4/02/08

Blossburg News & Views
By Cheryl Whitney Boinske

An organizational and planning meeting for a community garden near the green bridge, across from the fire hall, will be held Wednesday, April 2, at 6:00 pm in the library community room.

Chicken BBQ Sat April 12 10:30am In front of Holiday Market to Benefit: Siloa Lutheran Church. Cooked by Kiwanis.

The Blossburg Coal Festival Committee has decided to sponsor the fall festival event in October of 2008, a specific date yet to be determined. Blossburg VIBE is planning on having a booth, or sponsoring an activity at that festival. At the April 16th VIBE meeting we would like to start gathering ideas for this event. An environmental/recycling theme preferred. If you are interested in helping VIBE participate in the fall festival, please come to the meeting with ideas and information.

The Coal Festival is a celebration commemorating Blossburg and the surrounding area's rich mining history and the diversity of our ancestors. In 1792 coal was discovered in the Blossburg area during the building of the Williamson Road. The coal quickly became a valuable resource that brought many people to the area to work in coal mines, and many of the towns in our area were created because of the mining that took place. Although mining no longer takes place in the area, we honor our past with the annual Coal Festival. The first Coal Festival was held Memorial Day weekend in 1993, 201 years after coal was discovered in Blossburg. The event continues to be held on Memorial Day weekend each year. We invite you, your family and friends to help us celebrate.

The Coal Festival Committee will be having an Elk dinner on April 20th at the Kiwanis building at Island Park. The menu includes roasted elk, salt potatoes, vegetable, broccoli salad, rolls, beverage and dessert. Cost is $10 adults, Children under $6 Reserve your dinner by purchasing an advance ticket at the Blossburg Boro office or at First Citizens Bank.

The Coal Festival Raffle is returning this year. First prize is $250 cash. There will be many other prizes such as new tems, gift certificates & etc. I will get lists to you as we get the prizes donated. Tickets will be $1 each or 6 for $5. Winners will be drawn Sat.May 24th at 6 pm. Any individual or business wishing to donate to raffle can contact Dave @787-0488, Annette @ 638-3313 or annette@blossburgcoalfestival. org .

The Coal Festival is offering a MADE IN TIOGA COUNTY vendor area. This area is offered free of charge and is designated for local artisans and crafters to display and/or sell only items that are made in Tioga County. Please contact Kathy (570-638-0274) or Annette (570 638-3313) to see if you qualify. All other vendors are welcome to participate in the Coal festival but must fill out a regular booth application. Please contact Kathy (570-638-0274) or Annette (570 638- 3313) for more information. Any person, organization or business planning a booth, event, stand or activity in conjunction with the Coal Festival must receive approval from the committee.

REMINDERS:

A food pantry is held the third Monday each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Blossburg. For more information, contact Betty Johnson at (570) 638-2805.

T.O.P.S. (Take off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Monday at the First United Methodist Church of Blossburg. Weigh-in is at 5 p.m.

Blossburg BINGO! Every Monday bingo is held at St. Mary's Hall, 6:30 p.m.

Loretta Frost-Steffen; a Creative Memories Consultant holds scrapbooking classes every Tuesday night from 6pm to 10 pm. Call for more information: 570-404-4336

If you or your organizations have any birthdays, anniversaries, congratulations, sympathies, events, information or any questions for Blossburg News & Views, please contact Cheryl Whitney Boinske, (570) 638-3107 or news@blossburg.org.

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