Center activities

The Community Center in Eldred Township is hosting fundraising dining at Slopeside Pub & Grill at Blue Mountain Ski Resort from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.Participants should present a brochure, available at ETCC or the township office, and 15 percent of a person's food sales will be donated back to the Eldred Township Community Center.From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday the center will host a yard sale. For tables, contact Ann at 610-381-4252, ext. 2.On Monday, from noon to 3 p.m. there is a gourd bowl class using Japanese Washi paper and inks. No experience is necessary. For costs and other information, contact the instructor, Susan Pekala, at the community yard sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. For renting a table or other information, contact Shirley at 610-381-4560.OnJune 1, beginning at 6:30

p.m.there will be a Pampered Chef party at the center. It is free and open to public.AscensionOur Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, will hold Mass at 5 p.m. today and Thursday at 12:10 and 7 p.m. in honor of the Ascension. It is a Holy Day of Obligation.Dems meetThe West End Democratic Association is slated to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the West End Fire Company on Route 715 in Brodheadsville.For more information contact the president at 570-619-5556 or the secretary at 610-381-3016.School boardThe Pleasant Valley School District board of directors will meet at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Administrative Building in Brodheadsville.Regional groupThe Chestnuthill-Jackson-Eldred-Ross-Polk comprehensive planning group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Chestnuthill Township municipal building on Route 715.Senior lunchesThe Chestnuthill group of Monroe Seniors meeting at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville can order the following meal for this Friday: chicken scampi with mixed vegetables, whole wheat spaghetti and garlic bread. Blushing raspberry peaches for dessert and milk is included. Next Wednesday the offering is: chicken and sausage bake, with chuckwagon corn and steamed brown rice, with strawberry parfait for dessert and milk.To order, call the site manager at 570-242-6770 or 570-420-3735 by 11 a.m. the day before. There is a small fee.PANDAS meetEffort UMC's youth group will meet at 7 p.m. Friday.PIC gathersPride in Chestnuthill meets again Saturday to help clean up township roads.For more information call 570-992-7247.Pantry dayEffort UMC's Supplemental Food Resource Center will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Co-directors for the pantry are Henry McCormick and Anthony Walker. They can be reached through the church office at 570-629-1890, ext. 109.Farm Animal FrolicQuiet Valley, Monroe County's living historical farm, will continue its annual Farm Animal Frolic this Saturday and Sunday. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, and from noon to 4 p.m., Sunday.The activities include baby farm animals, children's games and hands-on activities, sheep shearing and more.For more information including admission costs, call at 570-992-6161 or visit quietvalley.org.Honoring veteransEffort UMC will be holding a special services Memorial Day weekend and has invited the church family to submit names and photographs in memory of those were members of the nation's security forces - Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard and Navy.Photos and information must be submitted to the church by this Thursday. Forms can be found on the welcome center. Anyone who has submitted information and photo in previous years need not resubmit.Confirmation SundayZion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville will celebrate Confirmation Sunday this Sunday.McMichaels UMC will celebrate its Confirmation onJune 4, when the service changes to a starting time of 9 a.m. Holy Communion will be part of that service.Memorial Day eventsAlthough there is no Memorial Day parade in Monroe County, there are several happenings in the West End.American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert will hold its traditional Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday. It will include speaker Rep. Jack Rader and other guests as well as posting the colors at half-staff and reading the names of all those deceased from Post 927.A luncheon will follow. The ceremony and lunch is open to the public and free of charge.• Eldred Township will also honor its veterans at 11 a.m. Monday at the Eldred Township Veterans Memorial at the Municipal Building, 490 Kunkletown Road, in Kunkletown. The township office will be closed.• Polk Township will hold its Memorial Day celebration on Sunday at the Polk Township Veterans Memorial on Route 209 in Kresgeville. It will include a special tribute to veterans, past and present, and current military members. All are asked to wear their uniform, or a military hat or bring a picture of themselves in uniform. Attending participants are reminded to bring a lawn chair. Donations for Touch of Home will be accepted.• Chestnuthill Township has no activity planned. The township's office will be closed Memorial Day.• Ross Township has no special program and the township office will be closed.Schools closedIn light of the Memorial Day holiday Monday, all Pleasant Valley Schools are closed.Library hoursIn observance of Memorial Day the Western Pocono Community Library will be closed on Monday. The library will be open regular business hours on Saturday and Tuesday.Memorial MassOur Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, will hold a Memorial Mass of Remembrance at 7 p.m. Tuesday. All are welcome as the church gathers together to member the loved ones who have died in this special liturgy.Attendees are asked to come early to sign a book for the loved one. At the conclusion all will gather in the atrium for refreshments and fellowship.Double eventPleasant Valley Elementary School third-graders will be having a farewell party during the day Tuesday, and at 6 p.m. the third-grade chorus concert will be presented.MAL meetsThe monthly meeting of the Monroe Animal League will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Eastern Monroe County Library, Route 611/North Ninth Street, Stroudsburg.Monroe County animal lovers are encouraged to attend.Summer readingOn Tuesday, registration for the summer reading program at Western Pocono Community Library begins. The theme for this summer is Build a Better World.This summer the library will be using a number of STEAM activities and programs to reinforce Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. The summer reading program is free and open to all ages and abilities.For more information about registration please call the library at 570-992-7934.Archery introThe West End Park and Open Space Commission is having an intro to archery program from 10 a.m. to noonJune 3 at the West End Regional Park, 578 Evergreen Hollow Road, Saylorsburg.All equipment will be provided. No experience is necessary. Organizers say it is perfect for the entire family.This is part of part of the Parks for Good Living and GO Get Outdoors PA programs.Advance registration is required. Contact 570-992-9733 or

bkozen@weposc.orgGot talent?The West End Park and Open Space Commission is looking for local talent who would like to perform as part of the WEPOSC's free summer concert series that began this past Sunday.For more information, contact 570-992-9733 or

bkozen@weposc.org.Mah Jongg courseWestern Pocono Community Library will be offering a four-week course on how to play the game Mah Jongg. Classes will begin in June. Anyone interested in learning this interesting and challenging game should call the library at 570-992-7934 for details. Registration is required; this course is free and open to adults only.Strawberry festivalSalem UCC in Gilbert will host a strawberry festival from noon to 5

p.m.June 11.It will include a bake sale, a basket raffle, entertainment by John Hamby/Southern Comfort Band, and plenty of food, including strawberry desserts. Guests should bring a lawn chair.Conservation campMonroe County Conservation District and Monroe County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs are again sponsoring Conservation Camp for students 14 through this year's high school graduate. It will be held from July 15-22 at the student-owned East Stroudsburg University Stony Acres Recreational Facility in Marshalls Creek as a base camp.It gives the campers insight into natural resources and their proper management. Sponsorships are often received from various entities. For more information, contact 570-629-3061, email

rsmccd@ptd.net or go to mcconservation.org.Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.