Bloomsburg Fair

     The Bloomsburg fair is not just any old fair. For a cheap admission, you have the opportunity to play all sorts of games, try just about any food, see many different animals in the exhibits, and most importantly, spend quality time with loved ones. The fair was described by one patron as "almost like Christmas, we wait in anticipation every year for the fair, and once it comes its a week full of fun and a small break from the normal work life."

    There is a wide variety of attractions at the fair, but few compare to the Grandstand. While walking through the Grandstand, the sounds of conversation fill your ears with the background of whatever music or event is being held on stage. there are two walking paths through the Grandstand, with vendors on either side selling all sorts of items from novelty trinkets, clothing, and gifts for others. The colorful sights create a sort-of mosaic as the smell of food from outside pulls you through the stand. The Grandstand also offers a variety of captivating performances. Commonly, the fair hosts musical performances from multiple genres of artists, some being local even, providing a nostalgic experience for all who attend. The motorsport and tractor pull events can be heard from around the whole fair, providing a grounding background to all, reminding you that you're at the Bloomsburg Fair. 

 

  The fair instills a very inviting culture, making a great tradition of being family friendly, offering experiences that can make childhood memories and worthwhile family time. Children under 12 years old get admission for free everyday, and those under 18 also can get in for free on certain days. This is a great policy as it allows children from all economic backgrounds to be able to experience the fair, and it gives parents a little less to stress about with the cost of bringing the whole family to the fair. To instill this family oriented culture, the fair also offers a huge assortment of fun games to play and possibly win a toy, stuffed animal, or candy. Walking around the game area is like being a kid in a candy store, constantly bombarded by bright lights, playful nostalgic music, and operators calling for you to come play their game. In addition to games, a dog show full of puppies of many breeds, as well as farm animals like bunnies, cows, pigs, and horse can be seen at a close view, giving a deep and very fun experience for children of all ages. Additionally, the different art exhibits are very special to many as they give the chance for a "personal spotlight" through school related art and things like the science fair, giving some students or their schools a display to be proud of.     

    The west half of the fairgrounds is star-studded with iconic vendors and just about any food you could crave. Walking past Mr. Sticky's, a strong aroma of sweet cinnamon fills the air as friendly faces greet all patrons. The sights and smells offered by walking around some of the iconic spots like Bissinger's apple dumplings, Grotto's pizza, and Vince's cheese steaks give a familiar sense of home unlike any other. Adam Martinez, owner of Sabor Boriken, a new Puerto Rican style food vendor, described his experience starting his first year at the fair. "I get here early in the morning to set up and start making everything, but most of my prep like marinating chicken, chopping ingredients, and preparing skewers is done the night before." For his first year, the menu is limited but business has been good so far and he is looking forward to big developments next year. 

    From the art exhibits, wildlife, large productions, and great food, the fair has something for everyone. It's more than just food and sights, it's a whole experience unlike any other where you can meet new friends and create lifelong memories and traditions. 

    

A New Challenge

A New Challenge

    Have you ever wanted to try rock climbing? If so, you're in luck because Bloomsburg University has their very own rock wall! In the corner past the front entrance of the student rec center, there lies the 20 year old student rock walls. Multicolored crash mats 3 by 4 feet in size are scattered and stacked across a rubber matted floor. A few giant crash mats are stacked on top of them for higher falls. Tall glass windows cover the walls of the corner of the room from floor to ceiling, letting sunlight illuminate the room. Rows of lights on the ceiling provide extra light when it gets darker after sunset. On the other side, the glass windows provide a view of the indoor basketball court. 

    

    Thomas D'Aloisio is an avid rock climber who has been rock climbing since he was in high school. He frequently visits the rock wall on his spare time. "Not every college has the opportunity and the resources to have something like this, which is amazing," he says. The unique challenge of climbing makes the rock wall a popular spot at the rec center. "It's challenging in all the right ways where it doesn't make me feel like I'm really bad at anything, but it also allows me to build muscle and improve constantly."

    There are two climbing structures in the area, across the side wall is the flat side, with hundreds of multicolored handholds and footholds covered in white chalk powder all over. A single screw holds each of them in on the declined surface. Halfway up this wall a special line of pink tape divides the top of from the bottom. This boundary marks the farthest you can climb without needing to strap on a harness. 

    

    The second wall is a cylinder shaped cliff, with different rock shaped protrusions on all sides, giving unique climbing challenges. Colored tape marks specific handholds, making a guideline for a route. You are only allowed to use the handholds that are marked, and the goal is to reach the top. Difficulties are also marked at the start of each route, so you can find one that matches your skill level. "There's a very diverse set of rocks and climbs on the wall, and everyone has different skill sets in play," Thomas says. The easiest ones have the lowest numbers, and they can go all the way up to 1000, also known as a V10, which is the hardest climbing route that only one staff member has been able to do.

