April 28

TURKEY SHOOT: Sat., April 28, Spring Lucky X Turkey Shoot at American Legion Post 154, Elk Lake Road, Noon till 6:00 p.m.

May 2-5

RUMMAGE SALE: May 2-5, Annual Spring Rummage Sale, United Methodist Church, Susquehanna PA., from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

May 3

PRAYER SERVICE: Thur., May 3, National Day of Prayer Service, Harford Volunteer Fire Hall, Harford PA., at 12:00 p.m.

May 5

DIABETES WALK: Sat., May 5, Walk to Cure Type 1 Diabetes, Montrose, PA, at 10:00 a.m. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. Meet at Pump ‘n’ Pantry.

CLEANUP: Sat., May 5, Salt Springs Roadside Cleanup, Salt Springs State Park, at 9:00 a.m.

SPRING CLEANUP: Sat., May 5, Lakeview Cemetary, at 10:00 a.m.

BINGO: Sat., May 4, Pampered Chef Bingo benefits Endless Mtn. Poultry Assoc., Harford Fire Hall, Harford, at 5:30 p.m.

May 6

ARCHERY: Sun., May 6, 3-D Outdoor Archery, 1st Sunday of each month, Hallstead Great Bend Road & Gun Club.

BBQ: Sun., May 6, Uniondale Vol. Fire Co. Chicken BBQ. Drive Through Take-Outs Only, Pickup Time 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

May 8

WORKSHOP: Tues., May 8, Pond & Lake Mgmt. Workshop, County Office Building - downstairs conf. room, Montrose PA., 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

May 12

HORSESHOW: Sat., May 12, Spring Fun Horseshow hosted by Blue Ribbon Driven 4-H Club, at Sweetwater Farm, Jackson Twp., at 9:00 a.m.

May 13

SERVICE: Sun., May 13, Second Sunday Vesper Service, at St., Paul’s Episcopal Church, Montrose, PA. at 5:00 p.m.

A sunflower made from a paper plate, a yellow chick with wings made from tracing the hand of a child and a water color painting that looks like a rainbow, these are just some items you may see in area businesses during April.  The countywide CARES Young Artists’ Display is in celebration of National “Week of the Young Child,” April 22-28, 2012.

More than 50 businesses from Forest City to Montrose or from Hallstead to Lenox responded to the call from Susquehanna County CARES (Childcare, Agencies, Resources and Educational Services) to recognize the talents of our young children by displaying their work.  The items reflect the role early education plays in shaping a child’s future.  Research shows children who receive a quality experience before the age of five achieve greater success late in life.

Children from the following quality early learning and school environments provided some items for this countywide display:  Blue Ridge School District; Forest City School District; Mountain View School District; Susquehanna Community School District; Elk Lake Head Start; New Milford Head Start; New Milford Early Intervention; Angel Beginnings; Endless Mountain Learning Center; Grace Lutheran Pre-K; Mrs. Colleen’s Childcare; Tiny Treasures; Treasure House Child Development Center.

CARES would not have been able to coordinate this special display without the help of its volunteers.  CARES is a part of Pennsylvania’s LEARN team initiative that is working to promote Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children, because every child is Pennsylvania’s future.

The magic touch will be everywhere April 28 at Elk Lake Elementary School as families gather for two special events promoting quality learning for our young children. Susquehanna County CARES and Wyoming County HANDS are teaming up to provide a full day of family activities, from a workshop for parents to a festival for young children. It is all part of national “Week of the Young Child.”

In the morning, parents, caregivers and health professionals are invited to “1-2-3 Magic-ADD/ADHD Solutions That Work.” Dr. Thomas Phelan, creator of the unique parenting program, will provide tools needed to effectively deal with ADD/ADHD. He will also separate the facts from the myths about this often misunderstood problem. The workshop runs from 9:00 am until noon.

Beginning at 1:00, families with children ages eight or younger are urged to take part in the CARES/HANDS Young Children’s Fair. The Elk Lake gym will be full of games, crafts and activities all designed for young children. Adults can take advantage of information about childhood development. Those who come will also enjoy a free magic show as illusionist Jeremy Biesecker takes center stage at 2:00.

