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BAZAAR & EGG HUNTS
-- Howard Christian Church is having an Easter Bazaar tomorrow, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be Easter flowers, gift baskets, crafts, food and more at this bazaar. Homemade ham pot pie preordered already and can be picked up at the bazaar. Also for sale will be homemade donuts, whoopie pies and peanut butter eggs.
Proceeds from the bazaar will help the church with their local outreach in helping those in need. Call Sheri at 814-876-2910 for info.
-- Wingate Faith Church is having an Easter Egg Hunt at the church on Saturday, April 4, at 11 a.m. The egg hunt is for children ages toddler through fifth grade. Great prizes will be given away! Bring your basket or bucket to collect eggs with you! The church is located at 111 Runville Road, Bellefonte, which is behind the Sheetz store in Wingate and beside Wingate Elementary. For more info, call Janette at 814-883-0893.
-- New Hope Fellowship Church, 6436 Nittany Valley Dr., Mill Hall, will be having their Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at 11 a.m. There will be over 5,000 eggs for children of all ages to collect. There will also be food, games, face painting, Golden Egg prizes and a $50 grocery gift card giveaway. All are invited to attend!
-- Howard's Community Easter Egg Hunt will be on Saturday, April 4, at 2 p.m., at Howard Community Park. Come meet and get your photo taken with the Easter Bunny. Prizes will be awarded! Call Anita at 814-571-4160 for info.
-- Walker Township Parks & Rec Board is holding an Easter Egg Hunt for children through the 5th grade at the Walker Township Park, 816 Nittany Valley Drive, Bellefonte, on Saturday, April 4, at 1 p.m. We invite you to come out and meet the Easter Bunny and scramble for eggs. Any questions, call Leah at 814-360-3099.
-- Millheim Fire Company's Easter Egg Hunt will be on April 4 at 1 p.m. at the Millheim Pool. This egg hunt is for children ages 0-12. Peanut butter eggs will be donated by the Lingle family. The Easter Bunny will be there at 12:30 p.m.
-- The Bellefonte Community Easter Egg Hunt is on Saturday, April 4, at Talleyrand Park. The egg hunt is held rain, snow or sunshine, so bring the kiddos out for it. The egg hunt begins at 2 p.m. There are sponsors set up in the park at 1 p.m. and many are giving away free items. There are also games, crafts and refreshments. The Easter Bunny arrives at 1 p.m. and roams the park grounds with other costumed characters to greet the children.
The egg hunt is for all kids ages 12 and younger, and there is a section roped off to accommodate children who have special needs. There are 15,000 colorful eggs filled with candy and some have a coupon inside indicating that you've won a special prize at the Bunny Shack. Prizes include many donated Easter baskets, bicycles or something even better!
To donate candy, baskets or other prizes or to sign-up as a sponsor, please contact Mary McMurtrie by email at marym9109@yahoo.com or call her at 814-574-3240. To sign-up for a special needs accommodation for your child send an email to Mary's email or to egghuntbellefonte23@gmail.com
Thanks to Historic Bellefonte, Inc. and the many businesses, clubs, churches, fire companies and volunteers, the Bellefonte Community Easter Egg Hunt is free and fun for everyone!
JACKSONVILLE FESTIVAL
"Word travels fast in a small town," and sometimes it's hard to distinguish between rumors and the truth, so I wanted to help clear things up for you and ask that you take this situation seriously. Rumor has it that the festival won't happen this year, and that's not true.
The Jacksonville Festival has been held for about 100 years, and is always on the third Saturday in July. The earliest documentation that the festival committee has dates back to 1926, so this is a milestone festival celebration in 2026. The festival will happen this year, on July 18, and the evening kicks off around 5 p.m.
But... if folks don't step up and help to organize this year's festival it may not be held in 2027.
Pam Rogers has been on the festival committee for years, and each year she asks folks for help, and there aren't many who give her a definite answer or who are willing to volunteer their time. She can't do it alone, and so folks need to start planning their July 18 weekend to include helping at the Jacksonville Festival if you want this summer tradition to continue.
Pam needs to know she can count on you, that you'll attend the planning meetings that will be held in the months and weeks before the July festival, whether you'll work a few hours in a food stand or a game booth, whether you'll go weeks and days beforehand and gather supplies and prizes needed for the festival or whether you'll help with set up and clean up afterwards.
The festival is held each year to raise funds for the Jacksonville Cemetery Association's lawn maintenance and upkeep. It's a costly summer expense, but one that can't be ignored, and if the festival isn't held each year it won't be long before there's not enough money to pay to have the cemetery grounds mowed and the weeds trimmed so that it stays looking nice.
It's up to YOU to make sure the summer time Jacksonville Festival continues.
YARD SALES
Folks have been asking about the Howard town-wide yard sale dates. The community yard sale is always the first Friday and Saturday in May... so this year that would be May 1 and 2. Sometimes residents will get a jump on it and set up their yard sales on Thursday as well. Please be sure to take your yard sale signs down afterward, so that they don't blow all over town. We want to keep Howard looking beautiful!
The Howard Fire Company's Indoor Yard Sale will be on May 7-9. Donations are accepted starting on Monday, May 4.
I'll have more info as it gets closer, but for now just mark your calendar with the respective dates.
CEMETERY CLEAN-UPS
Since the weather is getting nice, it's time for clean-ups at local cemeteries, so if you can help that would be great! If you can't help, but want to keep decorations that are on grave-sites, you might want to visit the cemetery to retrieve those items before the clean-ups are held.
Schencks Cemetery Association in Howard Township, Centre County, wants to remind patrons that old and worn decorations must be removed from graves by March 28. Those wishing to keep Christmas decorations must also have them removed by that date.
Blanchard Baptist Cemetery Association clean-up will be on March 28 starting at 10 a.m. If you have any fall or winter decorations you would like to keep, please visit the cemetery and remove them.
Please refrain from placing new decorations until the respective clean-ups have been completed. If there are any new Easter/Spring decorations already placed, we will not remove them.
Blanchard Baptist Cemetery welcomes any monetary donations for the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. Please write a check with the name "Blanchard Baptist Cemetery Association" and mail it to P.O. Box 93, Mingoville, PA 16856.
SYLVAN HILLS 5K RACE
Sylvan Hills Christian Service Camp is planning their first and what is hoped to be an annual 5K Race. The Sylvan Hills 5K Race will take place on Saturday, April 18, at Bald Eagle State Park near Howard. The race will begin at 9 a.m. with check-in starting at 8 a.m.
This event is a fun way for individuals and families to get involved while supporting the camp. All proceeds go directly toward camp operations and ministry as we prepare for the 2026 summer season.
Sylvan Hills Camp is located at 175 Sylvan Hills Road, about seven miles West of Howard, in the Little Marsh Creek area. More information about the camp, their mission and upcoming events is available online at their website, www.sylvanhills.org, or on their Facebook page.
Sylvan Hills Christian Service Camp is currently welcoming both runners and sponsors for the 5K Race, and it's a great opportunity for local businesses and individuals to support the camp while gaining visibility in the community.
To register for the 5K Race, or for information about becoming a sponsor, please visit www.sylvanhills.org/5k-sponsor/ or contact Camp Administrator Liz Dechow by email at Liz@sylvanhills.org.
EASTER EGGS
The Milesburg Museum still has homemade Easter eggs for sale to raise funds for the upkeep and needs at the museum. The Easter eggs are $10 for a dozen and are available in the flavors of peanut butter, coconut and coconut with dark chocolate. The eggs are sold at the museum on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and on nice weather days in front of the Milesburg post office.
If you can't make it to the museum or miss them at the post office, you can call Don Peters at 814-404-4021 or Cheryl Sharer at 814-404-8365 and they can meet you for egg sales while supplies last.
THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who came to the Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Clubhouse last Saturday morning for their breakfast and the basket raffle that was held for Mike Neff.
The club members did a fantastic job of preparing and serving the breakfast, and there were a lot of club members who also supported the benefit raffles for Mike.
There were 50 basket prizes given away, a 50/50 raffle, an adult lottery wreath door prize and a children's Easter basket door prize, a big prize package of donated items and a pair of beautiful earrings valued at close to $300 that had also been donated to raise funds for Mike and his wife, Lori.
Congratulations to (club cook) Andy on winning the big prize package of a Blackstone griddle and the utensils for cooking with it, along with a nice fire pit, folding chairs, the marshmallow sticks and all the ingredients needed for making smores.
Special thanks goes to SVBT Club President Brad Darby, Bev Confair and Brenda Masden for all of their help with promoting the basket benefit, setting up and arranging the items and getting the items for the club's donations of a lottery ticket wreath and a children's Easter gift basket that were the two special door prizes for the event.
Brad, Bev and Brenda really go the extra mile to help make the monthly breakfast basket raffles nice for everyone involved, especially those who are being helped by the fundraisers.
Thanks again to all who donated baskets and prizes for the raffles and those who came out to support the Neff family. Mike is doing fairly well following the November liver transplant at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. His color seems to be improving (which is a good sign) and his doctors are continuing to monitor his progress to try to keep his body from rejecting his new organ while also working to stabilize his diabetic levels and medication.
UPCOMING EVENTS
-- You're invited to a Brinner at Wingate Faith Church tonight, March 27. From 4-6:30 p.m. you can enjoy a "Breakfast for Dinner" meal featuring pancakes, sausage, eggs, hashbrowns, fruit salad and drinks. Adult meals will be $12 and $6 for student's meals. Those under age six get to eat free! If you are celebrating a March birthday, then your meal is Free! (with ID confirmation!)
-- Nittany Valley Amish Benefit Dinner will be held on March 28 in Hublersburg at the Walker Township Fire Company station, 125 Firehouse Lane, Howard. This is an Amish Wedding Meal that is served from 12-7 p.m. Menu details and pricing are available on the Nittany-Valley-Benefit-Dinner Facebook page. Reservations can be made by calling Sylvia at (814) 810-7959 or Dorothy at (814) 810-8664.
-- Prayer Shawl Ministry meeting will be on Wednesday, April 1, at noon, at the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall. Come see the many projects that the needleworkers have crocheted or knitted over the past month. A light lunch is provided to all those who attend. Yarn donations are also accepted and can be dropped off at the church during the meeting.
