Take a hike with regional group
The Otzinachson Regional Group of the Sierra Club and the Edward Abbey Hiking Society will hold a number of hikes throughout the region in the fall.
They are open to the public, but hikers must contact the hike leader prior to the event. Participants are advised to bring lunch and water on every hike.
Hikes will be held:
Today - Sierra Club Gathering, R.B. Winter State Park, Union County. The Otzinachson Group is having an informal membership get-together from 2 to 4 p.m. at the park's Pavilion No. 1. A hike might be held earlier in the day by Roy Fontaine. For more information, email Jack Miller at jmiller1018@yahoo.com.
Sept. 23 - Loyalsock Trail, Lycoming County, 13.5 miles, strenuous. Hike from Miller Road to Route 87 and see views of the Loyalsock Creek Valley from Smith's Knob. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Minit Mart/Sovereign Bank parking lot along Route 87 (off of Route 220) in Montoursville. Leader: Roy Fontaine, 220-4707.
Sept. 30 - Gillespie Point Figure 8 Loop, Tioga County, 11 miles, strenuous. From Blackwell, we will climb to the top of Pennsylvania's Matterhorn, Gillespie Point, with fine views of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. After looping back to Blackwell, we will continue on the Bohen Run Falls Trail to the West Rim Trail, then back to Blackwell on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. Meet at parking lot behind Lewisburg Post Office at 7:45 a.m. or boat launch parking lot in Blackwell at 9:30. Leader: Duane Button, 596-3454.
Learn how to safely use a chain saw
DANVILLE - The Central Susquehanna Woodland Owners Association will hold a "Chain saw Techniques and Safety Demonstration" at 1:30 p.m. today at the Cole Woodlands, near here in Point Township, Northumberland County.
The demonstration, which is open to the public, presents tree felling techniques, basic bar and chain maintenance, the art of chain sharpening, basic chain saw operating procedures and safety equipment to use when operating chain saws. It is designed for the forest landowner with minimal to moderate prior chain saw experience.
Gerald Hoy, service forester for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will lead the demonstration.
For more information and directions, contact Henry Williams at CSWOA1@gmail.com or 458-0157.
The Central Susquehanna Woodland Owners Association is open to anyone interested in sound woodland management.
Speaker to discuss gardening
HUGHESVILLE - The Black Hole and Muncy creeks watershed associations will hold a free, public program at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Hughesville Library.
Reg Laughner, gardener extraordinaire, will do a presentation about "Natural Conditioners for Great Garden Soil."
The Muncy Creek Watershed Association will hold its monthly meeting following the program.
For more information, call Becky Sanguedolce at 547-6289.
Fly fishing program planned for women
BELLEFONTE - Friday is the last day to register for a women's fly fishing program that will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22 at the state Fish and Boat Commission's Stackhouse Facility along Fly Fisherman's Paradise, 1150 Spring Creek Road.
It is for women who are interested in "getting their feet wet" with the sport of fly fishing. They will learn about the basics of equipment, knot tying, flies, casting and fishing.
Registration is required by visiting fishandboat.com/fish-fundamentals.htm.
For more information, contact Amidea Daniel at adaniel@pa.gov or 814-359-5127.
See 'Images of the Susquehanna' photos
BLOOMSBURG - Join the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Moose Exchange, 203 W. Main St., for the "Images of the Susquehanna" photo gallery reception, featuring the winning images from last year's photo contest. The casual, fun evening features stunning photography, light refreshments, entertainment, a photography presentation and river-themed readings. It is free and open to the public.
Doug Brubaker, of Looking Back Studio, will present his professional landscape photography and provide simple tips for improving your own outdoor photos. Local authors and poets, Melanie Simms and David Bowman, will share river-related poetry and readings that will inspire budding photographers and river enthusiasts alike. Learn about the Susquehanna Greenway - the largest greenway in Pennsylvania - from the partnership's board and staff.
Stay after the reception for the Short Film Festival from the Box of Light Studio. The festival is an opportunity to promote local filmmaking and is open to professionals and amateurs of all ages.
Rail trail committee to meet
WATERVILLE - The Pine Creek Rail Trail Advisory Committee meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in the conference room at the Tiadaghton State Forest Resource Management Center.
For more information, contact the Tiadaghton State Forest District Office at 753-5409 or fd12@pa.gov.
Mother Earth News Fair planned at Pa. resort
SEVEN SPRINGS - Seven Springs Mountain Resort will host the third annual Mother Earth News Fair on Sept. 21-23.
Dozens of hands-on workshops will cover organic gardening, real food, renewable energy, small-scale livestock, green building and remodeling, do-it-yourself projects, natural health, green transportation and related topics. Sustainable and rural lifestyle experts from across the country will lead the sessions.
Nationally known keynote speakers will offer attendees a broader perspective on today's environmental issues, including:
Animal welfare activist Dr. Temple Grandin will teach attendees how animals think and feel to create strategies for improving their overall welfare.
Organic farmer and author Joel Salatin will discuss ways to use technology to regain a relationship with our food, energy, water, air, soil, fabric and shelter.
