Lehighton: A traditional Ukrainian Christmas with food and caroling led by the Kazka Folk Ensemble is set for 2 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Ukrainian Homestead, 1230 Beaver Run Drive. The cost is $15 per person and free for children 12 and younger. Since seating will be limited, those interested should call 215-235-3709 or visit www.ukrhomestead.com for more information. Shenandoah is home to the first Ukrainian Catholic Church in America. The building still stands along West Centre Street.
McAdoo: The McAdoo Community Civic Association is still collecting donations for the Christmas lights that are hung throughout the area. Residents and businesses are asked to give so the lighting tradition can continue. Donations have been slow, organizers said in a release. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 175, McAdoo, PA 18237, or dropped off at First National Bank, 25 N. Kennedy Drive.
Pottsville: Diakon Community Services for Seniors is accepting registrations for "Living a Healthy Life," a six-week workshop designed by Stanford University to help improve health for those living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, COPD, arthritis and other conditions. The workshops will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 23 and 30 and Feb. 6, 20 and 27 at Trinity Lutheran Church. The chronic disease self-management program, geared to people 50 and older, is designed to help improve healthy behavior and health status and decrease days in the hospital, according to a release. It is being offered through the PrimeTime Health program at no charge and includes all course materials, books and CDs. Space is limited so registration is required. For more information or to register, call 570-624-3017. PrimeTime Health in Schuylkill County is operated by Diakon Community Services for Seniors, a service of Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, and funded under a contract with the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services.
Shenandoah: The Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Museum, 105 S. Jardin St., is open for fire department, school and private tours. There is no charge for tours, but donations are gratefully accepted, according to the society website, which also lists museum hours as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Appointments can be made for visits at other times by calling President Michael Kitsock at 570-628-3691 or Vice President William Kline at 570-622-3678. Membership inquiries are welcome. The museum's phone number is 570-462-4400. The museum was formally dedicated in 1999 with several commemorative events and a dedication parade. Housed in the former Columbia Hose & Steam Fire Company station, which also at one time included borough hall and the borough police station, the site also serves as the society's headquarters. Its collection of equipment and other artifacts is among the finest in the state. For more about the society and photos of antique equipment, go to its website at www.theshfs.org.
Shenandoah: January is National Radon Action Month and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging everyone to test their homes for radon. January is a good time to test homes and schools because windows and doors are closed tightly and people spend more time indoors, according to an EPA release. Unsafe levels of radon can lead to serious illness. The surgeon general has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States with an estimated 21,000 deaths a year. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths, according to the release. By making simple fixes in a home or building people can lower their health risks from radon, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. Test kits are available in home improvement centers and hardware stores and cost about $20. They are simple to use and include instructions. For more information about radon and radon testing, go online to www.epa.gov/radon. People not only in Shenandoah but throughout the county are urged to test.