Introducing the Connectors: Michele Crowl and Bernie Ryan
Meet Michele Crowl, a familiar force for innovation and connection in Happy Valley. She jokes that, like many, she once planned to escape to warmer climates after graduation—
What Penn State Can Learn from Cracker Barrel’s Branding Misstep
When Cracker Barrel quietly updated its branding in August 2025, it likely anticipated a modest refresh—not a full-blown crisis. But the removal of Uncle Herschel, the iconic image of an elderly man seated beside a barrel, sparked immediate backlash. Customers called the update “sterile” and “soulless.” Investors panicked, wiping nearly $100 million off the company’s market value.
Welcome to Connect Happy Valley: “Connector” Spotlights
At Connect Happy Valley, we believe community starts with people—the dreamers, doers, and difference-makers who make this place feel like home. Each month, we’ll introduce you to “Connectors”, the ones powering this platform and our community, whose stories bring color, connection, and inspiration to Happy Valley.
We can’t wait to meet you! Penns Valley Pedals and Pints
Buggy up! If you hear this term, it means you’re on your bike in Penns Valley, Centre County, PA and an Amish buggy is heading your way. Millheim is home of Penns Valley Pedals and Pints, one of the biggest consistent road riding bicycle clubs in the county. If you are hearing, “buggy up,” you know you’re in for a fun evening of beautiful scenery and a ride with a friendly biking club.
A New Tradition in the Making: Penn Steaks Brings Cheesesteaks and Community to the Heart of State College
In the very center of State College, just across from Doggies and down the street from The Gaff, the scent of fresh bread and sizzling ribeye fills the air. This isn’t just another restaurant opening. It’s something deeply rooted in the soil of Happy Valley.
IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley Selected to Host 2026 North American Championship
IRONMAN® announced that the IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley triathlon has been chosen to host the prestigious 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship. The event returns to central Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 14, 2026, bringing with it a North American Championship title, elevated professional prize purse, and expanded age-group qualifying opportunities for the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, France.
Grammy Award-Winning Band A Great Big World to Headline Benefit Concert for the State College Food Bank
The State College Food Bank is excited to announce A Great Big Fight to End Hunger, a powerful benefit concert featuring Grammy Award-winning band A Great Big World, proudly presented by Valhalla Business Advisors. The event will take place Monday, September 8, 2025, at 7:30 PM at The State Theatre in downtown State College.
Happy Valley Fall 2025: The Love Boat Semester at the ChatGPT Inflection Point
The curtain is going up this weekend, and the audience has arrived. Fifty thousand students. Parents and alumni. Visitors from every corner of the globe. Sidewalks pulse, cranes stretch the skyline, and Saturday’s kick off bar crawl starts at noon will hum with thousands wearing the same Line Leap t-shirt. This is the kickoff to fall in Happy Valley — our in-season.
Discovering the Living Filter: A Hidden Gem of Sustainability in State College
Just beyond the quiet curve of Cricklewood Drive, behind the familiar trees of Toftrees, there’s a place where water works a little harder—and nature responds in kind. It’s called the Living Filter, and while it’s not marked with signs or paved trails, it’s one of State College’s most quietly remarkable spaces.
