Spring recess

Pleasant Valley School District schools are on spring recess after early dismissal today until next Tuesday.

Blood drive

A Miller-Keystone blood drive will be at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville today beginning at noon.

Community dinner

Zion Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, will hold a free community dinner today from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Eldred meeting

Eldred Township supervisors meet at 7 tonight at the Eldred Township Municipal Building on Kunkletown Road.

Troop 102

Boy Scout Troop 102 meets at 7 tonight at the American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert. George Liebegott is the scoutmaster.

Rain barrels

The Monroe County Conservation District is now accepting orders for rain barrels through today. Pickup will be held between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 27 at the Monroe County Earth Day celebration, held at the Monroe Campus of Northampton County Community College in Tannersville.

Each barrel is made in Pennsylvania from recycled 58-gallon olive barrels, with brass fittings and an easy open screened lid. Barrels do not need to be hard fit and are easy to install. Save rain, save money and help conserve water by ordering a barrel today.

For more information about Earth Day, visit http://www.mcearthday.org. For more information on the rain barrel, including cost or for an order form, call Annie at 570-629-3060, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit the website www.mcconservation.org.

Zion seniors

Anyone over 50 years is welcome at the next gathering of Zion Seniors at 11 a.m. Thursday. The meeting takes place in Zion’s Parish Hall.

Participants should bring a sandwich. Beverages are provided.

There are small annual dues.

Maundy Thursday

Effort UMC will hold a soup and breaking of bread in fellowship at 6 p.m. in Wesley Hall.

McMichaels UMC will have a 7 p.m. candlelight service of communion around the tables in the fellowship hall as in the Upper Room.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, will have morning prayer at 8 a.m., but no 8 a.m. Mass. A Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at 7 p.m.

St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown, will hold a Maundy Thursday service, beginning with a covered dish supper at 6 p.m. The worship service, with Communion, is at 7 p.m.

St. Peter’s UMC, Saylorsburg, will have communion and worship at 7:30 p.m.

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, will have 7 p.m. service with Holy Communion and a stripping of the altar.

Salem UCC, Gilbert, will have soup at 6 p.m. Maundy Thursday and a worship service at 7 p.m.

Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, will have a Maundy Thursday service at 7:30 p.m.

WE Little League

The West End Little League will have a league meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Chestnuthill Township Park building. It is the monthly open meeting, so all are welcome.

Good Friday events

Effort UMC will hold a Last Supper service at 7 p.m. on Good Friday.

Middlecreek Christian Church, Kresgeville, will celebrate “Christ’s Victory at the Cross,” a musical. It will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by light refreshments.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will have 8 a.m. prayer on Good Friday, but no Mass, and begin a 30-hour fast at 9 a.m. and have a celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 7 p.m.

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will have a Good Friday service from 7 to 8 p.m.

St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown, will be open from noon to 3 p.m. for prayer and to walk the Way of the Cross individually.

St. Peter’s UMC, Saylorsburg, will have a Women’s Good Friday breakfast and meditation at 10 a.m. at the Chestnuthill Diner.

Salem, UCC will have a Good Friday service at 7 p.m.

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran, Kresgeville, will have a Good Friday Service of Shadows at 7 p.m.

Zion Lutheran will have a 7:30 p.m. Good Friday service.

Township closed

The Chestnuthill Township office in Brodheadsville will be closed on Friday.

Senior Center closed

The Chestnuthill Senior Center will not be open Friday due to the holiday. Next Wednesday’s menu choices include the light-fare menu or the regular-fare menu.

The light-fare menu is roast beef and cheddar, low salt chips, cinnamon apples and whole grain bread.

The regular-fare menu offers beef ravioli, snow peas, cauliflower, banana and a whole wheat roll.

Orders must be placed by 11 a.m. the day before with the site manager.

The activities for next Wednesday are current events at 9 a.m. and yoga stretch with Debbie at 10 a.m.

Bingo night

The West End Park and Open Space Commission will host Bingo Night this Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Chestnuthill Township Park, on Route 715 in Brodheadsville. Doors open at 5:30. There will be specials, pull tabs and door prizes

The menu includes baked ziti, pizza, hot dogs, soft pretzels and more.

For more information, contact Bernie Kozen, executive director of the West End Park & Open Space Commission at bkozen@weposc.org or 570-992-9733.

Cleanup day

The American Legion Post 927 is holding its monthly cleanup day on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.

No tools are required, only a willingness to show up and lend a hand.

Eldred Pantry

The West End Food Pantry at the Eldred Township Community Center in Kunkletown will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Spaghetti dinner

McMichaels UMC is holding a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. There is a fee, but children 5 and under eat for free.

Holy Saturday

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will hold a blessing of the Easter baskets at 1 p.m., followed by an egg hunt at 2 p.m.

At 8 p.m. the Great Easter Vigil begins. There is no 5 p.m. Mass.

