Enjoy a quarterly snapshot of our region with the latest edition of our quarterly digital magazine!
2025
Quarterly
Volume 16 April - June
Your All-Access Guide to Columbia & Montour Counties!
800.847.4810 iTourColumbiaMontour.com
📷 : BLOOMSBURG ATHLETICS
FOLK’S BUTTERFLY FARM
@FISHYAKER
In a League of Her Own: Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands 4 Food for the Future: Rohrbach’s Farm Market Turns 70 10 CONTENTS Table Of
Save the Date: 2025 Area Carnivals, Fairs & Festivals 14
@THEINNATTURKEYHILL
Bloomsburg’s Renaissance Jamboree 16
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Covered Bridge Photo Contest 2025 Details
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Gone Fishin’ Revisited
Grit & Glory: Forty Years of the Benton Rodeo 30 Events Calendar 22 Call for Artists: 2025 Covered Bridge & Arts Festival 34
@ROHRBACHSFARM
Member Spotlight 35
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Your SPRING Adventure Begins in COLUMBIA & MONTOUR Counties
OPENING WEEKEND AT KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT IS APRIL 26 & 27!
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They’re everywhere, yet we often fail to recognize them: individuals who have accomplished remarkable things, who have contributed to changing the world, and who have occasionally bent the rules, only to return to their quiet lives unnoticed. It’s not every day that we get to meet such extraordinary people. Perhaps it’s because we are indifferent to the fame that once surrounded them, or maybe the events that brought them recognition occurred long ago, and now they fade into shadow. Many remain unknown to the majority, but occasionally, they re-emerge and deserve to be celebrated. I have had the privilege of meeting a few of these exceptional individuals in my life, but never from my hometown. Like much of history, their stories should not be forgotten. So today, let us take a moment to celebrate Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands . Sarah Jane Sands was born on July 27, 1935, in Orangeville, Pennsylvania. She was one of four children. Her father was a passionate baseball fan and played on local teams when he was younger. He would often take little Sarah, whom he affectionately nicknamed “Salty,” to local games where they would
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which was during Salty’s senior year of high school. Although Salty wanted to graduate, she realized that she would need to leave school before the end of the year. She spoke with her principal, who helped her complete her studies early so she could graduate on
sit on the benches with the team. She quickly fell in love with the sport, and before long, she became the batgirl for the Orangeville baseball team. One of the team’s mothers even took a uniform and sized it down so everyone would know she was part of the team. When the local boys would start a game, someone was always sent to fetch Salty. She played baseball, ice hockey, basketball, and football with them, constantly improving her skills. However, baseball was her true passion and would ultimately make her one of the most famous figures in our area. Shortly after the United States entered World War II, several executives from Major League Baseball sought to keep the sport in the public eye. Many regular players were called to duty, and they feared baseball might come to a halt until they returned home. To address this, they established the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), which operated from 1943 to 1954. This league has become a forgotten part of American Sports History. A local friend of Salty’s father happened to meet a gentleman who claimed to be a scout for the league. Knowing about Salty’s skills, he recommended her to the scout, mentioning that she would be perfect for the league. They exchanged business cards, and the friend shared them with Salty’s father, who then contacted the scout to arrange a meeting. The meeting took place in a town park in Allentown. Salty brought along her glove and a ball, ready to prove herself. After they threw the ball back and forth five times, the scout paused and announced that he was sending Salty to the Rockford Peaches, managed by Johnny Rawlings, in Illinois, for their tryouts for the 1953 season. The tryouts were scheduled for April and May,
An early baseball trading card featuring Orangeville native Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands with the Rockford Peaches.
The 1953 Rockford Peaches team. Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands is seated in the bottom row, second from the right.
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time. Salty successfully finished her coursework, but because she was in Illinois at the time of graduation, her father had to collect her diploma for her. During her two seasons with the Rockford Peaches, Salty remarked that the girls were “just doing what we loved and having a ball”. Although she primarily played as a catcher, that position was already filled, so she served as the backup catcher. However, due to her skills and strong throwing arm, she was moved to right field, where she played for both seasons. In the offseason, Salty took a job at Olmsted Air Force Base near Harrisburg where she worked as a clerk. She also played on their semi-professional basketball team. Then it was back to Illinois for season two. After the two seasons came to an end, the AAGPBL was dissolved and Salty knew she had to move on. In 1956 Salty took a position at Johnsville Naval Air Station as a clerk and administrative assistant. One of her responsibilities was to issue passes to individuals using the centrifuge chamber, which tested a person’s ability to withstand high G-forces. This made it possible for her to meet astronauts like John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Alan Shepard. Her love for baseball remained strong so she stayed actively involved in the sport as a Little League coach and she coached and played women’s softball. When the AAGPBL Players Association was founded in 1987 she became an active collaborator. They established a permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, honoring women’s baseball. In 1992, Salty was one of 61 original players who participated in a 10-day filming session for Penny Marshall’s film, “A League of Their Own”, starring Geena Davis and Tom Hanks. She even made appearances in some of the scenes.
