Distracted driving

Pleasant Valley High School students will experience the Distracted Driving/DUI Simulator, a computerized driving program that gives students the experience of driving under the influence of alcohol or unexpected distractions. It has been made available by the Pocono Medical Center, the Lehigh Valley Health Network and the Monroe County Community Safety Program.The simulator is unique in that students experience driving while systematic distractions appear on the screen. Cell phone usage, swerving, speeding, careless drivers, pedestrians, dogs running into the street, etc., can lead to crashes that educate the driver not only on how much the damage will cost to repair their vehicle, but also fines and court appearances.The Distracted Driving/DUI Simulator is also available for adult groups and organizations. Since cell phone usage and texting has become an obsession for drivers of all ages, everyone can benefit from reexamining how risky and deadly this distraction can be.The simulator will be at Pleasant Valley High School Monday and also at the Safety Fair in the evening.For more information, contact Nina M. Woodling, Monroe County Community Safety Program, at 570-517-3164.Dems meetThe West End Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the firehouse on Route 715 in Brodheadsville. Committee persons living in the West End or candidates for the upcoming election are invited to join the gathering. Current members and newcomers who wish to contribute toward enhancing the visibility of Democrats in the West End are welcome.From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday the group is asking for volunteers to help with a second pet food drive for elderly pet owners who are served by Meals on Wheels, which will deliver the food collected at the drive.That drive will take place at ShopRite (Kinsley's) in Brodheadsville.School board meetsThe Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education will meet at 8 p.m. Thursday.Help welcomedEldred Township Community Center in Kunkletown will be the site of a Community Cleanup Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers are asked to bring rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and gloves to help clean up the outside of the building. Some inside touch-up work is needed as well.Those able to help are asked to respond via email or sign up at the township building. There will be a sheet available on the front counter weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.An open house at the center, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will follow on May 3.Lions Bowl-a-thonThe Western Pocono Lions Club will hold its annual Lions Bowl-a-thon on Saturday at the Blue Valley Lanes in Wind Gap from noon to 3 p.m. The club invites other clubs in the district to join in and bowl for the Traveling Trophy. Western Pocono Lions currently holds the trophy, but any club is welcome to come and try and win it for the next year. Non-Lions can bowl also.Cleanup timeSaturday will be cleanup time at the VanBuskirk/Haney Park in Ross Township Park on Anchorage Road. Volunteers should meet at the park at 9 a.m. They are asked to bring a rake to loosen up the playground mulch.For more information contact Bernie Kozen at 570-992-9733.Benevolence fundraiserMiddlecreek Christian Church, 343 Dorshimer Road, Kresgeville, will hold its rummage and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A bag sale will be held between noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday.Call 570-629-4066 for more information and directions. Proceeds will go to a benevolence fund to help provide for people's needs.Lioness eventA Holistic Fair will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Polk Township Fire House on Route 209 in Kresgeville. There is an admission for adults but children under 10 are free.To reserve available space call Mary Ann at 570-620-6377.There will be holistic foods and items for sale, even organic foods for pets. Sessions will be available for massage, Reiki and readings. More information is available at

wplcholisiticfair@gmail.com.For further information about the Western Pocono Lioness Club, call Ruth at 610-381-4274.Benefit dinnerEffort UMC will hold a fundraising dinner from 3 to 7 p.m., Saturday. The church is air-conditioned and elevator accessible.Takeouts will be available.The meal for adults includes a half barbecued chicken, mashed potato, corn, cole slaw or apple sauce, roll and butter; coffee, tea or cold beverages; and homemade desserts. Children under 3 eat free when accompanied by family.For costs, call the church at 570-629-1890.Schedule changeOur Lady Queen of Peace Church has a schedule change on its calendar. The 10:30 Mass this Sunday and next will be at 10 a.m. for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.Pops concertPleasant Valley Choral Society presents Spring Pops 15 My Music! at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium at Pleasant Valley High School, Route 209 in Brodheadsville.Tickets may be purchased at the door. For more information call 570-402-2026. Children under 12 are free. Refreshments are available in the lobby following each performance.PVCS will be donating portions of the ticket sales to a local charity focused on Veteran's issues, VALOR. To find out more about VALOR (Veterans Assisted Living Out Reach) visit

