n Frackville: Diane Sturm and Carol Nicholas recently presented a program to the Frackville Rotary Club about the Frackville Food Bank. They said the bank is a project of the Frackville Ministerium, a group of pastors from the Frackville area. The ministerium funds the operation and has been "very generous" to needy people who require help in obtaining food, they said. Sturm, a retired teacher, informed the group that the food bank receives no government funds and depends upon donations from the community. As a result, the privacy of food recipients is protected. She praised the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Hillshire Farms, Boyer's Food Markets and other businesses involved in food distribution for their donations to the program. When Sturm became involved with the program four years ago, there was a need for 40 to 50 boxes of groceries per month, but that need has grown to 97 people in need today. The food is distributed from 9 to 10 a.m. the third Thursday of each month for people with Frackville borough addresses. Sturm also thanked the volunteers who transport food to the distribution site and load and unload boxes of food items to make them available to those in need. She noted that Boyer's solicits $1 donations in order to support the program and matches every dollar contributed by a patron. She also thanked the ministerium for its recent purchase of a freezer to help preserve food.
n Pottsville: Dog wardens will canvass homes in Schuylkill County this week to ensure all dog owners have current licenses and rabies vaccinations for their dogs, according to a release from the state Department of Agriculture. All dogs three months or older must be licensed by Jan. 1 of each year. The fee is $6.45 for each spayed or neutered dog and $8.45 for other dogs. Older adults and people with disabilities may buy a license for $4.45 for spayed or neutered dogs and $6.45 for others. All dogs and nonferal cats three months and older must be vaccinated against rabies. Booster vaccinations must be administered periodically to maintain lifelong immunity. Violators can be cited with a maximum fine of $300 per violation plus court costs. Licenses can be bought through Treasurer Jacqueline V. McGovern at the Schuylkill County Courthouse or by calling 570-628-1433. More information is available online at www.licenseyourdogPA.com.
n Pottsville: The Schuylkill Area Community Foundation has received a distribution from the Robert Comloquoy Cemetery Trust, formerly held at Wells Fargo Bank, SACF Executive Director Eileen Kuperavage announced in a press release. Attorney J. Robert Zane worked with the trustee and the attorney general's office to file the appropriate paperwork to transfer the assets to SACF, specifically the Pottsville Enrichment Fund. The contribution of $144,877.65 was invested into the Pottsville Enrichment Fund, which solely benefits the Charles Baber Cemetery, Pottsville. Comloquoy was born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, on Aug. 15, 1889. In 1927, he began work in Pine Grove. He resided at the Pottsville Club, Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, for several years. He married Sara S. Shay, Pottsville, the daughter of Judge Arthur L. Shay and Augusta Dreher Shay, in 1930. The couple moved to Pine Grove where they resided until 1951 when they moved to 1305 Mahantongo St., Pottsville. The ex-Servicemen's Club of Pine Grove American Legion Post 374 bought the Comloquoy home. Following renovations to the mansion house, which was called "The Willows," it became the Post 374 home. Comloquoy's main interest was the Pottsville Hospital & Warne Clinic, of which he was a member of the board 1946-71. He was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church, Pottsville, and a member of the board of the American Bank and Trust Company of Pennsylvania, the Greater Pottsville Industrial Development Corp., the Pottsville Club and the Schuylkill Country Club. He was also a member of the Union League of Philadelphia and the Everglades Club of Palm Beach, Fla. He died at the Pottsville Hospital in 1972. Sara Comloquoy died in 1988 at Palm Beach. Their remains are entombed in the Comloquoy mausoleum at the Baber cemetery. Contributions may be made to any SACF fund at any time and in any amount. For more information about establishing a fund, go online to www.sacfoundation.com or call Kuperavage at 570-624-7223.