The Youngsville Free Methodist church will host its annual Lenten fish fry dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays starting Feb. 19.

The cost is $10 donation per meal, with dine-in or take-out orders available. The meal includes Fish, choice of potato (baked or fries), choice of coleslaw or applesauce, and roll.

The Youngsville Free Methodist Church’s Food Ministry is available on a first-come, first-served basis every Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until gone (as food quantity varies weekly). Food is also available on a first-come, first-served basis on the first and third Monday and Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until food is gone.

Those attending are asked to use the Marsh Avenue entrance. All available food is located right inside the door. Masks are requested, as is registration with a name, phone number or email address on the notepad provided. Those who need food are asked to bring their own bags, as the food is self-serve and “extra” bags/boxes are not readily available. Since the pantry receives food weekly, church officials ask that people only take what they need for themselves or if they are helping someone else in need.

LOVE YOUR LIBRARY FUNDRAISER

The Friends of the Youngsville Public Library’s 11th annual “Love Your Library” Raffle Extravaganza fundraising event is going on now through Friday, March 19. The eight uniquely themed choices are filled with gift cards, cash, lottery tickets and more. Each of the eight “themed options” has a value of $100 or more and each is on display at the Youngsville Library. For a $5 donation participants will receive 10 tickets to be used toward the theme(s) of their choice. Winners will be drawn at the end of business day on March 19.

The following businesses have agreed to have “Love your Youngsville Library” tickets available during their business hours: Forester Restaurant and Simple Dick’s Outlet. Valley Bowling will also have tickets available through Tuesday during league play hours as well as open bowling hours from 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

“We really can’t thank our local and area businesses enough for how much they support our library,” said Kristy Wallace, library director. “Every bit of support is truly appreciated. Genuine Jerky, Carter Lumber, Sheetz, Forester Restaurant, Simple Dick’s, Tammy’s Hairitage, Tops Market, Applebee’s, United Refining, West-end Keystone and Wal-Mart all provided gift cards and Scott Olewine of Olewine Financial Group in Warren sponsored the $100 bill for the ‘Cold Cash’ basket. We also have a wonderful 18-inch “our generation” doll, 20+ hand sewn doll outfits, with doll-sized hand-made wooden chalkboard easel and school desk, donated by Dee Dee & Bill Tucker. Thanks to them we really have some great raffle items again this year for people to choose from. We also want to thank all the local businesses that will be having raffle tickets on site, to help us promote this important fundraiser. Especially this year, when our raffle ticket outreach options are a bit more limited this year.”

The six themed choices are:

¯ “Bon Appe’tit,” – $25 Forester Restaurant, $25 Tops Markets, $25 Huey’s Place, $25 Sheetz;

¯ “Youngsville’s Finest,” — $20 Simple Dick’s, $30 Genuine Jerky, $30 Tammy’s Hairitage, $20 Station 61 Restaurant;

¯ “Keep on Scratching,” – $100 in Scratch off tickets; (4) Cold Cash,”- $100 Bill,

¯ Fill ‘er up,” — $10 Sheetz gas card, $75 Kwik Fill cards, $20 West-end Keystone;

¯ “This and That” — $20 Ultimate Applebee’s card (valid at Applebee’s, Peek’n Peak, or Splash Lagoon), $50 Walmart card, $10 Sheetz, and $25 Kwik Fill;

¯ “Got ‘Ya Covered” — $100 Carter Lumber and Hardware gift card; and

¯ “Our Generation Doll and more” — 18-inch “Sienna” Our Generation doll, more than 20 hand-sewn doll outfits and doll-sized hand-made wooden chalkboard easel and school desk.

Youngsville Library business hours are Monday and Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. The library is open to walk-ins, visitors do not need to make an appointment to use the services Youngsville Public Library offers. For more information, call the library at 563-7670 or visit YoungsvilleLibrary.org.

DRIVE-THRU ASH WEDNESDAY MINISTRY

Wednesday, Feb. 17, from noon to 1 p.m. there will be a drive-through Youngsville Community Ash Wednesday ministry in the Evangelical United Methodist Church Parking lot, 18 Second St., Youngsville. Drive through to receive a small jar of ashes for home imposition. Instructions and liturgy will be included with the jar of ashes.

HOMETOWN HEROES DEADLINE NEARS

Round 5 of the Hometown Heroes Banner Project is underway. Each 24-by-48 banner will be printed on both sides of a heavy vinyl with UV protection and will honor a specific Youngsville Area service person. The banner will include his/her photo, name, branch of service and era of service. The sponsor’s name will appear on the bottom. Special brackets will display the banners on street poles. Cost of banners for Round 5 is $200 and includes the brackets, scanning, setup, proofs, corrections and printing-barring no price changes by vendors. Having the banners up from Memorial Day to Veterans Day allows for Christmas banners and decorations to go up and will extend the life of the Heroes Banners.

The Hometown Heroes Project is being supported by the Warren County Veterans’ Affairs, the Youngsville Borough, the Youngsville Public Library, the Warren County Commissioners, Warren County Historical Society and the Warren County Visitor’s Bureau. The project is designed to pay tribute to the contributions and sacrifices of Youngsville Area veterans from as far back as the Revolutionary War up to the present war in Iraq and Afghanistan and those serving here at home and abroad during war or peace time.

Applications are being accepted through March 1. Round 5 banners will be unveiled on Memorial Day 2021.

Hard copy applications are available at the Youngsville Borough office and the Youngsville Public Library. Downloadable copies of the application and overview letter are also available on the Youngsville Public Library website at YoungsvilleLibrary.org.

Individuals, businesses, and corporations may help sponsor those who can’t afford the cost of a Hometown Heroes Round V banner. Sponsorship benefits include the sponsor’s name on each banner purchased, listing in Hometown hero Celebration book, identified as a sponsor in all promotional material and media information, an invitation to participate in the hometown Hero Celebration in the spring and a copy of the Hometown Hero Celebration Program Book. Sponsorships are $200 each and include all expenses and the bracket. Sponsorship applications are also available at the Youngsville Borough offices and Youngsville Library. Downloadable sponsorship applications are available at YoungsvilleLibrary.org.

YOUNGSVILLE YMCA OPEN AND HIRING

The Youngsville YMCA branch is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. as well as 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 80 Ford St., next to Island Park. For more information, call 814-802-1618. The YMCA offers treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary and recumbent bikes, rowing machines, a variety of free weights and more. A three-day free guest pass is being offered.

LEGION AUXILIARY ESSAY CONTEST DEADLINE NEARS

Each year the American Legion Auxiliary sponsors an Americanism essay contest for students in third through 12th grades, including students with special needs. Grade levels are divided into six classes: Class 1 — third and fourth grades; Class 2 — fifth and sixth grades; Class 3 — seventh and eighth grades; Class 4 –ninth and 10th grades; Class 5 — 11th and 12th grades; Class 6 — students with special needs.

Word count requirements for the essay are dependent upon the class and grade level. The point system for judging is: 50% content, 20% English, 10% originality, 10% neatness and 10% spelling. Each essay must have the National Essay Contest cover sheet. Downloadable copies of the contest cover sheet and essay details are available on the YoungsvillePublicLibrary.org website and hard copies are available at the Youngsville Public Library Monday and Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday from noon to 4 p.m., by calling 563-7670 and at Youngsville area schools.

This year’s essay title is: “How can we address the health and well-being of our veterans, military and their families?” Essays must be submitted to the Youngsville American Legion Auxiliary by March 1. There are three cash prizes awarded at the local level (Youngsville American Legion Auxiliary) for each class. First place is $75, second place is $50 and third place is $25. Winning essays will then be submitted to the American Legion Auxiliary at the national level.

SPARTANSBURG VFD FISH FRY

The Spartansburg Volunteer Fire Department’s annual fish fry fundraiser will be available every Friday from Feb. 19 to April 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 330 Main St., Spartansburg. All orders are to go. Call in orders 2 to 5 p.m. by calling 814-654-7222. The fish meal is an $11 donation per meal and a chicken fingers meal is a $9 donation per meal. Meals include French fries, coleslaw, apple sauce, roll and strawberry shortcake.