TOPS meets

Take Off Pounds Sensibly Chapter 1346 meets Wednesdays at the library in Brodheadsville from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, contact lindabarankovich@yahoo.com or call TOPS at 800-932-8677.

Home Association

The West End Home Association will meet for its monthly meeting at 7:30 tonight at the West End Memorial Legion Post 927 home in Gilbert.

Eldred Supers

The Eldred Township Board of Supervisors is slated to meet at 7:30 tonight in the municipal building in Kunkletown.

Eastern Star meets

The Monroe Chapter No. 99 Order of the Eastern Star will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. It is the Deputy Grand Matron’s official visit.

Members are asked to bring their donations for the Blessings in a Backpack community project.

Legion meets

Post 927 of the American Legion meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for its regular monthly meeting at its Gilbert home.

Cleanup time

Effort UMC is having a cleanup time Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Bring yard tools.

Eldred pantry

This Saturday is a distribution day for the West End Food pantry from 9 a.m. to noon. It is located in the Eldred Community Center on Kunkletown Road in Kunkletown.

To register, please bring a photo ID, and, if possible, bring your own bags.

Worship walk

Gravers Arboretum of Muhlenberg College in Bushkill Township, north of Bath, is the destination for members and friends of Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, as they go on a worship walk there on Saturday morning at about 9 a.m.

It will begin with a brief worship and focus on caring for creation and then the walk.

Anyone wishing to join the group is asked to call the church at 610-681-5191.

Bird feeding basics

Environmental Educator Karen N. Boyle will present a program winter bird identification, types of bird feeders and the different birdseed available at Kettle Creek at 10 a.m. Saturday.

For more information, including costs, call the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center at 570-629-3061, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and most Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information on other programs offered visit the EEC’s website at www.mcconservation.org.

Family Fun Fest

Middlecreek Christian Church, 343 Dorshimer Road, Kresgeville, is holding a Family Fun Fest from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. It includes free games and prizes, food, bounce house, hayrides and a real firetruck. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Call 570-629-4066 for more information.

Roast beef dinner

St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, Saylorsburg, is having a roast beef dinner Saturday. Serving time is from 3 to 7 p.m. Dine in from 3:30 to 7 p.m. or take out from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The dinner is served family-style. A complete meal including homemade desserts is affordable.

The sanctuary is air-conditioned. The parking lot is spacious. The church is located at 924 Route 115, Saylorsburg, next to Dollar General. Large groups of friends can be accommodated. Just call 570-992-7311 and ask Dianne to call you back.

Kid’s Costume Run

West End Park and Open Space Commission will host a special Kid’s Costume Run at 8:30 a.m. Sunday for children 12 years and younger.

Kids are welcome to come dressed as their favorite superhero, or any other costume, and join the run. The run will be approximately ¼ mile on a grass trail and free for all participants.

The youngsters will receive goodie bags while supplies last and prizes for the funniest, scariest and most original costumes.

Adults are welcome to register for the Dave Fleetwood Memorial Trail Run/Leisure Walk immediately following the kid’s run. All proceeds benefit the Dave Fleetwood Scholarship Fund. To date over $12,000 has been awarded to deserving Pleasant Valley High School graduates.

There is a registration fee on race day or one can register online at www.runsignup.com/race/pa/brodheadsville/fleetwoodmemorialtrailrun.

Sock collection

McMichaels UMC is collecting socks for the homeless all month long. A box for donations will be in the fellowship hall. All sizes of men’s, women’s and children’s are needed.

SAL meeting

The Sons of the American Legion will meet at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Legion Post in Gilbert for its monthly meeting.

Historical society

The Eldred Township Historical Society’s annual gift card bingo will be held Sunday at St. Matthews Church, Church Road, Kunkletown. Doors open at noon, bingo starts at 1 p.m. Food will be available.

The October meeting will be held at the Frantz Schoolhouse on Church Road (opposite Keystone Lane) at 6:30 p.m. As there is no heat in the building, please dress accordingly.

The historical society is seeking new members. Anyone interested in the history of Eldred Township or becoming involved in the restoration of the Old Post Office, come to a meeting.

