Columbia-Montour Quarterly Vol. 22: October - December 2026

Enjoy a quarterly snapshot of our region with the latest edition of our quarterly digital magazine!

2026

Quarterly

Volume 22 October - December

HeartofPA.com

Your Guide to Columbia & Montour Counties!

800.847.4810

📷 : BRITTANY KERSHNER

GREEN'S FRUIT FARM

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 The Last Fair 9 Adult Trick-or-Treat Wine Trail Event 10 Historic Covered Bridge Puzzles Arrive 12 Catawissa Quaker Meeting House 16 Events Calendar 25 Growing Garlic: Master Gardener 26 Pumpkins, Parades, and....Pickles? 29 Member Spotlight

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THE LAST FAIR

INTRODUCTION In the 1950’s my large family lived in an antebellum stone house on a hob- by-farm owned by a local business tycoon in a Susquehanna River town. The tycoon hired my father to make this farm a showplace, and he made it so with meticulous care. My parents spawned eight children, and my brother Terry (14 months younger) and I were the oldest. Dad was a good farmer with an eye for agrarian beauty and efficiency. His job was to raise prize animals and crops while keeping the property immaculately clean and neat. Economics were secondary. We lived in that stone house in a corner of a building complex that included neatly painted and trimmed barns, animal pens, garages, and offices The complex was surrounded by neat fields of hay, corn, and wheat. All fencing was straight and painted bright white. I don’t recall a broken or bent board or a blemish in the paint on the buildings or fencing – probably because there weren’t any. Neatly trimmed grass with flower-filled and weeded borders covered most open areas. It was my job to mow the grass, and it took a full day to do it. I remember well the long, hot summer days when the time dragged on. Those days seemed very long, as so many days since. But they seem like they were

The image above was provided by Doug Kuziak, and reflects a typical 1952 summer day on the Kuziak family farm near Bloomsburg. At present, the author’s classmate Doug still lives on that farm. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project was motivated by urging from my son, David Bache. He made many valuable suggestions that shaped the tone and emphasis of a story describing events from my adolescent years in the mid-1950’s. He liked my little memoir called “Dancing with the Steers.” I wrote this my family. But David urged me to consider a wider audience. This is my attempt. My younger sister Julie is a careful editor who enhanced the clarity and quality of the narrative. Betsy Whitenight Strunk is an important character in this story and remains a close friend now, 70 years later. Betsy helped me remember important details and provided most of the figures. My middle-school classmate Doug Kuziak also provided photos.

only yesterday. Days pass slowly, but years go by so quickly ……

The antebellum (i.e., pre-1860) stone house where the author’s family lived in the 1960’s. This is a 2026 photo taken by Doug Kuziak. It hasn’t changed.

Part 1 By Tom Bache

Terry and I would see the owner now and then when he visited the farms. He was partially paralyzed from polio, so our child - ish perception was a mix of fascination spiced by a frisson of repulsion at the sight of his braces and wheelchair. But I recall him as a very nice man that Mother and Dad viewed with much affection and respect. Our life on that beautiful farm was idyllic. Summers brought chores – mowing the grass and picking and canning vegetables and fruit to be kept in our large freezer for winter meals. It was also a time for swimming in bordering Fishing Creek, a large tributary of the Susquehanna River. There was a nearby bridge over a broad and deep pool that was popular with families and teenagers. Mother taught Terry and I to swim in that pool. Show-class Angus steers fit well with the farm objectives. Dad was a certified judge for Junior Market Livestock Shows, so he knew what was necessary to excel. Soon after we moved to Magee Farms in 1953, he bred or bought two Aberdeen-Angus calves with bloodlines offering blue-ribbon potential when they reached the Show age. Terry and I began handling these ram- bunctious calves before they reached their first birthday. Terry and I were 10 and 11 and a bit small for our ages. The steers were deep black and very strong. Terry called his Ebony -- a bit obvious for an adult, but an erudite choice for a ten-year old boy. I dubbed mine Zookie. To me, he must have looked like a Zookie. Throughout his short life, Ebony was big, slow-moving, and docile. Zookie was smaller and had a mean-looking head

with a personality to match. Terry loved Ebony. I never trusted Zookie or liked him much. As farm boys, Terry and I did many chores. Some were to help at home (naturally we hated them). Farm work required more muscle than we had yet, and operating farm machinery was too complex or dangerous for young boys. So our most important and productive activity was to raise and train Angus steers to win prizes at Junior-Market County Fair shows in the area. This is the story of that chapter in our lives.

CHAPTER ONE MOLASSES NIGHTS Livestock Shows

In the cold months, the smell of molasses permeated our barn. Terry and I lugged tin buckets from the stove, steam rising as the thick, dark syrup slid into the grain. We poured it into troughs and stirred until the sweetness coated every kernel. Ebony and Zookie pushed at their pens, their eyes wide with expectation. It wasn’t much fun, but necessary to prepare these beasts their purpose: to win prizes County Fair Livestock Shows and then be sold for a good price.

