Town&Gown AUGUST 2016
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In the past year, Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach has enjoyed a remarkable ride that has included a national title, marriage, and a new addition to the family
Year Ever Inside: Uncovering the Underground Railroad • Nonprofits of Centre County
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features 30 / A Unique Education State College’s Delta Program offers different opportunities for kids wanting a “small community” • by Jenna Spinelle
40 / Uncovering the Underground Railroad
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A new exhibit at the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County helps spark renewed interest in this area’s ties to helping slaves escape to freedom • by T. Wayne Waters
72 / The Best Year Ever Since last fall, Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach has enjoyed a remarkable ride, both on the field and off. Now with a family of her own, she’s looking forward to leading the Nittany Lions to another national title • by David Pencek
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Special Advertising Section 49 / Nonprofits of Centre County A look at some of the special organizations that can be found in Happy Valley: Reach Out. Donate. Help. Volunteer
On the cover: Photo by Darren Andrew Weimert. Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach with her newborn daughter, Addison Jeanne Dambach.
72 Town&Gown is published monthly by Barash Publications, 403 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801. Advertising is subject to approval of the publisher. COPYRIGHT 2016 by Barash Media. All rights reserved. Send address changes to Town&Gown, 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any process except with written authorization from Town&Gown or its publisher. Phone: 800-326-9584, 814-238-5051. FAX: 814-238-3415. Printed by Gazette Printers, Indiana, PA. 20,000 copies published this month, available FREE in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and motels & travel depots. SUBSCRIPTIONS and SINGLE COPIES: $45/1yr; current issue by 1st‑class mail, $10; back copy, $15 mailed, $12 picked up at the T&G office. townandgown.com
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departments
10 Letter from The Editor 12 Starting Off: The List, People in the Community, Q&A 20 Living Well: How to help your children process uncomfortable feelings • by Meghan Fritz 22 Health: Determining when it’s time to see a kidney specialist • by Kevin Roe, DO 24 About Town: The Centre Region Senior Center is moving again and getting a new name • by Nadine Kofman 26 On Center: Pianist Ramsey Lewis and guitarist-singer John Pizzarelli recall a titan of jazz and pop • by John Mark Rafacz 28 Penn State Diary: School’s relationship with Pennsylvania’s governors has varied • by Lee Stout
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26 78 This Month on WPSU 81
What’s Happening: Brew Expo, Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair, Penn State sports, Grange Fair, David Crosby, and more highlight August’s events
88 On Tap: From its Eastern European beginnings, pilsner has become the most revolutionary style of beer • by Sam Komlenic 92 Taste of the Month/Dining Out: Barranquero Café gives unique Columbian coffee a home in downtown State College • by Vilma Shu Danz 102 Lunch with Mimi: Borough manager Tom Fountaine works to foster positive relations and improvements in State College 106 State College Photo Club’s Winning Photos 108 Snapshot: Bellefonte interim superintendent has made smooth transition since taking position • by Deming Fischer
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To contact us: Mail: 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801 Phone: (814) 238-5051, (800) 326-9584 Fax: (814) 238-3415 dpenc@barashmedia.com (Editorial) rschmidt@barashmedia.com (Advertising) We welcome letters to the editor that include a phone number for verification. Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn State’s Pattee Library.
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letter from the editor
Breaking the Divide This region and country always have individuals looking to bring people together It was during the spring when the staff of Town&Gown met to discuss what feature stories the magazine should run in the August issue. The Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County had recently opened a new exhibit, The Underground Railroad — The Journey to Freedom, and it was decided that it would be interesting to not only write about the exhibit but also Centre County’s participation in that important piece of history. Given current events, T. Wayne Waters’s story, “Uncovering the Underground Railroad,” in this month’s issue seems to take on a little more meaning than just looking back on our past. In recent weeks, you’ve likely heard — or even thought — that this country is as divided as we’ve ever been when it comes to race. That’s in our lifetime, obviously, because about 150 years ago this country was truly divided and fighting a war against each other. Even when it seems as if people have gone to their separate corners and remain divided, there are those who take steps toward the middle to try and bring us together. This region showed that during the Civil War. In Waters’s story, Dr. Donna King, who is pastor at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bellefonte, says the region “was a place where black people and white people came together to right a wrong like slavery.” Following the shootings in Dallas last month that took the lives of five police officers, a wonderful example of people coming together was shown to the world. In a video that appeared on CNN and hit social media, a group of Black Lives
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Matter demonstrators were marching down a commercial street. Across the street were a group of All Lives Matter protestors who put up propolice flags. Instead of the incident escalating and tensions rising, a member from each group met and shook hands. According to CNN, they talked about “how they both want what’s best for Dallas and the people that live there.” The two groups came together, hugged each other, and prayed together, inviting a police officer who was at the scene to join them. Moments such as that should give us hope. Looking back at our history and knowing how far we’ve come also should give us hope. Unfortunately, there are people and groups who’d rather we stay in our corners and not walk toward to each other and talk to each other. It benefits them financially or politically, or is just how they want the world to be. I’d like to think those numbers of people and groups, while they will always be there, are decreasing. I’d like to believe that as this country becomes older, more and more of us are surrounding each other, helping each other, respecting each other, and giving hope to each other in our pursuit to form a “more perfect union” that, even with our differences, won’t be divided. David Pencek Editorial Director dpenc@barashmedia.com
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starting off
The List What to know about August August is National Family Fun month — and there are plenty of family-fun activities to do this month in Happy Valley, including visiting swimming pools, parks, museums, and the Grange Fair as well as taking in a State College Spikes baseball game.
Frank Molinaro
The Summer Olympics begin August 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Penn State will be represented at the games. The school’s contingent includes Joe Kovacs and Darrell Hill (shot put), Ali Krieger and Alyssa Naeher (women’s soccer), and Frank Molinaro (wrestling).
August 11 is Presidential Joke Day. The day may not be what you think. It’s actually a day for the president to make a joke. The inspiration for the day came in 1984 from President Ronald Reagan’s famous incident when he was doing a voice test with a microphone that he didn’t know was broadcasting live. He said, “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes.” It’s a good month to chill out. August 10 is National Lazy Day (not sure who invented it), and August 15 is National Relaxation Day.
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August 16 is National Tell a Joke Day. We could all use a good laugh now, couldn’t we?
The summer break is over. Penn State students hit campus the weekend of August 19-21, with classes beginning August 22. It’s otherwise known as the weekend to avoid Walmart.
August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day. It’s a day to honor our elderly population. Coincidentally, in this month’s “About Town,” you can read about the exciting things happening with the Centre Region Senior Center.
Sorry kids, it’s back to school time. August 29 is the first day of school for most of the school districts in Centre County. Parents may want to check out this month’s “Living Well,” which has some helpful tips for parents whose children may have some anxieties about returning to school. T&G
People in the Community Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
The July issue of Town&Gown took a special look back at the Arts Festival as it celebrated its 50th festival. The special advertising section, “People of the Dr. Robert Lima Arts Festival,” profiled many of the people who have made an impact on the festival. Unfortunately, some people, especially during the early years, weren’t included in the section but deserve mention. Some of the people include William Allison, who was a co-executive director of the 1968 festival with Wallis Lloyd. Dr. Robert Lima chaired the arts and literary events, including the Sidewalk Sale, Banners Competition, Artists-in-Action, Poetry Readings & Anthology, Experimental Films, Photography, Juried Art, Juried Crafts, Theater, and more. Other committee members included Donna Queeney, Lowell Manfull, Jean Manis, Marilyn Shobaken, and Joseph Grucci.
Lima says the second Arts Festival ran from July 20 to July 28 in 1968. The Sidewalk Art Exhibit & Sale was twice as large as the first festival, showing on both university malls and the wall along College Avenue.
Jessica Gabel
In June, Jessica Gabel of Bellefonte won seven medals during the Transplant Games of America. The biennial Olympicstyle competition is for organ, corneal, bone marrow, and tissue transplant recipients and living donors. After reading a story about Bellefonte resident Matt Crater and how he needed a kidney transplant, Gabel decided to donate one of her kidneys in September 2014. “One of the best decisions I made in my life,” she says. “I am perfectly healthy and happy two years later, and so is Matt, which is awesome!” At the Transplant Games, Gabel won three gold medals and a bronze in swimming, a silver in bocce, and two silvers in darts. Don Hamer in 2000.
Don Hamer
Don Hamer, who founded State of the Art and supported many local organizations, died July 12 at the age of 90. Founded in 1969, State of the Art became the leading manufacturer of high reliability chip resistors for microelectronics. In 1989, Hamer, who joined the Navy and served at the end of World War II and also in the Korean War, founded the Hamer Foundation, which provides funding primarily for conservation and educational programs in Central Pennsylvania. He also supported organizations such as ClearWater Conservancy, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, Shaver’s Creek, and the Natural Conservancy of PA. For his philanthropic and conservation activities, Hamer received numerous awards, including the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award in 1992, the Renaissance Honoree of the Year in 1995, and the Penn State Philanthropist of the Year in 2014. T&G 14 - 2016 August T&G
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Q&A with Cynthia Mazzant, executive director of Tempest Productions By Deming Fischer Twenty years ago, Cynthia Mazzant, along with Jo Wadsworth and Chuck Caudill, started Tempest Productions as a way to introduce young people to live theater through workshops and interactive events. The organization, which started in New Jersey, has found a home in Bellefonte. On August 20, Tempest Productions holds its annual The Bard in Bellefonte in Talleyrand Park. Mazzant took time to talk about Tempest Productions and Shakespeare in the modern day. T&G: How did you come up with Tempest Productions? Mazzant: [The other two founders] and I had been working together on and off at a couple different companies. We really wanted to create a small nonprofit professional company that focused on classical theater but also had a strong tie to the community and a strong arts and education link. T&G: What do you believe is unique about Tempest Productions? Mazzant: We’re more geared toward the process than the product. I don’t mean to suggest that we aren’t looking to create strong productions, but the idea is that we want to take something and really work it with workshops and processes. We do a lot of poetry and verse play. We did a Chekhov, The Three Sisters, as our premiere production. It took three months because we hired someone to look at translations for us to go back to the original text. It’s not just taking a script, going to rehearsal, and doing a show. We’ve really enjoyed playing with the concepts of how to make the shows more accessible to a wide range of audiences. We also like to do workshops with the audiences prior 16 - T&G August 2016
to and after the productions. T&G: Why do you think it’s important that children learn about Shakespeare? Mazzant: People are scared of Shakespeare because of the language. The language is so foreign, and our goal is to make it less so. This is just the way he wrote and just the way people spoke. It’s like all of a sudden you’re going to drop into another art form, like classical music or jazz, there’s a language that comes with that and a culture. So our goal is to make people understand that all Shakespeare has relatable themes. Look at Romeo and Juliet — it’s about teenage love, it’s about sex, it’s about teenage rebellion, and its about discrimination because we’ve got families who hate each other. How is that not relatable? T&G: What do you personally love about Shakespeare? Mazzant: I love the bawdiness of it. I love the humor! Even in the strong tragedies, there’s a lot of humor. I think that we’ve placed Shakespeare on such a high pedestal, we consider him highbrow, and he’s not highbrow, he’s lowbrow. He really was the pop TV of the time. That’s what I love about him — everything is so relevant and everything is so political. I think there’s so much there to explore beyond what we have to teach in schools. T&G
The Bard in Bellefonte is from 1 to 4 p.m. August 20 at Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte. For more information, visit tempestproductions.org.
This Monthtownandgown.com On
• In 5 Questions, former Penn Stater and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Mary Ellen Clark recalls important moments in her life and career. • The Nittany Valley Society presents the famous legend of Penn’s Cave and the doomed love between fur trapper Malachi Boyer and the beautiful Princess Nita-Nee.
Mary Ellen Clark
• A special offer from Barranquero Café in State College for 10 percent off your order. • Order your copy of Town&Gown’s 2016 Penn State Football Annual. And more!
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
Back to School Anxiety How to help your children process uncomfortable feelings By Meghan Fritz
As we approach the beginning of a new school year, many kids, and parents for that matter, begin to feel the anxiety increase as the days of summer wind down and the start of a new year begins. Many children express concern about the start of a new school year, and how you help them navigate through these uncomfortable feelings can set the stage to promote feelings of security and confidence versus anxiety and fear. If your child begins to express their feelings, do not respond passively with an answer that minimizes them. For example, if your child says, “I am feeling anxious about making friends this year. Last year was horrible, and I know this year is going to be the same.” A passive answer would be: “Don’t worry about that! It’s going to be a great year. Your classmates would be lucky to have you as a friend.” This passive response does not give your child the tools needed to learn how to process an uncomfortable feeling, feel heard, and be proactive about what action they can take to help them feel a sense of control in an anxiety-provoking setting. The first step to helping your child express themselves honestly and feel heard is to validate their feelings. “I know last year was really tough. I’m sorry that was a difficult 20 - T&G August 2016
time for you. I am proud of you for getting through that time.” This validation lets them know three things: You hear what they are saying, you are present with them in the dialogue, and you understand them. This not only lets your child know you are present but it also teaches them how to have an open dialogue about feelings in a healthy, nonavoidant way. Once you validate their feelings, help them normalize the discomfort they are feeling. “I understand it’s anxiety-provoking to start a new year. That is a very normal feeling to have. I feel that way when I have to go back to work after vacation. It’s normal to feel a little nervous. It’s part of being human.” This lets them know they are not alone in their feelings. You are helping to make the process of expressing and working through a feeling a normal event versus shutting them down or giving them a passive response that does not empower them in any way. Uncomfortable feelings can make all of us feel alone and want to isolate. Normalizing the feelings helps to build their esteem, not shake it. The next step is to begin the proactive process of problem-solving and brainstorming solutions. Help them come up with concrete ways to work through the discomfort. One of the quickest ways to shut down an open dialogue with your child is to give them a lecture on all the ways they can solve the problem. Take a step back and let them come up with a few ideas before you jump in and offer suggestions. This helps empower your child in the problemsolving process and builds their confidence. When you offer them the solution immediately, you miss out on an opportunity to help them become more comfortable with discomfort. Once you identify some proactive
strategies, keep the conversation open by asking if there is anything else that worries them. Also ask them what you can do differently this year to help them get through difficult times. Ask direct questions so that they can be honest with you about what you may need to change. “When you have a bad day, what do you need from me? Do you find it most helpful for me to give you some space or give you a hug?” This teaches your children to learn how to express what they need. We are all different in times of stress, but the key to coping during these times is to have a sense of what works for us. For some it’s exercising, talking it out with someone, retreating to a quiet place, or blowing off some steam. Don’t make the assumption that your child needs a hug when they may just need to take a time out. Ask them! This teaches them solid communication skills in all relationships and develops trust between the two of you. You are showing your child that you trust them to communicate what they need from you and that you respect what they need. Stay calm and open in the dialogue even if you start to feel uncomfortable yourself. Your calm, open demeanor lets them know you are not afraid
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to talk about uncomfortable feelings. This approach to dealing with anxiety and uncomfortable feelings will help strengthen the bond you have with your child and teach them how to work through uncomfortable feelings. It also will teach them how to have open dialogues in their own relationships with peers and eventually romantic relationships. Feeling anxious, nervous, and uncomfortable is a part of everyday life, whether you are a child or an adult. Teach your children to be comfortable in the discomfort and watch them grow in their confidence and ability to problem-solve. Give them the skills they need to grow into healthy young adults who won’t avoid uncomfortable feelings. I work with so many adults who are paralyzed by uncomfortable feelings and were not taught how to process feelings in a healthy way. Don’t pass on the dysfunction you grew up in — get the help you need and begin to model for your family how to process uncomfortable feelings and emotions. You are worth it! T&G Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College.
