Contributed photo Wolf Cub Scout pack 113, from left to right: Jackson Mann, Mrs. Ostrander, Kyle Freda, Anthony Rowlette, James Rowlette, Alex Lander, Jeremy DeGori and Mr. Ostrander. (Click for larger image)

BEACH LAKE - Wolf Cub Scout Pack 113 visited Ostrander's Cider Mill on Tuesday, October 3 to watch how apple cider is made in a 100-year-old cider press. The scouts said the press was loud but interesting, from the way it shredded the apples to how it compressed the mush to produce the cider. Each crate of apples picked produced about three gallons of pure cider.

The Cub Scouts learned about a variety of apples and that different apples have diverse growing seasons and produce different tasting cider.

MATAMORAS - Recent watershed research has shown that impervious cover (paved parking lots, roads, rooftops etc.) has a profound and often irreversible impact on the quality of our nation's aquatic resources. Scientific studies have documented that water quality declines sharply when impervious cover in upstream watersheds exceeds 10 percent. Impervious surfaces increase runoff, which results in greater non-point source pollution. New commercial and residential development in Pennsylvania creates additional impervious surfaces, which can contribute to degradation of water resources.

On Thursday, November 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. a one-day workshop "Growing Greener: Protecting Watersheds through Better Site Design" will take place at the Best Western-Hunt's Landing in Matamoras. The workshop will introduce local municipalities to model land development principles that will reduce impervious cover, which in turn will reduce stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution. The end result of less non-point source pollution will be protection and, in some cases, improvement of existing high-quality water resources.

The workshop will be conducted by the Center for Watershed Protection based in Ellicot City, Maryland and will present 22 model development principles that can help reduce impervious cover, preserve natural open space and protect watersheds from the impacts of non-point source pollution. The workshop will document the environmental and economic benefits associated with innovative development for residential and commercial sites.

The cost is $15 per person and includes lunch, handouts and a copy of "Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing Development Rules in Your Community."

For more information call the Pike County Cooperative Extension office at 570/296-3400 or the Pike County Conservation District office at 570/226-8220.

HAWLEY - "The most famous of all Greek myths, the story of Perseus and Andromeda, is depicted in the night skies of autumn. All the characters in the story-Andromeda, her parents Cassiopeia and Cepheus and her rescuer Perseus-are represented by adjacent constellations," according to the Monthly Sky Guide.

There will be an opportunity to view these constellations as well as other night sky objects through the telescopes of amateur astronomers Al Schultheis and Norman Sullivan On Friday, October 27 from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Delaware Highlands Conservancy's Butterfly Barn nature center. Naturalist Bill Yeaman will also be present.

Telescopes will be set up for viewing in the meadow behind the barn. If the evening is overcast, the program will take place on Saturday, October 28.

This free program is outdoors. Comfortable, warm clothing is recommended.

From NY Rt. 97, cross into PA at the Skinners Falls bridge, turn left on River Road and drive about one mile south to the Conservancy on your left. From PA Rt. 652 drive east through Beach Lake and on to the Delaware River bridge at Narrowsburg. Immediately before the bridge, turn left on the PA River Road and drive about 4.5 miles to the Conservancy on your right. For more information call 570/729-7053 or 570/226-3164.

LIBERTY - Several popular Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) publications are useful during the fall season.

"Venison: Boning, Freezing and Cooking" (147599, $3.25), shows exactly how to prepare the meat for storage in a freezer. Bone removal improves the quality of the meat. Tips on preparing and cooking venison are included.

"Reducing Deer Damage to Home Garden Plantings" (147DD, $3.75) provides information on practical, proven deer damage management programs.

"Resistance of Woody Ornamental Plants to Deer Damage," (147HGGFS800, $2.00) lists which plants deer prefer to eat and which they avoid eating. Landscaping can be planned to attract more or less deer.

"Wildlife Damage Management in Fruit Orchards" (147IB236, $5.50.) This 28-page bulletin tells how to manage damage by deer, voles, woodchucks, rabbits and birds.

"Pest Management Guide for Control of Wildlife 2000" (147RV, $11.50) gives specific methods for controlling damage by deer, birds, raccoons, rabbits, voles, woodchucks, rodents and bats.

Also available are videos on white-tailed deer that provide background and issue information on growing herds. Call Audiovisual Librarian Rich Gray at 607/255-2090 for ordering information.

To obtain publications call CCE at 845/292-6180 or visit www.cce.cornell.edu/publications/catalog.html..

DALLAS - The Pennsylvania Game Commission began releasing ringneck pheasants in anticipation of the upcoming small game hunting seasons, according to Steve Smithonic, Federal Aid Supervisor for the agency's Northeast Region.

"Early releases of approximately 2,800 hens will occur during the week of October 9 throughout the region's 13-county area," Smithonic said. "This should provide for some good dog training opportunities before the actual start of the small game season, set to begin one-half hour before sunrise on Saturday, October 28."

To increase hunter's chances of finding stocked birds during the hunting season, locate state game lands where the habitat is developed and managed for pheasants.

"These publicly-accessible lands reflect intensive pheasant habitat development in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission," Smithonic said. "The remainder of stocked birds will be released on cooperative lands open to public hunting and trapping such as Farm-Game Projects, Safety Zone and Forest-Game Cooperators."

To locate these areas, hunters should look for distinctive Game Commission signs that are provided to cooperating landowners. Hunters are reminded to ask permission before hunting on private property.

According to Carl Riegner, Pennsylvania Game Commission's Propagation Division chief, ideal pheasant range is composed of cropland with corn and sorghum, shrub brush wetlands and small woodlots.

Over the next several weeks, Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers, Deputy WCO's and Food and Cover Corps personnel will release approximately 28,000 pheasants throughout the Northeast Region.

BUSHKILL - Members of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area's search and rescue team, comprised of a high-angle rescue team, an evacuation team, a dive team and seasonal lifeguards, have received a unit citation from Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt for their outstanding search and rescue efforts over recent years and for "their public spirit, unselfish efforts, courageous acts and their overall excellence of service."

The Unit Award for Excellence in Service will be given to team members during a ceremony at the park's Pennsylvania District Office at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 20.

Although the team is headed by the National Park Service, it includes representatives from the New Jersey State Park Service, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry.

The park averages 45 search and rescue incidents each year. On average, over 30 lives are saved annually. This year, search and rescue personnel responded to 49 incidents, including four serious climbing accidents, over 20 water-related emergencies, numerous searches and the evacuation of several injured hikers.