Town&Gown March 2012

Inside: Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years • Hot breakfasts are served at local restaurants

Town&Gown MARCH 2012

FREE

townandgown.com

Dynamic Duo

Jamie and Kerry Bestwick are not only living out their dreams here in Happy Valley but also finding ways to help others in need

IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOWN

C E N T E R F O R T H E P E R F O R M I N G A R T S AT P E N N S TAT E

7:30 P.M. APRIL 11 • EISENHOWER AUDITORIUM ON SALE NOW!

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College of Arts and Architecture

Now Serving Lunch

Lunch at the Tavern‌

Relax and Enjoy our Daily Specials Serving lunch from 11:30 am to 3:00pm seven days a week.

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Big. Beautiful. Mysteriously Enchanting.

The Odyssey Always Sets The Mood.

Come See the New 2012 Honda ODYSSEY at The Dix Honda Sales Team: Bill Elder, Charlie Faris, Mike Shawley, Dave LeRoy, Rick Fisher

2796 W. College Avenue • State College, PA 16801 (814) 238-6711 • 1-800-829-6711 Mon., Tues., Thurs. 8-8 • Wed., Fri. 8-5:30 • Sat. 9-3

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Summer 2012

Summer Camp—Ages 4+

Gymnastics included each day 9 weeks of camp fun starting June 11 International & Olympic weekly themes Full day and part day camp options

Summer Class Programs

Boys & Girls Gymnastics and Tumbling HipHop by Hot Styles Dance Adult fitness classes Open Gym, Birthday parties

Be a part of the

Olympic Spirit!

Olympian meet & greet and other Olympic festivities this summer! www.centreelitegymnastics.com

814-380-0894

2120 Old Gatesburg Rd. State College, PA

The all-new BMW 5 Series Sedan bmwusa.com 1-800-334-4BMW

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ARRIVED AND CROWNED IN THE SAME BREATH. Fresh on the scene, the new 5 Series is already the most celebrated 5 Series ever, with the critics at CarandDriver.com concluding “The new 5 has us convinced. It’s luxurious, stylish, and fanastic to drive.” Also renowned for having our most generous maintenance plan ever, it’s coverd for everything but gas and tires. You pay nothing. And remarkably, this new 5 Series is recognized as a better value than ever, with a price point comparable to its predecessr. Stop by a BMW center today and experience the king of sport luxury sedans-the all-new 5 Series.

JOY IS THE ALL-NEW BMW 5 SERIES. Joel Confer BMW 120 E. Clinton Ave., State College 814-237-5713

4 - Town&Gown March 2012

®

40

70

32

Dynamic Duo He’s a champion BMX rider. She’s a certified yoga and Pilates instructor. While their careers differ, both Jamie and Kerry Bestwick moved from England and found their home in Happy Valley. The two are not only living out their dreams here but also finding ways to help others in need • by Curtis Chan

40

Daisy’s Dream Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years of empowering girls in the nation • by Tracey M. Dooms

62

Women of the Cloth Across the country and locally, more churches of various denominations have called on female pastors to lead their congregations • by Amy King

70

State’s Best In becoming the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, Tricia Miller is now known across the commonwealth as an inspiring educator to both students and faculty. That’s not news to those in the Penns Valley School District who have been helped

by Miller for the past 15 years • by David Pencek

Special Advertising Section

49

Women in the Community Town&Gown’s 16th annual edition of profiling some of the remarkable women in the region.

8

Letter From The Editor

10

Starting Off

24

On Center: Anoushka Shankar

26

Health & Wellness: Yoga and Pilates grow in popularity

76

This Month on WPSU

78

Penn State Diary: Top committee

of board of trustees has changed in size and influence over the years

81

What’s Happening

89

From the Vine: Merlot

92 105

Taste of the Month/Dining Out:

Breakfast options in Centre County Lunch with Mimi:

Past interviews

107

State College Photo Club’s Photos of the Month

108

Snapshot: Richard Biever

Cover Photo: Darren Weimert

Town&Gown is published monthly by Barash Publications, 403 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801. Advertising is subject to approval of the publisher. COPYRIGHT 2012 by Barash Media. All rights reserved.

Send address changes to Town&Gown, Box 77, State College, PA 16804. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any process except with written authorization from Town&Gown or its publisher.

Phone: 800-326-9584, 814-238-5051. FAX: 814-238-3415. Printed by Gazette Printers, Indiana, PA. 20,000 copies published this month, available FREE in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and motels & travel depots. SUBSCRIPTIONS and SINGLE COPIES: $45/1yr; current issue by 1st-class mail, $10; back copy, $15 mailed, $12 picked up at the T&G office. www.townandgown.com

5 - Town&Gown March 2012

Town&Gown March 12

A State College & Penn State tradition since 1966.

Publisher Rob Schmidt Founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith Editorial Director David Pencek Creative Director/Photographer John Hovenstine Operations Manager/Assistant Editor Vilma Shu Danz Graphic Designer/Photographer Darren Weimert Graphic Designer Amy Schmalz Account Executives Kathy George, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello 1375 Martin Street State College, PA 16803

Centre Realty (814) 231-8200 www.StateCollegeHomeSales.com (800) 860-6226

Lisa Rittenhouse

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Administrative Assistant Gigi Rudella Distribution Handy Delivery, Ginny Gilbert, Tom Neff Senior Editorial Consultant Witt Yeagley Interns Samantha Hulings (Editorial) Josh Lamey (Graphic Design)

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)

Hire me to walk you through step by step, we will get through one of the most important decisions of your lifetime.

We welcome letters to the editor that include a phone number for verification.

CALL ME AT 231-8200 ext. 321 Cell: (814) 933-7106 LisaLRittenhouse@gmail.com www.LisaRittenhouse.com

Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn State’s Pattee Library.

Shannon Stiver, Licensed Sales Coordinator to Lisa Rittenhouse 814-231-8200, ext. 340

www.townandgown.com

6 - Town&Gown March 2012

Coming in April Town&GownÕ s new Spring/Summer Preview magazine lets you know all the major happenings in Happy Valley � from Blue-White weekend to 4th Fest to Arts Festival.

Look for Preview inserted with the April issue of Town&Gown.

7 - Town&Gown March 2012

letter from the editor

More than Just Cookies Girl Scouts hit a century of excellence When did I become a salesman? I guess the moment you have a child it’s inevitable that someday you’ll be peddling stuff for your kid — hitting up friends, coworkers, and, of course, mom (grandma) and dad (grandpa).

So far, I’ve been fortunate because the items I’ve been hawking for my son have been mostly subs and pizza — both of which I enjoy and have little trouble making some purchases myself — along with candy and some plants and flowers. All of which goes toward helping his daycare facility.

Of course, future sales will undoubtedly be happening in the years to come. They will help various teams and organizations he participates in, and I can only imagine what things I’ll be buying for myself — numerous magazine subscriptions, wonderful lawn ornaments, etc. I’ll also be trying to sell to the same people who not only spent some of their money on his last sale but also have likely made purchases from other parents who are doing the same thing I’m doing — helping their children.

The kings (or queens) when it comes to such selling are the Girl Scouts. I mean, who doesn’t love their cookies? The Thin Mints, the Samoas, the Tagalongs, and other kinds that just tempt you each year to buy a box. Wait, one box isn’t enough — you must buy two or three or several!

For about 95 years, the Girl Scouts have sold these tasty confections. While I was growing up, I used to think that was all the Girl Scouts did. I, of course, couldn’t have been more wrong.

This year, the Girl Scouts celebrate their 100th anniversary. The organization has helped girls across the country develop confidence and leadership skills that they carry with them into adulthood.

As you can read about in Tracey Dooms’s story “Daisy’s Dream,” Centre County has been a part of the Girl Scouts tradition since as early as 1917.

You’ll also find that prominent people in the community such as Centre County district attorney Stacy Parks Miller, who was a member of a Brownie troop as a child, have fond memories of their time with the organization.

The Girl Scouts have evolved over the years to reflect the changing interests of women today (instead of a badge for Beekeeper, there’s a badge for Web Site Designer, for example). During all the changes, however, it continues to be a positive program for young people — building “girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”

And if they happen to sell delicious cookies too, so much the better. But does anyone want a sub or a pizza?

David Pencek Editorial Director dpenc@barashmedia.com Correction: In the story “Still Dancing for a Cause” (February 2012), Taylor Bradley was paired with Theta Pi Alpha sorority at the 2004 THON. The sorority mentioned in the story was incorrect. The fraternity Phi Kappa Theta helped Theta Pi Alpha collect pledges.

Caring & Sharing

A smile...a hug...a kind word.

Signs of caring for someone.

Your support of our mission is another way to show you care. Thank you.

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starting off

What’s

New

Research Unplugged changes day, location Penn State’s Research Unplugged continues in March but on a new day and at a new location.

The weekly “Coffee and Conversation” will take place from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Thursdays at Schlow Centre Region Library’s Downsbrough Community Room.

Research Unplugged is an informal forum, open to all, on various topics. The hope is to foster public dialogue and energize conversations about issues that matter.

Centre County United Way announces campaign results The Centre County United Way raised $2,167,008 for its 2011 campaign. Campaign co-chair Scott Lamb celebrated the results despite the campaign coming up short of its goal of $2.5 million. The total was $1,000 more than the money raised during the 2010 campaign.

“We knew it would be tough to get there but we also knew the true burden would be felt by the agencies and our community if we didn’t try,” he said. “Our results were outstanding! I am so grateful to the individuals and businesses in Centre County who gave what they could to help our neighbors. Without them, during these difficult economic times, we would have fallen far short of last year’s total.”

Centre County United Way executive director Tammy Gentzel said, “Clearly our donors understand they are improving lives. Their commitment and generosity have been outstanding.”

The Centre County United Way funds 40 health and human-service organizations across the county.

Girls on the Run set for inaugural season

The spring series begins March 15 with Ali Carr Chellman, a former third-grade teacher who now works on how to change and innovate within schools. She’ll talk about “B is for Boys: How American Classroom Culture is Failing Male Students.”

Other discussions in March include “More Than Skin Deep: Solving the Genetic Mystery of Human Skin Color” (March 22) with Keith Cheng, professor of pathology, biochemistry, and molecular biology; and “Lincoln Liberty: Abraham Lincoln and Civil Rights in Wartime” (March 29) with Mark Neely, McCabe-Greer Professor of History of the American Civil War Era at Penn State.

April’s schedule includes “Viruses: Friends or Foes?” (April 5), “Disappearing Bees: An Update on the Search of Prime Suspects” (April 12), and “Pennsylvania Pop: Reflections of Andy Warhol’s Art and Roots” (April 19).

Girls on the Run of Happy Valley, an independent council of Girls on the Run International, will begin its first season March 14 at Park Forest Elementary School. The season runs through May 28 and sessions are twice a week after school, from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m.

Girls on the Run is “a life-changing character development program for girls ages 8 to 13 that uses running to teach values and sense of self.”

Its mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using fun, experienced-based curriculum. The program is open to any girl regardless of income or ability.

The 10-week program combines training for a noncompetitive 3.1-mile run with uplifting workouts and a community-service project.

Registrations for the fall season begin in July at several State College area schools. For more information, visit www.gotrhappyvalley.com or e-mail council director Jennifer Hinkle at jnhinkle13@gmail.com. T&G

10 - Town&Gown March 2012

People in the

Community George Arnold

The Downtown State College Improvement District announced that George Arnold will be the organization’s new executive director. He takes over for former director Jody Alessandrine, who relocated to New Jersey in July 2011.

Arnold is a 19-year resident of State College. For the past five years, he was project superintendent for Berks Homes. Prior to that, he worked as program director for a leadership training organization.

“I’m excited at the opportunity and I’m looking forward to working with such a great board as I’ve experienced so far,” Arnold told the Centre Daily Times. “I’m a longtime resident of State College and I’m pleased at the opportunity to give back to the community in this way. I hope to continue to develop a real nice downtown environment.”

Milton “Mickey” Bergstein

Mickey Bergstein, the former instructor in the Smeal College of Business and former radio voice for Penn State’s football and men’s basketball teams, died February 14 at the age of 89.

Bergstein had a 72year relationship with Penn State, including as a student. After he graduated, he served in World War II as a member of the US Marine Corps. He received five commendation medals and the Purple Heart for his service.

After retiring from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1959, he returned to State College and became an announcer on WMAJ-AM. He would later become the station’s general manager. He served as the analyst for the Penn State football radio-broadcast team from 1953 through 1955. He handled play-by-play duties from 1956 through 1958.

He returned as an analyst in 1959. Following a break from football broadcasting, he returned as an analyst from 1964 through 1970.

He became a full-time instructor in the Smeal College of Business in 1975 after 25 years as a part-time instructor in marketing. He retired in 2001. He was a two-time winner of Smeal’s Fred Brand Jr. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and was named Penn State’s Renaissance Person of the Year in 1988.

Penn State Students

Penn State students once again set a new record at the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON). The event in February raised $10,686,924.83 for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

The amount broke last year’s record of $9.56 million.

More than 15,000 students participated in THON, including more than 700 dancers.

Since 1977, when THON began raising money for the Four Diamonds Fund, the event has raised more than $88 million. Funds go toward support of the Four Diamonds Fund and its pediatric-cancer patients, families, and researchers at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. T&G 12 - Town&Gown March 2012

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Q&A

with Corey Whitesell, of Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School and Schlow Centre Region Library’s World Stories Alive: Tales in Many Tongues! series

By Sarah Harteis

As the international vibrancy of the State College area grows, so does the variety of events geared toward the many cultural differences.

World Stories Alive: Tales in Many Tongues! is a story time series designed for children and their families to get a taste of what other languages are spoken not just in different parts of the world but also right in State College.

The series is headed by Corey Whitesell, foreign language assistance program grant director for the Young Scholars of Central PA Charter School. The school cosponsors the series with Schlow Centre Region Library, where it is held, with additional support from Global Connections and the Center for Global Studies. The series takes place at 11 a.m. each Saturday (except for March 3 and March 10) through April 21.

T&G: How did you come up with the idea for this series?

Whitesell: Sophia McClarren and Sarah

Lyall-Combs with Center for Global Studies are the two who chatted about some things and brought it to me. We then started filling in the blanks to make it what it is. We pulled in Global Connections and talked to the library because we thought it would be the perfect venue for something like this. The purpose of my grant is to get people excited about language learning and to really expose people to unique forms of language learning. So far it’s been really successful.

T&G: Why do you think State College is a good place to host this type of event?

Whitesell: The entire Centre County area is becoming a very culturally diverse area. We put it in the middle of State College because it was somewhere convenient for people in the community.

State College has an incredibly diverse community.

There are as many languages spoken here as there are in Philadelphia. There aren’t as many speakers of each language, but there are as many languages, which is pretty exciting.

T&G: How many people attend the series?

Whitesell: We had a nice turnout for first one, considering we had a blizzard. We would have been happy if five people showed up because we had a foot of snow, but we had about 25 people the first session, which was great! For the last two sessions, we’ve been having around 60 to 70 people at each one. It is big enough to fill a room, but not too big that kids can’t participate.

T&G: How long do you plan to offer the series?

Whitesell: We’re already planned to go through April 21 of this year. Right now we’re fully funded by the Young Scholars Charter School grant. I think there is already enough interest shown that hopefully we can find funding to continue it next spring. I hope we can show that through the success of this program that there is a reason to find other funding. T&G

14 - Town&Gown March 2012

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Looking Back Centre County history through the pages of Town&Gown

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March 1979

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Meyer Dairy was the cover feature in 1979 in “Dairy on the Branch.”

J. Curtis Meyer started his dairy farm in 1908 with 20 cows and one bull. Milk was stored in five-gallon cans, and the only way to keep them cool was to put them in the creek. Evelyn Meyer Lynn, whose father was J. Curtis Meyer, said, “Many a night, if there was a hard rain or storm, my father would have to get up and get the milk because the creek would rise and the milk could float away.”

1999

“State College Pioneers” looked at six women “who have made a difference.” One of the women featured was Dr. Nannie Sloan Glenn, the first woman doctor in State College. “She was a woman’s doctor who was really concerned about her patients,” Virginia Ricker said. “She was compassionate, quiet, dignified.”

2010

Centre County district attorney Stacy Parks Miller and State College mayor Elizabeth Goreham were spotlighted in “Taking Charge.” The two had just been elected into their positions the previous fall. Miller talked about how she still receives Christmas cards from victims of crimes she prosecuted as an assistant district attorney in Clearfield County. “One rape victim went back to school and went on to become a victim witness advocate for other victims. She is happily married and having her first child this year. That type of satisfaction, seeing how their lives have changed and prospered since they were victimized and then received justice, was the main reason I ran for this office.” T&G 16 - Town&Gown March 2012

This Month On townandgown.com • In 5 Questions, Helen Thorpe, author of Just Like Us, talks about immigration as a preview to her visit to Schlow Centre Region Library in early April.

• Jeff Byers, the voice of Penn State wrestling, previews the Nittany Lions’ chances in the Big Ten and NCAA championships.

• Special breakast offers and recipes from the Original Waffle Shop, Toast, The Corner Room, and Penn State Hotels • More What's Happening listings, and sign up for Town&Gown’s monthly e-newsletter.

And visit our Facebook site for the latest happenings and opportunities to win free tickets to concerts and events!

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Celebrity/Sponsor Reception, Thursday, May 31 Individual tickets availalble

16th Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament Friday, June 1st at the Penn State Blue and White Golf Courses • One of the top golf events of the season in Pennsylvania • Morning and Afternoon tee times available • More than 350 golfers participate annually • Great participation gifts and competition prizes • All the food you can eat on and off the course • Penn State coaches, former stars, and celebrities from across the sports world participate • Signature event for Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer organization which has raised more than $1.7 million to fight cancer.

13th Annual CvC 5K Run/Walk Registration fee is $15 or $18(timed race) which includes: - Race entrance - Free t-shirt to 1st 200 participants - All-you-can-eat Spaghetti Dinner on March 16th -An extensive selection of refreshments following the race *100% of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society Date: Saturday, March 17 2012, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Pennsylvania State University Address: Intramural Building (East Lawn), University Park, PA 16802 Registration: Online at www.cvcpsu.com or the day of the event starting at 10 a.m.

CO2, THE UNIQUE BOUTIQUE CO2, the unique boutique, and “sister store” to Confer’s Jewelers, began as a temporary rented space to hold a Pandora Jewelry event.

Enthusiastic customers and a desire to provide a fun and fashionable shopping experience, the Confer family decided to preserve another storefront in downtown Bellefonte and opened CO2, the unique boutique, at 104 North Allegheny Street.

CO2 has all the trends and the popular brand Vera Bradley is at the forefront of the CO2 fashion favorites. With four new patterns offered every season and constantly updating styles of handbags, wallets, sunglasses, and even backpacks, Vera Bradley appeals to women of all ages.

If you need to know what’s new for spring and summer, just ask CO2 manager Jessica Ososkie.

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She’ll point out the latest styles in Lindsey Phillips ballet flats and flip-flops, including a new “peep toe” flat with interchangeable snap-off flowers. There is even a bridal collection. Hot colors? Coral and teal!

Versatility is a key fashion trend, and Kameleon is all about it. Sterling silver jewelry with more than 200 different “jewel pops,” make it fun to change the look of your favorite necklace.

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on center

Raga + Flamenco Sitarist Anoushka Shankar reconnects the musical bond between India and Spain

By John Mark Rafacz

Sitar superstar Anoushka Shankar and her band explore the spiritual link between two of the world’s most passionate musical expressions in Traveller: A Raga-Flamenco Journey April 4 at Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium.

Last year, Shankar signed with the famous classical music label Deutsche Grammophon Records. Traveller, her first album for the new label, is scheduled for release in the United States this month.

In developing the music for the recording, she worked with renowned flamenco producer Javier Limón and gifted Spanish musicians to create a new sound that reinterprets Iberian music within Indian ragas and rhythms.

A BBC music critic calls Traveller “an infectiously heady blend of flamenco and classical Hindustani music.”

