OUT & ABOUT
Garden tour is today
MIFFLINBURG — The Mifflinburg Garden Tour will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. today, and tickets may be purchased at the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum, 598 Green St. The tour proceeds benefit the museum.
Brochures provided with tickets will guide visitors from garden to garden, several of which will feature refreshments, experts and artisans.
This is the first year that the garden tour will stretch from Mifflinburg, with Keith and Meg Phelps garden, to Montandon and the gardens of Keith and Cindy Orndorf.
Among the other gardens are those of:
• The Denio family and the Newton-Dreher family. Alfred Denio’s garden includes plants from Longwood Gardens, a winter garden and 20 maples of all sizes, varieties and colors. The Newton-Dreher garden includes a tropical feel with canna lilies, a palm tree and ornamental grasses. Leanne Keefer-Bechdel, owner of That Fish Girl Aquarium and Pond Services, will be on hand to discuss ichthyology and interior and exterior ecosystems.
• Copper Beech Manor, a bed-and-breakfast owned by Bill and Linda Petry, has a backyard filled with a koi pond, dogwoods, a southern magnolia and a variety of perennials.
• The combined gardens of Stephen Lindenmuth and Cliff and Ruth Melberger. Originally one property when the first house was built in 1855, the grounds included a carriage house and stable. The gardens retain an intimate, “in town” feel with formal bushes and colorful flowers.
• The Orndorfs’ raised and traditional beds host vegetables from asparagus to zucchini, as well as apples, cherries, raspberries and blueberries. The grounds include an imaginative fairy garden and hardscape areas for relaxing and entertaining. Alex Haines, currently apprenticing with Sterling Fine Furniture, will be in the garden with his furniture creations.
The Mifflinburg Buggy Museum preserves the only intact 19th century carriage factory open to the public in the United States. The complex includes a modern visitor center, the Heiss family home, a reconstructed carriage house with cars, the original buggy factory and the buggy showroom. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. from the first Thursday in April to the last Sunday in October. An admission is charged for guided tours of the historic buildings.
For more information, see www.buggymuseum.org or www.facebook.com/Mifflinburg-Buggy-Museum.
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: Hairy Johns Loop, Union County. This 10-mile, strenuous hike begins at Hairy Johns, moves north on the Mid State Trail to Pine Creek Hollow Road, then loops back on a variety of trails. Highlights include the Hook Natural Area and Winkleblech Mountain Vista. Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking lot behind the Lewisburg post office or 9:45 at Hairy Johns Picnic Area pavilion along Route 45, west of Hartleton. Leader Paul Shaw may be reached at pshaw@ptd.net or 717-215-8339.
• Saturday: Quehanna Trail & Old Sinnamahoning Trail, Cameron County, 9 miles, moderate-strenuous. The group will start at the parking lot at the Quehanna Highway-Wycoff Run Road intersection and eventually traverse an improved section of Quehanna Trail upon which the Keystone Trails Association did side hill work on last fall. Meet at the Quality Inn New Columbia on Route 15, just south of Interstate 80 at 7:30 a.m. or parking lot of Snow Shoe Restaurant, exit 147 on I-80 at 8:45. Leader Tony Robbins may be reached at 570-939-2244 or tony.robbins@excellservices.com.
• July 22: T-Squared Trail, Lycoming and Clinton counties, 11 miles, strenuous. The T2T, named in honor of Tom Thwaites, connects two of the state’s premier hiking trails, the Black Forest and Donut Hole. The group will access the T2T by hiking in on the Black Forest Trail off Route 44 and ending at Hyner Run State Park via the Donut Hole Trail. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking area of the Harvest Moon Restaurant on Route 220, west of Williamsport. Leaders Catherine McLaughlin and Ed Lawrence may be reached at 570-925-5285.
• Looking ahead — Sept. 10: OTZ In The Park. The Otzinachson Group of the Sierra Club’s annual get-together will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. in Pavilion 1 at R.B. Winter State Park. Details to follow.
Museum offers free cave trip
The Junior Museum of Central Pennsylvania is sponsoring a free Tytoona Cave trip on Monday. The event, best for ages 5 and up, will be led by a geologist.
Those who are interested should meet at 5:30 p.m. outside the OLV Activity Center, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College. The group will car pool to the cave near Tyrone and will return by 8:30 p.m.
Bring headlamps, flashlights, old clothes, jackets, and boots or a change of shoes.
Everyone is welcome. Students should be accompanied by a parent.
For more information, call Dr. Andrew Sicree at 814-867-6263 or email him at sicree@verizon.net.