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health
Care for the Kidneys Determining when it’s time to see a kidney specialist By Kevin Roe, DO Twenty-six million American adults have some sort of kidney disease. Most don’t know it. These organs serve a variety of important functions in the body, including the filtering of waste and toxins from your blood, regulating blood pressure, activating Vitamin D to maintain healthy bones, and keeping blood minerals such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium in balance. So how do you know if your kidneys are healthy, and where do you look for answers? The science of nephrology Nephrology is the branch of medical science that deals with the kidneys. This includes normal function as well as abnormalities of kidney function, including disorders of fluid and electrolyte balance, high blood pressure, kidney and bladder stones, kidney infections, kidney failure, kidney cysts, and cancers of the kidney, bladder, and urethra. A nephrologist is a physician trained in either internal medicine or pediatrics who has
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Kevin Roe, DO, of Mount Nittany Physician Group
completed additional training in nephrology. Additional training includes diagnosis and management of kidney disorders as well as kidney-replacement therapies, such as dialysis and kidney transplant. Good health habits Eating a heart-healthy diet and exercising regularly are two of the best ways to maintain kidney health. The benefits of regular follow-ups with a health-care provider also should be stressed. Identifying kidney disease early before there has been significant loss of kidney function allows for optimal management. This includes assessment and modification of risk factors for developing kidney disease as well as appropriate use of screening blood and urine tests to detect abnormal kidney function. Most chronic kidney disease in the United States results from diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure. Obesity also is a significant risk factor for kidney disease. Cigarette smoking is another. Identifying risk factors such as these is the first step to adopting appropriate changes. A diet that is too high in sodium chloride (salt) can be a risk factor for high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, and other health conditions. A general guideline is to keep dietary sodium intake to less than 2,500 milligrams per day. Inappropriate or excessive use of certain medications also can have a negative effect
on kidney function. This risk can even be associated with over-the-counter medications or nutritional and herbal supplements. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), or celecoxib (Celebrex) can be associated with adverse effects on kidney function. It is important to use medications only as recommended and to discuss the use of all medications or supplements with your physician. Potential warning signs Knowing when to talk to your primary care provider about seeing a specialist is important. If you have experienced any of the following signs, it’s a good idea to start the conversation: • Worsening kidney function noted on blood work or evidenced by protein in the urine. • Fluid retention and swelling (edema). • Increasing or difficult to manage blood pressure. • Foamy urine. • Blood in your urine. • Strong family history of kidney disease. Visiting a nephrologist Visiting a specialist can make even the
most stoic people nervous. It’s the fear of the unknown. Having a general idea of what to expect can help. When visiting a nephrologist, blood and urine tests will be done to first evaluate general kidney health. A nephrologist also may want an ultrasound or CT scan to look at the anatomy of the kidneys. A nephrologist will likely want to discuss your complete medical history and family and social history. The kidneys share a close working relationship with all other organ systems and need to be assessed in context. A specialist will review all medications and supplements and likely take an interest in your diet. Working together with you and your primary care provider, the nephrologist can address your specific issues and work toward the best individualized care plan for you. T&G To learn more about kidney health or nephrology services at Mount Nittany Physician Group, visit mountnittany.org/ nephrology or call (814) 689-3140. Nephrology services are provided in State College, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, and Mifflin County. Kevin Roe, DO, is a nephrology specialist with Mount Nittany Physician Group.
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about town
An Active Senior Center The Centre Region Senior Center is moving again and getting a new name By Nadine Kofman The Centre Region Senior Center (CRSC) is in transition, again. What began part-time in 1976 in the basement of the State College Christian Church (then at Easterly Parkway and William Street) until the downtown Fraser Center was ready in 1986, arrived last September at the Nittany Mall. It is poised to open next month in larger mall quarters. Currently, its 3,800-square-foot temporary mall home faces Payless Shoes. In September, its 7,075-square-foot home will be beside Sears. “I love it here,” says CRSC supervisor Cindy Stahlman, amid the age 55 and older center members who showed up that day. Since making the Nittany Mall home, the center has doubled its membership and number of visitors, according to Stahlman. For example, in February, 495 lunches were needed, as opposed to downtown’s 250 the previous year. In membership, some 140 had been counted downtown; the recent monthly participation at the mall has averaged slightly more than 300. Few tears were shed over leaving downtown State College. All but one member came along: a 67-year-old employed Penn State master’s degree candidate who “only came in for lunch.” Among pluses for the move was free parking. (Centre Region nondrivers can take a county van from their homes to the mall.) For the winter wary, indoor shopping could delay departure. Several services are under one roof. “One lady got her ears pierced the second day we were here,” says Stahlman. Hope exists for a future mall drug store. Stahlman, supervisor for two and a half years, sympathizes. Were it not for her smiling, supportive direction and her 14 years of experience as social service director at River Woods Nursing Center in Lewisburg, she could become a CRSC member. She’s 57, a year younger than the center’s youngest member currently. At the moment, ages run up to 96. Assisting Stahlman is 56-yearold staff assistant Kim Hacker, who was United Way project coordinator for nine years. There is a well-used informational “welcome desk” at the CRSC entrance. New to the center, it will be repeated in the new space. Some days, queries in-house are topped by those from outside. 24 - T&G August 2016
CRSC supervisor Cindy Stahlman
“We get a lot of nonmember traffic,” Stahlman says. Besides part-time members who “pop in to get monthly calendars and lunch menus,” older visitors stop in “for a cup of coffee,” and spouses occasionally take a break there while their other halves shop. Furnishings came from Fraser Street and will travel again in late August, as will wall decorations. Punctuating new framed touches are two large glued picture puzzles that used to be puzzled-over at a CRSC table. Crossovers aside, daily attendance at the center, which is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is divided generally into two groups, each numbering in the low 30s: those who take classes and those who come for lunch. Both usually build friendships. In another context, I talked with a woman who had brought her out-of-state mother to Centre County and praised the existence of CRSC. The older society that greeted her mother has made a big difference, she says. Relocating nearer to Bellefonte has given CRSC a closer relationship
with the Bellefonte Senior Center. “We did things in the past,” says BSC director Vickey Confer, but now “we’re starting to branch out.” She explained that parking was considered a problem downtown. Now at the mall, “We’re starting to plan things together.” Last month, the two groups toured the Penn State Arboretum, picnicked at Sunset Park, and visited the Berkey Creamery. (Speaking of picnicking, the annual one for all six Centre County senior centers is scheduled for this month.) Next month, joint craft classes will be held — quilling at CRSC, a “Button Tree” at BSC. In the year CRSC has been at the mall, the BSC hasn’t lost any of its 50 members, Confer says. Activities “complement” one another, she points out, so members of both centers go to activities at both. Until the big upcoming move, CRSC has needed extra space for tai chi, healthy steps, the open art studio, and line dancing. “The mall has been really gracious,” Stahlman says, making available its exercise and community rooms. CRSC also offers excursions and is treated to some surprises. On this particular day, cake was served, celebrating a marriage proposal by one
Joel Confer BMW 120 E. Clinton Ave. State College, PA 16803
senior center member to another. “I hope she says ‘Yes’ ” was heard in the room. She did. Cheers broke out. For all, the future holds a longer name and more plumbing. The current two restrooms will become three for women and two for men. CRSC — run by the Centre Region Parks and Recreation and the Centre County Office of Aging — will become CRAAC (Centre Region Active Adult Center). In order to remove “preconceived notions of what a ‘senior center’ is,” Stahlman says, “we’ll be rebranded when we move.” For nearly 40 years, State College was home. Now College Township is, but the “where” is much less important than the “what.” Hacker says, “People hear about us and they come.” T&G Centre Region Parks and Recreation is accepting community contributions for the expansion of the Active Adult Center at the Nittany Mall. If you would like to make a contribution, please call CRPR at (814) 231-3071. Nadine Kofman is a native Centre Countian and historian.
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Taste of the
Month
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! 2016 August T&G - 25
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on center
King Cool
Pianist Ramsey Lewis and guitaristsinger John Pizzarelli recall a titan of jazz and pop By John Mark Rafacz Pianist Ramsey Lewis has appeared at Eisenhower Auditorium three times in the last quarter century. He’s performed in a duo with the great Billy Taylor, been backed by Penn State’s Essence of Joy choir, and shared billing with the legendary Dave Brubeck. When Lewis returns to the university October 13, he’ll be celebrating the creations of a pianist-singer whose timeless music has touched generations. Lewis and guitarist-singer John Pizzarelli pay tribute to Nat King Cole, the giant of 1950s vocal pop, in a Center for the Performing Arts presentation featuring Cole’s hits along with the tracks of sophisticated cool jazz that have influenced their own work. “We have a hard time imagining anyone recapturing the magic of sterling jazz pianist and pop-idol crooner Nat King Cole in quite the way that piano vet Ramsey Lewis and string-swing star John Pizzarelli do,” writes a critic for Time Out New York. Cole broke the pop barrier with his smooth vocals, achieving a number of hits after his first, “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” soared up the charts in 1943. As a vocalist, Cole was called “the best friend a song ever had,” but he was first and foremost a jazz performer. Even the songs crafted for the pop charts belie a piano technique, vocal phrasing, and orchestration indebted to his jazz roots. The Eisenhower concert will include Cole standards such as “Route 66,” “Smile,” “Hit That Jive Jack,” “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons,” “Nature Boy,” and “Unforgettable.” Lewis, a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, released the first of his more than 80 albums in 1956. The pianist, who with his trio won the first of his Grammy Awards for a swinging rendition of Dobie Gray’s hit “The In Crowd,” has collaborated with countless artists, including Nancy Wilson, Grover Washington Jr., Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Tony Bennett. In the 1990s, Lewis added radio host to his list of accomplishments. His weekly two-hour jazz radio program, Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis, is syndicated in cities across the United States. Lewis and Pizzarelli, who has released two albums devoted to the music of Cole, have performed their tribute to the pianistsinger intermittently since 2013. 26 - T&G August 2016
Ramsey Lewis
Called “the genial genius of the guitar” by a Toronto Star writer, Pizzarelli is one of the leading contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook. He’s also expanded the songbook repertoire with recordings of music by Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and John Lennon. Midnight McCartney, Pizzarelli’s 2015 release, came about after Paul McCartney asked the guitarist-singer if he would like to record an album featuring jazz arrangements of lesserknown songs by the Beatles star. Since the release of his first album in 1990, Pizzarelli has shared billing with the likes of Lewis, Brubeck, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, and his guitarist father, Bucky Pizzarelli. He’s appeared on late-night shows starring Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Conan O’Brien. In 1997, the younger Pizzarelli made his Broadway debut in the musical Dream, a revue of songs by Johnny Mercer. Six year later, he led a 40-member orchestra in Sinatra: His Voice, His World at Radio City Music Hall. T&G Northwest Savings Bank sponsors the performance. For 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.
Amy Hays, M.D. & Jessica Woytowich, PA-C
New Patients Welcome. Visit us at our newest location! Penn State Family Medicine is now offered at 303 Benner Pike, Suite 1. Call 814-272-5660 to make an appointment.
Penn State University Archives
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penn state diary
Political Education School’s relationship with Pennsylvania’s governors has varied By Lee Stout Penn State’s relationship with the government of Pennsylvania has not always been a collaborative one. After the passage of the Act of 1855, which gave the institution its charter, the state largely ignored the school. Regular state appropriations didn’t begin until 1887, and, for much of the late 1860s and the 1870s, the school teetered on the brink of bankruptcy and closure. Today’s fiscal arrangements lump Penn State in with Pitt, Temple, and Lincoln University as a “state-related” school, ignoring the special relationship of a land-grant university with its state. As a nonpreferred appropriation, Penn State’s funds are sometimes held hostage in budget fights. Today’s political climate also sometimes brings unwelcome threats of significant budget cuts, as in the Corbett administration of earlier this decade. From the 1890s to the 1960s, Penn State often had solid support from the state’s governors. Governor James Beaver of Bellefonte (served 1887 to 1891) certainly set a precedent, bringing the Pennsylvania State College its first appropriations for new buildings and educational programs. However, there were those who made problems for Penn State. William Pattison, whose two terms (1883-87 and 1891-95) bookended Governor Beaver’s, sought to minimize state commitments to Penn State. However, by Pattison’s second term, he had changed his mind about the college and became more supportive. By contrast, a Republican governor of the 1920s and 1930s took a position of direct opposition to Penn State. Gifford Pinchot is often credited with being the father of the profession of forestry in America. He came from a wealthy family, attended exclusive prep schools, and graduated from Yale in 1889. While he could have had a leisurely career as a New York City real estate magnate, he had other ambitions. He studied forest-management methods in Europe and created a model forestry program for George Vanderbilt at his Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina. He then pulled together diverse federal programs into what became the US Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture, and he was appointed its chief by his friend, President Theodore Roosevelt, in 1905. Under Pinchot’s lead, the number of national forests 28 - T&G August 2016
During happier days, Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot (left) and Penn State President John Martin Thomas.
increased from 32 to 110 between 1898 and 1910. Pinchot served in a number of government positions and was a national leader in the conservation movement, later teaching forestry at Yale. He also was a leading advocate of other progressive programs, including women’s suffrage. He became active in Pennsylvania politics and served as Commissioner of Forestry for the state between 1920 and 1922. As an independent, reform-minded candidate, he took advantage of a Republican Party split and was elected governor, serving from 1923 to 1927. His progressive ideas fostered programs to reform state government and to curb corporate abuses. He eliminated a $23 million state budget deficit, and it was here that he ran headlong into another idealist, Penn State President John Martin Thomas. Thomas had come to Penn State in 1921 with a mandate from the board of trustees to remake the college. His visionary plans were breathtaking. He wanted to triple enrollments to 10,000 students, make Penn State the capstone of public
education for the state, centralizing all state appropriations for higher education in it, create graduate and professional schools, and make the college the state university. Central to his goals were a major increase in state appropriations and Penn State’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign to build “student welfare” buildings to support the expanded enrollments. These would include new dormitories and physical-education facilities for men and women, a college hospital, and a new student union building. The problem was that the governor wanted to cut Penn State’s budget, not dramatically increase it. Pinchot, with his Ivy League background, had no sympathy for designating Penn State as the state university, even questioning its status as a public institution and the state’s obligation to fund it. In addition, he showed his particular interest in the state’s forestry academy at Mont Alto by advocating closing down Penn State’s forestry program. Thomas soon realized that with Pinchot’s opposition, there was little chance to achieve his ambitious plans, and he resigned in 1925. Thomas’s emergency building campaign raised 60 percent of its $2 million goal, a remarkable feat for an institution with almost no tradition of soliciting gifts, and all the buildings he planned were eventually built. He created the graduate school and the college senate and increased faculty benefits, but enrollments rose by only 20 percent because of the lack of facilities and state funding. Pinchot, in his second term (1931-35), tried to fight for government programs to aid the large number of unemployed Pennsylvanians, but he was frustrated by a “do-nothing” legislature. His political career was over in 1935, and he died in 1946, spending his last years as an advocate for conservation. Thomas went on to serve as president of Rutgers and then Norwich University and died in 1952. He may have left here discouraged, but his vision for Penn State would eventually be realized. T&G Lee Stout is librarian emeritus, special collections for Penn State.