http://www.valorclinic.org/.Two adoption eventsSafe Haven Pet Rescue will hold a dog adoption day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Ace Hardware, Route 209, Brodheadsville (next to Dunkleberger's). Safe Haven requires a pre-adoption application with references and a home visit before adoption.Volunteers are needed to help with adoption days, fundraising, transporting dogs to vets and groomers and fostering homeless dogs until they find their forever homes.For more information and to find a list of dogs available for adoption and adoption applications, visit

www.SafeHavenPa.org. Contact Safe Haven at

SafeHaven@epix.net. Join Safe Haven Pa on Facebook.Boomer's Angels will hold a Meet & Greet day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday as well, but at Tractor Supply in Brodheadsville.The community is invited to come and meet the adoptable dogs, cats, and small animals that Boomer's Angels Animal Rescue and Care has for adoption.All adoptions must be pre-approved so it is advised to fill out an application in advance. Visit

www.boomersangels.com for an application.Volunteers who will foster animals are needed as well. Everything a fostering individual needs is supplied by the group.Email

boomersangels@gmail.com or visit the website at

www.boomersangels.com, find the group on Facebook, or call 570-350-4977.Academic FairPleasant Valley High School will hold its Academic Fair from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. There will also be a senior art show by the new auditorium during those hours.Polk SupervisorsThe Polk Township Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, at the municipal building in Kresgeville.Special bingoMrs. Bush's in Kunkletown is hosting a free community Senior gift card bingo Tuesday, with doors opening at 1 p.m. and bingo beginning at 1:30 p.m.All winners will receive gift cards to local restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and more.Participants must preregister by calling Carrie at 610-381-1009 or email at carrie@mrs.bushcares.comKnit & CrochetZion Lutheran Church's Knit & Crochet group will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday. You do not have to be a knitter or crocheter to join. Members will teach newcomers and supplies can be provided as the group has some available.Cloverbud ClubMonroe County 4-H is starting a new club for children ages 5 to 8 as of Jan. 1. The 4-H Cloverbud program encourages creativity, play and serves as a natural steppingstone to membership in a regular 4-H project club.The program offers over 50 different short-term, activity-based lessons on such topics as healthy living, science, environmental education, expressive arts, and more. If interested attend the orientation meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Penn State Extension office in Stroudsburg.For more information contact Penn State Extension, 724 Phillips Street, Suite 201, Stroudsburg; call 570-421-6430; or email

MonroeExt@psu.edu.Lioness meetThe Western Pocono Lioness will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert. The business meeting will begin at 6:45 with accepting nominations from the floor and the report of the Nominating Committee.Items will be collected for AWSOM, Animal Welfare Society of Monroe, including Pedigree and Purina foods, towels, blankets, rags, cleaning supplies, and soaps, which are also neededRepublican ClubThe West End Republican Club will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cherry's Sunset Family Restaurant in Kresgeville. The optional dinner is at 6 p.m.Eldred HistoricalThe Historical Society of Eldred will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.Information eventRepresentatives from the Office of the Attorney General will speak about the dangers of surfing the Internet, cyber bullying, identity theft and protecting personal information and other safety issues at a forum from 6 to 8 p.m. April 29 at the Chestnuthill Township Park in Brodheadsville.It is co-hosted by Sen. Mario Scavello, Rep. Jack Rader, Rep. Dave Parker and Rep. Rosemarie Brown.For more information and to register, call Sen. Scavello's Monroe County office 570-620-4326 or email Grace Marks at

gmarks@pasen.gov.Light refreshments will be available.Alpaca ClubA new 4-H Alpaca Club is forming for ages 8-18 years old. An informational meeting will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. May 3 at Pohopoco Creek Alpaca Farm, Merwinsburg Road, Effort.To attend the meeting and to find out more, preregister by May 1 at the Monroe Extension office by calling Sherri Williams at 570-421-6430.There is no cost to attend this meeting, however to belong to a club there is an annual educational resource fee of $20 per child.PVEN needsPleasant Valley Ecumenical Network needs peanut butter and jelly, large boxes of unsweetened cereals, macaroni and cheese and soups.Clothing needs include: diapers size 1, boys lightweight jackets, school socks of all sizes, young women's junior clothing of all sizes, men's sweats in all sizes, men's tee shirts size small. Linens, crib sheets and receiving blankets.Drop off donations at the PVEN Center Tuesdays and Fridays during the morning.