Happy New Year

We are in a new year and this correspondent appreciates all information sent to her for the West End News column. Just a reminder that the column is sent to the editorial team late Monday each week, so information must be here by 2 p.m. Monday.

Thank you and a blessed New Year to all.

Farm Show starts

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is set to begin Saturday in Harrisburg. It will run through Jan. 11 with the theme of “Powering Pennsylvania.”

Correction made

The community free drive-in supper at Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville listing was incorrect in last week’s column due to the wrong date being submitted. It will be available at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Legion meetings

Post 927 American Legion members monthly meeting will be from 7-8 p.m. Thursday. The post’s Event Planning Committee will meet from 6-7 p.m. Friday.

On Sunday at 10 a.m. the West End Home Association hosts NFL Football, and on Monday it hosts football at 7 p.m.

It is for Post 927 members and their guests.

For more information, call 610-681-5838.

The West End Home Association will hold its monthly meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the Auxiliary Unit 927 will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday8.

Polk Township

The yearly reorganization meeting for Polk Township will be held at 7 p.m. Monday. A regular supervisors meeting will follow.

Adoration help

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Brodheadsville, needs help for its January Adoration, in light of some folks being out of town.

To sign up, go to www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4AACAE2FA3FFC61-54155144-january#/.

Holy Communion

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effort, offers Communion on all first and third Sundays of the month and all festival days, hence Communion is being offered this Sunday. The service begins at 9:30 a.m.

Grape juice and gluten-free wafers are available.

The church recently sent a donation of over $850 to the Lutheran Disaster Response for survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Those funds were realized through the church’s Bucket Fund and profits made through a hoagie sale.

The church is hosting its annual congregational meeting on Sunday, immediately following the 9:30 a.m. worship service. The snow date is Jan. 12.

Effort UMC is also serving Holy Communion at its 8:30 and 11 a.m. services.

Currently serving

Pastor Joe Cain is serving the Mount Eaton Church in Saylorsburg. The church services include 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and midweek family studies.

The church can be reached at 570-992-7050.

Shoebox needs

St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ, Kunkletown, is holding an Operation Christmas Child/Samaritan’s Purse kick-off of an 11-month campaign on Sunday to fill 48 empty shoeboxes by Nov. 16, 2025. Information will be available to help folks search for gift items.

Donations of cans of soup will be accepted beginning Feb 2. Those cans will be given to the West End Food Pantry and the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network.

Cash will also be accepted in the pot marked for the teams playing in the Super Bowl. The game table will be located in the Gathering Room.

Effort UMC is also requesting shoeboxes from its church family and friends, especially adult sizes.

Double donation

When folks donate to Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County now, that donation will be doubled — dollar for dollar, up to $5,000 — courtesy of an anonymous donor. The address is Monroe County Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 949 Marshalls Creek, PA 18335.

Shoot and meat raffle

The Kunkletown Rod & Gun Club, at 122 Gun Club Lane, Saylorsburg, will hold its first block shoot and meat raffle on Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m.

It is a 12-gauge shotgun only event. The public is welcome.

For more information, call 610-381-3215.

Eldred’s needs

Eldred Township has openings on several of its volunteer committees, to be appointed at the organizational meeting on Monday.

They include: Planning Commission, Parks & Recreation Committee, Community Center Committee, and Veterans Commission.

For more details, contact the township secretary, E. Ann Velopolcek, with a letter of interest in person at the municipal offices Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., via email at a.velopolcek@eldredtwp.org, or by post to P.O. Box 600 Kunkletown, PA. 18058. People can also call the township office at 610-381-4252, Ext. 2.

Prayer Shawl events

Effort UMC Prayer Shawl makers are meeting from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Whatever time one can share is a gift.

Zion Lutheran’s group, Brodheadsville, is slated to meet at 1 p.m. Jan. 14.

PTO meetings

The Pleasant Valley Calendar 2025 calls for two upcoming PTO meetings. The PVMP PTO meeting is set for Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m. and the PVE PTO meeting is set for Jan. 8 at 4 p.m.

Bereavement support

The next Bereavement Support Group gathering by St. Luke’s Bereavement Program at the Western Pocono Community Library, Brodheadsville, will take place from 1-2:30 p.m. on Jan. 8.

It is open to the public and led by a St. Luke’s Hospice Bereavement counselor. No preregistration is needed.

Store reopening

The Kunkletown Thrift Store is slated to reopen Wednesday.

Fellowship breakfast

On Jan. 12, Effort UMC is holding its next Fellowship breakfast between 9:30-10:30 a.m. It is prepared and served by the church trustees and a free-will donation is requested.

All funds realized will go to the Capital Improvement fund of the church.

A new membership class is on the calendar for 12:30 p.m. Jan. 12.

Folks interested in joining are asked to sign up on the church’s Welcome Center.

Eagle watches set

Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center has announced two Eagle Watch field trips to the upper Delaware River in search of the national symbol, the bald eagle.

The trips are scheduled for Jan. 24 and Feb. 7.

For more information, preregistration and costs, call the Kettle Creek EEC at 570-629-3061.

Stromboli orders

The Youth Mission Team at Effort UMC has announced its annual stromboli fundraiser. It will run through Jan 31. Orders and payments are needed by that date. Available will be broccoli and cheese, pepperoni and cheese, and cheese steak. The price is the same as last year.

The handmade strombolies will be available on Sunday, Feb. 9.

For more information, contact the church at 570-629-1890.

Free weatherization

Free government-funded weatherization services are available for folks based on income limits, beginning with one person with an income of $30,120; the income limit for a family of eight is $105,440.

For more information on qualifying, call the Monroe County Weatherization program at 570-421-4436.