    A posterboard hangs on a wall covered in a collage of pictures of the staff's outdoor climbing adventures of the past. The staff are four college students from sophomore to senior dressed in polos and khakis to sweaters and sweatpants. "The people working there are actually really nice," Thomas says. When no one is climbing, sometimes they will be hanging out by the sign in table working on homework, or looking for people walking by to invite. There are always two men and two women on staff, so anyone from any gender can feel included. They are all passionate rock climbers. Some have been climbing since they were kids, and some have only started a year ago and are already climbing the hardest routes, but they are still very welcoming to new climbers. "Don't be a bad person when you rock climbing. Everyone there is friendly. Everyone there's like a friend. You're all doing something similar. It's not worth trying to one up anybody. Remember to just have fun." 

The rock wall is open from Monday through Thursday from 3-9, and Friday from 3-6. You can climb at any skill level. Come try it some time!

Brennan's Big Chill

 Savory Goodness one scoop at a Time

    If you're ever strolling through the town of Bloomsburg and want a sweet ice cream treat or Italian ice head to Brennan's Big Chill. At Brennan's Big Chill at 232 Iron st has just what you're looking for. Looking in from the outside the small family-owned Ice cream shop resembles a white barn. Walking into the doors you are greeted on the outside by Brennan's famous mascot Rosie a cow. Rosie isn't a real cow but is always ready to see and meet new people at the door. Walking into the shop you get blasted with a very strong sweet scent of ice cream. In the seating area a big mural sits on the wall of a penguin and a polar bear sitting on an ice burg with waves. The mural really sets the tone for the experience your about to get and the great ice cream you're going to be served. 

    Stepping into the small shop one out of the four tables have two young men sitting at it. Both men are speaking of their days while both enjoying scoops of ice cream. A young man with brown hair dressed in a black Bloomsburg t-shirt and shorts was enjoying a bowl of cookies and cream hard ice cream. His companion a young man with blonde hair dressed also in a black Bloomsburg t-shirt and shorts enjoying his Bing cherry hard ice cream, a very great choice of a flavor. In the background the sound of a milkshake blender whirs away. Glancing across the seating area a father and a young son sit enjoying their ice cream. The father a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard wearing faded jeans and a white Penn state hoodie. He was enjoying a waffle cone with vanilla ice cream and was talking to his son. The young son also was adorned in a white Penn state hoodie enjoyed a regular cone with twist soft serve. 

    Strolling past the seating area a big board sits on the wall with people's pictures. A young woman from behind the counter claims, " Those are all big chill challenge winners, the challenge consists of eight scoops of ice cream with 4 toppings, whipped cream and a cherry. Do you think you could take on this challenge? 

    About 10 feet away from the board with all the winners faces sits a counter with glass that you can see into the freezer at the flavors of ice cream and Italian ice. 42 different flavors of hard ice cream sit inside with some Italian ice. Two young women stand behind the counter in their purple Brannan's shirts and their black shorts with a small black apron. Greeted by a nice young woman named Camryn asking, " Are you ready to order or would you like a minute" She explained how cotton candy is one of the more popular flavors along with Chocolate chip cookie dough. Scooping the ice cream gently Camryn added cotton candy is her favorite flavor Aswell. Being rung up at the cash register for less than 5$ is a very sweet deal. 

    Sitting down and chatting with Camryn there is some new things that were learned about Brennan's. " Brennans was opened in 2004 and is a family-owned business. There are 42 flavors to choose from right now but there is a choice of around 200 flavors that can and have been for sale. Brennan's is a great place to work all of my coworkers and the people who come in are all friendly. My favorite time to work is when the Bloomsburg fair is in town, it brings a lot of people and business to the shop."

All of the choices are overwhelming, but a very great staff is always there to help. There is multiple specialty sundaes and up to three scoops of ice cream. You can order pints and quarts of your favorite flavors of hard ice cream and Italian ice. The store usually keeps cool to keep the ice cream from melting. Leaving the shop a groundhog is on the wall with the date of February 2nd for the time the shop reopens. There is also a turkey with the date of Thanksgiving for when they close.  So if your ever in bloom looking for a sweet treat stop at Brennan's Big Chill.

More Than Just Wins

 

   As you enter the Nelson Field House, the sound of clanking weights echoes from the weight room you pass on your right, while nearby conference rooms buzz with the chatter of energized sports teams. Straight ahead, a hallway lined with shining trophies leads to a stairwell that takes you to the second floor. At the top of the stairs, just to your left, you will find the office of Bloomsburg University’s head football coach, Coach Sheptock. His name is proudly displayed on the door. Inside, the room reflects the intensity of his game, papers scattered with plans, footballs resting on chairs and shelves, and Coach Sheptock himself in his seat, phone in hand, making calls. His style of coaching is aggressive and is part of who he is, “I don't know how to describe it physically, it's like a one-on-one battle situation and I must win with every I've got,” said Sheptock. He is implying that this is his belief that applying aggressive force towards teams will win more games. Game days for Sheptock were very locked in as he claims, “I've delivered pre-game speeches to fire up the team, often fueling my own energy by watching WWE wrestling videos beforehand to tap into that intensity and aggression.” Ultimately, Coach Sheptock’s entire approach for on and off the field is driven by intensity, preparation, and competitive edge to give his team the best chance to win from a coaching standpoint.

