Happy New Year!

Finals and Graduation

We hope everyone did well on finals, and now it is time for Fall Graduation! Congratulations to all graduating students. Here is a schedule for this weekend's commencement ceremonies.

6 Tips to Beat Final Exam Stress

Good luck to everyone on finals next week! We thought we'd share this article we found! 

1. Avoid stressful people

2. Eat healthy and exercise.

3. Just say NO

4. Force yourself to take breaks

5. Visualize it all going right

6. If you've studied all you can, get up your confidence

PSU Bowl Tickets Go on Sale Sunday!

Regardless of where they're headed or who they will play, the Nittany Lions’ bowl plans will become much clearer by 8:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 4.

Shortly following the nationally televised announcement, a priority ticket application period will begin and allow Nittany Lion Club members to apply for tickets through their online Account Manager, while the general public can submit applications via 1-800-NITTANY beginning Monday, December 5 at 10 a.m. Phone sales on all subsequent weekdays will occur from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Thanks to HappyValley.com for the info!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Trans Siberian Orchestra at the Bryce Jordan Center Tonight!

The Trans Siberian Orchestra will be playing at the Bryce Jordan Center tonight. According to their website...

“When Paul O'Neill first conceived Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his goal was as straightforward as it was ambitious. "The whole idea," he explains, "was to create a progressive rock band that would push the boundaries further than any group before, following in the footsteps of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Pink Floyd, the Who...but take it way, way further.

With more than 7 million albums sold TSO has inspired generations of fans to rediscover the multi-dimensional art form of the rock opera. On the road, meanwhile, they have become one of the world's top acts including a recent mention in Billboard magazine as one of the top touring artists of the past decade”

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day. Thank you to everyone who has or is currently serving in our military!

Basketball Season Kicks Off

Hoops Madness had Rec Hall in a frenzy Wednesday night and the men's basketball team kicks off the season with an exhibition tomorrow against Slippery Rock at the BJC. Good luck to the Nittany Lions!

Be Safe in the Snow, Go PSU

We hope everyone is safe in the snow when they come into town for the game against Illinois today! Here's a picture of Beaver Stadium this morning. We Are!

Fall Harvest Festival Featuring Children’s Halloween Trail

Shaver's Creek, a short drive from State College, comes alive throughout the weekend with a community festival that includes the Children’s Halloween Trail, pumpkin carving, face painting, music, the Harvest Baking Challenge, entertainment, activities, natural history programs, and great food! The tradition of the Shaver's Creek Children's Halloween Trail goes back nearly 20 years. The trail does not portray the typical "scariness" with which Halloween is normally associated. Visitors enter the "non-scary" interpretive trail every half hour beginning at 11:00 a.m. The Shaver's Creek Trail is truly a family event! The theme for 2011 is Exploring the Night.

Have a Great Homecoming Weekend!

It is homecoming weekend in Happy Valley! We hope everyone enjoys the parade tonight and good luck to the Nittany Lions tomorrow against Purdue!

Lease Renewals start Wednesday!

We will begin accepting Renewals beginning Wednesday October 5th, 2011. Renew your apartment by October 28th, 2011 and you will receive a discounted rate! PLUS be entered to win a Penn State Tailgating Pack!! 

Otto's Fall Fest Brewery Collectibles Show!

Otto’s Pub & Brewery will be the site on Saturday, October 1st for the annual “Fall Fest Brewery Collectibles Show”. Collectors from more that 5 states will converge on State College, being on hand to display, buy, sell & trade their wares of brewery collectible merchandise from breweries both past and present. The public is invited to attend this fun-filled affair to witness items that they may have seen while growing up.  Click here for more information.

Title: Zac Brown Band in the Bryce Jordan Center

The Zac Brown Band will be playing at the Bryce Jordan Center Friday, October 14th! This nationally renown country act’s live shows have been described as dynamic and full of energy. Don’t miss out on this Grammy-Award winning band performing in Happy Valley!

Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival was conceived by a California watershed advocacy group (the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL)) in 2003 and has since flourished into the largest film festival of its kind in North America. In 2004, environmental groups started asking if they could bring the festival to their community, and gradually a touring version of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival developed. State College will host the Wild & Scenic Film Festival for the third year on Thursday, September 22, at 7pm at the State Theatre.


http://www.clearwaterconservancy.org/wild.htm

Cirque De Soleil at the Bryce Jordan Center

Cirque De Soleil’s Quidam will be at the Bryce Jordan Center next week, September 14th - September 18th. According to the Cirque De Soleil website, the show is described as:

Young Zoé is bored.  Her parents, distant and apathetic, ignore her. Her life has lost all meaning. Seeking to fill the void of her existence, she slides into an imaginary world—the world of Quidam — where she meets characters who encourage her to free her soul.

Quidam: a nameless passer-by, a solitary figure lingering on a street corner, a person rushing past and swallowed by the crowd. It could be anyone, anybody. Someone coming or going at the heart of our anonymous society. A member of the crowd, one of the silent majority. The one who cries out, sings and dreams within us all. This is the “quidam” whom this show allows to speak. This is the place that beckons—a place for dreaming and genuine relations where all quidams, by proclaiming their individuality, can finally emerge from anonymity.

Grange Fair This Weekend!

Looking for some fun this weekend? Check out the Grange Fair in Centre Hall, one of the state's biggest outdoor fairs! Events kick off this Thursday, August 25th, and continues through September 1st.

The fair includes all the traditional favorites, like cattle shows, tractor pulls, and horseshoe competitions! The fair also features live musical performances all week long! Visit the Grange Fair’s site for a schedule of events.

Fall Semester Starting!

The Fall Semester is starting on Monday! Calder Commons wants to welcome back all Penn State students and wish them luck on the upcoming semester. With a new year starting, we have lots of new residents. Encourage your new neighbors to come "Like" our Facebook page as an easy way to interact with us!

Get Well Soon Coach Paterno!

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno recently suffered a hip injury after a collision during practice. Calder Commons wants to wish the coach a quick recovery. We're glad to see your back at practice so soon Coach!

State College Spikes Family Pack!

Are you a family of baseball fans? Take advantage of the State College Spikes new 20 for $200 Group Special!

For $200 each of your 20 group members will receive a Field Box ticket, a hot dog, and a small soda. As an added bonus, your group can designate one member to throw out a pre-game ceremonial first pitch!

A Note to Departing Residents!

 We want to thank all of our departing residents for their time spent with us here at Calder Commons. Also, we wanted to give a quick reminder to all residents who are moving out. All keys and surrenders are due to our office on August 1 by noon. Keys may be turned in earlier at your convenience, but must in turned in by the deadline. 

Please contact the rental office if you have any questions about  the move out procedures. We wish you all well in your future!

Calder Commons Hopes Everyone Enjoyed ArtsFest!

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts has come and gone another time. We want to thank all our residents who returned for the weekend! It was great to see all of you again. We hope everyone had a safe and happy ArtsFest. Feel free to share any pictures you took on our Wall!

Central Pennsylvania's Festival of the Arts!

Today is the official kick-off of The Central Pennsylvania's Festival of the Arts! Calder Commons wants to welcome residents returning for ArtsFest!

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts brings over 125,000 people to downtown State College and the University Park campus of Penn State to celebrate the arts with its nationally recognized Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, gallery exhibition, sand sculpture and music, dance and theatrical performances in a variety of traditional and non-traditional venues.

Calder Commons is proud to be a part of the State College community and support the arts. We wish everyone a safe and happy ArtsFest!

ArtsFest Next Week!

Calder Commons wants to welcome everyone who is coming back next week for The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts! With lots of tenants coming back to see friends and enjoy ArtsFest, Calder Commons wants to remind you to travel safe.

Undecided if you are coming to enjoy ArtsFest? Check out their website for a schedule of events!

Host Guided Hikes of Mt. Nittany

 

The Mount Nittany Conservancy will begin a series of seasonal guided hikes with an Independence weekend hike on Sunday, July 3 at 10 a.m. The hikes are FREE and open to the public so enjoy some natural American  beauty  this 4th of July weekend with a trip to Mount Nittany. With over 9 miles of trails to hike, Mount Nittany provides exceptional views of the campus and the community from several natural overlooks. The popular Mike Lynch Overlook features a birds-eye view of the campus, including Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center.  No reservations are required, just meet up at the main trailhead at the end of Mt. Nittany Road in Lemont fifteen minutes before the hike begins!

Don’t Forget Dad!

 

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 19th.   What was the best advice you ever received from your Father?  Share it with us!  We’d love to hear it.