-- Cheer Club will meet at noon on Thursday, April 2, at the Friendship Community Center in Beech Creek. Anyone age 55 and older is invited to attend. Bring a covered dish to share for the luncheon meal.
-- The Light of the World Clothing Bank will not be open in April since it would fall on Good Friday. The Clothing Bank dates for May are being adjusted to coincide with the Bellefonte Community-wide Yard Sale dates.
For questions or additional information, call the church office at 814-355-9072 or check the church website at www.bellefonteucc.com.
-- Milesburg Food Bank is open on Tuesday, April 7, from 1-3 p.m. This food distribution is held the first Tuesday of each month at the Milesburg Presbyterian Church.
-- Food distribution will be on April 9, 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 distribution is held on the first Thursday of each month, but since April 2 falls within Holy Week this year, the distribution is being moved. For more info on these food distributions, call Leilani "Loni" at 814-548-7835.
-- Howard Grange is having a Cash Bingo on Sunday, April 12, at the Howard fire hall. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Doors and the kitchen open at noon and Bingo starts at 2 p.m. Rip tickets and raffle prizes will also be available! Call Anita at 814-571-4160 for tickets or info.
-- Centre Ballroom will be sponsoring a dance on Sunday, April 12, from 2-5 p.m., at Lambert Hall in Bellefonte. The cost is $10/person. Zupe will tinkle the ivories during this dance. Those attending should bring a snack to share. For more info, text Rod at 717-543-8348.
-- Logan Grange # 109 will have a Drive-thru Soup Sale on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. until noon (or until all sold out), at the Grange Hall at 122 N. Main St., Pleasant Gap.
The soup will be $9 per quart and comes in the flavors of chicken corn noodle and stuffed pepper along with ham pot pie.
Preorders are suggested to guarantee that you get, and can be done by calling Kris at 814-360-5756, by sending a private message on their Facebook page or by sending an email to logangrange109@gmail.com. Walk-in sales will be accommodated until sold out!
-- Beech Creek Wesleyan Church will have the free Mobile Food Pantry at the church on Thursday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Anyone may come and receive food. This distribution is being administered by the New Love Center in Jersey Shore.
The food distribution will be held on the third Thursday of the month at the church, 217 Main St., Beech Creek.
-- The Penns Valley FFA and the Penns Valley Young Farmers will be hosting a Donkey Basketball game on Friday, April 24. The PV Rams will take on the Little Lions from State College. Doors at the Penns Valley High School New Gym will open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7 p.m. I'll get ticket information for you once it's provided to me.
LIONS NEWS
Howard Area Lions Food Bank dates will be on April 6 and April 20. Distribution is handled from the former Beech Creek Elementary and runs from noon until 3 p.m. Bring a sturdy box with you for food distributions. Food is given to those who reside in the Lions servicing area which includes Blanchard, Howard and the townships of Boggs, Curtin, Liberty, Marion and Walker in Centre County and Beech Creek Borough and Beech Creek Township in Clinton County.
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.
Members of the Howard Area Lions Club will meet on April 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Emmanuel Church of Christ in Jacksonville for their monthly dinner meeting.
Howard Area Lions Bingo will be held on April 9 at the Beech Creek Fire Company social hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m.
FIRE NEWS
-- Centre Hall Fire Company will have a Breakfast with the Easter Bunny tomorrow, March 28, from 8-11 a.m. Come enjoy breakfast with your family and the Easter Bunny. Meals are $8 for those 13 and older; $5 for ages 7-12 and free for the little ones. Bring your camera for photos with the Easter Bunny.
Potter Township Parks and Recreation will also be sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt during the breakfast, too! The egg hunt starts at 10 a.m. Thousands of eggs will be filled for the hunt. Bring a basket or bucket with you to gather eggs in.
-- Sugar Valley Vol. Fire Company's All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet will be on March 28, from 6:30-10 a.m., at the fire station. The meal includes pancakes, sausage, bacon and eggs, scrapple, hash browns, donuts, coffee and juice. Meals will be $14 for those 13 and older; $7 for kids 6-12 and free for those age five and under.
-- Millheim Fire Company is having a Pig Stomach and Fixin's meal on Sunday, March 29, from 4-6 p.m. (or until sold out). The meal is $15 and is available as dine-in or take out. This meal replaces the Palm Sunday Brunch that had been held in previous years.
-- Citizen's Hook and Ladder Company in Milesburg will have Wing Night on Saturday, April 4, from 5-7 p.m. This is the last scheduled Wing Night for 2026, so you won't want to miss it! Wings are $12 a dozen with side orders of fries at $4. Bone-in or boneless wings are offered in seven different flavors. Come early because they sell out fast! Proceeds benefit the fire company.
-- Millheim Fire Company has their gun raffle chances for sale. The raffle will be held on April 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food is available starting at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $10 each or 3/$20. There are 25 prizes to be won including guns, cash, a Yeti cooler, binoculars and range finders. Additional raffles are held throughout the day including a raffle for a new gun safe with three mystery guns locked inside.
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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.