n Ashland: The revitalization group Ashland Downtown Inc. and the Pennsylvania Humanities Council will co-host the Jay Smar Show at 6 p.m. today at The Mineshaft Café, 1120 Centre St. Admission is free. "This informative and musical program highlights the struggles and disasters of coal miners in northeast Pennsylvania," Ashland Main Street Manager Gregory Fisher said in a release. "Documented and researched original compositions are first explained, then presented musically through song," he added.
n Barnesville: A hike is slated for 1 p.m. today to explore the mountain behind Locust Lake State Park and visit the Silver Creek Fire Tower. According to Robin Tracey, park environmental education specialist, the six-mile hike is rated moderate. Participants will meet at the visitors' parking lot at the park. Pet dogs are welcome but they must be leashed and get along with people and other pets. Inclement weather will cancel the hike. At 6 p.m. Saturday Smokey Bear will be at the Locust Lake State Park Amphitheater. Dave Duffy, New England Fire Company chief, will give a fire prevention and campfire safety presentation followed by a visit from Smokey. The program, free and open to the public, will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
n Port Carbon: The Port Carbon Janet Eich Library will hold a continuous sale of "Cherished Teddies" figurines at the library on Saturdays starting tomorrow. All figurines will include all holiday and special-event bears at reduced prices, according to Jason Abati, library director.
n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office at the county courthouse has released its schedule of extended hours to accept applications or renewals for the License to Carry Firearms. The office will be open from 8:30 to noon tomorrow and Oct. 13 and 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 13. In a release, Sheriff Joe Groody said the transactions can also be done during regular office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. "To better serve county residents, I will continue to offer office hours on announced Thursdays and Saturdays to accommodate law abiding citizens (with) an opportunity to apply for a License to Carry Firearms, Groody said in the release. The fee for the license is $20 and only checks or money orders can be accepted during extended hours, no cash. Checks or money orders should be made out to the Schuylkill County treasurer. Cash will be accepted during normal office.
n Schuylkill Haven: The Schuylkill Haven Area Elementary Center will open its doors from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday for all kindergarten and new students to familiarize themselves with their teachers and the building in general. Students and parents will be able to visit their classrooms and walk through the school so that students will feel more comfortable about the start of school Aug. 27.
n Shenandoah: St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church will host an ethnic food sale beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday in the church hall, Oak and Chestnut streets. Pierogies, halupki, halushki, kielbasi and sauerkraut, bunduki, soups and other fare will be available. Everyone is welcome. For more information call 570-462-0809 or 570-462-2424
n Tamaqua: Jessica Lech, a member of the Actors' Guild of Schuylkill County, will be the guest speaker at Saturday's meeting of the Black Diamond Writers' Network set for 10 a.m. to noon at the Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St. Lech, according to network coordinator Kathy Ruff, will offer advice on how writers can correctly identify, capture and write dialect that will impact their character's story. Lech, who currently lives in Minersville, studied Theatre Arts at Wilkes University. The meeting will be followed by a brief critique session for those interested in sharing their work for a roundtable discussion. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information about the network, call Ruff at 570-645-3059 or visit the Tamaqua Public Library website at www.tamaquapubliclibrary.com. The network is a nonprofit organization.