Karen Dabney

For seven weeks each spring, Centre County’s Lenten Ecumenical Choir brings together singers of diverse faiths and experience to practice music that reflects the spirit of the season and to share it with the community.

When teacher Denise Kaminsky decided to write children’s books for young, reluctant readers, she chose the most inspiring hero she could think of for the children of Penn Staters — the Nittany Lion.

Some folks celebrate with a few decorations. Others go all out to create holiday wonderlands. And some collectors make Christmas the focus of their collecting.

The Music Academy in State College is celebrating 60 years of music instruction for students of all ages and abilities.

Author Julia Whicker of State College never dreamed she would start a handcrafted paper flowers business. Although her parents and sister are artists, she viewed her youthful artistic efforts as “kids’ stuff” and left that behind to pursue a career in writing literary fiction. “It’s the hardest thing you can do,” Whicker says of writing…