Community / Blogs

The opinions expressed in these blogs are solely those of the people who wrote them, and do not represent the views of WPSU or Penn State University.

Our Town

Our Town: Emporium—Still room for volunteers!

Posted by Jessica on 04/19 at 12:49 PM

What a fantastic show “Our Town: Emporium” is shaping up to be! Last night about 20 community volunteers came to the fire department to meet and exchange ideas on what stories should be included in the show. Volunteers had a brief training on how to shape their stories, then signed up for times for their on-camera interviews on Saturday, April 28th at the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce and Artisan Center.

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Our Town

WPSU Set To Hear Stories From Indiana County For “Our Town”

Posted by Whitney on 04/13 at 01:38 PM

The 67th episode of the “Our Town” series will feature Indiana County, last visited in 1998 for this program. We’re excited to hear what’s changed, and what’s stayed the same. There is so much to see in this gorgeous community. Home of world famous actor Jimmy Stewart, known as the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World”, with the heritage and community of the IUP campus, Indiana County offers endless story possibilities for this program.  We want to know more! Share your stories as part of this program — join us for the community meeting on Thursday, May 31 at the IUP Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex at 6:30 p.m.

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Our Town

Our Town Emporium Community Meeting Update!

Posted by Jessica on 04/12 at 04:00 PM

We’re less than a week away from the community volunteer meeting for “Our Town: Emporium”! By now, you’ve hopefully heard about the project—we’ve had a ton of great coverage so far! Several pieces have appeared in the local papers, we’ve had volunteers distributing flyers, and if you notice those small glossy cards on counters at local businesses, those are advertising the meeting as well! There was even a screening of “Our Town: Emporium” (2001) sponsored by the Cameron County Chamber (thanks, Tina!)!

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Our Town

WPSU Editing Our Town: Nanty Glo…Set To Premiere On WPSU Thursday, May 24

Posted by Whitney on 04/02 at 02:30 PM

Now that we’ve interviewed 30 members of the Blacklick Valley area community with some great stories about local history, events, and places, it’s time to put it all together! We will spend the next several weeks in the edit room with the video footage and photos provided by our corps of volunteer storytellers. Their video and photos along with everything they told us on Saturday, March 24 during the interviews will combine to tell the “Our Town: Nanty Glo” story. And you can see how it all turned out when we premiere the program on WPSU-TV Thursday, May 24 at 8 p.m. Out-of-town friends can watch the live premiere online at wpsu.org.

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Our Town

Our Town Emporium Kickoff!

Posted by Jessica on 03/16 at 10:00 AM

On Friday, March 9th, Sam Komlenic and I made the beautiful drive from State College, through the Quehanna Wilds Area, to Emporium to meet with about 10 folks at the Emporium Borough Building to kickoff the 66th installation in the Our Town series!  This is the second time we have visited Emporium for the Our Town series. The first was in 2001—and we thought that it was time for an update! We’re looking for community volunteers to help tell the story of this town at the heart of the PA Wilds!

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Our Town

WPSU Seeking More Storytellers for “Our Town: Nanty Glo”

Posted by Whitney on 03/16 at 09:57 AM

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the “Our Town: Nanty Glo” program on public television! WPSU will be capturing stories told by your friends and neighbors when we conduct interviews on Saturday, March 24 at the soon-to-be Liberty Café on Roberts Street in Nanty Glo. Call 814-863-6634 today to make sure you have an opportunity to tell your story in this program all about your hometown!

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Our Town

Our Town: Nanty Glo Off To A Great Start!

Posted by Whitney on 01/26 at 09:57 AM

With about 20 members of the Nanty Glo community in attendance at yesterday’s meeting, Jessica and I are thrilled to begin working on the 65th episode of “Our Town.” We heard some amazing story ideas—-many about the rich history and culture, but also about the revitalization efforts currently underway and the great work of local service organizations. With so many folks in attendance at our kick-off meeting, it’s clear to see this is a community that cares about its town and its neighbors! We cannot wait to learn more.

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Our Town

WPSU Brings Next Our Town Program to Nanty Glo!

Posted by Whitney on 01/23 at 12:29 PM

Jessica Peters and I have begun making contacts with people in Nanty Glo, PA as we prepare to kick off the 65th episode of the series. We’ll be traveling to the area this week to start planning some of the details of the project with some community leaders and we can sense some enthusiasm around the program. We’ll be announcing community-wide events and meetings very soon, so stay tuned for that info. This project is all about bringing the residents of the area together and we want everyone to know they’re invited to participate in the project.

