Blood drive

Cornerstone Community Church, Polk Township Road, Kresgeville, is holding an American Red Cross blood drive from 1-6 p.m. today.OES meetsThe Monroe Chapter of the Eastern Star will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rimrock Masonic Center on Rimrock Drive, Stroudsburg.The earlier meeting time is to allow for regular business as well as the election of officers, honoring 25- and 50-year members and honoring Past Matrons and Past Patrons.Lions boardThe Western Pocono Lions Club board of directors will meet at 7 p.m. today at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville. All Lions are welcome.Planet LearnKindergarten families at Pleasant Valley Elementary School are invited to come to Planet Learn Kindergarten Family Night from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday. They can participate in activities that will help their child get ready for first grade.PV Band ParentsPleasant Valley Band Parents will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the high school in Brodheadsville.Lunches setChestnuthill Seniors, meeting at Zion Lutheran Church as part Monroe County's Senior, will have hot pork sandwich for lunch on Friday and beef and broccoli next week Wednesday.Those planning to eat are asked to call 570-242-6770 or 570-420-3735 by 11 a.m. the day before.Blood pressures will be taken from 11 a.m. to noon April 13.Praise NightSalem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kresgeville will hold a Praise Night for youth and young adults from 7-9 p.m. Friday. Contact the church office at 610-681-5191 for more information.Breakfast hostedMcMichaels United Methodist Church, Route 715 and White Church Road, McMichaels, will hold an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. It isby donation only and is open to everyone.The church is handicapped accessible. Anyone with questions can call 570-629-1136.Class setA Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunter-Trapper education course has been set for Saturday at the Indian Mountain Rod & Gun Club on Route 534 in Kresgeville. The course will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Preregistration is required and seats are limited. Registration is open to those 11 and older. It must be made at:

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us. The one-day course has required online study attached to it.Park cleanupThe West End Regional Park Clean Up begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. Meet at the Chestnuthill Park, 221 Route 715, Brodheadsville. Gloves, vests, bags will be provided. For more information, call 570-992-9733.SoccerIn-person fall registration for the West End Soccer League will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Kinsley's ShopRite Community Room in Brodheadsville.The registration fee is the same per player for all age groups.Food distributionEffort UMC's Supplemental Food Resource Center will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. This church outreach program is to help feed families going through emergency or other short-term situations that are not eligible for local, county or state programs and is limited to a 12-week lifetime duration per family. A valid driver's license or state ID with address proving residency in the West End is required.Spaghetti dinnerMcMichaels United Methodist Church, Route 715 and White Church Road, McMichaels is hosting an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner from 4-7 p.m. Saturday.Children 5 and under eat free.The church is handicapped accessible. The event is open to everyone. Families are invited.Football fundraiserThe football team at PVHS will be holding its annual Night at the Races at the Polk Township firehouse in Kresgeville this Saturday. Donations from businesses and clubs are being sought. Contact Erik-Engel Weiss at

cherishtoday@hotmail.com for more information.Fun timeSalem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kresgeville is holding its Annual Easter and Spring celebration, with the help of the Easter Bunny, during Sunday school which is held during the 10:30 a.m. church service.There will be playing games, making snacks and having an egg hunt with Easter Bunny.Useful itemsPat Mackes of Effortis involved in two Western Pocono Women's Club projects: Quilts for Kids and Vets and making doggy beds for the ASPCA. If anyone has cottonfabric to donate, call 610-681-4967 or email

pamack05@ptd.net and she will arrange to pick it up.As of March, 62 quilts have been completed. The doggy beds are made using old pillowcases stuffed with leftover scraps of fabric. No pillowcases are needed at this time.Fellowship breakfastEffort UMC will be serving its fellowship breakfast beginning at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. A freewill offering to offset costs and to aid in the funding of the church's capital/building fund account will be appreciated.Sunday supperOur Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, will host its next Sunday supper from 3-4 p.m. Sunday.It will take place in McCawley Hall.All Sports ClubThe Pleasant Valley All Sports Club will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the high school.Knit & CrochetZion Lutheran Church's Knit & Crochet group will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Fellowship Hall in Brodheadsville. Newcomers are welcome.UMW meetsEffort UMC Women's group, the United Methodist Women, will meet at 7 p.m. Monday. The program is a presentation by Julie Foley on gypsy moths. Devotions will be led by Rosalie Juris. Hostesses are Dee and Rosalie Juris.For additional information, contact Jan Decker at the church office at 570-629-1890.PVI book fairPleasant Valley Intermediate School is having its Scholastic book fair Tuesday through Friday. On all days the fair is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during school hours but on Tuesday it also runs from 4-7 p.m.Touch of HomeThe next meeting for Operation: Touch of Home will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post in Gilbert. The group will hold its spring drive April 22 to 24 at the American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert. The group is looking for names of service personnel to be included for the shipment.Garden ClubThe Monroe County Garden Club will meet at 11:30

a.m.April 13 at the Eastern Monroe County Library, 1002 N. Ninth Street/Route 611, Stroudsburg.The program will be: Everything You Wanted to Know About Lavender by Wendy Jochems, Hope Hill Lavender Farm.The design tournament will be April Showers Petite design, maximum height 5 inches, including container; maximum width 5 inches. Designer's choice of styler. Fresh materials only, accessories and underlay permitted. The horticulture entry will be one flowering stem from a bulb.Everyone interested in gardening is welcome to attend. There is a fee for nonmembers (applied to your membership). Luncheon included.For more information, call club president Carol Akam at 570-897-6433 or

carolakam27@gmail.com or join the group on Facebook.Volunteers soughtThe West End Park & Open Space Commission is looking people to become involved and help in building the West End Regional Park including the area's first leash-free dog park.The group meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Chestnuthill Park Building starting at 6:30 p.m. This month's meeting is onApril 13.For information, contact Bernie Kozen, WEPOSC executive director, at 570-992-9733.Seniors auctionThe Chestnut Ridge Seniors, a social club meeting at the Kunkletown Fire Hall, will meetApril 14. The doors open at 9 a.m. and the meeting is at 11 a.m. Bring a bag lunch and be ready for the Chinese auction.The exercise program begins between 9 and 9:30 a.m. and is led by Pocono Medical Center's Rosemary Allocco.For more information about the exercise program, call Allocco at 570-422-8340.Lions bowl-a-thonThe Western Pocono Lions Club will hold its annual bowl-a-thon fundraiser onApril 16. The money Lions earn is used in the community, including donations to local nonprofits, assisting in buying eyeglasses for those who need help, and giving two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors at Pleasant Valley High School. The club has a 501c(3) status, so donations are tax deductible.To pledge or contribute, contact Lion Charles at 610-381-3759.Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.