SundayLiving

Sunday, December 6, 2015 PENNLIVE.COM/LIVING D1

The

Force
Strong
Is

Ultimate midstate Star Wars fans

celebrate their common bond
Staff report

Sunday best | Star Wars

hat started as a little space

adventure exploded into a
movement. Since it debuted in
1977, Star Wars has spawned numerous films, including the upcoming Star
Wars:The Force Awakens, plus TV shows,
specials and merchandise.
Thanks to its epic journey, lessons of good
and evil, and groundbreaking special
effects, Star Wars alsohas amassed fans
from multiple generations and varying
backgrounds.
When PennLive/The Patriot-News sought devoted
fans of the franchise, they responded with thoughts
not just about their memorabilia collections or costumes but also about the common bond Star Wars
created among them.

Daniel Zampogna, PennLive

Above: Star Wars fan and Chewbacca enthusiast Steve Rensi, of

Carlisle, with some of his Chewbacca collection Top: Fan Mike Bryant,
of the Mount Joy area, dressed as Boba Fett. James Robinson, PennLive

Friendship and brotherhood

ForCarlisle residentSteve Rensi, whose best friend
introduced him to Star Wars in the fifth grade,the
series has always meant friendship and brotherhood.
Amember of the Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting
Society, or PSWCS,since 2003, Rensi hasnearly 800
pieces in a collection focusingon the characterChewbacca, includingtrading cards,fast-food toys and
valuable vintage figures.
But hesaid he countsthe good friends that I have
met through Star Wars as the greatest Star Wars
collectible I own.
It is through the PSWCS that I have connected to
a larger brotherhood and made friends I will count on
for the rest of my life, he wrote. Pure and simple,
my devotion to Star Wars has made me friends that I
would without question consider family.

A mutual love
Star Wars has even influenced romantic relationships.Kelly Donnelly, who lives in the York area, connected with her boyfriend, Scott, through their mutual
love of the franchise.
Please see FANS on Page D4

Daniel Zampogna, PennLive

Fans Kelly Donnelly and her boyfriend, Scott, both of the York area

On pages D3-5

Snag some swag: Show your devotion with everything from shirts to makeupto custom shoes.
Whos who: Brush up on the characters before you see the movie and get the backstory.
Know before you go: Some theaters restricting costumes and adding special promotions for the film.
On display: See costumes from the Star Wars films on display in New York City.

Concrete castles secure tile makers legacy College is perfect time

to challenge status quo

Jim CHENEY
TRAVELS WITH JIM

Visitors flock
to Doylestown,
the seat of
Bucks County,not just for
itsbeautiful
downtown but
alsofor the delicious restaurants, great shoppingand
charming European castles.
Thats right, charming European castles. While it might
sound odd, Doylestown is
surrounded by three castlelikeconcrete structures built
in the early 20thcentury by archaeologist, artist and tile makerHenry Chapman Mercer.
A Doylestown native, who

Jim Cheney, For PennLive

The Mercer Museum is the largest castle in Doylestown and

Please see CHENEY on Page D4 houses a fantastic museum.

University administrators are getting their caps

and gowns in a twist after
a recent wave of political
demonstrations rocked college campuses from coast to
coast.
Students have staged
passionate protests at the
University of Missouri, Yale
University and Ithaca College, to name a few.
According to The Atlantic, groups from about 60
colleges nationwide also
havesubmitted lists of demands to administrators.
College activists have
protestedracial and cultural
hostility and insensitivity

TM

CPYB.org/nutcracker

Anne Reeves
areeves@pennlive.com

by officials, professorsand
other students. They have
calledfor increased inclusion, better handling of
harassment incidentsand
enhanced efforts to bolster
diversity in admissions, hiring and curriculum.

Please see REEVES on Page D4