The Pennsylvania Game Commission is offering free hunter and trapper education courses. All first-time hunters must complete the course before purchasing a license. Participants must be at least 11 years old on the last day of a selected course.

The remaining 2009 courses in Butler County are listed below. Online Pre-registration is highly encouraged, and in some cases, mandatory.

• 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 9, Tarentum District Sportsmen's' Club. Classroom portion of independent study; must register online and complete requirements before class.

• 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 9 and 11 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12, Moraine Sportsmen's Association.

• 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 11 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 12, Evans City Sportsmen's Club

• 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 14 and 6 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 15 and 16, Saxonburg Sportsmen's Association.

• 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 17 and 18 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 19, Jennings Environmental Education Center.

• 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 18 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 19, Butler City Hunting and Fishing Club.

• 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 5 and 6 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 6 and 7, Saxonburg Sportsmen's Association.

• 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 17, Jennings Environmental Education Center. Classroom portion of independent study; must register online and complete requirements before class.

For information or registration, visit www.hte.state.pa.us.

SUMMIT TWP — The Herman Volunteer Fire Company is conducting its annual fund drive.Any township resident who did not receive a solicitation in the mail may donate by mailing a check to the Herman V.F.C., P.O. Box 87, Herman PA 16039.

MUDDY CREEK TWP —The Moraine Preservation Fund will offer a special weekday cruise at 1 p.m. Tuesday on Lake Arthur. A guide will be on board.For information or reservations, call 724-368-9185.

GIBSONIA — The Bakerstown United Methodist Church will host a trunk sale from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 19 at the intersection of Route 8 and Dickey Road.For information or to reserve a vendor spot, call Donna Williams at 724-443-6108 or Ellen Kelley at 724-443-8479.

WINFIELD TWP — Concordia Lutheran Ministries will recognize National Adult Day Services Week with a cookie festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 23 in the Lund Care Center Adult Day Services area.The festival is open to the community and will feature an open house of the expanded ADS area and free tutorials of Concordia's new touch screen computers with MindFit technology. Homemade cookies will be available for $2 per dozen.Proceeds benefit ADS programming. For information, call the program director at 800-352-1571, Ext. 8271.