Junior Market Livestock Shows were and still are a central el - ement of County and State Fairs. My family visits the San Di- ego County Fair each June. We visit livestock shows that bring back memories of being a nervous boy struggling to position my nervous steer to highlight his best qualities as he is examined by unsmiling judges. These judges move quickly and decisively. They soon announce their results in confident tones (“this animal has fine conformation, but he is a bit unfinished, and his central section isn’t quite as full as we’d like to see”). Their assistants briskly hand ribbons to the top placers, and the owners lead their animals from the ring as the next group enters. In the autumn of 1955 Terry and I (age 11 and 12) were “Junior Exhibitors” showing Angus steers 1 in at the Columbia County Fair in Bloomsburg and a few weeks later at the Five County Show in nearby Danville. Our steers were a bit younger than 24 months when we showed them, then watched their placid departure to fulfill their destiny – providing prime beef for human consumption. Using a modern analogy, a Steer Show could be called “DANCING WITH THE STEERS.” A skilled showman displays his well-groomed partner in the most flattering positions as the two move in smooth synchrony. But steers weigh more than 1000 lbs. at show time, and their much smaller partners (less than 100 lbs for us) must use guile and finesse to glide through the performance. Dad taught us the choreography, but we spent many hours training these semi-wild animals to join us to become smooth and graceful couples. Typical Steer Shows have multiple rounds with contestants di- vided into groups of about eight, then winnowed to a final round of about the same number. In each round the couple executes a series of compulsory and optional movements. The compulsory elements include the parade into and around the show ring and then a static pose for judging. Properly trained steers parade with his head up just behind and right of his leader then sequentially step into parallel positions in a line facing the judges. Each steer should stand motionless with head up and forward as the judge moves down the line examining each animal. The showman turns his steer’s head toward the judge when he approaches 2 . The optional steps are more subtle and used when the steer is examined closely. Each young boy or girl enters the ring carrying in his left hand a staff having a hook and prod at one end. The showman can turn toward his steer (shifting the lead rope to his left hand) and use the hook and prod to move his steer’s feet (see photograph on following page). As the judge examines his steer, an expert showman moves the feet so each part is shown to its best advantage. It is a slow-mov- ing dance where the steer is a bovine version of a female dancer 1 A steer is a neutered bull. Castration is usually done within the first week or two after birth. 2 My recent experience with horses has taught me that large animals can’t kick toward the direction their head is turned. I didn’t know this at the time, but I would have been kicked fewer times if I had.

being displayed by her male partner. Terry and I were well-trained and proficient. As the competition unfolds, the judges place the steers in order of quality (as beef providers, of course), and the higher placing steers move to the next round. In the final round the judges select the champion and other high-placing steers. In a parallel competition (“Showmanship”), the judges grade each leader on his presentation. In larger events there may be a separate final round for the highest-ranking showmen. So a good showman with a prize-winning steer might dance many times in the course of a Show.

CHAPTER TWO BROTHERS IN THE BARN Training Angus Steers

It is no easy task for an 80 lb boy to train a 1000 lb steer to perform in the show ring (see figure below). Horses like hu - mans and bond with a master like a dog. Steers do not. They are stubborn and, at best, tolerate human handling. They fight a handler until convinced they will lose. Our father knew how to win this fight, but he couldn’t do it for us. We had to persevere until the battle is won. We started training our steers in the summer of 1955. Soon, they learned to recognize our footsteps and lifted their heads because they knew food was coming. Ebony stood calm and square, chewing slowly. Zookie paced, tossing his head, testing the limits of his pen’s fence. We worked side by side most afternoons, the rhythm of chores settling into something close to comfort. Fill the water. Fork the hay. Brush their coats. Dad sometimes watched for a few minutes, saying very little. When he did speak, it was usually to correct something. Your grip is too loose. Do not rush him. Terry chased those small nods of approval. I pretended I did not care. The steers were much bigger than us months after birth and grew to more than 1000 lbs when we showed them. Training began at 12 months when we taught them to be led with a halter. They didn’t volunteer for that and tried to run when they had space. Halter-breaking these big beasts was tough! For training, Dad emptied a large cattle paddock. Cattle had covered the ground with manure and urine-soaked mud. When our steers became yearlings, we started training in that pad- dock. The first step, breaking them to a lead rope, was a dra - matic and dangerous battle of wills and muscle (sorely lacking in our small bodies). The steers outweighed us by hundreds of pounds, and we felt it every time we led them out into the pad- dock. Dad’s training rule was simple: never let go of the rope ! No matter where we were dragged across the mud and manure, and no matter if our arms felt like they would snap. We had to hold on. Only then would the steer understand he must obey the person holding the rope.

I remember being terrified (trying not to show it) the first time Dad took Zookie and I into the big paddock and stepped away. There I was holding a rope attached to a large animal who wanted to run. That first time, and many others, our steers put our wills to the test. I have clear memories of being dragged through the mud and manure of the paddock until Zookie got bored or tired and stood still. My hands burned. My arms shook. But I held on.

these were not pets. They were projects and investments. Some - day soon, they would be auctioned off to the highest bidder. In those nights of molasses and brushing, it was easy to forget the coming end. For us, the steers were partners, stubborn but loyal in their own way. They were our ticket to the fair, our chance to prove ourselves in front of judges, neighbors, and friends. There

was a competition between Terry and me that lived most- ly unspoken. It was about who learned faster, who earned Dad’s attention, who belonged more naturally in this world. Terry seemed to glide through it. I scraped and struggled, always feeling one step behind.

