ARTIST: Helen O’ Leary, Painter,
Bushwick, NY; Leitrim, Ireland; State College

HOMETOWN: Wexford, Ireland

INSPIRATION: “I draw from the visceral parts of our lives, its wobbly certainty, the short shelf life of predictability and prosperity, the measure of loss, and our innate ability to get by.”

Thanking the entire hospital staff and a battery of volunteers is Glenn’s holiday mission, and he looks forward to the challenge. However, it is just a small step toward his larger vision. “Our goal is to be the best healthcare foodservice in the United States,” he says of the Mount Nittany kitchen. “We aim to change the way hospital food is viewed and want to create something unlike anywhere else.”

To that end, the kitchen makes 95 percent of the food served in the hospital from scratch. Meats are cut in-house and fresh salmon is delivered every Tuesday. Glenn uses organic fruits and vegetables as much as possible, and he plans to install a certified organic garden in the future. But it was attention to an additional detail that earned the chef kudos in last February’s Foodservice Magazine competition for onsite foodservice operations. Glenn designed his own meal trays and purchased china and specialty serviceware to upgrade the patients’ dining experience. Hospital trays delivered to the patients use no plastic dishes. And reading the menu options that the patients can choose from almost makes one wish for a hospital stay. “The comments are incredible,” says Glenn, who is sensitive to the emotional rollercoaster that a trip to the hospital entails. “Simple, straight food is an awesome thing.”

Glenn has been at the helm of the foodservice department at Mount Nittany Medical Center for eight years after a career path in resorts and fine dining. The Pittsburgh native has been a member of the American Culinary Federation since high school and credits his early immersion in the foodservice industry to his godparent’s friend, Jack Braun, who co-founded the ACF apprentice program. Braun became his mentor in the industry and helped him move through the ranks. Glenn’s parents supported his interest by giving him a set of professional knives when he was in high school, while he was also working at a neighborhood Italian restaurant.

By then, Glenn was hooked. He goes to the international culinary Olympics in Germany every four years with ACF leader L. Edwin Brown, a Penn State alumnus, to provide support to the competing ACF chefs who test their mettle against 1,600 chefs from 54 countries. Glenn’s personal goal is to become an ACF Certified Master Chef, which involves an intensive eight-day test of culinary skills and knowledge, something he feels he has been moving toward throughout his career.  

You can be the judge of whether he’s ready for the test the next time you head to the hospital to visit a patient. The hospital cafeteria is open to the public every day of the week, so don’t eat before you go. Try the seasonal specialties that are posted on the menu board in the hallway. You and your sick friend are sure to be nurtured and inspired. •SCM

Pork Wellington
Mount Nittany Medical Center Chef Gary Glenn gives a modern twist to the classic Beef Wellington
Serves 8 to 12

3 lbs. crimini mushrooms, chopped extra fine
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
3 Tbsp. shallots, diced fine
1 Tbsp. garlic, diced fine
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1⁄4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped fine
1 egg white
2 pork tenderloins, trimmed
1 Tbsp. rosemary, chopped fine
    salt and black pepper to taste
2 puff pastry sheets
egg wash (1 whole egg whisked
    with 2 Tbsp. of milk)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a crimini mushroom duxelles by heating butter in a large sauté pan. Add shallots, garlic and finely chopped mushrooms. Stir over simmering heat until all moisture is removed and mixture becomes very dry, approximately 12 minutes. Remove from heat and refrigerate mixture until completely chilled. Add bread crumbs and chopped parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add egg white and mix thoroughly. Chill mixture again until needed.
    Season pork tenderloins with salt, pepper and a small amount of finely chopped rosemary. In a large sauté pan, sear each tenderloin on all sides. Remove from pan and let rest for 12 minutes.
    Place each full-size sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking. Divide duxelles in half and place half on top of each puff pastry sheet, spreading evenly and leaving one inch around the edge uncovered. Place one pork tenderloin on top of each sheet and roll pastry around pork. Seal the closing seam and ends with egg wash.
    Place wellington seam side down on a baking sheet and fold each end underneath to seal. Brush entire pastry surface of both wellingtons with egg wash and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 145 degrees, approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Let wellingtons rest for 7 to 10 minutes before serving.
    Slice into portions and serve.

For 25 years now, Gene Weller has directed the Toys for Tots initiative in Centre County and says he’s felt the Christmas spirit through the work, especially when he sees former “tots,” all grown up.

“Over the years we have had folks tell us that they were Toys for Tots kids and now that they are in a position to give back have done so,” Weller says.

One was Bob Ott, who died last year, but grew up to become the director of the organization’s adult services. Ott grew up with a single mom in Johnstown, and times were tough for the household. One Christmas, Toys for Tots gave Ott two used games, and he told other volunteers the moment changed his life.

Efforts in the Centre Region were less organized when Weller, who became an active member of the Marine Corps Reserve in 1984 after serving in the Marine Corps for three and a half years, moved to the area and wanted to get involved. As the only face of the Marine Reserve Corps in Centre County at the time, Weller was struggling to single-handedly distribute toys when he found the local Nittany Leathernecks Detachment. They agreed to help him—just as long as he joined their group. From there, the organization grew, pulling in other local services to help. Now in the middle of the 25th campaign, the Centre County chapter will continue to take toys through Dec. 12. The organization also uses volunteer gift-wrappers; show up at any of the following sessions listed at right.

Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees, that annual community event that transforms the Snider Agricultural Arena into a winter wonderland, underwent a little transformation of its own this year. The festival is now under the direction of the Centre County United Way, with the proceeds going to the organization’s partner agencies.

But the rest will look familiar—local businesses and organizations will still purchase and decorate more than 100 live trees that will be displayed for the thousands of people who turn out for the event.

According to Centre County United Way Communications Director Megan Evans, the Festival of Trees holds a special place in many people’s hearts. She points to the story of a friend who spent her first Christmas with her late husband at the festival and has held on to that memory ever since, sharing it with her loved ones.

She continues to attend annually, though now with her son’s girlfriend. The trip is a do-over of sorts—Evans’ friend didn’t give the young woman a chance when her son introduced them, so she makes up for it by inviting her to come see the trees each year.  

“It was my intent to bring her joy,” Evans’ friend, who asked not to be named, says of their first trip. “But watching the sparkle in her eye match the twinkle of the lights as she went about picking her favorite tree, and hearing the delight in her voice as she read about and asked questions about our helping community organizations, I felt the unique brand of joy that comes from giving.”

The event will take place Dec. 8 to 10 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition to seeing the trees, visitors can shop craft vendors, have breakfast with Santa, do children’s arts and crafts and more.

One Warm Coat
One Warm Coat is not your typical coat drive. The umbrella organization sponsors more than 2,500 coat drives across the nation—including one in the Centre Region—during Christmastime, and it all began with one drive in San Francisco.

National President Sherri Lewis Wood heard about a small group in San Francisco during Thanksgiving of 2000 but was not satisfied with the small number of people the group reached when she thought about the millions in need. So, she made it her mission to organize similar coat drives across America, a success story she credits to her “possibility thinking.”

According to Community Outreach Director Sybil Hunt, health experts report that just a two-degree drop in body temperature results in a reduced heart rate, loss of coordination and confusion. Body temperature greatly affects adults’ ability to work and a child’s ability to learn.

The coats can help. Donations are accepted nationally through Jan. 16 at Burlington Coat Factory stores, but area residents kicked off the campaign last month, when the Penn State chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America sponsored a drive on campus, collecting a total of 250 coats. •SCM

“They were all pretty much in order,” says Hank Gerhold of the displays and their relation to the song verses. “They go back and forth as you go up the street.” Hank and his wife Marilyn have become, as the only remaining participants from the original 12 families, historians of the Sparks Street tradition. They’ve kept a scrapbook filled with photos of the displays and newspaper clippings about the annual showcase from the Centre Daily Times and The Daily Collegian, as well as certificates of appreciation from community groups, including one from the State College Area Jaycees dated Dec. 27, 1968, praising the Gerholds for fulfilling their “obligation to mankind, and our nation.”

Marilyn Gerhold claims that next-door neighbor Lib Farrand was the originator of the idea, while another participant, Freida Gentry, designed many of the figures and helped out some of her not-so-artistic neighbors with their displays. The song, a traditional melody with lyrics composed by Frederic Austin near the end of the 18th century, was published in two versions. The Sparks Street displays coincide with the “Old English” version, which varies from the “modern” version in the last four verses—nine drummers drumming instead of 12; no lords-a-leaping, only 10 pipers piping; 11 ladies dancing instead of nine; and 12 fiddlers fiddling.

There have also been some adjustments to the exhibits over the years. The original fiddlers were black cats that lasted well into the 1980s. But because of concerns about political correctness, the cats were replaced by a dozen uniformed white men. The two turtle doves and the six geese a-laying have also been rebuilt. In 1980, vandalism claimed three displays—all seven swans a-swimming, seven of the eight maids a-milking and nine of the 11 ladies dancing were destroyed. Kevin Nelson, the WRSC radio show host, organized a campaign to repair the displays, and O.W. Houts and Ridge Homes offered to donate materials to fix them.  

Next year will officially mark the 45th anniversary of the initial “12 Days” exhibit on Sparks Street, but the number of participants has dwindled as neighbors moved away and new homeowners chose not to take on the verse assigned to that house. The Gerholds now use their front yard to showcase the displays for the first three verses—a partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, and three French hens—as well as the “12 Days” sign. Their neighbor across the street, David Lembeck, also does multiple duty today, displaying days four and five, although he first took ownership of the five golden rings when he purchased the Lynch home back in 1991.

Lembeck, who was born in Scranton but grew up in State College when his family moved here in the 1960s, remembers touring the Sparks Street exhibits every year. “It was a very special thing for us as kids,” he says. “So it was real exciting when I bought the house and could do [a display] myself.”

