SNOW SHOE POOL

If you’re looking for a nice place to cool off on these hot, humid days, try the Mountain Top Area Pool in Snow Shoe. The prices are really reasonable and the pool makes for a great time to spend with the kids and grandkids.

An adult day pass is just $7 and school age kids are $5 while the cost for those under age five is $3. Babies are admitted free. If you just want to soak up some rays then the price for sunbathing is $3. Family memberships and individual memberships for the remaining pool season are also available as well.

The pool is open from 12-6 p.m., weather permitting, through Labor Day. The concession stand is open as well, offering pizza, sandwiches, corn dogs, hot pockets, soda, gatorade, chips, candy and water.

The pool is in need of funding to keep it open and a fun place for families to use. To generate funds, board president Jenn Nastase-Kotzur tries different things for swimmers to enjoy. There’s Splash Hops (cook outs) with music that costs just $5 a person and the pool is a great place for kids’ birthday parties. You can schedule to rent the pavilion and bring your party to the pool. There’s crafts and other things to do that help to keep the kids entertained, too.

Some local businesses have been a great help with funding, and we hope that more local businesses and families will consider making a contribution to help keep the pool open and ready for swimmers to enjoy each summer. If your business or organization would like more information or to make a donation to the pool, contact Jenn at 814-880-8382.

The Mountain Top Area Pool has a Facebook page where you can learn about the upcoming activities at the pool and also about weather conditions (rain/thunderstorms) that may close the pool for the day, or call the pool office at 814-470-3272.

MUSIC AT THE ADVENT

Join the Advent Historical Society for its “Music at the Advent” series for “Music from the Hearths of Ireland and Scotland” featuring the popular Callanish Celtic Band, a group that performs traditional music from Ireland and Scotland, as well as contemporary Celtic songs.

The free concert will happen on Sunday, July 20, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Advent Church, 1303 Moose Run Road, Bellefonte. Moose Run Road is between Milesburg and Yarnell and the church is right along the road so you won’t miss it.

The program will also feature 10-year-old Irish dancer, Lyra.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the afternoon of music and summertime refreshments of watermelon, lemonade and iced tea afterward. You’ll also have a chance to meet the performers and fellowship with others there.

Music at the Advent is free, but monetary donations are welcomed to support the Advent Historical Society.

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.

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 21 and 24 the program will explore forests.

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.

DUCKSTOCK 2025

Duckstock 2025 will be held at Sickle Park in Milesburg on Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26. The public is invited!

In memory of Lester “Ducky” Walk, Jr. and his son, Lester Walk, III, Duckstock is an annual festival that embraces love, remembrance and community support while raising funds to help those who have cancer or serious illnesses and those who utilize the local food bank to help meet their food needs.

Admission is $20 (or more) of canned foods that are donated to the Milesburg Presbyterian Church’s food bank and covered dishes for the picnic potluck meal on Saturday.

Items for the basket raffle and charity auction are needed — the more donations the more money that can be raised to help individuals and families in our area.

If you can donate, are willing to volunteer at this year’s Duckstock or if you have questions, call Lawana (Walk) Confer at 814-777-6950, email her at Duckstock814@gmail.com or visit the Duckstock Facebook page for additional information.

FLEA MARKET

Pleasant Gap Fire Company will have a weekly flea market each Thursday at the fire company carnival grounds. The vendor fee of $20 will benefit the PGFC. Vendors will be set up starting at 7 a.m., weather permitting, each week. Vendors are 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! There were more than 30 vendors at the last market and many are excited to return each week. Vendors can call Mark at 814-355-2753 for more info.

Food is also available during the day, too! Relay for Life will be providing food on certain days during the flea market. The fire company may also be contributing to food sales in the future as well.

The flea market is expected to run through July and August, so long as vendor and customer interest continues. Stop by and check this new flea market out! The flea market/fire station location is at 475 Robinson Lane, Pleasant Gap. More info is available by contacting Greg at ggmar1@hotmail.com or 814-883-3124.

JACKSONVILLE FESTIVAL

The Jacksonville Cemetery Association’s annual Jacksonville Festival will be held tomorrow, July 19, beginning around 5 p.m. The Jacksonville Festival has been a tradition for more than 100 years, reuniting family and friends, to help raise funds that are used for the grass mowing and upkeep of the nine acres of cemetery grounds.

Come to enjoy some good old-fashioned festival fun. Games for the children, live music, 50/50 drawings and more! There’s usually a fruit basket paddle wheel, dime pitch, penny pitch and the 25 cent a card Bingo games.

The festival food menu includes hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage sandwiches, fries, ice cream, pies, cakes, pizza and more!

The Lomison Family and Friends Band is the entertainment for this year’s festival. The band played last weekend at the Orviston Celebration and is happy to be heading to Jacksonville this Saturday.

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 Hyssongs will be in concert on July 20 and then Common Bond will be there on July 27.

Lamar Lighthouse Camp is located along Route 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!

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.

FCC BASKET RAFFLE

Friendship Community Center in Beech Creek will be hosting a basket raffle from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the center tomorrow, July 19. The kitchen will be open. Basket donations would be appreciated and will be accepted this evening from 6-7 p.m. Proceeds from this benefit will help the FCC have a new drop ceiling and lights installed.

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 21, 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.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Lemont Village Association will have their summer concerts on the Village Green each Friday night from 7:30-9 p.m. 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.

Curtin Village Herb Garden will be undergoing some restoration efforts on July 19, the National PA Day. Sprinkles will not keep those garden workers away but downpours will. A rain date is set for Sunday, July 20. Volunteers are needed beginning at 8:30 a.m. and they should register in advance. The remnants of the decades old herb garden will be rejuvenated by a mini-grant project that will replace the existing flagstone pathway on a new limestone sand base, eliminate accessibility hazards, improve soil conditions and plant additional herbs where needed. This project merges history, nature and local volunteer involvement to enhance visitor experiences and enrich the site’s educational and historical value.

The work will be performed in two phases — the first phase is to remove all of the existing flagstones, restack the perimeter foundation wall and install geofabric and a limestone sand base to level the flagstone base prior to July 19. Then on National Pennsylvania Day, July 19, volunteers will reset the existing flagstone, top dress the planting area with a mixture of topsoil, compost and sand, replant herbs removed prior to the start of the project and insert new herbs where necessary. Penn State Master Gardeners of Centre County are an integral part of this effort to select historically correct native plants and design a garden that includes culinary, medicinal and fragrant herbs.

Sign up to volunteer today at Curtin Village!

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.

There will be a Centre Ballroom Dancing on Sunday, Aug. 17, from 2-5 p.m., at Lambert Hall in Bellefonte. Cost is $10/person and please bring a snack to share. Call/text Rod at 717-543-8348 for details.

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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.