by: Dave Ruckle
Additional thanks to BJ Teichman, current airport coordinator

The birth of the Bloomsburg airport, like so many innovations in the 1920s, was born out of necessity. Even though no airport existed in Bloomsburg at the time, the first commercial flight for business purposes here was made on March 17, 1929 when two Philadelphia carpet designers landed in a farm field to meet with executives from the Magee Carpet Company. After concluding business, the pair were back in the air for a one-hour flight home to Philly. Clearly, a transaction that could have taken days was accomplished within a few hours thanks to aviation. It was obvious to an enterprising Harry Magee that an airport would be an economic benefit to the town of Bloomsburg.

In the 89 years since, the Bloomsburg airport has proven time and again to be an asset not just to the town but to communities far and wide as well as the nation. Since space does not allow for a detailed accounting of all the historical facts about the airport, this brief review will highlight the most significant historical points.

The Golden Age of Aviation

The Golden Age of Aviation is predominantly ear marked by the transatlantic flight of Charles Lindberg and the historical aviation feats of Amelia Earhart.

In the fall of 1929, like-minded, aviation proponents like Harry Magee began developing plans to construct an airport in Bloomsburg. By the summer of 1931, after making extensive test landings, Magee formed the Bloomsburg Flying Club along with seven other prominent, aviation enthusiasts, mostly members of the Rotary Club. These two organizations along with the support of the Morning Press (today’s Press-Enterprise newspaper) led the drive to build an airport.

The Bloomsburg airport, at its present location, opened in April 1932. More than 6,000 enthusiastic, aviation-minded and curious spectators toured the new airport during its first week of operation. For a dollar, the Bloomsburg Flying Club treated hundreds of first-time flyers to sightseeing rides; weekend spectators were captivated watching parachute jumping and airplanes making continuous daylong take offs and landings.

Charter flights were also available to nearby cities, such as Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport. The Bloomsburg Flying Club, organized under the name Columbia Airways, began expanded charter service to New York City and Pittsburgh in 1934.

In 1937, Harry Magee was appointed by Governor George H. Earl III to the newly formed State Aviation Council. Sadly, in 1938, Magee closed the airport, sighting the increasing competition from municipally owned airfields whose operating expenses, especially insurance costs, were much lower than for a privately owned airport like Bloomsburg. Town council president, Nathan Krauss, not wanting to see the airport shut down, officially declared the town’s interest in retaining the airport.

The War Years

At the same time, Harvey Andruss of Bloomsburg State Teachers College, sensing that war was on the horizon, organized the Civil Aeronautics Authority’s Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPT) as part of the school’s curriculum. Working with Magee and the college, the Town Council entered an agreement to lease the airport with the option to purchase it at a later date.

Soon after, the town subleased the airport to Sam Bigony. Bigony, along with the State Teachers College, held a CPT contract to train civilians for later placement in navy and army flying programs. Over one hundred students took ground school classes at the college and flight training at the airport.

With the increasing need for more officers and pilots because of World War II, the college initiated two very significant aviation courses; the Navy V-5 which trained over 500 aviation cadets between 1943 and 1944, and the Navy-12 program, which from July 1943 to October 1945, trained more than 500 officer candidates.

These programs proved vital to Bloomsburg’s war time economic health, pumping $2 million a year into the community and helping keep the college open during a time when many colleges were closed for the lack of students.

In 1942, Fred Vietig, an ex-Army Air Corp member becomes owner of Columbia Aircraft Services (CAS), a repair shop that was established in the 30s. CAS also offers charter flights. Vietig became a sales agent for Piper Cub and Republic Seabee Aircraft Company.

World War II in Europe ended on May 7, 1945 with the surrender of Nazi Germany and the next day, May 8, 1945, the town of Bloomsburg purchased the airport from Harry Magee.

During the early post-war years, Andy Perugino, a former Army Air Corp flight instructor, succeeds Howard Ailor to become the new manager at the Bloomsburg airport and continued to promote private, commercial and instrument flight training to countless civilian student pilots under the provisions of the GI Bill.

General Aviation Soars Again

Along with an existing Civil Air Patrol squadron, the 9548th. Volunteer Reserve Air Training Squadron was established in Bloomsburg in 1949.

In 1957, the Bloomsburg airport celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. The current Bloomsburg Flying Club was founded in 1964 as the Parlor City Flying Club by a group of local gentlemen who wanted to foster an interest in general aviation and make flying affordable. Those first meetings were held nearby at the old Parlor City Café and it became the club’s namesake. The original Bloomsburg Flying Club was founded in 1931.

The runway was paved in 1965. Prior to that it was a multi-directional grass strip and in the 1940s the runway was lit with lanterns for night landings.By the 60s, both a need and a desire brought several aircraft owners together to construct a six bay T-hangar just east of the airport terminal building.

Over the years, numerous “Bloomsburg Airport Bums,” pilots that earned their wings at the Bloomsburg airport or called N13 home, moved on to become professional pilots. Names that have become almost legendary among the ranks of N13 pilots are Bruce Beckner who flew for Northwest Airlines, Orey Garin a WWII pilot that flew for American Airlines, Jim McCutchin, a corporate pilot for Loomis Insurance Company, Lou Defacio with Continental Airlines, Dave Briner a pilot for U.S. Airways, Rich Laubach who flew for NetJet, and Dick Sharrow, an instructor who long ago lost count of the hours he has flown and the number of pilots he taught to fly.

On average, per year, from 1966 through 1983, Columbia Aircraft Services overhauled 150 GO-480 engines used by the U.S. Army in Queen Airs, Helo Curriers, Twin Beechcraft and Bonanza D-50s. In that same 17- year period, CAS employed 22 personnel, working a two-shift day.

Columbia Aircraft Services also had contracts with Lycoming and Continental Engine Companies, overhauling alternators, magnetos and carburetors, averaging 150 starters per month. Through the 1960s and 70s, CAS also had civilian contracts, overhauling engines for companies like Henry Webber Aviation, Mid-West Aircraft Company in Ohio, Dulles Aviation in Washington D.C., Ag-Rotors and Helicopter Aviators and Middlesex Helicopter Company of New Jersey.