Lembeck recalls that “six or seven years ago” a young man came to his door during the Christmas season to ask if he could propose to his girlfriend on the front yard. Lembeck agreed, and the groom-to-be then came inside to wait. “He knew his girlfriend and her family were going to be coming up the street,” Lembeck explains. “When they did, he went out and proposed to her in front of the five rings. And then he told her that when they have kids, they’re going to bring them around to see ‘The 12 Days.’ So that makes me really want to continue doing it. I think it’s terrific that this has been going on for over 40 years. It’s a great tradition.” •SCM

12 Days of Sparks Street
The popular English Christmas song, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” was first published in 1780, although it is likely French in origin. There is no composer of record, which is the reason for the song’s “traditional” categorization. Singer and composer Frederic Austin made revisions to the song in 1909, tweaking the melody from the fifth verse on. Like many European folk tunes, and British drinking songs, the lyrics are cumulative. There are two versions of the song—the “Old English” (courtesy of “The Oxford History of Nursery Rhymes”) and the “modern.” The Sparks Street displays coincide with the former. Following the refrain: “On the [whatever] day of Christmas my true love sent to me…” the “Old English” verses are as follows:
The differences between the two versions occur in the last four verses:
Nine drummers drumming instead of 12; no lords-a-leaping; only 10 pipers piping; 11 ladies dancing instead of nine; and 12 fiddlers fiddling.

There is another “Old English” version that differs in the final verse, where “lords a-leaping” is substituted for the dozen fiddlers. The original wording of verse No. 5 is “five gold rings,” but “golden” is often substituted for “gold” because it’s easier to sing.

Also, the fourth verse of the Oxford version is “four colly birds,” but those lyrics were gradually changed to “four calling birds” since nobody seemed to remember what a “colly bird” is.  (It’s a blackbird.) ~DKH

A partridge in a pear tree,
Two turtle doves,
Three French hens,
Four calling birds,
Five golden rings,
Six geese a-laying,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Nine drummers drumming,
10 pipers piping,
11 ladies dancing,
12 fiddlers fiddling.

The looks on the faces of the 25 participants are mixed. As competitors slowly raise their hands to signal completion, others remain lost in thought, scribbling in answers. They glance at the clock and erase words. As they struggle to find the right term with the right number of letters, questions persist. Who just finished? How long did it take them?

Such was the scene at the inaugural Central Pennsylvania Crossword Competition in October, which raised more than $3,000 for the Mid-State Literacy Council’s programs in Centre and Clearfield counties. The council provides educational support for the underprivileged and those learning English as a second language.
The council suffered both state and federal budget cuts in the 2011-2012 budget year. Since June, the group has relied on donations, fundraisers and United Way funds to continue its work, says Amy Wilson, the group’s executive director. The organization laid off employees and cut programs, stopped accepting new students in Clearfield and closed its Philipsburg office, although the group’s largest program area, State College, continues to accept new students, she says.

So the idea for a crossword tournament fundraiser, originating from a similar event in Pittsburgh, comes at a good time. Crossword puzzles also stress the importance of literacy while keeping with the group’s message, Wilson says.

Players completed two puzzles and were judged on their speed and accuracy before three advanced to the final round for a puzzle-off. Mid-State board Vice President Katie O’Toole served as the event’s emcee and Centre County District Judge Carmine Prestia served as timekeeper.

The participants shared a common interest, but player age and skill level varied. The top three solvers, Rebecca Ardoline, Mark Hayes and Russell Frank, received cash prizes of $350, $250 and $150. Top fundraiser Bob Potter, top senior division solver Martha Hummel, and top junior division solver Sophie Huddart received cash prizes of $100 each.

For first-time competitor Hayes, competing in a crossword tournament was different than playing at home, where he trained by timing himself on his daily puzzle. “You have all these other people you’re waiting to say ‘done,’” he says. “There’s a little bit of pressure. I’m trying to pretend I’m at my kitchen table.” [It’s a training technique duplicated by Russell Frank. See below for his take on the competition.]    
Hummel, a senior division solver, was sponsored by the American Association for University Women, which supports educational programs for women and girls. “I think I’m holding my own compared to the Centre Daily Times puzzle,” Hummel says. “Whether I win or lose, it’s still a good charity to support.”    

Competitors had to collect $75 in entry donations. For junior contestant Mary Krupa, donations symbolized support from her mother, a Mid-State volunteer, and teachers at State College Area High School. “It’s my first time doing crossword puzzles,” the 17-year-old says. “I’m usually good at literary things, though.” •SCM

CROSSWORD (OVER) CONFIDENCE
Before I even entered the Mid-State Literacy Council’s Crossword Competition, I declared myself the winner. When a friend wrote that she was rooting for me to capture the $350 first prize, I shot back, “Already spent.”

My confidence wasn’t crazy. I am really good at crossword puzzles. I always finish The New York Times puzzle. Always. Including the killer Friday and Saturday puzzles. (The Times’ puzzles start easy on Monday and get harder throughout the week.)

Oh, and I do it in pen.

This is considered the height of arrogance among timid puzzlers, but for me it’s a matter of preferring the clarity of ink to the smudginess of graphite. At least, that was my reason for choosing pen way back when. Now I like the way being an inkster adds to my mystique as a master solver.

I know all this makes me sound like an insufferable braggart, but I figure I’m allowed to boast about the one thing I excel at as long as I admit to being incompetent at just about everything else. In fact, the reason I like solving crosswords so much is that whatever humbling experiences a day brings, puzzling guarantees one shining moment when I feel like a smart fellow.