The Center for the Performing Arts concert, part of a world tour that extends through 2012, features Shankar backed by a five-member band with a flamenco singer and musicians performing on flamenco guitar, cajon, Spanish percussion, shehnai, mridangam, ghatam, kanjira, and moorsing.

While it flowered in Spain, flamenco has its roots in India. A definitive history of the musical migration is unavailable, but it is believed flamenco traces its origins to the exodus of “Untouchables” from Punjab around 800 to 900 AD. Those emigrants became the Romani (Gypsies), who crossed Asia into the Middle East and ultimately settled in Spain and other parts of Europe.

Rajasthani Gypsies still use traditional castanets to accompany their music. Those songs about nomadic life and spirituality point to a clear connection with flamenco, which originally consisted exclusively of cante (singing) with palmas sordas (handclapping) or knuckle rapping as percussive accompaniment.

Shankar was born in London, and lives there today with her husband and son. But because she also spent extended periods in

Anoushka Shankar performs at Eisenhower Auditorium April 4.

California and India, her influences and tastes are transcontinental. The sitarist, who last performed at Penn State in October 2006, learned to play classical music exclusively from her legendary father, Ravi Shankar, beginning when she was 9.

The younger Shankar made her performance debut in 1995 in New Delhi at age 13. By 15 she was playing at Carnegie Hall and accompanying her father at his concerts across the globe. She signed a recording contract with Angel/EMI when she was 16 and released three classical recordings: Anoushka (1998), Anourag (2000), and Live at Carnegie Hall (2001).

In 2005, she released Rise, an album of her own compositions that used both acoustic and electronic instrumentation. Two years later she collaborated with Indian-American musician Karash Kale on Breathing Under Water, a CD featuring guest appearances by her father, halfsister Norah Jones, Sting, and others. T&G Don and Mary Ellen Fisher sponsor the presentation. Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring a visiting artist or local expert, is offered in Eisenhower one hour before the performance. Seating for Artistic Viewpoints is available on a first-arrival basis.

For tickets or information, visit www.cpa.psu .edu or phone (814) 863-0255.

John Mark Rafacz is the editorial manager of the Center for the Performing Arts.

24 - Town&Gown March 2012

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health & wellness

Mind and Body Workout Yoga and Pilates continue to see an increase in interest over more traditional fitness routines

By Samantha Hulings Contributed photo

Penn State fitness coordinator Jill Garrigan says more people who want to exercise in a group are looking for noncardio options such as yoga.

Over the past decade, many people who want to stay fit have taken a more peaceful approach to their workout routines. They have gone away from the intense cardio or strength workouts and turned more toward yoga and Pilates — two forms of exercise based on mind and body awareness with a focus on breath connection and concentration through intricate poses.

Derived from a spiritual Eastern idea, yoga is the movement of energy through the body.

Pilates-based workouts focus on core strength and physical conditioning combined with kinesthetic stretch and breathing focus based upon the teachings of Joseph Pilates.

The simple combination of breathing and moving into positions creates an awareness of oneself, almost erasing the outside world. It is a general consensus within the yoga and Pilates communities that, in different ways, each workout makes an exerciser aware of their own self, making each practice a stress reliever.

“[Yoga] makes people feel good and calm. It appeals to people in this fast-paced, stressed-out society we live in,” says Penn State instructor Gabi Winqvist. “It’s not just about toning up.

Yoga is movement where you build an awareness of yourself — your breath and your body. It is about the mind and body.”

Penn State fitness coordinator Jill Garrigan believes Pilates has become more mainstream due in part to celebrity influence, as well as the shift from cardio to noncardio exercise in the group-exercise culture.

“This has shifted the focus of group-exercise classes away from strictly cardio classes and has allowed group exercise to expand into other areas such as group strength, Pilates, yoga, and other noncardio options. People still like to exercise in groups, but the kinds of classes they take in groups have changed,” she says.

Yoga and Pilates instructors believe the safety, accessibility, health-related issue pre-

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vention, and the ability to balance the body with strength and flexibility also have drawn people to the calming exercises. Lotus Center yoga practitioner and Penn State yoga instructor Kristen Boccumini says these factors create a class for everyone, increasing public appeal. She adds that the most appealing aspects of yoga are the relationships among those in the practicing community.

“For me, being in studio with the personal attention of the teacher and meeting a community of other people who also love yoga, that is much more fun and interesting than running alone on the treadmill,” she says.

Because of these factors, Heather Pence, a yoga practitioner of just two years, finds it enjoyable to practice in a class atmosphere, as it provides an individual awareness through group exercise.

Through this individual awareness, yoga and Pilates challenge both the body and mind of those exercising. They require more than just physical strength. It is necessary to have a controlled mind to achieve the best workout.

According to Garrigan, Pilates builds symmetry and coordination while training your mind

at the same time. Within the mental training is the element of body awareness. “It takes a combination of athleticism, balance, core strength, and focus to successfully complete a Pilatesbased workout,” she says.

To yoga instructors, the basis of their practice is a balance within the body between mind, strength, and flexibility — the awareness yoga creates allows the mind and body to connect as one. The comprehension of this allows people to shed the stresses of daily life and hands them the tools to ride the ups and downs of life.

Because it originates from the practice of focusing on improving the quality of life, yoga touches on themes greater than just the physical aspects that Pilates tends to provide. Yoga classes can focus on personal development and growth. Boccumini believes when these themes are applied to daily life, yoga practitioners live fully in the moment and get more out of life.

“Yoga helps you get out of the rut of routine, empowers you, and supports you through the challenges life brings you,” she says.

Yoga and Pilates can build and tone muscles and increase strength and flexibility. But instructors and students tend to disagree when it comes to

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deciding what is the most beneficial aspect of this connection between the mind and body.

To Boccumini, the greatest benefit of yoga is how it can reduce unnecessary stress. “This brings overall relief physically, so your body functions more optimally, but in other ways too, like in life,” she says. “For instance, when you feel less stressed, you are less likely to be off when things in life don’t go your way. Instead, you are able to adapt and enjoy life more, which also improves relationships and the overall quality of life.”

For Pence, the biggest benefit is the awareness that her body has become stronger through challenging herself with new poses. “I have better ability to balance, and I find my joints more in alignment,” she says. “My posture has also improved.”

Statistics and studies have shown, however, that even with the benefits that yoga can offer, those who practice it are predominately women.

According to a 2008 Yoga in America study, about 72 percent of yoga practitioners are women. The study also found 41 percent of those who study yoga are between the ages of 18 and 34, with another 41 percent between 35 and 54.

Because the intensity level of Pilates classes is often a bit higher than traditional yoga classes, those classes tend to appeal to both sexes and all age groups. For Garrigan, this is attributed to the instructors.

“The great thing about a good Pilates instructor is that he or she can adapt a class to accommodate a large range of skills,” she says. “Talented instructors can make on-the-spot adjustments so that everyone leaves the class feeling success and accomplishment.”

These different levels of each exercise allow students to explore different options, depending on their physical and mental wants. For that reason, yoga and Pilates instructors encourage those interested in the exercises to understand their limits and to consult a doctor before beginning classes. Injury is less likely to occur when students use the consciousness each exercising discipline teaches them.

Winqvist says if someone is harmed while practicing yoga, he or she is not practicing yoga in the proper way. “If you lead with your ego, it creates a paradox,” she says. “Yoga should be comfortable for the body and personality. It is a way to come back to yourself.” T&G

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Dynamic Duo

By Curtis Chan

He’s a champion BMX rider. She’s a certified yoga and Pilates instructor. While their careers differ, both Jamie and Kerry Bestwick moved from England and found their home in Happy Valley. The two are not only living out their dreams here but also finding ways to help others in need

Question: Why does a British-born ESPN X Games champion and his wife decide to make Central Pennsylvania their home when neither has any roots to the area and could live almost anywhere they wish?

For Jamie and Kerry Bestwick, it’s really not that complicated.

It’s true that on the surface the couple appears to be a study in contrasts. Husband Jamie’s occupation involves routinely defying Newton’s Law of Gravity on a bike while wife Kerry’s career as a yoga and Pilates instructor focuses on the mind and

body. The couple resides in a thoroughly modern house that one might expect to find in Miami or Los Angeles, not on the outskirts of State College nestled among the more traditional Colonial-style homes.

But it would be a mistake to define the Bestwicks by such outward appearances. Instead, the two embody notions that wind up more often as clichéd quotes hanging on a kitchen wall than mantras for living a life.

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Darren Weimert

33 - Town&Gown March 2012

Contributed photos (4)

Kerry Bestwick is a personal trainer and has become a yoga and Pilates instructor.

Follow your heart. Keep the faith. Live your dreams.

Before Jamie Bestwick took first at the X Games seven times, before his three top finishes at the Gravity Games between 1999 and 2006, and before he placed first in every final standings of the Dew Cup from 2005 through 2011, he was an airplane-engine mechanic who loved stunt riding on his bike.

“My first BMX bike came at 10 years old,” he says. “In the years leading up to that, I would just go out and borrow my friends’ bikes and ride those. I just had to wait until my dad got me one for Christmas.”

For Bestwick, now 40, biking was a lifelong love. But making it a full-time vocation was something he wasn’t quite ready to do.

“I worked for 12 years. The biking thing, that was just a weekend hobby,” he recalls, adding that biking “was really what I wanted to do, but I’m a bit more grounded than most people. It’s not going to support the bills that come in on a monthly basis.”

His passion for biking never went away,

even as he worked a day job and rode during his free time. But eventually the Bestwicks had to decide: take the safe route — keep working to pay the bills — or take a chance and have Jamie try to become a full-time BMX rider.

“That’s the conversation we had in England walking our dog one day,” Kerry Bestwick recounts. “When I said to him, ‘What’s up?’ He said, ‘I’m fed up. I’m fed up with work and I want to see how far I can take my riding. I’ve done everything I can do in Europe again, again, and again. The market is in the States and I need to be there.’

“I said, ‘Well, why don’t you do it?’ ” Kerry, 37, says they decided on a trial year.

Jamie headed to the United States to pursue his career as a BMX rider while Kerry remained behind in England to continue her job as a preschool teacher. If riding didn’t work out, Jamie would return to England, satisfied that he at least tried to follow his dream.

Coming to America in 1998, his destination was Woodward Camp, a massive sports

34 - Town&Gown March 2012

Jamie Bestwick won his seventh consecutive Dew Cup championship last year.

complex east of State College in nearby Woodward that’s a haven for bikers, skaters, gymnasts, cheerleaders, and snowboarders.

“I was just so captivated by the ride down,” he says. “When you take a ride down [Route] 45 in the early days of summer, it’s one of the most beautiful roads you’ll ever get the opportunity to drive down. The whole time I was driving down there, I saw these quaint little villages and it had this real appeal to me. I thought, ‘Why not?’ It’s a nice town. It was clean. The people here were very nice and friendly.

“I just enjoyed being here and that was the message I took back to Kerry in England: I found this place. It’s a great place for me to ride. The town is really nice and I think you’d enjoy it.”

With that, Kerry journeyed to the United States and the couple’s adventure began.

The duo didn’t move to State College right away, however. Instead, the Bestwicks lived in Aaronsburg in a house that Kerry didn’t even visit until she moved in.

“I fully believed in him and trusted his honesty and opinion,” Kerry says about Jamie’s house shopping.

The two say they enjoyed their stint in Aaronsburg. Looking back on it, Jamie says, “At the time, all it had was a gas station and that was it.”

“And that closed down!” Kerry laughs.

Still, Jamie says, “It was just a nice town and I didn’t feel being 25 minutes away from State College was that big of a deal because I always had to travel when I was in England.”

As Jamie trained and competed, Kerry had started to carve out her own niche in America.

An avid yoga and Pilates student in England, she began pursing her own passion for the disciplines, becoming a successful instructor.

In addition to teaching regular classes at East Coast Health & Fitness in State College, she serves as a personal trainer and a sports-team trainer. The former crosscountry runner even offers a DVD that can be ordered through her personal Web site, kerrybestwick.com.

35 - Town&Gown March 2012

The Bestwick Foundation’s first Bike for Life event took place last fall at Tussey Mountain.

Reflecting on their successes, the Bestwicks are adamant that it wasn’t an easy Cinderella story.

“We made huge sacrifices in our lives to follow his dream,” Kerry says. Both say it took a while to adjust to life in the United States.

“A lot of people always kind of say, ‘You’ve got it made. You live the life.’ All

the typical clichés to anybody who’s been successful at doing that,” Jamie says. “I can quite honestly put my hand on my heart and say it’s the hardest job that I’ve had in my life. Yeah, I don’t have any time constraints. I make my own schedule, but it’s ridiculously hard to do. It’s both physically and mentally taxing.

“If you ask any athlete — a basketball player, a football player — they’ll say it’s the hardest thing they’ve ever done. The rewards are huge, but the work involved is massive.”

For the uninitiated, Jamie specializes in BMX vert, a freestyle discipline performed in a half pipe where riders execute feats of aerial acrobatics with their bikes as they jump and land.

And Kerry’s expertise in yoga isn’t so much water to Jamie’s BMX oil, but more like Zen chocolate mixing with biking peanut butter.

Jamie readily admits that it’s Kerry’s support and guidance that are vital components to his success. “Kerry’s very good at seeing where my weak points are,” he says.

It makes sense since the two have been together a total of 21 years, ever since they met in a club in England and it was Kerry

36 - Town&Gown March 2012

who made the first move and started talking with Jamie. They married two weeks before moving to the United States.

Jamie adds that Kerry has helped him master the mental aspect of competition.

Kerry says, “A lot of the onus behind yoga is finding the calm.”

“When I’m relaxed, I’m very confident,” Jamie states. “I found this peace with myself and I know I have all the tools I need and I can do this. I don’t think there’s anything more stressful than being disoriented.”

Kerry says that’s when Jamie is most lethal to his competition. “When he gets on his bike and he’s got a smile on his face, it’s his day,” she says.

In the time since, Jamie has become one of the dominant names in BMX freestyle, if not the top name. Think Michael Jordan on a stunt bike and you get a picture of Bestwick’s place in the BMX world.

He was recently nominated for the 2012 Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award, along with five others, including American snowboarder/skateboarder Shaun White and surfer Kelly Slater. Later this year,

Jamie will head back to England as part of the NBC crew televising the Summer Olympic Games from London, serving as a commentator on some of the cycling events.

Since arriving in Central Pennsylvania, Jamie and Kerry have started a family and become more integrated in the fabric of the community.

They have a son, Samuel, born in 2005, and two British bulldogs, Lucy and George.

“When we had Sam, we realized this was a great place to raise a family,” Kerry says.

After living for two- to three-year stints in Aaronsburg, Boalsburg, and downtown State College, the two eventually constructed a modern-style home in Gray’s Woods. The house’s concrete floors and generous use of glass and steel evoke an industrial, urban-loft feel while offering lavish views of the woods and hills Jamie fell in love with more than a decade ago.

The Bestwicks were involved in the local Coaches vs. Cancer and Second Mile charities before deciding to start one on their own.

“I never knew where the money went,” Jamie says of other charities he’s been involved with. “So I wanted to see these

37 - Town&Gown March 2012

Seventy-two riders participated in the grueling Metric Century, including Jamie himself.

“I’m telling you, that course, it beat me up — and I’m physically fit. I could see the finish line and my legs started cramping,” he recalls. “I said, ‘Please, I need to get to the finish line — I need to finish this race!”

The event ultimately raised $18,000 to fight cancer. “For the first year, I think we did great,” Jamie says. “I mean, how were we supposed to know that State College was about to get its first-ever hurricane roll through? Just the crazy, inclement weather that came through that weekend freaked a lot of people out. We moved it to a better date, the sun came out, had a great time, and raised some money for charities.

“For me, it was important that I followed through and made the bike ride happen. One of the best things that came out of that day was I got to meet a lot of fantastic people. We want it to be an annual event, so we’re going to do it again next year.”

The foundation also hosted Jamie Bestwick showing why he’s become the dominant BMX freestyler. a children’s holiday party at Ye Olde College Diner for 10 needy area famithings in action. I always had this idea of lies. The families, identified through Centre bringing the biking community together.”

Volunteers in Medicine, were treated to dinLast year, the couple started the Bestwick ner, a visit with Santa, and presents for the Foundation Bike for Life event aimed at fightchildren and baskets for the families. Like ing cancer that featured a 62-mile “Metric Bike for Life, Bestwick hopes the holiday Century” road ride hosted at Tussey Mountain. party will become an annual tradition.

On the event’s Web page, Jamie says, “This community’s been so good to both me and “This cause is close to my heart: I lost both my family,” Jamie says. “We’re just trying to give sets of grandparents to cancer in England, back. It may be miniscule in the grand scheme of and I’ve seen friends locally in State Colthings, but every little bit helps.” T&G lege suffer through cancer treatments. My life has been strongly shaped by cancer and I’ve had enough. Through my foundation Curtis Chan is coordinator of college relaI aim to raise money for families receiving tions for the College of Engineering at Penn cancer treatment in the Centre Region.”

State. He also is an adjunct instructor in the Stormy weather on the original October 22 College of Communications, and graphics date forced a rescheduling of the event, but that advisor for the Daily Collegian. didn’t dampen Jamie’s spirits or the turnout.

38 - Town&Gown March 2012

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Daisy's Dream Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years of empowering girls in the nation

By Tracey M. Dooms

Girl Scouts at Tussey Ridge Girl Scout Camp salute the flag during camp in August 1961.

41 - Town&Gown & &Gown March 2012

Now a junior at Penn State, Eliza Gabel has been a Girl Scout more than half her life. She started in kindergarten as a Daisy Girl Scout and spent the next 13 years making friends, helping others, having fun, and learning to live by the Girl Scout Law. She camped, hiked, sang songs, earned badges, made crafts, and much more. In 2009, she and fellow Scout Laura Egan earned Girl Scouting’s highest honor, the Gold Award, by creating, promoting, and running a summer book club for preteens at Schlow Centre Region Library.

Girl Scouting helped Gabel explore possible careers and practice leadership, helping her de-

Girl Guide programs overseas, Low brought the movement back to the United States. US Girl Scouting officially was launched on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, when Low assembled 18 girls for their first troop meeting.

The movement grew quickly as Low brought girls of all backgrounds to the out-of-doors, giving them the opportunity to develop selfreliance and resourcefulness. Girl Scouting came to Central Pennsylvania as early as 1917, when troops were formed in Harrisburg, Milton, and Philipsburg. By 1922, Bellefonte Girl Scouts were participating in the Memorial Day and Armistice Day parades and holding meet(Far left) A June 1961 photo shows Scouts raising the flag during the first week of camp at Tussey Ridge Girl Scout Camp. In the photo are (from left) Sara Applegate, Kathy Meyer, Jennifer Farrand, and Sharon Witmer. An August 1961 photo shows Nancy Stewart (left) serving spaghetti to Brownies JoLaine Teyssier and Mike Reilly.

cide on a major in biobehavioral health with minors in psychology and Japanese.

“In Girl Scouts, I learned about diversity, acceptance, and that it’s all right to express my true self,” she says. “I also learned to be willing to try new experiences, even if they seem challenging or frightening, because they often end up being rewarding — making me wonder why I ever hesitated!”

Gabel is one of many thousands of local girls who have participated in Girl Scouting over the years. This month, area Girl Scouts are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts in the USA, and a tradition almost as old of helping girls grow strong in Centre County.

It began With Daisy In the United States, Girl Scouting startedwith Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low. Back in the early 1900s, after she met Robert Baden-Powell and learned about his fledging Boy Scout and

ings at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Originally for girls ages 10 and up, the Bellefonte program expanded by 1932 to include Brownie packs for girls ages 7 to 9.

In 1940, the Bellefonte Elks loaned local Girl Scouts a small house at the rear of the Elks Club to use as a meeting place. In 1961, the Centre County Library continued the tradition by donating use of a former stable behind the library; Girl Scouts remodeled the building and still meet in the Little House today.

In 1963, 10 Central Pennsylvania Girl Scout councils representing all or part of 15 counties — including Tussey Ridge Girl Scout Council in Centre County — joined to form Hemlock Girl Scout Council, which served area girls for more than 40 years. In 2007, as part of a national council realignment, Hemlock merged with three other councils to form Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, serving much of Central and Eastern Pennsylvania.

