It is that time of year that bow hunters have been daydreaming of and planning for all summer. Cool, crisp temperatures continue throughout the day, splashes of fall colors begin to appear in the hardwood forests, acorns are dropping, and soon, farmers will be harvesting field corn — all great indicators that the archery deer
READ MORECouncilman Charles E. Steiger declared war on Brandon Park’s bird colony last night and peppered their meeting places with “shot” in unheralded “raid.” Declaring the thousands of birds that make the park’s trees their home a “nuisance,” Mr. Steiger and two police officers swooped down on the park and fired away. Councilman Steiger went to
READ MOREOver the years, I have had the good fortune to have taken several black bears and one grizzly. The grizzly came as a bonus on a Dall sheep hunt in Alaska, and the black bear hunts took place in Pennsylvania and Idaho. Now, I was hoping to hunt for black bear where the chance of
READ MOREIt’s hard to believe, but another archery season is about to get underway, and as usual, I never feel prepared. In years past, I did a lot of pre-season scouting, but like many other hunters, it seems like our busy schedules have made sufficient scouting more difficult. Fortunately, however, a lot of us have a
READ MOREThe ever-shortening days and the cooler temperatures are clear indicators that we have finally entered the fall season. With that come the various hunting opportunities within our state. Sure, many hunters daydream about hearing a bull elk bugle across a mountain meadow in the Rocky Mountains or pursuing big game in the great state of
READ MOREIt is hard to tell at the moment what long-lasting impact an event may have. President George W. Bush did not want to impede the rescue work going on after Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, and thus flew over New Orleans rather than stopping to demonstrate his concern. Katrina haunted him till the end
READ MOREIt’s no secret that I love fishing — fishing of all kinds — with a variety of equipment, and in a variety of situations. Certainly, our local rivers, streams, and lakes are high on my priority list, but I also enjoy an afternoon on a pond from time to time. There are a number of
READ MOREThe Thomas Taber Museum at 858 West Fourth Street, Williamsport, will be filled with many beautiful flowers when the DuBoistown Garden Club holds its “Grand Slam Flower Show” there, Thursday, August 17, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday, August 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show’s title, “Grand Slam Flower
READ MORESummertime celebrations with friends, family and neighbors are a perfect way to enjoy the sunshine, warm weather and camaraderie. To satisfy a hungry crowd, though, you’ll need recipes fit for the occasion. Turn to a versatile signature ingredient like Grapes from California, which can be used in dishes of all kinds from refreshing salads and
READ MOREHoney bees are an amazing asset to our environment since they pollinate almost 90% of all wild plants and 75% of leading global crops. One out of every three mouthfuls of our food depend on pollinators such as bees, and crops that depend on pollination from bees are five times more valuable than those that
READ MOREAs promised in last week’s Weird Words round-up, here comes another baker’s dozen from the sprawling list of oddball vocab I keep for these columns. Our theme for this pair of articles has been hyphenated terms — or shall I say “two-tiered”? Or maybe “double-barreled” — if that doesn’t seem too heavy-handed … or hoity-toity.
READ MOREIt happens every spring, without fail. It has been happening for several weeks now, and if you are fortunate, you may witness this phenomenon over the next few weeks as well. It is Mother Nature’s replenishing of the species — the birth of birds and mammals throughout our fields and forests. If you have been
READ MOREAs an avid outdoorsman and a wildlife artist, I am obviously very interested in our surrounding wildlife, and I like to keep tabs on what’s happening in the wildlife community. Recently a story on the possible sightings of Ivory-billed woodpeckers caught my attention. Understand that Ivory-billed woodpeckers were never a part of Pennsylvania’s wildlife, but
READ MORESpring is a season of rejuvenation, and perhaps nowhere is that rebirth more noticeable than in the yard. Each spring, grass begins to grow again as inviting landscapes beckon people outdoors. Extra sunlight and rising temperatures make spring a great time to plant flowers, grasses, and trees. To ensure successful planting, homeowners must take steps
READ MOREIn an effort to protect wildlife habitat, the Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to spray nearly 110,000 acres of state game lands this spring. Spraying will occur on 43 different state game lands — 109,180 acres in all — and will begin as soon as leaf-out occurs and spongy moth egg masses hatch, likely in late
READ MORESpring is one of the most popular seasons of the year. After several months of chilly temperatures in many regions, spring provides a welcome reprieve from the cold. Moderate temperatures makes it much more comfortable and inviting to venture outdoors, particularly for families with children who might not adapt to the cold as well as
