PVEN meeting

The Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network Board of Directors will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville.

OES meeting

The Monroe County Chapter of the OES is meeting Thursday for a dinner and meeting, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at the Masonic Center on RimRock Drive. Members are reminded to bring a covered dish.

Past Matrons and Past Patrons will be honored.

Legion meeting

American Legion Post 917, Gilbert, will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Legion post home in Gilbert.

PV School Board

The Board of Education for the Pleasant Valley School District is slated to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday.

School is not in session for students on Friday or on Monday.

Gourds display

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Art Gallery display features Claudia Hill and Joan Lech’s Gourds: Nature’s Canvas.

The gourds on display show how versatile this natural canvas can be. Gourds can be painted, carved, wood-burned, woven, beaded and sculpted.

Using the hard-shell gourd as a palette, Claudia and Joan use an arsenal of mediums to create their artwork. The exhibit opened Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 1.

For more information, call the Kettle Creek Environmental Education 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., most Saturdays.

Officer induction

The West End Memorial American Legion Post 927 will hold its officer induction ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Dumpling pickup

The folks who ordered apple dumplings from Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, are reminded to pick up their orders from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, or from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday.

Breakfast time

McMichaels UMC will be serving a donation-only breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday inside the church. It includes beverages.

All are invited.

Effort pantry

The Supplemental Food Resource Center at Effort UMC will next be open from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

SFRC is seeking donations for the month of October including canned yams, cake mix, cranberry sauce, stuffing, canned pumpkin

Volunteers are also needed. Call John Ostovich and/or Alfredo Russo, the co-directors of the food pantry. Contact them at eumcsfrc@ptd.net or 570-629-1890, ext. 109.

Mass times set

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, has announced the following worship and Confession times: Mass on Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., which is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube and available in the parking lot on one’s car radio at FM 90.5, and 7 p.m.; 3 p.m., Spanish Mass.

A Spanish Charismatic Group meets at 6:30 p.m. every Friday in the cafe.

Confession times are Mondays from 6:30 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 4 to 4:45 p.m.

Church sale

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effort, will hold a rummage and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Admission is free.

Among the many items are clothing for all ages, toys, games, knickknacks, holiday and household items, linens, and more.

The church kitchen will be open for those hoping to buy lunch.

Habitat sale

Monroe County Habitat for Humanity has announced its annual warehouse sales for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The sale includes light fixtures, wood and building materials, a bathtub, tile, hand tools, power tools, etc.

Acceptable payment methods include cash, credit/debit card, or personal check.

For more information call 570-216-4390.

Harvest Festival

Quiet Valley, Monroe County’s living historical farm, is celebrating its 47th annual Harvest Festival on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

The theme is: From a Seed.

For more information, check the web or call the office at 570-992-6161.

Coming to Quiet Valley on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 are Spooky Days.

Tailgate time

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church is having its first tailgate of the season from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the church parking lot.

Bring your own food, family and friends and support your favorite team are the instructions. Decorate your car and support your favorite team.

Dinner orders due

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran church, Kresgeville, is taking orders for takeout ham dinners. Dinner includes ham, filling with gravy, carrots, applesauce, roll and choice of cake: molasses or pineapple upside down. Orders are due by Sunday. They may also be placed by calling 570-688-5381.

In addition, the church is taking orders for celery seed dressing.

Animal blessing

St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown, will have an animal blessing as the church family celebrates the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi on Sunday, the last Sunday that worship is in the grove.

The service begins at 9 a.m. and all well-behaved pets are invited to join the worshippers. During the middle hymn, they will be blessed.

Pet families are reminded to be prepared to clean up after one’s animals.

Bingo Sunday

The grove of St. Matthew’s Church will serve as a site for bingo on Sunday. The food sale begins at noon and bingo begins at 1 p.m.

For the cost of playing, one will get two boards and six specials.

Chips and dabbers are needed.

Prizes are gift cards and cash.

In the event of inclement weather, the bingo will be moved into the church

Memorial ride

The first Cody Heller Memorial Ride, benefiting Wilkes-Barre DVAMC Veterans Substance Treatment and Recovery Programs, will take place Sunday, beginning at 1:30 p.m., at the American Legion, Gilbert.

Registration is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

The event is open to the community. Live music by the Catch 22 Band.

A barbecue meal is available.

For more information, including costs, contact Patty 570-688-8308 or Gayle 516-319-2800.

Community supper

Indoor dining on the second and fourth Sundays each month from 3 to 4 p.m. is back at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. The first such supper is this Sunday.

Alzheimer’s support

In-person meetings have returned for the Alzheimer’s Support Group which meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Shawnee Ridge Community Center in East Stroudsburg.

Anyone interested in attending must re-register (this is new). Go online to alz.org/crf and enter ZIP code or call 1-800-272-3900. The group is capped at 10 participants per session.

Effort Women

The Women’s Group of Effort will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, in Wesley Hall at Effort UMC.

It will be a planning meeting for 2022 events.

Garden meetings

The Garden of Giving board of directors meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, at the ReMax building on Route 115 in Effort.

New members for the board are being sought. Anyone interested in serving can call 570-402-1282 or email gardenofgiving1@gmail.com.

Visit the website at TheGardenOfGiving.org for more information. The Garden is located at 2556 Rising Hill Drive, off Route 715 in McMichaels.

Diversity Task Force

Pleasant Valley School District’s Diversity Task Forces is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Candy gifts sought

WEPOSC and West End Fire Company are doing a joint drive-­thru trick or treating event at the firehouse on Route 715 on Oct. 31.

Candy donations of individually wrapped candy are being accepted up to Oct. 12.

Call Bernie and Kim at 570-992-9733 to arrange a drop-off time or come by Oct. 6 or 12 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Touch of Home meets

Operation Touch of Home will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday for its regular monthly meeting at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.

Middlecreek fall sale

A fall rummage, soup and bake sale will be held at Middlecreek Christian Church from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 15 and from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 16.

There is a bag sale every day as well as homemade soups by the quart, and many fresh-baked goods, including the church’s apple dumplings.

Hot dogs and drinks will also be for sale.

All proceeds help support the church’s benevolence fund, helping those who are hurting.

The CDC guidelines, as they apply at the time of the sale, will be followed.

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