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AVOCA

March 22

AVOCA: Pasta dinner next Saturday; chicken on Sunday

I don’t know about you, but the warmer outdoor temperatures have already made me start looking forward to sitting on my porch, as well as the porches of family and friends, enjoying cookouts. In addition to the great company that comes with cookouts, they also give everyone a chance to relax as the food is prepared unless of course it is your turn to be the cook!

Well, it might not be time for cookouts just yet, but two of the churches in town have something cooking in their kitchens next weekend for all of us to enjoy.

On Saturday, March 28, St. John’s Primitive Methodist Church will have a pasta dinner from 4-6 p.m. at the church, 314 Main St. Takeouts will be available from 3-4 p.m. The menu includes pasta with meatballs, a salad, a roll with butter, dessert, and beverages.

Dinners are $7 for adults and $4 for children 4-12 years old. Children 3 and under eat for free. Reservations are appreciated and can be made by calling Jenn Baker at 457-3231, Nelda Cavalari at 457-6686, or Caroline Rabender at 457-4543.

And on Sunday, March 29, SS. Peter and Paul’s Church will have its annual spring chicken dinner from 12-4 p.m. in the church hall, which is located in the lower level of the church, 1000 Main St.

Takeouts will be available too. The menu includes a 1/2 chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, rolls and butter, dessert, and beverages. Tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for children and are available in advance by calling the rectory office at 457-2483. They will also be available at the door.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to Amanda Rice Bryk who will celebrate her special day Monday, March 23.

Stations of the Cross

The parishioners of St. Mary’s Church invite the community to pray the Stations of the Cross Fridays during Lent at 7 p.m. at the church, 715 Hawthorne St.

The parishioners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church invite the community to pray the Stations of the Cross Fridays during Lent at 7 p.m. at the church, 1000 Main St.

The Stations will be preceded by the traditional singing of the Gorzkie Zale (Bitter Lamentations) at 6:40 p.m.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 3-3:50 p.m.

Living Stations

The children of St. Mary’s Church will have practice every Saturday during Lent at 6 p.m. in the church, 715 Hawthorne St., to prepare for their Good Friday presentation of the Living Stations.

Ambulance Drive

The Avoca Ambulance annual subscription fund drive is currently under way. The subscription rate is $20 per household and insures you will not be responsible to pay any out of pocket costs to insurance and Medicare providers that may be incurred in the event services are rendered.

The Avoca Ambulance Association, in conjunction with the Duryea Ambulance and Rescue Association, provides 24-hour paid staffing coverage seven days a week to Avoca, Duryea, and Dupont.

This cooperative agreement has been very successful since its inception over six years ago. Volunteers remain very active and provide additional support to the duty crew when additional assistance is necessary. If you did not receive an application in the mail for this service, please call 457-2894 and leave a message or e-mail Avocaems@aol.com to receive one.

Easter Flowers

St. Mary’s Church Youth Group will be accepting Easter flower orders in the entrance of the church following the Masses today and March 28 and 29. Lilies are $9, and tulips are $7. The flowers will be delivered on April 9.

Please note payment is due with the order and will benefit the youth group’s trip to see “Behold the Lamb”.

Youth Group

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church youth group will meet today from 6:30-8 p.m. in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church hall, which is located in the lower level of the church, 1000 Main St. New members are welcome.

Please note the youth group also meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in preparation for their presentation of the Living Stations during Holy Week.

Cleaning Help

St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society is seeking volunteers to help clean the church Wednesday, March 25 at 9:30 a.m. in preparation for Easter. Volunteers are asked to please bring a bucket with them.

Lenten Services

Several Protestant churches in Duryea, Avoca, and Moosic have joint weekly Lenten services Wednesdays at 7 p.m. throughout Lent. This year’s theme is “They Heard Him Gladly.”

The next service is March 25 at the Moosic United Methodist Church where the Rev. Michael Shambora, pastor of the Brick and Bethel United Methodist Churches, will speak.

The public is invited to attend.

Food Give-away

The Avoca Lions Club will have their monthly food drive Thursday, March 26 from 4:30-6:30 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.

First Communion

Parents of First Communion students at St. Mary’s Church will meet Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the church, 715 Hawthorne St.

CCD Teachers

St. Mary’s Church CCD teachers will meet Thursday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.

AOH to Meet

The Avoca A.O.H. will meet Thursday, March 26 at 8 p.m. at the West Side Social Club, 700 McAlpine St. All members are asked to attend.

Penance Service

St. Mary’s CCD parents and students are invited to a special Lenten penance service Sunday, March 29 following the 8 a.m. Mass at the church, 715 Hawthorne St.

King’s Kids

The King’s Kids children’s group, created by Senior Girl Scout Cara Sepcoski in completion of the Girl Scout Gold Award, will have a “Swing into Spring” day Sunday, March 29 from 4-5 p.m. in St. Mary’s School Hall, 742 Spring St. This meeting will feature plenty of spring themed games that are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s faces. There will be food and drinks for the kids and a coffee table reserved for parents. Children in grades 1-3 from the parishes of SS. Peter and Paul’s; St. Mary’s, Avoca; and Sacred Heart of Jesus, Dupont, are welcome to attend. To make a reservation please call Cara at 472-3253.