Get to know...
Richard Roush: Highlighting Ag Progress From milk production to biosecurity to backyard chickens, Ag Progress Days gives insight for farmers, consumers, and others who have a stake in agricultural research. For Richard Roush, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, the free-admission August 16-18 event is an opportunity to showcase the college’s research for all of these audiences. “The public can learn more about where their food comes from, how it’s produced, and the science that makes it possible,” he says. Trained as an entomologist at the University of California, Roush’s own research has focused on strategies to slow pests and weeds from evolving resistance to genetically modified insect resistant crops and pesticides. He worked extensively in California agriculture before becoming dean of the Melbourne School of Land and Environment at the University of Melbourne, Australia. In 2014, he signed on as dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, which sponsors Ag Progress Days each year outside State College at Rock Springs. The state’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition highlights ways the college is addressing critical issues like renewable energy and water quality. Learn about Roush’s thoughts on “Pennsylvania in the Balance with Conservation Stewardship” during a special session with PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding at 2 p.m. on Ag Progress Wednesday in the Special Events Building. The Penn State Bookstore thanks Richard Roush and all faculty and staff who carry out the university’s mission every day.
www.psu.bncollege.com 814-863-0205 2016 August T&G - 29
A Education
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Unique
n State College’s Delta Program offers different opportunities for kids wanting a “small community” By Jenna Spinelle
Photos by darren andrew weimert 2016 August T&G - 31
Delta student Griffin Ross works on electronics.
No desks, no dress code, teachers called by first name only, and freshmen taking classes with seniors. Classes such as “Historical Documentaries” and “Fantasy Literature” are mixed in with algebra and geography. These characteristics are just a few of many that make the State College Area School District’s Delta Program one of the most unique — and perhaps one of the most misunderstood — educational options in the area. The Delta Program was founded in 1974 as the Alternative Program for grades 9 through 12. The name Delta, meaning “change,” was chosen in 1993 as a gesture to better reflect the school’s mission. A middle school program for grades 5 through 8 was added in 2014. Delta is the only program of its kind in Centre County. It is a member of the National League of Democratic Schools, a small organization of alternative schools in the country. Jon Downs, director of educational alternatives at State College Area School District, oversees the Delta Program but is quick to point out that the school’s democratic approach is at the heart of its day-to-day operations. Students and parents serve on search committees for new hires, and issues are addressed at weekly all-school meetings for the middle and high schools. 32 - T&G August 2016
Karla Altenburg-Caldwell enrolled her four children — Lilly, Joe, Isabelle, and Jack (not pictured) — in the Delta Program after they completed elementary school.
“They are supposed to advise me, but really they hold the cards in terms of making decisions,” Downs says. “Kids come here because they want a small community, more opportunities for leadership, and a greater connection to their school.” The program enrolled 130 high school students and 80 middle school students for the 2015-16 school year and expects to enroll 147 high school
Sebastian Forest graduated this year and will be pursuing a degree in computer science.
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Jacob Thomas graduated and is planning to enroll at Penn State and major in recreation, parks, tourism, and management.
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and 100 middle school students for 2016-17. Students are organized into about a dozen groups called “clumps.” A teacher, who also serves as an adviser, oversees each clump. Students have the option to take classes at State College Area High School or pursue arrangements with Penn State to supplement Delta’s classes. Students from elsewhere in the district also can take classes at Delta. About 60 percent of Delta high school students take at least one class at State High. State College Area School District superintendent Robert O’Donnell had not encountered a program similar to Delta prior to coming to the district. He says the democratic model is an extension of student-governance structures in place at the district’s other schools. “There’s no question that throughout our district we work on putting structures in place that have students at the core,” he says. “For example, at our middle schools we have a teaming model in place. The relationship between teachers and students is at the core of how we structure caseloads of teachers and how we organize classroom time.”
O’Donnell taught an algebra class at Delta this past year. He says the majority of his students were interested in the arts but recognized the importance math would play in future endeavors, such as calculating ticket prices based on venue size and profit/loss ratios. “We started out with some good conversation so I could get a sense of their interests,” he says. “Most kids, when you’re in a class that includes abstract concepts, are looking for something that makes it relatable to them.” Educational choice in the Centre Region is nothing new. The area is home to four charter schools, a cyber school, a Catholic school, a Christian high school, and a Quaker school. Many students come to Delta from those programs. Karla Altenburg-Caldwell enrolled her children — Joe, Isabelle, Jack, and Lilly — in Delta after they completed elementary school at the State College Friends School. “This program has a lot of the same elements and mutual respect between teachers and students,” she says. “The fact that the students have a voice in the school, everyone has an equal vote … you don’t get that at other places.”
Downs is entering his ninth year of overseeing the Delta Program.
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Jack Williams, who graduated in June, enrolled in the Delta Program and is pursuing a career in music. He records “electronic hip-hop” under the name Hughes.
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She adds that she hears from other families that Delta is for what they call “problem children.” She says the opposite is true. Her son, Joe, who graduated from Delta in June, helped teach fencing and rock ensemble, opportunities he would not have had elsewhere, she says. “The biggest misconceptions tend to be that it’s only for the kids who have a problem working with the regular school system, there’s a high incidence of drugs, and it’s just not as strong a program — but the classes are very rigorous,” she says. Downs says that Delta’s lack of dress code and open scheduling policy raise eyebrows at first, but, in the long run, have a positive impact on students. “If you take a cross section of our kids compared to traditional schools, you couldn’t tell one from the other,” he says. “Sure, we may have more kids who dye their hair or wear different clothes to school, but they aren’t weird.” Mia Reese, who will enter sixth grade this year at Delta Middle School, says she gained confidence during her first year in the program. Reese led an all-school meeting in May and
was not shy about telling her classmates to keep quiet, saying, “When I say, ‘No side conversations,’ I mean no side conversations, not more side conversations.” After the meeting, Reese said, “At my other schools I felt shy and didn’t say anything. This is the best decision I’ve ever made in my life to go here. There’s so much more freedom, and everyone gets along here equally.” The average SAT scores for Delta students are on par with those of students at State High, and students have gone on to colleges such as Harvard and Dartmouth. Delta’s seniors complete graduation projects that are presented to the school at the end of the year. This year’s projects ranged from four-day bike rides to teaching music to middle school students. Jack Williams, who graduated this year, enrolled in Delta so that he could graduate early and pursue a music career. He grew up playing cello and drums, but switched to keyboard in high school and now records what he describes as “electronic hip-hop” under the name Hughes. He performed with fellow State College
artist Cecil Blutchter at Penn State’s Movin’ On music festival in April and was planning to move to New York City over the summer to continue his musical endeavors. “I’ve been doing shows with Cecil on and off over the past year, and the teachers have been great about working around my music schedule,” he says. “I don’t think I could have pursued my music at this level without Delta.” Anna Hirsch, another graduating senior, presented on songs she taught to the Delta middle school jazz band. Hirsch, daughter of local musician Rich Hirsch, will attend Temple University this fall to study saxophone performance. “The kids were great to work with,” she says. “We worked in groups of four to six people, and the kids learned how to be part of an ensemble.” As Delta’s seniors head off to college, Downs says they are well prepared for the collegiate environment because of Delta’s mixed grade-level classes. “People will ask me how we can teach ninth graders and 11th graders at the same time, and my response is ‘How can we not?’ As soon as
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Anna Hirsch (left) graduated in June and is attending Temple University to study saxophone. Quin Brannaka also graduated this year and will pursue a degree in outdoor education.
students leave 12th grade, they’re going to university classes with kids that aren’t in their grades and working with people who aren’t their age,” he says. “Kids should be able to learn what they want when they want.” Deb Steinberg, a special-education teacher at Delta, says the mixed grade levels allow teachers more flexibility in terms of curriculum design. “Having students in the same classes from ages 14 through 18 really allows us to see their growth over that time,” she says. “The smaller school environment allows students to focus on leadership skills.” Downs completed his eighth year with the program in June. He previously served as a counselor at the district’s Career and Technical Center. After earning his principal certification, he had the choice between the job at Delta and principal of one of the district’s elementary schools. “I knew what I would be getting myself into with an elementary school job, but I didn’t know what this job was going to be, which intrigued me,” he says. “It’s gone by very fast, and the whole community is something I wouldn’t trade for the world.” Delta is currently housed on Nittany Avenue 38 - T&G August 2016
in a building that dates back to the early 1900s. Colorful murals painted by students line the walls, and the building’s maze-like structure provides plenty of places for students to study or hang out between classes. In 2019, the Delta Program will be moving to the State High North Building on Westerly Parkway, as part of the State High renovation plan. Downs says the move will represent a difficult change for students and faculty, but it also will provide an opportunity for the program to grow. “We are looking forward to more integration with State High,” he says. “There are also limitations of this facility in terms of HVAC and accessibility that will be solved in the new facility.” O’Donnell says that the Delta community is an active voice in the district, especially when considering the size of the student body. That community will be important as the district continues to evolve. “The Delta community has a voice as we look at what our priorities are moving forward,” he says. “It’s a very engaged group of learners and families — and it’s working.” T&G Jenna Spinelle is a freelance writer and journalism instructor in State College.
State College Area Schools Start August 29 Is your child registered?
Why Choose SCASD?
• Award-winning, highly qualified teachers and staff. • Gifted and special education services. • Acclaimed music, art, and physical education programs. • Before- and after-school programs. • Secondary world language programs with plans to expand to elementary level.
Kindergarten Camp
Your child will experience school first hand and get a feel for what school is like. For a Kindergarten Camps schedule go to: www.scasd.org/kindergartencamp.
Take a personal tour:
For a tour of any of our schools, please call 231-1041 to schedule a time for you and your family. For virtual tours, check out our New Families web section. www.scasd.org/virtualtour
To register your child:
The registration office is available every weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 131 W. Nittany Ave. Special family-friendly dates are available for you to register at 131 W. Nittany Ave., State College: • Sunday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check out the registration website for more information and what to bring. www.scasd.org/registration.
Come see us! Call to arrange a tour. Follow us! StateCollegeSchoolDistrict @StateCollegeSD StateCollegeSchoolDistrict www. scasd.org
Uncovering the Underground Railroad A new exhibit at the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County helps spark renewed interest in this area’s ties to helping slaves escape to freedom
By T. Wayne Waters
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The Linn House, now home to the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, was discovered to have a “secret room� that hid escaped slaves who were on their way to Canada. 2016 August T&G - 41
Andrew Gregg Curtain of Bellefonte, five years before he became governor of Pennsylvania, leading a posse on horseback in an attempt to free an abducted AfricanAmerican ex-slave. Famed Massachusetts Quaker and abolitionist Lucretia Mott visits Halfmoon Township and delivers a fiery antislavery sermon. A small African-American church in Bellefonte is part of a denomination known for providing assistance to fleeing slaves. A new permanent exhibit, The Underground Railroad — A Journey to Freedom, which opened at the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County in April, highlights an area of Centre County history that perhaps not many are familiar with. It’s widely recognized by historians that Pennsylvania as a whole was historically very important as a through-point for the Underground Railroad, and noted historian Charles Blockson has spelled out the history of black political engagement in Centre County and the prominent presence of Quaker families in and around Bellefonte, two ingredients needed to fire up the engine of the metaphorical locomotive. The exhibit doesn’t illustrate everything
Gray’s Cemetery in Halfmoon Township includes a headstone that pays tribute to Henry Hartsock, one of Centre County’s most prominent abolitionist activists and Underground Railroad operatives.
mentioned in the opening paragraph, some of which touches upon the Underground Railroad only in the sense that they are indicative of the historical spirit of abolitionism in Centre County, but the attendant brochure created by Penn State graduate student Mudiwa Pettus for the exhibit addresses most of them and offers additional insight. The term “underground railroad” is not to be taken literally, of course. It’s a term used to reference the surreptitious movement of blacks out of areas where their freedom was threatened to areas where it was not. The risky activity was largely conducted by blacks, though a number of whites, many of them of the Quaker (more properly Religious Society of Friends) faith, also participated. The recent discovery in the historic Linn House that is home to the museum of a “secret room” — the kind sometimes used in the nineteenth century to hide slaves — prompted museum staff to investigate Underground Railroad history in Bellefonte and eventually establish the exhibit and art installation in the secret room between the second and third floors at the museum. It features sketches by Lino Toyos, a local scenic designer, art works by several other artists, and an informational brochure. The museum’s exhibits present information St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bellefonte was a refuge for blacks who had escaped slavery.
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Dr. Donna King, pastor of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, is planning Underground Railroad-oriented tours in Bellefonte and has submitted a book proposal about the ties between Penn State’s founders, abolition, black churches, and the Bellefonte community.
about structures in Bellefonte that are thought to have served as Underground Railroad stations during the 1800s, including the home of William Thomas (known as “The Wren’s Nest,”), the Samuel Harris House, and St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. The executive director of Bellefonte Art Museum, Patricia House, notes that the Underground Railroad exhibit has been well received. “I am very pleased with the interest we are getting from the community,” she says. “Lots of folks are visiting the space, sharing stories they have heard or sharing information from their own research. The exhibit has stimulated a dialogue about our region and about our history, and the strength and courage of people who were enslaved seeking freedom. We have had a large increase in school visits and inquirers from many people for a variety of reasons. The exhibit provides a place to acknowledge the important role this area played in the Underground Railroad.”
Constance Cole, a researcher from State College and decadeslong collaborator with Blockson on research into African-American history and the Underground Railroad, was a part of the exhibit’s opening ceremonies. She presented findings that indicated that the Linn House should be considered part of the Underground Railroad from a much earlier time — around the 1830s — than had previously been thought to be the case. While the Underground Railroad connection to the Linn House is clearly legitimate, unfortunately, much of what researchers have to work with in trying to discern the history of the Underground Railroad is reminiscent of a self-guided driving tour developed by the Susquehanna Heartland Humanities Council called “Riots, Rumors, and Stories: The Underground Railroad and Abolitionists in the Valleys of the Susquehanna Region.” Rumors and stories are often the only “evidence” of Underground Railroad activity in many areas, including Centre County. “There aren’t a lot of physical spots related to the Underground Railroad here in Centre County that you can see, though there are a number of families that were clearly involved,” Cole says. “If I were to pick a spot in Centre County with likely Underground Railroad ties, I’d pick Way Fruit Farm in Port Matilda. That’s where our largest free black population was, where the people were, where the jobs were. 2016 August T&G - 43
The Ways were and are still a Quaker family.” The Way family were among the first Quakers from Chester County to migrate to Port Matilda in 1792, according to Centre County Historical Society documents, and the land that became the Way Fruit Farm, according to the enterprise’s Web site, was purchased in 1826. The aforementioned driving tour, devised years ago, suggests the Centre County Courthouse, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Gray’s Cemetery in Halfmoon Township as suitable sites for Underground Railroad history. Dr. Donna King’s more recently devised walking tour version adds the Centre County Library & Historical Museum in Bellefonte and now the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County. King is pastor at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church and a former lecturer in the African-American Studies Department at Penn State. After the Underground Railroad exhibit opened, she gave a lecture on the role of the black church in the Underground Railroad that was based on a paper she had earlier presented at Oxford University titled,
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“The Role of the Black Church in Early Pennsylvania Underground Railroad History, Education, and the Politics of History.” She is scheduled to present a follow-up paper at Oxford in August. “I think the exhibit is a wonderful portal to the historical abolition mindset in Bellefonte and the surrounding communities,” she says. “There were these strong statesmen, like Judge Walker, who had hidden rooms in their homes where slaves were hidden. There’s such a history of them standing up against slavery. I think it’s going to turn the tide in our perspective of the role of Bellefonte in the history of the Underground Railroad and of abolition in Pennsylvania. Now we’re able to put some of the missing pieces of narrative together and tell the true history of Bellefonte and its legacy of social justice.” In the past, King has given Underground Railroad tours for her own classes, for a summertime Penn State public history program, for the Foxdale Retirement Village, and, most recently, in cooperation with the Centre County Library system.