The Bloomsburg airport was also a Seaplane base until 1972. Planes would land on the Susquehanna River and tie-up at mooring alongside the concrete boat house, built by Harry Magee in 1932 that still stands today.

During the Agnes Flood in 1972, 52 Army engine containers washed downstream. The farthest made it to the Chesapeake Bay, meaning it went over the Conawingo Damn. Columbia Aircraft recovered every container.

On the subject of floods, there have been a total of 28 floods in Bloomsburg since records started in 1850. Since the Bloomsburg airport opened in 1932 there have been 23 in excess of flood stage at 19 feet. The first one to affect the airport was March 20, 1936 at 27.8 feet. The most severe occurred on June 5, 1972 (31.2’); June 28, 2006 (28.64’) and September 9, 2011 (32.75’) respectively. Most floods were considered minor or moderate with many not affecting the airport operations.

Columbia Aircraft Services Shines

In 1978, Mobil Oil Company selected Columbia Aircraft Service’s engine test cell to perform a required 500-hour continuous engine run for the approval of one of its engine oils used in airplanes. Columbia is only one of a handful of approved engine repair stations on the east coast that has an FAA approved aircraft engine test cell.

Bill Bartsler, who started working at Columbia Aircraft Services at age 16 in 1949, took over ownership in 1979, retiring in 1991. Shirley Brobst, who started working at a Columbia Aircraft as a secretary in June of 1966, and Scott Smith, who started as an aircraft mechanic in January 1967, takes over as co-owners in 1991. With the retirement of Scott Smith in 2008, Karl George partners with Shirley Brobst as co-owner of Columbia Aircraft. Then in April 2013 George and Brobst sell their interest in CAS to Kelly Green.

October 2015 saw a major overhauling of the Columbia Aircraft facilities from the maintenance shops to a completely remodeled office complex. Today, Columbia Aircraft Services is a global entity, receiving and shipping engines and magnetos from as far away as Germany, England, Italy, Norway, South and Central Americas, Africa, Thailand (Royal Air Force) and Mexico.

Convenient to Bloomsburg University, an unknown number of parents over the years have utilized the airport to bring and pick up their sons and daughters who are students at the school. Over the years, the Bloomsburg Fair has also benefited from the airport as numerous high-profile entertainers took advantage of flying into town to perform at the annual event. Some of the performers included Roy Clark, Pat Benatar, Mickey Gilley, John Denver, Sawyer Brown and bands Alabama and Chicago. Other notables that have traveled to the Bloomsburg airport include former Congressman Dan Flood, Senator John Heinz and golf legend Arnold Palmer.

Once again, the increased business use of the Bloomsburg airport created a demand for corporate hangar space. Addressing the need in 1987, Gary Hock, once local owner of Hock Construction Company and a corporate jet, erected “Big Blue,” a two-story business hangar equipped with an office, second story storage space, restroom and kitchen.

Soon after Big Blue, Stanley Oberender built a scaled down corporate hangar for his business use Bonanza. This hangar was later acquired by Sunny Hills Farms for its plane. And, although he recently sold his RV 8, Chris Mazzitti still hangars a meticulously maintain Cessna 140 in this eastern most building at the airport.

As Harry Magee imagined long ago, many companies both local and nationwide have benefited from the Bloomsburg airport. Here’s just a short list of those that have used N13 over nearly nine decades: Region Oil Company, Royal Swan Foods, Catawissa Lumber Company, JDK Management, Gary Hock Construction, Kama Corporation, Labar Trucking, Bercon Industries of Berwick, Custom Air Charters, A-1 Air Services, Rovac Pump Company, Multi Engine Charter Services, Orangeville Manufacturing, Alaska Wood Stoves Company, Laubach Trucking Company, Ray Hoffman Charter Services, Wise Potato Chips, Hayes, Large, Suckling, Fruth and Wedge Architects, Howard Eckhart Insurance Company, Inducto-Therm, Eyeland and Associates, Pennsylvania State Police, Kimball & Associates, Kawneer, Geisinger Medical Center, Helicopter Applicators, Golden Aviation, Penn Aviation, Triple-F Agricultural Spray Applicators, Emery & Associates, Commercial Construction, Sunny Hill Farms, Hilltop Services, Ag-Rotors Aerial Power Line Inspectors, JLink, Lincoln Investment Planning, Chris Cross Crusades, Paws and Pilots, Press Enterprise, Resilite, Complete Control Systems, Wonderview Water and Sewer Company, Delta Consultants, and Angel Flights.

The summer of 2006 saw a presentation made at the Bloomsburg airport of the most prestigious award the FAA issues to a private pilot, the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. Donald Brink qualified having over 50 years as a certified pilot recognized for exhibiting professionalism, skill and aviation expertise piloting aircraft.

In July 2007, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Bloomsburg airport, Pennsylvania Senator John Gordner and State Representative David Millard each presented from their respective governing body citations to earmark the milestone. On August 6, 2008, Joe Reilly, owner and president of WHLM radio conducted his station’s first ever live broadcast from a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Billed as “On the air in the Air,” Joe teamed up with Golden Aviation instructor Dick Sharrow on a sightseeing tour of Bloomsburg and the immediate area from 3,000 feet. At one-point Joe proclaimed, “Bloomsburg can boast of having the Bloomsburg Fair, the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, Bloomsburg University and a Norman Rockwell downtown, but let’s add to that list the Bloomsburg airport, rich in history and community potential.”

Prosperity at the Airport

As activity and the number of planes at N13 continued to grow, the demand for hangar space remained strong too. To answer the call, John Yohey and Dave Ruckle teamed up in the summer of 2008 to construct a 10- bay hangar with individually partitioned units complete with concrete floors throughout, electric hoist bi-fold doors, interior and exterior lighting and multiple outdoor water faucets. It also included a heated and completely finished pilot lounge. Father and son, Roland and Ryan Sharrow of R.L. Sharrow & Associates constructed the new, fully equipped facility.

