1 a.m., Whalley Chapel 

Lost/Found

Officers found an enveloped addressed to a student. The student was notified.

8:20 a.m., Student Union

Alarm 

A fire alarm was accidentally activated. The alarm was reset.

April 6

5 p.m., Sports Center

Criminal Mischief

A broken window was reported. Maintenance workers were notified.

11:47 p.m., Physical Plant Building

Lost/Found

Report of missing jackets at Wellness Center event. Jackets were found and owners notified.

April 7

12:11 a.m., Hickory Hall

Alcohol Violation

Officer observed two males assisting another male who was having difficulty walking. Individuals identified and found to be non-students. A juvenile was cited for underage drinking. Parents were notified.

12:11 a.m., Hickory Hall

Alcohol Violation

Report of an individual under alcohol influence. Individual identified. Citation and judicial action filed against Ryan Smerick.

10:45 a.m., Lower Townhouse Parking Lot

Lost/Found

Officer found a fire extinguisher in the wooded area above the lower townhouse parking lot.

 April 8

2:03 p.m., Engineering & Science Building

Odor Investigation

Report of a strong gas odor. Building was evacuated and ventilated. Odor is believed to be result of fumes being drawn into buildings ventilation system from the Nursing & Health Science construction site.

2 p.m., Woodland Townhouse

Theft

Report of a theft of two stools outside residence.

April 9

7:40 a.m., Biddle Hall

Request for Officer

Officers were asked to check on commuter student welfare. Contact was made with a family member who confirmed all was well.

April 9

8:23 p.m., Highfield Avenue

Assist

Disabled vehicle. Patrol stood by until vehicle was towed.

With new student government leaders and some fresh input, the Pitt-Johnstown community may reasonably expect to see some campus changes soon.

Berns said he plans on pursuing needed changes right away, starting with parking regulations.

Many community members may notice that there seems to be little to no parking on campus lots this year, and, while more than one car is illegally parked in a faculty lot, only certain vehicles receive tickets.

Some students aren’t following the parking rules whatsoever. Campus officials have no way of tracking down students who have unpaid parking tickets if they never registered their vehicle.

And, those who do buy parking passes will be forced to pay their tickets, for their vehicle is registered.

When it comes to parking, student leaders should worry about more than acquiring extra parking spaces. The rules are rarely being followed, and, if this is going to continue, they need to be enforced regularly or eliminated altogether.

The enduring alcohol policy issue with its accompanying unreasonable rules cries out for repeal. When senators submitted alcohol rule changes last year, administrators rejected the proposal.

Since 21 is the legal drinking age, there seems to be no rationality to UPJ’s rules, and this issue needs the attention of student leaders if they are to make a claim to be student representatives.

The Advocate editorial board voted unanimously that the alcohol rules should be eliminated for 21-year-olds.

We think they are useless.

Programming Board members have seemed to be working hard to spread the word about campus events, but participation in the Pitt-Johnstown community still seems to be scarce.

Those who attended B.J. Novak’s comedy act April 5 may have noticed there was a difference in attendance compared with past spring concerts featuring musicians.

People should be taking advantage of all the activities offered on campus, but it seems some would rather be doing other things.

Student senators should focus on tactics that could increase participation and assure that Activity Fee proceeds are well-spent to bring the community closer together.

Some students said Thursday is the new unofficial start of the weekend.

Popular musicians, such as rapper Asher Roth, have rapped about drinking on thirsty Thursday.

In Richland Township, managers at Quaker Steak & Lube have advertised specials promoting the unofficial weekly holiday.

“At the Lube Johnstown, we have your cure for thirsty Thursday — $3 Lube Island Teas, all day,” according to the Richland Township Quaker Steak & Lube Facebook page.

At another area bar, the Windber Hotel, Thursdays are advertised as college night with $1 specials on beer, such as Miller Lite and Bud Light. The promotion attracts crowds of college students every week.

Windber Hotel co-owner Scott Penrod said the college night specials are not due to a college drinking fad.

“We had a decent Thursday night crowd once, and it got better,” Penrod said.

Woodside Bar and Grill, another popular college bar, does not advertise a college night or thirsty Thursday promotion but does offer their cheapest drink specials of the week on Thursdays — $5 domestic pitchers all day and $1 mixed drinks between 8 and 10 p.m.

Pitt-Johnstown graduate Nick Eidem said weekly stress is part of Thursday drinking

“Because you can’t wait until Friday,” he said.

