Enjoy a quarterly snapshot of our region with the latest edition of our quarterly digital magazine!
2025
Quarterly
Volume 18 October - December
Your All-Access Guide to Columbia & Montour Counties!
800.847.4810 iTourColumbiaMontour.com
📷: BRITTANY KERSHNER
@KIKISORICK
CONTENTS Table Of
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In the Garden: Composting
Skeletons in the Schoolyard 16 8 Events Calendar
@THEFARMINBLOOM
21 Halloween Happenings to Check Out in Our Area
2025 Covered Bridge Puzzles Have Arrived! 23
The Hunt for Balance: The Role of Responsible Hunting 27 24 Hiking into History with the Susquehanna Greenway
Member Spotlight 30
@INCREDIBLEPOPCORN
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Your fall Adventure Begins in COLUMBIA & MONTOUR Counties
📷: KAREN MITCHELL BERWICK’S FAMOUS “RUN
FOR THE DIAMONDS” WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 27, 2025!
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In the Garden : Composting
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Columbia County
by Michael Shepard
Nature wastes nothing. Look at a forest floor, and you’ll see last year’s leaves, wood, dead plants, and even dead animals in some state of decomposition. Insects and microorganisms break this material down. It is recycled into a carbon and nutrient-rich material called humus, which feeds the living plants. Unlike nature, we waste about a third of all the food we produce, the largest single component of our landfills. This is an enormous and unnecessary squandering of natural resources and the energy used to produce food. At least some of this can be reduced by composting food scraps. Composting is the process of breaking down organic matter - yard, food, and even animal waste - into compost, a crumbly material like humus that can fertilize your garden naturally. Composting requires four ingredients: browns, greens, air, and water. Browns are carbon-rich materials like straw, paper (including untreated
cardboard), and dried vegetation. Greens are nitrogen-rich materials like food waste and fresh vegetation like mown grass. The microorganisms need air and moisture to break down material, so the pile should be damp and aerated.
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DineIn • TakeOut • Catering Westovers Country Grill creates delicious, good ole’ fashion home cooking in a nostalgic country setting. From comfort food like BBQ to delicious steaks and pasta, you’ll love every bite. We even make homemade desserts! Stop by anytime, especially if you’re on your way to nearby Ricketts Glen.
Dine inside or relax outside on our all weather outdoor deck/pavilion. It’s also the perfect place to have your next party, event, or business gathering.
4438 Red Rock Rd. Benton PA 17814 570-925-0330 Open at 11am Tuesday-Sunday
B.Y.O.B. Welcome!
There are articles, books, workshops, and websites devoted to composting, and as many ways to compost as people who practice it. The topic cannot be covered in one short article, so we’ll just cover the basics. There are two methods of composting: the so-called “hot” and “cold” methods. Cold composting is what nature does. Gather organic material in a pile, add air and rain, and give it time. Much of it will have decomposed into compost in a year or two. Hot composting is an artificial way to speed up the composting process, and the method is most commonly advocated. If you build a pile big enough (3 feet by 3 feet is considered a bare minimum), the interior begins to heat, ideally to 130°F or more. The heat accelerates the process and has the side benefit of killing off weed seeds and some plant diseases that might make it into your pile. You must periodically turn the pile to aerate the interior and keep the material uniformly mixed. Under ideal conditions, one can produce compost in as little as three weeks.
Some municipalities and farms practice an industrial-scale version of this. Municipalities (like my own) will collect and accept yard waste and compost it on a large scale, then give it away to their citizens. I’ve been to a farm where all agricultural waste, including animal carcasses, are put in piles 25+ feet long that are 6 feet high, 12 feet wide, and reach 170°F inside. Machinery turns the pile every few days, and the beautiful compost is ready to be spread on the fields in a few weeks. I’ve tried hot composting and had two difficulties. First, I never have enough waste at any one time to build a pile large enough to get hot. I have a little every day. Second, like most busy people, I forget to turn the piles. I met a farm professional who makes tons of compost with the hot method and asked what he did at home. He cold-composts, and now I do too. It’s slower, but it’s easy and sure. I used a roll of galvanized wire mesh to make two cylinders about 3-4 feet in diameter and 4 feet high, though any airy containers of this size will do. These will contain my piles. I collect kitchen
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The far-left cylinder is the current compost pile, the other cylinder is last year’s pile, and the dark patch to the right is all that remains of the first year’s compost.