The long-awaited re-alignment and lengthening of the runway was completed in 2013. Going from 2,800 to 3,200 feet x 60 ft., the runway elevation was also increased to be above flood level and the headings were changed from 8 and 26 to 9 and 27.

For many years, in addition to operating an aircraft engine repair shop, Columbia Aircraft Services also served as the FBO for the Bloomsburg airport. It was decided, however, following the 2011 flood and the renegotiation of their lease with the town, CAS wanted to focus more on their business. On October 4, 2016, BJ Teichman was named the town’s first official Airport Coordinator at N13.

After years of repeated flood damage and deterioration, the old airport terminal building was demolished and replaced with a modern building constructed well above the highest flood levels. It opened on November 21, 2016 featuring a pilot’s lounge for flight planning, simulator room, kitchenette, and conference room complete with built in projector and WiFi. Frequently the conference room is rented by businesses and community organizations. With 6 movable tables, the room can be arranged in any fashion to meet the needs of its guests.

On December 5, 2018, BJ Teichman was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to serve a three-year term on the State Aviation Advisory Board. That same year, BJ was appointed to the Board of Directors for the State Aviation Council of Pennsylvania. And, in October 2019, she joined the Columbia County Emergency Management Committee where she drafted the first emergency response plan specifically for the Bloomsburg airport.

In addition to her unwavering drive to make Bloomsburg the best general aviation airport in Pennsylvania, BJ introduced everyone to Ms. Peyton, a friendly, tail-wagging Golden Retriever that quickly became known as the airport’s first official greeter. In just four short years on the job, BJ built a team of equally enthusiastic aviators and airport supporters that has shined an aviation spotlight on the Bloomsburg airport. Here is a partial list of those achievements:

• Teams up annually with the FAA to schedule and conduct FAAST Team workshops and safety seminars at the airport that qualify for insurance credits with the Wings Program. BJ and N13 become an FAA Service Provider.
• Coordinates the annual Dream Machine car show at the Bloomsburg airport held each year on the second Sunday in June.
• Facilitates the annual Community Day event conducted at the airport co-sponsored with the Scouts of America.
• Started the first monthly newsletter to post and promote airport events. Circulation reaches over 900 subscribers in multiple states as well as throughout the region.
• N13 hosts the increasingly popular annual Chili Cook Off, with an open invitation to enter the contest and for the public and pilots throughout the region to fly-in or drive-in and judge each year’s entries.
• May 2018 – The airport obtained its first courtesy car thanks to the generosity of Dan Broadt and the Bloom Flyers.
• Negotiated with the town to relocate the Bloom Fliers Red Bird TD-2 Flight Simulator in the Terminal Building to enhance the group’s membership and simulator usage.
• Instrumental in getting Civil Air Patrol Squadron #522 re-established at the Bloomsburg airport where they have already received the Outstanding Achievement in promoting Aerospace Education, the PA Wing Phoenix Award in 2020 and the Outstanding Achievement and Service Award for a PA Wing.
• Co-facilitated establishing both an Aviation Explorer Post with George Dalius and a new EAA Chapter 1641 with Dr. Phil Polstra, at N13 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. EAA Chapter 1641 received it’s 501C# status enabling it to establish scholarships for young aviation enthusiasts.
• Spearheaded outreach education hosting numerous field trips at N13 and attending Career Fairs at multiple School Campuses. Partnered with Dr. Kim Bolig at Bloomsburg University to host STEM programs for both teachers and students. BJ supervises summer interns and accepts work study students for class credit.
• Continuously communicates via NOTAMs and emails with the aviation community about conditions and situations at the airport to ensure the safe operation of the facility. Has given multiple presentations locally and statewide promoting N13.
• Provides the critical coordination of Avgas purchases, deliveries and the continuous monitoring of its quality as evidenced by becoming a Branded Phillips 66 customer for everyone based at N13 as well as all transient pilots. In addition to becoming a Branded Phillips 66 customer, for the first time, credit cards are now accepted for fuel and other airport related fees.

The Recent Years

A sure sign that airport activity is thriving is the participation of its pilot population in attending fly outs and the fly-in events they host. The 2000s saw a hectic schedule of annual fly-ins at Bloomsburg. Although the griddles were well manned at all times, the head pancake flippers were the father/son combo of Stan and Ty Williams. Equally notable, most all fly-outs were commanded by Colonel Denny Stahl, a rank given him for the take charge skills he exhibited.

2016 brought the first Gyro-copter to N13 – 914RB owned by Ron Andress. Ron has graciously given countless pro-bono rides, always culminating in a completely satisfied customer. He averages about 300 hours of flight time annually.

2017 Brought one of our first celebrity flight students, 11-year NASA veteran mechanical engineer Ms. Grier Wilt. One of Grier’s many responsibilities at NASA was preparing astronauts to safely perform their spacewalks by instructing them in the buoyancy lab. Grier completed her private pilot in 20 days! – then she went on to become the Deputy Director of NASA Space program in Star City Russia. She remains a member of the Bloomsburg Flying Club and the airport is always happy to see her when she returns home for a visit.

Supporting the tremendous interest in learning to fly is a host of flight instructors at the Bloomsburg airport, including Rob Staib, CFII; Hans Lawrence, CFII/ MEI/ RI; Eric Cipcic, CFI and Phil Polstra CFII, recipient on March 19, 2019 of the “2019 Flight Instructor of the Year Award” for the FAA Harrisburg District.

In 2020, thanks to Steve Savage, of Northeastern Technology, WiFi became available in the Town’s hangars, making it possible to safely remotely engage the block engine heaters in the winter which saves on electrical costs and is better for the aircraft engines. Thank you, Steve!

Throughout the spring and summer of 2020, a much-needed reconstruction of the airport apron was completed.

As of January 2021, the Bloomsburg Flying Club is busting at the seams, maxing the number of members allowed by its by-laws with more than a half dozen on its’ waiting list. That’s not a bad thing. It’s just an indicator that aviation is alive and well at the Bloomsburg airport. Even during a period when Covid-19 has brought a lot of activities to a near screeching halt, between the two club planes, almost 700 hours were logged in 2020.

