n Girardville: Due to the February run of inclement weather, the annual Chinese auction sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church has been rescheduled to March 30 in the church hall. Doors and the kitchen will open at noon and the auction will begin at 2 p.m. Homemade food will be available. Admission is $2 and everyone is welcome.
n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy Township High School Alumni will meet at 1 p.m. today at the Good American Hose Company. Plans will be discussed for a multiclass reunion to be held Oct. 11.
n Mahanoy City: Humane Fire Company No. 1 will sponsor a ham and cabbage or corned beef and cabbage dinner from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the firehouse. Dinners are $9 each and will also include potatoes, green beans and dessert. Patrons may eat in or take meals out. For tickets or more information, call 570-773-2223 or 570-773-2840.
n Pottsville: Greg Stewart of Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, presented the Pottsville Rotary Club's annual Engineers Week program. Steward also is a member of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, according to the Rotary Bulletin. In his overview of the state fuel tax, Stewart said that effective Jan. 1, the $0.12 a gallon retail tax that had been in existence for many years, was eliminated. An increase in the Oil Company Franchise Tax, however, took its place. The OCFT is a tax at the wholesale level "at the rack" and there is an artificial cap of $1.25 per gallon. The true price of gas today, he said, is about $3.11 per gallon. Stewart also explained how the new law will impact the average person. Based on someone driving 12,000 miles per year in a car averaging 20 miles per gallon, the driver uses 600 gallons of gas per year. At $.08 per gallon, which is what the new tax is in the first year, the increase will be $48 annually or $4 per month. There are gradual increases through year five, where the tax will be $0.27 per gallon and the increased annual cost will be $162, or about $13.50 per month. The tax will fund multiple projects and operations, among them state road and bridge repair, public transportation, turnpike expansion, the PA Fish & Boat Commission, county/forestry bridges as well as dirt, gravel and low-volume roads. The projection after five years is for these projects to be funded by $2.3 billion. Among other impacts, Stewart said, will be a basic vehicle registration increase from $36 to $37 in 2015-16 and then from $37 to $38 in 2017-18. After 2019, the cost will be based on an inflation index. Driver license renewals will work the same way, increasing from $21 to $22 in 2015-16 and then from $22 to $23 in 2017-18. Stewart provided a handout containing more than 100 projects in Schuylkill County that will be addressed with the funds from the new tax. Engineers who were on hand as Rotary guests for the presentation included Jennifer Kowalonek, Jaci Pelkschak, Dave Horst, Chris McCoach, Dottie Sterner, Rick Yutko and Mike Hammel, according to the bulletin. The Rotarians thanked Stewart for his presentation and also thanked club member Bill Parulis for arranging for the presentation.
n Pottsville: A youth singing competition titled "In the Spotlight" will be held April 12 in the Sovereign Majestic Theater, North Centre Street. According to a release, it will be an opportunity for participants to gain experience performing and to highlight the area's talent. The competition is open to girls and boys ages 5 through 17. Medals will be given to all participants and trophies will be given to the top winners in various age groups. For a registration form with more information, email to schmusicevent@comcast.net. The exact schedule will be released after all the entries are in. The deadline to register is March 20. Registration is on a first-come basis.
n Saint Clair: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will hold a Chinese auction from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 5 at the Saint Clair Lions Club quarters, 259 McCord Ave. The ticket cost is $10. The event will benefit WalkMS2014 and is sponsored by the society's walk team, Success With MS. Proceeds will benefit MS victims and their families in the Greater Delaware Valley. For more information, call Cindy at 570-573-3454.