Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, will hold its annual Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This annual winter celebration includes free programs for the entire family, as well as great nature-inspired gift ideas and discounts, with bookstore items and membership sales supporting the sanctuary's conservation programs.

Activities for children begin at 10 a.m. when they have a chance to create their own nature ornament using a selection of pinecones, pods and other dried seeds and greenery. This activity concludes in time for a live raptor presentation at noon and is followed by a guided nature walk at 1 p.m. Celebrity birder and natural history author Pete Dunne concludes the formal program with a talk about his latest book "Arctic Autumn" at 2 p.m., which is followed by the annual Mountain Raffle drawing at 3 p.m. and a book signing by Dunne until 4 p.m.For more information, call the sanctuary at 610-756-6961 or visit the website at

www.hawkmountain.org.**********Rep. Ed Staback, chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, has announced he will not seek re-election to his House seat next year and will wrap up a legislative career representing Lackawanna County that extends back more than a quarter-century. He was first elected to the 115th House District in 1984.Recently a bill Staback sponsored that adds waterway and wildlife conservation officers of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Pennsylvania Game Commission under the scope of the offense of aggravated assault in providing penalties for the assault of an officer; further providing for jurisdiction and penalties and for disposition of fines and penalties; and under Title 34, in game or wildlife protection, further providing grading of penalties for killing game or wildlife to protect person, for unlawful importation of game or wildlife, for unlawful taking and possession of protected birds, for possession or interference with active nests or eggs of birds, for unlawful sale of protected birds and plumage and for hunting or furtaking prohibited while under influence of alcohol or controlled substance passed by a 198-0 vote.In State Senate action, a bill sponsored by Senator Dave Argall of Tamaqua which amends "An Act encouraging landowners to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting liability in connection therewith, and repealing certain acts," to entitle the act as the Recreational Use of Land and Water Act. The definition of "recreational purpose" is amended to include walking, jogging, bicycling, exercising and horseback riding on trails and "land" is amended to include trails passed by a 49-0 vote.**********This week's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by award-winning Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz, Sunday, at 7 a.m. on 1410 WLSH and 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5, will feature Pennsylvania Game Commission social media director Lori Neely.**********Hunters traveling during the current bear and upcoming deer seasons are able to check traffic and road conditions on more than 2,900 miles of roadways by calling 511 or logging onto the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's website at

www.511pa.com before leaving for their trip.**********A trap shoot will be held, Thursday, Dec. 1, beginning at 6 p.m., at Orwigsburg Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 443 East, Orwigsburg. For information, e-mail

jafone@comcast.net.**********Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will meet, Thursday, Dec. 1, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at West Penn Archery, South Tamaqua. For information, call Kevin Titus at 570-668-5903.**********A muzzleloader shoot will be held, Sunday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by First Frontier Militia at Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, Road and Gun Club Road, Bowmanstown. For information, call Roger Fisher at 610-377-2812.