August 31

WING NIGHT, Wed., August 31 at Kirkwood Elks Lodge.

September 1

CHICKEN & BISCUITS, Thurs., September 1 at VFW #6223, Great Bend. For info call 570-879-4420.

PIZZA NIGHT and Open Mic Country, Thurs., September 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Kirkwood Elks Lodge.

September 2

FREE HOT DOGS, Fri., September 2, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Mormon Monument, Rte. 171, Susquehanna. Weather permitting.

DINNER, Fri., September 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kirkwood Elks Lodge.

September 2-4

BLUEGRASS ROUNDUP, September 2-4 at Wrench Wranch, Coventryville, NY. For info call 607-639-1141.

FLEA MARKET & bake sale, September 2-4, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church, Jackson. Hoagie sale, Sat.-Sun., pre-orders call 756-3047.

September 3

END OF SUMMER CELEBRATION, Sat., September 3, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Thompson UM Church.

SALT SPRINGS CELEBRATION, Sat., September 3, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Salt Springs State Park.

PANCAKE & SAUSAGE BREAKFAST, Sat., September 3, 7:00-11:00 a.m. at East Ararat UM Church.

September 4

ORDER DEADLINE, September 4, for hoagie sale sponsored by Clifford Community Youth Group. Call 222-4344 or 222-3331. Pick up, September 10 at Clifford UMC Fellowship Hall.

September 6

MEMBERSHIP MEETING: Hallstead-Great Bend Rod & Gun Club, September 6, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the club.

September 8

MEETING: Wyoming Valley Civil War Round Table, September 8, 7:00 p.m. at Daddow-Isaacs American Legion, Dallas.

September 9

SPAGHETTI SUPPER, Fri., September 9, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Lawsville Grange Hall. Eat in or take out.

September 9-10

RUMMAGE & BAKE SALE, Fri., September 9, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and Sat., September 10, 9:00 a.m. - noon at Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church.

September 10

BOOK SALE, Sat., September 10, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at PA’s Soldier’s Orphan School, Orphan School Road.

APPLE FESTIVAL to support Susquehanna Co. Literacy Program, September 10, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on the Green in Montrose.

AUTUMN BIRDING HIKE, Sat., September 10, 8:00 a.m. at Salt Springs State Park.

LEAF PROJECT DAY, Sat., September 10, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Salt Springs State Park.

WOUNDED WARRIORS MOTORCYCLE RIDE, Sat., September 10, 11:00 a.m. sign up, 12:30 p.m. ride at Kirkwood Elks Lodge.

SPAGHETTI DINNER sponsored by Knights of Columbus, Great Bend, Council 356, Sat., September 10, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Main & Kilrow Sts., Great Bend. Eat in or take out.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL, Sat., September 10, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Franklin Forks UM Church. Free will offering.

September 11

NICHOLSON BRIDGE DAY, September 11, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Main Street, Nicholson. For info call 570-942-4443.

IRISH FESTIVAL, Sun., September, 11, 12:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Hall, Friendsville.

September 12

MEETING: Blue Ridge Sportsmen’s Club, Mon., September 12, 7:30 p.m. at the club. For info call 607-621-5271.

Monday, September 5: center is closed for Labor Day.

Tuesday, September 6: baked lemon chicken, sautéed summer vegetables, parslied rice, nectarine, tapioca pudding.

Wednesday, September 7: hamburger, 3 bean salad, corn cobette, ww roll, chocolate sorbet.

Thursday, September 8: batter dipped fish, cucumber salad, seasoned potato wedges, grain bread, crackers, cheesecake w/ berry topping.

Friday, September 9: baked ziti w/ meatballs, green salad w/ roasted chickpeas, Italian bread, chilled pears.

A $1,000 grand prize is being offered to the last poet standing in a contest sponsored by Rainbow Poets.

Poems of 21 lines or fewer on any subject and in any style will be judged by the contest director Michael Thomas. “We love encouraging youth in the arts,” he says. “We trust this contest will result in poetic surprises!”

The contest is free to enter and open to poets of any age. Fifty prizes totaling more than $5,000 will be awarded.

Entries must be received by September 30, and may be submitted by mail to Free Poetry Contest, 7308 Heritage Dr., Mt. Vernon, IN 47620 or at www.rainbowpoets.com.