Ebony was calmer than Zookie, but Terry enjoyed similar rides. I don’t remember Dad helping much or even being around after the first few times. Breaking these steers was a job for us to do, and we did it (at least that’s the way I remem- ber it). Soon enough (weeks perhaps?), our steers became docile under lead, and we could move around together, though with the grace and synchrony of teenagers at their first dance. Terry said Ebony listened

Still, there were evenings when the barn belonged only to us. Late light filtered through the boards. Dust hung golden in the air. We leaned against the stalls and talked about school and the Fair. In those moments, the steers were not projects. They were just there, breathing quietly, part of our small world.

Positioning feet for optimum appearence 3

because he respected him. I said Zookie did not listen because he was stubborn. The truth lived somewhere between, but neither of us was ready to admit it. We were then ready for the long process of learning the Dancing with the Steers choreography, then practicing un- til we could do it flawlessly. We also spent long hours groom - ing our steers and learning how to comb and curl their hair to hide their flaws and enhance their strong points. Dad inspected our work with the eye of a judge, reminding us that

By winter, something shifted. Zookie still fought me, but there were moments when he followed my guidance. His head came up when I asked. His steps matched mine for a few yards. One evening, Dad watched and placed a hand on my shoulder. It was not praise. But it was enough. That night, I lay awake thinking about ropes and rules and how brothers learn who they are together. STAY TUNED! PART II OF "THE LAST FAIR" WILL BE 3 Photo from website for December, 2009, Arizona National Livestock Show: http://www.anls.org/)

PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT EDITION. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tom Bache is a retired Physicist who enjoys writing about history that shaped his life. He was born in Berwick during WWII and lived on Columbia County farms until our family moved to Indiana in 1958 when he was 15. He first visited San Diego when he was a Marine Corps officer and in 1968 separated from his beloved Marine Corps ( once a Marine, always a Marine ) to obtain a PhD at the University of California, San Diego. San Diego has remained his home ever since.

The author in 1968 when he was a USMC Captain. The photo was taken 1968 shortly after he returned (unscathed) from Vietnam service as a Combat Engineer.

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EXPERIENCE THE HEART OF PA / FALL 2026 Halloween, all grown up OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 1, 2026

Six stops. Free spirit & sweet pairings.

A seasonal sip of local flavor Who says Halloween treats are only for kids? Gather your ghoulfriends, don your favorite costume and explore the Columbia Montour Wine & Spirits Trail. From October 23 through November 1, six locations offer complimentary spirit and sweet pairings. Visit Benton, Bloomsburg, Berwick and Danville to “treat” yourself to witchy wine, scary spirits and creepy candy while collecting stamps along the way. How to join the fun Begin at any participating location and pick up a free ticket. Fill out half and turn it in at your first stop; keep the other half for stamps or signatures. Enjoy your complimentary pairing and have your ticket marked at each location. Visit all six stops during their listed hours, then turn in your completed ticket at the final stop for a chance to win wine and spirits gift baskets from participating locations. Before you go Confirm hours on each location’s website or Facebook page. Tickets and the featured pairings are free; additional tastings may carry a fee. No purchase is necessary to win prizes.

Your six trail stops 01 Cardinal Hollow Winery Outlet at Winding Creek Shops

4378 Red Rock Rd., Benton, PA 17814 Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 11am-4pm

02 Dead Man Walking Distillery

204 Montour Blvd., Bloomsburg, PA 17815 Wed-Fri 4-10pm; Sat noon-10pm; Sun 11am-3pm

03 Freas Farm Winery

130 Twin Church Rd., Berwick, PA 18603 Sat-Sun 1-5pm

04 Kulpmont Winery Outlet at the Ol’ Country Barn

9 S Comstock Rd., Benton, PA 17814 Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm

05 Shade Mountain Winery Danville Outlet

1 D & H Avenue, Danville, PA 17821 Mon-Thu 11am-6pm; Fri 11am-7pm; Sat 11am-6pm; Sun 1-5pm

06 Three Dogs Vino

129 Hidlay Church Rd., Bloomsburg, PA 17815 Thu-Fri 4-7pm; Sat noon-7pm; Sun noon-5pm

October–December • 2026

Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau • 800-847-4810

heartofpa.com

Stuart Tan

BY COLUMBIA-MONTOUR VISITORS BUREAU STAFF

An Iconic Montour County Landmark

2026 PHOTO CONTEST WINNER: JIMMY TIGHE

nk Association F23-Half_Layout 1 9/19/23 6:03 PM Page 1

A truly special museum filled with displays and artifacts which celebrate the manufacturing of the Stuart Tank by the American Car & Foundry in Berwick and honor the brave veterans of WWII. Stuart Tank Memorial Museum

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Tuesday 11-5 • Friday 2-8 • Saturday 11-5 Or By Appointment

in Mid July every year at the Berwick Riverfront Park Test Track (dates on website)

Look for our Annual WWII Weekend

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By Nate Wiggin

l m

XII

CATAWISSA FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE History Under Your Nose

