Under the Night Sky: Half the Park is After Dark in Muncy

Under the Night Sky: Half the Park is After Dark in Muncy

School’s out for summer, so bring the kids to the park after dark. They’ll look millions of years into the past as they use telescopes and binoculars to gaze at stars, planets, the Milky Way and more at Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail when Muncy Historical Society hosts its “Under the Night Sky” on Tuesday, June 14.

Chris Dalla Piazza, an amateur astronomer and astrophotographer since 1992, will lead the night-sky viewing program at the society’s Heritage Park and Nature Trail location, 601 Pepper Street, Muncy.

As darkness falls, park guests will be invited to join Della Piazza at the Educational Pavilion where he will discuss his interest in astronomy and outline what will be visible through the park-provided telescope experience.

According to Dall Piazza, “There will be a shadow transit on Jupiter by Ganymede and an eclipse of Callisto on Friday, June 17, which will make for a rich observing experience to dovetail into a talk about Jupiter’s moons.”

At a minimum, the telescopes will search out double stars or perhaps a star cluster and, if Saturn and the Moon clear the tree line, they, too, might be viewable.

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Muncy Cup an enjoyable challenge, meaningful charity event

Hole-in-One Contest Worth $10,000,
a Putting Contest Worth $5,000

The two-person team of Curtis Reese and Mike Vergari earned first-place honors at the 2015 Muncy Cup golf event.

MUNCY – The annual Muncy Cup Golf Tournament, sponsored by Muncy Historical Society begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. June 11 at Wynding Brook Golf Club, Milton.

Now in its 17th year, the event is a major fundraiser for Muncy Historical Society’s community outreach objectives, including its quest to develop a Heritage Park and Nature Trail. Located along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, the park highlights historical Port Penn, a commercial and residential suburb of the town of Muncy that blossomed out of the West Branch Canal industry of the 1800s.

In return for the $80 registration fee ($160 per two-person team), golfers enjoy green fees, a cart, refreshments, lunch, a “goodie” bag, and on-course men’s and women’s “closest to the pin,” “longest drive” and a “hole-in-one” contest. There are optional activities such as a skins game, a $5,000 putting contest, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing. Registration deadline is June 5 and is limited to amateur golfers, 18 years and older.

This all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization encourages and supports a number of educational initiatives including special exhibits and living history programs.

Muncy Historical Society’s Heritage Park Completes River Access Project

River access at Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail.

River enthusiasts, canoeists and kayakers have another gorgeous access point to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, this one overlooking a significant historic site: the Last Raft Crash Site at Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail.

Muncy Historical Society built the trail, another phase of the organization’s Master Plan for its Heritage Park and Nature Trail.  Partnering with the Lycoming County Commissioners and the County Planning and Community Development office, the Historical Society secured funding through the County’s Legacy Fund Account – a designated allocation of Act 13 funds provided to the County by the Public Utility Commission specifically for parks. 

With this funding, along with a significant financial commitment from the Society’s own board of directors, the soft landing site for small boats such as canoes and kayaks following the West Branch Water Trail has been completed from the river’s edge to the entrance of the park.

The scope of the project included many elements, including GIS mapping of the site, as well as securing a Department of Environmental Protection General Permit (GP-2) requiring notification of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering.

Hands on Heritage provided a Phase 1 Archaeological Survey of the one-third acre prior to development, enabling landscape architects at BSA / LA to construct a 200-foot-long, gravel trail, providing canoe and kayak river access from Pepper Street in Muncy Creek Township to the West Branch Susquehanna River.

The Betty Louise

Muncy’s historic and cultural heritage has always been tied to the Susquehanna River and the park’s location is ideal to celebrate its legacy.

One feature of the park is the Betty Louise – our replica Pennsylvania canal boat shown below. 

Muncy Historical Society volunteers traveled to Easton two years ago to dismantle the large cargo boat exhibit belonging to the PA Canal Society.