Many college students drinking Thursday night at the Windber Hotel, including Stacy Kostyk, said they usually indulge in Thursday consumption, but can’t pinpoint why.

“That’s when my friends go out,” Kostyk said. “I don’t know why they go out, but they do.”

A friend of Kostyk, Dylan Hoffman, 21 of Sidman  joined her that night.

“I drink on Thursdays because I can,” said Hoffman.

Pitt-Johnstown senior Emily Cernic had a different perspective on the Thursday night binge.

She said although Thursdays seem like a designated college night, they are a time to see friends before they leave for the weekend.

“If friends go home on the weekend, that’s the last time you can go out with them,” she said.

Pitt-Johnstown junior Jessica Bear said she only started drinking Thursday nights upon turning legal age.

“This is the only place (the Windber Hotel) I go on Thursdays,” said Bear, referring to college night.

Role-Playing Game club president Stefan Giconi was among the disappointed members. His club received only $200 out of the $2,000 the members requested.

Giconi said that, because the club received only a small portion of what was requested, it would be difficult to get necessary supplies.

“The supplies we currently use are books, miniatures, markers, battle mats,” said Giconi. “And they are nearly (all) owned by club members.

“Without (a) sufficient budget to buy new supplies … it becomes an issue of communication.

“Say we can’t get a hold of a member who has some necessary supplies for the game we’re trying to run. The game, then, has to be put on hold until we can get a hold of the member.”

Rowing Club members also took a budget hit, receiving 16 percent of what they requested. Former club president Lv Yi-Feng said that the club was planning to buy an eight-seat boat that was more accessible for beginners, but the purchase now seems unlikely with the budget.

No clubs took a bigger hit than the Math Club, however. Club president Corey Rook said the fact that the club was not allocated any money would not be as devastating as some may think.

“We allocate for an annual trip to the (Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Conference) each year, and that is where a majority of the money goes,” said Rook.

“To recover from this, I plan to implement a few more fundraisers as well as bring back club dues. Our fundraisers have been extremely successful in the past and I know Math Club will be okay.”

Pitt-Johnstown sophomore Keaton Voeghtly said there are many spots people overlook because there are not any trails leading to them, or they are slightly more vegetated.

“I find them through hiking and exploring.”

Voeghtly is a Geistown resident, and seems to know everything there is to know about fishing nearby.

Voeghtly said the game commission is stocking the standard variety of trout this year- brook, rainbow and golden rainbow (palomino).

Voeghtly, a year-round fisherman, has had a fair share of good seasons, including good turnouts in the last couple years.

“I did really well last year,” he said. “I caught 107 trout (last April.)”

Voeghtly said he had some big catches in the area as well. Last spring, he caught a 22-inch rainbow trout and a 17.5-inch brook trout.

During other months, Voeghtly said he fishes for catfish, bass, and the occasional carp, but trout season is his favorite.

“This is like Christmas Day of fishing,” he said.

Voeghtly said his entire family enjoys opening day by picnicking with a menu consisting primarily of their catches.

Pitt-Johnstown sophomore Brooke Kennedy said she’ll be enjoying fishing at the pond behind her house in East Freedom, Pa. or visit Canoe Creek State Park, east of Hollidaysburg, Pa.

Kennedy said she has been fishing since she was 4, and the recreation has been a time of family bonding.

“Me, my dad, my brother and sister,” she said. “All of us.”

She said she likes fishing for almost anything, and her biggest catch was a 12-inch catfish while night fishing at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County.

“My favorite trout to catch is a brook trout.”

Kennedy also fishes with her friend and Pitt-Johnstown junior Rylan Schnably. She said she is not sure what their spots are called, and that they just fish at any spot that looks legal.

Voeghtly said there are a few popular spots close to campus.

Bens Creek borders Golf Haven, a driving range, along the Somerset Pike, which is close to a 15-minute drive from campus. Voeghtly said he caught a 19-inch brown trout in January at the creek.

He also highlighted a creek behind a BP gas station and the Kidsport youth soccer field as being widely popular.

“Popular places are under bridges.”

Voeghtly said he plans to fish Tuesday and Thursday since he does not have classes on those days, but there is still a chance to fish for those students who miss opening day.

He said, typically, Bens Creek is stocked a few times throughout the season, and once during Pitt-Johnstown finals week.

Twenty Somerset creeks are scheduled for stocking and restocking, and information for these dates and areas is available on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s website.

Student government president Cliff Maloney said he wouldn’t consider the Wi-Fi system at Pitt-Johnstown delayed because there weren’t specific dates to complete the system.

