Volunteers needed

The Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network summer lunch program can still use volunteers to assemble 250 lunches for children from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays for eight weeks.The location on Mondays will be Zion United Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville and Wednesday at St. Peter's UMC in Saylorsburg. Volunteers are also needed to go with drivers to distribute the lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All volunteers must all have all background checks, Pennsylvania Criminal, Child Abuse and FBI, in order to help if they come in direct contact with the children.If interested, call PVEN at 570-992-3136 for more information.Rotary meetingThe West End Rotary Club will hold a regular meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville. The club will hold its annual installation and award dinnerJuly 14, at the Scorecard, 130 N. Broadway in Wind Gap. Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar will start at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m.Reservations for the annual installation and awards dinner must be in bySunday to club President Ed Gallagher. RSVP via phone or text to 610-657-6196 or email

ed@kseent.com. Checks and cash will be accepted at the event.There will be no regular morning meeting July 14.New vanEffort United Methodist Church has been awarded a grant from the George T. Walker Charitable Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. The funds have been used for a new church van which is expected to be picked up Thursday just in time be used to go on its first youth mission trip to Fulton, New York.Old-Tyme showThe 21st Pocono Old-Tyme antique tractor gas engine and farm equipment farm show will take place at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Gates open at noon Friday, and at 6 p.m. there will be a tractor parade.Saturday includes a tractor pull and the kid's pedal pull as well as a tractor parade and threshing and baling demonstrations.There will be continuous demonstrations of engines, generators, feed grinders, corn shelling, cornstalk chopping, water pumps and more.The McWilliams Brothers will entertain from 5-8 p.m.Sunday includes an open-air church service, tractor parade and more demonstrations as well as tractor pulls for children and adults.For more information, call 570-402-7333.Mission tripZion Lutheran's Youth will be on a mission trip to Wayne County, New York, beginning Sunday. They are collecting personal care items to take as a gift to local organizations that give to the needy there.Monroe SeniorsThe Chestnuthill group of Monroe County Seniors meets every Wednesday and Friday in Zion Lutheran Church's Fellowship Hall in Brodheadsville. This Friday the noon luncheon is beef stew. Next Wednesday it is pork with pineapple.For meal reservations, call the site manager one day in advance by 11 a.m. at 570-242-6770 or 570-420-3735There is a suggested meal donation.Next Wednesday, blood pressure readings will be available.Pantry openThe Supplemental Food Resource Center of Effort UMC by EUMC will be open from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday for normal distribution. This church-run pantry is an outreach of the church serving the communities of Effort, Gilbert, Kunkletown, Kresgeville, Brodheadsville, Saylorsburg, Sciota and Albrightsville.Its intent is to help feed families going through emergency or other short-term situations who are not eligible for local, county or state programs and is limited to a 12-week lifetime duration per family. A valid driver's license or state ID with address proving residency in the West End is required.VBS continuesThe three-Sunday Vacation Bible School at Salem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kresgeville continues this Sunday after the worship service at 9:30 a.m.Parish Feast DayOur Lady Queen of Peace Church will celebrate its parish feast day Sunday with Mass at noon, followed by Procession of Mary around church grounds, and complete the afternoon with hot dogs and cake in McCawley Hall.Drivers neededThe American Cancer Society needs volunteers to drive cancer patients in the West End to and from their treatment appointments. To learn more about this program or if you know a cancer patient who could use a ride, call the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.Lioness BoardThe Western Pocono Lioness Club board of directors will meet at noon Tuesday at Cherry's Family Restaurant in Kresgeville. Board members unable to attend are asked to contact either Cynthia or Georganna Wilken. All members are welcome.Knit & CrochetZion Lutheran's Knit & Crochet group, Brodheadsville, will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday to work on items for various institutions.Keep Sunday HolyThe Keep Sunday Holy ecumenical group will hold a business meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Gilbert. Attendees are asked to use the chapel entrance. Any organizational matters will be addressed from 8 to 8:30 p.m.Bible studyZion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, will begin a summer Bible studyJuly 13. The group will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall. The focus is Journeys through Revelation, Apocalyptic Hope for Today.Visitation setThe Western Pocono Women's Club will visit the Getz Personal Care home in Jonas at 2:30

