BREAKFAST WITH SANTA:

The Beech Creek Fire Company social hall will magically turn into Whoville on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9-11 a.m. when Santa comes to eat breakfast with local children and their families.

The theme for this year’s Breakfast with Santa is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. All ages are invited to come to eat a free breakfast with Santa.

Please bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Clinton County Veteran’s Affairs for local veterans in need. Please make sure that your canned food items have not expired so they can be safely donated to those in need.

This is the 7th year for the Breakfast with Santa featuring the free breakfast, crafts and games for children to enjoy and photos with Santa.

Call WoodmenLife representative Larry Butler at 570-962-2848 or email Santa Breakfast organizer Tessa Irvin at tirvin40@icloud.com for more info.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive at the Howard fire hall on Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 1:30 to 7 p.m. Pizza will be provided to donors courtesy of Brother’s Pizza. For those needing transportation to the blood drive call Lion Paul at 570-660-0265.

“Bleed Blue” this month when all donors are entered into a contest to win a Penn State football package or a Penn State hockey package. If you donate on Dec. 11 at the Howard fire hall you will also be eligible for a $5 Amazon gift card courtesy of Suburban Propane. Rules and restrictions apply.

Lions Bingo will be held on Dec. 12 and Dec. 26 at the Beech Creek Fire Company social hall. Doors open at 5 p.m. and bingo games begin at 6:30.

Santa Claus will make a visit to the Howard United Methodist Church on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 2-4 p.m. Bring your camera and take some photos with Santa.

Howard Area Lions Club Food Bank distribution dates will be on Dec. 16 for Beech Creek area residents and those from Centre County who missed their distribution date earlier this month. Toys for Tots and Christmas turkey’s will be distributed at the Food Bank distribution on Dec. 16. Pre-registration for the toys must have been completed with Ron Davy with those having registered to come on Dec. 16 during Food Bank hours of 2-4 p.m. Lion Ron Davy can be contacted at 570-962-2407 with any questions about the Toys for Tots program or the Howard Area Lions Food Bank distribution.

Clubhouse Bingo will be held on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Liberty Township Sportsmen’s Club. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the early bird game begins at 6:15. Call Dawn at 570-660-7901 for bingo info.

MUSEUM OPEN:

The Beech Creek-Marsh Creek Watershed Museum will be open on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1-3 p.m. Lynn Bitner will have a Christmas tree decorated with Beech Creek Elementary School photos from 1970-1979. Come in to find your school photo on the tree and help to identify those that are unknown.

Lynn wants to do a tree each year to commemorate all of the local school students. Bring in your school photos from Monument, Orviston, Liberty Curtin and any of the one-room schools that were in the area.

The BC-MC Museum is located in the former Beech Creek Elementary School.

HOWARD CALENDARS:

Howard Borough Parks and Recreation has their 2020 calendars available for purchase. This year the calendar features photos of the Howard Fire Company members and fire apparatus gathered from past years. The calendars are $10 each and can be obtained on Saturday mornings outside the post office, or by stopping at the Insurance Office during daytime office hours or by calling Debbie Simoncek at 814-625-0054. There’s 100 calendars that need to find a good home.

In an attempt to raise extra funds this year there will also be adult T-shirts available for $15. The T-shirts are available in men’s and women’s sizes S-XL and will be sold along with the 2020 calendars.

Funds raised by the calendar and t-shirts sales will help to buy decorations, plants and flower bulbs, mulch, paint supplies and other things that are needed to keep the parks in town looking nice all year long.

FALL BANQUET:

WoodmenLife Chapter 691 held an annual fall banquet at the Nittany Valley Fire Hall in late October. Members and their guests were welcomed to the banquet by WoodmenLife Chapter President Michael Frank. Tessa Irvin, Chapter Secretary, gave a roll call with the bells tolled for the deceased chapter members since the last banquet. Those deceased memoralized were Delmas McCloskey, Russell Williamson, Lydia Pifer, Norma Dorman, Bruce Winslow, Charles (“Chink”) Bittner, Archie Miller and Marlo Mauck.