By smart I mean crossword smart. Being good at crosswords is not, as you might think, about having a dictionary or an encyclopedia in your head. It’s more about thinking along with the constructors—the people who create the puzzles. Do enough of their creations and you begin to recognize their tricks—the puns, the nouns that are being used as verbs (and vice versa), the squares that require more than one letter or a symbol or even a little picture.

Having apprenticed with my dad (also an inkster) before embarking on a long solo career, I recognize the tricks really fast. But I had never puzzled competitively. So in the weeks leading up to the Mid-State Literacy Council competition, I tried to increase my solving speed. I didn’t like it much. Essentially, I was taking the leisureliness out of a leisure activity. Still, I felt pretty slick when I did the Monday or Tuesday puzzle in five minutes.

Timing my puzzling tells you something else: Despite my (over)confidence, the thought had occurred to me that I might not be the only crossword whiz in Central Pennsylvania. So I trained, just in case.

Game Day
What does one wear to a crossword contest, anyway? I wore my crossword puzzle socks. And when I got to Schlow Centre Region Library that Sunday afternoon, I showed them off.

About two dozen of us seated ourselves at the long tables in the library’s community room. I eyeballed the competition. Couldn’t separate the pros from the ams by looking at them. The organizers went over the rules, passed out puzzles and pencils (we inksters were allowed to use our pens as long as our overwrites were legible) and gave the signal to begin.

Five minutes passed.
“Done,” I said, raising my hand. No one finished within five minutes of me. “I SO have this,” I said to myself.

Round 2: I finished the second puzzle in about the same amount of time it took me to knock off the first. But this one wasn’t a blowout. Mark Hayes, a minister, came in only a minute or two behind me. He and I and Rebecca Ardoline were the three finalists.

For the final round, it didn’t matter that I had won the first two. We would all start with a clean slate, or rather, a clean easel—we were to do the final round standing up, so everyone could spectate.

The third puzzle was a toughie, as expected. I got nowhere with the upper left-hand corner or the upper right-hand corner. No worries. I jumped to the lower right-hand corner and began working my way back up.

Unfortunately, when I returned to the upper left, I was just as flummoxed as when I started.

14 Across: “Telephone booth, for Bill and Ted.” I had never seen “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” I had no idea.

21 Across: “‘99 Luftballons’ band.” If that was a song, I’d never heard of it.
I began to squirm a little. Bit by bit, though, I filled in the blanks around those two clues. Got “WIFIFINDER” for “Useful app for a smartphone.” Got “ENDLESSLOOP” for “Programmer’s bane.” Figured out that Bill and Ted’s phone booth must be a “TIMEMACHINE.”

I was closing in.
“Done,” said Hayes.
“Done,” said Ardoline.
“Done??” I thought.

My only hope was their finished puzzles would contain errors, that mine would not, and what I lost on time, I would recoup through accuracy.
14 Down: “High school subject?”

“TECH,” I wrote. That made “HENA” the name of the “Luftballons” band and “CNOL” the “organic chemistry topic.”

Didn’t look right, somehow. If I sat with it a little longer, I would have figured it out. I always do. But I didn’t have that kind of time.
“Done,” I said, sounding like someone who does his puzzles in pencil rather than pen.

First place: Hayes.
Second place: Ardoline.
Third place: Mr. Already Spent It.
My “TECH” should have been “TEEN,” which would have given me “NENA” instead of “HENA” and “ENOL” instead of “CNOL.” So much for the accuracy strategy.
I did all the things that “Show” is supposed to do: I congratulated and shook the hands of “Win” and “Place.”

Inside, though—and I’m not proud of this—I wrestled the demons of anger, disappointment, humiliation and dismay.

I tried to blame standing at an easel instead of sitting at a table.
I tried to blame the contest rules that gave me no credit for dominating the first two rounds.

I tried to blame the Los Angeles Times puzzle for being more pop-cultural than my high-brow New York Times puzzle. Eventually, though, I had to face two simple truths: I had lost, and worse, I was a sore loser. To redeem myself, I decided to donate my third-place prize money back to the Mid-State Literacy Council. And not tell you about it.

OK, so I’m half-redeemed. •SCM

So I wasn’t terribly excited to be heading into the Wyoming wilderness on a trail ride I had signed up for. I mean, the summer before I’d ridden five hours through Rocky Mountain National Park—an invigorating, if somewhat terrifying, jaunt that included not only descending an appallingly narrow switchback trail 1,000 feet in full view of the Continental Divide, but doing it behind my brother, who’d won an eat-50-hot-wings-in-30-minutes contest in Boulder the night before. What possible thrills could this trip hold in comparison? Plus, it was a nasty day, drizzling and cold. But I’d made plans to do this ride, so do this ride I would.

After a 16-mile drive from Jackson, during which the beauty of the scenery increased as my cell signal faded, I arrived at Willow Creek Trailhead, a pasture marked by weathered fencing, horse trailers, a few pick-up trucks and a massive, 6-foot-3-inch cowboy in chaps, a weathered straw Stetson and a camouflage jacket. His name was Bob Barlow, and he was the proprietor of Jackson Hole Pack Trips and Trail Rides. And he would, he let me know in a drawl as long and soft as a Wyoming summer evening, be my personal escort on this trip. Things, I quickly decided, were looking up.

