Centre Daily Times week in review

Locals reclaim State College in annual Townie Takeover

With Penn State students heading home for summer break, around 500 State College area residents gathered at Champs Downtown for the second annual Townie Takeover, organized by the borough-funded marketing campaign Rediscover State College. Attendees mingled with local figures, including Happy Valley Hannah and the mayor, over complimentary sliders and wings, using icebreaker prompts to spark conversation. The summer shift brings mixed feelings for local businesses. Phil Gaughan of The Phyrst estimated patronage drops roughly 60%, with two-thirds of staff departing as well. However, shops like The Nittany Quill welcome a different crowd of out-of-towners, families and children. Quill owner Joy Rodgers-Mernin credited the Downtown State College Improvement District for boosting summer foot traffic over the past decade, most recently through the new East End Social event on Hiester Street.

Reported by Trebor Maitin, published May 16

Penn State faculty vote to unionize

Penn State faculty have voted to unionize in what organizers describe as one of the largest public sector union elections in Pennsylvania in nearly five decades. More than 5,000 faculty were eligible to vote, and 2,510 voted yes to join the Penn State Faculty Alliance, affiliated with SEIU Local 668. The union will represent tenured, contingent, full-time, and part-time instructors across all commonwealth campuses. Organizing efforts began during the COVID-19 pandemic over administrative tensions, including disputed classroom policies. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will certify results before bargaining on pay, benefits, workload and job security begins.

Reported by Paloma Pimentel, published May 14

HVAB president and CEO Fritz Smith to resign

Fritz Smith, president and CEO of Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, Centre County’s official tourism agency, announced his resignation after eight years in the role. His departure is effective May 29, with deputy director Eric Engelbarts named acting president and CEO immediately. No reason was given for the resignation. During Smith’s tenure, Centre County achieved the highest post-COVID visitation growth among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties and climbed from No. 20 to No. 11 in hotel revenue. Smith credited HVAB’s role in building Nittany Valley Sports Centre, C3 Sports, and Whitehall Road Regional Park baseball fields. Engelbarts, who joined the Happy Valley Sports Entertainment Alliance in 2023 and previously led the Michigan Sports Alliance, is expected to guide the organization’s next phase of tourism growth.

Reported by Josh Moyer, published May 14

Penn State student embarks on 3,500-mile triathlon for love

Penn State doctoral student Matthew Hollingham, 25, is embarking on a 3,500-mile triathlon from the Arctic Circle to Africa in memory of his fiancée, Lovisa Arnesson-Cronhamre, who died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver near campus in September 2023. The 61-day journey begins May 31 and includes a 2.4-mile Arctic swim, 970 miles of running, and 2,580 miles of cycling across nine countries. Hollingham aims to raise $250,000 for Save the Children and Centre County Youth Services. His friend Jack Hughes will accompany him throughout. Local sponsor Happy Valley Adventure Bureau helped organize a send-off party on May 12 ahead of his departure.

Reported by Josh Moyer, published May 16

CommonFood Centre County expands reach

CommonFood Centre County, a volunteer-run nonprofit founded in 2012, has opened a permanent food packing center at 102 E. Plank Road in Port Matilda after purchasing the building for $275,000 in July 2025. The first packing session was held in late February. The nonprofit serves under-employed and low-income families, elderly residents, and single-parent households across western Centre County and beyond, distributing roughly 20,000 to 24,000 pounds of food monthly. President Jim Leaman noted the new space offers greater freedom and flexibility for the 35 volunteers. Residents from 32 communities, including Altoona, State College and Bellefonte, have used the nonprofit’s services. Food distributions are held at the nearby Port Matilda Baptist Church, with a large monthly event and two weekly walk-in sessions on Mondays and Thursdays at 6 p.m.

Reported by Jacob Michael, published May 18

C-NET executive director retiring after 20 years

Cindy Hahn, executive director of C-NET Centre County, is set to retire on May 31 after 20 years leading the county’s government and educational access network. Hahn joined as executive director in January 2006, having previously served on the board for about five years. During her tenure, C-NET grew from four to seven member municipalities and nearly doubled its total covered entities. Among her proudest achievements is launching candidate interviews, giving local candidates a no-cost forum with professional journalists. Operations manager Stephanie Yager, a 24-year C-NET employee, will succeed Hahn on June 1. Bellefonte Borough Council Chair Doug Johnson praised Hahn’s dedication, saying her work made “a lasting impact” on transparency and community engagement.

Reported by Jacob Michael, published May 14

This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 6:02 PM with the headline "Centre Daily Times week in review."