ABOVE: The 1992 film “A League of Their Own” portrayed a fictional account of the real-life All-American Girls Baseball League. BELOW: Salty (left) and film director Penny Marshall stand by a display of “A League of Their Own” items at a 10th anniversary celebration at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
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In 2003, Salty’s alma mater, Bloomsburg High School, inducted her into the Graduates of Distinction Hall of Fame, she threw the ceremonial first pitch to one of the Little League World Series Games one year, and she served on a panel for two Society for American Baseball Research meetings. In March 2010, she returned to Cooperstown to celebrate Women’s History Month. Through the years, the ladies of the AAGPBL would meet for reunions and Salty would go as often as she could. Many wonder how Salty got her nickname. Well, there was a man in the Bloomsburg area, back in the day, who went by the name “Salty Hazzard”. He was said to be a bit eccentric and was said to wear a thin sweater
in the winter and summer. One day when the family was going out, little Sarah Jane came downstairs in a thin sweater and no jacket. Her father told her mom “She’s just like Salty”. The name stuck and ever since she was known as Salty. Salty married William Ferguson and they had two children, William and Tammy. She became a school bus driver for a local company and remained there for 45 years. Today, retired, she still resides in Columbia County where she learned to love baseball. She will turn 90 years old this July.
** A special thanks to Bill Ferguson for all his help, stories, and photos!
ABOVE: Some of Salty’s original Rockford Peaches gear. RIGHT: Salty makes a cameo appearance in “A League of The Own”.
ABOVE LEFT: Donned in a Rockford Peaches sweatshirt, Salty is honored in Williamsport. ABOVE RIGHT: Article author Linda Sones with Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands Ferguson in 2025.
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igital quarterly 25 ad_Layout 1 3/19/25 5:46 PM Page 1
Old Forge is the perfect place to unwind with family and friends while enjoying fresh, outstanding food and hand-crafted beverages. We offer a full menu created by our chef, featuring Lunch, Dinner & Appetizers. FAVORITE PLACE! LET US BE YOUR
We offer up to 16 of our very own beers on tap with 2 additional on the hand pumps. We also feature a selection of wines and a cocktail menu. Daily Features & Special Dietary Options Call for Take-Out Orders! Beer To Go: Cans, Growlers, or Crowlers. Taco Tuesday • Wednesday Trivia Thursday Wing Nite Fun Seasonal Events Live Music Every Other Friday & Sat.
532 Mill Street • Danville, PA 17821 • 570.275.8151 OLDFORGEBREWINGCOMPANY.COM
A Beloved Area Farm Favorite Turns 70 Years Old
by Jenn Puckett Photos courtesy of Rohrbach’s
L ast June, a beautiful sunny morning found my 14-year-old son and I standing in a strawberry field at Rohrbach’s Farm. He wanted homemade strawberry freezer jam; and as he learned, that starts out on the farm. We picked berries for about two hours, joking and talking with one another and fellow pickers about all sorts of things. About halfway into our picking, the teenager thought for sure we had plenty of berries for our jam but I insisted we needed to double it. A few hours later, our freshly picked, perfectly ripe berries were transformed into ruby red jam filled jars, lining the kitchen counter and ready for the freezer. We were both so excit- ed to have jam that should last us until next year’s berry season. We ran out by the beginning of October. I may have underestimat- ed how much growing teenagers consume but if we had stopped picking when my son wanted to, we’d have been out of jam be- fore July! Denise Bosworth, one of the 4th generation owners at Rohrbach’s, laughed when I told her about our experience. She, more than most folks, truly understands all the labor and dedica- tion it takes to get that berry from the farm field to the freezer. I’m so glad I grew up when I did. I spent my formative years in the country outside of Orangeville. If I wasn’t home, I was probably at my grandparents, just a short walk up the hill. Summer break from school would find me either following my pappy around the ga- rage, playing in the woods or helping in one of their two gardens. There was a small kitchen garden near the house where my gram- my grew tomatoes, onions and bell peppers. (For some unknown reason she always referred to bell peppers as mangos…imagine my surprise when I was served a mango dessert as a teenager!) The lower garden was where they grew corn, potatoes and straw- berries. There was a small grove of peach trees and a huge thicket of raspberries on the property as well. Anything that could be harvested was pickled, frozen, canned or stored in the root cellar. I didn’t know or even think about the economic or health reasons for raising their own produce, it was just something they did. And it is something that a lot of us have taken for granted. Denise shares my fond nostalgia, though on a much bigger scale. She grew up with her siblings and cousins at the farm and from a young age was actively participating in the hard physical work of
Rohrbach’s offers pick-your-own strawberries when the season begins. Each year, they have a strawberry hotline that the public can call to get more info about picking availability, so stay tuned to their Facebook page!
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Denise Rohrbach along with her siblings and cousins in their earlier days on the farm.
the farm and the wholesale side of the market. Because of the guidance of her parents and grandparents, Denise – along with her two siblings and three cousins – had a childhood steeped in a real understanding of farm to table. In 4-H, Denise was ac- tive in food and nutrition education and remains so to this day. She’s authored two children’s books - “Penelope Pumpkin” and “Are They Ready Yet: A Tale of Strawberries from a Pennsylva- nia Farm.” We talked about the distance between farm to table in today’s world in both a physical and intellectual sense. Part of the Rohrbach commitment to community and the next generation is their non-profit, Seeds of the Future. Focusing on connect- ing children and youth to the local farms and helping them make healthy food choices are among the core goals. Every year, Rohrbach’s runs camps focused on growing, harvesting and preparing locally grown food and dozens of kid friend- ly activities. In 2024, with the help from Columbia Montour Vo-Tech, they built two wheelchair accessible raised beds, en- suring that everyone has the opportunity to take part. 2025 goals include reaching 5,000 kids with agriculture-based ed- ucation and building a Community Pollinator garden. Denise is passionate about getting youth involved with agriculture. We talked about how so many kids have little understanding of where their food comes from and how it is grown. And even fewer kids ever have an opportunity to grow their own food from seed to harvest. Denise and her dedicated team are working hard to make sure that this current generation gets a chance to experience as much of it as possible. Rohrbach’s also employs youth in all facets of the farm, a con- tinued tradition from past generations who understood the importance of educating the next one. Those elders made sure to instill a standard of care and community while under- standing that advancements and changes should be explored and welcomed. Today’s young workers learn the same values
Young visitors to the farm love exploring the strawberry patch!
