Congratulations to all the award-winners who displayed and presented their work at this year’s Fair! I saw many examples of handcrafts, food preservation, gardening achievement, and animal care and was amazed at the variety of items produced in our area. The local 4-H clubs especially deserve a pat on the back for their work, and I also saw some great examples of various types of art work by local school students.

Now that the Lycoming County Fair is ended, we know that summer has reached its mid-point. Stores in the area are beginning to feature back-to-school items in areas that were just recently filled with summer fun and beach items. I don’t seem to feel like we’ve had enough hot weather, and that comes from someone who usually dislikes the heat. July has been much more tolerable, at least for sleeping with the windows open, than most years. Don’t worry though – just a few sweltering, humid days and nights will make me glad that time marches on! I have saved a lot of electricity over the last week or so and haven’t been running the air conditioner.

As I write this week’s column I am reminded that it has been 45 years since that amazing day when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped from their lunar module “Eagle” onto the surface of the moon. What a fantastic achievement that was! Like other milestones of American history, that was one of those days that are remembered forever. Do you remember what you were doing when you heard the first broadcast of Neil Armstrong’s famous words? That giant leap for mankind has not been outdone, although we now have spacecraft that are sending back phenomenal photos of our solar system from millions of miles away. Next year we will see close-up photos of Pluto!

Take some time to go outdoors and look at the gorgeous array of stars and planets visible in the night sky. Even in town, it’s a pretty spectacular sight! The upcoming Perseid meteor shower will make it even more fun to keep and eye on the sky.

Hughesville events

Thursday July 24 and 31, 6:30 p.m., Teen Summer Reading at Hughesville Area Public Library. Students who have finished grades 6 – 11 are invited to join fellow readers for fun discussion and activities at the library.

Wednesday, July 30, 6:30 p.m. Adult Summer Reading program, “Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden presented by Master Gardeners at Hughesville Area Public Library

Sunday, August 3, 1 p.m. Greater Hughesville Business Association (GHBA) Scholarship Benefit Auction at the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department grounds on Railroad Street. Funds will be used for two GHBA scholarships which are awarded to HHS graduates.