The two of us saddled up and headed off into the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Through dense aspen groves and piney woods we climbed, into rolling meadows laced with silver sagebrush, the snow-capped Tetons standing silent guard. When the rains came harder, Big Bob suggested we dismount and seek shelter under an evergreen. There we huddled as he told me of his great-granddaddy, who homesteaded the untamed land near Sheridan.

And then pretty soon he was talking about the time he woke up out in the backcountry to a grizzly bear staring into his face and how he sleeps next to his horses during trail-riding season, showering with a plastic bag filled with water he rigs up overhead, and the way his back got “broke in two places when I was throwed from my horse.” And along about the time he guided my hand over his elbow and shoulder so I could feel the way the busted cartilage there crackled like Rice Krispies I realized that my jaw was hanging open and my face was flushed and I’d maybe just fallen a bit in love with Big Bob.

But before I could so much as fantasize myself as the lead in our own little Wild West Harlequin romance it was time to mount up again. With no stepstool handy Bob had me clamber up over him like he was the Empire State Building and I was a curly-haired King Kong. As we continued on, red-tailed hawks riding updrafts above us and elk spread out on the slopes below us, Bob suggested that we ford Willow Creek, normally placid but now swollen with spring rain and snowpack melt.     

Bob crossed first, and then in I went, the rushing, frigid waters so high I had to swing my stirrups up to keep my boots dry. As my horse struggled against the current, and I struggled with the reins, fighting to keep her head pointed upstream as Bob had instructed, I let out a whoop of pure joy. I was having one of the best afternoons of my life.

And yet I’d almost cancelled the trip. If I had I would’ve…what? Gone back to my hotel and taken a nap? Instead I rode out into the Great American West with a true-blue cowboy who guided me across raging rivers and called me “prettier than a brand new saddle.” I’d gotten to be Calamity Jill for a day. And I’d learned that the best adventures come when you least expect them. It’s a lesson I’ll never forget.

Soon after my students and their parents found out that my wife and I were expecting, I participated in my first baby shower—in my own classroom. Beet red, I tore off wrapping paper, saying things like: “Oh, thank you for the…ah, Butt Paste!”
After the cake, parents lined up to offer me their thoughts on being a parent. Most of it sounded like this: “All that free time you have now? It’ll be gone. But, it’s the best thing in the world.”

I still wasn’t worried. I had five years of training in the classroom.

Our son arrived Aug. 2, and I had a good three weeks before going back to work. Soon, however, my wife would be leaving her full-time job for a 4 to 8 p.m. shift. That meant my second shift would be one-on-one time with Nathan. But still no fear, as each day would require a simple transition from 25 to one.

How wrong I was. Nathan was not an “easy” child. (I’ve heard parents speak of these creatures, but I have yet to meet one.) Nathan napped for a whopping 20 minutes. After waking, he needed the basics: a new diaper, food, a burping session, to be held. Then, repeat. And somewhere in between, I had to clean up the steady stream of milk that sprayed from his mouth like dragon’s fire, give him a bath, put on his PJs and eat, so I had the power to carry on. My wife said her eyeballs hurt from lack of sleep. I felt the same. So we did the only thing that made sense at the time: We decided to add another child to our family.

Madeline Eve was born on April 29. Nathan was just 21 months old. I was spared a second baby shower at school, but the parents offered more commentary: “You thought it was tough having one? Hah! Having two is like having 12. But, it’s the best thing in the world.”

I was prepared. I had mastered the first year, and since then, Nathan and I had more time to play with blocks, make paper airplanes and pick raspberries. I thought I would tote Madeline along on our walks through the woods, and she’d sleep peacefully while Nathan and I carried on with our routines. Heck, Nathan might even be able to help feed her.

I’m an optimist, not a realist.

Having two is like having 12. Madeline was not an easy baby. Nathan did not help to feed her. He suddenly needed more food and wanted to use Maddie as a racetrack for his cars. Madeline didn’t like to sleep, regurgitated more food than her older brother had and screamed louder than my sister Karen, the lead singer in a band. I kept telling myself, “This is the best thing in the world.” And I knew it was. I just didn’t have the energy to process the fact.

But seven years later, they’re both in school. They get dressed on their own, ride two-wheelers and spend time at friends’ houses.

The other day I found a half-empty tube of Butt Paste. We must have gone through 50 tubes of the stuff before they were both out of diapers. It seems like an eternity ago. Last week, while I was reading the paper, Nathan toasted two bagels, set two places, poured two glasses of orange juice and called his sister to breakfast. Yeah, it really is the best thing in the world. •SCM

“What about $25?” one girl offered.
“I think $50,” said another.
“Can we shop for two kids?” another asked.
“Yeah!” they all chimed in.

I paused their enthusiasm, thinking of their bank balance and the list of things they wanted to do before their cookie money started rolling in that spring. But they countered, reminding us adults that these kids wouldn’t have anything under their Christmas trees if we didn’t help. Even the Jewish and Muslim girls pushed for helping others celebrate a holiday they didn’t.

That’s the power of a 10-year-old. In the end we settled on sponsoring two kids, spending $75 split between the two. The girls divided and conquered in Target that night, buying sensible things—warm socks and gloves—and frivolous fun—trendy dolls I had never heard of, but they said everyone had to have. Then we wrapped their purchases and sent them off to what I’m sure were two happy kids that Christmas morning.

