August 3

HIKE: Sat., Aug. 3, 7:00 p.m., Hemlock Tree Hike, Salt Springs Park.

August 7

CHILDRENS GARDENING: Wed., Aug. 7, Children’s Gardening Series, 1:00 p.m., Salt Springs Park. There is a fee.

August 8, 9, 10

RUMMAGE/BAKE SALE – Aug. 8, 9, 10 at Christ Church West Main Street, Susquehanna, Pa, Rummage And Bake Sale - Great Apparel From Fabulous Finds, Binghamton, August 8 & 9 - Hours: 9am - 5pm, August  10 - Bag Sale - Hours: 9am - 1pm.

August 8

SUPPER: Thurs., Aug. 8, 5:00 p.m., Ham & Scalloped Potato Supper, Starrucca Baptist Social Rooms, donation plus food pantry item. Public Welcome.

Mon., Aug. 5: turkey salad sandwich, bean soup, cucumber & tomato salad, oreo pudding cup.

Tues., Aug. 6: cheeseburger, roasted potatoes, 3 bean salad, ww hamburger roll, yogurt sundae.

Wed., Aug. 7: lemon pepper chicken, peas & pearls onions, rice pilaf, ww bread, fruit salad.

Thurs., Aug. 8: stuffed pepper, zucchini & summer squash, mashed potatoes, ww dinner roll, tapioca pudding.

Fri., Aug. 9: breaded fish sandwich, dilled baby carrots, au gratin potatoes, ww dinner roll, brownie, orange.

It’s that time of year again – time for a beloved community event in the town of Montrose, Pennsylvania. The 34th Annual Montrose Blueberry Festival has been a well-attended and much loved event since 1980, when it began as a small fundraiser for the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association.

The 2013 Blueberry Festival Quilt pictured is a "Blue and White Stars" pattern by the Crazy Country Quilters, quilted by Marlene Lyon. Tickets for the Quilt raffle are on sale at the four library locations.

The Blueberry Festival has grown tremendously since then! This year, the festival will be held Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the village green in Montrose, next to the Courthouse. Admission to this family friendly event is free and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The festival officially opens at 9am on both Friday and Saturday, but a pancake breakfast is served both days at 8 am. Maybe you will come for the massive book sale, or plan on enjoying lots of fun kid’s games, or snacking on blueberry everything: pies, muffins, ice cream, jam, fresh berries, even blueberry pizza. You can shop at the Handcraft & Harvest Table or for new books, join in the basket raffle or the quilt raffle or do some gift shopping at the commemorative table. Enjoy entertainment from local artists and a massed band concert.

Since its beginning, the Blueberry Festival has been a celebration of community, with local hands pitching in to help, but people have come from around the world to enjoy the festival. We’ve had visitors from as far away as Alaska, Japan and Germany. Lots of families plan their vacations around the Festival so they can enjoy the event.

Come join us as we celebrate our 34th festival year and work to support the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association. All proceeds help keep our county well read and informed. Visit www.montrosepablueberryfestival.org or call 570-278-1881 for more information.

The Edward L. Rose Conservancy, a nationally accredited Land Trust located in Susquehanna County, is sponsoring a digital photography contest for photographers of all ages. The purpose of the contest is to highlight the rural beauty and character of Susquehanna County.

Photographs will be accepted in the categories of Landscapes (with or without buildings), Wildlife, Kids in Nature, Black and White, and Junior Photographers (under age 15 in any category). An entry fee is required. Photos may be entered in one or more categories, but no more than 5 photographs total.

Complete details on contest rules and guidelines for submission can be found on the Conservancy’s website at www.elrose.org under photo contest.

The Edward L. Rose Conservancy is a not-for profit organization established in 1987 to protect natural resources through land and water conservation, provide sanctuary for wildlife and preserve scenic beauty. Named for one of Susquehanna County’s original large landowners and conservationists, the Conservancy protects land through conservation easements and land acquisition. To date, the Conservancy has permanently protected over 1,000 acres in Susquehanna County.

In April 2013, the Edward L. Rose Conservancy was awarded national Accreditation status through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. This status recognizes land trusts across the country that meet national quality standards and practices in their operations and dedication to land protection in the public interest. Edward L. Conservancy operates from their office at 440 South Main Street, Montrose, PA, and welcomes property owners’ inquiries on how to best protect their land.

