Under the baobab: Spring brings graduations, goodbyes and events in Happy Valley

Yahoo

17-05-2025

Now the dreary winter's over, fled with him are grief and pain, When the trees their bloom recover, then the soul is born again. —Moses Ibn Ezra (Emma Lazarus)
In Happy Valley the coming of spring means a blossoming of possibilities, a time of planting and hoping. Our harden hearts and earth that filled with grief and pain now recover with expectation. We cautiously sow tender tomato seedlings. We plant the squash seeds. We happily watch our own sheltered seeds blossom as they come into their own as thousands graduate from colleges and high schools.
Though it is time for the young, it is also time for us old heads to look back and recall from whence we have come. The earth is made more fertile by memories.
The Obama family honored Marian Robinson, Michelle's mother, on the anniversary of her joining the ancestors in May 2024. She was the 'babysitter-in chief' during the time they were in the White House.
Around town
Congrats to the Penn State men's lacrosse team. They opened the NCAA tournament with a 13-11 victory against Colgate in front of a packed Panzer Stadium. Four Penn Staters were selected All Americans: Hunter Aquino, who led the team in assists with 20; senior Matt Traynor, who led the team with 36 goals; and Alex Ross and Kevin Parnham. Traynor and Parnham were drafted to the PLL last week. The team will face Notre Dame in the next round on Saturday in Annapolis, MD.
The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications held a special celebration to say goodbye to its dean, Marie Hardin, who is off to become the president of Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. The joyous but nostalgic ceremony was attended by Dean Steve Carpenter of Arts and Architecture, Sue Paterno, former Penn State President Graham Spanier, former faculty senate president John Nichols and others.
Another spring ritual we observe is the 63rd annual AAUW Used Book Sale, which will be held from May 17-20 at the PSU Agricultural Arena. Over a quarter of million books will be available at really reasonable prices. The proceeds are the economic engine that enables AAUW to fund their activities and operations.
The State Theatre presented an outstanding and informative documentary, 'One on One,' about John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono during the late '60s and early '70s when the two celebrities were very active in the peace movement. It was particularly poignant recalling when they lived downtown in the Village before moving up to The Dakota. The film was produced by their son Sean.
In big developments, Penn State administration announced the seven commonwealth campuses that are under consideration for closure: DuBois, Fayette, Mount Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York. And 400 people attended a meeting after the announcement of the proposed route of the State College Area Connector Project. The route will displace 16 residences and affect 19 farms, two businesses and one park.
And the resistance continues. The Lighting Candles For Peace vigil is held each Monday between 5-5:30 at the Allen Street gates. The ACLU sponsored the third presentation of its series: 'Protecting Constitutional Rights.' Dr. Kristy Ganoe of Penn State led a discussion on 'Project 2025, Conservative Mandate or Manifesto.' The next and last workshop will be led by Ray Bilger, senior national security officer, on May 19 from 7-8 p.m. at the University Baptist and Brethren Church on Burrows Street in State College. He will discuss 'Contemporary Threats to National Security and the Constitution.'
There is an old saying, 'if you want to go fast, run alone, but if you need to go far, walk together.' Brothers and sisters, we have a long way to go if we are going to save democracy. We are not alone. We are the people and we are loved.
Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.