n Ashland: An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. April 7 at Christ United Lutheran Church, 437 Airport Road. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. For more information or to make an appointment, call 800-733-2767.
n Branchdale: A piano concert and dinner will be held at St. Mary Church, 72 State Road, from 7 to 10 p.m. April 22. The cost is $20. Composer/pianist Stuart Ryerse will present a solo concert that will include his original music. The dinner will follow. It will include baked ham, roast beef, green beans, carrots, potatoes, Italian cake and Philadelphia cheesecake and a complimentary glass of wine. For reservations or more information, call 570-815-4543.
n Frackville: The Frackville Area Senior Citizens group is sponsoring a bus trip May 11 to the American Music Theater, Lancaster, for “The Crooners” show. The cost is $65. For reservations or more information, call Marie at 570-874-2774 or Grant at 570-874-3531.
n Pottsville: The Majestic Players will present Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace” at 7 p.m. April 1 and 2 at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St. For tickets or more information, call 570-628-4647.
n Pottsville: Courtney Fasnacht, executive director of the Manufacturers and Employers Council Inc., the nonprofit 501(c)3 branch of the Manufacturers and Employers Association, recently spoke to members of the Pottsville Rotary Club. The association was started in Schuylkill County in 1964 “to provide services and programs to large and small manufacturers in the county,” Fasnacht said, according to the Rotary Bulletin. She said the MAEC goal is to “help develop a qualified workforce” and one of the ways is through the Your Employability Skills program, which targets seniors in high school and is a one-credit program covering 120 hours taken during the regular school day. It is an elective that provides students with “real, hands-on training that will be applicable to the actual workplace.” Fasnacht said YES program topics include communications, health and safety, personal development, quality and technology and teamwork. MAEC, she continued, also coordinates the Schuylkill County Career Fair, which will be held this year in Martz Hall on April 19. The fair provides students with the opportunity to speak with local employers, post-secondary educational institutions and the military about careers.
n Seltzer: Seltzer Hose Company officials in a press release thanked everyone who donated to the company’s annual fund drive and issued a reminder to members that dues are overdue. Members who have not yet paid should do so as soon as possible at the firehouse or by mailing a check to Seltzer Hose Company, P.O. Box 4270, Seltzer, PA 17972. The company will hold its 15th annual deer roast on April 2. The event is by ticket-only and for people 21 and older. For tickets or more information, call Bev at 570-544-6448. The 2016 company officers are Frank Melenchick, president; Beverly Holley, vice president; Maryann Lascala, secretary; William Kurtek, treasurer; Frank Sylvester, steward; Robert McClintock, fire chief; Michael Kitsock, assistant fire chief. Trustees include Dana Murray, Kim “Tips” Holley and Brian Murray.
n Shenandoah: The Polish American Fire Company, 115 W. Centre St., is taking orders for its 100th anniversary history book. The books, which have more than 100 pages, are $20 each. For people who want to have a book mailed to them, there is an additional $5 fee for postage. Payments should be made by check in an envelope that includes your name, address and phone number, marked “Attention History Book Committee.” The envelopes can be left at the company grill after 3 p.m. daily or mailed to the fire company. The deadline to order is April 17. For more information, call 570-788-4498.