Great Island Race Series planned
LOCK HAVEN — The Great Island Race Series, to be held at the Woodward Township Boat Launch, 316 Coudersport Pike, offers participants three events in which to participate. According to the website at www.greatislandraceseries.org, they are:
• Great Island Mini-Adventure Triathlon, a 1K kayak, 8K bike and 2K run race at 6:30 p.m. Friday;
• Great Island Adventure Triathlon, a 5K kayak, 25K bike and 5K run race at 8 a.m. Saturday; and
• Great Island Swim Triathlon, a 750-meter swim, 25K bike and 5K run race also at 8 a.m. Saturday.
The event is sponsored by the Lock Haven Rotary Club, with proceeds benefitting Clinton County nonprofits.
For more information, visit the above website.
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:
• July 7 — First Friday, 5 p.m. to dark. Stop by the Master Gardeners’ table in downtown Williamsport. Materials and topics will vary monthly. The table also will be set up on Aug. 4, Sept. 1 and Oct. 6.
• July 8 — What’s ‘Growing’ on in the Garden, 10 to 11 a.m. 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 will be onsite on July 8, Aug. 12 (Gardenfest), Sept. 9 and Oct. 14. Meet in the gardens, rain or shine.
• July 8 — Christmas in July, 10 a.m. to noon. Plan now on how to use your garden bounty for Christmas gifts. Master Gardener Sharon Miller will provide suggestions on planning now for wonderful homemade gifts to give later. Items such as botanical paper, lavender wands and sachets, pressed flowers, hummingbird feeders, glow-in-the-dark planters, and floral vase wall art will be shown.
• July 15 — Outdoor Grower’s Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by the Master Gardeners’ table at the market on the corner of Hepburn Street and Little League Boulevard. The table also will be set up on Aug. 19., Sept. 16 and Oct. 21.
• July 15 — Conservation Trail Walkabout, 9 to 11 a.m. Learn about native and invasive plants, wildlife, and ticks and how to minimize exposure when out in nature.
Gathering welcomes International truck fans
MUNCY — The fifth annual International Motor Truck Gathering will be held July 8 at the Sones Farm and Home Museum, 92 Industrial Park Road.
Models of International trucks and Scouts from 1907 to the present will be on display. An auction will begin at 2:30 p.m.
The event is hosted by the International Motor Truck Chapter of the ATCA. For more information, call 570-435-064.
Group-fitness event planned in Lewisburg
LEWISBURG — The Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village will host a “Strong & Stable” group-fitness event from 10 to 11 a.m. July 13.
Heather Baranoski, certified group fitness instructor from the new Miller Center for Recreation & Wellness, will lead participants in a total-body senior fitness workout.
For more information, call Gretchen Nash, of the village, at 570-523-4285.
Annual quilt show, exhibition returns to Muncy
MUNCY — The Muncy Historical Society’s annual Quilt Show, featuring more than 120 antique, vintage and traditional quilts representing virtually all styles, will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 14 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 15 at the First United Methodist Church, 602 S. Market St.
Now in its 13th year, the event will be a showcase of spectacular hand and machine workmanship, applique and quilting techniques, reflecting the originality of the makers and their expertise with needle and thread.
For more details, call 570-546-5917.
Rails to trails to hold annual chicken barbecue
MOSHANNON — The Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association will hold its 15th annual chicken barbecue from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 15 at the Gillentown Trailhead, 1145 W. Sycamore Road. It is sponsored by Best Line Powersports.
A meal includes half of a chicken, potato and macaroni salad, baked beans, dinner roll and beverage. It is open to the public and takeouts are available.
The association will sell club memberships, clothing, raffle tickets and 50/50 tickets. Jack’s Snack Shack will sell Hershey’s ice cream.
See www.SSRT.org for more information.
2-day backpacking expedition planned
FORKSVILLE — Worlds End State Park is offering a two-day, hands-on class to introduce women to lightweight backpacking in July.
The “Women in the Woods: Intro to Lightweight Backpacking” class will be held July 29-30. A fee covers gear and food.
The program gets women out on the trail to experience the best the forest has to offer: mountain streams, scenic vistas, fresh air and more. Led by state park naturalists, the trip will follow a modest route that leaves time for participants to learn what they need to know to pursue backpacking on their own.
In addition, a discussion of wilderness safety, backcountry cooking, leave-no-trace ethics and other topics will place around the evening campfire.
Registration is limited. For more information or to register, call Jane Swift at 570-924-1601.
Outdoor and regional events sought
Do you have a meeting or outdoor event you’d like to publicize in the Sun-Gazette?
Announcements must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the date of the event, preferably earlier.
Information and news releases may be:
• Mailed to Outdoor editor, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport PA 17701
• Emailed to region@sungazette.com
• Dropped off at the Sun-Gazette office, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport
• Submitted through the Virtual Newsroom on the paper’s website, www.sungazette.com.
All submissions must contain the name, telephone number and email address of a contact person.
For more help, call 570-326-1551, ext. 3116.