Game Commission to hold public meeting
HARRISBURG - Following up on his commitment to make the workings of the Board of Game Commissioners more open and transparent, state Board of Game Commissioners President Ralph A. Martone announced the board will hold a public working group meeting st 8 a.m. Tuesday in the auditorium of the commission's headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81.
The working group meeting will be webcast live through the agency's website, www.pgc.state.pa.us. The commission's regularly scheduled quarterly meeting still will be held June 25-26.
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The board will receive various staff reports, including a review of the current Wildlife Management Unit system.
"The working groups are strictly an opportunity for the board and Game Commission staff to exchange ideas and information and to ask questions about various proposals that may come before the board at upcoming quarterly meetings," Martone said. "Since no votes are taken during these working group meetings, we have not scheduled time for public comments. However, we will allow for anyone in attendance to submit questions in writing to the board."
Annual cane pole derby set
ROSE VALLEY LAKE - The seventh annual free cane pole fishing derby will be held 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday at Rose Valley Lake. It is sponsored by the Rose Valley/Mill Creek Watershed Association.
The catch-and-release derby, scheduled on a Fish-for-Free Day, is open to all ages but is geared toward anglers under age 16. The first 200 registrants will receive an embroidered patch. All registrants will receive a fishing package that contains a cane pole, bait and instructions, as well as other items.
All anglers must report to derby headquarters at the north access area at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded
For more information, or to obtain a registration form, call Jerry Zeidler at 435-4506.
Take a motorcycle scavenger hunt
Bob's Billtown Bikers Motorcycle Club will sponsor a motorcycle photo scavenger hunt beginning June 1 and concluding on July 28 with a cookout and prizes at Bob Logue Motorsports, 2091 Lycoming Creek Road.
A fee applies.
For complete rules and registration information, stop in at Bob Logue Motorsports or visit www.boblogue.com. For more information, email Curt Cohick at ccohick@verizon.net or call him at 419-0771.
Annual carp fishing derby planned
LINDEN - Big Al's 14th annual Carp Fishing Tournament will be held June 1-3. Anglers must register between 5 and 6:30 p.m. June 1 at the Linden boat ramp, next to Haywoods on the Water.
Fishing is permitted all day June 2 anywhere in the state.
Weigh-in will be held at 11 a.m. June 3.
Anglers must register in two-man teams and follow state fishing laws. A registration fee, which includes the lunker contest, applies.
For more information, call Big Al at 971-8016 or 322-8088.
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 spring and summer.
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.
Hikes will be held:
Saturday - National Trails Day at Woolrich, Clinton County. Celebrate National Trails Day at the Woolrich flagship store with Randy and Sheri Propster and Backpacker Magazine's Get Out More Tour. Woolrich is sponsoring the event to promote the Mid State Trail and the Great Eastern Trail. Various events, workshops and hiking opportunities will be offered. Time to be announced. Contact Ed Lawrence for more information, 925-5285, or cathyed@nationi.net.
June 3 - Old Loggers' Path, Lycoming County, 8.5 miles, moderate to strenuous. Hike the middle section of OLP from Yellow Dog Road to Ellenton Road and back to complete a loop. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the Steam Valley Restaurant on Route 14 just off Route 15, north of Williamsport. Leader: Roy Fontaine, 220-4707.
June 10 - R.B. Winter State Park, Union County, 10 miles, moderate to strenuous. Meet at the park at the breast of the dam along Route 192 at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Joe Rebar, 259-0134.
Anglers club to hold fishing derby
TROUT RUN - The Lycoming Creek Anglers Club will hold a children's fishing derby Saturday at the Sheshequin Campgrounds, north of here on Route 14 at the Marsh Hill Bridge. It will be held rain or shine.
Girls and boys up to age 13 may compete and each will receive a derby prize.
Registration times are:
3-4 years, 8:30 a.m., fishing 9 a.m.-10 a.m.;
5-6 years, 10 a.m., fishing 10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.;
7-9 years, 11:30 a.m., fishing noon-1 p.m.;
10-13 years, 1 p.m., fishing, 1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
Mineral society to hold gemstone garage sale
STATE COLLEGE - The Nittany Mineralogical Society will hold a mineral, gemstone, jewelry and fossil group garage and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 2231 W. Whitehall Road.
A wide range of items, including plenty at low prices, will be available.
From downtown State College, take West College Avenue (state Route 26 South) almost 3 miles to a traffic light at Harner Farms/UniMart/Nissan. Turn right on West Whitehall Road, go 0.3 miles to the first house on the right after Breezewood Drive.
The sale should go on rain or shine, but check the website for updates - www.nittanymineral.org/cal.htm. For more information, email xidg@verizon.net.
