The Super Bowl and Life

              "This game is not just important to me," Tom Brady replied to the ESPN interviewer, "It is important to all of us, everyone one wearing Patriots gear today, we will win." All the workers at Tri Pi began to laugh, "Ahh I got 50 for Seattle", "Richard Sherman will tear Tom Brady from limb to limb", and then a more convinced voice, "I don't know guys, Tom has 15 years under his belt, He's got experience, ehh none of y'all young folks would understand that anyway." They all became silent. This tends to be the environment of Tri Pi Pizzeria in downtown Bloomsburg, a serene spot for anyone to go to and under control by two great bosses.

One of the college students (Figure 1)

          Walking into Tri Pi the aroma of garlic and marinara sauce hits anyone that comes in and the sound of sports and guys yelling about which team is better gives it a welcoming feel for almost any college student. It's not too flashy with overly expensive decorations, it's just the basics, and considering most college kids are tight on money, this is why they go here anyway (Figure 1). With burgundy brick walls on both sides, six televisions and one huge one at the front of the store all playing ESPN is a great way to lure in almost any college student.

 "When the university is in, business is good and that being considered and us being a new business we are constantly gaining more students", as Kelby, the co-owner of Tri Pi explained. The building may be a little small but it consists of two long black tables on each side of the eatery with dark brown stools under them to give it that "bar-like" feel and then three square tables in the middle of the room with four ivory green chairs at each table. There are many signs in Tri Pi, a orange one stating, "Our Pretzelini's are delightful". Right next to that sign is the order table all the way in the back of the pizzeria with an already awaiting employee there in all black, from the hat on their head to the black non-slip shoes on their feet, asking you the most obvious question, "Hi welcome to Tri-Pi, what can I get you today?"

        Kelby walks out from the back with a dusty apron full of dough with another one of his employees to watch ESPN before the big game, "I'm telling you guys, Patriots will win" "and if they don't, can we make a pizza?" Kelby ponders, "Okay,why not, but I'm telling you, Patriots are gonna win." Kelby Taylor is a Bloomsburg University graduate and the co-owner of Tri Pi Pizzeria with his right hand man, Joey Yannone. Kelby and Joey have been working together for two years and just as Kelby snickered he asked himself, "Why stop now?" Kelby giggled as to why he decided to start working in the food industry in the first place. "I like my job. The most satisfying part is that when I went to Bloom, there happened to be so much appreciation for being able to get food late at night." Kelby began to look around his pizzeria while tapping his fingers, "I played football in college and obviously I eat a lot and for us, the schedule we used to have made it hard for us to find good food and for it to be delivered late at night, it was really frustrating." The retired football player reminisced, "That's the thing I like about this place the most, is that students can get food late at night and it's good. I've been to many places where you can get food late at night and I rather have not even ate and went to bed hungry because of how horrible it is."

     As a woman came in looking around startled as if she had never been to Tri Pi before, Kelby noticed her and quickly stopped what he was doing to help the woman, "Hi, welcome to Tri Pi." The woman questioned Kelby, "What are pretzelini's?" Kelby was very eager to answer, "Well, they are our most famous dish here, they have pretzel bun--" Kelby stopped and became a little interesting, "You know what, I'm not even gonna tell you, Just try it", He insisted, "You won't be dissapointed." (Figure 2) The woman nodded and then walked back to the order station. Kelby confessed, "You 

The famous "Pretzelini" (Figure 2)

know the pretzelini wasn't supposed to be this big?" Behind Kelby, he heard the woman order a Philly Cheesteak pretzelini, giggling with a huge satisfying grin on his face. "Joey is the creator of it and what we wanted to do first was a soft pretzel, like a Philadelphia soft pretzel, cut it in half, put mozzarella cheese and pepperoni inside and stick it in the oven and then put garlic, butter and salt on top. We didn't mean for it to sell like this, we didn't think it would be as popular as it is now. When it sold so well, me and Joey decided to make different pretzelini's and now we have a big portion of our menu with over 12 pretzelini's. The pretzel bun is a big hit right now and I think especially our combinations are unique and that's what sells them." Kelby admitted, "The pretzelini's was just a 'we'll see how it goes' type of idea and then it exploded!" As the woman walked out eating her pretzelini, she asked Kelby, "I've never had a pretzelini before, they're delicious!" Kelby with a fulfilling look on his face and a smile, "I'm glad you like it, please come back any time!" As he watched the woman leave his store eating her food, he whispered, "The one thing I love the most about this place is how happy I make my customers, I love to see a smile on their face, that just tells me that I'm doing something right."