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From those first 18 girls in Savannah 100 years ago, Girl Scouting has grown to include 2.3 million girls and 880,000 adult members, working primarily as volunteers. In Centre County, 790 girls are registered Girl Scouts, from kindergarten and first-grade Daisies to 11th- and 12th-grade Ambassadors. The county also has 470 registered adult members.

Girls in the great outdoors

Camping has always been a focus for Girl Scouts, nationwide and in Centre County. In August 1922, Scoutmistress Henrietta Quigley took her Bellefonte troop camping for the first time, at

“Our troop spent a number of tenting overnights there, and our family did a lot of maintenance, both inside the lodge and on the property, which were fun outings,” she says. “I consider the Girl Scout program invaluable to the growth and development of young girls and women. It gives them a sense of worth, confidence, and broad experiences.”

For the past two decades, Centre County girls have canoed, built campfires, eaten s’mores, and enjoyed indoor plumbing at Camp Golden Pond in Huntingdon County. The camp’s name goes back to the 1981 movie On Golden Pond and a real estate agent who tried to build on the popu(Far left) Scouts (from left) Carol Oelberman, Linda Baker, and Helen O’Connel wash their hands in a basin during their overnight stay at Tussey Ridge Girl Scout Day Camp in August 1961. Last fall, Girl Scout Troop 41173 spent a day cleaning up Fairbrook Park in Ferguson Township. State College’s 416 Girl Scout service unit is a “park partner” at Fairbrook, working with Centre Region Parks & Recreation on cleanup several times a year.

her cousin’s country home in Beech Creek. Each girl brought her own “tick,” a long, narrow sack that she filled with hay upon arrival to use as a mattress. Girls later took to the outdoors at Camp John Anderson near Tyrone, Whipple Dam State Park, and Seven Mountains Boy Scout Camp before Barree Girl Scout Camp opened near Huntingdon in 1938. Day camps were held at the Grange Fairgrounds, with girls returning home each night; by 1959, day camps had begun at Tussey Ridge Camp above Pine Grove Mills.

“The camp had a huge cast-iron wood stove — the kind you use for heat and cooking — a large stone fire pit, and a few rudimentary latrines set down a path — and downwind — from the lodge,” recalls Laura Rayman, who grew up in Boalsburg troops and later became a troop leader herself.

Tussey Ridge Camp holds fond memories for Barbara Palmer, who was a Girl Scout herself in the 1930s, led her daughter Jan’s troop in the 1960s, and then held various council positions.

larity of the movie when marketing the property and its seven-acre lake a few years later. Future plans for Golden Pond include adding a crosscountry skiing program.

Building skills through badges

Early Centre County Girl Scouts could earn a wide range of badges. Some badges — such as Dancer, First Aid, Musician, and Scribe — concerned subjects that continue in modern badges.

Other topics from days gone by — such as Beekeeper, Child Nurse, Dairy Maid, and Milliner — are no longer to be found in current badge books; taking their places are badges such as Product Designer, Netiquette, Web Site Designer, and Geocacher.

“In the 1920s, badges focused a lot on domestic skills,” says Jane Ransom, Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA CEO. “We still have badges that involve taking care of home and family, but now we have a whole array of badges that weren’t even dreamed of

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The program booklet for the dedication ceremony of Barree Girl Scout Camp near Huntingdon on July 10, 1938.

when Juliette Low started Girl Scouting.”

June Brown points to the same trend with the badges her Brownie Girl Scouts have earned over the years. Brown became a leader at Fairmount Elementary in 1967 and has remained a leader (now at Easterly Parkway Elementary) long after her own two daughters grew up.

“When I started, you gave out three patches: Be a Discoverer, Be a Friendmaker, and Be a Ready Helper,” she recalls. “The things that we did in the late 1960s were geared more toward getting along with people and getting along well at home and being a helpful person.”

Brown’s current troop of second- and thirdgraders can choose from a greater variety of badges; recently, they flew balloon rockets, dropped “helicopters” down stairwells, and made ribbons move in the wind to earn science badges.

The highest award Girl Scouts can earn is the Gold Award, introduced in 1980 with its origins in the Golden Eagle of Merit that Juliette Gordon Low awarded to Scouts from 1916 to 1919.

Theresa Riglin of Bellefonte led the first local girls to receive their Gold Awards. She successfully urged the Nittany Leathernecks Marine Corps Detachment to present each Gold Award

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winner with a Ka-Bar knife, just as they do for Eagle Scouts in Boy Scouting.

“Their first argument was, ‘They don’t need a knife,’ ” Riglin says. “They suggested giving them a sewing kit or something like that.”

Last year, two Centre County girls completed their Gold Awards and received their knives, among other honors. To earn her award, Brittany Etters designed and led other volunteers in the construction of the Howard Area Veterans Memorial. Sarah Masters of Boalsburg created and installed trail-marker signs at Shavers Creek Environmental Center.

Into the future

Today’s Centre County Girl Scouts carry on some of the same traditions established over the past century: joining hands in friendship circles to close meetings, singing “Make New Friends,” making sit-upons, roasting marshmallows for s’mores, learning new skills as they earn badges, honoring their country with flag ceremonies, cooking on coffee-can buddy burners, and more. In other ways, Girl Scouting has changed with the times: Girls explore a variety of careers, protect the environment, and work with new technology.

Members of Daisy Girl Scout Troop 40415 include (front row, l-r) Morgan Snelick, Tassia St. Pierre, and Sophia Abashidze. (Second row) Rowan Smith, Autumn Hughes, Charlotte Murray, PattyAnn Hennessey, and Sophie Dillon. (Back row) Emma Gorenflo, a junior helper from Troop 41256.

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More than 50 million American women participated in Girl Scouts when they were younger, including many Centre County women. Some of the county’s most prominent businesswomen and officials credit Girl Scouting with helping to lay the groundwork for their achievements.

Susan Hartman, CEO of HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, says she loved the experience of being part of a Girl Scout troop. “I remember making the connection as an elementary student that if I worked hard at something, I would be rewarded with the badge — tangible evidence of my achievement,” she says. “I’m sure those early lessons helped me to set goals and work hard to achieve them. I was happy when my own daughter chose to participate in Scouting as well.”

Centre County district attorney Stacy Parks Miller grew up in a rural area, so being part of a Brownie troop allowed her to connect with new friends. “I remember the enjoyment of Brownie meetings being centered around the friendship, the goal setting, and the pride in new experiences,” she says. “It is a great way for young girls to discover themselves and maybe hidden talents they did not know they had. We need our young ladies to be confident in trying new things, and Brownies is an excellent way to make experiencing new things enjoyable.”

Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA is using the 100th anniversary as a springboard for the future, examining new ways to fulfill the organization’s mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place, Ransom says. Traditionally, girls have participated in Girl Scouts primarily as members of troops.

“However, we have a whole new landscape for women and girls since Girl Scouts was founded,” the CEO says, pointing to competitive sports as a prime example of additional activities now available to girls.

To help girls fit the benefits of Girl Scouting into their busy schedules, GSHPA will be offering other ways to be involved, without joining a troop — maybe attending a one-day event on auto mechanics, or a five-week course on crocheting, or a camp or travel experience.

“There’s going to be a whole opening up of different pathways into Girl Scouting!” Ransom says. T&G Tracey M. Dooms is a freelance writer in State College and a contributor to Town&Gown.

Special Events to Celebrate 100 Years Girl Scouting 100th Anniversary Celebration Sunday, March 18, 2:30 to 5 p.m.

State College Area High School South Auditorium This event for anyone who has ever been a Girl Scout or is interested in Girl Scouting features interactive displays and games, a ceremony of Girl Scout traditions and songs, and refreshments. Free admission. For more information, call 238-8057.

Spaghetti Dinner Saturday, March 24, 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Pleasant Gap United Methodist Church This Italian dinner benefits the Girl Scouts of Bellefonte and Bald Eagle and features a fashion show of vintage uniforms plus a memorabilia display. Suggested minimum donation is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 to 10.

For more information, call 355-2716.

Challenge Tree All year long Throughout the community Watch for the 4x6-foot Challenge Tree display with photos of 100 ways local Girl Scouts are making a difference, such as baking 100 cookies for firefighters, planting 100 bulbs, and more.

100 Grand Girl Scouts Through December 31 www.gshpa.org Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA is looking for anyone who was ever a member of Girl Scouts, anywhere in the world, who now lives within the council’s 30-county footprint. Be part of the campaign to locate 100,000 Girl Scout alumnae this year by going to the council Web site and clicking on “News/Events, 100th Anniversary.”

Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA 100th Anniversary Celebration Honoring Mimi Coppersmith Thursday, October 11 Nittany Lion Inn This event celebrates 100 years of turning today’s girls into tomorrow’s leaders by honoring Mimi Coppersmith, a State College businesswoman (Town&Gown founder) who helped lead two major capital campaigns for the regional Girl Scout council and served on the national Girl Scout board. For more information as the date approaches, contact GSHPA at (800) 692-7816.

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47 - Town&Gown March 2012

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in the

Community

For the 16th year, Town&Gown honors some of the amazing women of our region

s p e c i a l

Women

a d v e r t i s i n g s e c t i o n

The Arc of Centre County 1840 N. Atherton St. 238-1444 Enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities Shara Walk Program Supervisor & Nurse Aide Shara has been with The Arc for 11 years, currently as manager of a State College group home. She and her staff help the four residents with daily living tasks such as cooking, cleaning, money management, and community participation. She enjoys witnessing improvement in her clients’ skills and their overall enjoyment of life. A State College native, Shara lives in Howard with her 6-year-old son, who is in kindergarten.

Front Row: Melissa Beckwith, Shara Walk Back Row: Lisa Schenker, Sherry Miller

Lisa Schenker

Employment Coordinator Through The Arc’s Nittany Employment Services, Lisa and her staff find jobs for people with disabilities, train them for those jobs, and then help them maintain employment. “I enjoy the fulfillment that it gives the individuals, seeing them grow in the community,” she says. Lisa worked in the medical field before joining The Arc 10 years ago. Having grown up in Mifflin County, she lives and works in State College, and has two children and a granddaughter.

Sherry Miller Residential Supervisor Sherry supervises an Arc group home in Howard. Staff members work with the three residents on everything from taking care of the house to volunteering in the community to going on outings. “It’s rewarding, knowing that you’re helping to enrich somebody’s life,” she says. Sherry and her husband raise chickens and cows at their farmette, and they have four children and seven grandchildren.

Melissa Beckwith Program Specialist & HCSIS Administrator With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biological sciences from Penn State, Melissa manages in-home programs, where Arc personnel work with clients and their families in their own homes. She also administers the Home & Community Services Information System for The Arc and conducts first aid, CPR, and other safety training. She and her husband live in Blair County with their 2-year-old and 9-month-old sons.

Associated Realty Property Management has 15 full-time highly experienced women in its office to handle all your property management needs.

Associated Realty has been managing properties for over 30 years. With over 1,500 properties including residential, commercial, student properties, and homeowner associations, this full-service company has a record of top-quality property management and commitment to serving the needs of the community.

456 East Beaver Ave., State College • (814) 231-3333 • www.arpm.com

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These women at Barash Media work hard to make Town&Gown a successful and enjoyable product for you each month. They are: (seated, from left) Kathy George, account executive; Amy Schmalz, graphic designer; Debbie Markel, account executive; Aimee Aiello, business manager; Vilma Shu Danz, operations manager/ assistant editor; Gigi Rudella, administrative assistant.

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Women in the Community Anne Ard

Katherine Allen

Executive Director, Centre County Women’s Resource Center (CCWRC) 140 W. Nittany Ave., 238-7066 Hotline: 234-5050 (State College) 1-877-234-5050 (toll-free)

Board Vice President, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts™ 403 S. Allen St., Suite 205A (814) 237-3682

Katherine is serving her second term on the Ar ts Festival’s board, currently as vice president; she also chairs the Nominating Committee for the Festival, which brings more than 125,000 people to downtown State College and Penn State each July. An attonery and shareholder at McQuaide Blasko, Inc., Katherine chairs the firm’s Labor and Employment Law Practice Group and serves on the National Association of College and University Attorneys’ Legal Education Committee.

For over 30 years CCWRC has provided confidential, free services to women, men and children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Services include counseling, advocacy, emergency shelter and prevention education for community/school groups. Last year CCWRC provided services to over 900 victims of domestic violence and nearly 200 victims of sexual assault.

Sponsored by CCWRC Board and Friends

Cheryl L. Bartram Chief Operating Officer Abundance Wealth Counselors, LLC 232 Regent Court (814) 272-2090

Patricia Best, D.Ed. Trustee, Board of Mount Nittany Medical Center

Cheryl has been employed with Abundance since August 1999. As the Chief Operating Officer, she is responsible for developing and maintaining quality driven solutions for Abundance’s clients, defining essential roles and skill components necessary to run the organization efficiently and effectively. She is also responsible for acquiring, training and supervising qualified talent to perform at superior levels of productivity along with employee retention while experiencing high job satisfaction. Cheryl resides in State College with her husband Greg and their two sons, Scott 11 and Zachery 7.

In December 2010, Patricia Best, D.Ed., joined Mount Nittany Medical Center’s Board of Trustees. Best serves on the Audit committee and Patient Care committee as part of her appointment to the Board. In 2009, Best retired as superintendent of schools from State College Area School District and brought her skills, talents and experience, as well as her enthusiasm and leadership, to further the vision and mission of Mount Nittany.

Virginia Brown

Andrea H. Boyles

Executive Director, Centre Communities Chapter, American Red Cross 205 East Beaver Avenue, Suite 203 (814) 237-3162

CEO, Youth Service Bureau 325 West Aaron Drive (814) 237-5731 Overseeing a $4 million budget with 14 distinct programs, 100 paid staff, and more than 300 trained volunteers, Andrea Boyles works to make sure the needs of children and families are met with respect and dignity.

A 2010 graduate of Leadership Centre County and CBICC Ambassador, Andrea enjoys her role in connecting local community members and business leaders to the YSB mission. She welcomes any oppor tunity to share information about YSB!

A Centre County native,Virginia has led the local chapter of the American Red Cross for 28 years, providing vital services to Centre and Eastern Clearfield counties. The chapter delivers services including disaster relief, community disaster education, health and safety services, Armed Forces emergency services, and blood services. “I feel it’s important to give back to the community that you live in,” Virginia says.

Sponsored by Penn State Hospitality Services

Kym Burke

Jo Chesworth

One on One, Fitness Consultants Inc. 424 W. Aaron Drive (814) 234-1625 www.fitnessconsultantsinc.com

Kym has been a personal fitness trainer and VP of One on One since 1987. She spent most of her childhood committed to gymnastics, earning a spot on the USA National Gymnastic Team and Collegiate All-American status. Today, her creativity and commitment to human performance fuel her passion for seeking real solutions to individuals’ fitness/wellness challenges. Kym supports the Centre County Youth Service Bureau and Centre Volunteers in Medicine through the “Give Back” initiative she and husband Bruce created. The Burkes have two children, Ryan and Callie.

Sponsored by Veronesi Building and Remodeling

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VP & Managing Editor, Seven Mountains Scientific P.O. Box 650, Boalsburg 466-6559

Jo edits and sells advertising in three technical magazines. She wrote the State College history book Story of the Century and has had 300+ bylines in Town&Gown and The Penn Stater. She and Tom, her husband of 53 years are certified judges in the American Wine Society. She also helped to found the 50 Fabulous Females networking group in 1988.

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Women in the Community Mimi Barash Coppersmith

Mary Cowher

Consultant (814)238-5051

A Penn Stater, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Mimi has dedicated her time and energy to projects close to her heart. For the past several years, the WBCA Pink Zone has captured her attention. A 22-year breast cancer survivor, she has used her experience to help raise awareness and a phenomenal amount of donations for women’s cancer research.With the help of an incredible team of volunteers, a winning Lady Lions basketball team, and a community that comes together to make a difference, this year’s Pink Zone was expected to honor over 450 breast cancer survivors and raise more ($200,000+) than any other Pink Zone nationally.

Sponsored by The Tavern Restaurant

Branch Manager Kish Bank

Mary directs the daily operations of Kish Bank’s Bellefonte branch, serving as the go-to person for both customers and employees.

Previously, she was the Community Office Assistant Manager at Nittany Bank.

A lifelong Bellefonte native and mother of two grown children, Mary enjoys gardening and being outdoors.

Merrill David

Barbara I. Dewey

Executive Director, Global Connections 404A Boucke Building University Park www.international.psu.edu/gc

Merrill directs Global Connections, a United Way member agency that fosters intercultural community and understanding with education, direct assistance, cultural exchange, and community outreach programs that serve the Centre Region. She has greatly expanded Global Connections’ existing programs and developed new community collaborations that create a bridge between internationals and Americans in our area and promote global-mindedness.

Sponsored by Fulton Bank

Dean, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications Penn State 510 Paterno Library (814) 865-0401

Prior to her 2010 appointment at Penn State, Barbara was dean of libraries at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. With more than 30 years of experience in librar y administration, she is also the author/editor of six books, including the recent publication Transforming Research Libraries for the Global Knowledge Society.

Sponsored by The Penn State Bookstore

Dr. Teresa Dolan

Joanne Feldman

Medical Director PinnacleCare Private Health Advisory 250 W. Pratt St., Suite 1100, Baltimore (814) 777-3984

A board-certified emergency medicine physician,Teresa is Assistant Director of the Emergency Department for Altoona Regional Health System.

She has been featured on The Discovery Channel website and Voice of America and has lectured nationally. As PinnacleCare Medical Director,Teresa brings new medical advances to the company’s health advisor teams throughout the nation and helps arrange second and third opinions with PinnacleCare’s Centers of Excellence network and Medical Advisory Board.

Sponsored by Vantage Investment Advisors

Nittany Valley Symphony Concert Master Honorary Chairman of the NVS Fashion Show Joanne hopes that you will come to the Worth New York fashion show to support the NVS at 11:30 a.m. at Centre Hills Country Club on March 24th. Great lunch, conversation, and clothes for everyone. For more info, call 231-8224.

Sponsored by Pat Williams,Worth New York.

Jean Galliano

Linda Gall

Community Volunteer

H e a d i n g L i n d a ’s e x t e n s i v e community volunteer experiences are current roles as member of the Centre County United Way, Bob Per ks Fund, and Pink Zone boards, and chair of the Gir l Scouts 100th Anniversar y Celebration.

As a Penn State volunteer, she is a member of the “For the Future” campaign Executive Committee and the Schreyer Honor s College and Palmer Museum of Ar t advisor y boards. She and her husband, Blake, have two daughter s and two sons-in-law who are Penn State alumni, and are proud new grandparents.

Vice President Corporate Banking Division Fulton Bank 1952 Waddle Road, Suite 106 814-234-1893

With 21 years of experience in commercial lending, Jean enjoys her role at Fulton Bank as a Relationship Manager.

Since 1992, Jean has provided a full range of banking services, including lending and cash management products, to businesses in the Centre Region. Jean currently serves on the Nittany Christian School Board and the Family Services Committee for Habitat for Humanity. Jean, her husband, and three children reside in State College.

Sponsored by Mary Lou Bennett

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Women in the Community Sara Godwin

Tammy Gentzel

Chief Nursing Officer, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation Hospital 550 W. College Ave., Pleasant Gap 814-359-3421

Executive Director Centre County United Way 2790 W. College Ave., Suite 7 (814) 238-8283

With over 16 years of experience in non-profit management and development, Tammy is leading Centre County United Way on its mission to improve lives. A long-term resident of the Centre Region, Tammy serves on the boards of CATA, CBICC, Centre County Community Foundation, Council of Human Services and Altrusa International. She is passionate about effecting positive change and encourages everyone in Centre County to LIVE UNITED.

Sara is an inspiring leader, committed to quality patient care, research, and the rehabilitation philosophy. Her focus on patient/family-centered outcomes has resulted in countless opportunities to improve individual quality of life and ease the burden of care for those facing physical and mental challenges. Sara earned her undergraduate degree from West Virginia University School of Nursing and her M.S. from Penn State. She and her husband live in State College and have three children.

