In this month’s Good Life in Happy Valley, we start a new year by featuring what will be a new face to many of our readers.

Jorge Jovel is a man living a double life. He’s a BMX bike rider who travels the globe to compete against the world’s best extreme sports athletes. But he’s also a a fledgling graphic artist, honing his talents at South Hills School of Business and Technology.

I hope you’ll enjoy learning what drives Jovel, a man willing to abandon the safe path in life to pursue his dream, yet wise enough to plan for his future. In the Q&A, we’ll feature Alan Payne, president of Penn State’s Forum on Black Affairs, who talks about the challenge of improving the campus environment for black students, faculty and staff — and the opportunity for change brought about by recent events.

Our Living Local feature this month showcases Bellefonte weaver Jill Curley, who works her looms to transform wool and cotton into scarves, blankets and rugs. We also talked with the “Pennsylvania Rambler,” an amateur historian whose love of history and visiting out-of-the-way places has found an outlet in his blog, featuring offbeat stories of history and folklore from around the region. And we spotlight the Logan Mills Covered Bridge. It’s the closest covered bridge to State College, and the 30-mile trip is a journey back in time.

Finally, we recall the spirit of the holidays in On the Scenes, featuring the holiday wreath and art sale of the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania, and the always delicious State College Hadassah Food Fair.

Please enjoy Good Life in the new year.

Susan Leath is president and publisher of the Centre Daily Times.