Women, get ready for the outdoors
TARENTUM - The Allegheny Valley chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold a Women in the Outdoors event on Saturday at Bull Creek Rod & Gun Club.
Classes will include archery, rifle, shotgun, self defense.
Registration is required in advance. Register at www.womenintheoutdoors.org, then click on "PA WITO Event Manager Calendar" and search the calendar.
For more information, contact Leslie Smith at 484-634-0069 or lsmith@nwtf.net.
Group plans motorcycle ride
CASTANEA - The Durty Dabbers Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride will be held Saturday and next Sunday at the Castanea Fire Hall Picnic grounds, across the field from the William T. Piper Memorial Airport.
The ride involves about 100 miles of off-road, street-legal motorcycle riding.
For more information, call 748-9456 or 726-3343 or visit www.durtydabbers.com.
Run for Strides for spinal cord injury research
A 5K run/walk will be held at 9 a.m. June 9 at Indian Park in Montoursville. Proceeds will benefit the Reeve Irvine Research Center and its work on spinal cord injuries and human trials.
A registration fee applies. Runners also can register at 8 a.m. on race day.
The event is organized by Jay Harner, of Williamsport, who became a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the chest down, after an injury.
Participants will receive a goody bag containing a 5K T-shirt, coupons and gift certificates to local businesses and other small items, while supplies last. Giveaways and raffles will be held after the race. Prizes include handcrafted gold jewelry, Penn State football tickets, memberships to Fitness Factory, gift certificates for massages, Pilates instruction and local restaurants, businesses, and other items.
For more information, or to register, call Harner at 601-4882 or email him at JayHarn3@gmail.com.
Smith's Knob Scramble Trail race planned
The Mid Penn Trailblazers will hold an eight-mile trail race at 9 a.m. June 9 at Camp Conley, 15 miles north of Montoursville. The race follows portions of the Loyalsock Trail over the steep Smith's Knob.
A registration fee applies. T-shirts will be given to all who register in advance and limited quantities will be available on race day. Proceeds will benefit Boy Scouts of America Troop 21 of Montoursville.
Awards will be given in 10-year age groups up to 60-plus.
For more information and applications, visit www.midpenntrailblazers.com/trail-race-events/ smithknob.htm or email dmshoe61@verizon.net.
Women in the Outdoors events planned
The White Deer Jakes, Col-mont Gobblers and Sun Area chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold a Tri-Chapter Women in the Outdoors event on June 9 at Montour Preserve/North Montour Sportsmen's Club near Danville. A fee will apply.
Advance registration is required by going to www.womenintheoutdoors.org, clicking on "PA WITO Event Manager Calendar" and searching the calendar.
Through expert instruction and hands-on education, the NWTF's Women in the Outdoors program helps women develop outdoor skills in a safe environment.
For more information, contact Leslie Smith at 484-634-0069 or lsmith@nwtf.net or visit www.womenintheoutdoors.org.
In Lancaster County, a similar event will be held at the Southern Lancaster County Farmers & Sportsman Association in Quarryville. Women who want to register should go to www.womenintheoutdoors.org and click on "Pennsylvania Women In The Outdoors Event Manager Calendar," then search the calendar.
ATV ride to raise funds
RENOVO - The second annual ATV Cruise for a Cure will be held June 9. The 50-mile guided tour will begin in Renovo's Heritage Park, traverse the Bloody Skillet ATV Trail Park and return to Renovo.
It will start with a pancake breakfast at 6 a.m. at the Renovo Fire Hall.
Registration will be available noon-8 p.m. June 8 and at 7 a.m. June 9, but is available online now at www.renovo.eventbrite.com.
Vendors, organizations and businesses will be on hand to support those dealing with cancer.
For more information, call 923-1000, ext. 2191, or email snestor@bucktailmed.org.
American Indian gathering open to public
ROSTRAVER - The Western Pennsylvania Native American Association will hold a Native American Gathering on June 9-10 at Cedar Creek Park in Westmoreland County.
It is free to the public and American Indian craft vendors are welcome. There is no setup fee this year.
The gathering features American Indian drumming, dancing, storytelling, crafts and more. Visitors may bring chairs.
For more information, contact Linda Little Bear Cuneen at wpnaa@groupmail.com or 724-628-4918.
Bike tour, festival planned
PECKVILLE - The Heritage Explorer Bike Tour and Festival is set for June 16 at Mellow Park in Lackawanna County.
The tour is a family-friendly, non-competitive event that helps to raise funds for the continuing development of the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.
For more information, visit www.HeritageExplorer.org.