Get in Touch

For more information about the Bloomsburg Flying Club, the Bloomsburg EAA #1641 Chapter, the Bloomsburg Civil Air Patrol Squadron and the Aviation Explorer Post, simply visit the airport’s website and click on each organization’s sub-tab under the main “About Us” tab.

In the End

Time is like rust, it has a tendency to fade memories, including historical facts unless someone records them and there are people passionate about keeping them alive. The Bloomsburg airport has a rich history that has created a heritage well worth preserving. It’s the hope of many today that eighty-nine years from now time has only added more memories and that they, too, will be recorded in some way they can be recalled by those with the same passion for the Bloomsburg airport then that we feel today.

Note from the airport: We would like to acknowledge, and thank, the Press Enterprise Newspaper for granting us permission to use the newspaper photographs which appear in this History of the Bloomsburg airport. We would also like to thank the Enterprise’s many skilled photographers and talented journalists who contributed to these photos and articles.

Additional Photos

by Nancy Bishop

Forsythia is blooming. Daffodils are everywhere. Trees are starting to bud. Dandelions are appearing. It’s finally Spring! Is it time to eat outdoors again?

• 

• 

• 

Yes! And there are some great restaurants in Columbia and Montour counties where you can enjoy the outdoors and get a great meal. Here are a few.

Quaker Steak & Lube

Over in Bloomsburg, there’s outdoor dining on the patio at Quaker Steak & Lube on Columbia Mall Drive at the Buckhorn exit off Interstate 80. Opened in June 2006, Quaker Steak & Lube boasts about having the best wings in Columbia County with more than 25 different wing sauces to try. One of my favorites is Garlic Parmesan — Parmesan, roasted garlic and creamy buttermilk.

But there’s much more than wings to enjoy at Quaker Steak & Lube. Whether you’re in the mood for a salad, a steak dinner or a hamburger you’ll find it on the menu. Try their signature Lubeburger with its sautéed mushrooms, smoky bacon, American cheese, hot sauce, shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion and dill pickle slices with blue cheese dip on the side. It’s a mouthful!

Quaker Steak & Lube is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Westover’s Country Grill

Even though the pandemic has made it challenging for restaurant owners nationwide, Sharon and Keith Westover took a gamble and went ahead and opened a new one in Benton in 2020. Head up to Westover’s Country Grill on Route 487 in northern Columbia County across the road from Country Fresh Market. You’ll be glad you did. And if you’re a fisherman, you can combine it with casting a line in Fishing Creek. An early morning fishing expedition near the Camp Lavigne bridge and then lunch at Westover’s maybe? Or, if you’re a golfer, Mill Race Golf Course is just up the road.

Although their new all-weather deck is under construction and won’t be open until early May, Sharon Westover says when it’s done, it will feature an outdoor fireplace, fans for the warm weather and heaters for the cooler weather as well as drop down clear sides to keep all the weather outside when necessary. Meanwhile, there’s a spacious indoor dining room and the restaurant does takeout. The food is homemade using fresh, local ingredients.

On a recent visit I had to try the homemade Strawberry Lemonade and it was every bit as good as it looked. Lots of fresh strawberry flavor with a bit of tartness from the lemonade made a delicious and refreshing drink. I also had to try their fresh cut sweet potato fries. Yummy.

Their large menu has everything from burgers, salads and sandwiches to steaks and pasta. Daily specials when I visited included Pork Tenderloin and Cajun Pasta with chicken or shrimp. If dessert is your favorite part of any meal, you’ll want to try their cream cakes – a choice of Boston Cream, Lemon Cream or Banana Cream or their sundaes – a choice of Hot Fudge, Brownie or Hot Caramel. Oh, and there’s pie, too. A choice of peach or wildberry the day I visited.

Westovers opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Nickle Plate Bar & Grill

You’re in luck if you’re over in Elysburg and want to eat outside. The Nickle Plate Bar & Grill at Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Course has its outside patio open and waiting for you.

Sitting on the patio with its view of the golf course enjoying great food (and maybe one of the specialty drinks from their bar) is like the best picnic ever without having to make the food yourself. It’s a favorite destination when my out-of-state kids and their families visit.

Located on Route 487 in Elysburg, Nickle Plate has some new items on its menu this Spring, including one you’ll enjoy if you’re a kid at heart – the PB&J Burger with a toasted bun spread with crunchy peanut butter and spicy blackberry jelly on top of a burger with bacon and American cheese. Or maybe the kid in you will want one of their four different varieties of Mac & Cheese like the Wilbur featuring pulled pork in a bourbon barbeque sauce. There’s even a drink for the kid in you who remembers drinking Shirley Temples at restaurants growing up like I do. Only the Nickle Plate’s “Dirty Shirley” drink has vodka, Sierra Mist and grenadine.

But there’s something on the menu for everyone from appetizers like onion rings that my grandchildren love or the new-this-Spring pierogies in your choice of one of their wing sauces, to sandwiches, salads, street tacos and chicken, shrimp or fish baskets.

If you’re pretty good at a game of Trivia, Nickle Plate has Thursday Trivia Nights from 7 to 9 p.m. so grab some friends and reserve a table!

Nickle Plate is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Sunday. Thursday to Saturday it’s open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

LT Evans Eatery & Drafthouse

Over in Danville, the patio is open at LT Evans Eatery & Drafthouse. Whether you’re in the mood for a burger, a prime rib dinner, a salad or pasta, you’ll find it at LT Evans. And through April 21, mac & cheese lovers can indulge in a variety during “Mac & Cheese Fest.” Choose from options like Mac & Cheese “Tatchos” (tater tot nachos) or Blackened Salmon Mac & Cheese, Loaded Mac & Cheese Fries, Mac & Cheese-filled potato skins and a Mac & Cheese burger.

Feeling a little crabby? Try their Cajun crab-stuffed haddock sandwich. It’s their homemade crab cake between two broiled haddock fillets dredged in Cajun seasonings with lettuce and tomato on a roll. Or their Claw Crab Dip for an appetizer.

Just looking for a good salad? There’s the “Bleu Bayou” – a choice of grilled chicken or shrimp with bleu cheese crumbles, apples, dried cranberries and pecans over fresh greens.