waste (no animal products) in a 2-gallon bucket and periodically dump it into one pile. I roughly chop the waste into smaller chunks with a machete, then cover it with an inch of straw. I also throw in chopped, non-diseased garden waste. That’s it: no wetting, turning, or any other bother. Rain and time compact the contents so it never overflows. At the end of autumn, I stop feeding the first pile and begin on the second. I build it for an entire year while the first pile is slowly composting. In the spring, two years after starting the first pile, I remove its
cylinder to start my next pile. The contents are now beautifully composted and ready for the garden. It took two years, but it’s so easy. Now, I get a cubic yard of fresh compost every year and throw very little food waste into the trash. • This is the first in a new quarterly feature series from the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Columbia County. We will feature a different gardening topic every edition, from a variety of Gardener guest experts.
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@OTTOKURECIAN
@PEDSDOC97
@PHILLYON2WHEELS
@STARMARIE29
BILL SISSON
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📷: BEN PREPELKA
EVENTS CALENDAR
MULTI-MONTH / RECURRING
bloomsburg library bridge club Every Monday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 – bloomsburgpl.org berwick area veterans center Every Monday & Wednesday McBride Memorial Library 570-752-2241 - mcbridelibary.org craft pizza night Every Monday Craft Catering at the Links at Hemlock Creek 570-594-8134 - craftcateringllc.com
play traditional mahjong Every Thursday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 – bloomsburgpl.org half - price corn maze night @ rohrbach ’ s Every Thursday in October Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachsfarm.net
river poets First Thursday of the month Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 – bloomsburgpl.org
american mah jongg Every Tuesday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 – bloomsburgpl.org dungeons and dragons Every Tuesday Bloomsburg Public Library 570-784-0883 – bloomsburgpl.org
first friday in downtown bloomsburg First Friday of every month Downtown Bloomsburg 570-661-1936 - downtownbloomsburg.org
open mic at rock god brewing Last Friday of the month Rock God Brewing 570-284-4096 hallo - fun weekends Every weekend in October
montour county genealogical room Every Wednesday Boyd House Museum 570-271-0830 - montourcountyhistoricalsociety.org
Knoebel’s Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com
quaker steak & lube bike nite Every Wednesday Quaker Steak & Lube 570-389-9464 – quakersteakandlube.com
danville growers market Every Saturday through November 22 Downtown Danville between Cole’s Hardware and Voelcker’s Beverage 570-284-4502 – visitdanvillepa.org
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570-799-5888 Hours: Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun: 7:30am-5pm Serving Breakfast 7:30-Noon Closed January Restaurant & Farm Market Banquet Hall with available Catering Christmas Tree Farm Check Website for Special Events!
Located 1 Mile Off Rt. 42 In Numidia 270 White Church Rd, Elysburg, PA
www.ponducefarms.com
EVENTS CALENDAR
OCTOBER
fall fun saturdays @ rohrbach ’ s farm Every Saturday through October Rohrbach’s Farm 570-356-7654 - rohrbachsfarm.net RECURRING (CONTINUED)
amythyst kiah October 10
Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg 570-389-4409 - commonwealthu.edu
the 39 steps Through October 12 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble 570-784-5530 - bte.org pumpkin festival at ol ’ country barn
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 brewskis ’ bluegrass brunch Last Sunday of the Month Brewskis Coffee and Bar 570-317-2865 montgomery / boyd house tours Every Sunday through October Montgomery House Museum & Boyd House Museum 570-271-0830 - montourcountyhistoricalsociety.org
October 11 & 12 Ol’ Country Barn 570-925-6295 – olcountrybarn.com
craft show at the butterfly farm October 11 & 12 Folk’s Butterfly Farm 570-394-7298 - folksbutterflyfarm.com eagle arms gun show October 11 & 12 Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Industrial Arts Building 610-393-3047 - eaglearms.com
flashlight safari October 17 & 18 Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland 570-538-1869 - reptiland.com
parks and recreation Through October 17 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - ExchangeArts.org
kurbasy ( world music / ukraine ) October 17 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu
whimsical Through November 8 Artspace Gallery 570-784-0737 - artspacebloomsburg.com
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Charly Lowry Thurs., Nov. 13 7:30 p.m.
Nrityagram Dance Ensemble Tues., Oct. 21 7:30 p.m.
