Mariana Forteza Site

Thousands of people flocked to downtown State College on a sunny Saturday afternoon to celebrate Pride and the LGBTQ community.



Presented by Centre LGBTQA Support Network, Downtown State College Improvement District and State College Borough, the third annual State College Pride <a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/articles/community/parade-festival-among-state-college-pride-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">included</a> a parade of colorful floats and marchers through town and a festival in Sidney Friedman Park, among other events throughout the weekend.



State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, served as grand marshal of the parade and festival. A frequent visitor to Centre County, Kenyatta is the first openly LGBTQ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.



He called 2023 &#8220;probably the most important year for Pride in a really long time,&#8221; noting a vocal anti-LGBTQ contingent and legislation in a number of states, particularly related to transgender individuals. 



&#8220;In this moment, in this Pride year, what we are doing right now, showing up with joy in our hearts, showing up for and with each other in real community, that is critical right now,&#8221; Kenyatta said. &#8220;Because this is actually what our communities look like. This is actually where most people are&#8230; Do not believe the noise and the nonsense that most people are as hateful and vitriolic as some of the politicians who unfortunately get elected&#8230;. For Pride, it’s really critical for us as a community that we recognize our joy does not exist in contrast to their hatred.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-kenyatta-lane-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424953"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, State College Pride grand marshal, and Judge Timika Lane lead the 2023 Pride parade. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



Pennsylvania, Kenyatta said, should aspire to be the best place to live, raise a family and retire for everyone, including LGBTQ people.



&#8220;We deserve to be happy, to be joyous, to be just who you are every single day, no matter what they’re talking about, no matter what they’re doing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You just be who the hell you are.&#8221;



State College Mayor Ezra Nanes acknowledged that some in attendance may be feeling scared, worried or uncertain because of events nationally. 



&#8220;It’s OK to feel that,&#8221; Nanes said. &#8220;I want you to know that me, Ezra Nanes, my family, the Borough of State College, we are here for you. We will always be here for you. We’re going to keep building on the amazing work that you’ve already done, that we’ve already done together.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-3-1024x751.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424937"/></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-8-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424942"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photos by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



Nanes issued a proclamation last week declaring June as Pride Month in the borough, and as the parent of an LGBTQ child, he called Pride &#8220;not just principle,&#8221; but also personal.



&#8220;One of the greatest joys in life, whether you’re a parent or a sibling or just an adult with a child in your life that matters, is supporting that child in discovering who they are,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think that’s a really important principle of what Pride is, that we all believe in helping people discover themselves, not telling them who they should be.&#8221;



State Rep. Paul Takac, D-Lemont, said Pride is also personal for him and his family and called it a &#8220;joyful occasion.



&#8220;This represents the absolute best of what State College is and can be,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This sets the standard for what every day should be like. You are not only seen, you are not only accepted, but you should be celebrated and you should be loved. If we could bottle today and make every day like that, wouldn’t this be a better world, a better place to be?&#8221;



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/pride-2023-15-scaled.jpeg"><img decoding="async" data-id="424956" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-15-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-424956"/></a></figure>



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<figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">Scenes from the 2023 Pride parade in downtown State College. Photos by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



Timika Lane, a Philadelphia judge who is running for Pennsylvania Superior Court in November, emphasized the importance of individuals making their voices heard to ensure all are treated with dignity and respect.



&#8220;We have to decide in Pennsylvania, what is it going to be? Are we going to be a place of love or are we going to be a place of hate?&#8230; Your voice matters,&#8221; Lane said.



Kenyatta urged those in attendance to be true to themselves, knowing that it will inspire someone else to do the same.



&#8220;If we lift each other up, if we encourage each other to be brave, if we remind ourselves that we are the majority of this commonwealth, that we are the majority of this nation, when we do that then we will continue to pull this nation closer to making the ideals of freedom, justice and fairness real for everybody,&#8221; he said. &#8220;No matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter who you love, no matter how you worship or choose not to, here in Pennsylvania it’s about you getting a fair shot and a fair shake. We’re going to keep doing that together.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-9-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424943"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



State College Pride has grown substantially since it was first held in 2021. Last year it drew an estimated 4,000 people and organizers expected that number would increase again for the third edition.



