Karen Walker, Town&Gown
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For 60 Years, Krislund Camp Has Had a Lasting Impact on Campers, Staffers and Retreat-Goers
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As you make the scenic trek toward Krislund Camp and Retreat Center in Madisonburg, you can almost feel yourself slipping back in time. Winding through Amish farmlands and up the twisty mountain road approaching the entrance to the camp, cell phone service fades almost completely away, leaving you practically as untethered to technology as the…
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Women’s Leadership Group Works to Impact Women and Children in the Community
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When COVID-19 struck in 2020, it could have had dire consequences for Park Forest Preschool and the 25 low-income families it serves. Parents depended on the tuition-free preschool remaining open so that they could go to work, and their children depended on the education and the two hot meals the school provided each day. Meanwhile,…
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While Making History as Penn State’s Next President, Neeli Bendapudi Plans to Be a Strong Presence in the Community
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Penn State’s history-making president-elect expects her administration to impact the university, the local community, and beyond. When Dr. Neeli Bendapudi takes the helm as the 19th president of Penn State later this year, she says she will not be isolating herself inside an ivory tower. “Those days are long gone,” she says. “I’ve always thought of…
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Mascots Bring a Sense of Identity to Centre County High Schools, Even if Tales of Their Origins Can Be a Bit Fuzzy
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From high school gymnasiums to college football stadiums to professional sports venues, team mascots have become a beloved part of the spectator experience, bringing entertainment and a sense of team spirit to all kinds of sporting events. But the significance of a team mascot goes far beyond their crowd-pleasing sideline antics. While players come and…
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Breaking 100: Centre Hills Country Club Honors a Century of History While Looking Toward the Future
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In 1921, the world had just emerged from the 1918 flu pandemic. World War I was three years in the past. The borough of State College was only 25 years old, and, with the exception of a few blocks near campus, the surrounding area was made up of fields, woods and farms. This was the…
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Bringing Treats to the Streets: Classic Cones Delivers Delicious Nostalgia to Centre County Neighborhoods
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Like bowling alleys, greasy-spoon diners, and drive-in movie theaters, ice cream trucks are a slice of Americana. Just the sound of a music-box jingle heralding the truck’s presence in the neighborhood can transport those of us of a certain age back to carefree childhood summers, when a few coins from our piggy bank could get…
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New Director Lisa Rives Collens Prepares to Lead Schlow Centre Region Library into the Post-Pandemic Era
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As Lisa Rives Collens takes the reins as the new director of Schlow Centre Region Library this month, she faces a set of unprecedented challenges, as the library prepares to adjust to post-pandemic life. Fortunately, the library and its dedicated staff have already proven they are well-equipped to adapt to changing circumstances. Before COVID-19 gripped…
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Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy Celebrates 10 Years of Faith, Scholarship, Leadership and Service
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When Kathy and Jeff Peters were first exploring the idea of moving to State College for Jeff’s job, they were dismayed when their real estate agent informed them that the local Catholic school, Our Lady of Victory, offered only an elementary school education. “My oldest son, Michael, was an infant, and I remember pausing and…
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Braving the Elements: When the Weather Outside Is Frightful, These Workers Face It Head On
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We may love or hate the winter weather, but most of us don’t have to work outside in it. So it’s sometimes easy to take for granted everything that has to happen behind the scenes to allow us to do things like drive safely on the roads, take off in an airplane, see a building…
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A Tale of Two Survivors: Local Women Share Lessons Learned from Breast Cancer Journeys
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Two local women, both diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 49 (one in 1996 and one in 2019), share their stories here. Their experiences are very different, to be sure, but there are lessons to be gleaned from each.