Barbara Pleasant, a Mother Earth News contributing editor, will share how to become more self-sufficient and save money by growing crops that store well.
Self-taught fermentation expert and author Sandor Katz will show attendees the scope of fermentation beyond food and beverages.
Food historian Dr. William Woys Weaver will cover the history and nutritional ramifications of heirloom food plants. Weaver owns the Roughwood Seed Collection in Devon and is a Mother Earth News contributing editor.
In addition to workshops, the fair will host an heirloom seed display, children's activities, vendor and livestock demonstrations, a green shopping pavilion, and local and organic food options.
Adult tickets cost $30 for the weekend or $15 for a one-day pass in advance, or $35 and $20, respectively, at the gate. Children 17 and under get in free.
To purchase advance tickets, go to www.MotherEarthNewsFair.com or call toll-free 800-234-3368.
Gates will open at noon Sept. 21 and close at 7 p.m. The fair hours will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 22 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 23.
Game commissioners plan quarterly meeting
FRANKLIN - The state Board of Game Commissioners will hold its final quarterly meeting of 2012 on Sept. 24-25 in the Venango Room of the Quality Inn and Conference Center, 1411 Liberty St., in Venango County.
On Sept. 24, the board will gather public comments and hear Game Commission staff reports beginning at 8:30 a.m. Doors to the meeting room will open at 7:45. Registration for those interested in offering public testimony also will begin at that time.
On Sept. 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the commission will take up its prepared agenda, which will be posted on the agency's website prior to the meeting. Doors to the meeting room will open at 7:45.
The meeting will be videotaped and rebroadcast through the agency's website, www.pgc.state.pa.us, at a later date.
Learn about raptors at Audubon meeting
At 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26, the Lycoming Audubon Society will meet in the Lowry Room of the James V. Brown Library. The guest speaker is Joe Yoder, of Williamsport, who will present a program on identifying the raptor species commonly found in the Northeast, with an emphasis on what to look for at hawk watches. The presentation will feature raptor photographs taken by Meredith Lombard, of Lancaster County.
Yoder and Lombard are avid birders and hawk-watchers who have served as volunteer observers each fall for many years at Pennsylvania Audubon's Waggoner's Gap Hawk Watch near Carlisle. They participate annually in the Winter Raptor Survey conducted by the Hawk Migration Association of North America.
For several years, Yoder served as compiler for a spring hawk watch he started at North White Deer Ridge in Lycoming County. Observations there confirmed that golden eagles are using the migration corridor near Williamsport on their way to nesting sites in Canada. In 2007, Lombard discovered a peregrine falcon pair nesting on a bridge near Columbia on the lower Susquehanna. She has extensively monitored and photographed their activities since then.
More information about the meeting and program may be found at the Lycoming Audubon Society website, www.lycoming.org/audubon.
Game Commission to conduct game farm tours
The state Game Commission will offer public tours of its four pheasant game farms in Armstrong, Crawford and Lycoming counties from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 30, rain or shine.
Tour stops will include hatcheries, brooder houses, and rearing, "grow-out" and over-wintering pens. Workshop discussions will focus on objectives in propagation management, including sportsmen's organizations participating in raising day-old chicks provided by the farms to increase local hunting opportunities and surplus day-old hen chicks that are sold to the public. Also, after registration and before taking the tour, visitors may view a brief DVD highlighting farm operations throughout the year.
When visitors arrive, they will register before game farm personnel take them on a guided tour. In order to maintain biosecurity and minimize human contact with the birds, visitors must remain with tour groups.
For directions to the game farms, visit www.pgc.state.pa.us or call the particular regional office.
PA Wilds plans annual trails conference
BRADFORD - The 2012 PA Wilds Trails Conference will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The theme is "Land and Water Trails: Trailing Across the PA Wilds, Strengthening Connections."
It is designed for revitalization partners, small businesses and trail advocates. Attendees will meet the members of the newly formed PA Trails Advisory Committee and will learn:
About the benefits of forming a regional trail group;
About trail startups;
About advanced trail design;
How to promote and market a trail using social media and trail apps; and
How to map a trail.
For more information, visit www.PAwildsResources.org.
Outdoor 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 outdoors@sungazette.com
Dropped off at the Sun-Gazette office, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport
Submitted through the Outdoor section of the Virtual Newsroom on the paper's website, www.sungazette.com.
All submissions must contain the name, telephone number and, if available, an email for a contact person.
Photographs by area residents of trophy fish or game animals or other interesting outdoor occurrences also will be considered. Digital photos may be sent by email.
Hard-copy glossy prints, negatives or slides may be dropped off or mailed. Polaroid prints typically cannot be reprinted in the newspaper.
Only photos sent with a stamped, self-addressed envelope will be returned.
Announcements published in the "Outdoor Briefs" section will print in chronological order as space permits.
The Outdoors section is published weekly on Sundays, but it goes to print early on Wednesday mornings.
Therefore, all information for publication on any given Sunday must be submitted by noon on the Monday prior.
For more help, call 326-1551, ext. 3116.