Article on Sheptock

 

   Practices with Sheptock started with six in the morning meetings. “I am an early riser and like to go for four in the morning runs before my six in the morning meetings begin with my players,” said Sheptock. After his early mornings, he follows with more meetings before three o’clock because that’s when practice will begin in the afternoon. Nestled among beautiful mountains, the five-thousand-seat stadium, named after Robert B. Redman, offers a stunning backdrop for football games. “I head out before the players do and help set up the drills with other coaches before we start practice on the turf,” said Sheptock. Whistles blaring, players hustling from drill to drill, and Coach Sheptock commanding the field with intensity. “My goal with each player is to make them get better at one thing or one percent each day. If that means I must get in their face because they got a play wrong or a drill, then so be it because I want to see them succeed,” said Sheptock. The goal is to push players past their limits, even if it means yelling, being uncomfortable, and being hard on players because Sheptock wants the best for you on and off the field. Furthermore, you must send Sheptock your study hours each week to prove to him you are getting your schoolwork done. “Yes, I require all my players who are freshmen or have gpa below a 3.0,” said Sheptock. From pre-dawn to afternoon practices, Sheptock’s success is focusing on daily improvement of players to set the tone for the culture and growth of the team.

   Being an All-American college football player like Sheptock came with many memories and lessons that contributed to his coaching success. For example, Sheptock made an early start for East Stroudsburg. “My freshman year I was not happy because the team was not particularly good at that point. The guys on the sideline were not as much into football as I was and I told my mom and Lisa, who is my wife now after the game, I am out of here. They do not understand what it takes to win,” said Sheptock. This early competitive drive gave him an early outlook on what it takes to build a winning program. He later mentions his transition to the West Chester football team, “a team filled with culture, aggression, and preparation,” said Sheptock. The program started to win, and things started to change. The team ends up playing in the Eastern Division championship. “Looking back at that level I played at, helped build my IQ and confidence for coaching the game today,” said Sheptock. Based on his experiences, Sheptock’s understanding of the game has grown and contributes to his knowledge of what it takes to win games.

   Most people do not realize what it is like to be a head football coach and the day-in-the-life aspect. Sheptock mentions from his coaching experiences from his years that, “I would think that they do not have an appreciation of everything that goes into putting a program together again whether it is healthy administration thing, the relationship thing, monitoring academics or you're dealing with parents, there's so many facets from a coaching standpoint on and off the field, said Sheptock.” It is clear Sheptock has a lot on his plate as a head football coach and can handle it well. “I pay bills, invoices, and have my family involved with the program. My wife Lisa is at every game supporting the team and me, while my daughters, Kelly and Nicole help prep food for the players after their games,” said Sheptock. However, Sheptock has made an impact for the team and program off the field. Coach Sheptock’s support off the field may not be heard enough. “When you have some of those private moments with your guys when they are dealing with life it is important to listen to. I helped many players dealing with kids, family issues, money problems, etc. I do not think there is a more satisfying thing than you can experience as a coach or human to change a player positively. I have helped players with mental issues, having kids, money issues, family problems, and more,” said Sheptock.

 

   Overall, Coach Sheptock has made a strong impact on the lives of his players beyond the football field, demonstrating what it means to truly set yourself up for success truly. He cares more about the kind of person you become than simply winning games. More than just a coach, he serves as a life mentor and father figure to his players. This deep commitment to personal growth and character development is a key reason behind his continued success at Bloomsburg University.

Your Home Away From Home

If you're looking for a place to dorm at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, then Luzerne Hall might just be the place for you. Located right in the center of the campus, Luzerne Hall has everything you will need for a comfortable stay. Despite the wear and tear the outside of the building might pose, there lies a warm and welcoming community right inside.

On the outside, Luzerne Hall stands as a standard four story tall building and seems to be constructed as a large capital h. On both sides of the building, the name "LUZERNE HALL" proudly presents itself in printed, bold, and silver lettering that manages to catch the eyes of anyone who walks by. This place noticeably holds itself together in rugged bricks from head to toe, and at times, can be a bit of an eye sore to constantly gaze upon. There seems to be a slew of windows that wrap around the entirety of the building. They bring out a constant buzzing noise through the sheer amount of air conditioners that the hall still manages to withstand. It appears through some of the withering of the bricks that the foundation here has survived the test of time. Being that it has been standing since 1967, it might be a bit shocking that it appears to not be in a worse state, yet it still manages to proudly stand among the campus. It becomes noticeable though that around this part of campus can pose some foot traffic from the constant flow of residents trying to quickly enter and leave the building. Residents here deck themselves out in a large variety of comfortable casual clothing fit to make the long and grueling walk to classes just a bit more bearable. A commonality among the clothing comes with a boat load of merchandise from the university's logo and Greek life.