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A photo from the early days of Rohrbach’s Farm Market.
Young visitors at one of the farm’s special youth events enjoy tasting the field fresh strawberries over shortcake!
Opening Weekend at Rohrbach’s is April 18 & 19!
in service and honest work. Denise told me she believes in giving kids the opportunity to learn responsibility, and sometimes the consequences. Such early experiences form the foundation of our character and there’s no book lesson in the world that can out-perform a hands-on in- teraction with our mentors. This year, Rohrbach’s turns 70 years old. An anniversary celebration on May 23 & 24 will include several genera- tions of the family. There will be photos from the past 70 years on display, and I can imagine there will be quite a few of us that see a bit of our own upbringing in them. With everything from guest speakers, balloons, face painting to live music on Saturday, this will be a great family event. When I talked to Denise about the farm’s past and future, I came to understand how much she appreciates her fam- ily and amazing team of employees. The farm offers ev- erything from pick-your-own fruit like strawberries and apples to a full-service market, gift shop and bakery and BBQ at Big Dan’s. Add in the nearly constant stream of events and special programs and you can see many hands are needed to ease the work. And the friendly and ded-
icated team at Rohrbach’s does it all so seamlessly. It’s a real credit to the entire staff for the organization and efficiency you see during a visit. The Rohrbach family’s commitment to being good stewards of the land and good members of the communities they serve is evident in all they do. We’ll be back for a visit ourselves, on a sunny June morn- ing, looking for the best and ripest strawberries. We’re planning on triple the amount this year, so hopefully that will hold us over until June of 2026. Rohrbach’s is open mid-April through December and each crop is harvested in its season and peak of flavor. The learning opportu- nities abound here, whether in fun summer camps and classes or parents teaching their kids family traditions. In our very instant gratification society, it’s good for us all to understand the planning and work that goes into get- ting your dinner to the plate. We learned a good lesson in planning ahead and estimating household consumption! And despite what my grammy called them, actual mangos are NOT a substitute for bell peppers in any recipe! •
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A Picturesque Inn Nestled in the charming Village of Benton Pennsylvania... just a short drive from both Ricketts Glen State Park and Bloomsburg University. Each one of our six guest rooms is uniquely designed and features works by local artists. Our complimentary coffee bar awaits your visit.
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616 Walnut Street Danville, PA 570-275-1310
Delong Fair 25 - Half_Layout 1 3/19/25 4:18 PM Page 1 www.ltevansrestaurant.com Online Ordering Available! Lunch • Dinner • Takeout • Delivery Something for everyone... entrees, appetizers, burgers, salads, soup and don't forget the fresh cut fries! Offering a full bar with a variety of domestic, imported, craft, and seasonal beers. Family-friendly atmosphere with outdoor seating. Open for lunch and dinner.
montour-D e long Community FAIR July 21-26, 2025 Free Admission • Free Entertainment Parking $5 *
*Advanced Parking: 6 days for $20
200 Year Old Log Cabin
Livestock Exhibits and Shows Flower and Vegetable Exhibits Arts & Crafts Exhibits Tractor Pulls • Mini-Horse Pulls
Tour the 200 year old John Bosley Log Cabin moved from Washingtonville with local historians. Enjoy historical happenings and costumed reenactors while at the Fair.
Lots of Good Food! For more details visit: MontourDelongfair.com 5848 Broadway Rd, Danville • (570) 437-2178
Renaissance Jamboree Returns to Bloomsburg
Festival highlights include the return of the pop- ular band, Joyous, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensem- ble’s Theater in the Classroom performance of
The Renaissance Jamboree festival is back with fun, new offerings! For over 44 years, residents from all over North- east PA have gathered and celebrated Spring’s return at the annual Renaissance Jamboree in downtown Bloomsburg. This year, the Renais- sance committee is happy to announce a human hamster wheel and the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Xscape room! Kinetic Kreations brings the first ever human powered shaved ice machine to the festival. Walk the wheel to shave the ice for your snow cone! The Bloomsburg Children’s Mu- seum is partnering with Can U Xscape to present a unique experience in front of the Can U Xcape location on Main Street. The escape room will be a small escape challenge under a canopy. The theme is “hot seat” and it’s a quick turnaround challenge taking about two minutes so there is no need to sign up in advance.
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“Discovering Frederick Douglass”, and a magic show and a balloon artist at the chil- dren’s stage at Main and Jefferson Avenue. There will be belly dancers, martial artists, dancing exhibitions and a drum circle and Jazz performance by students from Com- monwealth University-Bloomsburg at the Main and Market Street stage. There will be a return of the baby goat petting zoo this year brought by the Bloomsburg Pool committee. The festival will be filled with culinary de- lights – old and new. This year we wel- come Moyer’s BBQ, Bellum’s Bubble Waf- fles, JoJo’s Scoops and Sprinkles, Finley’s Main Squeeze, The Wandering Brewtique and Bill’s Soda Stand.
