Income Tax Day is here, but the nice thing is that the same time of year brings us the opening day of baseball and trout fishing! It’s been great to see how quickly the grass has become brilliantly green and to watch buds and sprouts grow from day to day.

I am having a hard time finding a positive side of the recent public revelation that methane gas has been found in high concentrations in Sugar Run, a tributary of Muncy Creek, just outside Hughesville borough. More distressing to me is the fact that I do not recall seeing or hearing any reports of this even though the methane was present as long as two years ago! While I have tried to avoid controversy and political topics in this column, I cannot ignore this issue. Lycoming County is blessed with some of the best water in the world and I hate to think that for the sake of short-term financial gain for some, we are sacrificing our most precious natural resource. Sometimes choices are hard, but I believe that we must safeguard our future by diligently protecting our water and air quality.

Now that Spring has arrived there are many outdoor events that will give everyone some fun and entertainment, plus some end-of-the-year programs coming up at our local schools. Watch for notices of things you won’t want to miss!

Hughesville Events:

Sun. Apr. 19 Prayer Walk sponsored the Lycoming County Heroin Talk Force at Friends Church, 137 S. 3rd St., Hughesville. Meet at church at 1 p.m. Walkers are asked to wear white shirts and church will be open for prayer for those unable to walk. Walkers will be led on a planned route with stops for prayer at designated locations such as schools, playgrounds, police and fire stations, etc.

Mon. Apr. 20, 7 p.m. East Lycoming Historical Society meeting featuring Part II of the “Heritage of Faith” series begun in February by Rev. Larry Waltz. This month’s presentation by Greg Thomas and Carol Shetler will discuss several of the area’s early Methodist congregations and Patterson Grove. The meeting will be held in Stuempfle Hall (the social room) at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 120 South Main Street, Hughesville. Prior to the meeting the museum, at 66 South Main, will be open from 6-6:45. Admission is free and open to the public.

Sat. Apr. 25 Lime Bluff Park Community Volunteer Care Day froom 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come help the park weed, mulch, paint and do general clean up. Volunteers will receive lunch and t-shirts.

Sat. Apr. 25, 8 a.m Seedling Distribution sponsored by the Hughesville Rotary Club who will hand out free tree seedlings to area residents. This annual event is timed to coincide with Earth Day. The supply is limited and seedlings will be given on a “first come/first served” basis.