III

Diener wrote that the “first official meeting

Located right in the town of Catawissa (officially a borough) stands a structure that seems so out of place that it must be a recreation, replica, or prop of some sort. The small log structure stands along South Street atop a knoll under some very large trees. Adjacent to the structure is an obviously very old ceme- tery surrounded by a stone wall. The structure I am referring to is known as the CATAWISSA FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, and it was a meeting place and house of worship for some of the earliest Quaker settlers in this area. I recently had the opportunity to attend a history talk, tour, and walk of the old structure and the surrounding property. Led by Catawissa Celebrates 250 Committee member and historian Gary Roberts, I learned a lot about the origins and history of Catawissa, the original Quaker settlers and their Meeting House, and the cemetery. I took notes on the day of my visit, and did some follow up research while putting this article together. Let me tell you folks, what I thought would be a cut and dry subject has given me a headache as I try to sort out all the differing opinions, dates, and facts of the old structure. Let’s start with the origins of the Meeting House. The historical marker that stands on the edge of the property states that it was built around 1775. My research led me to all sorts of differing accounts of the construction date as some local his- torians put the date as 1789, or sometime before the American Revolution, or even as late as 1795. Trying to sift through all that to get a true answer is the part that gave me the headache. I did not come up with a definitive answer, so let’s just suffice it to say that the structure is over 200 years old. Historian Terry

was on April 23, 1796, of which Isaac Wiggins was the clerk”.[2] According to historian Gary Roberts, it is the oldest building in Columbia County, and the cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Columbia County. “The Meeting House is all original except for the roof and one log that had to be replaced. A company that does historically accurate repairs or replacements did the work to replace the log. Most of the windowpanes are original”, Gary Roberts relayed to us. Gary also mentioned that the building is 40’ long by 38’ wide. It is of simple construction having been built by a crew of 6 men. “A Gathering Place for Frontier Friends” The Meeting House stopped being used on a regular basis some- time in the early to mid 1800s. It fell into a state of disrepair and neglect over the years. Then around 1900, or 1890 depending on which account you read, a woman named Emma Walter came to the rescue of this important building. Emma was residing near Philly when she heard about the state of the old Meeting House. She then moved to Catawissa to look after the structure. According to Gary Roberts, Emma felt it was her “mission in life” to take care of the Meeting House. For over thirty years she did just that. The first thing she did was get a new roof put on.

COLUMBIA MONTOUR Quarterly

It can be said that the dedication of Emma Walter was important to ensuring the

building still stands today .

For many years, Emma was the only attendee of services here, although there would occasionally be others who would visit, but those instances were rare. Gary told us that she puts signs in the yard saying something to the effect of “no games or playing in the yard”. Emma passed away in 1930 at age 89 and is now buried in the cemetery at the Meeting House. Inside the building, visitors will see Emma’s rocking chair where she would spend a lot of her time. After Emma’s death, the Meeting House stopped being used as a place of worship. The property was eventu- ally purchased by the borough of Catawissa in 1967. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. During our visit which saw a good number of folks attending the history tour, we were invited to sit on the straight-backed benches inside. The Meeting House is divid- ed into two sections with a wall between that opens up to join

the sections. This was to divide the men’s and women’s groups while each conducted “business” which may have included acts such as sharing recipes or homesteading ideas. The divider could then be opened for the meeting. The interior features unfinished white pine boards that have a peculiar smooth finish. Although of simple construction design, there are elements of great craftmanship such as the door latches or even the hand forged hook that holds the room divider. There are two stoves in the

Emma’s Rocking Chair

building with one on each side. The men’s side has a stove made in Valley Forge while the women’s side

features a stove made in “Cattawissa”. It does not take much imagina- tion to get a feel for the atmosphere of when folks gathered here so very long ago. As I mentioned before, it is so authentic that it seems

Catawissa House Cemetery

October–December • 2026

as though it must be a replica but definitely isn’t. After exploring the Meeting House, we then took a guided walk through the cemetery. It is easy to see the development of this

Wandell I

The women’s side of the Meeting house

part of the property over time. The original Quaker portion features simple grave markers or no markers at all. The far end, the “newer” or non-Quaker portion, features more modern stones and monuments. One of the folks buried in the newer portion is Mordecai Pancoast. Mordeci was the grandfather of Abigail Geisinger who founded Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Catawissa Friends Meeting House: It is one of the last surviving meetinghouses in Pennsylvania featuring a stone foundation. Although there are other Friends Meeting Houses still standing in the county (Numidia and Millville), the Catawissa Friends Meeting House is the oldest. Our tour and open house were sponsored by the Catawissa Celebrates 250 Committee. Unfortunately, at the time of this article there are no other open houses scheduled for this year. If that changes, we will surely let you know. However, the grounds and cemetery are open to visit any day. Seeing the Meeting House from the outside and admiring its elegant simplicity makes it a worthwhile stop. There are benches located along the stone wall for those who desire to just sit and take it all in.

Thanks for reading along. We appreciate you being part of our History Under Your Nose Family . Nate Wiggin – writer / researcher / editor Sources/Acknowledgments: [1] SAH Archipedia sah-archipedia.org [2] Susquehanna Footprints susquehannafootprints.com “Quaker Meeting House Dates to the Earliest Days of Catawis- sa” 8/2/24 by Terry Diener [3] site visit and history talk Special thanks to Gary Roberts and the Catawissa Celebrates 250 Committee.