A representative from the Area Agency on Aging will be available on select Mondays at the Area Agency on Aging office in Montrose to counsel with individuals regarding Medicare, Medicaid, Advantage Plans, Medigap/Supplement, prescription plans and the Pennsylvania PACE program. Information will be available on the numerous medical insurance and prescription drug eligibility programs available. Assistance with the completion of various medical forms and applications will also be provided. These services are offered as part of the Agency’s APPRISE program.

The Area Agency on Aging representative will be available to discuss insurance and prescription medicine issues for all ages and advocate for the individuals as necessary. This service is confidential and offered at no cost.

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, call the B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging, Inc. at 1-800-634-3746 (toll-free). Walk-ins will be served on a first come, first serve basis.

The APPRISE program is always in search of people that are interested in volunteering. Helping people understand their benefits can be such a highly rewarding opportunity. You can be part of our team.

To volunteer as an APPRISE Counselor or to receive more information about the volunteer opportunities, please call the above number.

The APPRISE program and the B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging, Inc. are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging; the United Way of Susquehanna County; and the Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Tioga County Commissioners. For additional information on Area Agency on Aging services, please call the above number.

On August 3 a fun and educational trip is planned to help launch the formation of the Quality Deer Management Associations (QDMA) local Rack Pack youth group. The bus trip to Cabela’s in Hamburg, Pa. is open to all youth ages 17 and under. Fun and educational activities on the way to Cabela’s will include short movies about wildlife and trivia contests about the outdoors. At Cabela’s the youth participants will take part in a scavenger hunt and be attending one of two seminars – either Firearms Safety (10 Rules of safe gun handling) or Firearms Responsibility. There will also be time for shopping.

There is a cost for day trip which includes full Rack Pack membership (which includes personalized member card, certificate decals, Rack Pack poster), T-shirt and a bagged lunch. The large coach bus will leave the Montrose Price Chopper parking lot at 8am and return at 5:30 pm. The first 10 adults (parents/family adult) who are willing to sign up as chaperones will not be charged the bus trip fee.

Adults who would wish to take the trip but are not family members will be subject to space availability and QDMA approval.

Seating is limited so sign up today and look for more Rack Pack adventures in the future. Call Becky at 570-278-6918 to get the needed information. The Susquehanna Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association is underwriting more than ½ of the cost of the trip. This is part of their 10+ years of commitment of educational outreach to youth and those who want to know more about the whitetail deer. More information about whitetail deer and wildlife habitat management can be found on our website www.susq-qdma.org.

The Susquehanna Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) in cooperation with Sienko Forest Products will host an evening field/forest/new equipment meeting on August 2 at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the property of Dave and June Sienko 339 Maple Lane ,Hallstead, Pa. 18822. 

The purpose of the meeting is to have sportsmen, outdoorsmen and women, wildlife habitat managers, landowners and those who want to learn more to get together in a setting where hands on work can be seen. Dave Sienko explained “… My land in northern Susquehanna County has a wealth of three things, stone, clay soils and water which is typical of this county along with Wayne, Bradford, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties in Pennsylvania and Broome, Tioga, Delaware Counties in New York. So if you come on out to this field day it will be like being on areas that you know. We hope to show you some good habitat improvement work and explain what we did to make it this way. I believe that you can get this type of habitat improvement work done on your property the same as it has been done on mine.”

Highlights of the meeting will include ATV and 2 legged touring through the wildlife food plots of grasses and legumes, annual crops, tree planting and the well managed woodland. In the woods forestry management work such as timber stand improvement, mast (nut, seed and fruit) tree release, fencing and tree planting will be seen and discussed. In addition wildlife habitat improvement work such as food plot planting, border cutting, developing water for wildlife and woodland road improvement will be talked about.

Mr. Sienko is asking all of those who come to bring along their own ATV’s (if you have one) to take part in the riding part of the tour. Equipment demonstrations and local wildlife habitat, forestry management experts from the Susquehanna Branch of QDMA, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pa. DCNR Bureau of Forestry and Private Service Foresters will be on hand to answer questions and take part in discussions. Bob Wagner, Secretary for the Susquehanna Branch of QDMA, stated “This is the second cooperative field day that our branch has helped to hold on this property. Dave and his family have continued to improve the habitat on this property every year. The Sienko’s are showing that, yes you can do it - manage their habitat, their hunters and the deer herd here in the northeast! They are making things better and are opening up their property for everyone and anyone to attend this evening field day.”

This jam packed, 2 hour event, will be showcasing new equipment that could be very useful for those who are planting in small areas that are difficult to get to with larger farm equipment.

For further information about the field day or directions call Dave Sienko at 570-396- 3125 or Bob Wagner with the Susquehanna Branch of QDMA at 570-278-1011, ext. 108.