Under the baobab: Goodbyes in State College, events and civil action
More than 100 of our community’s leading citizens gathered recently at the Nittany Lion Inn to honor and say goodbye to State College Police Chief John Gardner at his retirement party. Chief Gardner faithfully served the borough for 35 years, including nine as the department’s top officer.
Political officials including newly sworn-in chief Joseph Merrill; past State College chief and interim Ferguson Township manager Tom King; State College Mayor Ezra Nanes; State College manager Tom Fountaine; Centre County commissioners; borough and township council members; and present and past police chiefs from the area attended. They were joined by leading academics, civil society leaders and community activists. All were there to recognize Gardner’s exemplary service to the community. He announced he would be stepping in as co-director of Community and Campus in Unity.
Few other communities in the country could convene a gathering of such diverse people representing such distinct ideas.
Our dear brother from another mother, Harry Kropp, has joined the ancestors. He was born and raised in State College. Harry is a 1959 graduate of State High. He was an active member of the PSU Catholic Community. He and his husband, Ed, established the Harry B. Kropp and Edward Legutko Award for Student Teaching, which recognized an undergraduate who has excelled in his or her student teaching or field experience. Visitation will be on Sunday, Feb. 1 from 3-5 p.m. at Koch Funeral Home in State College. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, Feb. 2 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.
Also joining the ancestors, Woodie King Jr. was a giant in African American Theatre and one of my primary mentors. He gave me one of my first leading roles in NYC Theatre, “Boogie Woogie and Booker T.”
Around town
Wednesday celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which recognizes the achievement of female athletes and promotes gender equality in sports. President Ronald Reagan initiated the celebration in 1987 to honor Olympic Volleyball player Flo Hyman, who died suddenly of Marfan Syndrome while competing in Japan.
The No. 4 nationally ranked PSU Women’s Hockey Team played Robert Morris at Beaver Stadium on Friday. They have already clinched their Fourth straight Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) regular season championship and will begin the AHA Tournament on Feb. 27. The men’s hockey team play at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.
The Gimme Shelter annual benefit concert will be held at the South Hills School of Business and Technology on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. It will feature: the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus, Biscuit Jam, Eric Ian Farmer, and Jason O. Benefiting Centre Safe, Out of the Cold, Housing Transitions Inc., SCCLT and YSB, admission is pay-what-you-wish.
The resistance continues: Monday Candles for Peace at the Allen Street Gate and Tuesdays at Thompson’s Bellefonte office are still going strong. CPUA sponsored a protest vigil in coordination with hundreds throughout the country, where thousands participated. Federal agents killed two citizens during street action in Minnesota. In response, President Trump replaced Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino with Tom Homan. Bovino is expected to retire soon.
Some members of Congress are calling for the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Trump has discussed the possibility of removing some ICE agents from Minneapolis. Former CNN reporter Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles after reporting on an anti-ICE demonstration in Minnesota. He insisted that he was “just reporting on the demonstration not participating in it.”
A new “No Kings” rally is being planned for the spring. Whatever the administration’s master plan was, it seems to be falling apart. We the People are gaining traction.
“Aint gon’ let nobody turn me around. ... Gonna keep on walking, keep on talking, marching up to Freedom Land.”- Song from the Movement
Charles Dumas is a lifelong political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Congress in 2012. He is a Lions Paw honoree. He lives in State College with his wife and partner of over 50 years.