SUPPORT LUKE

Luke was all smiles before his recent diagnosis with neuroblastoma. Luke is the 14-month-old grandson of Cottage Restaurant owners, Faye and George Courter. Luke also has some grandparents on the Toner side, too.

A benefit is being held on Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Nittany Valley Fire Company, to help raise funds for Luke and his parents. The benefit begins at 11 a.m. and will feature a chicken bbq meal and also a basket raffle. Winners of the basket raffle will be drawn at 5 p.m.

Baskets are needed to make the benefit a big success! You can drop your basket (or a monetary donation) off at the Cottage Restaurant (or the fire hall) anytime between now and the benefit on Sunday.

The Sugar Valley Lions Club will host a Bingo Night on Friday, Nov. 14, at the Lions/Sportsman’s Club, 55 Sportsmans Road in Loganton, to support 14-month-old Luke’s fight against neuroblastoma. All proceeds will help cover his treatment at Geisinger Medical Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., and games begin at 7 p.m. Enjoy free food and two chances to win a turkey. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact Elisabeth at 570-725-2148 or Bob at 570-725-3665.

For updates on Luke’s treatment, you can make a friend request on Facebook to Luke’s Journey. There’s also a GoFundMe page that you can donate at. Call the Cottage Restaurant during normal business hours and folks there will be happy to give updates on Luke.

Let’s all band together and help little Luke kick cancer! Please keep Luke and his family in your thoughts and prayers as well!

SANTA JUMP

The 10th Annual Santa Jump will be held tomorrow in Beech Creek. Festivities run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Santa will be jumping from a plane and parachuting onto the Legion ballfield at 1 p.m. (weather permitting that the plane can fly.) Once on the ground, Santa and his elves will greet the kids and hand out treats.

Even if Santa isn’t able to jump from the plane, he’ll still be there! Santa knows the firemen pretty well so if he can’t jump he’ll just call the fire station and have some of the firemen take the fire engine and pick him up at the airport. Mr. Claus won’t miss seeing all the little boys and girls during the Santa Jump, so have the kiddos write their letters to Santa and bring along your camera to take photos while kids take a turn sitting on Santa’s lap!

Vendors will be set up in the Friendship Community Center as well as the fire company’s social hall and you’ll be able to get lots of good food during the event as well. Food will be served from the fire hall kitchen as well as from the kitchen at the Friendship Community Center.

Santa’s Workshop and crafts for kids will be in the fire station truck bay from 9 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. There’s a Scavenger Hunt for kids as well.

There will be a Chinese Auction and a 50/50 drawing with winners being drawn and announced at 2 p.m. Eight bikes and eight gift cards have been donated that are also going to be given away during the Santa Jump.

A few handicapped parking spaces are available at the borough building and fire hall. Otherwise, parking is available at the BC Wesleyan Church and a shuttle bus will be running to and from the outdoor event.

Dress for the outdoor temperatures and bring an umbrella! This event will be held rain or shine.

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 Bingo will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13 and Nov. 20, at the Beech Creek Fire Company social hall. Doors and the kitchen open at 5:30 p.m. and Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m.

Lions Bingo is usually held the second and fourth Thursday’s of the month, but it’s moved because of Thanksgiving in November.

At the Bingo on Nov. 20 Bingo players will have chances to win frozen turkeys.

Howard Area Lions will have their food distribution on Monday, Nov. 17, 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.

The Lions will be ringing the Salvation Army kettle bells at Walmart in Mill Hall on Black Friday. If you see our Lions there, be sure to say hello (and drop a donation in the kettle to help others.)

The Lions have their 2026 Lottery Calendars available for sale. The calendars are good for all of 2026 and are just $10 each. These make great last minute Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers!

See any Lion to get yours today. The calendars are a fundraiser that the Lions use each year.

The Lions will be distributing Toys for Tots at the food distribution on Dec. 15.