The <a href="https://www.centrelgbtqa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centre LGBTQA Support Network</a> (CLSN), which was founded in 2014, has been instrumental in that, as well as in providing resources year round. Sue Marshall, a founding member and current board secretary, said planning for next year&#8217;s Pride will start next week.



In the shorter term, however, CLSN will be celebrating another advancement. A long-planned LGBTQ center for downtown State College will open sometime in August at the corner of Calder Way and South Pugh Street, Marshall said.



&#8220;We can’t wait,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We will have a big opening celebration.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pride-2023-anchor-arrow-2-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-424949"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Community members danced while Anchor &amp; Arrow played at the 2023 State College Pride festival on Saturday, June 10, in Sidney Friedman Park. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>

‘Showing Up with Joy in Our Hearts.’ State College Celebrates Pride

There may be just one person who claims not to know who will start at quarterback for Penn State football when the team begins its season against West Virginia on Sept. 2.



While Drew Allar has been set as the presumed successor to longtime starting quarterback Sean Clifford since the day that he stepped onto Penn State’s campus in January 2022, James Franklin didn’t declare a winner to the Nittany Lions’ quarterback competition with 86 days until the season opener.



“We have competition at every single position, every single year, returning starter or not,” Franklin told the media on Thursday. “I think that’s the right thing to do.”



Allar’s competition at the position is Beau Pribula, who, like Allar, was a member of the Nittany Lions’ recruiting Class of 2022. The difference between the two was that Allar was a five-star recruit by the time he arrived on campus. Pribula was a three-star.



More recently, Allar took snaps behind Clifford in the 2022 season. The youngster played in enough games that he was unable to take a redshirt season. By contrast, Pribula didn’t take a snap in a Penn State game until the Blue-White Game in April, when he attempted 22 of his 27 passes with second-string players.



Franklin’s hesitation to name a starter isn’t surprising. Entering his 10th year with Penn State, Franklin wants competition at the position. It’s likely that Allar will only stick around Penn State for two more years. Franklin will need someone to step up when the Ohio native is gone.



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It’s a situation that Franklin has had before. From 2016-17, he had running backs Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders on the same roster. Barkley was a shout for a Heisman candidate in college, and when Sanders turned pro, he reached last season’s Super Bowl as the starting running back for the Philadelphia Eagles.



At Penn State, Barkley was the evident starter. But Franklin said that competition between the two made them both better. If Franklin has his way, the same will happen to Allar and Pribula.



“I think at times there may have been some frustration with that, but I truly believe that type of competition in college really set them up to be successful in the NFL,” Franklin said. “[Barkley] always had somebody behind him trying to take reps away from him. And [Sanders], as a young player, was trying to overtake [Barkley]. So I think that is a healthy position to be in.”



Franklin also has to answer the question of how he’ll use each quarterback. As Mike Yurcich, Penn State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach said at the same press conference, each quarterback has different styles. Gameplans have to be tailored to those styles.



Allar’s been described as a quarterback who’s steady in the pocket. Teammates have raved about his ability to place passes in locations where only a receiver can catch them. Allar can be mobile but his arm is what really sets him apart from the pack.



Pribula, however, is described as athletic. He’s the quarterback that Franklin and Yurcich could turn to when they need to push a pile or in a situation that calls for a mobile quarterback. He’s the Nittany Lions’ alternate.



However Franklin plays the two quarterbacks, it will likely be some time before Penn State fans have an answer to the question that’s hung over the program for more than a year. Franklin noted that he wanted Clifford to compete for a starting role for the six years that the recent&nbsp;<a href="https://onwardstate.com/2023/04/29/sean-clifford-drafted-no-149-overall-by-green-bay-packers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL draftee</a>&nbsp;spent in Happy Valley. The same will apply to Allar.



