Chestnuthill column
Monroe County Council of the Blind
The Monroe County Council of the Blind announced its new meeting site beginning this past January. The group's regular monthly meetings will be held at the Pocono Medical Center in the Brodhead Room located on the first floor of the hospital. Meetings will be held each first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. till noon with coffee served at 9:30 a.m.
This month's meeting will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6.
An invitation is extended to join the group as it continues to try to make a difference in the community through education and advocacy.
Visitors are welcome to the monthly business meeting or to participate in any of the special events.
This month, plans are for "fun and games" in accessible format, large print and Braille, whether poker, Scrabble or trivia.
For more information or to explore transportation options, call Helen at (570) 619-4286 or the MCCB hot line at (570) 421-4118.
Knots of Love
The GFWC Western Pocono Women's Club is involved in a project to knit or crochet chemo hats for cancer patients. They will be distributed to cancer patients in Monroe and Carbon counties.
Anyone willing to participate in this project can call (570) 722-3582, (610) 681-5688 or (570) 369-4831.
West End Rotary
The West End Rotary Club is seeking someone between the ages of 20-40, who can leave his or her job for a month to learn about a similar vocation in Colombia for a Group Study Exchange. The Rotary district's Group Study Exchange team will visit that country from April 20-May 20. The incoming team from Colombia will arrive in Stroudsburg on April 7.
Anyone needing more information may contact Theresa Yocum, (570) 992-4021.
100 years
Congratulations to the Monroe Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. It marks its 100th anniversary this year, with its constitution day being June 3, 1910.
A reflection of its past and the hopes of the future will be held later in the year.
UMW meets
Effort United Methodist Church's United Methodist Women will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8, in Wesley Hall for a business meeting. Devotions will be by Alma Middleton. She and Lucy Boomer will serve as hostesses.
All Sports Club
Monday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m., the Pleasant Valley All Sports Club will meet in the PV high school library.
Souper Sunday
Not only is Feb. 7 Super Bowl Sunday, it is also Souper Bowl Sunday.
Area churches are handling that event in a variety of ways. Some will have big soup pots to accept donations; others will collect cans of soup; still others may do both, all in an effort to support local hunger ministries or directly feed hungry persons.
PV School Board
The Pleasant Valley School Board will meet at 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11, in the PV District Office in Brodheadsville.
Chem Free meeting
Meetings for the 2010 Pleasant Valley Chemical-Free Graduation party have begun. The next one will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11, at Sen. Browne's office, across from the Chestnuthill Diner.
Anyone needing more information, can call Grace Marks at (570) 977-4437 or e-mail her at grasee@ptd.net
Driver refresher
For those folks who need the four-hour driver refresher course being offered through the AARP volunteers, one is scheduled for the Chestnuthill Park Building from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13.
To register call (570) 619-4006.
One must have the certificate that the eight-hour course has been taken previously.
Ash Wednesday
Services are being scheduled by area churches for Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. Effort UMC will hold its service that day at 7 p.m. and the following midweek Lenten services also at 7 p.m.
Our Lady Queen of Peace in Gilbert will have Mass on Ash Wednesday at 8 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Haiti relief
Lions worldwide are outreaching to the island of Haiti. As of the most recent report, over $1.5 million has been collected. The LCIF is working directly with Lions of Haiti as well as Lions in neighboring countries to assess the immediate needs and also to develop long-term reconstruction plans
An initial truckload of supplies has been transported by Dominican Republic Lions to Haitian Lions and Leos, and supplies were distributed to an orphanage and a hospital. A second supply of goods will be distributed in the coming days by Lions. Two hundred tents are being set up for victims and relief workers to establish three Lions tent cities.
Local Lions continue to offer their support.
Birthday greetings
Among those celebrating their birthday this week are: Anne Morton, Howard Boylan, Rory Harkins, Feb. 3; Diane Robinson, Maegi Brong, Darlene Thompson, David Aull, Kaitlyn Caruso, Feb. 4; Loretta Stanley, Suzanne McShane, Ann Sanders, Steven Sagala, Don Cameron, Brian Bruno, Benjamin Gower, Feb. 5; Sandy Morris, Daniel Beck, Cynthia Rhoads, Dana Cameron, Paul Atherton, Joshua Erdman, Kevin Schultze Jr., Feb. 6; Ruth Bennyhoff, Earl Everett, Feb. 8