CANCELLED

Centre County Grange Young Patrons of Husbandry, “Y. P. of H.,” was planning a Fall Banquet on Sunday, Nov. 16, but the event is being cancelled. Please note the cancellation. If there are any questions please contact Suzanne at 814-383-2502.

UPCOMING EVENTS

— St. John’s United Church of Christ Light of the World Clothing Bank will be open on Fri., Nov. 7, from 2:30 to 5 p.m., and on Sat., Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. Come select hats, gloves, winter coats, jackets, scarves and more! Everything is free! The church is located at 145 W. Linn St., Bellefonte.

— Howard VFW’s Auxiliary will be holding an All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet at the club on Sunday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. until noon. The cost is $12 for adults. Another breakfast buffet will be held on Dec. 14.

— Centre Ballroom will have a dance on Sunday, Nov. 9, from 2-5 p.m., at Lambert Hall, Bellefonte. Cost is $10/person and you should bring a snack to share.

— The last pot pie sale of the fall at Wingate Faith Church will be on Monday, Nov. 10. Ham or chicken pot pie is $9 a quart and is available by walk-in or pre-ordering. Pre-orders are best so that you’re sure to get! Call Janette at 814-883-0893 to place your pre-orders, then just come to the church at 4 p.m. to pick up. Pot pie comes in freezable, plastic containers, so stock up until sales resume in the springtime.

Wingate Faith Church is located at 111 Runville Road, Bellefonte, which is directly behind the Sheetz store in Wingate and next to Wingate Elementary.

— The Monument Festival Committee is having a Cash Bingo at KBR Bingo at the Piper Museum in Lock Haven on Nov. 15. The tickets are $20. In addition to the Bingo there will be a basket raffle, rip tickets and food available. The doors open at 11 a.m. and Bingo starts at 1 p.m. Basket and gift card donations are needed to make this benefit a success! The proceeds from this benefit will go to the Monument Church of Christ. To get tickets or to donate a prize, please call Bill at 570-660-5452 or Brenda at 570-660-6871.

If you don’t play Bingo but still want to donate to help the church, that would be wonderful and can be done by contacting Bill or Brenda. The church will use the proceeds from the Bingo and any donations that are received to advance their outreach ministry of helping others in the community.

TURKEY DINNER

Sugar Valley Fire Company is having a Turkey Dinner at the fire hall on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 4-7 p.m. The meal will feature turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, corn, noodles, cranberry sauce, dessert and drinks. The cost will be $16 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12 and those five and under will be free. Take-out and dine-in options are available.

SOUP SALE

Howard United Methodist Church will have a soup sale and luncheon at the church on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The flavors of soup are vegetable beef, ham and bean, chicken corn and chicken noodle. A sit-down lunch with a bowl of soup, salad, roll, pie and beverage is $10. Quarts of soup for take-out are $9. Pre-orders for take-out soup are best and can be placed by calling Patti at 814-625-2182.

Proceeds from the soup sale will be used for local outreach missions.

Howard UM Church is located at 144 W. Main St., Howard. It’s on the corner by the Wetzler Funeral Home.

FIRE NEWS

Centre Hall Fire Company offers a first Friday of each month Bingo at the fire station. Bingo will be held this evening, Nov. 7. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., early bird games start at 6:30 p.m. and regular Bingo kicks off at 7 p.m.

Get your tickets at the fire station for Centre Hall Fire Company’s Gun Raffle that will be held May 16, 2026.

Howard Fire Company’s annual Gun Raffle will be held on Nov. 8 from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10. There are 10 cash and 10 gun prizes this year along with a special Bingo game ball prize of a gun cabinet with three mystery guns.

Millheim Fire Company has their gun raffle chances for sale. The raffle will be held on April 11, 2026. Tickets are $10 each or 3/$20. There are 25 prizes to be won including guns, cash, a Yeti cooler, binoculars and range finders.

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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.