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Become a fan today! St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches now has a page on facebook. You can join it by typing in “St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches, Avoca” in the search bar at www.facebook.com. And then clicking on the “like” button once you arrive at the page.

On this page, you will find many of the events taking place at the churches and even have an opportunity to R.S.V.P. for them if you like. You can also discuss topics of interest with other friends and post pictures from parish events, of your families, or anything else that will continue to help them build their parish family. Their goal is to make this a tool that parishioners of all ages can enjoy and to welcome others into their community.

Help St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches spread the “good news” today by becoming a friend of the page and suggesting it your friends.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to sisters Louise Starzec, Avoca, who celebrated her special day August 20 and to Jane Barrett, Dupont, who will celebrate her special day Monday, Aug. 23.

Happy birthday to Rob and Andy Ryzner who are celebrating their special day today.

Fund Drive

The Avoca Hose Company’s annual fund drive is currently underway. Donations can be mailed to the hose company at 740 Main St., Avoca, PA 18641. Please note this is the company’s major fundraiser for the year which helps them meet their annual operating expenses.

Choir Rehearsal

St. Mary’s Choir will begin rehearsing Monday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. at the church, 715 Hawthorne St., in preparation for the parish’s annual September 11 Memorial Mass. New members are always welcome.

Recycling Reminder

Avoca residents are reminded to recycle junk mail and commingled glass, plastic, and metal bottles, cans, and jars this week. Items can be dropped off Wednesday, Aug. 25 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Avoca Municipal Garage, 1103 Plane St., in the Moosic Recycling Truck. Please note all lids should be removed and disposed in your home trash. Containers should be rinsed, plastics and metals should be crushed, and glass should not be broken.

Giant Yard Sale

There will be a multifamily yard sale Saturday, Aug. 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 407 Grove St.

Youth Club

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ Youth Club will meet Sunday, Aug. 29 from 6:30-8 p.m. in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church’s Auditorium, which is located in the lower level of the church, 1000 Main St. New members are always welcome. For more information, please call youth club leader Lori Ostrowski at 704-9145.

Worship Committee

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ worship committee will meet Monday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.

Food Giveaway

The Avoca Lions Club will have their monthly food giveaway Thursday, Sept. 2 from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Bethel United Methodist Church, 532 Main St. Volunteers are needed to unload the truck at 1:30 p.m. Individuals who use this service are encouraged to bring boxes and bags with them for their goods. For more information please call Mary Ann at 457-7619.

Avoca Open

The Avoca Open golf tournament will take place Saturday, Sept. 4 at the Wilkes-Barre Municipal Golf Course. Registration is at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. It is a captain and mate format. The cost is $85 per player which includes dinner at the West Side Social Club’s downstairs hall, 700 McAlpine St. Prizes will be awarded after the dinner. Payment and shirt sizes can be submitted any Thursday evening at the West Side Social Club.

Avoca HS Reunion

The Avoca High School classes of 1960, 1961, and 1962 are planning a reunion Saturday, Sept. 4 in the lower level of the West Side Social Club, 700 McAlpine St. Anyone who is interested in attending or knows of anyone from the class who might be interested should contact Martha at 457-3344 or Grace Marie at 457-0596.

And to start the fun off, classmates are invited to visit “Avoca High Class of the 60s” page on Facebook. Bob Houston created the page, and it contains some interesting photos from the group’s last reunion and other memorabilia from their school years. It can be simply accessed by entering the title into the Google search engine.

9/11 Memorial Mass

The Avoca Hose Company will have its annual September 11 Memorial Mass, Sunday, Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St. Any individual or group that is planning to walk in the procession from the hose company to the church is asked to be at the hose company, 740 Main St., at 11 a.m.

Religious Education

Classes for St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ religious education program will begin in September. Classes for students in grades K-8, with the exception of second grade, will meet Mondays from 4:30-5:45 p.m. beginning September 13. Classes for First Holy Communion students (second grade) will meet Sundays from 9-10:30 a.m. beginning September 19. All classes will take place in St. Mary’s School, 742 Spring St. There will also be a back-to-school Mass Sunday, Sept. 19 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St.

To ensure your children are enrolled, receive their books, and their religious instruction to properly prepare them to receive the Sacraments, please submit their individual registration forms and return them to the parish office in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St., Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. or in the collection basket at any weekend Mass. If you do not receive a registration form or are a member of a neighboring parish but would like to enroll in St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s program, please call the parish offices at 457-3412 no later than August 31.

VFW Auxiliary

The Avoca V.F.W. Post 8335 Ladies Auxiliary September meeting date has been changed to Monday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the post home, 915 Main St. Plans will be made for the VA bingo in October at this time. Prizes and donations will be accepted at this meeting. President June Fitzgerald will preside over the meeting, and the hostesses for the evening will be Pat Bartnicki and Elaine Freitas.

Cotton Club Trip

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches are sponsoring a bus trip to the internationally famous Cotton Club in New York City and The New York Botanical Garden Saturday, Sept. 18. The bus will leave St. Mary’s School at 9 a.m. and arrive in the city at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The first stop on this trip is Harlem’s historical Cotton Club. At the club, famous for launching the careers of jazz greats Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Lena Horne, attendees will feast on a buffet brunch while enjoying the entertainment of the club’s gospel show. Following lunch, attendees will be bused to The New York Botanical Garden. Following the tour, attendees are invited to explore the gardens themselves and enjoy a snack at the garden’s cafe and pick up an item or two in the gift shop. The bus will leave New York at 6 p.m. and return to Avoca at 8:30 p.m.

The cost is $120 per person. To reserve your space, please call St. Mary’s Rectory at 457-3412. Please note a $20 deposit is due at the time you make your reservation. The final payment is due Friday, Aug. 20.

Bulk Collection

Avoca Borough will have a household items collection Friday, Sept. 24. Any household displaying a valid 2010 garbage sticker may place three items curbside on the evening of September 23 for this one-day collection.

Rain Excursion

All aboard! Back by popular demand, the Greater Pittston Charity Steam Ride is planning a railroad excursion to Jim Thorpe Saturday, Oct. 2. The newly restored Reading & Northern Railroad No. 425 Baldwin Light Pacific Steam Locomotive will depart at 9 a.m. from Weis Market in the Village Shopping Center, Duryea, and return at approximately 6:45 p.m. Upon arrival in Jim Thorpe, passengers will have an opportunity to browse the many specialty shops and restaurants sprinkled throughout this historic area. Tickets are $75 each. Check should be made payable and sent to the Greater Pittston Charity Steam Ride c/o Pittston Memorial Library, 47 Broad St., Pittston, PA 18640. All proceeds will benefit the Pittston Memorial Library, Greater Pittston YMCA, and the Care and Concern Free Health Clinic. For more information, please call Kelly at 457-6558. Please note last year’s trip sold out quickly. Please purchase your tickets early.

Tax Reminder

Avoca Tax Collector Therese Wrubel reminds residents the 2010 school tax bills have been mailed. Residents may pay their taxes Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. or 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St. The office will also be opened Fridays from 6-7 p.m.

Residents who are unable to stop by the municipal building to pay their taxes, can mail their payment to Avoca Borough c/o Therese Wrubel, 129 Factory St., Avoca, PA 18641.

To obtain a receipt, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment as well as the entire bill. If you do not need a receipt, please include the bill with the bar code on it. If you have any questions please call Therese at 457-4891.