John Arway, a 30-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, has been chosen as the agency's 10th executive director. Most recently, the 57-year-old Arway had served as chief of the Environmental Services Division within the Bureau of Fisheries.

"John brings a wealth of professional experience and institutional knowledge to the executive director post," PFBC board of commissioners president Tom Shetterly said. "He is an avid angler, boater and hunter with a passion for the outdoors. He embraces the "resource-first" management philosophy and understands that only by protecting aquatic resources can we accomplish the other part of our mission, which is to also provide fishing and boating opportunities."A native of North Huntingdon, Arway has been the environmental advisor to the executive director and other agency staff for more than 20 years. In addition to leading the Environmental Services Division, he represents the PFBC on numerous committees and boards, including the director's alternate on the Environmental Quality Board, the Pennsylvania Biological Survey's Steering Committee, the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited Environmental Committee and Rivers Conservation Camp and Fly Fishing School's board of directors, Coldwater Heritage Partnership Program and the Susquehanna River Smallmouth Bass Water Quality Workgroup."I am grateful to the board for providing me the opportunity to lead the agency where I have devoted most of my professional life," Arway said. "Our agency has a tremendous responsibility to the resource and to the anglers and boaters who enjoy and benefit from the resource."We have a very dedicated staff that I am looking forward to working with on the many challenges ahead of us including the protection of water quality from future pollution events, the threat of aquatic invasive species, the increasing loss of habitat and the restoration of American shad to the Susquehanna River. I am also looking forward to working with our staff and the anglers and boaters on improving recreational fishing and boating opportunities throughout the Commonwealth."**********Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologist Colleen DeLong is today's guests of Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on "Experience the Outdoors," from 7:30-8 a.m. on Oldies 1410-AM, Lansford. A rebroadcast will be heard Sunday from 9:30-10 a.m. on WMGH, 105.5-FM, Tamaqua, and is available on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking on the "Experience the Outdoors" link.**********The Carbon County Environmental Education Center will host the first of several Hunter/Trapper Education courses, administered by the PA Game Commission. Anyone wishing to purchase a hunting or trapping license in PA for the first time must complete and pass such a course.The course consists of three sessions, to be held Monday and Wednesday, March 22 and 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday, March 27, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Participants must attend all three sessions.There is no cost for the program, but pre-registration is required. Sign up through the Game Commission's website,

www.PGC.STATE.PA. Those without internet access may call CCEEC for assistance at (570) 645-8597.Smiliar courses will be offered later in the year, and the CCEEC is located at the west end of Mauch Chunk Lake Park.*********A free seminar, "Coyote Hunting 101," will be presented by Port Carbon Fish and Game, Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m., at the Port Clinton Fire Company, Port Clinton. For information, contact Ted Knoblauch at 610-562-4310 or

portclintonfg@wmconnect.com.**********Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited will meet, Tuesday, March 23, beginning at 7 p.m., at Yorkville Fire Company, South 20th and West Norwegian Sts., Pottsville. For information, call Randy Emerich at 570-622-1252 or view on the Web at

www.schuylkilltu.org.*********A trap shoot will be held, Thursday, March 25, beginning at 6 p.m., at Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, Route 443, Orwigsburg. For information, e-mail

jafone@comcast.net.***********Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association will meet, Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m., at Auburn Fish and Game. For information, contact Ron Blew at 570-943-2900 or

rblewy@yahoo.com.********This year's "Fishing and Hunting Flea Market and Show," will be held, Saturday, March 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Mary's Center, 320 Mifflin Ave., Scranton. For information, call Bob Kester at 570-587-0214.**********This year's "Wildlife Art Expo" will be held, Saturday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Environmental Education Center of the Montour Preserve, Washingtonville. For information, call Jon Beam at 570-437-3131.**********Carbon County Environmental Education Center, 151 East White Bear, Drive, Summit Hill, will hold its annual membership open house and fund raiser, Sunday, March 28, at 1 p.m. For information, call the center at 570-645-8597.**********Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce Fish Derby will be held, Saturday, April 10, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Rabbit Run Reservoir, Tamaqua. Pre-registration is available at Tom's Auto and Marine, Greenwood St. and Mountain Ave., Tamaqua; and Tamaqua Area CC, 114 West Broad St., Tamaqua.**********This year's Empire State Lake Ontario Tournament dates have been announced. Here is the schedule: Spring, Friday, April 30-Sunday, May 9; Summer, Saturday, June 19-Sunday, July 18; Fall, Friday, Aug. 20-Monday, Sept. 6. For information and registration, access on the Web at

www.loc.org or call (888) 733-5246.