This Week’s Connect Happy Valley eLetter

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Snow Day!

Snow Day in Happy Valley.
Cornhole for a Cause: Where Every Toss Makes a Difference

Picture this: It is a brisk February day, you’re indoors at the spacious Nittany Valley Sports Centre, and over 40 competitors are locked in friendly battle. Bags flying, boards thudding, cheers erupting. But here’s the best part: every single toss is helping neighbors in need.
Welcome to the Centre County Cornhole Classic, happening Saturday, February 7th, where bragging rights meet community impact in the most fun way possible!
Your Weekly Guide to Getting Out in Happy Valley

Winter Storm Fern dropped a serious blanket of snow across Happy Valley this weekend. If plans were canceled or changed, we hope you stayed safe, enjoyed the quiet beauty of the storm, and maybe leaned into the slower pace for a day or two.
Now it’s time to unbury.
A Bedford Falls Kind of Morning in the Heart of Happy Valley

Mark and Karen Griffin did not set out to make a statement about the soul of State College this past weekend. They simply followed the kind of Saturday rhythm that has defined life in Happy Valley for generations, a rhythm stitched together by familiar storefronts, friendly faces, and the quiet magic of a town that is home.
This Is the Moment to Get Off Screens and Back Into Happy Valley

Across the world, people are asking the same quiet question.
How do I spend less time on my phone and more time actually living?
Search interest for phrases like “reduce screen time,” “digital detox,” and “phone addiction” has climbed steadily in recent years. Health organizations and universities have linked excessive screen use to increased anxiety, disrupted sleep, shortened attention spans, and rising loneliness. Among college students, research shows a troubling paradox: constant connectivity paired with declining well-being.
Guiding Guests to Connection, One Room at a Time

At its core, Connect Happy Valley has a simple goal. We aim to connect guests into the community assets that make this place work. Those assets are our hosts. The locally owned venues, educators, creatives, nonprofits, and gathering places that quietly hold the town together.
This past week, that idea moved from concept to proof.
Your Weekly Guide to Getting Out in Happy Valley

Winter in Happy Valley doesn’t slow us down, it simply shifts how we show up. Whether you’re looking for a cozy concert, a cultural experience, or the buzz of Penn State energy, there’s something happening this week that matches your mood.
Many Reasons to Get Out and Start Tonight

January has a habit of closing in.
The days are shorter. The cold makes staying home feel logical. Screens quietly take over nights that once held plans. Before long, “we should get out more” becomes something we say instead of something we do.
You do not need a big plan. Just one night. Then maybe another.
Below are a few good places to start.