by Nancy Bishop You’ve driven past them hundreds of times, but have you ever really noticed the historical markers that dot the roadways? Pennsylvania’s readily recognizable blue and gold markers highlight significant people, places, and events in the state’s and nation’s history. Columbia County is home to nine of the markers while Montour County has six. Did you know, for instance, that typewriter inventor Christopher Sholes, was born in Montour County? His historical marker, located on Liberty Valley Drive (State Rt. 642) just east of Mooresburg Road in the village of Mooresburg, says, “Typewriter inventor, was born near here Feb.…

How much do you really know about Halloween? Try your hand at Trick-or-Treat Trivia and receive a chance to win a Halloween-themed Knoebels prize pack including: 4 Ride-All-Day Passes4 Haunted Mansion Passes4 Lazer Command Passes4 Lazer Maze Passes *Passes are good during Hallo-Fun weekends: October 13–15, 20–22, & 27–29 Take the Quiz!

by Nancy Bishop If you love country fairs, you don’t want to miss the Bloomsburg Fair, which opens with Preview Day Friday, Sept. 20, and runs through Sept. 28. Since the first Fair in 1855, devoted fair-goers have flocked to the Fairgrounds on Rt. 11 in Bloomsburg the third Saturday after Labor Day — always the official beginning of Fair Week. Walk into the Fair, which is the largest fair in Pennsylvania with more than 1,000 vendors in addition to all kinds of exhibits, and it’s hard to know where to start! Do I want to check out the exhibit…

Phoenix named #1 wooden roller coaster in the world for second consecutive year; receives “legend” award for Grand Carousel ATHOL, IDAHO – The #1 wooden roller coaster, the best food, and a legendary carousel can all be experienced at a Pennsylvania amusement park. Knoebels Amusement Resort is home to these three distinctions, and other “best-ofs” in the industry. During an event on Saturday at Silverwood Theme Park, Idaho, Amusement Today announced the 2019 Golden Ticket Award winners. The awards are calculated from an international poll. The survey is sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around…

by Nancy Bishop 100 years ago the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, brought World War I to an end. That Fall, Ralpho Township residents decided to mark the return from active duty of their World War I troops with an “All Home” celebration. That first celebration, which included a picnic and dinner, was held at the I.O.O.F. grounds on South Market Street in Elysburg. Today the celebration, held annually around Labor Day since then, has grown into a three-day event at Ralpho Township Community Park honoring all of the Township’s men and women who have…

by Nancy Bishop One of the highlights of summer in this part of Pennsylvania are the local fairs and carnivals. And whether you’re looking for great “Fair Food,” free entertainment, lots of rides for the kids (and the kids at heart) or even a chance to see the farm animals and the prize-winning pies, you’ll find it this year at the Montour-Delong Fair. Since the late 1930s, the Fair has held true to its goals of improving the quality of agriculture and home products of the community. It’s a school and community event whose purpose is educational, but it does…

On Saturday, August 24th and Sunday, August 25th, head out to Columbia County for a special event – the 2nd Annual “Freewheelin’ at Forks Farm”, hosted by Forks Farm Market, the Dutch Wheelman Bicycle Shop, and various other local businesses. Enjoy a weekend of scenic bicycling through Central Pennsylvania and experience some of the best local foods and flavors along the way.   The weekend kicks off with a multi-course dinner Saturday evening at 6 PM on the East and West Paden Twin Covered Bridges. The Twin Bridges are one of only two sets of twin covered bridges in America.…

Escaping to the great outdoors is one of the best ways to make the most of your summer. Columbia & Montour Counties and the surrounding region is known far and wide for its outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, kayaking, tubing, fishing, boating, hunting, and more. For the trail lovers out there, we’ve decided to come up with a short list of our five favorite area hikes to complete this summer or fall in the peaceful Central Pennsylvania region. 1. Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park Trail Length: Full trail loop – 7.2 miles Ricketts Glen State Park is one…