Kelly Grimes

Connie Hayes

Community Volunteer

Three years ago, Kelly retired from the five-store Wendy’s restaurant franchise she owned. Now she enjoys having time for her favorite volunteer activities. She coaches State High girls golf and Centre Lacrosse U-11 girls, volunteers in MNMC’s emergency department, and serves on the boards of the Centre County Community Foundation and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, plus the athletic committee of Penn State’s For the Future campaign. A former member of Penn State’s women’s golf team, Kelly and her husband, Felix Boake, cheer on Penn State at many sporting events.

Sponsored by Felix Boake

Community Volunteer chayescooking@comcast.net Connie joined this community almost ten years ago, moving here with her husband Bill of Kish Bank.

Connie uses her creative brand of fundraising to benefit many organizations. Currently she is on the advisory board for the Palmer Museum of Art. Along with many efforts her main activities involve Easter Seals of Central Pa. Sponsored by Designer’s Studio

Crystal Henry

Community Outreach Coordinator Home Instead Senior Care 2330 Commercial Blvd., Suite 500 238-8820

Crystal joined Home Instead five years ago and we continue to marvel at the energetic enthusiasm with which she represents us! As our Community Outreach Coordinator, Crystal is an effective voice for seniors in the Central PA area - and the issues that affect them.

Her knowledge of elder home care combined with her determination to provide superior service has been instrumental to our success. In addition to being a Certified Senior Advisor, Crystal has just been awarded the Centre County Chamber of Business and Industry (CBICC) Ambassador of the Year award. Crystal lives in Petersburg with her husband C.J., two horses and three big dogs!

Carol Herrmann

Vice President for Administration Kish Bank

Carol applies her leadership experience and in-depth community knowledge to providing executive-level direction, oversight, and support of key strategic, operational, and corporate and regional governance activities at Kish.

Her executive experience has included oversight of an innovative retirement community near Penn State, and her governance background includes service as a member and director on corporate boards, including Mellon Bank’s regional board. Carol resides in State College and is the mother of two adult children.

Cheryl Johnson

Tina Hyduke

Member Service Representative Penn State Federal Credit Union 1937 North Atherton St., State College 865-3978

Tina has worked in the financial industry for 25 years, with the past four years working at Penn State Federal. She enjoys helping people with their financial needs as a Member Service Representative. She’s the current Treasurer for the Pennsylvania Historical Association. She’s the past Secretary of the Centre County Historical Society and remains a volunteer. She has also volunteered and sat on the Board of the Centre Communities Chapter of the American Red Cross. Tina is a Penn State graduate.

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Executive Director, PICCC Inc. 2595-1 Clyde Ave. (814) 237-8998

Recognized as a leader in endeavors that enhance economic vitality, Cheryl champions workforce and economic development, youth career growth and participates in partnership activities that strengthen businesses, individuals, and communities throughout the USA.A certified senior professional in human resources, she works with local, regional, and national entities promoting innovative programs for youth and adults. She volunteers at church and with community organizations, and has been one of PA Business Central’s top 100, a Town&Gown Citizen of the Year, graduate of Leadership Centre County, and presenter/facilitator for many organizations.

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Women in the Community Darlene Kensinger

Director of Environmental Services, Foxdale Village 500 E. Marylyn Ave. (814) 238-3322

Darlene worked for the Way family for more than 20 years before joining the maintenance crew at the continuingcare retirement community they were building. Twentyfour years later, she is director of environmental services at Foxdale Village, responsible for housekeeping, laundry, security, and transportation. In addition to her Foxdale family of staff and residents, Darlene and her husband, Dale, are proud to have seven children and 16 grandchildren, including 9-month-old twins.

Sangeeta Kishore Cynthia Karcher & Stephanie Thompson

We would like to thank all the hard working women who make this a great community.

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kish Bank

A veteran financial executive with over 20 years in banking, Sangeeta focuses her expertise on growth strategies for Kish Bancorp, as a recent addition to the Kish senior management team and through service on various management committees.

Sangeeta earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business after completing previous degrees from two institutions in India: Lucknow University and the Birla Institute of Technology.

Barbara “Bobbi” Korner

Dean Penn State College of Arts and Architecture 124 Borland Building (814) 865-2591

Bobbi over sees the College’s academic units plus the Center for the Performing Ar ts, Palmer Museum of Ar t, and Penn State Centre Stage. She is co-director of the Leadership Institute of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and is the chair of Penn State’s Academic Leadership Council of Deans and Chancellors.

Sponsored by Barbara Palmer

Mary Chuhinka Kurtz Partner, TLC Group Investment Advisors, LLC 270 Walker Dr. • (814) 231-2265

Working with entrepreneurs — business owners and professionals — to develop financial strategies to achieve and maintain wealth is the essence of Mary’s endeavors.

TLC Group Investment Advisors, a partnership between Mary Chuhinka Kurtz and Bruce Lingenfelter, acting as “Manager of Investment/Portfolio Managers” and insurance brokerage firms, negotiates the most flexible and cost-effective strategies for retirement and business succession planning.

Sponsored by The Tavern Restaurant

Susan D. Leath

Pamela C. Long

Publisher Centre Daily Times 3400 E. College Ave. (814) 238-5000

Susan is the President and Publisher of the Centre Daily Times. She serves on the Board of Director s and Government Affairs committee for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

Susan is a Newspaper Association of America Media Executive Leadership Fellow. As well as, a Newspaper Association of America Foundation Power Mind Mentor. In addition, she serves on the Pink Zone board of directors. Susan and her husband, Randall, have two daughters- Randi,17 and Taylor, 15- and a son, Randall, Jr. 12.

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Foundation Director, Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. 341 Science Park Road (814) 238-3245

Pam joined the Skills team in the newly created position of Foundation Director in September. A graduate of Penn State, Pam serves on the marketing committee for Leadership Centre County (Class of 2009) and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County’s nominating committee. Skills of Central PA, Inc. provides support to individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health diagnoses through over a dozen programs in 16 counties.

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Women in the Community Judy Loy

Registered Investment Advisor CEO Nestlerode & Loy, Inc. 430 W. Irvin Avenue, State College (814) 238-6249

Judy is a Registered Investment Advisor and CEO of Nestlerode & Loy, Inc., a local investment firm in Centre County. 2012 marks the firm’s 75th year of putting clients first and using a “pay attention”, fee-based investment approach. The firm manages $70 million in assets. Her team specializes in investing for individuals, small businesses and non-profit organizations. She currently serves asTreasurer of Leadership Centre County and on the board of the CBICC, and previously held the Treasurer position for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County and WiNGs.

Livnat (Livi) Maldonado Commercial Accounts Manager, P2P Computer Solutions 214 E College Ave. (814) 308-8404

Livi’s sales job took her from her native Israel to Florida, where she met her husband, Juan. In his hometown of State College, the couple opened P2P Computer Solutions, now with locations downtown and in Altoona. Livi’s background with the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) allows her to focus on relationship management and customer service. She enjoys meeting new people and making new connections, while her main goal is to provide personal attention to each and every customer.

Dr. Kathryn O

Ashley Miller

Owner, Centre Hall Audiology & Hearing Aid Center 2130 Earlystown Road Centre Hall • (814) 364-3113

Consultant/Registered Representative The Hartman Group 1051 Shiloh Road 231-0100

Ashley has been in the investment business for 5 years, focusing on group qualified retirement plans, executive benefits, and individual financial/insurance planning. She currently holds her FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses and is pursuing her ChFC designation. Ashley is a native of the community and graduate of Penn State’s Smeal College of Business.

Ashley Miller is a Registered Representative of and offers securities through Walnut Street Securities, Inc. (WSS) Member FINRA, SIPC. Hartman Financial Services and PFG are not affiliated with WSS.

Just past the Elks Country Club on Rte. 45

With degrees from Penn State and the ASHS Division of Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. O started her practice in Centre County eight years ago. Her office in Yeagertown was voted the most favored hearing center in Mifflin/Juniata counties. Her offices have a very caring, sincere atmosphere and specialize in geriatric audiology, hearing aids, assistive devices, and batteries.

Sue Paterno

Barbara Palmer Benefactor, Palmer Museum of Art Penn State, Curtin Road (814) 865-7672

Barbara joined the Friends of the Museum of Ar t, as it was known originally, a few years after the museum opened in 1972. She served as president of the group and continues to serve on the museum’s Advisory Board. In 1987 the museum was renamed in honor of Jim and Barbara Palmer for their lead gift made towards the museum's expansion and renovation, which was completed in 1993. Thanks to a multitude of gifts, the Palmer Museum of Ar t has grown into an unparalleled cultural resource for central Pennsylvania.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Palmer Museum of Art

Community Volunteer

Sue co-chaired the $14 million campaign to expand Penn State’s Pattee Library and fund the new Paterno Library. She has served on the National Development Council and as honorary chair of the PNC Bank/United Way Day of Caring in Centre County. Sue has worked tirelessly for Pennsylvania Special Olympics, which inducted both her and her husband of almost five decades, the late Joe Paterno, into its Hall of Fame. The Paternos served as honorary co-chairs of the $6.5 million capital campaign for the Suzanne Pohland Paterno Catholic Student Faith Center under construction on Park Avenue.

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Bobbie L. Rabuck

Doreen Perks

Attorney Babst Calland, Attorneys at Law 330 Innovation Blvd., Suite 302 (814) 867-8055

President Bob Perks Fund P.O. Box 313 (814) 231-2692

After Doreen’s husband, Bob, local Coaches vs. Cancer co-founder, died of cancer in 2005, she helped develop the Bob Perks Fund to provide financial relief to families with a loved one fighting cancer.

BPF allocated over $138,000 in 2011 to help families with basic necessities. Doreen, a Penn State alumna, lives with her two sons, Garrett, 10, and Ryan, 7.

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s p e c i a l

An associate in Babst Calland’s Litigation Ser vices Group, Bobbie pr actices primarily in the area of family law, including divorce, equitable distribution, custody and adoption.

After receiving her B.S. in administration of justice from Penn State and her J.D. from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, she served as law clerk to now Senior Judge David E. Grine of the Centre County Court of Common Pleas and then joined the county Public Defender’s Office, focusing on juvenile cases.

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s e c t i o n

Women in the Community Jane Ransom

Polly H. Rallis

President & CEO Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania 350 Hale Ave., Harrisburg (717) 233-1656

Property Manager

Polly manages her real estate i nvestments and is an active community volunteer. She ser ves on the boards of the University Club, Nittany Valley Symphony, and The State Theatre and works tirelessly with Coaches vs. Cancer to fur ther the or ganization’s growing impact. Polly is a past president of the Friends of the Palmer Museum, past treasurer and board member of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Ar ts, past board member of Pennsylvania Centre Stage, and has cochaired United Way for the Borough of State College.

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Jane leads Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, which builds girls of courage, confidence, and character in Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania. A longtime advocate for women and girls, she has served as executive director of the International Women’s Media Foundation and of Central Pennsylvania Legal Services, and as president and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. Jane holds a master’s in public administration from City University of New York.

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Stephanie L. Schmidt, DBIA

Patricia W. Savage President & CEO, Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries 915 Hickory Street Hollidaysburg (814) 696-4500

Pat Savage leads a health and human services agency serving the generations in an eight-county area.

Locally, ALSM provides adult day services at the Senior Daily Living Center in State College and senior living at The Oaks at Pleasant Gap and Lutheran Commons at Pleasant Gap. For more information, visit ALSM at www.alsm.org.

Executive Vice President Poole Anderson Construction 2121 Old Gatesburg Road 237-6667

With more than 25 years’ experience in the construction industry, Stephanie leads Poole Anderson, now one of the largest contractors in Central Pa. and is a member of the Pennsylvania Council of General Contractors. She believes in giving back to the community and serves on the board of directors of the CBICC, Centre County Airport Authority, State College YMCA, and the Associated Builders & Contractors.

Trudy Smith

Josie Smith

Programs Coordinator, Sight-Loss Support Group of Central Pennsylvania 111 Sowers St., Suite 310 (814) 238-0132

Volunteer, Centre Communities Chapter, American Red Cross 205 E. Beaver Ave., Suite 203 237-3162

With a master’s degree in archeology, Josie was an archeologist and then a stay-at-home mom to two children. By the time her children were grown, her sight had deteriorated fur ther due to retinitis pigmentosa, so she earned a second master’s, in counselor education.Three years ago, Josie became programs coordinator for the Sight-Loss Suppor t Group, which she had served since 1998 as a member and board member.

Trudy has had a soft spot in her heart for the Red Cross since receiving packages from the organization as a child in war-torn Germany (an area now part of the Czech Republic).When she retired from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, she began volunteering with the Red Cross. She calls herself the “Wednesday girl,” answering phones, entering data, and running errands on Wednesdays. Trudy and her husband, Cecil, love to travel, support the Penn State Icers, hike, and dance.

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Kayelene Sunderland

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Kayelene’s in-depth exper tise in a broad range of financial topics, developed through 30 years of banking experience, distinguishes her as a key resource for Wealth Management and Trust clients at Kish. Deeply rooted in the Mifflin County community as a lifelong resident and as a volunteer for Junior Achievement of Central Pennsylvania, Kayelene enjoys reading and going to the beach. She and her husband are parents of a son and daughter-in-law and have one grandson.

s p e c i a l

Volunteer, American Cancer Society 123 S. Sparks St. (888) 227-5445

Assistant to the dean at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, Lynn became involved with the American Cancer Society four years ago, when her son played basketball at Bellefonte High School and ACS launched a Coaches vs. Cancer fundraising game there. Now she promotes similar events at high schools around the region and hopes next year to expand to Bellefonte girls basketball, where her daughter now plays. Lynn’s efforts have had personal meaning since she was diagnosed with breast cancer last June.

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s e c t i o n

Women in the Community Coquese Washington

Lana Walker

Head Coach Lady Lion Basketball 146 Bryce Jordan Center 863-2672

Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager Kish Bank As a leader on the Kish commercial banking team, Lana plays an integral role in helping her diverse clientele of corporate and regional business leaders reach their financial and strategic goals.

Her community involvement includes service on the State College Area School District Advisory Committee-Finance.

In her spare time, Lana enjoys spending time with her three children and rooting for local spor ts teams.

Coquese is finishing her fifth season as Lady Lions head coach after taking the team to a runner-up finish in the 2011 Big Ten Tournament.

For mer ly associate head coach at her alma mater, Notre Dame, she helped lead the Irish to the 2001 NC AA Championship and is one of the top U.S. recruiters. She holds a law degree, played pro ball, and created Coquese’s Drive for the Centre County Women’s Resource Center.

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Jane Zimmerman

Ella J. Williams

Assoc. Broker, CRB, GRI Kissinger, Bigatel & Brower, REALTORS® 2300 S. Atherton St. 814-280-3607

Ella has been serving her clients’ real estate needs in Centre and surrounding counties for over 35 years.

She has been recognized nationally as a top producer and takes meeting her buyers’ and sellers’ needs personally. With the extensive resources of KBB Realtors and her experience, Ella can offer a higher level of service and experience to sellers and buyers for residential, commercial, and investment real estate.

s p e c i a l

Volunteer, Penn State Public Broadcasting 238 Outreach Building (814) 865-3333

Jane started volunteering with Penn State Public Broadcasting more than 11 years ago. She has served as Outreach development volunteer and on the Penn State Public Broadcasting Board. She has been a recipient of the Penn State Outreach Fischer Award of Distinction. She is in her sixth year of chairing what is now the 20th annual WPSU Connoisseur’s Dinner. Jane also serves on the Centre County Community Foundation Board and the YMCA of Centre County Advisory Board. She has two children and four grandchildren, all in the State College area.

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s e c t i o n

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n e m Wof o t he h t o l C rious more churches of va , lly ca lo d an y tr un lead Across the co on female pastors to d lle ca ve ha ns io at denomin their congregations

By Amy King

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R

Darren Weimert (2)

Reverend Kelley Baxter’s fa favorite day of the church year is Good Friday — “hard as that may be to believe,” she says.

“But I am a perfectionist, so I’m very able to grasp the idea of be beiing ng a sinner and receiving God’s ggrace. race. Good Friday gives us the cchance hance to focus on that.”

Baxter has been the sole pas pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pine Grove Mills for nearly three years. She is one of an increasing number of female pastors who will be leading Centre County churches, and churches across America, during this holiest time of year for Christians — the Lenten season culminating with Easter.

According to the Barna Group, a research organization that offers a range of customized research and training to serve, among others, churches, just five percent of Protestant senior pastors were females during the 1990s. Since that time, the proportion has slowly but steadily risen, doubling to 10 percent in 2009. Nearly 60 percent of those women are affiliated with a “mainline” church — denominations such as American Baptist Churches, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, United Methodist, or Presbyterian Church, etc.

Baxter, 34, remembers dallying with the notion of ministry when she was in her mid-teens, but she didn’t seriously consider it as a full-time occupation until after her undergraduate studies and subsequent job in retail. She then attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, and was installed at St. Paul in July 2009.

She says her real challenges have come in the numerous hats she wears, not only as a pastor but also as dean of the Nittany Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Allegheny Synod. In that role, she is responsible for convening monthly meetings for the rostered leaders of the conference and meeting with the Bishop and seven other deans approximately four times a year for updates on

Reverend Kelley Baxter of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pine Grove Mills focuses on Bible study and prayer time when it comes to writing the church newsletter or her sermons.

personal or congregational happenings. Other duties are less regular, such as helping out if a congregation is in the middle of a transition, or attending the ordination or installation of a new pastor within the conference.

She looks to continuously improve her own parishioners by encouraging more Bible study and prayer time, either on a personal level or within a group setting. “I try to focus on these elements when I’m writing a newsletter article or penning my sermons,” she states. “And I try to practice them individually as well.”

When asked how she would define her accomplishments within her congregation, she humbly says, “When I see seeds that I helped to plant take root, no matter in what regard, I consider that a success.”

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As a commissioned minister with Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State, Alicia Anderson (shown with Penn State students, from left, Cassidy Cheddar, John Schwartz, and Ben Kutz) looks to build a faith community within college students and also focuses on community service.

John Hovenstine

Reverend Susan Williamson of Ferguson Township Lutheran Ministries decided to go to seminary school after her daughters had grown up.

Reverend Susan Williamson shepherds at Ferguson Township Lutheran Ministries (what used to be known as Gatesburg Lutheran in Warriors Mark and Pine Hall Lutheran in State College and is now a new name for shared ministries in two locations with one pastor). Since she was a child, she was heavily involved in different components of the church as well as the Christian aspects of the YMCA. She remembers those times fondly.

Through the years, she filled various volunteer roles within the congregations where she was a member — from the finance committee to the call committee to a lay worship leader (one who leads public worship under the guidance of a member of the clergy) for multiple years. She also served on local and congregational synod councils, attending two ELCA assemblies as a voting member.

“I remember thinking about being in the ministry during my teen years and a bit more seriously throughout my twenties,” Williamson, 59, recollects. “But at that time, women were just starting to get into the workforce, mainly as nurses, teachers, and secretaries. I didn’t even know women could attend the seminary, and I knew only one female Lutheran deaconess.”

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John Hovenstine

Besides leading Houserville United Methodist Church House of Hope and Woodycrest UMC, Reverend Renee Ford also is an instructional designer for the school of nursing at Penn State.

After getting married, she worked in several different fields, including radio sales, fund development, and teaching. It was after watching her daughters grow, a job she relished above all, that she decided to attend seminary in Gettysburg, and she was ordained in 2007.

She now preaches to two congregations each Sunday. “We’re not inventing anything new,” she states of her church bodies, “but we do want to strengthen what we have. … The whole mystery of the Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is very important to me. We don’t always have to have the answers, and even though that’s sometimes hard to grasp, it’s okay.”

As a commissioned minister who works with Lutheran Campus Ministry at Penn State, Alicia Anderson tries to have answers for the Penn State students who come to her. When she graduated from a small liberal arts institution in Iowa, she recognized that she wanted to contribute in the field of human services, but she wasn’t definitive as to how. She began working in a youth program and discovered how much she enjoyed walking with kids through their walks of faith. After receiving literature in the mail from a seminary, it clicked. She attended Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, with the intent of earning a master’s to continue her journey by specializing in campus ministry.