“I was teaching English teachers [and later others] about multicultural education and socialjustice education, and I would take them on field trips to historical sites in Bellefonte, including my church, St. Paul AME Church, where I was church historian,” she says. “I’m now pastor there.” She plans further Underground Railroadoriented tours for the future in Bellefonte to be called “Freedom Walk and History Tour,” but no schedule has yet been created. Those tours will include a stop at the Bellefonte Art Museum and its Underground Railroad exhibit. “When we do the tours,” she says, “we will stop at the museum and look at the hidden room. A screenwriter is being employed to write historical scripts of some of the escape narratives associated with the church and the Bellefonte community.” King’s doctoral work included work in multicultural education and in the process of teaching teachers. Her pilot teachereducation course was designed to teach about the Underground Railroad, followed by a Women’s Studies course specifically dealing with women and the Underground Railroad. This led her to an increased interest in public history
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Bellefone Arts & CrAfts fAir When:
August 12th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and August 13th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte, PA
Features:
The Annual Bellefonte Arts and Crafts Festival transforms the scenic park into a fun arts and crafts haven for everyone. Enjoy arts, crafts and more from talented artists and crafters from near and far. Bring along the kids for numerous fun activities and games that will be sure to make memories. Also, don’t forget to save room for supper. With countless delectable delights from the area’s finest concessionaires, no one will leave hungry!
www.bellefontechamber.org
and community heritage, and she taught a course on historic preservation and community heritage for the Penn State College of Engineering. She also recently secured an NEH “Created Equal” grant to do public history programming regarding the Underground Railroad, abolition, and civil rights, and she’s submitting a proposal to Penn State for a book about the ties between Penn State’s founders, abolition, black churches, and the Bellefonte community. “The more I do research the more I find of the white and black allies who worked on the Underground Railroad and on abolition efforts,” she says. “The Underground Railroad in this region demonstrated the local ties of Bellefonte and other communities to the historical resistant struggles for freedom. There was, at historical points of time, a free black community in Bellefonte. This place had a legacy of social justice and an abolitionist mindset. It was a place where black people and white people came together to right a wrong like slavery. That’s very significant for the cultural heritage of this area.” T&G T. Wayne Waters has been an independent journalist for more than a decade.
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46 - T&G August 2016
Everyone at SunnyDays is Happy With The Beautiful New Location!
Sunny Days Adult Daily Living Center provides daily programming in a safe, stimulating and supportive environment, to help maintain or improve function level and quality of life for individuals with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. We are also here to provide respite for families and caregivers. Serving adults over 18 years of age with disabilities. Daily Programs designed for 60+ Seniors Dual Licensed for Aging and ID. Nurse on staff! Hours are 7:30 am-4:00 pm, Monday-Friday Daily lunch provided, including special diets.
Sunny Days will be at the Grange Fair, Building 11 Come see us for fun and information on our programs!
We currently work with individuals with: Intellectual disabilities, Physical handicaps, and Dementia.
Caring for People with Special Needs 105 Stonecrest Dr. Suite 1 Bellefonte, PA • 814-357-0292 www.sunnydaysadultdailylivingcenter.org
Nonprofits of
A look at some of the special organizations that can be found in Happy Valley
Nonprofit Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania For 48 years, the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania has been the region’s community art center, serving students, artists, and the art-loving public of all ages. We invite you to create, share, and celebrate art through some of our popular programs: • Studio classes in watercolor, acrylic, or oil painting; drawing; stained glass; digital photography, and more • Open studio sessions with live models • Art experiences for children, including summer art camps and afterschool and in-service programs • Eight exhibitions each year in our Art Center • Outreach exhibitions in businesses, retirement communities, libraries, and theaters • Two hour “pop-up” classes that are geared to people with no experience or those who want to try out a new medium. All materials are provided.
Watch for the exciting opening of our second local gallery, bringing the work of our talented artist members into downtown State College.
818 Pike St., Lemont (813) 234-2740 www.artalliancepa.org
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Nonprofit
Bob Perks Fund
Since 2006, the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund has raised and distributed more than ONE MILLION DOLLARS to help ease the financial burden of individuals and families in our community who are battling cancer and struggling to pay for their basic expenses. Such expenses include rent, utilities, groceries, gas, car insurance, and more. The Bob Perks Fund provides this financial support so cancer patients worry less about the unrelenting burden of unpaid bills and can focus their energy on treatment and recovery. All dollars used to assist cancer patients are donated by individuals, families, businesses, faith-based and civic organizations, and local foundations or are the proceeds of events held on our behalf and Bob Perks Fund events, such as our first ever and highly successful “Summer Slam,” held at the State College YMCA in June. Every donation — big and small — is critical to our success in financially supporting local cancer patients. In 2016, cancer treatment team referrals from Blair, Centre, Clearfield, and Huntingdon County medical facilities are higher than ever, and we are working hard to raise the funds to meet current needs. In our efforts, we are generously supported by Bob Perks Fund strategic partners American Cancer Society, Coaches vs Cancer of Penn State, Mount Nittany Health, Sheetz Inc., and UPMC Altoona as well as our caring community. Under the leadership of Doreen Perks and supported by her late husband Bob’s family, friends, and colleagues, the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund was established in 2006 in memory of Bob, a State College native who died of melanoma at age 42, leaving behind his wife and two very young children. Cancer touches everyone’s life in some way. Help a neighbor facing the double burden of cancer and unpaid bills by donating to the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund at our website, bobperksfund.org, or at P.O. Box 313, State College, PA 16804. All events — big and small — make a big difference, so share your ideas with us on the Bob Perks Fund Facebook page.
2016 is the second year the Bob Perks Fund will be supported by Emilia “Millie” Brannen, 14-year old organizer of “Millie’s Lemonade Stand, ” pictured with her father and brother. Check our Facebook page for the mid-August date and location. 52 - Special Section
The Bob Perks Fund will receive $50,000 through the Shaner & JB Griffin Golf Classic, being held August 12 at Penn State Golf Courses. Register your team and pay online at www.jbgriffinfoundation.com
Nonprofit
Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts In 1967, community leaders had an idea: To put on a little arts festival in July to liven up downtown. Everyone from businesspeople to Penn State officials to artists got involved, and the first Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts was a big success. So they decided to do it again‌and again‌and again. Last month, the 50th Arts Festival brought 100,000 art and music lovers, families, singles, Penn Staters and others to State College for an event that has grown into the top fine art and design show in the country (Sunshine Artist magazine, 2015). Community members sponsored events, volunteered, attended concerts, bought art, hosted houseguests, and all those other tasks that create a successful festival. On the last day, people gathered on Old Main lawn for an ice cream social to celebrate our festival, and our community.
Photo by Steve Tressler/Vista Professional Studios
Thank you to our sponsors, supporters, volunteers, audience members, and artists for 50 years of festival support! We look forward to sharing many more Arts Festivals with our entire community.
Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
Photo by Steve Tressler/Vista Professional Studios
@CPArtsFestival
403 S. Allen St., Suite 205A, State College 814-237-3682 arts-festival.com CentralPAFestivaloftheArts
cpartsfestival Special Section - 53
Nonprofit
54 - Special Section
Nonprofit
American Red Cross • Bucktail Council – Boy Scouts of America • Juniata Valley Council – Boy Scouts of America • Bridge of Hope Centre County • Catholic Charities • Center for Alternatives in Community Justice • Centre County Housing and Land Trust • Centre County Library and Historical Museum • Centre County Women’s Resource Center • Centre County Youth Service Bureau • Centre Crest Auxiliary Centre HomeCare • CentrePeace • Centre Volunteers in Medicine • Child Development and Family Council • Community Help Centre • Council of Churches • Easter Seals Western and Central PA • Food Bank of State College Area • Friendship Community Library • Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA • Global Connections • House of Care • Housing Transitions • Interfaith Human Services • MidPenn Legal Services • Mid-State Literacy Council • Park Forest Preschool • PICCC • Skills • State College Community Land Trust • Strawberry Fields • The Arc of Centre County • Tides • YMCA of Centre County • American Red Cross • Bucktail Council – Boy Scouts ofProblems. America •Providing Juniata Valley Council Preventing Solutions. – Boy Scouts America • Bridge of Hope Centre GIVE.of ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. County • Catholicccunitedway.org Charities • Center for Alternatives in Community Justice • Centre County Housing and Land Trust • Centre County Library and Historical Museum • Centre County Women’s Resource Center • Centre County Youth Service Bureau • Centre Crest Auxiliary Centre HomeCare • CentrePeace • Centre Volunteers in Medicine • Child Development and Family Council • Community Help Centre • Council Special Section - 55
Nonprofit Centre County Women’s Resource Center Domestic violence is real. Sexual Assault is real. Domestic violence happens in Centre County. Sexual Assault happens in Centre County. The Centre County Women’s Resource Center (CCWRC) provides services for women, men, and children who have experienced dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking. Inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
• 24-hour hotline • Individual counseling/safety planning • Support groups for adults and children • Emergency shelter • Advocacy/court accompaniment • Legal representation in family law and immigration remedies • Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) • Protection from Sexual Violence Order (PSVO) • School programs • Community education programs
You are
We are only a phone call away.
never 877. 5050 alone 234.
dating & domestic violence | sexual assault | stalking
24 HOUR HOT LINE 1.877.234.5050
www.ccwrc.org
56 - Special Section
CONFIDENTIAL | FREE | PROFESSIONAL
Nonprofit
Special Section - 57
Nonprofit
Centre Region Parks and Recreation This year, Centre Region Parks and Recreation is celebrating 50 years of being Your Recreation Destination! Formed in 1966, CRPR has grown to encompass 54 sites, including: • Welch & Park Forest Swimming Pools • Millbrook Marsh Nature Center • Centre Region Senior Center • Hess Softball Field Complex • Oak Hall Regional Park • And dozens of local parks!
Saturday, Aug. 27 50 Fest – 50th Anniversary Community Celebration! Tudek Park · 10 am to 2 pm • Activities such as inflatable obstacle course, bounce house, photo booth, carnival games, and more! • Have fun with partner organizations including Schlow Centre Region Library, Centre Soccer, Healthy Kids Running, Centre Region Tennis Association, and more! • At 8:45 pm, join us again at Tudek Park for a Movie in the Park! Need more summer fun? July 31: Alphabet Marsh Family Scavenger Hunt, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Aug. 3: Welch Pool Hawaiian Night August 12: Sky Watch, Tom Tudek Park August 17: Park Forest Pool Dive-In Movie Night Sept. 11: Aqua-Dog Day, Park Forest Pool Also this summer, join us in honoring Director Ronald Woodhead’s retirement after almost 20 years of service and in welcoming new Director Pam Salokangas, who takes the helm September 1! For more details on all programs and events, visit www.crpr.org 814-231-3071 58 - Special Section
Nonprofit
Centre Volunteers in Medicine “Volunteers” mean much more than a name for Centre Volunteers in Medicine. Volunteers make it possible for us to provide health services to more than 1,000 neighbors throughout Centre County who do not receive insurance through their jobs and cannot afford to pay for it themselves. During fiscal 2015, almost 200 volunteers donated more than 10,000 hours of service to CVIM and our patients. These volunteers include professional providers like physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, and social workers. They also include dedicated lay volunteers who answer the phone, schedule appointments, update medical records, and even take out the trash. Thanks to all of these volunteers, we require only a small paid staff. Volunteers make it possible for CVIM to provide $3.04 in services for every dollar donated, thus tripling the value of contributions. CVIM volunteer professionals treated the clinic’s first patients in 2003. Today, we continue to provide quality medical and dental care, case management, and medication assistance. It’s all the result of members of the community recognizing a need, working together to meet that need, and continuing to support Centre Volunteers in Medicine by donating both their time and money so that all Centre County residents can have access to medical and dental care.
2520 Green Tech Drive, Suite D State College, PA 16803 814-231-4043 www.cvim.net Special Section - 59
Nonprofit
Abba’s House - After Care Program
The Abba’s House After Care Program offers school age children, Grades K-6, a safe, fun and educational environment to interact with their peers when parents need child-care from 3:00-6:00 pm. We provide snacks, free play, group games and licensed teachers that can assist your child with homework. Available to kids grades K-6 • PA Certified Teachers • Hours: 3-6pm Monday through Friday Open for In-Service, Snow Days, and Some Holidays • Subsidies Welcome (CCIS) • Snacks • FUN! Serving Bellefonte and Houserville Area Abba’s House gym/facility is available to rent for birthday parties, sporting events or banquets. Visit www.abbashousedaycare.com for a Virtual Tour
Need Full-Time or Part-Time Daycare? Abba’s House is committed to
creating a nurturing and loving “second home” experience where your child can grow and become a healthy, responsible and active member of his or her community! Diverse teachers and staff with abundant love for children and a wealth of experience in early childhood care. Call 814-237-6263 for more information.
Friendly Christian Daycare Serving the Centre Region
200 Ellis Place, State College, PA 16801 Call 814-237-6263 for more information or Visit www.abbashousedaycare.com 60 - Special Section
Nonprofit
ClearWater Conservancy ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit natural resource conservation organization and accredited land trust formed in 1980.
Everyone working together to conserve natural beauty and the environment in the heart of Pennsylvania is our vision. ClearWater Conservancy helps to shape our community’s future by conserving the special, beautiful, natural places that give our region its character. Our area is scenic, with a backdrop of forested ridges, open farm vistas across the valleys, and cool, clean streams winding through the landscape in ribbons of green and blue. Our outdoor recreational resources attract nature lovers and help drive our economy. With 36 years of success, we’ve protected over 10,000 acres of land through conservation easements and public/private partnerships. We’ve protected more than 15 miles of streams by planting and stewarding buffers along important waterways. Nearly 25,000 students have explored Millbrook Marsh for hands-on environmental education due to our Connections grant program. In 2016, more than 500 volunteers helped us remove 82.8 tons of trash from 75 sites across Centre County. With proper protections and proactive conservation, ClearWater Conservancy continues to nurture a vibrant community that respects and sustains our natural environment and quality of life. ClearWater Conservancy is supported financially, in large part, by the people and businesses of this community. That broad support is reflective of our core value that people have a place in the landscape and that only through inclusion, education, and partnership will we continue to make a difference.
Join us at www.clearwaterconservancy.org. Special Section - 61
Nonprofit
Discovery Space Children’s Science Museum This fall, Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania celebrates its fifth birthday! That’s five years of sparking creativity, curiosity, and imagination among children of all ages. At the downtown State College museum, more than 45 exhibits related to science and math encourage play, exploration, and experimentation. From physics pinball to a wave motion pendulum to The Nest area for the youngest visitors, the museum inspires children and families to learn together just how much fun science can be. In addition to permanent and changing exhibits, Discovery Space programs engage children throughout the community. Popular programs include: • Baby Explorers, Science Adventures, and Music Makers programs for the youngest scientists • Hands-on special events, from balloon-powered cars to an engineering duct-tape challenge • Summer science camps for ages 3 to 14 • Counselor-in-training programs for high school and older middle school students • Girls’ STEM programs, in partnership with AAUW • After-school programs in four Centre County school districts In just five years, interest in Discovery Space has grown exponentially, to include more than 675 member families as well as local and out-of-town visitors. Generous corporations and individuals support the Community Access Program, which gives free museum passes through nonprofit and social service organizations. Families can even check out free passes at their local library! Visit the museum in person or online to find out more about how you can join Discovery Space in getting children excited about science and learning!
