On April 14-16th, the Environmental Focus Group of Lock Haven University will be sponsoring a celebration of Pennsylvania Culture on the LHUP campus.  Events will include the following:

Pennsylvania Folklorist Jeffrey Frazier will read from his Pennsylvania Fireside Tales book series on April 15th, at 7:00 p.m. in the PUB MultiPurpose Room.  The Pennsylvania Fireside Tales feature folktales and legends whose roots date back to the Civil War and beyond, including episodes from the Civil War and tales about the early hunting days in Pennsylvania.  The narratives also include tales from the Indian era in Pennsylvania, with actual Pennsylvania Indian legends told to early settlers by the Indians and never-before-published oral histories of how peoples' ancestors sometimes escaped from their Indian captors or sometimes married them. There are also stories of lost treasure, hidden gold, gypsies, moonshiners, enormous snakes, and other exaggerated animals as well as a heavy dose of supernatural-related tales about ghosts, witches, haunted houses, and other strange episodes.  This event is part of LHU's Pennsylvania Authors' Reading Series.  For more information contact Professor Marjorie Maddox Hafer.

Pennsylvania artist Jeremiah Johnson will exhibit works from his series "The Story of Job" in the PUB MultiPurpose Room from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  "The Story of Job" is the work of Johnson's alter ego, Job Johnson, a fictional/historical artist who lived in central Pennsylvania from 1860 to 1937.  Jeremiah notes that with this project, he is "interested in blurring the lines between fact and fiction through art, history, and folklore."  Job's works are graphite drawings on hand-made paper and they are beautifully framed with branches.  One central theme is the environmental history of central Pennsylvania, and Johnson is also fascinated with the folklore of this area, including ghost stories.

On April 15th, from 12-1 p.m., Melissa Becker and Friends will present a concert of folk music on Russell Lawn.

On April 15th, from 1-3 p.m. in PUB #4, students will be reading creative works that reflect Pennsylvania's culture and heritage.  Students from Professor Marjorie Maddox Hafer's Pennsylvania Authors class and from Professor Dana Washington's Creative Nonfiction class will be reading original narratives, essays, myths, folktales, and monologues that focus on Pennsylvania.

The Art of the Natural World Series will present "Recycle, Reuse, Renew" from April 6th to April 30th.  The show will be in the lower Bentley gallery, and hands-on activities will be in Bentley 5.  This year's exhibition celebrates the connection between manmade and natural resources and our environment, and the positive impact an artist can have on the environment by using these resources wisely.  This alternative approach to art will utilize components that are recycled, reused, or renewed.  This show attracts visitors from surrounding communities and local school districts.  Docent tours and "hands-on art" activities will be featured for scheduled school groups.  For more information about showing your work, contact Prof. Melinda Hodge at mhodge@lhup.edu.  If you're interested in bringing a school group, contact Prof. Loretta Dickson at ldickson@lhup.edu.

Environmental Focus Group
Bob Myers (chair), Md. Khalequzzaman, Lenny Long, Jeff Walsh, Danielle Tolton, John Crossen, Sandra Barney, David White, Tom Ormond, Ralph Harnishfeger, and Barrie Overton.  The committee is charged with promoting and supporting activities, experiences, and structures that encourage students, faculty, and staff to develop a stronger sense of place for Lock Haven University and central Pennsylvania.  Such a sense of place involves a stewardship of natural resources (environmentalism), meaningful outdoor experiences, and appreciation for the heritage of the region.