      As the sun started to go down and the phones started to ring every few minutes, Kelby began to look at his watch frequently. "I have to get back there soon, we have so much to do tonight, all hands on deck, you know? From cutting up chicken into tiny pieces to slapping out our dough we make fresh here every day (Figure 3), it's a lot of work,

Freshly Made Dough (Figure 3)

but I'm pretty sure we can do it. It's just like nights like these, it takes a lot of prep work. Just like last night." Joey looked up from his watch and started bursting out laughing, "Speaking of last night, I gotta tell you about it. I swear college kids can be so hilarious. Joey called me this morning to tell me about last nights shift, he said it was really busy and then when things started to slow down, there was a surprise visitor." Kelby kept going, "We had a kid here and my guess was he was a drunk kid that just transferred here this semester. But anyway, he stumbled into our back door and was chillin' in the kitchen. The employees had to escort him out and remind him that this wasn't a party." Kelby began to look at his employees, "Ya know, we get a lot of stuff like that considering we're near the bar and stuff but me and the staff just find it hilarious." As Kelby looked at the time, he admitted that he had to go into the back to start prepping for that night. "I gotta show my staff how its done, ya know what I'm sayin?" He began to take off his North Face jacket, his watch and put his cellphone away to put on a dusty black Tri Pi t-shirt and hat on and tie his apron with a ton of dough on it as if he was an employee there too. He yelled out to his employees, "Alright guys, let's get ready for tonight. I'm pumped!"
     Walking out of  Tri Pi, everyone could hear Tom Brady talking about the game that was going to happen in just a few short hours. "Every team has a journey," Brady continued, "and a lot of people lost faith in us early. But we held strong. We held together. This is why we will win" Kelby yelled out, "I know that's right Tom, these youngin's don't understand that, it's experience that will win you the super bowl. Well, the super bowl and life."

Learning Never Stops

"It's nice knowing that you may impact someone's life with what you are teaching them and help them better understand an important concept," declared Dr. Covill on why she is a Psychology Professor. Psychology as a whole is an eye opening opportunity and major, while using it in the classroom both the students and the professors can learn from each other. In addition, the knowledge acquired through these classes can help you through many different or difficult times in your life. 

Walking into a psychology lecture you will rarely find yourself in a massive lecture hall filled with row after row of chairs with tiny desks to write on. Instead a room for at most 40 students who happen to either be neurotic psych majors who write every word down, nursing majors or criminal of justice majors. However, this all depends on the lecture you are attending at the time. But for the most part you will be faced with four off white cinder block walls with old fashioned black chalk boards that you can never seem to erase all the chalk off of. In addition a screen that is tightly coiled that can be released upon a push of a button or a gentle yank of a string, which can be used to project lecture slides from the black desktop computer or the Professors shiny silver Mac book.   

In general you will find that the majority of professors with say that they prefer small class sizes, because that allows for a discussion operated class. Specifically, Dr. Covill's reasoned that, "I feel as though students learn better that way". Although at Bloomsburg, with their larger class sizes, there are not to many options too have that kind of opportunity. 

Psychology is a broad topic that has its fingers dipped in many different fields that continue to be picked apart until you are left with a specific and narrow topic choice that focuses on the study of mind, brain and/or behavior. While discussing psychology and educating others with a tall slender women who encases herself upon a black wheeled office chair looking as studious as ever. Draping her long arms on her legs ending with the joining of her laced hands positioned by her knees with her above the shoulder dirty blonde hair and compassionate eyes accounting for everything around her. Dr. Covill, the professor detailed above, has her masters in Human Learning and a PhD in Human Development and Cognition. She explained this choice by stating, "I want to determine how we can help to fix a problem, whether it be within a teachers approach or for someone to better understand the concept". And because of this she described herself as an applied person who does not care too much for theories. 

Whereas another Psychology Professor at Bloomsburg University, Dr. Cochran, a middle aged women with years of experience written in her facial features and a short body stature accompanied by her short brown hairstyle and glasses, not only around her neck but also resting on top of her head. Dr. Cochran has her focus in another area all together; Social Psychology with a specialty in social cognition. This particular professor has a minor within Anthropology. Anthropology as a whole is so closely related to the field of Psychology. Although she specifically preferred Cultural Anthropology because she was fascinated with how people act so closely related in different cultures.    

Even with the multitude of different fields you can enter into with a Psychology degree, it may also be beneficial to consider a minor. Dr. Covill has given criteria as to why she thought of each, "if going into social services Spanish may be a good idea, neurological then possibly biology and lastly just a philosophy minor". Whereas Dr. Cochran explained her choices would be, "anthropology and biology because they are so closely related to psychology and a language which would be helpful if you went into counseling". Although these are there suggestions, what you want as the end goal is key in determining your minor.

Dr. Covill and Dr. Cochran, the two Professors I interviewed both had different majors before they finally ended up becoming Psychology Professors. Dr. Cochran began her studies as a nursing major until she declared herself a Psychology major. In addition Dr. Covill was a Math and Econ Major before she went back to school to obtain her Psychology degree in her late twenties. "My General Psych professor my freshman year turned me off of psych," she admitted. Also, "letting go of my parents expectations of what I should do and choosing something that excites me," she confessed was why she finally went back to school for Psychology.

