n Frackville: The South End Field and Stream Association is taking orders for its annual Christmas kielbasi sale. Varieties available include fresh, smoked and cheesy hot. Orders can be picked up from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Whippoorwill Dam along the Morea Road near Frackville. To order or for more information, call 570-874-1108.
n Pottsville: At a recent meeting of the Pottsville Rotary Club, member Jim Cooksey gave a slideshow presentation of the recent trip he and his wife, Elizabeth, took to Israel. According to the Rotary bulletin, Cooksey used maps to orient other Rotarians about the area and related many of the trip's highlights. Among the areas he mentioned were the Golan Heights, Gaza strip, the West Bank, the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. He said he was amazed by the borders in these areas, which include double walls with electronic fences and military patrols. Israel, he said, is about the size of New Jersey and has one source of water, the the Jordan River coming from the Sea of Galilee. Many of the battles in the region are over water, not necessarily religion, he said. He showed maps of Palestine before the creation of Israel in 1946 and the changes to present day where almost all of the area is now Israel. Much of the area is arid and dessert, but there are some patches of beauty created through irrigation, he said. While in Israel, the Cookseys visited many historical sites, included those were various miracles occurred as well as the birth site of Jesus Christ. He showed a photo of a church that had been destroyed and rebuilt 25 times due to the constant fighting in the area. Most of the historical sites are actually churches built on the "best guesses" of where the real event occurred, he said, because the land and people have been conquered so many times by so many different people. In other club news, the Rotarians will again ring bells for the Salvation Army during this holiday season. Members will ring from 9 a.m. to 9 pm. Saturday outside Boscov's in Fairlane Village mall. The club's Christmas party is set for Friday at the Pottsville Club.
n Ringtown: The Ringtown Area Library's Christmas Memorial Tree is in place, thanks to the members of the Ringtown Brownie Troop, who provided individually decorated ornaments. For $5, people can place a personalized ornament on the tree in memory of or in honor of a special loved one. The tree will remain on display in the library, 132 W. Main St., through early January. The library acknowledged the following memorial and honorary contributions: For Edward Baskeyfield on his birthday from Beth and Rick Roulin; for Clare Zimmerman on her birthday from Lois Faust; for Joe Zogby on his birthday from Joann Zogby; for Loved Ones from Leo and Barbara Prosick; for Anthony J. Tambasco f rom Mary Balkiewicz, Bill and Alice Jarzinko, Lenny and Tanya Savitsky, Lois Faust, Theresa Kolonsky, Penn Equipment Corp., Matt and Kim Roulin, Harold and Rita Shoup, Ron and Ann Brown, Michele Pryzblick, Rick and Beth Roulin, Shenandoah Quarterback Club, Gene and Clare Zimmerman, John and Lorraine Engle, Ray and Arlene Sachleben, Irene Cicioni, Dorothy and Romolo Laureti, Joseph Murray, William and Sally Koons, Vince and Joan Madaffari, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Salvadore, Gino and Justine Monahan, Charles and Arlene Vascavage, Ray and Dot Wisniewski, Karen, Jim and Michael Stauffer, Ron and Mary Luscavage, Mike and Gina Ross, John and Maryann Matino, Bettiann and Tony Folino, Mary and Joe Skubel, Jack Kelly, Bill and Betty Jones, Rose Kern, Charles and MaryAnn Magalengo, Georgine Sinkus, Jim and Gina Lombard, Brenda Breznik, Karl and Marybeth Sassaman, Ed and Nadia Baskeyfield; for Russell J. Thompson from John and Anna Forgotch, Diane Peters, Marion Andrews, Russell Napkinsky, Tim and Kim Fetterman and Family, Ruth Milosh, Donald and LaRue Williams, Nancy Terry; for Natalie Tracy from Lenny and Tanya Savitsky.