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins, and Anaïs Mitchell are coming to Penn State for a celebration of American songwriting and performance. Their March 16 concert at Eisenhower Auditorium, part of the Use Your Voice Tour 2016, finds the artists sharing songs and accompanying one another. The tour, visiting almost Sara Watkins 40 cities, doubles as a voterengagement drive in conjunction with the League of Women Voters. Griffin, blessed with an astonishing voice, finds out this month if she’s won another Grammy Award. Her Servant of Love is nominated for Best Folk Album. Downtown Church, a 2010 release, earned her a Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album. Watkins, who worked with Griffin as part of the Transatlantic Sessions Tour in the United Kingdom a year ago, and Mitchell rehearsed with Griffin for a few days in December. “Anaïs and I were sitting right next to and in front of Patty as she was just opening her mouth sounding the way she sounds. It’s pretty stunning,” Watkins says. “Patty has encouraged us to let each night go the way that it will, and if we don’t want to play the song that’s on the set list, to change it up and do something else. I think that kind of expectation from us will keep each night unique and with a spirit of authenticity to that particular town, that particular evening, and wanting to stay present. We rehearsed a lot of songs from each other and just took turns showing each other choruses and parts and chords. There will be a lot of us supporting each other’s songs.” The American Music Association’s 2007 Artist of the Year, Griffin is a gifted songwriter who has created music for artists as diverse as the Dixie Chicks and Bette Midler. She’s also written most of the material for her own recordings. “She’s a very resilient songwriter,” Watkins observes. “I think we’ve seen a lot of different aspects of her humanity through her songwriting over the years — a ferocity and a vulnerability. I think you just see the general quality of life in her come through her lyrics.” Multi-instrumentalist and singer Watkins, who first gained praise for her fiddling as a member of the Grammy-winning 26 - T&G February 2016
contemporary bluegrass band Nickel Creek, has established a solo career with acclaimed studio albums plus collaborations with John Mayer, The Decemberists, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and others. She’s a frequent guest on public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion. Mitchell’s musical style has earned comparisons to Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Gillian Welch. Winner of the Kerrville Festival’s New Folk Award and nominee for the Folk Alliance’s Best Contemporary Artist Award, Mitchell is known as a distinctive young voice in the American folk movement. Critics lauded her most recent album, 2014’s Xoa, as “genredefining” and her “second consecutive masterpiece.” Watkins says this tour marks the first time she’s worked with Mitchell. “I’ve been a fan of Anaïs (A-nay-us) for a long time, as well,” she says. “I missed the [2010] Hadestown album somehow. … I had to go back to it after really digging into Young Man in America, an album she put out several years ago. Songwriting is interesting because you as a listener get to grab onto a bit of the songwriter’s humanity and … peek into their perspective, how they’ve digested the things that life has thrown at them.” Mitchell’s girlish voice contrasts with her sage words. “I think it helps give the lyrics even more weight than you might receive at first because of the context you’re listening through … this youthfulsounding voice,” Watkins says. “And you realize that … although she’s quite young still, she’s lived life.” T&G For more information or tickets, visit 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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On the Road Again Once a popular way for students to travel back home, bus services experience a revival Penn State University Archives
By Lee Stout
Penn State students board a Greyhound bus at the new bus terminal in the 1970s.
The orange-and-white CATA buses have been a ubiquitous part of life in the Centre Region since 1974. Students in the 1950s and 1960s, however, mainly walked the town and campus. Bicycles had not yet become trendy, being regarded as a relic of junior high by most undergraduates. Student cars were relatively rare, and most were parked at fraternity houses or in long-term lots on campus, saved for traveling to and from hometowns. For students who wanted to get out of town, the bus was a primary means of long-distance travel, and you could then choose between Greyhound and the Edwards Lakes-to-the-Sea lines. In my early years at Penn State, before I had my own car, I had the “pleasure” of experiencing several bus trips. Two of them took me to Lewistown to catch the train home to New Jersey. One took me to the Port Authority in New York City to connect with a commuter bus to my hometown in Red Bank. The last ride was an unforgettable, all-night, three-legged round-trip to Asbury Park. The riding was the easy part; the multihour layovers in Harrisburg and Philadelphia, where I also had to drag a suitcase from the Greyhound station to the 28 - T&G February 2015
Reading terminal to catch a bus filled with hung-over soldiers heading back to Fort Dix, made the trip an ordeal. Megabus riders who huddle now in the Walmart parking lot have no idea of how far we’ve come. Perhaps the earliest local motorized transit was the State College Transportation Company, which began in 1904 using a couple of larger automobiles to provide regular connections to trains stopping in Bellefonte and Lemont. While these “autobuses” might make as many as three round-trips a day, they were really impossible to operate in the winter or after heavy rains. In October 1909, it was reported that both vehicles were out of commission because of damages caused by poor road conditions. More modern motorbus transportation to and from State College didn’t begin until the 1920s as passenger train traffic to State College on the Bellefonte Central, and Lemont on the Pennsylvania Railroad, was phased out and paved roads and automobiles were beginning to be a more common sight. Bus lines spread quickly, and Pennsylvania became the first state to regulate intercity bus travel in 1914. Locally, the Boalsburg Auto Bus Line began operations in 1920, linking State College with Lewistown. By the late 1920s, the Emerick Motor Bus Line carried passengers from State College, through Bellefonte and Milesburg, to Lock Haven, where they connected for Williamsport and points north and east, while the Myers Busline connected to Tyrone and points west. A State College to Lewistown trip took two hours, and the ride to Tyrone was an hour-and-a-half. These small bus lines used coaches that carried around 30 passengers; they were developed on a truck
chassis and resembled a truck from the front. The flat-faced transit bus, which became the staple of town and city bus lines, was an innovation of the late 1930s and early 1940s, while school buses also developed in this same period, but mostly for rural areas where students couldn’t walk to school. Greyhound, later the most familiar intercity bus line, began as a small line in Minnesota in 1913, but rapidly expanded its service. The first Greyhound buses arrived in State College in 1935. Greyhound and, later, other lines picked up and dropped off passengers at the Corner Room, where there was very little space for waiting and a tiny ticket office. By 1940, the borough ordered the bus stop moved to a gas station on North Atherton Street. By 1941, a new bus station was in operation there, along with the attached Post House Tavern, leased to Greyhound. This provided all the space needed for bus operations, along with a cafeteria, soda fountain, and dining room that soon became a hangout for students. Now the home of the Pho 11 Vietnamese Restaurant, the Post House Tavern emulated the old stagecoach inns of the eighteenth century when long-distance travel was counted in days, not hours. By the 1960s, bus transportation had declined in popularity, and the terminal had become somewhat decrepit. Station operations moved in 1969 to the 1600 block of North Atherton, about the location of the present Wendy’s restaurant. However, that location was extremely inconvenient for most students, and, in 1973, the abandoned Bellefonte Central Railroad freight station, adjacent to the old Post House restaurant, was renovated to become State College’s new bus station. Long-distance bus travel has revived in recent years, largely due to the discount services offered first by the Chinatown buses and now by the Megabus lines. While the days when 30 or more buses would line up waiting to take students home at Christmas break are long gone, intercity bus service remains an important part of the transportation mix. T&G Lee Stout is librarian emeritus, special collections for Penn State.
Get to know...
Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia: Immigration Law As a schoolgirl, Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia was intrigued by stories of social justice. “Learning about the civil rights movement and the role of lawyers and judges in addressing social inequalities was a profound experience for me,” she says. “By high school, I was determined to become a civil rights lawyer — to use the law as a tool for social change.” Later, work experiences in India, Africa, and Washington, D.C., during law school at Georgetown University and then as an attorney, as well as her own background as the child of immigrants, informed her decision to focus on immigration law. In 2008, she moved to State College to found Penn State Law’s Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic. Also a clinical professor of law and Samuel Weiss Faculty Scholar, Wadhia initially focused the clinic on national policy issues, drawing on her experience with the National Immigration Forum in Washington. “As I’ve become closer and more connected to the State College community,” she says, “I’ve become more aware of the immigration issues right here.” Last fall, clinic students collaborated with the State College mayor and police chief on local police and immigration enforcement, worked on asylum cases for individuals, and continued a dialogue on immigration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “I believe it’s incredibly important for our clinic to have a reach that’s both local and national.” The Penn State Bookstore thanks Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia and all faculty and staff who carry out the university’s mission every day.
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00W 1AAU YEARS OF
State College branch of the American Association of University Women has been leading the way for women since 1916
By Tracey M. Dooms
2016 February T&G - 33
A
n eating disorder derailed Alison Franklin’s first attempt at college, causing her to drop out of Penn State in 2003. By the time she was ready to return, she was married with two toddlers. “It’s not cheap to go back to school, especially when you have a family,” she says. After studying part-time for a year, she received a scholarship from the State College Branch of the American Association of University Women that helped make it possible for her to be a full-time student. She earned her bachelor’s degree in toxicology and master’s in soil science. Now she’s a doctoral student at Penn State in soil sciences and biogeochemistry, examining how wastewater contaminants impact antibiotic resistance. She’s also giving back as copresident of the State College Branch of AAUW. “AAUW really is a great support network for women in this area as we move throughout our lives and our careers,” she says. “It’s an organization that is trying to help women succeed in life.”
Penn State women on the cross country course that was lobbied for in 1918.
This month, the State College Branch of AAUW is celebrating 100 years of doing exactly that. Founded at a time when few women were college educated, the organization has built a legacy of initiating change both on campus and in the community, all to support the AAUW mission of advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. “The national office salutes the AAUW State College Branch on its 100th birthday,” says Christy Jones, vice president of membership and direct-response marketing for AAUW. “At its inception in 1916, the branch lobbied for the equality of women on the campus of Pennsylvania State College, carrying out AAUW’s mission locally. Clearly the branch’s longevity lies in its passion and commitment to positive societal change. We appreciate all the members and volunteers who selflessly give so much of themselves to empower women.”
Founded for education
Jean Kerr and Eleanor Schempf sort books at the used-book workshop. 34 - T&G February 2016
On February 18, 1916, a small group of college-educated women met in the Women’s Building on the Penn State campus to found the Central Pennsylvania Branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (ACA), with the goal of promoting higher education for women. Membership was open to all alumnae of ACA-approved colleges and universities. Penn State was not yet approved, so an early focus for the branch was lobbying for that approval, which was achieved in 1918. During the branch’s first year alone,
Contributed photos (6)
monthly discussions covered a wide range of topics, from the opening of the first US birth-control Branch officer clinic and the Helen Hill (left) election of presents a the first congresswoman to scholarship in vocational opportunities 1968. for women, heredity and eugenics, and the Americanization of immigrants. Early efforts of the branch included lobbying Penn State for gender-specific restrooms, a women’s residence hall, and a female physicaleducation teacher. In 1921, the national ACA merged with the Southern Association of College Women to form the American Association of University Women, giving the local group its permanent name. That year, both the national and local organizations supported the radioactivity research of Marie Curie, with the State College branch sending her $5 to help buy a gram of radium. Notable local achievements over the years included successfully pressuring Penn State to appoint Clara Phillips as its first female trustee in 1926. A branch survey of kindergarten needs in 1935 led to the creation of the Emergency Nursery School. In
1941, the branch raised funds for the first Centre County Bookmobile, and, in 1951, a branch study led the State College Borough Water Authority to add fluorine to the community water supply. AAUW funding supported the opening of the Voluntary The AAUW Action Center (now branch founded Community Help the Ex-GI Nursery Centre) in 1974. As School in 1945. more mothers entered the workforce, AAUW State College initiated the PhoneFriend service for school-age “latchkey” children in 1982, and the program later was adopted around the country. As the decades passed, moving to the forefront of the branch agenda were topics such as sex education, pay equity, gender bias in education, and a national equal rights amendment. While funds raised in early years went primarily to the national organization, eventually much of the money raised by State College AAUW members went to support scholarships and programs for local women. In 1962, AAUW State College held its first used-book sale, in the Bell Telephone building on South Allen Street, raising $176. Now held at Penn State’s Snider Ag Arena, the four-day annual sale (May 14 to 17 this year) attracts more than 8,000 visitors who browse 250,000 books donated by the community, with sales topping $125,000. Marjorie Dunaway, who joined AAUW in 1949, has seen many changes over the past six decades. “In the early days, AAUW was primarily concerned with education for women,” she recalls. “They still are, but the focus has widened, and now equity for women is important. Both of these issues lead to AAUW’s primary goal — the advancement of women.” Sally Kalin, retired associate dean of libraries for Penn State, joined AAUW more than 30 years ago. 2016 February T&G - 35
Centennial Celebration AAUW State College Branch celebrates its 100th anniversary on February 14 at 3 p.m. with a public program at the Nittany Lion Inn. Penn State archivist Jackie Esposito, who is a branch past president, will give a talk on “Pioneering Penn State Women,” and branch photos, handbooks, scrapbooks, and more will be on display. The AAUW State College Centennial Archives Roadshow features dozens of photos from AAUW State College history. The exhibit will be on display at: • Penn State Pattee-Paterno Library, Curtin Road entrance, Sidewater Commons near the computer lab, through June 30. • Penn State HUB-Robeson Center, first floor, across from the information desk, through March 2. • Happy Valley Optical, 208 South Allen Street, March 15 to April 30. In addition, Centre Furnace Mansion and Schlow Centre Region Library will display centennial easel boards for extended periods this year. Also, a Centennial Gala is scheduled for October 16 at Mountain View Country Club. For more information about the centennial celebration and AAUW State College history, visit aauwsc100years.com.