The table blessing was offered by member Dave Benner and a delicious meal was provided by the fire company members. After the meal recognition was given and awards were presented. Chapter Vice President Ron Glossner presented the 100 percent WoodmenLife Family Awards to Blair and Jane Askey, Thomas and Kelsey Glossner and to Joseph and Joan Bechdel.

WoodmenLife Representative Larry Butler presented special awards to three individuals who have made a positive impact in our community. The 2019 Environmental Award was presented to William “Bill” Hunter who has exemplified a compelling respect for our environment and for his responsibility in preserving it.

Bill is a forester, a hunter, trapper, and one who believes in harvesting woodlands and wild game. He wants to make certain that we pass on to our children the quality of life that we have had. Bill has gathered a collection of wild animal mounts and has more than 3,000 traps displayed in his garage.

Bill serves on the Clinton County Conservation Board and provides his vast knowledge in support of our natural resources. WoodmenLife is proud to present the Environmental Award to Bill Hunter for his efforts in conserving our natural resources and for his time and efforts as a volunteer in educating others in preservation practices.

The Caring for Others Award for 2019 was presented to Haili Frank for showing compassion and kindness to others. Haili has driven individuals to doctor appointments, provided hot meals to those in need and always looks to find ways to meet the needs of others.

Haili is currently a senior at Sugar Valley Charter School where she is a member of the National Honor Society, Future Farmers of America and the Future Business Leaders of America. Haili works at Ingram’s Market in Lamar and is active in two local 4-H Groups showing pigs, goats, lambs and rabbits. Haili currently is interning with Dr. Kayla Kerstetter and has recently helped to sedate and treat one of the wolves at the Penns Cave Wildlife Center. She has just recently been accepted to Delaware Valley University in the veterinarian program.

Haili is the reigning Clinton County Fair Queen and for her high school senior project she raised and sold two market hogs at the fair in August to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. Thanks to generous bidders who were willing to support Haili and her important “Miracle Pig” cause those two hogs sold for a total of $5,500. Haili also hosted a bowling tournament in October that netted another $1,000 that was also being donated to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Haili is the daughter of Eric and Clinta Frank and also the granddaughter of WoodmenLife Representative Larry Butler and his wife Emma. Everyone at the banquet is proud of Haili and her accomplishments. Since her birth we’ve watched her grow and blossom into a beautiful, compassionate young woman who is so deserving of the 2019 WoodmenLife Caring for Others Award.

Serving one’s community, both as individuals and as a Chapter, is an important aspect of the WoodmenLife organization. This year’s Community Leadership Award was presented to Sandra Boob for her dedication to our community and to the Friendship Community Center in Beech Creek.

Sandy serves as President of the FCC and has volunteered hours of her time to make the local community center a bright spot in our community. From the bottom of the basement to the roof top, improvements have been made at the FCC because of fund-raisers being held here. Sandy also serves as the rental coordinator for scheduling and booking the FCC for parties and events.

At one time a few years ago the FCC was in financial woes and could have been closed, but thanks to caring individuals in the community the center has been revived. Not only are funds raised for to meet the needs of the Friendship Community Center, but Sandy and the other officers have donated to individuals and families who have suffered fire losses or flooding problems, and also the FCC has hosted basket benefits to financially help those in the community who are having serious medical conditions.

Sandy wasn’t able to be at the banquet, but she didn’t want to take credit for all of the nice things that are happening at the FCC, because it truly is a community effort. From those who serve with her as elected officers, to the volunteers who help at the events and to those individuals and businesses in the community who help to support the center Sandy accepted the award later from Larry Butler on behalf to all who contribute to the well-being of the FCC.

Membership pins were presented to individuals who have been insured with WoodmenLife for the past 25 years, 50 years and two ladies, Dorothea Williamson and Marie Pletcher, each were recognized to receive 75 year pins.

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Howard Happenings is written and compiled by Tammy Coakley who can reached by telephone at 814-625-2684 or by emailing to tammy@ioiofficeinc.com