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AVOCA

October 4

Blessing of Pets today at Saints Peter & Paul Church

Calling all of you pet lovers! There is a special event taking place in Avoca today that you will surely enjoy!

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ will have a blessing of animals today at noon in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church’s parking lot, 1000 Main St. All parishioners, neighbors, and friends are invited to bring their pets to this annual event in honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the Roman Catholic patron saint of animals and ecology.

Happy Birthday

Happy 23rd birthday to Matthew Starzec who celebrated his birthday October 1.

Happy belated birthday to Jean (Satkowski) Chacko who celebrated her special day September 30.

Happy birthday to Jim Colella who will celebrate his 62nd birthday Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Happy anniversary to Jim and Cindy Colella who will celebrate their special day on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Smoke Detectors

The Avoca Fire Department, in conjunction with WNEP-TV 16’s Operation Save a Life program, is distributing free smoke detectors to residents. For information about the program or to request a smoke detector, please call 457-2894 or visit www.avocafire.net. Please note the detectors are available on a first come, first served basis.

Centennial Mass

Videos of the SS. Peter and Paul’s Church Centennial Mass are on sale. DVDs are $22, and VHS tapes are $25. Order forms are available in the vestibule of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, 1000 Main St.

HNS Installation

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ Holy Name Society will an installation of officers ceremony today during the 8 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St.

VFW Auxiliary

Bette Jean Biedrzycki, department president of the V.F.W. District 11, will make her official visit to V.F.W. Auxiliary members today at the Anthracite V.F.W. Post 283, Kingston. Dinner will be served at noon followed by the meeting.

The Avoca V.F.W. Post 8335 Ladies Auxiliary will have their regular business meeting Saturday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. at the post home, 915 Main St., instead of October 5. President June Fitzgerald will preside over the meeting. Refreshments will be served

Fundraiser Today

The community is invited to “Fun, Food, and Music for Justin” today from 1-7 p.m. at Litzy’s Lounge, 614 York Ave. The event will raise funds for 6-year-old Avoca resident Justin Burns, son of Maria (Houston) Burns, who was born with Down syndrome and recently diagnosed with leukemia. The funds will be used to help defray the medical and travel expenses associated with his treatment.

During the event, patrons will enjoy a full buffet of numerous types of food as well as unlimited draft beer and soda the entire day for just $20. While attendees are satisfying their taste buds, they will also enjoy listening to the classic rock stylings of Billy Jumper and friends. There will also be a raffle and a Chinese auction. Just a few of the prizes include a two-night stay at Martinville Streamside Cottages in the Poconos November 6-7 which is valued at $800; a Dufferin pool cue valued at $280; and a Biker pool cue case valued at $150. Raffle tickets are $5 each. To make a donation for Justin or to purchase a raffle ticket in advance, please contact Litzy’s Lounge at 457-5594 or LitzysLounge@verizon.net. You can also purchase tickets at the lounge during their business hours.

Youth Club

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Youth Club will meet today from 6:30-8 p.m. in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church auditorium, 1000 Main St. During this meeting, the group will have a publicity picture taken for their recent teddy bear drive. All members are asked to attend.

Yard Waste

The Avoca Borough will have yard waste collections Tuesday, Oct. 6 and 20. In addition to collecting grass clippings and leaves, the borough workers will also collect shrubs, hedge clippings, and tree limbs. Please note that grass clippings and leaves may be placed in the same container but other yard waste must be placed in a separate container. The tree limbs should not exceed three feet in length and one-half inch in diameter.

Please note that rocks, stones, dirt, and animal waste are not acceptable forms of yard waste and will not be collected. A maximum of three open containers, not exceeding 30 pounds, will be allowed per collection. Please do not put your collection items in plastic bags. They will not be collected.

Altar & Rosary

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church Altar and Rosary Society will meet Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the church, 1000 Main St., to pray the rosary. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

Council Meeting

The Avoca Borough Council will have its regular monthly meeting and work session Thursday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St. The public is invited to attend.

Confirmation

The rite of enrollment for confirmation will take place Saturday, Oct. 10 during the 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St. All confirmation students are asked to attend this Mass.

Night at the Races

St. Mary’s Church will have its annual fall night at the races Saturday, Oct. 10 in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St. The doors open at 6 p.m., and the races begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 which includes all you can eat and drink the entire night. Horses are $10 each.

Racing forms can be obtained at St. Mary’s Church following the weekend Masses (Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m.) or by calling the rectory at 457-3412. The sponsor of the winning horse will win $50 and does not need to be present to win.

Lions Dinner

The Avoca Lions Club will have a dinner for the district governor Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the V.F.W. Post 8335, 915 Main St. All members should attend.

Bowling Outing

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Youth Club will have a bowling outing Sunday, Oct. 18. The cost is $10 per person and includes two hours of open group bowling and shoe rental. For time and location information or to make a reservation, please call Youth Group Coordinator Lori Ostrowski at 704-9145. New members are welcome.

Pastoral Council

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will have a combined parish pastoral council meeting Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church auditorium, 1000 Main St.

Lectors Meeting

The lectors and Eucharistic Ministers of St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will meet Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s School, 742 Spring St.

Bake Sale

The United Baptist Church will have a bake sale Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 125 Church St., Taylor. Just a few of the sale items include fruit squares, pumpkin roll, and zucchini bread. All proceeds will benefit the food pantry at the Moosic United Methodist Church, which is open to the public.

Harvest Tea

The parishioners of St. Mary’s Church will have their harvest tea Sunday, Oct. 25. For more information or to reserve a table, please call Debbie Callahan at 457-8887 or 407-0740, Kay Price at 457-8470 or 504-4199, or Debbie Robinson at 963-8802 or 903-2031.

Christmas Tree Sale

The members of the Avoca Hose Company will have their annual Christmas tree sale beginning Sunday, Nov. 29. If you would like to order a tree that is more than 10 feet tall, please call the hose company at 457-2894.

Entertainment Books

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s High School Youth Group is selling Entertainment Books for $20 each. The books contain numerous coupons and discounts for area restaurants, attractions, and retail establishments and make a great gift. Order sheets are available in the back of each church. For more information please call Kay at 504-4199.

Baby Shower

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Youth Club will have a baby shower during October in honor of Respect Life month. During the month, they will collect new and next to new baby items, clothes, and blankets as well as baby food, formula, diapers, and other baby items. Donations can be placed in the collection containers in the vestibules of St. Mary’s and SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches. All proceeds will benefit the Pennsylvanians for Human Life and the Care and Concern Free Health Clinic located in the former Seton Catholic High School, Pittston.

Eucharistic Adoration

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches have Eucharistic Adoration Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, 1000 Main St. The public is welcome. For more information call Eucharistic Adoration Coordinators Ken and Ann Francis at 457-8241, St. Mary’s Rectory at 457-3412, or SS. Peter and Paul’s Rectory at 457-2483.

Fire Dept. Drive

Residents and business owners are reminded the Avoca Fire Department’s annual fund drive is still underway. Because of your generosity, they have just passed the halfway mark to their $20,000 goal. If you have not made a donation yet, there is still time. For information on how you can help this all-volunteer department, please call 457-2894 or visit www.avocafire.net.