Town&Gown SEPTEMBER 2015
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Leader of the
Band
New Blue Band director Greg Drane (left) is ready to take the reins of one of the nation’s most popular and successful marching bands
Inside: Perceptions and realities in Penn State’s Greek system • “Taste of the Month" spotlights Barrel 21
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With xDrive, BMW’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system, no road condition is too daunting. Because xDrive instantly responds to the slightest wheel slip with increased torque for uninterrupted all-wheel traction and handling in rain, snow and ice. And now that xDrive is available on more models than ever before, you’ve got almost nothing to stop you from getting out on the open road. Take advantage of special offers from BMW Financial Services today.
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Family Medicine Penn State Hershey Family Medicine is now offered at four State College locations. To learn more about Penn State Hershey providers in State College call 814-235-2480 or visit PennStateHershey.org/statecollege. 32 Colonnade Way •1850 East Park Avenue, Suite 207• Windmere Centre, 476 Rolling Ridge Drive
Visit our newest Family Medicine practice at 303 Benner Pike, Suite 1 4 - T&G September 2015
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features 30 / 50 Years of Town&Gown: Sports, Part I — Scholastic Athletics
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Centre County teams, athletes have taken home their share of state gold • by Ron Bracken
36 / 50 Years of Town&Gown: Sports, Part II — Penn State From Paterno to the Big Ten, university teams have grown and excelled on and off the field • by Lou Prato
44 / Perceptions and Realities Following the Kappa Delta Rho scandal, Penn State’s Greek community is working to show that its fraternity and sorority members aren’t just the party houses some may think • by Jenna Spinelle
52 / Leader of the Band
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Even as the Penn State Blue Band faces its most challenging schedule (five consecutive home games!), new director Greg Drane is ready to get the drums going and for the band to march onto the field • by David Pencek
44 On the cover: Photo by Darren Andrew Weimert. New Penn State Blue Band director Greg Drane (left) with Blue Band President Patrick Burke.
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 2015 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
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10 Letter From The Editor 12 Starting Off: The List, People in the Community, Q&A 20 Living Well: Learning to choose a more peaceful life • by Meghan Fritz 22 Health: Getting tough on ticks • by Dr. Christopher Heron 24 Events: Schlow Library holds pair of special events in honor of building’s 10th anniversary • by Kendal Higdon 26 On Center: The Knights perform music inspired by “the war to end all wars” • by John Mark Rafacz 28 Penn State Diary: From scrapbooks to Facebook postings, what souvenirs we save from our lives continues to change • by Lee Stout
62 This Month on WPSU 65 What’s Happening: Penn State football, Oktoberfest, Dweezil Zappa, Nittany Valley Symphony, and more highlight September’s events 76 From the Vine: Fantastic finds from Friuli • by Lucy Rogers 80 Taste of the Month/Dining Out: Barrel 21 brings tapa experience and local-sourced spirits to town • by Vilma Shu Danz 94 Lunch with Mimi: Citizens Bank VP brings his love of helping people to the famed Penn State buttons 106 State College Photo Club’s Winning Photos 108 Snapshot: Military historian ready for her year as Penn State laureate • by Kendal Higdon
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Town&Gown September
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 Account Executives Kathy George, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello Administrative Assistant Hailee Miller Interns Russ Bartley (graphic designer), Kendal Higdon (editorial) Distribution Handy Delivery, George Brown
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.
townandgown.com Facebook.com/townandgownsc @TownGownSC 8 - T&G September 2015
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letter from the editor
Happy New Year! While still 2015, this month does begin several new chapters We obviously celebrate a new year each January 1, but, in a lot of ways, each September also feels like the start of a new year. It’s the start of a new school year, a new year of Penn State football, and new years for many arts organizations, including the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State. This September’s “new year” is especially new for a variety of reasons. The Nittany Lion football team has a new feeling. For the first time since the 2011 season, the Lions begin a year without NCAA sanctions against them. Also, two very different but very talented musical groups are beginning their first seasons with new leaders. Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra is celebrating its 25th anniversary season with new director Yaniv Attar, while the Penn State Blue Band welcomes Greg Drane as its new director. You can read about Attar and his plans for the orchestra in this month’s Q&A on page 16, and you can read about Drane (this month’s cover story) in the story, “Leader of the Band,” which begins on page 52. After having the privilege of interviewing both, I predict that the two musical groups have exciting futures ahead of them with those two in charge. They also offer just two more reasons to celebrate the September “new year!” Speaking of celebrations, Schlow Centre Region Library is celebrating its 10th anniversary at its current location on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street in State College. Town&Gown, as part of its 50th year celebration, is proud to be partnering with Schlow on two special evenings in honor of the library. On October 1 at the Days Inn in State College, four nationally recognized sports writers — Harvey Araton of the New York Times, Nancy Armour
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of USA Today, Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News, and Michael Weinreb of Rolling Stone — will participate in a panel discussion on “The Sport of Sportswriting.” On October 2, a celebration party and book-signing event will take place at the library. (On a personal note, I’ll be part of the October 2 event, selling and signing copies of The Great Book of Penn State Sports Lists, a book I coauthored with my brother.) You can read more about the events in the story, “Schlow Celebration,” on page 24. If you’ve read some of my “letters” from previous issues, you know how special I believe Schlow Library is to this community — and I know I’m not alone in that thought. It’s fitting that the library is basically located at the center of downtown State College, because it brings so many aspects of Happy Valley together. It’s been called “downtown’s living room,” and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s reading books, learning technology, holding group meetings, or spending time with your kids or grandkids in the Children’s Department, Schlow Library provides so much for so many here. We hope you will join us in celebrating its anniversary at one or both of the events in October!
David Pencek Editorial Director dpenc@barashmedia.com
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starting off
The List Highlights from Town&Gown’s first 49 years of publication
2001-2005 January 2001 — “Paving Paradise? I-99’s Effects” takes a look at how the future interstate will affect Centre County. Peirce Lewis, Penn State professor emeritus of geography, says, “One thing that Interstate 99 has done is scared the hell out of everybody.” December 2001 — Town&Gown’s Citizens of the Year include Debbie Bezilla, Colonel Steven Paladini, Barbara Ryan, Adam Taliaferro, and Philip Walz. January 2002 — State College Mayor Bill Welch and his wife, Nadine Kofman, begin writing their “About Town” columns. February 2002 — Penn State’s All-Sports Museum opens this month, and Town&Gown gives a preview in “More Than a Century of Competition.” Deciding which items would be displayed in the museum was a challenge, says Tim Pfaff, an associate with Gerald Hilferty & Associates Inc., which designed the museum. “Penn State has such a strong tradition in so many sports.” June 2002 — As State College prepares to holds its first 4th Fest, Town&Gown looks at the new event and the organization behind it in “A Festive Fourth for Freedom.” January 2003 — “Welcome to the ‘City of State College’” examines what a consolidated government would look like and how it would affect residents in the Centre Region’s six municipalities. According to a 1994 CBICC report, if consolidation were implemented, overlapping costs — upkeep and staffing of multiple government office buildings, for instance — would be reduced, while governmental efficiency and level of service might be increased. May 2003 — The Penn State Downtown Theatre Center prepares for its grand opening, and Town&Gown previews it with “Getting the Show on the Street.” Penn State School of Theatre director Dan Carter calls the theater, “clearly President [Graham] Spanier’s vision. He’s deeply involved in the community — the true meaning of town-and-gown relations.” July 2003 — “The World Comes to Woodward” looks at 12 - T&G September 2015
Camp Woodward, which attracts approximately 10,000 campers in the summer. The campers participate in gymnastics, bicycle motorcross, skateboarding, and more. Jamie Bestwick and three other top BMX riders have relocated to Centre County to be closer to Woodward. “It’s a unique place,” Bestwick says. “They really are the best at what they do.” August 2003 — “Ethniversity” looks at how more international students are attending Penn State, and how that has made Centre County’s population more diverse. October 2003 — While the country tries to recover from the recession, Centre County hasn’t felt the effects of the downturn. In “What Recession?” Penn State development economist Ted Fuller says, “It would be very hard to tell [if the area was in a recession]. If we were, it would be very mild. We’ve held up remarkably well in the last two years.” April 2004 — “The Finer Side of Beer” looks at the State College Microbrewers & Importers Exposition and growth of the craft-beer industry. In 2002, Charlie Schnable and Derek Duffee opened Otto’s Pub & Brewery. The two had discovered “great ales and lagers from around the world” back when they were Penn State roommates in the early 1990s. June 2004 — Town&Gown publishes a special issue celebrating Penn State’s upcoming sesquicentennial in 2005. January 2005 — Town&Gown begins its 40th year and reprints its first issue inside the issue. It also tries to predict the future with its story “The Next 10 Years.” September 2005 — “The Dean’s List” profiles the various deans at Penn State, including the dean of the College of Earth & Mineral Sciences, Eric Barron. He says, “I really enjoy two things: bragging about the college’s faculty and students, because we’re good, and doing anything I can to promote people’s success!” T&G
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People in the Community Julie Berardi
The Penn State Lionettes hired Julie Berardi as their first head coach in team history. Berardi is a 2008 Penn State graduate and former member of the Lionettes. She began dancing at the age of five. She told the Daily Collegian, “We want to continue with the culture and work ethic that they already have, because it’s a trademark at Penn State. Being a Lionette is an all-around experience, so it’s not just competing at nationals. I just want to make sure that the Lionettes are getting the same diverse experience that I had when I was on the team.” The Lionettes formed in 1995 as a club team. They won three consecutive national titles from 2012 to 2014.
Mark Gentzel
The Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators recognized South Hills School of Business & Technology instructor Mark Gentzel as its Outstanding Instructor of the Year. Gentzel, who lives in Spring Mills, has been at South Hills since 2004 and teaches human
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relations, English, and applied psychology. He is known for his dedication to the school’s mission to change people and change lives by bringing discovery and relevant learning to the classroom in fresh and stimulating ways. Susan Vidmar, director of education at South Hills School of Business & Technology, said in a press release, “Mark Gentzel is unquestionably one of the most loved teachers by our current students as well as graduates of South Hills. He has had a positive impact on the lives of countless students and is so deserving of this recognition.” Gentzel, inspired by the writing of Maya Angelou, said in a press release, “Everyone needs to put on their traveling shoes to make a difference in life.”
WPSU Penn State
WPSU Penn State has earned seven Mid-Atlantic Emmy nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The regional awards recognize local productions for excellence in television programming and individual achievement. The nominees include Science-U Oobleck! (Kristian Berg, writer/producer/director) for Children/Youth/ Teen (19 and under); “Connected for Life” (Mindy McMahon, producer; Kristian Berg, director/writer) for Commercial – Single Spot; Our Town Project (Greg Petersen, executive producer) for Community Service; As Long As We Dance (Cheraine Stanford, producer/director/writer) for Historic/Cultural Program/ Special; Courtside with Coquese Pink Zone Feature (Bill Amin, executive producer; Topher Yorks, lead producer/director/writer; DaVita Raechelle Miles, producer/editor; Mark Eaton, editor; Matt Stephens, videographer; Clint Yoder, field audio; Mickey Klein, audio mix) for Sports – Program Feature/ Segment; Mark Stitzer for Photographer-Program; and WeatherWhys (Marisa Ferger, producer/editor; Jon Nese, writer/producer) for News Single Story or Series; The Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award recipients will be announced September 19 at the Philadelphia Hilton. The Mid-Atlantic chapter represents Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and parts of both Ohio and West Virginia. T&G
Q&A with Yaniv Attar, Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra music director and conductor By David Pencek Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra is celebrating its 25th anniversary season — and a new era. Following founding director Douglas Meyer’s retirement, Yaniv Attar begins his first year as the orchestra’s music director and conductor. The 36-year-old Attar is a native of Israel and moved to the United States in 2001 (two days before September 11). He and his family (wife, Meredith, and son, Jonah, 5) live in Bellingham, Washington, where he is music director of the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra. This summer, Attar talked about his initial impressions of Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra and his thoughts on his first season as its music director. T&G: How did you develop a passion and interest for music? Attar: My mom bought me a guitar when I was maybe 10 or so, in hopes that I would have a musical hobby. We joke about that if she knew I would have taken it so seriously, she wouldn’t have bought it! In one of my early lessons, my teacher played a Bach piece with which I was mesmerized. I asked him to teach me that — and the rest is history. T&G: What interested you in becoming the music director for Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra? Attar: My position in Bellingham is with a large symphony orchestra, so I rarely get to conduct repertoire for chamber orchestra — repertoire that I love. When I saw the job posting, I was impressed with the orchestra’s history, and I was interested in guest conducting. T&G: What have been your favorite pieces or favorite composers to conduct? Attar: Without a doubt, the Beethoven symphonies. I conducted the Second Symphony for my audition with the PCO, and next season I will conduct his Third Symphony. All the elements that make orchestral music so magical are in the symphonies of Beethoven, and they will be an integral part of my programing in future seasons. T&G: When you look at “the state” of chamber orchestras in this country, and in the world, what are you noticing? Attar: This is an interesting question because there are more big symphony orchestras in the world as opposed to chamber orchestras. I believe the main reason for this is that people are more attracted to the larger orchestral sound, especially in this country. You will find many more chamber 16 - T&G September 2015
orchestras in Europe, for example. I think the problem that happens with medium-sized orchestras is that they are larger than a chamber orchestra, too small for the large orchestral repertoire, but still aspire to do the big repertoire like Mahler, Shostakovich, etc. The result, to my ears, is that the orchestra is not very well balanced and the sound suffers. For this reason, I love the size of the PCO, as there is so much repertoire for this size. We don’t have to “pretend” to be a huge orchestra. Having said that, we are doing a Mahler symphony next season, but it’s an orchestral reduction for a chamber orchestra. I am very excited about that concert! T&G: Any other previews for the 2015-16 season? Attar: We have a very diverse program, but most importantly, we have top-notch soloists of international level coming to State College — pianist Assaff Weisman, winner of the Iowa International Piano Competition; violinist Itamar Zorman, winner of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition; and Danya Kapok, a superb soprano, who actually grew up in State College. This 25th anniversary season of the PCO will definitely be a terrific year for the orchestra and for our community. Don’t miss out, come to our concerts! T&G Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra begins its 2015-16 season October 18 with “A Mozart Celebration” at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in State College. For tickets and more information on the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra and its season, visit centreorchestra.org.
This Monthtownandgown.com On
• In 5 Questions, Lauren Kooistra of Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities discusses the institute’s new programming series, “Truth and Reconciliation,” which looks at racial relations. • Learn some local legends and folklore as the Nittany Valley Society spotlights the legend of Princess Nittany, as imagined by the Penn State Class of 1916. • A preview of artsUP, a free event on September 20 that will celebrate the arts and is presented by Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture. • A recipe from Barrel 21 for smoked-duck spring rolls with sweet Thai-chili sauce and Asian pear slaw. Lauren Kooistra
• Order your copy of Town&Gown’s 2015 Penn State Football Annual.
