Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble (BTE) is thrilled to present its 40th Mainstage Season bringing live theatre to Columbia County and surrounding areas. Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble is a professional theatre company that presents original work, classics, and modern plays, with programming for families, kids, teens, and adults. BTE’s 40th Season represents the past, present, and future of BTE’s ongoing commitment to community and quality entertainment.

The shows are: The Diary of Anne Frank; A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; I and You; The Legend of Georgia McBride; and Marjorie Prime.

Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble is located on Center Street in Downtown Bloomsburg, and has maintained its reputation locally, regionally, and nationally. In 2016 in a ceremony in New York City which also honored actor George Takei, BTE was named the National Theatre Conference’s Outstanding Theatre of the Year. About BTE, award-winning playwright Anthony Clarvoe said “Bloomsburg’s Ensemble are all extraordinary actors.” BTE combines small-town community involvement with top-notch theatre production.

BTE offers competitive ticket prices and a variety of discounts on tickets and shows, but, new this season, patrons can save even more money by subscribing to BTE’s 40th Anniversary Mainstage Season; for $10 per month, see all the shows BTE offers, including late addition special events, intern projects, and presented touring shows in our space. BTE also offers discounted flex tickets that can be used in any combination for the Mainstage shows. In addition to a Mainstage Season, BTE offers Theatre Education, Student Matinees, a touring school show (Theatre in the Classroom or TIC), original workshop performances, and much more. For more information on Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble or to buy tickets, please visit www.bte.org or call Rachael in the Box Office at 570-784-8181.

The Diary of Anne Frank
Adapted by Wendy Kesselman
Directed by Ensemble Member Daniel Roth
September 14 through October 8, 2017
Witness the true and profoundly moving story of Anne Frank, the young girl whose diary documents the years her Jewish family spent in hiding during the Holocaust. This impassioned drama is all about finding small moments of serenity and optimism amidst persecution. We are honored to present a powerful evening of theatre for those who cherish stories like Schindler’s List, Number the Stars, and BTE audiences who loved The Miracle Worker and Gunpowder Joe. Rated GA – Appropriate for all ages.

A Christmas Carol
Adapted from Charles Dickens and directed by Richard Cannaday
November 24 through December 27, 2017
Since the earliest days of BTE’s 40 year history, audiences have been delighted, charmed, and frightened by this timeless holiday classic, and we are thrilled to once again stage the ghostly trials and ultimate redemption of Ebeneezer Scrooge. A treat for the whole family, for those who join us every year, and those just starting the tradition. Long-time BTE patrons will be excited to see founding ensemble member Rand Whipple reprise
his role as Scrooge almost 40 years later! Rated GA – Appropriate for all ages. (prepare for some ghostly magic).

I and You
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by James Goode & Richard Cannaday
January 18 through 28, 2018
Anthony arrives unexpectedly to complete an urgent school assignment with bed-ridden Caroline. As each begins to let down their guard, their project on Walt Whitman’s poetry unlocks the deeper mystery that brings them together. A coming-of-age story about youth and the beauty of human connection from America’s most produced young playwright. Great for fans of Gilmore Girls, The Fault in Our Stars, Everything Everything, and BTE audiences who adored Romeo & Juliet. Rated GA, best for older kids.

The Legend of Georgia McBride
By Matthew Lopez
Directed by Eric Wunsch
March 15 through April 8, 2018
When Casey’s gig as an Elvis impersonator no longer pays the bills, his only choice is to seize the next opportunity that comes his way. We invite you to join Casey on his hilarious journey to become the greatest Drag Queen in Panama City, FL! Clap your hands and stomp your feet for this rock ‘n’ roll comedy, one of America’s hottest new plays. Perfect for fans of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, The Birdcage, Mrs. Doubtfire, and BTE audiences who laughed till they cried for Leading Ladies. Rated MA for mature audiences.

Marjorie Prime
By Jordan Harrison
Directed by Daniel Roth
April 26 through May 20, 2018
In the near future, a service creating holographic projections of late family members allows a dying woman to spend time with a younger version of her deceased husband. A heart-wrenching sci-fi tale about the collision of grief and technology. From the pen of Jordan Harrison, award-winning playwright and writer/producer for Orange is the New Black. Ideal for those enthralled by The Twilight Zone, Her, The Left Hand of Darkness, Terms of
Endearment, and Cocoon. Rated MA for mature audiences.