In addition to not always starting their education off as Psychology majors that also correlates to their job locations. Professors rarely stay at one college throughout their teaching careers. As well as Bloomsburg University she has also taught at the University of Washington in Seattle and Seattle University. While discussing and looking back at her past experience at these universities, she admitted that Bloomsburg University is her favorite atmosphere that her job has given her the opportunity to be in. "Bloom students appreciate professors better," she noted and, "we as Professors and advisers have more of a significance in helping the students figure things out and a greater ability to guide them".

For many Professors, but in this case Psychology Professors scarcely begin their careers with being a Professor. Dr. Covill began her psychology career off with being a research assistant and later down the road nearly took a position to be a researcher. She confessed however that she always wanted to be a teacher and even though she enjoyed research, it did not compare to her aspirations to become a teacher. Firmly stating, "I ended up as a college teacher because most high schools want teachers who are prepared to teach math, science, language arts, or social studies. Not much demand for high school Psych teachers". While also describing how she would not like the classroom management/behavior issues that you have to deal with. Especially having to deal with the 15-18 year-olds who are in school who aren't necessarily there by choice. 

"College is a rare and amazing opportunity that many people do not have the option of doing, therefore try to get everything out of it and take full advantage of all your opportunities," advised Dr. Covill. Although it is never truly on the forefront of anyone's mind when considering a career, Professors have a pretty decent job and an optimistic outlook on life. Also education can help you as a whole person and with this profession you are never truly done learning or going to school.     

Home of the Stuffed Pretzel

Walking down the sidewalk on Main Street, Kutztown, an array of restaurants that offer different foods ranging from bagels to sushi sit awaiting customers to choose their restaurant. Different colored signs and lights jump out as passerby's walk the main strip that tell which store can provide them with the food they desire that day.

Dean Borrell, the owner and founder of Pretzel Revolution, started the business in 2010 after creating, what he considers, the perfect stuffed pretzels in his parents kitchen. Pretzel Revolution began as a stand at a local market before Dean transformed it into the business it is today. "When I first started the business, I would take some of my recipes to family gatherings and have them test them out. I figured my family would be the most honest about what they liked," Dean stated with a laugh, "They were brutal at first and then when I perfected the recipes, they couldn't get enough of them. They're more willing to try my new recipes now because I bribe them with their favorites." The early days of Pretzel Revolution started with Dean only using the favorites of his family and friends. "Everyone loves an Italian sandwich, so how much different is an Italian stuffed pretzel? My family liked them so I figured everyone else would" Dean exclaimed. To this day, Dean keeps his original pretzels on the menu while expanding his recipes.



Figure 1

Towards the end of Kutztown's main strip, a sign juts out above the pedestrians heads that contains a giant pretzel and states 'Pretzel Revolution' in bold letters that can grab the attention of any daydreamer passing through (figure 1). Once outside of the store front, anybody can view the inside of the restaurant through the large windows where customers can sit to eat their pretzels while also enjoying a nice sunny winter day in the warmth. Entering the restaurant the aroma of pretzels and butter immediately assault your senses while a wave of warmth from the ovens at work immediately surround anybody entering. Five slightly worn tables from years of use are scattered around the store where customers sit and devour the pretzels of their choice. Pictures and newspaper clippings of local news, accomplishments, and sports teams litter the beige covered walls giving the room a comfortable and homey feel that gives locals and students- who attend Kutztown University- a place to recognize the accomplishments of the area. Towards the center of the room sits a counter that separates the pretzel prep station from the customers waiting for their order to be taken. An old fashioned register as  well as a small display case sit waiting on top of the counter for patrons to choose the stuffed pretzel of their desire. Above the display case sits a carefully placed menu that waits to give a description and price of the various flavors of stuffed pretzels that range from a standard pretzel to stuffed apple cinnamon.

Ovens line the wall directly behind the display case making the creating process easy for the workers to transition the pretzels from the heat of the oven to the warmth of the display case.  An overflowing sink sits along the far wall where workers can easily access the dishes they need or the sink they use to dispose of the dirty dishes that line the workers prep tables. Two refrigerators line the opposite wall of the oven- one full of premade dough and ingredients for the different pretzels while the other contains a full refrigerator of drinks the customers can choose from ranging from lemonade to coke products. A prep table sits directly in the center of the station giving the customers a view of the workers stuffing the pretzels full of the delectable ingredients that go into the making of a masterpiece.

"When I first started the business, the locals didn't like the idea of having me there. I live two towns over and they were still hesitant about having me there," Dean says, "They're very protective of their town and don't like outsiders. But after a while they grew to like my food and myself." Dean spent years perfecting not only the recipes but also the layout and theme of Pretzel Revolution to create a business that locals and students alike came to cherish as part of the community.