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“I was very impressed with the women I met in the community who were members of AAUW — with their intelligence and their commitment to the community,” she says. Since then, she adds, she has seen more women move into fields formerly dominated by men, such as engineering, but equity remains a major goal for AAUW. “Sexism still exists,” she says. “It’s more subtle now, but we need to be vigilant about it.”
Modern programs
Today, there are more than 1,000 AAUW branches across the country. The State College branch has about 155 members working toward the goal of improving the lives of all women. A major focus in recent years has been on initiatives supporting education and activities in science, technology, engineering, and math, says copresident Billie Willits, who is retired from Penn State. The branch partners with Centre County school districts in after-school STEM programs for middle school girls, offers scholarships to ScienceU camps at Penn State, and sponsors programs at Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, including “Radium Curie-osity,” tying in with that donation to Marie Curie almost a century ago. Scholarships of the type Franklin received continue to be “extremely important” to the State College branch, Willits says. During the past 50 years, the local branch has awarded $271,600 in undergraduate scholarship funds to 86 local women. In 2004, the membership established an endowment at the Centre Foundation, using the revenue from the usedbook sale to support scholarships in perpetuity. Some initiatives advocate for women and girls by advocating for all people, Willits notes. For example, a new public-policy initiative targets funding in Pennsylvania K-12 schools. “We want to send the message that we want adequate and equitable funding among all school districts in Pennsylvania, so that all school districts can offer a good education to all students,” she explains. State College AAUW also is a strong supporter of other community organizations. Since 1965, the branch has awarded more than $1 million in support of programs and
services delivered by nonprofit community organizations that reflect the AAUW mission. The long list of recipient organizations includes Schlow Centre Region Library, Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Centre County Women’s Resource Center, Centre Volunteers in Medicine, State College Area School District, and many more.
The next generation of AAUW
Membership in AAUW State College is open to anyone who has earned at least an associate’s degree; members do not have to work for Penn State or any other college or university. “The branch welcomes members no matter what their employment,” Willits says. “We just want to engage people who want to support the mission as we build on our history for the next 100 years.” A new student chapter already is bringing in the next generation. As a college freshman, Jordan Glover spearheaded Penn State AAUW’s launch in spring 2014 following a conversation with her mother, Julia, an
Girls become involved in math and science through AAUWfunded STEM programs.
AAUW State College member. The student chapter has about 20 members, including Jordan, now a junior and the student organization’s president. “I was never super big into women’s rights,” she says. “Then, doing my research for the chapter, I thought, ‘Wow, there are a lot of issues that specifically affect college women.’ Now I’m really passionate about equal pay.”
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Nicole Romano (left) and Skylar Gordon of Penn State AAUW collect voter-registration cards.
The student group’s primary event is Women’s Empowerment Week, held each semester at the HUB-Robeson Center — the spring 2016 one is February 29 to March 4. Each day during the event, Penn State AAUW focuses on a different topic, such as body image, sexual assault, and pay equity. Willits notes that the student members work on issues that matter to them as college students, but the students also are important to the future of State College AAUW as it enters its second century, and to women’s advocacy nationally and internationally. “These young women,” she says, “will have the mission of AAUW in mind when they go out into the workforce around the country, and hopefully around the world.” T&G Tracey M. Dooms is a freelance writer in State College and a special-projects editor for Town&Gown.
38 - T&G February 2016
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BEYOND 40 - T&G February 2016
THON While many Penn State students do an amazing job with raising tens of millions of dollars to fight pediatric cancer, other smaller student groups also are doing inspiring work in helping others
By David Pencek 2016 February T&G - 41
M
ention Penn State student organizations that do charitable work and the one that is usually thought of first is THON. It makes sense since THON is, after all, the largest studentrun philanthropy in the world and has raised more than $127 million for the Four Diamonds Fund since 1977. A look at other clubs and organizations, however, finds that besides helping kids with cancer, Penn State students are making a positive impact on many others in various ways and in locations around the world. According to the Penn State Student Affairs’ Web site, the campus has more than 1,000 organizations, and 56 fall under the “Philanthropic” category, with another 41 under the “Service” category. The following are just a few examples of how Penn State students are helping to support great causes beyond what happens in the Bryce Jordan Center each February.
A special fashion show
42 - T&G February 2016
Last spring, Penn State’s Sisters On The Runway held its first fashion show to benefit the Centre County Women’s Resource Center. Contributed photos (12)
One minute, a student with a huge smile walks confidently in front of an audience and shows off the clothes they are wearing. The next minute, students who aren’t smiling come in front of the audience holding signs that read “1 in 4 women will be victims of domestic violence” and “Women ages 20-24 are at greatest risk.” This unique fashion show is put on by Sisters On The Runway, an organization founded in 2005 by three sophomores at Montclair High School in New Jersey. The organization’s mission is “to raise awareness and funds for women and children currently residing in domestic violence shelters.” In July 2014, Penn State students Layla Taremi and Lauren Shearer founded the Penn State chapter for Sisters On The Runway. In April 2015, the chapter held its first fashion show at the Business Building. Through that and other fundraising efforts, including a Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event that has been held each of the past two falls and has participants (both men and women) walk a mile wearing women’s
high heels, the Penn State chapter has raised nearly $2,000 for the Centre County Women’s Resource Center. Taremi, who is the chapter’s president, also started a Sisters On The Runway chapter at her high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when she was a student there. “Domestic violence is present everywhere,” says Taremi, who is a junior majoring in marketing. “I’ve seen it with friends and just people I know. I know it’s a huge issue … there are so many people who could be one of those [affected by it]. “After passing my position as president of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School to an extremely dedicated member, I quickly learned that the organization has a deeper meaning to her. Her mother was in a severely abusive relationship and had a near-death experience.” The between 30 and 40 active members of the Penn State chapter meet every Monday evening when classes are in session. As of early January, a location and date for this year’s fashion show hadn’t been determined, but Taremi says they want the show to attract more people and raise more money and awareness for the cause.
It’s a cause she plans to continue to help even after she graduates from Penn State. “Tears come to my eyes when I notice people joining us in the fight against domestic violence that you may not expect,” she says. “It is such a great feeling to know SOTR is directly impacting the lives of women and children in Centre County and spreading awareness to a community of college students who don’t normally hear about the issue.”
Helping kids elsewhere
Amelia Browning was a pre-med student when she took a trip to the Dominican Republic and Haiti during spring break last year. Going as a member of Penn State’s chapter of the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC), she returned home realizing that she didn’t want to be a doctor anymore. “The trip made me realize there were larger issues with just health care and health-care systems in general, and global perspectives on health care,” says Browning, a junior and now the chapter president. “I think if I had not been in FIMRC and not been in that intimate setting with people … I would have never had that perspective on it.” She has since switched her major to health policy and administration. Founded in 2002, FIMRC is “dedicated to improving the health of families in the developing world through the implementation of innovative and selfsustainable health-improvement program.” Penn State became a FIMRC chapter seven years ago. Each spring break, several members of the club go to one of eight countries FIMRC helps with health services. At the start of each school year, members vote on which country they will visit. This spring break, Browning and other members will travel to Nicaragua. “You realize how lucky we are to have the resources we do and that certain countries don’t have the infrastructure to be able to provide the quality health care that their citizens need,” Browning says.
Martin enjoyed spending time and helping some children in Costa Rica.
“For me, seeing that firsthand … it was heartbreaking.” Vice president Ana Luiza San Martin, also a health policy and administration major, visited Costa Rica her freshman year and also went to the Dominican Republic and Haiti last year. She remembers seeing how Haitians in need of medical care were treated — or rather, not treated — when they came to a medical center in the Dominican Republic. The two countries have had a long-standing conflict with each other. “Dominicans get the priority treatment and the Haitians went to the end of the line, no matter how sick they were or what they needed,” she says. Browning adds, “I remember one lady who brought her infant in, and he had been crying blood. Because they thought she was Haitian, they didn’t give her priority care.” Much of what the student do involves educating the citizens of the country they’re visiting — they explain the importance of washing hands, brushing teeth, and cleaning cuts. When it comes to the Penn State chapter, Browning says it has 283 students 2016 February T&G - 43
on its mailing list. For fundraisers, the members do bake sales and Yankee Candle sales. They also accept donations. “People don’t know who we are, and we come across as geared to pre-med students. It deters a lot of people who might actually enjoy it,” she says. “We worked on fixing that this year, and it’s gone pretty well.” She says the group has started to attract students from various majors, including accounting and history. “I wanted to be in a club that was small and one I really could get involved in and see the impact, rather than watch other people,” she says. “I care a lot about the cause. … I want to build up this club so after graduation it doesn’t just drop.”
Small thanks to those who serve
Each month in Room 106 of the Business Building at Penn State, about 20 students gather and stuff empty boxes with small items such as snacks, activity books, magazines, toiletries, and more. The boxes are then mailed out to countries around the world, including Japan, Kuwait, North Korea, and countries in the Middle East. The Dear Hero Program sends out between 30 and 50 of these filled boxes each month to US military members who are deployed. They offer reminders to those military members that people back home are thinking about them and appreciate their service. “Honestly, it’s become the greatest passion I’ve ever had,” says senior Lauren Kirch, who is the club president. “I never loved anything so much or cared about anything so much.” The Dear Hero Program at Penn State started in 2010 by the girlfriend of an active-duty Marine. While Jesse Exum had been sending her Marine boyfriend letters and care packages, she learned that other Marines who were with him would receive nothing during their deployment. She was inspired to show those other Marines that their service was appreciated, as well. Kirch, who has friends in the military, joined the club her freshman year. She was searching through all the clubs at 44 - T&G February 2016
Penn State and “stumbled onto this one by coincidence. I thought, ‘This sounds like a really good cause.’ ” She became the club’s secretary her sophomore year and was vice president last year. Many of the items that are put in the care packages are donated, but Kirch also will purchase items. The club raises money by doing bake sales, partnering with local restaurants that give a portion of a customer’s bill back to the club if the customer presents a club flier, and selling random items such as patriotic sunglasses. The club also held a dodgeball tournament that raised some money. Occasionally, the club will receive Thank You notes from those who receive a package. Two years ago, members in a Navy unit that had received a package made a plaque for the group. Besides the care packages, club members visit the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona each month to spend time with veterans. “We play Bingo with some World War II vets, and it can get crazy intense,” Kirch says. Each month, Penn State’s Dear Hero Program sends out between 30 and 50 care packages to those deployed in the military.