BIRCKHEAD Wed., Nov. 19 7:30 p.m.
BUCKNELL.EDU/BOXOFFICE 570-577-1000 BUCKNELL.EDU/WEISCENTER
paragon ragtime orchestra performs “ meet me at the fair ” October 17 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu benton fly - in October 18 Benton Airport 570-204-1977 - bentonairport.com
mifflinville halloween parade + trunk & treat October 19 Mifflinville Carnival Committee 570-204-5200 susquehanna greenway partnership photo contest winners show October 20 – November 21 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org nrityagram dance ensemble ( indian classical dance ) October 21 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu
camp lavigne wine festival October 18 Camp Lavigne 570-243-1222 - columbiamontourbsa.org
halloween and fall foliage train rides October 18 Downtown Bloomsburg Inc. 570-661-1936 downtownbloomsburg.org/halloween-fall-foliage-train-rides berwick ’ s second annual coffin races October 18 Tri-County Lumber & Supply Co. 570-752-4500 - facebook.com/tricountylumberandsupplyllc 24 - hour play festival October 18 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu
boo ! burg October 24 Bloomsburg Area YMCA 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org homecoming concert October 24 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu mighty montour 4 - miler October 25 Montour Preserve 570-784-0188 - bloomsburgy.org
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BLOOMSBURG TREEFEST
EVENTS CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
OCTOBER (CONTINUED)
fastnachts & fall wine and spirits trail November 1 - 9
mifflinville fall festival October 25 & 26 Mifflinville Carnival Committee 570-204-5200 16 th annual figurative art exhibition , opening reception October 25 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu “ responsible consumption in a world on fire :” presented by travis rieder October 27 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu halloween story walk and pumpkin party October 28 McBride Memorial Library 570-752-2241 - mcbridelibary.org brooks williams at the exchange listening room October 29 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org
Wineries in Columbia & Montour Counties 570-784-8279 - itourcolumbiamontour.com
university orchestra November 1 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu university chorale November 2 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu
yasmin williams ( folk / americana ) November 5 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu
“ three ways government help is hurting kids and families :” by naomi schaefer riley November 6 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu
rsg antiques show November 8 & 9 Bloomsburg Fair Grounds/ Industrial Arts Building 570-650-0804 - rsgantiques.com
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616 Walnut Street Danville, PA 570-275-1310
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.
www.ltevansrestaurant.com Online Ordering Available!
NOVEMBER (CONTINUED)
brent birckhead quartet ( jazz saxophone ) November 19 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu
university symphonic band November 8 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu modigliani quartet ( classical ) November 9 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu
raffle reception November 21 McBride Memorial Library 570-752-2241 - mcbridelibary.org university jazz ensemble November 21 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu turkey day November 22 The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org
university choir and university chamber singers November 9 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu day of play - sponsored by journey bank November 10 The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org
cash and carry xii November 24 – December 30 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org
holiday show and sale November 13 – January 3 Artspace Gallery 570-784-0737 - artspacebloomsburg.com charly lowry ( folk / americana ) November 13 Weis Center for the Performing Arts 570-577-1000 - bucknell.edu
Stuart Tan
run for the diamonds November 27 Downtown Berwick 570-759-1300 – runfordiamonds.com winterfest at the bloomsburg fair - grounds November 28 & 29 Bloomsburg Fair Grounds/ Industrial Arts Building 570-784-4949 - bloomsburgfair.com treefest 2025 November 28 – December 7 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble - Caldwell Consistory 570-784-5530 - bte.org
“ spring awakening ” by stephen sater & duncan shiek November 13 – 16 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu
open house at benton antiques November 15 & 16 Benton Antiques 570-925-2384 koresh dance company November 15 Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg 570-389-4409 - commonwealthu.edu
joy through the grove November 28 – December 31 Knoebel’s Amusement Resort 800-487-4386 - knoebels.com
seavey reading series : akil kumarasamy November 18 Susquehanna University 570-372-4237 - susqu.edu deb callahan trio at the exchange listen -
ing room November 19 The Exchange Gallery 570-317-2596 - exchangearts.org
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@BLOOMSBURGU
7 mountains media parade of lights November 28 Downtown Bloomsburg 570-374-8819 - 7mountainsmedia.com
berwick christmas boulevard December 6 – 31 Market Street Berwick facebook.com/BerwickChristmasBlvd once upon a storytime December 12 The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org
a charlie brown christmas November 28 – December 27 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble 570-784-5530 - bte.org
berwick winterfest December 13 Downtown Berwick 570-752-2723 - berwickborough.org