If Franklin has 86 days to name a starter against the Mountaineers, he may just use all 86.

‘We Have Competition at Every Single Position’: Penn State Quarterback Question Still Unanswered

Sheetz plans to permanently close its store at 129 S. Pugh St. in State College in late July, a company spokesperson confirmed to Onward State Tuesday.



“Sheetz has made the difficult decision to permanently close&nbsp;its store&nbsp;located along Pugh Street, in State College, Pennsylvania,” Sheetz Public Relations Manager Nick Ruffner said. “It is expected that this store will close in late July. However, all employees at this&nbsp;store&nbsp;location have been offered employment at other nearby Sheetz locations. We thank our customers for their years of support and look forward to serving them at our other locations in the State College area.”



The convenience store opened its downtown location in September 2015 and offered made-to-order food, beer and 24-hour service throughout its eight-year residency on Pugh Street.



Sheetz operates 10 other stores in Centre County, including six in the State College area. The Pugh Street location was the company&#8217;s only store within the Borough of State College and its only in the area with no gas pumps.



Founded in 1952 in Altoona, Sheetz now operates more than 650 locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.



Fellow Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa, meanwhile, is in the planning process for its <a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/articles/business/wawa-mcdonalds-planning-new-locations-on-benner-pike-near-bellefonte/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first Centre County location</a> on Benner Pike near Bellefonte. A Wawa spokesperson also previously said Wawa is <a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/articles/business/wawa-exploring-potential-state-college-area-stores-could-open-by-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">looking for sites to open multiple stores in the State College area</a> by as early as 2025. 



Geoff Rushton contributed to this report.

Sheetz Closing Downtown State College Location

The deadline is fast approaching to participate in two of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts&#8217; signature annual events.



Friday marks the final day to the Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale, as well as to submit entries for the Banner Exhibition and Competition.



<a href="https://arts-festival.com/children-and-youth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Applications for the Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale</a> must be postmarked no later than Friday. They can also be hand delivered to the Arts Festival office at 403 S. Allen St., Suite 205A, State College until 5 p.m. on Friday.



Part of the Children and Youth Day that kicks off the festival, the sidewalk sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, on South Allen Street in State College. The 2023 Arts Festival takes place July 12-16 on the streets of State College and the Penn State campus.



Children from ages 8 to 18 who live in, or who have relatives in Centre, Blair, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin or Union counties are eligible to participate in the Children’s Sidewalk Sale, which offers a fun way for young artists to sell their original artwork. Artists must make their own work and items made from kits are not permitted. Also prohibited are weapons, the sale of food or services like face painting or hair braiding and use of trademarked characters or products.



To download an application and to see participation rules, visit <a href="https://arts-festival.com/children-and-youth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arts-festival.com/children-and-youth</a>. There is a $25 entry fee.



For the <a href="https://arts-festival.com/banners" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">banner competition</a>, entries must be delivered to the Arts Festival office by 5 p.m. on Friday.



Individuals and groups may submit entries, which typically hang between 15 and 20 feet over the street. Identical or different designs must be visible from both sides of the banner. All components of the banner design and construction must be securely attached, or the banner will not be displayed. Banners with religious, partisan or commercial messages will not be accepted. The Arts Festival encourages local non-profit organizations to create banners celebrating their organization.



A banner jury will award prizes in three categories: professional, general and youth.



Submission guidelines and a banner entry form are available at <a href="https://arts-festival.com/banners" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arts-festival.com/banners</a>.

Deadline Nears to Enter Arts Festival’s Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale, Banner Competition

Poems written by residents of Centre Care nursing home’s memory care unit are on display throughout June in the Betsy Rodgers Allen Gallery at Schlow Centre Region Library in State College.



An annual celebration of the nonprofit <a href="https://www.ridgelineslanguagearts.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ridgelines Language Arts</a> semester-long program of the same name, “A Poem in Our Eyes” highlights the rich intellectual and creative capacities of those living with memory loss. Poems and images will be on display, forming an exhibition that sets verbal and visual art in conversation, honors the imaginations of those living with memory loss and challenges conventional notions of disability.