2025 Renaissance Jamboree April 26th, 2025 10 am – 5 pm Main Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 The Details
of vendors and non-profit organizations, food stands and parking and directions. The annual Renaissance Jamboree is the largest event co-sponsored by Downtown Bloomsburg Inc., the Columbia Montour Chamber of Com- merce, Bloomsburg University, Program Board of Bloomsburg University, the Town of Bloomsburg, and the Renaissance Jamboree Committee.
Parking will be at the West end parking lot of the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. Enter through the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Archway off of McClure Boulevard and look for the Renaissance Jamboree signs. Two free shuttle buses (one is handicapped accessible) will run in a continuous loop from the fairgrounds to the downtown for the festival. Vis- it renaissancejamboree.org for more information and a complete schedule of entertainment, listing
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📷 : MONA HESS
Each year, the Visitors Bureau holds a photo contest to produce a 550-piece puzzle featuring one of the area’s covered bridges. Limited-edition puzzles have been produced the past fourteen years. The 2025 edition of the puzzle will be released this fall, and will be based on the winner of this year’s photo contest.
This year’s Covered Bridge Photo Contest is open for submissions NOW – May 31st.
How to Enter:
This year, you may submit photos directly via our online form. There is a MAX file size of 20mb. If your image is selected as a finalist and a higher resolution photo is required, we will reach out via email.
ENTER THE CONTEST
Rules and Regulations:
• Entry to the contest is FREE. • All photos must be of bridges located within Columbia or Montour County.
• All photos must be owned by the person submitting them. By submitting, you are giving the CMVB permission to use your photo as their 2025 puzzle and in future marketing efforts for the contest and for the counties.
• All photos must be high-resolution. • A max of four photos per person will be accepted. • Photos may be from any season and do NOT necessarily have to have been taken within the past year. • Photos entered in prior year’s contests ARE still eligible for entry into this year’s contest. The top overall photo will be selected by the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau to be featured as the 2025 Covered Bridge Puzzle. The winning photographer will have their name and a short bio published on the puzzle box, and will also receive a free puzzle.
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Gone Fishin g
@HOCK_BROS
by CMVB STAFF Article originally published in 2022 Vol. 4; revised for 2025
Fishing season is here again - what a wonderful way to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors! Before you hit the water, we wanted to share some important information that will help make your next angling trip a resounding success. Statewide Opening Day of Trout – April 5th – End of Trout Regular Season – September 1st – Extended Season: All stocked trout waters, streams plus lakes and ponds: September 2nd to December 31st.
Stocking: In 2025, the PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 691 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.4 million Rainbow Trout; 693,000 Brown Trout; and 125,000 Brook Trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds. The PFBC will also stock ap- proximately 72,000 trophy-sized brood fish, which are 2 ½ year-old and 3 ½ year-old hatchery-raised Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Brook Trout measuring 14-20 inches. Roughly 70% of these large fish will be stocked into streams and lakes during the preseason prior to opening day of trout season, and 30% will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings. In 2025, the PFBC will stock approximately 14,000 golden Rainbow Trout. In addition to being stocked during the preseason period before opening day, these highly prized fish featuring vibrant gold- en-orange pigmentation and weighing an average of 1.5 pounds will be stocked during in-season replenishment stockings. Approx- imately 75% of golden Rainbow Trout will be stocked during the preseason, and approximately 25% will be stocked in-season.
MINIMUM KEEP SIZE: 7 inches FISHING HOURS: 24 hours a day, after the 8 AM opener
Extended season regulations only apply to waters managed as Stocked Trout Waters (STW). All waters downstream of STW are no longer managed under extended season regulations.
Other Important Fishing Season Dates: Opening Day of Walleye & Sauger: Saturday, May 3
Re-opening Day of Bass: Saturday, June 14 – while Bass Season is open year round, there is a no harvest period from 12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in April (April 12, 2025) to 12:01 a.m. the second Saturday in June (June 14, 2025). During the no harvest season, anglers must immediately return any bass to the water and are prohibited from casting into spawning beds. Fish For Free Days: Sunday, May 25, 2025 & Tuesday, July 4, 2025 (Independence Day) are the 2025 Fish-for-Free Days. Fish-for-Free Days allow anyone (resident or non-resident) to legally fish on Pennsylvania waterways on the designated days with NO FISHING LICENSE REQUIRED (Trout/Salmon and Lake Erie permits are also NOT required). All other fishing regulations still apply.
2025 Columbia Montour Master Angler Passport
There will be a brand new initiative in 2025 for Columbia & Montour Counties: a Master Angler Passport! Organized through the popular fishing tournament company, iAngler, this program will allow visitors and residents alike to get out on the water in our counties and record the fish species you catch in the iAngler mobile app. This is a FREE passport designed to be fun for the public. Those anglers who catch enough species throughout the year will be awarded the title of “Mas- ter Angler” for Columbia & Montour counties in 2025. To learn more, please visit: itourcolumbiamontour.com/master-angler-passport.