All Sports Club

Pleasant Valley School District’s All Sports Club is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the high school library.

Knit & Crochet

Zion Lutheran Church’s Knit & Crochet group will gather to do their volunteer work on Tuesday, beginning at 1 p.m.

Korean vets

The Korean War Veterans will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post home in Gilbert.

OTOH meeting

The regular meeting of Operation Touch of Home is slated for Tuesday at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.

The group is having a dinner and comedy show fundraiser on Oct. 13 at the Polk Township volunteer Fire Company: “There’s Something Funny Going on Here” with Paul Bond, Max Dolcelli and Scott Bruce.

One must be 21 or older to attend.

Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable items for the troops. For a list of approved items, go to www.operationtouchofhome.org.

Contact Tammy Gower at 570-236-9695 or Maria Bentzoni at 570-350-2981 or Elsa Henn at 570-977-5087 for tickets.

There will also be a baked item auction. Donations of items are appreciated.

Garden Club

The Monroe County Garden Club will meet at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 10, at the Eastern Monroe Public Library, Route 611/North Ninth Street, Stroudsburg. The program will be Lasagna Gardening, presented by Nancy Daniels. The Horticulture Theme will be Herbs; the Design Theme will be Spooky October, artist’s choice of design theme utilizing fresh and/or dried materials. Accessories permitted.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch, followed by program.

Everyone interested in gardening is welcome to attend. There is a small for nonmembers, applied to one’s membership). Luncheon is included.

For more information, call president Robin Teets at 570-350-8069 or rteets@ptd.net. Visit the group’s website, http://www.monroecountygardenclub.com and join them on Facebook.

USS Pocono

Chett Wilhelm will present a program on the USS Pocono at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Heritage Center of the Western Pocono Community Library.

The Center is located at the corner of Bond Lane and Routes 209/115.

Registration is requested at 570-402-1906 or the library at 570-992-7934.

Owl banding

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center’s saw-whet owl banding program with Pocono Avian Research Center along with Pocono Avian Research Center will host the fourth season of Project Owlnet.

The station will be open to the public from 8 to 10 p.m. Oct. 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 2. Donations are welcome at the event.

Participants will learn more about the northern saw-whet owl, Project Owlnet, and have a unique opportunity to see one of the most secretive birds in the eastern U.S.

Preregistration is suggested.

For more information, call the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center at 570-629-3061, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and most Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more information on other programs offered, visit the website at www.mcconservation.org.

Harvest dinner

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Gilbert is looking ahead to its first Harvest Dinner at 6 p.m. Oct. 19, under the pavilion.

The church will provide soup, sandwiches, water and entertainment. There is a cost per couple.

Operation Warm Coat

The West End Rotary Club sponsors the Operation Warm Coat program and is currently taking registrations for new children’s coats. Anyone who has a child or children in need of a new winter coat and they are in preschool to 12th grade in the Pleasant Valley School District can call Rotarian Ed Gallaher at 610-657-6196 to register.

Registrations for the coats will be taken through Oct. 13 only. Get your information in as soon as possible as this is a first-come, first-served basis.

Coats will be available for pickup from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 3, at the West End firehouse in Brodheadsville.

The West End Rotary meets weekly at 7:30 a.m. at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville.

The next meeting of the club is Thursday, when L’aura Hoffman speaks about ghost hunting in the Poconos.

Bird seed sale

The Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is gearing up for its fall bird seed sale in a variety of blends and sizes. Also available will be black oil sunflower seed, thistle, suet and several other specialty mixes.

Offered also will be a wide variety of high-quality bird feeders, including some of which are squirrel proof, in the gift shop. All proceeds from the sale of bird seed and feeders go to support environmental education programs.

Ordering deadline is Oct. 25. The sale is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3. Get a complete order form by calling the Center at 570-629-3061 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and most Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Download the order form from: www.mcconservation.org. Prices are reduced for this truckload sale, but bird seed is also sold in the gift shop, along with a wide variety of feeders and field guides year-round.

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