Below is a list of area fireworks displays in Columbia & Montour Counties this July.

July 4th:

Berwick, Crispin Field, dusk
Millville, Firemen’s Carnival Grounds (Little League field), 10:00  p.m.
Bloomsburg, Bloomsburg Town Park, dusk

July 8th:

Millville, Firemen’s Carnival Grounds (Little League field), midnight

July 15:

Danville Heritage Festival, fireworks over the Susquehanna River, dusk

More information about the Danville Heritage Festival can be found here.

The Montour Preserve’s Summer Newsletter has been released.  The publication provides seasonal updates on events and goings-on at the Preserve for the months of June – September.  An update is given on birds, butterflies, barn swallows, fireflies, and dragonflies and how to see each creature. There is also a feature on the what to watch for in the summer sky.  The Preserve will be hosting a Monarch Butterfly Red Carpet event this Sunday, June 25th from 2-3:30 pm.  More events are described for the August and September months.  Pavilion rentals are also still available at the Preserve, but space is limited.  Check out the full summer newsletter here for more information, full articles, and schedules!

The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce this year’s Covered Bridge Photo Contest winners.

The overall winning image will be featured as the 2017 Covered Bridge Puzzle. This year’s puzzle will be released in the fall as the seventh installment in the Visitors Bureau’s limited edition series, and will feature the Josiah Hess Bridge for the first time.

Bob Erlsten’s snapshot of the Josiah Hess Bridge in Columbia County was selected as the overall winner. Bob is a lifelong resident of the area who lives in rural Montour County with his wife and several four-legged companions. An avid outdoorsman, Bob enjoys nature photography with a focus on wildlife and landscapes. He has photographed all of the covered bridges in Columbia and Montour Counties at one time or another with the Josiah Hess Bridge being ones of his favorites.

Several other photographers were recognized in this year’s contest: Margie Hunsinger submitted the 2^nd place photograph, Kim Jo Hess was awarded 3^rd place, and Brandy Whitenight and Julie Jones received honorable mentions.  The Visitors Bureau would like to thank everyone who submitted photos for the contest, as there were a record number of submitted photos this year.

There are still very limited quantities of the Keefer Mills, Esther Furnace, and Stillwater Bridge puzzles available for sale prior to the release of this year’s puzzle as part of the collector’s edition series. These puzzles may be purchased at the Visitors Bureau Welcome Center, 121 Papermill Road in Bloomsburg.  The Visitors Bureau will also have the 2017 Josiah Hess puzzles for sale at their Bloomsburg Fair booth this year as well as at the Covered Bridge and Arts Festival (October 5-8 at Knoebels Amusement Resort).  A limited quantity of only 250 puzzles are available on a first come, first serve basis. The Visitors Bureau’s covered bridge puzzles are collector’s items and make for a great birthday or Christmas present.

The Visitors Bureau is currently taking pre-orders for the 2017 Josiah Hess puzzles – cost is $12, tax included. A donation of $2 from every puzzle sold will be made by the Bureau to the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association to go toward restoration and preservation of our local covered bridge treasures.

Shane Kiefer, Director of Marketing for the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, states that “for the last six years, the Visitors Bureau has made a donation from the puzzle sales to the Covered Bridge Society.

We hope that by continuing this tradition for another year, we are helping to preserve and restore these bridges for everyone in Columbia and Montour Counties to enjoy and cherish, as well as the many thousands of people from around the world who visit them each year.”

The Columbia County Covered Bridge Association restores, preserves, and advocates for the covered bridges of Columbia County for historical and recreational purposes. Their purpose is simple: they recognized the historic importance of the covered bridges as a public treasure to be available to and enjoyed by the public and the important part they play in tourism. This non-profit association protects all of our covered bridges not only for today, but also for future generations.