One aspect she enjoys in her position is the constant stream of new students. In addition, her position is very multifaceted.

“A core piece of the programming is to build a faith community within college students,” Anderson, 47, explains. “But I also focus significantly on community service, coordinate worship services, make student connections, and collect student input as to what they want to see happen throughout the campus programs. I’m a Christian presence. I’m on this campus to bring the Gospel but not to convert people.”

The latter is a common misconception Anderson often experiences when people hear of her profession.

“I’m not one to judge,” she emphasizes.

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, it wasn’t unusual for Anderson to see women working in the church. “It wasn’t a foreign concept for women to be there [in the church],” she remembers. “We often had women from the seminary in our congregation.”

When asked if she had her family’s support when she decided to go into ministry, Anderson says Yes — and No. “Even though I felt I had my family’s support, I didn’t feel like they necessarily understood why I was doing what I was doing,” she explains.

She has been in her role at Penn State for 16 years, yet she finds time to revitalize and improve herself when she can. She attends national campusministry-network conferences once or twice a year to equip herself to be a positive presence in the lives of the students with whom she works. She adds that it’s an ongoing challenge for her and others involved in ministry to take time for themselves spiritually.

“Fundamental to that is finding time away from the demands of everything else,” she says. “Additionally, be a good neighbor, help folks when you can but try not to be overwhelmed by it all.”

Reverend Renee Ford tries not to be overwhelmed while leading two congregations as pastor of Houserville United Methodist Church (UMC) House of Hope and Woodycrest UMC, both located in State College. She knew by the middle of college that she wanted to continue with her studies focusing on ministry, so, after completing her undergraduate degree, she attended the Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

“I didn’t grow up in the church, I was not around women in the ministry, and I always had some healthy skepticism about organized religion. But looking back, I could see things in my life that led me in this direction,” she explains.

Although Ford, 39, has had the full support of her family and friends, she finds that sometimes it’s hard to find a niche in a mostly male-dominant profession.

Being a female minister, in her opinion, does tend to raise some eyebrows.

“You almost have to work that much harder

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to prove your worth in the minds of some,” she says. “I’m not bothered by that. I’m just myself.

And I view it as an opportunity to build collaboration among people.”

Besides her pastoral work, she also is an instructional designer for the school of nursing at Penn State. That work has had a positive effect on her ministry.

“I have found that the opportunities, training, and environment at Penn State have given me skills and knowledge that I can apply in my ministry,” she says.

“I also intimately know, experience, and understand the challenges of the workplace in a way I never could when solely doing ministry. It gives me a greater appreciation for the people I serve.”

While she does look at attendance and the “numbers” side of Sunday worships as a measurement of success in her congregations, she is more interested in how she is leading community outreach, mission, and spiritual growth. During Lent, she aims to reach these goals, in part, by providing a time for self-reflection.

“I encourage people to look at what they have,” she says. “I ask them to reflect upon what’s getting in the way of reaching their spiritual goals? What needs to be added to their lives? Lent is a time to

declutter your spiritual life and change for the better as you grow more like Christ.”

Like Ford, Pastor Alison Bowlan of Grace Lutheran Church in State College didn’t actively grow up in the church — “We only regularly participated in services when we were visiting my grandparents,” she says — her parents did find a church for them to attend when she was of confirmation age. From there, she attended a retreat where she was asked to assist with communion.

“At that moment, I knew I was going to be a pastor someday,” she says. “That retreat changed my life and allowed me to find my place in this world. From that weekend onward, I had my path.”

She chose to attend Lenoir-Rhyne University, based on its strong Lutheran affiliations and its youth and family ministry major. She then went to seminary in Gettysburg.

“I just knew that’s where God was calling me to be,” she explains.

Bowlan grew up in Florida, and although her parents have always been supportive of her call to ministry, others in that region weren’t always so friendly.

“Growing up in the south, women pastors are few and far between. I’m lucky that I come from a pretty fundamental part of the country, however, and I never

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personally experienced any hatred,” she says.

Bowlan, 29, says Grace has been very welcoming and encouraging to her. She serves as the pastor for Faith Formation and Action. Among other duties, she is responsible for children’s and youth ministries as well as the Sunday school programs.

“I have always felt a call from God to do ministry in some capacity with youth,” she says. “In my experience, people often say that youth are the church of the future, and while to some extent that is true, they are also a huge part of the church right now. My goal has always been to encourage both youth and adults to embrace that concept.”

One concept most of the women leading churches today seem to embrace — no matter their backgrounds or denominations — is how they became pastors.

As Williamson says, “It’s truly a calling. It’s something that grows over the years. There are women my age beginning to think about retirement now. But I have so much more to give in my field of work.” T&G Pastor Alison Bowlan of Grace Lutheran Church spends much of her time working with children and youth, believing that they are not only the church of the future but a huge part of the church right now.

Amy King is a contributor to Town&Gown, and teaches preschool at Grace Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten. She lives in State College with her husband and three children.

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State’s est B

By David Pencek

In becoming the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, Tricia Miller is now known across the commonwealth as an inspiring educator to both students and faculty. That’s not news to those in the Penns Valley School District who have been helped

by Miller for the past 15 years

U 71 - Town Town&Gown Gown March 2012

A

Attitude means just about everything for Tricia Miller, whether in her life or in her teaching seniors at Penns Valley High School.

Or, more accurately, a positive attitude means just about everything.

IIn n her classroom, amid the bookshelves sstacked tacked with classic literature such as Frankenstein F rankenstein, Beloved rankenstein, Beloved,, Moll Flanders Flanders,, and the Frankenstein, works w orks of Shakespeare, a poster on the blackboard rreads, eads, “A positive attitude overcomes even the tallest obstacles.”

It’s a message Miller’s students can easily pick up when they sit in her classroom for a year.

“From the first day, she explained why she’s excited,” says Julia Dawson, a senior at Penns Valley. “She explained how attitude and outlook rather than the situation determine things.”

Kelsen Case, also a senior, agrees, saying, “She just tells you things that just stick with you.”

In December, Miller, who teaches 12th-grade English and is the school district’s literacy coach for grades 7 through 12, was named the 2012 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. She is the first Centre County educator to receive the award in its 54-year history.

After winning the award, Miller returned

home to find hundreds of congratulatory messages from current and former students, fellow teachers, and school administrators.

During the announcement in Hershey, Pennsylvania education secretary Ron Tomalis said, “Tricia’s unwavering commitment to her students and colleagues has profoundly impacted the educational environment in the Penns Valley School District.

She’s inspired her students and colleagues to strive for excellence and overcome the many obstacles that arise in and outside of the classroom.”

Overcoming obstacles is something Miller has taken even more seriously of late. During the strenuous economic times of the past few years, she has seen more students come into her classroom with worries about what’s happening in their homes, whether it’s a parent losing a job or other financial difficulties.

Miller views her classroom, and all school classrooms for that matter, as a place for those young people to be able to put those worries aside for a few hours.

“Education is the one constant in the life of a child in today’s society,” she says. “Education still offers a world of possibility, a world of probability, and a world of potential even when life outside of the school doesn’t seem potentially promising.

Miller has been a full-time teacher at Penns Valley since 1997 and says education is “the one constant in the life of a child in today’s society.”

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Contributed photos (2)

Miller at the Teacher of the Year award ceremony with Penns Valley High School principal Jacquelyn Martin (left) and student presenter John Anthony Ventura III.

“As teachers, we’re always here. We need to do the best we can to talk with the kids and provide the support we can. The school has the potential and the possibilities to give them everything they need to make a better situation for themselves.”

She knows the power a teacher can have with inspiring students because as a third-grade student at Pleasant Gap Elementary, she was inspired by her teacher — Mrs. Homan. Miller says her third-grade teacher made learning fun, which made Miller want to go to school. “That’s half the battle,” she says — “kids wanting to go to school.”

Still, when she graduated from Bellefonte Area High School in 1990, Miller had ideas of becoming an accountant. Her heart, however, was in teaching, and she remembered all the teachers she had had who made positive impacts on her.

She graduated from Penn State and became a student-teacher at Penns Valley. Her first day in the classroom offered some not-so-fond memories.

“As a student-teacher, you videotape yourself so you can analyze the tape. I realized I said,

‘OK,’ 117 times in 48 minutes,” she says now with a laugh. “That had to change. I always mention to my kids to watch what they’re saying and how they present themselves and how they come across to an audience.”

These days, Miller, who was hired as a fulltime teacher at Penns Valley in 1997, is well beyond the “OK” dilemma. When she speaks to — not at — her students, she talks with a calm passion in her voice. She can push students to do more than what’s required without sounding overbearing.

During a classroom exercise in January, students were given a sample resumé and asked to find all the items that were wrong with it — and they found numerous mistakes. Miller, however, would challenge them to find more — even beyond the number she initially asked them to find.

And they were successful in finding even more errors.

Penns Valley principal Jacquelyn Martin says her favorite story about Miller is when a former student who enlisted in the Marines said Miller “doesn’t just make you do the work. She makes you know it.”

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After spending the last two years as Penns Valley’s literacy coach, Miller returned this year as a full-time teacher in her classroom.

“She has a calm demeanor about her and gains a mutual respect between her and her students,” Martin says. “She’s also had a huge impact on other teachers and is a role model.

She gave other teachers an avenue to step out of their comfort zones.”

That came about in 2009 when Miller was taken out of the classroom and became the school district’s first literacy coach for grades 7 through 12. She worked with other teachers in developing strategies on how to incorporate literacy regardless of the subject being taught.

“In elementary school, you learn to read.

Here, you read to learn,” she says. “How do you read a science book? How do you read a math problem? We helped implement literacy strategies. We all worked together, and having everybody open to the same philosophy made a difference. It was showing that reading isn’t just about English class.”

Bringing those literacy strategies into classrooms comes at a time when, as Miller says, it’s becoming more of a challenge to get kids to read. Thanks to technology that includes everything from the Internet to text messages to Facebook, kids are becoming less interested in reading something that may take a little more time — such as a novel — or writing something longer than a text message

or Facebook posting.

This school year marked Miller’s return from being the literacy coach to a full-time teacher in her classroom. She says one of her favorite classes is the career unit in which she helps students learn how to write resumés and cover letters, and conduct themselves in job interviews. Having once worked in a staffing agency that helped people find work, she knows the satisfaction that comes when someone is hired for a job.

Besides her Penns Valley kids, Miller also has three children — Leanne (7) and Heidi (4) and stepdaughter, Jacqueline (15) — with her husband, Mark. One of the challenges she faces is balancing her work with her schoolkids and her life with her children.

“I thought it would get easier as the kids got older but it gets harder and harder with all their interests,” she says. “It’s a balancing act. You take it piece by piece. … Somehow it works.”

Because of her winning the teacher of the year award, Miller will serve as a spokesperson for teachers across the state at events and conferences. She’s carrying a message that comes from an unlikely source.

“I think my message will be what Charlie Brown, that student of all students, said. He said, ‘Few people are successful unless other

74 - Town&Gown March 2012

Miller and her husband, Mark, with their children (from left), Leanne, Heidi, and Jacqueline.

people want them to be,’ ” she says. “The idea is we all need to work together and support each other and realize that education offers a world of possibilities, probability, and potential. Kids need to understand that education is there for them.”

And, as she wrote in an essay for the teacherof-the-year committee, “Education cannot be successful if others don’t want it to be.”

Miller’s sense of success, or accomplishment, comes usually in June. As a 12th-grade teacher, she is with her students for only one year before they leave. She knows them for maybe just a few months of their lives. Whether or not she hears from them again through a letter or e-mail, she knows she has made an impact on them.

“I don’t get to know them throughout their whole school career — that’s why I hope they write back,” she says. “But I’m always there at the very last moment and I watch them with their caps and gowns. That’s the moment — when I leave the parking lot on graduation night, I feel that satisfaction. They made it to that point — and I played a role in doing that for them.” T&G

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ThisMonth on SPECIAL TV PROGRAMMING March 2–18, 2012

Viewer contributions are the most important source of funding for PBS programs. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.

This month, WPSU invites viewers to a front-row seat for world-class drama and performances starting with Big Band Vocalists (My Music) on Saturday, March 3, at 7 p.m., reliving the big-band era with the “crooners” and “canaries” of the 1940s. On Sunday, March 4, at 8 p.m., Great Performances celebrates the 25th anniversary performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.

This dazzling restaging of the original production, filmed in the Victorian splendor of London’s Royal Albert Hall, recreates the jaw-dropping scenery and breathtaking special effects of the original, set to Lloyd Webber’s haunting score.

Dr. Wayne Dyer outlines a program for mastering the tools necessary for living a profoundly extraordinary life, showing viewers how to create new and astonishing thought patterns while defeating unproductive and recurring habits in his newest PBS special, Wishes Fulfilled, on Monday, March 5, at 8 p.m.

Enjoy all that you find on WPSU this March, but also take a few moments to become a member, renew your membership, or make an additional gift of support and help ensure that the finest in television continues to come into your home throughout the year.

U.Ed. OUT 12-0538/12-PSPB-TV-0015

wpsu.org

PENN STATE PUBLIC BROADCASTING

*For additional program information, log on to wpsu.org

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SEUSS!

PBS KIDS will celebrate the 108th birthday of Dr. Seuss on-air, online, and on mobile. “The Cat in the Hat-AThon,” will air on WPSU-TV, Saturday, March 3, at 7 a.m., featuring a two-hour marathon of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Kids will also be able to engage with the Cat and friends through games and video content online and on mobile, and parents will be able to enjoy a new Birthday Party Builder Tool on the PBS KIDS Shop website [www.pbskidsshop.com].

It’s a fun and easy way for parents to plan the perfect party featuring their kids’ favorite characters, including the Cat in the Hat.

HUMORIST DAVID SEDARIS

WPSU-FM presents NPR contributor and author David Sedaris live at Eisenhower Auditorium, Friday, April 13, at 8 p.m., celebrating the release of his most recent title Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, a book of acerbic, outrageously funny fables that features animals with unmistakably human failings. Sedaris visits State College for an evening of engaging recollections, all-new readings, and a book signing. Tickets available at cpa.psu.edu.

MARCH Photo Credit: Courtesy of Alastair Muir

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mount nittany residences Providing “Excellence” in Subsidized Housing Apartments

Come be a part of the Mount Nittany Residences family, where we provide unique recreational and program opportunities for the active senior lifestyle Friendly, reliable staff One- and two- bedroom modern units with large balconies • Small pets allowed • Gardening areas • On-site laundry • On-site Computer Lab • 24-hour maintenance and emergency call service Managed by Improved Dwellings for Altoona Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Income Limits Apply. HUD Subsidized Housing in State College for persons 62 and older, or with mobility impairments.

301 Rolling Ridge Dr. State College, PA 16801 • 814-234-1323 fax 814-235-1507 • mtnt@comcast.net

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penn state diary

Evolution of the Executive Board’s top committee has changed in size and influence over the years

By Lee Stout Penn State University Archives

February’s column described the evolution and size of Penn State’s board of trustees over its 157-year history. This month we’ll examine the history of the board’s executive committee.

Initially, board members made the critical decisions. Before Evan Pugh arrived in 1859, they selected the site, oversaw the construction of the buildings, hired a principal and faculty, and generally managed the institution. It would be logical to think a Penn State board would never again have such a “hands-on” role.

By 1874, however, the college’s operations were growing more complex, and the board decided it needed an executive committee. Before then, these more managerial decisions had been made between board meetings by Hugh Nelson McAllister and the college president.

McAllister was a Bellefonte lawyer; he was the “local” trustee and served from 1855 until his death in 1873.

James A. Beaver was McAllister’s law partner and son-in-law; he succeeded McAllister on the board. Beaver served as governor of the commonwealth from 1887 to 1891, and was either a member or president of the Penn State board from 1873 until his death in 1914. McAllister and Beaver were the closest advisors to the first eight presidents over those initial 59 years. Beaver even served as acting president from 1906 to 1908, after George W. Atherton’s death.

The executive committee created at the board’s January 13, 1874, meeting consisted initially of three members: General Beaver and the two college officers — president James Calder and vice president James Y. McKee. It met monthly at the college, between the three annual board meetings, “to superintend the expenditure of the appropriations made by the board and, generally, to manage the affairs of the institution.” In the 1870s these decisions ranged from hiring faculty and determining salaries to approving the installation of water closets in Old Main and forbidding the keeping of dogs in

The 1941 board of trustees’ executive committee included (from left) John C. Cosgrove, J.M.H. Andrews, A.O. Morse (assistant to President Hetzel), president Ralph D. Hetzel, J. Franklin Shields (president of the board), George H. Deike, James Milholland, and E. S. Bayard.

the college buildings or on the grounds.

Over the next 70 years, the executive committee gradually grew from three to seven members and they met seven times a year, while the “big board” met only twice a year.

Trustee actions could have a major impact, such as the decision to turn down a Philadelphia medical school that offered itself to Penn State in the nineteenth century. Academic policy plans were scrutinized by the trustees throughout Penn State’s history, but especially beginning in the 1920s. President John Martin Thomas was hired by the board with the goal of conducting the college’s first fundraising drive, with visions of new buildings, expanded curricula, more public funding, and state university status.

Later, the board oversaw the steps to cope with the depression and war, as well as the skyrocketing growth resulting from the G.I. Bill, the Cold War, and eventually the baby boomers. These changes led to ever-growing enrollments and a permanent system of campuses across the commonwealth.

Still, the executive committee made many

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operational decisions. In 1947, it vetoed a student-backed bookstore on campus as inappropriate and unfair competition with downtown merchants. Two years later, it reinstated athletic scholarships in a move away from President Hetzel’s policy of de-emphasizing athletics.

In 1955, it approved union representation for blue-collar workers on campus, but showed little interest in actually negotiating with them.

The executive committee continued to expand its membership and, in 1959, it was set at from seven to 11 members, as it remains today.

These practices continued until 1969 when Helen Wise, Jesse Arnelle, and Ralph Dorn Hetzel Jr. ran for the board promising more unconstrained discussion and a new committee structure. In 1971, the full board began meeting six times a year. These meetings were opened to the press and public in 1974, and, two years later, committee meetings became public. These actions were taken, in part, to avoid a confrontation over whether the recently passed state Sunshine Act would apply to Penn State.

Although, participation by spectators was not allowed, board actions and discussion, along with meeting agendas and minutes, were now open to public scrutiny. But gradually, with growing administrative control over university affairs, the university president came to play the key role in board meetings. This frustrated some board members who wanted more input, but likely satisfied others who were uncomfortable with the idea of doing business in public.

Also in 1974, the board’s committee structure was reorganized, reducing them from nine to three — now finance and physical plant, educational policy, and campus environment. The executive committee still functions today as well, although, until recently, in a much more restricted fashion compared to a century ago. T&G A correction from last month: This column identified a current ex-officio trustee as Secretary of Environmental Resources. Since a 1995 state government reorganization, that ex-officio trustee has been the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Lee Stout is Librarian Emeritus, Special Collections for Penn State.

Get to know...

Stephen Benkovic: Unraveling DNA Stephen Benkovic started out as an English literature major at Lehigh University.

However, his attention quickly moved from Shakespeare and Joyce to proteins and enzymes, and a future National Medal of Science winner was born.

A Penn State faculty member for almost half a century, Dr. Benkovic is one of the university’s select Evan Pugh Professors, honored for being a pioneer in his field, dedicated to research and to educating students who themselves go on to excel.

His extremely impressive list of awards is topped by a 2010 National Medal of Science, presented to him by President Barack Obama at the White House for lifetime achievement in scientific research.

Also the holder of Penn State’s Eberly chair in chemistry, Dr. Benkovic is considered one of the world’s foremost mechanistic enzymologists. Even if your brain rebelled just reading “mechanistic enzymologist,” here’s why the Benkovic Lab’s studies of nature’s catalysts are important to you: These molecules are responsible for (among other things) muscle movement, eyesight, thinking, and reproduction. Their function is often altered by infection or mutation, and the research of the Benkovic Group is aimed at correcting these malfunctions.