This show consists of poetry written collaboratively by residents of Centre Care&#8217;s memory support neighborhood, Stanton Court, in response to photographs. Teaching artist Robyn Ryzdy, who has led this Ridgelines’ program since 2019, finds that the participants respond best to brightly colored images that include people, animals or familiar scenes. Abstract art and shadowy pictures don’t resonate as well for these storytellers.



“It’s been my pleasure to meet weekly with participants to look at, think about, talk about, and laugh about these and many other images, as well as the memories and feelings they evoke,” Ryzdy said.



During each session, Rydzy encourages her students to respond to the artwork, posing questions such as:&nbsp;What do you see? How does it make you feel? What would you like to do there? What is the weather like in this picture? What happens before, or after?



“As the teaching artist, I let everyone know that we’re here to let our imaginations run loose—there are no right or wrong answers,&#8221; Rydzy said. &#8220;Whatever people say gets written on a white board for all to see. Although my hand is involved in copying down and lineating the poems, all of the words and titles come directly from participants.&#8221;



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<figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">Left, Centre Care memory care residents work on poetry in response to art. Right, Robyn Ryzdy hangs the poems for the exhibit at Schlow Centre Region Library. Photos provided.</figcaption></figure>



“Our poetry programs at Centre Care have been running strong for over a decade and were part of the inspiration for creating Ridgelines as a nonprofit,” Abby Minor, Ridgelines founding director, said. “Participants are&nbsp;teachers, mothers, fathers, seamstresses, mowers of cemeteries, fishermen and women, dancers and church-goers, storytellers and makers of poems.”



A primary goal of&nbsp; “A Poem in Our Eyes” is to provide rich intellectual experiences for those living with memory loss and increase mental and emotional well-being. The weekly sessions also foster social inclusion and provide a vehicle for communicating with others in a creative way. Each session offers participants an experience that allows them to know that their words and imaginings are valued, and provides the satisfaction of making something new.&nbsp;



“As a librarian who strives to engage our community through meaningful, lifelong learning opportunities, I’m honored to partner with Ridgelines every June for ‘A Poem in Our Eyes,’&#8221; Maria Burchill, head of Adult Services at Schlow, said. &#8220;This show, and the program it represents, are outstanding community-building achievements. The efforts of the poet and artist teachers not only unite our loved ones with their creativity, but the program also allows them to express their memories and innermost feelings. A masterfully led event, the results are displayed for public enjoyment and meditation.&#8221;



For people looking to engage those living with memory loss through images, pictures, artworks or other creative processes, these resources have been valuable to “A Poem in Our Eyes”:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>TimeSlips&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.timeslips.org/">www.timeslips.org</a>) offers simple tools and training on bringing creativity into memory care.</li>



<li>Pictures to Share (<a href="https://picturestoshare.co.uk/">picturestoshare.co.uk</a>) is a publisher of books designed to engage people with memory loss.</li>



<li>Creativity and Communication in Persons with Dementia, by Claire Craig &amp; John Killick (2012), outlines many kinds of creative projects designed for those living with memory loss.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



“A Poem in Our Eyes” and other Ridgelines programs are made possible by support from individuals, local businesses and granting agencies. Ridgelines&#8217; 2023 programs are supported in part by Centre Foundation, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and a Challenge America award from the National Endowment for the Arts.



&nbsp;

‘A Poem in Our Eyes’ Exhibition Features Poetry by Centre Care Residents

Community members gathered Saturday in the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and on South Fraser Street for entertainment and reflection as State College celebrated the fourth year of its growing Juneteenth celebration.



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After kicking off with an art exhibition opening on Friday night at the Woskob Family Gallery, the festivities continued with a block party from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday to commemorate the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865.



On what was a picture-perfect early summer afternoon, community members from all walks of life enjoyed live music, poetry, dance, food and a market showcasing Black vendors.