Figure 2

After perfecting the store front, Dean decided to further expand the business. Pretzel Revolution now has two stands at two separate markets local to the Kutztown area. Dean went as far as purchasing a large trailer where he can sell and make pretzels out of during different festivals and events. The trailer, like the store front sign, is painted blue and says 'Pretzel Revolution' printed in big, bold, white letters on the side with a giant pretzel as well (Figure 2). At the start of this year, Dean signed a contract with Penn State that allows Dean and his workers to park his trailer next to the stadium and sell his merchandise during tailgating of every game for the next few seasons. "It's a great opportunity and I'm so glad we could get the contract," exclaims Dean while making wild hand motions to emphasize his point, "We only got the contract half way through this season but from the few games we've been to I can tell that the future seasons will be fun and profitable. It's going to be a great experience for myself and Pretzel Revolution getting our name and pretzels out there! Now that we have our name out there, I can't wait to see what happens in the future. I have a lot of plans to expand the restaurant and this is just the start of it."

Walking down the sidewalk on Main Street, Kutztown passerby's overlook the sign that juts out getting any daydreamers attention and giving Pretzel Revolution that recognition it needs. Sitting on the lower end of Kutztown's main strip sits the home of the stuffed pretzel and the heart and soul of Deans thoughts, creations and dreams.

A Place of Empowerment

Walking into the Women's Resource Center on Bloomsburg's campus, one immediately feels secure and comfortable. Tucked away on the first floor of Schuylkill Hall, it is available for students to talk, learn, and relax every weekday from 10am to 4pm, with extended hours until 8pm on Tuesdays. As you walk in, to the left sits a desk with a sign in sheet, belonging to the bubbly and welcoming grad assistant, Tom. A blue bulletin board behind the desk contains eye-catching material on how to improve your body image, how to empower yourself and others, and information on the campus club, W.I.S.E (Women Inspiring Strength and Empowerment). Across the room, a comfortable couch and two cushioned chairs surround a wooden coffee table, facing a television. Adjacent the couches is a small, quaint kitchenette, stocked with snacks up for grabs. Colorful flyers and pamphlets line the walls, with a range of topics from upcoming cultural events on campus, to career development, to body image, to sexual health. Titles jump out at you - The Real F-Word: Feminism, Date Rape: Breaking the Silence, Empower Yourself to Empower Others. Books discussing women's issues lie on the tables next to the couches, asking to be read. I sign in and wait to see the director, Monica Johnson.

Monica is a petite woman, with long brown hair and eyes that strike you with reassurance, comfort, and empathy. When speaking with Monica, you know you are being received with nothing but acceptance and kindness. Her demeanor, voice, and the way she communicates gives you the sense that you are in a safe place.

A young woman and her friend also wait to be seen, and Monica appears, emitting a positive and compassionate energy.
"What can I do for you today?" she inquires.
I sense that it must be a sensitive topic, so I remove myself to the kitchen while the young woman shares her situation. Monica invites her into her private office to talk, emotion already showing on the young woman's face. They talk for a while, and when they emerge, the anxiety and worry present in the young woman has been replaced with gratitude and relief. This is the effect Monica has.

figure 1: (see note)

Monica invites me into her back office, passing many more informational pamphlets on display, a collection of books available for check-out (Figure1), and artwork depicting womanhood and femininity. "My mom always told me growing up that all we can try to do to start out is to affect our little circle. And if everybody does that, it just gets bigger and bigger. So when I saw inequalities, I wanted to try to change them – even if all I could do was influence what was around me," she recalls. In the big scale of things Monica's little circle may seem insignificant, but to many young women of Bloomsburg University, the significance of her little circle of positive energy is immeasurable.

There are many different aspects of the Women's Resource Center, but the most common issue dealt with is assault, whether that be sexual assault or domestic violence. A safe place to talk about these things is crucial in any given college town - where reckless behavior and alcohol can contribute to the rate of rape and violence. Monica informs me, "What I usually see is people who have had some kind of assault in their life. Whether it was while they were in college here, or visiting another school, or sometime in their past. It’s usually a referral to other resources, I refer them to places in town or to the counseling center here. And that’s because I’m not a counselor, we're not set up for any type of long term counseling. And I want them to go somewhere they can actually have those needs met." The resource center is a necessary conduit for victims to find help dealing with any type of violence they've experienced.

