n Barnesville: Naturalist Robin Tracey will lead a hike on the Oak Loop Trail at Locust Lake on Wednesday. Participants will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the visitor parking lot. The four-mile trail is rated difficult, Tracey said in a release. It loops around Locust Creek and goes up the mountain for a "great view of the forest below," she said. Part of the hike will include the Tree Identification Trail created by an Eagle Scout. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and get along with other pets and people. Participants should bring water and bug spray and wear comfortable shoes. The hike will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. For more information, call Tracey at 570-467-2506.
n Frackville: The borough's third-quarter solid waste bills are due Sept. 15, not July 15, according to a press release from the Frackville Municipal and Communty Center.
n Lansford: The Lansford Pool will celebrate Community Days beginning Monday. Each day, residents from one town in the Panther Valley area will pay a reduced admission fee of $3 for adults and $1 for children. The schedule is as follows: Monday, Lansford; Tuesday, Summit Hill; Wednesday, Coaldale, and Thursday, Nesquehoning. Swimming lessons will again be offered at the pool. Morning sessions will be from 10:15 to 11 a.m. July 22 through 26 and evening session will be from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. July 29 through Aug. 2. Four levels of instruction will be available: Level One, for the most basic and beginner swimmers, will work on comfort in the water with the ultimate goal of independent doggie paddle; Level Two, an introduction to basic stroke work and water safety with swimmers learning to doggie paddle independently; Level Three, an intermediate level that will refine basic strokes and water safety; Level Four, an advanced level that will focus on refining all strokes, water safety and some conditioning. There is a charge for lessons. For more information, call 570-645-5237. The pool is open from noon to 7 p.m. daily.
n Ringtown: Aurand Memorial United Methodist Church, 217 W. Main St., will hold its annual ice cream social from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the social hall. The menu will include vanilla ice cream with assorted toppings, including locally grown strawberries. Participants will be able to make their own sundaes. Beverages will include root beer floats. There will also be barbecue, hot dogs, pierogies, pie a la mode, strawberry shortcake and refreshments. Everyone is welcome.
n Summit Station: The Schuylkill County Fair, scheduled for July 20 through Aug. 3, is making its 30th anniversary and organizers are using the theme "Harvest Your Dreams" for the event. Information about the fair is available at its website at www.schuylkillfair.com. People can also check the fair action out on Facebook and via Twitter and Pinterest, according to Kim Morgan, vice president/secretary, who added the 2013 fair will include new contests, activities and entertainment options along with the traditional events. New to the fair this year will be catapults, flying saucers, adult milk-chugging, pie- and pierogie-eating, a modified truck show and shine contest, family feud, egg relay and watermelon seed-spitting. She also said interactive programs will abound, including an expanded ag detective program, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Mobile Ag Science Lab, Tai Chi, Exerattes, folks butterflies, antique appraisals, the Tuscarora R.C. Flying Club, line dancing, identification programs, family walks, hula hooping and Zumba. There will also be daily entertainment on the fair's various stages.
n Tamaqua: Applications for senior parking permits in the Tamaqua Area School District for the 2013-14 school year will be available in the high school office beginning Monday. They will be available between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and must be completed and returned no later than July 30. There will be 67 parking spaces available this year, according to a district release. Spaces will be available according to a lottery to be conducted Aug. 6. Students will be notified by mail if a parking permit has been issued to them. The permit will be issued between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Aug. 12 in the senior high office. The non-refundable payment of $10 will be due at that time.