n Frackville: Pages of Positivity, a nonprofit organization that sends positivity journals to people who are suffering from chronic illnesses or going through a hard time, will hold a bake sale at the Schuylkill Mall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday near Dunham's Sporting Goods. Volunteers will distribute fliers and answer questions about the organization. T-shirts will be available for sale. For more information, go online to www.pagesofpositivity.com.
n Mahanoy City: The final meeting of the Mahanoy City Sesquicentennial group before festivities begin Sunday through Aug. 24 is set for 7 p.m. today in borough hall. The public is welcome to attend.
n Mahanoy City: In preparation for the borough's 150th anniversary celebration, a street sweeper is going through the borough, according to borough Manager Daniel Lynch. Residents are asked to move their vehicles on the sweeping days. Parking restrictions are from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents should adhere to the parking restrictions to allow the street sweeper to make multiple passes, he said. Sesquicentennial activities will be held Saturday through Aug. 25, with the parade to be held Aug. 24. The ongoing sweeping schedule is as follows: Today, Mahanoy Street, south side and 14th Street; Thursday, Mahanoy Street, north side and D Street; Friday, Main Street, both sides and Catawissa Street, both sides; Monday Pine Street, north side and Market Street, south side; Aug. 20, Pine Street, south side and Market Street, north side; Aug. 21, Spruce Street, north side, Linden Street, both sides and 12th Street, both sides; Aug. 22, all of Railroad Street, 10th Street and Eighth Street; Aug. 23, Spruce Street, south side.
n McAdoo: St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, 210 Blaine St., will hold its sixth annual homecoming picnic Friday through Sunday on the church grounds. Homemade ethnic Ukrainian food and Mexican food will be available. There will also be entertainment and other activities. The picnic will go from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Everyone is welcome.
n Shenandoah: The community will be filled with music Saturday afternoon as Shaina Lynn Graff will present "The Future of Star Power," a free concert beginning at 3 p.m. and featuring aspiring young artists from Schuylkill County, at American Legion Memorial Garden in the 100 block of North Main Street. In addition to Graff, Lost Creek, who is Schuylkill County Idol 2011, other performers will include Autumn Maurer, Frackville, Schuylkill County Idol 2013; Bryel Frasch, Gordon, Schuylkill County Junior Idol 2011; Cody Wiley, Pottsville, Schuylkill County Idol finalist 2013, and Rich Harper, Cumbola, Schuylkill County Idol finalist 2013. The three-hour show will feature a variety of musical styles that will make it entertaining for all ages, according to a release. Performers will do songs by Adele, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Jason Derulo and others. Those planning to attend should bring lawn chairs or blankets to relax and enjoy the show. Graff, in the release, thanked the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., the Borough of Shenandoah, the Shenandoah Combined Veterans and the Anthony P. Damato American Legion "Medal of Honor" Post 792 for cooperating to make the presentation possible. "I feel that a lot of times, young artists like us are overlooked by all the 'bad stuff' happening in our towns," Graff said in the release. "I think it's about time we put something good front and center. I decided to do this concert because I wanted to bring some good quality family fun to the Shenandoah area."
n Shenandoah: The Upper Schuylkill Marching and Concert Band will present an outdoor concert at 7 p.m. today at the Glover's Hill Athletic Club. The performance is free and open to the public. People should bring lawn chairs.
n Sheppton: Bishop John Barres of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown will participate in a prayer service at 7:15 p.m. today at the site where three men were trapped in a collapsed coal mine 50 years ago. The collapse occurred on Aug. 13, 1963. Two of the men were miraculously rescued two weeks later. The body of the third man was never found. At 6 p.m. today, Barres will celebrate a Mass at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church. It is the vigil of the Catholic feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The service at the mine site will include prayers, hymns, scripture readings, a military salute and the singing of "God Bless America" as well a recounting of the collapse and rescue.
n Tamaqua: Registrations are being accepted for the 2013-14 St. Jerome Regional School CYO volleyball team. The team is open to girls in grades four through eight who attend St. Jerome's School or CCD classes For more information, or a registration form, contact Mrs. Habel at 570-668-1211 or email eligioused@sjctamaqua.org.