Palmerton news

Bloodmobile at First UCC

Miller-Keystone Blood Center will conduct its next Palmerton visit at the First United Church of Christ, 457 Delaware Ave. (next to Borough Hall), on Thursday, Oct. 1. Registration hours will be from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This visit is sponsored by the Palmerton Citizens for a Clean Environment (PCCE).

Previous donors can expect an e-mail and/or phone message, several days in advance, inviting them to make appointments. Recent donors should have received a letter from Miller, giving their eligibility dates, depending upon the kind of donations; whole blood and red cells require a few weeks between donations, while platelets and plasma donations have shorter intervals. They are thankful for the many faithful donors who appear for nearly every visit, but first-time donors are also needed.

Donor requirements are a minimum age of 17 (there is no maximum age), minimum weight of 110 pounds, good health, and no tattoos or body piercings within the last year. All donors should bring their Miller card or photo ID, such as driver's license. Students do not need parental permission slips.

Miller has changed eligibility requirements for donors who had cancer. Donors having squamous or basal cell skin cancer may donate blood now. Donors with other forms of cancer may now be able to donate one year after recovery, rather than having to wait five years. Those with melanoma should contact Miller for possible eligibility. Many people may donate who are on medications, other than antibiotics and blood thinners. Please call Miller at 1-800-223-6667 during office hours for answers about specific medications.

Additional off-street parking for volunteers and donors will be available this time at the former Golden Key parking lot. As usual, parking at Penn Northeast will be permitted as space allows.

For general information, or to make an appointment, call (610) 826-2097.

Newspaper drive

The men and boys of St. John's Lutheran Church will hold their monthly newspaper drive on Saturday, Oct. 3. There will be one sweep of the Palmerton, Aquashicola, and Little Gap areas beginning at 8 a.m.

Papers should be bundled and placed within sight of the collectors. They are collecting papers only, no magazines. They also need brown grocery size paper bags. The shiny inserts are acceptable.

Persons missed or those wishing to dispose of papers throughout the month may take them to the garage across from the church on Fireline Road, which is always open. In case of bad weather, the drive will be held the following Saturday.

Palmerton Library

The Teen Advisory Group is back in full swing and making preparations for its annual Halloween Mystery and Party for the younger children. The group is open to anyone in grades 7-12 and meets the first Wednesday of the month after school. The next meeting will be Oct. 7. They are currently looking for more actors and helpers for the Halloween Mystery play to be presented at the (610) 826-3424 for more information. Interested teens may also check out the library on Facebook; just search for Palmerton Area Library.

Palmerton Lions

The Palmerton Area Lions Club will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5. The meeting will be held at the Blue Mountain Health Systems Community Center, 217 Franklin Ave., Palmerton. The program is on prostate cancer with speaker J. Rutch.