Tax help site

Salem UCC, Gilbert, is again hosting a free AARP tax help site from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursdays.

To take advantage of the free help, call 484-764-6964 for an appointment.

Growing group

The GFWC Western Pocono Women’s Club had its first person-to-person meeting in months at Effort UMC last week with 30 women in attendance.

COVID-19 guidelines were adhered to with masks and seating 6 feet apart.

Andrea Lazicki, club membership chairman, initiated six new members with a beautiful candlelight ceremony. The candles and table were decorated with the club flower, the field daisy.

New members are: Lisa Altemose, Catherine Bruno, Shirley Correll, Sharon Gower, Cindy Sherman and Gail Urland. In addition, two prospective guests attended the meeting, reports Pat Mackes, club newsletter creator.

She shares that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the club and a committee is planning a special event to celebrate.

Food boxes go on

The free food boxes program at Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will continue Thursdays through April 29, according to church administrator Olga Schillinger.

Boxes include dairy, meat, vegetables and fruit. Pickup time is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays.

Grief Share

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church is hosting a Grief Share event Tuesday, for both men and women, A Time to Heal Beyond Survival for Men and A Time to Heal Beyond Survival for Women.

For more information, call the church at 570-992-6799.

Food distribution

Effort UMC’s food pantry, the SFRC, is holding a distribution from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Soup sale day

McMichaels UMC is having a soup and dessert sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

There will be a delicious variety of homemade soups and desserts. Soups will be available by the quart or pint. The desserts will be packaged in small baggies or a 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 distancing required. They are all to-go with no gatherings or eating in the church permitted per coronavirus protocol.

Palm Sunday events

• Effort UMC will hold in-person services at 8:30, 10 and 11:15 a.m. Palm Sunday. An online service will be available after 8 a.m. by going to effortumc.org and clicking on the applicable links.

• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, will begin the celebration of Palm Sunday with a vigil at 5 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday there will be services at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. in Spanish, and at 7 p.m.

The Masses will be livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube or the parking lot at FM 90.5 on one’s car radio.

• Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will have Palm Sunday services at 9 and 11 a.m.

• St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown, is holding a Palm Sunday service at 9 a.m., with a Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, face coverings are required for all events in the church building and while moving to and from one’s seat in the Church Grove.

• Passover begins for those of the Jewish faith.

Egg hunt

Zion United Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, is hosting a community drive-thru egg hunt from 1 to 3 p.m. this Sunday, for ages 5 through fifth grade.

Call 570-992-6988 or email zionulc@ptd.net with questions.

Holy Week services

• A Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church at 7 p.m. April 1, but the day begins with a morning prayer at 8 a.m.

The Mass will be followed by Adoration until 11 p.m. and Night Prayer.

• Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will have a virtual Good Friday service.

• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will celebrate The Lord’s Passion on April 2, with morning prayer at 8 a.m. and also a 7 p.m. livestreamed service.

• St. John’s Lutheran Church, 164 Merwinsburg Road, Effort, will be holding a Good Friday Service at 5 p.m. It will be led by pastoral care provider Lynn Weiler.

Masks are required.

• St. Matthew’s UCC will hold a Maundy Thursday service on April 1 at 6 p.m. with Holy Communion, a dramatic reading and Tenebrae, a service of candles and desertion.

The service on Good Friday will be a virtual one on the website, Stations of the Cross.

Easter sunrise service is at 6 a.m. on April 4 in the church grove. Masks and social distancing will be maintained. Worship in the sanctuary is at 9 a.m. on April 4. Seating is limited to 57 in the sanctuary. Overflow seating is available in the social hall with the service livestreamed on the television. Masks and social distancing will be maintained. Livestream the 9 a.m. service via Facebook or www.stmattsucckunkletown.com.

• St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, Route 115, Saylorsburg, will begin Holy Week on Palm Sunday at 10 a.m. and celebrate the triumphant entry of the Savior, Jesus Christ, into Jerusalem with palms, song, Scripture and anticipation.

Beginning on Holy Thursday, April 1, people are invited into the sanctuary for an evening worship service beginning at 7 p.m. It will be a solemn service, with special music, and Pastor Ed Bean will give a sermon titled “Does Evil Have Consequences?”

• Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, will begin its services of Easter weekend with a Maundy Thursday service on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and a second service on Good Friday, April 2, also at 7:30 p.m. Both are in-person worship times, with CDC guidelines being to be followed by worshippers: wearing a mask and social distancing. The services will also be on Facebook Live.

Easter Bunny

The American Legion Auxiliary, Post 927, is hosting a time to celebrate with the Easter Bunny on April 3, beginning at 11 a.m. It is limited to 70 children and one must register the child/children at Post 927 in Gilbert before March 28.

Contact Eileen McGuire at 908-220-4756. COVID-19 restrictions will be in place.

Drive carefully

With the full reopening of the Pleasant Valley School District beginning Monday, all drivers and riders are reminded to be watchful of traffic around all district schools. The district will be open five days per week full-time for in-person instruction.

AARP Smart Driver

Presently there are no in-person classes being offered. However, one can take the class online at https://www.aarpdriversafety.org.

Eldred vacancy

Eldred Township has a vacancy on its Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is an advisory commission. The planners review and advise the Board of Supervisors on subdivisions and development in the township and various related subjects. Meetings are (generally) once a month on the second Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building. One must be a resident of Eldred Township to be eligible and be able to attend all meetings.

If interested, submit a letter of interest to the Township no later than April 2. Letters can be dropped off during normal hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, emailed to a.velopolcek@eldredtwp.org, or mailed to P.O. Box 600 Kunkletown, PA 18058.

Planning commission

Chestnuthill Township supervisors recently appointed Aralee Thieling as a member of the planning commission.

Relief fund

Pocono Mountains United Way established the Hospitality & Restaurant Worker Relief Fund to financially support hospitality and restaurant employees in the region.

Eligible applicants will receive a $250 mini-grant. Eligibility includes: being 18 years of age or older; working in the hospitality and restaurant industry, and live or work in Carbon, Monroe, Pike or Wayne counties; and the applicant can provide a pay stub dated October 2020 or later to verify one currently works or has recently worked in the hospitality and restaurant industry.

Apply at Poconounitedway.org/relief.

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