Bellefonte Area School District

Some Bellefonte Area Middle School art students had the chance to put their creativity to the test by making ornaments and helping decorate the Bonfatto's christmas tree that owner Sherri Letterman is sponsoring for the Bellefonte Lights Winter Market. And on Dec. 12, student members of the middle school's art club got to help with the process.

The winter market is an annual European-style, open-air market held during the Bellefonte Victorian Christmas event. In its inaugural year, last December, the market saw up to about 2,000 attendees, according to the event's website.

Ornaments will also be for sale at Bonfatto's Italian Market and Corner Cafe on West High Street in downtown Bellefonte, which proceeds from the sales will directly benefit the Papa Noel Program. The campaign is one at BAMS, which middle school art teacher Nicole Tucker said provides gifts for students who otherwise might not receive a gift during the holiday season.

Tucker said the opportunity came for her students due to a connection with Letterman through their collaboration on a community and school art project called "I love Bellefonte," where eighth-grade students will paint their favorite location or share a memory of living in the Bellefonte area. There will eventually be an opening to display the artwork in Bonfatto's gallery.

With the Christmas tree project, Tucker added that Letterman recently reached out to see if student members of the middle school's Art Club would make ornaments and help decorate the tree for the annual event.