PFBC award nomination deadline set
Nominations are being accepted through Friday, June 18, by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for three annual awards. Information and nominating procedure is available on the PFBC Web site at
www.fishandboat.com/award.htm for the following awards:The Ralph W. Abele Conservation Heritage Award: This is the highest recognition the PFBC can confer on persons who distinguish themselves in the cause of conservation. The agency established the Abele Award to recognize citizens of Pennsylvania who have made outstanding contributions to the protection, conservation and enhancement of the aquatic resources of the Commonwealth. The award serves as a memorial to Ralph Abele for his steadfast and courageous work in protecting and conserving our natural resources.The Commissioner Paul J. Mahon Access for All Award: This recognizes the efforts of Mahon to ensure accessibility to the Commonwealth's waterways for all individuals interested in fishing and boating, regardless of physical ability. The award is intended to acknowledge Pennsylvania citizens or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to improving fishing and boat access for the disabled.The Stanley Long Outstanding Volunteer Service Award Program: This was created in 2003 as a memorial to long-time volunteer Long to publicize and recognize the contributions made to Pennsylvania anglers and boaters by Commission volunteers. The program identifies and honors the PFBC's most exemplary and inspiring volunteer.Construction at the Mauch Chunk Lake Park Access areas between Jim Thorpe and Summit Hill is underway. Existing ramps will be replaced, sections of existing accesses will be paved and concrete sidewalks will be installed. The access will be closed until Friday, July 2, although the construction schedule is subject to change.Today's guest of Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on "Experience the Outdoors," from 7:30-8 a.m. on Oldies 1410-AM is GPS fishing map designer Mike Gogal. A rebroadcast will be heard Sunday from 9:30-10 a.m. on WMGH, 105.5-FM, and is available on the Web at
http://www.wmgh.com/ by clicking on the "Experience the Outdoors" link.A 3-D course is open for public use from dawn to dusk at Bear's Head Sportsmen's Association, Delano, located off Exit 134 of Interstate 81, daily through Saturday, Oct. 23. Donations are accepted and for information call the clubhouse at 570-467-0331 or e-mail
docblazer@verizon.net mailto:docblazer@verizon.net ."Summer DiscoverE Day Camps" for children between the ages of 4-13 will be held this summer at Beltzville State Park, Lehighton. Registration is underway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Beltzville's Environmental Interpretive Center at the cost of $35 per child and $17.50 for each additional child in a family. For information, call the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks at 1-888-PA-PARKS or Beltzville State Park at 717-558-2711.A trap shoot will be held, Thursday, June 17, beginning at 6 p.m., at Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg. For information, e-mail
jafone@comcast.net mailto:jafone@comcast.net .First Frontier Militia, the muzzleloader arm of Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, will hold muzzleloader shoots on the following dates: Sunday, June 13, July 11, Aug. 6, Sept. 12, Oct. 9 and 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club is located on Gun Club Road, off Route 248, Bowmanstown. For information, call Roger Fisher at 610-377-2812.A "Spirit of Tuscarora Trail" hike will be held Sunday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville. For required pre-registration, call Robin Tracey at 570-467-2506 or on the Web at
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ .An inaugural "Schuylkill County Big Game Trophies Awards Banquet" will be held Saturday, June 19, beginning at 5 p.m., at Schuylkill County Fairground, Summit Station. For information about entering a deer, bear or turkey and for tickets, call Steve Frantz at 570-345-3253, Jason Krause at 570-345-3664 or access the Web site for R&J Trophies at
http://www.randjtrophies.com/ .Beltzville State Park will hold its annual Get Outdoors PA Demo Day, Saturday, June 19, with the assistance of staff from Northeast PA Kayak School. They will offer a skill-building and safety course for kayakers of all levels and a second course specifically for experienced paddlers.Staff from Eastern Mountain Sports will be at Pine Run boat launch with a variety of kayaks for participants to try and will give a free demonstration on kayaking gear. Pre-registration is required, and for information; contact Stephanie Strub at sstrub@state.pa.us mailto:sstrub@state.pa.us or 215-453-5015.This year's Empire State Lake Ontario Tournament dates have been announced. Here is the schedule: Summer, Saturday, June 19-Sunday, July 18; Fall, Friday, Aug. 20-Monday, Sept. 6. For information and registration, access on the Web at
http://www.loc.org/ or call (888) 733-5246.Schuylkill Trout Unlimited will hold a pig roast, Sunday, July 24, from 2-7 p.m., at Bulls Head Road, Pottsville. For reservations, call Bruce Schneck at 717-647-4362 or Randy Emerich at 570-622 1252.This year's "Gunmakers Fair" will be held Friday-Sunday, July 23-25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, at Dixon Muzzleloader Shop, 9952 Kunkel's Mill Road, Kempton. For seminar schedule and information, access on the Web at
http://www.dixonmuzzleloading.com/ or call the shop at 610-756-6271.This year's "Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza" will be held Friday-Sunday, Aug. 27-29, at Kempton Fairground. For information, contact Bob Danenhower at 610-398-7609 and
bobstaxidermy@ptd.net mailto:bobstaxidermy@ptd.net or Rick Weaknecht at 610-683-7405 and
pahunter2005@hotmail.com mailto:pahunter2005@hotmail.com .