n Millersburg: The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art has announced the next installment in its Discovery lecture series is titled, "Your Visit to the Pennsylvania Elk Range," slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at the center. It will feature Marcus Schneck, an outdoors writer and creator of the Pennsylvania Elk website, sharing insights and tips for making the most of a weekend or a week in elk country, according to Alex Dow Campbell, the center's director of creative programming. Admission is $5 per person. Center members can use their membership coupons to receive half-price admission. Advance tickets are available in the center gift shop. For more information, call 717-692-3699 or go to the center's website at www.nedsmithcenter.org.
n Orwigsburg: PPL Corp. has approved a grant of $12,000 to the Orwigsburg Veterans Memorial Taskforce. According to a taskforce release, the Orwigsburg Memorial Hall was constructed by Orwigsburg Community Memorial Inc. and dedicated in July 1950 as a tribute to veterans of the Orwigsburg area. Over the years, it has been host to many community events including dances, basketball games, sports practices, town meetings, the annual Orwigsburg Lions Memorial Day chicken barbecue and WWE wrestling. However, taskforce leaders said in the release, time has taken a toll on the building and the taskforce has taken on the task of restoring, maintaining and preserving the site. "Grants, such as this one from PPL Corp., to be paid in three installments of $4,000 over the next three years, will help us in this endeavor," Greg Stewart, taskforce president, said in the release. The goal, he continued, is to make the site a self-sufficient public building "to be utilized by the community and organizations." In addition to grants, Stewart said, public donations also are needed to get the job done. Individuals, businesses and public/private partnerships are needed to ensure the goal is reached. Martha Herron, PPL's regional community relations director, said PPL is proud to partner with Orwigsburg on the Community Memorial Hall project. "The restoration of this building to its former glory as well as the improved usability of this community/recreation facility is a great benefit to the residents of the greater Schuylkill County area," Stewart said in the release.
n Schuylkill Haven: The annual Island Park Cruise-In & Car Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 23 at the community's Island Park, Dock Street, just off Rout 61. The event will include raffles, people's choice awards and food. The event will benefit the Island Park Project for Kids.
n Summit Hill: The Summit Hill Heritage Center has announced the opening of the Coal Hole Canteen, a coffeehouse setting in the center that will feature a mixture of music and comedy events and a location for smaller events and mixers for the public. A regular feature will be a comedy night the second Friday of the month. Doors will open and refreshments will be available at 7 p.m. for the event and freewill donations will be accepted at the door, according to a press release. The center is a 501c3 nonprofit that houses the Summit Hill Food Pantry, which serves nearly 150 families each month. The center also administers the state Department of Education Summer Food Service Program to provide lunches to Panther Valley students throughout the summer. It supports educational, social and entertainment events that enrich the community. The organization is operated entirely by volunteers. For information about the center, call Deb at 570-645-9133.
n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Historical Society Museum, 118 W. Broad St., is open to the public from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday. People are welcome to browse the museum's collection of local historical artifacts and other items. To tour the museum at other times, appointments must be arranged. Volunteers are always needed to help with society projects and events. For more information, call 610-597-6722 or 570-668-5722 or email to tamaquahistoricalsociety@verizon.net.