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Nonprofit
The House of Care Since 2000, the House of Care has provided care to 69 Centre County residents with limited life expectancies who find themselves without sufficient finances or family support for other community options. Known as “a personal care home with a heart,” we provide the physical, emotional, and spiritual care our residents need, and we become their home. In early summer 2009, Adam* was one of those who passed through our door. He had no family, no real roots, and a string of mental health and physical diagnoses as long as his six-foot frame. Though his pain must have been significant, Adam rarely complained. In the end, we said prayers together and held his hand as he let go of his time on this earth. We went to the funeral home to identify his body and collect his ashes. On a quiet evening, we gathered in our living room and held a memorial service of celebration to honor our friend. He came through our door, and we cared and changed together. We always have in the front of our minds the question of where our residents would live if House of Care did not exist. We worry some would fall through the cracks and end up homeless. Our residents are not able to fully care for themselves, but they do not need skilled nursing care, which makes the House of Care so critical to our community. Skilled care facilities do exist; however, in order to qualify to live in them, individuals must prove they require greater assistance with activities of daily living, something our residents cannot prove. The House of Care is an essential part of the social infrastructure of Centre County, and most people in Centre County are not aware of this. While we have a relatively small budget compared to other local non-profits, it is one of the most important budgets in town. Not only does the House of Care provide a home where the residents are treated with dignity, but from a purely economic perspective, the community gains from keeping the House of Care going. It is less expensive for the community to support the House of Care than it would be to provide other housing for these individuals. Support from local civic groups, religious groups, and individual private donors is vital in being able to continue to care for our residents. We invite you to consider a gift in support of the House of Care, and help us to continue to serve the “Adams” of our community. By contributing to House of Care, you also help support individuals who often worked and contributed to our communities until finding themselves without options at a very vulnerable time in their lives. *The resident’s name in this story has been changed in respect for his privacy and in compliance with HIPAA laws. Donations may be sent to: The House of Care, 515 West Beaver Avenue, State College, PA 16801, or made online at houseofcare.org. Special Section - 63
Nonprofit
Jana Marie Foundation Using art to educate about the importance of mental wellness • Approximately 20% of youth ages 13 to 18 experience severe mental disorders in a given year. • Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds. • There are more suicides each year in the U.S. than homicides. The teenage years are a tough transitional time for many; they were for Jana Marie Vicere. This beautiful, intelligent, talented young woman earned a GED from the State College Area School District and a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Penn State. Although she struggled with depression throughout her life, she always had a generous heart and an unwavering commitment to helping people, including at-risk teenage girls she counseled. Jana died by suicide in 2011 at age 30. Out of this tragedy has grown the Jana Marie Foundation, dedicated to her commitment to helping others and her love of creative expression. Together, we can help young people learn to embrace their uniqueness, build confidence, and express themselves in creative ways. We can end the stigmas about mental health disorders and suicide. Most importantly, we can make a difference. The Jana Marie Foundation dedicates its energy to creating educational programs to help empower young people, educate parents, caretakers, and concerned adults about pressing topics of raising an adolescent in today’s high pressure society, and raise awareness about suicide prevention. The Foundation’s Stompers Project is a great example. This project uses art, music, stories, and other forms of creative expression to educate the community about mental health and help stomp out the stigma that surrounds mental illness. The Jana Marie Foundation works with local artists, schools, and organizations to create life-sized sculptures of people formed out of old sneakers. The sculptures are called “Stompers” to acknowledge their symbolic role in helping to stomp out the stigma of mental illness. Visit our website to find out how you can contribute to the future of young residents of Centre County through donations of money and time.
JanaMarieFoundation.org Facebook.com/JanaMarieFoundation StompersProject.org Special Section - 65
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Nonprofit Sight-Loss Support Group of Central PA The number of individuals with sight loss is projected to rise as much as 72 percent by 2030, when the last of the baby boomers turn 65, according to a 2012 report by the National Institutes of Health. The most common conditions causing vision loss are macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataract, and hereditary diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. The Sight-Loss Support Group of Central Pennsylvania offers hope and support to individuals as they adjust to the physical and emotional challenges of vision loss and develop strategies to regain independence. The organization provides a gateway to information and a strong community of people who help each other answer the question, “What do I do now?” Among the Sight-Loss Support Group’s programs and services are: •One-on-one peer counseling and support •Educational programs for community organizations •Expediting of referrals to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (the state rehabilitation agency) and North Central Sight Services (a Pennsylvania Association for the Blind agency) •Information on many topics of concern to individuals with sight loss and their families •Audio description via headphones for local theatrical performances and exhibits •Trained Festival Eyes guides for local arts festivals •Centre County Seeing Eye 4-H Puppy Raisers Program •Collect and re-distribute visual aid equipment and supplies.
Healthy Vision: Make It Last a Lifetime
Taking care of your eyes should be a priority, just like eating healthful food and exercising. Healthy vision can be yours well into your golden years. To keep your eyes healthy, get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. An eye care professional will use drops to widen your pupils to check for common vision problems and eye diseases. It’s the best way to find out if you need glasses or contacts, or are in the early stages of an eyerelated disease. If you haven’t had an eye exam recently, schedule one now! Festival Eyes at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts Children’s Day
Sight-Loss Support Group of Central Pennsylvania PO Box 782, Lemont, PA 16851 (814) 238-0132 · www.slsg.org
Sponsored by Lions Gate Apartments Stephen Barkin & Helen Bannon Special Section - 67
Nonprofit
Skills of Central Pennsylvania Skills provides services to over 1,000 individuals throughout Central Pennsylvania – many of whom are economically and socially disadvantaged. Through our Skills Foundation we are able to provide basic needs that generally would go unmet such as customized wheelchairs, dental care, and assistive communication devices. We would not have these funds without our fundraising volunteers and donors. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), Skills has a long history of providing outstanding support to those with intellectual disabilities and those with mental illness. At this time of year, we reflect upon our many community members, donors, volunteers, families, and staff that have helped us be successful in our mission. We take this opportunity to extend our gratitude for their ongoing support and service.
“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world" -Anonymous
If you have an interest in supporting us towards our mission please consider volunteering your time or making a donation today! www.skillsofcentralpa.org Corporate Phone: 814-238-3245 Corporate office: 341 Science Park Road, State College, PA 16803 facebook.com/skillsofcentralpa Twitter: @SkillsPA 68 - Special Section
Nonprofit
State College Food Bank | Fighting tirelessly to end hunger What’s for dinner? It’s a question parents face every day, often planning around busy work, school, and activity schedules. But for many families living right here in State College and Centre County, this question is far more stressful. Nearly 15% of Centre County residents — 23,000 individuals — face food insecurity, meaning they lack consistent access to adequate and nutritious food. This percentage climbs to 19% for area children under 18. Simply put, these children and adults don’t know where their next meal will come from. Plus, 40% of food insecure children in Centre County live in households that are not eligible for federal nutrition assistance, so they turn to us — the State College Food Bank, and donors like you who support us.
How the Food Bank is making an impact:
1,916
individuals fed in 2015
776
unique households
3,800
total distributions in 2015
408,500 pounds of food distributed in 2015, or the equivalent of
340,430 meals 34%
of Food Bank recipients are children
226 How we change lives: Because of a visit to the Food Bank in 2015, clients were able to: Purchase medicine: 15% Pay the heating bill: 12% Buy gas for the car so they can go to work: 16% Pay the electric bill: 20.6% Pay the water bill: 7.1% Pay rent: 22.7% Pay the mortgage: 2.6%
children benefitted from summer 2015 Kids Bag Program, which was an additional monthly distribution of healthy meals and snacks for kids to enjoy while home for the summer
11%
of Food Bank recipients are over the age of 60
1321 South Atherton Street State College, PA 16801 814-234-2310 www.scfoodbank.org Special Section - 69
Nonprofit
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Nonprofit
Sponsored by Peg & Don Hambrick Special Section - 71
72 - T&G August 2016
Darren Andrew Weimert
t s e B e h T r e v E r a Ye Since last fall, Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach has enjoyed a remarkable ride, both on the field and off. Now with a family of her own, she’s looking forward to leading the Nittany Lions to another national title
By David Pencek 2016 August T&G - 73
Where does Erica Dambach begin when she reflects on what’s happened to her during the past 12 months?
In nine seasons with Dambach as head coach, Penn State has gone 157-50-10.
Is it leading the women’s soccer program at Penn State — her dream job, where her parents went to school and were married — to its first national title? Is it marrying Jason Dambach, the former general manager of the State College Spikes, after the two had known each other for a few years but didn’t start dating until January 2015? Or is it the more than 8-pound baby girl, Addison Jeanne Dambach, that she is probably looking at right now and gave birth to on July 8? “You have a bucket list for life, and I knocked off three of the biggest ones in the same year,” Dambach said in mid-May while she was still pregnant with Addison. “You couldn’t have asked for a better year.” Part of that year — that national championship — is something she wants to do again this year. And that’s where, for Dambach, there is no rest for the weary — or for a new mother — because this being August it means a new season is about to begin. Dambach is entering her 10th season as Penn State’s head coach. Her road to Happy Valley included many stops, but it’s the destination the Huntingdon Valley native had longed wanted. She had experience in the college ranks as head coach at Dartmouth for three seasons before she left to pursue her master’s degree at Lehigh University, where she served as a graduate assistant. She was an assistant at Florida State for two seasons and then became head coach at Harvard in 2006. But it was her experience with the United States Youth National Team, serving as head coach for the Under-17 team for three years, where she made a name for herself. When she was hired at Penn State in February 2007, she took over a program that was the best 74 - T&G August 2016
in the Big Ten but couldn’t get over the hump in its pursuit of a national championship. It had advanced as far as the national semifinals three times, only to lose each time. Even during Dambach’s first eight seasons of leading the Nittany Lions, the team won seven Big Ten titles, but had just one trip to the Final Four, where it lost to North Carolina in the title game. Then came last season. A month into the year, the Lions had defeated No. 2 Stanford in Palo Alto, but they also had suffered two defeats, including one at home to Minnesota. It was around that time when Dambach started to feel as if this team might be the one that could win the program’s first national title. “After watching a lot of matches — our matches and opponents around the country — and I started thinking no one is better than us this year,” she says. “I felt if we could pull it together with a young backline, give our youth the experience they needed, I felt we were as talented as anyone. “At that point, we started to focus on the culture and making sure that piece was better than anyone else. Everyone understood their role, embraced their role, and the team-first environment was present every day.” The Lions won their last 11 games, shutting out their last eight opponents, on their way to winning the national title — a 1-0 victory over Duke in the national-championship game.
Penn State Athletic Communications (2)
“It was the moment. It was one of the reasons I love coaching so much, because it’s one profession that allows you to have the highest of highs and you lose yourself in it,” Dambach says. “I remember looking around and making eye contact with the players that didn’t play as much and seeing the pure joy and ownership of the championship in their faces. It made me proud as a coach and as a program to know that they’ve had the same experience as someone who scored the game-winning goal. That was probably the most gratifying part of winning this championship is to know that nine years of trying to create a championship culture had just come to fruition.” And those who had been part of creating that championship culture but didn’t win a title still felt joy for their coach and the program. “As coaches, they say how proud they are of us as players and how much we’ve grown. I never got to say how proud I am of [Dambach] as a coach — I got to say that,” says Maya Hayes, who scored 71 goals during her four-year career at Penn State, from 2010 to 2013. “Some players at other schools, you go through the program in four years and get out. [Dambach] values you as a person, not just
Dambach (left) celebrates the 2015 national title with seniors Mallory Weber, Britt Eckerstrom, and Raquel Rodriguez.
an athlete. Every single girl on that field and team grows, not just as a player but as a person. … That makes her an amazing coach and why a lot of people are attracted to come to Penn State, and not just for the soccer.” Dambach is what attracted Mallory Weber, a senior forward on last year’s team who assisted on Raquel Rodriguez’s game-winning goal in the national-title game, to become a Nittany Lion. “She was the No. 1 reason I decided to go to Penn State,” Weber says. “A lot of coaches just want the best players. She wants the best players, but also the players who have the best morals and the best attitudes. She creates an inclusive team environment.” The national title has opened up more doors for Dambach to bring in the top players she wants. She says she can travel to California to recruit, and where previously she might have landed the fourthbest player in the region, she can now have the best player commit to Penn State. Those opportunities, however, haven’t changed the type of person she wants in her program. She 2016 August T&G - 75
Contributed photos (4)
Erica and Jason Dambach welcomed their daughter, Addison Jeanne (right), on July 8.
continues to look for players who aren’t just the stars on their teams. “Maybe the most important quality I’m looking for is a player who makes the people around them better,” she says. “You hear that an awful lot, but I want you to take the three players on the team that may have been the least successful, and I want you to put them on your team and beat everyone else. Embrace that concept of taking those players and giving them confidence and making them better.” It was toward the end of the title run last season when Dambach was asked to, well, become a Dambach. As general manager of the State College Spikes, Jason Dambach would run into Penn State’s women’s soccer coach from time to time, including seeing her at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The two started dating in January 2015, and the timing, it appeared, couldn’t have been worse. That month, Jason Dambach was hired to be the executive vice president and general manager of the double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the Frisco RoughRiders, in Frisco, Texas. “I felt I let the air out of both of our balloons,” Jason says. “But we spent a lot of time together the next week, and because of modern technology, we’ve been able to keep in touch and build from there.” 76 - T&G August 2016
Jason would return to State College every so often and became part of the women’s soccer family as he spent more time with Erica and her team. The relationship built to the point where the day after Penn State had defeated West Virginia at Jeffrey Field to advance to the College Cup, Jason, who was in State College for Thanksgiving weekend, proposed to Erica during a walk the two were on with her dog. “I couldn’t have asked for a better proposal,” she says. “It was simple and understated, but perfect.” It almost wasn’t. Dambach admits he was worried about what would have happened if Penn State had lost to West Virginia a day earlier. “What mindset would she have been in,” he laughs. “It could have been one of those Seinfeld moments.” Instead, the next week, Jason traveled to Cary, North Carolina, for the College Cup and to see his fiancée and future wife reach the pinnacle of her coaching career. In the national semifinal, Penn State defeated fellow Big Ten member Rutgers, 1-0, to avenge a loss from earlier in the season. In the title game,
Rodriguez broke the scoreless tie with a goal in the 72nd minute that proved to be the one that gave Penn State its first national title. “I just remember [Erica] sitting on the floor of the locker room holding the trophy, and she just had this tremendous joy,” he says. “It was such a relief. She inherited a terrific program and took it to another level. … For her, this was her baby.” Then came July when she was holding another baby — Addison Jeanne Dambach. The newest member of the women’s soccer family arrived at 3:16 a.m. July 8, weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Dambach’s former players, of course, have no doubt what type of mother their former coach will be. “She’s going to be an amazing mother,” Hayes says. “I can’t wait to babysit! She’s such a caring, nurturing person. … I can’t wait to witness it all.” While Dambach is witnessing her daughter growing up day by day, she also can’t wait to see what the 2016 women’s soccer team can do, and if it can repeat what happened last year. Much has changed since the start of last season. The team, of course, is different with the likes
of Rodriguez and Weber gone, and the Lions are now the ones being chased nationally. “It’s one thing to get there. Sustaining success is a whole other challenge, and one we’re ready for,” Dambach says. “We’re not content with one and done. 2015 was their year. We want 2016, 2017. It takes a decent amount of work to get to this point, but now it feels like it takes a lot more to stay at this point.” Much, obviously, has changed for Dambach. She recognizes that being a parent changes how one sees things, and how one plans for the future. “I got this image of after a game Jason handing [Addison] down to me and being with the team in that moment,” she says. “These are her role models. I say that now as I recruit. I’ll say to the mom that this is a really important decision for me in the recruiting process because your daughter is going to be one of the most influential pieces of my young daughter’s life — and that’s true.” T&G David Pencek is editorial director of Town&Gown.