Winning photograph will be featured as this year’s edition of Visitors Bureau’s historic Covered Bridge Puzzle series. BLOOMSBURG, PA – 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 2019 Covered Bridge Puzzle.  This year’s puzzle will be released in the fall as the ninth installment in the Visitors Bureau’s limited edition series, and will feature the Kramer Bridge for the first time.  Paul W. Naus Jr.’s snapshot of the Kramer Bridge in Columbia County was selected as this year’s overall winner.  Paul lives with…

by Nancy Bishop Get ready for a taste of the Old West as the 35th Annual Frontier Days & Championship Rodeo comes to Benton July 16 to 21! Voted one of the best of the more than 65 rodeos east of the Mississippi River by the American Professional Rodeo Association, the event draws cowboys and cowgirls from all over the United States and Canada to compete. Stopping by the rodeo grounds located off Mendenhall Lane in Benton this week, I found Mel Parks, chairman of the Benton Rodeo Association, and Brian Bower, the Association’s corporate secretary, getting ready for the…

The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum will host its first-ever “Night at the Museum” Gala on Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 6-9 p.m. to benefit the museum’s many exhibits and educational programs. This adults-only gathering will be held on-site: both inside the Children’s Museum, 2 West 7th Street, Bloomsburg and under a tent on Center Street. The Gala is a black tie and blue jeans fundraiser, so any combination of the two is welcome. The event will feature: live jazz music from The Steve Adams Trio, DJ Kyle Alexander and emcee Tom Morgan from 94KX, dancing, kid-themed appetizers from Edith’s Catering, themed…

Next weekend, the Danville Heritage Festival will again take place throughout the town.  From Friday, July 19th until Sunday, July 21nd, enjoy a unique celebration of our region’s heritage.  The festival is centered around Hess Field and features a series of living history demonstrations on Saturday, July 20st. Throughout the weekend, there will be various events taking place; an iron ore mine hike, 5K run, tennis tournament, historic bike tours (including a segment on the nation’s oldest rail trail surrounding Hess Field, circa 1890s), food vendors, live music, a classic car cruise in, a quoits tournament, fireworks over the Susquehanna…

by Nancy Bishop   “The Best Weekend of the Year” – That’s what fans call the Briggs Farm Blues Festival, an annual celebration of the Blues music tradition that’s been going on every year since 1998. Whether you’re in the mood for Mississippi-style Blues, Contemporary Blues or Gospel Blues, you’ll find it at the 22nd Briggs Farm Blues Festival July 11-14. The Festival got its start as a one-day event in 1998 when Richard Briggs, then a production manager at public radio station WVIA, decided his family’s 250-year-old farm was the perfect place to have some Blues musicians come and play. “Blues…

Below is a list of June & July fireworks displays in Columbia & Montour Counties and the region beyond.   June 29th: Lewisburg, Wolfe Field, 9:30 pm, Rain Date June 30. Mifflinburg, Hidden Valley Camping Resort, dusk, No Rain Date Nanticoke, LCCC, Dusk, Rain Date  June 30 at Dusk July 3rd: Hazleton, City View Park, 9:45 pm Montgomery, Montgomery Park, Dusk, Rain Date July 5 at Dusk Mountain Top, Wright Township Park, Dusk Frackville, Little League/Softball Complex (West High Street), Dusk July 4th: Bloomsburg, Bloomsburg Town Park, Dusk, No Rain Date Mifflinburg, Mifflinburg Community Park, 9:45 pm Millville, Millville Community…

by Nancy Bishop   It’s June – the month for weddings, proms and graduations. And what do those three have in common? That’s right: Photos. Lots of photos. And now you’re looking for the perfect spot to stage your photos. Look no farther than Columbia and Montour counties where there’s an abundance of scenic backdrops for your lifetime memories. Perhaps the most iconic spot is the David Stroup Fountain, sometimes called “Memorial Fountain” or “Town Fountain,” in downtown Bloomsburg’s Market Square. Erected in the autumn of 1892, the fountain was manufactured by the J.L. Mott Ironworks in the Bronx section…

by Nancy Bishop It’s a hot summer day, but you’re cool and very happy – you’re floating in fresh mountain stream water in Crystal Pool at Knoebels. And you’re floating in a piece of history! Long before Knoebels was the amazing amusement park it is today, where you’re floating was the local swimming hole on Roaring Creek. In 1828, the Rev. Henry Hartman Knoebel bought the land known as “Peggy’s Farm” that included the swimming hole. The land was farmed and also had several sawmills. In the early 1900s, the swimming hole was a popular picnic spot, and Henry’s son,…