DECEMBER
chanticleer December 4
Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg 570-389-4409 - commonwealthu.edu
“ night at the museum ” pajama party December 5 The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum 570-389-9206 - the-childrens-museum.org
benton winterfest December 6 Benton Park 570-925-6101
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@KNOEBELS
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
FREE Admission
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
309 North Vine Street Berwick, PA 18603 570-350-9675 www.berwickstuarttank.org
Skeletons in the Schoolyard by Jenn Puckett It’s spooky season again! Our area has plenty to do for those who want to drink a cup of cider and see the fun decorations. But what about those of us with a darker sense of adventure? Last year I wrote about the caged (or hooded) graves located outside of Catawissa. My research led me the grisly history of grave robbing in the name medical advancement. This year, I reached out to the fine folks at the Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society for a look back at some of the strange but true past events. Author and CCHGS volunteer Rachel Shaffer sent me dozens of articles and information – some of which included a cemetery relocation that spanned nearly 20 years. Unlike the protected graves across the river, this disinterment was planned and executed by two congregations of the Old Rosemont Lutheran and the reformed.
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In 1905, the Bloomsburg Morning Press reported that the “eye- sore” old Lutheran Cemetery at the corner of 1st and Center Street in town was to be moved to the Rosemont cemetery. This required all interred to be carefully exhumed, identified and relocated. Some of the very early graves lacked even the most basic identification and the joint congregations had to work together to keep the remains as intact as possible. Inter- estingly, this parcel, which today is firmly located in the town of Bloomsburg, Columbia County, was a shared church of both the Lutheran and the Reformed worshippers. The property was deeded in Northumberland County, and according the Morning Press: “was recorded long before Columbia County ceased to be a part of the county of Northumberland.”
In 1907, the same paper would print a disturbing discovery near the former Bloomsburg High School.
“A skeleton of a body and part of the coffin in which it was interred have been exposed on the northern bank of the old Lutheran cemetery facing the Bloomsburg High School. With typhoid fever existing to an alarming extent in Scranton and other nearby places this condition of affairs is one that de-
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mands prompt remedying in some form or another. This is not the first time that the falling away of the bank has disclosed the bones of bodies there interred this recent occurrence and that the abandoned graveyard contiguous to high school building makes some action imperative. Not only is the north bank caving away but the same is true of the west and south sides.” The outrage jumping from the page is obvious (and justified). But this was not to be the last trouble emanating from cemetery. The Press reports on a hot and steamy July day in 1914: OLD CEMETERY IS GIVING POLICE ANNOYANCE - The old Reformed- Lutheran cemetery is not only an eye-sore but it has become a rendezvous for the de- praved of both sexes, with the result that the police are having more their hands full in keeping undesirables out of the cemetery. Well, we were all teenagers once. Turns out the goth kids have always been around. I didn’t see any information regarding success of the police crackdown on the lewd folk cavorting amongst the cadavers. I’ll have to follow up with Rachel on this.
In 1925, exactly one hundred years ago, the final graves were relocated and the Morning Press was there to cover the news along with a few nosy residents.
“A curious crowd that at times numbered more than 100 yesterday watched the work of removing the bodies from the old Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery at the corner of First and Center Streets.”
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Twenty years from the start of the project, the last resident of the old cemetery was finally relocated on March 25, 1925. The oldest marker found was written in German and identifies Anna Margaret Dietriche, who was born in 1741. Anna lived to the age of 66 and would have been witness to the very beginning of the United States. As we look forward to wishing America a happy 250th birthday next year, it made me won- der what our humble beginnings were truly like. We read the letters and news articles that survived and see black and white photos of the generations before us. We know that these are glimpses of past everyday life, ordinary folk who may or may not be re- membered. The story of our country is full of George Washington and the Liberty Bell but there were a great many Anna’s along the way as well. It’s all part of the fabric of America, the quilt of many stories interwoven that connect us all. The folks at the Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society have the knowledge and skills to find these historical snippets. It’s well worth your time to stop by their location at 50 West Main Street in Bloomsburg. They offer free tours of the ‘David Stroup Fountain’ exhibit and the ‘Covered Bridges of Columbia County’ exhibit. Programs and tours are available Tuesdays through Fridays from 9:00am to
“Morbid Curiosity” book available from the Columbia County Historical Society!