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2016 August T&G - 77
This Month
on
Special programming made possible by members like you!
Our Town: Cresson Thursday, August 25, at 8 p.m.
Magic Moments – The Best of 50s Pop (My Music) Saturday, August 27, at 7 p.m.
The Ed Sullivan Show and My Music Present California Dreamin’: The Songs of the Mamas and the Papas Monday, August 29, at 8 p.m.
Great Performances at the Met
Odd Squad: The Movie Monday, August 1, at 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Saturday afternoons, August 6 and 13 This 10th season of magnificent productions from The Metropolitan Opera in New York City includes:
Turandot, August 6, at 3 p.m. Il Trovatore, August 13, at 2:30 p.m. In this feature-length Odd Squad event, a rival group of adults called Weird Team arrive with a gadget that fixes any odd problem, running Odd Squad out of business and forcing the agents to go back to their lives as regular kids.
Great Old Amusement Parks Monday, August 22, at 9 p.m.
American Experience: Boys of ‘36 Tuesday, August 2, at 8 p.m. The thrilling true story of nine workingclass young men from the University of Washington who overcame tremendous hardships to beat their Ivy League counterparts and Hitler’s elite rowers, taking the rowing world by storm and inspiring a nation, when they captured the gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. For additional program information, visit wpsu.org.
wpsu.org U.Ed. OUT 17-0005/17-PSPB-TV-0001
August 2016 T&G -REVISED.indd 1
This one-hour special, hosted by WGBH’s Rick Sebak, takes you on old wooden roller coasters, vintage bumper cars, and other classic rides as it looks at the history of the charming and beautiful pre-Disney family amusement parks that used to dot towns across the United States, including Altoona and Pittsburgh.
AUGUST
Photos: Patti Page and the Mamas and the Papas courtesy of TJL Productions, Odd Squad © 2016 The Fred Rogers Company.
7/14/2016 9:12:53 AM
Coming to Bryce Jordan Center/Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
AUGUST 1-2 Spikes vs. West Virginia Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. Mon., noon Tues. 9-11 Spikes vs. West Virginia Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. 12-14 Spikes vs. Staten Island Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 6:05 p.m. Sun. 13 Penn State Commencement Bryce Jordan Center 9 a.m. 17 Spikes vs. Williamsport Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. 23-25 Spikes vs. Batavia Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. 29-31 Spikes vs. Aberdeen Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. 30 Kiss Bryce Jordan Center 7:30 p.m.
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T& G
what's happening
August
16-18
25
Find out the latest in Penn State agricultural research during Ag Progress Days.
Who makes the best wings in Happy Valley? Tussey Mountain hosts the finals of its WingFest competition.
6 Get an up close look at the work farmers do in Centre County during the Centre County Farm Tour.
6 State College Brew Expo returns to Tussey Mountain and benefits Coaches vs. Cancer.
19
25-27
The defending national champion Penn State women’s soccer team opens its 2016 season hosting West Virginia in the Penn State Invitational at Jeffrey Field.
Learn about new technology and create your own inventions during Schlow Centre Region Library’s Maker Week.
30
11-14 State College Community Theatre goes back to school with its production of Disney’s High School Musical at the State Theatre.
19-27
Town and gown come together during LION Bash in downtown State College.
The tent city is open! It’s the 142nd edition of the Centre County Grange Fair!
30 12-13 The Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair takes over Talleyrand Park.
24
Don your face paint. Kiss comes to the Bryce Jordan Center.
Singersongwriter David Crosby visits the State Theatre. To have an event listed in “What’s Happening," e-mail dpenc@barashmedia.com. 2016 August T&G - 81
Children & Families 1-5 – Astro Scouts (ages 9-12), Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 9 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org. 1-5 – Techno-logic (ages 11-14), Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 9 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org. 2 – M.A.T.H.H., Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 1:30 and 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 3 – Read It, Watch It Series: Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, State Theatre, SC, noon, schlowlibrary.org. 6 – Unbound: Make your own ’ZINE, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10:15 a.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 6 – Block Party, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 6, 13, 20 – Saturday Stories Alive, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 8-12 – Design Thinkers (ages 8-12), Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 9 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org. 8-12 – I Spy a Mystery (ages 3-5) Discovery Space of Central PA, SC, 9 a.m., mydiscoveryspace.org. 9 – Teen Summer Reading Pizza Party, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 10 – Read It, Watch It Series: Air Bud, State Theatre, SC, noon, schlowlibrary.org. 13 – Kids Day III: Dress Up and Discover!, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 10 a.m., pamilmuseum.org. 17 – Read It, Watch It Series: Big Hero 6, State Theatre, SC, noon, schlowlibrary.org.
Classes & Lectures 2 – Central PA Civil War Round Table: “Fighting the Civil War: Historical Treasures and Artifacts of the Conflict” by Wayne Motts, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7 p.m., pamilmuseum.org. 2, 16 – “A Joint Venture,” information session on hip or knee replacement, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11 a.m. Aug. 2, 7 p.m. Aug. 16, 278-4810. 3 – Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series: “The Malmedy Massacre in Belgium, Dec. 1944" by Captain Jim Bloom with World War II veteran Bill Poorman, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m., pamilmuseum.org.
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5 – Gallery Talk: “Summer Is for Learning: Focus on the Collection” by Michael Grasso, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 7 – Docent Choice Tour: “A Glimpse of the Gilded Age” by Mary Ellen Litzinger, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 14 – Docent Choice Tour: “Works of Art with a Tale to Tell” by Mary Jo Everhart, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 21 – Docent Choice Tour: “Visions of You & Me: Portraiture at the Palmer” by Betsy Allen, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 24 – Gallery Talk: Glenn Thiel, Penn State All-Sports Museum, PSU, noon, gopsusports.com/museum. 26-28 – 24-Hour Basic Mediation Training, Lewis Katz Building, PSU, 8:30 a.m., cacj.us. 28 – Docent Choice Tour: “The Hidden Meaning of Clothing Art” by Deborah Meszaros, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 2 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.
Club Events 1, 15 – Knitting Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – State College Rotary Club, Nittany Lion Inn, SC, 5:30 p.m., statecollegerotary.org. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – State College Sunrise Rotary Club, Hotel State College, SC, 7:15 a.m., kfragola@psualum.com. 3, 17 – Outreach Toastmasters, The 329 Building, Room 413, PSU, noon, kbs131@psu.edu. 4, 11, 18, 25 – State College Downtown Rotary, Ramada Inn & Conference Center, SC, noon, centrecounty.org/rotary/club/. 4, 11, 18, 25 – Comics Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 3:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 6, 13, 20, 27 – Chess Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 6, 13, 20, 27 – Go Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 10 – Teen Book Club: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 3:45 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 10 – 148th PA Volunteer Infantry Civil War Reenactment Group, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, SC, 7:30 p.m., 861-0770. 11, 25 – Embroidery Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 15 – Parrot Owner’s Group, Perkins, 525 Benner Pike, SC, 7 p.m., 237-2822.
16 – Evening Book Club: Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 6:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 17 – Senior Center Book Club: Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 12:15 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 20 – Boardgaming Meetup, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10 a.m., schlowlibrary.org. 20 – Lego Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 24 – Afternoon Book Club: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org. 24 – Applique Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 6 p.m., schlowlibrary.org.
Community Associations & Development 11 – CBICC Business After Hours: Juniper Village, 5:30 p.m., cbicc.org. 16 – Spring Creek Watershed Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC, 7:30 a.m., springcreekwatershed.org. 24 – Patton Township Business Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC, noon, 237-2822.
25 – CBICC Business After Hours: Robin Hood Brewing Company, 5:30 p.m., cbicc.org.
Exhibits Ongoing – Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum, Boalsburg, 1:30-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun., boalmuseum.com. Ongoing – Underground Railroad: A Journey to Freedom, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, noon-4:30 p.m. FriSun., bellefontemuseum.org. Ongoing-7 – American Art in the Shadow of World War I, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu. Ongoing-14 – The Prints of Jules Heller, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu. Ongoing-September 7 – Artes Exempli, Robeson Gallery, PSU, studentaffairs.psu.edu/ hub/galleries. Ongoing-September 11 – Kiana Honarmand, HUB Gallery, PSU, studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/ galleries. Ongoing-September 18 – Art by Vesco, Art Alley, PSU, studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/galleries.
BuyHereLiveHere.com 2016 August T&G - 83
Ongoing-September 18 – Still Moving: Photographs by Steve McCurry, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu. Ongoing-October 15 – Arts Festival at Fifty: Stories of the Early Years, Centre Furnace Mansion, SC, 1-4 p.m. Sun., Mon., & Wed., centrehistory.org. 5-September 25 – Cuban Art, A Family Workshop, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, noon-4:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun., bellefontemuseum.org. 23-December 18 – Recent Acquisitions: Gifford Beal in Rockport, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon4 p.m. Sun., palmermuseum.psu.edu. 30-December 18 – The Gentle Satire of Adolf Dehn, 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. 1 – Breast Cancer Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 5:30 p.m., 231-6970. 3 – Amputee Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 5 p.m., 359-5630. 5, 9 – Juniper Village at Brookline’s Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group, Mount Nittany Dining Room at The Inn, SC, 1 p.m. Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9, 231-3141. 9 – Brain Injury Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 7 p.m., 359-3421. 10 – The Fertility Issues and Loss Support Group, Choices (2214 N. Atherton St.), SC, 6 p.m., heartofcpa.org. 11 – The Diabetes Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., 231-7095. 15 – Cancer Survivors’ Association, Pink Zone Resource Center in the Cancer Pavilion at Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11:30 a.m., 238-6220. 17 – Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, Foxdale Village, SC, 1:30 p.m., 867-6212. 17 – Alzheimer’s Support Group, Elmcroft Senior Living, SC, 6:30 p.m., 235-7675. 18 – Better Breathers Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 2 p.m., 842-6026. 18 – Parents-to-be Orientation, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6:30 p.m., 231-3132.
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22 – Heart Healthy Support Group for Heart Failure, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 4 p.m., 359-3421. 23 – Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 6 p.m., 359-3421. 28 – Neuropathy Support Group of Central PA, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 531-1024. 30 – Stroke Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 4 p.m., 359-3421.
Music 5 – Concerts on the Village Green: Kenneth Baxter, Lemont Village Green, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., lemontvillage.org. 7 – South Hills Music Picnic Series: Nittany Knights, South Hills School of Business & Technology, SC, 6 p.m., southhills.edu. 7 – Summer Sounds at the Gazebo: Second Winds, Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte, 7 p.m., bellefontearts.org. 12 – Concerts on the Village Green: The Project, Lemont Village Green, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., lemontvillage.org. 12 – Jazz in the Attic: Jay Vonada’s Organ Trio East, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 14 – South Hills Music Picnic Series: Bellefonte Community Band, South Hills School of Business & Technology, SC, 6 p.m., southhills.edu. 14 – Summer Sounds at the Gazebo: The Coterie, Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte, 7 p.m., bellefontearts.org. 18 – Thursday Afternoons with the Second Winds, American Ale House & Grill, SC, 3 p.m., 237-9701. 19– Concerts on the Village Green: Tyne and the Fastlyne, Lemont Village Green, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., lemontvillage.org. 21 – South Hills Music Picnic Series: Tommy Wareham & The Intrigues, South Hills School of Business & Technology, SC, 6 p.m., southhills.edu. 21 – Summer Sounds at the Gazebo: Jay Vonada, Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte, 7 p.m., bellefontearts.org. 24 – David Crosby, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org. 25 – Jazz at the Palmer: The Rick Hirsch 3, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 7:30 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu.
26 – Concerts on the Village Green: Hops and Vines, Lemont Village Green, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., lemontvillage.org. 26 – Penn State School of Music: Undergraduate Student Recognition Recital, Esber Recital Hall, PSU, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu. 28 – South Hills Music Picnic Series: Zeropoint Big Band, South Hills School of Business & Technology, SC, 6 p.m., southhills.edu. 28 – Penn State School of Music: Voice Faculty Favorites Recital, Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, SC, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu. 30 – Kiss, BJC, PSU, 7:30 p.m., bjc.psu.edu.
Special Events 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Tuesdays State College Farmers’ Market, Locust Lane, SC, 11:30 a.m., visitpennstate.org. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Boalsburg Farmers’ Market, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 2 p.m., visitpennstate.org. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – Lemont Farmers’ Market, Lemont Granary, Lemont, 2 p.m., visitpennstate.org.
Gifford Beal’s “After the Storm” is part of the exhibit, Recent Acquisitions: Gifford Beal in Rockport, which will be at the Palmer Museum of Art August 23 to December 18. 4, 11, 18, 25 – WingFest, Tussey Mountain, Boalsburg, 5:30 p.m., tusseymountain.com. 5 – First Friday, Downtown State College, 5 p.m., firstfridaystatecollege.com. 5, 12, 19, 26 – Downtown Farmers’ Market, Locust Lane, SC, 11:30 a.m., visitpennstate.org.
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2016 August T&G - 85
6 – Centre County Farm Tour, various locations, 9 a.m., pasafarming.org. 6 – The Herb Garden Spa, Tait Farms Foods, Centre Hall, 11 a.m., taitfarmfoods.com. 6 – State College Brew Expo, Tussey Mountain, Boalsburg, 5 p.m., statecollegebrewexpo.com. 6, 13, 20, 27 – Bellefonte Farmers’ Market, Gamble Mill parking lot, 8 a.m., visitpennstate.org. 6, 13, 20, 27 – Millheim Farmers’ Market, Old Gregg Mills Farmers’ Market, Spring Mills, 10 a.m., visitpennstate.org. 6, 13, 20, 27 – North Atherton Farmers’ Market, Home Depot parking lot, SC, 10 a.m., visitpennstate.org. 12-13 – Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair, Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte, bellefontechamber.org. 14 – It’s Chow Time: Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Poe Valley State Park, Milroy, 10:30 a.m., centrehistory.org. 16-18 – Ag Progress Days, Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center, PA Furnace, agsci. psu.edu. 19-27 – Centre County Grange Fair, Grange Fairgrounds, Centre Hall, grangefair.net. 20 – The Bard in Bellefonte, Talleyrand Park, Bellefonte, 1 p.m., tempestproductions.org 20 – Tomato Festival & Cook Off, Tait Farm Foods, Centre Hall, 1 p.m., taitfarmfoods.com. 25-27 – Maker Week, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, schlowlibrary.org. 27 – 50 Fest - 50 Anniversary Community Celebration!, Tudek Park, SC, 10 a.m., crpr.org. 30 – LION Bash, 200 block South Allen Street, SC, 6 p.m., statecollegepa.us.
