CEMETERY MEETING

Jacksonville Cemetery Association will be holding their annual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. All those who are interested in supporting the association are asked to attend.

We don’t have a firm location for the meeting yet. Perhaps someone would be willing to volunteer their home or heated garage for the meeting, and if so, please reach out to Pam so she can finalize the plans for the meeting.

The cemetery association will need lots of volunteers to help with the annual Jacksonville Festival in July.

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 Food Bank will be open on Monday, Jan. 5, from noon to 3 p.m., at the former Beech Creek Elementary School. Bring any large sturdy boxes that you have for food distribution.

The Lions will have their dinner meeting on Jan. 6 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Emmanuel Church of Christ in Jacksonville.

Howard Area Lions Bingo will be held on Jan. 8 and Jan. 22 at the Beech Creek Fire social hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m.

Mark your calendar for the Howard Area Lions Sweetheart Dinner that will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14. This is a free meal for local residents who are 60+ years of age that live in the Howard Area Lions servicing area. Sweetheart Raffle tickets are on sale now and will also be sold at the dinner. Contact Lion George Mochan at 814-482-0507 if you can sell some tickets before the dinner. Proceeds from the raffle are what pays the rent at the food bank headquarters in Beech Creek.

The Howard Area Lions Club membership roll is now at 103 members. Membership applications are available from any Lion. Both men and women can be members of the club. If you have a willingness to serve and help others, then consider becoming a Lion today! You don’t have to live in Howard to be a part of the group. The Lions have members living in Centre and Clinton County areas, ranging from Snow Shoe and Centre Hall all the way to Lock Haven.

UPCOMING EVENTS

— Food distribution will be on Thursday, Jan. 8, 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. Normally the food distribution is held on the first Thursday of each month, but since that would fall on the New Year’s holiday the distribution has been moved for January. Please mark your 2026 calendar accordingly. For more info call Leilani “Loni” at 814-548-7835.

— Howard United Methodist Church will also have a free food distribution on Thursday, Jan. 8, beginning at 5 p.m. at the church. Folks are asked to not begin lining up until 4 p.m. in the area of Rothrock and Spearing Streets. Please do not block drive-ways and hinder folks from getting home after work.

Once cars are released, you would make a left from Rothrock Street onto Black Street, then a right onto Grove Street and go straight to the church.

Please be patient and kind to others as the food distribution is carried out.

For more info, call Patti at 814-625-2182.

— The Light of the World Clothing Bank will be open on Friday, Jan. 9, from 2:30 to 5 p.m., at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 145 W. Linn St., Bellefonte. The clothing bank will not be open on Saturday. Please check the church website at www.bellefonteucc.com for weather cancellation updates. For more info., please contact Cathy at 814-355-4983.

SAUSAGE SALE

Faith Chapel Church is having their annual sausage sale. Sausage is sold by the 10 pound bag and is $20 per bag. The sausage is loose and is salt and pepper flavored.

Orders must be placed before Jan. 18 and can be done by calling Jay Pletcher at 570-962-2746 or Charles Day at 814-355-0784.

Pick-up will be at the church on Thursday, Feb. 5, from noon to 5 p.m., or on Friday, Feb. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SEAFOOD BUFFET

Sugar Valley Fire Company is having an all you can eat Seafood Buffet on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 3-6:30 p.m.

Boom-boom shrimp, breaded shrimp, Old Bay shrimp, lemon pepper fish, battered fish, scallops, coleslaw, stewed tomatoes, mac and cheese, fries, clam strips and chicken fingers will be on the menu. Prices are $25 for those 13 and older; $13 for children ages 6-12 and little tykes ages five and younger can eat for free.

There will be two buffet lines so not much wait time. Meals are available for dine-in or take-outs.

FIRE NEWS

— Centre Hall Fire Company will be holding their first Friday of the month Bingo tonight, Jan. 2, with a special focus on supporting Penn State THON. For every early bird purchase, $2 will be donated to Thon, and special Penn State Raffle baskets will be raffled off with all proceeds from the raffle going to Thon. Additionally, a generous anonymous donor will match, dollar for dollar, all funds raised for Thon up to $1,000!

Start 2026 off by playing Bingo at Centre Hall Fire Co and supporting Thon. Doors and the kitchen open at 5:30 p.m. and Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. Food, raffles and rip tickets will be available for your enjoyment.

— Millheim Fire Company has their gun raffle chances for sale so ask a fireman if you’re interested. 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.