LT Evans is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday for in-house dining and takeout as well as the patio. Bar seating is also available. Reservations are suggested. Call 570-275-1310.

Big Dan’s BBQ at Rohrbach’s Farm

If you’ve been waiting all winter for barbecue from Big Dan’s BBQ to open for the season, your wait is almost over. They expect to open at Rohrbach’s Farm Market, 240 Southern Dr., Catawissa, on Friday, April 23.

Big Dan’s offers ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken slow-smoked over apple wood for smokey flavor and tender meat that melts in your mouth.

This year, Big Dan’s will be opening in their newly renovated barn loft at Rohrbach’s. Originally, the Barn Loft was a storage area for tractors and straw so it’s a real piece of history.

Now it’s time to get out and visit one of these great restaurants, or another one of the many fantastic local options in the area!

The past year has been difficult for our area’s restaurants. This week please consider visiting one of your favorites or one you’ve always wanted to try. Choose one with outdoor dining if you’re still reluctant to eat inside. You’ll be glad you did. And you won’t have to clean your kitchen at home!

by Nancy Bishop

After what seems like a very long winter this year, the recent warm weather has brought signs of Spring to our area. And it’s time to start planning – if not planting – that garden.

But April can be a changeable month in Northeastern Pennsylvania with some of the worst snowstorms. Remember April 20, 1983, when more than a foot of snow fell in the area? Pennsylvania even has a name for those April snowstorms. “Onion snow” is a term first used by the Pennsylvania Dutch for a snow that falls after the onions have been planted in spring and are beginning to sprout. It’s generally a light snow that melts quickly.

So although the daffodils and tulips are coming up and the forsythia is thinking about blooming, you may want to limit your outdoor gardening until later in the month. But you can always start seeds indoors to transplant later, or get out and clean up the yard, the flower beds and the vegetable garden. But be prepared to cover any plants you do put outside if there’s frost in the forecast.

Here in Columbia and Montour Counties, we’re lucky to have the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners Program if you need advice on planting a garden. They have several upcoming programs available online in their webinar series called Garden Hotline Live!

On Friday, April 9, from noon to 1 p.m. the Spring Edition addresses questions about planting and growing. You’ll need to register for the program on the website by 11 a.m. on the day of the program.

Or if you’re like me and need more than an hour’s worth of instruction because you weren’t born with a green thumb, there’s an online Home Gardeners School on Saturday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. with a program cost of $10. This year’s program has a series of virtual lectures presented by local horticultural experts on gardening with deer, managing invasive plants on your property, creating a welcoming habitat for hummingbirds, and designing a garden with four seasons of color. Registration deadline is 9 a.m. on April 17. You won’t want to miss this informative, multi-hour session if you’re aspiring for bigger gardening or landscaping goals on your property this year!

Other upcoming programs include:

Vegetable Gardening on a Budget: Wednesday, April 7, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM

A Guide to Growing a Cutting Garden: Wednesday, April 14, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM

Vegetable Garden Basics: Thursday, April 15, from 7 to 8 PM

The Master Gardeners of Columbia County, Montour County and Northumberland County also are sharing their expertise in a column in the Press Enterprise. The March 28th column on growing horseradish brought back memories of visiting my father-in-law one Easter in the late ‘70s. He had grown his own horseradish and couldn’t wait to share it with us on Easter. So, on Saturday when I walked into the kitchen, he was there grinding up the horseradish. As the Master Gardener warned in the column titled “Horseradish is a perennial to cry about,” the aroma is intense. My eyes immediately started watering and I was coughing so hard I had trouble catching my breath as I ran out of the room. But, tamed with some vinegar overnight, it tasted very good at Easter Sunday breakfast!

Garden Small

Love fresh-picked veggies but don’t have the time, energy or space for maintaining a full-size vegetable garden? Think about a “garden” on your deck like I have. My favorite summer lunch is a fresh-picked tomato with fresh basil, mozzarella cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. So, on my deck I grow tomatoes and basil in flowerpots.

Other herbs also take to pot gardening. Try rosemary, sage, thyme or oregano. The best part is that I bring in the basil pot in the winter and it thrives in the sunny spot by my sink next to the kitchen window. Then I have fresh basil all year-round.

Need supplies for your garden? Try one of the many local gardening shops. Nescopeck Agway has a large assortment of pots if you want to try a deck garden.

Over in Bloomsburg, Seesholtz Garden Center will have a pre-season opening on April 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check out the great variety of plants, especially herbs, already started for you. The Center will open for the regular season on April 24.

At Scott’s Floral, Gift, and Greenhouse on Northumberland Street in Danville, you can find a variety of green and flowering plants, dish gardens, hanging baskets and containers. Scott’s also boasts a wonderful selection of floral arrangements.

Let a Landscaper Do the Work

Would you love to have a beautiful garden, but you have no idea how to even start? Consider consulting a landscaper.

Stoney Acres in Benton offers services from design to installation and maintenance. They even offer a free guide to saving money on landscaping that you can download from their website. Check out their blog on spring cleaning your yard for some great tips for things you can do this month to get ready for planting when the weather is consistently warm.

Stoney Acres is open by appointment. Call 570-925-6826 and get your gardening plans in place.

If you’d like to support a local business that’s owned by military veterans, check out American Veterans Lawn Care, LLC. They can do a spring cleanup for your yard and garden or give you a whole new landscaping design.

What are you waiting for? Even though the weather forecast says April Fool’s Day is going to bring that Onion Snow, it’s time to start gardening!

Bonus: Floral Arrangements

If you’re searching for more seasonal floral arrangements, you’ve got several good options in Bloomsburg. Cerridwens Gardens, located at 330 East 5th Street, has a wide variety of seasonal bouquets and arrangements. Another option in Bloomsburg is Pretty Petals & Gifts by Susan, located at 158 East 9th Street. Pretty Petals offers unique, custom designed flower arrangements for all occasions. Their store hours are 10 AM – 4 PM (Monday thru Friday) and 10 AM – 1 PM (Saturday). You can also do some shopping on their website and place a delivery order for Bloomsburg and the surrounding area.

