State College diner to return, charity triathlon, 'Townie Takeover': Top stories

Top Centre County news stories from the weekend included a beloved State College diner planning a comeback to a Penn State student preparing for a 3,500-mile charity triathlon. Pools, businesses and community events also took center stage as summer approaches.

Here’s a quick look at the weekend’s top stories:

• A longtime restaurateur is working to open Baby’s Diner at the former site of Baby’s Burgers & Shakes on South Garner Street in downtown State College. Owner Hitham Hiyajneh, 56, hopes to open in mid-June with a 1950s vibe, moderately priced menu and milkshakes made with Meyer Dairy ice cream.
• Penn State Ph.D. candidate Matthew Hollingham will embark on a 3,500-mile triathlon from the Arctic Circle to Africa starting May 31 to honor his fiancée Lovisa Arnesson-Cronhamre, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in September 2023. The 61-day journey includes a 2.4-mile Arctic swim, 970 miles of running and 2,580 miles of cycling, with a goal of raising $250,000 for Save the Children and Centre County Youth Services.
• Around 500 State College residents packed Champs Downtown on Friday for the second annual “Townie Takeover” event organized by Rediscover State College. The event kicked off Penn State’s summer break, when establishments like The Phyrst see patronage drop about 60% as students leave town.
• University Wine Company, founded in 2011 by Jeff Proch, has grown from a wine slush startup into a State College destination on Misty Hill Drive. The winery opened its physical location in October 2020 and now hosts mahjong, trivia nights, live music and food trucks while sourcing 80% of its juice and grapes from Pennsylvania and Washington State growers.
• Welch Community Pool in State College and Park Forest Community Pool in Patton Township will open for the season at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23. The Mountain Top Area Pool in Snow Shoe is targeting a June 5 or 6 opening, according to pool association president Jennifer Nastase.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.