“We help decorate there for the holidays and make goodie bags for Halloween. Sometimes we just talk to them.” Kirch is looking for more ways the club can help people who have served or are serving. “I keep trying to look things up,” she says. “There was something about lost Purple Hearts and trying to return them to the families they belong to. I don’t know how that happens but I want to do that. I saw something about building homes for veterans, and I was like, ‘A bunch of college kids can do that!’ I want to get more involved in the community that way. … I want this club to survive and keep going after I’m done. It would be great if it got even bigger. It will never be as popular as THON, but at least if it gets recognized by some of the students.”
Special friendships
When Sammy Costa joined the Penn State chapter of Best Buddies, he didn’t become too involved with the program that pairs students with people in the community who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Then, the summer before his sophomore year, he went to a leadership conference for Best Buddies International at the University of Indiana — and everything changed. “It completely changed my whole view on everything,” says Costa, a junior majoring in security and risk analysis. “Half the population there had a disability, but everyone was treated the same. It was an environment I had never been a part of. …
Penn State sophomore Kelly Malanga (left) with her buddy, Bruce Smith.
Everyone was so nice to each other. It was cool to see the effect they had. People got on stage and talked about their buddy.” Costa is now president of Best Buddies at Penn State. He has two buddies himself — an engaged couple in their late 50s, Rosie and Corey. While the goal of the organization is to pair one student with one person in the community, the Penn State chapter usually has two or three students with a person in the community. The chapter works mostly with Strawberry Fields to find people in the community who can become a buddy. “I think this has really had more of an effect on the students,” Costa says. “Unless you’ve been around someone who had a disability, and I hadn’t before this, you
2016 February T&G - 45
don’t know. You think they’re so much more different than you, but you find out you have more similarities than differences. It’s just like any other friendship.” The club holds a few events where all the students and buddies come together, including an annual Buddy Ball held in December at the Phi Psi fraternity house. Mostly, however, it’s students setting up times with their buddies to get ice cream or go to the movies or other activities. When Costa was a freshman, the club had around 40 members. It now has between 90 and 100. “We began this year going to all the involvement fairs, and we hung up a banner on campus,” he says. “Mostly, it’s been word of mouth.” Even after students graduate, many
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411 South Burrowes St. State College 46 - T&G February 2016
remain friends with their buddies. When he graduates, Costa says he’d like to be involved in a “buddy” program for people who are out of high school and college. While he is a student at Penn State and the club president, he hopes to keep expanding the club to include more people — more students and more buddies in the community. “I know more people in the community with disabilities that aren’t in the program,” he says. “I’d love to see everyone get involved. I talk to so many people who have no idea about it or have never heard of it. I’d like everyone to have heard of it. “The main goal of the club is inclusion for everyone. We hope that message gets spread around. The most rewarding part of it is to see that happening.” T&G
CONGRATULATIONS TO DON LEITZELL! J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. is proud to announce the selection of Mr. Donald Leitzell, CFP®, President of Diversified Asset Planners in State College, Pennsylvania as the honored recipient of the 2015 J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. “Advisor of the Year Insurance Division” award. The award goes beyond recognizing Mr. Leitzell for his successful business; it also signifies Mr. Leitzell’s commitment to ensuring that families and individuals have given the proper consideration to the use of insurance as a wealth transfer and estate planning tool in addition to the more traditional use as a protection for income. J.W. Cole continues to rely upon Mr. Leitzell’s leadership and forward looking ideas for improvement upon the delivery of financial services. Mr. Leitzell is a motivational influence throughout his own organization and ours and we are privileged to call him our partner.
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•The Advisor did not pay a fee to be considered for the award. •The award is not indicative of the Advisor’s future performance. Working with the “Advisor of the Year” is not a guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee the selected Advisor will be awarded this accomplishment by J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. in the future. •The inclusion of the Advisor in the nomination for the award should not be construed as an endorsement of the Advisor’s investment management skills by J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. or any of its affiliates. •The Advisor may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may or may not manage their client’s assets. •The award selection committee is not acting in the capacity of an Investment Adviser and therefore the reference to this award should not be considered financial advice. •J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. has approximately 374 Advisors eligible for consideration of the award and only one Advisor per year is selected. •For more information on the methodology behind the selection committee’s nominations, please contact the Chief Compliance Officer at J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. at (813) 935-6776.
48 - T&G February 2016
ven before ege football ber, and e m te t coll p e S nd in y, the nex e tr k . n e u e o w c t e firs s th igning day efore the yed acros national s la h p it n w e re v a e ry s a me onths and s in Febru spring ga ally begin es place m k tu c ta a t a n rner more ig th a g camp lar and ga cruitin u re p o e p th re h o long wit will be to grow m The day, a know who continues to , e d n ir a s h e d re ns years befo football fa s college a the future n o in ti n rs e att ’s colo m a te ir e wearing th
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2016 February T&G - 49
matter that it seems somewhat of an awkward approach in State College, where for decades the coaching staff didn’t even publicly acknowledge their latest recruits. Now, cameras and reporters from the Big Ten Network and ESPN hang around the Lasch Football Building all day, recording how Quarterback Jake Zembiec, New York’s Gatorade Player of the Year, enrolled early at Penn State and is taking classes this semester.
Contributed photo (2)
The house lights go down and the Blue Band begins blaring in front of a few thousand football fans on a winter’s night. The cheerleaders and dance team stroll in, then the Nittany Lion mascot. Players’ highlights flash on giant screens as Penn State football head coach James Franklin, wearing a Sunday-best suit, praises each of his newest treasures — though most aren’t yet Penn State students. This is college football on the first Wednesday of February. This isn’t about the current players, of course. Spring practice won’t get rolling for more than another month, and preseason camp seems eons away. This celebration on national signing day — the first day high school seniors can make their verbal commitments binding — is all about the glitz and glamour of recruiting, a big business machine that keeps growing, for better or worse. Gatherings such as Penn State’s annual “Signature Event,” which started with Franklin’s first year in 2014, are a showpiece for the lifeblood of every program. No
Welcoming a New Class Penn State looks to bring in top talent, especially along the offensive and defensive lines, on this year’s signing day
Reading Eagle
By Frank Bodani
Michal Menet (center) from Reading is a fivestar offensive tackle who is expected to sign with Penn State on signing day. 50 - T&G February 2016
This incoming Penn State recruiting class may be best judged in years to come on the success of its biggest bodies — with the hope that these linemen begin producing much sooner than later. Certainly, Penn State’s highly rated 2016 recruiting class does possess some flash and flair. Pittsburgh ’s Miles Sanders is an elite five-star prospect and one of the top tailbacks in the nation. Jake Zembiec, New York ’s Gatorade Player of the Year, is a lynchpin quarterback recruit who enrolled early in January. Maryland defensive
Steve Tressler/Vista Professional Studios
Penn State held its first signing-day event in 2014, and new head coach James Franklin (left) joined former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington in talking about the team's incoming freshman class that year.
Franklin and his assistants and support staff announce each incoming faxed letter of intent as if it is a pick in the NFL draft. Certainly, recruiting and signing day have morphed into entities unrecognizable from 20 years ago. Now, if coaches don’t begin recruiting the most promising eighth- or
end Shane Simmons continues to increase his stock as a long, quick pass-rusher off the edge. But even more important are those linemen on both sides of the ball — the building blocks of the class and the team, so to speak. The Lions are in the top 20 nationally in team rankings, with five or more scholarship slots open down the stretch to national signing day on February 3. Their best incoming linemen may be five-star offensive tackle Michal Menet from Reading and four-star center/ guard Connor McGovern from Lake-
ninth-graders, then another Power Five conference school will develop relationships first and have a head start to landing them years later. If you don’t flood your next crop of high school seniors with public plaudits and praise on signing day, then what will the younger prospects think?
Lehman. Early talk has both vying for rare true freshman playing time, even possibly helping to anchor the youngest of lines alongside 2015 recruits Ryan Bates and Steven Gonzalez. Head coach James Franklin and his staff also are bringing in promising blockers in 6-foot-6 Will Fries of New Jersey and 6-7 Alex Gellerstedt of Ohio. While the struggles along the offensive line have been well documented the past two years, the Lions also will be thin on experience on the defensive front next season, particularly at tackle.
The defensive line lost four of its top linemen to graduation this winter. That’s where Maryland’s highly rated Ellison Jordan (6-foot, 270 pounds) and New Jersey ’s Michael Dwumfour (6-1, 285) could help. For now, Daniel Joseph (6-3, 240) is the lone strong-side defensive end in the class. The Lions’ struggling special teams also could get a big boost from this class. They are hoping to hang onto arguably the nation’s top punter/ kicker combination in Georgia’s Blake Gillikin and Michigan’s Quinn Nordin. T&G
2016 February T&G - 51
By this past fall, Franklin and his staff were spending more time working on their recruiting classes of 2017 and 2018 — at least 16 months before signing them — than they were on their incoming group, the ones who are signing their letters this month. Coaches now visit recruits via helicopters, athletic departments are hiring more personnel to handle the growing recruiting workload, and high school kids are changing their allegiances faster than ever, sometimes switching their verbal commitments two and three times. The entire industry has exploded with Internet sites such as Rivals, Scout, and 247Sports evaluating and promoting players at national camps, combines, and showcases run by Under Armour and Nike. High school players even in the most remote states and regions are skilled at marketing themselves through video and by budget-busting camp tours. “The days of finding that hidden gem are no longer,” says former Maryland head coach and Pennsylvania native Randy Edsall.
For Penn State’s newest quarterback, the recruiting process offered opportunities of a lifetime. Jake Zembiec played his high school ball in Rochester, New York, a state lightly recruited by most schools even a decade ago. But he had no problem attracting attention during his prep career. He plays quarterback. He’s New York’s Gatorade Player of the Year. Those recruiting Web sites have covered him for years. He says the increased attention forced him to handle himself more adeptly around the media, helping his public speaking and his maturation. He also earned the rare privilege of eyeing some of the nation’s top football schools up close and personal. His behindthe-scenes recruiting visits took him from Florida to Oklahoma to Michigan. “I got to see so much with my family,” he says. “A lot of people only go to two or three states in their lifetime.”
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At Penn State, he ate breakfast in Franklin’s home and toured the campus by golf cart. “I can’t imagine other head coaches do that. [Penn State] has the most family-oriented approach,” he says. “A lot of times, if you visit a big school with the big-time head coach, you feel you have to tip-toe around and say the right things. You’re nervous, you don’t want to look silly. Being around all these [Penn State] guys, you can just be yourself — especially my family, they just brought us in like they’ve known us forever.” Zembiec not only verbally committed to Penn State more than a year early, he also chose to enroll early in the university — yet another recent trend that’s growing. With his high school requirements complete in December, he began college life in January. Now, he’s taking classes and is eligible to participate in winter workouts and spring football and gets a head start on the quarterback competition. While Zembeic’s recruitment was still fairly low-key, more players across
the country are ramping up their announcements. Using everything from animals as props to renting banquet halls complete with a half-dozen guest speakers. Penn State recruit Quinn Nordin, the top kicking prospect in the nation, verbally committed last summer with a video featuring his stepping off an airplane wearing Nittany Lions gear, with Diddy’s rap song “Coming Home” in the background. Of course, Internet Web sites and rankings now allow fans to follow recruiting year-round, one more way to root for their team against everyone else. Interestingly enough, Penn State has been at the forefront of this revolution in some ways. Joe Paterno is credited with starting the early-recruitment trend when he offered a scholarship to Joe Nastasi in 1993 — 18 months before signing days — and the Altoona kid accepted. Derrick Williams was one of the first to announce his college of choice on national TV in December 2004.