The book covers accidents, industrial accidents, children deaths, extra unusual or noteworthy deaths, and suicides from the 1830s-1920 in ALL of Columbia County and beyond. Compiled and edited by Rachel Shaffer. 8.5 x 11 soft cover, 195 pages with index and many illustrations! Purchase price of $25 includes tax and shipping. Visit: colcohist-gensoc.org/publications-shop
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An envisioning of the Mordansville Covered Bridge Haunting.
3:00pm by appointment. Call 570-784-1600 or at research@colco-hist-gensoc.org to schedule a tour.
Another fine way to spend a fall afternoon learning some history is a self-guided walking tour of only town in Pennsylvania – download our free guide or pick one up at our Welcome Center. (We also have walking tour guides for Danville and Berwick available.) Our Covered Bridge maps are available too – Rachel shared a story about the former Mordansville Covered Bridge and a ghostly skeleton appearing mysteriously to frightened locals. That bridge is gone, but who knows what haunted history is waiting to be revealed at one of the others? •
Halloween Happenings to check out in our area Jackson Mansion Haunted History Tours Berwick, PA | October 10, 11, 24, & 25 + October 18 (bourbon & boos)
Hallo-Fun Weekends at Knoebels Elysburg, PA | fridays - sundays thru October 26 Elysburg Haunted House Elysburg, PA | fridays & saturdays thru October 31 Fear at the Farm Bloomsburg, PA | fridays - sundays thru November 1 Halloween Train rides bloomsburg, PA | October 18 Berwick's 2nd Annual Coffin Races Berwick, PA | October 18
Continued on next page...
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Mifflinville Halloween Parade + Trunk & Treat Mifflinville, PA | October 19 BOO!Burg Bloomsburg, PA | October 24 Halloween Story Walk & Pumpkin Party @ McBride Library Berwick, PA | October 28 Danville Halloween Parade Danville, PA | October 30 Tank or Treat at Stuart Tank Museum Berwick, PA | October 31 Halloween Happenings continued
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2025 Covered Bridge PUZZLES ARE HERE!
The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is excited to announce the arrival of its fifteenth annual Covered Bridge jigsaw puzzle. This year’s artwork showcases the Creasyville Bridge in Columbia County. A total of 350 limited edition puzzles are now available for the general public on a first-come, first-served basis until sold out; no re-order will be made. The puzzles are $18, tax included. A $2 donation from every puzzle sold will be made by the Bureau to the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association. Puzzles may be purchased in person at the Visitors Bureau Welcome Center, located at 121 Papermill Road in Bloomsburg during normal business hours (Monday – Friday; 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM). Puzzles are also available to be shipped anywhere in the continental United States for an additional shipping charge. Mail orders may be placed by calling the Welcome Center at 570-784-8279. This year’s puzzle photo was taken by Margie Hunsinger, who was honored earlier this year as the
2025 Covered Bridge photo contest winner. The Creasyville Bridge, built in 1881 by T.S. Christian for a cost of $301.25 was probably first known as the Derr Bridge. This Queenpost Truss bridge is located near Iram Derr’s sawmill, and spans Little Fishing Creek between Jackson and Pine Townships in Columbia County. It is found on Creasyville Bridge Road, off Creasyville Hollow Road north of Millville and Iola.
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with the SUSQUEHANNA GREENWAY Hiking into History
by Alana Jajko
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Hess Loop Trail Building Connections to the Nation’s First Rail Trail
The 3.8-mile Hess Loop Trail follows wooded paths and quiet creek crossings, including a scenic covered bridge, while tracing a piece of American trail history. Part of the loop overlaps with the J. Manley Robbins Trail, recognized as the first rail trail in the United States. Once part of the Reading Railroad line, this route now invites hikers, joggers, and families to experience where rail travel first gave way to recreation.
DANVILLE, PA
The Susquehanna Greenway is a corridor of trails, parks, conserved lands, river accesses, and communities that follows the
Susquehanna River through Pennsylvania. Stretching for over 500 miles, it provides opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, and paddling, while linking people to the river’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and vibrant river towns.
