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1. Laurel Festival Offers Fun On The Green This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 14-16
2. NEW – Well Armed Woman Tioga County Shooting Chapter to Meet on Thursday, June 20
3. NEW – Tioga County Lyme Disease Support Group Cancels Thursday, June 20 Meeting; to Meet on July 18
4. NEW – Hills Creek and Cherry Springs State Park Programs June 21, 22 & 23
5. NEW – Ted Vigil Tribute to John Denver is Saturday, June 29

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800

LAUREL FESTIVAL OFFERS FUN ON THE GREEN THIS FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JUNE 14-16

The Wellsboro community is inviting the public to join in the 78th Annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival celebration. This family-friendly event includes the Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen competition.

While in Wellsboro, the 28 queen candidates will enjoy a full weekend of activities. At noon this Friday, June 14, they will gather on the Tioga County Courthouse steps for the official welcome. The young ladies will go to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon for a picnic lunch and tour.

Friday at 4:30 p.m. on the Deane Center’s outdoor stage, the band 3D will open the Queen’s Preview. At 5 p.m., 2018 Pennsylvania Laurel Queen Katelyn Loss and the queen candidates will be introduced to the public and 3D will close the event with musical fun. The rain location is the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre.

The Laurel Festival continues with free concerts, every night. Coming up are The “Almost World Famous” Wellsboro Town Band’s concert on The Green this Wednesday, June 12 at 7 p.m. with the Wellsboro High School Auditorium on Nichols Street as the rain location; the Wellsboro Men and Women’s choruses singing songs from Broadway to pops at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13 at the First Presbyterian Church at 130 Main Street in Wellsboro and the Queen’s Preview this Friday, June 14.

For the annual juried Arts & Crafts Fair more than 97 artisans, 20 of them new, will be on The Green with unique, handcrafted items this Friday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and this Saturday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The International Street of Foods with 28 vendors on Pearl Street along The Green will offer delectable delights from strawberry shortcake to crepes and Greek gyros those same hours on Friday and Saturday.

The Laurel Festival 10K at 9 a.m. and Two-Mile Fun Run at 9:05 a.m. will start Saturday’s events. Both will begin at Packer Park on Queen Street. Packet pick-up and registration for both the 10K and Fun Run will be from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on race day, June 15. The 10K entry fee is $25 and Fun Run, $5.

Featured during the Laurel Parade this Saturday, June 15 will be top-notch drum and bugle corps, bagpipers, string bands, high school marching bands, vintage cars and more. Riding aboard floats themed “Find Your Adventure” will be the 2018 Laurel Queen and the queen candidates. The parade will leave the Wellsboro Area High School parking lot at 1:45 p.m. and reach Main Street by 2 p.m. The units will perform in front of the judges’ stand near the courthouse and then turn onto King and Walnut streets and disband at Central Avenue.

This Saturday at 6:30 p.m., the coronation of the 2019 Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen will be on stage at the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre. Tickets are available at the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro. Admission is $10 at the door.

The festival concludes Sunday morning, June 16 with the 10:30 a.m. Union Church service on The Green.

For more information about Laurel Festival activities, call the chamber at 570-724-1926, email info@wellsboropa.com, visit www.wellsboropa.com or stop in at 114 Main Street.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE LAUREL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
78th Annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival
2019 Schedule of Events

Tuesday, June 11
7 p.m.
Laurel Concert Series
Drowsy Maggie – Bluegrass, Celtic, Folk
Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center
$5 Donation Appreciated

Wednesday, June 12
7 p.m.
Laurel Concert Series
Wellsboro Town Band
Outdoors on The Green
Rain location: Wellsboro High School Auditorium
Donations Appreciated

Thursday, June 13
7 p.m.
Laurel Concert Series
Wellsboro Men’s & Women’s Choruses
Broadway to Pop
First Presbyterian Church
130 Main Street
$5 Donation Appreciated

Friday, June 14
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Arts & Crafts Fair &
International Street of Foods
The Green

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jerry Brown & Django (capuchin monkey)
The Green

12 p.m.
Queen Candidates Welcome
Tioga County Courthouse Steps

4:30 p.m.
Queen’s Preview & Laurel Concert
with Band 3D
Deane Center Outdoor Stage
Rain location: Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center
$5 Donation Appreciated

7:30 p.m.
Gathering Time Salutes
Peter, Paul & Mary and Crosby, Stills & Nash
Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center
For ticket prices, call 570-724-6220
or visit www.deanecenter.com

Saturday, June 15
9 a.m.
10K Foot Race & 2-Mile Fun Run
Entry fee: 10K $25; Fun Run $5
Packer Park on Queen Street

9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Arts & Crafts Fair &
International Street of Foods
The Green

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jerry Brown & Django (capuchin monkey)
The Green

12 p.m.
Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps
Chamber Office Lawn

1 p.m.
Mansfield University SaxAlums
The Green

2 p.m.
Laurel Festival Parade
Nichols, Queen, Main, King, Walnut Streets

3 p.m.
Downbeat Percussion
The Green

6:30 p.m.
Coronation of 2019 Laurel Queen
Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center
Admission: $10

Sunday, June 16
10:30 a.m.
Union Church Service
The Green
Rain location: First Baptist Church
Freewill Offering

For more information about these events, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce by stopping in at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro, calling (570) 724-1926, emailing info@wellsboropa.com or visiting wellsboropa.com.

