Blood drives

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at Cornerstone Community Church in Kresgeville today. The drive continues to 6 p.m. Regular blood and Power Red can be donated.

In 10 days, the American Legion Post in Gilbert will also hold an American Red Cross drive, from 1 to 6 p.m. Both regular blood and Power Red will be accepted.

Women’s Club

At its last meeting, the Western Pocono Women’s Club welcomed ladies from the community as they joined club members for a potluck dinner and a meeting. This service club now has 54 members with the addition of their newest member, Kris Meckes of Kunkletown. Also in attendance were 16 members of the Monroe County sister club, the Pocono Mountain Women’s Club, and Heide Cebrick, GFWC PA Northeastern District Director.

The club continues to clip coupons to send monthly to service personnel in Okinawa, Japan, as well as collect donations for the Angel’s Closet, the Effort Methodist Church Supplemental Food Pantry and VALOR.

With the arrival of the colder weather, the ladies are again stitching away on Quilts Made with Love by WPWC. So far this fall, they have donated 10 quilts to Monroe County Children and Youth and several more to the Angel’s Closet.

This month they will begin mailing Christmas cards for the military to the troops overseas. This is a joint project with area Girl Scout troops. The cards wish the troops a Merry Christmas and thank them for their service to this nation.

Venue change

The Western Pocono Lions Club meeting tonight will take place at a new venue, Kinsley’s ShopRite in Brodheadsville.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. sharp in the second floor meeting room. The members are being asked to be there so attendees can eat promptly at 6:30 p.m. For the first meeting the meal will be a stuffed bread platter, which includes four varieties: spinach and three cheese; pepperoni and cheese; pepperoni, sausage and cheese; chicken pesto.

There is an individual cost per attendee.

Planning Commission

The Chestnuthill Township Planning Commission is slated to meet at 7 tonight at the township municipal building on Route 715.

Sub vets meet

The U.S. Submarine Veterans, Pocono Base, will meet at 7 tonight at the Wilson Fisher American Legion, Post 413, Old Route 940, in Pocono Pines. It is a local chapter of the national organization U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc.

Submarine veterans from all eras are encouraged to join.

For additional information and directions, visit the group’s website at http://poconosubvets.org, or call 610-681-2606.

Spirit Week

The Pleasant Valley Middle School has been celebrating Spirit Week all week. Today is Team Spirit day, tomorrow is Pajama Bottom Day and Friday is PV Pride Blue and White Day.

The elementary and intermediate schools are following the same special days.

Zion Seniors

Zion’s Senior citizens group will meet in the church’s fellowship hall at 11 a.m. Thursday. Attendees are reminded to bring a sandwich. Beverages will be provided.

StoryBook Theatre

Western Pocono Community Library’s StoryBook Theatre will hold auditions for the upcoming production of “Treasure Island” on Thursday and on Oct. 26 beginning at 6 p.m. Auditions will be by appointment only.

StoryBook Theatre is open to all students in grades 7 through 12 in all school districts.

Contact the library at 570-992-7934 for more information about audition packets and times available.

Jewelry fundraiser

Eldred Township Community Center fundraiser with Premier Jewelry will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Refreshments will be served. It is open to the public.

Ongoing activities at ETCC include: Mondays at noon, acoustical jam sessions to which every is welcome; Tuesdays at 7 p.m., crocheting instruction and gathering with Dottie Jeker; and Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., sewing and quilting. Anyone interested is welcome to drop by.

Coming Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., is a craft and vendor fair. Applications available from the township office. Contact Ann at 610-381-4252, ext. 2.

Altar & Rosary

The Altar & Rosary Society of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the hall.

The group is having a baby shower during the entire month of October.

New baby items such as clothes, blankets, diapers, bottles and formula are being accepted in the cradle in the church atrium or at the baby shower station in McCawly Hall.

Little League

The league meeting for The West End Little League is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Chestnuthill Park building.

Seniors menu

The Chestnuthill Seniors, meeting in Zion Lutheran church’s Fellowship Hall in Brodheadsville, can order the following lunches: for Friday, it is turkey salad sandwich; for next Wednesday it is baked spaghetti.

For said meal reservation the site manager must be called by 11 a.m. the day before at 570-242-6770 or 570-420-3735.

Center doors are open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bingo night

The West End Park and Open Space Commission will host a bingo night Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Chestnuthill Township Park in Brodheadsville. Doors open at 5:30.

There will be specials, pull tabs, door prizes and refreshments.

Homecoming dance

The Pleasant Valley High school will host a Homecoming dance Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 10:30 p.m. It will take place in the new high school gym.

