Blood drive review

The Jackson Township Fire Hall and the American Legion Post 927 blood drives today and Tuesday appointments are full. The next available Red Cross drive at the Berean Bible Fellowship in Stroudsburg has a few appointments on July 29, as of this day; one at Faith Lutheran in Blakeslee; and several at Cornerstone Community Church in Kresgeville.

Call 800-733-2767 to verify.

To check on Miller-Keystone donations, such as at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville, call 800-223-6667 or go to donor.giveapint.org. There are, as of now, several appointments available on Aug. 5.

Eldred meetings

The Eldred Township Board of Supervisors is scheduled to have a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. today. Join the meeting virtually by going the link posted on the website or calling 814-315-3670 and using the ID number 852-350-145#.

The Eldred Township Planning Commission will hold its virtual meeting Thursday.

Joint that meeting via a link on the township website or dialing 814-350-3670, ID 204-403-026#.

Lions cancel

The Western Pocono Lions will not be meeting this Thursday or having an installation of officers as previously planned and announced.

That is primarily because of new information on the ease with which COVID-19 spreads.

School board

The Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, in the district office in Brodheadsville.

West End LL

The West End Little League’s open meeting is on the league calendar for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Chestnuthill Township Park building in Brodheadsville.

VBS planned

St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown, has planned to have virtual VBS from July 20-24 for children ages 3 to 12.

For information, call the church at 610-381-2442.

Pavilion party

American Legion Post 927 invites people to come and party at the pavilion at the Legion Post 927 every Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. through Aug. 29.

For more information, contact Gary Spears 941-400-2293 or Patti Heller 570-688-8303, co-chairs of the event.

New beginning

The leadership of Effort UMC anticipates beginning a transitional return to worship, out in the pavilion, beginning this coming Sunday.

There will be two services on the normal schedule, one at 8:30 and one at 11 a.m.

Worshippers are asked to bring their own chairs, thereby limiting sanitizing.

If for any reason there is a need to cancel a service, such as for an electrical storm, church staff will do their best to contact people ahead of time.

To gather safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, the church leadership has developed a set of guidelines for reopening in order to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health recommendations.

Those who do not feel able to follow the guidelines or don’t feel comfortable gathering with others at this time are invited to watch the services on the church website, which will be provided there each week.

Those planning to attend are asked to fill out a Contact Tracing and Liability form ahead of time and bring it along to the first service being attended, unsigned.

Contact the church for the form via the church email or by calling 570-629-1890.

New tax collector

Polk Township has appointed a new tax collector for the remainder of Carolyn Meinhart’s term. Laura Hoffman will now be collecting taxes for the township. She can be contacted at 610-347-5802. Visit the tax collector’s website at https://www.eldredtaxcollector.com.

Her office hours for the two townships are now: Tuesdays for Eldred Township, 1 to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays for Polk Township, 1 to 5 p.m.; Thursdays for both township from 1 to 5 p.m.; first and third Saturdays of the month for both townships, 9 a.m. to noon. New millage rates are: County, 3.2273; Eldred, 1.38; Pleasant Valley, 22.9179; Polk, 0.6200.

County/township discount amounts are extended to Aug. 31. Taxpayers are asked to be mindful to pay this discount amount up until Aug. 31. Otherwise, payments will be rejected, and people will be asked to submit the correct amount.

As of Sept. 1, the base amount will be due. There will be no penalty amount on the period 2 county/township property tax bill this year.

Chestnuthill Supers

The Chestnuthill Township Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Combined event

St. Matthew’s UCC strawberry festival and car show have been combined with the church picnic. The joint event is on Saturday. The car show begins at noon.

Entertainment includes the Cramer Brothers Band from noon to 3 p.m. and the Brian Dean Moore Band from 4 to 6 p.m.

A variety of foods will be available for purchase besides the ice cream, fresh strawberries and shortcake.

LAMA meets

The Latin American Motorcycle Association, Pocono Chapter, will hold its monthly meeting at 10 a.m. Sunday at the West End Memorial Post 927 in Gilbert.

Improvements ahead

Pleasant Valley Presbyterian Church, Brodheadsville, is working on renovations and improvements. No exact date for the projects’ completion has been stated.

However, when finished, the church will have a new, fresh look with technical additions to enhance sermons and music for people to enjoy.

It is hoped to have work completed by late August or early September.

Help needed

The West End Pantry, located at Eldred Community Center, is also in need of food or monetary donations. Call 610-895-4444 for more information of their needs.

Valor meeting

A Valor PTSD meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the American Legion Post Home in Gilbert.

Veterans UnStoppable Peer to Peer Support Group. The meeting is open to non-Post members

For more information, contact J. Grimm at 516-317-0588.

WE Dems

As of now, the West End Democratic Club will meet at 7 p.m. July 23 at the West End Fire House 715 in Brodheadsville.

Fusion coming

Middlecreek Christian Church’s Fusion 2020 is coming July 25. It offers free music, food and ministry from 2 to 11 p.m.

There will be time set aside for uniting in prayer, dinner and concluding the day with a movie and campfire Bible study.

With COVID-19 in mind, organizers will be following CDC guidelines where needed, including the wearing of masks, social distancing and signing a waiver.

On July 26, there will be a closing service, starting at 10:30 a.m. outside.

For more information contact Middlecreek Christian Church at 570-629-4066 or www.middlecreekchurch.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @Fusion_Weekend.

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