Entering Luzerne's lobby comes with an overwhelming reminiscent smell and feel of that of a typical hotel. All of this familiarity walking in persits when hearing a warm hello slightly echoing from the desk in the corner of the room. Looking to see who has greeted you, you might find one of the residential assistants that resides here, Aidan. With him having a clean hair cut, big glasses, and a constant smile, he always brims with a young and energetic attitude.

Although he seems to be simply lounging around, there proves to be a lot of dedication put into his work to make sure this residency doesn't end in flames. "There's a lot that goes with it but basic things are desk shifts, hosting programs every semester, we have to do a total of four every semester spaced out, and there’s one on ones. There’s also RA duties like helping someone who’s locked out of their room, or emergency things like 'hey stop fighting with your roommates' and oh my god fire alarm at one AM!" Aiden enthusiastically explains. His effort with his work though doesn't go unnoticed especially how lively the atmosphere feels here. The large wooden desk he remains stationed at always comes with the utmost cleanliness, so much so that it seems possible to see your own reflection on the thick granite surface. A slightly wrinkled and well crafted postarboard, that seems tapped to the desk, serves as a welcome sign in golden and maroon lettering, "WELCOME to LUZERNE-Your home away from home-” It appears that the lobby does its job at being a friendly environment as this acts as a hotspot for residents to hang out and to make plans with one another.

            "You ready to hit up on that food over at the Scranton Comms?" asked one of the residents here to his friend. He looks to be dressed in all types of sweat wear, primarily including the merchandise of the campus's mascot, a cute husky.

 

            "You know I am!" the friend atheistically responded. He matches quite similar in style to him as almost if they shared the same wardrobe. "I've barely eaten all day and it feels like I haven't eaten out anywhere since... forever!" he responds again as the two of them quickly make their way through the double glass doors.

A loud clammer of footsteps followed by some mummers slowly start to fill a part of the room as a wooden steel door flies open as the residents from the upper floors attempt to flood out of the stairwell. They all scatter out in the lobby and attempt to dart straight towards the entrance while trying to lug their giant bookbags with them. The upper floors of the building reside the majority of the resident's dorm rooms. Entering through the door designated to the stairwell leads to a sudden and noticeable change in the atmosphere. The once colorful and bright vibes that the lobby brought now get replaced by a very dull and plain environment. Those eye sore bricks that make up the outside of the building make their return as they fill the stairwell with a coat of white on it. The little grooves and dents that implement itself on the wall give off a sense of trypophobia after having to endure its environment for so many years. The dim lighting of the room makes it barely visible enough to see bits of repainting the walls have been through. The jet black railings don't get any better as it becomes quite easy to see the paint has been cracked and chipped all over it. Touching the railing gives anyone a slight shiver down their spine with how cold it feels and even just being in the stairwell to an extent. The steps though have definitely been through the worse as the cracks consume every step where a navy gray coat once laid. You can even see the bare bone concrete that makes up the foundation of the steps. The best way to describe the entirety of the stairwell feels as if it came straight out of an eerie hospital.

Once again a door flies open from the second floor as a girl in formal attire with keys in her hand seems to be in a hurry, stammering out a polite apology as she attempts to move through. She manages to cram past you quickly pacing her speed with every step she takes. Moving out of her way and through the door puts you near the study lounge. The entrance to it comes with large clear windows that almost take up what would be a whole wall. The floor now envelops a carpet with a sporadic bale pattern design to it. It almost looks similar to the ridgeness the bark of a tree has with the colors ranging in shades of darkness. The ceiling has a dull foam tile look to it and every so often, a tile looms over completely basked in light. The outside of the study lounge gives off the environment of an office work space, which does quite fit considering the lounge's purpose. The inside of it comes with comfortable chairs, ranging with all the colors of the rainbow, that manages to be jam packed in every spot possible. Every chair or two comes with a refined table that fits a whole lot of space for materials. Oftentimes it can become a bit crowded with the residents trying to hunt for a nice spot. The race to secure a spot at one of these tables on some days becomes a competition of sorts among the residents here almost like dogs fighting over scraps of food. Residents often used this space to try to cram their assignments and studying at the last minute in a quiet and peaceful way. The people here range from looking like they had themselves prepared weeks ahead of time to study in their spot or like they had forgotten to do an assignment due in the next hour. They all though have their laptops out next to their giant notebooks that's used for note-taking. They'll stare at their laptop for a few moments and then quickly glance down to jot some information down. A process like this can be done by some of these people for an ungodly amount of time, with them ending up with some symptoms of computer eye strain. The study lounge comes across as a beloved and treasured part of Luzerne Hall by all the residents here. As RA Aiden puts it "Honestly, I like the fact that there are so many open spaces like all the lounges. We have the first floor lounge… two lounges on every single floor! It feels more 'homey' so I think that's what I like about it (Luzerne Hall), the fact that there's a lot of common space."