That night snaps into focus every year when I see the flood of charitable events that occur during this season, and I remember those girls’ undaunted enthusiasm for helping others. In the same spirit, intern Kiera Missanelli compiled a list on page 40 of local charities that could use your help this season—maybe you’ve got a few minutes to wrap a gift for Toys for Tots. Maybe you’ve got a warm coat to send to someone who needs it more than you.

And when you’re finished with your good deeds, head to Sparks Street in State College for a little holiday cheer. Residents there found a dozen ways to celebrate, and they’ve been sharing the spirit with the community since 1967.

It’s a holiday game plan of which I think a Girl Scout would approve.

BEST PEOPLE

Best DoctorBrian Shunk, D.O.Practicing in State College for just three years, Dr. Brian Shunk calls his best doctor nod an honor. “And it’s humbling,” he says. “There’s certainly a number of great physicians in our community.” He must be one of them. A family practitioner who learned his profession in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq, Germany and Texas, he says he loves the mix of ages he gets to care for here—from children to college students to elderly retirees. “It’s fun to see when the good things happen, and it’s not as fun, but it’s rewarding, to help them through the more difficult times.”

Best Broadcast Personality
Jeff Brown
The perennial winner in this category, Jeff Brown hosts a popular morning show on 93.7 The Bus. He also recently hosted Chefs on Stage, the annual charity event sponsored by SCM. Brown, however, is no gourmet, and his disdain for vegetables is legendary. “I never met a vegetable I liked,” he says.

Best Dentist
Brian White, D.D.S.
Dr. Brian White has been a dentist in State College since 1975 and is humbled to be named State College’s best dentist. White credits his excellent staff, self-management and marketing techniques over the past couple years as the reasons for being recognized. “We try very hard to take care of our patients and make sure their needs are well-served,” White says.

Best Public Servant
TIE: Mayor Elizabeth Goreham and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff

Best Writer
Ali Warren
Commitment is a familiar characteristic for Boalsburg native Ali Warren. A volunteer firefighter, Warren published her first book, “Where Hope Lives,” last year, detailing her experiences in the firehouse. She wrote the memoir over the span of several years and worked 60 hours a week to earn enough to have it published. After doing no promotion of its release, the community response came as a significant surprise, she says. “It’s such an honor to be chosen,” Warren says. “People are getting things out of the book I never intentionally put into the story.”  

Best Real Estate Agent
Beth Richards
Beth Richards credits The Golden Rule in being named best real estate agent—she says she treats her clients the way she would wish to be treated. “My core philosophy is to do what is in the best interest of one’s clients, and I think with that philosophy you can’t go wrong,” Richards says. The Beth Richards Group, within best real estate company Kissinger Bigatel & Brower, takes a referral-only approach to provide clients with an exclusive buying or selling experience. “I’ve got the best clients on the planet,” Richards says.

BEST SHOPPING

Best Real Estate Company
Kissinger Bigatel & Brower
In perhaps the most difficult real estate market State College has ever known, Kissinger Bigatel & Brower are honored to be recognized as best real estate company. “We have a very well-trained group of Realtors that concentrate on customer service and personal client care,” says partner and broker Mark Bigatel.

Best Grocery
Best Bread
Wegmans

Best Gift Shop
A Basket Full
She’s been in business for 21 years, but Pam Bair credits her daughter Jenn Bair, who came home from California six years ago to join the family business in Boalsburg, with so much of what the gift shop is today. “We started out very country. I’ve got to be honest; this is all her,” Pam says with a wave at the trendy, upscale lines that now fill the rooms at A Basket Full. In changing what they carry, the Bair duo brought in new customers, but kept many of the old ones as well—one has been shopping there all 21 years. “They are our friends,” Pam says.

Best Jewelry Store
Best Customer Service
Moyer Jewelers
Laura Moyer considers unbeatable customer service and product expertise reasons why Moyer Jewelers has remained a family-run business for three generations. “We have loyal customers and fans,” Moyer says. “We’re a family business, which means we have flexibility.” Sales associates know the products glittering in the glass cases, and if they don’t know an answer to a customer’s question, they’ll work to find it. And services such as free delivery, gift wrapping and complimentary watch repair keep customers happy.

Best New Car Dealer
Dix Honda Co.
Dave Dix says the low-pressure style of business at Dix Honda, in addition to top customer service, is the reason his dealership was voted best new car dealership once again. “We’re thrilled to be recognized. It’s very nice to feel that people value doing business with us, and Honda continues to have a knack for coming up with the right product at the right time,” Dix says.

Best Used Car Dealer
TIE: Jabco-Maggi Motors and Joel Confer’s Auto Outlet
There’s not a used car that comes through Joel Confer’s Auto Outlet that son Corey Confer does not touch. And only about a tenth of the trade-ins end up on the sales lot. “I decide if it’s something I would buy, and if it’s not, I sell it [at an auction],” he says. “I want my customers to be very, very comfortable with my cars, that there’s no worries.” That extra mile is important for Jabco-Maggi as well, says vice president Todd Maggi, who adds that the dealership finds success in having the right used car on the lot for his customers. What that right car is, however, is the million dollar question, he says. Confer would agree. “It’s whatever the customer is looking for,” he says.  

