OUT & ABOUT
Otzinachson group, society plan hikes
The Otzinachson Regional Group of the Sierra Club and the Edward Abbey Hiking Society will hold a number of hikes throughout the region.
They are open to the public, but hikers should contact the hike leader prior to the event. Participants are advised to bring lunch and water on every hike. Snacks are optional.
Hikes will be held:
• Today: Golden Eagle Trail, Lycoming County. This 10.5-mile hike is considered strenuous but boasts excellent views. Meet at 7:50 a.m. at the Santander Bank parking lot, Southern Avenue between Market and Hastings streets (Route 15) in South Williamsport or at the trail parking lot along Route 414 at 8:50 a.m. Leader Roy Fontaine may be called at 570-220-4707.
• Saturday: Loyalsock Trail, Sullivan County. This easy to moderate hike covers 6.5 miles from Sones Pond to the end of the trail on Route 220 via the Haystacks. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the McDonald’s in Hughesville. Leader Roy Fontaine may be called at 570-220-4707.
• May 14: Water Authority Trails in DuBoistown, Lycoming County. Dogs are not permitted on his 6-mile moderate hike. Directions: In DuBoistown, pass the Maynard Street Bridge on the right and continue west on Riverside Drive. Turn left at Valley Inn Road (at the Valley Inn Restaurant), go 1 mile and turn left toward Mosquito Valley Road, where the road is a Y and a curve. Continue straight for 1.5 miles and meet at water authority parking lot entrance on the left at 10:30 a.m. Leader Michele Brague may be called at 570-220-6474.
Hunter education class set
JERSEY SHORE — A hunter-trapper training class will be held 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Northcentral Regional Office of the state Game Commission, 1566 Route 44.
Students must attend both classes and pass a certification exam. to receive a safety card.
Students may register at the commission’s website under “Education” and by the date and location of the class.
For more details, call Max Farley at 570-337-8750.
Take a hike under the full moon
TUNKHANNOCK — The Endless Mountains Nature Center, 1309 Vosburg Road, will hold a series of full moon hikes this year at its grounds in Wyoming County.
The center’s naturalist will lead each 90-minute hike on trails in the area. All ages are welcome.
Hikes are planned to begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. June 9, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5, 6 p.m. Nov. 4 and 5 p.m. Dec. 3.
Hikes will not be held in July or August.
For more information, contact the center at EMNCinfo@yahoo.com or 570-836-3835.
Central PA Spring Outdoor Show set
MILL HALL — The second annual Central Pennsylvania Spring Outdoor Show will be held from Friday through next Sunday at Bill’s Happy Camper RV Sales & Service, 15 N. Water St. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. May 14. Admission and parking are free.
A variety of vendors will be onsite, including Bill’s Happy Camper, Miller’s Gun Shop and Dotterer Equipment. Food vendors, informational seminars and entertainment will round out the show.
A concealed carry session will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday by Clinton County Sheriff Kerry Stover and District Attorney David Strouse.
The Outdoor Show also will feature musical entertainment. On Friday evening, the Clark McLane Band will perform, followed by Mama Corn bluegrass band on Saturday afternoon.
For information on the show, visit www.centralpaspringoutdoorshow.com.
NRA group plans fundraising banquet
TROY — The Bradford County Area Friends of the NRA will hold its 20th annual fundraising banquet on Saturday at the Alparon Park exhibit hall on the Troy Fairgrounds. Doors open at 4 p.m., with dinner at 6.
Tickets are available for adults and youth 16 and younger and may be purchased by contacting Kay Miller at 570-954-4669) or dkmill@ptd.net. Tickets also may be purchased from committee members.
Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Proceeds benefit the NRA Foundation, with one-half of the funds going directly to programs in Pennsylvania, especially youth programs. The Youth Hunter Education Challenge; Bradford, Sullivan and Tioga Youth Field Days; Troy, Sayre and Towanda gun clubs; and 4-H Shooting Sports Programs have received grants as a result.
For more details, contact Jerry Frantz at 570-297-5104 or jfrantz@epix.net.
Master Gardeners plan host of programs
The Penn State Master Gardeners of Lycoming County are planning several educational programs for the public this year.
Unless otherwise noted, the programs will be held in the Chapel Room of the Lysock Complex, 542 County Farm Road in Loyalsock Township.
Registration is required by the date listed and may be made by calling the Cooperative Extension Office at 570-433-3040 or going online to http://extension.psu.edu/lycoming/events and clicking on the event.
Programs include:
• Container Gardening, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday; free. Almost anything can be grown in any type of container if you know the basics. Learn how this form of gardening can bring accessibility, ease and new dimensions to your garden year round. Register by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
• What’s “Growing” on in the Garden, 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the demonstration gardens outside the Lysock Complex; free. Join the Master Gardeners for an informal walk-and-talk on what’s growing — or not — in the gardens and how to handle problems. Learn what pests, practices and produce are in the garden and discover tips and tricks to get the most from your gardens. Bring a sample of mystery weeds, bugs or plant disease. Come and go anytime during the hour. Master Gardeners also will be onsite on June 10, July 8, Aug. 12 (Gardenfest), Sept. 9 and Oct. 14. Meet in the gardens, rain or shine.
Anglers club to stock trout
The Lycoming Creek Anglers Club will stock trout on May 20, 27 and April 8 in Lycoming Creek. The public is invited to help.
On May 20, the group will meet at 8:30 a.m. at its nursey on Fox Run Road in Bodines, and on May 27 at 9 a.m. and the Trout Run Fire Hall.