This celebration is possible thanks to the support of the Elk Lake School District, the Key Club of Elk Lake, Pennsylvania’s Children’s Trust Fund and the dedicated volunteers supporting Susquehanna County CARES and HANDS of Wyoming County. While both events are free, pre-registration is required for the morning workshop. To register, call 836-2350.

CARES and HANDS are both supported through Pennsylvania’s LEARN initiative which provides grant funding to local teams committed to enhancing quality early learning and education. By working together, the groups are able to provide this full day of family enrichment at no cost. It is just another way CARES and HANDS show their dedication to Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children, because every child is Pennsylvania’s future.

The Rail-Trail Council of NE PA will be conducting its annual trash pick-ups on the D&H Rail-Trail on April 28th and is in need of volunteers. Bags & gloves will be provided.

On Saturday, April 28th three sections of D&H Rail-Trail are targeted:

Forest City and Union Dale - meet at either trailhead at 9 AM.

Fell Township - meet under the Simpson Viaduct at 9 AM. This is an illegal dump site that is being targeted by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.

Starrucca Creek, Stevens Point- Lanesboro - Meet at the Harmony Township Building at 8 AM (Starrucca Creek Rd & Rockwell Rd). This cleanup is sponsored by the “Friends of the Starrucca Creek” and details can be found on Facebook.

On Saturday, May 5th , the Rail-Trail Council will assist Friends of the Endless Mountains Trail in clean-up efforts. Meet at the trail and Rose Road intersection (off of Route 706, just east of Montrose).

Call the Rail-Trail office if there are any questions or any trail areas in need of attention. 570-679-9300 or trails@nep.net.

The Rail-Trail Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, April 26th at the Candlelight Inn, Herrick, Route 374. Dinner is available from the menu at 6 PM, with the meeting starting at 7 PM. All are welcome! Elections of board members will take place. Trail maintenance and cleanups will be discussed. Trail activities are being planned for the coming year. Any questions, call the office at 679-9300.

Spring arrived early in northeastern Pennsylvania this year. Then it vanished, to be followed by more frosts. Now summer seems to be upon us all of a sudden. Nevertheless the spring bird migration is on the wing once again, and Florence Shelly Wetlands Preserve in Thompson, PA will host its two annual nature walks to identify and learn about migrating birds. Both dedicated birders and curious amateurs will enjoy exploring the woods, fields, and wetlands of the 400-acre preserve as they identify birds by sight and song.

On Saturday, May 5 at 6:00 a.m., Ron Milliken will present his twenty-fifth annual bird walk in the preserve. Especially popular among avid birders, this walk focuses on migratory birds and identifying birds by their characteristic songs. The walk often lasts the entire morning and covers a wide area of the preserve, so participants can expect to locate between 60 and 65 species. (You are welcome to stay for only part of the walk, if you wish.)

Two weeks later, on Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 a.m. Evan Mann, a local birder and amateur naturalist, will conduct a leisurely walk around a smaller area of the preserve. Besides identifying birds that are nesting in the preserve’s diverse ecological niches, Mr. Mann will discuss the habits of the various species that the group spots.

Diversity is the key to the Shelly Preserve’s beauty and value and also the reason it hosts so many species. The brushy meadows are home to tree swallows, wrens and sparrows, while the deep boreal bog attracts eastern bluebirds nesting in dead snags, swamp sparrows, and belted kingfishers. Hawks can be spied hunting in open areas, while the preserve’s pristine brook and dense woodlands provide habitats for the northern waterthrush, Baltimore orioles, scarlet tanagers and least flycatchers. Plews Swamp is the preferred habitat for families of wood ducks, mallards and red-winged blackbirds. Participants can expect to see both familiar species and some surprises.

Both walks begin at the parking lot one mile north of Thompson on Route 171, where Stack Road intersects. Don’t forget your binoculars, and come prepared to spend a morning—or mornings—exploring the world of birds. For further information, contact Dave Clemens, 570/879-4244.