High school teacher behind creation of Bellefonte Zine

Operating Bellefonte Zine is a job Carla Cipro does in her spare time. And even when the longtime Bellefonte Area High School video production teacher finds herself working after work, she said it’s still rewarding.

Cipro created the online magazine that regularly highlights everything there is to love about the area. Featuring all things Bellefonte and Nittany Valley, Cipro said she most enjoys learning about the region she lives in through the people that make it what it is.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s nice to learn about the different businesses and history since Bellefonte is really thriving right now,” she said.

The idea to create the web-based publication came more than a year ago after working with students on a magazine cover project. Her husband Chris Cipro, also a teacher in the district, then gave her just the push she needed to get it started.

“I thought Bellefonte should have something, so he was like, ‘why don’t you just do it?’ and I was like ‘OK!’” she said with a laugh. “It was slow at the beginning, but it’s really starting to kick off. I would love to get to a point where I could publish it. I love the online feature, but would also love to be able to hold something.”

Bellefonte Zine was first published online in May with about 1,000 digital viewers, and highlights a variety of stories and columns including business features, and information on the arts, finance, health and wellness, outdoor living and more. Most of the content is written by Cipro, with help from local contributors.

It also includes an event calendar, a dining guide and is often theme-based each month.