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Penn State
Franklin celebrates a letter of intent arrival during last year’s signing-day event.
“Once it was on TV and people started watching it and getting excited, then it absolutely blew up,” says Mike Farrell, a national recruiting analyst with Rivals.com. He notes how there are now daylong televised shows dedicated to national signing day. “When the NBA really started to encourage high school kids jumping right to the pros … the difference between high schools and professional was no longer deemed a large gap,” he says. “Because of the instant impact these guys were having, people wanted to know, ‘Who’s next?’ Who’s the next great player at Ohio State and Alabama?’ ” Quarterbacks, because of their importance on the field and in a leadership role, are often targeted first. Take Penn State’s Sean Clifford from Cincinnati, Ohio. He verbally pledged to the Nittany Lions last July — even though he cannot sign his letter of intent until February 2017. 54 - T&G February 2016
An upside is how coaches can gain insight into a prospect by the way he handles this early attention and scrutiny, whether it be through standard interviews or via social-media outlets. “I think it’s interesting to see how kids will act when the spotlight is on them,” says Adam Friedman, a Mid-Atlantic analyst with Rivals.com. “It’s valuable of pieces of information for coaches because the spotlight’s only going to be bigger when they get to college. It’s a way to peep into the future a little bit.” The concern is that the process is steadily growing out of control. Universities are being forced to increase football staff numbers — increasing budget concerns — or risk falling behind other schools for football wins and revenue. Coaches are working more hours than ever to juggle three and four recruiting classes at once. Players are being analyzed, recruited harder, and even offered scholarships at younger ages.
Four of Penn State’s 2016 freshman class — from left, Danny Dalton, Jake Zembiec, Connor McGovern, and Alex Gellerstedt — enrolled early and have already begun their college careers.
Some say the process and pressure can be slowed by installing an early-signing period in which recruits could make their verbal pledges binding a few months before national signing day, similar to basketball. Switching allegiances is so commonplace it surprised few when nationally-rated defensive back Lavert Hill, verbally committed to Penn State for 10 months, announced in late November that he would be looking for another school. He is expected to sign with home state Michigan or Michigan State, although he was introduced and received a standing ovation at a Penn State men’s ice hockey in January, another sign of how big recruiting has become. “Now, your word is no longer your word,” Edsall says. “Kids don’t commit anymore, they make a reservation.” The growing trend in de-committing “is a travesty. There’s obviously a problem. People can bury their heads in the sand all
they want, but it’s a problem,” Edsall says. Meanwhile, the 365-day-a-year recruiting battles wage on. “I may be home, but I may be in the driveway on the phone for an hour,” Brent Pry, Penn State’s newly promoted defensive coordinator, told StateCollege.com last spring. “You do what you do. You may come in, tuck [your kids] in, and read them a book or two, then you’re back on the phone. When that four-star calls and wants to talk, you’re going to take the phone call.” All of it leads up to the signing day celebrations at schools and announcement sites across the country. It’s on that Wednesday in the middle of winter when college football comes alive and heats up another season. T&G Frank Bodani is a Penn State beat reporter with the York Daily Record and has followed the team since 1994. 2016 February T&G - 55
56 - T&G December 2015
Coming to Bryce Jordan Center
February 5 Nittany Lion Wrestling vs. Ohio State 6 p.m. 6 Nittany Lion Basketball vs. Indiana 8 p.m. 7 Lady Lion Basketball vs. Rutgers 2 p.m. 13 Fetty Wap 8 p.m. 14 Lady Lion Basketball vs. Ohio State 2 p.m. 17 Nittany Lion Basketball vs. Iowa 6:30 p.m. 19-21 THON 6 p.m. 24 Lady Lion Basketball vs. Iowa 7 p.m. 25 Nittany Lion Basketball vs. Nebraska 7 p.m. 26 Jason Aldean 7:30 p.m. 27 Lil’ Wayne 7:30 p.m. 58 - T&G February 2016
T& G
what's happening
February
16-27 6 Acoustic Brew begins its spring schedule with Susan Werner performing at WPSU Studios.
Penn State Centre Stage presents the musical 110 in the Shade at the Playhouse Theatre.
23 Bob Marley’s former band The Wailers perform at the State Theatre.
19-21 FTK! THON takes over the Bryce Jordan Center and raises millions of dollars for the Four Diamonds Fund.
26 Country star Jason Aldean brings his We Were Here tour to the Bryce Jordan Center.
11-14 State College Community Theatre opens its 2016 season with The Wedding Singer at the State Theatre.
13 The Penn State wrestling team finishes its regular season hosting Michigan State at Rec Hall.
21 Nittany Valley Symphony presents “Dr. Seuss at the Symphony,” featuring violinist Juliette Greer, the 2016 Ann Keller Young Soloist Competition winner, at Bellefonte Area High School.
23
14 Valentine’s Day.
The Disney classic musical Beauty and the Beast comes to Eisenhower Auditorium.
27 The Rock the 80s concert benefitting the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund returns to the State Theatre.
28 Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday (which is actually March 2) at Schlow Centre Region Library!
To have an event listed in “What’s Happening," e-mail dpenc@barashmedia.com. 2016 February T&G - 59
Children & Families 3, 10, 17, 24 – Baby Explorers, Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 10:30 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org. 3, 10, 17 – Tuning into Kids, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, noon, schlowlibrary.org. 4, 11, 18, 25 – Science Adventures, Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 10:30 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org. 5 – Free Developmental Screenings, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 5, 12, 19, 26 - Music Makers, Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 10:30 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org. 6 – World Stories Alive (Turkish), Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 6 – Block Party, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 14 – For the Love of Reading, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 15 – Storytime Registration begins, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 15 – Discovery Day, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 17 – Toddler Learning Centre registration, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 20 – Saturday Stories Alive, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 27 – World Stories Alive (Hindi), Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 27 – Elementary Explorers, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 28 – Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.
Classes & Lectures 1 – Beginner Square Dance Class, Radio Park Elementary School, SC, 7 p.m., 238-8949. 2, 16 - “A Joint Venture,” information session on hip or knee replacement, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11 a.m. Feb. 2, 7 p.m. Feb. 16., 278-4810. 60 - T&G February 2016
7 – Docent Choice Tours: “Artists Born after 1950,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 8 – “Aha Moments that Heal” by Chet Manchester, First Church of Christ, SC, 7 p.m., abouthealing.org/lectures. 12 - Gallery Talk: “Small Prints, Big Artists” by Patrick McGrady, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m. palmermuseum.psu.edu. 14 – Docent Choice Tours: “Love at the Palmer,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 21 – Docent Choice Tours: “Early Entrepreneurs in Asian Ceramics,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 26 - Paper Views Conversation: “Biblical Women and (Their) Old Masters” by Christian Brady, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 1 p.m. palmermuseum.psu.edu. 27 – Gadgets for Grownups: Schlow’s ESL Resources, Schlow Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 28 – Docent Choice Tours: “Hands in Works of Art at the Palmer,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum .psu.edu.
Club Events 1, 15 – Knitting Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 2, 9, 16, 23 – State College Rotary Club, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 5:30 p.m., statecollegerotary.org. 3, 10, 17, 24 – State College Sunrise Rotary Club, Hotel State College, SC, 7:15 a.m., kfragola@psualum.com. 3, 17 – Outreach Toastmasters, The 329 Building, Room 413, PSU, noon, kbs131@psu.edu. 4, 11, 18, 25 – State College Downtown Rotary, Ramada Inn & Conference Center, SC, noon, centrecounty.org/rotary/club/. 4, 11, 18, 25 – Comics Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 3:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 6, 13, 20, 27 – Go Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 1:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.
6, 13, 20, 27 – Chess Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 10 – Women’s Welcome Club of State College meeting, Oakwood Presbyterian Church (not church affiliated), SC, 7 p.m., womenswelcomeclub.org. 10 – 148th PA Volunteer Infantry Civil War Reenactment Group mtg., Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, SC, 7:30 p.m., 861-0770. 11, 25 – Embroidery Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 15 – Parrot Owner’s Group, Perkins, 525 Benner Pike, SC, 7 p.m., 237-2722. 16 – Evening Book Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 6:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 20 – Boardgaming Meetup, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 20 – Lego Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 24 - Applique Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 6 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 24 – Afternoon Book Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 6:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.
Community Associations & Development 16 - Spring Creek Watershed Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC, 7:30 a.m., springcreekwatershed.org. 18 - CBICC Business After Hours: Homeland Manufacturing Services, 5:30 p.m., cbicc.org. 24 - Patton Township Business Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC, noon, 237-2822.
Exhibits Ongoing-28 – Dinor Bleu: Devoted to the Diner, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, 1-4:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun., bellefontemuseum.org. Ongoing-29 – University Libraries Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, Pattee Library, PSU, mlk.psu.edu.
2016 February T&G - 61
Ongoing-May 8 – Consciously Surreal: Photography, the Uncanny, and the Body, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu. Ongoing-May 8 – From Dada to Dali: Surrealist Works on Paper, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu. Ongoing-March 3 – Coded Language, HUB Gallery, PSU, studentaffairs.psu.edu. Ongoing-March 6 – Optics of the Poles – A Visual Expression of Polar Research at Penn State, Art Alley, PSU, studentaffairs .psu.edu. 2-May 15 – Small Prints, Big Artists: Renaissance and Baroque Masterpieces from Carnegie Museum of Art, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 12-April 22 – Art Collectors Grace Hampton and Charles Dumas, Robeson Gallery, PSU, studentaffairs.psu.edu. 26 – Paper Views: Biblical Women and (Their) Old Masters, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.
11 – Diabetes Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., 231-7095. 11 – Parent-to-be Class, Mount Nittany Health, Boalsburg, 7 p.m., 466-7921. 14 – The Ostomy Support Group of the Central Counties, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 234-6195. 15 – Cancer Survivors’ Association, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11:30 a.m., 238-6220. 17 – Alzheimer’s Support Group, Elmcroft Senior Living, SC, 235-7675. 18 – Parents-to-be Orientation, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6:30 p.m., 231-3132. 22 – Healthy Heart Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Center, Pleasant Gap, 4 p.m., 359-3421. 23 – Stroke Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 4 p.m., 359-3421. 23 – Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 6 p.m., 359-3421. 28 – Neuropathy Support Group of Central PA, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 531-1024.
Health Care
Music
For schedule of blood drives visit redcross.org or givelife.org.
2 – Greensky Bluegrass, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 5 – Billy Childs: “Map to Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro,” Schwab Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 5 – Tommy Emmanuel, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 6 – Acoustic Brew Concert: Susan Werner, WPSU Studios, PSU, 7:30 p.m., acousticbrew.org. 6 – Penn State School of Music: Centre Dimensions Jazz Ensemble, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 6 – Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 7 – Sunday Afternoons at the Library: Nittany Wind Quintet, Centre County Library & Historical Museum, Bellefonte, 2:30 p.m. 11 – Voces8, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu.
