Information from the Danville Business Alliance UPDATE REGARDING FIREWORKS IN DANVILLE/RIVERSIDE: There WILL be fireworks this year in Danville on Saturday, July 18, 2020 beginning at approximately 9:15 PM as part of the Danville Heritage Festival & Celebrate Danville weekend. Fireworks will be set off behind the English Garden in Riverside and will be visible over the river. This year’s firework display is made possible by the following generous sponsors:GeisingerWhitenight’s Fireworks LLC & Farm MarketMeadows At Maria Joseph ManorAmerican Legion Auxiliary Unit 40Danville American Legion Post 40VFW Post 298 Also, a big thank you to Borough of Riverside, Danville Police…

by Nancy Bishop It’s hard to think about history in this area without having the name Van Wagner come to mind. His bio is a simple one: Van Wagner. Born in Pennsylvania. Lives in Pennsylvania. Makes music. Mined coal. Logged trees. Teaches kids. In his music and his writing, Van gives voice to the history and beauty of the region. He tells the legends of the coal region, the beauty of the trees and the waters and the hills that make up the area, the resiliency of the people that call this place home, and so much more. An environmental…

By Nancy Bishop Remember the ‘70s song “American Pie” by Don McLean? Then, if you’re like me, the lyrics “Drove my Chevy to the Levee…And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye…” are probably still playing in your head. But did you know that Benton can claim a piece of history with its own rye? Although it largely disappeared in the Northeast after Prohibition, rye whiskey was historically the prevalent whiskey in the northeastern states, especially in Pennsylvania and Maryland. And back in the mid-1800s, “Hunter John” McHenry began distilling his rye whiskey in Benton. So just what…

by Nancy Bishop Stuck at home and looking for things to do? How about a virtual look at some of the interesting historical places in Columbia and Montour counties? One of the interesting places I found is the old Danville Railroad Station. Now home to the Buckley’s Carpet & Linoleum at 502 Railroad Street and Walnut Street, the station began life down in Philadelphia as the Belmont Branch Station. Built to carry visitors to the country’s 1876 Centennial celebration on the Reading line, the station was close to the Centennial grounds, now Fairmount Park. No longer needed for the Centennial,…

By Eric Cipcic, CRNA, PHRN, MSNFrom the Bloomsburg Municipal Airport April Newsletter Newsletter coordinated by BJ Teichman, Airport Coordinator & Dave Ruckle, PilotEmails: airportcoordinator@bloomsburgpa.org; ruckleds@yahoo.com”Dave and I have always encouraged pilots to participate in the N13 newsletter. In the spirit of that we share the article below submitted by Eric Cipcic.” Greetings fellow pilots and aviation enthusiasts! Well, here we are going into mid-April and now is the time that I really start to get antsy to do some serious flying; The weather is gorgeous, Sun n Fun is here, Oshkosh is around the corner, and there’s lots of pancake…

by Nancy BishopHeader photo courtesy of @imasharm Been wishing that you could at least get out and go fishing instead of being cooped up in the house? Your wish has been granted. Effective at 8 AM on April 7, 2020, Pennsylvania opened the trout season statewide. And one of the best trout fishing streams in the state runs right through this area. Fishing Creek has many public and private fishing areas along its banks. One of my favorites is along Camp Lavigne Road off Route 487 north of Benton. Even if the fish aren’t biting, it’s a very quiet, scenic…

1. Bloomsburg became Pennsylvania’s first, and only, incorporated town in 1870. FACT – Bloomsburg was incorporated in 1870 as a “town.” It’s the only municipality in Pennsylvania to have that designation. There are six types of local governments listed in the Pennsylvania Constitution: county, township, borough, town, city, and school district, and it just so happens that Bloomsburg was incorporated as the first and only “town” in the state. 2. The inventor of the typewriter and the QWERTY keyboard was born in Mooresburg in 1819. FACT – Christopher Sholes was born in Mooresburg, Montour County on February 14th, 1819. He later completed…

by Nancy Bishop Although no one seems to really know how April Fools’ Day got started, some historians believe it’s been around since the 1500s when France moved New Year’s Day from April 1 to Jan. 1 when the Gregorian calendar was adopted. People who didn’t remember the change and celebrated on April 1 were called April fools and others played tricks on them. Stuck in my house right now under the stay-at-home order, I’ve been spending way too much time online or watching TV. But the good news is I’ve learned a few interesting things about our area with…

