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Former Borough Council member announces SCASD board campaign

STATE COLLEGE — Retired Penn State professor Jesse Barlow announced he will be running for the State College Area School District Board of Directors.Barlow hails from Lawrence, Kansas. He discussed in his announcement of candidacy that he feels like the town in which he received an elementary education and college education compares greatly to State College.Barlow also has had two children who have been through the SCASD education system. His daughter graduated from Delta program and his son gra...
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Online match to lifetime of love

CENTRE COUNTY — In a day and age where online dating is the norm, Centre County sweethearts Michel and Crystal Lee Garret are a success story.


Michel, a board member for Centre LGBT+ and assistant director and integration lead at Penn State, met her wife Crystal on OkCupid where the dating site not only brought them together but also led to the creation of their blended family. 


Crystal’s friends had encouraged the then-single mother to give OkCupid. And, after much thought, Crystal create...
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From Hofbrau to forever: A love brewed in Bellefonte

BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte couple Bryan and Ruth Sampsel will be celebrating their 18th Valentine’s Day together as a married couple. Bryan is the sheriff of Centre County and Ruth is the owner and manager of Hofbrau, in Bellefonte. 


Although the pair had mutual friends growing up, they didn’t officially meet until Bryan came to Hofbrau while he was on duty and Ruth was working. 


 “I just briefly met her that night and then passed around a couple of days later and then she didn’t answer me,”...
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Childhood crushes to lifelong love

CENTRE COUNTY — Alyta and Gary Abdullah’s love story began when they were six years old.


After Alyta’s family moved from Pittsburgh to State College, their paths crossed at church.


Though the couple noted that their first impressions of each other have long been forgotten, Gary recalled his crush on Alyta growing as they grew up together.


In high school, Gary would give Alyta rides to try to impress her, though his efforts were only partially successful. 


“Back in high school, we wen...
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Stephen Nedoroscik set to return to Penn State for ‘Dancing With the Stars: Live! 2025’

STATE COLLEGE — Stephen Nedoroscik, a former Penn State men’s gymnast and Team USA bronze medalist, will return to his alma mater next year, on Thursday, Jan. 23. However, this time instead of returning for classes or a pommel horse routine, he will arrive to co-host “Dancing With the Stars: Live! 2025.”


Nedoroscik was the first male gymnast to be chosen to dance on Dancing with the Stars and made it to the season 33 final. Nedoroscik and his dancing partner Rylee Arnold placed fourth this pa...
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Santa’s coming to Centre County: Enjoy a treat with him

CENTRE COUNTY — With Thanksgiving celebrations coming to an end, Centre County has a few events in the coming weeks to get people geared up for the rest of the holidays. From craft fairs to cookie exchanges, there is something for everyone, including the little ones that make up the community.


Santa is set to come to town not just on Christmas Eve but also throughout the month to spread some Christmas magic.


On Saturday, Dec. 7, Dolce Vita Desserts will host Old Saint Nick at its “Milk and...
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Vigil held in downtown State College for Transgender Remembrance Day

STATE COLLEGE — On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Centre LGBT+ held a vigil in honor of Transgender Remembrance Day. The week before, 20 clergy members from State College met and put together a letter to discuss how they could better help the transgender community in the area. 


Transgender Remembrance Day started in 1999 to honor Rita Hester. Hester was a trans woman who was murdered in Massachusetts. Transgender Remembrance Day now honors Hester and all those who have suffered from anti-transgender vio...
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Small Business Saturday

The day after Black Friday, small and local businesses are given the opportunity to shine with Small Business Saturday.


The campaign for Small Business Saturday was started by American Express in 2010. However, it wasn’t until 2011 that the holiday became official with the support of Washington state government and former President Barack Obama. 


In 2012, American Express shoppers spent a total of $5.5 billion during Small Business Saturday. The number of money spent each year has grown si...
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Give back on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday happens the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, although it is a yearlong effort. After a few days of spending due to online and instore deals, the day gives people the opportunity to give back to their community and the world. 


Giving Tuesday was introduced in 2012 by the United Nations Foundation. On this day, people are encouraged to donate or volunteer around their community to help people need.


“Our global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity around the world w...
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A look into Cyber Monday

For those who prefer to shop online and don’t want to deal with the chaos on Black Friday, Cyber Monday is the day for you. 


Cyber Monday occurs the Monday after Thanksgiving when stores will have online deals for their customers. Although the holiday has evolved since it was created and now many stores have sales the whole week after Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday tends to offer some of the better deals. 


Due to online shopping becoming more popular in the past 30 years, the holiday is fairly...
StateCollege.com •

The history of Black Friday

After filling up on food and spending time with loved ones on Thanksgiving, many Americans prepare for the holiday gift giving season by partaking in Black Friday shopping, whether that be heading to the stores right after dinner or waking up at sunrise for shopping.


Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days for Americans and occurs the day after Thanksgiving. In order to encourage people to start their holiday shopping, stores offer large sales. This encourages people to get up early...
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Penn State Football player sued for e-scooter crash

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State football player De’Andre Cook and the university are being sued by the father of a 6-year-old boy Cook hit while on his e-scooter.


