Holiday registration

PVEN has already begun accepting registrations for children for the annual holiday toy and coat distribution.

Children under 15 years old maybe eligible to receive free Christmas toys and a winter coat.

Registrations will be accepted until Oct. 22.

New clients will need birth certificates, proof of income, a lease or mortgage paperwork and proof of residency in the six-township coverage area: Chestnuthill, Jackson, Hamilton, Jackson, Polk and Ross township, as well as clothing sizes and wishes for each child.

Anyone interested in signing up for the program is asked to call the PVEN office at 570-992-3136.

Current PVEN needs are gravy, stuffing, fried onions and cranberry sauce for the food pantry and men’s socks, body wash, women’s deodorant, and razors and shaving cream for the Clothing Closet.

Parent meeting

The Pleasant Valley Intermediate School Fall Title 1 parent meeting is on the calendar for 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Orphan outreach

Sandie Flannery of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church has long been involved in working with an orphan outreach in Ukraine.

Her report in the church’s upcoming Sunday bulletin details some of the changes that have been implemented in Ukraine. The group at OLQOP that assists with this service project will next meet at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss further projects and how to get involved.

Men’s fellowship

The Men’s Fellowship Group of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the pavilion. All men of the church are welcome.

Board of Education

The Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education is slated to meet virtually at 7 p.m. Thursday. The school board meeting agenda will be available the week of the meeting and can be accessed at https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/plea/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.

The Zoom link will be on www.pvbears.org Thursday morning.

Precious junk sale

Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, is holding its Precious Junk sale Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Masks are in effect.

Photo contest ends

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center submissions for the 2022 MCCD calendar of photos that showcase Monroe County’s finest natural resources are due by Friday.

Winners will receive fresh maple syrup from the Meesing Sugarbush. One grand prize winner will also be featured on the cover of the MCCD 2022 calendar.

For official rules and to submit a photo, visit www.mcconservation.org/mccd-photo-contest.

Eldred cleanup

Eldred Township will again be having its semiannual cleanup event on Friday, from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., and Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. until noon.

Residents can bring anything for disposal to the rear of the township building on those days. There will be people here to help with unloading. Residents should separate metals that are suitable for recycling.

The event is free to all Eldred Township residents, except for tires. Car tires are $4 each, truck tires $7 each and large truck tires $10 each. Tires that have been cut up cannot be accepted.

Electronics recycling ends for the year on Saturday and will resume in May 2022.

There will be follow-up announcements and posters placed at various spots around the township.

Also, if anyone would like to volunteer to do roadside cleanup on these or any other days, the township can provide volunteers with bags, (some) gloves and safety vests through PennDOT.

If volunteers let the township know in advance, filled bags can be left on the side of the road and the Public Works crew will pick up and dispose of them.

If anyone would like to nominate a road that needs cleaned up, the township may be able to direct some volunteers to that site.

Anyone who has any suggestions for ways to keep the community litter free should contact township secretary E. Ann Velopolcek at a.velopolcek@eldredtwp.org or call the township office at 610 381-4252, ext. 2.

Pantry open

Effort UMC’s SFRC food pantry will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Soup & bake sale

McMichaels UMC is hosting a homemade soup and bake sale from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

There will also be a large variety of delicious soups and baked goods as well as hot dogs, chips, soda, coffee and water, providing lots of good food at this sale.

The church hosts special meetings including Serenity Narcotics Anonymous, which meets every Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the church.

The meeting is open to all who need to talk and fellowship with those who understand what you are experiencing and how you can get the help you need and desire to overcome your problem. The meeting is free and confidential.

A second group that is hosted there is AA, which meets every Wednesday at noon and every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Anyone requiring assistance with this issue can join one or both of these meetings and receive the help being sought.

One will be gathering with others who understand.

Waterfall photo trip

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is offering a waterfall photo trip to Shohola Falls by bus led by Matt Giambra, an Environmental Educator, to capture some of the best artwork nature has to offer on Sept. 28.

The bus will depart from Kettle Creek at 8 a.m. and will return by 1 p.m. Attendees should pack a lunch to eat at a local picnic area. Preregistration is required and limited. Masks must be worn on the bus.

To preregister and for costs, call the center at 570-629-3061 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. some Saturdays.

Annual pig roast

The SAL at the American Legion in Gilbert is holding its Third Annual Pig Roast from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Gilbert Legion and it is open to the community.

The event will include not only food and drink, but also Vera and The Force Band and fireworks.

For costs and other information, contact Jimmy Nugent at 917-217-1387 or Erik Nelson at 973-459-8378.

Worship invite

Zion United Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, invites all to worship there at any of the following times, including Saturdays at 5 p.m. for an informal spoken service; Sundays at 8 a.m. with recorded music, and 10:30 a.m. with organ/piano/soloist.

Sunday school is at 9:15 a.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.

As a reconciling congregation, Zion welcomes everyone.

Free concert

The Knobby Whistlers Band, which opens for Steel Creek, plus Rice Around the World Catering for food and drink purchases, will be part of a free concert being presented at the Chestnuthill Park in Brodheadsville beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Bring a blanket or chair, and bug spray and enjoy the great music and food. Free ice cream is being provided by the township at intermission.

Baby Bottle campaign

Our Lady Queen of Peace is holding a Baby Bottle Boomerang campaign.

Parishioners and friends can pick up a bottle from a basket in the atrium after Mass on Saturday or Sunday, fill them with spare change, cash or check (made payable to K of C) and return the bottle to the basket by Oct. 10.

The donations will benefit the Pregnancy Resource Center of the Poconos.

Moving up ceremony

The Sunday school at Effort UMC will celebrate a Moving-Up ceremony on Sunday.

Classes are held at 11 a.m. and include: Body Building-children who will be age 4 on or before Sept. 1; Pre-teens/children who will be age 9 on or before Sept. 1 and Teens: Children who will be age 12 on or before Sept. 1.

Polk meeting

The Polk Township Board of Supervisors is slated to meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the township’s municipal building in Kresgeville.

West End GOP

The West End Republican Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Chestnuthill Township Park Building on Route 715.

This is a change from the usually scheduled meeting. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Hoagie sale set

Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary is holding a hoagie sale with orders and money due by Sunday. Pickup is Oct. 6.

The hoagies come from Thompson’s meat market.

Vouchers

The senior farmers vouchers will only be available until Sept. 30.

These vouchers are available for Monroe County residents, 60 years old and older, who have a gross income at or below $23,828 for a single individual and $32,227 for a married couple.

For more information call the Monroe County Aging Office at 570-420-3735.

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