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Following the towpath of the historic North Branch Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, this trail offers a journey through time and nature along the Susquehanna River. Built in the 1830s to transport coal and goods between Pittston and Northumberland, the canal once bustled with mule-drawn boats and commerce. Today, its 12+ miles of crushed stone and natural surface lead hikers and cyclists past remnants of locks, aqueducts, and river views—linking the region’s industrial past to its outdoor future. North Branch Canal Trail Tracing a Path for Trade & Commerce
DANVILLE, PA
The Bloomsburg Area Recreation Trail (BART) is a 2.2-mile paved pathway that winds through Bloomsburg—Pennsylvania’s only official ‘town’—along the scenic North Branch of the Susquehanna River. Ideal for walking, jogging, and cycling, the trail offers peaceful river views and convenient access to downtown Bloomsburg. Near one end of the trail, visitors can see the Rupert Covered Bridge, the oldest in Columbia County, a charming reminder of the area’s rich transportation history. BART provides a welcoming space for outdoor recreation while highlighting the town’s unique heritage and riverside beauty. Bloomsburg Area Recreation Trail Riverside Views in Pennsylvania’s Only Town
BLOOMSBURG, PA
Once a World War II testing facility for tanks and armored vehicles produced by the American Car & Foundry Company, Berwick’s Test Track Park preserves a key piece of military history. Today, visitors can follow the paved test track and riverside trails for walking, jogging, or cycling, while enjoying picnic areas and a boat launch. Each July, the park comes alive with the WWII Weekend, featuring reenactments, vintage military vehicles, and displays that honor Berwick’s vital wartime contributions. Trails of Test Track Park Walking Where WWII Tanks Once Rolled
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BERWICK, PA
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Six Luxury rooms for today’s distinguished travelers who are looking for a comfortable home away from home! Wandell Inn 240 Main Street Benton, PA 17814 570-394-7033 www.wandellinn.com
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.
The Hunt for Balance
The Role of Responsible Hunting in Conservation
by Linda Sones
Hunters are conservationists. And they are the most successful conservationists in history. Let me explain why I say this. The forests are full of diversity. Plant and animal spe- cies are numbered in the thousands, if not millions. They all rely on each other for food, shelter, and all things necessary for life. For millions of years, bears, wolves, and even the weather kept deer herd num- bers in check. The American Indians hunted deer for food, clothing, and tools. As the Colonials moved in, they also hunted the whitetail for the same reasons. This led to the deer population greatly diminishing. As time moved on, the need to hunt became less of a requirement. Villages, towns, and cities had grocery stores, and beef and sheep ranches provided the meat. As man populated the country, they removed the predators that hunted the now-lacking deer be- cause the predators started to attack their cattle and sheep. People became used to having beef, lamb and hunted less for their food.
The 2025 whitetail deer hunting season is coming fast. Some disapprove of it, some love it. Some think it is cruel and unnecessary. For other, it’s how they keep their family fed. I grew up on a small farm with a large family. We were not well off and had to grow most of our food. Our clothes were homemade, and as for meat, we either raised it or hunted for it. My father and brothers went hunting, but we girls weren’t allowed, as dad viewed it as a man’s job. My mom went once, and maybe she had something to do with his decision to make the girls stay home. But hunting kept our bellies full and saved a lot of money that would have been spent at the grocery store. As an adult, I began hunting in Washington State and later with my husband, a Master Guide in Maine. We spent all our free time in the “County” (Aroostook County, Maine) hunting and fishing, camping, and exploring. Our shared passion for hunting and the outdoors became a tradition we valued and wanted to pass along.
Today, many deer are still killed by bears, coyotes,
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My husband, Bill (on the left) back when he was leading guided hunts, pictured with one of his pupils, Tony. This was Tony’s first buck!
and dogs. Many are hit by cars. But it isn’t enough to control their “bounce-back” that has occurred this century. They are considered a nuisance. Our towns grow, and we move and build our homes in the woods, then complain that they are eating our flowers and crops. Now, we introduce today’s hunter, the conserva- tionists. Every year, over 1 million hunters take to the woods. Originally, their goal was the Buck, the male whitetail with an antlered crown. But research shows that the doe, the females, need to be harvest- ed to keep the population in check. So, every year, a specific number of doe and buck hunting tags are granted to help manage the herds. The hunting season has been reduced from when you need meat on the table, to a few weeks in the fall and winter. Only a certain number of deer may be harvested each year, and this is regulated by the PA Game Commission. The number of hunting per- mits is based on herd size, the health of the land they inhabit, and the hunters themselves. Believe it or not, most hunters don’t hunt for the rack. The Whitetail Deer is a beautiful animal. It has been our state animal since 1959. But its herds must be
A photo with my fall harvest from several years back.