COLUMBIA MONTOUR Quarterly

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EVENTS CALENDAR RECURRING EVENTS

ELYSBURG HAUNTED HOUSE Every Friday & Saturday in October Elysburg Gun Club 570-672-2920 – elysburghauntedhouse.com

FIRST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMSBURG First Friday of the month Downtown Bloomsburg 570-661-1936 - downtownbloomsburg.org 2ND FRIDAYS IN BERWICK Every Second Friday Berwick Downtown 570-578-9412 - berwickartsassociation.com

KOMODO DRAGON FEEDING Last Saturday of the month Clyde Peeling's Reptiland 570-538-1869 - reptiland.com

MONTGOMERY AND BOYD HOUSE TOURS Every Sunday through October

HALLO-FUN WEEKENDS Every Friday - Sunday in October Knoebel's Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com

Montgomery House Museum, Boyd House Museum 570-271-0830 – montourcountyhistoricalsociety.org

STORIES WITH SAYRE Every Monday through October 19 Bloomsburg Children's Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org BLOOMSBURG LIBRARY BRIDGE CLUB Every Monday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 - bloomsburgpl.org

FEAR AT THE FARM Every Friday – Sunday in October The Farm in Bloom 570-784-6625 - farmfestbloomsburg.com FALL FUN @ ROHRBACH’S FARM Friday and Saturdays in October Rohrbach's Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachsfarm.net

COLUMBIA MONTOUR Quarterly

OCTOBER “COME FROM AWAY” BY DAVID HEIN & IRENE SANKOF October 8 - 11 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu/artsandevents/

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Every Tuesday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 - bloomsburgpl.org GAMING CLUB Every Tuesday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 - bloomsburgpl.org

BERWICK RIVERFEST October 9 –11 Berwick Test Track 570-752-2723 - berwickborough.org

HOMESCHOOL HANGOUT WITH THE BLOOMSBURG CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Every other Wednesday through January 27 Bloomsburg Children's Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org TINY TOES- PREK CREATIVE MOVEMENT CLASS Every Thursday through October 15 Bloomsburg Children's Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org HALF-PRICE CORN MAZE NIGHT @ ROHRBACH’S FARM Every Thursday through October Rohrbach's Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachsfarm.net

BTE IMPROV October 9 Alvina Kraus Theatre 570-784-5530 - bte.org

KNOEBEL LUMBER 5K October 10

Knoebel's Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com

PLAYTASTINGS October 16 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble 570-784-5530 - bte.org HAUNTED LIBRARY October 16 – 18 Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 - bloomsburgpl.org

OCTOBER CONTINUED...

HAUNTED HISTORY TOURS October 10, 17 and 31 Jackson Mansion 570-520-4110 - berwickhistoricalsociety.org

MOTHER JONES IN HEAVEN October 10 Alvina Kraus Theatre 570-784-5530 - bte.org SMARTER PARENTS. SAFER KIDS. October 12 McBride Memorial Library 570-752-2241 - mcbridelibrary.org

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AT THE OL’ COUNTRY BARN October 17 & 18 Ol' Country Barn in Benton olcountrybarn.com HALLOWEEN & FALL FOLIAGE TRAIN RIDES October 17 Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. 570-661-1936 - downtownbloomsburg.org THREE DOGS VINO 11TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY October 17 Three Dogs Vino 570-204-0895 - threedogsvino.com MISCHIEF NIGHT October 19 – November 20 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org NEEDLE FELTING WORKSHOP October 21 Unida Pizza – Jot and Tittle Studios jotandtittlestudios.com 2ND ANNUAL DANVILLE AFTER DARK October 22 Canal Park 570-284-4502 - visitdanvillepa.org THE PRICE SISTERS (BLUEGRASS) October 22 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu 14TH ANNUAL FALL IN LOVE WEEKEND October 23 – 25 Brennan's Big Chill 570-387-1988 BBQ AND BOO HALLOWEEN October 23 & 24 Bloomsburg Fair Grounds facebook.com/BBQandBrewMusicFestival

AUTUMN TEXTURED PAINT WORKSHOP October 13 Unida Pizza – Jot and Tittle Studios jotandtittlestudios.com SEAVEY READING SERIES: MONICA PRINCE October 13 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu/artsandevents/ SERAPH BRASS October 13 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu/artsandevents/

“BEE” INFORMED COFFEE CHATS October 14 & November 11 McBride Memorial Library 570-752-2241 - mcbridelibrary.org

SHAHRAM AZHAR WITH AQEEL BHATTI (WORLD MUSIC/SUFI FUSION) October 15 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu

14TH ANNUAL PUMPKINMANIA October 16 – 18 Brennan's Big Chill 570-387-1988

MUSIC IN THE AVENUE October 16 Miller Avenue, Bloomsburg 570-661-1936 - downtownbloomsburg.org

FLASHLIGHT SAFARI October 16 & 17 Clyde Peeling's Reptiland 570-538-1869 - reptiland.com

BOO!BURG October 23 Seventh Street, Bloomsburg 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org

IN DANVILLE, PA live, work, and play

2026 HOLIDAY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

Late Night Shoppers

12/11,

cha

nts

Welcome Santa Celebration

ida

y, 12/3, 2026, 6

Hometown Holiday Market

y, 12/5, 2026

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- 4

cce

ors

FOLLOW ALONG: @DANVILLEBUSINESSALLIANCE VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.VISITDANVILLEPA.ORG

BOURBON & BOOS “THE SPIRIT SOIREE” October 23 & 24 Jackson Mansion 570-520-4110 - berwickhistoricalsociety.org EDDIE 9V October 23 Pettit Center for the Arts - Commonwealth University 570-389-4409 - commonwealthu.edu

