Many of you might be wondering what is happening with the empty lot on 100 South Fraser, between Beaver Avenue and Calder, well nobody really knows what is going on. The only certain thing is that they are constructing a multi-purpose building. The current debate is towards deciding what exactly the building could accommodate. Some advocate for more condominiums, office space, retail space, and garden site.
As stated in the “Fraser Calder Farmers Market Idea Update” article published on April 11, 2011 on the Transition Centre County blog, numerous residents of State College wish to convert the building into an eco-friendly structure that will house the farmers market year round. The construction of this type of building would be cheaper and better for the environment. Advocates of this initiative also wish to create a garden around the building. The garden would have fruit trees, herbs, vegetables, and flowers. This approach would promote sustainability and most of all, the practice of buying local produce. Through this option the State College area would be able to buy local produce all year round (when in season), while creating a culture of sustainability for the area. Promoters of this plan also stress the benefits of having more trees and gardens in the Downtown area.
The fact that the farmers market would have a stable place all year round is also inviting to residents that work full day from 9am-5pm. These residents would have access to fresh local produce regardless of their constraining work schedules. Since most people advocating for this proposal also have work schedules, they need help pushing the idea. The proponents are thinking of having a written proposal by next month and working to promote the Fraser Centre garden idea. If you wish to collaborate in the process or learn more about the proposal it is as easy as googling “fraser centre state college pa”. I encourage you to learn more about this wonderful project and get active!
Link to the blog spot:
http://transitioncentrecounty.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/fraser-calder-farmers-market-idea-update/
Welcome to Engaging State
WELCOME,
We the class of CAS 222 Foundations of Civic and Community Engagement have come together to create a public webpage/forum for the Penn State community. Over the course of the semester we have discussed many aspects concerning why civic and community engagement is so important when it comes to getting the public involved. Without informed citizens partaking in community involvement; rights such as, voting, free assembly, and free speech would be useless. It has become very evident to our class since reading A Beaver Stadium Nightmare that we needed to apply our knowledge and passion so that we can help better the Penn State community as a whole. Not only by making a public space for the students, but also for the community of State College including teachers, parents and residents. We have provided a space where all of State College can visit and participate in events and activities as well as share their thoughts on each subject. We feel this forum will add a since of unity, pride and gratefulness.
Included in this web space is information on a wide range of events, projects and blogs for the community to get involved with.
These different aspects include a community garden, a public awareness blog, and public interviews to raise awareness of sportsmanship.
We also wanted to enhance our public with knowledge about sportsmanship in the Penn State community after we read the letter published in
the Centre Daily Times as an article entitled “A Beaver Stadium Nightmare." We also learned that Penn State fans were ranked the 7th worst fans
in a recent issue of GQ magazine. We felt this didn't reflect the best of Penn State, and we wanted to change things around. Therefore, some of
our classmates thought it would be a good idea to video record students and athletes while asking them about their experiences (on and off the field)
dealing with sportsmanship and what Penn State pride meant to them. We also had the great opportunity to speak with Coach Russ Rose and Coach
Joe Paterno to get their ideas as well. The video enriches its viewers with a sense of sportsmanship that the entire Penn State Community deserves to see.
The Civic and Community Engagement class forum includes a letter written to Mrs. Baker to express our reactions to the Centre Daily Times' article, our desires to encourage student discourse, and our sincere apologies to Mrs. Baker. While writing this letter, we found it difficult to accurately put our thoughts and intentions into words, partly because we did not know how Mrs. Baker would react. Currently, after many hours of deliberation, the letter exists in a final form and has been sent to her. It begins by addressing Mrs. Baker and mentions her letter to the CDT. Next, the letter links Mrs. Baker's experience and our reaction to public discourse, applying what we had learned in the class. The letter mentions what we have been doing as a class, such as our video and web space. We hope this letter will find her well.
Our class encourages all individuals to read the letter and discuss with other students on campus how we can work together to help better the Penn State Community."As a class, we would like to work forward and we ask that others contribute ideas to assist us in working forward to uphold our name “HAPPY VALLEY”. We hope to sustain our efforts through this web space and video.
As you can see there is a wide variety of activities that are accessible to the State College community that will not only benefit you for becoming an informed and active citizen, but also will benefit the community for the common good.
For more information about, CAS 222 Foundations of Civic and Community Engagement, please visit the Penn State webpage at http://bulletins.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/university_course_descriptions.cfm?letter=C&courselong=CAS%7c222%7c201011FA
Please take the time to explore our webpage and feel free to add your own community involvement because every step forward helps to make a better Future! Thank you for visiting our web space!
Sincerely,
The spring 2011 class of CAS 222
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