Penn State Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with Butler County Community College, will hold a program, "Marcellus Shale — Natural Gas Exploration and Considerations" Feb. 22 at BC3's Succop Theater.

The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at about 9 p.m. Representatives from Penn State Extension's Marcellus Education Team and Dickinson School of Law, as well as the state Department of Environmental Protection, will discuss water, lumber and leasing considerations as they pertain to the Marcellus shale.

Most prior participants of similar workshops have realized financial rewards worth thousands of dollars and have a greater understanding of Marcellus shale exploration and how it can affect them. The program is intended to inform about the development of natural gas in the region, how it can influence you and the community, and concerns you might need to address as a landowner with property within the Marcellus shale.

The cost of the workshop is $15 per person. Please call the Butler County Extension Office to register to attend at 724-287-4761.

Beekeeping seminar announced

The Western Pennsylvania Beekeeping Seminar will be held Feb. 19 and 20 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township.

Colony Collapse Disorder continues to cause losses of colonies and lowered honey production. Adequate honeybee nutrition and the availability of excellent nectar sources also are concerns of beekeeping managers. The worldwide reduction of insect pollinators is a great stimulus for researchers to provide answers to these questions so there will be adequate pollination for fruits, vegetables, field crops and wildflowers. The program will offer strategies for helping beekeepers address these concerns.

Experts and representatives from local beekeeping organizations, the PA State Beekeepers Association and Penn State Cooperative Extension once again will offer a program to address these concerns to help beekeepers move forward during these difficult times.

The Feb. 19 program will begin at 7 p.m. with a presentation on "International Beekeeping" by Dr. Marion Ellis of the University of Nebraska followed by a panel discussion on "Successful Beekeeping in 2010."

The Feb. 20 program begins with registration at 8 a.m. followed by the program from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All participants will attend a special slate of morning sessions, then, following lunch, participants will attend their choice of workshops in three break-out sessions. The cost of the seminar is $45 for full participants and $20 for spouses or guests. At least one individual per family must register as a full-time participant.

Registration includes an information packet, lunch and refreshments. However, only those registering at the full participant rate will receive an information packet. For a registration brochure, please call Butler County Cooperative Extension at 724-287-4761 or visit http://beaver.exten-sion.psu.edu and click on "Programs and Events," then "Western PA Beekeeping Seminar."

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center complex.