n Ashland: The Ashland Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorials: For Frank Towey from Tom and Carol Green; for Betty Ackley from Tom and Carol Green; for Catherine M. Hornberger from LCTIEA Cyndee Barkley; for Jean Natschke Carlson from Mary H. Calvert; for Ruth Humes from Betty Davies; for Madge Green from Betty Davies; for Mary Batdorf from Carol and Tom Green; for Carl Pennypacker from Arlene Chillis, Joan Hufnagle, The Ashland Public Library Yarn Spinners; for Joseph Lizzul from Arlene Chillis, Bev and Lew Pennypacker, The Ashland Public Library Yarn Spinners; for Rose Gatto from Patti and Lee Wesner; for Robert Bixler from Mr. and Mrs. Louis Swatski.
n Minersville: The Schuylkill County Chorus Festival will take place Feb. 21, 23, 24 and 25 at Minersville Area High School. It is the 41st year for the festival and will feature students from the Blue Mountain, Mahanoy Area, Minersville Area, Nativity BVM, North Schuylkill, Pine Grove Area, Pottsville Area, Schuylkill Haven Area, Shenandoah Valley, Tamaqua Area, Tri-Valley, Marian and Williams Valley high schools. Russell Shelly, Ph.D., from Juniata College, will be the guest conductor. The festival will conclude with a concert open to the public at 2 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Minersville High School Auditorium. Tickets, which will be available at the door, are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.
n Pottsville: Rotarian Allen Kiefer, a member of the Penn State Schuylkill Advisory Board, recently presented to the Pottsville Rotary Club a brief history of Penn State Schuylkill campus, including the early history of the school's founding in the county. Past Rotarians played roles in opening the local campus. Kiefer said the Pottsville School District invited Penn State to open a school here in 1934, leading to the launching of Penn State Schuylkill in September 1934 with 27 students in the Bunker Hill Building. Enrollment grew to about 100 students before World War II, then went down to only 24 students in 1944. By 1946, with the introduction of the GI bill, enrollment ballooned to more than 400. In the late 1950s, Schuylkill County donated 39 acres in Schuylkill Haven for a new campus, which opened in January 1967. Past Rotarians, including Henry "Hammer" Herring, James Beach and Wayne Lammie, played roles in steering Penn State Schuylkill's growth in the ensuing years. The Penn state Advisory Board exists to support all Penn state activities, especially fundraising, Kiefer said, according to the Rotary Bulletin. The board helps to find sponsorships, helps local faculty with research projects, oversees housing and renovations. It has 42 voting members, each appointed by the university president after being recommended by the nominating committee. Each member serves a three-year term. In addition, there are other members of the board including the chancellor, the three county commissioners and the various state representatives, a member of student government, the alumni president and contributing members who provide financial support. The campus currently has 320 total beds for students and about 1,020 full-time students, about 55 percent of whom come from Schuylkill County. Penn State Schuylkill contributes about $30 million to the local economy every year, Kiefer said.
n Pottsville: A representative of Schuylkill Women in Crisis recently informed members of the Pottsville Kiwanis Club about assistance SWIC provides to the community, including a telephone hotline, safe emergency shelter, supportive crisis counseling, group counseling and children's services. The services offered are provided at no charge and are available to women and men. Regarding club business, President Martina Stevenosky provided an update on the Clothes for Kids service project to help buy new uniforms for children in the Minersville Area School District. Several club members, she said, have made personal donations to the cause, and Wal-Mart provided a $50 gift card.