TOPS tonight

The Kresgeville unit of TOPs (Take off Pounds Sensibly) meets at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

‘Spook-tacular’ event

Monroe County Conservation District is hosting a “spook-tacular” Friday Night Fall Festival from 6-8 p.m. this Friday.

Dive into the spirit of the event with creative crafts, exciting games and nighttime adventures, beginning with a hike to discover the secrets of nocturnal animals and their unique adaptations.

The night will be capped off with s’mores and stories around the campfire. It promises to be a perfect blend of fun and education for the whole family. Participants are encouraged to dress in a fall theme or wear a Halloween costume.

Folks must preregister in advance. There is a cost.

Call 570-629-3061 for information.

Fall flea market

The Women’s Group of Effort will be holding its semiannual flea market from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Lunch and bake sale items will be available for purchase.

Pet blessing

Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville will hold its blessing of the pets at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Participants are to meet in front of the parish hall, inside if it rains.

All animals are welcome, but must be appropriately caged or leashed.

Dinner orders due

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, is having a ham takeout dinner on Oct. 19. Dinners feature ham, filling with gravy, carrots, applesauce, roll and choice of molasses or upside down pineapple cake.

Orders must be placed by calling 570-688-5381 no later than Sunday. Pick up dinners at the church from 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 19.

The church is also taking orders for celery seed dressing: quarts and pints. For prices, call the church at the above number.

Poll workers sought

Rep. Jack Rader reminds people that counties need poll workers for the upcoming election.

He said that the counties train poll workers on their election duties and workers receive payment for training and their service on Election Day.

For more information, call 877-VOTESPA (877-868-3772) or email re-voterreg@pa.gov

Harvest Home

Salem-St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, will celebrate Harvest Home on Sunday.

It is a time to “give thanks for farmers and produce stands, plus food pantries who care for ‘the least of these.’ ”

The church will also celebrate Holy Communion at both services: 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.

This church family will bring “food for PVEN, Good Sam offering for Weis cards for needy people” and “baked goods for Polk Township’s Environmental Day, celebrating God’s good creation.”

That Environmental Day is being celebrated from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at Polk Township Park.

It is a free event with free activities, being held rain or shine. It will include face painting, kids’ crafts, petting zoo, cider pressing, fishing, recycling, wildlife.

Church celebration

On Sunday, St. Matthew’s UCC, Kunkletown, will be celebrating the history of St. Matthew’s with memories (slideshow during the service), music (there will be extra music with a small band) and breakfast after the service.

Knit &Crochet

Zion Lutheran Church’s Knit & Crochet will be plying their respective needles on Tuesday, beginning at 1 p.m.

Newcomers are welcome.

OTOH meeting

Operation Touch Of Home will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert for a regular meeting.

Fall sale ahead

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 164 Merwinsburg Road, Effort, has announced it is having a fall rummage and bake sale from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 11 and 12,

Items for sale will include clothes, shoes, coats, household goods, toys, books, knickknacks, etc., depending on what is donated.

The kitchen will be open for lunch and baked goods will be for sale.

Community concert

Effort UMC is hosting a free community concert on Oct. 12. It includes a free light dinner at 4:30 p.m. with a bluegrass concert from 5-6:30 p.m. in the pavilion featuring Doc Pappa and the Renegade Ramblers. All are invited. The concert is a rain or shine event. Bring your own lawn chair and a friend or two.

Sportsman’s Day

Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club, 122 Gun Club Lane, Saylorsburg, is holding its Sportsman’s Day on Oct. 13. Doors will open at 11 a.m. The public is welcome.

Tickets will have 33 prizes, plus two door prizes, and include refreshments from 12:30-4 p.m.

Raffles will be held throughout the day.

For more information, call 610-381-3215.

Tick Lab info

The Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania, located at East Stroudsburg University, shares the following:

As tick-borne diseases become more prevalent, protecting your yard from ticks is essential for maintaining a safe and healthy outdoor environment. Tick tubes offer an effective way to reduce the tick population in your yard, especially those that carry Lyme disease.

For more information, email the lab at wildlifedna@3460208.brevosend.com.

Bingo announced

The Eldred Township Historical Society is hosting a cash and gift card bingo on Oct. 13 at St. Matthew’s Church in Kunkletown.

Doors open at noon. Bingo begins at 1 p.m.

The event will include a Pennsylvania Dutch Auction; food and drinks will be available for sale by St. Matthew’s Christians in Action.

MilitaryShare open

A relatively new program is now at the American Legion Post 927, Gilbert, every third Tuesday of the month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The next such event is set for Oct. 15.

Begun by the Monroe County Veterans Affairs office, the MilitaryShare program at Second Harvest Food Bank is designed “to provide fresh, nutritious foods for families with at least one member who has served or is currently serving in the armed forces.” The program includes surviving spouses.

“Each eligible military member will receive 10 pounds of fresh produce, 1 gallon fresh milk, 1 dozen eggs, 2 pounds of meat and a 20-pound box of shelf-stable pantry staples such as soup, pasta, sauce and cereal each month.”

Registration is required; call Faith Bigelow at 717-525-2696 to do so.

Grief support

The Western Pocono Community Library has partnered with St. Luke’s Hospice to offer free monthly adult grief support. Registration is not required and the groups are free and open to everyone.

The first group will meet Oct. 16 from 1-2:30 p.m. Additional meetings for 2024 will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 13 and Nov. 27 (grief at the holidays session), and Dec. 11. For more information, contact St. Luke’s Hospice Bereavement Team at 484-526-2499.

Free dinner

Zion Lutheran is offering its next free community drive-thru pickup dinner from 5-6 p.m. Oct. 16.