The Harford Fair has always been a combination of traditional events and displays as well as new and different attractions. The 2016 Harford Fair is no exception. The Brunon Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tiger Show will be performing three free shows daily in the North Arena. Free shows in the North Arena have been a long-standing tradition at the Harford Fair, one of the few truly agricultural country fairs, which exists today. This year’s show features internationally famous wild animal trainer, Brunon Blaszak, with his performing tigers. The performance, which has been featured coast to coast, is a combination of thrills, dangers, excitement, and entertainment.
In addition, this year Panfilov’s Performing Pets will present three free shows daily in the new South Arena. As a youngster in Russia, Mayya Panfilova had a dream of training her pets, cats in particular, to perform on the stage world-wide. After years of patiently working with her pets, she was able to create an entertaining show for viewers. Performing also are Andrly Bilobrov’s trained Jack Russell terriers presenting amazing accomplishments rarely seen. The show is billed as “Man’s Best Friends Like We’ve Never Seen.” They have performed with the Royal Hanneford Circus; Ringling Bros. Circus; at the Grand Country Music Hall in Branson, Missouri; as well as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The Harford Agricultural Society is proud to be able to bring these amazing shows to perform at the Harford Fair this year, August 22-27th, 2016. The shows in both the North and South Arenas are free, performed three times daily throughout fair week and provide bleacher seating. Alternate timing for the shows allows fairgoers to enjoy both shows each day of the fair. These shows are but a few of the many types of entertainment which the Harford Fair offers to you and your family.
Pennsylvania’s spring gobbler season has kicked off and the state’s turkeys are benefiting –now and in the future – from habitat work performed in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). In 2016, 70+ habitat-enhancement projects impacting more than 2,600 acres, mostly on state game lands and state forests, are taking place through a nearly $150,000 allocation by Pennsylvania National Wild Turkey Federation (PANWTF) State Chapter Habitat Committee. The projects are the result of proposals that more than 60 local chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) submitted to the committee. All of the projects are being conducted on parcels open to public hunting, and the projects will impact land ranging from one to 546 acres.
NWTF Regional Biologist Mitch Blake said, "... general food-plot maintenance projects account for 49 percent of the approved proposals, impacting 956 acres. While projects related to prescribed fire account for just 7 percent of the total projects, they will improve more than 1,100 acres”.
Pictured (L-R) are: Jey Rusek, Jerry Rusek, Bob Wagner, Jack Sorber President of the Wilson F. Moore Memorial chapter of the NWTF, PGC Food and Cover Corps foreman Darren Pettyjohn, standing in front of an oats field that has a clover seeding in it.
Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) Habitat Division Chief Ben Jones noted "... prescribed burning improves habitat for many game species, not just wild turkeys. Prescribed burning invigorates plant growth, increases berry production, and has been shown to increase available deer browse by up to 400 percent. The PGC plans to improve nearly 10,000 acres of habitat through prescribed burning in 2016”.
Other PANWTF habitat improvement projects will focus on removing exotic and invasive plant species, restoring native species, planting of trees and shrubs beneficial to wildlife and timber-stand improvements. In addition to the habitat projects, the PANWTF committee allocated $25,000 for future land acquisition, possibly adding acreage to the SGL system.
According to Jack Sorber, President of The Wilson F. Moore Memorial (WFMM) chapter of the NWTF, “Through the PANWTF superfund dollars the WFMM Chapter of the NWTF has improved wildlife habitat on Pennsylvania State Game Lands (SGL) #35, #140, #219 and #70 in Susquehanna, Wayne and Bradford counties with volunteer efforts such as habitat plantings, cutting and spraying of invasive species along with various tree cutting projects of timber stand improvements (TSI).”
Game Commission turkey biologist Mary Jo Casalena said, “These projects are yet another example of the PANWTF’s commitment to the wild turkey resource and the great partnership the local chapters have with the state agencies.”
To date, the PANWTF has spent more than $6 million in Pennsylvania for habitat enhancement and a variety of other hunter-related activities.
Pump N Pantry Convenience Stores, headquartered in Montrose, has donated a property to the Columbia Hose Company of the New Milford for the relocation of the fire company and the construction of a new fire station. The parcel, at 587 Main Street in the heart of New Milford contains approximately 2.4 acres of land and two buildings.
Columbia Hose Company has served the greater New Milford and Lakeside area since 1893. As the fire company has expanded, and the size of modern firefighting equipment has increased, the company has outgrown its current headquarters on Spring Street in New Milford. Fire Chief Dwayne Conklin states “We thank Pump N Pantry for this substantial donation. This land gives the Hose Company a head start toward its goal of moving into a more spacious, modern facility that will allow us to better serve the community. We will continue to raise funds for the building, but acquiring this property at no cost is a tremendous boost”.
Pump N Pantry has deep roots in New Milford. The Company was first incorporated in 1949 with its headquarters in the borough. The company’s name has changed several times, as has its business model, but the corporation has operated in New Milford in one form or another for sixty–seven years. Pump N Pantry currently has a store at the corner of Main and Montrose streets. Pump N Pantry President, Scott Quigg, adds, “I am pleased that Pump N Pantry can help the Columbia Hose Company achieve its goals. The men and women of the fire company volunteer their time and expertise for the safety of the community. This donation will help them develop a modern facility from which to serve”.
Summer & Ivy
Just in time for Mother's Day, we are featuring this beautiful mother and daughter kitty combo as our Pets of the Week.
Summer and Ivy are young, spayed, FIV/Felv negative, litter pan trained, and as sweet, warm, and lovely as their names.
They are sure to put a smile on your face with their playful, friendly personalities. This Mom and her offspring would be so grateful for the best Mother's Day gift of all; A loving home of their own!
A very special thank you to all our wonderful friends at Endless Mountains Health Systems who put together a fundraiser for us at True Friends! It means so much to have our community looking out for our shelter and our animals in need!
Fun Fact: The world's largest cat measured 48.5 inches long. Our kitties may not be that big size wise, but their ability to love is immeasurable!
