Greetings from Keystone, South Dakota, within view of Mount Rushmore! I’m sending this week’s column from the road as we make our way to Colorado for our son’s wedding. Yes, for those wondering, Bri Hodge is (finally?) getting married, to Nanette Boyle, a wonderful young woman who was a classmate in graduate school, so they both have the letters PhD following their names. I don’t know how to address a letter or card to them! We will be celebrating with them this weekend then returning to Hughesville.

The approach of opening day for the Lycoming County Fair means different things for each person. For some it is a time of bustling activity as they prepare their animals, produce, or projects for entry and judging. For others it may be a time of anticipation as they plan for their days of rides and entertainment. And for some folks it may mean preparations for alternative parking arrangements and traffic patterns for those busy fair days when all roads into town see a big jump in the volume of cars and trucks making their way to Broadway and South Second Streets.

Has there been enough rain to keep your garden green and growing? Mine is doing well, although, as usual, the weeds seem to be flourishing. Best of all, I did gather a couple of late-planting radishes, and a couple of yummy peppers last week. But my tomatoes haven’t begun to ripen, and we won’t talk about my failed pole beans. I think this year’s produce will be for fresh consumption only; if I decide to can or freeze vegetables, I will get them from one of the many local producers!

Hughesville Area Public Library’s Pre-school Story Hour will be held this Friday. There will be stories and a craft project, so be sure to visit or call the library at 584-3762 to register. The Library offers a cool, pleasant place to take a break from the heat. It has air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and public-access computers with print capability and is also home to a broad selection of books for folks of all ages, both fiction and non-fiction, so there is something there that will interest just about anyone. You also might like to browse the collections of popular DVD’s which may be checked out for 2 or 3 days with your library card.

Do your best to stay comfortable, and check the weather forecast so you are ready to enjoy the fair!

Hughesville Events:

Hughesville Camp Meeting July 7 through July 15. Services are inter-denominational and open to the public. Call 570-584-2882 for more information.

Friday, July 12, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Pre-School Story Hour, Hughesville Area Public Library, 146 South Fifth Street.

Friday, July 12 through Saturday, July 20, Lycoming County Fair, Hughesville.