Gratz
Contestants for 2017 Gratz Fair queen and alternate are being accepted. The deadline to apply is Aug. 1, according to a fair press release. To be eligible, young ladies must be at least 16 years old and no older than 20 as of June 1, and be a resident of Dauphin, Northumberland or Schuylkill counties. The new queen and alternate will spend the year representing the fair and promoting agriculture. For all of the rules and regulations, go online to www.gratzfair.net or contact Paula by calling 717-579-3107 or emailing PaulaDavis325@yahoo.com.
Mahanoy City
The local Elks Lodge, 135 E. Centre St., will have a breaded pork chop dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 1. The cost is $9 per person. Meals also include scalloped potatoes, vegetable, coleslaw, roll/butter and dessert. Takeouts will be available and walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call 570-573-2649.
Mount Carmel
United Presbyterian Church, Hickory and Fifth streets, will have rummage and bake sales from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 5. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-339-4041.
Pottsville
The Republican Party Caucus of Pennsylvania will have a free session on Second Amendment rights with Attorney Joshua Prince from 7 to 9 p.m. July 28 at Pine View Acres bar and restaurant, 145 Chamberlaine Ave. For more information, email John Zangaro at johnzangaro@gmail.com or call 610-306-1927.
Pottsville
A Deppen pie sale is under way until Aug. 17 by participating libraries in the Pottsville Library District. Pickups are set for Aug. 30. The cost is $10 per pie and all proceeds will benefit the libraries. Varieties include blueberry crumb, apple crumb, strawberry rhubarb crumb, cherry crumb, peach crumb, raisin crumb, shoofly, coconut custard, lemon sponge or no-sugar apple. Participating public libraries and their phone numbers are as follows: Ashland, 570-875-3175; Frackville, 570-874-3382; Orwigsburg, 570-366-1638; Port Carbon, 570-622-6115; Pottsville, 570-622-8880; Ringtown, 570-889-5503; Shenandoah, 570-462-9829; Tamaqua, 570-668-4660; Tower-Porter, 717-647-4900; Tremont, 570-695-3325; Tri-Valley, 570-682-8922. To order pies, contact the library in your area.
Shenandoah
The 19th annual Shenandoah Heritage Day and the 17th annual Parade of Nations will be held on Aug. 26. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. with 21 nations represented. Festivities will continue with ethnic food, myriad artists/crafters, vendors, games, a disc jockey plus live music by the Perserverance Jazz Band, Grammy-nominated Shenandoah native Lester Hirsh and others. For nature lovers, the wooded northern part of Girard Park, which borders Shenandoah borough and West Mahanoy Township, will be available for nature walks. Crossing the bridge in the park is a feat to which many aspire. The event is sponsored by the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., 116 N. Main St.
Shenandoah
Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish has a needed and ongoing collection of items for the food bank that distributes food from the parish office, 108 W. Cherry St. Donations of nonperishable food items can be taken to Divine Mercy Church, Cherry and Chestnut streets, or to the parish’s St. Casimir Sacred Worship Site, 229 N. Jardin St., on weekends, or dropped off at the parish office during regular office hours. Useful items include tuna, Spam, canned meats, powdered milk, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, spaghetti sauce, pasta and similar fare. For more information, call the parish office at 570-462-1968.
Tamaqua
Tryouts for 10u Black Widows Softball are set for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Tamaqua Area School District’s Rush Elementary School. For a registration form or more information, call 570-952-4940 or email kfaust518@gmail.com.