p.m.July 13. Members joining in this outreach should contact Mary M.Ridge SeniorsThe Chestnut Ridge Seniors will meet at 11

a.m.July 14 at the Kunkletown Fire Hall. Doors open at 9 a.m. for a social time or for the exercise program offered through Pocono Medical Center and led by Rosemary Allocco.Hot dogs and sauerkraut are on the menu with bingo the featured activity.This social organization is open for those 55 or over.Smart Driver courseAn AARP Smart Driver course will be offered at the Chestnuthill Park Building in Brodheadsville beginning at 1

p.m.July 16 andJuly 23.This is the eight-hour course held on two separate days. It is designed for qualified drivers age 50 and older. There are no tests and membership in AARP is not necessary.For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Roland Vonderheide at 570-619-4006 or

rolandvonderheide@verizon.net.Star gazingThe community is invited to join Astronomer Rich Grebb for a star gazing program at the West End Regional Park. Participants are asked to meet at 8:30 p.m. July 16 at the Chestnuthill Park, 221 Route 715, Brodheadsville.The program will include telescopic views of the planet Saturn with its moons and rings.Weather permitting, the program includes viewing the constellations Scorpio, Sagittarius along the southern horizon, with great views of the Milky Way.Stars of the dippers, Cassiopeia, and the Summer Triangle-Vega, Deneb and Altair will be highlighted as well as views of the Andromeda Galaxy.Preregistration is required. Contact 570-992-9733 or

bkozen@weposc.org.Attendees are advised to bring a lawn chair, blanket and bug spray.Chicken barbecueEffort United Methodist Church on Merwinsburg Road off Route 115 in Effort will be having its semiannual chicken barbecue dinner from 3-7

p.m.Aug. 20. That is an ongoing tradition for 42 years.It is an eat-in or takeout event.There is a cost, but it is free for children 3 and under. The church is air-conditioned and handicap accessible.For more information call the church at 570-629-1890.Fleetwood run/walkThe West End Park and Open Space Commission has announced the Third Annual Dave Fleetwood Memorial Trail Run/Walk at the West End Regional Park on 578 Evergreen Hollow Road at 9

a.m.Sept. 18.The 3.1-mile race/walk honors Dave Fleetwood, who was killed during a public meeting in 2013 at the Ross Township Municipal Building in Saylorsburg. He was a dedicated public servant and worked diligently for the community.The run/walk is open to all ages and abilities, and the new Dave Fleetwood Memorial Trail will be available for those wishing a leisurely walk on a firm and stable surface accessible to all wheeled devices.All proceeds will fund the Dave Fleetwood Memorial Scholarship to recognize Pleasant Valley High School graduates who exemplify the outstanding attributes ofFleetwood.The 3.1-mile trail run winds through 240 acres of open space property and includes a flat trail, an open field and woods trails.Walkers are invited to use the 5/8-mile portion of the flat trail, and/or the 3/4-mile field trail or the entire running course.Registrants for the run/walk pay $20 before Sept. 8 and $25 afterward. Awards go to the top two male and female finishers and the top three male/female finishers in each age group.The first 100 preregistrants will receive an event T-shirt. There will be random drawings of bib numbers for prizes.New this year is a team challenge with special prizes. Teams must consist of one male, one female, one junior and one senior, one of whom must walk the entire course. Special prizes for the team challenge.Forms are available at the Chestnuthill Park, Ross and Chestnuthill Township buildings and area businesses. Complete the form, make entry payment to Friends of WEPOSC and mail to P O Box 276, Saylorsburg, PA 18353For additional information, contact Bernie Kozen at 570-992-9733,

bkozen@weposc.org or Jim Mannello at 570-460-8165,

manelo@ptd.netFamily NightRegistration for attending the Family Night at Teen Towers at Salem-St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kresgeville is due by July 13.The event will include games, fun and food. Those with allergies are welcome.It will be family vs. family, kids vs. parents.Registration required with names, number of youth, number of adults, phone and email. Submit registration information to

SSPYouth@outlook.com.Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or

arargot3@verizon.net. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or

tneditor@tnonline.com.