n Ashland: Elaine Stone, Ashland Area Rotary Club secretary, hosted club members and their spouses at her home Dec. 19 for a Christmas party and meeting. It was a covered-dish affair with a wide variety of items, according to the Rotary bulletin, which added the Rotarians had an enjoyable time and learned interesting history facts about Ashland as related by Stone. Members thanked her for hosting the event. The annual club Christmas party, postponed for a day due to inclement weather, was held at the Mineshaft Café on Dec. 15. Stone, according to the bulletin, has offered to be club president for the 2014-15 Rotary year so the club will need a new secretary. Interested members should contact President Connie Wydra. The club is also looking for new members in order to continue sponsoring activities. The next monthly business meeting will be held Thursday, with the regular meeting on Jan. 16.
n Minersville: The Schuylkill County Coin Club meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at 129 Sunbury St. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. People can learn about coins and coin collecting. All are welcome. For more information, call Mike at 570-399-5153.
n Pottsville: The Hillside SPCA is holding a cat and kitten adapt-a-thon throughout January. Their usual adoption process applies but there will be no adoption fee to qualified applicants. The shelter is open seven days a week, with feline adoption hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more, go online to www.hillsidespca.com or call 570-847-6845 or 570-622-7769. The shelter is experiencing an overload of cats and kittens and are looking for more people to make adoptions.
n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County Historical Society will host a presentation titled "Indian Sign Language Rendezvous" at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at its headquarters, 305 N. Centre St. Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the Schuylkill Conservation District, will discuss how the Native Americans nations had their own culture and language. To help overcome language barriers, Indian sign language was developed to assist with communication for trade or any other information. Participants will take home more knowledge of local Native American places and also signs that emphasize name, place or activity. More on the historical society is available at its website, www.schuylkillhistory.org.
n Pottsville: The Tween Book Club at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., meets at 4:30 p.m. Mondays. For people ages 9 through 11, it includes book discussions, games and activities. Snacks are provided. For more information, call 570-622-8880.
n Quakake: Quakake American Legion Post 973 and Seitz Brothers Exterminating joined forces to donate $525 to the Schuylkill Carbon Marine Corps League's Toys For Tots campaign and an additional $75 to the Tamaqua Salvation Army's winter clothing drive. Brian Seitz and Tony Arnoldi of Seitz Brothers, Legion post Commander Carmen Forke, finance officer Daniel Scheeler and Vice Commander Steven Datchko as well as league member Paul Corinchock took part in the check presentation.
n Reinerton: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 1931 E. Wiconisco St., sponsors free clothing and free meals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday of every month. For more information, call Dale Oxenrider at 570-617-1530 or 717-647-4855.
n Tamaqua: The Black Diamond Writers' Network meets from 10 a.m. to noon the third Saturday of each month at the Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St., Tamaqua. For more information, call Kathy Ruff at 570-645-3059.
n Tremont: The Tremont Area Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at 19 N. Pine St., second floor. New members welcome. The site, however, is not handicap accessible.