While the Women's Resource Center primarily deals with issues of violence, it's purpose and importance goes much deeper than that. Monica reflects, "I feel it sort of has an image as a place you go if you’ve been assaulted. And while I want people who have experienced that at any point in their lives to know that they can come here to get help, I also don’t want that to be the only thing associated here. Because I think that could be a deterrent as well. People might not want to come if they have the idea that people will see them walking in and assume they’re coming here because something has happened to them. I want them to know that we offer things beyond that, I’d like it to be known as a place for women to gather, a place of empowerment, a place where they can get information – about all their various needs - such as

Figure 2: see note

career needs, sexual health needs, general health needs, assault or any kind of abuse. It's a place you can come with your friends, where you can relax." The serene atmosphere invites anyone that needs a safe place to resort, anyone that needs a safe place to talk. The Women's Resource Center exists here to make students, of any gender, feel secure and comfortable. Positive ideas plaster the walls - messages of self-love and healthy body image are present even in the bathroom, where a note on the mirror states "YOU ARE... cute, beautiful, unstoppable, amazing, smart, worth it, irreplaceable.." (Figure2). This is a place to learn to love yourself and your brothers and sisters, and feel strong and safe. Sanctuary can be found at the WRC.

Perhaps the most important thing about the Women's Resource Center is that it is a place of dialogue. It's a safe place to discuss issues of sexuality, race, gender, and anything and everything between. In Monica's words, "If we’re afraid to talk about these things, there's no way that we can change them." The WRC takes initiative to create and encourage dialogue on serious topics such as the reputation of Feminism, Hook-up culture, racism, and issues of sexual assault or domestic violence. They wish to uplift and empower women, men, and victims of any type of assault or oppression.

The WRC isn't just dedicated toward helping women and discussing issues of equality for women. It is representative of equality for everyone. To fight sexism, one must simultaneously fight other oppressive structures such as racism and homophobia. These structures are tightly intertwined, and we need to support each other. Monica explains, "It's important that we look at all the different perspectives that might not be our own, because we have to remember that everyone is living a different experience. If we don’t try to learn about each other’s experiences we can’t really be the most effective helpers possible for each other. We’re all each other’s allies. Here at the Women’s Resource Center we try to work closely with the Multicultural Center and with the LGBTQ Center to really support each other’s programs and to recognize how we all tie together – and then how that can spread to the student body at large." The inclusiveness and all-embracing mindset present here at the Women's Resource Center inspires. A place of acceptance and compassion like the one found here is something needed very badly in the harsh world we live in.

Most questions regarding the WRC are posed by our male student body. Tom, the male graduate assistant sheds some light on that. "It's not just women that don’t know that this is here, you know, men also. And they feel like they might not be able to come here - just because it’s called the Women’s Resource Center, doesn’t mean that men can’t come here as well... It’s not only not being aware of this existing, when they do hear about it it’s just like a natural “oh okay I feel like I’m not welcome there,” but it’s quite the contrary." The resources offered here at the Women's Resource Center are not geared toward just one sex - but all sexes. Monica and Tom have taken initiative to make sure this fact is known. Tom informs me, "We’re spearheading a men’s group here on campus, it’s just going to be a men’s support group of sorts. We’re actually calling the group Man Up, and we’ll be just kind of discussing some of the societal pressures that get put on men, the expectations. We’re also going to get feedback from the males that are coming into the group, like what do you guys want to talk about? Because one of the downsides of males not coming in here as much is we don’t know what’s concerning the male student body or what kind of issues we could help with." Getting in contact with the male student body is an issue that's very important to the staff of the Women's Resource Center. In order to grow as a society, we must grow together.

Anyone, of any gender, race, sexuality, will be welcomed with open arms at the Women's Resource Center. Here you will discover somewhere you can find refuge, somewhere you can always find someone to talk to. Despite the name, men and women can seek comfort, guidance, or even just a break from the hustle and bustle of college life here. It's a place to have dialogue, to grow, to learn - full of people that want to help create a safe, open-minded, and accepting campus. It's doors are open, and it waits for you to take advantage.

Back to Life

Have you ever broken an arm?  Slipped on some ice, ended up in the hospital and spent day, months or possibly years in rehabilitation to improve your physical self?  Does your age limit your physical capabilities.  Despite the age, young or old, the nurses and staff at Grandview Health Homes are there to ensure you're able to get back on your feet and back to life. This family owned and operated facility, headed by couple Michael and Michele Boone, opened in 1979 and has provided incredible care for many years and countless years to come.

As you stroll upon the main doors, you can be reminded of entering a fancy restaurant.  One that would cause you to give a second glance at the bill.  A tan awning with the name of the business lays on the front.  A tree rests in the center of the lettering.  The Tree of Life possibly?  Two gazebos, one to your left and the other to your right, are noticeable.  Tis the season of love.  A small 'Happy Valentines Day' flag rests on the ground to the right of the walkway.  The snow and gloomy weather causes the home to not appear as vibrant, but during the spring/summer you can see flowers full of every color that splash the eyes of those who enter. (Figure 1)

Figure 1 

As you open the first set of doors you'll take notice of a waiting room, which is a true statement, but residents are observed relaxing in chairs.  Most residents are elderly and aren't able to walk extremely far.  The chairs allow them to rest up before their day continues.  The smell of a hospital enveloped the nose as you enter.  Mostly the scent of latex gloves, which isn't a truly appealing scent.  To the right is the receptionists office with a sliding glass window.  A piano lies just to the left of the office window.  Not a grand piano but a mid-size one with dark wood paneling.  Flowers are placed atop to create more striking look.

