Ash Wednesday services

Area churches are holding Ash Wednesday services.• Effort UMC will hold a service at 7 p.m., after a Lenten Bible study titled "Give Up Something Bad." Light dinners will be served during the study time, which will run from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Sign-ups are requested.• McMichaels UMC will hold a service at 7 p.m. for the Imposition of Ashes and blessings.• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, will hold Mass with ashes at 12:10 p.m.; a prayer service at 4 p.m. and Mass at 7 p.m. with ashes.Confessions during Lent will be heard Mondays at 6:30 p.m.; Fridays from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and Saturdays from 4 to 4:45 p.m.• St. Matthew's UCC in Kunkletown will have a soup supper at 6 p.m. and a service at 7 p.m.• Salem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, will do an Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion service at noon and at 7:30 p.m.• Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, will offer ashes by way of a drive-thru at the church from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. today. A regular service for Ash Wednesday will be held at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a soup supper from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and a study that begins at 6:30 p.m.The study will be focused on: My Neighbor is a Muslim, Exploring the Muslim Faith.The service will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes.The Brodheadsville church will be working on putting a Welcome Box together during Lent in support of the Lutheran Children and Family Service Refugee Resettlement Program.WEPOSC meetsThe West End Park and Open Space Commission will meet at 7 p.m. today at the Chestnuthill Township Park Building in Brodheadsville.Friends of WEPOSC will meet at 6:45 p.m.Eldred supervisorsThe next meeting of the Eldred Township board of supervisors will be at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company, Kunkletown Road, Kunkletown.Exercise timeThe Kunkletown Fire Hall has room for more people to join Pocono Medical Center's older adult exercise program directed by Rosemary Allocco, an exercise physiologist.The half-hour class meets at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for mild to moderate progressive stretching and low-intensive exercises for older adults to help better movement, flexibility and even endurance. Music is included.Call Rosemary at 570-422-8340 for more information.PVEN boardThe Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network's Board of directors will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville.King and QueenThe Chestnut Ridge Seniors will meet at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Volunteer Fire Company in Kunkletown. The doors open at 9 a.m. for games, cards or just chatting.It is open to those age 55 and over. Bring a bag lunch.Bingo will be played, but the crowning of a king and queen is a special event this meeting, and cupcakes will be served in honor of Valentine's Day.Tax helpAARP will be doing taxes at Salem United Church of Christ, 117 Corner Road, Gilbert.The trained volunteers will be at the church from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Thursdays through April 18. First come, first served.Community mealOur Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, has several community meals during the month.The West End Mission has one every Thursday from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.On Feb. 14 one will be held from 3 to 4 p.m.Next week Wednesday a luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m.All meals are in McCawley Hall.School boardThe Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education will meet in public session at 8 p.m. Thursday at the district office in Brodheadsville.Seniors menuThe Chestnut Hill Seniors meeting at Zion Lutheran Church in the Fellowship Hall in Brodheadsville on Fridays and Wednesday will be served turkey sausage on Friday and roast turkey next Wednesday.Registration for the meal should be made by 11 a.m. the day before with the site manager at 570-242-6770 or 570-420-3735.A donation of $2 is requested.Breakfast servedMcMichaels UMC is having a donation-only breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.Valentine's danceThe Eldred Township Community Center will be hosting a Valentine's Day dance from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Kunkletown Firehouse. Tickets are available in advance and at the door. Refreshments will be available. There will be a DJ and other activities. All profits benefit the Community Center.Stop by the township office for costs or to sign up, or see Linda Kile.Family tableSt. Matthew's UCC, Kunkletown, will host its Family Table service at noon Sunday. Folks are invited to the alternative worship service with country and gospel music.No workoutsWest End Little League softball winter workouts will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. every Sunday in the PVHS Old Gym.The time is divided into: girls ages 5-10 (2nd year T-ball, Instructional and Minors) and new players up to 12 years old can attend from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; girls ages 11-16 (2nd year Minors, returning Majors and Jr./Sr.) can attend from 5:30-7:30 p.m.There will be no workouts Feb. 14, Feb. 28 or March 6.Students offPleasant Valley School students will have the day off from school Monday in recognition of Presidents Day.Diversity Task ForceThe Pleasant Valley School District Diversity Task Force will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the district office in Brodheadsville.Ski ticketsThe West End Park and Open Space Commission is offering discounted ski tickets. Tickets are available at the Chestnuthill Park office for Blue Mountain, Shawnee, Big Boulder/Jack Frost, Montage and Elk Mountains.A price list is available at

www.weposc.org or on the group's Facebook page.For more information, contact 570-992-9733 or

bkozen@ptd.netShawl ministryEffort UMC's Prayer Shawl Ministry members and friends will gather at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to continue making prayer shawls and other items for those who have lost a loved one, have a serious medical problem, etc.PTO meetingThe Pleasant Valley Elementary School PTO is slated to meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the school.Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.