As the day gets later in the evening, more and more tired residents will manage to finish their studies. They will start to slowly trickle out of the lounge and spread out throughout the building. With the sound of several creaking doors, you'll notice that there seems to be several more of those wooden steel doors surrounding the hallway. The vicinity here becomes occupied by the boy's co-ed side of the second floor. Something that immediately pops out to the eyes comes in the form of the theming centered around music. The halls noticeably become completely decorated from top to bottom with black paper cut outs of musical elements like treble clefs, quarter notes, and eighth notes. "Me and RA Rob had a conversation during the summer and since becoming an RA, I've kept a google doc that I've had different themes on. We wanted to start off something that's neutral in a way that is not too focused since we didn't know you guys well. We wanted to choose something that everyone can get behind," RA Aiden eagerly explains. All of the doors come with that theming of music too with them all including a little frame with the name of the residents who occupy the room. Their names come decorated with a variety of little instrument cutouts like trumpets, pianos, and guitars, and the background of the frame rules in colors of maroon and gold designed in a specific checkerboard layout. The halls here can become filled with murmurs that seem to envelope the entire building when passing by each door. You'll sometimes hear pieces of a popular show streaming or rap and pop music fade in and out with its beats. It can be quite a coincidence how much music you'll hear from each room for the hall being music themed. The halls also entail some pretty distinct smells that fuel the air. Some smells can be pleasant here like the distinctness of expensive cologne, and other smells that can be more odor like from god knows what. No matter what type of smell or sounds that surround here, the residents always have each other's back, especially with their roommates.

Luzerne Hall stands as an important building for the history of housing here at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg and for all of the residents currently living here. Although this building may have seen better days, the community proves itself more than welcoming to all everyone else alike. Despite a lot of people being far from their actual homes, the lively and energetic atmosphere here truly makes sure every resident feels like they really feel at home.

Study Spot Like No Other

Looking for a new place to hang out? Well look no further, Café Martha might be the perfect fit! Being located right on Main Street of Bloomsburg, Café Martha is the perfect place to go with friends to catch up or alone to finish up some work. 

Right after walking up a ramp at the front door, you are immediately met with beautifully soft jazz music, a calm scent of coffee beans, and pretty lights strung all over the walls making the dark red brick and hardwood floors feel as if you are back at home snuggling in bed. The soft velvet couches that have clearly been loved by many in the past just invite you to want to sit in them. If sunk in couches are not for you, there is a bar flush to the wall with small black and brown barstools as well as many tables heading all the way to the back of the shop that are happy to sit two to four people at a time.

After just a couple steps forward into Café Martha, you easily come across the long white counter where you are meant to order. Usually there will be a very friendly face behind the counter to greet you, but if not, there will be a sign placed just before the electronic register that reads, "Barista will be right back! Thanks for your patience". Scattered around the shop are bookshelves displaying different sorts of books, some written by Jane Austen and some by local authors from Bloomsburg. Circling the bookcases, there are earrings, and handmade Appalachian Incense. Once the barista with long flowy hair matching her blue jean skirt and checkered shirt shows up from the back kitchen, it is certain she asks in a sweet, relaxing voice "what you would like to eat", allowing you to choose from the multitude of pastries and breakfast sandwiches they provide, then, after grazing over the drink menu and deciding from matcha, tea, coffee, or a smoothie you can hear a "would you like it for here or to go"? Following payment, any seat without a human sitting on it is available to be sat in.

Although Café Martha is relatively new, a coffee bar here on Main Street is not. The same establishment used to be named Fog and Flame, so what caused the switch? According to barista Sydney, although the original owners still carry a love for espresso and all things tasty, with their ever-growing age, they could not handle the upkeep of a business and ultimately decided that it was "too much". The switch from Fog and Flame to Café Martha first started in November of 2024 but did not go public until January/February of 2025. The previous owners still care deeply about the shop, so they made a very wise decision to sell to someone already familiar with operating a business, the owner of local taco place; Fourth Taco, as well as still supplying the coffee Café Martha uses.

The baristas at Café Martha are extremely welcoming and friendly, yet they all have their fair share of opinions when it comes to dealing with the general population. Barista Sydney was very transparent when she claimed that the hardest part of working with the public is how people "swear they know what they want, when in reality they do not". Due to commercialized coffee shops, many consumers have been led to believe certain things about drinks. Sydney made it very clear that Café Martha makes drinks how they were originally meant to be created and not just how people believe they should be,                                                           "Macchiatos are NOT ICED" for example. 

Considering Café Martha is welcoming to all kinds of interesting people, you might get lucky enough to run into some sweet older gentlemen. Right before closing, a group of three men all wearing leather jacket and jean pants with walked into Café Martha. They all ordered a latte with two shots of espresso in their thick accents that were rather difficult to place. They argued for a bit on who should pay but finally decided on the bald friend of the trio.

 One of the men asked, "How much longer until we will have to pay for parking here?" 

