n Ashland: The borough office will close at noon Tuesday. It will also be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The trash schedule for both weeks will be adjusted as follows: Tuesday's trash collection will be the same. Wednesday's trash will be collected on Thursday and Thursday's trash will be collected on Friday. Ash pickup will continue on Friday. Residents are asked to place trash out early Dec. 24 and 31. Trees will be collected through Jan. 24 and must be placed at curbside. For more information, call the borough hall at 570-875-2411.
n Hometown: The Rush Township tax office at 117 Cumberland Ave. will be open from 10 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 30, tax collector Dolores Walck said in a press release. Payments may also be mailed, she added, as long as they are postmarked by Dec. 31. For more information, call Walck at 570-668-5661.
n Mahanoy City: A Christmas event will be held 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Mahanoy City Public Library, second floor. It will include crafts, snacks, a story and games. Those attending are asked to register at the front desk of the library or contact Sarah at 570-573-1822 or sarahannfucci@gmail.com.
n Mahanoy City: The Patriots Chorale, directed by Shannon Shughart, will present the Christmas cantata "Peace on Earth," created by Deborah Craig-Claar and Robert Sterling, at 2 p.m. Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church, Main and Mahanoy streets. All are welcome.
n Nuremberg: The Nuremberg Food Pantry will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the North Union Township Building. The pantry serves eligible residents of Union, East Union and North Union townships and Ringtown borough. Clients who are already receiving surplus from the Ringtown pantry are not eligible for this distribution. Proof of residency will be checked. Eligibility is based on the following new monthly household incomes: One person, $1,436 and below; two people, $1,939 and below; three people, $2,441 and below; four people, $2,944 and below; five people, $3,446 and below; six people, $3,949 and below; seven people, $4,451 and below; eight people, $4,954 and below. If picking up for someone else, a note from the person giving permission is required, unless you have already filed a note with the pantry coordinator. The Twin County Lions run the Nuremberg Food Pantry in conjunction with Schuylkill Community Action.
n Orwigsburg: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 215 N. Warren St., will host its 29th annual Service of Lessons & Carols at 6 p.m. Sunday featuring its vocal and handbell choirs, guest organist Lee Ferrier and instrumentalists. There will be special prelude music beginning at 5:30 p.m. In a press release, the church outlined the history of the service. In 1880, E.W. Benson, then bishop of Truro, drew up a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, based on ancient sources, for use on Christmas Eve in the wooden shed that served as his cathedral. In 1918, according to the release, the festival was adapted for use in the chapel of King's College, Cambridge, England, by its dean, Eric Milner-White, who also wrote the Bidding Prayer (from the 1928 "Book of Common Prayer"). Every Christmas season since 1918, King's College has presented the Festival Service of Lessons & Carols, which is broadcast around the world. At St. Paul's "we have been enjoying the beauty of this very special service for the past 28 years," organizers said in the release. This year, the music of British composer John Rutter will be featured. The public is invited to attend. Freewill offerings will be gratefully accepted to support St. Paul's concert series.
n Tamaqua: Tara Stauffenburg, Tamaqua, recently presented a check for $3,000 to Debbie Heim, co-chairwoman of the Schuylkill County Suicide Task Force, representing money raised at the fifth annual Dudefest celebration. Stauffenburg created the Dudefest event in memory of her late brother after he committed suicide. In all, Dudefest, since its inception, has raised about $10,000 for the task force. The Dudefest is held annually at the West Penn Rod and Gun Club, Clamtown Road. For more information about the suicide prevention program, or to get help, call 800-784-2433, 800-273-8255 or the deaf hotline at 800-799-4889.