READ MOREThe human body is a well-oiled machine that is a wonder of biological efficiency when working properly. The body’s immune system is integral to keeping a person healthy, and it does that by recognizing foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, and then launching an attack to eradicate them. Sometimes, however, the body treats outside
READ MORESpringtime brings the return of the Pennsylvania black bear to many neighborhoods across the West Branch Valley. They are looking for a quick and easy meal, whether it be from a bird feeder, garbage can, picnic basket, or whatever they find appetizing that day. This was the case in my neighborhood last week, as there
READ MOREWe were busy getting ready for Easter. Our family was all coming over. It was the weekend before, and we were doing yard work. The normal spring clean-up and getting our plastic eggs on our front bush with our light-up bunny. (Yeah, I was a bit behind on that.) We had a big mountain stone
READ MOREIn 2022, Trinity Episcopal Pro-Cathedral (844 West Fourth Street, Williamsport) made a commitment to step outside their church walls and seek more direct ways to empower its neighbors to thrive. The church built a community garden and began a pollinator program. Non-stinging bee houses were hung outside the church, and a honeybee hive was placed
READ MOREA lush, green lawn is a point of pride for many homeowners. Eye-catching landscaping anchored by a healthy lawn is one of the key ways to improve the value and curb appeal of a home. In fact, the experts at HGTV say an attractive and well-maintained landscape can add as much as 10 percent to
READ MOREAt Rider Park Saturday, April 22 April 22 is Earth Day, an occasion to celebrate and be aware of our environment and nature. The folks at the First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania have a perfect way to celebrate Earth Day with an event at Rider Park that day. FCFP officials state that three activities will
READ MOREWhether you trout fish or not, I’m sure you have noticed good numbers of fishermen this past weekend gathered along the banks of many different streams. Pennsylvania is fortunate to have a pretty good number of streams available for trout fishing. They come in a variety of sizes, and that, in fact, is the topic
READ MOREThe nights are getting longer, and afternoons are feeling warmer. Spring is officially among us. We were so lucky this year; it really was a mild winter. Coming from someone who loves snow, I feel robbed, though. We didn’t get much of that beautiful white stuff. But, working for a fueling company and seeing oil
READ MOREWhether you are fortunate enough to be a private landowner or perhaps are a member of a hunting club, the efforts you make in habitat improvement on your acreage will benefit the native wildlife for years to come. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider doing now that will yield
READ MORESpring is certainly a favorite season for many sportsmen. Cabin fever and the winter doldrums are finally behind us, we can finally get outside, and so many things are available to explore and enjoy. Foraging for wild edible plants can begin as the daily temperatures begin to rise, the snow has melted, and spring rains
READ MORECertain homes have an undeniable wow factor. That instant appeal tends to be noticeable the moment visitors pull up to the curb, and it might be a byproduct of homeowners’ willingness to embrace the latest exterior design trends. Trends come and go, but recognition of the current fashions can help homeowners create that highly sought-after
READ MOREYour home’s first big impression is its curb appeal, so if your place is in need of some sprucing up, you may wonder how you can make some updates without breaking the bank. These 10 ideas are easy on budgets, but they can also make a big impact on your home’s exterior image. 1. Paint
READ MOREMake dependable environmental improvements When you’re considering upgrades for your home, earth-friendly enhancements that impact your energy usage are smart investments. Energy-saving home upgrades can offer long- and short-term advantages for the earth, your wallet and even your safety. Many homeowners evaluate their energy needs as they plan home improvements. There are several low-carbon, resilient
READ MORE“Double your pleasure, double your fun – with Double Mint, Double Mint, Double Mint Gum!” This popular jingle was used in years past to advertise a brand of gum that remains popular to this day. But be careful because if you remember this jingle, you may be giving away your age! But “Double your pleasure,
READ MOREMost people would agree that if you are serious about accomplishing a goal, you need a plan. This becomes even more critical when you are looking at a complex set of goals, and time and money may be limited. Such just might be the case if you are a landowner, a member of a hunting
READ MOREI’d be the first to admit that I am not an avid bird watcher; don’t misunderstand, I enjoy seeing and identifying all the different birds, but I am not a serious, dedicated bird watcher like some people I know. While I may not keep a check-off list of the birds I spot each year, as
READ MORESpring is a season of renewal. When the flowers are blooming and the trees are budding and the weather is pleasantly warm, people often feel inspired to make changes around their homes. Work may begin with culling belongings and organizing essentials. There is debate regarding where the practice of “spring cleaning” originated. Some researchers link
READ MORE