&#8220;Today we hope that our fourth commemoration of Juneteenth in State College serves to both educate and entertain and allows us to create a more celebratory and equitable community for all,&#8221; Leslie Laing, State College NAACP educational co-chair and a chair of the Juneteenth celebration, said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/juneteenth-2023-8-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-425820"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The State College Juneteenth committee celebrates on stage at the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza in State College. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



Since starting in 2020 amid the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic with an in-person and online event, State College&#8217;s Juneteenth has continued to grow into a multi-day summer tradition.



That growth is a reflection of the work of community members, said State College Mayor Ezra Nanes. Earlier this month, Nanes issued a proclamation declaring June 19 as Juneteenth Freedom Day in the borough.



&#8220;Juneteenth is a defining holiday for the present and the future of this region,&#8221; Nanes said. &#8220;It represents who we are and represents who we want to be, who strive to be. Seeing the growth of this holiday is very important for the community and it is a reflection of the will of the people here and of all the work of so many incredible leaders and volunteers.&#8221;



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/juneteenth-2023-13-scaled.jpeg"><img decoding="async" data-id="425825" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/juneteenth-2023-13-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-425825"/></a></figure>
<figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">The State College Juneteenth block party included a marketplace featuring Black-owned businesses. Photos by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



The art exhibition at Woskob, which is curated by Grace Hampton and open through June 21, features work from youth and adult artists in a variety of media with a theme of &#8220;Threading the Fabric of Freedom.&#8221; 



That theme continued on Saturday with activities that included an opportunity for attendees to contribute to a &#8220;Story Quilt.&#8221;



&#8220;Our weeklong art exhibition calls for the community to pause and reflect on the drawings, paintings and photography that display unity, equity, peace and freedom,&#8221; Laing said. &#8220;Our block party celebrates the federal obligation that allows us to assemble in the streets, showcasing Black business owners represents our economic success. Our poets, our authors, our dancers, our musicians showcase our talent and our excellence. We pray and persist. We lift our voices and resist. We collectively stitch together the fabric of our lives resourcefully to create a more beautiful life together.&#8221;



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/juneteenth-2023-2-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" data-id="425814" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/juneteenth-2023-2-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425814"/></a></figure>
<figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">Leslie Laing, left, chair of the Juneteenth committee, delivers remarks at the start of the block party. At right, Pastor Paul McReynolds leads the singing of &#8220;Lift Every Voice and Sing.&#8221;</figcaption></figure>



She explained that the theme reflects how the progress toward freedom and equality has not been a straightforward path.



&#8220;A hundred years of Jim Crow and the war on drugs keeps many African Americans devastated and destitute. Voter suppression continues. Tactics that prevent marginalized groups from voting even now in 2023 means political freedom is still &#8216;free-ish,'&#8221; Laing said. &#8220;Reshaping America has been coming together like a quilt, piece by piece. And so the 2023 theme of threading the fabric of freedom illustrates both our past struggles and our future successes.&#8221;



The commemoration of Juneteenth is also a time to recall the sacrifices of those throughout history who fought for freedom, Pastor Paul McReynolds of Albright-Bethune United Methodist Church said during an opening prayer.



&#8220;Juneteenth is a reminder that the circumstances of our past does not divine our future. However, it should encourage and embolden each of us to stand and to walk tall,&#8221; McReynolds said. &#8220;&#8230;We remember the ones who have come before us, the ancestors who endured the chains of slavery and fought for the freedoms we celebrate today. We honor their unconquerable spirit, their unwavering fate and their unyielding hope. May we carry their legacy within us, recognizing their sacrifices for us were not in vain.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/juneteenth-2023-12-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-425824"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Penn State football coach James Franklin poses for a photo at the Juneteenth block party on South Fraser Street. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/juneteenth-2023-17-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-425829"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shawn Carter of Carter&#8217;s Table prepares shrimp and grits for Damian Cabrera at the Juneteenth block party on South Fraser Street in State College. Photo by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



Terry Watson, founder of Strategies for Justice, and Charles Dumas, actor, Penn State professor emeritus and long time civil rights activist, spoke about &#8220;The Road to Galveston,&#8221; how the fight for freedom did not end with the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.