Visit our Facebook site for the latest happenings and opportunities to win free tickets to concerts and events! Follow us on Twitter @TownGownSC.
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living well
Living Drama-Free Learning to choose a more peaceful life By Meghan Fritz
Have you ever been around someone who says how much they hate drama yet they seem to have a ton of it in their life? Whatever it is that we “hate” or resist in life will keep showing up over and over again. People who thrive in drama may be miserable, but they stay in it because they know how to do it well. Drama comes in the forms of constantly being easily offended with others, blowing up at the daily stress of life, spreading slander about others, and using manipulation to get what you want. When people act in ways that offend you, it’s not about you, it’s about them. Hurt people hurt people, and what people say and do is a reflection of how they feel about themselves. Your relationships with family, friends, and coworkers are a reflection of where you are in your heart and spirit. If you constantly judge others and are overly critical, then you are a person who judges yourself and suffers from deep-rooted insecurity. When we judge someone else, it makes us feel better about our own baggage and dysfunction. It’s an attempt to gain power and control, and this behavior is rooted deeply in the ego that is driven by fear, control, and power. How do we let go of drama and learn to live more peaceful lives? The first thing you have to do is own 20 - T&G September 2015
it. Admit it, drama is kind of exciting. It adds some spice to a boring day. I love nothing more than a good brawl on the Real Housewives. I know it’s ridiculous television, but I am intrigued by all the drama, and secretly it makes me feel like I’m much more mature and wise than the housewives. If I dig a little deeper, my ego is slightly jealous of all the jewels, Botox, and amazing closets full of high-end clothes. I own it! Once we own our behavior, we gain insight on how to change it. If there is lots of drama in your life, own it! The next step is to be conscious of the ways you create drama. If you are stuck in traffic and start banging the steering wheel and cursing, you are creating drama. If the roof has a leak and you immediately start to worry and stress to the point where you are cranky with your spouse and kids — drama. If a friend calls you to bail out of a dinner party because they are sick and you get offended — drama! Drama comes in the form of anything that you allow to steal your peace. Many people create drama over their feelings, “I hate being sad, this is so horrible!” That reaction to your feeling is creating drama. Rather than judge the sadness, recognize that uncomfortable feelings such as anger or sadness are our internal GPS system letting us know how we feel. Accept the discomfort of the feeling, and the drama will disappear. Treat the uncomfortable feelings with a sense of peace over anxiety, and you will feel much more stable and less vulnerable. Recognize that our feelings guide us and give us the insight we need to set boundaries
with others, make changes, and grow in our relationships. Don’t let uncomfortable feelings steal your peace — simply accept the discomfort and work through it. Any other reaction is creating drama and stress. Once you are conscious of how you create drama, make the decision to remove yourself from the company of the drama seekers. You are the company you keep — if most of your friends have lots of drama going on, then that is an indicator that you do, as well. Take a good look at the people you hang out with. Are your conversations full of gossip and judgment or encouragement and laughter? Do you spend time talking only about surface topics or are you able to go deeper and have interesting conversations with your friends? Any person, place, or thing that keeps you from growing is not worth hanging onto in your life. Be willing to recognize that living a life with more peace means letting go of the drama seekers. Drama is a huge energy drainer, and it will always leave you feeling exhausted and confused. Make the choice to let go of a crowd
that does not promote peace and growth. Living a life with more peace means guarding your heart from anything that will cause harm. Be vigilant with your purpose to maintain peace at all times. Once you make this decision, you will find that you have more energy, more fun, and a clearer mind. You will notice that the things you used to love to watch on TV or the people you thought were fun to hang out with are not as interesting. You will immediately notice in social situations who are the drama seekers and who are the peacekeepers. Your eyes will be more able to see things clearly from a spiritual perspective. Living in drama and stress drains our energy and makes us physically and emotionally ill. Stop the insanity and make a decision to kick drama out of your life! You will be amazed at how much better you feel and how much better your life becomes with this decision. T&G
Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College.
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health
Getting Tough on Ticks With cases of Lyme disease becoming more prevalent, taking some extra precautions can help prevent bites and contracting the disease By Dr. Christopher Heron
Dr. Christopher Heron (right) of the Family & Community Medicine department at Penn State College of Medicine has experience with Lyme-disease education programs.
We’re into the brightest days of summer, when we’re most tempted to enjoy the outdoors. There are trails to be hiked, paths to be biked, and many more varieties of outdoor adventure in the State College area. However, it’s important to remember that we’re not the only creatures that are spending more time in the woods. With concerns of Lyme disease never far from people’s minds, ticks are often a problem for both the outdoor adventurer and the gardening and golfing enthusiast alike. Lyme disease was first discovered in 1975 when parents in Old Lyme, Connecticut, became concerned about an outbreak of arthritis amongst the children there and in neighboring towns. They reached out to Yale School of Medicine researchers, who connected the outbreak to a mysterious rash of unknown cause. It wasn’t until several years later that a research team in New York linked the disease to a tick commonly found in the area, the ixodes (deer/blacklegged tick). Approximately 20,000 to 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC annually, and approximately 300,000 total cases per year, including those not reported. 22 - T&G September 2015
These cases are predominantly located in 14 states in the northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania. There are many proposed theories as to why Lyme is becoming more prevalent: an increase in deer and mouse populations that the ticks use as food, the warming climate that makes more areas accessible to the fragile arachnids, and an increased awareness and reporting of the disease. Lyme disease can range from a rash to joint pain, heart problems, and more. All tick bites will be a little red and irritated, but the rash associated with Lyme is in the shape of a bullseye, surrounds the site of the initial bite, and is present in approximately 80 percent of cases. These rashes tend to appear within days after the initial bite. Other symptoms, such as joint pain, severe headaches, and heart palpitations, usually take longer to appear and may come and go, and should warrant a visit to your family doctor. The best way to avoid Lyme disease is to prevent exposures to it by understanding how to prevent tick bites. Though ticks are present year-round, special note should be taken in the warmer months — April to September — when they and you are the most active. When possible, avoid areas of woods and brush, especially with high grass and leaf litter. Before going outside, use an insect repellant. The CDC recommends that it includes 20 to 30 percent DEET, and using special care when applying repellent to children. Finally, when you return home from the woods, always check for unwanted passengers. Showering within a few hours
of returning home will wash away ticks and allow you to perform a thorough self-check. Perform full checks on your gear and pets, as ticks can always hide there and find a person later. Parents should check their children, especially in places such as their ears, underarms, and hair, where ticks are able to hide without being noticed. If you’re concerned about ticks on your clothes, put them in the dryer on high heat for an hour to kill any remaining insects. If you do find a tick, try to remove it with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers by grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling upwards with a steady pressure. If part of the tick remains in the skin, you can try to remove it with the tweezers, but, if unable to do so, leave it alone and let the skin heal. Healing skin will naturally remove the remaining mouth parts. Be sure to clean the area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. If you have difficulty with the tick removal, or any questions, your primary-care provider can do
all this for you. And remember, if you remove the tick, dispose of it in a sealed container, wrapped in tape or dropped in rubbing alcohol. If you have been bitten by a tick or have concerns about Lyme disease, your primarycare provider can be an invaluable resource for prevention and treatment. T&G For more information about Lyme disease, visit cdc.gov/lyme/. Dr. Christopher Heron is a physician and assistant professor with the department of Family & Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine University Park Regional Campus in State College. He specializes in primary and acute care and health-care technology and has experience with Lyme-disease education programs. He currently practices at Penn State Hershey Medical Group-Park Avenue, located at 1850 East Park Avenue, Suite 207, in State College. To make an appointment, call (814) 235-2480.
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events
Schlow Celebration Library holds pair of special events in honor of building’s 10th anniversary By Kendal Higdon With information technology growing at unprecedented rates, public libraries have found their roles expanding to include much more than lending books and providing research help. Today’s libraries are a connecting point for technology, a community hub, and a source of enrichment for all ages. They are a place of opportunity. Nowhere is this more evident than Schlow Centre Region Library in State College, the area’s “Centre of Reading and Learning.” Home to more than 150,000 lending items, Schlow has become “downtown’s living room,” a place where community members of all ages come to sate their appetite for books, music, movies, cultural experiences, and much more. “Schlow is an anchor and destination place at the second-busiest intersection in State College,” Schlow director Catherine Alloway says. “Over 325,000 people visit annually to browse books, use computers, enjoy programs, play games, and attend meetings. Community building starts here!” This fall, Schlow marks its 10th anniversary in its current location, a 39,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Allen Street and Beaver Avenue that was built with this community’s growth and learning in mind. To celebrate, Schlow Library and Town&Gown are partnering to present two days of special events featuring nationally known sportswriters. On October 1, these sportswriters will participate in a panel discussion on “The Sport of Sportswriting.” The free event is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Days Inn in State College. The writers include Harvey Araton (New York Times columnist and author of Driving Mr. Yogi: Yogi Berra, Ron Guidry and Baseball’s Greatest Gift), Nancy Armour (USA Today columnist and reporter), Filip Bondy (New 24 - T&G September 2015
York Daily News reporter and author of The Pine Tar Game: The Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees and Baseball’s Most Absurd and Entertaining Controversy), and Michael Weinreb (Rolling Stone reporter and author of Season of Saturdays: A History of College Football in 14 Games). John Affleck, Knight Chair in Sports Journalism and Society at Penn State, will moderate. On October 2, from 7 to 9 p.m., those writers, along with Town&Gown editor David Pencek (coauthor of The Great Book of Penn State Sports Lists), will be part of the “Meet the Sportswriters” Celebration and Book Signing at the library. The event is $50 and features hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, and an opportunity to talk with the writers and purchase and/or have them sign copies of their books. “We are celebrating the community’s commitment to its library,” says Alloway. “It was through tremendous community support that this facility was built, and we see no better way to mark its 10th birthday than with an event that brings exciting authors to the community. It’s going to be a lot of fun!” Besides being an engaging and entertaining event, the celebration is raising money for the Schlow Library Foundation, formerly the Friends of Schlow Library. “The foundation will combine the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Schlow Library and the library to provide a more efficient and effective approach to serve the library’s future,” foundation president Susan Werner says. “As Schlow Library strives to continue to provide an excellent level of service in spite of cuts in the state funding, donations from the community have become increasingly important.”
According to Susanna Paul, the library’s communications manager, the library had more than 310,000 visits from patrons last year. But since 2007, state funding to the library has been cut by about $1 million. To balance the budget, the library furloughed and closed for a week in May 2014. This year, it cut hours from 65 per week to 60. Then in February, the library experienced water damage caused by a burst sprinkler pipe. The ensuing cleanup and restoration forced the library to close for two weeks. Paul says the library received an outpouring of support from the community, and donations are helping to bridge the gap between insurance and the costs of upgrading the building’s HVAC system. As a community hub, the library has become more than a place to take out books or DVDs. It has an art gallery with rotating exhibits by local artists. It has public computers and free Wi-Fi. It is a meeting place for dozens of clubs, and a place where people can attend classes on technology or genealogy research. And it has become a popular place for parents to bring their children to explore, play, and learn in the Children’s Department. Werner says that with an average of 1,000 visitors
each day, the library continues to be a vibrant and vital community resource. And as library leaders work to ensure that programs and services continue to excite and educate its patrons, the Schlow Library Foundation will continue its work of securing the library’s future. “By hosting fundraising events like the one on October 2,” she says, “the foundation hopes to make raising money for the library something the public will embrace and enjoy.” Alloway notes, “The Internet has not killed off public libraries like ours. We continue to adapt to new technologies and consumer habits and have some exciting new ideas for the next decade at 211 South Allen Street.” T&G The Schlow Centre Region Library’s 10th anniversary events are October 1-2. “The Sport of Sportswriting” is October 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Days Inn in State College, and the event is free. The “Meet the Sportswriters” Celebration and Book Signing is October 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Schlow Centre Region Library, and tickets are $50. For more information, visit schlowlibrary.org/celebration.
814-237-3039
www.moonbrotherslandscaping.com 2015 September T&G - 25
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Good Knights Brooklyn chamber orchestra performs music inspired by “the war to end all wars” By John Mark Rafacz Cellist Eric Jacobsen and his older brother, Colin, a violinist, have the minds of classical musicians and the hearts of world explorers. The Jacobsens are cofounders and artistic directors of The Knights, a Brooklyn-based orchestral collective that strives to shake up the concert experience by engaging listeners and defying boundaries. The ensemble’s size varies depending on the material being performed. Its programs, though, always showcase the players’ roots in classical tradition and their passion for discovery. The group has, as a New Yorker reviewer observes, “become one of Brooklyn’s sterling cultural products.” In its Penn State premiere concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 1, in Schwab Auditorium, the orchestra is scheduled to feature an ensemble of 10 musicians (two violinists, violist, cellist, double bassist, clarinetist, bassoonist, trumpeter, trombonist, and percussionist) performing Music from the Great War Era. The program of music composed mostly between 1914 and 1924 includes Sergei Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes, Maurice Ravel’s Piano Trio in A minor, Anton Webern’s Three Little Pieces for Cello and Piano, Ernest Bloch’s Prayer for cello and piano, Caroline Shaw’s arrangement of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Tierkreis: Leo, and Igor Stravinsky’s Suite from The Soldier’s Tale. “It is a joy to see such deeply committed musicmaking,” a Washington Post critic writes. “The Knights have no conductor; only the bassoonist and cellists play seated; every player is viscerally caught up in the shape of every phrase. That they suggest a rock band is not accidental, but the precision of balance and ensemble bespeaks the highest level of musicianship and preparation.” The orchestra evolved from late-night chamber music reading parties with friends at the home of the Jacobsens. The brothers also are founding members of Brooklyn Rider, the inventive string quartet that made its Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State debut in April. The Knights’ roster boasts diverse talents, including composers, arrangers, singer-songwriters, and improvisers, who bring a range of cultural influences — from jazz and klezmer to pop and indie rock — to the ensemble. In recent seasons, the collective has made its Tanglewood and Ojai music-festival debuts and collaborated with Yo-Yo 26 - T&G September 2015
The Knights make their first appearance at Penn State October 1 in Schwab Auditorium.
Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Dawn Upshaw, Jeremy Denk, the Mark Morris Dance Group, the Joshua Redman Quartet, santur player Siamak Aghaei, and pipa virtuoso Wu Man. In 2012, the Jacobsens were selected from among America’s most talented visual, performing, media, and literary artists to receive a prestigious United States Artists Fellowship. While in residence at the university, members of The Knights will participate in a variety of engagement activities, including a Classical Coffeehouse at 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, in Hintz Family Alumni Center. The informal coffeehouse, free and open to the public, includes a mini performance, conversation with the musicians, and complimentary refreshments. Each attendee receives a free Classical Coffeehouse mug. The event is presented in partnership with the Penn State Alumni Association and the Blue & White Society. The Penn State Council of LionHearts also provides support. 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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penn state diary
Memory Collection From scrapbooks to Facebook postings, what souvenirs we save from our lives continues to change By Lee Stout Collecting and collections have been on my mind lately. I suppose I’ve reached the age where I am finding that I need to address my accumulated stuff. Sometimes we just have more things than we need — clothes that are out of style, random coffee mugs, or the strange fact that I have five snow shovels (how did that happen?). As a writer, I know I have too many books and way too much paper — information I’ve collected for things I’ve written or, just as likely, will never write. But I wouldn’t call those collections. I know many people who purposely collect all manner of things — some might be called antiques, or what scholars refer to as material culture. The range of collections is unlimited, but the serious collectors try and determine, for their slice of life, just what is out there, who made it, and where and when. Whether it’s the joy of collecting or an investment, collections often reflect on our pasts. As an archivist, I’m particularly concerned with memory, and what we create or acquire and save to remember the work we do and the events we experience that are important to our lives. As university archivist, I sought out the materials that documented the history of Penn State and the experiences of students, alumni, faculty, and staff. It ranged from administrative records to student scrapbooks. I know several serious collectors of Penn State items, both authentic relics of the past and manufactured “collectibles.” I admit that I see little value in bobblehead dolls or Penn State model-train boxcars. They’re harmless fun, but don’t tell us much about the history of the institution and the experiences of the people who have attended or worked here. Groups of materials that I might call “memory caches” are more interesting to me. What do I have that survives from my student days? These are things that a Penn State collector might actually treasure. Of things created by the university, I still have my student ID card, diplomas, commencement programs, and my yearbook. I somehow failed to retain any catalogs, timetables, schedule forms, or grade reports, although 28 - T&G September 2015
The author’s student ID card is an example of an item that shows the history of a place.
I do have my official transcript. From the other parts of my student life, I still have notebooks from some classes, which probably include syllabi, handouts, and some of the papers I wrote, and some of the books I used. I have my class ring and fraternity pin, but sadly no T-shirts, hats, or Penn State clothing of the 1960s survive in my closet. When I look back to student materials in the archives from the 1920s and 1930s, scrapbooks are the quintessential memory cache. They contain event and dance programs, tickets, student handbooks, clippings
from the Collegian, other paper mementoes, and especially, photographs. Many were snapshots students took with their own cameras, others were bought as souvenirs. What will today’s students hold onto when they want to remember their college days in years to come? I wonder. Much of what the university printed and distributed to students in the past is now electronic. You register and receive your grades online, course-management systems provide syllabi and handouts, you deposit your papers in an electronic drop box — and that’s only a fraction of what is recorded digitally in a student’s daily interaction with the university. You can still find paper copies of the Daily Collegian, but more students likely read it online, along with the university news and alerts that come directly to your phone or tablet. Few students buy programs at football games or other events. It may be a cliché, but “been there, done that, and got the t-shirt” is much closer to the truth. How many of those items will survive into the future? Then there’s La Vie, the college yearbook. Fifty years ago, it was considered a requirement that each student have their picture taken for the yearbook. Today’s yearbook is much less a record of individual students and their organizations; it focuses more on the events of the year. There also are DVDs and online supplements to the book about THON and other memorable events. Of course, social media and digital photography dominate student memory-making today. But what will happen to all those selfies? How long can they remain in Cloud storage? Will you still look at those previous years of Facebook postings, or old tweets, texts, and blog entries, in years to come? We now create far more information about our daily lives than ever before, and social-media apps seem to save it — but for how long? Will you be able to find virtual things in the future to help remember those good old days? And if you go to the archives 50 years from now, what will the archivists be able to show you about that crazy decade, the 2010s? T&G Lee Stout is librarian emeritus, special collections for Penn State.
Get to know...
Shannon Sweeney: Read All About It! After working on her high school newspaper in Mt. Lebanon, Shannon Sweeney decided to major in journalism and become a sports broadcast journalist. However, once she began working at The Daily Collegian as a freshman, she switched her major to print journalism and political science. “I realized that I really like doing hard news and writing,” she says. “I like writing more than talking on camera.” Now Collegian editor in chief and a senior, Sweeney has served as junior state and nation reporter, senior THON reporter, senior crime and courts reporter, metro editor, weekly columnist, campus section editor, and copy desk chief. One of the highlights so far came during her freshman year, when she covered a ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville where she saw Vice President Joe Biden speak and interviewed family members of people who died in the 9/11 crash. As editor in chief, Sweeney plans to increase the Collegian’s online presence, adding the position of digital managing editor to oversee the website and make the paper more interactive, especially with readers outside the State College area. She also would like to boost in-depth reporting, such as last year’s feature series about sexual assault on campus. For her own career, Sweeney hopes to work in copyediting after graduation. “Newspapers aren’t going away because there’s always going to be a desire for real news,” she says.
The Penn State Bookstore thanks Shannon Sweeney and all faculty, staff, and students who carry out the university’s mission every day.
www.psu.bncollege.com 814-863-0205 2015 September T&G - 29
Years of Town&Gown: Sports, Part I Scholastic Athletics Centre County teams, athletes have taken home their share of state gold
By Ron Bracken Maybe you believe in karma, maybe not. If not, then consider it a wonderful coincidence that the 50th year of Town&Gown dovetails nicely with what can only be called the Golden Era in scholastic sports in Centre County. Looking back prior to 1966, College Avenue was a two-way street, you could see a movie in one of three theaters in State College — The State, The Cathaum, and The Nittany. You could bowl at Centre Lanes, Armenara Plaza, or the Dux Club. And you could swim in the pool at the Glenland Building. What you couldn’t do was find a statechampionship trophy for a team in any of the county high schools. There were plenty of individual titles, especially in wrestling, when Bellefonte, State College, and Philipsburg-Osceola consistently produced champions. But there were no team champions. Centre Hall came the closest when its basketball team made the Class D finals in 1950. If you could have gazed into a crystal ball on January 1, 1966, and looked into the future, you 30 - T&G September 2015
would have been blinded by the brilliance of what was to come. The world has turned over many times since then, and there were many days when the sun rose on a newly crowned state champion within the county’s borders. It was the best of times. Period. Again, through sheer great fortune, I began working for the Centre Daily Times in the fall of 1967 (when it was a six-day-a-week evening paper published on South Fraser Street), which allowed me to have a front-row seat to witness the accomplishments of the county’s sons and daughters. Looking back, two things have had a huge impact on the scholastic sports landscape since 1966 — the emergence of girls’ sports, thanks to the passage of Title IX, and the growth explosion of State College Area High School. Today, you can walk into any of the public high schools in the county and find a statechampionship trophy. The PIAA didn’t begin sponsoring state playoffs in softball until 1976, and two years
Opposite page, the 1999 Bald Eagle wrestling team was ranked the No. 1 team in the country in two different polls. Above (clockwise from top left), Jim Gonder has led Philipsburg-Osceola’s softball team to two PIAA titles and is just three wins away from 600 for his career, Bellefonte’s softball team won the PIAA title in 2010, and the PIAA championship trophy that State High’s boys’ basketball team won in 2002.
later, State College claimed the first official team championship in the county. The Lady Little Lions did it again in 1986, but after that, the county was shut out until 2002 when Penns Valley took the Class A crown. From then on, the county teams went on a roll as Bald Eagle Area reached the finals in 2004 and won the title in 2005, Philipsburg-Osceola won in 2007, Bald Eagle reached the finals again in 2008 and won in 2009, Bellefonte won in 2010, and Philipsburg-Osceola won another title in 2011. That’s six titles in 13 years, establishing the county as a minefield through which other softball teams looking for a state championship had to navigate. Narrowing the focus, since District 6 began crowning champions in 1976, there have been only three years when no Centre County team won a district title. On the individual front, Jim Gonder, Philipsburg-Osceola’s softball coach, is only three wins away from 600 victories. The outstanding female athletes from the
county include Bald Eagle Area’s Angela Hoover, the county’s only four-time PIAA champion in any sport (javelin), and current State High basketball standout Kyla Irwin, who verbally committed to the University of Connecticut last fall. On the male side, there have been two dynasties, one of which was short-lived and the other lasted two decades. In the fall of 1969, a new football coach took over at State College. Jim Williams, who played for the Little Lions in the late 1950s, played for Penn State, and then went on to be an assistant coach at Bellefonte, succeeded Hal Wausat at State High. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. He inherited a running back named Larry Suhey, who was the first of three Suhey brothers to play for him — each went on to be all-state and Big 33 selections who went on to play at Penn State. Over Williams’s eight-year tenure, there also were the Sefter brothers, the Curleys, and the Ellis brothers. At State High during that span, there was an orchard of family trees bearing outstanding 2015 September T&G - 31
Students participate in a class at St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy, which opened in 2011. Left, State High’s Kyla Irwin is one of the top girls’ basketball players in state and has committed to the University of Connecticut. Right, Quentin Wright won two PIAA wrestling titles at Bald Eagle before becoming a two-time national champion at Penn State.
athletes, and they produced what is inarguably the greatest high school football team ever to play in Centre County. During their time, they put together a 36-game unbeaten streak that has never been matched in the county, and they also earned the ranking as the No 1 team in the state at the end of the 1973 season. No other county football team can make that claim. That 1973 team boasted two players — John Sefter and Paul Suhey — who were selected to the all-state and Big 33 teams, went on to win PIAA heavyweight wrestling titles, and became successful orthopedic surgeons in State College. It also had Matt Suhey, a tailback who was a three-time first-team all-state selection, became a four-year starter at Penn State, and had a 10-year NFL career with the Chicago Bears. He is without question the best high school running back in county history. 32 - T&G September 2015
Other standouts on that team included lineman Clay Singletary, who went to West Virginia, wide receiver Gary Ellis, who played at Maryland, and quarterback Randy Hochberg, who played at Ohio University. Scott Yocum is a successful realtor in State College and Tom Kistler is now known as the Honorable Thomas K. Kistler, president judge of Centre County. As to which was the best team he ever played on, Matt Suhey has said that it was a tossup between that State High team and the 1985 Chicago Bears, who won the Super Bowl. But that dynasty died when the Suheys and the Sefters moved on and Williams took an assistant coaching position at Penn State. Since then, State College’s growth has forced it to join the sprawling MidPenn Conference, based in District 3, to fill its football and basketball schedules, having outgrown all but a couple of its District 6 neighbors.
The 1973 State High football team is the only football team from Centre County to be ranked No. 1 in the state at the end of a season.
The other dynasty emerged from the wrestling room at Wingate. Bald Eagle Area graduate Dick Rhoades returned to his alma mater in the fall of 1971 and began building a program that became a district, then regional, then state powerhouse. The first wrestling team at Bald Eagle took the mat in the fall of 1956. Today, Bald Eagle is the winningest program in District 6 with a 664-223-13 record. Second is State College, which had almost a 20-year head start. Bald Eagle also has produced 114 district champions, the most of any team in the county. Consider these numbers: In the decade of the 1980s, Bald Eagle went 133-17-5. In the 1990s, it had a record of 157-12-1 and won all 10 District 6 team titles. So over that 20-year period, it had a record of 290-29-6. It peaked in 1999 when it was named the No. 1 team in the country in two different polls and won the
inaugural PIAA team championship and the individual tournament championship. Other boys’ team champions from the county include the 2002 State High
2015 September T&G - 33
basketball team, the 1979 State High baseball team, the 1999 Bald Eagle track team, and the 2007 Bald Eagle baseball team. Individually, State College has had two threetime PIAA champions over the past 50 years — Todd Lundy in tennis, from 1972 to 1974, and Nathan Galloway in wrestling, from 2000 to 2002 — and it also has had a two-time wrestling champion in Larry Suhey, while Bald Eagle also has had a two-time PIAA wrestling champion in Quentin Wright, who went to Penn State and won a pair of NCAA titles and also was an NCAA runner-up, losing to State High grad Steve Bosak, who went to Cornell, in the finals. Centre County also can claim professional athletes in two different sports since 1966. In baseball, Bellefonte produced pitcher Eric Milton, who pitched at Maryland and was the No. 1 draft choice of the New York Yankees, State College had pitcher Stan Belinda, who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1990s, and PhilipsburgOsceola can claim current St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams. In football, four former Centre County players have made NFL rosters over the past 50 years. Matt
Suhey, State High running back Larry Johnson, Penns Valley linebacker Josh Hull, and PhilipsburgOsceola’s Jon Condo, who is currently the long snapper for the Oakland Raiders. And Centre County also is now home to a professional sports team in the form of the State College Spikes, which had its first season in 2006. The Spikes, a Single-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, won the New York-Penn League title in 2014, and several players from the past nine seasons have made it to the Major Leagues. No one can predict what the next 50 years holds. The rise in popularity of lacrosse in the county opens another door to a state championship, and the popularity of girls’ sports continues to grow. But if the past is a prologue, the outlook for the next 50 years is golden. T&G Ron Bracken worked at the Centre Daily Times for 41 years, including 17 as sports editor. He won two national and 15 state journalism awards. He lives in Philipsburg with his wife, Joan.
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Years of Town&Gown: Sports, Part II Penn State From Paterno to the Big Ten, university teams have grown and excelled on and off the field
By Lou Prato
As Centre County residents picked up the first issue of Town&Gown magazine in January 1966, a record Rec Hall crowd of 7,600 watched Gene Wettstone’s defending national championship men’s gymnastic team open its new season by beating Springfield by a mere five-hundredths of a point. 36 - T&G September 2015
On the last Saturday of the month, Rec Hall was rocking again. In the afternoon, 7,400 fans cheered for John Egli’s men’s basketball team in a 76-73 victory over Temple. In the evening, 7,300 were there to see Wettstone’s gymnasts defeat the Air Force Academy, 188.95-168.50.
Penn State Athletic Communications (3)
Opposite page, few could have predicted the impact Joe Paterno would have on Penn State after he became the football program’s head coach in 1966. Above, Penn State’s wrestling team won four consecutive national titles from 2011 to 2014.