In nearby Berwick, you’ll find Berwick Floral on West Second Street in the Shoppes at Woodin Place, and in Benton, Fishing Creek Floral is located in the Winding Creek Shops complex at 4378 Red Rock Road, just north of town. The floral shop makes gorgeous floral arrangements for all occasions, including birthdays and holidays. Stop in if you’re searching for an Easter bouquet or a Mother’s Day basket for mom!

from the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal‘s 2021 Top 25 Women in Business

Kelly O’Brien, the Executive Director of the Berwick Industrial Development Association (B.I.D.A.), was recently named to the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Top 25 Women in Business.

Name: Kelly O’Brien
Title: Executive Director
Company: Berwick Industrial Development Association
Address: 107 S. Market Street, Berwick

“No matter what you are doing – do your best, and have fun”, is the advice that Kelly O’Brien, executive director of the Berwick Industrial Development Association (B.I.D.A.), offers when it comes to achieving success in one’s life. “If you are not having fun then something is not right,” she adds.

The businesswoman oversees the marketing and management of BIDA’s industrial assets, real property, and staff. In the economic development aspect, she works with businesses to provide access to resources and to provide business consulting services. She assists with start-up and growth planning for new and existing business; coordinates efforts and facilitates for educational institutions and medical providers for program development and partnerships; and develops and implements programs and services to improve workforce opportunities in conjunction with state agencies and other economic development partners.

O’Brien created and launched BIDA’s vocational scholarship program for students of the Berwick Area School District that are going into a vocation at a post-secondary training or higher education institution, which is going into its third year.

Enjoying her grandchildren at present, her active volunteering energy has been redirected, but O’Brien has served as a school board member in the Benton Area School District; former founder and member of Benton Town Watch; and a member of the Democratic committee and representative for Benton Borough. She has participated in various booster clubs, coaching, holiday events, and soup kitchens. She is currently a volunteer for United Way’s Read Across America.

O’Brien graduated from Peirce College of Philadelphia in 1997 and 1999 with an A.S. and B.S. in paralegal studies, graduated Magna Cum Laude, served as president of the honor society, Phi Theta Kappa; president of her sorority, Alpha Beta Sigma; member of the paralegal association; a Pierce College Ambassador and worked as the assistant to the Vice President of Institutional Development early in her career. All this while have three children under the age of five and working full time.

It was while working with a solar energy start-up company in 2007, she became introduced to the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) program and became its coordinator for the Greater Susquehanna KIZ program. She fell in love with economic development and the entrepreneurial passion and drive within. “I get to learn every day about industry, manufacturing, supply chain management, real estate development, environmental issues, government regulations and the agencies that create and manage them, and so much more,” she notes.

Having had many people advise her throughout her life she regards everyone she meets as a mentor. “I value everyone that I get to work with and develop relationships with. I only hope that I can give back half of what they all give me,” she adds.

O’Brien attributes her success to all the entrepreneurs and businesses who continue to feed her passion and continue to inspire her every day, and to those people that have worked with her throughout her various positions. “The staff you have and the employees that work with you, not for you, are what help elevate you to a new level of success. Support of family and loved ones are necessary in order to allow for that balance of professional and personal time. No one can be successful alone,” the businesswoman explained.

She attributes her success to an amazing life partner who believes O’Brien can accomplish anything, and to her children, now grown and starting their own families, who have become her greatest cheerleaders and she is still their biggest fan.

She received the President’s Award from the Central PA Chamber of Commerce.

“I love what I do and cannot imagine doing anything else,” she concludes.

Bloomsburg –  Starting April 1^st, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble will present Fair Food Foul Play: A BTE Murder Mystery on Zoom. “When control of the Deep Fried Duncans ^TM empire comes up for grabs, a cast of oddball characters angle for glory, each harboring a potential motive for murder. In this uniquely participatory format, audience members become investigators, forming a team of fellow sleuths to interrogate the eccentric suspects in real time, and bring the culprit to justice.”

Fair Food Foul Play marks a return to the (virtual) stage for BTE, after live performances came to a halt last Spring. Will Ralston, a 1989 graduate of Bloomsburg High School with a long career in television and film (including writing credits on HBO’s Treme and The Deuce) cooked up the tale specifically for the members of BTE. Ralston, who holds a BFA in film production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, is also serving as director of photography and editor of the filmed segments which accompany the live, interactive event.

Ensemble Member Amy Rene Byrne (in her first role since officially joining the troupe last year) serves double duty in the project, as both actor and director. Fair Food Foul Play also stars Ensemble Members Elizabeth Dowd, James Goode, Daniel Roth and Eric Wunsch, as well as BTE’s Abigail Leffler, Michaela Tloczynski, and Jon White-Spunner (in his acting debut). The program also features original music by Nick McGaw.

Though it winks at some of the markings of the traditional murder mystery, Fair Food Foul Play stays unpredictable by tossing up the mystery solution every weekend. Each night, participants will be split into groups of investigators, and work together to question the suspects in private “interrogation rooms.” Players have the option to sign up as individuals and pair up with other players over Zoom, or to sign up as households, perfect for a family game night at home. You can even request to be teamed up with other players on separate screens, near and far.  

Fair Food Foul Play runs for three weekends, starting Thursday April 1^st, and playing Thursdays through Sundays at 7:30pm (excluding Easter, April 4^th, on which the show is closed). For technical purposes, tickets must be purchased 24 hours in advance of the show. “Seating is limited,” says Managing Director White-Spunner, “so we suggest booking now.” Tickets are available from the BTE website www.bte.org , or by calling the BTE Box Office at 570-784-8181, and don’t hesitate to leave a message.

by Nancy Bishop

“All the world’s a stage,” Shakespeare wrote. And since 1978, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble (BTE) has been treating this area to that stage.

Back in the summer of 1976, a group of actors who had been students at Northwestern University’s theater program in Chicago followed their renowned professor, Alvina Krause, to Bloomsburg when she retired from Northwestern and moved here.

