n Ashland: The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7654 Auxiliary is sponsoring a bus trip to the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City set for Oct. 13. The cost is $30, which includes a $30 rebate. The bus will leave from the former Snyder's Restaurant in Ashland with a pickup in Frackville. Money must be paid two weeks prior to the trip. There will be free bingo with prizes and snacks provided on the way. For reservations or more information, call Ann Helwig at 570-875-0619.
n Barnesville: The Rush, Ryan and Delano Senior Citizens Inc. meets at 1 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Ryan Township Fire Company, Route 54. RR&D members usually play bingo and cards following the regular business meeting. Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join. The group's president is Eleanor Schmerfeld.
n Minersville: The Thomas Reed Memorial dedication ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Sunday at Union Cemetery, Fifth Street. Reed, according to a release from Marian Twigg, the memorial committee chairwoman, was Minersville's first settler. Speakers at the event will include Frank Reed, a direct descendant, Mayor Joseph Post, borough council President Helen Droskinis, the Rev. Dr. Robert Santucci and Minersville Area Historical Society President Dora Santarell. All are welcome to attend.
n Pottsville: The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Beth Lehrman from Maryann Conway, Ione Geier, Edward and Mary Hauck, Linda Kleeman, Sandi and Joe Murton, John and Agnes Reilly, Joe and Nancy Schlitzer, Nancy Smink; for Frank J. Luchnick from Mary E. Moran; for MSgt. Stanley P. Mick from Betty Greenback.
n Saint Clair: At the August meeting of the Saint Clair Community and Historical Society , Dorothea Feryo said there are still seats available on Friday's bus trip to Atlantic City. Anyone interested should call her at 570-628-4837. Activity committee members said the society will sponsor a Family Fun Night at Friendly's Restaurant, Route 61 near Fairlane Village mall, from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 17. Members are asked to provide homemade baked goods and to donate lottery tickets for a lottery board. Tickets or monetary donations to buy tickets should be given to Val Davis or Lucy Fox. People signed up for the bus trip to the Flight 93 Memorial at Shanksville must pay in full by Sept. 30. The trip is scheduled for Oct. 10 and some seats are still available. The cost is $70. The trip will also have a stop at the Quecreek Mine Rescue Memorial, where nine miners were rescued. For more information, call Dawn at 570-429-2060 or Val at 570-429-1850. The next society meeting is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 30 in the society building on North Nicholas Street. New members are welcome. Membership dues are $5 a year.
n Schuylkill Haven: The Rainbow Hose Company No. 1, 417 Dock St., will have a truck housing for its 1995 Freightliner Rescue vehicle on Saturday at the firehouse. A parade for the event will begin at 1 p.m. at the fire station. Judging will be at 10 a.m. at Schuylkill Haven Area High School. There will be a Mug Night on Friday.
n Tamaqua: The South Ward Playground Association, Penn and Oak streets, will hold its annual 9/11 ceremony at 6 p.m. today at the playground. Guest speakers will include state Rep. Jerry Knowles, D-124, Schuylkill County District Attorney Karen Byrnes Noone, Schuylkill County commissioners Gary Hess and George Halcovage Jr. and Tamaqua Mayor Chris Morrison. Robert M. Balcavage, a Marine Corps disabled veteran and U.S. Army colonel, will be present along with speakers from Tamaqua fire companies. Retired fire chief Thomas "Oakie" Schlorf, who served from 1984 to 2010 and was chief from 2001 to 2010, will be honored. Everyone is welcome to attend.
n Tamaqua: The finale in the seventh annual Summer Concert Series sponsored by the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce on the platform of the Tamaqua Train Station will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday with a performance by Large Flower Heads. As always, the public is welcome to attend. For more information, contact the chamber at 570-668-1880 or email tamaquachamber@verizon.net. More information about the chamber also is available online at www.tamaqua.net.
n Tamaqua: The League of Literaries youth writing group has scheduled an open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 in The Gallery at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St. Members are inviting everyone to help them celebrate LOL's first anniversary. "Hear our stories, meet our writers and enjoy some refreshments," organizers said in a release. For more information, call 570-668-1192 or go online to tamaquaarts.org.