That same snowy, freezing Saturday night at the Hetzel Student Union, football head coach Rip Engle and his 1965 team were being honored at the annual team banquet sponsored by the State College Quarterback Club. Despite a frustrating 5-5 season, Engle told the group, “wait until next year.” Four weeks later to the day, Penn State football had a new head coach named Joe Paterno, and the university’s athletic program has never been the same. Perhaps it was coincidence that the birth of the now popular Town&Gown magazine marked the end of an era in Penn State athletics. That January also marked the passing of two legendary Penn State head coaches, soccer’s Bill Jeffery, who coached the Lions from 1927 to 1952, and Pop Rutherford, who coached the golf team from 1922 to 1949. In the same month, Engle’s predecessor, Joe Bedenk, the football coach in 1949 and baseball head coach from 1931 to 1962, was elected in the first class of the College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. What’s also significant is that Town&Gown emerged just as women’s sports were evolving at Penn State. Is it another coincidence that a woman, Mimi Barash, founded Town&Gown, and in the next 50 years, she was one of the leading proponents of the university’s women’s athletics program? During the academic year of 1965-66 that
Town&Gown was born, enrollment at University Park campus was 20,800. There were 13 official varsity sports operating under the athletic department’s budget of less than $1 million — but they were all men’s teams. Penn State now celebrates 1964 as the beginning of varsity sports for women, with the first teams in golf and field hockey. However, the official records from the fall of 1964 through the spring of 1967 included all women’s teams as part of the Women’s Recreation Association that was lumped in with intramurals. We now know it was a subterfuge designed by Penn State President Eric Walker and athletic director Ernie McCoy to enable the transition of varsity women’s sports into the athletic department despite the sexist politics on campuses across the country opposing women’s varsity programs. The school yearbook, LaVie, referred to women’s varsity teams for the first time in its 1968 edition, with a clear rewriting of the past official history: “The women’s varsity program has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception four years ago. Today, our Lady Lions possess varsity status in such varied sports as field hockey, bowling, fencing, basketball, gymnastics, golf, tennis, rifle, and softball. Although their program is only four years old, the Lionesses have begun to make a name for themselves ….” The academic year of 1967-68 also was the 2015 September T&G - 37
Steve Tressler/Vista Professional Studios (2)
Top, the Pegula Ice Arena is home to Penn State’s newest teams – men’s and women’s ice hockey. Bottom, the women's volleyball team has become a dynasty in its sport with six national titles in the last eight seasons.
turning point for Paterno, whose first season as head coach was a mediocre 5-5. In the now famous 1967 season, he overhauled his squad in the second game of the year at Miami with a plethora of sophomores, including several future All-Americans. By the end of the season, Penn State had its best record in six years at 8-2-1, a No. 10 ranking in the polls, a 17-17 tie in the Gator Bowl, and the start of what would become a school-record 31-game undefeated streak that is still intact. There’s no doubt that Paterno and the success of his football teams from 1967 onward was the prime basis for the expansion and success of the entire athletic program in the next 50 years. If one has to select a single momentous event in the last 50 years that changed Penn State’s athletic program forever, it has to be the university’s entry into the Big Ten in 1990. Yes, the women’s pioneering varsity teams was historic in 1964, but the later passing of Title IX would have forced a similar end result. Giving up 103 years of independence to join the Big Ten was revolutionary. 38 - T&G September 2015
Not only did Penn State athletics change forever, but so also did college athletics. The Nittany Lions’ move to the Big Ten was the catalyst for the radical transformation of the college-athletics landscape that continues to this day. Whoever thought in 1966 that 50 years later Penn State and two of its regional rivals, Rutgers and Maryland, would be in the Big Ten, along with Nebraska? Or that three other eastern foes, traditional rivals Pitt and Syracuse along with Boston College, would be in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and another, West Virginia, in the Big 12? All of that might not have happened if Paterno had succeeded in his 1980 attempt to form an allsports eastern conference. He was then the athletic director for a short time as well as head coach. His efforts failed, and the reasons are still shrouded by controversy. What is known is that in early 1981 Paterno quietly made inquiries about affiliating with the Big Ten. When it finally occurred nearly a decade later, it wasn’t simply because Paterno wanted it. It was
Darren Andrew Weimert
Left, former football player John Urschel exemplified Penn State’s commitment to academic success among its student-athletes. Right, Susan Robinson was one of the top players in Lady Lion history.
the culmination of a lot of work behind the scenes by a lot of high-level people at Penn State and in the Big Ten. Yet, one cannot help but wonder if the Big Ten affiliation would have become a reality if Paterno’s football teams did not have their ultimate success in the 1980s — winning two national championships and losing another on the field. In 1966, Penn State and the other eastern football teams were stagnate. The East had not had a team in the AP top 10 since 1963, and Penn State had barely escaped losing seasons from 1964 to 1966, with records of 6-4, 5-5, and 5-5. Starting in 1967, and for the next 20 years, Paterno’s Nittany Lions missed the top 10 just five times and became the region’s dominant team — nicknamed “The Beast of the East” — and a national power. That’s the Penn State that enticed the hierarchy of the Big Ten. And it all started in the late winter of 1966. In 1966, Penn State had 13 men’s teams recognized by the NCAA and 10 unofficial women’s teams that were disparaged by the
NCAA and others as a minor step up from intramurals. Even with the firm push by the federal government’s Title IX legislation, it was not until 1981 that the NCAA grudgingly accepted women’s varsity sports into their bastion. Today, Penn State’s combined 31 men’s and women’s teams, with an operating budget that has escalated to more than $112 million, fall under the umbrella of the NCAA. Prior to 1966, the Nittany Lions had won a combined 13 NCAA team championships in gymnastics (8), cross country (3), boxing (1), and wrestling (1). They also had earned 16 other national titles in soccer (11), boxing (4), and wrestling (1) from recognized peer organizations before the start of the NCAA tournaments in those sports. As of the end of the 2014-15 season, Penn State had accumulated an additional 31 NCAA men’s and women’s team championships in fencing (14), women’s volleyball (7), men’s volleyball (1), wrestling (4), and men’s gymnastics (4), and 2015 September T&G - 39
another six national titles from the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) that had supervised the female tournaments from 1978 to 1981. And that doesn’t count the two treasured football championships in 1982 and 1986, determined by the national polls, or the 1979 National Collegiate Bowling Championship sponsored by a beer company. Of all the changes in the athletic department in the last 50 years, it’s the facilities that are the most visible. In 1966, Penn State’s athletic facilities were basically in five locations. Beaver Stadium’s seating capacity was 46,284, with a running track inside and adjacent fields for baseball, soccer, track, tennis, and lacrosse, with limited bleacher seats for spectators. The men’s basketball, gymnastic, and wrestling teams played in Rec Hall, the school’s indoor sports facility since 1929. The women’s varsity and club teams continued to use the much smaller White Building, which was constructed in 1938 specifically for women’s sports and other extracurricular activities. Swimming competition took place at an indoor pool in downtown State College. The 18-hole golf course across from Rec Hall had hardly
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changed since it had opened in 1922. Rec Hall and the White Building are still there today, but the teams who call those facilities home have changed. Beaver Stadium has expanded several times over the decades and is now the second-largest stadium in the country with its 106,572 seats, including luxury private suites and a VIP club. Basketball, baseball, and soccer each have their own modern stadiums close by and so does Penn State’s newest varsity sports — men’s and women’s ice hockey. A multisports building utilized primarily for track and indoor practices by several teams includes an outdoor track and an adjacent new lacrosse field. Across the street are an indoor football practice field and an indoor tennis arena. There’s also a stadium nearby for softball and a new and recently enlarged building that replaced Rec Hall years ago as the home for the university’s intramurals. Not far away, toward the middle of campus, are the natatorium for swimming and diving teams and a playing field for field hockey. A separate second golf course that opened in 1970 was melded with the original course in 1994 and now has a clubhouse and training area just for the university’s golf teams
as well as a clubhouse for the public. In 1966, Penn State’s most famous athletes outside of University Park were all football players, such as NFL all-pros Lenny Moore and Dave Robinson and Heisman Trophy runner-up Richie Lucas. Before 1966, Penn State had produced 16 firstteam All-Americans and three first-round NFL draft choices. Over the next 50 years, 69 more football players would be selected first-team All-Americans, 33 would be drafted in the first round by NFL teams, John Cappelletti would win the Heisman Trophy, and the school would earn the enduring nickname of “Linebacker U” for producing such linebackers as Jack Ham and Shane Conlan. Football is still king today at Penn State, but men and women from other sports also have become well known for their accomplishments. Many became All-Americans, and some won player of the year awards in their sports, such as women’s basketball’s Susan Robinson, track’s Kathy Mills, wrestling’s Kerry McCoy and David Taylor, and men’s volleyball’s Ivan Contreras and women’s volleyball’s Lauren Cacciamani. And besides Paterno, some of the great coaches who have led Penn State teams to national titles
over the last 50 years include Gillian Rattray in field hockey and women’s lacrosse, Russ Rose in women’s volleyball, Cale Sanderson in wrestling, Sue Scheetz in women’s lacrosse, Randy Jepson in men’s gymnastics, Mark Pavlik in men’s volleyball, and Emmanuil Kaidanov in fencing. Success on the field is just one aspect. Academics is another. In 1966, physical-education courses were the likely curriculum for varsity athletes. Paterno was at the forefront of change, starting with his Grand Experiment that stressed academics as well as athletic ability. Over the last five decades, hundreds of Penn State athletes have become more attracted to business, economics, pre-law, pre-med, and other fields rather than physical education. Making the Dean’s List has become common. Penn State’s graduation rates for student-athletes have been among the highest in the country, as monitored by the NCAA, and more than 189 men and women have earned Academic All-American honors — third-highest total among Division I institutions — since the creation of the program by the nation’s sports information directors in 1952. Forty-five of those athletes have won NCAA
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postgraduate scholarships, and 17 football players have been honored with fellowships as Hall of Fame Scholars. Paterno crusaded for an upgrade in academics across the entire university, and thanks largely to his fundraising efforts, Penn State is now one of the finest public schools in the country, attracting students from all over the world. The Paterno wing of the university library, completed in 2000, and the law-school building are evidence of his success. Until recent years, football had funded the entire athletic program. That included intramurals, club sports, and the outdoor Stone Valley Recreation Area. Nowadays, men’s basketball also is a profit center, and wrestling and hockey are on the verge of becoming self-supportive. In the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal of 2011, recommendations were made for administrative changes within the athletic department. As a result, intramurals, club sports, and the Stone Valley Recreation Area have been moved out of athletics and to the university’s student services. Sandy Barbour, who became the director of athletics in August 2014, has reorganized and
restructured the department. Football continues to be the prime revenue producer, and with the program and second-year head coach James Franklin no longer burdened by major NCAA penalties, the future looks promising. New fundraising efforts have begun for an upgrade in facilities, not just in football but also in the revitalization of several projects, including swimming, soccer, lacrosse, and the Morgan Academic Center for Student Athletes, that have been delayed since 2011. How the athletic department will change in the next 50 years is anyone’s guess. Look to Penn State’s famous creamery for a hint. Just remember, in 1966, there was no Peachy Paterno or Russ “Diggs” Roseberry ice cream. T&G Lou Prato, the first director of the Penn State All-Sports Museum, is a Penn State sports historian and author of seven books about Nittany Lion football. His latest book, 100 Things Penn State Fans Need to Know and Do Before They Die, will be released in September by Triumph Books.
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PERCEPTIONS
Stock Image
and
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Penn State
d REALITIES Following the Kappa Delta Rho scandal, Penn State’s Greek community is working to show that its fraternity and sorority members aren’t just the party houses some may think
By Jenna Spinelle 2015 September T&G - 45
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Contributed photos (3)
As a new school year begins, Penn State’s fraternities and sororities have big plans. From strengthening relationships with community members to increasing diversity, leaders hope to rebuild the image of the Greek community after the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity was suspended in the spring over compromising photos of women some of its members had taken and posted to a Facebook group. Also getting off the ground this fall is a new Greek life task force that will bring together university leaders, student leaders, and members of the State College community to tackle tough issues. After the Kappa Delta Rho incident, many were left asking who allowed behavior like that to happen? Was it a matter of a few people making bad decisions or something symptomatic of larger issues? The answer to that question is complicated. Penn State is home to more than 50 fraternity and sorority chapters operating under the direction of four governing councils: Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. These organizations are responsible for setting policies for the individual chapters within them. Each chapter also is governed by its national board. Penn State’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life serves as advisers to the chapters but does not otherwise have any authority over what individual organizations or their members do. Instead, the university promotes self-governance and encourages students to take responsibility for their actions. “Our responsibility is to work closely with the governing councils to ensure that they are following their own policies and procedures and they are not creating other policies that are contrary to the university’s, borough’s, or the commonwealth’s,” says Roy Baker, director of Penn State’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. He says the idea of self-governance has grown during his eight years at Penn State. When he took the position, he says, the expectation was that he would be the “Czar of Greek life” and control every aspect of it. “Anytime you’re dealing with organizations who have 100 or more people, you’ll have people who don’t follow protocol,” he says. “We feel very positive about the fact that our students have developed a sense of ownership. They do a very nice job of governing themselves, and that wasn’t the way it was when I first got here.” Bradley Simmons, the Interfraternity Council’s vice president for communications, says students not
Top, as vice president for communications for the IFC, Bradley Simmons (right) wants to break down some of the stereotypes people have about fraternities. Above, Mandy Marold is vice president of communications for the Panhellenic Council and says sororities are always looking for new ways to give back to the community.
only accept their responsibility, they also embrace it. “We want to set an example for people about things that happen here, and they can be set as the standard across the country,” he says. “We are excited about the responsibility put upon us. It’s a lot of pressure, but we’re excited.” He says one of the IFC’s goals for the coming year is to improve the relationship with residents in State College. Many fraternity houses are in the borough’s Highlands neighborhood, which spans Beaver Avenue to Easterly Parkway and University Drive to South Atherton Street. Most recently, fraternities and their neighbors were at odds over “daylong” parties held at the end of the spring semester. Simmons says the IFC hopes to
Tim Sonier (middle) and David Bertone (right) of Sigma Alpha Epsilon participate in the Neighbor to Neighbor program with State College Highlands resident Peg Hambrick (left).
smooth the waters this fall. “We want to work with local governments to show that we respect the neighborhoods that exist at Penn State,” he says. “We want people to have the same amount of enjoyment on the weekend, just working together having better lines of communication with university officials and community officials to ensure events that we plan out are productive and safe.” Peg Hambrick has lived in the Highlands neighborhood for 12 years and says she does not always see the leadership that the fraternities claim to display, or the support the university claims to provide. “The university takes a hands-off stance because fraternities are off campus, but they are related to and recognized by the university,” she says. “A lot of what’s been happening lately has been more than just noise in the neighborhood, and things can’t be hands-off in any aspect. Everyone needs to work together.” One effort to bridge those gaps is the Neighbor to Neighbor program, which pairs 26 fraternities with 26 nonfraternity households in the Highlands. “It’s been a very casual arrangement. Both the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and the neighborhoods feel it might be a little more formalized,” Hambrick says. “We’re still working out the kinks in the program. We all underestimate the amount of work it takes to make something like this happen.” She says some of what the community views as troublesome behavior may be solved by having more seniors living in the fraternity houses and taking on
leadership roles in their chapters. “If the IFC is an organization that communicates and promotes leadership, then the seniors should live in the houses. Right now, some of fraternity presidents are sophomores in college,” she says. Penn State has to bear some responsibility, as well, she adds. “I remember the days of in loco parentis (in the place of a parent),” she says. “Universities aren’t supposed to be parents, but that doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be adult leadership.” Issues aside, students who join fraternities and sororities say they do so to make lifelong friends and gain leadership experience that will stick with them long after they leave Penn State. Maddy Marold, vice president of communications for Penn State’s Panhellenic Council, felt isolated when she moved to State College from Kentucky her freshman year. She quickly found her home in the sorority community as a member of Alpha Delta Pi. “The women in my sorority truly inspired me and challenged me to push me to run for leadership roles,” she says. “I found a group of girls who I connected with and who had similar values.” She says sororities are always looking for new ways to give back to the community. She cites the annual Greek Sing, Spring Egg Hunt, and State Day of Service as just a few examples of community engagement. Perhaps the Greek community’s largest contribution, however, is THON. The event has its roots as the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon and sees individual fraternity and sorority chapters raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year toward the overall total for the Four Diamonds Fund. Last year, THON raised more than $13 million for the fund that helps families who have kids with cancer. Junior Tory Nymick is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, the sorority with the highest THON fundraising total for 2015. It raised nearly $320,000 in partnership with the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Rather than letting the pressure to be first get to them, Nymick says she and her sisters view it as motivation to work harder and raise even more money for a worthy cause. Nymick, a marketing major from Baltimore, was not planning to join a sorority when she came to Penn State. She attended an all-girls high school and says she “wanted to get away from being around girls all the time.” However, she decided to rush after seeing others 2015 September T&G - 47
Penn State
Each year, THON raises millions of dollars for the Four Diamonds Fund.