1 – Breast Cancer Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 5:30 p.m., 231-6870. 5 – Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 1 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 5, 9 – Juniper Village at Brookline’s Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, Mount Nittany Dining Room at The Inn at Brookline, SC, 1 p.m. Fri., 6:30 p.m. Tues., 231-3141. 8 – Weight Loss Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 5:30 p.m., 231-7194. 10 – The Senior Center Diabetes Support Group, Centre Region Senior Center, S.C., 10:15 a.m., 231-3076. 10 – The Fertility Issues and Loss Support Group, Choices (2214 N. Atherton St.), SC, 6 p.m., heartofcpa.org. 62 - T&G February 2016
12 – Bethany Dixon, State Theatre, SC, 7p.m., thestatetheatre.org 13 – Fetty Wap, BJC, PSU, 8 p.m., bjc.psu.edu. 14 – Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra presents “Music for the Heart,” Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, PSU, 3 p.m., centreorchestra.org. 14 – State College Area Municipal Band presents Valentine’s Concert, State College Area High School, SC, 3 p.m. 17 – Art of Music: Selections from The Barber of Seville, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 17 – Penn State School of Music: Faculty Spotlight Concert, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 18 – Thursday Afternoons with The Second Winds, American Ale House & Grill, SC, 3 p.m., 237-9701. 18 – Windscape, Schwab Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 21 – Nittany Valley Symphony presents “Dr. Seuss at the Symphony,” Bellefonte Area High School, Bellefonte, 4 p.m., nvs.org. 23 – The Wailers, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 24 – Penn State School of Music: Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 25 – globalFest on the Road: “Creole Carnival,” Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 25 – BoomBox, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 26 – Jason Aldean, BJC, PSU, 7:30 p.m., bjc.psu.edu. 26 – Penn State School of Music: Percussion Ensemble and Mallet Ensemble, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 27 – Rock the 80s, State Theatre, SC, 7 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 27 – Acoustic Brew Concert: Abbie Gardner, Center for Well-Being, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., acousticbrew.org. 27 – Lil Wayne, BJC, PSU, 7:30 p.m., bjc.psu .edu. 28 – Penn State School of Music: Philharmonic Orchestra, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 4 p.m., music.psu.edu.
globalFest on the Road brings its “Creole Carnival" to Eisenhower Auditorium February 25.
29 – Penn State School of Music: Symphonic Band and Concert Band, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.
Special Events 2, 9, 16, 23 - Boalsburg Farmers’ Market, St. John’s United Church of Christ, Boalsburg, 2 p.m., boalsburgfarmersmarket.com. 5 – First Friday, Downtown State College, 5 p.m., firstfridaystatecollege.com. 5, 12, 29, 26 – Downtown Farmers Market, State College Municipal Building, SC, 11:30 a.m., statecollegefarmers.com. 6, 13, 20, 27 – Millheim Farmers’ Market, Bremen Town Ballroom, Millheim, 10 a.m., 349-4406. 7 – Daddy/Daughter Valentine’s Day Dance, Ramada Inn, SC, 3 p.m., 238-3001. 12 – Networking Event for Library Workers, Paterno Library, PSU, 5:30 p.m., ams32@psu.edu. 13-14 – Wine and Chocolate Pairing, Mount Nittany Vineyard and Winery, Centre Hall, noon, mtnittanywinery.com. 14 – AAUW State College Centennial Archives Roadshow, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 3 p.m., aauwsc100years.com. 19-21 – THON, BJC, PSU, 6 p.m., bjc.psu.edu. 20 – Centre County Reads Kickoff, Centre County Library and Historical Museum, Bellefonte, 2 p.m., centrecountyreads.org.
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Sports For tickets to Penn State sporting events, call (814) 865-5555 or visit gopsusports.com. 5 – PSU/Ohio State, wrestling, BJC, PSU, 6 p.m. 5-6 – Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup, track & field, Multi-Purpose Facility, PSU, all day. 5-6 – PSU/Syracuse, women’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 7 p.m. Fri., 2:30 p.m. Sat. 6 – PSU/Villanova, swimming & diving, McCoy Natatorium, PSU, TBA. 6 – PSU/Robert Morris, men’s lacrosse, Holuba Hall, PSU, noon. 6 – PSU/Towson, women’s lacrosse (exhibition), Holuba Hall, PSU, 3 p.m. 6 – PSU/Mount Olive, men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 6 – PSU/Indiana, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 8 p.m. 7 – PSU/Rutgers, women’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 2 p.m. 12-13 – PSU/Lindenwood, women’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 7 p.m. Fri., 2 p.m. Sat.
13 – PSU/Bucknell, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 10 a.m. 13 – PSU/Hobart, men’s lacrosse, Holuba Hall, PSU, 3 p.m. 13 – PSU/James Madison, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 4 p.m. 13 – PSU/Michigan State, wrestling, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 14 – PSU/Ohio State, women’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 2 p.m. 17 – PSU/Iowa, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 6:30 p.m. 19 – PSU/NJIT, men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 19-20 – PSU/Ohio State, men’s ice hockey, Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 6:30 p.m. Fri., 3 p.m. Sat. 20 – Penn State Tune-Up, track & field, MultiPurpose Facility, PSU, all day. 20 – PSU/Cornell, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, noon. 20 – PSU/Duquesne, women’s lacrosse, Holuba Hall, PSU, 3 p.m. 20 – PSU/Princeton, men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 4 p.m.
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64 - T&G February 2016
20 – PSU/Alabama/Cornell/Denver, women’s gymnastics, Rec Hall, PSU, 4 p.m. 21 – Dual Championship Series, wrestling, Rec Hall, PSU, TBA. 21 – PSU/William & Mary, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 10 a.m. 21 – PSU/NJIT, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 4 p.m. 24 – PSU/Iowa, women’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m. 25 – PSU/Nebraska, men’s basketball, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m. 26 – PSU/Ohio State, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 5 p.m. 26 – PSU/Charleston (West Virginia), men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 27 – PSU/Villanova, men’s lacrosse, Holuba Hall, PSU, 1 p.m. 27 – PSU/George Mason, men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 28 – PSU/Marshall, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 11 a.m. Payton Banks and the Penn State men’s basketball team have three home games at the Bryce Jordan Center in February.
BuyHereLiveHere.com 2016 February T&G - 65
Theater 2 – Hubbard Dance Street Chicago, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 3 – Art of Poetry: Paola Corso, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 11 – Surreal Cinema Series: Pioneers of Experimental Films, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 7 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 11-14 – State College Community Theatre presents The Wedding Singer, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., scctonline.org. 13 – Penn State Thespians present A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 13 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 16-27 – Penn State Centre Stage presents 110 in the Shade, Playhouse Theatre, PSU, 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. matinees Feb. 20 & 27), theatre .psu.edu.
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18 – Surreal Cinema Series: Experimental Short Films by Women, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 7 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 18-21 – Fuse Productions presents Seminar, Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, SC, 7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., fuseproductions.org. 19-21 – Oscar Nominated Short Films, State Theatre, SC, 7:30 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 23 – Beauty and the Beast, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 25 – Surreal Cinema Series: Art Films of the 1960s and 1970s, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 7 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 26 – Winter’s Tale, State Theatre, SC, 7 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 27 – Fuse Productions Contemporary Play Reading Series: The Christians, Singing Onstage Studios, SC, 7 p.m., fuseproductions.org. T&G
T& G
on tap
A Big Year in Beer Central Pennsylvania welcomes new breweries By Sam Komlenic
The Rusty Rail in Mifflinburg has had an impressive opening and offers 10 beers on tap.
The American brewing industry reached an impressive milestone in 2015 when the number of operating breweries exceeded an all-time recorded high. Dating back to 1873, when the US had its previous high of 4,131 breweries in production, records show that after Prohibition and corporate consolidation, a low point of less than 50 brewing companies and under 100 operating breweries was reached in 1978. That same year saw the legalization of homebrewing, outlawed since Prohibition, and as hobby brewing took off, so did small commercial breweries. The country’s first brewpub opened in Yakima, Washington, in 1982, and the numbers have been increasing almost ever since. In 1996, we crossed the threshold of 1,000 breweries, matching the number that existed just before Prohibition. Fifteen years later, we moved past 2,000 breweries, and just three years on, in 2014, we had more than 3,000. Only 12 months passed by before we achieved the new high-water mark of 4,144, with an additional 1,800 in the planning stages As of this moment, brewery openings exceed two per day! Heady times indeed for the beer lover, but where does that leave Central Pennsylvania? Have we been passed by? Slim 68 - T&G February 2015
chance! So let’s talk for a bit about the new breweries we can visit with a short drive through our beautiful hills and valleys. First to open was Race Street Brew Works, located in an industrial area on the outskirts of Clearfield (curiously, not on Race Street). It’s a bit of a challenge to find (look for the signs) but well worth the effort. It retains a neoindustrial feel with contemporary accents and currently offers 14 solid beers representing a wide variety of styles. Open Wednesday through Sunday for dinner and Thursday and Friday for lunch, Race Street has a brief but innovative menu based on the “street food” concept offered by food trucks in larger cities and consistently receives good reviews online. You can find out more at racestreetbrew.com. From Clearfield, a brief 30-minute drive west to DuBois will find you at the newest brewery in our report. Historically, DuBois is one of the most famous brewing towns in the country, having been home to the DuBois Brewing Company and its notorious DuBois Budweiser brand. Through numerous lawsuits filed by Anheuser-Busch to stop usage of that name, DuBois Brewing never lost a single case and continued to brew DuBois Budweiser until it closed in 1972. The beautiful buildings remained vacant for the most part and were demolished in 2003. DuBois ceased to be a beer destination — until now. Doc G’s Brewing Company is so new that I’ve not yet had the chance to visit. Its motto, appropriately, is “Bringing brewing back to DuBois.” Jeff Gilbert, a DuBois native and cardiologist, and his wife, Jen, have partnered on the project. Located at 208 West Long
LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED
The Broken Axe Brew House in Lock Haven is currently open as a gastropub and serves a wide selection of Pennsylvania-brewed beers.
Avenue, Doc G’s owners are proud to dedicate themselves to being at the heart of downtown redevelopment. Brewpubs have succeeded in revitalizing other small towns, and I have no doubt that the Gilberts will do all they can to make that happens here, too. Six core beers are on tap, covering as many styles, and seasonal brews will surely follow. The kitchen is open seven days a week and offers a menu featuring sandwiches, salads, pizza, and more. Personally, I can’t wait to belly up to the bar and ask for a “DuBois beer!” You can find out more at docgsbrewing.com. The most impressive debut of an area brewpub is, to my mind, the Rusty Rail in Mifflinburg. Located just off Route 45, the main drag through town, the Rusty Rail occupies part of what was once a massive factory. It bills itself as the largest brewpub in Central Pennsylvania, and no doubt it’s right. The Rusty Rail is elegantly appointed, yet shows off its rugged post-and-beam construction as homage to the building’s past. Covering two massive floors, the restaurant offers numerous seating areas, each with a different feel. The brewery and main dining area are on the first floor, while the upstairs features another full bar and a game room with two vintage pool tables, video games, and TVs. There also is a beautiful outdoor beer garden on a huge flagstone patio, with a gas fireplace as the focal point. Open Wednesday through Sunday, the Rusty 70 - T&G February 2015
Rail (rustyrailbrewing.com) has 10 beers on tap, as of this writing, including two seasonals, a spiced imperial brown ale, and a Belgian-style strong ale brewed with plums and cacao. As with any brewery, their seasonals rotate regularly. The restaurant features a full menu of scratch-made foods and also offers Sunday brunch. On your way out or back to Mifflinburg, don’t forget to stop by our own Elk Creek Café and Ale Works in Millheim. Our last upstart is located in Lock Haven, another college town that should be more than happy to have a brewpub handy. The Broken Axe Brew House is currently open as a gastropub dedicated to serving locally sourced dishes and offering a wide selection of Pennsylvania-brewed beers. The name is a nod to the area’s deep roots in the lumbering industry. Though it doesn’t currently have a brewery on-site, plans are to have one up and running within the next year. Former local bartender and Lock Haven University wrestler Nick Hawrylchak and his wife, Jocelyn, are in charge, and Nick, a passionate homebrewer, will be the brewer once the equipment is installed. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the menu contains unique starters and sandwiches, and it currently offer 21 beers on draft. Details can be found at brokenaxebrewhouse.com. Last year, we reported on the closing and potential reopening of Railroad City Brewing in Altoona. As of press time, Railroad City is “on track” to reopen downtown this spring. Remodeling has taken more time than expected (doesn’t it always?), but the result should be worth the wait. It’ll offer a cozy atmosphere, with seating for 30, a limited menu, and Matt Winrick’s excellent beers. Keep tabs on their progress at railroadcitybrewing.com. So there you have it. We’ve obviously gotten our share of the current brewing revolution, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there were more in the offing, so stay tuned, we’ll keep you up to date! T&G Sam Komlenic, whose dad worked for a Pennsylvania brewery for 35 years, grew up immersed in the brewing business. He has toured scores of breweries, large and small, from coast to coast.
