n Frackville: The Frackville Free Public Library, 56 N Lehigh Ave., has announced the availability of Baker & Taylor's Axis 360 digital media library for its patrons. In a press release, Elaine M. Mykolayko, library director, said Axis 360 is a digital media platform, providing libraries and their patrons with a state-of-the-art system for circulating enhanced digital content and Blio, the ground-breaking e-reading software. "We are very excited to be able to provide patrons with the newest e-book technology," Mykolayko said in the release. "The library now has in place a system which will allow us to build an electronic collection of books based on the preferences of our e-reader users. In addition to providing the materials, we are also ready to offer assistance to patrons in using Axis 360 and in setting up their devices." Libraries using the Axis 360 service, according to the release, benefit from "the latest Web technologies and cloud-based delivery to mobile devices." Axis 360 is now available to patrons via the library's website at www.frack villelibrary.com. A valid library card is required to use the system. For more information, stop at the library or call Mykolayko 570-874-3382.
n Frackville: The Frackville council of the Knights of Columbus will not have a Happy Hogan Hoagies sale on Thanksgiving Day. The next sale will be held Nov. 29.
n Pottsville: Richard Drucker, a past Rotary district governor, recently addressed the Pottsville Rotary Club regarding the Rotary Foundation. Drucker, the current and a past member of the Ringtown Rotary Club and a three-time president of his former club in New Jersey, is a 36-year Rotary member, according to the Rotary bulletin. The foundation, he said, began in 1917, although it was not named a foundation until much later. Rotary at the time was 12 years old and experiencing the end of World War I along with the rest of the world. "We wanted to do something and started the 'Endowment Fund for World Education and Peace' with a $26.50 donation," he said. "We didn't really know what to do with the donation, so basically we did nothing for a while. In 1931 Rotary made its first donation, $500 to the Ohio Society for Crippled Children, an organization that was co-founded by Paul Harris and eventually became Easter Seals." In 1947-48 after World War II, Rotarians decided they needed to do something to "justify their existence," Drucker said, so they nominated 16 scholars, called "Paul Harris Fellows" to work on scholarships while being ambassadors for world peace. In the mid-1950s, this program became known as Ambassadorial Scholarships, and today Rotary is the largest privately funded scholarship program in the world. Also in the mid-1950s, he continued, the organization created the Paul Harris Fellowship program as a fundraiser, where for a $1,000 donation over time a Rotarian earns recognition and a pin. Multiple $1,000 donations increase to sapphires and rubies. Drucker also explained the ideas behind and origins of district simplified grants plus the Annual Program Fund, Permanent Fund and the funds to eradicate polio. He said the goal of the district is EREY - Every Rotarian, Every Year - meaning everyone gives a donation every year. A $100 donation allows a Rotarian to become a sustaining member and starting next year, 50 percent of the money donated to foundation by the district will come back to the district in three years to be used by the clubs within the district. There is also an option to donate $10 per month or to donate electronically, he said.
n Pottsville: The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Sara Rile from Janet Daubert; for Peter Pinshock from Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fenstermacher; for Sara Rile from Jim and Gina Bohorad and family, Dr. and Mrs. Bohnenblust, James and Mae Ann Furness.
n Summit Hill: The Summit Hill Food Pantry in the Summit Hill Heritage Center building, Hazard and Chestnut streets, distributes nonperishable food items to borough residents who qualify for the assistance, on a monthly basis. The distributions take place from 10 a.m. to noon on the fourth Tuesday of each month, with the exceptions of November and December due to holidays. Rosemarie Armon, pantry director, is maintaining an up-to-date roster with telephone numbers of regular recipients. Anyone whose contact information changes most notify.
n Tamaqua: Open computer labs are held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Mondays at the Tamaqua Salvation Army center, 105 W. Broad St. The labs are for people who want to learn more about computers or just spend time on computers.