Orviston Festival

The Orviston Community Festival will be held on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12. Get your summer raffle tickets from any Orviston Community Club member. Tickets are $2 each or 3/$5. The raffle drawing will be held on July 12 at 9 p.m. Call Jay at 570-484-1590 for raffle ticket information.

On Friday, starting about noon the vendors will start to set up and will be ready to serve customers. Bring your lawn chairs and settle in to watch the Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby that starts at 6 p.m. (Registration required beforehand!) Get your tickets for the basket raffle that will be drawn on Saturday night at 9 p.m.

On Saturday, breakfast begins at 7 a.m., followed by Opening Ceremonies at 10:30 a.m.

At 2 p.m., the parade starts. Line-up begins at 1 p.m.

Be sure to check out all the scrap books of photos gathered over the years.

The 2025 Orviston Festival will conclude with an awesome fireworks display that begins around 9:30 p.m.

For more info, call Dave Lomison at 814-404-0357.

CHURCH CELEBRATION

Emmanuel United Church of Christ will be celebrating 150 years as a church and congregation. The public is invited to the events scheduled for both July 12 and July 13 at the church.

On Saturday, July 12, starting at 4:15 p.m., join local artist, Annie Snyder Reenactor, in revisiting the past 150 years of the Emmanuel United Church of Christ’s building and it’s congregation.

Following this presentation, there will be light refreshments, an open house and exhibit of historical artifacts and photographs of Emmanuel UCC and the Jacksonville area, as well as a basket raffle.

At 6 p.m. there will be an old-time community hymn sign, featuring special music by Kenna Shenk, followed by the basket raffle drawing and announcement of the winners.

At the church on Sunday morning, July 13, Pastor Cindy Killinger will lead the worship service that begins at 10:30 a.m. Special music will also be featured.

At noon an old fashioned picnic and ice cream sundae bar will be enjoyed.

All events are free of charge and open to the public. Emmanuel UCC is located at 4135 Jacksonville Road, Howard, Pa.

For more info contact Marsha at 814-571-3889 of visit their Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/share/1F3ibZMYfD/

MONTHLY MEETING

Residents of Curtin Township are encouraged to attend the Curtin Township Supervisors meeting on Monday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m., at the township building.

The supervisors want to be sure that township residents are kept up to date on the latest developments concerning the township and its taxpayers.

KIDS CONNECTION DAYS

Blanchard Church of Christ is having their Kids Connection Days and your child is invited!

Designed for both preschool and elementary aged children, kids will be guided through daily adventures that spark curiosity and imagination, while solving mysteries, playing with friends and learning about different environments. Each child will have an unforgettable summer experience. Crafts and snacks will be provided.

The program will cost $12 for each day, or $40 for the entire month.

Preschool and kindergarten children’s programs will meet on Thursday’s from 9-11 a.m.

Children going into grades 1-4 will meet on Monday’s, from 9-11 a.m.

On July 7 and 10 the program will be about Mountains and Skies.

On July 14 and 17 the prgram will be about Meadows.

On July 21 and 24 the program will explore Forests and the final program on July 28 and 31 will be about Rivers and Streams.

To register your child, call the church office at 570-962-2423 to request a registration brochure and form, or visit the church website to complete an online registration or stop by the church in person.

FLEA MARKET

Pleasant Gap Fire Company will have a weekly flea market each Thursday during July at the fire company carnival grounds. The vendor fee of $20 will benefit the PGFC. Vendors will be set up from approximately 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting, each week. Vendors will be required to bring their own outdoor canopies and tables for the outside event. There are a few buildings/pavilions at the grounds that vendors can use, but they are on a first come basis. There are some trees for shade for vendors to choose those spots as well.

So far the vendor interest has been great! Some vendors that are expected to be there are antiques/collectibles, jewelry and others. Vendors can call Mark at 814-355-2753 to reserve a spot each week or for the month.

Food is also available, provided by some of the food vendors that will be on-site. The fire company may also be contributing to food sales in the future as well.

The flea market is expected to run through the month of July and may continue if vendors and customers want to continue into August and possibly September.

Stop by and check this new flea market out and help to support the fire company as well.

More info is available by contacting Greg at ggmar1@hotmail.com.

SUMMER CONCERTS

Lamar Lighthouse Camp will be hosting their Summer Concert series each Sunday evening at 6 p.m. Each of the concerts is free and open to the public. A love offering is taken each week to further the ministry of both the groups performing and Lamar Lighthouse Camp.

The Foresters will be entertaining on July 6 and Divinity Trio will be in concert on July 13.

Lamar Lighthouse Camp is located along Rt 64 at 4746 Nittany Valley Drive, Mill Hall. For more info call 570-337-0203 or visit their Facebook page: Lamar Lighthouse Camp.

FIRE NEWS

Fire companies can use donations of bottled water and Gatorade this summer!

Lamar Township Fire Company will host a blood drive at their station on Wednesday, July 16, from 1-5:30 p.m.

Snow Shoe Fire Company will have a gun raffle on Aug. 2 at the Snow Shoe carnival grounds. Tickets are on sale now at $10 each or 3/$20.