Knoebels is back in the spotlight for USA Today’s 2019 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards.  The popular local attraction has garnered national recognition with several nominations in this year’s Theme Parks/Waterparks voting categories. Knoebels is a top 20 nominee for “Best Roller Coaster” in the country, “Best Amusement Park Restaurant” in the country, and “Best Amusement Park” in the country. After voting concludes on Monday, June 17th, the top 10 list will be announced and the overall winner will be crowned in each category. Knoebels faces tough competition from the various Disney parks, Dollywood, Busch Gardens, and Six Flags, among…

by Nancy Bishop   If you love covered bridges – or haven’t seen the ones in Columbia & Montour counties – you need to sign up now for the upcoming Covered Bridge Tour on Saturday, May 18. But hurry and sign up – there are only a few seats left on the bus. To reserve seats for the bus tour, call the Columbia-Montour Welcome Center at 570-784-8279 or 800-847-4810 during business hours (Monday – Friday; 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM). And be sure to bring along your camera! You have until June 1 to submit a photo to the Columbia-Montour…

By Nancy Bishop Everywhere you look these days, there’s another article telling you that a diet high in veggies and fruit is good for your health, confirming that your mother was right when she said “Eat your veggies.” And, it’s also the era of the farm-to-table movement. At its most basic, farm-to-table means that the food on the table came directly from a specific farm, without going through a store or other distributor along the way. Years before it became a popular movement, though, my family’s version of “farm-to-table” was when I would call the farmer who lived down the…

Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA will be opening for the season on Saturday, April 27th.  The park will be open from 12 PM to 6 PM, and will feature a “BOGO” Buy one, get one special on handstamps.  Buy one Ride All Day Pass, Get one FREE (of equal or less value). Pricing for the “Ride All Day” pass is as follows: Basic Ride pass for General Admission is $35, Under 48 inches is $23.50.  The pass including Wooden Coasters for General Admission is $43, Under 48 inches is $28.50. Purchase BOGO Passes right here. There is no better…

Motorists are advised to use caution on the roads in our area and the surrounding region today, and in the coming days due to storm damage. Below is a list of current road closures. ——————————————————————- As of 3:00 PM (Tuesday, April 16th), please be advised of the following road closures in Columbia County: Route 42 from Route 254 in Millville Borough to Boyer Bottom Road in Greenwood Township Route 1012 (Knob Mountain Road) from Eagle Farm Road to Yost Hollow Road in Briar Creek Township Route 2005 (Slabtown Road) from Ideal Park Road to Route 42 in Locust Township Route…

by Nancy Bishop   One of the hidden gems in the area if you love Blues and Folk music like I do is The Listening Room that happens every month at The Exchange in Bloomsburg. Housed in a small storefront on Main Street in Bloomsburg, The Exchange is dedicated to bringing the arts to all people in communities throughout the region. The Listening Room – part of its Destination Blues program – happens on the last Wednesday of every month, from 7 to 9 p.m. In a small room with great acoustics, you not only can hear outstanding performances by a variety…

by Nancy Bishop Published April, 2019 Finally! It’s Spring!! And if it’s Spring, can the opening day of trout season be far behind? Picture this: It’s a warm, sunny Spring day and you’re standing along Fishing Creek near the bridge into the Scout camp near Benton. It’s quiet except for the occasional call of a bird and the sound of the rushing water. Looking into the clear water, you see a flash of gold. It’s a palomino trout darting along the stony creek bottom. And suddenly, you’re in your happy place! For adult anglers, the magic time to start fishing…

Below, please find a list of our area Easter Egg Hunts for 2019! The list will be updated as more are egg hunts are announced.   Sunday, April 7 BERWICK – Berwick Youth Football League Easter Egg Hunt at Test Track Park, S. Eaton St., Berwick, 2:00 PM; children up to age 14.   Saturday, April 13 BLOOMSBURG – Easter Egg Hunt (hosted by Sykes USA) at Columbia Park in Bloomsburg, 10:00 AM start BERWICK – Easter Egg Hunt at McBride Memorial Library, 500 N. Market St., Berwick, 1:00 PM. MILTON – 7th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Kohl’s Stony…