First garden contest for the ‘Garden Village’

West Pittston Library is pleased to announce the first “West Pittston in Bloom” garden contest,

For years, Garden Village residents have been enhancing our summer strolls and bike rides with their gorgeous gardens. If you have a grand garden, please stop by the West Pittston Library to fill out an entry form for the garden contest.

You can also nominate a neighbor whose front yard you have always admired. The deadline to enter the contest is 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21. Judges will visit gardens on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23.

First, second, and third place prize winners will be announced on Monday, August 24 and will be asked to come to the library on Tuesday, August 25 at 6:00 p.m. to pick up their prize of a donated gift certificate to a local establishment.

Movie in the Park

The West Pittston Parks and Recreation Board sponsoring the Annual Movie in the Park this coming Saturday, August 22 beginning approximately 9:00 p.m. at Morris Park next to the Borough Building. The movie is Hotel for Dogs. Rain date is August 23.

There will be free hot dogs, chips, popcorn, drinks and ice cream. Bring your blankets and chairs.

Please make a special note that the Dog Park will be closing at 7:00 p.m. on movie night.

Junior Football

Next Sunday, August 23, West Pittston and Exeter mini football teams will be playing their game under the lights at Sobeski stadium in West Pittston. All proceeds from the game will be donated to charity. Trophies will be awarded. Get out and support our young boys and girls!

From the Booth

Our native runway and fashion model, Amanda Booth, is now an aspiring actress. She is currently starring in a television for Always Infinity pads. In case you’ve seen the commercial and didn’t see Amanda, you weren’t looking close enough. The natural blonde is a redhead for this role.

One other note about Amanda, she’s being featured on a movie poster for Bruce Willis’ new movie, “Surrogates” due in theatres in September.

WP Open Cancelled

Due to the lack of volunteers and time to produce a quality golf tournament, the Annual West Pittston Golf Open has been cancelled for this year. The tournament plans on returning next year with a bigger and better tournament.

The West Pittston Parks, Recreation and Beautification Board would like to thank all for the continued support and commitment to the events that are sponsored by Parks, Recreation and Beautification of West Pittston.

WP Homes Tour

The West Pittston Historical Society will be sponsoring the 2009 Tour of West Pittston Homes on Saturday, September 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year’s tour includes seven outstanding Garden Village residences and is a delightful way to spend an afternoon exploring the history and architecture of West Pittston. Historical displays and refreshments for tour participants will be available at the West Pittston Library.

Advance sale tickets for the tour are $10.00 and can be purchased at the West Pittston Library, 200 Exeter Avenue during normal operating hours. Day of Tour tickets will be available at the Library for $15.00 each. For more information: email info@westpittstonhistory.orgor phone 883-0520.

Library News

Looking for a book club? Look no further. The West Pittston Library Book Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:45 p.m. and welcomes new members at any time.

Copies of selected books will be available for check out at the circulation desk three weeks before each meeting. The schedule is as follows: Tuesday, September 1 - Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks; Tuesday, October 6 - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell; Tuesday, November 3 - The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. Tuesday, January 5 - One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. There will be no meeting in December.

Don’t miss the great family programs that library has scheduled for the rest of the summer:

Family Dance Party, Thursday, August 20 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Get moving with all your favorite party dances from the Electric Slide and Macarena to The Twist and The Hand Jive.

Family Scavenger Hunt, Thursday, August 27 from 6:30 p.m. until? Follow clues and collect puzzle pieces. The first family back to the library with the completed puzzle wins a prize!

Rams Board

The West Pittston Rams Board of Director meetings will be held every Wednesday evening in the month of August at 8:00 p.m.

These meetings will be heldat the Trinity Episcopal Church Community Room basement located on the corner of Montgomery Ave. & Spring St., West Pittston.

WA Retirees

The Wyoming Area Education Association of Retirees (WAEA-R) will hold its sixth annual breakfast on Monday, August 31 at the Avenue Diner, Wyoming at 9:00 a.m.