&#8220;It took a movement of millions of people to bring us to this point today,&#8221; Dumas said. 



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/juneteenth-2023-10-scaled.jpeg"><img decoding="async" data-id="425822" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/juneteenth-2023-10-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-425822"/></a></figure>
<figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">From left, Members of the Unity Church Praise Team sing, dancer Joy Robertson performs and Charles Dumas and Terry Watson speak about &#8220;The Road to Galveston&#8221; at the 2023 Juneteenth Block Party in State College. Photos by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/juneteenth-2023-19-scaled.jpeg"><img decoding="async" data-id="425831" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/juneteenth-2023-19-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-425831"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/juneteenth-2023-1-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" data-id="425813" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/juneteenth-2023-1-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425813"/></a></figure>
<figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption">Photos by Geoff Rushton | StateCollege.com</figcaption></figure>

State College Community Celebrates Juneteenth

LionsDeliver Smoke Shop is set to open a second downtown State College location at 111 W. Beaver Ave., next to Panera. The original State College location at 512 E. College Ave. will continue to operate following the completion of the second storefront.



The Beaver Avenue location is expected to open in late August, according to an employee.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-06-15-at-5.21.29-PM-e1686864779633.png" alt="" class="wp-image-573273"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Keeley Lamm | Onward State</figcaption></figure>



The smoke shop, which sells vapes, THC, tobacco and more, offers a 30-minute delivery rate within State College and same-day delivery services to Port Matilda, Bellefonte and Lewistown. <a href="https://lionsdeliver.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LionsDeliver</a> also ships nationally and internationally.



Under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018</a>, more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-based products that have less than a 0.3% concentration of THC are legal to sell nationally. The decreased potency of cannabis allows for the sale of the substance as an agricultural commodity.

LionsDeliver Smoke Shop to Open Second State College Location

Fried chicken lovers, rejoice!



Tasty K, a Korean fried chicken restaurant, is expected to open on Aug. 21 at 325 E. Calder Way in State College. Tasty K’s CEO and owner, Andy Lee, is a Penn State alum with a passion for cultivating community and culture.



Lee grew up in Korea and moved to the United States when he was 16. Throughout his college search process, Lee was heavily influenced by former Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno and the coach’s impact on those around him. Lee quickly realized that because of Paterno’s impression on him, Penn State was the only university he wanted to attend and sent his sole application on its way.



He was ultimately accepted to Penn State Berks and spent his first two years of college playing Division III soccer for the Nittany Lions. Lee then transitioned to University Park and graduated with a degree in marketing two years later.



“So while I was liking football and learning about coach Paterno, he put so much into Penn State,” Lee said. “He really cared about the students as human beings, not just as a sports team. He kind of taught me how to be this person who’s trying to help the community out.”



Because of Paterno’s influence on Lee’s life and character, Lee knew that one day he wanted to create a space where he could share his love of people and food with State College residents and Penn State students. Emboldened by weekly Korean dinners with his soccer teammates during his freshman year, Lee decided that he would run a business that uplifted diversity with a taste of home.



“I saw sports, music and food bring people from other nationalities together and that moment was beautiful,” Lee said. “My goal is to show there is only one race in the world, and it is a human race and this is how I got inspired.”



Tasty K’s menu will feature three types of Korean fried chicken and the store will operate to-go style. Customers can choose from original, yangnyeom and galbi chicken. Yangnyeom is sweet and spicy, while galbi is soy-sauce based. Each fried chicken option will be served with white rice to create a traditional Korean chi-bob meal.



With the help of a Penn State student-founded software company, Nuntii, and New and Again Builders &amp; Design, Lee and Tasty K are preparing for a late August opening. Diners will be able to check out Tasty K’s traditional Korean fried chicken dishes beginning Monday, Aug. 21, the first day of Penn State&#8217;s fall semester, on Calder Way behind the Family Clothesline and across from Antifragile Brewing Company.