"How would you like to go play bingo?"  A conversation broke out between a nurse and resident.  Another nurse accompanied the two, but remained silent.
The resident exclaimed, "No!!"
The one nurse stated, "We know how much you like bingo.  There's other people in there waiting to play."
Once again the elderly lady said, "No."  She broke from grip of the two nurses and scurried to the right of the receptionists office; staring out the window.  The two nurses didn't chase her, but just paced normally to her location.  Tina Ignatavich, the Director of Nursing, approached the waiting room as the two nurses assisted the resident towards the bingo room.  Tina is a middle aged woman, early 40's with dark brown hair down to her shoulders and two silver earrings with hoops on the ends.  She stands an average height, roughly 5'6".

Grandview Health Homes can hold 172 residents.  The home is currently holding 146.  "Most of the residents are here for long-term purposes, but our main goal is to get them [residents] back to society," Tina stated.  Nursing homes are different today.  The purpose is to offer services that give opportunities for residents to be back home with families.  Get back to there home outside of the walls.  Yes, not all residents are able to make it back home.  Severe injuries can require full time stay at the home, and if severe enough, can claim their life.  "Death does occur and we offer comforting services to allow residents that were close with the deceased to understand what happened."  To help comfort residents on a daily basis, therapy dogs and cats roam the many halls.  Magoo, the therapy is one such dog that greets all.  The sounds of residents and employees exclaiming "Hi Magoo" is a common occurrence.  Magoo is completely covered in long, golden yellow hair with a tail that doesn't violently shake, but maintains a slow wave.  He speaks with his eyes, and the words that resonate from them are ones of encouragement. 'Everything will be okay,' are what his eyes tell us.  These animals, along with a structured physical therapy program, ensure maximum recovery to these residents.

A transitional care unit (TCU) lies down the right hallway off of the waiting room.  A big, white lettered sign on the outside wall of the building reads transitional care unit. Physical therapy sessions with trained specialists are accomplished daily to ensure recovery.  A man with a broken will strengthen himself to use that same arm again within weeks.  "We are not able to force our residents to do anything." Tina informed me.  This goes for physical therapy and daily medication.  If the resident says no, then the nurses have to comply.  Slipping medications into their food during meals occurs sometimes, not often.  "Most residents do comply, but we do have a few that give us a hard time," Tina remarked with a slight smile. Each employee and resident, along with you, the reader, has a story of great happiness.  An experience that is embedded in Tina's life involved a 93 year old man who lived by himself for 22 years when his wife passed away.  He showed up to Grandview and was depressed.  Always looking down and never up, but there's something this elderly man didn't know.  His brother and sister lived in a home right next door.  Tina set up a meeting for this gentleman, who still had no knowledge that his family lived next door.  She carefully walked him down to the home and a family reunion unfolded.  His eyes lit up and he thanked Tina for making this happen.  Still to this day he continues to say thank you when he sees her, and still visits with his family members.  The employee perspective is great.  Hearing stories and conversing about how nurses care for residents is uplifting.  Opportunities to generate conversation with residents, is equally as strong.

Leon Boyer (Figure 2), one of the 146 residents, has an addictive personality.  He wore a plaid, long sleeved shirt held up by suspenders, blue jeans and black dress shoes.  The room he lives is set up like a hospital room with beds, in this case there were four, white tile floor, a window on the back wall and a curtain to separate each cubicle.  Each cubicle has a phone, sink, and counter space for personal belongings.  Leon Boyer had no idea why he was there.  He laughed, threw his hands in the air and said "All I do is walk around.  That's it!!  I wake up and walk."  Leon lived for 72 years in Danville, PA and was a farmer.  Leon started at the age of 12 and worked with his father with grain farming.  Living on 110 acres they used horses to cultivate the land.  Leon's wife is also a resident of Grandview and he checks on her regularly, but he still wants to go back to his home.  He arrived at the facility for leg pains, which have ceased.  He strides the room to show walking is no longer a difficult task to achieve.     

Figure 2 

Grandview Health Homes, family owned and operated since 1979, have wonderful nurses that allow residents to live in a stress free environment.  There are struggles, but there are more rewards.  Being able to help a person, who might not be able to walk, get outside so they can sit with the sun warming there smiling face would be a reward.  "This job isn't for everyone.  You have to have a certain mindset to be a nurse," Tina noted.  A sign that says 'Grandview Health Homes, People Caring for People,' stands at the driveway entrance reiterating the fact that we are all people and we need people to ensure these residents get back to their lives.

For the Love of Pizza

For the Love of Pizza

        When it comes to pizza architects, there are two types in this world. “The wanna be’s”, those who produce a sad excuse of a pizza with a nationally broadcasted name, whom everyone knows for a quick fix. The other contender in the ring resides among small towns and cities alike, striving to sustain their reputation through hard work and an exceptional product. The battle between the two never ends. 

