n Elizabethville: New this year at Upper Dauphin Area High School are the Keystone exams for students enrolled in Algebra 1, literature and biology. UDA has a few years to transition from the PSSAs, that students have taken under No Child Left Behind, to the Keystones, according to Superintendent Paul Caputo. All juniors will take the three Keystone exams; all sophomores will take the literature exam and any student completing an Algebra 1, literature or biology course will take an exam in that subject. The current eighth-grade class will be the first class to have Keystone exams as a graduation requirement. The high school activity period on Wednesdays is continuing, helping students stay connected to their school and community. Academically, UDA will continue to focus on literacy and numeracy development while aligning curriculum to the PA Common Core Standards, Caputo said. The district is soliciting bids for a greenhouse to be used as part of the high school's General Agriculture program. It is anticipated the greenhouse will be installed during the current school year. The residential house being constructed by the high school's carpentry students is under roof. Students will focus on completing interior work this school year.
n Frackville: Local Rotarians who participated in several community activities during the weekend of Aug. 18 presented a program about them to fellow Rotarians at a recent club meeting at the Cracker Barrel restaurant. Noreen O'Boyle described the farm tour conducted by the Schuylkill Conservation District that involved a bus tour of three area farms and included activities at each location. The group visited Evergreen Farms near Orwigsburg to learn about tree farming and to participate in exercises hosted by the farm's owners. Participants also visited the Hepler Farm, Pitman, to learn about dairy farming methods, where the hosts provided a range of activities. The group was then taken to Jersey Acres to learn about grape growing and wine making. Karen Domalakes described the events at the Women's Outdoors Day hosted by the Friedensburg Fish and Game Club. Target shooting involving handguns, rifles and shotguns and various types or bows and arrows, as well as fishing, canoeing and other outdoor activities, were conducted under the direction of volunteer trainers. There were 65 participants in the group ranging in ages 16 to 85. John E. Domalakes helped to lead a Schuylkill On The Move hike to the fossil pits and Loch No. 5 of the Union Canal in a hike conducted at Swatara State Park. Dave Revengnum, a park volunteer, described in detail the history, construction and operation of the Loch. In club business, the Rotarians agreed to participate in the Frackville Business and Professional Association's annual Pumpkin Festival in October.
n Mahanoy City: Elks Lodge 695 will sponsor a meal featuring Shirley's meatloaf from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at the lodge, 135 E. Centre St. The cost is $8.99 and tickets will be sold in advance only. Soda, beer and mixed drinks will be for sale. Patrons will be able to eat in the lodge or take meals out. The deadline for tickets is Thursday. For tickets or more information, call Ruth Jane at 570-773-0467, Linda at 570-467-2612, Gert at 570-773-3185 or Shirley at 570-773-2675.
n Pottsville: The Pottsville Free Public Library will hold a free financial aid night at 6 p.m. Sept. 18. "Get the facts on how to save time and money when paying for college," organizers said in a press release. "Learn about financial aid and how to apply for it." The event is appropriate for high school and college students, parents of students and adults who are thinking of going to college. The presenter will be a representative of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. For more information, call the library, 215 W. Market St., at 570-622-8880.
n Pottsville: A vegan cooking club will meet the first Wednesday of the month beginning Oct. 3 at the Pottsville Center, 201 N. Centre St. Group discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. People are asked to register one week prior to each session. There will be a $5 supply fee for each meeting. Everyone is welcome.