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AVOCA

October 11

VFW Auxiliary plans bingo to benefit VA patients

The Ladies Auxiliary to Avoca V.F.W. Post 8335 will have a bingo party Wednesday, Oct. 14 for the patients at the VA Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre. The ladies are seeking the following items to award as prizes and gifts for the veterans: T-shirts in sizes XL, XXL, and XXXL; slippers; socks; shaving cream; deodorant; blankets; afghans; throws; books; and magazines. Please note glass and sharp items will not be accepted.

Unwrapped donations can be dropped off at the post home, 915 Main St., until 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The members of the auxiliary will meet and leave the post at 5:30 p.m. that day.

To My Hubby

Happy anniversary to my husband, Jim Galvin, who is celebrating his first wedding anniversary with me today. I love you honey! Thank you for a wonderful year.

Welcome, Sister

A big Avoca welcome to Sr. Jane Duke, I.H.M., who has been assigned to St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches for this year. Sr. Jane will be serve as a pastoral associate for ministry formation.

New Members

A big welcome to the newest members of the St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Youth Club: Brandon Ferrance and Rudy Garafola.

Pot of Gold

Winners of St. Mary’s Church’s pot of gold raffle for October 1-5: McCarthy family and Chick McAndrew.

Raffle Winners

Congratulations to the winners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church match the daily number raffle for October 1-5: Joe and Betty Shimko, Avoca; Wendy Whipple, Pittston; and Audrey Yaker, Duryea.

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.

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.

Mass Videos

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.

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.

St. Mary’s A&R

St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society will meet Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.

Breakfast Rally

There will be a breakfast rally for Bruce Knick, candidate for Pittston Area school director, Sunday, Oct. 18 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Dupont V.F.W., Main Street, Dupont. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 430-7577 or at the door.

Bowling Outing

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Youth Club will have a bowling outing Sunday, Oct. 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Chacko’s Family Bowling Center, Wilkes-Barre. A caravan will leave SS. Peter and Paul’s Church parking lot, 1000 Main St., at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per person and includes two hours of open group bowling and shoe rental. 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.

Yard Waste

The Avoca Borough will have a yard waste collection Tuesday, Oct. 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.

Holy Hour

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will have a prayer for life holy hour followed by benediction Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 7-8 p.m. at SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, 1000 Main St. The public is invited to attend.

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.

Lions Eye Bank

The Avoca Lions Club will have an eye bank meeting Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at the V.F.W. Post 8335, 915 Main St.

Christmas Trees

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.

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 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, St. Mary’s Rectory at 457-3412, or SS. Peter and Paul’s Rectory at 457-2483.

Al-Anon Meetings

Al-Anon, a support group offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics, meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in the basement meeting room of St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St., and Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the basement meeting room of the Brick United Methodist Church, 935 Foote Ave., Duryea. Anyone who has been impacted by someone else’s drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon fellowship.

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 call me at 457-3351 or e-mail me at avocahappenings@verizon.net.