        First come the “wanna be’s,” those who cater to the type of people who like to stick like glue to their oversized couches and watch an entire Netflix queue before glancing at a glimmer of sunlight. Eager to satisfy their appetite without leaving their dark house, an online order with Dominos, Papa Johns, or Pizza Hut awaits the touch of a button. Thirty minutes later a delivery boy wanders up the steps to an apartment knocks on the door, awaiting to see the fate his pizza will face. The door swings wide, and the smell of ramen noodles and sweat trample through the boys smell receptors. The customers squints at the sight of the sun, throws the money at the boy, and retreated inside to “enjoy” a mediocre pizza, pizza which lacks soul. A pizza which is manufactured like an automobile, on an assembly line, with the sole purpose to be “tasteful,” in the most efficient way possible. Tasty yes, but when examined, nothing could ever be so vile. The crust looks, tastes, and feels like cardboard, while the cheese and sauce present a simple, uninspired taste that leaves most unimpressed. The toppings supply the consumer with the hardest task of enjoying, given their mass produced, bland flavor, which can only be saved with the utmost amount of sodium. Overall the pizza lacks the soul which its creators claim it has the utmost amount of. Thats the pizza people should avoid. While that pizza may suffice the hunger of a weekend couch warrior, no amount of clever advertising can entice those who know the true potential of the pie. Those “wanna be’s” fear the wrath of the true aficionados of pizza, the true titans in the game: The small town artisans. Among these: the elite, every town either has one, or wishes they had one to call their own. Tri Pi is that titan. 

        Nestled in the shops on main street, Bloomsburg, resides an eatery like no other. Approaching the building, its massive faux wood sign boasts its name in sensational glory: Tri Pi. The massive windows display the welcoming interior for all to see, inviting one and all for their own little piece of heaven. “When a customer enters this establishment, its not for the desire of a speedy meal, but to take in the experience of a real restaurant, with soul and atmosphere, not stock photos of pizza ingredients hanging on a generic white wall.” Exclaims the owner. A tall, glimmering man, he wears his white apron, smothered with a smorgasbord of ingredients, with the utmost pride.

Tri Pi's Famous Sign

        Instead of the normal restaurant environment most pizza places posses, Tri Pi feels more like a dance club with a pizza oven. With no tables, customers munch down at the chest high, grainy, brown, wooden counters which spread from the entrance to the white register along each wall. Light wooden stools litter the floor underneath the massive counters. The walls consist of mature, red brick, popping out in contrast from the wooden counters. Soft lighting amplifies the design of the newly sprouted restaurant while chill vibes supplement the atmosphere, wrapping each customer in a web of lasting relaxation. A sole black speaker booms in the corner, playing songs many expect to hear traveling from a frat house at 1 in the morning, and once it gets late on the weekends, not many differences exist. “With all the college kids around, looking for a good bite to eat, we try to provide the value that they seek, and they repay us with quite a large customer base. Granted some nights get a little wild, considering the amount of people that pack into this space, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. The nights of the weekend usually the best times for college traffic, mostly because kids are drunk and hungry, a combination that we have no problem with catering to.” The owner boasts with a wide grin on his aged face. 

College weekends can get a bit hectic

        Upon approaching the brick counter to place an order, the sight of burning pizza ovens and masterful chefs effortlessly flinging dough into the air, combing fresh ingredients, impressive techniques, and a little bit of love into ever item they craft. To the right of the register a display case shows numerous slices, stromboli’s, and best of all the pretzelini, the owners favorite item on Tri Pi’s vast menu. “The pretzelini came up as an idea, presented by one of my chefs. Given that pretzel buns are a popular substitute for burger rolls, I figured we might be able to put an Italian twist on it.  After a long time of experimenting with different toppings and ingredients, we got it just right. The pretzel bun compliments many combinations including the  marinara and pepperoni, and my personal favorite, buffalo chicken. Pretzelini’s reside as one of our best sellers.” When opening the foil wrapping of a pretzeling, the smell of pretzel invigorates the customers nostrils, initiating a salivation in anyone. The golden brown bun glistens with white crystals of salt as mozzarella, sandwiched between bright red pepperoni, plummets down the side of the delectable creation. The pretzeling remains a special treat, rousing the customers tastebuds with a vivid sensation. 

The Pretzelini

        Tri Pi prevails as one of the best food selections among all of Bloomsburg. Providing the town with affordable, fresh, and tasty food, no other restaurant caters to those who seek more than a miserable excuse for a pizza as well as Tri Pi. With all of the fakes and failures in todays world, Tri Pi stands among the elite, supplying the world with some of the most delectable creations to send any tastebud on a phenomenal adventure. 

       

The Green Lady

Figure 1.

