The Palmerton Area Democratic Club will host a dessert and coffee reception for Palmerton-area Democratic candidates at their closing meeting 7 p.m. today at the Fireline Hotel, Bowmanstown.

"The club especially looks forward to welcoming those candidates who are running for committeeman or committeewoman in the nine precincts that comprise the Palmerton Area," said PADC Vice President Sandi Peters, who will chair the meeting."Those precincts include Palmerton East, Middle and West, Bowmanstown, Towamensing Township North, East and West and Lower Towamensing Township North and South."The Democratic Party was early to give women equal representation, and, to that end, Democratic committee bylaws require that one man and one woman represent each precinct at the reorganization meeting of the Carbon County Democratic Committee every four years in June."Of the 18 open positions in the Palmerton Area, we are fortunate to have 15 candidates running. We want to take this opportunity for everyone to get to know one another better and to thank these candidates for their civic mindedness and willingness to step up and serve."The PADC meetings are monthly, the second Tuesday of the month, September to May, at 7 p.m. at the Fireline Hotel, Bowmanstown, with an Annual Potluck Picnic midsummer, the third Sunday in July. Annual Dues of $1 a year were due Jan. 1.The club continues to collect canned goods at each meeting for the food bank run by the Community Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches. Newcomers are always welcome.The PADC Dessert Reception is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Sandi Peters at 610-826-6635 or

slpeters@ptd.net.