According to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Nov. 12, on Sunday, Feb. 18, just after 6 p.m., Cook was riding his GoTax GX1 Electric Scooter down North Burrowes Road when he hit the child who was walking in a crosswalk with their parent. According to court documents, the child suffered significant injuries, including two pelvic fractures, a...
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Takac appointed to Rural Population Revitalization Commission

CENTRE COUNTY — On Tuesday, Oct. 29, State Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre was announced as the newly appointed House Democratic caucus representative on the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s new commission, the Rural Population Revitalization Commission.


Takac was appointed by Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton. McClinton was elected in 2015 to serve communities in west and southwest Philadelphia.


A projected amount of 5.8% of the population of rural Pennsylvania counties will decrease b...
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Penns Valley Youth Center to host fundraiser

PENNS VALLEY— The Penns Valley Youth Center, a nonprofit which aims to “provide students and families in the community with hope, worth and friendship,” according to its website, will hold a fundraiser on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Old Greg School, 106 School St., Spring Mills.


The fundraiser will consist of a traditional Amish dinner. Nate Stupar, a State College native who played for Penn State before playing for the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and New York Gi...
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Pennsylvania Military Museum: Connecting visitors and veterans

BOALSBURG — Boalsburg is home to the Pennsylvania Military Museum which houses exhibits featuring different war memorabilia. The history and location of the museum has deep ties to the United States’ armed forces.The Pennsylvania Military Museum sits on a property once owned by the Boal Mansion. Upon the start of World War One, the property became a training post for American soldiers.During the war, the property eventually turned from a training post to a military post. After the war, it became...
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Gearing up for hunting season: Gun safety

CENTRE COUNTY — Final approval for the 2024-25 hunting and trapping season were given in April of this year by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners. At the time, the Game Commission announced that 1,186,000 antlerless deer licenses were to be allocated, up from 1,095,000 the year prior, for the hunting season.


Gun safety is essential year-round, especially during hunting season.


The official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has several resource videos surrounding firearm...
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Hooked for life by Penn State’s fly fishing program

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State was the first university to create a fly fishing program in the 1930s. The program was formed to give students opportunities to explore different ways they could be active while teaching them skills that they could use in their everyday lives.


Now, as a part of Penn State’s core curriculum students must take three credits of health and physical activity classes during their four years at Penn State. In the early 1930s, Penn State and Joe Humphreys created the fly...
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Takac appointed to Rural Population Revitalization Commission

CENTRE COUNTY — On Tuesday, Oct. 29, State Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre was announced as the newly appointed House Democratic caucus representative on the Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s new commission, the Rural Population Revitalization Commission.


Takac was appointed by Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton. McClinton was elected in 2015 to serve communities in west and southwest Philadelphia.


A projected amount of 5.8% of the population of rural Pennsylvania counties will decrease b...
StateCollege.com •

Free holiday parking to return to downtown State College

STATE COLLEGE — Free holiday parking will return to downtown State College for an extended time. State College Borough Council approved the Downtown State College Improvement District’s request for the annual holiday parking program during its meeting on Monday, Oct. 21.


Beginning on Monday, Nov. 25, free parking in State College parking garages will be extended from 30 minutes to two hours. Along with this, courtesy cards will be given out to forgive as many as three meter violations at stre...
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Celebrating National Immigrants Day with Centre County cuisine

CENTRE COUNTY — National Immigrants Day is on Monday, Oct. 28. Centre County is home to multiple immigrant-owned businesses and restaurants worth trying not just on the national holiday, but year-round. 


National Immigrants Day, first announced in 1987 by Ronald Reagan, celebrates immigrants and their contributions to America through their different cultures. 


“Now, therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby` proclaim October 28, 1987, as National Imm...
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CentrePeace to celebrate 30 years of service

BELLEFONTE — CentrePeace will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 3047 Benner Pike. 


Started by Marie Hamilton in 1974, CentrePeace originally began at Rockview Prison in Bellefonte as a prison visitation program. After hearing concerns from inmates about stigmas surrounding them, Hamilton felt called to help in erasing the stigma.


“I felt that it was my task to see if I could tear down these walls of mistrust and fear,” Hamilton said. 


Hamilton originally started work...
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Local author wins Literary Titan Gold Book Award

CENTRE HALL— Centre County native Jeffrey R. Frazier received the Literary Titan Gold Book Award, for his book “Pennsylvania Fireside Tales Volume 2,” celebrating Frazier’s writing due to his work writing about Pennsylvania. 
Frazier was born and raised in Centre County. He discussed how he grew up exploring the nature of Centre County exploring caves, climbing mountains, hunting and fishing. He eventually went on to attend Penn State and moved to New Jersey after graduating, which is when he st...
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New story book chair installed in Bellefonte Community Children’s Garden

BELLEFONTE— The beloved Bellefonte Community Children’s Garden recently got a makeover. A new story chair has been added to the garden, revamping the old set up to prevent the users from being hurt. 
The story chair is a popular part of the garden for groups to use for story time events during the year. 
The Bellefonte Garden Club, local Girl Scouts troops, the Centre County Library, the local YMCA, churches, the Historical Museum and other groups work together to keep the Bellefonte Community C...

Penn State Prime branding panelists' insights teach students lessons | Penn State University

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Marketing and branding professionals told their stories and stressed three major lessons to Penn State Smeal College of Business students at Penn State Prime’s ninth annual “Forging a Career in Branding Panel,” held recently on Zoom.
Penn State Prime is a student-run marketing organization that works hands-on with industry professionals throughout their time at Penn State. For the last nine years, it has hosted the “Forging a Career in Branding” panel. It invites Penn Stat...
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