n Barnesville: Tuscarora State Park will host a mushroom identification program from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in the visitors center. Participants should bring in the mushrooms they would like to have identified. Joe Lankalis, a local field mycologist, will give the program. Mushrooms collected prior to the program should be placed in a brown paper bag and refrigerated for preservation. The program is free and open to people of all ages. For more information, call Robin Tracey, park environmental education specialist, at 570-467-2506.
n Frackville: The Roman Catholic churches of Frackville are asking all students to bring their backpacks to Masses this weekend to be blessed for the new school year. The Rev. Robert Finlan, pastor, will bless the backpacks and ask God's blessing on all students, their parents and their teachers. Children present will receive a rosary and a special prayer card that will help them remember to make God a part of their daily school life. The Mass schedule is as follows: On Saturday, 4 p.m. at St. Joseph Church and 5:30 p.m. at Annunciation BVM; on Sunday, 8:30 a.m. at St. Ann Church and 11:15 a.m. at St. Joseph Church.
n Mount Carmel: The monthly meeting of the Pennsylvania Retirees Subchapter 8601 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13 will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Zion Primitive Methodist Church, 33 N. Market St.
n Ringtown: The Old White Church Preservation Committee will hold its 23rd annual Service of Appreciation and Thanksgiving at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Old White Church, Cemetery Hill Road. The vocal group Lift Your Spirits will present a program of inspirational music. Refreshments will be served following the service at St. John's Lutheran Church, 106 W. Main St., Ringtown. Everyone is invited to attend.
n Ringtown: The Ringtown Area Library will host free preschool storytime at 11:15 a.m. Mondays beginning Sept. 17. Fall dates for preschool storytime will continue on Oct. 8, running every Monday through Nov. 12, with one additional storytime program on Dec. 10. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All local families with preschoolers ages 3 to 5 are invited to provide children time to socialize with other children and to gain essential pre-reading skills, according to a library press release. People are asked to register in advance at the library, West Main Street. The library acknowledged the following memorial and honorary contributions: For Kathryn Fetterman from Lois Faust; for Kate Dwojeski from Gladys Rentschler; for Edward Austra from Leonard and MaryAnn Savitsky; for Paul Bereskie from Ron and Diana Evanousky and family, Jack and Chris Travis; for Larry Maurer from Leonard and Tanya Savitsky; for Gladys Olsen from Janice Johnston; for Kathleen A. Rooney from Mark and Wally Maliniak, Bernie, Patsy and Kevin Hughes; for Audrey Seroka from Susan and Allen Stauffer Jr., Gail, Robin, James and Joseph Becker; for Marie Walters from Marion Andrews.
n Shenandoah: St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Oak and Chestnut streets, will hold an advance-order-only pierogie sale Sept. 10. The cost is $6 per dozen. To order, call 570-462-2424. Pickup will be at the parish hall.
n Tremont: The Tremont Area Historical Society will sponsor "The History of Halloween," presented by Ellen Stump, at 7 p.m. Sept. 21. Stump, a resident of Tower City, has been collecting Halloween memorabilia for 29 years. She will enlighten participants on the origin of Halloween and how the tradition of trick-or-treating began. Participants will have an opportunity to examine vintage Halloween collectibles and understand the reason masks and costumes became associated with the holiday. Visitors will also be invited to enjoy a centuries-old treat, once given to early participants on the mysterious Halloween night. They will also learn why pumpkins are carved, sing a special song, learn how fortunes were told and why the holiday is filled with myth and superstition. The event will be held in the Griffiths Community Room in the Tremont borough building, 139 Clay St. The building is accessible to the handicapped from the parking lot. For more information, call 570-695-3308 or 570-695-3792.