Sports For tickets to the State College Spikes, call (814) 272-1711 or visit statecollegespikes.com. For tickets to Penn State sporting events, visit gopsusports.com or call (814) 865-5555. 1-2 – Spikes/West Virginia, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 7:05 p.m. Mon., noon Tues. 9-11 – Spikes/West Virginia, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 7:05 p.m. 12-14 – Spikes/Staten Island, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 7:05 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 6:05 p.m. Sun. 17 – PSU/Kent State, field hockey (exhibition), Penn State Field Hockey Complex, PSU, noon. 17 – Spikes/Williamsport, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 7:05 p.m. 19 – PSU/West Virginia, women’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, 7:30 p.m. 20 – PSU/Drexel, field hockey (exhibition), Penn State Field Hockey Complex, PSU, 2 p.m. 86 - T&G August 2016
The Penn State field hockey team opens its season hosting Old Dominion August 28. 21 – PSU/Hofstra, women’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, 2:30 p.m. 23-25 – Spikes/Batavia, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 7:05 p.m. 26 – PSU/Old Dominion, field hockey, Penn State Field Hockey Complex, PSU, 6 p.m. 26 – PSU/BYU, women’s soccer, Jeffrey Field, PSU, 7 p.m. 26 – PSU/West Virginia, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 27 – PSU/Georgia Southern, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 10 a.m. 27 – PSU/North Carolina, women’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m. 28 – PSU/Virginia, field hockey, Penn State Field Hockey Complex, PSU, noon. 29-31 – Spikes/Aberdeen, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 7:05 p.m.
Theater 3-20 – Nittany Theatre at the Barn presents Calendar Girls, Boal Barn Playhouse, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. matinees Aug. 7, 14, & 20), nittanytheatre.org. 4-7 – Next Stage Theatre Company presents I and You, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., thestatetheatre.org. 11-14 – State College Community Theatre presents Disney’s High School Musical, State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m. Thurs. & Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., scctonline.org. 30-September 10 – Nittany Theatre at the Barn presents Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Boal Barn Playhouse, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., nittanytheatre.org. T&G
T& G
on tap
Hot Weather Prescription: Take a Little Pils! From its Eastern European beginnings, pilsner has become the most revolutionary style of beer By Sam Komlenic
The dog days of summer find many of us reaching for a lighter-bodied beer — one that’s refreshing and easy to drink, perhaps with a little less alcohol than our usual tipple, much like the lighter fare we might choose to enjoy during summertime meals. If that’s the case with your hot-weather drinking habits, you owe a debt of gratitude to Bavarian brewmaster Josef Groll, who oversaw operations at the Citizens Brewery in Plzen, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic). The brewery had been started in 1839 as a project of the residents and city fathers of Plzen, who wanted to assure their fellow citizens that the beer brewed there would adhere to stricter standards than many other area breweries, whose beer had been so inconsistent that Czechs had poured barrels out into the streets the year before in protest. By 1842, Groll had the opportunity to take advantage of a confluence of modern brewing developments never before available. Plzen was situated near several strategic 88 - T&G August 2016
rivers and other trade arteries, and Groll could source paler malts made possible through advances in malting technology, along with Bohemia’s worldclass hops, specifically the noble Saaz variety, and the recently discovered lager yeast strain that had been smuggled out of Bavaria. The goal in Plzen was to brew Bavarian-style beers, hence Groll’s hiring. Using his prolific skills, Groll combined these ingredients to their utmost incarnation. Add to this recipe the remarkably soft water of the region, and Groll created what would arguably become the most revolutionary beer style the world had ever seen, or ever would see: pilsener. On October 5 of that year (yes, we actually know the date!), after the barley harvest (and malting) and the later hops harvest, with a few months’ aging, the beer was rolled out to unanimous acclaim. The Citizens Brewery eventually changed its name, after it registered the trademark in 1898 that would define the category forever: Pilsner Urquell, which translates roughly to “original pilsener.” Early lager beers, including pilsener, required extended storage under colder conditions, unlike the ales of the day. Back then, cold storage required the coolness of caves to hold the aging beer, sometimes augmented with ice that had been cut from lakes and rivers in the winter and put away for the additional cooling necessitated by summer’s heat. Another factor in the rise in popularity of pilsener beer was the mass production and subsequent affordability of glass drinking vessels by the masses, for
Pilsner Urquell, or “original pilsener,” started a revolution in beer style.
the first time in history. The style’s unusual and striking golden color was now visible to everyone who raised a glass in the drinking halls and taverns. Pilsener eventually became a game changer for every brewery on the planet. By 1853, the beer was available in 35 establishments in Prague, in 1856 it arrived in Vienna, and in 1862, Paris. It also is the style that took a firm hold on our shores once mechanical refrigeration became available on an industrial scale in the 1890s. This enabled American brewers to brew and age pilseners without underground storage, and it took mere decades for the style to dominate the American drinking scene. Pilsener is one of the few beer styles that actually emphasizes every ingredient used in its makeup in the finished product: water, malt, hops, and yeast. Water quality is essential in very few brewing styles, and pilsener is one of them. Soft water adds to the drinkability of pilsener, and it is essential for the gentle yet persistent emphasis that hops play in both aroma and flavor, making pilsener the worldwide king of beer styles. 90 - T&G August 2016
Classic pilseners remain the domain of the Czech Republic, and Bohemia specifically, but as the most-copied beer style in the world, they have been variously interpreted by others. Pilsener is likely the most popular style in neighboring Germany, where German hops play a slightly more significant role, and there are notable examples across Europe, from Poland to the Netherlands. American pilsener was traditionally brewed with a portion of corn in the mash, as corn is more readily available and less expensive here than barley malt. This further lightened the resulting product, and it became the predominant style in the US, even up to this day. After World War II, the presence of hops in our iteration was gradually reduced to keep pace with the increasingly bland preferences of the American public, and the style here became a watered-down version, hardly recognizable as pilsener, with a few regional exceptions. Though purists turn up their noses at what the style eventually became here, it has now been embraced by the craft-brewing community nationwide as a popular summer seasonal, if not a solid year-round offering. Now you can belly up to the bar in a lot of places and have yourself a “real” pilsener. When you do, you’ll be sipping part of the 174-year history of pilsener beer, the skill of its creator, Josef Groll, and that of your local brewer, who has come to understand and respect the importance of the world’s most influential beer style, ever. Prost! Author’s note: the spelling of pilsener has become a bit contentious, with variants such as pilsner, pilsen, or simply pils holding sway for others. I use the American precraft-brewing-era spelling as homage to my dad, who for 35 years helped to brew Stoney’s pilsener beer at the Jones Brewing Company in Smithton, on the banks of Western Pennsylvania’s beautiful Youghiogheny River, where as a kid I first gained my love of beer and brewing. Thanks, Dad! T&G Sam Komlenic, whose dad worked for a Pennsylvania brewery for 35 years, grew up immersed in the brewing business. He has toured scores of breweries, large and small, from coast to coast.
7
Has Always Been Our Lucky Number! We think turning 7 is “Just Peachy”! A big “Thank you” to all our Seven Mountains Wine Cellars Friends for helping us grow and reach our 7th Anniversary! Come celebrate with us on August 12th from 6pm-9pm, karaoke with DJ Rick LaPene of Stressbusters Entertainment at our 7th Birthday Bash!
Check Web Site for All of Our Special Event Dates and Details!
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
Taste of the Month A Columbian Experience
Barranquero CafÊ gives some of the world’s best coffee a home in downtown State College
By Vilma Shu Danz Photos by Darren Andrew Weimert Empanadas
92 - T&G August 2016
Barranquero Café features cold-brewed coffees in which the water is dripped through coffee grounds at room temperature.
Co-owner Susan Jermusyk prepares and enjoys a coffee drink.
C
olombia is the world’s third largest producer of coffee, after Brazil and Vietnam. The rich volcanic soil in the arid mountains of the country produces ideal conditions for growing high-quality coffee. Colombian coffee is known to be among the best in the world, with a rich, full-bodied, and perfectly balanced taste. No one knows exactly when coffee arrived in Colombia, but some think the bean came with Jesuit
priests in the seventeenth century. The first overseas shipment of coffee was in 1835, when 2,500 pounds of coffee headed from Colombia to the United States. By 1875, Colombia was exporting 170,000 bags to the US and Europe. In 1992, exports of coffee topped at 17 million bags and are currently around 11 million bags per year. Since March, locals and visitors in State College have enjoyed a cup of Colombian coffee at Barranquero Café, located at 324 East Calder Way. Owners and State College natives Susan Jermusyk and her uncle, Gerry Kistler, were inspired to open the coffee shop after visiting Café Jesús Martín in Colombia in 2010. Named after a colorful Colombian bird, Barranquero Café’s rustic, industrial décor is inspired by the small coffee shop in Colombia. Colombian artwork on the walls welcomes families and coffee enthusiasts alike. The mezzanine, tucked away on the second floor, invites customers to play board games and learn about Colombia and its coffee. Barranquero Café offers 10 different brews of Colombian coffee as well as teas made with the coffee shells. “Each of the different coffees, from the Diamante, Bourbon, Peaberry to the Honey and Natural, have 2016 August T&G - 93
Pan de queso
their own distinct flavor profile, which we have listed at the front for people to look at when they are deciding on what to order,” says Jermusyk. “The Honey and the Natural are not traditionally processed coffees. For the Honey, harvesters take the fruit off but leave the sweet nectar on, and then it is laid out to dry. For the Natural, the whole fruit is laid out to dry in a greenhouse for 45 days, and then it is kept in a sack for eight months before it is roasted.” Jesús Bedoya, owner of the Café Jesús Martín, grew up in the Santa Ana Valley — known as the Coffee Triangle of Colombia — on a coffee farm owned by his father and grandfather. “The farm has been in the family for five generations, over 100 years old, but Jesús was the first in the family to roast the beans,” explains Jermusyk. Café Jesús Martín is the sole coffee supplier of Barranquero Café. Its coffee beans are subject to high-quality controls during the whole process, starting with paying its harvesters a fair wage. The coffee beans are handpicked, so each fruit is picked at the correct ripeness. At other farms, when machines are used, all the fruit is stripped from the plant, so under-ripe fruit is picked in the process. The beans from Café Jesús Martín also are roasted in small batches, so it’s a more even roast. 94 - T&G August 2016
“I never thought growing up I would be a coffee drinker, but this coffee has a natural sweetness because it’s a medium roast. What people don’t realize is that the longer you roast the beans, the more flavor you burn, so darker roasts have more bitter flavors,” explains Jermusyk. Barranquero Café serves hot-brewed and cold-brewed coffees. Most people are familiar with hot-brewed coffee, but the cold brew is a unique process in which water is dripped through coffee grounds at room temperature over the course of many hours, usually overnight. The coffee grounds aren’t subjected to the intense heat of boiling water, making the chemical profile of the final brew different than that of conventionally brewed coffee, and the lower acidity creates a smoother cup. “We want people to have a coffee experience, so we encourage people to ask us about the coffee and smell the grounds,” says Jermusyk. At Barranquero Café, in addition to an Americano, macchiato, cappuccino, and latte, there are a few unique specialty espresso drinks on the menu. A campesino is a single shot of espresso with warmed agua de panela, an infusion made from dissolved sugarcane. A tinto is a single shot of espresso and water, a very popular drink in Colombia. Angela’s Vietnamese is a drink created by Bedoya’s wife and is a layered beverage that consists of condensed milk and a single shot of espresso. Jermusyk says, “We just added the affogato, a scoop of Penn State Creamery vanilla ice cream, and a single shot of espresso.” The food menu includes a variety of meat and black bean empanadas, pan de queso, coffee brownie, and muffins. “We had no idea that there was such a large Latin American community here until we opened, so we are working on adding arepas and other Colombian foods to the menu,” says Jermusyk. “We are lucky to have found Milena Zamora, who is originally from Bogotá, Colombia, who came up with a lot of the recipes.” T&G For more information, visit barranquerocafe.com.
For a special offer for 10% off your order at Barranquero Café, visit townandgown.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 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. Tapas-style dining from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Sundays, brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and tapas from 4 to 9 p.m. Closed on Mondays. The distillery is in full operation and the tasting room is now open with our bottled craft spirits available for purchase during the restaurants hours of operation. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar. Carnegie Inn & Spa Restaurant, 100 Cricklewood Drive, 234-2424. An exquisite boutique hotel offering fine dining in a relaxed yet gracious atmosphere. Your dining experience begins with a wide array of appetizers and entrees that compare to the best restaurants of the largest cities in the United States. Additionally, the Carnegie Inn & Spa Restaurant wine list is one of the best in the area and features a wide variety of wines from California, France, and other countries. Reservations suggested. AE, MC, D, V. Full bar. Cozy Thai Bistro, 232 S. Allen St., 237-0139. A true authentic Thai restaurant offering casual and yet “cozy” family-friendly dining experience. Menu features wide selections of exotic Thai cuisine, both lunch and dinner (take-out available). BYO (wines and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. 96 - T&G August 2016
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 acceptable. Private dining rooms available. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar. Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern, On the Diamond, Boalsburg, 466-6241. The Boalsburg Tavern offers a fine, intimate setting reminiscent of Colonial times. Dining for all occasions with formal and casual menus, daily dinner features, specials, and plenty of free parking. AE, MC, V. Full bar. Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 1229 S. Atherton St., 237-9000, faccialuna.com. A true neighborhood hangout, 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.
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.
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. 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 Austrian home cooking in Central PA. Ranked #1 Ethnic Restaurant in State College for 8 years in a row. Eat-in, Take-Out, Catering. Glutenfree options available. Bacon-based dessert. Homemade breads, BYO beer or wine all day. Sense of humor required. D, MAC, MC, V. Hi-Way Pizza, 1688 N. Atherton St., 237-0375, HiWayPizza.com. The State College tradition for nearly 50 years, nobody does it better than Hi-Way! Offering more than 29 varieties of hand-spun 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.
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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.
(@TownGownSC)
Duffy’s Tavern Est. 1819
Don’t let summer pass without having dinner on Duffy’s patio! For Reservations 466-6241 www.duffystavern.com
98 - T&G August 2016
Located “On the Diamond” 113 East Main Street
Mario’s Italian Restaurant, 272 N. Atherton St., 234-4273, MariosItalianStateCollege.com. Fresh specialty dishes, pasta, sauces, hand-tossed pizzas, and rotisserie wood-grilled chicken all made from scratch are just a few reasons why Mario’s is authentically Italian! At the heart of it all is a specialty wood-fired pizza oven and rotisserie that imparts rustic flavors that can’t be beat! Mario’s loves wine and is honored with six consecutive Wine Spectator awards and a wine list of more than 550 Italian selections. Mario’s even pours 12 rotating specialty bottles on its WineStation® state-of-the-art preservation system. Reservations and walk-ins welcome. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar. Otto’s Pub & Brewery, 2235 N. Atherton St., 867-6886, ottospubandbrewery.com. State College’s most awarded craft-beer pub and brewery featuring more than a dozen fresh, house-brewed ales and lagers on tap as well as fine, affordably priced, local American food with vegan and vegetarian offerings, a kids’ menu, weekly features, and seasonal menu. Open for lunch and dinner in a family-friendly, casual atmosphere. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.