Best Furniture Store
Wolf Furniture

Best Hardware Store
Lowe’s Home Improvement
Walk into the massive do-it-yourself home improvement store and you’ll see Lowe’s carries products that fit the needs of the local market and also a staff trained to help shoppers find the best materials for their personal projects. “We’re proud to be recognized in our local marketplace—it reinforces all the efforts we put forth,” manager Ray Forziat says.

Best New Retail Store
Fairways and Greens

BEST PLACES

Best Health Club
The North Club
It’s the atmosphere that sets The North Club apart from other gyms, says club manager Eric Weidenhof. The mix of senior “Silver Sneakers” members, competitive athletes and everyday folks are encouraged equally by staff in enthusiastic, non-judgmental support. “We don’t tell people, ‘sorry, you don’t fit our profile,’” he says. Instead, employees learn the names of members, getting to know their habits and their personal details. Weidenhof even greets a German-speaking member in his native tongue one morning as he walks in for his workout. “It really is all about the members,” Weidenhof says.

Best Day Spa
Designer’s Denn Salon and Spa
Owner Melinda Hooper says being voted best day spa for several years in a row has to do with the unique culture Designer’s Denn provides State College residents. The salon prides itself on an in-house skill certification and educational environment for each staff member and also its well-trained leadership team comprised of managers and assistant managers. “We are on a continuous improvement plan here, and our staff is very well-educated in guest services, technical skills, professionalism and leadership,” Hooper says.

Best Kennel
Royal Pet Resort
It would not be adequate, or even appropriate, to call Royal Pet Resort a mere kennel. It’s more like a four-star hotel/spa for dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets. Located in Julian, RPR is an activity-oriented facility owned and operated by Becky Koleno, who studied animal science and business administration at Penn State and has, for the last decade, served on the Board of Directors for Centre Wildlife Care. “When you go on vacation, the last thing you should worry about is the care of your pets,” Koleno says. “We strive to offer [them] the ultimate safe and fun environment for their vacation.”

Best Conference Center
Best Sunday Brunch
The Penn Stater
The Penn Stater’s people are what helped the location secure the best conference center and best Sunday brunch nominations again this year, says Jim Purdum, the general manager for hospitality services. His staff tries “to make it a special experience [for guests] no matter how large or small an event,” he says. The Penn Stater also contains unique features that lend to holding daily functions, meetings and events. “There are options there you won’t find [elsewhere] around the country,” he says.

Best Picnic Spot
Spring Creek Park
With wide-open fields, a clear view of the surrounding mountains and the trickling sound of Spring Creek, it is no wonder the Houserville park was named best picnic spot. Covered pavilions and a quaint covered bridge in the distance make the park an even more inviting location for an al fresco meal, and the jovial playground creates a perfect family environment.
Best Playground
Circleville Park

Best Place to Work
Penn State University
The opportunity to be around students is what Annemarie Mountz enjoys most about working for Penn State. Mountz, director of public information, says it is the positive atmosphere and close connection to the community that make Penn State a great place to work. Centre County’s largest employer, Penn State maintains an active role in the community, as university employees and students live and work in the area, Mountz says. “We are the community.”

Best Retirement Community
Traditions of America at Liberty Hill

Best Fundraiser
THON
Students and community members continue to donate to THON, Penn State’s student-run philanthropy that raises money for pediatric cancer treatment and research, in record numbers: more than $9.5 million last year. Public Relations Chair Kirsten Quisenberry insists the organization’s message does not go unnoticed by students. “THON is a great asset to the community and students at large,” she says. “THON instills a lifelong commitment to service and shows students the importance of giving back.”

Best Community Event
Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
Executive director Rick Bryant believes it is the unique opportunity for buyers to meet with craftspeople that sets the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts apart from competitors. You usually don’t have the opportunity to purchase an item from the person who thought of and created it, Bryant says. The festival also provides an opportunity for friends and family to meet once a year and do some shopping together, even if State College is a town they don’t come to by accident. “We’re very proud to do so well for a rural area,” Bryant says.

BEST FOOD AND DRINK

Best Happy Hour
TIE: American Ale House and Grill and Bill Pickle’s Tap Room
Bill Pickle’s neighborhood bar makes students and residents alike feel right at home. “The local community at large has embraced us as a gathering place of all ages and walks of life—all having a great time together—be it 21 or 91,” says general manager Michael James. Discounting all beers and liquors during happy hour makes the watering hole stand out, he says. That, and an entertainment lineup that has toes tapping seven days a week. Cheers. [Editor’s note: for information about the Ale House, see “Best Outdoor Dining” on page 38.]

Best Wine List
Best Martini
Best Romantic Restaurant
Zola New World Bistro
Walk into Zola and be transported to a sensual, urban-city environment in the heart of State College that whispers romance. Co-owner and corporate sommelier Dave Fonash says, “Our original goal when we started 10 years ago was to provide people with an experience when they went out. When diners come into Zola we don’t want them to necessarily feel like they are in State College.” In addition to the environment, the innovative and local cuisine is perfectly paired with either a glass of wine or cocktail.