Howard Fire Company will hold a blood drive at their station on Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 12:30-6 p.m.

Centre Hall Fire Company is planning to have a Car and Craft Show on Saturday, Aug. 9. Details will be coming shortly. Tickets are also available for the Centre Hall Fire Company’s Mega Bingo that is planned for Sunday, Sept. 21. Tickets are $50. Check the fire company Facebook page or stop by the station to get your tickets.

Miles Township (Rebersburg) Fire Company will have a gun raffle on Saturday, Sept. 13. Tickets are on sale now for $10 each or 3/$20. There are 30 prizes to be given away on this raffle and one of them is a 2025 Honda Pioneer side by side.

Pleasant Gap Fire Company will have a Gun Raffle on Sept. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. Gates to the carnival grounds will open at 11 a.m. Tickets are $10. Must be 21 with photo ID to enter.

Nittany Valley Fire Company will have their annual Sportsmen’s Raffle on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 3-8 p.m. at the fire station in Lamar. Tickets are $10.

LIONS NEWS

Milesburg Lions Club holds a weekly Bingo every Thursday night at the Milesburg Community Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. and Bingo starts at 6:45 p.m.

Howard Area Lions will have their food distribution on Monday, July 7, from noon to 3 p.m., at the former Beech Creek Elementary School. Bring a sturdy box (or boxes) with you as there is always a need for larger boxes for food distributions. Food distribution is for those residents who live in the Centre County areas of Blanchard, Howard, Hunter Run, Lamar, Marsh Creek, Monument, Mount Eagle and Orviston, and those living in the Clinton County area of Beech Creek Borough and Beech Creek Township.

Mark your calendar that the food distribution dates in August will be adjusted because the Lions will be parking cars during Grange Fair. Distribution dates will be on Aug. 4 and Aug. 25.

The Lions will have their food trailers at the Orviston Festival on July 11-12. Lion Art is looking for people to help with the food wagon sales from Friday night starting at 5 p.m. and on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Call Lion Art at 814-380-3943 to say you’ll volunteer for a few hours.

Howard Area Lions collect used eye glasses that are refurbished and sent to underprivileged countries to help people to be able to see better. If you have old eye glasses (prescription lens or readers) to donate, bring them to any Lions club function.

I was recently surprised to learn that township and borough offices also serve as good drop off points for collecting the eye glasses. So, the next time you vote in the Howard/Blanchard/Beech Creek areas, bring your old eye glasses along and they’ll be delivered to (or picked up by) the local Lions Club.

Another easy point for eye glasses to be recycled for this fashion is at local funeral homes. Funeral directors will often collect used eye glasses that are then given to the Lions Club as well.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Lemont Village Association will have their summer concerts on the Village Green each Friday night from 7:30-9 p.m. The concert this evening, July 4, will feature Kenny Lee Hawkins, singer/songwriter, former metal-head-turned-country musician who combines soulful melodies with down-home storytelling that honors a musical heritage that has influenced generations. If there is light rain the concert will go on, bring your umbrellas and raincoats. If thunder and lightning — then the concert will be moved indoors to the granary. Check the website around 5:15 p.m. on Friday to see if the concert will be moved indoors.

Bring a lawn chair and stop by for the free music. Ice cream cones will be available from Troop 367 for a donation to the scouts. For more info or for weather conditions where the music needs to be moved indoors, please contact Sue at news@lemontvillage.org or visit their Facebook page.

Don’t forget, Mt. Nittany is a great place to watch the FIREWORKS — just hike up after the concert on Dale St. or Mt. Nittany Road.

Next Friday, July 11, the concert will be by Porch Party, with Liz Lasher — vocals, keyboard and harmonica; Mickey Tomasetti — vocals and percussion; Michelle Katz — vocals, guitar and banjitar; Tom Mallouk — vocals, lead guitar and bass and Randy Doughty on bass.

Bargains and Blessings Community Closet will be open on Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Faith Chapel United Methodist Church, 551 Hunter Run Road, Howard. This sale is in conjunction with the church’s annual Roger White Fun Fair. Gently used, good quality clothing, shoes and accessories for the entire family are available. Sizes range from infants to 3X and are priced at $5 per bag full. Bags will be provided.

Centre Ballroom will have a Dinner/Dance on Sunday, July 13, from 2-5 p.m., at Lambert Hall, Bellefonte. Call/text Rod at 717-543-8348 for making a reservation.

On July 19, Friendship Community Center in Beech Creek will be hosting a basket raffle from 9 a.m.until 2 p.m., at the center. The kitchen will be open. Basket donations would be appreciated and will be accepted while the library is open on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 3-7 p.m., and on Friday evening after 6 p.m.

Food distribution will be on Thursday, Aug. 7, from 4-6 p.m., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 216 McAllister St., Bellefonte. There aren’t any income guidelines but a few questions are asked for those attending for the first time. For more info on these food distributions, call Leilani “Loni” at 814-548-7835.

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Howard Happenings is written and compiled by Tammy Coakley who can be reached by email at tammysue0115@gmail.com or by telephone at 814-625-2684.