“HAS GAMBLING GONE TOO FAR?”: PRESENTED BY JONATHAN D. COHEN October 26 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu COOKIE CLUB October 27 Bloomsburg Children's Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org

COVERED BRIDGE CLASSIC DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT October 24 Briar Creek Lake Disc Golf Course facebook.com/groups/1322963712334434 24-HOUR PLAY FESTIVAL October 24 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu/artsandevents COLLABORATION WITH JARUAM XAVIER (BRAZILIAN DANCE & GUITAR) October 25 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu

PUMPKIN PARTY WITH STORY WALK October 27 McBride Memorial Library 570-752-2241 - mcbridelibrary.org

PAINTED WINE GLASS WORKSHOP (SET OF 2) October 27 Unida Pizza – Jot and Tittle Studios jotandtittlestudios.com JOHNNY BIRGIN AT THE EXCHANGE LISTENING ROOM October 28 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org

October–December • 2026

OCTOBER CONTINUED...

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN AT THE FERRY STREET GROW- ERS’ MARKET October 31 330 Ferry Street, Danville 570-284-4502 - visitdanvillepa.org CATAWISSA HALLOWEEN PARADE October 31 Catawissa facebook.com/CatawissaHalloweenParade 17TH ANNUAL FIGURATIVE ART EXHIBITION: OPENING RECEPTION October 31 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu

GRAVITY AND OTHER MYTHS (CONTEMPORARY CIRQUE) October 29 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu SINISTER SOIRÉE: AUTHOR TALK AND BOOK SIGNING October 30 Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 -bloomsburgpl.org EASTERN GUN EXPO October 31 & November 1 Bloomsburg Fair Grounds/ Industrial Arts Building 610-393-3047 - easterngunexpo.com DOGS IN THE CORN MAZE AND COSTUME CONTEST @ ROHRBACH’S FARM October 31 Rohrbach's Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachsfarm.net

UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA October 31 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu

@KAYCROUSE

@KNOEBELS

@ARTVBAL

NOVEMBER

MAYA DE VITRY (AMERICANA/FOLK) November 11 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu

COMBINED CHORAL ENSEMBLES November 1 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu

RAPHAËL FEUILLÂTRE (CLASSICAL GUITAR) November 12 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu PUSH PHYSICAL THEATRE: HYDE November 13 Carver Hall - Commonwealth University 570-389-4409 - commonwealthu.edu “APPROPRIATE” BY BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS November 13 – 15 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu

CLARITAS LECTURE PRESENTS: EILEEN HEBETS November 2 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu TERRANCE SIMIEN AND THE ZYDECO EXPERIENCE November 3 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu UV RESIN JEWELRY/KEYCHAIN WORKSHOP November 4 Unida Pizza – Jot and Tittle Studios jotandtittlestudios.com PARSONS DANCE (CONTEMPORARY DANCE) November 5 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu 4TH ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, CHRISTMAS AT THE BUTTERFLY FARM November 7 & 8 Folk's Butterfly Farm 570-394-7298 - folksbutterflyfarm.com

UNIVERSITY SYMPHONIC BAND November 14 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu EXCHANGE LISTENING ROOM November 18 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org 3RD ANNUAL COOKIE CRAWL November 20 Danville 570-284-4502 - visitdanvillepa.org JOLLY JAMBOREE November 21 Memorial Park – Elysburg facebook.com/AllHomeDays CASH & CARRY XIII November 23 - January 8 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org RUN FOR THE DIAMONDS November 26 Berwick Borough runfordiamonds.com TREEFEST 2026 November 27 – December 6 Caldwell Consistory 570-784-5530 - bte.org

PA PET PALOOZA November 7 & 8 Bloomsburg Fair Grounds clickershows.com

WINE SHINE ‘N PICKLEFEST YUMMY TUMMY PALOOZA November 7 Bloomsburg Fairgrounds clickershows.com GLOW BINGO November 7 Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 - bloomsburgpl.org

UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE November 7 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu

SEAVEY READING SERIES: SARAH MINOR November 10 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu

WINTERFEST AT THE BLOOMSBURG FAIRGROUNDS November 27 & 28 570-784-4949 - bloomsburgfair.com

Christian Sands Trio Dec. 1

Maya de Vitry Nov. 11

Parsons Dance Nov. 5

COMING SOON OCTOBER-DECEMBER

The Price Sisters Oct. 22

Raphaël Feuillâtre Nov. 12

BUCKNELL.EDU/ WEISCENTER BUCKNELL.EDU/ BOXOFFICE 570-577-1000 Ori: An Exploration of Brazilian Dance and Music Oct. 25 FREE!