Photo provided
Jerry Brown (shown) and Django, his capuchin monkey will be on The Green performing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15. Their show is a recreation of turn-of-the-century theatrical corn. Brown eats fire, does magic tricks, juggles and tells stories with Django, the world’s only psychic monkey.

WELL ARMED WOMAN TIOGA COUNTY SHOOTING CHAPTER TO MEET ON THURSDAY, JUNE 20

The Well Armed Woman Shooting Chapter, Tioga County, Pa. will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 20 at the Mill Cove Shooting Range in the Mill Cove Environmental Area at 3036 Mill Creek Road, Mansfield, Pa. The meeting will be followed by a review of Safe Gun Handling Rules with shooting drills and self-defense scenarios. Leading this training is Marilyn Jones.

The date, location and time of the regular meeting and the Women on Target® Instructional Shooting Clinic in July have been changed from 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 18 at Mill Cove to 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 at the Lambs Creek Sportsman’s Club at 339 Sportsman’s Club Road, Mansfield, Pa.

The Women on Target® training provides women and girls, ages 10 and up accompanied by their mother or female guardian, with an opportunity to learn about and shoot a muzzleloader rifle, .22 pistol, .22 rifle, shotgun and bow and arrow. The $35 fee covers ammunition throughout the day as well as lunch, water and soda. To register, email Sheila Bunch at sbunch@ugi.com. Participants should arrive no later than 7:45 a.m. on July 27.

“Any woman who is 18 or older from any county or state is welcome to join our shooting chapter,” said Jones who with Pat Butts lead the Well Armed Woman meetings. Those who join can be a beginner or novice with absolutely no experience in handling a gun to those who are skilled and experienced shooters. The fee is $50 per year.

Women who don’t own a firearm and want more information before making a purchase or want to find out about joining the chapter are welcome to contact Jones at (570) 549-2794 or jones_mk@yahoo.com.

TIOGA COUNTY LYME DISEASE SUPPORT GROUOP CANCELS THURSDAY, JUNE 20 MEETING; TO MEET ON JULY 18

The Tioga County Lyme Disease Support Group will not meet in June. The June 20 meeting has been cancelled.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, July 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Native Bagel at 1 Central Avenue in Wellsboro. Luke Dunham will show a video about natural remedies for dealing with fatigue, a common symptom of Lyme disease. A group discussion will follow.

The July 18 meeting is free and open to anyone who lives in Tioga County or a surrounding county who wants to learn more about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

Dunham and Thomas Putnam, both from the Wellsboro area, are regional co-leaders with the PA Lyme Resource Network and co-leaders of the support group. Both are being treated for Lyme disease and co-infections. For information, contact Dunham and Putnam by email at tiogacountylyme@palyme.org or by calling Putnam at (570) 439-2000.

HILLS CREEK AND CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK FREE PROGRAMS FOR JUNE 21, 22 & 23

At Hills Creek State Park

WELLSBORO – Hills Creek State Park at 111 Spillway Road is seven miles northeast of Wellsboro in Charleston Township via Charleston Street and Hills Creek Lake Road. All programs are free. Registration is not required.

Caddisflies, Stoneflies and Mayflies…Oh My! is Friday, June 21

Explore the exciting life of aquatic invertebrates on Friday, June 21. Park at the Overnight Group Tenting area and at 6 p.m. meet at Campsite #1 for a quick discussion on what caddisflies, stoneflies and mayflies can tell people about the quality of Pennsylvania creeks, streams and rivers. Then those attending will do some investigating to see what they can find.

Family Fishing Tournament is Saturday, June 22

On Saturday, June 22 will be the Family Fishing Tournament at Hills Creek Lake. One-hour weigh-ins will be at the beach area near the shore from noon to 1 p.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m. No registration is required prior to the weigh-ins. After the 7 to 8 p.m. weigh-in, medallions will be presented to the winners in five categories: largest perch, largest bluegill, largest bass, largest crappie, and largest stringer of game fish by weight (one angler’s legal limit of game fish for the day). A one-ounce bonus will be awarded for game fish that are caught and released. All fish must be caught by legal means. This is a no cull contest (no replacing a smaller fish with a heavier fish on the stringer). In the event of a tie, the fish weighed the earliest will win. Spectators are welcome to watch the fish being weighed for the tournament.