The barista responded with a bit of hesitation, "I am not sure, I do not think you have to"

Since Café Martha's drinks are in fact, the real deal, it is no surprise the gentleman with a beard and glasses kindly thanked Sydney for making the lattes and said, "looks like a proper coffee" with a smile. Baristas are no stranger to confrontation, so when people decide to stay past closing, Sydney has no issues asking the three customers to leave, even offering to put their drinks into to-go cups for free. The men quickly apologized and started to see their way out.

"Do you know of any good pubs around here?" Prompted one of the men,

"I do not drink considering I am underage, but I am sure if you walk further downtown you will be able to find a few." Responded the barista with a giggle.

Whether you are a neighborly old man meeting up with some friends, or a young student trying to pass your hardest class, you should give Café Martha a chance. Their homelike scenery, warm scents, and calming music (that almost works as a sedative, in the best kind of way) is seriously one of the coolest places on Main Street here in Bloomsburg.

More Than Hair (Final)

  More Than Hair

When you step into Le Salon bleu, it feels like you're stepping into someone's home. At first, you notice these big wooden barn doors that lead into the lobby area. You also notice the hum of the blow dryers, the sweet smell of shampoo, and the distant laughter between hairdressers and clients. The salon is warm and cozy, and it is tucked into a small town. The smell of hairspray fills the air, and mirrors line the walls, reflecting all of the vibrant colors and hairstyling tools throughout the salon. 

At the center of it all is Joanna. With her brown hair pulled back neatly while she works. You will often find her by the giant window that overlooks the parking lot. The sunlight shines through the window, casting a glow on her as she moves chair to chair, as she skillfully transforms the client's hair with care. Joanna's bright smile always seems to make her clients' day a little bit better.

Joanna did not start out as a hairdresser. After graduating from American University, she spent some time in the corporate world, but she quickly realized that office life was not what she wanted. “I wanted to do work with my hands creatively,” she said. So she changed paths and went to cosmetology school for a year, then worked as an apprentice for another year before starting her hairdressing career. 25 years later, she has not only built a long-lasting career but a community of clients who have trusted her to their hair for years.

A typical day for Joanna includes six to ten haircuts and color sessions; she spends the day mixing Goodwell color, cutting, blow drying, and sweeping up hair between clients. But she says the real work is connecting with the people in her chair; she listens to people's stories, remembers details about their lives, and celebrates their milestones. “My favorite part of this job is the relationships I've built throughout the years,” she said. Clients often come to her not just for a haircut but for advice, a laugh, or simply just someone who will listen to them.

Joanna’s work isn't always easy. The challenges of working with different personalities and managing high demands can be overwhelming and definitely weigh on her at times. But she still finds a way to stay inspired and motivated by attending classes and keeping up with the latest social media trends. “You have to keep learning to stay fresh,” she explained. This dedication and improvement help bring her new ideas to her clients to keep her job exciting

One of the most heartwarming stories Joanna shares is about Leslee, a longtime client who has been coming to her for years. Leslee's daughter, Rachel, was one of Joanna's first clients when she was still in high school. Over the years, Rachel has grown up, gotten married, and started a family, but Leslee still talks about how Joanna helped her daughter feel more confident in herself “You really changed Rachel's life”, Leslee once told her. This is a reminder of how much a simple haircut or conversation can have

Joanna's work goes far beyond cutting hair. It is about making people feel beautiful, confident, and heard. Especially when they need it most. Whether it's before a wedding, job interview, or simply after a rough day. The salon has become a place where people come not just for a makeover, but to feel heard and cared for. 

It is truly powerful how Joanna transforms not only her clients hair but the way they feel about themselves. As she works by the window. It's clear that for Joanna, it's never been about the scissors and color. It's about instilling confidence and beauty into her clients and making them feel like they matter. And after 25 years, it is no surprise that the small town community still returns to Le Salon Bleu, where they don't just give you a haircut but make you feel beautiful, both mentally and physically.

Cafe Martha: A Community For The Coffee Lovers

Bex, a barista, pouring a cortado

   A sweet coffee aroma dances under your nostrils, and you hear soft music accompanied by the soft giggles of baristas behind the bar. One of the baristas behind the bar with dark hair, green eyes, a brown turtle neck, and a sweet, friendly smile greets you, "Hello! How are you today?" She said with a sweetness in her voice. As you walk up to the counter, you study the cozy place, and a gentle natural light trickles across the cafe. It complements the rustic espresso bar and red brick wall. A pothos plant growing across the simplified menu on the white wall behind the bar adds to the warm, snug atmosphere. In the distance, a lady with pink hair and tattoos is dancing while pouring a drink, humming to a Billy Joel song in the background. 

an oatmilk cappuccino dusted with cinnamon

   Your eyes scan the menu, but it's the oatmilk cappuccino with a touch of cinnamon enjoyed by a nearby customer that catches your senses. A symphony of flavors enraptures your sense of smell, complemented by a lovely tulip milk pour. While sitting at the bar, you could see the friendly community behind the counter. Baristas laughing and giggling while making drinks and creating beautiful latte art. Every drink is made to perfection. Studying their actions, it seemed like magic the way they manipulated the milk to make such works of art.  

