CALIFORNIA FIRM TO OPEN CENTER IN INNOVATION PARK
SaRonix, of Menlo Park, Calif., a manufacturer of frequency and timing control components used in electronic products, will establish a design center in Innovation Park at Penn State later this year. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge announced the company's decision yesterday (June 26) at a gathering of information technology professionals and business leaders in Pittsburgh. Innovation Park, Penn State's research park, is home to more than 35 businesses and organizations that employ about 750 people. Tenants include telecommunications, biotechnology, engineering and e-business companies. The Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse, a Ridge initiative, provided resources to help SaRonix make the move to Innovation Park, including support in acquiring office furniture and equipment; help with voice and data services; and recruiting support. For the full story by Barbara Hale, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/SaRonix.html.
IT'S PLAYTIME IN THE JORDAN CENTER BEFORE FIREWORKS
Before it's time to watch the Great American 4th of July Fireworks from a favorite Happy Valley vantage point, enjoy the celebration of America's Independence Day with the sixth annual Family Playground at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's University Park campus. This year's amusement extravaganza will include a Virtual Sports Arena where a player can choose different sports to participate in--including baseball, snowboarding, car racing, skateboarding, and fishing. The Family Playground will include Dudley the Dragon (a giant inflatable maze), a two-story inflatable slide, bungee run, ball pond, radar pitch, velcro Olympic course, colossal bounce, bronco bull ride, gladiator joust, ski ball, frog bog and many more activities. All rides and games will require only one ticket per activity at $1 each. Doors open at the Bryce Jordan Center at 4 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Admission is free. A variety of holiday foods and refreshments will also be available during the event. Visit http://www.bjc.psu.edu/ for more information. For firework details, visit http://www.4thjuly.com/, call (814) 238-5334 or mailto:webmaster@4thjuly.com.
FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY
The 35th Annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is just two weeks from its opening day on July 11. More than 100 performances and workshops are gearing up to appear at six core stages in State College and on Penn State's University Park campus, in addition to the nearly 325 fine artists and craftspeople who will sell their wares. Admission to approximately one-third of the performances is by a one-time button charge of $5. Selected feature performers include on Thursday, July 12 Ennis Sisters, Falla Guitar Trio, Groovelily, Sam's House, Valley Jazz Orchestra; Friday, July 13 Bayou Bandits, Castlebay, Clan Du, Mike Dugan and the Blues Mission, Mustard's Retreat, Annie Sidley Band, Trout Fishing in America, Whirligig; Saturday, July 14, 3 Stories High, Cartoon, Goldina & Loumbrozo, Goose Creek Symphony, Metropolitan Stompers, Eric Mintel Quartet, Schrieber & Wirsing, Sons of Steel, Tony Vacca and World Rhythms, The Villas; Sunday, July 15 Rob Haffley Quintet, Nuclear Whales Saxophone Quintet. Other special events and exhibits include: Brad Goll working on the Exygen Research 20-ton Sand Sculpture in Central Parklet, The 2001 Italian Street Painting Festival featuring Rod Tryon and Julie Kirk, and The Nittany Valley Track Club's 26th Annual Nittany Valley Arts Festival 10K Road Race. For more information on the five days of events, visit http://www.arts-festival.com.
AMAZON RAINFOREST UBSUSTAINABLE WITHIN A DECADE?
Without action, the day when there are no tropical rainforests could come a lot sooner than people think, according to Penn State Abington researcher James (Bud) Alcock, professor of environmental sciences, who has developed a mathematical model to study the effect of human-driven deforestation. Current deforestation rates of about 1 percent per year in the Amazon River Basin rainforest in Brazil could push the rainforests past the point of no return in 10 to 15 years. When all is said and done, the model indicates that the rainforest could essentially disappear within 40 to 50 years. That is a far cry from the common belief among researchers that the forest is still 75 to 100 years away from total deterioration, if current patterns prevail, said Alcock. For the full story by David Jwanier, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/rainforest.html.
PENN STATE'S WORLD CAMPUS IN TOP 10 eSCHOOLS
The AARP's Modern Maturity magazine, the largest circulation magazine in America, recently named Penn State's World Campus one of the best institutions for on-line learning. Penn State appears with the University of Wisconsin, the University of California at Berkley and the University of Pennsylvania, among others, in an alphabetical Top 10 list of eSchools that was compiled by Nancy Stevenson, author of Distance Learning Online for Dummies. The July/August 2001 issue also features a series of articles on on-line higher education. For more information about the World Campus, visit http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu.
PSU PART OF PENNSYLVANIA WOMEN'S HEALTH ALLIANCE
Penn State is part of a recently-launched alliance of more than 30 public, private and nonprofit Pennsylvania health care organizations committed to helping women over 50 live life to the fullest. The Pennsylvania Women's Health Alliance provides women, especially those in underserved populations, with education and awareness programs to help them make healthier choices. Alliance members include the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation, Fox Chase Cancer Center and the American Association of University Women. Penn State's College of Medicine and The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, College of Health and Human Development, Cooperative Extension and Public Broadcasting, among other outreach units, are supporting the alliance. For the full story, visit http://www.outreach.psu.edu/news/magazine/Vol_3.3/support.html.