Author: Jules Slater

LEWISTOWN, Pa. — In recognition of American Heart Month, Geisinger will host a free community blood pressure screening and heart health awareness event on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Geisinger School of Nursing in Lewistown. Community members can take advantage of this convenient opportunity to have their blood pressure checked and learn practical tips for maintaining heart‑healthy habits.

Geisinger clinicians will conduct blood pressure screenings. Educational materials, including medication cards and blood pressure tracking cards, will be available to help participants better understand and manage their heart health.

“Our goal during Heart Month is provide easy, accessible, personalized information about hypertension,” said Geisinger nephrologist Stacy Andersen, M.D., Ph.D. “High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. So simple screenings like this can help people take control of their heart health.”

In addition to screenings, attendees will receive heart‑themed giveaways, including pill organizers and magnets, while supplies last. Refreshments will also be available.

Adding a special community touch, homemade Valentine’s cards created by students at Lewistown Intermediate School will be shared with attendees, reinforcing the message of caring for hearts — both physically and emotionally.

The event is free and open to the public, and no appointment is required.

About Geisinger 

Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues across 163 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 500 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With more than 27,000 employees, including 1,800 employed physicians and 5,200 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers, having an estimated economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state’s economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Applications now OPEN

Applications for two of our more popular Arts Festival events are now open!

The Children & Youth Day Sidewalk Sale is sponsored by AAUW State College, and the event is a fun way for boys and girls to develop both their artistic and entrepreneurial potential.

Artists aged 8 through 18 who live in, or have relatives in the following counties – Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin and Union – are eligible to participate.

Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale rules prohibit the sale of work made from kits, offensive and defensive weapons, the sale of services like face painting or hair braiding, the use of trademarked characters or products—like the Nittany Lion and Minecraft—in artist’s work, and the sale of food. All work must be original. A complete listing of the rules can be found in the application. Please review the rules carefully as they may have changed since you last participated in the event.

The 2026 preferred application method is a digital google form which is linked on our website: https://arts-festival.com/children-and-youth.

The application deadline is Friday, May 29, 2026. No exceptions will be made! Applications may also be printed and mailed (postmarked by May 29th) or hand-delivered to the Festival office until 5:00 p.m. on May 29th. Late applications will NOT be accepted. Applications are only considered complete when booth payment is made either online or by check.

For additional information on how to participate, visit: https://arts-festival.com/children-and-youth.

The Banner Exhibition and Competition is one of the signature events of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. The Festival is proud to display past and present banners annually. Our banners will hang over the Festival route, adding color and movement to the festive atmosphere.

The 2026 banner competition application deadline is Friday, June 12, 2026.

For more information on how to participate, visit: https://arts-festival.com/banners.

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts looks forward to showcasing the talent and creativity of Pennsylvania’s artists, young and old.

The exhibition is just one facet of the 60^th Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, which will be held July 8 through July 12, 2026.  Watch for more information at https://arts-festival.com/.

The Arts Festival receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and additional grant support from the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and Centre County Commissioners.