Those sending entries should include their name and address on the same page as the poem. For a winner’s list please enclose a stamped return envelope.

The public is cordially invited to attend the Area Agency on Aging “Meet & Greet” event to be held at the VFW Post 5642, Rte. 706, Montrose, on September 22 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. The purpose of the event is to provide the public an opportunity to learn about Area Agency on Aging (AAA) services, opportunities to assist the AAA in meeting the needs of older persons in Susquehanna County, and to meet staff.

The AAA is a non-profit organization designated by the Commonwealth of PA to provide social and nutrition services to individuals age 60 and older in Bradford, Sullivan and Tioga counties. Their mission is to promote the independence and healthy lifestyles of older persons so they man continue to live independently in their own homes. As a non-profit, AAA offers opportunity for individuals and businesses to engage as community partners for financial support of aging programs and services.

The 2010 Census Data indicates that 25% of Susquehanna County’s population is now 60 years of age and older, and the older population is one of the fastest growing segments of the county, increasing by 26% over the past ten years. And, as the population growth outpaces the resources available for services, the AAA is looking to develop relationships to enhance their ability to meet the local needs of the senior population.

For more information about the AAA or the Meet & Greet event, contact the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-982-4346 (toll free). Reservations for the event are encouraged by calling the AAA at the toll free number by September 15.

The 4th annual Local Author’s Luncheon to benefit the Forest City Library will be held on Wednesday, September 28, at Stone Bridge Inn & Restaurant. The luncheon is sponsored by the Novel Woman Book Club.

This year’s featured award-winning author is Suzanne Fisher Staples. “Under the Persimmon Tree,” set in Afghanistan, is listed by the International Reading Association as a Notable Book for a Global Society. The Newberry Honor Book “Shabanu Daughter of the Wind”is a story about nomadic camel herders in Pakistan. Her most recent book is “The House of Djinn.”

Born in Philadelphia, PA, she worked ten years as a news reporter and editor for United Press International in Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, New York, and Washington, DC. She later worked as a foreign news editor for The Washington Post. She returned to Pakistan to assess the lives of poor rural women for a literacy project with the United States Agency for International Development.

Ms Fisher Staples also is author of a memoir, “The Green Dog,” and the novels “Haveli,” “Dangerous Skies,” and “Shiva’s Fire,” all of which have won numerous awards.

She grew up in a small rural community beside Chapman Lake in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She was one of four children: two girls and two boys. She graduated from Keystone College in La Plume, Pennsylvania, and Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Her areas of study were literature and political science. She lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband Wayne, two standard poodles, and one cat. You can visit her web site at suzannefisherstaples.com.

The topic of Suzanne’s talk is “The Magical Properties of Story.” A time of hospitality will be held at 11:00; Ms. Fisher Staples will speak at 11:30 followed by lunch. The reservation deadline is September 18. For more information, call the library at 785-5590.

The Susquehanna County Commissioners announce the Courthouse will be closed on Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day. All court related offices will be available.

(SPM Wire) Labor Day shouldn’t just be viewed as another vacation day or the unofficial end of summer. It’s time to pay tribute to working men and women nationwide.

The first observance of Labor Day occurred on September 5, 1882 in New York when a parade of 10,000 workers took to the streets. Just 10 years later more than half the states were celebrating a Labor Day, and Congress and President Grover Cleveland established it as a federal holiday in 1894.

This year, America will be honoring 153.2 million adults currently in the nation’s labor force. But unlike 100 years ago, almost 6 million workers currently work from home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau!

HARRISBURG - Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) will be hosting satellite office hours at the Preston Township Building on Crosstown Highway (Route 370) in Lakewood on Thursday, Sept. 8, between 10 a.m. and noon.

“My satellite office is a great way to provide personal service to those residents who would be otherwise inconvenienced to try to visit one of my two permanent offices,” said Major. “People are always encouraged to just drop in just to say hello or to share their thoughts and concerns on various state issues.”

Constituents in Wayne County are encouraged to contact her district office on 16501 S.R. 706, Suite 2, Montrose, PA 18801. The telephone number is (570) 278-3374. The toll-free number is 1-800-418-5048. Major can also be contacted via her website at RepMajor.com or email at SMajor@pahousegop.com.