Philipsburg Elks Lodge & Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Philipsburg, 342-0379, philipsburgelks.com. Restaurant open to the public! Monday-Saturday 11-9, Sunday 9-3. Member-only bar. New golf-member special, visit our Web site for summer golf special. AE MC, V. Full Bar (members only). The Tavern Restaurant, 220 E. College Ave., 238-6116. A unique gallery-in-a-restaurant preserving PA’s and Penn State’s past. Dinner at The Tavern is a Penn State tradition. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar. Whiskers at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8580. Casual dining featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and University Creamery ice cream. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar.
2016 August T&G - 99
Taste of the Month
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 by-the-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
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!
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.
Mini Golden Cup
available at
COZY THAI BISTRO 232 S. Allen Street. State College, PA 16801 Tel: 814.237.0139 E-mail: cozy thai@gmail.com 100 - T&G August 2016
INGREDIENT DRIVEN • SEASONAL • NEW AMERICAN CUISINE EXTENSIVE WINE LIST • BY THE BOTTLE & GLASS
814 . 237. 8474
ZOL AK I TCHEN .COM
MON. - THUR. 11: 30 -9PM • FRI. - SAT. 11: 30 -10 PM • SUN. 11: 30 - 8PM
Barranquero Café, 324 E. Calder Way, 954-7548, barranquerocafe.com. A locally owned coffee shop specializing in authentic Colombian coffees and specialty drinks. Works closely with its coffee suppliers in Colombia to ensure that it receives only the highest quality coffee beans the region has to offer. Also serves fresh fruit juices, empanadas, and more! Hopes to bring a little piece of Colombia to Happy Valley! Summer Hours: Tues.-Sat. 8a.m.-8p.m., Sun. 10a.m.-5p.m. Closed Monday.
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.
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. Meyer Dairy, 2390 S. Atherton St., 237-1849. A State College Classic! Meyer Dairy is the perfect choice for a quick, homemade lunch with fresh soups and sandwiches or treat yourself to your favorite flavor of ice cream or sundae at our ice cream parlor. Fresh milk from our own dairy cows (we do not inject our cows with BST), eggs, cheese, ice cream cakes, baked goods, and more! Plus, Meyer Dairy is the best place to pick up your Town&Gown magazine each month! T&G
HUB Dining, HUB-Robeson Center on campus, 865-7623. A Penn State tradition open to all! Enjoy 12 different eateries in the HUB-Robeson Center on campus. Jamba Juice, McAlister’s Deli, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Grate Chee, Sbarro, Soup & Garden, Diversions, Blue Burrito, Mixed Greens, Panda Express, and Hibachi-San by Panda.V, MC, LC.
Serving authentic Colombian coffees
fresh juices, empanadas and more!
Come relax at 324 E. Calder Way, Downtown State College
Tues-Sat 8-8, Sunday 10-5, Closed Monday
got milk? Get yours at
Meyer Dairy 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 2016 August T&G - 101
T& G
lunch with mimi
Bettering the Borough
Tiara Snare
Manager Tom Fountaine works to foster positive relations and improvements in State College
State College borough manager Tom Fountaine (right) talks with Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith at the Allen Street Grill in State College.
As State College borough manager since 2003, Tom Fountaine is the chief administrative officer of the day-to-day operation of the municipality. Prior to coming to State College, he worked as the borough manager of Hollidaysburg. Born and raised in Indiana, he is a graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, with a degree in public affairs and urban studies. He has served as an adjunct professor at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson and has been active in many professional organizations, including the International City/County Management Association, Association for Pennsylvania Municipal Management, and the Pennsylvania Municipal Management Institute. He and his wife, Tamra, have three grown sons, all Penn State graduates, and two grandchildren. Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith sat down with Fountaine to discuss the challenges that the State College Borough faces and the new economic-development projects that are underway. Mimi: Our paths cross quite a bit because of our mutual concern for our community. Taking a broad look at where we are now, what do you think is our greatest challenge moving forward? Tom: I think there are still a number of challenges in State College that we have to deal with, but probably none more so than stabilizing the local economy, seeing improvement in the downtown economy in particular. We are having some major additions in downtown, but we’ve also had loss of some retail 102 - T&G August 2016
that is important for the community, so we’re still working hard to try to stabilize that. And then the other issue that we continually deal with is stabilizing our neighborhoods, particularly homeownership and families living in neighborhoods that contribute to the community. Mimi: And one of the most important services that you need to render are to students, yet some of the problems you deal with are deep concerns about the students. Tom: Students are a big part of the economy here, and we have 47,000 to 48,000 students at the University Park campus, so they’re obviously a core part of the local economy, but they also consume a lot of municipal services. We have a police force that is about a $12 million operation that represents about half of our total budget that results from having such a young demographic. Mimi: What do you think is our biggest challenge in terms of figuring out the problems of alcohol and drugs? Tom: It’s a problem in college towns across the country, and we spend an awful lot of time benchmarking with other college communities, and we’ve had a fair amount of success in addressing some of those problems. Mimi: You’ve even received an award. Tom: We were recognized by the International Town and Gown Association for the work that we had done around State Patty’s Day in reducing the most egregious effects of that event, which is totally built on high-risk and dangerous drinking. Mimi: To what extent are the students working with you on solutions? Tom: Students work very closely with us. We’ve had an outstanding relationship with student government, the IFC, the Off Campus Student Union, the Graduate and Professional Student Association, the international
student organizations — all of those have been involved with us in working to address the problems associated with binge drinking. And to some extent I think we’ve had some success through the years in reducing some of those issues, but they are still at a high level and about two-thirds of the crime in State College is alcohol-related. Mimi: Alcohol and/or drug related. Tom: Drugs actually are becoming an increasingly challenging issue for us. Mimi: What are we doing about that? Tom: We’re doing everything we can to address those issues. We’ve seen an increase in opiates. It’s been a problem nationally, and we’re starting to see it here and we’re learning from colleagues and other places that have been dealing with this for a longer period of time. Mimi: Switching gears, you’re at the heartbeat of the community in terms of the leadership. You’ve had to provide the town-and-gown issue of downtown competitive businesses at the university. Is that under control? Tom: That’s a loaded question! We have, and have always had an incredible strong partnership and relationship with Penn State — and with President Barron, it has grown even better. We’ve got some great examples of working together to foster development in downtown State College. This spring, we cut the ribbon and officially opened Happy Valley LaunchBox at the State College Town Center, which would not have happened if not for Penn State, and we’ve been able to put a group of entrepreneurs in a building that the borough owns. Mimi: I was at that opening. There was a young woman speaking about the device she and her colleagues were working on, Project Vive. It’s a speech-assistance technology that aims to give a voice to individuals who cannot talk. She is quite an impressive individual. Tom: There is no doubt that Penn State right now is playing a significant role in economic development and entrepreneurship. Penn State is a very strong part in the Centre County Economic Development Partnership, working close with the county government municipalities to foster economic development throughout the county, so it’s really a strong partnership that’s going to pay dividends in the not so distant future. Mimi: Now let’s shift to the Fraser Centre. That’s the biggest building in a long time in State College. Tom: It is. It’s a huge project. I’ve been here for
almost 14 years, and that project was on the drawing board when I started here. It’s scheduled to open this fall, and it’s really an exciting project with major national tenants, a restaurant located in the facility as well as residential. Mimi: And when will these places open? Tom: The retail segments are scheduled to open in October. There are two retail tenants, Target and H&M. I think the total is around 50,000 square feet of retail space. The hotel, Hyatt Place, and restaurant are scheduled to open either in December or January. Mimi: Let’s shift to the Metropolitan, which is another huge project. Do they have any tenants in the commercial part yet? Tom: I don’t know that they do. At this point, they haven’t shared that information with us, but it’s a large residential building with several floors of commercial retail. It’s under construction now and is currently targeted to open in August 2017, and it appears to be on schedule to make that deadline. At the other end of downtown, on the east end, the Rise is a project that has also a mixed use of retail and housing, and, in the first iteration of that project, there was discussion on having a mix of student and nonstudent housing in that building. They are in final planning right now. My understanding is they’re scheduled to begin demolition on the site this summer, and then construction will begin shortly after. Mimi: We’re losing the police chief that all of us adore. How is that search coming? Tom: We’re making progress. We’re very close. We have three candidates that are in the final process of interviewing. Mimi: I wish you luck on that. Tom: Thank you. Tom King has contributed significantly to this community. King is ahead of the curve on most things and has been a leader not only here in State College but really around Pennsylvania. We’re fortunate that were going to be able to retain King as a civilian employee after he retires as chief. He won’t be going away. Mimi: What is the biggest problem you face every day as a leader of a very complex community? Tom: It’s a different problem every day, but a lot of it is dealing with the kinds of issues that come about because of the conflicts that are created in a town-and-gown community. There are conflicts between students and our long-term residents that have contributed to problems in our work and trying to manage things so we can improve those 2016 August T&G - 103
relationships. Financially, those are the biggest issues we still face in a community without a lot of ability to expand our tax boundaries, so to continue to provide the services that this community has grown to expect is a challenge. Mimi: On the one hand, the more economic development downtown the better it is for our fiscal health, as well. Tom: Absolutely. And one of our main goals is to try to find job opportunities for young professionals to continue to track and retain young professionals, particularly Penn State students. Mimi: Downtown State College used to have much more selection of things that people buy, clothing for women in particular; we still have a high-quality men shop. Part of what’s happened, the transformation of downtown to mostly outlets that appeal to the students, has deprived downtown of mature traffic. I’m sure you deal with that issue in some of your discussions. Tom: It’s been one of the key issues in our downtown strategic planning. We’ve had two downtown plans that have been developed in the last 15 years, and both plans address the needs to diversify. Fraser Centre was a result of that attempt. We are working closely with the Downtown State College Improvement District to maintain a strong retail base. Mimi: There’s a group of young leaders through CBICC Connect that are talking about ideas for young professionals, and a colleague of mine who happens to be involved on that committee tells me of a revived interest for an Allen Street pedestrian mall. Where does that stand? Tom: That idea has been around for decades. As you know, the downtown plan that we adopted a few years ago did talk about that, and the plan calls for some modifications on Allen Street to allow temporary closures, if not permanent closures. At this moment, there is not a lot of movement to close Allen Street completely for a pedestrian mall, but the idea is certainly one that could be considered. Mimi: It’s argued that it would bring more families down. It would be opportunities for events that would attract families downtown. Tom: I think one of the concerns for the retailers on Allen Street is that it doesn’t allow cars and parking on the street. It would be a detriment to those businesses. There’s still a lot of work we have to do. Mimi: Where does the borough stand? 104 - T&G August 2016
Tom: The borough hasn’t taken an official position other than to talk and plan about modifying the infrastructure so that the street could be closed more regularly. If, for example, Thursday night we wanted to close the street to have a movie night, we would have that ability. It might be closed temporarily in the evening to allow for more outside dining opportunities and other opportunities. Hopefully that would bolster the retail, but we still have a ways to go. It has always been a highly controversial topic, and there’s very little middle ground. Mimi: But we have lots of great examples of things that have evolved in State College that could only happen with the joint cooperation of the university and the community. We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Arts Festival this year. I remember the first one, but without the joint funding in the beginning and to this day it would never happen. What a great event that is to emphasize the quality of this community, so the more we can do together, the more we will have an even greater community. Tom: I couldn’t agree more. I think we have opportunities to do more and make downtown an attractive place for all people and all the residents. Mimi: You can always do better. And the best thing that can happen is this helps the downtown merchants, once and for all, to think as one unit. Part of what you’re battling is you are not able to get all levels of your components of downtown. Tom: That is always a challenge. People have different opinions and different perspectives, and, depending on where you’re located downtown, different levels of traffic. It’s always a challenge to get enough agreement on a project. Mimi: Two remarkable examples as we speak — the 4th Fest is an amazing activity that is economically helpful and the Arts Festival is a tradition throughout the state and beyond, and both happen because we happen to be a small town with a large university, and the more we can do to enhance that, the more we can do to improve. Tom: Another important anniversary is Town&Gown celebrating its 50th anniversary. I know the borough and the council were honored to be able to recognize Town&Gown. Mimi: We appreciate it and we’ve tried to earn it, and we will continue to try to earn it. Thank you! T&G
State College Photo Club’s
Winning Photos
The State College Photo Club provides photo enthusiasts with the opportunity to share their passion for photography with others and to provide an environment for learning and developing new skills. The club welcomes individuals from amateurs to professionals. The club also holds a bimonthly competition. 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 annual meeting competition held in May. Each month, eight photos win in judged competitions: four place in the theme category and four place in the open category. All photos, from June through March, were presented to the annual meeting judge, John Vincenti, who shared his thoughts on each of the photos and chose the “best of the best.”
“Drip Drop” by David Whiteman
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Annual Meeting First Place
Judge’s comment: “Excellent technique in color rendering, including lighting and stop action. Reflections in the drops are sharp.”
“Celestial Fantasy” by Evan Appelman Annual Meeting Second Place
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Judge’s comment: “Moon, landscape, animals, and mood merits.”
A copy of many photos taken by members of 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 for more information. The State College Photo Club meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Foxdale Village Auditorium.
Visit statecollegephotoclub.org for more information about how to join. 106 - T&G August 2016
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snapshot
A Call to Step in and Step Up Bellefonte interim superintendent has made smooth transition since taking position By Deming Fischer When Dr. Michelle Saylor was asked to step in as the interim superintendent for Bellefonte Area School District in April, she was hesitant at first to take the position. “I loved working with curriculum, instruction, and innovation and working side-by-side with the teachers,” she says, referring to her previous position as assistant superintendent, which she had held since July 2012, “but there’s also many components of this position that I enjoy.” Saylor, who was given a one-year contract in late June, took over as interim superintendent after Cheryl Potteiger left earlier in the year to take the superintendent position at Annville-Cleona School District. Though Saylor says there is always some sadness and trepidation about the future when a superintendent leaves, she believes that she was generally well received. “There’s always some anxiety about what change is going to occur,” she says. “I think one of the most important things was helping them understand that we still have that mission of excellence — we were just going to be a little more collaborative in the process. There was going to be some more voices as we move forward. We really weren’t looking at anything brand new because we were on the right track to begin with. “Sometimes when a superintendent transitions to another district, it’s because educational programming isn’t going well. That wasn’t the case. There were other variables. We have a very good team in place, so we’ve been able to continue with things that we’ve previously identified.” Originally from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Saylor is married with three adult children — two daughters and one son. She was an English teacher for nine years at Millville Area School District. She then became an assistant principal at Manheim Central, from 2005 to 2009, when she left to become the director of curriculum, instruction, and staff development at Wilson School District. Some of the aspects within the Bellefonte Area School District she is looking to continue are working with the University of Pittsburgh and its College in the Classroom 108 - T&G August 2016
Dr. Michelle Saylor
program that allows college-level courses to be taught at the school, increasing the technology-to-student ratio, and maintaining and improving the safety standards of the district. Saylor, who also is president of the Women’s Caucus of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, believes the most important aspect of her job is building relationships with the employees of the district. “I want to make sure people are valued so they can do their jobs,” she says. “Everyone has expertise and contributions for the district, and they need to be able to know they can make suggestions and be appreciated for it.” But the most important question for her personally is: Does she want to take the word “interim” out of her title? “If you had asked me two and a half months ago, I would have been hesitant,” she says. “I was really looking at the interim position as being something that I could do well for the district in this period of time. But as I’ve transitioned into this position, I really would appreciate the ability to continue and make it permanent. I’m finding, at least from my perspective, that this is a fit, and I’m honestly enjoying it.” T&G