MARCH 28

LENTEN ORGAN MEDITATION AND LUNCH: Wednesday, March 28, at Noon with Johanna Masters, Organist, Cathy Hammons and Lee Roseboom, other musicians, and Cheryl Coleman, Liturgist at First Presbyterian Church of Montrose at 367 Church Street, Montrose, Pennsylvania. Immediately following the meditation a soup and bread luncheon will be served.

MARCH 29

HAND WASHING SERVICE/COMMUNION: Come experience a hand washing service with communion for Maundy Thursday, the night Jesus modeled servant leadership to his disciples. Event will be held at the United Methodist Community Church, Great Bend, at 7:00pm.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES: Maundy Thursday services to be held at 7 p.m. at Thompson United Methodist Church. All are welcome to join!

MARCH 30

HOLY WEEK SERVICES: Good Friday services to be held at 7 p.m. at East Ararat United Methodist Church. All are welcome to join!

CHOIR PERFORMANCE: “We Were There”, a dramatic choral experience presented by the combined choirs of UMCC of Great Bend and 1st Presbyterian Church of Hallstead. Event will be held at the United Methodist Community Church, Great Bend, at 7:00pm.

MARCH 30-31

GOOD FRIDAY: “Journey to the Cross”, a self-guided, meditative journey. Stop in and follow the stations as you reflect on the events of Good Friday. Event will be held at the United Methodist Community Church, Great Bend, from 2-6pm.

APRIL 1

EASTER SERVICE: United Methodist Community Church, 7:00am. Sunrise service at the Cross, held at the corner of Elizabeth and Main Streets in Great Bend. Experience the empty tomb and our Risen Savior. Breakfast to follow.

APRIL 5

FREE ARTIST MEETING: Hill Country Artists Meeting, 7 PM at the Claverack Electric Building, Route 706E, Montrose. Sonji  Lee will present a demonstration on Encaustic Painting. Public is invited. Free presentation. For information call Sonji Lee at 570-553-2500. Featured Art Work: Encaustic painting titled: Autum Storm.

APRIL 7

AMBA PROGRAM: The South Creek Lions Club will be hosting the AMBA Blood Analysis Program on Saturday, April 7th from 6-10am. Call 1-800-234-8888 from 8:30am-5pm Monday thru Friday. Your personal physician’s authorization is required to have the Blood Test. The Lions Hall is located on Route 14 in Gillett.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: At the East Ararat United Methodist Church, from 7-11. Hope to see you all there.

April 9

OPEN CHOIR PRACTICE: Community choir practice starting April 9, at 7:30 at the Saint John’s Hall, Susquehanna, PA. The Susquehanna Community Chorus will be performing this summer as part of Hometown Days. Our concert will be on Sunday, July 22 at 3:00 p.m. at the Susquehanna Community High School Auditorium.  This chorus is open to anyone who would like to sing.  No prerequisites or auditions are required.  At the first practice we will hand out music and a rehearsal schedule.  Anyone wishing to participate, please contact Jeffrey Keyes, Brenda Tiffany, or come to the practice on April 9.

APRIL 15

SPRING GIFT CARD BINGO: Hosted by The Knights of Columbus Council at 1:00 PM at the St. Lawrence Trinity Center, 380 Franklin St., Great Bend. Doors open at 11:45 AM, the kitchen will open at noon for lunch. Package includes a game schedule, 20 regular games, 4 special games & Jackpot. Prize for each game is a $50.00 Gift Card.  The Jackpot will consist of Stone Mountain Wallet valued @ $60.00 & a Coach Handbag valued @ $415.00 for Coverall. There will be Door Prizes & a 50/50 raffle. Come and enjoy a fun filled afternoon of friendship, playing bingo, & eating good food in a relaxed atmosphere! Bring your dabbers. Tickets are limited: call Irene Mccarthy, 570-789-1837; Paulette Rafferty570-879-418, Maria Cina 607-242-4239, Joann Hadnagy 570-727-3441.

JULY 12

JULY 12-13-14: Union Dale Volunteer Fire Company is looking for band bids and contract offers for the annual July, 2018 picnic. Interested bands should contact Andrew Belcher at 570-241-7757 before February 12 deadline.

Monday: Chicken and Sausage Bake, Chuckwagon Corn, Brown Rice, Yogurt with Fruit and Granola.

Tuesday: Herbed Pork Roast, Roast Beets and Carrots, Mashed Potatoes, Dinner Roll, Apple Slices.

Wednesday: Turkey and Dumplings, Brussel Sprouts, Boiled New Potatoes, Peach Crisp.

Thursday: Beef Stroganoff, Broccoli and Carrots, Whole Wheat Noodles, Rice Pudding.

Friday: Fish Piccata, Italian Green Beans, Tomato Bisque, Orzo Pilaf, Crackers, Fresh Fruit Salad.

Join your local Penn State Master Gardeners and Master Gardeners from surrounding areas for the 6th Annual Spring Gardening Day on Saturday, April 7 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Montrose Bible Conference, Lake Avenue in Montrose.

Master Gardener Sheryl Brownlow at 2017 Spring Gardening Day.

This yearly event, in partnership with the Montrose Area Adult School features a variety of fun and educational gardening programs. There will be several classes held throughout the day which include: growing ornamental grasses, container gardening, pruning perennials, storm water management, growing hydrangeas, plus much more. Meet a few of the new Master Gardener trainees from Susquehanna County as they present their new programs.  Demonstrations, educational material and displays will be on hand plus door prizes and a book sale. The day will conclude with an extensive silent auction. Wonderful morning refreshments and a delicious light lunch are included.

A full house at last year’s Spring Gardening Day enjoyed the festivities

To register visit: Montrose Area Adult School www.montroseadultschool.org. Click the Classes link. You can print out a registration form under the HOW TO REGISTER section.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Greater Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter is hosting a free community meet-and-greet reception in the Ballroom of the Woodland’s Resort, Plains Twp., on Wednesday, March 28 beginning at 6 p.m.

Board members and volunteers will be available during the session to discuss the advocacy and education efforts of the national office and local chapter, and plans the volunteer-led organization has for future programming. Board members hope the reception is a successful recruiting tool for additional volunteers.

“Volunteers are needed to assist the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter in providing advocacy and community programs to the regional communities fighting against the epidemic of suicide,’’ said Dawn M. Evans, O.T.D., O.T.R./L., assistant professor of occupational therapy at Misericordia University and chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Greater NEPA Chapter Board. “Because it is a volunteer association, we cannot do it with just a few of us – especially considering all the counties we serve.

“The board plans to become more actively involved in the community this year and we cannot do it without volunteers. We hope that we can get some community members who are interested in helping us with programming and activities in the community, such as the ‘Out of Darkness Walk’ in September,’’ Dr. Evans added.

The local chapter serves Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

Founded in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the largest private suicide prevention organization in the United States. The voluntary driven health organization has chapters in 50 states. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and 11th leading cause in Pennsylvania. Nearly three times as many people died in Pennsylvania annually than by homicide, according to the foundation.

The foundation’s mission is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention rallies volunteers at state, federal and local levels to advocate for policies to reduce suicide and improve mental health services. The foundation organizes more than 450 “Out of the Darkness Community Walks” annually across the country.