n Ashland: American Hose Company No. 1, Walnut and Seventh streets, will house its new 1996 Pierce Lance pumper on Saturday following a 1 p.m. apparatus parade. Judging of apparatus will begin at 11 a.m. Twenty trophies will be awarded. Commemorative pint glasses will be available for $10 each, which includes refreshments and food.
n Frackville: First United Methodist Church, 25 S. Balliet St., will sponsor an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. The menu will include pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs and beverages. The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children 8 and younger. For tickets, call the church office at 570-874-0792. The meal is eat-in only and proceeds will benefit the church youth group.
n Friedensburg: Schuylkill on the Move, which promotes steps toward good health through walking, will sponsor a Frog Hollow Fun Day from 1 to 4 p.m. May 17 at Frog Hollow with naturalist Mike Centeleghe, who has planned a variety of children's nature activities. It will be a "great day for preschoolers in nature" at the Frog Hollow pavilion. SOM walks and activities 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 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: The Pottsville Area School District will have an age-group swim team this summer. Practices, according to a release, will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays June 4 through July 26. Registration will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. May 16 and 1 to 4 p.m. May 17 in the D.H.H. Lengel Middle School cafeteria. The cost is $45 for the first child, $30 for the second and $25 for each additional child in a family. All practices will be in the Ned Hampford Natatorium at the middle school. The team is open to all district residents ages 5 through 18.
n Schuylkill Haven: The Women in Leadership Development - WILD - at Penn State Schuylkill recently presented a check for $500 to Sally Casey, executive director of Schuylkill Women in Crisis, during the annual spring SWIC golf tournament and dinner. The women generated the money through fundraising efforts and the second annual performance of "The Vagina Monologues." This year the women were able to more than double their donation amount after setting a goal to give more to SWIC than they gave last year, according to a campus release. The campus WILD organization is coordinated by Valerie Clay, assistant director of student affairs at Penn State Schuylkill.
n Shenandoah: The annual Shenandoah Kielbasi Festival, featuring the homemade, non-commercial kielbasi-making contest, is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 17 on the blocks of North Main Street, sponsored by the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. Last year's event, throughout the day, drew an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 locals and visitors. This year's fest will again feature the community's so-called Big Three Kielbasi Kings - commercial kielbasi makers Mark Kowalonek of Kowalonek's Kielbasy Shop, Mike Stanakis of the Capitol Food Store and Dave Lukashunas of Lucky's Deli, all of whom will have abundant samples of their products. Ateeco Inc., manufacturer of Mrs. T's Pierogies, Shenandoah, will also be on hand offering its products. There will also be myriad of other vendors and crafters. Private kielbasi makers, most often using family recipes handed down for generations, will compete to win the "PIG Trophy." Other attractions will include Polish pottery, Matrushka dolls, straw ornaments and various Eastern European crafts. The Shenandoah All-Star Polka Band will perform, a wide variety of food will be available and there will be games and crafts for the kids. Traditionally, the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society at 201 S. Main St. and the Schuylkill County Historical Fire Society Museum at 105 S. Jardin St. are open for the festival and attract many of the visitors who come from throughout Schuylkill County and well beyond. For more information, call DSI at 570-462-2060. Mary Luscavage is the DSI manager. The DSI headquarters is at 116 N. Main St. More information is available at the DSI website at www.downtownshenandoah.com.