Middletown has more than meets the eye By SUSAN STRANDBERG Staff Reporter SJS326@PSU.EDU Dauphin County’s oldest community, Middletown, laid out 30 years before Harrisburg in 1755 by George Fishter, is geographically located 10 miles iDAN/Capital Times Middletown, Dauphin County's oldest community, offers more than meets the eye. From a bit of culture at the Elks Theatre to fine dining at Alfred's Victorian, you can find it in this small city's borders. Facebook to possibly open to all users By BROOKS HOUCK Staff Reporter BCHSOO2@PSU.EDU For students across the nation, Facebook has been an online community that allowed students to network and socialize within and between schools. All one had to do in order to obtain a Facebook account was to register with an .edu address, which comes with any enrollment to any major (and some smaller ) universities. When Facebook first came about, it was just a directory for colleges, but then last year, Facebook decided to extend its exclusivity to high school students and to selected companies and organizations as well. Gone was the exclusiveness of the college networks, and what had started was an opening to open enrollment of Facebook. Arguably, the biggest intrigue of Facebook was its exclusiveness to students. Facebook, when it first started, was an online network for students. What brought many, if not all of students to Facebook, was that it was something forthem and only them. There was already an online network open to anyone with a valid email address, so having an online community for just students was something that they could Gas prices finally take a needed plummet By CHRISTOPHER CVIJIC Staff Reporter CXC@PSU.EDU The sigh of relief you just heard came from millions of American commuters. According to data from the Department of Energy, national retail gasoline prices have plummeted 44.1 cents per gallon, or about 17 percent, to $2,563 since a high of $3,004 on Aug. 7. Observed local prices are as low as $2,399 in the Hershey area. How low will prices go? In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Robert Mellman, senior economist at J.P. Morgan Chase, predicted retail gasoline prices should soon fall to about $2.30 per gallon, based on wholesale prices. How will lower fuel prices affect the economy and the U.S. stock market? Lower energy costs should help soften the impact of a cooling housing market and higher interest rates. Mr. Mellman predicts that lower gasoline prices could result in fourth-quarter growth rate of 3.7 percent, compared to a south of Harrisburg, the state capitol. Middletown is easily accessible from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Interstate 81, and Pennsylvania Routes 230 and 283. Early maps show that Middletown was “A Susquehannock Indian Town” (1715). Several locations have call their own. Earlier this year, Facebook decided to allow high school students to join their ranks along with the college students. A relatively small number of college students protested this change, however a strong backlash against this move was not in the works. Later the same year, Facebook started to open selected work networks, and this change went unseen and did not hear any protest versus it. However, recently a change that had a major uprising against it was the “News Feed” that Facebook decided to employ. The “News Feed” allowed “friends” of users to see what he/she was up to. If a user decided to post a picture, write on someone’s wall, or even join a group, all of their friends would know about it. Even miniscule details such as editing his/her profile would be shown on this broadcasted feed to all of a user’s friends. Responding to this upsetting change, Facebook administrators decided to allow users to edit what they want others to see on their profiles and what they want others alerted to. This calmed many of the upset users and continued the smooth operation. Now, the biggest change of them all was about to come, the open enrollment of Facebook. Articles in the USA Today, Forbes Magazine, and on ABC News alerted forecasted growth rate of 3.0 percent. There is speculation among economists that gasoline prices could continue to slide, to as low as $2.00 a gallon, before the end of the year. Such a decline in prices would likely require further upward growth revisions. The U.S. stock market has been buoyed by the fall in energy prices. A shot of the pumps that have caused much stress this summer, and has given a much needed break this fall. been marked by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for their historical contributions. Middletown is also noted in colonial records as being a supply depot for the Revolutionary Armies. The Swatara Ferry House (Old Fort) is reported to have housed Hessian prisoners during the Revolution. A visit to the Middletown Public Library and Historical Museum, located at 20 North Catherine Street, is recommended for those interested in the subject. Middletown’s mayor is Robert Reid, and Middletown itself has an approximate population of 9,242 (2000 census). A local law requires residents to recycle including the recycling