Environmental film series offered
BLOSSBURG - The Countryside Film Series concludes at 7 p.m. June 20 with a showing of "Hope for Polluted Water" at the Victoria Theater, 222 Main St.
The series explores some aspect of the notion of "countryside" and will deliver a message of hope and respect for the country and the country folks who live there. Before the feature film, a segment from one of the oral histories gathered by the Pine Creek Watershed Council will be shown to highlight the history and culture of this region.
A fee applies.
Outdoor discovery weekend set for women
AUSTIN - Ladies, are you tired of your typical weekend? Do you find yourself sitting in front of the television watching other people have fun? Well, here's the perfect opportunity to break out of your routine and try something new.
Sinnemahoning State Park is offering a weekend filled with opportunities to learn new outdoor skills. Programs will include biking, archery, kayaking, bird-banding, GPS/geo-caching, fly-fishing, camp cooking, outdoor survival and many others. Participants may choose up to eight sessions over the three days of the event, and all meals are included.
Grab your mom, sister, best friend or co-worker and join us and other aspiring woods-women for a new adventure in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Call the park office at 814-647-8401 for information on registration, available lodging and fees.
Athletes prepare for adventure triathlon
LOCK HAVEN - The sixth annual Great Island Adventure Triathlon will be held June 23 at the Woodward Boat Launch, across the Jay Street Bridge.
Participants will paddle, pedal and run through a 23-mile course in the heart of the PA Wilds.
For more information, call 748-6727 or visit www.lockhavenymca.com.
Bass tourney registrations sought
BERWICK - The Columbia County Bassmasters is accepting registrations for the third annual Bassmasters Fishing Tournament, which will be held Jane 23-24 at the Berwick Test Track Park boat launch.
The boundaries on the Susquehanna River extend from the Danville/Riverside bridge to the Nanticoke bridge.
Teams of two anglers may register, but there is a limit of 100 boats. A fee per boat includes breakfast and a T-shirt. Registration forms are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Once the 100-boat limit is reached, all other applications will be returned.
Cash prizes totaling $12,500 will be awarded. The first-place team will receive $5,000. Each day, lunker prizes will be awarded for adults and junior anglers.
Applications and rules may be downloaded from the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau's website -www.iTourColumbiaMontour.com/Bassmasters - or the Columbia County Bassmasters website - www.ColumbiaCountyBassmasters.com.
Applications also are available at Bo's Bait Barn, 1312 Raspberry Ave., Nescopeck; Smith's Outdoor Connection, 1901 Orange St., Berwick; Laubach's Sporting Goods, 547 E. Eighth St., Berwick; Halls Marine, 890 Lycoming Mall Drive, Muncy; and visitors bureau offices, 121 Papermill Road, Bloomsburg, and 316 Mill St., Danville.
For more information, call Mike "Chuck" Monico, tournament director, at 752-3223.
Bass tournament benefits health society
SUNBURY - The Bass Classic, sponsored by Capital City Bassmaster, will be held July 14 at Shikellamy State Park. Proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The boundaries of the fishing tournament are, to the south, the Fiber Dam; to the north, Berwick; and to the west, Williamsport.
Cash and prizes will be awarded, including a first-place prize of $3,000.
For more information, or to register, download the file at www.tiptopwebsite.com/custommusic2/fisherman.pdf or call Mike Brown at 717-448-0350 or Bob Herman at 717-938-8752.
Canoe, kayak races planned
HOWARD - The seventh annual Bricktown Challenge will be held July 14 at the Bald Eagle State Park beach, 149 Main Park Road.
The event offers canoe and kayak races for the serious paddler, youth and junior paddler races, and recreational races.
For more information, call 660-0382 or visit www.beechcreekwatershed.org.
Wildlife for Everyone 5-mile run scheduled
ALLENWOOD - The Wildlife for Everyone 5 Miler off-road run/walk will be held at 9 a.m. July 14 on State Game Lands 252.
The course encompasses dirt roads and grassy land. The roads will be closed to vehicles. Prizes and refreshments will be provided.
T-shirts will be given to all participants who register by June 25. A registration fee applies. Shirts will be limited on race day.
All proceeds will benefit the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation.
For more information, email Steven Schmit at wfe5M@windstream.net or natasharider@windstream.net.
Sullivan County hunter-trapper education set
MUNCY VALLEY - A hunter-trapper education program for youth ages 11 and older will be held this summer. Participants must attend all three sessions of the class to complete course. Classes will be held:
July 19-21 (6-9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday);
Aug. 17-19 (6-9:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday)
Classes will be held at the North Mountain Sportsman's Club on Shipman Hill Road in Sullivan County. For information on enrolling, call Rick Smith at 928-8941.