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Where to Purchase Your 2025 Fishing License
Locations in Columbia County selling fishing licenses: Bloomsburg Title Tag & Notary 550 East Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Maple Ridge Sports Center 402 Main Street, Orangeville, PA 17859
Red Rock Corner Store 121 State Route 118, Benton, PA 17814
C.M. Laubach & Sons, Inc. 547 East 8th Street, Berwick, PA 18603
Wal Mart #1794 Buckhorn/Bloomsburg 100 Lunger Drive, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Columbia County Treasurer 11 West Main Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Locations in Montour County selling fishing licenses: Montour County Treasurer 435 East Front Street, Danville, PA 17821
Dunham’s Sports 225 Columbia Mall Drive, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Gumpy’s Creekside Cabin 2861 Route 42, Millville, PA 17846
In addition to a fishing license, trout anglers 16 and older must posses a Trout Permit (or Combination Trout/Lake Erie Permit) to fish for trout. Licenses must be signed in ink and displayed on an outer garment. Anglers must also be able to provide positive proof of identification (other than the fishing license) upon request of a Waterways Conservation Officer. Non-resident students attending in-state universities qualify for a discounted fishing license from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The price of a license is $27.97, which is the same price as an annual license for state residents and $33 less than the cost of an annual non-resident license.
Fishing Creek Trout Tagging Prize Program: The Fishing Creek Sportsmen’s Association is continuing the stocking of tagged trout into the streams of Fishing Creek and its tributaries again this year. Trout will be tagged with prize amounts of $25, $50 & $100 for lucky fishermen & fisherwomen to catch. There will be over $2,000 in prizes!
Learn more about fishing in the area, and find interactive maps that show stocked waters, streams, boat access, and more! Click or scan the QR code to get started.
Cafe NowOpen !
MARKET HOURS Tuesday through Saturday • 9am-3pm Monday through Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-3pm
521 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11) Bloomsburg 570-387-0550 • WILDFORSALMON.COM
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@WANDERINGLENSPHOTOS
EVENTS CALENDAR
RECURRING
brewskis ’ bluegrass brunch Last Sunday of the month Brewskis Coffee and Bar 570-317-2865
bloomsburg library bridge club Every Monday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 – bloomsburgpl.org craft pizza night Every Monday Craft Catering at the Links at Hemlock Creek 570-594-8134 - craftcateringllc.com
bloomsburg fair farmers market Every Saturday starting May 10 Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Barn near the Barton House 570-784-4949 – bloomsburgfair.com montgomery / boyd house tours Every Sunday Montgomery House Museum & Boyd House Museum 570-271-0830 - montourcountyhistoricalsociety.org
american mah jongg Every Tuesday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 – bloomsburgpl.org play traditional mahjong Every Thursday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 – bloomsburgpl.org bloom yarnies Every second and fourth Saturday 570-784-0883 - bloomsburgpl.org komodo dragon feeding Last Saturday of the month Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland 570-538-1869 - reptiland.com
bte improv May 9 & June 6 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble - Alvina Kraus Theatre 570-784-5530 - bte.org “ the little prince ” 2025 entertainment passport event ( april 5 showing ) April 3 - 27 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble - Alvina Kraus Theatre 570-784-5530 - bte.org
wildscapes Now – May 17 Artspace Gallery 570-784-0737 - artspacebloomsburg.com
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APRIL 2025 traveling library spring book sale April 1 – 5 Lightstreet United Methodist Church 570-387-8782 - cctlibrary.org ronald mcdonald house garden party April 4 AEREA in Milton 570-271-6300 - rmhdanville.org
willie jack and the northern light 2025 entertainment passport event April 11 Old Forge Brewing Company 570-275-5181 - oldforgebrewingcompany.com
spring wildflower walk April 12 Montour Preserve 570-850-1166 - vernalschool.org
central pa pretzel festival April 12
agriculture awareness day April 5 Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Industrial Arts Building 570-356-7654 - rohrbachsfarm.net
Bloomsburg Fairgrounds centralpapretzelfest.com
pedaling for panthers April 13 Bloomsburg Town Park 570-784-6524 - dutchwheelman.com
aaron diehl trio April 5 Arts In Bloom - K.S. Gross Auditorium 570-389-4409 - commonwealthu.edu/offices-directory/arts- bloom
fossil event with andrew rockhound and the central pa rock and mineral club April 13 Montour Preserve 570-850-1166 - vernalschool.org
nacho average fundraiser April 11 Rohrbach Farm Market, Bakery & Gift Shop 570-356-7654 - rohrbachsfarm.net
BLUES Ruthie Foster Fri., April 25 7:30 p.m.
New 25-26 season coming soon! Announcement: May Ticket Sales: July
Grammy Winner for Best Contemporary Blues Album, Mileage!