Gravity and Other Myths Oct. 29

7 MOUNTAINS MEDIA PARADE OF LIGHTS November 27 Downtown Bloomsburg 570-374-8819 - 7mountainsmedia.com

SEÁN HEELY CELTIC CHRISTMAS December 4 Pettit Center for the Arts - Commonwealth University 570-389-4409 - commonwealthu.edu STAGED READING OF STUDENT-ALUMNI WORK December 4 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu

JOY THROUGH THE GROVE Daily beginning November 27 Knoebel's Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE November 27 – December 27 Alvina Krause Theater 570-784-5530 - bte.org

5TH ANNUAL HOMETOWN MARKET December 5 Mill Street, Downtown Danville 570-284-4502 - visitdanvillepa.org BENTON WINTERFEST December 5 Park Street, Benton facebook.com/61591575699292 BERWICK CHRISTMAS BOULEVARD Daily beginning December 6 Market Street Berwick facebook.com/BerwickChristmasBlvd CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT SERVICE December 8 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu

DECEMBER

CHRISTIAN SANDS TRIO (JAZZ/HOLIDAY) December 1 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu

WELCOME SANTA PARADE December 4 Mill Street, Downtown Danville 570-284-4502 - visitdanvillepa.org

COLUMBIA MONTOUR Quarterly

KOHL'S STONY HILL TREE FARM

LATE NIGHT SHOPPERS AND HOLIDAY MOVIE NIGHT December 11 Canal Park 570-284-4502 - visitdanvillepa.org

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA December 12 Historic Warrior Run Church 570-538-1756 - freelandfarm.org ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT SERVICE December 12 Historic Warrior Run Church 570-538-1756 - freelandfarm.org

FREE DAY OF PLAY December 14 Bloomsburg Children's Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org

@VENUELV

EXCHANGE LISTENING ROOM December 16 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org

WREATH LAYING CEREMONIES December 19 Odd Fellow’s, St. Joseph’s and Shiloh (Reformed) cemeteries on Old Bloom Road facebook.com/groups/waamontourcounty

@BLOOMSBURGU

October–December • 2026

GARLIC By Michael Shepard, Penn State Extension Master Gardener of Columbia County

There is nothing like sautéed garlic. The aroma triggers a primal part of the olfactory senses and signals “comfort food.” This may be why cultures around the world have eaten it for the past few thousand years. If you need another reason to eat it, many recent nutritional studies suggest it offers numerous health benefits. Garlic is a member of the genus Allium and is related to onions, leeks, and shallots. All these vegetables contain varying amounts of sulfur compounds, which give them their distinctive pungency and are thought to be the reason for many health benefits. California is the major producer of garlic in the United States, but a significant fraction is imported from Asia, which has recently become a hot-button political issue. Fortunately, garlic is extremely easy to grow, and a small corner of your garden can produce all you or your family will likely use for most of the year! Garlic comes in many varieties, but all fall into two broad types - hardneck and softneck. Both types can be grown in Pennsylvania. You may come across “elephant” garlic, but it’s more closely related to the leek and is milder than true garlic. Hardneck garlic does better in colder zones, has bigger heads and cloves, and tends to have a stronger garlic flavor. Softneck garlic does better in warmer climes, has smaller heads but more cloves, and stores better - up to a year in ideal conditions. From the outside, it is difficult to tell hardneck from softneck, but when you break open the head, the hardneck will have a hard central stalk (or neck) sur- rounded by the cloves. Softneck lacks a central stalk. The hardneck stalk will send up a slender shoot called a “scape” in late spring or early summer. If left alone, it will

eventually produce seeds, but since this scape robs the plant of nutrients and energy, it should be cut off to maximize head growth. Don’t toss them! You can eat these delicious scapes raw or cooked - they have an onion-chive-garlic flavor. To grow garlic, start with the best heads. Grocery store garlic is fine for eating, but not ideal for growing. It is often treated to inhibit sprouting, and you usually don’t know its origin. You can buy your seed heads from many garden catalogs, nurs- eries, or even local growers at a farmers’ market. Garlic likes full sun and well-drained, rich soil with a pH between 6 and 7. To plant,

Garlic is not prone to many diseases, but it can fall prey to white rot fungus and some insects, including onion maggots and onion thrips. Good gardening prac- tices can minimize problems with these. However, a new threat, the accidentally introduced allium leafminer fly, is more problematic. Because it has no native predators or controls, it’s considered invasive. To minimize the problem, the best strategy is to plant late in the autumn, after the insect has finished its final repro - ductive phase of the year. I plant my garlic between Halloween and mid-November. This reduces the risk of the allium leafminer while giving the roots enough time to become established, but not enough to send up a shoot. In winter, garlic goes dormant, a neces- sary phase to spur growth. After the soil warms in spring, the plants awaken, send up shoots, and begin to mature. Harvest when about half of the leaves have turned yellow or brown and died back, usually in midsummer. Use a gar- den fork to pry them out (like potatoes) carefully, and unless you are going to eat them right away, leave them out for a week or so to cure before storing them. Pick several of the largest heads to set aside for next year’s seed and enjoy! Mike Shepard is a Penn State Extension Master

1 2 3 4

carefully split the head into cloves, keeping the papery skin on.

Plant the largest cloves - they will grow the largest heads - and save the smaller cloves for eating.

put them stem-up (the hard, pointy nub is the stem) about 2 inches deep. You can plant them fairly close together; I have mine in a grid pattern about 6 inches apart.

Gardener in Columbia County. He’s a space scientist and professor at Bloomsburg (now Commonwealth) University and an enthusiastic vegetable grower.

water and put a few inches of mulch on top.