On April 8, the club will meet at 9 a.m. at the Trout Run Fire Co. parking lot to stock trout that have been purchased from Cedar Springs Trout Hatchery.
Watershed group plans fishing derby
The Black Hole Creek Watershed Association is preparing for its annual Black Hole Creek Fishin’ Derby, which will be held from 10 a.m. to noon May 20 at the Bower Street bridge area in front of Riverside Campground on Main Street in Montgomery. Note the later start time.
A prize drawing and food will be available.
For more information, call Becky Sanguedolce at 570-547-6289.
Register now for Upper Pine Creek trout derby
Anglers who register by May 1 for the 27th annual Upper Pine Creek Trout Tournament will save $5 on the fee for adults.
The tournament, which is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon Snowmobile Club, will be held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 20 and from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 21 along a 13-mile stretch of Pine Creek between the Mill Street Bridge in Galeton Borough and the Ansonia Bridge in Shippen Township.
Up to $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded.
Anglers much have a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and must observe and obey landowners’ rights. Trespassing and littering are not allowed.
Registration may be done by visiting www.pagrandcanyonsnowmobileclub.com and downloading a registration form. Many businesses in Tioga County also have forms; call 570-724-7417 or 570-724-2888 for details.
Tour planned of deer farm in Schuylkill County
ZION GROVE — At 1:30 p.m. May 21, the Central Susquehanna Woodland Owners Association will sponsor a public program titled “Deer Habitat/Deer Farm Tour” at Dogwood Whitetails, 124D Greenhouse Lane.
Dogwood Whitetails’ farm manager Mike Schlauch will discuss whitetail deer farming and management. Deer hunting is a multibillion-dollar industry nationwide and the demand for high quality breeding stock for hunting clubs across the U.S. is very high. The tour will present a much different aspect of whitetail deer management than what most people normally see.
Dogwood Whitetails is a family-operated business that officially began in December 2010. It is chronic wasting disease monitored, tuberculosis certified and brucellosis accredited. It specializes in selling top quality shooter bucks, breeder bucks, fawns and does.
The tour will traverse terrain such as rolling pastures, but walking will be minimal because utility-terrain vehicles will be available. There is no charge for the tour.
For more information, contact Henry Williams at CSWOA1@gmail.com or 570-458-0157.
Learn how coffee affects birds
At 6:30 p.m. May 24, the Lycoming Audubon Society will present a program on “Bird Friendly Coffee” with Laura Jackson, president of the Juniata Valley Audubon Society
In the last 50 years, more than 40 migratory songbird species that breed and spend the summer in the United States — such as warblers, orioles and tanagers –have had their wintering areas in Central and South America clear cut for coffee farms. But, coffee does not require deforestation and Jackson will explain what we can do to help protect the declining populations of the neotropical migrants.
The free presentation follows the society’s meeting at 6 p.m. at the James V. Brown Library’s Lowry Room on the third floor of the Welch Wing, 19 E. Fourth St. Both are open to the public.
State forest to hold
2 hikes to celebrate PA Hiking Week
The Loyalsock State Forest will hold two hikes to celebrate PA Hiking Week.
The first will be held at the Loyalsock Trail starting at its northern terminus on Mead Road just off Route 220.
The roughly 4-mile hike will feature Dutchman’s Falls, the Haystack Rapids and the historic W&NB Railroad grade. There will be opportunities to discuss forest-related topics and the history of the area. While the hike is relatively short, there are a few difficult stretches.
Hikers should meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. May 27 and should bring water and a snack or lunch.
The second hike will be led at the popular Jacoby Falls Trail. The trailhead is found at the Cotner Farm Parking Area along Wallis Run Road.
Hikers should meet at the trailhead at 9:30 a.m. June 4 and should bring water and a snack.
The hike will be about 3 miles and highlights will include wildflowers and the tranquil 29-foot Jacoby Falls. There will be opportunities to discuss history of the Wallis Run area and forest-related topics. While the hike is relatively flat and easy, there are rocky sections of the trail with rough footing and there is some flood damage to the area.
Due to flood damage to Wallis Run Road, interested participants are encouraged to call ahead for information on a detoured route to the trailhead.
For more information, email fd20@pa.gov or call 570-946-4049, ext. 210
Youth fishing
derby planned
The Lycoming Creek Anglers Club will hold a children’s fishing derby on June 3 at the Sheshequin campgrounds, 7 miles north of Trout Run on Route 14 at the Marsh Hill bridge.
Children up to age 13 are eligible to participate. The derby will be held rain or shine, and the area is handicap accessible.
Ken Helm, owner of the campground, will have sites available to rent.
Four age groups will be allowed to fish at different times.
Race the Smith’s Knob Scramble Trail
The Mid Penn Trailblazers will hold an 8-mile trail race at 9 a.m. June 10 at Camp Conley, 15 miles north of Montoursville.
The race follows portions of the Loyalsock Trail over the steep Smith’s Knob.
Awards will be given in 10-year age groups up to 60 and older. Race shirts to all who register in advance; limited quantities will be available on race day.
A registration fee applies and runners can save $5 by registering prior to the day of the event. Proceeds will benefit Boy Scouts of America Troop 21, of Montoursville.
For more information and a race application, visit http://midpenntrailblazers.com/trail-race-events/Smiths-knob-scramble/smithknob.htm or send an email to dmshoe61@verizon.net.=