Best Beer List
Otto’s Pub and Brewery

Best Coffee
Starbucks

Best Breakfast
Original Waffle Shop
The origin of the waffle dates back to the Middle Ages, but North America was first introduced to them by the Pilgrims, who prepared them like the unleavened breakfast cakes made with barley and oats that were all the rage in Holland. Of course, American waffles are now generally made with white flour, as are the lighter, thicker Belgian waffles, which were first introduced to this country at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Two years later John Dimakopoulos left Greece; six years after that, he opened the first Waffle Shop on West College Avenue, in 1972. Next year, Dimakopoulos will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Original Waffle Shop, now a fanatically popular local franchise.   

Best Sub
McLanahan’s Downtown Market

Best Takeout
TIE: Fuji and Jade Garden and Golden Wok

Best Sandwich
HoneyBaked Ham
For four years now, HoneyBaked Ham has been voted best sandwich by readers, and for good reason. “We’ve built a good reputation for quality and service,” owner Joe Beddall says, crediting freshness and new products for the continued interest in his sandwiches. He says he is honored to be recognized for the hard work.

Best Salad
Home Delivery Pizza Pub
Servers at Home Delivery place orders for several hundred salads a day—and that’s just at the State College location, which may explain why the restaurant probably better known for its pizza landed the best salad category this year. Cooks toss fresh greens, herbs, homemade dressings and chicken that’s been hanging out in a marinade for a full day into enormous salads that can serve as dinner tonight, and lunch tomorrow.

Best Burger
Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Best Pizza
Faccia Luna

Best Wings
Wings Over Happy Valley

Best Italian
Mario’s

Best Steak
Best Seafood
Kelly’s Steak and Seafood
Kelly’s has won best steak for the past seven years and seafood for the past five years, and owner Sean Kelly credits simplicity. “We start off with really fresh, high-quality ingredients and that makes it easiest to put out the best product,” Kelly says. The restaurant’s casual elegance is great—whether it be a Tuesday night or an anniversary. “We feel really privileged that people are recognizing us for having the best steak and seafood,” Kelly says.  

Best Business Lunch
The Corner Room

Best Health Menu
Best Caterer
Best Wait Service
Harrison’s Wine Grill and Catering
In a seven-year sweep, Harrison’s takes the cake for best caterer, and this year the upscale casual restaurant can also add best health menu as well as best wait service to its list. “Our customers have asked for special menu items that speak to vegetarians and speak to wanting gluten-free options that taste good, and we have really worked hard at trying to do that for both our restaurant and catering customers,” says marketing director Karen Myford. “It reaffirms that we are continuing to get things right.” The restaurant, which prides itself on using fresh and local ingredients, is clearly a favorite among healthy eaters. “We’re so gratified to be acknowledged for our healthy menu,” Myford says.

Best Barbecue
Clem’s Wood-Fired BBQ

Best Dessert
The Deli

Best Late Night Bite
The Diner
Tradition and community recognition are two reasons people love coming to the Diner, general manager Jim Klein says. A grilled sticky in the wee hours is part of the State College experience, noted by documentary directors and students alike. “Recognition is part of the reason why we’re still in business,” Klein says. “The Diner is a State College tradition.”

Best Asian
Cozy Thai Bistro

Best Ethnic
Herwig’s Austrian Bistro
Some diners might be put off by having to pronounce the menu items correctly when ordering a meal, and then being threatened with a large wooden spoon if they don’t finish it, but that’s all part of the presentation at Herwig’s, now a local culinary institution. Chef Bernd Brandstatter, who’s often photographed gripping the wooden spoon in a menacing manner, was enamored as a youth of the flamboyant Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. This makes perfect sense. If there’s such a thing as a Gonzo chef, Brandstatter would be it. “Thompson liked to push the boundaries, and I try to do the same thing,” he admits. “But you try to have fun and do what you love, and I’m definitely doing that.”

Best Sports Bar
Champs Sports Bar and Grill

Best Outdoor Dining
American Ale House and Grill
Nestled in a quiet location in the woods with a great dining deck and pleasant atmosphere, it is no wonder Ale House has earned recognition for best outdoor dining and happy hour. Owners Linda Silveri, Scott Lucchesi and Tommy Wareham say the outstanding and consistent service, food and drinks add to the environment as well. “We’re doing something right; guests are happy; they’re telling friends, and people are coming back,” Silveri says.

Best Fine Dining
Carnegie House
Dinner at the Carnegie House restaurant is a little like what it would be if you had a chef in your own home. Guests are ushered from the front door not directly to a table, but to the lush and quiet library where they can talk over drinks and hors d‘oeuvres before dinner. “It’s quite different from anything else in town,” says manager Sam Glasgow. That’s not to de-emphasize dinner. Under chef Lisa Palermo, the menu has doubled its offerings in the past year. “I think more than anything, the main reason people come is for the food,” Glasgow says.

Best Value Restaurant
Rey Azteca

Best New Restaurant
TIE: Sakura Sushi and Asian Cuisine and Cracker Barrel

Best Kids Menu
McDonald’s

Congratulations to Jim Eberly of Lemont, who was randomly selected from everyone who filled out a ballot in the 2011 Best of State College survey to receive a gift basket generously donated by Tait Farm. Thanks to everyone who filled out a ballot this year.