Bucknell.edu/ WeisCenter 570-577-1000
APRIL (CONTINUED)
imani winds with michelle cann 2025 entertainment passport event April 22 Susquehanna University Artist Series 570-372-2787 - susqu.edu/artsandevents special friends spring kickoff @ rohrbach ’ s April 24 Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachfarm.net free outdoor concert @ rohrbach ’ s : phil reeder April 25 Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachfarm.net ruthie foster 2025 entertainment passport event April 25 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-3727 - Bucknell.edu/WeisCenter these shining lives by melanie marnich April 25 – 27 Susquehanna University Artist Series 570-372-2787 - susqu.edu/artsandevents
season opening at rohrbach ’ s farm April 18 & 19 Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachfarm.net
beaver run spring auction April 19 Beaver Run School 290 PPL Road, Danville
rapid run band 2025 entertainment passport event April 19 Rock God Brewing 570-284-4096 4 th annual adult easter egg hunt April 19 Three Dogs Vino 570-389-0151 - threedogsvino.com lit kids – earth love and action April 22 Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 - bloomsburgpl.org
Geology Rocks! - April 6, 2025 12pm - 3 pm Hunt fossils, explore the coal mine, identify rocks, mine gems, dinosaur encounter, rock tumbling, make jewelry and much more! Makerfest - May 10, 2025 10 pm - 4 pm Join us as we transform The Bloomsburg Fairgrounds into a hub of creativity, innovation, and discovery. Explore hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and live demonstrations designed to inspire curiosity and learning for all ages. Bloomsburg Children's Museum 2 West 7th Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 United States of America www.the-childrens-museum.org The Museum is Open To The Public Monday through Saturday: 10-4:00 p.m
MAY
renaissance jamboree April 26 Downtown Bloomsburg 570-661-1936 – downtownbloomsburg.org plant & take strawberries @ rohrbach ’ s April 26 Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachfarm.net
a closer walk with patsy cline May 1 – 4 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble 570-784-5530 - bte.org
reduced shakespeare company 2025 entertainment passport event May 2 Arts In Bloom - K.S. Gross Auditorium 570-389-4409 - commonwealthu.edu/offices-directory/arts- bloom
opening weekend at knoebels April 26 & 27
Knoebel’s Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com spring tea fundraiser @ rohrbach ’ s April 27 Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachfarm.net tom flannery at the exchange listening room April 30 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - ExchangeArts.org bloomsburg fireman ’ s carnival April 30 - May 3 Market Street Bloomsburg 570-784-1951 - facebook.com/BloomsburgFireDepartment
39 th annual danville spring fling May 3
Mill Street, Danville Business Alliance 570-284-4502 - visitdanvillepa.org
2 nd annual swing into spring craft and vendor fair May 3 Shaffer’s Cake and Candy Supplies 570-579-3567
tools of the trade May 5 – June 13 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - ExchangeArts.org
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@IANRWLKR
EVENTS CALENDAR
benton spring fling May 17 Benton Park brushstrokes and balance women ’ s art retreat May 17 The Lodge at Raven Creek 570-441-0923 - facebook.com/TheOutpostonMarketStreet mooresburg one room schoolhouse 150 th celebration May 17 Mooresburg Schoolhouse 570-271-0830 - montourcountyhistoricalsociety.org
MAY (CONTINUED)
beavers : nature ’ s engineers May 5 Montour Preserve 570-850-1166 - vernalschool.org mifflinville spring festival May 10 & 11 Mifflinville Carnival Grounds 2025 maker fest May 10 Bloomsburg Fair Grounds 570-389-9206 – the-childrens-museum.org
benton spring fling May 17 Benton Park 570-925-6602 - bentonboro.com
into the woods we go May 13 Montour Preserve 570-850-1166 - vernalschool.org
howard gospel choir 2025 entertainment passport event May 18 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 570-317-2596 - ExchangeArts.org
the alternative at anomaly craft brewing 2025 entertainment passport event May 14 Anomaly Craft Brewing 570-752-3522 knorrwood : over the shire and far away 2025 entertainment passport event May 16 & 17
junior fossil hunter day May 20 Montour Preserve 570-850-1166 - vernalschool.org southside fireman ’ s carnival May 20-24 Southside Fire Company, Riverside 570-275-4644 - southsidefirecompany.org
Alvina Krause Theatre knorrwoodmusic.com
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MARK KOSKULITZ
EVENTS CALENDAR
MAY (CONTINUED)
healthy kids day 2025 May 30 Bloomsburg YMCA 570-784-0188 – bloomsburgy.org deaf day at knoebel ’ s May 31 Knoebel’s Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com
a narrative May 22 – June 28 Artspace Gallery 570-784-0737 - artspacebloomsburg.com
mifflinville carnival May 22 – 25 Mifflinville Carnival Grounds
countryfest May 31 The Farm in Bloom 570-336-0440 - farmfestbloomsburg.com salem township fireman ’ s carnival May 31 - June 7 Salem Township Fire Department, Berwick
70 th anniversary celebration May 23 & 24 Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachfarm.net annual music , food , friends and fun at three dogs vino May 24 Three Dogs Vino 570-389-0151 - threedogsvino.com wesley james at marley ’ s 2025 entertainment passport event May 24 Marley’s Brewery and Grille 570-784-9600 – marleysbrewery.com neil tapp at the exchange listening room May 28 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - ExchangeArts.org
JUNE
A utism A wareness D ay at K noebel ’ s June 1 Knoebel’s Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com S enior C itizen D ay at K noebel ’ s June 4
Knoebel’s Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com benton fireman ’ s carnival June 11-14 Benton Park
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father ’ s day at knoebel ’ s June 15
3 d printing & toy design summer camp June 23 – 27 Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 – the-childrens-museum.org preschool dinosaur discoveries ! summer camp June 23 – 27 , 2025 Bloomsburg Children’s Museum
Knoebel’s Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com
agriculture camp June 16 – 20 Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachfarm.net
570-389-9206 – the-childrens-museum.org millville fireman ’ s carnival June 27 – July 5 Millville Carnival Grounds 570-458-5709 nerf modification summer camp June 30 – July 3 Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 – the-childrens-museum.org snack attack - summer camp June 30 – July 3 Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 – the-childrens-museum.org maker camp - teens ! June 30 – July 3 Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 – the-childrens-museum.org
made by fire June 16 – July 25 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - ExchangeArts.org maker camp i - summer camp June 16 – 20 Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 – the-childrens-museum.org art with anne i - summer camp June 16 – 20 Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 – the-childrens-museum.org catawissa celebrates carnival June 19 – 21 Cara Park, Catawissa painted pony intertribal pow wow June 21 & 22 Benton Rodeo Grounds 570-256-3241
Rodeo 25 - Half_Layout 1 3/21/25 9:55 AM Page 1
40th Annual Frontier Days Celebration
July 15-20 2025 Voted “Best in the East”
3D Barrel Racing Wednesday
Fun Horse Show Tuesday
APRA & IPRA Sanctioned Championship Rodeo Thur., Fri., & Sat.
