Lecture tonight

The new lecture series at the Western Pocono Community Library's Heritage Center in Brodheadsville begins today at 6:30 p.m. Peter Kern will present his program titled: Duracell Batteries and Matchbox Cars - What Do They Have in Common?This lecture is free and open to the public. All lecture series programs, however, require preregistration, so call the Heritage Center at 570-402-1906 or the library at 570-992-7934 to reserve your seats.WEPOSC meetsThe West End Park and Open Space Commission will meet at 7 p.m. today at the Chestnuthill Township Park building.Rotary speakerThe West End Rotary will welcome Jennifer Pandolfo, Director of the Center for Vision Loss, at its breakfast meeting Thursday. The Center for Vision Loss is a nonprofit serving Monroe County and is located in Snydersville.The club meets at 7:30 a.m. at the Western Pocono Community Library on Pilgrim Way in Brodheadsville.Shingles vaccineAccording to Eldred Township, the Monroe County Health Center is offering two low-cost shingles vaccine clinics. The clinics will be held at the Monroe County State Health Center at 1972 W. Main St. Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360.The first date is Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m.Registration must be made at 570-424-3020. Vaccinations are for people who have no insurance or if insurance does not cover the vaccine. Those with insurance can get the vaccine at CVS or Rite Aid but should make sure it is medical insurance, not just the prescription insurance information.PVEN meetsThe Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network board meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville.Chorus concertThe Pleasant Valley High School chorus concert will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday in the New Auditorium. There is no admission charge.PVSD boardThe Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education will meet in public session at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Administrative Center in Brodheadsville.Chestnuthill SeniorsThe menu for the West End Senior Center, held at Zion Lutheran Church in the Fellowship Room, for this Friday is meatball sandwich. For next week Wednesday it is beef and bean chili.For meal reservations call Dolores Casalaspro, manager, one day in advance by 11 a.m. at 570-242-6770 or 570-420-3735. Suggested meal donation is $2.Bingo nightThe West End Park and Open Space Commission will host a bingo night at the Chestnuthill Township Park in Brodheadsville at 6:30 p.m. Friday.Doors open at 5:30.For more information, contact 570-992-9733 or

bkozen@ptd.net.Baseball workoutsBaseball winter workouts will be starting Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the PVHS old gym. They are for players ages 8-12 for the upcoming season. They will be held Friday nights through mid-March. Times and dates may be adjusted due to PVSD activities.Contact Dee Hoch at

dhoch_wellvp@yahoo.com with any questions.New Year partySalem-St. Paul's youth group, Teen Towers, will have a New Year party Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m.Men's group meetsEffort UMC Men's Group will meet at 9 a.m. in the former day care kitchen area. The men will be having a light breakfast and will be taking a few moments to get to know each other better. Then they will be reading and discussing the book "Hope, Your Heart's Deepest Longings" by Jack Kuhatschek. This group is being led by Steve Johnson, Mark Wells and Ron Wichman.ScherenschnitteThe next Scherenschnitte class in Eldred Township, led by Mrs. Andrews, is begins at 2 p.m. Saturday. There is a fee.For more information call E. Ann Velopolcek, Eldred administrative assistant, at 610-381-4252, ext. 2.Bereavement GroupThe Bereavement Support Group at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church meets at 1 p.m. (please note time change) in the Café. The next meetings are Sunday and Jan., 31. For more information, contact the office at 610- 681-6137.Anyone who has suffered a loss is welcome to attend the meetings. These meetings are educational and help others to share and help others walk in the journey of grief.Mass scheduleOur Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, returns to a one-priest schedule from Jan. 18 to Jan. 30. Daily Mass will be offered at 12:10 p.m. Monday and at 8 a.m. Tuesday through Friday.Winnie the PoohOn Monday, Winnie the Pooh Day, Western Pocono Community Library will be reading Pooh stories throughout the day, a new story or story group beginning every half-hour. Other special Winnie the Pooh festivities will be going on throughout the day. For more information, contact the library at 570-992-7934.Students offPleasant Valley School District students will have a day off on Monday in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Day.Prayer shawlsThe Effort UMC Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet to work and chat at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Newcomers are welcome.SupervisorsThe Chestnuthill Board of Township Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.The Planning Commission is slated to meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday.Both meetings will take place in the township's municipal building on Route 715.Eldred HistoricalThe Eldred Township Historical Society is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.PVMS meetingThe Pleasant Valley Middle School PTO/PAC meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 20 in the conference room in the main office.Little LeagueThe West End Little League will be having its annual spring registration for all WELL divisions at the PVHS old auditorium, by the guidance entrance, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 23, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 28.West End Little League is open to boys and girls ages 4-16 who reside in the Pleasant Valley School District-Ross, Polk, Chestnuthill and Eldred townships.New and returning players are required to submit copies of proof of age and residency at time of registration. Copies for each player's files should be brought.Age documents include birth certificate, passport or military documents.Three residency documents are required and must include the actual street address (no P.O. box or RR). Acceptable documents include driver's license, vehicle registrations, rent/mortgage statements, utility bills, financial statements, etc.Three checks will be needed. Cash is not acceptable.The next League meeting will be held Jan. 21 at the Chestnuthill Park Building on Route 715.The meetings are open to the community and all members of the league.Plan to giveThe Kunkletown Fire House will be a site for an American Red Cross blood drive from 1-6 p.m. Jan. 29.Donors will be able to give blood and double red cells. Call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) for more information.A Keystone-Miller blood drive is held every Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville.For an appointment, call 800-223-6667.Handbag fundraiserThe West End Rotary Club will host its annual bingo event on Jan. 31 with a return to its traditional location, the West End Fire Hall, located behind Wawa at 128 Route 715, Brodheadsville.Doors open at noon and bingo starts at 1 p.m. Door prizes, raffles and lunch will be available. Tickets are available at the Sciota, Gilbert and Tannersville branches of First Northern Bank and Trust; Creature Comforts Veterinary center, and West End Happenings. They are also available at the door or by calling 570-350-4169.This year's bingo event will give players two chances to win: one for themselves, and one for children who can't afford a warm coat. Players can compete for prizes that include designer handbags by Kate Spade, Coach and Michael Kors.Proceeds from the event will fund Operation Warm, a program that provides new winter coats to needy children in the region. To date, West End Rotary has furnished hundreds of coats to children whose families cannot afford them.Proceeds will also benefit projects on the club's community wish list.Tax assistanceThe schedule for AARP and IRS-VITA/TCE Tax Program for the 2015 tax year for the West End will be handled by the AARP Tax Assistance Group from Lehighton at the Salem United Church of Christ off Route 209 in Gilbert.If Pleasant Valley schools have a two-hour delay, the hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to noon.Philly Flower ShowThe West End Park and Open Space Commission is sponsoring a bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 7. The bus will depart at 7 a.m. from Chestnuthill Park, 221 Route 715 Brodheadsville, and return at 7:30 p.m.Explore America celebrates 100 years of the National Park service. Lunch is on one's own at the Convention Center or at any of the nearby local eateries including the Reading Terminal Market. For cost or other information call 570-992-9733.Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or

arargot3@verizon.net. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or

tneditor@tnonline.com.