      When opening the door to Starbucks in the Commons, the first thing visible is the green lady posted on the wall (figure 1). One can barely focus while walking into what seems to be like the core of all college students' lives. An utter classic coffee shop feeling arrives when stepping onto the dark brown oak wooden floors, the authentic burnt red brick walls to the right and glass windows to the left make such a good impression. The setting of this place gives the feel of a partial black and white movie. Set up on the brick walls are beautifully framed black and white photos of expresso shots, bags full of coffee beans and of course the very first Starbucks ever built in 1971(Figure 2). The softly lit room brought a sense of relaxation to myself and all of the customers who walked in from the snowy weather with their big bubbly coats and boots to get their hot or iced beverages. While waiting to interview the Starbucks barista, the baked goods and sandwiches sitting in their glass case to the left of the checkout counter seemed to be calling my name. Various kinds of smells perfumed the air. They made breakfast, from the slow roasted ham and Swiss melt to the spinach and feta wrap. The variety of baked goods slowly faded away as customers came in asking for the classic glazed donuts, creme colored cake pops, salted caramel tarts and cranberry bliss bars.

         "She's here to interview me for her English project do you mind?" I hear as I snap out of my fantasy of food. There is Katelyn Palumbo, a freshman at BU standing behind the desk nervously asking another worker for permission to be apart of my project. She pulls her brown wavy hair out of her face and smiles awkwardly as she makes her way towards me from the back of the counter. From the second she greets me hesitantly with her hands on her face I figure I will have to put a lot more effort into making her really talk about herself and why she likes to be a barista. "I just work here to have something to do and um I actually hate coffee," she quietly laughes, "but I like to work with them. I love like crafting drinks." The barista talks as she bites her lip making eye contact with everyone but me. Looking up at the grey and white menu board hanging over the back counter, there are over twenty dissimilar drinks that can be made. The many different sections were called Espresso, Coffee and more, Teavana Shaken Tea, Teavana hot Tea, Frappuccino, Smoothies and Starbucks Refreshers. "Um customers love the Caramel Macchiato, Vanilla Latte, and um the Frapps; caramel or vanilla bean," she nonchalantly says. "It takes 27 seconds to make an expresso shot and we keep the milk at 143 degrees. Also the lighter the roast the more caffeine," she blurts out. Katelyn seems like the type of person who may come off as a bit timid until she gets a little more comfortable. Leaning up against the condiments table with her hand on her hip dragging a smirk across her face she exclaims "My favorite is the Valencia orange refresher in case you were wondering," she giggles. 

       Although she dreams of franchising a Starbucks one day, she has had her bad and even funny moments. "One morning the line was the longest it had ever been and the water spout broke and was like spraying everywhere!" she exclaims. "Everyone just laughed and started taking pictures some people left, probably to go to the Starbucks in the library." When it comes to rude customer she begins to explain, "It depends on how in love they are with Starbucks. Some want them to be like perfect and others don't really care" she continues to say, "there is always this one guy who comes in and tells us step by step how to make the drink he wants, hes not rude so I just go along with it. When it comes to extremely rude customers I just have to like brush it off."
"I usually come here once a day, sometimes they're quick." says one devoted customer. "I can tell when a worker is new because they will seem confused but they're always nice," she says as she waits for her order. I can tell that a lot of customers can agree that the service here is not so bad.

       As Katelyn returns back to work I decide to order a hot chocolate. Starbucks has their own terms here, I always have to remember that small, medium, large and even extra large go by the names short, tall, grande, and venti. "That will be $3.84, flex?" the cashier questions. "Would you like an iTunes gift card with that?" she offers. I step to the left and wait for my hot chocolate to arrive. I can see how cautious Katelyn is while she crafts my beverage with such preciseness making sure to put just the right amount of chocolate powder into the steamed milk. After grabbing my drink I go sit on the brown leather couch in the slightly brighter dining area on the opposite side of the room. Couples and friends sit all around, talking and laughing sipping on their white and clear cups while the beautiful crowned green lady sits watching her people enjoy the mark she has made on the world. The pictures in this room were different from the others. They were full of color and of people laughing and having fun (figure 3). Sitting at the high wooden table across from me is a group of diverse college kids who seem to be working on a project discussing what topic to use. I cannot help but to hear a new couple in the midst, they seem to just be getting to know each other. The boy looks into her eyes while hiding behind his black cap trying hard not bite his fingers. I can tell that he is really interested in what she is saying as she rubs the sleeve of her peach colored fleece sweater on the brick wall swaying her head from side to side. We all have one thing in common and that is the love for the green lady.

Figure 3.

     

      Stepping down on the main floor to leave I can still see that Katelyn working hard; Explaining to the employees how different types of drinks are made. I could have mistaken her for the manager if I had not already met her. The steam from my hot chocolate fills the cold air around me as I make my way up the steps to Luzerne. Just like everyone else, I get to sip on my beverage as the green lady watches the impact she has made on the world.