Meeting early

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church Altar and Rosary meeting tonight begins at 5 p.m., earlier than usual. It is in the cafe. Those attending are reminded to bring a gift.

Lioness Club meets

The Lioness board meeting is tonight at Cherry’s in Kresgeville. The regular Western Pocono Lioness December meeting will be at 6 p.m. this coming Tuesday, instead of the usual fourth Tuesday of the month.

That meeting is at Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville in the Fellowship Hall.

Prayer service

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, will hold an Our Lady of Guadalupe prayer service at 7 p.m. today.

PVEN board

At 10 a.m. Thursday, the board for the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network will meet at the Pleasant Valley Presbyterian church at 150 Pilgrim Way in Brodheadsville.

Missions meal

West End Missions meals will only continue to be served the second and fourth Thursday of the month until January 2019.

The meals will be served from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. this Thursday and in two weeks at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Gilbert.

Special Christmas

The Heritage Center on Bond Lane and Route 209 will host a special presentation, White House Christmas History, on Thursday.

West Ender Norman Burger is the featured speaker.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the program begins at 6 p.m.

For more information, call the Heritage Center at 570-402-1960. The curator is Kennedy Sheeley.

Gifts due

Effort UMC is once again participating in the PVEN Angel Tree program.

Those who are participating are reminded to bring the unwrapped gifts to the church by no later than Friday.

Seniors menu

The Chestnuthill Seniors, meeting at Zion Lutheran’s fellowship hall in Brodheadsville have the following choices to order for lunch on Friday and next Wednesday.

On Friday the meal is pasta primavera with spinach, carrots and a nectarine. Next Wednesday it is turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, applesauce and a dinner roll.

The lighter fare for the same days are: Friday, tuna antipasto, marinated vegetable salad, apple, crackers, cookies and milk; and on next Wednesday it is a BLT wrap, cucumber salad, fruit juice, graham crackers, and yogurt and milk.

To order, call the site manager Dolores Casalaspro at 570-242-6770 by 11 a.m. the day before.

Fun night

St. Matthew’s UCC in Kunkletown has a Friday Fun Night scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for this Friday. It will be held in the fellowship hall. Families can paint a winter scene, play games and eat Christmas cookies.

Busy Saturday

The Salem-St. Paul’s congregation in Kresgeville has a busy Saturday scheduled.

It begins at noon with a potluck luncheon, with food brought in to share.

At 12:30 p.m. it is time to decorate the church with hanging of the greens.

Then at 5:30 p.m. it is caroling at Getz Personal Care Home in Jonas, followed by a pizza supper and a 7 p.m. praise night at the church, for ages 11 and up.

Baby Jesus blessing

Children at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church are invited to bring along their Baby Jesus crib figure for a special blessing at all Masses on Saturday and Sunday. They will then take them back home in preparation for placing them in the crib on Christmas.

Middlecreek musical

The musical program, “From the Throne to the Manger,” will be presented at Middlecreek Christian Church, 343 Dorshimer Road in Kresgeville, at 7 p.m. Saturday, to welcome the arrival of the Lord this Christmas season.

A time of fellowship and light refreshment will follow the performance.

For more information, call the church at 570-629-4066.

Christmas pageant

St. Matthew’s UCC in Kunkletown will hold its 9 a.m. worship service Sunday. It will include the children’s Christmas pageant, “Just a Little Christmas.”

Sunday school meets 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. weekly for a Bible lesson, discussion, activities and games, music and visual aids.

LAMA meets

The Pocono chapter of LAMA will meet at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Legion Post home in Gilbert.

Christmas tea

Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville will hold its annual Christmas tea on Sunday after the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

After the tea, the church will be decorated for Christmas.

Community supper

Sunday, from 3 to 4 p.m., a community service supper will be served at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Gilbert.

Christmas party

The West End Home Association will hold its annual Christmas party Sunday. It is open to all key card holding members plus one guest. Sign up at the Post 927.

Penance service

The Advent Penance Service is a special opportunity for the people of Roman Catholic faith to prepare the manger of their hearts for Jesus’ birth with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Several priests will be available to hear confessions at various area Catholic churches.

At Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Gilbert, the service will be held at 6 p.m. Monday.

Blue Christmas

Christ Hamilton United Lutheran Church on Bossardsville Road in Hamilton Township is hosting a Blue Christmas church service from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

This special service will be followed by understanding hugs and fellowship. This service is designed for those who are feeling “blue” at this cheery time of year. Maybe someone is dealing with the death of a loved one; maybe one is coping with difficult times such as an illness, or cancer, or loss of a job, or a divorce. Whatever makes one feel blue at this time of year, they are invited to come to this Blue Christmas Service and to know they are not alone and are loved.

