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Briefs…

Photo submitted to Times Observer Lydia Latimer, center, of Warren Area High School, accompanied by her parents Greg and Dede Latimer, was honored by Warren Rotary Club as its February Student of the Month. She has been on the volleyball, swim, and track teams, as well as Varsity Club, Yearbook staff, and Spanish Club. She plans to attend Cleveland State University for Environmental Science, and to play Division I volleyball.

Christian Women luncheon

Warren Christian Women, Village Missions Country Partners, will hold its March “Luck of the Irish ” luncheon on Tuesday, March 12, at the Allegheny Community Center, 42 Clark St., Warren, from noon to 2 p.m.

The featured guest will be Warren’s Ray Goetz, “On God’s Train,” with two-fold participation as our musical guest, as well as an expert informant on model railroading.

Goetz, who is also legally blind, will speak on the history of railroading, and how his love of trains turned into a hobby and passion. He will share how he built up his extensive basement layout replica of a collection of over 500 locomotives, and model of a refinery, with eight cities built around it. His love of trains began as a child with his anticipation of seeing the American Flyer under the annual Christmas tree.

The spiritual speaker will be the Rev. Marcus Briggs, chaplain of the Warren County Jail ministry.

Bring a brown bag item for exchange from last month, and wear your Irish colors Men, women, and new guests are welcome. Call Lee Jones at 723-5952 for reservations by March 6.

Heroes support group

Heroes, a support group for parents of children with all disabilities, will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Jefferson Room at Jefferson DeFrees Family Center.

This is a kid-friendly meeting with activities for the children.

The speakers are Nichole Haight, M. Ed., licensed behavior specialist, and Alecia Stickey, M. Ed., behavior specialist consultant.

Every behavior has a reason. The speakers will explain what they are and some strategies on how to help your child.

For information, search HEROES on Facebook.

Garland VFD events

Garland Volunteer Fire Department will host a Spring Raffle at the Garland Fire Hall at 7 p.m. March 30/ Doors open at 6 p.m.

Garland VFD will also host a benefit fish fry from 5 to 7:30 p.m. April 19.

For information, call (814) 688-8729.

Forestry forum in Kane

Nicole Chinnici, laboratory director of the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory in East Stroudsburg, will present an update of the latest developments on ticks in the eastern United States and their implications to woodworkers and recreationists at the April 11 Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum in Kane.

The title of her presentation is “Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases in PA.” The Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory is an integrated service of the Department of Biological Sciences within East Stroudsburg University. The lab utilizes state-of-the-art genotyping equipment and can differentiate genetic variation with and among populations and species of wildlife for biological and forensic applications.

Chinnici’s expertise at the lab includes handling wildlife forensic casework, creating and managing wildlife forensic databases, and mentoring students in molecular biology research including population genetics. Nicole assists in prevalence studies of diseases associated with black-legged ticks.

Chinnici’s presentation will be of interest to forest managers, foresters, biologists, loggers, and all recreationists using the forests. Several species of ticks thrive in Pennsylvania forests, posing health threats to humans and pets by transmitting pathogens, such as Lyme’s disease, through tick bites. The presentation will cover tick biology and trends, and steps that hose working or recreation in the woods can take to minimize their exposure to tick bites and tick-borne pathogens.

Continuing Forestry Education credits apply to this presentation.

Chinnici has served as the lead facilitator of the PA Lyme Resource Network since January of 2015. She started at the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory in May of 2013 and became the Director in September of 2017. Nicole received her certification as a Certified Wildlife Forensic Scientist from the Society of Wildlife Forensic Science in December of 2107.

The forum will be held at Grandma Bair’s Conference Center at 608 North Fraley Street, downtown Kane, and the conference center shares a parking lot with the Save-A-Lot grocery store.

Preceding the talk will be a no-host social hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. The program will start immediately after dinner. Reservations are required. Early reservations received on or before Thursday, March 28, are $25. Reservations from March 29 through April 4 will cost $30. No reservations will be accepted after April 4. The cost for full-time students pursuing a natural resource degree is $10.

For reservations, contact the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, PO Box 133, Kane, Pa., 16735, at (814) 837-8550 or fax to (814) 837-4950, or e-mail hardwood@penn.com.

Nature Paint Night at Audubon

Don’t know how to paint? Have you always wanted to give it a try?

Come to Audubon Community Nature Center (ACNC) for a “Nature Paint Night,” where you will be provided with everything you need to create your own nature-inspired masterpiece.

On Wednesday, March 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Audubon Seasonal Naturalist Emily Rechin will provide step-by-step instructions as well as information on the nature subject to be painted. Beginner to advanced artists is welcome.

Refreshments will be provided. Bring your friends and get your paint on at ACNC.

You will want to wear clothes you won’t mind getting paint on.

Tuition for the class is $28, $21 for Nature Center members. All materials supplied.

Enrollment is limited. Reservations are appreciated by Wednesday, March 6, and can be made by calling (716) 569-2345 during business hours or online at the Programs page at auduboncnc.org. (From your cell phone, click on Plan Your Visit > Attend a Program > Programs and Workshops/Current Schedule.)

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren.

Bones, Sculls, and Scat

Animals leave all sorts of things behind — bones, skulls, even scat. While these may not seem like they would tell you much about the animal they came from, each one helps tell something. Learn all about how to use these different pieces to identify different animals, and use them to solve nature crimes.

You and the three- to an eight-year-old child(ren) in your life are invited to be part of Audubon Community Nature Center’s Little Explorers on Saturday, March 9, 10-11:30 a.m., when “Bones, Skulls, and Scat” will be the topic.

The program includes an indoor lesson followed by outdoor exploration and a snack. If time and weather allow, a craft is included. Little Explorers takes place rain, snow or shine, so be sure to dress for the weather.

The fee for the program is $8 for adults, $6 for Nature Center members and children. Reservations are required by Thursday, March 7, and can be made by calling (716) 569-2345 during business hours or online through the Programs page atauduboncnc.org. Little Explorers takes place regularly on the second Saturday of the month, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Audubon education programs are funded with support from the Carnahan Jackson Foundation, Jessie Smith Darrah Fund, Holmberg Foundation, Hultquist Foundation, and Lenna Foundation.

Building hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 4 p.m. The 600-acre wetland preserve, with more than five miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing and Liberty, the non-releasable Bald Eagle, can be visited from dawn until dusk daily.

To learn more about Audubon and its many programs, call (716) 569-2345 during business hours or visit auduboncnc.org.

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