The 2011 Out Among the Starts Bluegrass Festival will take place on Thursday, June 30 through Sunday, July 3 at the Benton Rodeo grounds in Benton. This is a family-oriented event and fun for everyone.

The Eagles Mere Friends of the Arts 2011 season is about to begin and promises to be better than ever. On Monday, July 4, Independence Day will once again be celebrated with the Repasz Band on the Village Green beginning at 5 p.m. On Thursday, July 7, Brain/Food a potluck dinner then a talk and discussion with Eagles Mere resident Paul Kaminski on “Stealth the Story of How a Few People Can Make a Difference” will take place at the DeWire Center beginning at 6 p.m. Paul was the Under Secretary of Defense for George Bush.

On Saturday, July 9, the Philadelphia Trio will once again perform at the DeWire Center beginning at 8 p.m. It promises to be an elegant evening of beautiful chamber music with works by Haydn, Schumann and Shubert.

Sunday, July 10 promises to be an evening of pure enjoyment when the “Party Dolls” perform at the DeWire Center beginning at 8 p.m. A trio and a back-up band thatperform everything from Motown to Madonna. Come and get in the groove with these divas!

For more information on tickets for any of the events, or to become a member, go to their website at www.EMFOA.orgor call 570-525-3192.

A Spaghetti Dinner will be held in honor of Beth (Foresman) Smith on July 9 beginning at 4 p.m. at the Hughesville Fire Hall. Beth has been going through treatments to battle cancer. Anyone who knows Beth knows what a wonderful person she is and what a fighter she is as well. There will be live music, a 50/50 raffle and a Chinese auction. All money raised will be donated to Beth and her family.

Belated Happy Birthday wishes to Leona Haugh who celebrated her special day on June 14. I hope she made pot pie instead of pig’s stomach to celebrate. Happy Birthday wishes to: Sayre Bradley, Cody Kapp, Jeff Lupold and Darrell Spring June 15; Cindy (DeWire) Shaner, Lucille Harvey, Mike Sullivan, Crystal (Reese) Gordner, Ann (Bennett) Hess, Joni (Shaner) Ritter, Phyllis Rhodes, Alexis Snyder, Richard Hunley, Linda Newman, Judy Sanders, Tyler Taggart and Cynthia Wilt June 16; Gary Clees, Debbie Fry and Cohen Nearhoof June 17; Rebekah Aunkst, Cassidy Brown, Kyle Fraley, John Kapp, Matthew Crawford and Jan Martin June 18; Jim Feigles, Joel Gladfelter, Michael Ritter, Kenneth Youmans and my other “Fry Boy”, J. Zachary Fry June 19; Jacob Reynolds, Pauline (Ritter) Montgomery, Tom Montgomery, Pepper Pardoe, Brianna Mecone and Norman Baysore June 20; Jonathan Charles, Victoria Holmes and Jennifer Mausteller June 21; Dale Smith, Chad Green and Michael Wallis II June 22; Phyllis (Stiger) Creasy, Denny Ryder, Fannie Kapp, Rachel Ryder and Candice Coakley June 23; Sara Corbin, Barry Farnsworth and Randy White June 24; Sydney Siperko, Barb Bryan, Dana Hartman, Heather Herr and Rose Reese June 25; Winifred (Myers) Odell, Bill Babcock, Amy (Secules) Kishbaugh, Katie Percival, Rachael Percival and John M. Swisher June 26; Matthew Worley June 27; June Bones, Sharon Culver, Logan Hammond, Keith Laidacker and June Lowe June 28; Joshua Heiney, Amanda Johnson, Glen Strausser and Matthew Spring June 29; Shannon Gardner, Melissa Long, Alice Rider, Keshia Shuck, Alexis Temple, Brooke Walteres and Denay Wodrig June 30.

Happy Anniversary to: Tom & Karen (Lindauer) Secules June 16; Roger & Robin (Welker) Duttry, Jeff & Bonnie Snyder June 20 (a very special day); Walt & Vicki (Shaner) Reed June 21; David & Pam Vandine June 25; Jake & Melinda (Rinker) Roberts June 26; Rev. Ron “Bud” & Eileen (Hall) Montgomery and Don & Michelle (Nicewinter) Reese, Richard & Nancy Ferrell, Tom & Ann Parr and Harry & Linda Snell June 27; Richard & Sandy Bradley June 28; Richard & Shari Michael June 29; Richard & Catherine (Rogers) Laubach and Jim & Linda Newman June 30.

Remember; take the high road because the low road’s so crowded.