Ash Wednesday services

Effort UMC will hold its worship service at 7 p.m., with the message being The Everlasting Supper, based on Luke 22:14-20.McMichaels UMC will host an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, will have services and Mass: 7 a.m.-Service/Ashes; 12:10 p.m. Mass/Ashes; 4 p.m. Service/Ashes; 7 p.m. Mass/Ashes.Pleasant Valley Presbyterian, Brodheadsville, will be having an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. after a light supper at 6.St. John's Lutheran, Effort, will have an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.St. Matthew's UCC, Kunkletown, will begin its observance of Lent with a simple soup meal at 6 p.m. followed by worship at 7 p.m. that will include the Imposition of Ashes.During the other Wednesdays of Lent, St. Matthew's will combine with four other churches during Lent for a simple meal and Lenten worship.Those churches are Salem UCC, Gilbert, Feb. 25; Salem-St. Paul Lutheran, Kresgeville, March 4; Jerusalem UCC, Trachsville, March 11; St. Matthew's UCC, Kunkletown, March 18; and Jerusalem Lutheran, Trachsville, March 25.The theme for the Lenten series is: The Parables of Jesus.Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, will continue to offer Ashes to Go. Pastor Ann Melot will be in the lot from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. today.For those who are able to attend, there will be an Ash Wednesday Worship Service at 7:30 p.m. that will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes.Salem-St. Paul Lutheran, Kresgeville, will hold a service at 7 p.m. including Imposition of Ashes and Holy CommunionChestnuthill planningThe township Planning Commission is slated to meet at 7 p.m. today at the township municipal building.Next Wednesday, the historical society is on the calendar.Rotary speakerThe West End Rotary Club will welcome Charlotte Wright from the Burnley Workshop at its breakfast meeting Thursday.The club meets at 8:30 a.m. at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville.Zion's seniorsNot only does the county group the Chestnuthill Seniors meet at Zion Lutheran Church every Wednesday and Friday, but the church has its own social group.That group, Zion's Seniors, meets the third Thursday of the month, beginning at 11 a.m.The leader is Lynda Costenbader.WE Little LeagueThe February West End Little League meeting is at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at the Chestnuthill Park Building.Everyone involved is encouraged to attend.Habitat repairsMonroe County Habitat for Humanity's main goal this year is home preservation. The group is active in the West End with this program, working on three homes right now in Effort, Saylorsburg and Kunkletown.Executive Director Kelly Kemmerer reports that Habitat is on its 13th repair and hopes to have 23 completed before July. There is a need of more applicants for this program.Volunteers, both experienced and nonexperienced, are needed, as are donations. One of the major fundraisers is Cars for Homes. Cars donated in a Monroe County area code directly benefit Monroe County Habitat for Humanity.For more information about Habitat for Humanity, contact the Monroe office at 570-476-9846 or visit

www.habitatmc.org, or on Facebook at MCHabitat.PV ProudPleasant Valley High School's Monroe Career and Technical Institute students came home with 16 first-, second- and third-place wins from the SkillsUSA District 11 Championships held in Allentown.The two first-place winners will compete in the Pennsylvania SkillsUSA Championships April 8-10 in Hershey.Bird feedersThe West End Park and Open Space Commission will host a free Make Pine Cone Bird Feeders program at the Chestnuthill Park, 221 Route 715, Brodheadsville from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.Participants will get everything needed to make a bird feeder to hang and watch the birds enjoy a snack.PTO basket auctionThe doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday for the PVI PTO basket auction. Calling starts at 2 p.m. The snow date is Feb. 28.Senior center menuBroccoli, egg and cheese casserole will be the meal at the Chestnuthill Senior Center, meeting at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville on Friday.Next Wednesday it is roast pork.Participants are reminded to call 570-242-6770 by 11 a.m. the day before to register for the meal.Doors are open at the center Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.AARP refresherAt 1 p.m., Saturday, a four-hour AARP Driver Refresher course will be offered at the Chestnuthill Township Park. For information call 570-619-4006.Boy Scout SundayTroop 98 and Pack 98 will celebrate Scout Sunday this Sunday at the noon Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace, with light refreshments to follow in McCawley Hall.Tax helpThe AARP Tax Assistance Group from Lehighton will be at the Salem United Church of Christ off Route 209 on Monday and Thursday mornings, 9 a.m. to noon. If Pleasant Valley Schools have a two-hour delay, the hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to noon.Night of UnityMany local clubs, organizations, government entities and businesses, such as the PVHS Leo Club, Mrs. Bush's Personal Care Homes and Western Pocono Lions Club, will be at Pleasant Valley's Night of Unity from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.The snow date is Wednesday.Lioness Club meetsThe Western Pocono Lioness Club will have its Tuesday meeting at the new time of 6:30 p.m. The club meets at the American Legion Post Home on Route 209 in Gilbert.The community is invited to come and enjoy a piece of cake, a cup of coffee and see how to participate and the new schedule of events for the year. The March meeting will include guest speaker Carol Petrucci, a wellness advocate.Future club plans include a Holistic Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 25 at the Polk Township Fire House in Kresgeville. There will be an admission fee, although children under 10 are admitted free. To reserve available space, call Lioness Mary Ann at 570-620-6377.For more information about the club, call Lioness Ruth at 610-381-4274 or visit

www.westernpoconolioness.org.West End GOPThe West End Republican Party will meet Tuesday at Cherry's Family Restaurant in Kresgeville, beginning at 7 p.m.The optional dinner begins at 6 p.m.West End DemsThe West End Democratic Club will be taking part in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Stroudsburg March 22 at Stroudsburg High School on Main Street.Volunteers are needed to help decorate the float at 11:30 a.m. March 22.The parade will start at 1 p.m. Those planning to walk in the parade can arrive at 12:30.For more information, call 570-619-5556.Lions Bowl-a-thonThe Western Pocono Lions Club will hold its annual Lions Bowl-a-thon on April 25 at the Blue Valley Lanes in Wind Gap from noon to 3 p.m.The club is inviting other clubs in the district to join in and bowl for the Traveling Trophy. Currently Western Pocono Lions is holding the trophy, but any club is welcome to come and try to win it for the next year.Lions Fred Klein, Dave Rowan and Rick Zimmerman are in charge. Non-Lions can bowl also.More details will follow.