The Penn State Bookstore thanks Stephen Benkovic and all faculty and staff who carry out the university’s mission every day.

www.psu.bncollege.com 814-863-0205

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COMING TO THE

Bryce Jordan Center

March 4 Nittany Lion Basketball vs. Michigan 1 p.m.

9-11 Builder’s Association of Central PA Home Show Noon- 8 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.

13-14 Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Super Heroes 7 p.m. Tues.; 10 a.m. & 7 p.m. Wed.

23-24 PIAA Basketball Championships Noon, 2, 6, & 8 p.m.

30-31 E3 Spark Plugs Monster Trucks Nationals 7 p.m.

March

what’s happening

For more “What’s Happening,” check out townandgown.com.

Deadline for submitting events for the May issue is March 30.

4

5

11

12

Penn State’s men’s basketball team wraps up its regular season hosting Michigan.

Daylight Saving Time Begins

18

25

20 19

26

9

10

16

17

22

23

24

29

30

31

The 28th annual Builders Association of Central PA Home Show begins and runs through March 11.

13

Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Super Heroes comes to the Bryce Jordan Center for three shows March 13-14.

14

The State Theatre hosts Ladysmith Black Mambazo for an 8 p.m. show.

20

21

First Day of Spring

The classic musical Cats crawls onto the Eisenhower Auditorium stage for a 7:30 p.m. performance.

27

28

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis comes to Eisenhower Auditorium for a 7:30 p.m. performance.

St. Patrick’s Day

The International Children’s Festival returns to State High’s South Building.

The annual Salute to Military Child Family Fun Fair takes place at the Snider Agricultural Arena.

Announcements of general interest to residents of the State College area may be mailed to Town&Gown Town&Gown, Box 77, State College, PA 16804-0077; faxed to (814) 238-3415; or e-mailed to dpenc@barashmedia.com. Photos are welcome.

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Academics 4-10 – PSU spring break, no classes.

5-6 – State College Area School District spring break, no school.

7 – State College Area School District grades, 6-12, no school.

Children & Families 3, 10, 17 – Piggy Bank Tales, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., www.schlowlibrary.org.

3, 10, 17, 24, 31 – World Stories Alive: Tales in Many Tongues, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 11 a.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

5-7 – No School day, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 11 a.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

5, 19 – Drop-In Knitting, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 6:30 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

13 – Poet Zoe Brigley Thompson: Celtic Bards, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 2:30 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

18 – Spring into Reading! with the National Student Speech, Language, Hearing Association, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 2 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

20 – Skype appearance by author Markus Zusak, Mount Nittany Middle School, S.C., 7 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

22, 24 – Children’s Theatre Performance by the Penn State Thespians: Mother Goose Stories, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 7 p.m. Thurs., 24th – 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Sat., www.schlowlibrary.org.

27 – Afternoon Book Discussion Group: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 2:30 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

27 – Evening Book Discussion Group: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 6:30 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

31 – International Children’s Festival, State College High School South, 2 p.m., 863-3927.

Classes & Lectures 2 – Gallery Talk: “Hogarth Restored,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu.

6 – “Fort-Sumter-First Blood in South Carolina,” PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7 p.m., www.pamilmuseum.org.

6, 20 – “A Joint Venture,” a free class on hip and knee replacements, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 6th – 11 a.m., 20th – 7 p.m., 278-4810.

7 – “FDR-Dewey: The 1944 Wartime Presidential Campaign,” PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, 7 p.m., www.pamilmuseum.org.

15 – “Primary Care for Neck and Back Pain,” Galen and Nancy Dreibelbis Auditorium, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 6 p.m.

234-6738.

15 – PSU’s Research Unplugged: “B is for Boys: How American Classroom Culture is Failing Male Students” with Ali Carr Chellman, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 12:15 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

16 – Gallery Talk: “Carnival Barkers, Beach Acrobats, and Elephant Acts: Circus Imagery in the Maimon Collection,” Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 12:10 p.m., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu.

22 – A Conversation with Peter Schjeldahl, HUB-Robeson Gallery, PSU, 4:30 p.m., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu.

22 – PSU’s Research Unplugged: “More Than Skin Deep: Solving the Genetic Mysteries of Human Skin Color” with Keith Cheng, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 12:15 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

29 – PSU’s Research Unplugged: “Lincoln and Liberty: A Closer Look at Abraham Lincoln and Civil Rights in Wartime” with Mark Neely, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., 12:15 p.m., www.schlowlibrary.org.

Club Events 1 – Central PA Observers mtg., South Hills School of Business and Technology, S.C., 6 p.m., 237-9865.

1 – S.C. Lions Club mtg., Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar, S.C., 6:15 p.m., www.statecollegelions.org.

2, 9, 16, 23 – S.C. Downtown Rotary mtg., Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar, S.C., noon, http://centrecounty.org/rotary/club/.

7, 14, 21, 28 – S.C. Sunrise Rotary Club mtg., Hotel State College, S.C., 7:15 a.m., kfragola@psualum.com.

7, 15 – Outreach Toastmasters Club mtg., room 413 in the 329 Building in Penn State Innovation Park, S.C., noon, http://outreach .freetoasthost.us/.

12 – Women’s Mid Day Connection Luncheon, Elk’s Country Club, Boalsburg, 11:45 a.m., 355-7615.

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14 – Women’s Welcome Club of S.C., Oakwood Presbyterian Church, S.C., 7 p.m., www.womenswelcomeclub.org.

16 – Central PA Country Dance Association Dance, State College Friends School, 7:30 p.m., www.cpcda.org.

20 – Square dancing with 50-50 Square Dance Club, Friends Meeting House, S.C., 6:30 p.m., 238-0320.

Community Associations & Development 1 – CBICC Awards Gala, Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, S.C., 5:15 p.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org.

8 – Triad: Personal Safety, Managing Aggressive Behavior, Centre Hall Senior Center, 10 a.m.

15 – CBICC Business After Hours hosted by Foxdale Village & Benchmark Construction Co., Foxdale Village, S.C., 5:30 p.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org.

20 – Spring Creek Watershed Association mtg., Patton Township Mun. Bldg., 7:30 a.m., www.springcreekwatershed.org.

20 – CBICC Membership Luncheon, Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, S.C., 11:45 a.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org.

21 – CBICC ChamberU: Listening and Organizing, CBICC, S.C., 8:15 a.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org.

28 – CBICC Business Before Hours – Jim May, Celebration Hall, S.C., 8 a.m., 234-1829 or www.cbicc.org.

28 – Patton Township Business Association mtg., Patton Township Mun. Bldg., S.C., noon, www.ptba.org.

Exhibits Ongoing-April 22 – Stephen Althouse, HUB-Robeson Galleries, PSU, studentaffairs.psu .edu/hub/artgalleries.

Ongoing-May 13 – Hogarth Restored, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Ongoing-May 13 – Painting the People: Images of American Life from the Maimon Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m.

Sun., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Ongoing-May 27 – Me, Myself, and the Mirror: Self-Portraits from the Permanent Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu.

1-31 – Four Directions by Clay Anderson, Betsy Rodgers Allen Art Gallery, Schlow Centre Region Library, S.C., www.schlowlibrary.org.

4-Apr. 29 – Everyday Objects: Fancy Forms and Familiar Functions, Centre Furnace Mansion, S.C., 1- 4 p.m., www.centrecountyhistory.org.

16-25 – Figurative Exhibition, Art Alliance of Central PA, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., 234-2740.

30 – Paper Views: Picturing the People: American Prints Between the Wars, Palmer Museum of Art, PSU, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., www.palmermuseum.psu.edu.

Health Care For schedule of blood drives visit www.cccredcross.org or www.givelife.org.

1 – Grief Support Group, Centre Crest, Bellefonte, 6 p.m., 548-1140 or amboal@co.centre.pa.us.

5 – Breast Cancer Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 5:30 p.m., 234-6175.

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Music

6, 13, 20, 27 – Brain Injury Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 7 p.m., 359-3421.

8 – The Diabetes Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 6 p.m., 231-7095.

13 – Alzheimer’s Support Group, The Inn at Brookline, S.C., 6:30 p.m., 234-3141.

13 – The Parent Support of Children with Eating Disorders, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 7 p.m., 466-7921.

15 – Better Breathers Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Pleasant Gap, 2 p.m., 359-3421.

15 – The free H.E.I.R. & Parents class and tour of the maternity unit for expectant parents and support people, Mount Nittany Medical Center, S.C., 6:30 p.m. & 7:45 p.m., 231-7061.

19 – Cancer Survivor Support Group, Centre County United Way, S.C., 11:30 a.m., www.cancersurvive.org.

20 – Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital, Outpatient Entrance, Pleasant Gap, 6 p.m., 359-3421.

14 – Ladysmith Black Mambazo, State Theatre, S.C., 8 p.m., www.statetickets.org or 272-0606.

14 – Eric Himan performing at the Inferno Brick Oven & Bar, S.C., 9 p.m., www.erichiman.com.

16 – Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu.

16 – John Hodgman, State Theatre, S.C., 8 p.m., www.statetickets.org or 272-0606.

17 – Callanish Celtic Band, State Theatre, S.C., 2 p.m., www.statetickets.org or 272-0606.

17 – Steve Earle, State Theatre, S.C., 8 p.m., www.statetickets.org or 272-0606.

18 – Harpist Anne Sullivan and saxophonist Rick Hirsch, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County, S.C., 3 p.m., www.uufcc.com or 237-7605.

20 – Nittany Valley Symphony Orchestra: Tchaikovsky & The Titan, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.nvs.org.

23 – Brentano String Quartet, Schwab Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu.

25 – Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra: Vienna Serenade, The Tavern Restaurant, S.C., 1 p.m., www.centreorchestra.org.

814-234-1420 Inside: Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years • Hot breakfasts are served at local restaurants

Town&Gown MARCH 2012

FREE

townandgown.com

Town&Gown FEBRUARY 2012

FREE

townandgown.com

Inside: The two sides of social media; Meet the judges of the Court of Common Pleas

Town&Gown JANUARY 2012

FREE

townandgown.com

Dynamic Duo

Jamie and Kerry Bestwick are not only living out their dreams here in Happy Valley but also finding ways to help others in need

IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOWN

Joe Paterno 1926-2012

Soup’s

Centre County chefs have some great soups to try out and help you keep warm this winter

On!

IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOWN

84 - Town&Gown March 2012

Find Us On

31 – Acoustic Brew: The Stray Birds, Center for Well Being, Lemont, 7:30 p.m., www.acousticbrew.org.

Special Events 3 – The Bellefonte Elks Lodge #1094 Soup and Salad Lunch/Dinner, Bellefonte Elks Club, 11 a.m., 404-9646.

6, 13, 20, 27 – Boalsburg Farmers’ Market, Boalsburg Fire Hall, 2 p.m., 466-2152.

9-11 – Central PA Home Builders Association Home Show, BJC, PSU, noon Fri., 10 a.m. Sat. & Sun., www.bjc.psu.edu.

11 – Charter Day, PA Military Museum, Boalsburg, noon, www.pamilmuseum.org.

11 – An Afternoon of Art and Music, Foxdale Retirement Village, S.C., 2 p.m., 234-2740.

13-14 – Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Super Heroes, BJC, PSU, 7 p.m. Tues., 10:30 a.m. & 7 p.m. Wed., www.bjc.psu.edu.

17 – St. Patrick’s Day Irish Buffet, Bellefonte Elks Club, 2 p.m., 404-9646.

18 – 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting, State High South Bldg., S.C., 2 p.m., 238-8057.

24 – 3rd annual Stop Crohn’s and Colitis in Their Tracks 5K run/walk, IM Bldg., PSU, 11 a.m.

24 – Tait Farm Foods presents The Spring Table, Tait Farm, Centre Hall, 1 p.m., www.taitfarmfoods.com.

25 – 4th annual Salute to Military Child Family Fun Fair, Snider Agricultural Arena, PSU, 1 p.m., 865-2264 or www.operationmilitarykids.org.

29 – Organic Gardening Workshops, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, S.C., 7 p.m., 231-3071 or www.crpr.org.

30-31 – E3 Spark Plugs Monster Truck Nationals, BJC, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.bjc.psu.edu.

Sports For tickets to Penn State sporting events, call 865-5555. For area high school sporting events, call your local high school.

2 – PSU/Michigan & North Carolina, women’s gymnastics, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m.

3 – PSU/Army, men’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 10 a.m.

3 – PSU/Ohio State, men’s volleyball, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m.

4 – PSU/Michigan, men’s basketball, BJC PSU, 1 p.m.

4 – PSU/Virginia, women’s lacrosse, PSU Lacrosse Field, PSU, 1 p.m.

Red Cross Honor Roll of Milestone Blood Donors 6 GALLONS: Debra Garland, William Luse, Jeannette Rizzuto, Edwin Seyler, Michael Vanatta 5 GALLONS: Patricia Benford, Seth Beveridge, Melody Bodle, Ray Bryant, Michael Casper, Sherri Cramer, Warren Leitzel, Douglas Markley, Kathy Moir, Harold Peterson, Henry Sommer, Menno Stoltzfus 4 GALLONS: John Beiler, Roy Breon, Steven Constable, Patricia Daniels, Mildred Demaree, Susan Dixon, Randy Emel, Ivan Glick, Joseph Homan, Esther Lauchle, Douglas Lemke, Lorie MacNamara, Suzanne McBride, Thomas Osif, Bethany Raney, Joshua Sacher, Dennis Sager, Jacob Stoltzfus, Daniel Supko 3 GALLONS: Michele Aukerman, Sharon Cox, Vincent Defelice, Ruth Evans-Fultz, Annette Freeberg, Elam Glick, Kimberly Hubler, Erin Kauffman, Kenneth Kephart, Mark Lawrence, Joshua Longhenry, Robert Maurer, James Mazenko, Gretchen Moody

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7 – PSU/Loyola (MD), women’s lacrosse, PSU Lacrosse Field, PSU, 4 p.m.

10 – PSU/Denver, men’s lacrosse, PSU Lacrosse Field, PSU, 1 p.m.

14 – PSU/Temple, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 4:30 p.m.

17 – PSU/Eastern Michigan, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, noon.

17 – PSU/Massachusetts, men’s lacrosse, PSU Lacrosse Field, noon.

17 – PSU/Minnesota DD, men’s and women’s gymnastics, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m.

20 – PSU/Lehigh, men’s lacrosse, PSU Lacrosse Field, PSU, 7 p.m.

21 – PSU/Pittsburgh, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 3:35 p.m.

23 – PSU/Indiana, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 4 p.m.

23-25 – PSU/Indiana, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 6:05 p.m. Fri., 2:05 p.m.

Sat., & 1:05 p.m. Sun. 24 – PSU/Temple, men’s gymnastics, Rec Hall, PSU, 7 p.m.

25 – PSU/Purdue, women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 11:30 a.m.

25 – PSU/William & Mary, women’s lacrosse, PSU Lacrosse Field, PSU, 1 p.m.

27 – PSU/Bucknell, men’s lacrosse, PSU Lacrosse Field, PSU, 7 p.m.

Spirit of Uganda comes to Eisenhower Auditorium March 13.

28 – PSU/Coppin State, baseball, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, PSU, 2 p.m.

30 – PSU/Iowa, men’s and women’s tennis, Sarni Tennis Center, PSU, 5 & 5:30 p.m.

31 – PSU/Villanova, men’s lacrosse, PSU Lacrosse Field, PSU, 1 p.m.

Theater 1 – National Theatre Live presents The Comedy of Errors, State Theatre, S.C., 7 p.m., www.statetickets.org or 272-0606.

13 – Spirit of Uganda – A Project of Empower African Children, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu.

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18 – Ballet Magnificat presents Deliver Us & The Arrival, State Theatre, S.C., 4 p.m., www.statetickets.org or 272-0606.

21 – Cats, Eisenhower Auditorium, PSU, 7:30 p.m., www.cpa.psu.edu.

29 – National Theatre Live presents She Stoops to Conquer, The State Theatre, S.C., 7 p.m., www.statetickets.org or 272-0606.

29 – April – State High Thespians present The Drowsy Chaperone, State High Auditorium, S.C., 7p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., 231-4188.

30 – April 8 – The Next Stage presents Circle Mirror Transformation, The State Theatre, S.C., 8 p.m.

(2 p.m. matinees April 1, 7, and 8), www.statetickets.org or 272-0606. T&G

Find Us On Inside: Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years • Hot breakfasts are served at local restaurants

Town&Gown MARCH 2012

FREE

landscaping & grounds maintenance

Maintenance • Weeding Mulching • Design • Lawn Care Pressure Washing & More   Free

814.470.1282 Kristen Riddle, Owner www.happyvalleycurbappeal.com

Cynthia Hayes Karcher, CFM First Vice President–Wealth Management Senior Resident Director Wealth Management Advisor (814) 231-8912 • (800) 204-4907 Merrill Lynch 120 Regent Court, Suite 200 State College, PA 16801

townandgown.com

Dynamic Duo

Estimates  

www.fa.ml.com/cynthia_karcher

Jamie and Kerry Bestwick are not only living out their dreams here in Happy Valley but also finding ways to help others in need

IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOWN

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer and member SIPC, and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. © 2012 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

AD-02-12-0870 ARM313M5-08-11 Code 444608PM-0212

87 - Town&Gown March 2012

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE 2011-2012 FROM LONDON presents The Comedy of Errors

Thurs, March 1- 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: $15, $12 Seniors, $10 Students *includes box office fees

CALLANISH IRISH MUSIC AND ARTS CELEBRATION Sat, March 17- 1:00 p.m.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE 2011-2012 FROM LONDON presents She Stoops to Conquer

Thurs, March 29 - 7:00 p.m.

JOHN HODGMAN Fri, March 16 - 8:00 p.m.

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO Wed, March 14 - 8:00 p.m.

BALLET MAGNIFICAT presents Deliver Us & The Arrival

Sun, March 18 - 4:00 p.m.

JUICE BOX JAMS Sat, March 24 - 11:00 a.m.

THE PACT Sat, March 31 7:00 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. (Premiere Event)

Sun, April 1

4:00 p.m. , 7:30 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.

Wed, April 4

4:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Sat, March 31-11:30 p.m.

from the vine

Hello (Again) Merlot Rediscovering the smooth red wine

By Lucy Rogers

I stopped buying Merlot a long time ago, prob probably because as my interest in wine grew I became curious about other, less common varietals.

I tend to buy blends because drinking them can be a unique experience, as the winemaker has decided what the wine will taste like by tinkering with the grapes used to make what he wants to make. Or I buy wines from a certain region that, for whatever reason, is captivating me for the moment. Either way, I can’t remember the last time I bought a bottle of Merlot for personal consumption. Not unlike the character Miles in the movie Sideways, I have to admit I had begun to associate Merlot with the wine bourgeoisie: those who drink red wine but don’t really care what it is as long as it is “smooth.” These are people with no wine chops, right? They don’t want a wine that makes them think, they want a wine version of a Cosmo, something that is easy to drink and looks good in their hand.

I admit now that I continued to harbor this ambivalence toward Merlot, in spite of the grape’s pedigree. Merlot is the most widely planted grape in France’s Bordeaux wine region, home of the world’s most revered and expensive wines, and arguably those with the most cachet.

One of the world’s most sought after and recognizable French wines is Chateau Petrus, which is made from 100 percent Merlot. So my snobbery perhaps has been somewhat misguided, no?

Generally speaking, Merlot is a wine most often defined by its texture and mouthfeel rather than its flavor profile. Fleshy and early ripening, Merlot is often used to blend with Cabernet Sauvignon to soften the Cab’s more tannic edges, and, in blends from Chile and California, Merlot is blended with other Bordeaux grapes to make Bordeaux-style blends. Clearly, Merlot has its role as a softener, so to speak. But what about wines made just from Merlot? Is it always just a simple cocktail wine for the masses? Our panel agreed it was time to revisit Merlot and its various expressions from around the world.