For more information, call 570-992-4085.

Polk meetings

The Polk Township supervisors will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday for approving the 2019 budget.

The regular board of supervisors meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

Winter chorus

The Pleasant Valley Middle School Winter Chorus is at 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.

Shawl ministry

The Effort UMC Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Anyone knowing of someone who would benefit from one of these beautiful shawls made with a faithful hearts of love, let the members know by calling the church at 570-629-1890.

Chestnuthill board

The Chestnuthill Township Board of Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The planning commission is set to meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Both meetings are at the township’s municipal building.

PTSD support

The PTSD Support Group is meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Legion Post Home in Gilbert. It is sponsored by the Valor Clinic Foundation.

For more information, contact J. Grim at 516-317-0588.

Quilt impacts

The Western Pocono Women’s Club has done a lot of stitching with love again. Members made and then contributed 19 quilts recently. Ten will be donated to Children and Youth and nine to clients of Meals on Wheels.

Jr. Honor Society

The Pleasant Valley Middle School National Junior Honor Society induction will be held Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m.

PTO meeting

The Pleasant Valley Middle School PTO meeting is slated for 9:45 a.m. Dec. 19.

Busy PVE PTO

The Pleasant Valley Elementary School’s PTO has been and is busy.

When the Veterans Day parade came through the elementary school, the veterans who participated were provided refreshments.

The PTO also sold Gobble Grams, a small Thanksgiving craft that parents could send to their children or students could send to their friends or teachers, along with a personalized note.

After expenses associated with the craft, there were funds of $350 given to the West End Food Pantry which services families in the school as well as those in the community, PTO President Briana Frost said.

During election time, teacher Mr. Pekurny held mock elections. Now the students are getting to vote for something they can actually influence: which movie they would like to be shown at the family movie night.

Fire company

Chief Don Zipp reports on the many services the company was asked to provide in November. The volunteers responded to 42 incidents. This is slightly higher than last year. Year to date they are now at 484 incidents. This is above last year’s total of 475 incidents for the entire year.

Serving in leadership positions for the 2019 year as of the yearly election held recently will be:

Firemen’s Relief Association officers: president, Frank Tatusko; vice president, Nick Caprioli; secretary, Bill Koehler; treasurer, Mike Manfre, Sr. fire company executive officers: president, Jeff Weiss; vice president, Bill Koehler; secretary, Amy Downey; treasurer, Kristine Harrison. Line officers: Chief, Donald Zipp; deputy chief, Bob Geyer; assistant chief, John McKeever; captains, Eric Hoffman and Mike Manfre; Jr. lieutenants, Tim Burlew and Gerry. Fire Police captain, Jeff Knitter; Fire Police lieutenant, Mike Manfre Sr.

Coats needed

PVEN is still in need of winter coats of all sizes even though groups and individuals have brought a goodly number. Donors are asked to bring donations to the new PVEN location on Route 209 in Sciota.

Tree recycling

Chestnuthill residents can recycle their fresh Christmas tree at Chestnuthill Township Compost Facility any Saturday after Christmas from 7 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. The address at the compost facility is 3223 Hillcrest Drive, Effort.

Funding request

Monroe County Habitat for Humanity is requesting support this holiday season to reach its goal of raising $12,500. Such gift will help support the administration of MCHFH’s programs including Home Preservation. This year MCHFH plans to complete 30 Home Preservation repair projects for deserving homeowners in Monroe County.

Home Preservation allows homeowners affected by low income, age and disability to make necessary repairs on their homes. When critical repairs are made, homeowners are healthier and more likely to remain in their homes. Home Preservation is a hand up, said Kelly Jean Kemmerer, MCHFH Executive Director. Homeowners volunteer on their own home repair project alongside community volunteers and pay MCHFH back for materials over a five-year period.

Learn more about the fundraiser by visiting http://www.habitatmc.org/donate/holiday-fundraiser-2018 or calling the MCHFH at 570-216-4390.

She also reminds eligible homeowners that essential winterization repairs are available through its Home Preservation program. Projects can include, but are not limited to: roof repair, windows, door replacements, gutters. furnaces, water heaters, insulation, refrigerators, stoves and tree removal.

Contact the Habitat office for more information as listed above.

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