2017 Covered Bridge Photo Contest Winner – Bob Erlsten; Josiah Hess Bridge

2nd Place: Margie Hunsinger; Richards Bridge

3rd place: Kim Jo Hess; Josiah Hess Bridge

Honorable Mention: Julie Jones; Josiah Hess Bridge

Honorable Mention – Brandy Whitenight; Johnson Bridge

The Children’s Museum, 2 West Seventh Street, Bloomsburg is excited to reveal its new logo. The logo was revealed at a breakfast for members, donors, and key stakeholders on Saturday, June 10.

Founded thirty-three years ago in May 1984, the original Children’s Museum’s logo was designed in the 1990s. Cindi Harper Hron, a professor at Penn College of Technology, challenged her students to design an appropriate logo for the Museum.  The designs of the semi-finalists were submitted to the Children’s Museum and the final design was selected.

Shawna Meiser, Director of the Museum says, “The previous logo served us well for many decades. As our programs, services, and constituents have expanded, so should our visual identity. We are proud to serve a wide range of children, from infant through high school and this new logo represents that broad appeal.”

The Children’s Museum’s Marketing Committee worked with a small focus group to brainstorm specific design elements that should be incorporated into the new logo, as well as colors. The new logo, designed by freelance graphic designer Adrienne Beaver of Middleburg, features three children reaching for a lightbulb that erupts into a flurry of activity – gears, art splats, leaves, bubbles and stars are all represented in the experiential logo.

Kathy Beidler, Chair of the Museum’s Marketing Committee and Board secretary says, “The new logo is bright, engaging, and communicates the emphasis that our Museum has on hands-on learning, including science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math – all areas that are critical to the success of children of all ages.”

The Children’s Museum is a non-profit organization with a mission to enrich the lives of people in the 10-county region by fostering a lifelong love of learning through interactive programs and exhibits that bring out the imagination in every child and the child in every visitor. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit www.the-childrens-museum.org or call 570-389-9206 for more information.

The River Rat Brew Trail will be heavily represented at this weekend’s Milton Beer Fest, an event centered around Milton’s 200 year Bicentennial celebration.  Eight member breweries will be in attendance, including: Civil War Cider Co., Covered Bridge Brewhaus, Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Company, Old Forge Brewing Company, Rusty Rail Brewing Company, Selin’s Grove Brewing Co., Turkey Hill Brewing Company, and West Branch Craft Brewing.  The River Rat Brew Trail founders will also be in attendance at the official River Rat Brew Trail tent.  The group will be pouring selected brews from Berwick Brewing Co. and Marley’s Brewery & Grille. Guests stopping at the tent will also be able to sign up for a chance to win some official Brew Trail merchandise.

The event will kick off on Saturday starting at 2 PM and running until 6 PM at the Milton Veterans Memorial/Moose.  It will be held rain or shine.  Festival attendees must be 21 to attend and ID will be required to enter.  There will be tastings from 40 + vendors, breweries, wineries, and distilleries, food, and live entertainment.

There will be limited quanties of tickets available on Saturday at the venue.  Tickets are $35 and can also be purchased in advance by clicking here.

For more information about the River Rat Brew Trail, member breweries, and all upcoming events, visit www.RiverRatBrewTrail.com or check the trail out on Facebook.

Every year, the Visitors Bureau offers multiple Covered Bridge Bus Tours in conjunction with the annual Covered Bridge & Arts Festival.  This year, there will be three opportunities to see the historic bridges of Columbia County: two tours on Saturday, October 7th, and one tour on Sunday, October 8th.

The guided tours will visit various covered bridges in Columbia County – including the Twin Covered Bridges. The traditional journey includes the following bridges: Paar’s Mill, Esther Furnace, Davis, Hollingshead, Rupert, Josiah Hess, Stillwater, East & West Paden (“Twin Bridges”), and occasionally the Johnson Bridge (time permitting).

• When: Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM;  Sunday, October 8 at 12:30 PM.
• Cost: $20 per seat
• Approximate length of trip: 3 hours
• Seating is limited and sells out early! Please make reservations ahead of time.
• Pre-Payment is required to book your seat.
• Tickets must be picked up at the CMVB information booth at Pavilion H at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
• Riders with tickets in hand will board the bus located near Knoebels A-frame security building.

Have more questions?  Check out our Covered Bridge Bus Tour FAQ sheet.

