Ascension Masses

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville is holding several Ascension Thursday Masses, including at 8 a.m., 12:10 and 7 p.m.

Bargains in Eldred

Looking for bargains? Check out the Eldred Township Thrift Store in Kunkletown. The store is open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Fireman’s Festival

Yes, the West End Fireman’s Festival is back! And it’s back for three days, beginning Thursday, at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

The event benefits Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder Fire Company, Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company, Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company and West End Volunteer Fire Company.

There will be live music, including SteelCreek on Thursday; Brian Dean Moore Band on Friday; and the Cramer Brothers on Saturday.

In addition, tasty treats will abound, including sausage and peppers, hamburgers, clams, pizza, fries and funnel cake. There will also be a variety of beverages.

Fun things like a touch-a-truck experience, candy drop, helicopter rides and horse displays, as well as carnival rides and games, are scheduled.

And the finale: fireworks on Saturday.

Flea market drop-offs

There are two times this week flea market donations can be dropped off at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church for its annual event: noon-6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. There is also a drop-off from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. June 2.

Donations will not be accepted before those days. In general, items should be usable, working and not broken.

Items not accepted include windows and doors, blinds and shades, Christmas trees, encyclopedia and textbooks, old CRT televisions, ceiling lights and fans, computers and printers, pianos and organs, baby car seats and cribs, and exercise equipment.

Flea Market Help Days have been set for Saturday, anytime between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and 1-3 p.m. both June 4 and June 6. The parishwide flea market is on the calendar for June 20 to 22.

Trivia Night

The American Legion Post 927 is hosting Trivia Night on Friday from 7-11 p.m. For more information, contact Kyle Earling. The West End Home Association will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Pizza sale now

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 164 Merwinsburg Road, Effort, is holding a ready to bake pizza sale through June 13. Orders must be called in no later than Sunday. The pizzas will be ready to take home and bake, or they can be frozen.

Pies are 12 inches and can be ordered by calling the church at 570-629-4309 or 570-977-9040.

People should leave a clear message with the number of pies and contact name and phone number. Pickup and pay — cash only — will be 4-5 p.m. June 13.

Confirmation Sunday

Effort UMC will celebrate the Confirmation of five young people at the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday.

Senior meals

The Monroe campus of St. Luke’s University Health Network does supply senior meals for a cost at the Monroe Campus seven days a week, from 4-6 p.m. For more information, call 484-526-2499.

Schedule change

Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, has changed the time for its worship services for the year. The Sunday worship is now at 9:30 a.m. The church administration feels that this will make for a larger gathering and save money on utilities.

The church will continue to do remote worship: Facebook Live at 9:30 a.m. and an email with the service sent later on Sunday.

All are invited to join the live service “where and when you can” and share the change with “family, friends and strangers!”

Breakfast & soup

McMichaels UMC is hosting a donation only breakfast from 8-10 a.m. June 14. A soup sale will follow, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The sale will include soups such as chicken rice, beef stew, chicken potpie, etc. Call ahead at 610-597-1030.

Habitat breakfast

The 35th anniversary of Monroe County’s Habitat for Humanity will be celebrated at its Blueprints & Breakfast: Creating Homes for a Better Future, at Camelback Resort.

For tickets and cost, contact Habitat online at https://habitatmc.com/blueprints-and-breakfast or obtain yours at the door. Ticket deadline is Friday.

Valor Clinic benefit

West End Memorial American Legion Post 927 Auxiliary is hosting a Casino Night at Camp Trexler, from 3-10 p.m. Saturday, to benefit the Valor Clinic Foundation.

For more details and tickets, text or call Robin at 610-417-3068.

No handhelds

From state Rep. Jack Rader comes a reminder that using handheld devices while driving is banned as of June 5. He said that, “Under the law, driving while holding a mobile device is a primary violation, meaning police can pull over drivers solely for the violation. For the first 12 months, the penalty is a written warning. Effective in June 2026, the penalty is a summary offense, which carries a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees. If a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.”

Flea market

Middlecreek Christian Church, Dorshimer Road, Kresgeville, has scheduled an outdoor flea market for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. June 7, rain or shine.

For space donation, and other information, call the church at 570-629-4066 or email mcchurch@ptd.net.

The event will include lunch and baked goods available for purchase.

Leave name and phone number where you can be reached.

Tick Awareness

The Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab reminds people that May is Lyme and Tickborne Disease Awareness Month, stating that, “Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. The bacteria which cause Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii, can spread through the bite of an infected black-legged (deer) tick.”

For more information, including how to get a tick bite evaluated, contact the lab wildlifena@esu.edu. The lab’s address is 562 Independence Rd., Suite 114, East Stroudsburg, PA 1830.

VBS announced

Our Lady Queen of Peace will hold its Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m.-noon July 28 through Aug. 1. Registration is due by July 1. Forms are at the church or via email. This is for trained pre-K through 6th grade. Registration is due by July 21.

The theme is True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World.

There will be a family picnic after Friday’s session is concluded. Adults must accompany their respective children to the picnic.

Eighth grade volunteers earn Confirmation service hours.

For more information and to volunteer, call the church at 610-681-6137.