Korean Fried Chicken Restaurant to Open in Downtown State College

A downtown block party and an art exhibition with the theme &#8220;Threading the Fabric of Freedom&#8221; will highlight State College&#8217;s fourth annual Juneteenth commemoration this weekend.



The events celebrate the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth became a state holiday in Pennsylvania in 2019 and a federal holiday in 2021.



Here&#8217;s a look at what&#8217;s planned around State College.



Thursday, June 15



At 2 p.m. on Thursday, a free livestream and panel discussion of the new documentary film “<a href="https://www.annenbergclassroom.org/resource/juneteenth-exploring-freedoms-stories/">Juneteenth: Exploring Freedom Stories</a>,” hosted by Penn State Outreach and Online Education and the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, will examine the history of Juneteenth and its importance to the American idea of freedom.



Andrea &#8220;Ang&#8221; Reidell, director of outreach and curriculum for the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics, and Richard D&#8217;Von Daily, a Penn State doctoral candidate in U.S. history and African American studies will moderate the panel discussion following the livestream. 



Panelists will include Eric Foner, professor emeritus of history at Columbia University; Daina Ramey Berry, dean of humanities and fine arts at the University of California Santa Barbara; Justin Schwartz, Penn State executive vice president and provost, Penn State; and Cathleen D. Cahill, acting director of the George and Ann Richards Civil War Era Center, and professor of Middle-American history at Penn State.



The streaming event is free and open to the public. Register <a href="https://wpsumm.wufoo.com/forms/s131arn615lcpxb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a>.



Friday, June 16



Hosted by State College Chapter of the NAACP in partnership with Center for Performing Arts at Penn State, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and State College Borough, State College’s annual Juneteenth celebration begins at 6 p.m. on Friday with a public <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/804094391277580" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">opening reception for an art exhibition</a> at the Woskob Family Gallery, 146 S. Allen St. The exhibition features works in a variety of media with a theme of &#8220;Threading the Fabric of Freedom.&#8221;



“It is important for us to add to the celebration of Juneteenth by including an art exhibition that allows individuals to express their thoughts about Juneteenth, about peace, equity and social justice,” Grace Hampton, curator and professor emerita of art and former vice provost at Penn State, said in a statement. “We are expecting artists from around the community and the country to contribute their works to the exhibition. We’ll be showcasing artists of different ages and backgrounds, and art works in a range of different genres.”



A diverse panel will serve as judges for the exhibition, which will include works from students in grades two through 12, along with adult artists. Certificates and awards will be announced at the opening reception.



The exhibition will be open 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday and will remain on display through June 21.



Edgar Farmer, Penn State professor emeritus of education, was the 2022 festival’s invited featured artist, and he was honored for his wood sculptures, including “An African Tribal King,” “My Queen,” and “Creation for Barbara.” A panel of judges awarded first prize to Fakeye Olaniyi from Osgobo, Nigeria, for “Nigerian Woman,” and to local artist Barry King for “Homage to Dr. Donna King.”



Saturday, June 17



The Juneteenth Block Party will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday on the 100 block of South Fraser Street and in the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza. 



“We are so grateful to continue collaborating in solidarity with the State College NAACP, the State College Borough and all the partners involved in this community-wide event to celebrate Black liberation, entrepreneurship and creativity in central Pennsylvania”, Sita Frederick, director of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, said in a statement.



Performances will include a variety of musicians, poets and dancers. Headliners are Philadelphia-based drum-and-vocals duo McKie &amp; Res and Baltimore-based jazz musician Warren Wolf.



The day also will feature food trucks, a market showcasing Black vendors and family-friendly activities. Community members will have the opportunity to help create a Story Quilt in conjunction with the celebration&#8217;s &#8220;Threading the Fabric of Freedom&#8221; theme.



