Paula Zelienka of Palmerton is donating two of her watercolor paintings to the Palmerton Area Historical Society for its fundraising events as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

"It makes me feel good that I can use my art to help them," she says.Paula has been painting since she was a little girl. She turned her love of painting into a career.She took watercolor lessons from some of the area's well-known artists like Mary Kocher, Bill Wentz and Liza Buck Goldstein. She also went to Northampton County Community College and studied art. Today she teaches art at St. John Neuman School in Palmerton and K-3 in Slatington and gives youth watercolor lessons at the Palmerton Area Library.Paula is donating two paintings of local scenes. The one that will be raffled off at the Palmerton Community Festival is a fall scene of the bandstand in the park. The other watercolor is of the Inn at William Stoddard, which will be raffled off in December.Both paintings are currently on display at the Palmerton Area Heritage Center at 410 Delaware Ave., Palmerton and you can view them during the hours of Wednesdays 1-4:30 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Fridays 12-6 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m.You can call 610-824-6954 to learn more about the fundraiser."I feel fortunate to be able to help the Heritage Center and the Historical Society in preserving the heritage of Palmerton," she Paula.