Congratulations due

Six West End Fire Company volunteers took their written and practical exams to become nationally accredited as Firefighter I. These include: Brendon Smith, Pete Soroka, Manny Alfonso, Bill Edinger, Tobin McKeever, and Matt Aiello, reports Don Zipp, Chief of the WEF Company.

Two more are waiting for results of their Firefighter II test and Firefighter I test, respectively.

Chief Zipp also reports that the volunteers responded to 29 incidents in July and that the four West End fire companies all agreed that it was worth the time and effort to have the recent festival. They are already discussing doing it next year. Currently they’re is the process of getting ready for the West End Fair.

Give blood

The Berean Bible Fellowship on Tara View in Stroudsburg is hosting an American Red Cross drive today through 6 p.m.

Cornerstone Community Church on Polk Township Road in Kresgeville is hosting one from 1 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 14.

Both sites may be taking regular blood and Power Red.

One can also donate at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville to the Miller-Keystone bloodmobile. It is at the library, beginning at 7:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of the month and beginning at noon on the third Wednesday of the month.

Monthly meeting

The West End Home Association of the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert will meet for its monthly gathering at 7:30 p.m. today.

Chestnuthill Seniors

The activities for the Chestnuthill Seniors meeting at Zion Lutheran in the Fellowship Hall include the usual coffee and tea after the center’s opening at 9 a.m. and then at 9:30 a.m. Tai chi for arthritis.

Lunch is served at 11:30. The choices for Friday are the light lunch of egg salad, green bean salad, orange, two slices of whole grain bread and juice.

For the regular lunch, the menu offers fish Thermidor, brown rice, spinach, wax beans and a nectarine.

Next Wednesday the activity is free blood pressure screening and the menu choices are: light, chicken breast sandwich, low salt chips, pineapple tidbits, whole wheat bun and graham crackers; the regular choice is eggplant Rollatini, collard greens, mashed cauliflower, banana, whole wheat bread.

Attendees must contact the site manager at 570-242-677 to verify their choice of menu by 11 a.m. the day before.

Community Meals

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, has two community meals on its calendar.

On Thursday, West End Missions is serving its meal from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the church and on Sunday a Sunday supper will be served from 3 to 4 p.m.

Special guests

The Western Pocono Community Library has been holding Real Stories from Real People this summer and has had special guests come. On Thursday, at 6:30 p.m., the guests will be people from the West End Volunteer Fire Company.

Call the library at 570-992-7934 for information about attending.

Board of Education

The Pleasant Valley Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Administrative Center.

Bike Fest

The American Legion Riders Chapter 927, Gilbert, is sponsoring the Palmerton Bike Fest from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. It will include live bands, DJ, vendors, food stands, tricky trays, 50/50 draw, event T-shirts, and rubber duck races.

For more information, contact Jesse Zeigler at 484-464-8670.

On Sunday, the group will hold its regular meeting at 10:30 a.m. at the Post Home.

PVEN service

The Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network is holding its back to school days for families in the community who could use help with school clothing and supplies on Saturday and Tuesday and who are signed up.

Call PVEN at 570-992-3136 for more information.

Mountain Bike Day

The West End Regional Park will be hosting a Mountain Bike Day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Park on Evergreen Hollow Road for beginners to experienced. All are welcome.

Peterson’s Cycle Shop, Tracy Fox, Traffic Safety Coordinator and Trips for Kids/Pocono Flow are expected to be there.

Attendees are asked to register on Facebook or with WEPOSC.org, or call 570-992-9733.

Effort pantry

The Supplemental Food Resource Center at Effort UMC will be serving its clients from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

For additional information, call the church at 570-629-1890.

Family Fun Time

The Western Pocono Community Library, Brodheadsville, will be holding a Saturday Family Fun Time every Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. This program is open to families of all ages; there will be stories, songs, games and crafts.

For more information, contact the library at 570-992-7934.

Special blessing

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church offers its college-bound students, both new and returning, a special blessing and gift from the parish family at all Masses on Saturday and Sunday.

Polish Mass

On Saturday, the 5 p.m. Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will be bilingual, both Polish and English. It will be followed by a meal with traditional food of Poland graciously prepared by the Polish parishioners.

Guest preacher

Effort UMC will welcome guest preacher Clarence Wright, an AME Minister at Mount Pisgah AME Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, who has been attending Effort Church while here in the Poconos.

He became a Licentiate on March 18. He is currently a candidate for the M.Div. at New York Theological Seminary.

New students

The Pleasant Valley Middle School will hold a new students welcome breakfast on Monday at 9 a.m. according to the school calendar.

On Tuesday, the elementary and intermediate schools will have a new student welcome breakfast at 9 a.m. for first through sixth grades at the Pleasant Valley Elementary cafeteria.

At 10 a.m. PVMS is hosting Meet the Principal, and at 11 a.m. is find your classroom.

Life Line screening

Effort UMC is hosting a Life Line screening Tuesday.

Call 866-229-0469 or register online at www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle or text the word circle to 797979.

Knit & Crochet

Zion Lutheran’s needle wizards will meet again at 1 p.m. Tuesday to create beautiful items of caring. One of their recent gifts of supportive outreach was sent to Bernville, Pennsylvania.

Newcomers of all skill levels are welcome.

Korea vets meet

The Korean veterans group meeting at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert will be meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

OTOH meeting

Operation: Touch of Home is scheduled to meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.

Protect Veterans

Mrs. Bush’s Personal Care Homes Inc. in Kunkletown will be hosting a free presentation, Operation Protect Veterans by AARP at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

This presentation discusses scams directed toward veterans and how to identify them. It will provide resources to verify them, and how to obtain legitimate information about guaranteed service benefits.

Additionally, materials from the fraud watch network and PA Banking and Securities will be available. Each attendee will receive an AARP Watchdog Alert Handbook, along with a hard copy PowerPoint handout.

Any questions can be directed to Carrie Shafer, ADC, Community Life Director at 610-381-1009.

Legion Auxiliary

The American Legion Auxiliary is slated to meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Legion Post home in Gilbert.

For more information, call Pat Fronchek at 570-242-0497.

Sub vets meet

Due to the West End Fair and the group’s attendance there, the Submarine Veterans meeting, usually on the third Wednesday of the month, will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Wilson Fisher American Legion, Post 413, Old Route 940, in Pocono Pines.

They are a local chapter of the national organization U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc. The purpose of the organization is to perpetuate the memory of shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country.

Submarine veterans from all eras are encouraged to join and to visit the group at the West End Fair.

For additional information and directions, visit the website http://poconosubvets.org, or call 610-681-2606.

Contact Adele Argot at 717-933-4028 or arargot3@verizon.net. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or tneditor@tnonline.com.