&#8220;Historically, individuals worked in secret, armed with needle and thread, to create a visual language mapping the way to freedom,&#8221; Leslie Laing, State College NAACP education chair, said in a statement. &#8220;Shapes, symbols, textures and colors were often weaved together to celebrate family events such as marriage, a birth, keeping record of those we loved as they were sent to other places. Quilts like memories, and traditions are passed down from one generation to the next.”



Organizers encouraged community members to attend the weekend events.



“This celebration is important to the community and the values its members hold, and the State College Borough recognizes that,&#8221; Chiluvya Zulu, borough director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, said in a statement. &#8220;Supporting the annual Juneteenth commemoration is one of the ways the Borough contributes toward building a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community and creates a sense of belonging.&#8221;

Block Party, Art Exhibition to Celebrate Juneteenth in State College

State College police on Monday charged two Warriors Mark men for their alleged involvement in <a href="https://stcodev.wpengine.com/articles/local-news/police-crime/state-college-police-searching-for-two-involved-in-setting-dumpster-fire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a May dumpster fire</a> that caused thousands of dollars in damage.



Arthur E. Forshey, 68, and Austin T. Osborne, 26, are both charged with misdemeanor counts of failure to prevent catastrophe. Osborne also is charged with misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and criminal mischief.



Police and Alpha Fire Company were dispatched at about 10:50 a.m. on May 12 to 403 Locust Lane where a dumpster behind a fraternity house was fully engulfed in flames that were nearing an overhead power line and within feet of the residence, according to an affidavit of probable cause. 



Several witnesses reported seeing two men who appeared to be dumpster diving for scrap metal minutes before the fire and who were traveling in a red pickup truck, according to the affidavit. 



Home security camera footage showed two men arriving in a red Honda pickup, police wrote. The video then showed one man in the dumpster and one man standing outside. The man inside the dumpster allegedly could be heard saying he found a working lighter, and then white smoke began to rise.



The man inside the dumpster began stomping in the area of the smoke, before the two men drove away in the pickup as smoke continued to billow, police wrote.



The fire caused more than $4,600 in damage, according to the affidavit, including $3,542 for repairs to the dumpster, $355 to replace large roller recycling bins and $716 to repair a melted soffit at the rear entrance of the house.



After police issued a media release on May 14 seeking the public&#8217;s help identifying the two men, Forshey came forward on May 16 as the owner of the pickup and said he was the man standing outside the dumpster, police wrote. Another report identified the other man as Osborne.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://henr18y71trtnloh5jkqnqjqt.js.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/dumpster-fire-1024x626.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-421929"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">State College police released images of two men who were at a Locust Lane dumpster when it caught fire on May 12, 2023.</figcaption></figure>



In an interview with an investigator the following day, the men said they are neighbors and sometimes get together to collect scrap metal. Forshey allegedly claimed that &#8220;he was unaware of any fire, even though the video showed noticeable smoke coming from the dumpster while Forshey stood outside it,&#8221; police wrote.



Osborne initially said he was smoking a cigarette that caused the contents of the dumpster to catch fire, according to the affidavit. After being told no cigarette could be seen in the video, he allegedly admitted that he found a lighter inside the dumpster and struck it to see if it worked, causing the fire.



He tried to stomp the fire out but was unsuccessful. He allegedly said he should have reported the fire but &#8220;was scare of what consequences he may face due to being on probation.&#8221;



Both men were charged via summons. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 12.

Two Charged in Connection with State College Dumpster Fire

State College police are looking for a driver involved in a hit-and-run crash earlier this month.



The driver of the car pictured above struck three parked motorcycles at about 11:50 a.m. on June 2 on the 200 block of South Allen Street, according to a media release.



Anyone who may have information about the case is asked to contact the State College Police Department at (814) 234-7150, by <a href="mailto:police@statecollegepa.us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> or by submitting an anonymous tip <a href="https://www.statecollegepa.us/241/Past-Crime-Report-or-Anonymous-Tip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a>.

State College Police Seeking Hit-and-Run Suspect

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