Pennsylvania Turtles is Sunday, June 23

At 8:30 p.m. learn about the anatomy, life cycle and other unique adaptations of Pennsylvania’s oldest living reptile during this free, one-hour program in the Nature Center area in the campground between B and C loop. Find out how to identify different species of turtles and what the Commonwealth is doing to manage them.

FMI: Call the park office at (570) 724-4246 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. for more information.

At Cherry Springs State Park

COUDERSPORT – Cherry Springs State Park at 4639 Cherry Springs Road, Coudersport is 12 miles from Galeton via West Branch Road and 15 miles from Coudersport via Route 44. All stargazing and other programs will be cancelled if it rains or thunders.

Anyone may observe the night sky at Cherry Springs on his or her own without attending a stargazing program. All visitors should arrive before dark. Search for the Clear Sky Chart online for 48-hour forecasts about viewing conditions.

Picnic in the Park

People are welcome to bring a picnic supper and make use of the park’s picnic tables and charcoal grills near the Night Sky Viewing Area. Pre-registration is not required.

Nature at Night is Friday, June 21

From 8 to 8:45 p.m. people who arrive early for the Night Sky Tour on Friday, June 21 are invited to join park staff at the Night Sky Viewing Area for a Nature at Night program on fascinating night critters, such as fireflies, bats, black bears or coyotes. Like to know what critter will be featured, email Cherryspringsee@pa.gov. Preregistration is not required.

Night Sky Tour is Friday and Saturday, June 21 & 22

From 9:30 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, June 21 and 22 in the Night Sky Viewing Area go on a Night Sky Tour to experience the splendor of the night sky at Cherry Springs. Park staff will give a laser-guided tour of the constellations and recount the legends and myths surrounding them. Afterwards, take an up close look at celestial objects through park telescopes. Pre-registration is required.

Park Welcome & Walking Tour is Saturday, June 22

Planning to attend the Saturday, June 22 Night Sky Tour program? Arrive early and join park staff from 8 to 8:45 p.m. for a short, guided walk of park facilities to learn about their past, present and future. All ages are welcome. Meet at the information kiosk near the restroom in the visitor parking area on the north side of Route 44. The walk is less than a mile on mostly level terrain. Preregistration is not required.

To Pre-register: To pre-register for the Night Sky Tour or to learn more about other free programs, visit http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/cherry_springs_state_park. If there is a problem with registering online, call (814) 435-1037 or email cherryspringsee@pa.gov.

THE ULTIMATE JOHN DENVER TRIBUTE WITH TED VIGIL TO BE ON JUNE 29

Ted Vigil is a singer-songwriter and a John Denver tribute artist. On Saturday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m. he will take the stage in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro and perform songs Denver made famous in the 1970s.

The audience may be amazed by how much Vigil looks and sounds like Denver. The singer-songwriter died in 1997 at the age of 53 when his experimental aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

In Wellsboro, Vigil will perform Denver hits, such as “Rocky Mountain High,” “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” and “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” He will also sing one of the songs he has written.

Born in Seattle in 1964 and raised in the Olympia area of the State of Washington, Vigil began performing in 1974 at the age of 10. While in school, he developed his talents as a drummer and singer and played with concert, symphonic and jazz bands. When he was 17, Vigil was told he looked like Denver.

In 2006, he went to Laughlin, Nevada to compete in Talent Quest. Vigil sang a John Denver song and placed first in the singing contest. That event attracted competitors from New Zealand, Australia, Canada and 28 states in America. “It was a singing contest not a tribute or impersonator contest,” Vigil said. “Afterwards I met some musicians who had worked with John. They mentioned that people missed him and his music and thought it would be a good idea for me to do a tribute show.”

Appearing as John Denver, Vigil went on to win Komo TV 4’s NW Afternoon Celebrity Look Alike contest in 2007. That’s when he began playing guitar and planning his Denver tribute show. He started touring in 2007 and by 2008 had become more serious about it.

For four and a half years, from 2010 to 2014, the late Steve Wiesberg, John Denver’s lead guitarist from 1973 to 1977, toured with Vigil. “It was like working with John again,” Wiesberg said at the time. “I’ve worked with every John Denver tribute (artist) and none of them have the look and the voice Ted has. He’s uncanny.”

“Watching Ted perform, you might be convinced that John Denver never died,” wrote the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Today, Vigil tours his Denver tribute coast to coast in the United States and internationally as well.

Admission is $25 and $22 for seniors. For tickets to the show, call (570) 724-6220 or visit www.deanecenter.com.

Photography by Heather Bunker
Ted Vigil (shown) will be performing John Denver tunes from the 1970s on June 29 in Wellsboro.