We assembled a broad range of wines that represented seven different wine-growing regions around the world. From Bulgaria to Bordeaux to Australia, from Chile to the US, we tasted wines that ranged in price from $9 to $26. The tasting was blind so that we could not bring our own prejudices about vintners and regions to the table. What we found were wines as varied as their origins. But what we also realized was that the styles of Merlot were varied enough that there was a wine that suited every palate. Not surprisingly, the wine’s origin and its terroir defined the style of the wine. The $16 Napa Valley was a rich, round, full-bodied, and layered wine, full of fruit but with structure and complexity — a wine perfect for serving before the meal at a dinner party. The $18 Chilean wine was more savory, with more noticeably vegetal/herbal notes but still allowing the grape’s round smoothness to show itself, making it the better wine for serving with the meal at the dinner party. The $9 California Merlot was fruit-forward, fairly simple but easy drinking and pleasant — an affordable wine to serve at a gathering that perhaps didn’t have food as the focus.

Ultimately, the tasting served to remind us that Merlot is in fact a versatile grape, able to express terroir, and, in the right hands, make a delicious wine. In terms of pricing, I am not generally one to subscribe to the opinion that a more expensive wine is necessarily a better wine, but I do believe that if you drink a lot of wine and have developed your palate, it becomes harder

89 - Town&Gown March 2012

guide to advertisers

ATTRACTIONS, EVENTS, ENTERTAINMENT Art Alliance........................................25 Bob Perk’s Fund .............................85 Bryce Jordan Center .....................69 Center for the Performing Arts ................... Inside Front Cover Coaches Vs. Cancer ......................21 Palmer Museum of Art ...................80 State Theatre.................................. 88 Toftrees Resort ................................36 AUTOMOTIVE Dix Honda ........................................... 2 Driscoll automotive ....... Back Cover Joel Confer BMW .............................. 4 BANKS, FINANCIAL SERVICES Diversified Asset Planners ...........67 Frost & Conn Insurance ................86 M&T Bank .......... Inside Back Cover Merrill Lynch ....................................87 Penn State Federal Credit Union ..............................................83 State College Federal Credit Union ..............................................18 BELLEFONTE SECTION Black Walnut Body Works............22 Confer’s Jewelers ...........................23 Mid State Awning & Patio Company .......................................22 Penn State Federal Credit Union ..............................................23 Pizza Mia............................................23 Reynolds Mansion ..........................22 BOALSBURG A Basket Full ....................................31 Boalsburg Apothecary ..................31 Duffy’s Tavern ..................................30 Kelly’s Steak & Seafood ...............30 Natures Hue .....................................31 N’v........................................................30 Tait Farm Foods...............................30 BUSINESS, INDUSTRY Blair County Chamber Of Commerce ....................................60 CBICC .................................................20 CONSTRUCTION, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Builders Association of Central PA .....................................39

DINING Autoport .......................................... 102 Cozy Thai Bistro ........................... 101 Damon’s Grill................................. 102 Dantes ............................................. 100 Faccia Luna ......................................99 Gamble Mill Restaurant.............. 100 Herwig’s .......................................... 102 Hotel State College ........................97 India Pavilion ................................. 103 Meyer Dairy Store & Ice Cream Parlor ........................................... 101 Mount Nittany Inn......................... 102 Otto’s Pub .........................................98 PSU Food Services (Hub Dining) .............................. 103 Tavern Restaurant............................. 1 Wegmans........................................ 104 Westside Stadium ........................ 101 Whistle Stop Restaurant ............ 101 Zola New World Bistro................ 100 LANDSCAPING Happy Valley Curb Appeal...........87 JRS Landscaping, LLC .................47 LODGING HFL Corporation (Country Inn & Suites) .............................................. 6 Hospitality Asset Management Company .......................................98 Ingelby Lodge ..................................86 Penn State Hospitality ..................... 4 MEDICAL Ginger Grieco, DDS .......................28 HealthSouth / Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital ..........................................16 JC Blair Memorial Hospital ..........60 Lewistown Hospital ........................27 Mount Nittany Medical Center ...... 3 Penn State/Milton Hershey Medical Center ............................15 The Circulatory Center .................... 9 PHOTOGRAPHY Vista Pro Studios ............................68 PRINTING, COPYING, MEDIA Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU)...........................................76

REAL ESTATE, HOUSING Cali, Tom-RE/MAX Centre Realty..............................................13 Chambers, Scot ..............................37 Hurvitz, Eric-RE/MAX Centre Realty..............................................29 Kissinger Bigatel & Brower ..........44 Lions Gate Apartments .................25 Mount Nittany Residences Inc. ...77 Rittenhouse, Lisa – RE/MAX ........ 6 RETIREMENT SERVICES Elmcroft of State College ............14 Foxdale Village ................................19 Presbyterian Senior Living ............. 8 SERVICES Blair Plastic Surgery ......................84 Centre Elite Gymnastics, Inc ......... 4 Clean Sweep Professional Cleaning Services ......................16 Handy Delivery ................................45 Hoag’s Catering ..............................28 McQuaide Blasko ...........................11 P2P Computer Solutions ..............77 Red Cross .........................................85 SHOPPING, RETAIL America’s Carpet Outlet ...............19 Aurum Jewelers & Goldsmiths ....18 Collegiate Pride ...............................36 Degol Carpet ....................................17 Gardners Candies ..........................75 Home Reflections............................44 Moyer Jewelers ...............................29 Penn State Bookstore ...................79 Squire Brown’s ................................25 VISITOR INFORMATION Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau............................................12 WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY Abundance Wealth .........................52 Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries .......................................57 American Cancer Society ............57 Arc of Centre County .....................50 Associated Realty Property Management ................................50 Babst, Calland Attorneys at Law..................................................56 Bennett, Mary Lou-RE/MAX Centre Realty ...............................53 Central Pennsylvania Festival of

91 - Town&Gown March 2012

the Arts...........................................52 Centre County Women’s Resource Center.............................................52 Centre County Youth Service Bureau............................................52 Centre Daily Times .........................55 Centre Hall Audiology & Hearing Aid Center .....................................56 Collegiate Pride ...............................58 Designers Studio ............................54 First National Insurance Agency ...........................................54 Foxdale Village ................................55 Fulton Bank ......................................53 Hartman Group Inc.........................56 HealthSouth/Nittany Valley Rehab Hospital ..........................................54 Home Instead Senior Care ..........54 Joy Dougherty..................................57 Karcher Family ................................55 Kish Bank .............53, 54, 55, 57, 58 Linda & Blake Gall ..........................56 Lions Gate Apartments .................57 Mount Nittany Medical Center ....52 Nestlerode & Loy ............................56 P&R Associates ...............................57 P2P Computer Solutions ..............56 Palmer Museum of Art ...................56 Palmer, Barbara ...............................55 Penn State Bookstore ...................53 Penn State Federal Credit Union ..............................................54 Penn State Hospitality ...................52 Penn State Public Broadcasting ................................58 Poole Anderson Construction.....57 Private Industry Council of the Central Corridor ..........................54 Seven Mountains Scientific .........52 Shute & Hefkin Financial Advisors .........................................51 Skills Group, The ............................55 State College Federal Credit Union ..............................................59 Stover, McGlaughlin, Gerace, Weyandt & McCormick..............57 Tavern Restaurant............ 53, 55, 56 United Way........................................54 Vantage Investment Advisors LLC ..................................................53 Veronesi Building & Romodeling ..................................52 Williams, Ella-Kissinger, Bigatel, & Brower............................................58 Worth Collection..............................53

and harder to find wines in the under $10 range that will really excite. In this regard, Merlot is no exception. In the under $10 range, you will not get Merlot at its best (though I think it’s safe to say that argument can be made for any grape). What you will find at that price range, however, are some easy drinking, smooth wines that will work as everyday wines or are fine for drinking as a cocktail rather than with dinner.

But in the $15 to $25 range, we found some truly interesting, complex, and tasty wines that showed the grape’s versatility and satisfied our palates. Taking that into consideration, where does one begin a rediscovery of Merlot? Choosing a Merlot from a region that you tend to favor is a good place to begin your exploration — do you prefer wines from France? Begin your search in the Right Bank of Bordeaux, or in the Languedoc region. Do you prefer wines from Napa or Washington state? See what’s available on the shelves from those regions. Alternatively, you could go with a Merlot from a producer with whom you have been pleased in the past, and find out what they are doing with Merlot.

Here are the notes on the wines we tasted this month: Bota Box California Merlot 2010 (PLCB Code 9248, $19.99, 3L) — Relatively easy drinking, a little spicy, but also a little thin and not quite as full bodied as I would have liked. In spite of it being a boxed wine, I have to admit I expected more from this.

Veni Vidi Vici VINI 2009 Merlot Thracian Valley, Bulgaria (PLCB Code 18263, $7.99) — A tad funky but not unpleasant, with earthy, dry, leathery notes and lots of sour cherry/cranberry in the finish. Tastes better than it smells; works quite well with food.

Folie a Deux 2009 Merlot Napa Valley (PLCB Code 18507, $15.99) — Fruit-forward with vanilla, cherry cola, and a hint of eucalyptus. A rich and delicious crowd pleaser at a very good price.

Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha 2009 Merlot Rapel Valley, Chile (PLCB Code 39191, $19.99) — Lots of herbs in the nose, with a “greener” feel than its predecessor yet still able to bring Merlot’s caramel notes to the table, with layers of flavor for the taking. Excellent food wine.

Little Black Dress 2010 California Merlot (PLCB code 5931, on sale $8.99) — Tasty if

simple with a light body and notes of cinnamon, spice, and brown sugar. A quaffer, but in a good way.

Concha y Toro Xplorador 2009 Merlot Central Valle Chile (PLCB code 8445, $10.99) — Xplorador is two steps down from C y T’s Marques de Casa Concha line (the Casillero del Diablo line is between them), and the wine is not nearly as complex as the Marques Merlot. Still, it has a lot of the same vegetal and savory characteristics but lacks the finesse of its more expensive, older sibling.

Shannon Ridge Ranch Collection 2009 Merlot North Coast California (PLCB Code 32196, $12.99) — A little plastic-y in the nose with a light body; woody flavors and some dairy notes, simple yet easy drinking.

Snoqualmie 2008 Columbia Valley Merlot, Washington (PLCB code 23997, $10.99) — Marzipan in the nose, with a lot of vanilla on the palate — perhaps too much — dry and thin to the point of being almost astringent. Kind of nondescript otherwise. Not what I would call typical Washington Merlot, nor would I judge Washington Merlots by this example.

Vine Cliff 2005 Napa Valley Merlot (PLCB Code 32354, $25) — Again, lots of vanilla and pretty flavorful if not terribly complex, with typical round, soft mouthfeel and a hint of jamminess. Good, but expected more for the price.

Chateau Leytrie 2009 Bordeaux (not available in PA, $12) — With a beautiful, sweetsmelling nose full of ripe blueberry, this wine didn’t entirely deliver on the palate, and had a metallic, short finish.

Hope 2009 Merlot Hunter Valley Australia (PLCB code 20029, $13.99) — Wow, did this wine have an overwhelmingly stinky nose that seemed completely out of character. Thankfully, it tasted better than it smelled — but that wouldn’t be hard. Pretty acidic and very green tasting. Not for the uninitiated.

Santa Florentina 2009 Merlot Famatina Valley Argentina (PLCB code 4498, currently on closeout at $3) — Soft and easy with more subtle vanilla notes and hints of coffee and herbs. (None available in Centre County, very few in the state system). T&G Lucy Rogers teaches wine classes and offers private wine tastings through Wines by the Class. She also is the event coordinator for Zola Catering (offsite and at the State College Elks Club).

90 - Town&Gown March 2012

Taste the

of

Month

> Visit www.townandgown.com for: < • A coupon for a FREE glass of freshly squeezed orange juice at The Original Waffle Shop locations.

• Special recipes from Penn State Hotels for Rum Sabayon and Amish Baked Oatmeal.

• A coupon for $2 off a breakfast platter at The Corner Room.

92 92 - Town&Gown - Town&Gown March March 2012 2012

John Hovenstine (3)

• A coupon for buy one $1.99 breakfast, get one FREE at Toast.

$1.99 Breakfast at Toast at The Autoport

Start the Day Right

Local restaurants offer great breakfast options

By Vilma Shu Danz

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it is the first chance our bodies have to refuel after about 8 to 12 hours of not eating. Unfortunately, in our modern lifestyles, many people skip breakfast, which can lead to unhealthy choices at lunchtime when hunger sets in. Eating a good breakfast has been shown to aid in concentration and mood balance, not to mention a boost of energy to start the day.

A typical American breakfast can range from your simple eggs, bacon, toast, and home fries or hash browns to Belgian waffles, buttermilk pancakes, and omelets. Whatever the spread may be, the important thing to remember is not to skip the first meal of the day.

Town&Gown spoke with some local chefs to find out what they are serving up in the morning or for brunch to get everyone excited about eating breakfast again.

Toast at The Autoport 1405 South Atherton Street, State College 237-7666

Toast is State College’s new smoking-friendly bar and lounge serving breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon, and cocktails from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Opened in June 2011, Toast continues The Autoport’s long tradition of serving breakfast to locals and travelers.

“Since the early 1960s when the service garage was converted into a diner, The Autoport has been serving breakfast and lunch in this part of the building, where Toast is now,” explains owner Greg Mussi. “My vision for Toast as a smoker-friendly breakfast place goes back to the good old days when people walked into a diner, opened a Broccoli-cheddar quiche newspaper, got a cup of coffee, and had a cigarette.”

The breakfast menu at Toast is an eclectic mix of healthy choices such as Lynnie’s homemade granola and freshly made broccoli-cheddar quiche to heartier platters such as sausage gravy over biscuits and country-fried steak and eggs. Other house specialties include a variety of three-egg omelets, Belgian waffles, and homemade corned beef hash.

“We brine the corned beef on-site, cook it for four hours, and dice the potatoes, peppers, and onions for the hash when you order it,” says Mussi. “Our eggs are farm-fresh and all our pork products like our bacon, ham, and smoked chorizo are from Hog’s Galore, so it is fresh, local, and of the highest quality.”

For nonsmokers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the smoke-free dining room area at The Autoport. “We want to cater to our customers and so we offer two very unique dining experiences,” says Mussi. “Toast is a blue-collar diner where if you would like to smoke, you can, and the other dining room at The Autoport offers a private, relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for business meetings, get-togethers, and family time.”

Try the $1.99 Breakfast served Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to noon at Toast. It features two eggs done anyway you want, homemade Italian bread, and a side order of home fries.

Lynnie’s homemade granola 93 - Town&Gown March 2012

The Original Waffle Shops 1229 North Atherton Street, State College 238-7460 & 1610 West College Avenue, State College 235-1816 There are two Original Waffle Shop locations in State College owned and operated by founder John Dimakopoulos. Originally from Greece, Dimakopoulos came to the United States in 1966 where he worked a number of years at breakfast eateries in the New York and New Jersey areas.

After moving to State College in 1970, he decided the town needed a good breakfast place. In 1972, at 23, he opened his first eatery in an A-frame building on North Atherton Street called Dimakas Steak and Waffle Shop and the restaurant’s distinctive breakfast, brunch, and lunch concept took off.

Today, his two Original Waffle Shops are always bustling with customers Mondays through Saturdays 5:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

“Everything we have on the menu is made fresh from scratch, and we take pride in making sure that our servers are well-trained and attentive to our customers,” he says.

One of The Waffle Shop’s bestsellers is the Greek Omelette, which features feta cheese from Greece. Other popular items include Belgian waffles, buttermilk pancakes, any one of the famous Quick Start Specials, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

“We are extremely proud that The Original Waffle Shop continues to be a favorite among our local community,” Dimakopoulos says.

“We always strive for excellence, and we take pride in pleasing our guests.”

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200 West Park Avenue, State College 865-8590

Sunday Brunch at The Dining Room at The Nittany Lion Inn has been a popular gath-ering place for Penn State alum-ni since 1931. For $16.95, the Sunday Brunch features omelet and carving stations, breakfast meats such as bacon and sausage, waffles, French toast, fresh pas-tries, bagels, smoked salmon, fresh fruit, assorted specialty salads, a cheese-and-fruit display as well as a number of sumptuous lunch entrées that change regularly.

Sunday Brunch is served from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

“We listen to feedback from our guests when it comes to the spread for breakfast,” says chef Tom Schilling. “A lot our guests enjoy simple and down-to-earth items like our sausage gravy and fresh-baked biscuits and our thick-cut French toast.”

The Dining Room also offers a daily Breakfast buffet from 6:45 to 10:30 a.m. as well as Breakfast à la carte from 6:45 to 11 a.m.

One unique item on the daily breakfast menu is Cathy’s Blue Eggs — eggs simmered in toma-toes topped with goat cheese and rosemary.

The Sunday Brunch at the Gardens Restaurant at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel also is a lavish spread of breakfast and lunch entrées featuring a chef-carved top round of beef, Belgian-waffle station, omelets made to order, gourmet salads and salad bar, international cheeses, fresh-fruit display, homemade pâté, and a seafood bar with

The Gardens Restaurant at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel 215 Innovation Boulevard, State College 863-5090 peel-and-eat shrimp, whole poached salmon, smoked salmon, and caviar.

In addition, there is a decadent dessert buffet featuring ice cream from the Penn State Creamery and one complimentary mimosa or glass of champagne offered for any guest age 21 or older. Sunday Brunch goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“There is pretty much something for everyone on the buffet,” says chef Kenneth Stout. “We like to do different styles and change up the menu from week to week depending on what is in season.”

One of the most popular brunch entrées is lamb. “A lot of people come out just for the lamb, so we try to do different styles like chili-spiced, Medi Mediterranean, Moroccan-spiced, pesto, jerked, different mari marinades, sometimes we grill it, slow roast it, or braise it,” says Stout.

Steve Tressler (3)

The Dining Room at The Nittany Lion Inn

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The Corner Room 100 West College Avenue, State College 237-3051 Uniquely situated where North, South, East, and West meet in town, the Corner Room has been serving breakfast to State College locals and Penn Staters since 1926.

Owner Mike Desmond explains, “The saying ‘Meet me at the Corner’ probably got started because this was the first hospitality-and-commerce location in town. It had the first telegraph, then the first telephone, and back when it was Jack’s Roadhouse, this was a stop for the Bellefonte Central railroad that connected State College and Bellefonte.”

Over the years, it has become a community restaurant that serves homecooked meals to locals, students, alumni, and visitors. Longtime server Twila Sharbaugh says, “We have guests who have been coming here for breakfast for decades, but we also get a lot of students because they get the feeling that it’s a home away from home.”

General manager John Briggs adds, “The casual atmosphere, good meals at a great value is what people have come to expect when they come here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.”

The Corner Room serves breakfast daily starting at 7 a.m. The all-you-careto-enjoy Sunday breakfast buffet is $9.95 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. And on football weekends, the breakfast buffet also is served on Saturdays.

One of the most popular weekday breakfast specials is the Eggs Blackstone that consists of two fresh poached eggs, bacon, American cheese, and grilled tomato slices all on a toasted English muffin and served with home fries or hash browns.

“People also like our Steak & Eggs breakfast platter, Eggs Benedict, French

Toast, and Early Bird Special, which is two eggs, toast, and jelly and served with a choice of home fries or hash browns,” says chef Mikel Langron. T&G

96 - Town&Gown March 2012

Dining Out Full Course Dining Allen Street Grill, corner of Allen Street and College Avenue, 231-GRILL. The food sizzles. The service sparkles. The prices are deliciously frugal. The menu is classic American grill mixed with popular influences from Mexico, Italy, and the Far East. AE, D, MC, V. The Autoport, 1405 S. Atherton St., 237-7666, www.theautoport.com. The all new Autoport offers exceptional dining featuring local produce and an extensive wine list. Tapas menu and special events every week. Catering and private events available.

Live music. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Bar Bleu & Bar Q, 113 S. Garner St., 237-0374.

Authentic Kansas City Barbeque featuring smoked ribs, pork, wings, plus down-home sides and appetizers. Roadhouse & Sports Lounge upstairs.

Upscale martini bar downstairs featuring live music 7 nights a week. Open for dinner every night at 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, ID+, MC, V. Full bar.