October–December • 2026

Fall in Columbia and Montour Counties By Jenn Puckett It’s hayride and haunts season again and after spending far too much time thinking about what to write for this issue’s article instead of actually doing the work, I’ve realized my biggest fear may be deadlines. I told my teenage son as much this morning before he left for school. After he rolled his eyes, he began spouting topic suggestions – the fair, the leaves, the farm markets and the haunted houses. I said the problem wasn’t lack of options but too many to pick from. He said, well, write about that and bounced out the door. From the mouths of sleep-deprived teens, ideas are born. There’s so much that happens here all year round, but autumn really is something else. Around here, the Bloomsburg Fair feels like the week we officially start fall no matter when the equi- nox is. Apple cider and dumplings, giant pumpkins and prize livestock are some of PUMPKINS, PARADES AND.......... PICKLES?

apples by the bushel, to be stored in root cellars and enjoyed throughout the winter. When my son was still a toddler, we visited Rohrbach’s, where fruit picking didn’t interest him but the fall Playland absolutely did. He was immediately enamored with the “corn pit”, an enormous round, covered area filled with shovels, buckets and all the toys one would find at the beach, but the sand is corn! He also rode a e

pony, went a hayride and picked out his pumpkin but nothing was as riveting as the corn. Later that day, we found approximately

ten pounds of corn kernels in overall cuffs, his socks and every pocket he had. Long before Spirit Halloween and it’s plastic ilk existed, we had the Elysburg Haunted House, which is

now celebrating 50 years of scaring the daylights out of people for a good cause. I wasn’t brave enough to go when I was younger but my husband and son finally convinced me to go last year. The line was long, but the company was excellent, there were plenty of food options and the volunteers kept us en- tertained long before we got inside. And inside? Jump scares are certainly part of the thrills but if that isn’t enough to make you scream, the fine folks behind the design of the tour have found a way to target everyone’s phobias. I won’t divulge the details but I never expected to encounter some of the “wildlife” I did in the Pennsylvania woods. Even if you been before, this gets bigger every year. Scary season ends on an even sweet(er) note this year, the Catawissa Halloween Parade is October 31 and the theme of the 119 th annual parade is “Sugar Rush”. The ones I’ve attended in the past may have had different themes, but candy tossed from the dozens of amazingly decorated floats has always been the biggest draw for the kids. Then we catch our breath for a moment, but only briefly, since Thanksgiving Day brings us turkey with all the fixings, but only after the Run for the Diamonds in Berwick. While I’m putting the bird in the oven, fearless and frost-bitten runners vie for the jewels in this 9-mile road race that began way back in 1908. I admire their dedication from afar. Some folks like to start their Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but we prefer to skip the big-box stores for Bloomsburg’s the Parade of Lights and the Exchange’s annual “Cash and Carry” art sale. Winterfest at the Bloomsburg Fair- grounds happens that same weekend. Crafters have all sorts of items available, probably even something for that person on your list. (You know who I mean.) .............

the things folks come to see during this week-long, 171-year tradition. Some of my earliest memories of the fair are my sister and I being on our absolute best behavior, not because we were naturally inclined to do so but because my mother gave her usual talk about what would happen if we didn’t. (The “talk” consisted of the fact that if we fought or argued with one another, mom would take us home. Im- mediately. No need for a handstamp, we wouldn’t be coming back.) Last century ago, when I was youngish, fall also meant trips to the farm to pick our own

COLUMBIA MONTOUR Quarterly

In December we turn to Danville to with the Welcome Santa Parade on the 4 th and on the 5 th for the Hometown Holiday Market. Every year, Mill Street closes to traffic and the fun begins! Crafters and artisans, food trucks and live music in Canal Park puts everyone in the mood for the holidays. Santa’s Cottage is also setup and little ones of all ages can tell St. Nick just what they’d like to see under the tree. Meeting the jolly elf can be overwhelming for some kids, but our son was far too wise to skip a chance for toys, so he had no problem with settling in on his lap and speaking up. At length. Back in Berwick, the Christmas Boulevard happens nightly on Market Street. My very first memory of this was being piled into someone’s car with my cousins and getting free potato chips at the end, when the 70’s hulk of peak automotive engineering we were in simply quit. I vaguely remember my Dad and some other people talking under the hood and other adults pushing the car out of the way. We didn’t care, we saw the lights and now we had chips. The Boulevard got bigger and it’s still free, highly recommend you check it out with a well-running vehicle. Don’t forget to look for the pickle ornament in the display, we hide one there every year and give out prizes for some of those who find it. But as I said to my son, it’s not that there’s nothing to write about, it’s that there is too much. Because while I was proof-reading this, I realized I forgot to mention the Covered

Bridge Festival, Boo!burg, Fear at the Farm’s haunted barn and hayride, BBQ and Boo and the zombie races in Bloomsburg. I didn’t talk the Riverfest or the coffin races or the Jackson Mansion Victorian Christ- mas tours in Berwick or the Hallo-fun weekends at Knoebels. I didn’t mention Treefest at the Caldwell and “It’s a Wonderful Life” at BTE. How about the Pep- permint Trail in Danville? There’s Benton Winterfest and Joy through the Grove at Knoebels too.

See, this is what I was talking about, there’s too much to see and do here in fall and winter. You’ll just have to keep coming back year after year til you’ve done it all. (And then we’ll add new stuff and keep making the old stuff better.) For all this and more, see our website and events calendar at heartofpa.com

October–December • 2026

PHOTO CREDITS 1 Visual Flow Creative Co. 2 @forksfarm

3 @jordanpetrellis 4 @hiking_mitch 5 Sara Lesser

6 @5boro_ovrland 7 @mbmcfarland 8 @barryandcathybeck

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