Busy fire volunteers

The final total of service calls is in for 2020 for the West End Fire Company, it can be seen that their total calls for the year increased by 23 percent over 2019 even though the December 2020 number of calls was down by 5 percent from the previous year.

The total count for 2020 was 520 calls for help of some nature, ranging from structure fires (67), to accidents (92), to burn complaints (8), to searches (3) and more. Leading the statistics is automatic alarms at 159.

With the retirement of Don Zipp, Eric Hoffman takes over the role of chief.

Aging office open

The Monroe County Aging Office was closed for New Year’s but has reopened as of 8 a.m. Monday.

That office can be reached at 570-420-3735 or toll-free 1-800-498-0330 for questions pertaining to a variety of services to Monroe County residents age 60 and older.

Services include: Information and referral, transportation, senior centers, pre-admission screening, legal advice, ombudsman service, medical assistance waiver, Apprise, Primetime Health, home delivered meals, protective services, personal care, care management, family caregiver’s support program, friendly visitor, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

The office can also be found via Facebook at MCPAA.

PVEN needs

Colleen Walsh, operations manager at the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network, shares that the PVEN currently needs toothbrushes, shampoo, canned soups and stuffing.

The normal schedule is ongoing this week.

Blast-off at park

The West End Park and Open Space Commission is offering a free fun activity at the Chestnuthill Park from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, making a rocket craft.

Craft materials are individually packaged and will be available to take home as well. All are asked to wear a mask.

The event will follow COVID-19 guidelines and is subject to change due to the same, so it may become a drive-thru event from 5 to 6 p.m. or possibly be canceled. Check back at weposc.org for updates before attending. Anyone not feeling well is asked to refrain from attending.

Special recycling

Boy Scout Troop 99 will be doing a fundraiser on Jan. 9 and Jan. 16 for home pickup of discarded live Christmas trees, but no artificial Christmas trees.

Pickup time is between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. A cash donation is required. Call Casey at 570-801-2013 or email fundraisingtroop99@gmail.com.for making use of that service. Include your address, name and phone number.

Pantry open

The food pantry (SFRC) at Effort UMC is to be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Blood drive

The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive in neighboring Pocono Township Fire House, Tannersville, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and from 1 to 6 p.m. Jan. 13 at Faith Lutheran Church in Blakeslee.

The Kunkletown drive is set for Jan. 28 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Call 800-733-2767 to make an appointment or schedule online at redcrossblood.org.

Sunday worship

• Effort UMC will resume live services inside as of Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and will have services at 10 and 11:15 a.m.

Folks are asked to register if they plan to come to one of the services or call the church office at 570-629-1890 for assistance.

Meetings such as Seekers, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will resume in person as determined by the group leader.

All previously established precautionary safety guidelines will continue, including sanitizing of the church, wearing of masks, no hugging, congregating before or after service/meeting, and sanitizing of hands are required.

• Middlecreek Christian Church, Kresgeville, will hold its Sunday morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. Communion will be served at this service, using individually wrapped elements. Masks must be worn to enter and exit the church. If one is comfortable, one may remove masks while in a pew. The service can also be seen live on Facebook or by viewing it on the church’s website at middlecreekchurch.org.

• McMichaels UMC has been closed and all worship services have been, and will be, through Facebook through this Sunday.

• St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown, will be worshipping inside the sanctuary with a limit of 57 people. People can also livestream the service on Facebook or view it later at https://stmattsucckunkletown.com.

Worshippers are asked to bring their own elements on Communion Sunday.

• Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran in Kresgeville is having virtual service this coming Sunday which includes Sunday school.

The service is available through email, ssplc@ptd.net and YouTube, plus it is on the church Facebook site.

On Jan. 17 it is just the virtual service.

• Zion, Brodheadsville, has resumed indoor worship Saturdays at 5 p.m. However as of Jan. 17, the evening service will be suspended.

The Sunday services are indoor at 8 and 10:30 a.m., at which physical distancing is practiced and masks are required.

Folks can also watch the livestreaming service on Facebook or view it later.

Seniors’ reminder

Monroe County Area Agency on Aging is now able to offer frozen meals to seniors if they are in need of food.

Frozen meals can be picked up at the senior center one would normally attend on a weekly basis. If in need of food, contact the Loder Senior Center at 570-420-3745. That center is overseeing the food ordering for all of the senior centers.

Pack the Mack

Operation: Touch of Home has reported that the Pack the Mack event held at Kinsley’s ShopRite resulted in 115 boxes being packaged and shipped at a cost of nearly $5,000 to deployed service members from the Effort Post Office.

The group requests that if anyone is aware of deployed local service members and would like them to receive a care package, to please provide OTOH with name and address.

The group’s email address is touchofhome@hotmail.com. The next meeting of the Operation: Touch of Home group will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.

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