TOPS today

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church hosts a Take of Pounds Sensibly group twice on every Wednesday, at 10 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m.

For more information on TOPS, email coolemt07@yahoo.com.

OES meeting

The next meeting of Monroe Chapter 99 of the Order of the Eastern Star will be Thursday and include the installation of officers.

Honoring moms

• Effort UMC is telling its “family” that folks should “bring Mom, Grandma, Nana, the women in your life, and the whole family to breakfast on Mother’s Day,” which is Sunday.

Breakfast will be served from 9:30-10:40 a.m. This is a free will offering event that supports the church’s building fund.

• St. Peter’s UMC, Saylorsburg, will hold a special service on Sunday honoring all mothers.

The 9 a.m. worship service will be followed by a coffee fellowship.

In the meantime, the church is collecting 32-64 ounce bottles of liquid laundry detergent for UMCO Buckets and reusable cleaning wipes (not terry cloth or microfiber) and two pairs of durable kitchen gloves.

Effort Women

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

Needle events

• Effort UMC’s “stitchers,” the Prayer Shawl Ministry, meets the first and third Tuesday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Zion Lutheran’s Knit & Crochet folks meet at 1 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at the church in Brodheadsville.

Election deadline

Tuesday is the last day to apply for a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania for the May 19 primary election. For more information, visit www.pavoterservices.pa.gov.

‘Bog Birding’

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is holding “Bog Birding” a program from 7-9 a.m. May 13 at the Tannersville Cranberry Bog.

People are invited to learn the basics of birding while discovering the unique and fascinating bird species that visit this rare habitat.

There is a cost for participating, and preregistration and payment is required.

To register, go to mcconservation.org or call 570-629-3061 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The bog’s address is 552 Cherry Lane Road, East Stroudsburg.

Information on other programs is also available at mcconservation.org.

Grief support

The Western Pocono Community Library hosts a monthly bereavement support group, as facilitated by St. Luke’s University Health Network.

The next gathering is scheduled for 1-2:30 p.m. May 13.

For more information, call 484-526-2499.

Showers to flowers

Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center is hosting “April Showers to May Flowers” from 10-11:30 a.m. May 16.

Folks are invited to “come and explore the colorful world of flowers” and enjoy the beauty blooming all around.

Participants can walk the trails to find flowers and learn what makes each one special. There is a cost, and participants must preregister by calling 570-629-3061.

The center is located at 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg.

Farmers market set

The farmers market at Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, will come again on May 16, with hours being from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Currently there are nine vendors, plus Zion’s kitchen offering various products, and Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania. Items range from goats milk soap and sourdough bread, to pizza and wine.

Fundraiser for veterans

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effort, has announced that on primary election day, May 19, the church will have a Taco Food Truck present from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., or until food runs out.

The church itself will have a bake sale starting at 10 a.m. until items run out.

The fundraiser proceeds will be sent to Veterans Assisted Living Outreach (VALOR) to benefit veterans.

Flea market

Time to think about reserving a space for the May 16 spring flea market at St. Peter’s UMC in Saylorsburg. It is being held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The rain date is set for May 23.

For more information or to become a vendor, call 570-992-7311 and leave a message so your call can be returned.

Chestnuthill history

The history of postal service in Chestnuthill Township will be presented by Taylor J. Keller at 2 p.m. May 16 at the township municipal building.

Among the things one can learn: Why your address is Saylorsburg even though you live in Effort or McMichaels.

Holistic fair

Spring Healing for the Soul will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the West End Volunteer Fire Company on Route 715 in Brodheadsville.

There will be lectures by practitioners beginning at 10:15 a.m., as well as mini-sessions on massage, ear candling, color puncture, spinal exams, integrated energy therapy, Reiki/energy healing, reflexology, card readings, Thai massage, emotional freedom techniques (tapping) and CPR (hands only.)

Free will offering are requested for mini sessions. All proceeds from sessions will be donated to the fire company.

For more information, call 570-992-4121 or visit www.facebook.com/WEFCO43/.

Garden of Giving

May 17 is slated to be a fun day for youngsters ages 4-10, but older and younger siblings are welcome, too, as Cas Schoeller, of Fun and Fancy Faces, is the headliner for three hours of “face painting and story time” at The Garden of Giving.

The event is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the garden near McMichaels on Route 715.

A donation per child is requested.

For more information, call 570-402-1282 or email gardenofgiving1@gmail.com.

Room available

Zion Lutheran reminds the community that it has a hall available for rent for special celebrations.

Call 570-992-6988 for more information.

AA meetings

McMichaels UMC offers AA meetings every Wednesday at noon and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m.

Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, offers space for such meetings at 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

Nature walk

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, is doing another nature walk. This one, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, will be at Chestnuthill Park. The rain date is May 30.

Mark calendars

The West End Fairgrounds, Gilbert, will be the site for the West End Fireman’s Festival being held May 28-30.

Day camps

Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center offers summer day camps.

Campers should choose one week. The camps are:

• Get in Touch with Nature for ages 7-10 — June 22-26, July 6-10 or Aug. 3-7.

• Adventure Camp for ages 11-13 — July 6-10, Aug. 3 -7 or Aug. 17-21.

Camps are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with early care and late pickup available for an additional fee.

Applications can be found at www.mcconservation.org/educational-services. Register online, call 570-629-3061 or email dflint@monroecountypa.gov for an application or to pay by credit card over the phone.

For more information, call 570-629-3061 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, visit www.mcconservation.org or email dlederer@monroecountypa.gov.