n Girardville: Curbside recycling in the borough is set for Oct. 30 and 31. All recyclables can be placed out for pickup either day. Acceptable items include newspapers and cardboard, clear, brown and green glass and metal cans, plastics Nos. 1 and 2. Newspapers must be bundled and tied or in brown paper bags and cardboard must be flattened. Glass must be placed in one container and cans in another. According to a release from borough hall, Schuylkill County Drop-Off Recycling Program dumpsters are on site permanently near the municipal building. The recycling center is open to any Schuylkill County resident. Recyclables must be placed in the correct sections of the dumpsters. Glass, cans and plastics must be removed from plastic bags before placement in the dumpsters.
n Mahanoy City: Coal Cracker Magazine, a project of Greeley-based Heron's Eye Communications, will host a series of four free workshops at the Mahanoy City Public Library to train young journalists in exploring their sense of place through interviews, writing and photography. The series is open to young people ages 12 to 18, and will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. Nov. 3, 10, 17 and Dec. 1. According to a press release, no prior journalism experience is required. The interactive sessions will provide a foundation of knowledge in media literacy, an approach to education that helps people to access, analyze, evaluate and create messages in print, video and web. Students will gain interviewing, photography and writing skills as they develop short articles, profiles and images that may be published in print or online by Coal Cracker Magazine, according to the release. "We are grateful to the Mahanoy City Public Library Board of Directors for recognizing the importance of supporting young people in our communities and for welcoming Coal Cracker into its wonderful facility," Krista Gromalski, a co-founder of Heron's Eye Communications and a Mahanoy City native, said in the release. The Coal Cracker sessions are part of Gromalski's graduate studies in Sustainable Business and Communities at Goddard College. Heron's Eye Communications is a marketing, publishing and project management firm with offices in Schuylkill and Pike counties. Gromalski and Sandy Long, a Wilkes-Barre native, founded the company in 2006 with a mission to create strong community partnerships that foster a healthy environment, desirable quality of life and sustainable local economy. Young people interested in the Coal Cracker sessions should email their name and a brief paragraph (three- sentence minimum) to krista@heronseye.com stating what they like most about the place where they live, what challenges young people in their community face and why they are interested in becoming involved in Coal Cracker Magazine. Paragraphs may also be dropped off at the Mahanoy City Public Library or mailed to the library at 17-19 W. Mahanoy St., Mahanoy City, PA 17948. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31.
n Ringtown: The Ringtown Valley Senior Citizens have announced the group's apple dumpling sale is today. Advance orders may be picked up at the senior center, West Main Street, from 2 to 5 p.m. There will also be a limited amount of apple dumplings for sale at that time. The seniors, in a release, said people should arrive early for on-site purchases.
n Ringtown: The board of directors of the Ringtown Valley Community Fund has issued a reminder to local residents about sending in contributions for the 2013 fund drive. "A contribution at this time will lower the cost of a second mailing," according to a press release issued by the board. Contributions support the Ringtown Community Ambulance Association and nonprofit organizations serving the Ringtown area. A minimum fee - $30 for households of three or more; $20 for households of two or less - makes residents an ambulance service subscribers, meaning the ambulance association will accept the reimbursement received from an insurance carrier as payment for ambulance services. Nonsubscribers will be billed for services not covered by insurance. And Ringtown Valley residents who did not receive a mailing can pick up a fund drive brochure at the Ringtown Area Library, 132 W. Main St. Residents may also mail checks or money orders payable to "Ringtown Valley Community Fund" to: P.O. Box 204, Ringtown, PA 17967. Be sure to include your complete name and address. Directors in the release thanked residents for supporting the annual drive.
n Ringtown: The Ringtown Area Library, 132 W. Main St., will offer a free blood pressure and blood sugar screening from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday courtesy of Family Home Medical, Mount Carmel.