of clear & colored glass bottles and jars, steel and bimetallic cans, rigid PET & HDPE plastics, and newspapers. Rules pertaining to recycling are available at the borough office or online. There are six polling places in the public to the change on Facebook. Responding to the fact that Facebook has plans to allow anyone with a valid email address to sign up on their network, many users formed groups and signed petitions to rebel against the open enrollment of Facebook. Scores of users have claimed that the pointofFacebookwasto“interactwith other collegiate students and socialize within a collegiate atmosphere.” Facebook users also claim that if open enrollment is allowed then the exclusiveness of Facebook is gone and that makes it no different from the online network “Myspace”. Advocates among Facebook users have said that to exclude others from the online network is unfair, and it is not right to exclude others from the same privileges that users take for granted. Advocates have also said alumni from the “pre-Facebook era” don’t get to be included in this network and that it is unfair to those who have graduated from a college. Responses to these claims include the fact that “Myspace” is for those who have graduated from the “pre-Facebook era” and that life is unfair, so why should they be included now. Revolts have not only come from users on Facebook, but also have come from analysts in the field that Since Aug. 7, the S&P 500, a widely followed stock index that tracks the performance of 500 of the largest stocks in the United States, has climbed 3.15 percent. The tech-heavy NASDAQ composite has posted gains of 7.5 percent during the same time period. Energy stocks, Wall Street darlings over the last two years, have been the big losers. Middletown: First Ward/FirstPrecinct at 600 S. Union Street, First Ward/ Second Precinct at 60 W. Emaus, Second Ward/First Precinct at Water & Union Streets, Second Ward/Second Precinct at 150 Race Street, Third Ward/First Precinct at 1020 North Union Street, and the Third Ward/ Second Precinct at 10 Adelia Street. It goes without saying, especially in these politically charged times, that exercising your right to vote is most important. As a community with spiritual diversity, Middletown offers over a dozen congregations, including but not limited to Orthodox, Presbyterian, United Methodist and Baptist religions. All are located within a short driving distance of the PSU Harrisburg campus. believe that if Facebook is to include all users, then it is doomed to fail. Facebook has had practically a monopoly on a hard to reach college audience, and by taking away the exclusiveness, it threatens the monopoly that is had on this particular genre. Students who joined Facebook to enjoy the intrigue of a college based network, may in fact leave the network in rebellion of the openness of the community. Facebook gets higher advertising rates than that of “Myspace”, so it remains a mystery to why they would want to get rid of that resource. In spite of revolts against changes within Facebook, creator Mark Zuckerberg remains steadfast in his decision to open Facebook to all who posses an email address. Compromise was the story when he edited the “News-Feed” feature and refused to get rid of it altogether. It remains to be seen however what his reaction will be to the current the Facebook. against of uprising expansion Will its expansion be welcomed and actually expand the online directory, or will it backfire and have the millions of users decide to stop logging on to their accounts and migrate to a different online community? Vanguard’s Energy ETF, an exchange traded fund that invests only in energy related companies, has posted a loss of 10.6 percent since Aug. 7. If energy prices continue to decline, the broad stock market should continue to climb. Stocks most likely to benefit from lower energy prices are transport stocks, like Federal Express and airlines; consumer stocks, like Procter and Gamble and restaurants; and chemical companies, like Dow Chemical. Low-end retailers, like Wal-Mart, could especially benefit from lower energy prices, as their customers are more affected by energy prices than more affluent consumers. While lower energy prices may appear to be positive for the economy, there are concerns if energy prices fall due to lower demand. Lower demand generally means lower economic expansion, which could lead to recession concerns. Few economists are currently forecasting a recession for 2007. So, for now, consumers and businesses alike can celebrate lower prices at the pump. THE CAPITAL TIMES Medical centers and hospitals near Middletown include the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center located in Hershey which is about ten miles away and the Harrisburg State Hospital and Pinnacle Health System which are located in nearby Harrisburg. If a little rest and relaxation in on the agenda, long time Middletown resident, Nancy Hartman, recommends the Elks Theater, one of the oldest in the county. Looking for a place that offers a fine dining experience? Alfred’s Victorian restaurant on Union