n Cressona: The Cressona Fire Company No. 1 will hold a "Wings and Things" from noon to 7 p.m. Friday at the firehouse, 59 S. Second St. Wings will be $8.50 per dozen and varieties will include fire hot, hot, mild, Old Bay, garlic, honey barbecue, ranch and peppercorn. Chicken finger platters, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, onion rings and other fare also will be available. According to a company release, this will be the last wings night for the year. The fundraisers will return in 2013. Business deliveries for lunch are welcome by calling 570-385-2249 or faxing to 570-385-1077.
n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy Township supervisors will host a Halloween party and haunted trail beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday for township children up to age 16. To register in advance, call the township office at 570-773-1553. Anyone interested in volunteering may also call.
n Pine Grove: The 17th annual Autumn Stroll Craft Show will be held from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday at Union Canal Veterans Memorial Park, Veterans Memorial Drive. Admission and parking are free and everyone is welcome. In addition to crafts, food will be available all day. The band Mindset will provide entertainment. The show is sponsored by the Pine Grove Bicentennial Committee. All proceeds will be used for park improvements. For more information, call 570-345-4859 or 570-345-0164.
n Pottsville: In connection with Make A Difference Day, a Halloween "Haunted Basement" to benefit the Hillside SPCA is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at 1650 Howard Ave. The event, organizers said in a release, is for "Teens 'n' Tweens." It will feature five scary (child-friendly) Halloween-themed rooms. But the experience can be customized to accommodate all age groups. There will also be baked goodies for sale and a gift shop featuring unusual Halloween items. The project is a creation of local students ages 10 to 14 who want to help the animals. Everyone is welcome.
n Shenandoah: During its October meeting, the borough council approved the second payment to Heim Construction Co., for $54,684.85, regarding the ongoing streetscape project. The 200 blocks of North and South Main Street are receiving new curbing and sidewalks as well as lighting and other improvements. Concerning another matter, Councilman Robert Kulpowicz expressed concern about vacant buildings on East Washington Street that he said are dilapidated and causing problems for other homes in the area. He asked borough Solicitor Michael A. O'Pake to begin proceedings against Reading Anthracite Co. on the issue. O'Pake, however, said Reading Anthracite owns the land where the homes are located but does not own the homes. "Let me look into it a little bit further and see what we can do about it," O'Pake said. "Reading collected the rent for years and people did inquire about purchasing the land, but they (Reading) wouldn't release the properties," Kulpowicz said. "They want to drop it in our laps and it's not fair to us." The council approved a request from Shenandoah Area Youth Volunteers to hold the annual Halloween parade beginning at 2 p.m. Oct. 28.
n Shenandoah: The Columbia Hose Company No. 1 will hold a Halloween Disc Jockey Bash Oct. 27 at the firehouse, 742 W. Centre St. Happy hour will be from 6 to 8 p.m., with disc jockey Mush to entertain from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The cover charge is $3; IDs will be required. The kitchen will be open from 6 to 10:30 p.m. There will be prizes for best costumes.
n Sheppton: The new East Union Township Municipal Building, 10 E. Elm St., is in operation. The township supervisors and planning/zoning board now hold their meetings there.
n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Area School District will sponsor a homecoming parade beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. Stephen Ulicny, student government association adviser, said in a press release the parade will start at the Lehigh Carbon Community College Morgan Center parking lot. He said marchers will go west onto High Street, south onto Swatara, west onto Van Gelder, south onto Oak, west onto Spruce, south onto Coal, west onto Penn Street in front of Tamaqua Area High School and north onto Stadium Hill. It will end at the Tamaqua Area Sports Stadium.
n Tremont: A haunted house to benefit the Tremont Area Food Pantry is set for Oct. 26 at 27 S. Crescent St. Tickets will be on sale from 7 to 10:30 p.m. General admission is $3. Admission for those who bring a canned good will be $2. Expired canned goods cannot be accepted. Community sponsors include Schaeffer's Harley Davidson, Ken's Tire, Tobash Insurance Agency, Guer's Dairy, Tobin Excavating, The Home Depot, BG'S Value Market and Miners Bank. The event is enter at your own risk, according to a press release. Groups with young children under 5 are encouraged to come between 7 and 7:30 p.m. for a kid friendly tour.