The group founded the first Ensemble, a professional theater company, in 1978. That first season’s productions, directed and acted by the Ensemble members, included “The Good Doctor” by Neil Simon from Anton Chekhov, directed by Mark Milikin; Mimescape, a BTE original; “Tartuffe” by Moliere, directed by Gerard Stropnicky; and “The Shadow Box” by Michael Cristopher, directed by Bruce Burgun.

Unlike most professional theater companies that operate under the direction of a single artistic director, the Ensemble members work together to select plays and appoint a director for each production. They act in the productions, help manage the company and write some of the shows. Currently, the Ensemble has six members: Amy Rene Byrne, Elizabeth Dowd, James Goode, Andrew Hubatsek, Daniel Roth and Eric Wunsch. And, also unlike other theater companies, Ensemble members are permanent, full-time residents of the place where they perform, which gives BTE a unique connection to the community.

A true gem of the area, BTE has produced works from the theatrical archives, new works by emerging playwrights, contemporary works, and works created by the Ensemble telling local stories. It’s a leader in the national ensemble theater movement and is a founding member of the Network of Ensemble Theatres.

BTE’s work also benefits from collaboration with guest artists — actors, acting interns, designers and playwrights — who visit and often live in Bloomsburg to assist with productions. These relationships have built up a family of artists that expands BTE’s capacities beyond the Ensemble and connects it with the national theatrical community.

Now in its 43rd season, BTE has come a long way from its free performance of “The Good Doctor” on the stage of then Bloomsburg State College’s Carver Hall in March 1978. The first performance of the perennial audience favorite, “A Christmas Carol” also was staged there in December 1979. The first few summer seasons of the fledgling theater company found a home at Central Columbia Middle School. Even the Town of Bloomsburg helped, providing rehearsal and office space on the Town Hall’s third floor for a few years.

By 1980, BTE was ready for a home of its own, and, with a few gifts from several donors, the former Columbia Theater on Center Street in Bloomsburg was purchased. The first production in the space was “You Can’t Take It with You” by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart in June 1982.

But the 1940s building needed a more comprehensive overhaul. With grant money and donations, a total renovation transformed the old building into the Alvina Krause Theater, completed in time for the opening of Noel Coward’s Hay Fever in October 1983. Further helping the new theater company was the donation of the Mitrani Building off Iron Street for BTE’s rehearsal space and scenery and costume shops.

The commitment to place that Krause instilled in her students can still be seen in BTE’s creation of original plays from local stories, and its Theatre in the Classroom, Project Discovery and BTE Theatre School programs. Theater in the Classroom brings to schools original works presented in an animated story-theatre style featuring imaginative props, costumes, music, and student participation followed by a lively post-performance discussion to area schools. Project Discovery gives high school students in the area the opportunity to attend a performance in the BTE theater for free. And the BTE Theatre School offers kids and adults an opportunity to learn theatre skills.

Of course, the current pandemic has forced some changes to TIC, Project Discovery and BTE Theatre School. Adapting to the situation, the Ensemble has created TIC program content that can streamed into schools and student’s homes. Virtual TIC combines live introductions and question and answer sessions with pre-recorded content to create unique, rich learning experiences based on time-tested TIC programs.

BTE Theatre School is also online with sessions on Zoom for kids and adults. Unfortunately, since Project Discovery brings students into the theater for live performances, it’s on hold until it is safe for BTE to welcome young audiences back to the Alvina Krause Theatre.

And the pandemic has forced changes to the BTE schedule. For 2021, BTE says it is working on a set of shows but that tickets will be sold for each show only. There will be no season tickets, packages or subscriptions in 2021. Tickets will go on sale to the public approximately 30 days before opening night. Be sure to check the BTE website at bte.org or find them on Facebook.

The pandemic also has caused financial challenges for BTE with fundraising events like the popular “Taming of the Brew” cancelled and revenue from ticket sales lost. To find out how you can help ensure survival of professional theater here, visit BTE’s support page.

Although Alvina Krause died in 1981 at the age of 88, her legacy lives on in BTE. She inspired a theater that has become, in her own words, “as important to its community as schools and churches.” In 2010 when Northwestern University dedicated a theater on its campus to Krause, it noted: “Krause, a legendary theater and performance studies professor, helped create the acting curriculum at Northwestern, focusing on instruction in technique with deep engagement in a canon of dramatic literature. She taught at the University for 33 years, and her students included Charlton Heston, Patricia Neal and Garry Marshall.”

How fortunate we are that she and her students chose this place to call home and gave this area Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble!

by: Alana Jajko – Susquehanna Greenway Partnership

COVID-19 was the juggernaut of 2020. Not only did it fundamentally transformed our daily lives, but it also shifted where we work, how we educate, and what we do with our spare time.

True, the majority of impacts have been negative, but amidst all this upheaval, there is one shift that offers a unique opportunity to our region, especially within our small towns.

Following the travel restrictions and hot spots of COVID-19, more and more people have begun looking to smaller communities outside of populated city centers as oases from pandemic life.

These small communities, like our Susquehanna Greenway River Towns, offer a variety of benefits that are not currently available in ‘big city living.’ Add to that the increased flexibility afforded by remote work and learning environments, and the recipe is right for our Susquehanna communities to see a an uptick in interest from not only visitors, but also those seeking new places to live.

Why the growing attraction to these smaller communities? In short, it’s their amenities.

King among these is access to space, especially outdoor opportunities.  City dwellers are trading city bars, museums, and theaters for parks, trails, and other easily accessible recreation that is available in small towns.

In addition to the elbow room afforded to those by living in small towns, nearby state forests, parks, and game lands also open up an additional source of opportunity to engage with one another and keep within COVID-19 regulations. As a result, being located within a community that has access to these public outdoor spaces has risen as a desired community commodity. Plus, the simple act of recreating and exercising in the outdoors has provided a much-needed boost to an individual’s mental and physical health in a time of heightened stress and anxiety.

The rise in demand thanks to this access is already notable. However, factor in the community’s unique charm and character, and these small towns’ inviting landscape become even more desirable for those seeking new environments outside of a stuffy city center.

