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Hameau Farm: Where girls find friendship, confidence and cows

BELLEVILLE — Hameau Farm has a different approach to summer camp that allows young girls to explore life working on a farm. Their summer camp is open to young ladies ages eight to 14. 


Hameau Farm is run by Audrey “Gay” Rodgers. She was raised by farmers on Hameau Farm. Rodgers attended Queens University of Charlotte, however, after graduating and working in D.C. for a few years she realized farm life was for her. 


“I went, and I helped bring in the hay, and I helped just do odd jobs aroun...
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Inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders at Wildlife Leadership Academy

LOCK HAVEN — The Wildlife Leadership Academy allows high school-age students to discover a love for being conservation leaders. They do this through a variety of different programs for students with a variety of interests. 


The Wildlife Leadership Academy was founded in 2002 and took some of its inspiration from Texas Bridgates. However, they have adapted their training and program to cater to Pennsylvania’s nature and wildlife. In 2006 it was called Pennsylvania Wildlife Adventures and in 20...
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YMCA hosts ‘Pack the Bus’ event

STATE COLLEGE — The YMCA’s Mobile Feeding Bus, the Travelin’ Table, was on-site on Saturday, March 1, for the “Pack the Bus” event hosted in partnership with Stuckey Mitsubishi as part of the Y’s Anti-Hunger Program. Members of the community brought non-perishable food items to help fill up the bus.


The Y is a nonprofit committed to providing students with the resources they need to succeed. The organization does this by bringing people from different backgrounds together.


“Guided by our c...
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Spring Cleaning Shoe Drive Fundraiser supports BAHS class of 2028 activities

BELLEFONTE — From Saturday, March 1, through Wednesday, April 30, the Bellefonte Area High School Parent Group will be holding a Spring Cleaning Shoe Drive Fundraiser to help fund the BAHS Class of 2028’s senior activities. All types of shoes, whether new, used or gently worn, will be accepted.


The fundraiser will be held in collaboration with Funds2Orgs, an organization that holds different fundraisers. BAHS Parent Group will collect the shoes once they are picked up by Funds2Orgs and weighe...
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Spreading the love: Local students create Valentines for patients

STATE COLLEGE — The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health System and Crossings Hospice recently held the 2025 Valentine Card Campaign throughout its offices in Central Pennsylvania.


The Valentine Card Campaign allows local elementary school students to color valentines that are provided for them by the VNA. The Valentines are then passed out to patients to celebrate Valentine’s Day.


According to VNA, the campaign has been an ongoing tradition.


VNA Health System provides cost-efficient...
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Bellefonte Art Museum showcases 'Quilt Barns' This March

BELLEFONTE — The Bellefonte Art Museum is hosting a show titled “Quilt Barns” this March, with the exhibition opening on Friday, Feb. 28. The showcase features different pictures of barns from Pennsylvania, New York and North Carolina with quilt blocks on them.


One of the highlighted barns is owned by Marjorie and Gerald Korman of Old Fort. That barn will be the focus of the presentation led by local photographer R. Thomas Berner on Wednesday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at the museum.


All photogr...
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Applications are being accepted for the Central PA Festival of the Arts Images 2025 Exhibition

STATE COLLEGE —The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts has started to accept entries for its juried fine exhibitions. “Images 2025” will run for the month of July at the Schlow Centre Region Library in State College.


They are accepting 2D media that includes:


There are a few requirements for people interested in submitting. The first is you must be 16 years old or older. Submissions must also come from artists located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Along with this, the images m...
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Kish For the Cure campaign raises over $90K

CENTRE COUNTY — Kish Bank’s Kish for the Cure campaign raised a record amount of money to help cancer fighting nonprofits in Central Pennsylvania.


In a press release, Kish Bank expressed extreme gratitude to their partners, local business, customers and their community who helped them raise over $90,000 to support local nonprofits.


Funds from the employee-lead fundraiser will be given to the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, Pennsylvania Pink Zone and American Cancer Society events in Cent...
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Rooted Farmstead to host community seed exchange

BOALSBURG — Rooted Farmstead will hold its second annual seed exchange on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Boal City Brewing, 281 Old Boalsburg Road, Boalsburg, from 1 to 3 p.m.


Rooted Farmstead recommended on the Facebook event page bringing what you can give and only taking what you know you will use.


The event typically uses one-for-one exchanges. However, if attendees want to bring bulk seeds, they are encouraged to bring more than one type of seed. Along with this, note cards and seed bags will be...
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Krishnankutty announces State College Borough reelection campaign

STATE COLLEGE — Nalini Krishnankutty announced her reelection campaign for a new four-year term on the Borough Council in a statement on Thursday, Feb. 13.


“It has been an incredible honor to serve as a council member for the last two and a half years, in this community which has been my home for the last 37 years,” Krishnankutty said. “I am seeking re-election to continue working with our residents and local governments to maintain our high quality of life and services, increase access to re...
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Puppy love: Local breeder brings joy to Centre County

CENTRE COUNTY — Stellie Doodles and Berners of Central Pennsylvania not only provide locally-bred Bernedoodles to the Centre County community, but they also provide fun stress-relieving events for students and the community.


Stellie Doodles and Berners of Central Pennsylvania breeds, trains and provides customers with most of the things they need to take care of their puppies for the first few weeks.


“I do the Bernedoodles, so you get that wonderful, friendly, happy personality of the Bern...
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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...
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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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