150 Rolling Ridge Drive, Hills Plaza South (Next to Weis Market)
Mon.-Fri. 7am-8pm • Sat. 8am-6pm • Sun. 10am-5pm
814.237.3333
www.acehardware.com
Taste of the Month Class Happy Valley Learn to Cook shows the joy and value of cooking at home
By Vilma Shu Danz Photos by Darren Andrew Weimert 72 - T&G February 2016
L
LaCreta Holland
prepares flourless chocolate cake
aCreta Holland is a wife, mother of four, and grandmother. She also is passionate about cooking and teaching. She has been a substitute teacher for the State College Area School District and has taught cooking classes for a number of years through the SCASD Community Education program. In January 2015, she started her business, Happy Valley Learn to Cook, which offers a oneon-one, hands-on, two-hour instructional cooking class held at Holland’s home in State College. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, she was influenced by her southern grandmother’s cooking. Her love for Mexican food started with her mother’s love for hot sauces. After college, Holland lived in Washington, DC, and was fascinated by all the international food offerings available there. After getting married and having four children, her family of six moved to Lerici, Italy. Her fascination for Italian cuisine and cooking seasonally inspired her to really develop her cooking skills. “When we lived in Italy, my children attended the local Italian school and would come home with these fabulous descriptions of what they had for lunch,” she says. “In Italy, lunch was a threecourse meal that typically started with a soup or 2016 February T&G - 73
Baked orecchiette
with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.
74 - T&G February 2016
pasta, a main course of meat or fish, and a dessert that was most often a piece of fruit.” She took a few cooking classes in Italy, studied some cookbooks, and received some tips from people who were living in Italy. “A lot of cooking is trial and error. The more you practice, the more you learn and become confident, hence the more success you will have,” she explains. Cooking classes through Happy Valley Learn to Cook with Holland are $55 per person, and the price includes all the ingredients. “When you attend my class, you make the dish or the pie from start to finish, and then, you can eat it here or take it home with you,” she says. “It’s very rewarding to say, ‘I made this,’ and when I did a pie-making class, people were just thrilled that they walked out with this pie that they made.” Some of the popular classes are baking basics, cooking basics, bread baking, cake making, cooking with pasta, how to cook vegetables, pie making 101, soups and stews, Italian cooking, and make your own jam. Other topics include college staples, a course that teaches college students how to make food
that doesn’t come from a box, such as homemade macaroni and cheese and homemade pizza. Grocery store tour is a course on how to save money and cut calories at the grocery store. “Cooking is fun. It’s healthy, it saves money, and it’s a lifelong skill,” says Holland. “I am a strong believer of sitting down at the table with the family for your evening meal because it’s a very important time to connect with each other.” This Valentine’s Day, you can take a course with Happy Valley Learn to Cook and make a simple yet elegant dinner for your sweetheart, or book a cooking class for two for a unique date idea. T&G For more information or to book a class, visit happyvalleylearntocook.com or e-mail hvlearntocook@gmail.com.
For a special offer for 5 percent off your first cooking class at Happy Valley Learn to Cook, as well as recipes for pasta al forno with tomatoes and mozzarella, and individual flourless chocolate cakes, visit townandgown.com. 2016 February T&G - 75
T& G
dining out
All restaurants are in State College or on the Penn State campus, and in the 814 area code unless noted.
Full Course Dining
of downtown State College, Bill Pickle’s is a great place for lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack. Features include plenty of TVs and occasional live entertainment, along with a wide selection of craft beers and signature drinks! Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.
Allen Street Grill, 100 W. College Ave., 231-4745, hotelstatecollege.com. Directly above the Corner Room at the intersection of College Avenue and Allen Street, the “Grill” promotes a casual gourmet dining experience, superb contemporary cuisine, specialty cocktails, entertainment, and one of the best Town and Gown views in State College. Priced reasonably and offering upscale cuisine is always a challenge but Bert and Becky Burger, the husband and wife French-trained executive chef and general manager, seem to pull it off with ease. From the moment you walk in the door and approach your seat overlooking the bustling sidewalk you become an integral part of this historic corner. Perfect for a business lunch or romantic dinner. Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.
Carnegie House, corner of Cricklewood Dr. and Toftrees Ave., 234-2424. An exquisite boutique hotel offering fine dining in a relaxed yet gracious atmo- sphere. 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.
bar bleu, 114 S. Garner St., 237-0374, bar-bleu.com. Socializing and sports viewing awaits at bar bleu. Don’t miss a minute of the action on 22 true 1080i HDMI high-definition flat-screen monitors displaying the night’s college and pro matchups. The bar serves up 16 draft beers in addition to crafted cocktails, including the “Fishbowl,” concocted in its own 43-ounce tank! Pub fare featuring authentic Kansas Citystyle barbecue is smoked daily on-site. AE, D, DC, ID+, MC, V. Full bar.
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 and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V.
Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining, 2255 N. Atherton St., 308-9522, barrel21distillery.com. A new dining experience brought to you by Otto’s Pub & Brewery, Barrel 21 presents a tapas menu featuring fusion cuisine highlighting our local resources. Menu inspirations will celebrate new culture and cuisine brought to Central PA from around the world. Offer lunch menu 11:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Distillery and tasting room will open in the fall after we have produced our own craft spirits. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar. Bill Pickle’s Tap Room, 106 S. Allen St., 272-1172, hotelstatecollege.com. Not for Saints…Not For Sinners. Located in the heart 76 - T&G February 2016
The Corner Room, 100 W. College Ave., 237-3051, hotelstatecollege.com. A Penn State Tradition, the Corner Room started out as Jack’s Road House in 1885, renamed The Corner Room in 1926. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner through a mix of American classics and contemporary cuisine, all at affordable prices. Daily Specials. Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.
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.
The Deli Restaurant, 113 Hiester St., 237-5710, The DeliRestaurant.com. Since 1973, The Deli has served up New York-style deli favorites on an American menu offering everything from comfort food to pub favorites, all made from scratch. Soups, breads, sauces, and awardwinning desserts are homemade here early in the morning folks. Look for its rotating menu of food- themed festivals throughout the year. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.
Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 1229 S. Atherton St., 237-9000, faccialuna.com. A true neighborhood hang- out, famous for authentic New York-style wood-fired pizzas and fresh, homemade Italian 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.
The Dining Room at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8590. Fine continental cuisine in a relaxed, gracious atmosphere. Casual attire accept- able. Private dining rooms available. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.
Galanga, 454 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.
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.
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 Ă la carte dining are our special- ties. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. Full bar, beer.
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Gigi’s, W. College Ave, on the corner of Cato Ave., 861-3463, gigisdining.com. Conveniently located 5 minutes from downtown State College, Gigi’s is a farm-to-table dining experience inspired by the hottest southern trends. Outdoor Patio. Lunch & Dinner. Full Bar. AE, D, MAC, MC, V. The Greek, 102 E. Clinton Ave., 308-8822, thegreekrestaurant.net. Located behind The Original Waffle Shop on North Atherton Street. Visit our Greek tavern and enjoy authentic Greek cuisine. From fresh and abundant vegetables to the most succulent kebabs, each dish has been perfected to showcase genuine Greek flavors. When we say “authentic,” we mean it. Full service, BYOB. D, MC, V.
Hi-Way Pizza, 1688 N. Atherton St., 237-0375, HiWayPizza.com. The State College tradition for nearly 50 years, nobody does it better than HiWay! Offering more than 29 varieties of handspun pizzas made from scratch offer an endless combination of toppings. Its vodka “flaky” crust and red stuffed pizzas are simply a must have. Hi-Way’s menu rounds out with pasta dishes, calzones, grinders, salads, and other Italian specialties. Eat-in, Take-out, or Hi-Way delivery. AE, D, DC, LC, 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, MC, V.
Herwig’s Austrian Bistro, “Where Bacon Is An Herb,” 132 W. College Ave., 272-0738. Located next to the State Theatre. Serving authentic Austrian home cooking in Central PA. Ranked #1 Ethnic Restaurant in State College for 8 years in a row. Eat-in, Take-Out, Catering. Glutenfree options available. Bacon-based dessert. Homemade breads, BYO beer or wine all day. Sense of humor required. D, MAC, MC, V.
Have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of.
Several wedding packages to choose from with many enhancements available. Catering for on & off site celebrations. Convenient parking at Celebration Hall. Featuring exquisite cakes from Dolce Vita Desserts!
814.238.0824
2280 Commercial Blvd. State College hoagscatering.com 2016 February T&G - 79
Inferno Brick Oven & Bar, 340 E. College Ave., 237-5718, InfernoBrickOvenBar.com. With a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere, Inferno is a place to see and be seen. A fullservice bar boasts a unique specialty wine, beer, and cocktail menu. Foodies — Inferno offers a contemporary Neapolitan brick-oven experience featuring a focused menu of artisan pizzas and other modern-Italian plates. Lunch and dinner service transi- tions into night as a boutique nightclub with dance- floor lighting, club sound system, and the area’s most talented resident DJs. AE, D, MAC, 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.
80 - T&G February 2016
Mario’s Italian Restaurant, 272 N. Atherton St., 234-4273, MariosItalianStateCollege.com. Fresh specialty dishes, pasta, sauces, hand-tossed pizzas, and rotisserie wood-grilled chicken all made from scratch are just a few reasons why Mario’s is authentically Italian! At the heart of it all is a specialty wood-fired pizza oven and rotisserie that imparts rustic flavors that can’t be beat! Mario’s loves wine and is honored with six consecutive Wine Spectator awards and a wine list of more than 550 Italian selections. Mario’s even pours 12 rotating specialty bottles on its WineStation® state-of-the-art preservation system. Reservations and Walk-Ins welcome. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar. Otto’s Pub & Brewery, 2235 N. Atherton St., 867-6886, ottospubandbrewery.com. State College’s most awarded craft-beer pub and brewery featuring more than a dozen fresh, house-brewed ales and lagers on tap as well as fine, affordably priced, local American food with vegan and vegetarian offerings, a kids’ menu, weekly features, and seasonal menu. Open for lunch and dinner in a family-friendly, casual atmosphere. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.
Philipsburg Elks Lodge & Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Philipsburg, 342-0379, philipsburgelks.com. Restaurant open to the public! Monday-Saturday 11-9, Sunday 9-3. Member-only bar. New golf-member special, visit our Web site for summer golf special. AE MC, V. Full Bar (members only). 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.
Zeno’s Pub, 100 W. College Ave., 237-4350 hotelstatecollege.com. Located directly above the center of the earth, Zeno’s may be considered a “dive bar” by some, but it is still one of the best places downtown to drink a cold one! Craft beers, Happy Hours, live music, top-notch booze, and hearty food. Also check out Zeno’s 2 Go, nestled between Chumley’s and Indigo Nightclub, featuring a collection of yellow fizzies for mass consumption along with “the real good unique stuff.” Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V. Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar, 324 W. College Ave., 237-8474. Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar features ingredient-driven, seasonal, new American cuisine paired with an extensive wine list, certified wine professional, and exceptional service. Zola’s also features a new climatecontrolled wine room, premium by-the-glass wine pours, fine liquor, and craft beer at its fullservice bar. Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. Reservations recommended. Catering. Free parking after 5:30 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.
