If you have any home improvement projects or any other projects that might spruce up your home, or even if you don’t, the place to be this weekend will be at the Keiper Recreation Center on the campus of Lycoming College. That’s right; it’s once again time for the 59th Annual West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association Home Show, which will be held March 16 to 18.

For 59 years, the West Branch Susquehanna Builders Home Show has become one of the area’s most highly anticipated events for both businesses and consumers alike. Its success has tagged it as one of the most successful home shows in the region. Exhibitors come from all over Central Pennsylvania and the Northern Tier, even as far away as Harrisburg and Altoona.

Vendors will have the opportunity to showcase their business services and products to a captive audience of thousands of attendees that would normally take months or years to reach. Attendees find a wealth of information, products, services, and creative ideas all in one place, drawing inspiration and opportunities from unexpected places. This year the Association expects to host over 150 exhibitors, all of whom are ready to answer any questions and help bring life to your ideas. Admission is still only $5 for adults or $4 with a canned food item. Children 12 and under are admitted free. The donated canned goods will be used to fill a “House of Cans,” made by the construction students from W.A.H.S. Food donations will be given to the Central PA Food Bank.

Attendees will discover the best deals from over 150 exhibitors, including:

• Custom, Log, and Manufactured Home Builders
• Architecture and Design Services
• Ponds and Waterscapes
• Remodelers
• Home Entertainment
• Appliances
• Decks, Doors, Windows, Gutters
• Realtors
• Banks, Investment, and Mortgage Companies
• Garages, Garage Doors
• Kitchen and Bath Professionals
• Gas and Electric Utilities
• Carpet and Flooring
• Heating and Air Conditioning
• Waterproofing
• Concrete
• Landscaping
• Fencing
• Security and Fire Alarm Systems
• And much more!

Gary Hilfiger, a wood carver from Troy, will be outside demonstrating his talent using a chainsaw to create sculptures from logs.

Bonnie Hilfiger will be painting in the Rec Center lobby.

The woodcarvings and paintings will be auctioned off to benefit the WAHS Student Chapter.

The WBSBA would like to thank the representatives from two student chapters in the Construction Trades.
Williamsport Area High School Construction Trades students will showcase their “House of Cans” filled with canned food items donated by the community.

Penn College Construction Association students will be on hand to oversee the, always popular, Treasure Chest. Each person attending the Show is given a key to try their luck opening the chest to win a prize.

There will also be three (3) grand prizes, each totaling $750, given to one lucky attendee at the end of each evening. The winners will each receive a gift certificate for $750 for goods or services from the exhibitor of their choice. Other prize drawings from individual exhibitors occur throughout the Home Show.

Chef Hosch will be providing food this year. Please visit the concession area, located on the second floor, or the food truck out front, to enjoy delicious refreshments, soups, sandwiches, desserts, and more. Fresh, hot Mountainside coffee will be served for free all weekend, thanks to Millville Mutual Insurance.

The West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association would like to thank these companies for their generous support of the 2018 Home Show. Artisan Hearing Technologies, Covenant Builders, East End Lumber Co., Jody Harlan, Weichert Realtors Premier, Lori A Moore, CPA, Millville Mutual Insurance, R&R Seamless Gutters, LLC., Sechrist Construction and Remodeling, Inc., Susquehanna Builders, The Hartman Agency, and Wolyniec Construction.

One sad note about this year’s show is the sudden and untimely death of Ray Venema, who has been one of the backbones of the WBSBA and its Home Show for many years.

Ray was active in the home building industry for more than 40 years, and most recently served as the Pennsylvania Builders Association’s NAHB State Representative for several years. Ray served as PBA president in 2011 and never ceased contributing to the association’s activities. He was a longtime member of the West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association, which he served as president, vice president, life director, personnel committee chair, and PaCAH trustee.

PBA named Ray as its Builder of the Year in 2016. Ray’s home association, West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association, had similarly recognized Ray for his contributions by naming him their Builder of the Year in both 2004 and 2008. In addition, Ray was active on the Board of the National Association of Home Builders and the Executive Committee where he was a strong advocate for PBA. Ray was the owner of Susquehanna Builders Inc. in Montoursville.

The “Ray Venema Scholarship Fund” has been established by the West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association. More details to come on contribution opportunities.