Now you can now reserve your spot over the phone with a credit card payment. Call the Visitors Bureau office at 570-784-8279 and specify which tour you are interested in. You can also simply download the reservation form (2017 Bus Tour Reservation Form) and mail it with full payment to the address listed on the form.

For more information about this year’s Covered Bridge & Arts Festival, please visit the official Festival page.

In a recent USA Today story, Knoebels Amusement Resort was prominently featured as having some of Pennsylvania’s top roller coasters.  This comes on the heels of a USA Today story that mentioned Pennsylvania as having 11 of the world’s top 100 roller coasters.  The “Phoenix” topped the list in Pennsylvania with #1 state honors, and was featured as the #2 wooden roller coaster in the world.  “Flying Turns”, the first wooden bobsled ride in the US since the 1970s, was featured as the #9 roller coaster in Pennslvania and #41 in the world.  The “Twister” was ranked the #11 coaster in PA and #47 in the world.  For the full list and more information, click here.

Knoebels was also recently voted 2016 top honors as the “Favorite Traditional Amusement Park” and “Best Park for Families” by the National Amusement Park Historical Association.  The “Phoenix” was also named as the country’ “Favorite Wooden Roller Coaster”.

For more information about Knoebels or to plan your visit, check out their website.

Looking for a memorable experience this summer?  Check out several upcoming “Canoe & Brew” events that combine the best of craft brews and outdoor recreation!

Canoe and Brew is a just-for-fun event coordinated by a group dedicated paddlers who love the river, the outdoors, and beer.  It is not a fundraiser, nor does it benefit any one group.  The group is content to drink beer and build local communities through supporting local, independently-owned industry, such as breweries and river outfitters.

This year’s first event is coming up on June 3rd-4th.  This weekend extravaganza starts at the Berwick Test Track Park at the kayak launch and ends at Susquehanna Outdoor Adventures’ private island in the middle of the Susquehanna River.  Several treehouses on the island are up for grabs at the end of the day, and the rest of the group will be able to stay in tents and sleeping bags on the peaceful banks of the river.  There will be live music, barbeque prepared on the island, and fantastic brews boated in directly from Turkey Hill Brewing Company.

Pricing is as follows: $15 per head for the shuttle (beginning of the day at Susquehanna Outdoor Adventures to the launch site), including your boat. Boat rentals are $25 per head – that’s $25 for a single kayak, $50 for a double, including shuttle.  Kids riding in a canoe with their parents are free.

Visit www.canoeandbrew.com for more details or to register.  Spots are limited and will go quickly, so grab them soon.

Additional Canoe & Brew Events

June 11th, 2017: Susquehanna Brewing Co.

July 9th, 2017: Old Forge Brewing Co.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania will introduce its new president on Monday, May 22, at 12:15 p.m. in the Warren Student Services Building.

On April 26, Bloomsburg University Council of Trustees accepted the recommendations of the Presidential Search Committee and voted unanimously to advance two candidates, Bashar W. Hanna, Ph.D. and Daniel A. Wubah, Ph.D., to the Chancellor and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors.

• Dr. Bashar Hanna is a professor of biology and formerly vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown. Prior to working at Delaware Valley, Hanna served as associate provost at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. He was dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he served as interim provost. Hanna earned his three degrees from Temple University, including a bachelor’s degree in biology; a master’s degree in developmental biology and a doctoral degree in developmental neurobiology. Hanna and his wife Deanna have two children.

• Dr. Daniel Wubah is the senior advisor to the president at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. He joined the Washington and Lee administration after his tenure at Virginia Tech where he served as vice president for undergraduate education and deputy provost. At Washington and Lee he was appointed chief academic officer with oversight of two undergraduate colleges and the Law School. Wubah received a bachelor’s degree with honors in botany and diploma in science education from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, a master’s degree in biology from the University of Akron, Ohio, and a doctoral degree in botany from the University of Georgia, with a specialization in anaerobic microbiology. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research Laboratory in Athens, Ga. Wubah and his wife Judith have two adult children.

BU President David L. Soltz will retire June 30 after a tenure of 9 ½ years. The new leader will assume his presidency on or around July 1.