This retreat to rural towns and suburbia was also made more attractive and feasible thanks to the shift to remote learning and work-from-home environments. While some may be growing tired of remote work, it is actually the thing most driving this opportunity for small towns.

With the boost in remote workspaces, people experienced flexibility that removed the need to commute into big city jobs—a driving force behind city living. People can now work from home amidst the charm of a small-town community and walk right out of their front doors to enjoy all it has to offer.

According to the New York Times, Jonathan Dingel and Brent Neiman of the University of Chicago estimate that almost 40% of the nation’s jobs can be done from home. Should permanent remote positions continue to catch on, this migration towards small towns will likely continue to gain momentum across Central PA.

And the current market is poised for this migration.

A study by the Outdoor Industry Association, found that 5% of the American real estate market is fueled by outdoor recreation. Being located near spaces for outdoor activity is becoming a valued asset.

Before we worry about an invasion of city dwellers, cities have been historically resilient following times of crises and they are far from a thing of the past. However, the current rising interest in small communities may prove to be a timely boom for the places that need it most.

Small communities like our beloved Susquehanna Greenway River Towns may be in position to positively benefit from this rising interest if we can begin to see their unique character and access to outdoor opportunities as economic resources.

In the face of COVID-19, many small businesses of our river towns may just profit from this rising interest as a bolster to their longevity through the pandemic and beyond.

Businesses, especially those who cater to both local and visiting outdoor enthusiasts, have already benefitted from the newfound boom in outdoor recreation that has followed on the heels of the pandemic.  

Industries associated with outdoor pursuits saw record numbers and interest in 2020. For example, NPD Group Market Research recorded a percent increase in U.S. sales from March/April 2019 to March/April 2020 by +85% in kayaks and +121% in bicycles, with that trend only continuing into the summer season.

According to another study by the Outdoor Industry Association, consumer spending on outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania soars to about $887 billion annually.

It is not just the outfitters who profit. The small businesses that line the streets of our downtown communities have become hubs for people to convene (at a social distance) after their adventures at the nearby parks and trails. People are attracted to their charm, stay to enjoy the amenities, and boost the local economies as a result.

Only time will tell if this trend continues, but for now, it is proving to be an opportunity for our treasured river towns to shine through a global crisis.

The Susquehanna Greenway is a corridor of connected trails, parks, river access points, and communities, linking people to the natural and cultural treasures of the Susquehanna River. The mission of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership is to continue to grow the Greenway by building connections along the Susquehanna River, inspiring people to engage with the outdoors, and transforming communities into places where people want to live, work, and explore.

About the Author: Alana Jajko is the Director of Communications and Outreach for the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership. Her work is focused on promoting trails and communities within our vibrant and connected Susquehanna Greenway, so that people like you can enjoy opportunities to engage with the outdoors. Alana can be reached at ajajko@susquehannagreenway.org.

Published January, 2021

Enjoy a sweet journey through the wineries of Columbia & Montour Counties this Valentine’s season with that special someone, or with your go-to group of friends! From February 5-14, visit six participating wineries and enjoy special wine & chocolate features for a chance to win wine-filled prize baskets.

From Friday, February 5th through Sunday, February 14th, trail-goers can travel from winery to winery, tasting delicious seasonal wine features. Along the way, participants will be able to get their tickets stamped at each location. Visit each participating location and you’ll be entered to win winery gift baskets and one Grand Prize basket! The Grand Prize basket will be compiled with bottles of wine from each participating winery. Please note that while trail tickets are FREE, tasting fees may apply at several of the wineries.

The wineries participating in the Valentine’s Wine & Chocolate Trail are:
— Cardinal Hollow Winery Outlet at Winding Creek Shops – Benton
4378 Red Rock Rd, Benton, PA 17814
— Colonel Ricketts Hard Cider Winery – Benton
4360 Red Rock Rd, Benton, PA 17814
— Juniata Valley Winery Outlet at Nature’s Outdoors – Benton
357A Camp Lavigne Rd, Benton, PA 17814
— Kulpmont Winery Outlet at the Ol’ Country Barn – Benton
9 S Comstock Rd, Benton, PA 17814
— Red Shale Ridge Vineyards – Danville Outlet
450 Mill St, Danville, PA 17821
— Shade Mountain Winery & Vineyard – Riverside/Danville Outlet
1 D and H Ave, Danville, PA 17821

**NOTE** Wineries’ hours vary. The trail can be completed during each winery’s normal business hours. Please call ahead or visit individual wineries’ websites for individual hours of operation or to inquire about COVID guidelines.

How it Works:

1. If you are interested in participating in the Valentine’s Wine & Chocolate Trail, simply proceed to one of the wineries of your choosing during the posted event dates (you may start at whichever one you’d like).
2. Pick up a FREE event ticket at the first winery you visit – all will have tickets available. 
3. Fill out 1/2 of the ticket and turn it in at the first winery. Keep the other half to record stamps/signatures.
4. Enjoy your first seasonal wine tasting and have your ticket authorized in the assigned space for that particular winery.
5. Proceed to the rest of the wineries during their normal business hours and enjoy delectable wines + get more stamps/autographs!
6. At your final winery stop, turn in your completed second half of the ticket to be entered to win any of the prize baskets. All participants who complete every stop on the trail will have a chance to win any of the individual winery baskets and the Grand Prize basket regardless of where they turn in their ticket.

Features:

– Cardinal Hollow Winery at Winding Creek Shops: Dove Dark Chocolate & Hershey’s Special Dark
– Colonel Ricketts Hard Cider Winery: Partnering with Incredible Popcorn (gourmet treat store in Bloomsburg) for three different chocolate pairing options
– Juniata Valley Winery at Nature’s Outdoors: Dove Milk Chocolate with Morning Thief Strawberry Wine
– Kulpmont Winery at Ol’ Country Barn – Strawberry Wine Punch with Lindor Milk and Dark Chocolate Truffles.
– Red Shale Ridge Vineyards (Danville): Hershey Kisses & Strawberry Wine
– Shade Mountain Winery (Danville): Peanut Butter Cups with Jack’s Mountain Red (Concord Wine)

RSVP and share this event with your friend/loved ones at the official Facebook event page!