Bits of business | Friends use broad strokes for new business
Life is supposed to imitate art.
But in the studio of Two Painting Broads, artists imitate art.
Longtime friends and co-owners Corie Hartsock and Jody Gunter recently opened the Philipsburg business at 126 N. Second St. after several months of teaching private classes at a local art center. When they found a space to rent, it made too much sense to not go all in.
“We are like a social painting group,” Gunter said. “When people come here we show them how to paint step by step, and then they go home with their own work of art.”
Broad 1 and Broad 2, as they call themselves, advertise on their website and Facebook page when their sessions are and what works of art they’ll teach during public classes, which usually have about 12 to 14 people. Private parties, where people can choose what they’ll do from an online gallery, can grow to up to 50 people.
The owners have their own preferences, too.
“I love landscapes and anything fall colored,” Gunter said.
Keeping things fresh
Elk Creek Cafe and Aleworks will host a community celebration to introduce a new chef, menu, beers and logo.
The event, which will be at 4 p.m. Aug. 30 at 100 W. Main St., is a way for the Millheim business to thank the community for its support and hopes for continued success.
The cafe’s new chef, Erin Snyder, will be on hand to serve up tastes some of her locally sourced dishes. New menu items include fried Brussels sprouts with Parmesan and garlic aoili, butternut squash risotto, locally raised pork with a fennel and peach slaw and the Bahn Mi Sandwich recently showcased at the Boalsburg farmers market.
“Dealing directly with farmers and seeing the source of our food is inspiring,” Snyder said. “It spurs my creativity.”
Longtime customers should not worry — the old favorites will remain.
Those attending can also give their taste buds a treat with the newest creations of brewmaster Tim Yarrington and see the unveiling of the cafe’s new website and logo.
“Currently on draft, we are serving our Hairy John’s India Pale Ale and Penns Valley Pilsner,” Yarrington said. “The HJIPA is a strong American-style IPA with loads of hop flavor, aroma and bitterness but with a substantial malt balance that makes it surprisingly quaffable for such an assertive brew. ... Our Penns Valley Pilsner is a classic German-style Pilsner.”
Yarrington said Gyre and Gambol Golden Ale, a Belgian-style ale, is also available.
Sharing is caring
The Tyrone Regional Health Network recently welcomed the Reinhardt Family Practice to Tyrone Regional and the new Pinecroft Medical Center, which opened in June.
The primary care providers at the practice in Pinecroft — John Reinhardt, Anthony Froncillo, Levi Delozier and Lynn Thompson — will also join the Tyrone Hospital medical staff.
“We are excited to have Reinhardt Family Practice affiliated with Tyrone Regional Health Network and Tyrone Hospital,” Tyrone CEO Stephen Gildea said. “This brings additional primary physician care close to home for people who live or work in the growing northern Blair County area. This includes the northern Altoona, Bellwood, Tipton, Bellmeade and Pinecroft areas.”
Open house for nonprofit
Every child grows out of his or her clothes, and sometimes businesses grow out of their spaces.
Interfaith Human Services, a nonprofit, recently got too large to continue operating on East College Avenue and moved to 251 Easterly Parkway, Suite 200.
“We needed a better space,” IHS board member Sue Smith said. “It was time for a new space, because we have so many new programs, and we needed extra offices.”
The IHS offers a plethora of services for things like rental assistance, fuel assistance and money management.
With their new home up and running, the nonprofit will have an open house 3-6 p.m. Thursday.
This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 12:14 AM with the headline "Bits of business | Friends use broad strokes for new business."