WE Missions dinner

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, is hosting its bimonthly West End Missions dinner at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Honor Guard

The American Legion Post 927, Gilbert, has Honor Guard practice on its calendar for Thursday from 6-7 p.m. For more information, call E. Shaver at 570-977-8208.

Mardi Gras event

From 6:30-11:30 p.m. Friday, the American Legion Post 927 is hosting a Mardi Gras party. There will be food and drink specials and costume prizes will be awarded.

For more information, call K. Earling at 856-522-3127.

PV school board

A Pleasant Valley School Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Eldred pantry

The Eldred Food Pantry is holding distribution from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday in the Community Room. It is slated to include a coat distribution and flu shots.

Chili cook-off

Austin’s Blue Line is holding a “Chili Cook-Off” from 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Polk Volunteer Firehouse in Kresgeville. Folks can enter their chili, donate a gift basket or simply go for some food.

Registration is free for contestants, as is admission for children under 12.

For costs for adults and older children, check in at the doors or go to Austinsblueline.org.

New hours shared

Monroe County Habitat for Humanity has announced its new ReStore hours. It is now open from Wednesday through Saturday. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Polk Historical Society

At 11 a.m. Saturday in the township municipal building on Polk Township Road, the Polk Township Historical Society will meet.

Blue & Gold banquet

Cub Scout Pack 99, sponsored by Effort UMC, is holding its Blue & Gold banquet in the church’s Wesley Hall on Saturday.

Block shoot/meat raffle

The Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club will hold its next block shoot and meat raffle, beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday. It is a 12-gauge shotgun only event. The public is welcome. Anyone with questions can call 610-381-3215.

Return of Palms

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church is requesting that parishioners return their palms from last year to the church to be burned and used on Ash Wednesday.

There will be a large container in the atrium to receive them.

Seniors meeting

The Monroe County Seniors, the West End Group, will meet at Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville, in the Social Hall, beginning at 9 a.m. both Wednesdays and Fridays.

PVM PTO

The Pleasant Valley Middle School PTO meeting is slated to meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Prayer Shawl

Effort UMC’s Prayer Shawl group will meet at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Newcomers are welcome.

Ash Wednesday events

• Zion Lutheran, Brodheadsville, is again offering its Ashes to Go at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the parking lot and an Ash Wednesday evening service inside at 7:30 p.m.

• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church will have Ash Wednesday services at 8 a.m., 12:10 p.m., Mass at 7 p.m. and prayer services with ashes at 4 and 5:30 p.m. Ashes will be distributed at all five services.

The Lenten services will be Wednesdays, March 12, 19, 26, April 2 and 9.

Folks are invited to McCawley Hall each week at either 10 a.m. for coffee and the program or for 6-8 p.m. for dinner and the program.

Stations of the Cross are set for 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent.

• McMichaels Methodist is having its Ash Wednesday service at 2 p.m.

• Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kresgeville, is holding two services on Ash Wednesday, with the Imposition of Ashes at 2 p.m. and a second service at 7 p.m., and also offering Holy Communion at both. The two services will also be on Facebook Live.

• St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effort, will hold its Ash Wednesday service at 3 p.m.

• Effort UMC will hold its Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.

Potholes report

State Rep. Jack Rader reminds residents that they can report potholes on state-owned roads to PennDOT by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD, and giving specific information to help crews find the pothole, including the name of the county and municipality in which it is located, name of the road, and the closest intersection.

OES meeting

Order of the Eastern Star Monroe Chapter will meet at 7 p.m. March 6 at the Rimrock Masonic Center in Stroudsburg.

Members are reminded that the evening will include a memorial service as well as a regular order of business and other matters coming before the group.

OTH meeting

Operation: Touch of Home’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 11 at the American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert. Information about the bingo event in May will be shared.

Resources at PA 211

In 2024, PA 211 helped almost 1.9 million Pennsylvanians with assistance with housing, utilities and food.

PA 211 is free, confidential and available 24/7 for essential social services.

Phantom’s ‘Faith Night’

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey team is hosting its “Faith Night” on Sunday, March 16, at 3:05 p.m., according to an Effort UMC announcement. Congregations and youth groups from all over the Lehigh Valley will be attending for an afternoon of hockey, networking and community.

They’ll also be having different performance opportunities for congregations and groups joining them, as well.

For cost and other information, contact Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 484-273-4548 (Jared Topping) or go to phantomshockey.com.

Scholarship app now

The Effort UMC Women’s Group is seeking applicants for this year’s Scholarship Program. This is open to the church’s young people who will be entering a college or university in the fall. Applications and criteria can be obtained by emailing Jan Decker at eumc103@ptd.net, with all applications and related documents being returned by April 1.

Missions auction

Effort UMC has scheduled its Missions Outreach Auction for Saturday, April 5, beginning at 6 p.m.

Preview of items begins at 5 p.m.

Items for the auction will be accepted as of March 9. They will be on display indoors, right outside the church office.

Those donating an item or items are asked to place a “value” on their donations.

All items donated should be clean and in good condition.

Based on past experience, “handmade items, themed baskets, gift certificates, homemade dinners are ‘hot’ ticket items.”