 

Or just enjoy some of these pithy quotes about our favorite dads:

 

"A new father quickly learns that his child invariably comes to the bathroom at precisely the times when he's in there, as if he needed company. The only way for this father to be certain of bathroom privacy is to shave at the gas station." -- Bill Cosby

"A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again." -- Enid Bagnold

"A father is a guy who has snapshots in his wallet where his money used to be." – Unknown

"My father always told me, 'Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life.' " -- Jim Fox

"A father is a banker provided by nature." -- French Proverb

"My father said, 'Politics asks the question: Is it expedient? Vanity asks: Is it popular? But conscience asks: Is it right?'" -- Dexter Scott King

"When I was a kid, I said to my father one afternoon, 'Daddy, will you take me to the zoo?' He answered, 'If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.'" -- Jerry Lewis

"Small boy's definition of Father's Day: It's just like Mother's Day only you don't spend so much." – Unknown

"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong." -- Charles Wadsworth

 

Check out more quotations here.  And here’s an anecdote from America’s favorite dad:

Rusted Root

Rusted Root will be playing tonight Friday, June 3, at the Tussey Mountain Amphitheater at 7pm. The Pittsburgh based band gained national recognition in the early 90’s, and has not stop rocking and rolling since!  Tussey Mountain is just minutes from State College in Boalsburg.   Tickets are just $30 but seating is limited.  So come early to see a pioneer in rock music!

Have a Safe Memorial Day!

How are you planning to celebrate/ honor Memorial Day weekend?  Is the occasion a chance to barbeque and hang with friends, or is it a more solemn occasion as you remember a loved one?  Share with us!

But no matter how you choose to spend your weekend, we want you to stay safe.  Here are some tips for grill safety this weekend:

 

• Keep food covered or refrigerated until ready to be cooked.  Cook meat to 170 degrees Farenheit as a minimum. 
• Cooking meat (particularly red meat and chicken) until surface charring occurs can cause cancer causing substances (Heterocyclic Amines (HCA)) to form.   To avoid this, use marinades and turn the meat frequently.
• Inspect your grill before you ignite to ensure everything is in working order.
• Don't use a grill indoors including garages, overhangs and canopies.
• When using a grill, you should use a 10-foot perimeter from anything combustible, including your house.
• Do not allow children and pets to play near a grill.
• Only use approved ignition fluids – don't use gasoline to ignite a grill.
• Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of sand nearby to douse a grill fire.

Read more here.

Boalsburg Fire Carnival!

 

The Carnival is coming to Boalsburg from May 26th to May 30th, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend!  Kick off your Summer right!

“Carnival this year we will be having two Wristband events. They will be on Thursday the 26th and Sunday the 29th. We will have all of our great Fire Company food stands including BBQ Chicken, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Hot Sausage Sandwiches, French Fries and more. We will have nightly Bingo Games in the Truck Room with every 10th game being the winner take all round. A quarter will buy you a double card. Probably the best price in the county.

We will be holding a Carnival long 50/50 drawing. Tickets will be sold until 6 pm. on Memorial Day Monday at which time 3 winners wil be chosen. 1st. Prize will be 30% of the overall take with 2nd and 3rd Prizes being 10% of the take each. The more tickets we sell the bigger the prize so see one of our Firefighters and get your tickets today. They are $1.00 each or buy a pack of 6 for $5.00. We also have advanced ride tickets available. They are $10.00 for a pack of 16 tickets. These are also available from any of the members of The 3 House. We look forward to seeing you when you come out and help support The Boalsburg Fire Company at our Annual Carnival.”

May 26, 2011 - Wristband Night buy a wristband for $12.00 and ride as much as you like from 6 - 10 pm.

May 27, 2011 - Carnival Open 6 - 10pm.

May 28, 2011 - Parade Night. Line-up for the Parade will begin at 3:30pm. at Blue Spring Park. At 5:00pm the Parade will begin.

May 29, 2011 - Wristband Afternoon and Evening. Buy a wristband for $12.00 and ride all you like from 2 until 7pm.

May 30, 2011 - Memorial Day the Carnival will be open from 10am. until 6pm.

Check out the complete schedule at the Boalsburg Volunteer Fire Company website.