Bull-A-Rama Sunday
No Pets Allowed
Grounds Open At 4pm
385 Mendenhall Lane • Benton, PA 17814
Camping Available • Great Food & Vendors For More Information: Call (570) 925-6536 Please Leave Message. bentonrodeo@yahoo.com www.bentonrodeo.com
The Thrill of the wild west lives on in the east with benton rodeo’s 40th anniversary
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Hold on to your bootstraps! It’s time for the Benton Rodeo, and 2025 marks its 40th Anniversary! The rodeo started in 1985 during a need to raise money in the Benton area. Several businessmen and residents met at the Mill Race Golf Course. One of the attendees suggested that they put on a rodeo. Roy Evart said they could use his farm, and the golf course owner suggested using the golf course parking, as it was directly next door. That year’s rodeo was a huge success, netting over $10,000 for the community. This success encouraged them to do it again the following year which was, again, a big success. The proceeds were shared with several local groups and organizations. These first two years proved one thing: more room was needed if they were go- ing to continue putting on a rodeo. The team heard of a 20-acre lot that the town owned and leased to a farmer who planted corn in it each year. They went to the town council and asked if they could lease the land for the rodeo, and they were awarded a 3-year lease. The extra space allowed the team space for non-profits and local organizations to have their own booth. The booths would have French fries, ice cream, beverages, pizza, and more. But before all this could happen, the land needed to be developed. They need- ed fencing and gates for the ring, bleachers, and an announcer’s stand. The proceeds from the first two years helped to get it started. At the end of the 3-year lease, they received a longer 10-year lease. More improvements were needed as the rodeo grew. More people were attending, and additional seating was a must. Their revenue wouldn’t cover it. Now, it was time to see a lender. The bank was apprehensive to award a loan until some of the local businesses co-signed for the rodeo team. With money now available they updated the seating for 3,000 visitors and a new announcer’s stand was erected. They also received some sponsorships that allowed for the building of hardened booths for the vendors. It wasn’t long until the rodeo team figured out they needed to buy the land they had developed. They joined with a couple of council members and went
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to Bloomsburg to see an attorney about drawing up the papers. The borough wasn’t ready to sell the land and if they did, it would have to be put out for bid. The team was worried that they would be un- derbid. So, the Benton Borough signed a 50-year lease with the Rodeo Association, and the team now had the grounds for the Benton Frontier Days & Championship Rodeo. The Benton Frontier Days & Championship Rodeo is considered one of the best of over 65 rodeos East of the Mississippi River, as voted by the Ameri- can Professional Rodeo Association. It draws cow- boys and cowgirls from all over the United States and Canada. They come to prove what they’ve got and to be the best of the best.
The Benton Area Rodeo Association is a non-prof- it organization whose goal is to stimulate tourism to the Benton area, and to provide fundraising op- portunities to local charities, service groups, fire companies, ambulance associations, scouts, and churches. A few area beneficiaries in the past in- clude the Benton Fire Company, Benton Lions Club, Benton Little League, Boy Scout Troop #51, and the Benton FFA. The 40th Annual Benton Rodeo will run from July 15-20, 2025 at the Benton Rodeo Grounds. Some of the events during the rodeo include Bronc Rid- ing, Brahma Bull Riding, Cowgirl Barrel Racing, Roping, Steer Wrestling, and Kids Rodeo Events. For more events at the Rodeo Grounds, or to plan your visit for this year’s 40th anniversary rodeo, please visit bentonrodeo.com . •
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Hip to the Hop
UPCOMING AREA EASTER EGG HUNTS
Saturday, April 12 9:00 AM: Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast, Trinity Church, Danville 10:00 AM: Annual Drive Thru with the Easter Bunny, Elysburg United Methodist Church 10:00 AM: Easter Egg Hunt Event & Live Petting Zoo, Iron Mill Church, Danville 1:00 PM: Community Easter Egg Hunt, Good Shepherd Church, Berwick 2:00 PM: 4th Annual Community Egg Hunt at the Benton Community Park Sunday, April 13 9:45 AM: Lightstreet United Methodist Church Easter Egg Hunt, Lightstreet Park 10:00 AM: Berwick Police Benevolent Association Egg Hunt, Ber-Vaughn Park, Berwick 1:00 PM: Elysburg Knights of Columbus Easter Egg Hunt, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church 1:00 PM: Main Township Easter Egg Hunt, Bloomsburg 1:00 PM: Garibaldi Ladies Auxiliary Easter Egg Hunt, 600 Monroe Street, Berwick 2:00 PM: Salem Township Community Easter Egg Hunt, Berwick 3:00 PM: Easter Egg Hunt, Stillwater Christian Church Saturday, April 19 9:00 AM: Espy Fire Company Easter Egg Hunt, Espy Fire Hall, Bloomsburg 10:00 AM: Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Memorial Park, Danville 10:00 AM: Buckhorn Fire Department Easter Egg Hunt, Fernville Park, Bloomsburg 10:00 AM: Catawissa SAL 541 Easter Egg Hunt, 5 Legion Road, Catawissa 10:00 AM: Bloomsburg American Legion Easter Egg Hunt, Bloomsburg Fairgrounds 11:00 AM: St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 9 St. Lukes Way, Bloomsburg 1:00 PM: Millville Community Easter Egg Hunt, Millville Community Park 2:00 PM: Orangeville Community Fire Company Annual Easter Egg Hunt 2:00 PM: Nescopeck Fire Company Easter Egg Hunt, Nescopeck Town Park, Nescopeck 3:00 PM: Shickshinny Easter Egg Hunt, South Canal Park, Shickshinny Sunday, April 20 2:00 PM: Lime Ridge Fire Company Easter Egg Hunt, Columbia Park, Bloomsburg
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ARTISTS Calling all Apply to be a vendor at the 43rd Annual Covered Bridge & Arts Festival!
