State College dancer and choreographer Ann Van Kuren comes from the generation of dance instruction that revered a solid ballet technique. Modern dance styles weren’t even included in the lessons. It wasn’t until college that she fell under the spell of modern, expressive dance.

When Amy Debach moved to Bellefonte in 2006, she was enthralled with the duality of the area — rural yet metro, culturally diverse yet deeply rooted in history. It’s a mix that invited involvement and has kept her here for close to two decades. She spoke to [Bellefonte.com] about the best ways to volunteer and what everyone needs to check out while they are in town. Read on!

“We never intended to stay here,” Troy Weston and Melissa Hombosky said about their move to Happy Valley in 2002. “We just forgot to leave.” There seems to be a little more to the story than forgetting to leave.

The pandemic was the spark that New York City content creator Corey Beasley needed to start his own video production business — in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania.

The unofficial rule of thumb is that each region gets to boast one resident puppet master, and you’ve probably seen the name: Adam Swartz Puppets.

Who is Corey Elbin?

Audibly speaking, he is DJ Elbow Knee Knee, audio mixologist and one of Happy Valley’s fastest-rising community figures. He is a curator of all-vinyl musicscapes for book release events, all-age dance parties, yoga salutations and baby raves. He also collaborates with Open Music, a project ensemble of musical humanists who celebrate today’s avant-garde artists.

After Sarah Anne Wharton graduated from Juniata College, she launched to Maine, New Mexico and Brooklyn, New York, never expecting to land back in Central Pennsylvania. Today, she proudly calls herself a Happy Valley local. She’s a champion for the area’s unique mix of outdoor adventure, vibrant research and — as communications specialist for the Palmer Museum of Art — art for everyone.

In opening Juana’s Cuisine in downtown State College, owner Ady Martinez wanted to bring more than Venezuelan food and culture to Happy Valley, PA. She wanted to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who walk through the door of the cozy, lively restaurant on Fraser Street.

If you visit Philipsburg and make your way to the new Moshannon Valley Heritage Center (we highly recommend that you do!), you’ll inevitably run into Tom Laird. He is, after all, a lifelong Philipsburg resident, original member of The Cold Stream Beach Bums, and can regale you with stories of old dams, forgotten ruins, hollows and hills of the area. “It sings to me,” he says.