Steel Magnolia at the State

 

 

Attention country music fans! Steel Magnolia is playing The State Theatre May 5th 2011. Since winning CMT’s Can You Duet?, the duo has taken their own soulful brand of country all across America, including the Grand Ole Opry and other large venues. The State Theatre's intimate atmosphere promises for an electric performance.  The show starts at 8pm and tickets are $25, or buy your tickets now at The State Theatre.

Breakfast on the Go

 

 

The semester is almost over and finals are right around the corner!  To help you get off to a good start, Calder Commons will be providing Breakfast On The Go Monday, May 2nd through Wednesday, May 4th from 8:30am to 11am in the Rental Office.  So stop in and fuel up.  See you there!

Rapper Wiz Khalifa Coming This Week

 

 

Looking for something to do after all the Easter candy has settled?   Pittsburgh based rapper, Wiz Khalifa, will be performing at the Bryce Jordan Center on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m.  Khalifa's anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers, "Black and Yellow" reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and fans are excited about his new album, "Rolling Papers" which will be released in the next few weeks.  Tickets will be $28.50 for Penn State students and $37.50 for the public. A portion of the concert proceeds from IFC sales will benefit the "Be Easy" Paraplegic Fund that was initiated by Jordon Rolon.  For more information and tickets, check out the Bryce Jordan Center’s webpage. 

Rent: The Musical

Rent in the middle of the month?  Don't worry, it isn't that kind of rent.  Penn State Department of Theatre's Center Stage production of "Rent" will last from April 7th until the 19th.  This Tony Award-winning rock opera style musical tells the story of a group of New York artists during the height of the AIDS epidemic.  Tickets are $18 and show time is 7:30pm (or $16 for the 2pm matinee showing on April 16th).  For more details, check out the Department of Theatre's Event Schedule.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Christine Bove!  She is the winner of the $50.00 Visa Gift
Card for this month's rent contest.  It just goes to show promptness does pay!  Happy spending!   

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 

Check out these fun facts and may the luck of the Irish smile upon ya!

Fun Facts about St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The actual color of St. Patrick is blue. Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.

St. Patrick did not actually drive snakes out of Ireland; the snakes represent the pagans that he converted to Christianity.

The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.

In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green.

In Seattle, there is a ceremony where a green stripe is painted down the roads.

Most Catholics attend mass in the morning and then attend the St. Patrick's Day parade.

Shamrocks are worn on the lapel on this day.

In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair

Many young people dye their hair green for the special day.

Many people wear green on this holiday to avoid being pinched.

The phrase, "Drowning The Shamrock" is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.

Many bars in the United States, and abroad, serve green beer to celebrate St. Patty's Day.

Fun Facts about the Irish

34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

Nine of the people who signed our Declaration Of Independence were of Irish origin, and nineteen Presidents of the United States proudly claim Irish heritage -- including our first President, George Washington.

Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.

The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”

The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.

The name “leprechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

Fun Facts about Clovers

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14.

One estimate suggests that there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

Read more: http://www.whsv.com/seasonal/misc/40129602.html

Top 5 Things to Consider BEFORE Renting an Apartment

 

Here are some pointers to help you find the best apartment for you.  We think you will find the best combination of all 5 right here at Calder Commons!

Finding an apartment can be overwhelming. Not only must you choose a new place from the seemingly endless options available, you often have to sign a long-term lease that holds you to your decision for an entire year.
To make the process more manageable, you should gain an understanding of exactly what it is that you are looking for prior to beginning the search. Here are the 5 most important things to consider when looking for a new place:

Top 5 Things to Consider BEFORE Renting an Apartment

Daylight Savings Time Begins on March 13

 

Daylight savings time is coming up this weekend.  Don’t forget to set your clocks forward!

Every year, daylight savings time seems to take people by surprise. In the United States, daylight savings time begins on March 13 at 2 a.m. local time except in parts of Arizona and Hawaii. As the popular saying goes, clocks need to "spring forward" to observe the change. In other words, clocks need to be set ahead by one hour when the clock strikes 2 a.m.

Daylight Savings Time Begins on March 13 in the U.S. - Yahoo! News

Happy President's Day!

We want to wish everyone a Happy President’s Day.  Enjoy the day off for those of you lucky enough to get it.  Also, be sure to check out some interesting facts you may not already know about President’s Day at the link below:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7751968/presidents_day_fun_facts.html?cat=37