LEWISTOWN — The new year had already begun to settle in across Mifflin County when Lewistown welcomed its first baby of 2026.

At 2:05 p.m. on Jan. 2, Rebecca and Isaac Staley of Lewistown celebrated the arrival of their daughter, Cora Anne Staley, at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, officially marking her as the county’s first baby of the year.

Cora arrived healthy and strong, weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 21½ inches long. With bright eyes and a calm presence, she brought a warm, joyful moment to the Staley family and to the community eager to celebrate its first newborn of 2026.

Though the birth came a day after the holiday excitement had quieted, the moment felt no less special. The Staleys spent the afternoon simply taking in their daughter — her long fingers, her steady breathing, the way she seemed to settle instantly when held against her mother’s chest. Their hospital room was filled with the quiet awe that comes with welcoming a first child.

The couple had long imagined what it would feel like to welcome their first child, but nothing quite prepared them for the stillness and joy of those first

hours together.

Even in the midst of their celebration, the family expressed gratitude for the support surrounding them.

The hospital staff seemed almost as excited to share in the moment. “We’re thrilled to start the new year with such a joyful occasion,” said Stacey Osborne, vice president and chief nursing officer at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital. “Welcoming the first baby of the year is always special, and we’re honored to be part of this family’s milestone.”

Geisinger extended its best wishes to the Staley family on the birth of their first child and recognized the exceptional team who helped make the experience smooth and memorable. But the moment — the memory — belongs to the parents who began 2026 with a new life in their arms.

For the Staleys, the start of the new year will forever be marked by the quiet wonder of that January afternoon. As the rest of the county eased into its routines, the couple was beginning a chapter they had dreamed about for years. They spoke about the hopes they already carry for their daughter — that she grows up kind, curious and grounded in the same Mifflin County communities that shaped them.

“Since I grew up in Allensville, and she (Becca) grew up in Reedsville-Belleville,” Isaac said.

The tradition of celebrating the first baby of the year is a long-standing one in Mifflin County, a moment that blends small-town pride with the universal hope that comes with new beginnings. In a community where families often span generations and neighbors celebrate each other’s milestones, the arrival of the New Year’s baby is more than a headline. It’s a reminder of continuity, resilience, and the quiet joys that anchor life in the Juniata Valley.

As 2026 begins, Lewistown starts the year with a reason to smile — a healthy baby girl born on a peaceful winter afternoon, a family beginning its story, and a community reminded once again that every new year brings its own small miracles.

Welcome to the world, Cora Anne. Lewistown is glad you’re here.