Town and Gown
-
Craft Beverages & Curious Minds
—
by
I love walking into a bar or tavern with the hope of having a good conversation over a craft beverage or two. The problem is, not many bars offer up the opportunity to do that these days. From tight spaces and uncomfortable seating to loud music (I know, I know, old man yelling at cloud…
-
Comfort in a Bowl: Staff-favorite soup recipes
—
by
Soup is one of the oldest and most universal dishes in human history, dating back to prehistoric times when early humans boiled meats, grains, and vegetables in clay pots or animal hides. Across cultures, soup has served both practical and symbolic roles — providing warmth, nourishment, and comfort. From the healing broths of traditional Chinese…
-
From TV to Teaching: Meteorologist Christy Shields
in On Topic—
by
Christy Shields turned a childhood fear of thunderstorms into a passion for understanding the science behind the weather. Now she works to spark that excitement in other young people. “I was afraid of thunderstorms growing up as a kid to the point where I annoyed my parents because all I watched was the Weather Channel.…
-
Remembering Mimi: A catalyst for change
in Town&Gown—
by
By Vilma Shu Town&Gown founder Mimi Ungar Barash Coppersmith signed her letters and cards with her monogram, MUBC. But to most people in State College, she was known simply as Mimi. As a fixture of State College life and an admired Penn State alum, Mimi became an icon, a self-made businesswoman, a breast-cancer survivor, and…
-
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Renaissance Fund honorees Bill & Connie Hayes
in Town&Gown—
by
When Bill and Connie Hayes were growing up in Mifflin County, they both say, their parents instilled in them the importance of supporting their community and helping their neighbors. Today, the couple not only lives according to these values, but they actively encourage and inspire others to do the same. For their many contributions to…
-
Going the Distance at the Tussey Mountainback Relay and Ultra
in Town&Gown—
by
Centre County native Mike Casper is no stranger to distance running. In the late ’90s, after running a 200-mile relay in New Hampshire, he wondered if he could bring a similar event back home, to the trails of Rothrock State Forest. “A friend of mine and I thought this would be an amazing thing for…
-
A Culinary Journey with Fatoum Bistro
—
by
Creating a cohesive menu out of the culinary heritage of diverse lands and cultures might seem like a daunting task to even an experienced restaurateur, but that’s exactly what Hitham Hiyajneh and chef Carlos Avia have accomplished with Fatoum Bistro. And it’s not just a whim or passing fancy, either. Inspired by his late mother’s…
-
Whiteout Tequila: Born in Mexico, raised in PA
—
by
Everyone around these parts knows how powerful a white out at Beaver Stadium can be. From the roar of the crowd to the electricity in the air, just being part of it is an experience no one can forget. The feeling of 100,000-plus all connected, rooting for the team to bring home the win. It…
-
Rick Jacobs: Stage at Talleyrand is on target to hold its first concert in 2026
in On Topic—
by
Rick Jacobs was taking a walk in Bellefonte’s Talleyrand Park during the COVID lockdown of 2020 when he bumped into an old buddy, then-mayor Tom Wilson. “He stopped me and said, ‘I need your help.’ He is a musician and he loves live music. … So, he said, ‘I have a friend [Tom Bathgate], I…
-
James Munks, Part 2: Crime, confession, execution, and resurrection
—
by
“‘The times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die (Macbeth).’ But not so in these times…’” – Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” quoted in the Hanover (Pa) Guardian, March 31, 1819 In the previous month’s column, we covered Part 1 of a fascinating true crime tale that took place in Central Pennsylvania between…