Maloney said student senators last year pressured Pitt-Johnstown administrators to incorporate Wi-Fi into more of the campus.

“We want to keep pushing administration into knowing that wireless is a standard,” he said, “try to get the university to raise the bar.”

He said part of the reason the wireless system hasn’t been put into full effect, is because of budget constraints.

“We’re hoping to have everything completed by next fall.”

He said the hope is to startwith Willow Hall and the Living and Learning Center. The next step after that is to be South Lodges and the College Park Apartments. Freshmen hall common areas are to also be included.

Maloney said he is working with Finance and Administration Vice President Amy Buxbaum to solve the problem.

Maloney said Buxbaum oversees the funds that the Information Technology Department would receive to install Wi-Fi systems.

“We have talked, and we are adding Wi-Fi to all the residential spaces we can,” said Buxbaum

She said the current Wi-Fi system controller is at capacity.

“Currently, we are awaiting the purchase of a new controller that we are expecting to have this summer,” she said.Completing the Wi-Fi system is to be done as staff and funding are available, she said.

Buxbaum said a target date for completing the system has not been set.“We will add (Wi-Fi) sequentially as we can.”

Pitt-Johnstown Information Systems Director Jeffrey Sernell said the Wi-Fi system is far more complicated than just hooking up a system in a household.

“At a house, there’s one access point, maybe two. Here we have 100,” said Sernell.“ We grew pretty fast.”

He said the Information Technology Department works with Pitt-Oakland administrators, who ultimately have the final say on making Pitt-Johnstown wireless.

“We work with folks in Pittsburgh who have other things to do.

“Part of it (the delay) is the direction we get from administrators.”

Wi-Fi already has been added to the townhouses and lodges, according to Sernell.

Attendees were required to make a $2 donation to attend the event, and all proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for terminally ill children.

“I thought the event went really well,” Pitt-Johnstown senior Kevin McDonald said. “I thought we had a really good crowd, and it was a good game for a good cause.”

The game was also dedicated to the Seton Hill University lacrosse team, for they were in a horrific March 16 bus crash that killed a pregnant head coach and the bus driver.

“The game was for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but it was great that we could do something for other than the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”

The teams’ jerseys in the charity game were themed with Seton Hill University colors red and gold.

Former Pitt-Johnstown Assistant Athletic Director Nikki Babik was honored at halftime due to her connection to Seton Hill and her time working for Pitt-Johnstown.

Babik is now the Assisant Athletic Director for Compliance at Seton Hill, and her shirt was signed both by the student and faculty athletes who participated in the game.

Athletic Trainers Scott Mamula and Elissa Till were also honored at halftime with T-shirts for their contributions throughout every sports’ season.

A total of 12 students participated, including senior basketball players Nick Novak, Jordan Miller and Maria Montini.

A total of 11 faculty members participated, including Jamal Palmer, Sasha Palmer and Patrick Grubbs.

The student athletes that participated were pooled from various sports. Two players were from almost every sports team.

The staff and faculty’s team consisted of coaches from different sports, professors and staff from both the athletic and administrative offices.

Pitt-Johnstown’s Finance and Administration Vice-President Amy Buxbaum said this is one of her favorite events of the school year.

“It is all in good fun, and, most importantly, it is for a good cause,” Buxbaum said. “Pitt-Johnstown has a wonderful tradition of supporting Make-A-Wish and of really showing up.”

The faculty defeated the students (77-64) and had a steady lead throughout the game. The faculty won last year’s game as well.

Patrick Grubbs has played on both teams now after playing on the faculty team for the first time this year. He was a student player the past two years.

“The game itself is a great time,” Grubbs said.  “I am finally playing for the staff for, and I am happy the staff got the win this year.”

John George, proprietor of George’s Song Shop along Market Street in downtown Johnstown, said he believes his 81-year-old shop is the oldest record store in America.

He said the discovery of his shop’s historical significance came after reading a Billboard Magazine article that said National Record Mart was the oldest record chain in the country.

George said National Record Mart was established in 1939, and his curiosity was piqued because he knew his shop was established in 1932.

“For about 10 to 15 years, I researched and found that there were two stores older in Europe, but none older in the U.S.,” George said, adding that the oldest is in Wales.

Though no consensus has been reached to verify this claim, many sources, including Country Living Magazine and a book titled Record Store Days, list George’s as the oldest shop in America.