on her residence hall floor do the same. “Looking back, I’m glad I decided to do it,” she says. “I’m happy my high school experience continued in college.” Simmons joined the Sigma Pi fraternity after attending an alumni event with his father during his senior year of high school. “My dad developed quite a network of friends and still connects with alumni 40 years after he left
school,” he says. “I waited a semester to go through rush and ended up joining the spring of my freshman year. I have no regrets being in it.” Nymick says the perception of fraternities and sororities varies greatly depending on whom you ask. “I feel the perception in the State College community is extremely negative,” she says. “On campus, it’s definitely a different mindset when you’re in Greek life versus someone who tried to rush
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Left, Hambrick is active in trying to help fraternities and State College residents come together. As director of Penn State’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Baker (right) believes the university has a great system in place, but needs to address certain issues.
but didn’t like it than someone who was just not interested in it.” Simmons enjoys helping break down some of the stereotypes people have about fraternities. “I really like helping people to understand what Greek life is about, especially people from an outsider’s perspective,” he says. “If you’re not a part of
Greek life, it’s easier to stigmatize as kids who want to party on the weekends.” Ankit Bhasin, president of the Multicultural Greek Council, says he thinks local perception is in line with what’s shown in pop culture. “Greek life has been put in a really bad light over the past year,” he says. “We’re portrayed as what you
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see in movies like Neighbors and Old School. We do a lot for the community, and [the portrayal in the movies] is not what we’re about.” The Multicultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council include students from African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern backgrounds. Bhasin says they are often overshadowed by the predominantly white IFC and Panhellenic councils and are always working to get their names out there to students. Baker says improving diversity in the other councils has been a longstanding goal. Membership from underrepresented groups in IFC and Panhellenic chapters is currently at 19 percent. “Students of color at Penn State should have more choices than just black fraternities. We can do better,” he says. The new Greek life task force that is being formed this fall has the goal of addressing major issues, including what led to the behavior like that seen from Kappa Delta Rho. The group is being coordinated by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and will include fraternity and sorority leaders, community members, and university administrators.
Hambrick will represent the Highlands Civic Association on the task force and looks forward to productive conversations. “These are our future leaders and people who will be taking care of us. We want them to be as prepared and strong as possible,” she says. “I think the expectation is that they follow the rules of community and that there’s no wink wink … we don’t want anyone hurt or killed, and this could happen given recent behavior.” The task force concept is certainly not new, Baker says, but they are hoping to do something different this time around. “Why would a fraternity create a Facebook page and create inappropriate photographs? What was missing that led them to think that was ok? Why didn’t anyone step in? That’s what we need to talk about,” he says. “We have a great system in place here — we need to address issues, not start from scratch.” T&G
Jenna Spinelle is a freelance writer and journalism instructor in State College.
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Darren Weimert (4)
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Leader of the Band Even as the Penn State Blue Band faces its most challenging schedule (five consecutive home games!), new director Greg Drane is ready to get the drums going and for the band to march onto the field
By David Pencek
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Drane conducts one of his first practices as director of the Penn State Blue Band.
Drane and his wife, Rasa, met at Bethune-Cookman University. 54 - T&G September 2015
games is like getting in a car and driving to Los Angeles,” he says. “Five home games is getting in a car, driving to Los Angeles, and then figuring out you’ve got to turn around and go to Denver. You’re in the car with your family, you love them all, but you need some space. “So we’ve got five homes games in the middle of a new band director transitioning. Contributed photos (3)
t’s not the most ideal season for the Penn State Blue Band to be breaking in a new director. With the football team having five home games in five weeks, from September 12 to October 10, the band must have five unique halftime shows perfected and ready to perform for those games. The good news is the person picked to replace Dr. O. Richard Bundy, who retired after being a part of the Blue Band’s staff for 35 years, the last 19 as director, is quite familiar with the band, having been with it since 2002. The other good news is that with the amount of energy and enthusiasm new director Greg Drane has for what he does, he’s probably the perfect person to lead the 300-member group through its most challenging schedule. Still, even Drane, who beat out two other finalists for the job, is aware of the challenge that awaits the band members, his staff, and himself. “Four home games is tough. Four home
People think because I’ve been here it will be easy, but my leadership is different.” The 37-year-old Drane came to Penn State in 2002 to earn his master’s degree and work with Bundy and the Blue Band. He became assistant director in 2005, and one of his biggest accomplishments has been growing the Fall Athletic Band, which performs at women’s volleyball games and started with 15 members and has grown to 150 members who are separate from the Blue Band. “I thought I’d get my master’s and leave,” he says. “Now to think I’ve been here 14 years later! Opportunities presented themselves, and I fell in love with the place. I kept trying to find a reason to leave. I tell people all the time that this is a special place.” So special that Drane, who grew up in the sunshine of Miami, Florida, hopes to spend the rest of his life in Happy Valley and its not-sosunny winters. Drane’s background has two key elements that are needed for anyone leading a marching band — discipline and a love Drane oversees band practice from the tower at of music. With a mother who the band’s practice field. was a correctional officer and a father who was a police you either played football or basketball, or lieutenant, discipline was a big part of Drane’s you were in the band.” upbringing. He was the oldest of four children, He played the saxophone in his high so he was always told that he needed to set an school band, and he continued playing for example for his younger siblings. the marching band at Bethune-Cookman His parents work also led to his love of music. University, where he met his future wife, Rasa, Because of their schedules, he spent a great who was a dancer for the band. The couple deal of time at his grandparents’ house. His now have a 3-year-old son, Gregory Drane II, grandfather was a pastor of a church, and Drane or as Drane and his wife call him, Deuce. and his siblings sang in the youth choir. Drane thought he would work toward “Sports and music, that’s what we did,” he a degree in business or engineering, but a says. “I always played football, and I loved it, mentor of his gave him advice that has stuck but I stopped growing. But another part of with him. that was band. That’s what you did in Florida, 2015 September T&G - 55
Above, Drane worked alongside Bundy for 13 years. Right, Drane and his son, Gregory II, watch band practice.
“He told me, ‘You want to find something that when you wake up, you’re excited to go to work every day.’ I said, ‘All right. I’ll do music.’ And that’s exactly what happened. I wake up excited to go to work,” he says. “It annoys my wife when I jump out of bed to rush to work! She teases me about it all the time.” And he’s now trying to pass that feeling and
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excitement for work to his staff. He says he wants to create an office that his staff enjoys so much that he has to kick them out to go home. His attitude has become infectious with band members. Senior Patrick Burke, who is the band’s president and plays the snare drum, says Drane is one of the most energetic and positive people he knows. “The Blue Band is about much more than music and marching,” Burke says. “Ultimately, the Blue Band is about the service to the university and committing yourself to those around you to achieve greatness and perseverance. I cannot think of a better person who exemplifies these character traits than Mr. Drane.” Drane’s former boss, Dr. Bundy, says Drane has a charismatic personality and interacts well with the students. “I am happy that Greg has been given this opportunity,” Bundy says. “I believe him taking over as director facilitated the transition for the program and should allow for a smooth continuation of excellence.” It was Bundy who first gave Drane the
opportunity to come to Penn State. Drane had applied for a graduate assistant position, but he also had a job lined up in one of the high schools in DeKalb County in Georgia. Once Bundy offered him the position with the Blue Band, Drane knew he was heading north. “I knew I wanted to be a collegiate-band director, and I knew I would have to continue my education,” he says. “Dr. Bundy presented me with the opportunity to come here, and I jumped at it. I knew this was the place to come and gain experience … and the Big Ten has such a strong band tradition.” When he first arrived, however, he wasn’t exactly impressed with the band’s facilities, or lack thereof. At the time, there was no Blue Band Building (that would come two years later), all rehearsals were held outside, and Drane’s “office” was a desk inside a trailer. Drane says he remembers thinking, “Are you kidding me!?” “But the band was so good despite not having a rehearsal space and so many things it didn’t have at the time,” he says. “The band was really good, and that impressed me. And I knew there’s
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Drane and his wife call their son Deuce, and he has already taken up a love of music.
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something else going on here — and that was the instruction of Dr. Bundy. … I’m looking at the resources that are available now and I’m in awe about what he’s been able to accomplish.” One of Drane’s first games with the Blue Band came in 2002 when Penn State hosted Nebraska in front of 110,753 fans, which is still the largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history. “I believe my mouth was on the floor the whole time,” he says. “That’s when I knew that I wasn’t going anywhere. The SEC swears they know how to do football, but there’s no place like Penn State.” And the band is a major reason for that. He says the Blue Band is not just entertaining fans but also making an impact on the atmosphere while the game is being played. Another moment he fondly remembers is the fourth quarter of last year’s Pinstripe Bowl and how the band “took it to a whole other level … and owned the atmosphere.” In 2006, the Blue Band became the first college marching band to perform “Seventh Nation Army” by The White Stripes, and Drane says that even though it’s become popular for most bands to perform now, “I
still don’t think there are places that know how to do it like we do it.” Since Drane’s arrival, the Blue Band’s role and impact have changed. The band’s gameday spot moved from the east side of Beaver Stadium to within the student section in the south end zone. While students can easily hear the band, fans in the north end zone have difficulty hearing it when it’s playing. Also, the amount of music played over the sound system during games has increased. Then last season came the decision to cancel the pregame TailGreat shows at the Bryce Jordan Center, where the band performed. “I was disappointed TailGreat was discontinued,” Drane says. “TailGreat was a valued experience for the Blue Band, including our friends and family. … There have been discussions surrounding TailGreat, but I do not know what the future holds.” The future for the Blue Band, in general, does look bright with Drane as director. In recent years, he has come up with some of the more memorable and creative halftime shows, including last year’s “Game of THONs” show
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during halftime of the Ohio State game. He says part of his vision for the program’s future is to just expand the Blue Band family. “As I look around and think about the Penn State Blue Band, I see how much the community loves this program,” he says. “I want to make sure the community feels connected to us. I also want the rest of the world to know how great the students are and how great this band is. That’s been part of my mission since I got here. “These students, they’re amazing. They inspire me to be my best at all times.” And he’ll need to be at his best with those five consecutive home games this season. “We finished our show planning in record time. It usually takes us four or five weeks — we knocked it out in two weeks,” he says. “We’ve got some exciting shows. It’s still going to be musically challenged, still going to be engaging to the audience — all the things we like. Some are going to stick out. Students know that it’s a Greg Drane show when we do something unexpected. … I’ve got a couple of surprises planned.” T&G
This Month
on
For additional program information visit wpsu.org
The Civil War 25th Anniversary Monday-Friday, September 7-11, at 9 p.m.
featuring rare archival footage from the Disney vaults, scenes from some of his greatest films, and interviews with writers and artists who worked on early films, and the designers who helped turn his dream of Disneyland into reality.
Indian Summers on Masterpiece Sundays, September 27 through November 22, at 9 p.m. The award-winning film produced and directed by Ken Burns will be broadcast over five consecutive nights. This broadcast premiere of the newly restored high-definition version celebrates the 25th anniversary of the series’ initial broadcast in September 1990.
American Experience: Walt Disney Monday–Tuesday, September 14–15 , at 8 p.m. This new two-part, four-hour film examines Walt Disney’s complex life and enduring legacy,
Julie Walters plays the glamorous doyenne of an English social club in the twilight of British rule in India. The lavish 9-part series explores the collision of the English ruling class and local people agitating for Indian independence. Visit wpsu.org for information about a special advance screening.
Local programming from WPSU
Conversations Live: Get Your Garden On!
Thursday, September 10, at 8 p.m. On this fall edition of Conversations Live an expert panel will discuss what steps to take this season to help your garden thrive.
Higher Education in Focus Thursday, September 24, at 8 p.m.
Penn State President Eric Barron welcomes guest experts to discuss important issues in higher education.
SEPTEMBER U.Ed. OUT 16-0007 / 16-PSPB-TV-0001
Conversations from Penn State Thursday, September 24, at 8:30 p.m.
Veteran interviewer Patty Satalia hosts in-depth conversations with a broad range of remarkable people.
Unrivaled: The Penn State Football Story
Fridays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Get in-depth access to the 2015 Penn State Nittany Lion football team with Coach James Franklin.
wpsu.org Photos: Civil War courtesy of General Motors, Indian Summers, courtesy of New Pictures/ Channel 4 for MASTERPIECE in association with All3Media International
This Month at Schlow: Free Developmental Screenings Friday, September 11, 9:00 -11:30 a.m. Gadgets for Grownups: Irish Genealogy Saturday, September 26, 10:30 a.m. Call 235-7816 to register. Comics Club for Teens Thursdays, all month, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Additional Listings at
schlowlibrary.org “I love to take my grandson to the library to select books for us to read together and to spend time playing at the library.” ~Dotty Delafield, Schlow Patron and Former Employee and Board Member As a middle school librarian and library department co-coordinator for State College Area School District, Dotty Delafield is ever on the lookout for new and exciting ways to engage kids with books. Last fall, Dotty spearheaded the Read On, State! campaign to demonstrate to the community what teachers and school administrators are reading. Dotty got her start in libraries at 16, when she got her first job as a page at Schlow Library. There, Dotty not only solidified her love of libraries, but she also met the love of her life – her now-husband Gary. “Magical things happen in libraries,” says Dotty with a smile.
Celebrating our building’s 10th birthday in 2015.
211 S. Allen Street • 814.237.6236 • schlowlibrary.org Advertisement donated by the Schlow Library Foundation (formerly Friends of Schlow)
Coming to Bryce Jordan Center/ Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
September 2-4 Spikes vs. Batavia Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. 5-6 Spikes vs. Williamsport Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. Sat.; 6:05 p.m. Sun. 15-17 Penn State Fall Career Days Bryce Jordan Center 11 a.m. 22 Penn State Agricultural Engineering Career Day Bryce Jordan Center 10 a.m. 24 Penn State American Society of Civil Engineers Career Fair Bryce Jordan Center Noon 27 An Evening with Colin & Brad Bryce Jordan Center 7:30 p.m.
