Blessing of throats Wednesday at Avoca churches

Are you looking for a way to avoid getting sick? Stop by St. Mary’s or SS. Peter and Paul’s churches on Wednesday. They might be able to help you.

The Rev. Phil Sladicka, pastor of St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches, will bless throats Wednesday, Feb. 3, in honor of the Feast of St. Blaise, the Roman Catholic patron saint of throat illnesses. Throat blessings will be available that day at noon at SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, 1000 Main St., and following the 7 p.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St.

Raffle Winners

Congratulations to the winners of St. Mary’s Church’s pot of gold raffle for January 19-25: Florence Brennan, Michael Wislneski, Cathy Franceschellli, Ray Krzak, Denise Dommermuth, and Tim Velehoski.

Congratulations to the winners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church’s razzle dazzle raffle for January 19-25: Bootsie Chmiel, Dupont; and Mike Miller, Pittston Twp.

First Communion

Parents of First Communion students at St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will meet today at 9 a.m. in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St.

Haiti Relief

The Brick United Methodist Women’s group is currently assembling health kits for victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The ladies are seeking the following items: 15 inches by 25 inches hand towels up to 17 inches by 27 inches, wash cloths, wide toothed combs (large and sturdy, not pocket sized), finger nail clippers, nail files (no emery boards), bath size bars of soap (3 ounces or larger), toothbrushes, adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages, and one-gallon resealable plastic sandwich bags.

Donations can be left in the vestibules of the Bethel United Methodist Church, 532 Main St., or the Brick United Methodist Church, 935 Foote Ave., Duryea. Monetary gifts will also be accepted. Checks can be made payable to Mission Central.

Youth Groups

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ high school youth group will meet today from 6-9 p.m. Some of its members recently attended the Pro-Life March in Washington, D.C. and the Respect Life Prayer Breakfast in Scranton. New members are welcome. Please call Kay Price at 504-4199 for meeting location information.

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ youth club will meet today from 6:30-8 p.m. at SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, 1000 Main St. New members are welcome. Please note the group is currently selling Krispy Kreme dozen doughnut vouchers for $6.50 each. Vouchers can be purchased before or after weekend Masses.

VFW Auxiliary

The Avoca V.F.W. Post 8335 Ladies Auxiliary will meet Monday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. at the post home, 915 Main St . President June Fitzgerald will preside over this meeting, and Audry Yager, Marion Ostrosky, and Grace Piragas will host it.

Candles Sale

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s churches will have blessed candles for sale for $2.50 for Candlemas Day, February 2. Please call the rectory at 457-3412 for more information.

Altar & Rosary

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church’s Altar and Rosary Society will meet Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church auditorium, 1000 Main St. Arline Sable will preside over the meeting.

Holy Name Meeting

St. Mary’s Church’s Holy Name Society will meet Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.

Healing Mass

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ will have their First Friday healing Mass February 5 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St. Come and receive the healing that only Christ can give.

Operation PBJ

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ confirmation students will conduct “Operation PBJ” Saturday, Feb. 6 at 9 a.m. at the Oblates of St. Joseph, Pittston. At this time, they will prepare bagged lunches which will be donated to the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, Scranton. If you would like to donate peanut butter, jelly, sandwich bags, or small brown paper lunch bags to be used for this project, please leave them in the donation boxes in either of the churches’ vestibules.

‘Souper Bowl’

On Sunday, Feb. 7, St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ confirmation students will conduct “Souper Bowl Sunday” following the weekend Masses at each church. Students will accept monetary donations which will be donated to the Greater Pittston Food Pantry.

Pastoral Council

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will have a joint pastoral council meeting Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.

Night at the Races

St. Mary’s Church will have its winter night at the races Saturday, Feb. 20 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 (Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8 and 11:30 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.

Garbage Stickers

The 2010 Avoca Borough garbage stickers can be purchased from Therese Wrubel at the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St., Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and Fridays from 6-7 p.m.

The fee schedule for purchasing the window sticker in order to have up to three bags collected weekly is as follows: $155 if purchased by February 20; $160 if purchased between February 21 and March 20; $170 if purchased between March 21 and April 20; $180 if purchased between April 21 and May 20; and $190 if purchased between May 21 and June 20.

Residents who are unable to stop by the municipal building to purchase a garbage sticker, can mail a check made payable to Avoca Borough and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Avoca Borough c/o Therese Wrubel, 129 Factory St., Avoca, PA 18641.

If you have any other questions please call Therese at 457-4891. Please note that delinquent accounts will be referred to district court after June 20.

Burning Ordinance

Residents are reminded ordinance number 7-2000 regulates burning within Avoca Borough. The regulations state burning cannot take place within 50 feet of any structure and that burning can only take place within the confines of an approved burner with a 1/2 mesh screen. Outdoor fires must be attended until fully extinguished.

Please note burning is allowed Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes first. It is not allowed on Sundays or holidays.

Commercial businesses may not burn items within Avoca Borough. Violators of this ordinance are subject to a fine of not less than $10 but no more than $300. Copies of the ordinance are available from the borough secretary.

Permits Needed

Residents are reminded that Avoca Borough and Luzerne County permits are required prior to starting work on any of the following projects: new residential or commercial construction, additions, renovations, demolitions, garages, swimming pools, decks, sheds and electrical work.

In addition Avoca Borough permits are required before connecting driveways to public roads, improving existing driveways, connecting new or repairing existing sewer lines. Failure to secure any of the above permits can result in citations/penalties.

Eucharistic Adoration

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches have Eucharistic Adoration Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St. The public is welcome to come and spend some time in quiet reflection and meditation. For more information please call Eucharistic Adoration Coordinators Ken and Ann Francis at 457-8241 or Mary’s Rectory at 457-3412.