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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.

Local Food Journey

Grilled Corn Salsa

Posted by Steve Spanelli on 07/29 at 02:36 PM

Stacks of sweet corn can still be found at many farmers markets. Are you picking some up for the weekend? If so, try this Grilled Corn Salsa from Steve Spanelli of Tait Farm.

Or make your own recipe and share it with the Local Food Journey for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry in State College. Entries must be submitted by midnight on Sunday, July 31st, and the winner will be randomly selected and announced by noon on Monday, August 1st. Good luck!

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Live Local Music

Album Review: Set Your Goals - Burning at Both Ends

Posted by Brian McFarland on 07/29 at 12:24 PM

Grade: B-

Set Your Goals is a punk-pop band out of the San Francisco Bay area and is back on the road after releasing their third album Burning at Both Ends on June 27. They have made a name for themselves by living in tour buses, but it has been more than worth it, at least from a fan’s point of view. Their albums portray the electricity and feeling of a concert. Burning at Both Ends is no different as it touches on themes to give up regrets and live for yourself in the moment.

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Local Food Journey

Preparing for Market Day

Posted by Tony Ricci on 07/28 at 11:19 AM

It’s vegetable high season, and farm stands are cropping up like weeds in a carrot patch. Corn squatters and cantaloupe hucksters have taken over every vacant space along the highways, and official farmers markets are swarming with customers hungry for the fruits of the farmers’ labor. This sudden appearance of bounty after months of impatient waiting for the first ripe tomato seems almost magical. From the outsider’s perspective it’s just another one of those immutable expressions of the natural world that most people accept, like the rising of the sun. Is it even conceivable to have summer without a farm stand overflowing with tomatoes, corn, squash, and peaches?

But farmers generally have a different perspective on the weekly event that keeps them swarming like wasps over a ripe melon patch – even though we are more than willing to encourage the illusion of our supernatural ability to make vegetables appear out of thin air. What really happens is more mundane and unexciting. It’s mostly the culmination of a steady, weekly routine that starts sometime in March and winds down at the end of November. This time of year we’re basically on autopilot.

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Live Local Music

Sublime with Rome and 311, Rome Ramirez is a Great Fit

Posted by Lindsay Carolla on 07/28 at 09:50 AM

The duel-performance concert at Stage AE in Pittsburgh on Tuesday July 12, 2011 began around 7:30 to a thin crowd. Many patrons began tailgating in the parking lots of PNC Park and Heinz Field near the venue early in the afternoon. But, once partiers eager for the music heard the mellow guitar riffs from within the outdoor venue, the pit and lawn filled up quickly. Stage AE was a perfect setting for the relaxed reggae-rock genre. Though it was to capacity by the time 311 made it to the stage, the feeling was intimate, and it was fairly easy to see clearly from all angles.

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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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Local Food Journey

Corn Salad with Sweet Chili Lime Vinaigrette

Posted by Kim Tait on 07/27 at 10:59 AM

It’s no wonder that sweet corn is right up there with tomatoes as America’s favorite vegetable. Nothing beats the flavor of fresh picked corn. Whether you eat it on the cob, or turn it into delicious salad, the time to enjoy it is now!

Try this nice, light, and refreshing salad courtesy of Cindy Tait Law. And don’t forget to share your favorite sweet corn recipe before July 31st for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry in State College!

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Live Local Music

Album Review: Taking Back Sunday

Posted by Johnny Chadwick on 07/27 at 10:09 AM

Album Grade: B

Taking Back Sunday has returned…to an original line-up that is. Formed in 1999, guitarist Eddie Reyes and drummer Mark O’Connell have seen some of the most line-up changes for any band. Their first record, Tell All Your Friends, was released in 2002 with original members Adam Lazzara (vocals), John Nolan (guitar/keyboards/vocals), Shaun Cooper (bass), Mark O’Connell (drums), and Eddie Reyes (guitar). For their 2011 release, Taking Back Sunday has returned to it’s Tell All Your Friends line-up for their fifth studio album.

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Local Food Journey

Chef Harrison’s Green Beans Gorgonzola

Posted by Kit Henshaw on 07/26 at 10:55 AM

Eleven years ago, former Farmer Mark from Tait Farm had a bumper crop of freshly grown green beans and showed up at our back door with several large boxes of them. Chef Harrison created this recipe and officially and deliciously launched our local foods menu.

Over the years, Harrison’s Green Beans Gorgonzola has become a seasonal summer favorite. It is easy to make at home and is a great recipe for those beautiful farmers market green beans this summer. Enjoy!

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Local Food Journey

Unpaid Field Hand: Name this Crop

Posted by James Eisenstein on 07/25 at 02:22 PM

Driving around central Pennsylvania, I typically see entire fields dedicated to neat rows of corn and soybean plants – all instantly recognizable. And photos from mega-agribusinesses show similarly uniform fields. Any media consultant smarter than a brick would advise a farmer client to only depict similarly pristine views of growing crops.

But what do you notice about the photo of this farm field?

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Live Local Music

Zak Sobel Band at Arts Fest 2011

Posted by Samantha Hatfield on 07/22 at 12:15 PM

When I said I would be back for more, I meant it.  After seeing local musician Zak Sobel perform at Summer’s Best Music Fest, I was anxious to see him again.  This past Arts Fest weekend, I attended another live show by Zak Sobel. However, this time he brought a band with him.  It was a six man band equipped with drums, keys, electric guitar, bass, and sax with Zak on acoustic guitar.  The band was prepped to play to a full crowd on Allen Street on the Saturday of the Festival.

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Local Food Journey

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Posted by Emily Wiley on 07/21 at 01:15 PM

With temperatures predicted to reach record highs today and tomorrow, what better way to manage the heat than with a bowl of homemade ice cream? It is National Ice Cream Month, after all.

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Local Food Journey

July is National Ice Cream Month

Posted by Kit Henshaw on 07/20 at 10:24 AM

As luck would have it, July is National Ice Cream Month as established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. He also appointed the third Sunday of this month as National Ice Cream Day because an estimated 90% of the nation’s population consumes ice cream. 

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Local Food Journey

The Great Divide

Posted by Tony Ricci on 07/19 at 11:02 AM

Every once in a while I’ll get a question from someone who feels the need to engage me in agricultural discourse in order to spotlight my complete ignorance of farming. And quite honestly, I’m the first to admit that I don’t know everything about farming. That’s why I love this business – there’s something to learn every day. 

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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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