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Our Town

WPSU Brings “Our Town” Production Team To Meyersdale This September!

Posted by Whitney on 09/19 at 02:18 PM

The Great Allegheny Passage, the PA Maple Festival, the rich railroad history and more could all be featured in the next installment of WPSU’s “Our Town” series when we visit Meyersdale, PA in Somerset Co. WPSU is looking for 20-25 community members to share their stories about Meyersdale as part of the program for public television. No experience required, no age restrictions, and no cost to participate…just enthusiasm for your hometown! Want to learn more? Join us for the community meeting on Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m. in the Meyersdale Area High School large group instruction room.

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Our Town

“Our Town: Kane & Mt. Jewett” set to premiere on WPSU!

Posted by Jessica on 09/02 at 11:31 AM

Here at WPSU, we are very excited to premiere the 62nd episode of the “Our Town” series, “Our Town: Kane & Mt. Jewett” LIVE on Thursday, September 8th at 8pm! We’re thrilled to be able to share stories told by some familiar faces—your friends and neighbors, the people of Kane and Mt. Jewett! Cable customers should be sure to tune in to WPSU-TV to watch the program. Satellite customers who don’t receive WPSU can still watch the show live at the Barrel House Restaurant & Tavern (8946 Route 6, Kane, PA). The show will also be streamed live on the web at wpsu.org/live, so be sure to let out-of-town family and friends know that they can watch, too! Mark you calendars and join us for a celebration of the Black Cherry Capital of the World!

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Our Town

WPSU readies for Our Town: Punxsy II

Posted by Jessica on 08/03 at 09:45 AM

It has been more than a decade since WPSU last came to Punxsutawney with the “Our Town” series, and for our 63rd production, we decided that it was high time for an update! Community volunteers are encouraged to join us for a public meeting at the Jackson Theater in the Punxsutawney Community Center on Wednesday, August 10th, at 7pm for a brief training session. Come to the meeting ready with your story ideas—we’ll be signing folks up to be volunteer storytellers to help us capture the Punxsy story.

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Our Town

So Many Amazing Stories From Kane & Mt. Jewett!

Posted by Whitney on 07/27 at 11:21 AM

The production team returned from the Kane Depot on Saturday with more than 30 fantastic stories for the “Our Town: Kane & Mt. Jewett” show on Saturday. It was such a beautiful day and everyone welcomed the team into the area and shared their stories about history, arts, industry, recreation, and so much more! It was so great to keep hearing over and over a deep appreciation for the gorgeous landscape around McKean County and for the great way in which everyone gives back to help each other in their community. It’s so nice to see communities that care and that’s what the “Our Town” series is all about! 

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Our Town

WPSU Excited to Premiere “Our Town: Bellwood” on Thursday, August 4th at 8 PM

Posted by Whitney on 07/27 at 11:05 AM

WPSU will broadcast the 61st episode in the popular “Our Town” series on Thursday, August 4th at 8 PM. This episode tours the Bellwood-Antis community and will share stories about local history, business, education, festivals, and organizations. The program features stories told by local members of the area and highlights the neighborly & giving spirit found throughout the region.

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Our Town

Kane & Mt Jewett Volunteers Excited to Share Stories About The Big Level For WPSU Production!

Posted by Whitney on 07/18 at 09:54 AM

The corps of “Our Town: Kane & Mt. Jewett” volunteer storytellers are eager to share stories about the Kane & Mt. Jewett area with WPSU this Saturday as they prepare to sit down for interviews with WPSU producers for the latest installment in the “Our Town” series. In addition to their sharing stories and memories about the area this Saturday at the historic Kane Depot, volunteers have been gathering video footage and still photos to help tell their stories. If you see your friends and neighbors out and about town with a camera — don’t be shy! They’re helping to shine the spotlight on Kane and Mt. Jewett for the public television special, scheduled to broadcast on Thursday, September 8 at 8 p.m. on WPSU-TV.

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Our Town

WPSU Prepares for Our Town: Kane & Mt Jewett

Posted by Whitney on 06/24 at 04:22 PM

The 62nd episode of the Our Town series will feature the McKean county area known as “The Big Level” and the “Black Cherry Capital of the World.” Members of the community are encouraged to share stories about the area in “Our Town: Kane & Mt: Jewett.” No experience is required—-just enthusiasm! WPSU producers will hold a public meeting about the project on Wednesday, July 13 at 7 p.m. in the Kane Area Middle School auditorium. 

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