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Area Hunting Outfitters/Suppliers: Black Ops Security Services / B.O.S.S. Firearms 142 West Front Street, Berwick, PA 18603 (570) 520-4085 | blackopssercurityservices.com Fritzy’s Gun Works 530 Montour Blvd., Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 293-9122 | fritzysgunworks.com Maple Ridge Sports Center 402 Main Street, Orangeville, PA 17859 (570) 683-4138 | mapleridgesportscenter.com Mountain Marksman LLC 578 Mainville Drive, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 441-0414 | mountainmarksmanllc.com
managed to maintain the health and diversity of our forests. If it weren’t for the hunters, the deer herds would be overrunning the lands, our homes, and de- pleting food for other animals. To put this into per- spective. In 2024 there were nearly 500,000 white- tail deer harvested through Pennsylvania. The future of the whitetail deer herds, and the general populus, depend on the hunter. Now 2025 brings even more issues for the whitetail deer. CWD, Chronic Waste Disease, and EHD, Epi- zootic Hemorrhagic Disease are invading our hunt- ing grounds. EHD is a viral disease affecting white- tail deer currently in Ohio but will soon spread to Pennsylvania without proper conservation actions. Chronic Waste Disease is currently in Columbia, and other counties in Pennsylvania. This disease is very similar to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, BSE in cattle and Scrapie in sheep. You can follow the conservation acts against this disease in PA through the Pennsylvania Game Commission. If you are interested in hunting and need a hunter’s safety class, contact the PA Game Commission for requirements and availability. Additionally, some of our local firearms distributors offer classes on basic handgun and rifle training, self-defense, advanced marksmanship, and combat-ready training. If you are interested in any of these classes, have general questions, or are looking for the “right fit”, stop in at one of our suppliers and remember to hunt safely!
Telum Concepts, LLC 99 Main Street, Benton, PA 17814 (570) 337-7166 | telumconcepts.com
@PRIME_SHOTS_PHOTO
I enjoy seeing deer on my property, but am happy to shoot them with my camera instead!
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Member Spotlight The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is proud to welcome the following businesses as recent new members to the organization!
KEE EQUIPMENT 2821 State Route 487, Orangeville, PA 17859 keeequipment.com • 570.854.5222 Kee Equipment offers heavy equipment sales/rentals, on-site repairs, custom hydraulic hose services, PA state inspections, and custom aggregate materials.
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Member Spotlight The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is proud to welcome the following businesses as recent new members to the organization!
KEENEY FARMS 4375 Red Rock Road, Benton, PA 17814 keeneyfarms.com • 570.925.4444 Your one-stop shop for high-quality meats, sweet treats, and local gifts! We offer farm-raised beef (100% Grass-Fed & Grain-Fed), pork, hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream, plus a retail section with tallow, apparel, and more.
VOODOO VIBES 564 Mill Street, Danville, PA 17821 facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575221567787 • 570.764.8208
A small destination gambling/retail shop themed with a dark New Orleans voodoo vibe. Come on in to gamble on PA skill machines or purchase some crystals, tarot cards, or a voodoo doll.
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The musical Corner
Knorrwood | Bloomsburg brothers Wes & Joey Knorr
Blending progressive rock, world folk influences, and sweeping cinematic soundscapes, Knorrwood draws heavy inspiration from the boundary-pushing artistry of Led Zeppelin and the epic storytelling of The Lord of the Rings, crafting a sound both adventurous and deeply evocative. The Bloomsburg born and bred brothers Wes & Joey Knorr captivate audiences with powerful, dynamic drumming and an acoustic guitar outfitted with special synthesizer pickups that create rich, layered tones. Enigmatic vocalizing and ethereal explosions from a theremin further transcend listeners into a world of their own.
Knorrwood performed a series of special shows in 2025, including a self-titled debut album release event at the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble called “Over the Shire and Far Away.” Stay tuned for future events in our area from this exciting new local band!
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