n Ashland: The community Santa parade and lighting of the community Christmas tree will be held beginning at 7 p.m. Nov. 26. The parade will form at the top of town and proceed down Centre Street to Hoffman Boulevard, where the tree lighting will occur and Santa Claus will greet and distribute treats to all youngsters in front of the Mother’s Memorial. The parade is sponsored by the Ashland Area Rotary Club.
n Gilberton: St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church in the borough’s Maizeville section is taking orders for assorted candy. The cost is $10 per box and the deadline to order is Dec. 4. Pickups will be from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 11 at the church hall. To order, call Anna at 570-874-2207 or Martha at 570-874-2042 or 570-205-9381.
n Minersville: Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 558 Sunbury St., is taking orders for a Thanksgiving bake sale of nut roll and pumpkin and shoofly pies. The deadline to order is Nov. 14. To order and for pickup dates, call 570-544-2690.
n Myerstown: The Pine Grove Area High School Class of 1967 will have a class luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Dutch-Way Family Restaurant, 649 E. Lincoln Ave. (Route 422 East). Spouses and significant others also are welcome. For more information call Keith at 570-345-6038.
n Orwigsburg: Salem United Methodist Church, 133 S. Liberty St., will sponsor a holiday stop-and-shop and Santa workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free and the 11th annual event will feature 17 vendors and a soup and bake sale. Team Orwigsburg will sponsor the Santa workshop plus photos with Santa, all free. For more information, call 570-943-7688.
n Pottsville: A basket raffle and vendor show will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Fairlane Village mall, Route 61, to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. The event will be held in the former Write Craft store and people will be able to take chances on prizes such as an Android Tablet and get early holiday shopping done with local vendors. All are welcome. For more information, call 732-670-3285.
n Pottsville: The Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., will host award-winning children’s author and illustrator Lindsay Barrett George at 6 p.m. Thursday. The session is free and will include a book reading, writing and illustrating and a drawing activity. To register, people are asked to call the library at 570-622-8880 or email potchild@pottsvillelibrary.org.
n Pottsville: Dick Drukker, Rotary district governor, recently made his official visit to the Pottsville Rotary Club, filling members in about important dates for Rotary International functions. According to the Rotary bulletin, Drukker told Pottsville Rotarians the theme this year for Rotary is “Rotary Serving Humanity.” It’s a true definition, he said, of what Rotary does. He also spoke about challenges Rotary clubs are facing, noting that in 1997, North Americans made up 49 percent of Rotary’s membership what today that figure is 29 percent. He also talked about Rotary’s goal of ridding the world of polio, saying there now are only 27 cases of polio in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Rotary district’s goal this year is $265,000 in annual giving to the Rotary Foundation. Drukker also brought the local club a new district banner and a banner from his home club in Ringtown.
n Shenandoah: A prayer service will be held to honor all veterans at 10 a.m. Friday at Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Church, Cherry and Chestnut streets. Light refreshments will be served in the cafeteria at Trinity Academy in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center immediately following the service. All veterans and their families are invited to attend. RSVP with name, years of service and branch of the military along with the number of guests attending by calling the school at 570-462-3927.