n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy City Elks Auxiliary will sponsor a Valentine's Day smorgasbord from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Feb. 15 at the lodge, 135 E. Centre St. The event will include dinner at 6:30 p.m. and dance from 8 to 10 p.m. to the disc jockey music of Little Wink. The deadline for tickets is Feb. 11. For more information or tickets, call 570-773-1237 or 570-467-2612.
n Minersville: The American Red Cross, in a press release, issued a call for people to donate blood to replenish its supply. Officials said there is an "urgent need for platelet donors (and) blood donors with types O, A negative and B negative." A blood drive is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Mr. D's Interiors LLC, Route 901.
n Pottsville: Schuylkill on the Move, which promotes steps toward good health through walking, will sponsor the "Mystical Red Hole Ramble" from 1 to 4:30 p.m. March 2 with hike leader John Domalakes taking participants to the "mystical Red Hole area," a historical site from the 1750s French and Indian War - an American Indian encampment. Participants will meet in the parking lot of the Schuylkill County Ag Center along Route 901 and carpool to the site. The 3-to-4-mile hike is rated moderate. SOM walks are held monthly and feature a variety of locations throughout the county and region. People can get a copy of the hike schedule by emailing Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney at porcupinepat @yahoo.com or by calling at 570-622-4124, ext. 113. SOM is a consortium of health and wellness organizations and agencies that include Schuylkill County's VISION, the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, Diakon Social Services for Seniors and Schuylkill Conservation District.
n Pottsville: Life Centre Foursquare Church, 2300 Mahantongo St., will hold a lasagna dinner beginning at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 5 to 12 and free for children younger than 5. Meals will include lasagna, salad, bread, desert and coffee or water. Everyone is welcome.
n Shenandoah: The nonprofit group Diakon Community Services for Seniors will stage a free open house from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Shenandoah Senior Community Center located in the Anthony P. Damato American Legion "Medal of Honor" Post 792 home at 116 N. Main St. Diakon invites people to learn more about the services it offers and how it can benefit "you, your family and your community," according to a release. Diakon's services are geographically dispersed throughout Schuylkill County with offerings such as delivery of Meals on Wheels, health, wellness and fitness activities and classes, congregate dining opportunities, clubs (kayak, camera, herbalist and walking), Medicare health insurance counseling, transportation for seniors and a variety of volunteer opportunities. Snow date for the open house is Feb. 12. For more information, call 570-624-3023.
n William Penn: A benefit event for Robert Mummey, a leukemia patient, is set for 4 p.m. to midnight Feb. 22 at the William Penn Firehouse, 166 Mount Olive Blvd. The admission fee is $25 per adult and $12.50 for children under 12. Children under 5 will be admitted free. The ticket price includes dinner, beverages and entertainment. Two bands, Another Side and One Inch Gap, will perform. There will also be a silent auction to win products and services donated by local businesses, friends and family. All money raised will help the family with medical expenses. For tickets or more information, call Holly Mummey at 570-985-7177 or Tammey Piekarsky at 570-233-9639.
n Tamaqua: American Hose Company No. 1 and East End Fire Company will sponsor a chili and boilo cook-off Feb. 15 at the East End Fire Company, 553 E. Broad St. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. and tasting will be from 1 to 5 p.m. The registration fee is $20 and the tasting fees start at $10. Registration and tasting packages are available. All proceeds will benefit the Carbon/Tamaqua American Cancer Society. For more information, or to register in advance, call Brian Connely at 570-233-8006.