n Ashland: The Ashland Area Rotary will be in charge for the upcoming five-club Rotary dinner and joint installation of officers that will include the clubs of Ashland, Frackville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown and Shenandoah. The Rotary year begins on July 1 and the dinner will be held on June 23 at the Mineshaft Cafe, Ashland. The Ashland Rotarians will also sponsor two free band concerts in the community, including The Shoreliners band on July 21 and The Cressona Band on Aug. 10.
n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy City Public Library has acknowledged the following memorials: For Beth Ann Post Brown from Frank and Sandy Brown and Anne Marle Brocker; for Matthew Stitzer from Sharon Donnelly, James and Jayne Mellen, James Funeral Home and Cremation Service, and Roslyn G. and Carl J. Schroeder Jr.; for Duane Messerschmidt from Suzanne Mayberry and Angelina Fritz; for Joan Hughes Reiber from Anne M. Evans and Karen Appicciafuoco; for Jane Wronski from Jim and Tina Davidson; for Dorothy Gombotsh from Margaret M. Smith. The library also acknowledged book memorials for Olga Koval from Carol and Bob Blue; for Toni Houser from Carol and Bob Blue.
n New Philadelphia: The Holy Cross Kitchen is open noon to 5 p.m. every Thursday at Holy Cross Parish Center, 99 Lombard St. A variety of homemade food is available. Patrons must call ahead for homemade kugeli from 8 a.m. day of sale at 570-640-8750.
n Schuylkill Haven: The groups Healthy Haven, Schuylkill County’s VISION and the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department have joined to bring the farm market back to the community. The market will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. beginning June 9 and running every Thursday until September at the Island. More information is available online at www.havenrec.com/hh. William B.J. Folk III is the recreation manager and can be reached by calling 570-385-1313, Ext. 11.
n Shenandoah: The theme/logo for the borough’s sesquicentennial celebration this year is “Shenandoah Strong — 150 Years Long,” which was selected last September by the Shenandoah Sesquicentennial Committee and created by borough native and resident William Savitsky. The celebration will be held Aug. 20-27 — and include fireworks courtesy of Ateeco Inc., Shenandoah, maker of Mrs. T’s Pierogies — culminating with the annual Shenandoah Heritage Day and Parade of Nations. To volunteer to help with the celebration, call the office of the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. at 570-462-2060.
n Shenandoah: The 10th annual May procession by Trinity Academy in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 11 at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City. The gathering time is 6:15 p.m. The annual procession to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to a school release, is one of the dearest traditions of the elementary school, which is a regional parochial school that includes all of northern Schuylkill County. Each year the procession is held at one of the parish churches of the Trinity Academy students. The first procession in May 2007 was held in Ashland (beginning alphabetically) and has rotated through the towns. The public is welcome.
n Valley View: The Hegins Area Ambulance Association has partnered with SafeTec Training Services, Warminster, to provide emergency medical services education. Though a “collaborative partnership,” SafeTec will provide the training for association members and for “others from Schuylkill County and beyond.” Brian Musolino, the association’s deputy director of operations, said in the release that Schuylkill County “has been void of initial EMS education for over a year. After discussions with local agencies failed, we decided to extend our search and find a provider willing to assist.” SafeTec, he said, came “highly recommended.” SafeTec is a basic life support training center authorized by the state Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services to provide emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advance emergency medical technician and EMS continuing education. For more information on SafeTec, go to its website at www.safetectraining.com or call 877-788-6384, Ext. 104 or email fellinger@safetectraining.com.