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania October 2-5, 2025
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:
Festival showcases 300+ fine arts and handmade crafts vendors Estimated 120,000+ attendees over four days Free parking and admission Outdoor spaces available Rain or shine 10' x 20' or 10' x 10' booth spaces Featured as one of Sunshine Artist's 200 Best shows ten times since 2009!
Fill out an application no later than August 31st to be considered for the 2025 event. SEEKING NEW FINE ARTISTS & CRAFTERS The Covered Bridge & Arts Festival has room to grow in its new home!
ITOURCOLUMBIAMONTOUR.COM/CBF
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@HAVECAMERA__WILLTRAVEL
Member Spotlight The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is proud to welcome the following businesses as recent new members to the organization!
american paper & supply , inc 301 LaSalle Street, Berwick, PA 18603 americanpaperandsupply.com • 570.759.8171
American Paper & Supply is a family-owned commercial supply company operat- ing out of Berwick, Pennsylvania. We have been in business since 1946 supporting regional businesses in their paper supply needs and beyond.
little bakery 225 Center Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 little-bakery-bloomsburg.square.site • 570.506.3375
Little Bakery takes pride in crafting exquisite chimney cakes, a traditional Bohemian specialty. Other features include cannoli and a delectable range of cakes and pastries that transport you straight to the cobbled streets of Europe. Each bite is a journey through rich traditions and authentic flavors.
mid ridge tack 4355 Red Rock Road, Benton, PA 17814 facebook.com/groups/968847514813574 • 570.331.6840 We offer a variety of tack, livestock supplies, giftware, home decor, apparel, shoes, boots, and accessories at outlet prices.
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MIKE GREENWALT
Member Spotlight The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is proud to welcome the following businesses as recent new members to the organization!
mountain marksman , llc 578 Mainville Drive, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 mountainmarksmanllc.com • 570.441.0414
With over 15 years of experience in the firearms industry, Mountain Marksman is a family-owned business. We pride ourselves on providing top-quality service. With a certified gunsmith on staff, your firearms are in capable hands. We offer a full range of services, from basic cleaning to repairs and customizations. Additionally, Mountain Marksman has a selection of firearms for sale and engages in buying and trading firearms.
service 1 st federal credit union 1985 Montour Boulevard, Danville, PA 17821 service1.org • 800.562.6049
Service 1st is a full-service financial institution that places the financial goals of our 47,000+ members at the heart of everything we do. Whether in one of our 12 locations, via digital banking, or out and about, we’re focused on strengthening the financial lives of our members and the community. We have branch offices in Bloomsburg, Elysburg, Lewisburg, Loyalsock, Mifflinburg, Montandon, Muncy, Shamokin Dam, Sunbury, and Wilkes-Barre.
value lawn care & landcaping maintenance Berwick, PA 17803 570.706.6609
Free Estimates! We provide reliable, quality work. Lawn Care, Landscaping, Spring & Fall Clean-ups, shrub trimming, and pruning. Residential & Commercial. Mulch bedding, installation/restoration of stone & topsoil installation. Winter plowing & Salting. Dethatching & Aeration.
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Van ' S musical Corner Van Wagner | Born in Pennsylvania. Lives in Pennsylvania. Makes music. Mined coal. Logs trees. Teaches kids. Van Wagner is an educator. In the classroom, he teaches Environmental Science at Danville Area School District. He has been selected as Conservation Educator of the Year in 2005 from Schuylkill County and in 2007 and 2009 in Union County. In 2012 he was awarded the Sandy Cochran award for natural resource education from the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. In 2015 the Red Cross presented Van with the Robert N. Pursel Distinguished Service Award. Outside of the classroom he educates audiences with his music and programs on Pennsylvania History. He received an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2018 from the Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Contest. His music has been featured on the History Channel, WVIA TV, as well as Country Music Television (CMT). He has released 36 original albums and published a book entitled “Coal Dust Rust and Saw Dust.” His music and programs not only entertain but inspire audiences to become involved in learning about Central Pennsylvania and beyond.
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