This Week’s Connect Happy Valley eLetter
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We’re Not Building a Media Platform. We’re Building a Tailgate (All Year Long)
by Greg Woodman Let’s talk about tailgates. Not just football. The human kind. Because after a year of building, listening, and dreaming with people across this region, I’ve started to believe tailgates might be the whole thing. People think tailgates are about football. But they’re not. Tailgates are about belonging.They’re about the shared rhythm of […]
Local and Super Last Minute Gift Scramble Guide
By Melissa Hicks The Makery Market (State College – local makers / gifts) Under $20 $20–$40 $40–$75+ How to shop this guide fast Master Goblin Games (State College – games / hobby) Under $20 $20–$40 $40–$75+ How to shop this guide fast Stax of Trax (State College – music / vinyl) Under $20 $20–$40 $40–$75+ […]
A Year-End Expense That Invests in Amplifying Your Story and Reducing Your Tax Burden
Every December, business owners face the same decision.
What is one smart expense I can still make before year end that actually works?
Most do not want another loud ad or a one-time placement that disappears in January. They want something legitimate, local, and effective. Something that reduces taxable income now and keeps creating momentum into the new year.
That is where Connect Happy Valley fits.
Hockey for Everyone: The Power of Partnership Between Penn State Varsity Hockey and the State College Coyotes
On January 18, 2026, Hockey Valley will once again host one of its most meaningful events, the 4th Annual Sled Hockey Classic. More than a game, the Classic has become the primary fundraiser for the State College Coyotes sled hockey team and a powerful symbol of what happens when able-bodied and adaptive athletes come together with a shared love of sport.
Happy Valley = Tailgate: A Year-Round Invitation to Gather
As we close out 2025 and enter the stillness of the season, we offer this wish:
May this time of year slow us down just enough to remember what truly matters.
The laughter of family. The presence of friends. The quiet joy of gathering. Not because we have to, but because we get to.
Sydney Sweeney, Nittany Mall, and the Question We’re Avoiding
The American Eagle store at Nittany Mall is closing.
That news lands at the same moment the brand is riding one of the biggest awareness waves of the year. A national campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney. Massive reach. Cultural relevance. Constant attention.
Here’s the part that should give us pause. In just a few months, a casino is opening in that very same mall. You could hardly ask for a stronger magnet for foot traffic.
If awareness and proximity were enough, this store should have been positioned to benefit.
Instead, it’s shutting down.
Penn State Students Help Power a Shared Solution to Happy Valley’s Longstanding Calendar Challenge
For years, people across Happy Valley have been trying to solve the same frustrating problem.
“Oh, I wish I had known about that event.”
Or worse, spending an hour searching through eight different calendars just to plan a decent date night.
From alumni and retirees to students, local business owners, and longtime residents, the sentiment is universal. Great events happen every week, yet too often people hear about them only after the seats are empty and the moment has passed.
What to See, Do and Experience in Happy Valley
It is December 10. Finals are wrapping up. Lights are twinkling across Centre County. The energy in Happy Valley feels both nostalgic and electric. Whether you are a student squeezing in winter memories before heading home, a local building traditions or family returning for the holidays, this is one of the best weeks of the year to get out and enjoy the region.
With so much happening, it helps to have a curated list. Here are some of the best picks this week and next, the experiences worth bundling up for.
