Legion Sons

The Sons of the American Legion Post 927 will meet at 6 p.m. at the West End Memorial Legion Hall in Gilbert.

Reptile program

The Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville will host a Clyde Peeling’s Reptileland at 6 p.m. Thursday. Food will be for sale by Friends of WPCL.

AA meeting

Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, hosts Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every Monday and Thursday, at 7:30 p.m.

Early July meetings are Thursday and July 6.

July 4 Celebrations

• It’s the USA’s 250th anniversary event for 3 days at the West End Fairgrounds, in Gilbert with special events taking place on Thursday through Saturday.

Admission is a fee per car.

On Thursday the PV School Drum & Fife Parade is at 5 p.m. Then come Mere Mortals in the Everett Building Pub from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Quarter Midget Racing at 6 p.m. free; Don Jovi on the Main Stage at 7 & 8:30 p.m.; Trinity Centennial Band at 7:30 p.m.; Fireworks at approximately 9:30-10 p.m., free; and military reenactors.

Friday’s events include: paid for wristbands for rides; Joey Lannigan in the Everett Building Pub from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Scott Reagan, Blohbariyer & Ben Rader at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Junk Car racing-gates opening at 5 p.m., the event begins at 7 p.m.

Different bands will be on the Main Stage at 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. each evening.

The pub will be open and military reenactors will be present.

On Saturday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. rides are by individual paid tickets; and then there are more activities, all in honor of the 250th anniversary of this country, as well as foods, various guests, reenactors and more.

• The Monroe County Independence Day parade will take place at 10 a.m. on July 4 on Main Street in Stroudsburg.

Go Fishing!

Fish for Free on Saturday, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. It includes resident and nonresident. All other fishing regulations apply.

MC parade

A Monroe County Independence Day Parade will be held at 10 a.m. on July 4, from the Stroudsburg High School to Dansbury Park in East Stroudsburg.

Time capsule

The Antoine Dutot Museum & Gallery in Delaware Water Gap, at 24 Main St. is opening a time capsule at 3 p.m. on July 4.

It is a free event and light refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 570-476-4240 or visit www.dutotmuseum.org.

St. Peter’s UMC

This Sunday, St. Peter’s UMC, will have a 9 a.m. worship service and at 10:15 a.m. It will be time for Christian Education.

Next Sunday it is worship at 9 a.m. with Communion and Fellowship at 10:15 a.m.

Church luncheon

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, will include Holy Communion, as well as patriotic songs in its 9 a.m. worship service this Sunday. At 10:30 a.m. the church will celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. Those who attend are asked to bring food to share.

Rosary bonfire

A family Rosary bonfire will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the fire pit behind the pavilion for family and friends of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church.

Bring a friend, our family, and a chair or a blanket.

It includes a bonfire, s’mores, games and the Rosary.

VBS ahead

Effort UMC is holding its VBS the week of July 6 through 10. The theme is: Rain Forest Falls.

The program will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.

Community luncheon

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church hosts community luncheons the first and third Monday of the month after the 12:10 p.m. Mass.

Holy Communion

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effort, will celebrate Holy Communion at its 9:30 a.m. worship service this coming Sunday.

Grape juice and gluten-free wafers are available.

Busy hands

The Prayer Shawl ministry group at Effort UMC meets 10 a.m. Tuesdays. New members are always welcome.

There is also a Prayer Shawl ministry at St. Matthew’s in Kunkletown and at Zion Lutheran church in Brodheadsville.

WEHA meeting

The West End Home Association of Post 927 will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Legion Post home in Gilbert.

SFRC pantry

Effort UMC’s Supplemental Food Resource Center will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Donations specifically requested include pasta and pasta sauce, canned goods, juice boxes, snacks, lunch items and non-perishables.

PVEN needs told

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church shares that PVEN is currently collecting items for this year’s Back-to-School Extravaganza.

Items needed include: Underwear — boxer briefs for males and all styles for females; socks — all sizes, including big and tall for males, and extended sizes for females; art supplies — crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint sets, construction and drawing papers, glue sticks; writing supplies — journals, composition books, spiral notebooks, pens and pencils.

Items may be dropped off at the Clothing Closet. Public support of this important program is appreciated.

Individuals interested in receiving supplies and/or uniforms from this program can call the PVEN office at 570-992-3136 to register.

The PVEN supports residents of Chestnuthill, Eldred, Hamilton, Jackson, Ross, and Polk townships in Monroe County.

Recipients must preregister and meet certain household income restrictions to qualify for aid.

The Moving Wall

On July 9 through 13, The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be displayed at the Stroudsburg High School (1100 W. Main Street).

This traveling memorial has been touring the country since 1984 and allows those who have never had a chance to visit Washington, D.C. to finally see a loved one’s name.

For more information, visit www.themovingwall.org.

W.E. speaker

Pam Hubbard will be the featured speaker at the Pocono Garden Club’s annual Flower Show and Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 11 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tannersville.

Many plants will be for sale. There is an admission request.

There will also be, a silent auction, Tricky Tray, Garden Marketplace with new or gently used garden-related items, Snack Corner and bake sale and door prizes.

The club does donate to many local charitable organizations.

Summer services

St. Matthew’s EC Church in Kunkletown will hold its summer services in the grove at 9 a.m. on July 12, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13.

They begin at 9 a.m. Worshippers are asked to bring a lawn chair if they want to sit in the shade under the trees or under the pavilion.

B’fast & Bluegrass

Doc Poppa & the Renegades will be at Effort UMC on July 12. The group will provide worship music with breakfast at 9:45 a.m., as well as at the worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m.

Save a life

Our Lady Queen of Peace church has announced a community blood drive. It will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. on July 14.

Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: West End to schedule an appointment.

OTOH meeting

The next meeting of Operation: Touch of Home will be held at 7 p.m. on July 14 at the American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert.

Zion’s free dinner

The next free community dinner at Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, will be served from 5 to 6 p.m. on July 15.

Summer bog walks

The Monroe County Conservation District’s Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center has announced that its guided weekly Tannersville Bog Walks are now underway Wednesdays through Sept. 9.

Walks begin at 10 a.m. at the bog; and will be guided by an Environmental Educator from the Center who will teach folks about the bog.

Participants will meet at the Bog parking lot by 10 a.m.

Directions include on Route 611, at the light at the Wawa, turn onto Cherry Lane Road. The parking lot is 1.9 miles on the right from Route 611. The GPS address is 552 Cherry Lane Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

There is a cost.

Preregistration and payment is required in advance. Registration opens at the start of the month prior to each program.

Register and pay at mcconservation.org. All are reminded to wear appropriate footwear for walking in the woods and through fields.

Questions? Call 570-629-3061.

Kettle Creek Environmental is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. some Saturdays.