Whether his shop is the oldest or not, George’s store seems to play a significant community role.

Disc jockey and patron Jack Bulisok said he has over 15,000 records, and he purchased the majority of them from George.

“If he doesn’t have it, no one else does,” he said.

Bulisok said he isn’t the only one who appreciates the selection George offers and added that a number of celebrities have visited the shop.

“A lot of stars have stopped in over the years,” Bulisok said. “Paul Newman was here and so was Joan Jett.”

Similarly, patron Nick Milkovich said he visits the shop a few times a week and sees it as an important part of the community.

“I’ve been through this store about 1,000 times, but you can never absorb it all,” Milkovich said. “They’re always bringing new stuff in.

“This being the only record store in the area, it plays an important role in giving young people the opportunity to get into vinyl.”

Milkovich said vinyl is his preferred way to listen to music.

“Sound quality wise, vinyl definitely has a warmer, deeper sound.”

Vinyl dubbing is the only way to capture all natural curved sound waves, according to The Tribune-Democrat—digitized recordings lose sound because they become rigid and straight.

George said he has been dealing records since he inherited the business from his father at the age of 19.

“I grew up in this, and, when I took it over, I was only a teenager,” he said. “It was ’62 and records were a dying business.”

George said he had his doubts about the business’s success, but they were quickly dismissed.

“I didn’t know if it would work out,” he said, “but then the Beatles came around. It was the jolt in the arm that the record industry needed.”

His business was a success, and he said his collection has grown on a large scale.

“We have over a million 45s,” George said, adding that his shop holds five floors filled with records ranging in size.

“We have a few 78s—10 inch records. I don’t sell too many, but, every once in a while, we’ll have somebody come in and buy one.”

George said he acquired his collection by trading with patrons and buying out stores and warehouses.

Though the number of students and campus events decrease during this time, Greater Johnstown Convention and Visitors Bureau Special Events Coordinator Karen Soliday said there are many ways students can have fun and stay busy.

She said many festivals and musical gatherings take place in the summer.

The Polkafest—a festival celebrating traditional Czech, Polish and Slovenian music—is to be held May 31- June 2 at the St. Mary’s Church pavilion along Power Street in Johnstown’s Cambria City area.

“It’s all outdoors,” Soliday said, “and it’s all free. You just need to bring money for food and drinks.”

In addition to the traditional music offered at Polkafest, The Flood City Music Festival is to be held August 2 – 4 at People’s Natural Gas Park, according to Johnstown Heritage Association Marketing Director Shelley Johansson.

This festival, featuring performing artists with both local and national acclaim, has included performances from well-known musicians such as Dr. John and Greg Allman.

Johansson said, this year, Robert Randle and the Family Band are to headline the three-day festival series.

While musical performances seem to be popular, Soliday said there are many events for those who are not interested in music.

She said the Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company performs a play each year along the Stackhouse Park hiking trail.

“You have to hike down in, and there is a natural amphitheater,” Soliday said. “The stage is on one side of a creek, and the audience sits on the side.”

Soliday said accommodations can be made for disabled interested in attending. This year’s performances of “The Twelfth Night” are to be held July 11 – 13 and 17- 20, according to the Band of Brothers’ website.

Johnstown also hosts the annual All-American Amateur Baseball Association tournament.

“It’s held at the Point Stadium and at other fields around the area,” Soliday said. “Over the years, there have been quite a few players who have played here and have gone on to have professional careers.”

For history enthusiasts, Soliday said there are several area museums that might pique interest, including two flood museums and the Heritage Discovery Center—which is to provide the experience of an immigrant settling in the Johnstown area.

For those interested in getting out to enjoy nature, Coal Tubing owner Chad Gontkovich said his business was set up to provide an outdoors experience.

“I love the area and I wanted to come and get others involved,” he said, adding that employees offer guided hikes, river tubing and whitewater rafting and kayaking.

“The Stonycreek is our primary river, but we do use different rivers if the water is too high or too low.

“Basically, we use the entire Johnstown area watershed.”

Gontkovich said there are levels of guided tours to accommodate those with different levels of interest.

“We have different durations for our hikes,” he said. “Some of them last only 45 minutes to an hour, others last half the day and we sometimes have 15-mile overnighters.

“Some of the hikes are even within city limits. People just don’t know about them. Basically, you just call us up and tell us what you’re interested in.”

Soliday said the combination of city-based and nature-based attractions allow those spending the summer in Johnstown to find pursuis to fit their interest.

“There’s a lot to do here.”