    These masterpieces are crafted with the help of a very retro-looking La Marzocco espresso machine. This espresso machine has been around for 11 years, and it is still supplying Bloomsburg coffee enjoyers to this day. "It has seen all phases of this business and still will for years to come," says the manager Cameron, brushing his dark curls out of his face while steaming some milk.

Cafe Martha's trusty espresso machine

     "Cafe Martha is building up its friendly community rapidly", Cameron said with a light chuckle. "Our sales before Cafe Martha would range from 300 to 500 dollars a day. Now we range from 700 to 1000 dollars in sales every day.", he adds with confidence. "A growing community of love, coffee, and friends", chimes a customer with a worn blue shirt and a baseball cap at the counter, picking up his drink before thanking the barista who prepared his drink and heading out the door. Whether you're starting your day off strong with a rich, flavorful double shot of espresso or settling down with a warm green tea and a book, Cafe Martha offers the perfect habitat for comfort and connection. 

Sydney, a barista, enjoying a pastry

   Cafe Martha is located on East Main Street, Bloomsburg, next to the Magic 5 Winery. A light stroll from campus is all it takes to get to the best cafe in Bloomsburg. Although the name Cafe Martha is new, the building has always had an impressive espresso bar. Although the Cafe Martha name is new, the soul of this cafe has been a part of Bloomsburg since 2014, originally known as Fog and Flame. The previous owners roast their own coffee beans from their house and still supply Cafe Martha with the high-end coffee beans to this day. Cafe Martha supplies the community of Bloomsburg with superior craft coffee, flavorful homemade syrups, tasty pastries, and lovely light brunch options for everyone to savor.

Mario Kart Tournament from Summer 2025

    "I've always loved the community here," Cameron says gleefully, "I've been a part of this team for years and will always love it.". Community has always been a big part of Cafe Martha. On the first Friday of every month, they deck out the shop with an assortment of vendors with all sorts of unique goods. From vintage to homemade items to books, they pretty much have it all. On a random Tuesday every month, they host an open mic night for young poets, authors, and singers to share their pieces with the townspeople of Bloomsburg. Occasionally, they also host Mario Kart tournaments where college students compete against each other to win a tasty drink on the house. "Mario Kart nights will always be my favorite," the other manager with pink and blue hair, Rachel, chimed in. 

    Although the community revolves around the customers primarily, the team here at the cafe has a strong family-like bond. They giggle, joke, and truly care for one another. Only a unified team can provide the best service in town. It is no surprise that they have such a relationship in a world that moves too fast, Cafe Martha reminds you to slow down, sip slowly, and savor both the coffee and the company. Cafe Martha is and will always remain a community for coffee lovers here in Bloomsburg. 

 

 

 

BU Store

                         Stepping into the world of the Bloomsburg University store

        When you walk into the store, it's set up in 3 different ways. There is a checkout area, a bookstore area for students, and there are multiple areas of merchandise showing your support for Bloomsburg University. As you walk in, you'll notice a lot of students behind counters and cash registers and also stocking the shelves. This is because it is a high-volume area for student employment. The bookstore can be an intriguing place to explore as its full of different areas and it's not often talked about. The bookstore serves three different purposes: A merchandise store for supporting Bloomsburg University, A quick access place for quick snacks and drinks that might be needed, and the bookstore area for students to get their textbooks needed for classes. An interview was set up with Sandy Freman whom is the supervisor for marketing and customer service and Laura who is the manager of the store. The initial reason for setting up the interview was to get some information about what goes on in the bookstore. 

      The shop consists of 7 diffrent sections. Section one is the clothing section, this ranges from hoodies and shirts to pants and socks. Section 2 consists of mixed merchandise inlcuding cups bookbags keychians and other items that have the bloomsburg logo on it. Section 3 consits of a small food and drink section which includes cases of soda and water, some ceral and other food similar items. Section 4 is the student bookstore where you can get textbooks required for classes. Sections 5 consists of the checkout lane where a makeshift line is made. Section 6 consits of the help desk for anything store related help that might be needed. Section 7 is the office supplies sections consisiting of notebooks, binders art supplies and many more possible stationary you might need.

  Sandy Freman, a middle-aged woman with shoulder-length, slightly curled, deep brown hair, greeted me at the help desk window. Her white blouse complemented her kind smile and soft eyes. Sandy has been working at the bookstore for a little over a year, "My daily routine is when I come in, I like to check that our student workers and our team members are upfront and making sure the atmosphere is the way we'd like it to be here at the university store, so checking that they are ready to go and raring for the day, and coming back to the office to check on our promotional pages across social media." Sandy is a busy woman who's very passionate about her career at the bookstore. She mentioned that students have said they wished they never left as she helped them get their life on track. Her job is important to the bookstore as she deals with customer service and the promotions for the bookstore. Good customer service is important because if a customer can't get an issue solved, they won't want to come back and that would be a loss for the store. Promotions are important as they draw customers to the store and that often increases sales.

