OES meets

The Monroe Chapter No. 99 Order of the Eastern Star will meet at the Rimrock Masonic Center in Bartonsville at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.The group has scheduled a first responders event at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Appenzell. A church service to honor first Responders from Tannersville, Jackson Township and the West End will be held at 9:30 a.m. A covered dish luncheon will follow around 11 a.m. in the picnic grove on Miller Road, weather permitting. If not, it will be held in the church.The group's first responders committee is collecting wash cloths, hand towels and sports towels to give to local firefighters.Band ParentsPleasant Valley Band parents will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the high school band room.Seniors menuThe Chestnuthill Seniors, part of Monroe County Seniors, are being offered Swiss steak for Friday's luncheon and a cheeseburger for next Wednesday's meal.For meal reservations, call the site manager by 11 a.m. one day in advance at 570-242-6770 or 570-420-3735. There is a suggested meal donation.The Chestnuthill Seniors meet at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville, Wednesdays and Fridays. Doors open at 9 a.m.A special program at the Chestnuthill Center at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 13 will be Aging Successfully by Vanessa Barry of Caregivers America.The following week, also at 10:30 a.m., it will be Home Safety for Older Adults by Katie Mumford, Business Development Specialist.All programs are open to the public. For further information on any programs, call 570-420-3746.Blood drivesAn American Red Cross blood drive will be held at Pleasant Valley Manor from noon to 5 p.m. Friday.OnSept. 15, there will be one at the Kunkletown Fire House, from 1 to 6 p.m.Gun ShowThe West End Volunteer Fire Company is having its second gun show of the year on Sunday at the fire company complex in Brodheadsville, behind the Wawa.People can buy, sell or trade firearms at the show.Doors open at 9 a.m.Parking is free, but there is an admission cost. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The day offers an ATM inside and great food.For more information, contact the firehouse at 570-992-4121 or R. Achey at 670-977-7822 or

achey3rd@ptd.net.All proceeds benefit the volunteers' truck and equipment fund.Sunday schoolSeveral area churches are beginning their respective yearly Christian education program this Sunday.• Effort UMC classes will begin this Sunday. Classes include: Body Building, for children who will be age 3 on or before Sept. 1; Preteens, children who will be age 9 on or before Sept. 1; and teens, and children who will be age 12 on or before Sept. 1.Classes are held during the 11 a.m. service.• St. Matthew's UCC in Kunkletown Sunday school classes also begin. There will be three children's classes this coming school year: a preschool class for ages 3 to 5, a primary elementary class for children in first grade through fourth grade and a pre-Confirmation class for fifth- and sixth-graders. Sunday school begins at 10:30 a.m. and concludes at 11:30.Friends and community members are welcome.• St. Peter's United Methodist Church in Saylorsburg invites people to join them in Christian education as they begin a short video series called: What You Are Not Being Told, by Science and The Bible Ministry in Oregon.Christian education classes for all ages begin at 8:45 a.m., starting Sunday.Following the Christian education hour, St. Peter's invites folks to worship with them as Pastor Ed Bean and Zim Kahn lead the congregation in song, prayer, praise, testimony and devotion. Worship is followed by a coffee hour of fellowship.The church also offers a Bible study on Wednesdays, starting at 6:30 p.m.• Salem-St. Paul's Lutheran in Kresgeville is holding Rally Day Sunday. The schedule includes an 8:15 a.m. worship service with Holy Baptism at 8:15 a.m.; Confirmation class at 9 a.m.; and worship with Sunday school and new members joining at 10:30 a.m.Next week, Sunday school and Confirmation class will both be at 9 a.m.• Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville is also celebrating Rally Day. Sunday school for all ages begins at 9:15 a.m.Worship services are at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. as well as a 5 p.m. worship service on Saturday.Soccer leagueWest End Soccer League is now accepting adult registrations for the fall season.Registration can be done online at wesl.us.That site also gives information about other WESL happenings and deadlines.Bereavement groupThe Bereavement Support Group at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church meets after the 11 a.m. Mass in the Café. The group will meet this Sunday. For more information, contact the church office 610-681-6137.Legion RidersThe American Legion Riders have their monthly meeting on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post 927, Route 209 and Fairgrounds Road in Gilbert.The American Legion Riders contribute to veterans, the community and enjoy riding.For more information, contact Everett Shaver, president, at 570-977-8208.All Sports ClubThe Pleasant Valley School District All Sports Club will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the high school library.Ross TownshipThe township supervisors meeting will be held meeting this coming Monday. It was delayed due to the Labor Day holiday.The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Ross Township Municipal Building on Anchorage Road, Saylorsburg.Knit & CrochetZion Lutheran's Knit & Crochet group will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Newcomers are welcome.Touch of HomeThe next meeting for Operation: Touch of Home is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.Computer classesAnyone who wants to learn how to use the computer, or needs a refresher, can contact the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville at 570-992-7934. Monday afternoon classes will be resuming in September.Garden ClubThe Monroe County Garden Club will meet at 11:30

a.m.Sept. 13, at the Eastern Monroe County Library, 1002 N. Ninth St./Route 611, Stroudsburg.The program will be Grow Food Not Lawn, presented by Ellen Phraner, Master Gardener and member of Monroe County Garden Club.The design entry is Autumn's Coming. Members can decorate a pumpkin or gourd with fresh and/or dried materials. Accessories are optional. The horticulture entry is a fall perennial flower stem.The meeting will begin at 11:30, followed by lunch, followed by the program.Everyone interested in gardening is welcome to attend. There is a cost for nonmembers (applied to one's membership). Luncheon is included.For more information, call club president Robin Teets at 570-350-8069 or

rteets@ptd.net. The website is

http://www.monroecountygardenclub.com. Join on Facebook at

www.Facebook.com/MonroeCountyGardenClub.WEPOSC meetsThe West End Park and Open Space Commission will meet at 6:30

p.m.Sept. 13, at the Chestnuthill Park Building.Coming seminarFunding your Child's College Education will be a program at the Eldred Township Community Center Sept. 20.It is for parents of students grade 6 and higher. They can learn the process, the organizations and tips on how to get the most out of the programs available to fund a child's college education.Contact the center for more information at 610-381-4252, ext. 2.Fall festivalSalem United Church of Christ in Gilbert is holding its 2017 fall festival and ninth annual car show from noon to 5

p.m.Sept. 27.There will be a basket raffle, bake sale and entertainment by Lenny and the Loafers with music of the '50s and '60s.The car show will include classic, custom and antique cars, with magnets available for the first 50 entries.For any questions, including registration costs, call the church office at 610-681-4733 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday or Friday.Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.