Community breakfast

At 8 a.m. Saturday, Our Lady Queen of Peace Church holds a community breakfast.

Halloween party

American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert is hosting its annual children’s Halloween party from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It will include games, contests, prizes, light lunch for children only, and free coffee for the adults. It is limited to the first 75 children to sign up. No phone reservations. Sign up at Post 927.

Community Fun

Effort UMC is hosting its Third Annual Community Fall Family Fun Day on Saturday. It will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. in the pavilion. Members are invited to help out this day by decorating their cars/trunks, assist with one of the many activities, or help support the youth group by donating a bag or two of candy.

Plan comparisons

The Monroe County Area Agency on Aging APPRISE program will have free plan comparisons for Medicare beneficiaries. The comparisons began Monday at the AAA office and will end Dec. 7.

Limited appointments will also be taken at Kinsley’s ShopRite Community Room, Brodheadsville.

Call The Monroe County Area Agency on Aging for an appointment at 570-420-3735 or toll free at 800-498-0330.

Plan comparisons will be done by appointment only.

Harvest Home

Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville will celebrate Harvest Home Sunday this Sunday, although the church has been collecting donations all month long.

The collected items will be donated to the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network.

Togo experience

Paige McKinsey will talk about her work in Togo, West Africa, at Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kresgeville during the 10:30 a.m. service.

From building wells to malaria prevention education to coordinating science clubs for girls, Paige will share her life-changing experience of two-plus years in Togo.

She will give a brief presentation during the church service.

After the brief presentation during the service there will be a question-and-answer session with lunch provided.

Attendees will hear about the projects that Salem-St. Paul supported through Paige.

Tricky tray

Operation: Touch of Home will hold a trick or treat tricky tray at the Chestnuthill Township Building in Brodheadsville on Sunday.

Doors open at 11 a.m. Calling starts at 12:30 p.m. Winners must be present.

Admission is free.

Refreshments, Red Friday shirts, Touch of Home hats and other items will be available for purchase.

For more information about Touch of Home, visit http://www.operationtouchofhome.org.

All proceeds benefit the organization to enable it to send care packages to overseas deployed troops.

Halloween parade

Eldred Township’s annual Halloween Parade will be held on Sunday. Check-in is from 11 a.m. to noon. Judging begins at 12:15 p.m.

The parade begins at 1 p.m.

Pet Blessing

Zion Lutheran Church will hold a pet blessing at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Pets must be under the owner’s control at all times, whether by leash, cage or harness.

Sunday supper

A community Sunday supper will be served at 3 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Gilbert.

Abuse presentation

An informative program on Elder Abuse will be presented on Monday, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Chestnuthill Township Park building. Participating in the program will be the Monroe County District Attorney Office, the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging, Magisterial District Judge Colleen Mancuso and the Monroe County Elder Abuse Task Force.

Topics to be presented will include warning signs of elder abuse, types of elder abuse, prevention, how to report suspected abuse, laws relating to elder abuse along with information on the Monroe County Elder Abuse Task Force and helpful resources that are available in dealing with elder abuse.

The general public is urged to attend, and especially those with family and loved ones who may be in the potentially vulnerable population. There is no charge and light refreshments will be served.

Contact Constable Don Ernst at 570-202-8617 or email constable7@ptd.net with any questions or for additional information.

Polk Supers

The board of supervisors for Polk Township will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the township municipal center in Kresgeville.

Knit & Crochet

Zion Lutheran’s Knit & Crochet group will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Newcomers are always welcome.

Lioness meet

The Western Pocono Lioness Club will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. sharp at Kinsley’s ShopRite Community Room.

500th anniversary

A Commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, with the focus on What Can We Learn from Each Other? will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert. It will be a night of sandwiches, conversation and theological bridge building.

The Rev. Mike Quinnan and the Rev. Brett Jenkins will exchange views and take questions from the gathered people regarding the topic Luther at 500: What Can We Learn from Each Other?

Attendees are asked to bring a favorite dessert to share.

Republican Club

The West End Republican Club meets regularly on the fourth Tuesday of each month. This month the group will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lakeside Restaurant, 5154 S. Hamilton Blvd., Saylorsburg. Those wishing to eat before the meeting should arrive by 6 p.m.

Republican-minded citizens are encouraged to come to socialize, listen, discuss and learn.

For additional information and directions, visit the club’s website at http://www.westendgop.com or call 443-326-5100.

Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or arargot3@verizon.net. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or tneditor@tnonline.com.