INGREDIENT DRIVEN • SEASONAL • NEW AMERICAN CUISINE EXTENSIVE WINE LIST • BY THE BOTTLE & GLASS
814 . 237. 8474
ZOL AK I TCHEN .COM
MON. - THUR. 11: 30 -9PM • FRI. - SAT. 11: 30 -10 PM • SUN. 11: 30 - 8PM
2016 February T&G - 81
Diversions, Blue Burrito, Mixed Greens, Panda Express, and Sushi by Panda Express.V, MC, LC.
Good Food Fast Baby’s Burgers & Shakes, 131 S. Garner St., 234-4776, babysburgers.com. Love poodle skirts, a jukebox playing the oldies, and delicious food cooked to order? Then Baby’s Burgers & Shakes is your kind of restaurant! Bring the entire family and enjoy a “Whimpy” burger, a Cherry Coke, or delicious chocolate shake, and top it off with a “Teeny Weeny Sundae” in our authentic 1947 Silk City Diner. Check out Baby’s Web site for full menu and daily specials! D, MC, V, MAC, Lion’s Cash.
Fiddlehead, 134 W. College Ave., 237-0595, fiddleheadstatecollege.com. Fiddlehead is a soupand-salad café offering soups made from scratch daily. Create your own salad from more than 40 fresh ingredients. HUB Dining, HUB-Robeson Center on campus, 865-7623. A Penn State tradition open to all! Enjoy 13 different eateries in the HUB-Robeson Center on campus. Jamba Juice, McAlister’s Deli, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Higher Grounds, Sbarro, Soup & Garden,
India Pavilion Exotic Indian Cuisine
Now Open 7 Days a Week Lunch Buffet: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Dinner: 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
222 E. Calder Way 237-3400 www.indiapavilion.net 82 - T&G February 2016
Carry Out Available
Delivery Available
Irving’s, 110 E. College Ave., 231-0604, irvingsstatecollege.com. Irving’s is State College’s finest bakery café serving award-winning bagels, espresso, sandwiches, salads, and smoothies. Meyer Dairy, 2390 S. Atherton St., 237-1849. A State College Classic! Meyer Dairy is the perfect choice for a quick, homemade lunch with fresh soups and sandwiches or treat yourself to your favorite flavor of ice cream or sundae at our ice cream parlor. Fresh milk from our own dairy cows (we do not inject our cows with BST), eggs, cheese, ice cream cakes, baked goods, and more! Plus, Meyer Dairy is the best place to pick up your Town&Gown magazine each month!
Night Life Chumley’s, 108 W. College Ave., 238-4446, hotelstatecollege.com. A quaint bar where you’re not judged because of your gender or sexual orientation. Chumley’s is a gay bar and grill where you’re encouraged to be one thing, and
that’s yourself. Known as one of the friendliest bars in Happy Valley — and proud of it! Serving food and full bar service, including specialty cocktails. Free downtown parking validation in Fraser, Pugh & Beaver Garages based on purchases. Bring garage parking stub and ask server for details. AE, D, MAC, MC, V.
Taste of the Month
Indigo, 112 W. College Ave., 234-1031, hotelstatecollege.com. Tradition meets innovation. College party bar meets city nightclub. There’s a reason Indigo has been voted one of the top college bars in the nation. Featuring talented DJs from Mint DJ Events, a huge sound and lighting system, and the craziest happy hour in Happy Valley. When you visit Indigo you’re guaranteed to end up on the dance floor with your hands in the air. ThursdaySaturday 9 p.m.-2 a.m. T&G
Each month, Town&Gown highlights a local place to eat and offers a glimpse into the great dining of our community.
If it’s happening in Happy Valley, it’s in Town&Gown! Ice Cream Cake for your Valentine?
Meyer Dairy
Store & Ice Cream Parlor Milk • Ice Cream • Eggs Cheese • Juices Pop's Mexi-Hots • Baked Goods • Sandwiches Ice Cream Cakes & More! Open Daily 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. 2390 S. Atherton St. (814) 237-1849
Award-winning pizza and Italian Cuisine. Homemade… with only the best and freshest ingredients. 1229 S. Atherton St., State College
234-9000
W W W. F A C C I A L U N A . C O M 2016 February T&G - 83
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lunch with mimi
Fostering Families
Darren Andrew Weimert
Adoption worker for Bethany Christian Services helps bring children into loving homes
Robin Regan of Bethany Christian Services (left) talks with Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith at the Corner Room in State College.
Since 1944, Bethany Christian Services has been a global nonprofit organization providing foster care, domestic and international adoption, and family services, including pregnancy counseling. It also provides counseling to families, assists refugees and immigrants resettling in the US, and partners with several international countries to help keep families together. As an adoption social worker for the past five years and lead staff of the State College branch of Bethany Christian Services for more than a year, Robin Regan loves working with families. In her position, she does home studies for domestic, international, and foster-care adoption. She trains foster parents for licensing and counsels adopted and preadopted children. In addition, she does postplacement visits and reports for domestic and international adoptions. Bethany in State College receives about 25 applications a year for adoptions. Most adoptions are domestic, and the international adoptions are of children above age 2 from countries such as China, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Uganda. Born in Urbana, Illinois, and adopted at 2 weeks old, Regan was raised in Ithaca, New York. She did her undergraduate degree in social work at Cornell University and earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin. She moved to State College in 2002 when her husband, John, accepted a position at Penn State as a professor in environmental engineering. They reside in Centre County with their two biological children, Michael, 21, and Laura, 17; their adopted children, Anjali, 20, Miguel, 17, and Julise, 14; and two 84 - T&G February 2016
foster sons, Thomas, 15, and Dustin, 13. Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith sat down with Regan at the Corner Room in State College to discuss what it was like growing up in her diverse family and her work with Bethany Christian Services. Mimi: Included with our February issue is our Parenting publication, so we thought it might be nice to find someone in the community who deals with adoption as a full-time profession. I’m from a family where two of my siblings have adopted children. You are an adopted child. Tell us about the beginning of your life. Robin: I was adopted at 2 weeks old. My parents actually saw an article in the paper about children who weren’t being adopted, so they got me. They have four biological kids, as well. My sister was adopted from India, and my brother from foster care. Mimi: Tell me about your parents. They have to be unique people. Robin: Yeah, I would say so! My dad is a professor at Cornell University. My mom stayed home and raised us. But, of course, she was extremely busy and very involved with seven kids. She was the Cub Scouts leader and Brownie leader. They just love kids. Mimi: Tell me about your siblings. Robin: Oh my! My older brother, Todd — he was their first child. He’s actually a professor at Cornell, too. He has two kids. And then I was adopted. Then, my parents had my sister, Tanya. She actually lives in Ecuador with her husband and their four children. My sister, Heather, has four children and lives in upstate New York. My sister, Amy, has six boys, and one of them is adopted. She adopted a little boy from foster care. My brother, Corey, was adopted from foster care, and he has two children. And my sister, Mahima, was adopted from India, and she’s actually married to a British man and they live in England. Mimi: Wow. And are you married?
Robin: Yes, I am married, and I have five kids. Mimi: Oh my! Tell me about your children. Robin: We had our son, Michael, and he’s a senior at Penn State. I’ve always wanted to adopt, being that I was adopted and having adopted siblings, so after we had him, my husband jumped on the bandwagon pretty easily. We adopted our daughter, Anjali, from India. She’s 20 now and in the LifeLink Program at Penn State. It’s a joint program between Penn State and the high school. And then we had our daughter, Laura. She is 17 and a junior at State High. And then we adopted our last two: Miguel and Julise. They are siblings from Haiti. Mimi: Now what motivated you to do all of this? Robin: (Laughs) Well, I love kids, for starters. Like I said, when we got started, I wanted to adopt because I had been adopted — I had a chance to have a family. Mimi: And you had a wonderful life. Robin: I did have a wonderful life. I love my family so much, and it was a really great childhood — and I wanted to do that for other kids. Mimi: Have you ever had any dream of knowing your original parents?
Robin: I don’t know. It would be nice, but it’s not something that I pursued. I did register with the state of Illinois, so if any of my biological relatives also registered, then we would be connected, but if they don’t, that would be it for me. My brother looked for his birth mom and he found her. That was important to him. I think it’s different for different people. Mimi: And how do you feel about that? Robin: I think it’s important that if there’s an opportunity for kids to know, it’s better for kids to know. And nowadays, adoptions are open and people are working toward getting their original birth certificates, so I did get that from Illinois — I got my original birth certificate and I registered. But for other people, it’s so important to them, and I’m glad that adoptions are more open now. Mimi: Describe for me exactly what you do in your job. Robin: I work for Bethany Christian Services. Bethany does domestic infant adoption, foster-care adoption, and international adoption. And in my office in State College, I do the home studies for international and domestic infants, and then I also
Bellefonte Intervalley area ChamBer volunteer faIr!
Protect what’s important now ...for them.
March 5th 10 AM to 2 PM
American Philatelic Society at the Match Factory in Bellefonte This free event offers the public a way to conveniently speak with many community service organizations that need volunteers - making it easy to see what is available and to find a volunteer opportunity that matches the interests and time available of each person or family.
Nursing Home Planning•In-Home Care Planning Trusts•Wills•Living Wills•Powers of Attorney
H. Amos Goodall Jr., Certified Elder Law Attorney
328 S. Atherton St., State College 814-237-4100 • www.centrelaw.com
2016 February T&G - 85
do some of the foster care. And then when they have children placed, I go out and do postplacement reports. We just keep in touch with the families and help them. With the foster care, I actually train the families to become licensed for foster care and adoption. Mimi: Do people pay for this service? Robin: For foster care, they don’t have to pay for anything. In the state of Pennsylvania, it’s really great. Bethany provides services for people who have adopted already. It’s called postpermanency services, and the state of Pennsylvania pays for those services. Pennsylvania is a great state to adopt. The international and domestic infant programs do cost money. Mimi: And who sets those prices? Robin: Our office, Bethany Global. The head of Bethany is in Michigan, and then the head of Pennsylvania is our director, Mark Unger. There are some certain standardized costs across Bethany, and then some costs that are specific to Pennsylvania for what our legal services cost here. Mimi: How complicated is it now on the international side? Robin: International definitely involves the most
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paperwork and complications. What you have to do is get your home study done, then you need to apply for immigration for the unknown child, you have to go through a process of being certified by the US government, then all of your papers are sent to the country, and then that country’s government has to sign off on all of your paperwork, and then any child that is adopted has to be proven to be eligible for adoption — be an orphan in some way. And so that’s the whole process. Once the child is identified and we have the child’s information, we have to go back to the US government, get a Visa for that child, and then that child can come. Mimi: How long can that take, on average? Robin: From beginning to end, that usually takes a couple of years, at least. Mimi: Wow! The child would be at least 2 years old. Robin: Yeah. And actually, currently in international adoption, there are very few infants adopted anymore. Most children are above the age of 2 when they’re adopted. Mimi: With all this controversy about immigration through the United States, how does that impact the world of adoption?