Visitor health and safety is a top priority for the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau. We are fully committed to putting people and their well-being first. With that in mind, we have made the decision to temporarily close our Welcome Center at 121 Papermill Road in Bloomsburg; effective Tuesday, March 17th. The Welcome Center will remain closed indefinitely due to the statewide closure mandate of non life-sustaining business operations. We encourage our residents, regional visitors, and local businesses to practice the recommended health and wellness advice of the CDC and WHO. During the time we are closed, you may still reach us…

by Nancy Bishop If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ve probably visited Montour Preserve,  one of the jewels of outdoor recreation in the area. But do you remember a time before there was a Montour Preserve? Back in 1967, when the local electric utility — then called Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. — announced that it would build a coal-fired power plant near Washingtonville in Montour County, the area was mostly farmland with a creek running through it. There was no Lake Chillisquaque and no Montour Preserve. On June 5, 1967, then-PP&L President Jack Busby told the Rotary Club in nearby…

by Nancy Bishop Ok, without looking it up on your phone, tablet or laptop: What is “poise” a measurement of? What are dots on dominoes tiles called? What country did Hitler’s nephew William fight for in World War II? Give up? Well, turns out I only knew the answer to the last one, but my friends who joined me at Trivia Night at Marley’s in Bloomsburg didn’t believe me when I said the U.S., so they wrote down “United Kingdom” for the answer. And they were wrong! William served in the US Navy in WWII. None of us knew that…

Montoursville, PA – Motorists in north central Pennsylvania are advised that a wintery mix of sleet and freezing rain is predicted across region beginning Wednesday, February 5 during the evening hours through Thursday morning, February 6. PennDOT is prepared and will be performing winter services throughout the area. Falling temperatures combined with the wintery mix could result in slippery and dangerous road conditions. Freezing rain could accumulate between a trace to 0.10 inches with as much as 1-inch of sleet in the northern counties. These conditions could result in black ice and downed trees, even on treated roadways. Motorists are…

by Nancy Bishop Yes, that day for celebrating your sweetheart is just around the corner. Better start planning your celebration – and making reservations – now! Kick the celebration off early by heading to the Cherokee Tap Room in Danville Friday, Feb. 7 to Sunday, Feb. 9 for their Whiskey & Cheese event.  If you like whiskey, you’ll be able to sample four and choose four cheeses to go with them. Scotch, Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey and Irish Whiskey are among the choices, along with a variety of cheeses including Cheddar, Goat and Manchego. Reserve your spot on their…

by Nancy Bishop Spectacular winter scenery awaits the adventurous who make the trek to visit the frozen waterfalls at Ricketts Glen State Park near Benton. Although the Falls Trail is closed in the winter, properly equipped, experienced ice hikers and climbers are permitted to be on the trail.  However, they are required to sign in and out at the park office. Required equipment includes crampons, an ice axe, and rope for each hiker. To see most of the waterfalls, there’s a 3.2-mile loop that provides views of 21 waterfalls. Want to go, but don’t want to do it alone or…

This winter, the popular annual Wine Trail Valentine’s event in Columbia & Montour Counties returns with a new twist. A “Wine & Donut Trail” takes visitors to seven local wineries to sample some delectable wines paired with the perfect matching sweet treat. Visitors also have the chance to win one of eight amazing prize baskets if they complete all seven stops. From February 7th – 16th, treat your sweetheart to a romantic outing filled with wine and donuts. The “Wine & Donut Trail” in Columbia & Montour Counties is a great way to celebrate the Valentine’s Day season with a loved…

Knoebels Amusement Resort announced a new ride today in advance of the 2020 season and also announced the closure of a longstanding ride at the park. Knoebels is celebrating the new year with a new ride, called “Tornado.” The ride is expected to be ready and in place for riders on opening day – April 25, 2020. Tornado will be capable of holding 32-passengers. According to Stacy Ososkie, Director of Public Relations for Knoebels, “Eight cars hold four passengers each in individual seats facing the inside of the car. Once the ride reaches speed moving in a circle, it tilts…