Pot of Gold

The parishioners of St. Mary’s Church are currently selling the April Fools’ edition of their Pot of Gold Match the Daily Number raffle tickets. For just $10 per ticket, you will have a chance to win $75 daily and $100 on Fridays throughout April. You will also have a chance to win $250 on April Fools’ Day and April 15, and $1,000 on April 30. The winning number is based on the evening daily number of the Pennsylvania Lottery. To purchase a ticket, please contact the rectory at 457-3412 or 715 Hawthorne St., Avoca, PA 18641. Please note tickets can be mailed if you are unable to stop by the rectory.

Raffle Tickets

The parishioners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church are currently selling Match the Daily Number raffle tickets for April. Tickets are $3 each and are applicable for the entire month. For more information please call the rectory office at 457-2483.

Fish Dinner

The Rev. G. Scott Boghossian and the parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Church invite to the community to the parish’s 12th annual Lenten fish dinner Friday, April 3 from 4-6 p.m. in the church hall, 205 N. Main St., Pittston. Takeouts will be available too. The menu includes breaded haddock, seasoned potatoes, Italian green beans, cole slaw, cake, and coffee or tea. Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door. There will also be a raffle at the dinner.

Easter Party

The V.F.W. Post 8335 will have their annual children’s Easter party Saturday, April 4 at the post home, 915 Main St. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. followed by a visit from the Easter Bunny. The public is invited to attend. Please note priority seating will be given to children.

Easter Egg Hunt

The West Side Social Club will have their annual indoor Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m. at the club, 700 McAlpine St. Children ages 12 and younger are invited to attend.

Yard Waste

The Avoca Borough will have yard waste collections Tuesday, April 7 and 21. 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. Containers must be placed curbside by 8 a.m. on the collection dates.

Egg Hunt

The parishioners of St. Mary’s Church invite the community to their annual Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 11 at 10 a.m. at the big “bunny hutch” located behind Kiesinger Funeral Services, 255 McAlpine St., Duryea. To register for this free and fun event, please call Erin Berlew at 654-2429 and leave your last name and the number of children who plan to participate as well as if any of the children have peanut allergies. Special thanks to Kiesinger Funeral Services for co-sponsoring this event with St. Mary’s Church. Please note St. Mary’s Confirmation class is seeking candy and plastic eggs for the Easter egg hunt. They will be filling the eggs as part of their community service. Donations can be dropped off at the rectory.

Senior Program

The Area Agency on Aging “Center Without Walls” program will present “Protecting Your Assets” Wednesday, April 15 from 1-3 p.m. at the Duryea Municipal Building, 315 Main St., Duryea. The guest speaker will be from Marshall Parker and Associates Elder Law Firm. Senior citizens and caregivers of elderly people are invited to attend.

Comedy Show

Back by popular demand, the Avoca Fire Department will sponsor their annual spring comedy show Friday, April 17 at the West Side Social Club, 700 McAlpine St. The doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. The show, presented by Comedy Blast, Inc., will feature two comedians, a host, and an emcee. Beer, soda, and snacks will be provided. Tickets are $20 each and can be obtained by calling John at 451-2681 or the fire department at 457-2894. The public can also request tickets and obtain additional information about the event by visiting www.avocafire.net. Please note you must be at least 21 to attend.

NYC Bus Trip

St. Mary’s Church Altar and Rosary Society is hosting a bus trip Saturday, April 18 to New York City. The bus will leave from St. Mary’s School at 8 a.m. and return at 8 p.m. The bus drop-off site in the city is the corner of 6th Avenue and 48th Street. Tickets are $30 each. For reservations please call Jane Maxwell at 457-1107.

Meet and Greet

Former members of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 109th Infantry are planning a “Meet and Greet” gathering Saturday, April 25 from 1-4 p.m. at the West Pittston Armory, Susquehanna Avenue, West Pittston. The members are also developing plans for an “All Years Reunion”. Anyone who served under the flag of Heavy Mortar Co. 1/109 Inf., Combat Support Co. 1st BG/109 Inf., Co. A 2/109 Inf., including those who were assimilated into Co. A 2/103 Armor, at anytime between July 2, 1953 and March 1, 1992 is invited to attend. For more information please visit www.coa2bn109inf.blogspot.com; call Matt Mastruzzo at 655-2438, Bruce Prandy at 655-3632, Rich Parry at 829-6593; or contact Vic Malinowski at 1sgmalinowski@live.com or 655-2720.

Golf Tourney

St. Mary’s Church invites the community to participate in the St. Mary’s Classic Golf Tournament and Dinner Saturday, May 2 at the Pine Hills Country Club, Taylor. Registration is at noon and the shotgun start begins at 1 p.m. It is a captain and crew format. Singles will be placed on a team. The cost is $80 per player. There are also several tournament sponsorship opportunities available at various donation levels which are great vehicles for promoting your business or organization. For more information please contact Jimbo McMahon at 457-5004 or jimmcmahon1@verizon.net.

Tax Notice

Residents are reminded the 2009 Avoca Borough and Luzerne County taxes can be paid at the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. as well as Fridays from 6-7 p.m. during the rebate period. If you would prefer to mail your tax payment, please submit both copies of the bill to Avoca Borough c/o Therese Wrubel, 129 Factory St., Avoca, PA 18641. If you need a receipt, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment. If you do not need a receipt please include the bar coded tax bill with your payment. If you have any questions please call Therese at 457-4891.

Until Next Time

That’s about it for this week! Drop me a line or e-mail me your latest news by Thursday at noon. You can e-mail me at avocahappenings@verizon.net, or you can call me at 457-3351. Please be sure to include your name and phone number with any correspondence in case I need to reach you.

Have a great week!