St. Matthew’s UCC will hold an Easter Vigil service at 8 p.m. outside. It ends with Easter Communion and a “break-fast” social hour.

Zion Lutheran will have a 5 p.m. Service on Holy Saturday. It typically has a service at that time on Fridays.

Easter services

Effort UMC will hold an Easter sunrise service outside at 7 a.m., weather permitting, and traditional services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

McMichaels UMC will have a sunrise service outside at 6 a.m. Parishioners and friends should dress appropriately.

The service will begin inside, and worshippers will walk outside on the church’s ramp for the end of the service. Then breakfast sandwiches will be offered inside from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m.

The regular Easter service will be held inside at 9 a.m.

Middlecreek Christian Church will celebrate Easter by gathering on the Hillside (located just 2/10th of a mile east of the church alongside the little red house, up the gravel unmarked road) from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., followed by a breakfast at the church. The morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. will include music by the choir. The community is invited to join the church family in celebrating the resurrection of the Lord and Savior.

Pleasant Valley Assembly of God Church, Brodheadsville, will have Easter services at 9 and 11 a.m. and will be accepting a special offering to go to local missionaries.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will have Mass at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and a Spanish Mass at 1 p.m. and a 12:10 Mass on Easter Monday.

St. Matthew’s UCC will hold a traditional Easter Communion service at 9 a.m. Nursery will be available.

St. Peter’s UMC will have its Easter Sunday celebration worship services at 7 and 10 a.m. A fellowship breakfast is offered at 8:30 a.m.

Salem UCC will hold its worship service, with Communion, at 10 a.m.

All are welcome.

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran will have Holy Communion at its 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. Easter services. Breakfast will be served from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. There will be no classes on Easter.

Zion Lutheran will have a sunrise worship service at 6 a.m. Sunday. Then there will be services at 8 and 10 a.m. as well.

LAMA Meeting

The LAMA Pocono Chapter will meet at 10 a.m. Sunday at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.

Polk Supervisors

Polk Township supervisors are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the municipal building in Kresgeville.

WE Republican Club

The next regular meeting of the West End Republican Club will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Lakeside Restaurant on Hamilton Boulevard in Saylorsburg. Those wanting to have the optional dinner should arrive at 6 p.m.

For additional information or directions, visit the club’s website at http://www.westendgop.com, or call 443-326-5100.

Nashville Stars

St. Matthew’s UCC in Kunkletown will welcome Nashville stars, The O’Donnells for a Country Gospel concert beginning at 7 p.m. on April 25.

The group includes Darryl O’Donnell with vocals and guitar, Julie O’Donnell with vocals, Klinton O’Donnell on keyboard and vocals, the West End’s own Randy Cramer on fiddle, Ric Carhart on bass and Eddie Long on steel guitar.

For more information, call 610-381-2443.

Consignment sale

The Old-Tyme Farm Equipment Association will have its annual consignment sale on April 27. For additional details, call 570-402-7333 or email potfea@gmail.com.

Birding program

Pocono Avian Research Center invites folks for a morning of migration Birding in the Bog beginning at 7 a.m. These morning birding programs will take place on April 29, May 8, and May 15.

Sign up for one or all; there is always something new and amazing to discover in the bog. There is a cost. Preregistration is required.

To preregister, call the center at 570-629-3061, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and most Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information on other programs we offer, visit our website at www.mcconservation.org.

Spring sale

Middlecreek Christian Church, on Dorshimer Road, Kresgeville, will hold its spring rummage and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 3 and May 4.

A bag sale will be held between noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Call 570-629-4066 for more information and directions.

Breakfast and lunch are offered during the sale for an additional cost.

Community services fair

The Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network is hosting a Community Services Information Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 4 at its location on Route 209 in Sciota.

Many organizations will be present to give out their respective information on services rendered and requirements needed, ranging from The Alzheimer’s Association, Family Promise, Habitat for Humanity to Monroe County Master Gardeners, Sweet Home Primary care and Women’s Resources of Monroe County.

Talk to the U.S. Census Bureau as it is hiring in the area, and gather all kinds of information while being entertained by The Notre Dame Jazz and Rock Band.

For more information, call 570-992-3136.

Century Day

On May 12, Roger Spotts will be driving the Kettle Creek bus as Darryl Speicher, from Pocono Avian Research Center, will be on the lookout for 100 species of birds for this year’s Century Day. Participants will meet at Kettle Creek at 7 a.m., then head to the Pocono Plateau to start the day. The group will make its way south and east visiting some incredible habitats along the way. There is a cost.

In addition to the opportunity to spend all day with Roger and Darryl, the fee includes lunch, beverages, and snacks throughout the day. Preregistration is required; the deadline is May 8. There is limited space, so register now.

Preregistration and payment are required and limited. Refunds given only if notification is made at least three days before the program date.

For costs and to preregister, call the center at 570-629-3061, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and most Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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