St. is sure to please the pallet and also provides an excellence ambiance, Hartman mentioned. For those who are interested in aviation, the Harrisburg International Welcome State Harrisburg How to get involved on campus By LAILA DIDEBAN Staff Reporter SZDI23@PSU.EDU “Well, good morning, Penn State Harrisburg,” said junior Jannessa Byard, stunned as she observed the crowds of students swarm the lobby of the Olmsted building. Her surrounding comrades had to agree that Sept. 5, was not just the start of a typical school year. “There are so many people, and I can’t recognize any of them!” Byard’s frustration was justified, it wasn’t all long ago that there was nothing but familiar faces surrounding the Harrisburg campus, but with approximately one thousand new students friends were hard to place. Although mutually intimidating for incoming as well as returning students, to many, the growth of the school is exciting. The tension in the classroom can be a bit awkward to meet new people, so it is highly recommended to join a club. This trendy icebreaker allows students to interact with one another as well as the school. (FYI: If there is a club that isn’t on campus, it can easily be started with enough support.) The student population makes it possible to propose new clubs and extend activities. The faculty at PSH is more than accommodating to these endeavors. They would like to encourage the students’ ideas but are in need of participation. For students interested in active sport clubs then ‘damsel in distress’ no more! The fencing club will teach students how to save themselves. Founded by senior Supat Kanchanasakul, this fun sport is also a learning experience that doesn’t require any prior knowledge. There are also the conventional sports teams that were founded just last year. Sporting events should be attended as it shows a great deal of school spirit and pride. The schedule of locations and times is written in the student planner. It means a lot to the players to have their peers there to support them. “When the guys got there, you could tell everyone had an extra boost,” sophomore Sahar Saffaee of the girls soccer team speaks in referral of the boys soccer team who cheered them on during their triumphant victory. September 25, 2006 5 Airp ort > formerly part of the Olmstead Air Force base, is located about 2 miles from Middletown, and is a wonderful place to spend the day observing, according to Hartman. Middletown is also host to a variety of clubs & civic organizatiohs such as the Kiwanis and Lions Clubs, the American Red Cross, and The Olmstead Players. In addition to providing the residents of Middletown with an opportunity to participate, these organizations also sponsor many projects which benefit the community. No matter what one’s interests, Middletown offers an array of opportunity to explore history, be entertained and to participate in activities which benefit both resident and community. to Penn Creative students may support the sport teams, however, when it comes to active involvement will find the arts to be a more fulfilling activity. Victor Rodriguez, sophomore Pre-Vet, is actively promoting the developing interest in Japanese Anime among students. Rodriguez along with his fellow club members spend their club time drawing and watching Anime as well as attending Anime conventions. The performing arts clubs are also seeking a high profile. The newly founded dance team releases creative expression in a quick one-two step. There is also rumored gossip of theatre activity. It would certainly break a leg to bring theatre to PSH, but with driven thespians anything is possible. Many clubs that have been created, or are in the process of being approved, happen to be based on individual majors. So for the individual who complains of not having enough time for club activity, that excuse is no longer valid. Brandon McKenzie, senior, happens to be an Information Systems and Technology major. His club motto is, “Doing IT at Penn State Harrisburg.” Another senior, Andrew Scott, is involved in the Mechanical Engineers club, as there is one created for Environmental Engineers as well. Whether students like to battle their enemies like Zorro, draw pictures of Sailor Moon, or shake it to Shakira, there is a club choice for everyone. Many announcements for clubs and activities can be found posted on the bulletin boards around campus. They can also be found in the student planner or updated on the PSH website. The Capitol College is a newly founded four-year campus; therefore, attendance to campus events should be a priority to benefit its growth. The school newspaper is also always looking for new and dedicated members who would like to be apart of the team. This is a great learning experience to any one who would like to work in the communications field or to develop their writing skills. It is a pre-requisite to have a lot of passion for the school and the students because otherwise staying up all night to meet that deadline tends to be tedious. Once again at 7am, “Good Morning Penn State Harrisburg!”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers