n New Philadelphia: A Chinese auction will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday with a shop and drop from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Holy Cross Hall, 37 Clay St. Proceeds benefit the Pottsville Area High School football team Florida trip. Food will be available.
n Orwigsburg: The Schuylkill YMCA will introduce its first branch site, called the South Schuylkill Extension, at 329 S. Liberty St. above Boyer's Food Market, during an open house slated for 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. The site, according to a release from Rosemarie Seamon, will offer a new slate of group exercise programs that complement those offered at the main facility in Pottsville. Kathleen Tone, Y wellness director, said in the release she is thrilled. SSE offers nine wellness classes, including three spin classes, two types of yoga classes, total body fitness classes and some personal training. Parent-child classes will also be included shortly. Three spin classes, from regular to advanced, are offered on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. Total Body Fitness, which emphasizes maximization of movement range, flexibility and power output through weightlifting, running, spinning and rowing, is held on Monday evenings and Wednesday and Friday mornings. Kripalu yoga is held on Monday mornings and Hatha yoga on Thursday evenings. Plans are under way for a Y Discovery parent/child class to be added to the lineup, instructed by Courtney Eickman. Membership to either Y location can be handled at the Y front desk in Pottsville during regular operating hours or during SSE office hours from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, 5:45 to 7:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. For more information on the SSE, call the Y at 570-622-7850.
n Pottsville: A benefit for Catrina Williams and Carianna Krogh, Minersville, the two young girls who died in a crash on Route 61 last month, will be held at 6 p.m. today at The Pottsville Zone, 337 Peacock St. The cost to attend is $10. All proceeds raised will benefit the family. The event will include a Chinese auction and music by disc jockey Soul Child. For more information, email Keira1211@yahoo.com.
n Pottsville: Cheernastics and Tumbling with the Anthracite Heat All-Star Cheerleading Team will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday and every Sunday in April at Driscoll's Karate, 21 N. Centre St. Open to age 5 to 18, the cost is $10 per session. Visit us at www.AnthraciteHeat.blogspot.com.
n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Area High School prom is set for April 12 and the Tamaqua Area Student Government Association will hold Prom Promise activities beginning Monday and going through Thursday. The purpose of Prom Promise Week, according to a district press release, is to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving, especially during prom season. Various activities are planned. Monday through Thursday, a wrecked car will be on display in front of the high school in order to remind students how valuable life is and how easily it can be taken through wreckless or careless driving. Monday will be Red Ribbon Day with red ribbons tied to cars as a reminder for all to not drink and drive. Tuesday will be Key Day with students who will attend the prom encouraged to sign a large key in the lobby pledging not to drink and drive during the prom, with names entered into a raffle for free gas cards and senior physical education classes having drunk driving simulations using visually impaired goggles and golf carts. Wednesday will be Awareness Day with students receiving informational pamphlets supplied by the Pennsylvania State Police with statistics dealing with drunk driving in the state. The Tamaqua Police Department will have a drinking-and-driving presentation in the district auditorium for all seniors. Administrators will read messages and statistics to students via the intercom dealing with the importance of life and dangers of alcohol. Thursday will be Grim Reaper Day with the government association officers dressed as The Grim Reaper, removing selected students from study hall and painting their faces white. Each student will serve as a representation of someone who died due to drinking and driving. Those students will remain silent for the remainder of the school day. Students will be chosen at the rate of the national average of people killed in alcohol-related fatalities - about every 15 minutes.