Eric Rusnak is making his hometown of Philipsburg an even better place to live, work, and play. Get ready to delve into the heart of his efforts, exploring the impact of his work and the positive changes he's bringing to Happy Valley.

For many artists, their work is a labor of love — a fact made all the more apparent when your work consists of a dilapidated historic home that can’t be saved, you’re a one-man show, and there’s no gain in sight other than simply contributing something beautiful to a community. Such is the case with Benjamin Fehl and The Crooked House.

July 20th is National Pennsylvania Day, and for the last two years, America250PA has partnered with Natural Food Group in support of Feeding Pennsylvania to staff food banks across the Commonwealth. Thus far, with the help of several EPIC volunteers, America250PA has packaged over 17,000 boxes of food, prepared 958 meals, sorted over 9,000 lbs of produce & frozen food, and filled over 400 volunteer shifts.

Don't miss the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration happening this weekend in Downtown State College! Community members are invited to an Art Exhibition that opens on Friday, June 16 and Juneteenth Block Party in downtown State College on Saturday June 17, 2023. Hosted by State College Chapter of the NAACP, in partnership with the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the Downtown State College Improvement District, and the State College Borough. The Block Party begins at NOON and will showcase live performances by a wide range of musicians, poets, dancers and more. There will be food trucks, an array of Black vendors, and fun activities throughout the day for kids and adults.

The American Philatelic Society will unveil the new museum exhibit, “A Philatelic Memorial of the Holocaust,” in a public open house. The event will be on June 11, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

The Centre County Historical Society is holding a Centre County Explorers Day for visitors of all ages at the Centre Furnace Mansion on Sunday, June 4, 2:00-5:00 p.m. To celebrate the newly designed Centre County Explorers Passport, visitors will have the opportunity to pick up a passport for themselves or their family, tour the Centre Furnace Mansion, visit a 19th century building tool display and demonstration and meet representatives from other Centre County Passport sites.

If you visit Philipsburg and make your way to the new Moshannon Valley Heritage Center (we highly recommend that you do!), you’ll inevitably run into Tom Laird. He is, after all, a lifelong Philipsburg resident, original member of The Cold Stream Beach Bums, and can regale you with stories of old dams, forgotten ruins, hollows and hills of the area. “It sings to me,” he says.

Happy Valley is brimming with history — rich stories of daring do, enterprise, heartbreak, victory, mystery, intrigue, and adventure. There is truly something to suit every sort of historical interest and taste, right here in our own backyard.

Since 1988, the Centre County Historical Society (CCHS) has annually recognized individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in preserving and interpreting Centre County history. Historic preservation and advocacy projects from around the county will be featured on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Match Factory in Bellefonte, home of the American Philatelic Society. Light refreshments will be available.