By Nancy Bishop If you would rather fish, kayak or ride your ATV than go skiing and you’re dreaming of Spring while watching the snow pile up outside your window, then the Early Bird Sports Expo should be your destination. Opening Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, the 32nd annual event features more than a hundred vendors and showcases boats, RVs, ATVs, outfitters, hunting and fishing equipment, kayaks, the area’s finest taxidermy work, artists, sportsmen’s groups and archery suppliers. It runs through Sunday, Jan. 26. One of the returning vendors this year is Pond Craft Boats, which will be…

by Nancy Bishop There’s no getting around it – winter is here in Northeastern Pennsylvania —  and after New Year’s, you’ll be looking for things to do. Just in time for you to plan some winter activities and dream about some summer ones, the 2020 Columbia-Montour Visitors Guide will make its debut Saturday, Dec. 21 at the Berwick Christmas Boulevard. If you just want to curl up by the warm fireplace and daydream about warm weather activities to come, then check out the Guide’s Events Calendar. Coming up Jan. 22-26 at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds is the 32nd Annual Early Bird…

by Nancy Bishop Did you know that November is National Historic Bridge Awareness Month? Plan to celebrate this area’s historic covered bridges by going to “Christmas on the Bridges” on the East and West Paden Bridges — the Twin Bridges — Sunday, December 8 from 1 PM to 4 PM. Sponsored by the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association, the annual free event has something for everyone. There are free hayrides with Santa for the kids (and the kids at heart) from 1 PM – 3 PM. And, local breweries and wineries will be there with wine and beer tastings to…

November, 2019 The holidays are a great time of year to spend time with friends and family. If your Thanksgiving travels bring you into Columbia & Montour Counties next week, there are plenty of great events and area activities planned that will provide fun for the whole family. After Thanksgiving, the Christmas festivities begin in earnest, including the renowned 73rd annual Berwick Christmas Boulevard. Saturday, November 23rd Danville Holiday Open House & Carriage Rides – Enjoy FREE horse-drawn carriage rides in Danville from 5:00 – 9:00 PM. Plus, visit the shops of historic downtown Danville and find something for everyone…

by Nancy Bishop It’s cold and the days are shorter. Winter is coming! Let’s go for coffee to warm up. There’s nothing like a steaming hot fresh cup of coffee to make a winter morning seem better. And if the coffee chains don’t quite do it for you, our area has some great independent small shops serving up really good coffee. Some even sell fresh-roasted coffees that you can take home to brew. One of my recent mornings started in Catawissa, and I had heard Woody’s Place, a.k.a. Heaps Family Diner on Main Street next to the Catawissa Municipal Building…

Congratulations to our five lucky winners of this year’s Summer Heritage Passport program! Joe O’Malley – JermynHuiyan Frohlich – BloomsburgJohn Davis III – BloomsburgWilliam Baillie – DanvilleAdelyn German – Bloomsburg Each will receive a gift basket filled with restaurant gift cards, historical books about the region, local treats, and various heritage memorabilia from stops on the trail.  Next year’s trail will begin on May 8th, 2020 and hopefully will also have a few new stops!

With fall foliage season upon us, we’ve decided it’s time to do a pop-up photo contest this weekend! Guidelines:1. Simply share your very best fall foliage photo by tagging it with #itourcolumbiamontour on Instagram or sharing it as a visitor post to our wall on Facebook. Please include the location and approximate date your photo was taken in the post.2. Photos must be submitted by 10 AM on Monday morning, 10/28.3. Images must have been taken in the past five years and must feature a location either in, or partially in, Columbia or Montour Counties. (Ricketts Glen State Park counts) On Monday…

by Nancy Bishop The trees are awash in shades of gold, orange and crimson in Northeastern Pennsylvania. There’s a bit of a chill in the air and there are Fall festivals everywhere. It’s a great time to visit this area, especially with Halloween coming. Want to get scared? Look no farther! There are plenty of scary options this Halloween season whether you want to visit a haunted house or take a nighttime walk through a corn maze. Begin with the Elysburg Haunted House. Run annually since 1976, it’s one of the first haunted events in the area. As soon as…