This year ordering will be from a special menu. Reservations are required and are due by August 26. Please call the WA Credit Union at 693-1339 to reserve your spot.

This year WAEA-R will be collecting $1.00 membership dues which will count as your reservation and can be withdrawn from your account. Those who are unable to attend or do not belong to the CU can send a check for the dues made out to WAEA-R to WAFCU, 800 Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, PA 18644.

The current officers are President Phil Russo, Vice-President Steve Harmanos, Treasurer Gloria Lawler and Secretary Sandy Touw.

Rail Excursion

All Aboard! The Greater Pittston Charity Steam Ride is planning a railroad excursion.

The Newly restored Reading & Northern Railroad No. 425 Baldwin Light Pacific Steam Locomotive will depart the Duryea Mr. Z’s on Sunday, September 9 at 9:00 a.m. to Jim Thorpe. Passenger will spend 3-hours in Jim Thorpe before making the return trip to Duryea.

The cost of the trip is $75 per person with proceeds benefiting the Pittston Memorial Library, Greater Pittston YMCA and the Care and Concern Free Health Clinic.

If you have any questions, please call Kelly at 457-6558 or you can obtain an order form at www.pittstonlibrary.com. Seats are going fast and tickets must be purchased in advance.

WP Class of ‘59

The West Pittston High School class of 1959 is planning its 50th class reunion the weekend of September 11 to September 13.

If anyone has information about the following classmates, Carol Brennan Naugle, Alfred Brunacci, Robert Farer, Richard Graci, Ronald Hudson, William Kern, Carol Lepore Jimmie, Charles Menhennett, Barbara Sands Ventri, Larry Scott and Gary Werts, please call Lynne at 654-1596 or Jerry at 654-1690.

WA Class of ‘89

The Wyoming Area Class of 1989 will be holding their 20 year reunion, Saturday, August 22 from 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Checkerboard Inn, Shavertown.

Invitations have been sent and the reunion committee is asking for returns to be returned no later than August 15. If anyone knows of a classmate that has not received an invitation, please contact Keri Gitkos at waclass89@comcast.net or on facebook.com.

The class would like to have as many classmates, near and far come in for this event so please send back your return as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Keri Gitkos at 954-2120 or Sandy Lloyd Giunta at 883-1195

Recycling Update

West Pittston curbside recycling will be held on Thursdays beginning July 16 and will continue to be the first and third Thursdays of each month. Yard waste pick up will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Tax Reminder

West Pittston Tax Collector George L. Miller would like to inform residents the 2009 School Taxes have been mailed and are due at rebate until October 1, 2009.

Office Hours are Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

Property owners having escrow accounts must forward their bills to their lending institution for payments.

If paying by mail, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive a receipt. If you would like an appointment, please call 655-3801 or 655-7782 ext. 232.

Sewer Project

West Pittston Borough will begin major sewer reconstruction in several weeks along Philadelphia Avenue beginning at Susquehanna Avenue and proceeding towards the Little League. Residents are reminded that according to the Borough’s Ordinance, rain gutters and roof leaders cannot be directly connected to the sewer lateral that connect to the borough’s sewer system.

All such connections must be disconnected prior to the sewer project commencing in their neighborhoods as per DEP and EPA requirements. Homeowners who are in violation of this Ordinance cannot be connected to the new sewers.

Compliance with this request will be required of all residents of the entire borough. For additional information, please visit the borough office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Pool Donations

If you would like to donate to the community pool’s $1.4 million construction project, there has been a fund set up by the Luzerne Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to collect your 501(c)3 tax deductible contribution. The Luzerne Foundation will act as the caretaker of the funds and will release those funds to improve the pool and only the pool. None of the funds will be released to the borough for anything but the pool project.

To remit your donation, please make your check payable to the West Pittston Community Pool Fund, 140 Main Street, Luzerne, PA 18709. Again, your donation is tax deductible.