Nutrition month

March is National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is Personalize Your Plate as in the Pocono Seniors newsletter, Monroe County Seniors’ Express Times. It gives many related tips, such as plan your meals, menus for lunch or dinner, and snacks as well.

Also suggested is that seniors who are in need of food contact the Loder Senior Center at 570-420-3745 to sign up for the newsletters and other services including enrolling in the Senior Center Meals program if having a need for food.

For the West End that center is at Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville.

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

Frozen meals can be picked up at the senior center one would normally attend on a weekly basis. If in need of food, Seniors are asked to contact the Loder Senior Center at 570-420-3745.

Veterans commission

Polk Township’s Veterans Memorial Commission is slated to meet at 6 tonight.

To join the Zoom meeting to participate, go to Meeting ID: 980 5330 0893; Passcode: 436490.

Services tonight

• Effort UMC continues its review of The Lenten series, based on Seven Things the Lord Hates featuring the North District clergy. It will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Sanctuary through March 31.

Due to the COVID-19 church guidelines and restrictions, this study will be available for up to 40 people. Registration will be required.

The series will also be available on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. for those who are unable to attend in-person services. Check the church website, email or contact the church office for additional information.

• Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran, Kresgeville, continues with its Lenten Bible study of Mark, beginning at 7 p.m.

• Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, offers an open sanctuary for silent prayer and reflection from 5 to 7 p.m. CDC guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing are to be observed.

Bridge replacement

Mill Pond Bridge Replacement was to start March 1. Residents should plan accordingly, avoid the area if possible and leave extra travel time.

Lucky Leprechaun

The West End Park and Open Space Commission want folks to be lucky and find Lucky the Leprechaun and two friends, or at least one of them, hidden in one or more of the three park WEPOSC locations, beginning March 3, through March 17.

The parks are Chestnuthill Park, 221 Route 715, Brodheadsville; Ross Township Park, 258 Anchorage Road, Saylorsburg; and West End Regional Park, 578 Evergreen Hollow Road.

Whoever finds one is asked to submit one’s selfie with the leprechaun and information including contact information (name and number), as well as tell where the leprechaun was found for a chance to win a prize by March 17 to Program Coordinator Kim Tuin at ktuin@weposc.org.

Participants will be entered into a drawing for chances to win prizes.

A reminder is that selfies are requested to be tasteful and may be posted on WEPOSC’s Facebook page and/or website.)

Be sure to like and follow the WEPOSC Facebook page.

Legion meeting

The American Legion Post 927 is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Legion Post home in Gilbert.

Care kits

As part of the church’s caring emphasis, Salem-St. Paul’s is making Lutheran World Relief Care Kits. Go to lwr.org/congregations to see a list for the essential items in kits. Members and friends are asked to bring a complete, or partial, kit to church.

Donations of money to help with cost of shipping are also appreciated.

Polk permits

Solid waste permits can be renewed from March 1 through April 15 in Polk Township, from 8 a.m. through 3:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the municipal building.

Residents will need a car registration and cash or check for payment. Anyone with questions is asked to call 610-681-5376.

Missions Madness set

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, has begun a special mission project as of this past Sunday, as urged by the BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge) director of the Assemblies of God, David Boyd. The worshippers present were given a cardboard buddy barrel to collect coins through the month of March.

Those found coins - or any money - will be used to help missionaries with supplies needed to reach lost kids around the world as the Gospel is spread.

People interested in helping can donate via the church website https://pvag.breezechms.com/give/online to this fund or text the amount and bgmc words to 570-559-8774.

Food distribution

The West End Food Pantry in Kunkletown has a food distribution scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

For more information, call 570-730-6055 or visit www.westendpantry.com.

Sunday services

• Effort UMC is having in-person services at 8:30, 10, and 11:15 a.m. Sunday. Registration for each service is required. This can be done through the church website or by calling the church office on the Thursday or Friday before Sunday’s service.

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

• Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, has its worship services available virtually by email/YouTube and Facebook.

The Palm Sunday service is slated to be live, a parking lot service with the blessing of the palms and Holy Communion at 10:45 a.m.

• St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown, continues to worship inside at 9 a.m. Worshippers are asked to bring their own elements on Communion Sunday.

You can also listen to the service from your car in the parking lot or livestream.

Beginning this Sunday, there will be a tote in the narthex, with bags full of plastic eggs to fill for the Easter egg hunt. The filled eggs should be returned by March 31.

• Zion Lutheran has in-person worship at 8 and 10:30 a.m. with CDC precautions practiced.

There is also a Zoom option for the 8 a.m. service and Facebook Live for the 10:30 worship.

Also available is a recorded Facebook service.

The Saturday 5 p.m. service has been temporarily discontinued.

UMW to meet

Effort UMC’s United Methodist Women is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday in Wesley Hall at Effort UMC. It is a business meeting.

SAL meeting

The Sons of the American Legion meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday at the Legion Post home in Gilbert.

Meeting set

Operation: Touch of Home is slated to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.

For more information, email tlgower@ptd.net or call 570-2236-9695.

Blood drives

The American Red Cross has several blood drives set in the area, and there were some appointments yet available.

Those drives include: Faith Lutheran Church, March 10, Blakeslee; Jackson Township Fire Hall, Reeders, noon to 5 p.m. March 11; Gray Chevrolet, March 16, Stroudsburg; and March 17, Cornerstone Community Church, on Polk Township Road, Kresgeville.

And Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert has an American Red Cross blood drive scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 18 in McCawley Hall.

Call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767) to schedule or do it online.

Wear a mask, bring a photo ID and maintain social distancing.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center collects at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville. The next donor time is from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 17.

Call 610-691-5850 or 800-223-6667 to register.

Auxiliary meeting

The American Legion Auxiliary is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. March 10 at the Legion Post home in Gilbert. The Executive Committee will meet at 6 p.m.

PVEN meeting

The PVEN Board meeting is slated for 10 a.m. March 11. The group meets via Zoom at this time.

Spring crafts

West End Park and Open Space Commission is holding a St. Patty’s day and Spring craft event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 12 at Chestnuthill Park. The crafts include a shamrock and/or a colorful pinwheel.

Items will also be available as a drive-thru to take home craft materials while supplies last. This is a free family event at 221 Route 715, Brodheadsville.

Attendees need to wear a mask. COVID-19 guidelines will be followed at the time of the event. Please check back for updates before attending on the WEPOSC Facebook page under events.

No breakfast

There will be no breakfast on March 13 at McMichaels UMC because of a mandatory church commitment.

Buffet dinner

Post 927 is holding a St. Patrick’s Day buffet dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. March 13. It is to include corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and music. Doors open at 4 p.m. Dinner begins at 5 p.m.

Limited tickets are now on sale.

Lasagna dinner

Effort UMC will be accepting orders for traditional homemade lasagna with or without meat, through March 14. The dinner, to be picked up between 4 and 7 p.m. March 19, will include lasagna, salad, garlic bread and dessert. It will come in two sizes, for either two or four people. For costs, call the church office at 570-629-1890.

Free dinner

Zion United Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, is hosting a free community dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. March 17. The dinner will be available by way of a drive-thru pickup.

Soup sale

McMichaels UMC is having a soup and dessert sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 27. There will be a variety of homemade soups and desserts. Soups will be available by the quart or pint. The desserts will be packaged in small baggies or whole or half cakes and pies.

The soups and desserts will be displayed and purchased in the fellowship hall. Masks must be worn and social is distancing required. They are all to-go with no gatherings or eating in the church permitted as per coronavirus protocol.

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