Blood drive

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive today from 1-6 p.m., at Our Lady Queen of Peace. Call 1-800-RED-Cross to schedule an appointment or visit redcrossblood.org.C and C topicMembers of the West End Rotary Club are slated to hear about the Rotary International Convention and the RYLA Camp 2013 at the Aug. 1 breakfast meeting at the Western Pocono Community Library. Presenting will be Karin-Susan Breitlauch and Erin Gallagher.Evening worshipZion Lutheran will host an evening worship service Saturday at 5 p.m.Serving othersThe Youth Ministry at Our Lady Queen of Peace has a full agenda of service next week (Aug. 5-9) for those who have signed up and have gotten their release form returned.They will be weeding, planting and tending the Garden of Giving community garden in McMichaels; playing games with folks at Getz Personal Care Home; helping seniors load groceries at ShopRite; cooking for the church's guests; and taking time to review and reflect on said services.Blood drivesDuring the month of August, four Keystone-Miller mobile unit blood drives will be held at the Western Pocono Community Library. The dates are: Aug. 7, Aug. 14, Aug. 21 and Aug. 28 from noon to 6 p.m.To schedule an appointment, call Deb Otto, primary blood drive coordinator, at (610) 691-5850, ext. 1227 or email her at

dotto@hcsc.org.August eventsActivities will be gearing up for the 2013-2014 school year and general fall activities at Pleasant Valley. The school board will meet twice a month, beginning Thursday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. in the Administrative Building in Brodheadsville.The Paw Painting tradition will continue, with that activity taking place by the Class of 2014 on Saturday, Aug. 14.Lioness honor threeThe Western Pocono Lioness Club intends to honor three of its longtime Lioness of advanced age who have given continuous service. They are to be designated as Lifetime Members and will no longer have to pay dues to keep up their membership and voting rights. Those to be honored are founding member Rita Sweeney; 30-year member Ruth Rienstra; and 25-plus-year member Bernice Cook.Busy gardenThe Garden of Giving is heading into peak season with green beans and garlic being the most recent crops. The community is invited to stop at the Garden's site at the Monroe County United Way's Stroudfest on Wednesday, Aug. 31.Anyone with an hour to spare or looking for activities for children is welcome and needed at the Garden in McMichaels. It is a great place to teach them about science, biology, agriculture, farming and the art of giving. There is a play area for those too small to tend the Garden. For more information on opportunities to help, call (570) 402-1282 or email

GardenOfGiving@gmail.com.Traveling seniorsFairview Seniors meet at the Chestnuthill Park Building on the second and fourth Tuesdays, beginning at 10 a.m.The seniors are looking forward to upcoming trips: Aug 28, Casino Days, in conjunction with Mohegan Sun and lunch at Ehrhardt's; Sept. 12, an Italian Festival at Ehrhardt's; and on Oct. 24 a German Fest at Ehrhardt's.Speakers for the upcoming month include someone from the American Red Cross on Aug. 13 and state Rep. Mike Carroll on Aug. 27.