The Corner Room Restaurant, corner of Allen Street and College Avenue, 237-3051. Literally first in hospitality. Since 1855, The Corner Room has served generous breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to the community and its guests. AE, D, MC, V. Cozy Thai Bistro, 232 S. Allen St., 237-0139. A true authentic Thai restaurant offering casual and yet “cozy” family-friendly dining experience. Menu features wide selections of exotic Thai cuisine, both lunch and dinner (take-out available). BYO (wines & beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Damon’s Grill & Sports Bar, 1031 E. College Ave., 237-6300, damons.com. Just seconds from Beaver Stadium, locally owned and operated, Damon’s is the premiere place to watch sports and enjoy our extensive menu. Ribs, wings, burgers, steaks, apps, salads, and so much more. AE, D, MAC, MC, V, Full bar.

Bill Pickle’s Tap Room,106 S. Allen St., 272-1172.

Not for saints…not for sinners. AE, DIS, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Carnegie House, corner of Cricklewood Dr. and Toftrees Ave., 234-2424. An exquisite boutique hotel offering fine dining in a relaxed yet gracious atmosphere. Serving lunch and dinner. Prix Fixe menu and à la carte menu selections now available.

AAA Four Diamond Award recipient for lodging and fine dining. Reservations suggested. AE, MC, D, V. Full bar.

Key

AE ...........................................................American Express CB ..................................................................Carte Blanche D ................................................................ Discover/Novus DC........................................................................Diners Club ID+ ................................................ PSU ID+ card discounts LC ............................................................................ LionCash MAC .......................................................................debit card MC .......................................................................MasterCard V ......................................................................................... Visa .............................................. Handicapped-accessible

To advertise, call Town&Gown account executives Kathy George or Debbie Markel at (814) 238-5051.

97 - Town&Gown March 2012

We love People, Beer & Local Foods Bringing you craft beer and fresh food using local products in a family friendly, casual atmosphere.

Food & Beer TO GO! Bottles • Cases • Kegs • Growlers Now offering locally made beer soap, candy, & mugs!

2235 North Atherton Street, State College

814.867.6886

www.ottospubandbrewery.com

The Deli Restaurant, 113 Hiester St., 237-5710.

The area’s largest menu! Soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, Mexican, Cajun. Dinners featuring steaks, chicken, seafood and pastas, heart-healthy menu, and award-winning desserts. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

The Dining Room at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8590. Fine continental cuisine in a relaxed, gracious atmosphere. Casual attire acceptable. Private dining rooms available. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern, On the Diamond, Boalsburg, 466-6241. The Boalsburg Tavern offers a fine, intimate setting reminiscent of Colonial times.

Dining for all occasions with formal and casual menus, daily dinner features, specials, and plenty of free parking AE, MC, V. Full bar.

Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 1229 S. Atherton St., 234-9000, www.faccialuna.com. A true neighborhood hangout, famous for authentic New York-style wood-fired pizzas and fresh, homemade It.alian cuisine. Seafood specialties, sumptuous salads, divine desserts, great service, and full bar. Outside seating available. Sorry, reservations not accepted. Dine-in, Take-out. MC/V.

98 - Town&Gown March 2012

Gamble Mill Restaurant & Microbrewery, 160 Dunlop St., Bellefonte; 355-7764. A true piece of Americana, dine and enjoy our in-house craft beers in a historic mill. Experience bold American flavors by exploring our casual pub menu or fine dining options. Six to seven beers of our craft beers on tap.

Brewers Club, Growlers, outdoor seating, large private functions, catering. Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Dinner 5-9/10 p.m. Mon.-Sat. “Chalk Board Sunday’s” 4-8 p.m. All credit cards accepted.

The Gardens Restaurant at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5090. Dining is a treat for breakfast, lunch and dinner in The Gardens Restaurant, where sumptuous buffets and à la carte dining are our specialties. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. Full bar, beer.

Herwig’s Austrian Bistro, where bacon is an herb, 132 W. College Ave., herwigsaus trianbistro.com, 238-0200. Located next to the State Theatre. Austrian Home Cooking. Ranked #1 Ethnic Restaurant 5 years in a row. Eatin, Take-Out, Catering, Franchising. BYO after 5 p.m., D, MC, V.

Hi-Way Pizza, 1688 N. Atherton St., 237-0375.

Voted best pizza. Twenty-nine variations of pizza, entire dinner menu and sandwiches, strombolis, salads, spectacular desserts, and beer to go. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

India Pavilion, 222 E. Calder Way, 237-3400. Large selection of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes from northern India. Lunch buffet offered daily. We offer catering for groups and private parties. AE, D, (call ahead.)

MC, V. Inferno Brick Oven & Bar, 340 E. College Ave., 237-5718, www.infernobrickovenbar.com. Casual but sophisticated atmosphere — a contemporary brick oven experience featuring a lunch and dinner menu of old- world favorites and modern-day revolutions.

AE, D, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.

Kelly’s Steak & Seafood, 316 Boal Ave., Boalsburg, 466-6251. Pacific Northwest inspired restaurant.

Seasonal menu with rotating fresh sheet. Offering private dining for up to 50 people. Catering available.

AE, MC, V, Full Bar.

We continue the Luna tradition by using only the freshest ingredients!

1229 S o u t h A t h e r t o n S t r e e t S tAt e C o l l e g e 234-9000 A

true neighborhood hAngout highly

regArded for itS populAr And AuthentiC

n ew y ork - Style

wood - fired pizzA

And Commitment to quAlity .

A wArd - winning pizzA .

And i tAliAn CuiSine homemAde with only the beSt And freSheSt ingredientS . www . fACCiAlunA . Com

We offer wood-fired pizza, fresh homemade pasta, as well as wood-grilled items such as Baby Back BBQ Ribs, homemade meatloaf, various fish and seafood and our soon to be award winning burgers!

www.luna-2.com 2609 E. College Ave. • State College, PA • 234-9009 99 - Town&Gown March 2012

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.

Luna 2 Woodgrill & Bar, 2609 E. College Ave., 234-9009, www.luna-2.com. Wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta, wood-grilled BBQ ribs, seafood, burgers, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to try the homemade meatloaf! Sumptuous salads and desserts. Full bar service. Outside seating. Sorry, no reservations accepted. Dine-In, Take-out. MC/V. Mario & Luigiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant, 1272 N. Atherton St., 234-4273. The Italian tradition in State College.

Homemade pasta, chicken, seafood specialties, veal, wood-fired pizza, calzones, rotisserie chicken, roasts, salads, and sandwiches, plus cappuccino and espresso! AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar.

The Mt. Nittany Inn, 559 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Centre Hall, 364-9363, mtnittanyinn.com. Perched high above Happy Valley at 1,809 feet, the Mt. Nittany Inn offers homemade soups, steaks, seafood, and pasta. Bar and banquet areas available. AE, CB, D, MAC, MC, V. Full Bar.

100 - Town&Gown March 2012

Otto’s Pub & Brewery, 2235 N. Atherton Street, 867-6886, www.ottospubandbrewery.com. Our new location provides plenty of parking, great ales and lagers, full service bar, signature dishes made with local products in a family-friendly, casual atmosphere.

AE, D, DC, LC MC, V, Full bar.

The Tavern Restaurant, 220 E. College Ave., 238-6116. A unique gallery-in-a-restaurant preserving PA’s and Penn State’s past. Dinner at The Tavern is a Penn State tradition. Major credit cards accepted.

Full bar.

Whiskers at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8580. Casual dining featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and University Creamery ice cream. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar.

Whistle Stop Restaurant, Old Train Station Corner, Centre Hall on Rte. 144, 15 minutes east of State College. 364-2544. Traditional dining in an 1884 Victorian railroad station decorated with railroad memorabilia. Chef-created soups, desserts, and daily specials. Lunch and dinner served Wed.-Sun. D, MC, V.

Zola New World Bistro, 324 W. College Ave., 237-8474. Zola combines comfortable, modern décor with exceptional service. Innovative, creative cuisine from seasonal menus served for lunch and dinner. Extensive award-winning wine list. Jazz and oysters in the bar on Fridays. Catering. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.

Good Food Fast HUB Dining, HUB-Robeson Center, on campus, 865-7623. A Penn State tradition open to all! Eleven restaurants stocked with extraordinary variety: Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Higher Grounds, Joegies, Mixed Greens, Burger King, Panda Express, Piccalilli’s, Sbarro, Sushi

by Panda, Wild Cactus, and more! V, MC, LC. Meyer Dairy, 2390 S. Atherton St., 237-1849. Stop and get your favorite flavor at our ice cream parlor.

We also sell a variety of delicious cakes, sandwiches, and baked goods.

Taco Bell, 322 W. College Ave., 231-8226; Hills Plaza, 238-3335. For all the flavors you love, visit our two locations. Taco Bell, Think Outside the Bun!

Fresh from the Farm Every Day! MILK • ICE CREAM • EGGS • CHEESE • JUICES • POP'S MEXI-HOTS • BAKED GOODS • SANDWICHES • ICE CREAM CAKES • & MORE!

MEYER DAIRY STORE & ICE CREAM PARLOR

Sun. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. • Fri. & Sat. 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. 2390 S. ATHERTON ST. • 237-1849

Find Us Online

townandgown.com State College’s newest hangout

Try our onsite Smoked Pork Sandwich!

1301 West College Ave. • 814-308-8959 www.westsidestadiumbarandgrill.com 101 - Town&Gown March 2012

Westside Stadium Bar and Grill, 1301 W. College Ave., 308-8959, www.westsidestadium barandgrill.com. See what all the buzz is about at Westside Stadium. Opened in September 2010, State College’s newest hangout features mouthwatering onsite smoked pork and brisket sandwiches. Watch your favorite sports on 17 HDTVs. Happy Hour 5-7 p.m.

Take-out and bottle shop. Outdoor seating available.

D, V, MC. Full Bar. T&G

Winter Hours: Open Tuesday-Sunday 11am for lunch and dinner Closed Monday • Business Lunches and Dinners • Birthday and Anniversary Parties • Weddings and Receptions • Retreats/Reunions • Award Banquets • Rehearsal Dinners

Casual Fine Dining Take-out beer available

Watch spring unfold from our view!

Try our New Lunch and Dinner Menus, featuring Homemade Soups, Certified Angus Beef, Seafood Specialties and More!

www.mtnittanyinn.com Reservations 814-364-9363 • 559 N. Pennsylvania Avenue • Centre Hall, PA 16828

Herwig’s Austrian Bistro As seen on ESPN’s “Taste of the Town”

Pre-Show Dinner Discounts

Truly Unique Dining Experience Authentic Homestyle Austrian Cuisine Mon-Wed: 11am-8pm (last seating) Thu-Fri: 11am-9pm (last seating) Sat: 11:45am-9pm (last seating) Eat-in, Take-out, Catering and Franchising.

We Now Make Our Own Bread!

NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS!

132 West College Ave, Downtown State College (next door to the State Theatre) • 814-238-0200

Family friendly dining for all the sports enthusiasts.

7 big screens all now in HD, NHL, NBA, March Madness, catering tailgate and party packs available.

14 New Craft Beer Selections!

Great menu with award winning ribs, wings, thick cut steaks, burgers, pastas, pizzas, grinders, salads and more.

Check out our new outdoor patio!

1031 East College Ave. 814-237-6300 • damons.com

Breakfast at The Autoport Looking for a new routine?

THE $1.99 BREAKFAST IS BACK! Monday-Friday 7am - noon

Join us for breakfast in a comfortable setting that is perfect for Business meetings, friend get togethers, family time, or just a great start to your day.

Our extensive Breakfast menu features everthing from healthy choices (homemade granola) to hearty platters–and of course everything is made on premise from scratch

All-You-Can-Eat Sunday Breakfast Buffet: 7am-noon Discover real food. Discover the Autoport.

1405 South Atherton St. • State College, PA 16801 • www.theautoport.com • 814-237-7666 102 - Town&Gown March 2012

Tasteof the Town&Gown’s

Month Each month we hightlight the great dining experiences in our community.

If it’s happening in Happy Valley, it’s in Town&Gown!

Open Tuesday thru Sunday Closed Monday Lunch Buffet: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Dinner: 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Carry Out Available 222 E. Calder Way

237-3400 www.indiapavilion.net

103 - Town&Gown March 2012

lunch with mimi Editor’s Note: Mimi Coppersmith was on vacation, so the following are excerpts from “Lunch with Mimi” columns since 2000.

“Part of it is trying to make students aware of the history of the band and what role the band has played over the years. We consider ourselves very important to the spirit and tradition of Penn State.”

— Penn State blue band director Dr. O. Richard Bundy on getting the band to work so well in a short period of time (August 2000)

“I think there’s always a balance. I think you always want to have some players who like you and some players who are unhappy with your expectations of them. Whether they like me is not as important as the fact that they respect that I want the best for them because there are other people on the staff that they can like.”

— Penn State women’s volleyball head coach Russ Rose on if his team likes him (February 2003)

“I have two great parents who taught me a lot about what decisions were the best to make. I have followed my gut instinct about what I thought was right and wrong, and I have always been surrounded by great people, great family, and friends. For every decision I make, I think twice before I do it to make sure it is the right one. And it works.”

— former Lady Lion Kelly Mazzante on what has helped her to be a winner at basketball and in life (November 2003)

“In the State College area and immediate environs we don’t always see the needs in the community around us, and there are many. If we all become more aware, we would likely find an agency for every need that is out there. People need to seek out those groups they feel are addressing the particular need they see as essential and support that.”

— Barbara Palmer on areas where the community can improve (December 2003) “We can’t solve all the problems in here. We certainly can give inmates an education. We’re not giving them college degrees or anything, but we can certainly teach them to read and write and do a vocational trade. We can prepare them to go to college when they leave here, but once they go out in the community, if there’s not somebody helping them, they’re probably going to come back.”

— former State Correctional Institution at Rockview superintendent Franklin Tennis (August 2007)

“We need improvements in making sure that we get a child’s voice heard. They are often lost in all of this. I’m not actually sure how to go about that at this point, but there are some cases where we appoint a Guardian Ad Litem — a guardian who will represent the child’s interests. Children get stuck in the middle, and I’d like to find some way to get them unstuck.”

— Centre County Court of Common Pleas judge Pam Ruest on what needs to improve in family law (March 2008)

105 - Town&Gown March 2012

“One of the reasons that made me come to Penn State is that it is a university that will attract some of the best and brightest young women in the country. When I am recruiting and out there talking to women, I am able to recruit the 4.0 student or the Advanced Placement student. I talk to them and say, ‘Come to Penn State and change the world. Make your life extraordinary because you are going to be in an environment where you will be educated at the highest level. You are going to be around other bright minds and taught by faculty who have done so many wonderful things. Why can’t these bright women come to Penn State and find the cure for breast cancer? We are going to play basketball and win championships, no doubt about that, and I will prepare you for that, but, more importantly, what are you going to give back to the world?’ ”

— Penn State women’s basketball head coach Coquese Washington on why she decided to come to Penn State (November 2008)

“I would tell you that business has been successful because of the family structure.

You’ve got a large number of family members who contributed to the business, but inside that family, there is a trait of never being satisfied. That family trait is built into our character, probably from our mom and dad who were never satisfied with what you achieved. There are some positive aspects, obviously, the drive, the commitment, and the pursuit of excellence. This led the charge from a small chain of retail stores to a pretty successful organization today with 13,000 employees.”

— Sheetz executive vice president Randall Alan “Louie” Sheetz on what has allowed Sheetz to achieve success (December 2009)

“Yes, in all likelihood we are in a slow warming over a long period of time but not necessarily in any particular year. The second part of the question is how much of global warming is due to humans? Just because it may be occurring doesn’t mean it is due to humans. The weather and climate always change, so it makes sense that the average temperature of the Earth would be in an uptrend now because we just had an Ice Age 10,000 years ago and we are recovering from it. Ice Ages are relatively rare, and at the peak of the Ice Age the ice was almost three-miles thick in southern Canada, and the ice extended south of here. How much global warming is due to the humans? There is no way to really know for sure, but if you were going to shoot me if I didn’t give you the correct answer, I would say maybe a third — but I’m not a climatologist.”

— AccuWeather founder Joel Myers on if global warming exists (April 2010) “Well, people often say, ‘We were young and we drank, what is different?’ The difference is the frequency of those people who engage in this behavior. What used to be a weekend binge now can be a three- to five-day thing. The other thing is they start a lot earlier with the goal of seeing how drunk they can get, the 21 shots on their birthday, and drinking hard liquor. The third factor is the alcohol choice now is hard liquor versus beer. The sales at the state liquor stores are off the charts. We have been tracking sales since 1996. The last 14 years has doubled or tripled in terms of volume.”

— State College police chief Tom King on the increase in accidents happening due to drinking (May 2010)

106 - Town&Gown March 2012

State College Photo Club’s Photos of the Month Since 1947, the State College Photo Club has provided local 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 and encourages individuals from amateurs to professionals. One of the club’s activities is to hold a monthly competition. Town&Gown is pleased to present the winning images from the club’s competition.

Here are the winning photos from the club’s January competition.

Special Category (City Lights)

>

“King Street Blues”

by Jan Anderson

“I’d just had dinner with a group of photographers at King Street Blues in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, and snapped this shot of the alley while we were waiting for a bus.”

>

Open Category

“Woman with Red Umbrella”

By Ben Willis “The photo was taken in downtown State College on a rainy September afternoon. The color of the woman’s umbrella is revealed in the reflection in the shop window.”

A copy of of either of these photos may be obtained with a $75 contribution to the Salvation Army of Centre County. Contact Captain Charles Niedermeyer at 861-1785 and let him know you would like this image. You can select any size up to 14 inches wide.

The State College Photo Club meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Foxdale Village Auditorium. Learning sessions on topics of interest are often scheduled at 7 p.m. before this meeting. Guests and new members are always welcome.

Visit www.statecollegephotoclub.org for more information about how to join and how to enter your photos in competitions.

107 - Town&Gown March 2012

snapshot

New Direction State Theatre executive director brings a lifetime of stage experience to position

By Samantha Hulings

The acting bug bit Richard Biever when he was eight years old — his mother had encouraged him to try out for a community-theater production. From that moment on, being on stage felt natural to Biever.

Now, Biever is doing plenty of offstage work as the new executive director of the State Theatre.

After he was hired, Biever said, “There is much potential and I look forward to partnering with the many artists in State College to bring even more local talent to our stage. We will redouble our efforts in fundraising so the theater is able to make the space available to even more local artists, and we’ll expand our national programming to appeal to a wide variety of audiences.”

Biever, 48, knows the State Theatre fairly well from the Singing Onstage productions that have performed there. In 2003, Biever and his wife, Heidi, a State College native, opened Singing Onstage Studios, a musical theater camp for children ages 4 to 18. The camp offers eight age-focused classes a semester, with each class performing a play.

Biever believes someone has to be the driving force in the arts to provide children with opportunities to become involved.

After his childhood and high school graduation, he enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Though he loved plays, his heart was with musicals, prompting his decision to go to music school.

He attended the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he studied voice and choral conducting with the intention of becoming a music director. While completing his undergraduate degree, Biever worked with alum Howard Ashman on the first college production of Little Shop of Horrors. He conducted national and European tours of the show. While in Europe, he also worked on a production of West Side Story.

Though he was often involved in theater as an actor and singer, he mostly served as a musical director during tours.

He soon began freelancing as a music director for Penn State, working with Susan Schul-

Richard Biever Family: Wife, Heidi; children Marshall, Madeline, and Olivia Favorite musical: Sunday in the park with George because it is about an artist struggling to create while maintaining a relationship.

Why he loves theater: “Musical theater combines music, words, movement, and costumes to create a human connection expressed through the arts.” man. He also became a candidate for master of fine arts in directing at Penn State, which is the home of the only program in the country to focus on musicals.

“Being a directing MFA candidate means you have to opportunity to be a mentor in the craft of directing musicals,” Biever says.

He says his experience as a client of the State Theatre helps him understand what clients and customers of the theater want from their community theater. He will be implementing some changes to increase diversity for clients and customers.

“We will have changes in our programming or what we produce,” he says “This has already started with our movies. We will also begin to show national programming. We need to have space and variety for a variety of age groups in the State College community. We are strategically planning for the long range.” T&G

108 - Town&Gown March 2012

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