Robin: It doesn’t affect it specifically because when these children are adopted they become American citizens. That’s a new law. When I adopted my daughter from India in 1997, we had to apply for citizenship, but by the time we adopted our two from Haiti, we had to just apply for their certificates. Mimi: You obviously have a big heart to do this, and even as you talk about it, your whole excitement erupts. How did that happen? Robin: I think it’s my parents. My parents love children, and, of course, they are adopters — they adopted me and my two siblings. But also, my parents are international travelers, and when I was in high school, we lived in India for a year. That’s where we adopted my sister. And I’ve also traveled through Indonesia with my dad, and other places. So I think that I was raised just to be interested in the world and to take care of kids. Mimi: It’s interesting that your family is an academic family, and your professions are related to your training in higher education. What part of this is anything spiritual? Robin: I’m a Christian. It’s very important to my parents, and I’m sure it’s true for other religions, as well, but in Christianity, it’s very clear throughout the
Bible that God expects us to take care of orphans, foreigners, and widows — Old Testament and New Testament. It’s very important. Mimi: You take the responsibility of doing so. What do you think motivated you? Your parents? Robin: My parents, for sure. It was always very important to them, and they just had huge hearts. And when we were growing up, yes, they adopted three kids. They had seven kids altogether, but they also just had an open home. We had various people staying with us for different periods of time, and that’s the way I was raised — you know, you take care of your neighbor. Mimi: Tell me the toughest part of your job. The part of your job that sometimes takes that beautiful smile off your face. Robin: I work with adoption and foster care, so I’m working with families that are open. For a lot of them, the wait is really long and hard. And then once they have the kids, it can be hard. I do enjoy helping them with that, but I also just feel for them because I know that we’ve had our own difficulties with kids, especially kids either internationally from orphanages or foster care. The kids have traumas and challenges that make their lives more difficult.
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Mimi: The first child that you adopted, you didn’t know had special needs. At what point did you become aware of that? Robin: We got her when she was 2 years old, and so when she came home, she was delayed. And really, if children are raised in an orphanage, they’re going to be delayed, regardless. And so we weren’t surprised by that, and we immediately got her connected with services like Early Intervention, which is always important. When we train families, we expect to use services. So we got her involved in speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and she made strides. But in some of the areas, it was a little slower. We had good experts, and they told us, “Why don’t you go get more evaluations done?” We were directed in good directions, and that’s when we found out that she had some intellectual disabilities, but we were in an excellent school district in Madison, Wisconsin, and then we moved here. We were in an excellent school district in State College, and so the services have been wonderful and she is doing just great. Mimi: Has a job, too. Robin: Yeah. She does LifeLink, so she’s going to classes at Penn State with mentors — it’s a wonderful program — and she works at the Child Care Center at Hort Woods. She does that on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Mimi: Will she get a degree? Robin: No, it won’t be a degree, but she can go through that program until she’s 21, and then after that, we are going to be looking for her to go into full-time work. She’ll be able to do that. She’s very interested in childcare — she’s very good with little kids — and she takes classes in human development and family studies. Mimi: What do you do outside of all the dedicated work you do as a mother and advisor? Robin: As a family, we love to camp, go hiking, and travel. Our family has lived in Chile for six months, back in 2009 for my husband’s sabbatical. We’ve traveled all over the United States, and we like to do that. And for myself, I like to quilt and knit — that’s how I relax. Mimi: Is your family very religious? Robin: Yes, we are part of the State College Christian Church, and we’re very involved with the church there. And hopefully we’re raising our kids to fix the world! Mimi: (Laughs) Robin: (Laughs) Well, to love others. And I think that the way you show that is by doing, helping, 88 - T&G February 2016
reaching out, and loving your neighbor. Mimi: What would be the typical cost of an international adoption? Robin: International adoption is usually somewhere between $30,000 and $35,000. Mimi: Really? Robin: Yes. Now the good news is there are tax credits. Any expense that you have for that, you can get tax credits for it. Currently, it’s about $12,000 a year in tax credits for an adoption. Mimi: Well, that’s still $23,000. Robin: But I mean, you can get that tax credit each year, and there are also programs that help. If you adopt special needs, there are a lot of grants, special loans with very low rates. Mimi: And you guide people through the process. Robin: Absolutely! Yes. Mimi: One would think from the statistics you just gave me that you’d have to be rich to be able to adopt. Robin: Yeah, but you really don’t. You have to plan well and you do have to save money to make it happen. One of the things we do as people are in the process, they don’t pay that all upfront. They pay some at the beginning for the home study and when they get the referral. So they have time in between payments. Mimi: That’s an international adoption. What does it cost for a domestic adoption? Robin: A domestic infant adoption — that’s our private adoption, not in foster care — that’s usually around $25,000 to $30,000. Mimi: Wow! I had no idea! Robin: Yeah. And that also, don’t expect all of that at once — almost half of it is when you have the child placed with you. So it’s spread out to help families. Mimi: What’s the rate of failure? You know, what’s the expectation? Robin: Well, we try very hard not to have that happen. With domestic infant, usually that is good. In international, I don’t know that we’ve had any kids in our local offices that been removed from the family, but we have actually helped other people who have adopted through other agencies, and then if there’s any difficulty or people want to disrupt the adoption, we’ve helped place those kids in our families. And we have those postpermanency services in place to help support families once the adoption happens. Mimi: So they have a place to turn for advice and help?
Robin: Yes, exactly. We go into their homes. We have support groups. Mimi: Tell me more about Bethany Christian Services. Obviously, its foundation also is spiritual. How does that work? Robin: Well, it’s a wonderful place to work as a Christian. Of course, we work with families — you don’t have to be Christian to adopt through Bethany Christian Services; it’s not just for Christian families. Mimi: So this is nonsecular? Robin: Yeah. The only program that we have anything like that would be our domestic infant program, just because that’s one of the things that we want to be able to tell our birth mothers so they would know if the family is Christian. But you don’t have to be Christian to adopt through foster care or anything like that. I like Bethany Christian Services because they know the people that they’re working with in other countries. They have good relationships, and they also visit often, so we know that we’re working with legitimate and noncorrupt people. We know that when we tell people that this is all the information there is on this child, and that is the truth. We get as much information about children as possible. There’s a lot of shady groups out there in other countries that end up getting kids that aren’t really orphaned or aren’t really in need of a family. Mimi: How large is Bethany? Robin: Bethany is very large. We have offices in 35 states, and then we are working with five different continents and at least eight or nine countries. Mimi: Are there many more organizations like yours? Robin: Bethany is the largest private adoption organization. Mimi: How did we end up with a local office? Robin: That’s a good question. I know there is an office in Philadelphia. There’s an office in Pittsburgh and in Lancaster. Our director Mark is a man with a vision, which is wonderful to work with, and he expanded it to now there’s an office in Harrisburg, State College, and Reading. He’s always looking at ways to reach more families. Mimi: What a remarkable service, really! What didn’t I ask you that I should have? Robin: Oh goodness. I would just say there are a lot of foster kids that are available to be adopted. We used to just do foster care to adopt, and now we do straight foster care, as well, through Bethany. Mimi: There’s a genuine need in that. Robin: Yes, there’s a definite need for foster care.
The Regan family — (from left) Julise, Miguel, Robin, John, Michael, Laura, and Anjali.
Mimi: Try to describe what would be involved in being a foster parent? Robin: In foster care, the first thing that you need to do is get licensed, and that involves training. Twenty-one hours of training actually — officially 24 but that includes our orientation program. We do something called PRIDE training, and then there are background checks. We also provide training for siblings already in the home, so that they’re prepared for new siblings. Mimi: Are there charges for that? Robin: No charges. Mimi: It’s all free? Robin: That’s all free. Mimi: Where do people go if they want to inquire more about that? Robin: Right at our office — Bethany Christian Services in State College, at 2147 East College Avenue. Mimi: I have to ask you one more question. What motivates you? Your kids are all grown now, the hard part’s over — so what motivates you to keep going and thriving, doing such complicated work? Robin: Oh wow! I just really love working with families and seeing families. First of all, the parents are getting to parent, and that’s what their goal is, so that’s wonderful. But really seeing that the kids get homes where the parents are really prepared for what they need and are able to give them what they need, and then those kids thrive in that environment. That’s the other thing about Bethany — other international agencies don’t train their families, and we really do. Mimi: That’s an important part of the formula! I want to thank you for sharing this with me. I had a good time! Continue to do what you’re doing. It’s a wonderful service. Robin: Thank you very much! T&G 2016 February T&G - 89
State College Photo Club’s
Winning Photos
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. The club offers bimonthly workshops to improve skills and sponsors a bimonthly competition for its members. Town&Gown is pleased to present the winning images from the club’s competition. Shown this month are the first- and second-place winners in the Open category from the judged November meeting competition.
“Nice Catch” by Gary Perdue
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November Meeting Open Category First Place
“Sometimes you just need to be in the right place at the right time to make a nice catch. This catch was at Beavertail State Park in Rhode Island.”
“Celestial Fantasy” by Evan Appelman November Meeting Open Category Second Place
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“Celestial Fantasy is a composite photographed on the Bolivian Altiplano, near the town of Huachacalla, at the time of the total solar eclipse of November 3, 1994.”
A copy of many photos taken by the State College Photo Club may be obtained with a $75 contribution to the Salvation Army of Centre County. Contact Captain Charles Niedermeyer at (814) 861-1785 and let him know you would like this image. You can select any size up to 11 inches wide. The State College Photo Club meets on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Foxdale Village Auditorium. Guests and new members are always welcome.
Visit statecollegephotoclub.org for more information about how to join. 90 - T&G February 2016
Contributed photo
T& G
snapshot
No Boundaries to Giving New THON director brings passion to the cause By Lianne Galante Katie Mailey is where she wants to be as she wraps up her fifth year at Penn State. As executive director of THON 2016, she is in the lead role of the world’s largest student-run philanthropy. She’ll see the work she has done the past 11 months with all the committees, volunteers, and dancers culminate February 19-21 at the Bryce Jordan Center when the 46-hour event to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund occurs. Originally from Hudson, Ohio, she became involved with THON during her freshman year through her business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. Through older members of the fraternity, she learned about THON committees, and she applied to be on the finance committee during her sophomore year. The next year, she became finance captain and danced in THON. Last year, she served as finance director. Her love of THON, which has the theme Believe Beyond Boundaries this year, has encouraged her to apply for a new position every year. “My reasons for applying every year have changed and shifted, but it has always been about my passion for THON. I love this cause and I love what we are able to do every day, and I really wanted to give back to this organization,” says Mailey, an accounting major who took over as executive director last March. “I’ve gotten so much out of it just through my experiences and the things that I have learned and the relationships that I’ve built — and now I’m able to give back more and to continue that for students, families, and Hershey [Medical Center], and Four Diamonds.” THON has been raising money for the Four Diamonds Fund, which helps families with children who have cancer, since 1977. Last year, the event raised more than $13 million, and it has raised more than $127 million since 1977. Mailey wants that success to continue this year and well into the future. When she took over as executive director, she told OnwardState.com that one of her goals was to focus on the sustainability of all aspects of THON. “Part of what I love about THON is you spend all this time helping people that are never really going to be able to thank you, and I love that we’re able to help so many people, whether they’re a Four Diamonds family or somebody that is 92 - T&G February 2016
impacted by the research that happens out at Hershey,” she says. Actually, during her junior year, she did receive a memorable “thank you.” While Mailey was dancing on the Bryce Jordan Center floor early Sunday morning, the father of a Four Diamonds child approached her. While she was extremely tired, Mailey smiled, and the man told her how much he appreciated her efforts and that it meant so much to him and his daughter, who had cancer. “I think my favorite part of THON is when you see somebody smiling, whether it’s a student, whether it’s a child, whether it’s a parent, and you know you are making a difference in their lives and you can take them away from whatever it is, such as the hospital,” she says. “I love seeing all these little kids running around looking up to these big kids they have grown so close with.” T&G For more information about THON 2016 or to make a donation, visit thon.org.
All In One Location 2016 Nissan Maxima
2016 Volkswagen Golf R
2016 Volvo XC-90
2016 Audi S3
2016 Mercedes GLE
Always 200 used cars, SUVs, and trucks.
StateCollegeMotors.com West College Avenue @ Whitehall Road • (814) 238-2447