“Getting to Know the Neighbors” is a series where awesome locals share their local favorites.
Mieke Haeck grew up in Belgium and moved to New York City in her mid-20s to work as a physical therapist and experience big city life.
That’s where she met husband Ezra Nanes. In 2012, they made what they thought would be a temporary move to State College for Ezra’s MBA at Penn State, but quickly fell in love with the town. It’s been home ever since!
We asked Mieke to share a few of her favorite things about being a local and hope you’ll enjoy hearing about her State College experience!
Day to Day
On a typical weekday, you’ll find me… at my PT practice, Pelvic Shanti – in the Allenway Building.
And the weekends are for… family time and bike rides!
If the town of State College had a yearbook, I’d be voted Most Likely to…turn a casual conversation into a mini masterclass on pelvic health.
Awesome Local Alert!
I’m probably most well-known around town as… “ the Pelvic Shanti Lady”, but I am also really involved in the cycling community, being a dance mom, and local politics.
Something I uniquely contribute to our community is… my passion to help people feel at home in their bodies through physical therapy, with a focus on pelvic health rehab—an essential, yet often underserved area of care.
Favorite Things
To me, a perfect day in State College looks like… a warm summer day starting with an early morning long gravel ride in Rothrock, spending the afternoon with the family at one of our local lakes, and meeting friends at Boal City Brewery for an evening beer.
The season I love most in State College is… summer, because the town is quieter but we still have tons of fun events happening (Pride festival, Juneteenth, Ironman Race, Arts Fest…)
Something I didn’t think I’d like about living here that has really grown on me is… I grew up skiing in the Alps, so when I first saw the size of our local mountain, I was a bit disappointed. But I have totally fallen in love with Tussey since and love our “small ski mountain with a big heart”.
A local small business I tell everyone about is… Appalachian Outdoors. My go-to place for outdoor gear and clothes!
Our area’s best seasonal tradition is… Townie Takeover Nights!
Downtown State College’s cutest shop is… The Makery Market!! Love the mission behind it and all the beautiful handcrafted items you can find there.
The Local Experience
We live in… College Heights and it truly feels like a neighborhood in the best sense of the word. People stop to chat, look out for each other, and are always willing to help. Being able to walk or bike downtown makes it even better.
The 3 things I’d miss most about State College if I had to move are…
1. Friends, neighbors and our amazing community overall. I feel so much love for everyone I have met in State College and feel so blessed to be surrounded by supportive and kind people.
2. Nature around us: being able to go for a bike ride, hike, sit at a lake, ski — all within a short drive (or bike ride) is amazing. Not sure if I could live without that.
3. What I love most is the sense of potential. State College is already special, but there’s a shared energy among people here to keep building and improving it. You see it in the arts, in the new restaurants and cafés, and in the growing lineup of events like the Ironman Triathlon and UTMB World Series.
One community I couldn’t live without here is… the outdoor community. I love the cycling community and generally all the people you meet in the woods: runners, bikers, hikers! I was on ski patrol at Tussey Mountain for a while and also truly love the community of Tussey. Whether you learn to ski, have kids who learn to ski or do the race team, it’s a wonderful and welcoming place for all.
A neighboring town that I love to explore is… Bellefonte. Great boutiques and restaurants.
Looking to the Future
A business I’d be thrilled to see open in State College is… more places downtown that are fun for teenagers to shop or hang out at.
My hope for the State College of the future is… that it remains a welcoming, inclusive community—one where everyone has access to affordable living, meaningful work, and safe, easy ways to get around, whether by public transportation, walking, or biking. I would love to see a greener downtown with car free streets, lots of cafes and fun hangout spots!
If I could wave a magic wand and ensure that one local business/amenity/resource would be around forever, it would be… So many great organizations but I will go with Centre LGBT+ for all the important work they do to support and uplift marginalized groups.
