n Bethlehem: With March as National Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross Northeast Pennsylvania Region is recognizing the nation's "everyday heroes" who reach out to help their neighbors in times of need. "Our heroes are our volunteers, our blood donors, people who take our classes or those who make a financial contribution to help us help others ..." Peter M. Brown, the regional chief executive officer, said in a press release. Red Cross Month, he said, is "a great time for people to become part of the Red Cross" by becoming a Red Cross volunteer, working on a preparedness plan for their household, giving blood or taking a Red Cross class. According to the release, an average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping people in need. Rita Inklovich is the interim executive director for the NEPA region's Berks-Schuylkill office and can be reached by calling 610-375-4383, ext. 121.
n Hometown: The Hometown Fire Company and the Tamaqua Rotary Club will sponsor a Longaberger basket bingo at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Hometown firehouse, Route 54. Doors will open at noon. Food and baked goods will be on sale. Tickets are $20 each. For tickets or more information, call Mary at 570-668-5076.
n Hometown: Tax collector Dolores Walck has issued an advisory for Rush Township taxpayers to check their March bills to be alert for a chance in office collection days and hours. The office will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays in March and April. During May and June, the office will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Additional hours for April include 9 to 10 a.m. April 24 and 29 and 6 to 7 p.m. April 22 and 28. The office will be closed March 5, April 16 and June 11.
n Mahanoy City: A special meeting of the Mahanoy Township Authority, 46 N. Main St., is set for 6 p.m. today.
n Mahanoy City: A takeout-only homemade soup and baked goods sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 8 at First United Methodist Church, Fourth Street and Mahanoy Avenue. Soup will be available in pints and quarts.
n Port Carbon: The Veterans of the Vietnam War post will hold its annual food fest beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday at 612 Fifth St. The menu will include bleenies, halushki, bean soup, halupkies, chicken corn soup, pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers, barbecue and hot dogs. For more information, call 570-628-9036.
n Shenandoah: The student councils of Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley high schools have agreed to jointly sponsor a T-shirt sale to help offset some of the medical expenses for Annmarie Carter, a teacher who during her career taught in both schools and now is facing a serious health issue. Shirts sold in Mahanoy Area will be worded with "Bears for a Cure" and the Shenandoah Valley version will be "Devils for a Cure." The shirts are $10 each for sizes small to extra large and $12 for larger sizes. They can be ordered through student council members at both schools. The sale is coordinated by student council advisers Nancy Brylewski at Mahanoy Area and Anthony Pytko at Shenandoah Valley.
n Williamstown: The Williams Valley Summer Food Program recently received a boost via a $5,000 Challenge Grant from the "Matthew 25: Neighbors in Need" initiative of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation, according to a Thrivent press release. The program aids efforts to support physical, emotional and spiritual needs in the community. For every dollar raised by the summer food program from donors by March 31, the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation will provide an additional 50 cents - up to $5,000 - in support of the organization's ministry. The food program provides lunch and activities for children one day a week during the summer months and is designed to "meet the needs of children who might otherwise go hungry when school in not in session." Donations to this program may be sent to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 141 East St., Williamstown, PA 17098. Donors should write "Summer Food Program" in the memo line. The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation, according to the release, is a private foundation that "operates exclusively for charitable, educational and religious purposes." To learn more about the foundation and its programs, visit www.thrivent.com/foundations.