Harrisburg - Pennsylvania residents with a motorcycle license or learner’s permit still have time to take free courses through the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program to obtain their license or enhance their riding skills, PennDOT said.

Courses for new and experienced riders are available at approximately 70 locations statewide through October. A full schedule is available online at www.pamsp.com.

The 15-hour Basic Rider Course (BRC) consists of five hours of in-class instruction and 10 hours of practical riding experience. This comprehensive safety and skills overview provides valuable training for new riders and gives experienced riders the opportunity to polish their skills and correct any unsafe riding habits they may have developed. Students taking this course are provided a motorcycle and helmet, but must bring all other protective gear.

If a rider has completed the BRC, the six-hour Basic Rider Course 2 (BRC2), formerly known as the Experienced Rider Course, allows skilled riders to refresh their safety knowledge and hone their on-road skills. Riders taking the BRC2 are permitted to carry a passenger while practicing balance and steering techniques in a controlled environment. Students taking the BRC2 must provide their own motorcycle and protective gear.

Due to the growing popularity of three-wheeled motorcycles and the unique safety concerns they present, a 3-Wheeled Motorcycle Basic Rider Course (3WBRC) is being offered in Butler, Lehigh and York counties. The 12-hour course includes four hours of classroom instruction and eight hours of practical riding experience. Students must provide their own three-wheeled motorcycle and protective gear.

To enroll in a course, residents must have either a motorcycle learner’s permit or license. Motorcycle learner’s permit holders who successfully complete a course will be issued a motorcycle license. Those who successfully pass their skills test on a three-wheeled motorcycle will be issued a motorcycle license with a “9” restriction, meaning they are prohibited from operating a two-wheeled motorcycle.

For more information and to enroll in a course, visit www.pamsp.com or call 1-800-845-9533, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and noon. Riders can also get information at PennDOT’s motorcycle safety website www.livefreeridealive.com.

TOWANDA - Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) encourages residents of Susquehanna and Sullivan counties who have questions about state government or who need assistance with a state-government matter to stop by her satellite offices during the month of September.

“Traveling to Towanda or Sayre - the location of my two full-time offices - can be inconvenient for residents who live in the eastern or southern parts of the district, and that is why I make sure satellite office hours are scheduled to help make state government resources a bit easier for them,” Pickett said.

In Susquehanna County, staff will be available from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month - Sept. 14 and 28. The office is located on State Route 706 at Flynn’s Consignment Shop in Lawton. The site was formerly Cavallaro’s grocery store.

Likewise, Sullivan County residents can visit Pickett’s satellite office at the Sullivan County Courthouse in Laporte on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 and Sept. 21.

Pickett operates her main full-time offices at 321 Main St., Towanda, phone (570) 265-3124 and 106 West Packer Ave., Sayre, phone (570) 888-9011. More information is available 24 hours a day on Pickett’s website at RepPickett.com.

Harrisburg - Pennsylvania state parks again will allow Canada goose hunting when the state’s season opens on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Hunters should contact individual park offices for local starting dates and other details as some parks are closed to hunting. Also, with the early season starting date falling prior to Labor Day, some parks will not allow hunting until Tuesday, Sept. 6, the day after Labor Day. Sunday hunting is not permitted in Pennsylvania.

Non-migratory Canada goose populations have increased drastically in recent years, causing crop damage and nuisance problems in residential neighborhoods. Park visitors often complain about goose excrement on state park beaches and other facilities, and water quality at some state parks has been adversely affected.

Resident Canada geese have been among the suspected causes of high fecal coliform counts at some Pennsylvania state park beaches, which has forced swimming restrictions during peak use periods.

Many state parks have taken measures, including anti-goose fencing and/or the use of loud noisemakers, in the attempt to deter the waterfowl or scare them away.

All Game Commission rules and regulations governing the early Canada goose season will apply at state parks. Complete details on Pennsylvania’s 2011-2012 waterfowl seasons, regulations and bag limits can be found on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s website: www.pgc.news.state.pa. State park information can be found at DCNR’s website: www.dcnr.state.pa.us (select State Parks).

Persons with disabilities wanting to hunt geese in the early season should contact specific state parks for further information. Sportsmen’s groups interested in volunteering for waterfowl habitat improvements and other projects in state parks should contact their local state park manager.