                                     On the left is Sandy Freman and on the right is Laura.

    Laura is a middle-aged woman with a bright smile and sweet eyes; her long straight brown hair suits her face perfectly. From first impressions to the end of the interview Laura was welcoming and sweet. She is the manager at the store. Her job is one of the harder jobs as she has to juggle. Depending on what her job consists of is based on the day. Some of her jobs include ordering clothes from a supplier, making sure the store is stocked with supplies needed, and making sure people are doing their jobs. One of her favorite moments were when the old bookstore was still there and it was moveout day, "There was a group of boys and one had a massive Hickey on his neck and he ran over and asked if I have makeup on me, I said yes in my bag and he said can you cover this up so my mom don't see." Lauras job is important to make the whole store flow and function properly. 

    The store is a large part of the school. The university store is actually owned by students, and all of the money goes back to the students. The student government in charge of the store and all of the proceeds actually go back to the students to fund events and after school programs. Overall, that is the feel you get from the bookstore but also some unknown knowledge.

River Poetry

    The sky outside is showcasing a sunset, pinks and yellows as the star goes to rest for the evening. Rain patters outside on the windows and roofs of buildings. The library is quiet, save for the clacking of keys on computers at desks where workers finish their thoughts before closing occurs in less than a half hour. On the second floor, deep laughing and light discussion fill the hallway with anticipation, leaking from a room with grey carpeted floor and a small kitchenette off in the corner. The dying starlight makes its exit through glistening teardrops of rain on the second story windows. The rain, unfettered, offers white noise and pervades the otherwise cheerful atmosphere. Older men and women line the seats set up in front of a dark, wooden podium adorned with lettering reading “River Poets,"  which is then underlined by a blue wave representing a river. 

     On the first Thursday of every month, poetry is read at the Bloomsburg Public Library on the second floor. Founded in 1994, the group wears the name of "River Poets" and they host meetings that are open to all, encouraging newcomers to make themselves at home and return as often as they like. These meetings often are themed, with tonight's no exception to this rule as its theme has been ruled "poetry about cats."

    A woman with a warm smile and encouraging gestures welcomes new attendees to have a seat, cozy up, and indulge in various sweets that decorate a table by the open door. Another woman with a bell attached to her hip signals the start of the readings as she rings her way over to her seat, silencing the rest of the room. General announcements are given, and thus begins the reading of immersive poetry. 

    Writers and poets sit attentive and prepared, shuffling papers between their finger pads and thumbing at bookmarks stuck in-between the pages of self-published books filled with poems and other short works. Emma Ginader, a shorter woman with brown hair thrown back into a pony tail and an outfit appropriate for the warmer weather - which consists of a blue tank top, jean shorts, and flip-flops - makes her way to the podium. 

    "Who doesn't love cats?" A question that is followed by agreeable laughter and a nod that commences her reading. Emma has been writing poetry since the age of eleven, even carrying around a notebook that she could document "fragments of ideas" or "beginnings of poems" in. Several of her pieces that she's selected to read are dated, demonstrating her extensive love for writing and backing up her claims that she's been a lover of literature for decades. 

    As a graduate from Columbia University, her past association with the school left her even more attuned to the theme of tonight with their mascot being a lion. Cheers and various shouts of celebration ring out after her announcement of being an alum. A man in a blue button down, named Barry, nods his approval.

    Barry is one of the four new attendees of the night. He has recently returned from Romania and laughs bashfully after proclaiming that he "would be welcoming others if it wasn't [his] first time being here too." His interest was piqued after hearing about the Poets for the first time, and he makes his determination in returning clear.

    Once Emma has concluded her readings, other poets follow her lead and make the trek to the podium, one by one, and dive into their verse. Their poems range from topics pertaining to the theme of cats, to other animals, to worldly themes such as faith. The versatility between the poems being read keeps attendees on their toes, wrapped up in the lines that make the thunder booming outside stop in its wake and listen in as well.

    "My favorite part of the writing process is when I can feel new ideas strike," Emma says, waving goodbye to a man wearing a fedora and dressing himself in his rain coat. "Revising, rereading, editing, revisiting - those parts, too," she adds, quickly and confidently. Emma has been interested in poetry since middle school summer camp, where she was inspired by a teacher that encouraged her to pursue writing. Her long, colorful history with poetry shows in the passion she holds for it and the way she's able to let loose when reading it aloud.

    Emma is only one of the many readers that partake in these events with the River Poets. Tonight's theme was dear to her heart, evident in the sheer number of poems she came equipped with to profess her love for cats. Many of the other poets in the room are regular members, quietly sharing notes throughout the night amongst one another.

    With the cessation of the meeting came the lighthearted warning to the newcomers that the front doors are locked and not to be used. The back doors are unlocked, but "the left one sets off an alarm that tells nine-one-one there's been a break in, and we don't want that." Some scattered laughing suggests there's a backstory to that, but it remains untold as the attendees file out and give their final goodbyes for the night as they brace themselves to face the unrelenting rainstorm still beating down outside.