64 - T&G September 2015
T& G
what's happening
5
September
12
The Penn State women’s volleyball team hosts national power Stanford at Rec Hall as part of the Big Ten-Pac-12 Challenge.
22 The Ragamala Dance Company visits Eisenhower Auditorium and performs Song of the Jasmine.
24 Penn State’s football team plays its home opener against Buffalo at Beaver Stadium.
6
16
The Mount Nittany Marathon returns to Happy Valley.
Dweezil Zappa celebrates the legacy of his father, Frank, with Zappa Plays Zappa at the State Theatre.
6
Tussey Mountain holds its annual Oktoberfest.
27
The State College Spikes play their final regular-season home game when they host Williamsport at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Acoustic Brew opens its fall 2015 season with Creole Stomp performing at the WPSU Studios.
27
8-20
20 Penn State Centre Stage presents the world-premiere production of the hip-hop theater piece I.D. at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center.
The Penn State College of Arts and Architecture presents artsUP, a free event that celebrates the arts.
The Nittany Valley Symphony opens its 2015-16 season with “Fateful Encounters” at Mount Nittany Middle School. To have an event listed in “What’s Happening," e-mail dpenc@barashmedia.com. 2015 September T&G - 65
Children & Families 8, 15, 22, 29 – Baby & Me Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 8, 15, 22, 29 – Tales for Twos Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 26, 29, 30 – Music Together free trial class for children 0-5, Houserville United Methodist Church, SC, 10:45 a.m. Tues., 9:30 or 10:45 a.m. Wed., 9:30 or 10:30 a.m. Sat., 466-3414. 9, 16, 23, 30 – 3s, 4s, 5s Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 9, 16, 23, 30 – Everybody Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28 – Music Together free trial class for children 0-5, Oakwood Presbyterian Church, SC, 9:30 or 10:45 a.m., 466-3414. 11 – Free Developmental Screenings, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 12, 19, 26 – Saturday Stories Alive, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 13 – ZOO-per Sunday, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 14, 21, 28 – Baby & Me Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 14, 21, 28 – Tales for Twos Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 16 – Toddler Learning Centre, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:15 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 16, 23, 30 – Parenting Discussion, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, noon, schlowlibrary.org. 20 – Latino/a Heritage Day, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 27 – Johnny Appleseed Day, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.
Classes & Lectures 1 – Central PA Civil War Round Table Series Potluck Picnic: “Myths About Lee’s Surrender” by Patrick Schroeder, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 6 p.m., pamilmuseum.org. 66 - T&G September 2015
1, 15 – “A Joint Venture,” information session on hip or knee replacement, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11 a.m. Sept. 1, 7 p.m. Sept. 15, 278-4810. 2 – Friends’ Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series: “Operations Cedar Falls in Vietnam, 1967” by pilot Al J. Turgeon, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m., pamilmuseum.org. 4 – Paper Views Conversation: “Who was Who? Reproductive Engraving in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries” by Patrick McGrady, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 1 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 8 – Being with a Parent in the World of Alzheimer’s – Adult Children of Aging Parents (ACAP), Country Inn and Suites, SC, 5:30 p.m., acapcommunity.org. 12 – Huddle with the Faculty: “Preservation and Use in Our National Parks: Trying Not to Love Them to Death” by Peter Newman, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 9 a.m., alumni.psu.edu. 15 – Penn State Forum Speaker Series: “Breaking the Sound Barrier: The Sphinx Organization and Inclusion in Classical Music” by Aaron Dworkin, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 11:30 a.m. 15 – Central PA Civil War Round Table Series: “Fall of Fort Fisher, NC: The Gibraltar of the Confederacy,” PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7 p.m., pamilmuseum.org. 15 – Straight Talk: “Resilience” by Dr. Leo Flanagan, Jr., Mount Nittany Middle School, SC, 7 p.m., janamariefoundation.org. 17 – The Family Medicine Seminar Series, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., 234-6738. 18 – Gallery Talk: “You Have to See This: Abstract Art from the Permanent Collection” by Sarah Rich, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 19 – Huddle with the Faculty: “Opera is Alive at Penn State” by Jennifer Trost, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 9 a.m., alumni.psu.edu. 19 – Gadgets for Grownups: iPad Basics, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 25 – Gallery Talk: “Mining the Store II” by Patrick McGrady, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 26 – Huddle with the Faculty: “Your Health: Well-Being from Local to Global” by Rhonda BeLue, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 9 a.m., alumni.psu.edu.
26 – Gadgets for Grownups: Irish Genealogy, Schlow Centre Region Library Musser Room, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org.
Club Events 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – State College Rotary Club, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 5:30 p.m., statecollegerotary.org. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – State College Sunrise Rotary Club mtg., Hotel State College, SC, 7:15 a.m., kfragola@psualum.com. 2, 16 – Outreach Toastmasters Meeting, The 329 Building, Room 413, PSU, noon, kbs131@psu.edu. 3 – Parrot Owners’ Group, Perkins, SC, 7 p.m., 237-2722. 3, 10, 17, 24 – State College Downtown Rotary, Ramada Inn & Conference Center, SC, noon, centrecounty.org/rotary/club/. 3, 10, 17, 24 – Comics Club (teens), Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 3:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 8 – Penn State University Women’s Club Fall Reception, Nittany Lion Inn, PSU, 6:30 p.m., personal.psu.edu/org/uwc.
9 – Women’s Welcome Club of State College meeting, Oakwood Presbyterian Church (not church affiliated), SC, 7 p.m., womenswelcomeclub.org. 9 – 148th PA Volunteer Infantry Civil War Reenactment Group, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, SC, 7:30 p.m., 861-0770. 10, 24 – Embroidery Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 12, 19, 26 – Go Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 1:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 12, 19, 26 – Chess Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 15 – Women’s Welcome Club of State College Coffee/Tea, Oakwood Presbyterian Church (not church affiliated), SC, 9:30 a.m., womenswelcomeclub.org. 15 – Women’s Midday Connection Luncheon, Mountain View Country Club, Boalsburg, 11:45 a.m., 404-3704. 15 – Evening Book Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 6:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 19 – Boardgaming Meetup, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 21– Knitting Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.
2015 September T&G - 67
Community Associations & Development 3 – State of the County Luncheon, Toftrees Resort and Conference Center, SC, noon, cbicc.org. 10 – CBICC Membership Breakfast with State Representative Kerry Benninghoff, CBICC, SC, 8 a.m., cbicc.org. 10 – CBICC Business After Hours: Fairfield Inn & Suites, 5:30 p.m., cbicc.org. 14-18 – Centre County TRIAD presents Citizens Police Academy, various locations, statecollegepa.us. 15 – Spring Creek Watershed Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC, 7:30 a.m., springcreekwatershed.org. 23 – Patton Township Business Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC, noon, 237-2822. 24 – CBICC Business After Hours: Foxdale Retirement Village, 5:30 p.m., cbicc.org.
25 – CBICC Membership Luncheon: “People, Passion, Purpose: Nurturing a culture that positively impacts employees and the community," Celebration Hall, SC, noon, cbicc.org.
Exhibits Ongoing-September 27 – So You Like Photography, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, 1-4:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun., bellefontemuseum.org. Ongoing-November 15 – Everyday Iron: Iron Objects of the 18th and 19th Centuries, Centre Furnace Mansion, SC, 1-4 p.m. Sun., Wed., Fri., centrehistory.org. Ongoing-December 13 – Mining the Store II: American Drawings and Watercolors from the Permanent Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 1-December 6 – You Have to See This: Abstract Art from the Permanent Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu.
BuyHereLiveHere.com 68 - T&G September 2015
4 – Paper Views: Who was Who? Reproductive Engraving in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 22-December 13 – Archipenko: A Modern Legacy, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu.
Health Care For schedule of blood drives visit redcross.org or givelife.org. 4, 8 – Juniper Village at Brookline’s Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, Mount Nittany Dining Room at The Inn, SC, 1 p.m. Fri., 6:30 p.m. Tues., 231-3141. 8 – Brain Injury Support, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 7 p.m., 359-3421. 9 – The Senior Center Diabetes Support Group, Centre Region Senior Center, SC, 10:15 a.m., 231-3076.
9 – The Fertility Issues and Loss Support Group, Choices (2214 N. Atherton St.), SC, 6:30 p.m., heartofcpa.org. 10 – Diabetes Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., 231-7095. 13 – The Ostomy Support Group of the Central Counties, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 234-6195. 16 – Alzheimer’s Support Group, Elmcroft Senior Living, SC, 6:30 p.m., 235-7675. 17 – Better Breathers Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 2 p.m., 359-3421. 17 – Parents-to-be Orientation, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6:30 p.m., 231-3132. 21 – Cancer Survivor Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11:30 a.m., cancersurvive.org. 22 – Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 6 p.m., 359-3421. 27 – Neuropathy Support Group of Central PA, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 531-1024. 28 – Heart Healthy Support Group for Heart Failure, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 4 p.m., 359-3421.
2015 September T&G - 69
28 – Cancer Caregiver Support Group, Bellefonte Library, Bellefonte, 6:30 p.m., cancersurvive.org. 29 – Stroke Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 4 p.m., 359-3421.
Music 3 – Penn State School of Music: Sheep Island Ensemble, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 7 – Penn State School of Music: Mark Lusk, trombone, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 9 – Penn State School of Music: Faculty Showcase Recital Series, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 13 – Penn State School of Music: David Stambler, saxophone, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 3 p.m., music.psu.edu. 16 – Zappa Plays Zappa, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 16 – The Art of Music: Kim Cook, cello, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, noon, palmermuseum.psu.edu.
Bellefonte fall festival
&a ntiques fair
When:
The Annual Antique Fair is Saturday, 9am-8pm and Sunday, 11am-4 pm.
Where: Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte, PA
Fall Festival Weekend: Fall Festival Weekend: The 4th Annual Antique Fair & Festival October 17 & 18, 2015 at Talleyrand Park October 18: Halloween Parade stepping off at 1:30 p.m. (Parade forms on High Street in front of YMCA at 1 PM. Costume judging prior to parade.)
www.bellefontechamber.org www.visitbellefonte .com 70 - T&G September 2015
17 – Built to Spill, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 17 – Catalyst Quartet, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 20 – The Soul Rebels, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 4 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 24 – Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, State Theatre, SC, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 24 – Jazz at the Palmer: Arthur Goldstein Jazz Quartet, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 7:30 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 25 – Cabinet, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 26 – Penn State School of Music: Tim Hurtz, oboe, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 27 – Acoustic Brew presents Creole Stomp, WPSU Studios, PSU, 4 p.m., acousticbrew.org. 27 – Nittany Valley Symphony presents “Fateful Encounters,” Mount Nittany Middle School, SC, 4 p.m., nvs.org. 27 – Penn State School of Music: Faculty Artist Series, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu. 28 – Penn State School of Music: Walden Chamber Players, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.
30 – Jonny Lang, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 30 – Penn State School of Music: Faculty Showcase Recital Series, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 8 p.m., music.psu.edu.
Special Events 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Boalsburg Farmers’ Market, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 2 p.m., boalsburgfarmersmarket.com. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Tuesday Farmers’ Market, Locust Lane, SC, 11:30 a.m., statecollegefarmers.com. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Lemont Farmers’ Market, 133 Mount Nittany Road, Lemont, 3 p.m., lemontvillage.org. 4, 11, 18, 25 – Downtown Farmers’ Market, Locust Lane, SC, 11:30 a.m., statecollegefarmers.com. 4 – First Friday, Downtown State College, 5 p.m., FirstFridayStateCollege.com. 5 – Bellefonte Farmers’ Market, Dunlop and W. Lamb St., Bellefonte, 8 a.m., bellefontefarmers@yahoo.com. 5 – Touch-A-Truck Expo, Mount Nittany Middle School, SC, 1 p.m., crpr.org.
5, 12, 19, 26 – Millheim Farmers’ Market, Old Gregg Mills Farmers’ Market, Spring Mills, 10 a.m., centralpafarmers.com. 5, 12, 19, 26 – North Atherton Farmers’ Market, Home Depot Parking Lot, SC, 10 a.m., nathertonmarket.com. 7 – Color Run Penn State, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 9 a.m., the colorrun.com/ penn-state. 10 – An Evening of Hope, Healing and Remembrance, Lemont Granary, Lemont, 6:30 p.m., janamariefoundation.org. 10-13 – Nittany Antique Machinery Association’s Fall Show, Penn’s Cave, Centre Hall, nittanyantique.org. 12 – 14th Annual Gourmet Granary Dinner, Thompson Granary, Lemont, 6:30 p.m., lemontvillage.org/gourmetdinner. 13 – Grandparents Day Scavenger Hunt, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, SC, 2 p.m., crpr.org. 15-17 – 2015 Penn State Fall Career Days, BJC, PSU, 11 a.m., bjc.psu.edu. 17 – SCASD Music Boosters Used Instrument Sale, State High North Building Cafeteria, SC, 8 p.m., 237-3747.
2015 September T&G - 71
20 – Penn State College of Arts and Architecture presents artsUP, PSU, noon-5 p.m., artsup.psu.edu. 20 – Centre County Heart & Stroke Walk, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 1 p.m., heart.org/centrewalk. 21 – Beginning Square Dance, Radio Park Elementary, SC, 238-8949. 22 –Penn State Agricultural Engineering Career Fair, BJC, PSU, 10 a.m., bjc.psu.edu. 24 – Penn State American Society of Civil Engineers Career Fair, BJC, PSU, noon, bjc.psu.edu. 24 – Oktoberfest, Tussey Mountain Resort, Boalsburg, tusseymountain.com. 26 – Celebrate Life 5K, Stepping Stones Church, SC, 9 a.m., scprc.com. 26 – Applefest and Car Show, Milesburg Museum & Historical Society, Milesburg, milesburgmuseum.weebly.com. 27 – Team Snap 5K Race/Walk for Jamie Barbarich Covol & the National Brain Tumor Society, Tudek Park, SC, 11 a.m., http://bit.ly/1e1EUMp.
Sports For tickets to Penn State sporting events, call (814) 865-5555 or visit gopsusports.com. For tickets to the State College Spikes, call (814) 272-1711 or visit statecollegespikes.com. 2-4 – Spikes/Batavia, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 7:05 p.m. 4 – PSU/Temple, women’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, 6 p.m. 4 – PSU/Colorado, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m. 5 – PSU/Stanford, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 8 p.m. 5-6 – Nittany Lion Invitational, women’s golf, Penn State Golf Courses, PSU, all day.
5-6 – Spikes/Williamsport, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 7:05 p.m. Sat., 6:05 p.m. Sun. 6 – Mount Nittany Marathon, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 5:30 a.m., mtnittany.org. 8 – PSU/James Madison, men’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, 6 p.m. 11 – PSU/California, field hockey, Penn State Field Hockey Complex, PSU, 6 p.m. 11 – Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational, Cross Country, Penn State Golf Courses, PSU, 4 p.m. 12 – PSU/Buffalo, football, Beaver Stadium, PSU, noon. 13 – PSU/Indiana, men’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, noon. 17 – PSU/Wisconsin, women’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, 7 p.m. 19 – PSU/Rutgers, football, Beaver Stadium, PSU, 8 p.m. 20 – PSU/Minnesota, women’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, 1 p.m. 23 – PSU/Wisconsin, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 24 – PSU/Guelph, women’s ice hockey (exhibition), Pegula Ice Arena, PSU, 7 p.m. 25 – PSU/Michigan State, field hockey, Penn State Field Hockey Complex, PSU, 6 p.m. 26 – PSU/San Diego State, football, Beaver Stadium, PSU, TBA. 26 – PSU/Minnesota, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, TBA. 27 – PSU/Ohio State, field hockey, Penn State Field Hockey Complex, PSU, noon. 27 – PSU/Michigan, men’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, 2 p.m.
Theater Ongoing-September 19 – Nittany Theatre at the Barn presents The Addams Family, Boal Barn Playhouse, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., nittanytheatre.org.
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! 72 - T&G September 2015
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2015 September T&G - 73
— Nonprofits of Centre County
Inside: Percep tions and realiti es in Penn State’s “Taste of the Greek system Month" spotlig • hts Barrel 21
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New Blue Band director Greg Drane (left) is ready to take the reins of one of the nation’s most popular and succes sful marching bands
Town&Gown
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VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOW
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Dan Hawbaker has spent much of his life building positive relationships at Penn State and in Centre County
IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY
7 – Monday Movie Series: Whiplash, State Theatre, SC, 4 & 7:30 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 9 – Film: The Anonymous People, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., cbicc.org 9 – Merchants of Doubt, State Theatre, SC, 7 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 8-20 – Penn State Centre Stage presents I.D., Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, SC, 7:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 2 p.m. Sun., theatre.psu.edu 12-13 – Institute for the Arts and Humanities “Truth & Reconciliation” Film Festival, State Theatre, SC, thestatetheatre.org. 14 – Monday Movie Series: White God, State Theatre, SC, 4 & 7:30 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 21 – Monday Movie Series: Still Alice, State Theatre, SC, 4 & 7:30 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 22 – Ragamala Dance Company presents Song of the Jasmine, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu. 27 – An Evening with Colin & Brad, BJC, PSU, 7:30 p.m., bjc.psu.edu. 28 – Monday Movie Series: Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine, State Theatre, SC, 4 & 7:30 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. T&G
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Mount Nittany Medical Center Golf Classic raises more than
$158,000
Chuck Carroll Photography (from left to right) John B. Cox, MD, Tournament Chair, Melissa Aungst, Foundation Specialist; Albert R. Zoda, Jr., MD, Mount Nittany Physician Group Cardiologist; Matt Hardy, Foundation Director; and Gene Stocker, Tournament Co-founder.
August 15th marked the 25th Anniversary of the Mount Nittany Medical Center Golf Classic raising $158,000 for the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
Sponsored by Stocker Subaru
T& G
from the vine
Fantastic Finds from Friuli The Italian region produces some of the country’s most unique wines By Lucy Rogers
The Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, or more commonly referred to simply as “Friuli,” is a wine region like no other in Italy. Located in the far northeastern-most corner of the country, Friuli has been influenced not only by Italian culture but also by the cultures of Slovenia and Austria, as both those countries border Friuli on the east. Over the centuries, the region has endured a push and pull for its land from three different directions, but was finally 76 - T&G September 2015
designated as part of Italy in 1954 in the postwar realignments of Europe. This multicultural influence is felt not only in the remarkable mélange that defines the region’s cuisine — Slavic stews, Tyrolean mountain food and pastries, delicious pastas such as gnocchi as well as the world-renowned salumis and prosciutti of San Daniele — but also in its viticultural history. Centuries ago, Austrian nobles came to Friuli as a getaway, and wine production became an important economical facet of the country’s landscape. As a result, “French” varietals such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot were planted here long before those grapes became trendy, and so Friulian winemakers were ahead of their time, viticulturally speaking. And as they were pioneers so many centuries ago, they were pioneers again in the 1960s when they embraced the modern technology that many other Italian regions refused to consider. The advent of stainless-steel fermentation tanks and temperature-controlled environments allowed Friulian winemakers to preserve the pure flavors of the white grapes they were working with, helped them avoid overexposure to oxygen, and created a kind of Friulian white-wine prototype: crisp, bright wines that offered pure, true varietal character. This was more than a bit revolutionary in the world of Italian winemaking, and Friuli was at the forefront. And 20 years later, when it seemed cold fermentation had been taken to an extreme and ended up stripping wines of any real character, vintners realized they needed to experiment with just slightly higher temperatures that allow varietal character to emerge. This kind of open-minded approach to winemaking paid off again as
Welcome Fans! The More…The Merrier!
More places to enjoy Seven Mountains Wine, that is! On the porch at the Seven Mountains Lodge Tucked under the pines! Open 7 days a week: Sun-Thurs 11-5, Fri & Sat 11-7
Relaxing at “Mountains on Main” Seven Mountain’s NEW Wine Bar! 101B Main Street On the Diamond in Boalsburg Hours: Wed-Thurs 12-6, Fri-Sat 12-7, Sun 12-5
Check Our Web Site for Special Fall Events! Also at Castlerigg Wine Shop, Carlisle, PA & Seven Mountains Wine Bar, Reedsville, PA
107 Mountain Springs Lane • (814) 364-1000 • www.sevenmountainswinecellars.com Only 20 minutes from State College, 1 mile off 322 near Potters Mills/Decker Valley Road
vintners realized the value of oak aging their white wines, a relatively new concept to the area. They also began to blend multiple varieties to make what is now referred to as a sort of “super white.” These wines can be some of the most complex, full-bodied wines of any made in the world. The difficulty for the consumer is in the labeling, as many of these blended wines have proprietary names that give little indication of what is inside the bottle. Either you have to do some research ahead of time or you’ll just have to buy a few bottles and try them. In our Friuli tasting, our favorite wine was one such blend, Bastianich’s 2010 “Vespa Bianco” (PLCB code 43603, 40 percent Chardonnay, 40 percent Sauvignon Blanc, and 10 percent Picolit). When I purchased it, it was on sale for $28.99, and while a tad on the high end of what I’m comfortable paying for wine, this bottle definitely delivered, with beautiful citrus notes of tangerine and clementine, clover honey, and with a consistent minerality. It was slightly viscous, in the best possible way, and was quite well balanced. Almost surprising for a white wine already 5 years old. The Friulian blends/super whites seem to fall into two camps: brighter, more aromatic blends fermented only in stainless steel and then the richer, oak-fermented-and-aged blends. There is such a distinction in style that winemakers distinguish between vini freschi (fresh wines) and vini barricati (barrique wines). While the fresh wines are suitable for the cuisine found along the Adriatic coast, the barrique wines and rich blends can stand up to more strongly flavored foods found in the Alpine foothills. So what are the grapes grown in Friuli? Let’s start with the eponymous, indigenous Tocai Friulano, (or simply “Friulano,” as most wine labels will bear in order to distinguish it from the Hungarian Tokaji), which is believed to be a distant relative of Sauvignon Blanc, known as Sauvignonasse. Friulano shows its shared genetics with Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is usually found to be fruity and then minerally, with a lightto-medium body that makes it a perfect match for the salty meats produced in the region. The Ribollo Gialla grape makes wines that are perhaps a bit more apple-y in flavor profile, though the bottle our group tasted, (Perusini Ronchi di Gramogliano Ribollo Gialla 2011, Friuli Colli 78 - T&G September 2015
Orientali, PLCB code 38520, $13.99), had a bit of diesel/petrol in the nose but had nice fruit and was well balanced . Chardonnay does quite well in Friuli. We tasted one from the southeastern part of the region — Friuli Isonzo — and it was a unique expression of the grape that many of us truly enjoyed. The aromas of overripe honeydew, diesel, and green beans might not have been the most appealing, yet the palate was of pear, mango, and honeyed almonds. It was crisp and clean with no malolactic fermentation, and its medium body was nice and just round enough. (Not available in PA, but runs about $30 on average). Finding Friulian wines can be a bit of a challenge in Pennsylvania — we didn’t have a single bottle of Pinot Grigio, of which the region grows plenty. The Sauvignon Blanc we tasted was past its prime — most Friulian whites need to be consumed young, and that means within two to three years of the vintage. Pinot Grigio can do really well when grown in Friuli, as long as the right people are at the helm in the right vineyard, bringing all that the grape can offer — a full-flavored, even nutty expression, unlike those characterless, watery whites we’ve come to know that crowd the shelves. Finding the right producers in Friuli is as important as looking in the right region. When looking for wine, search for wines made by the Schiopetto family, Jermann, Livio Felluga, Josko Gravner, and Bastianich and/or those coming from the Corso, Collio, or Colli Orientali DOCs (Denominazione di Origine Controllata). These regions are dominated by hillsides, allowing for a higher quality of light to hit the vineyard slopes and tending to maximize the cooling winds of the Adriatic. These DOCs also tend to label their grapes by varietal, so you will know exactly what you are getting as soon as you pick up the bottle. It’s not an easy task to wade through all the labels, regions, producers, and varieties of wine in Friuli, but when you hit upon something you really love and can go back to time and time again, you’ll realize it was worth it. T&G Lucy Rogers is the tasting room manager for Big Spring Spirits in Bellefonte. She can be reached at lucy@bigspringspirits.com, or you can find her in the tasting room.
Fine Wine Grown in Centre County
Have a glass with your next steak dinner
Tasting Room Hours: Tues.-Thurs. 11 - 6 p.m. Fri. & Sat. 11 - 9 p.m. Sun. 11 - 6 p.m. 576 S. Foxpointe Dr., State College • 814-308-8756
www.thehappyvalleywinery.com
Celebrating 25 years of making award-winning wine
Complimentary Wine Tasting! Tues. - Fri. 11- 5pm Sat. 10 -5pm Sun. 12:30- 4pm
300 Houser Rd., Centre Hall, 16828 (7 miles from Penn State) www. mtnittanywinery.com • 814. 466. 6373 2015 September T&G - 79
Taste of the Month
A Barrel of Fun Dining Barrel 21 brings tapa experience and local-sourced spirits to town 80 - T&G September 2015
By Vilma Shu Danz Photos by Darren Andrew Weimert
Darren Andrew Weimert (5)
House-cured salmon gravlax with salmon roe and cucumber salad
Sake-braised little-neck clams with crispy pork belly
T
apas, or “small plates,” are a perfect-sized sampling of appetizers designed to encourage conversation and sharing. Originally started by tavern owners in Spain, it gives diners an opportunity to entice their appetites over a few drinks.
Persian-style grilled shrimp with lime powder and Lebanese tabbouleh
Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining, located at 2255 North Atherton Street in State College, opened in July by Charlie Schnable and Roger Garthwaite, who also operate Otto’s Pub and Brewery. The menu is a diverse selection of tapas that incorporates local ingredients and flavors with fusion cuisine. Executive chef Lisa Palermo is a State College native who went to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. She has worked at restaurants in Chicago, New York City, Miami, and San Diego before returning to the area. “State College is a melting pot of cultures because of [Penn
State], and so Barrel 21’s menu highlights the foods from around the world,” she says. “The name Barrel 21 is a take on the 21st amendment to the United States Constitution that repealed the mandate of prohibition on alcohol.” As a distillery, Barrel 21 is hoping to make local-sourced fruit brandies, whiskey, rum, and gin. The goal is to have bottled spirits ready for sale by the end of this year. In the meantime, the restaurant has a full-service bar with a wine list, seasonal cocktail menu, and 18 taps, including nine Otto’s Pub and Brewery beers. With seating for up to 125, Barrel 21 is a dining experience that begins with guests enjoying a complimentary fresh-made baguette and pretzel served with smoked-garlic olive oil for dipping. Each table also has a black plate known as the share plate and a one-page menu on a wooden placemat. “The idea is you order a small plate from the menu, 2015 September T&G - 81
Individual chocolate-baked Alaska with bourbon caramel sauce and honey meringue
House-smoked duck spring roll with Asian pear slaw and sweet Thai-chili sauce 82 - T&G September 2015
share it, and then try another small plate,” explains Neil Tomnay, merchandise manager. “The menu and wooden placemat stays on the table as you eat your way through the different dishes.” From the charcuterie of local cheeses and meats to the chocolate-baked Alaska dessert, the menu is a unique tour of global cuisine. Some popular dishes include the sake-braised little-neck clams with crispy pork belly, Persian-style grilled shrimp with lime powder and Lebanese tabbouleh, spicy Korean-style gochujang meatballs over coconut-bamboo rice, venison-sausage corndog with lingonberry relish and beer-pickled onions, and Korean kalbi-style BBQ short ribs with house-made baek kimchi. Other unique small plates to sample include the sumac and sea salt pomme fritte with garlic aioli, house-cured salmon gravlax with salmon roe and cucumber salad, house-smoked duck spring roll with Asian pear slaw and sweet Thai-chili sauce, and the alligator and andouille chili. “This fall, look for seasonal menu changes that incorporate local squash, root vegetables, and mushrooms,” says Palermo. “And once our distillery has our products ready, we will definitely incorporate them into the menu, as well.” T&G For a special recipe from Barrel 21, visit townandgown.com. For more information about Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining, visit barrel21distillery.com.
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 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. 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 City-style barbecue is smoked daily onsite. AE, D, DC, ID+, MC, V. Full bar. 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. 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 of downtown State College, Bill Pickle’s is a 84 - T&G September 2015
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. 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. 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.
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. 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 award-winning 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. 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.
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Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern, On the Diamond, Boalsburg, 466-6241. The Boalsburg Tavern offers a fine, intimate setting reminiscent of Colonial times. Dining for all occasions with formal and casual menus, daily dinner features, specials, and plenty of free parking. AE, MC, V. Full bar. Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 1229 S. Atherton St., 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. 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.
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The Gardens Restaurant at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5090. Dining is a treat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Gardens Restaurant, where sumptuous buffets and à la carte dining are our special- ties. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. Full bar, beer. 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. Herwig’s Austrian Bistro, “Where Bacon Is An Herb,” 132 W. College Ave., 272-0738. Located next to the State Theatre. Serving authentic
Wood fired Southern Comfort Food! 1405 South Atherton St. State College 814-238-2333 •www.clemsbarandgrill.com
Tailgate Party Packs to go! Call 814.238.2333
Award Winning BBQ! Sun - Thurs till 10pm Fri & Sat till 11pm Chef/Owner Greg Mussi and the Artisan Griller Clem Pantalone
Come Celebrate
Score points with
Meyer Dairy Cheese & Eggs
‘‘Half Way to St.Patrick’s Day!’’
Duffy’s Tavern
Milk • Ice Cream • Eggs Cheese • Juices Candy • 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 88 - T&G September 2015
Est. 1819
Join us Thursday, September 17th For Reservations 466-6241 www.duffystavernpa.com
Located “On the Diamond” 113 East Main Street
Austrian home cooking in Central PA. Ranked #1 Ethnic Restaurant in State College for 7 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. 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. 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. Mario’s Italian Restaurant, 272 N. Atherton St., 234-4273, MariosItalianStateCollege.com. Fresh specialty dishes, pasta, sauces, handtossed 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-of2015 September T&G - 89
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 climate-controlled wine room, premium bythe-glass wine pours, fine liquor, and craft beer at its full-service 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.
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.
INGREDIENT DRIVEN • SEASONAL • NEW AMERICAN CUISINE EXTENSIVE WINE LIST • BY THE BOTTLE & GLASS
814 . 237. 8474
ZOL A KI TCHEN .COM
MON. - THUR. 11: 30 -9PM • FRI. - SAT. 11: 30 -10 PM • SUN. 11: 30 - 8PM
90 - T&G September 2015
Fiddlehead, 134 W. College Ave., 237-0595, fiddleheadstatecollege.com. Fiddlehead is a soup-and- 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 & Gar-den, Diversions, Blue Burrito, Mixed Greens, Panda Express, and Sushi by Panda Express.V, MC, LC. Irving’s, 110 E. College Ave., 231-0604, irvingsstatecollege.com. Irving’s is State College’s finest bakery café serving awardwinning bagels, espresso, sandwiches, salads, and smoothies.
TASTE of the
MONTH Town&Gown’s monthly focus on food
Meyer Dairy, 2390 S. Atherton St., 2371849. 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 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. Thursday-Saturday 9 p.m.-2 a.m. 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. T&G
Each month Town&Gown highlights a local place to eat and offers a glimpse into the great dining of our community.
2015 September T&G - 91
Fearless While all eyes are on Christian Hackenberg, his are on bringing the Nittany Lions’ offense back after last season’s struggles
Focus
Penn State football is getting ready to kick off the 2015 season, and you can get ready for it by ordering your copy of Town&Gown's 2015 Penn State Football Annual! Once again, the Annual has features, analysis, and predictions from some of the best sportswriters in the state. It's one of the best summer reads you can find!
ORDER ONLINE AT TOWNANDGOWN.COM
T& G
lunch with mimi
New Take on Tradition
Darren Andrew Weimert
Citizens Bank VP brings his love of helping people to the famed Penn State buttons
Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith (right) talks with Citizens Bank vice president and regional manager Steve Minnich at Mario’s Italian Restaurant in State College.
When it comes to Penn State football, there are plenty of traditions surrounding it. Tailgating. The Blue Band. No names on the back of jerseys (which has returned this season after three years of having the names on the jerseys). And the buttons. In 1972, the Barash Group partnered with Central Counties Bank, now Citizens Bank, to create buttons for each Penn State game that would include a humorous phrase about that week’s opponent. This year, Citizens Bank continues the button tradition while also tying in the buttons to helping area food banks, including the Food Bank of the State College Area. Starting September 2 and continuing through the 2015 season, the bank will release a new button each Wednesday at 26 branches in Central Pennsylvania. The buttons can be acquired by making a donation of a nonperishable food item that will go to area food banks. Steve Minnich used to be a sportscaster in Harrisburg. While he still has a passion for sports, his career is now helping people financially as vice president and regional manager at Citizens Bank. He sat down with Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith, who helped come up with the idea for the buttons, at Mario’s Italian Restaurant in State College and talked about his love of sports, for helping people, and for his family. 94 - T&G September 2015
Mimi: You seem to be a guy with a lot of passion and enthusiasm. You don’t see that in a whole lot of people these days, at least I don’t. What motivates you in your job? Steve: It may sound cliché to say, but helping people. I truly believe that it is an opportunity to serve and to help people either save more on money that they have worked very hard to be able to set aside, or if it’s a situation of the dream of homeownership, helping them with the best option there. If somebody is in a situation where they have gotten into debt, helping them get out of it in the most efficient way. I think there are so many opportunities at the bank that we can help a family, help an individual, and how they change over time. I think it’s an ongoing opportunity to serve, and I think when we do that well, we earn loyal people who want to talk about how we have helped them. Mimi: You are an ardent sports fan. Steve: Huge! Mimi: You wanted to be a sportscaster. Steve: Yes I did. Mimi: Why did you leave it? Steve: I did it through college, and my first year out I loved it. I was on the field for a number of Penn State games, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens. I was on the field the night Adam Taliaferro came out on the field walking to just a thunderous ovation, and I was standing right behind him as he walked out of the tunnel onto the field — and I was getting paid! I had chills on my arms and I was in awe as a fan. So I loved doing it, but I also realized pretty quickly, a couple years into the business, that it meant almost being a nomad and moving place to place throughout the country. Moving every couple of years in hopes that in 10 years I
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Schlow Library Celebration In partnership with
Town&Gown
Thursday, October 1
Friday, October 2
“The Sport of Sportswriting”
“Meet the Sportswriters”
Panel presentation by nationally known sportswriters, including New York Times columnist Harvey Araton, USA Today columnist Nancy Armour, New York Daily News reporter Filip Bondy, and Rolling Stone reporter and author Michael Weinreb.
Celebration party! A night of prizes, fun, and conversation, with book signings by the sportswriters
Days Inn, 7-8:30 pm
$50 per person
Schlow Library, 7-9 pm
Free For more information, visit www.schlowlibrary.org/celebration or call (814) 237-6236
2015 September T&G - 95
For its September 1990 cover, Town&Gown showed off many of the buttons that had been produced since the tradition began in 1972.
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offers a comprehensive approach to investment management. emphasizes versatility and customization in the structure of client portfolios. has access to 9,000 mutual funds and 350 institutional money managers. allows clients continuous access to information on their accounts through its website, www.vantageadvisors.com.
CONTACT: Robert R. Thomas, CFA, CFPÂŽ (rob.thomas@vantageadvisors.com) or Jill W. Sutt (jill.sutt@vantageadvisors.com)
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had made enough of a career path for myself to settle some roots. Central PA is home to me — always had been. I don’t see a reason it wouldn’t be going forward, and that mattered to me more than what I thought was what I wanted to do when I was 18, 20, 22 years old. Mimi: It probably helped your ego a little more than banking does. Steve: It’s cool to look back and see some of the things I got to do, and say to other sports fans, Yeah I was in this locker room or on this field, and watch how someone would look at you. But it wasn’t the long-term fit for me. Mimi: But you’re still a great sports fan. Steve: Huge. My absolute favorite way to spend a Saturday in the fall is leave my house at 5:30 in the morning so that I’m in a lot outside of Beaver Stadium by 7:30, 7:45, and the weather always seems to be perfect the first couple of home games — it’s blue skies and 70 degrees, and it’s one of those atmospheres where complete strangers treat each other like they’re lifelong friends. The atmosphere before the game is probably as much fun as the game is, and I’m the crazy guy PA011414
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in the stands yelling, cheering them on. It’s who I am. Mimi: There you go. It’s not a bad guy to be. Tell me what you’re most proud of? Steve: My boys, being a father. I’m proud of being a husband — I’ve been that 14 years and, hopefully, more days I’m a good version of one than a not so good. But being a father, every day I look at them and I’m wowed by what they do, and I’m humbled when I hear them say Dad or Daddy and they want help with something. Hopefully I’m molding them into good men as they grow up. That’s what I’m most proud of. Mimi: And good brothers. It’s a little harder to do. Steve: For every moment that they may be at each other, that they will protect each other and will look out for each other as they get older certainly would be a hope of any dad with sons. Mimi: You seem like such a happy guy! Steve: Why not? I mean if you get up and you’re in a bad mood and have a poor outlook, life’s not fun. You might as well wake up each
Buttons for the 2015 season
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In 2004, Triumph Books published The Penn State Football Button Book, written by Martin Ford and Russell Ford.
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day and go, “I’m going to help some people.” You know each day I think about three things: Am I going to be helpful to the people I work with so that they can help their customers? Am I going to be a good husband? Am I going to be a good dad? If I’m three for three, it’s a heck of a day, and hopefully most days I’m two out of three on being a good leader, a good husband, and a good dad. Mimi: You don’t have any trouble on making decisions — you’re a straight-up guy. Steve: Yeah that’s probably good and bad. I’m very opinionated, and sometimes that can be a good thing or a bad thing. I’m typically passionate in what I believe. My mother said I should have been an attorney, and maybe she was
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right and maybe she wasn’t. Mimi: No, I think you’re doing okay. What didn’t I ask you that I should have in your mind? Steve: I don’t look at myself as a very interesting person, so I didn’t come here thinking, “Oh I really want to talk about this about myself,” because I think I’m kind of boring. I mean most days I go through normal things, and again the big thing is how do I help my son practice his layups and hope he wants to play basketball with me. Like that’s a fun part at the end of the day for me, and if one colleague has a concern or question that I’m able to solve for them to make their day easier to help a customer, then those are the little things that I go home and go, “All right, today was a good day. Now don’t mess it up tomorrow!” Mimi: Well I think what many of us try to do is make it right the first time! Steve: Exactly. It makes it easier. Mimi: But you can’t bat a thousand. Steve: No you can’t. But I think the
way you handle adversity or respond to the tougher situations says more about you. It’s easy to be on when everything is going well, but I usually learn the most about myself or about others in a difficult situation, and see how people respond to it. Mimi: I always say I never learned a thing on a day where everything went right. I think that’s a very wise comment. Steve: I like those days, however. They don’t happen very often. Mimi: Well, they aren’t meant to happen that often because life and work are continuous projects. Steve: Certainly. Mimi: Growing and learning are forever. Most of all, I wanted to thank you for keeping the button tradition alive. Steve: I wouldn’t have it any other way, truly. Mimi: Because this whole valley is about Penn State and the manner in which it has provided us with a quality of life that is unmatched. And part of it is the tradition, the
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passion, and loyalty, and, from my perspective, the button program is part of the fun of being in Happy Valley. Steve: It literally bridges generations and has a nostalgia aspect back to 1972, which will never be lost on me. And there’s a charm about it, as well — you know, the moniker, Happy Valley. It’s one of many examples, but a very important example to me, of why it matters and will continue to matter. And as I mentioned, I love to help people, so by partnering with area food banks, we are creating a benefit for the community. This year, buttons can be acquired by making a donation of a nonperishable food item in all of our State College area branches that will go to area food banks, and the proceeds from the sale of button sets will go directly to area food banks, as well. Mimi: As the buttons enter their 44th year, is there anything else new for the upcoming season? Steve: This year, 11 of the 12 buttons will feature “best of” slogans from the past
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43 years of the contest. It will be exciting to see how people react to some of the all-time favorite slogans. Mimi: That’s a good note on which to thank you very much for taking time to do this and to wish you continued good luck with all of the wonderful things that you do every day. Steve: Thank you! The pleasure is truly all mine. T&G
Citizens Bank will release a new button each Wednesday during the 2015 Penn State football season. Buttons can be picked up at one of 26 branch offices in Central Pennsylvania. Buttons can be acquired by making a donation of a nonperishable food item that will go to area food banks. Collection bins will be available in each of the 26 branch offices. Fans also can purchase a complete set of 12 buttons for $20, and all proceeds will directly support the Food Bank of the State College Area.
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 an environment for learning and developing new skills. The club welcomes individuals from amateurs to professionals. The club offers 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 from the judged July meeting competition.
“Girl at Rest” by Kathy Smith
>
July Meeting Theme “Black and White” First Place
“This was taken at Music at the Arboretum this year. Sitting on the lawn at sunset listening to classical music.”
“Smoking Sam” by Linda Hale July Meeting Theme “Black and White” Second Place
>
“Image captured late afternoon while Sam was tending his burning barrel. Flash used to light smoke, and another to light him from the left.”
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 which image you would like. 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. 106 - T&G September 2015
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snapshot
The Art of War Military historian ready for her year as Penn State laureate By Kendal Higdon Not many people can say that they went from a bachelor’s degree in biology to becoming a well-respected military historian and an award-winning author. However, Carol Reardon, the George Winfree Professor of American History at Penn State, has done all that and more, and is now the Penn State laureate for the 2015-16 academic year. According to the official Penn State Laureate Web site, Reardon is assigned to bring an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic, and human perspective and awareness to many diverse audiences. One way she plans to do this is to use history and the humanities to talk about a complex and often uncomfortable issue that touches everyone. “The person in the position of the laureate gets to pick his or her own theme,” she says. “I want to encourage a deeper understanding about the causes, conduct, costs, and consequences of war and peace, how and why we remember them, and especially how their legacies impact our daily lives.” When she was named Penn State laureate, she says she felt fortunate that she would be able to share knowledge and skills she has learned and refined at Penn State with a larger audience. The alumni who support her professorship included funds to support travel and research expenses. However, since Reardon lives in Gettysburg, a perfect place to conduct her research on the history and public memory of the Civil War, Susan Welch, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, encouraged her to consider other constructive uses for those funds. “I decided to establish undergraduate summer internships for history majors, at Gettysburg National Military Park, the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, and Antietam National Battlefield. This will let them get real work experiences,” says Reardon, who drives to the University Park campus several days during the week to teach her classes. She also has plenty of experience as an author. One of her published books, Launch the Intruders: A Naval Attack Squadron in the Vietnam War, 1972, is required reading at the Air Command and Staff College. Pickett’s Charge in History and Memory is the book that “put her on the map.” One thing she believes will help her as Penn State laureate is the fact that she was the first woman elected to serve as president of the Society for Military History. While in this 108 - T&G September 2015
Carol Reardon
position, she was able to meet historians around the globe, interface with the media, and work with the armed forces and the federal government on ways to preserve historical resources of all sorts. This gave her the chance to reach out to a broad audience. “It felt awesome to be the first woman to head up the society, but I take far more satisfaction from the growing number of women scholars now actively involved in the society,” she says. “Our understanding of war has evolved from simply looking at battles fought by men to understanding that entire societies go to war. That changing perspective gave me the opportunity to try different things and open doors to all who follow me.” Her interest in military history came directly from her family. Her uncle was killed during World War II, and her father served in the Pacific during that war. Her grandmother became a Red Cross Gray Lady at a Pittsburgh Veterans Administration hospital, and her whole family became very active in their local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. “I had a lot of day-to-day contact with veterans and active-duty military personnel when I was growing up. Their stories fascinated me. However, I never intended to make a career out of it,” she says. “I actually have a bachelor’s degree in biology, and one morning I just woke up and said, ‘Nope. I do not want to do this with my life. I want to get into history.’ ” T&G
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