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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

DAILY EVENTS

December 31: New Year’s Eve Open Mic, Kissam Coffee House in Factoryville. Family friendly, non-alcoholic event. To perform call: 836-4753. Info: 945-7885 or kissamcoffeehouse.com.

January 2: Festival of The Three Kings, 3 to 6 p.m., Pennsylvania National Guards joining community leaders and organizations to adopt a child for the holiday season at the United Neighborhood Center of North East Pennsylvania the Senior Citizens Center, 1004 Jackson St., Scranton. Cost: $10 or less. Info: 614-9480 or gonzalezgiveagift@yahoo.com

January 5: “Invasive Plants in Your Backyard,” hosted by The South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition, at 7 p.m. in Room 214, Capwell Science Hall, Keystone College. Slideshow and lecture by Gerry and Len Janus with a special emphasis on plants that invade creekside and wet areas. Cost: Admission and refreshments are free; the Januses will offer a tea made from the invasive Japanese Knotweed (sometimes called Japanese Bamboo). Info: 945-6995.

Watershed Coalition monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m. immediately prior to “Invasive Plants in Your Backyard,” hosted by The South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition, in Room 214, Capwell Science Hall, Keystone College. Public welcome. The South Branch Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Coalition fosters shared responsibility for the environment of the South Branch portion of the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed. Its purpose is to raise awareness, to connect people with the watershed, and to encourage them to protect water resources. Info: 945-6995 or cconserv@epix.net .

January 8: "Helpful Hints for a Better Night’s Sleep for Autoimmune Patients," 6 p.m. Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania and Resource Center for Autoimmune Diseases with AC Patel, M.D., 615 Jefferson Ave., Scranton. Cost: Free. Info: 1-888-995-8787 or lupuspa.org.

January 9: Winter in the city, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Trolley Museum in Scranton, as a fundraiser for Scranton Tomorrow, entertainment by 2 for the Road. Feb. 13: entertainment by Paul LaBelle and The Exact Change. Info: 963-7565.

January 11: Annual Ski for Lupus Day, Elk Mountain in Union Dale. Cost: $25 for a half day of skiing, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. or 4:30 to 10 p.m. Info: Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 9 by calling 1-888-99-LUPUS. Proceeds benefit the Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania.

January 14: MetroAction Business Development Training Programs for NEPA Businesses, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Scranton Cost: Free. Info: Pre-registration required. Info: 342-7711or visit www.metroaction.org.

January 16: Malanka, 5th Annual Ukrainian New Year Dinner Dance, 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., St. Vladimir Parish Center, 428 North Seventh Avenue, Scranton. Sponsored by the combined Ukrainian organizations of Northeastern Pennsylvania, catered by Paul A. Wanas of Accentuate Caterers of Distinctive Events. Buffet including borshch, holubchi, chicken Kyiv, kobasa, pyrohy, cash bar, music of Fata Morgana, champagne toast. Cost: $40. Info: For tickets, call Helen Ewasko, Dalton, 563-2275; Vera Krewsun, Clarks Summit, 961-1795

Sports Challenge, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Presented by the students of Victory Village, at the Riverfront Sports Complex. Cost: donation of non-perishable food items, to be donated to local food pantries. Lunch to be provided. Info: RSVP by Jan. 5 at 383-0610.

January 17: Abington Heights High School Winter Semi-formal dance, at the high school from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets will be sold from Jan. 7 to Jan. 16 during lunch periods. Cost: $10. Only Abington Heights High School students and their approved high school guest will be admitted to the dance. Out of district high school guest forms may be picked up in the high school main office and must be submitted for approval by January 12. Only pre-approved guests will be admitted.

Mid-Winter Steam Excursion to the Annual Ice Harvest Demonstration, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Tobyhanna. Historic steam locomotive will travel to the Tobyhanna station, and excursionists will be transported, courtesy of the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Valley Authority, to Mill Pond number one, where historic tools and equipment will be used to gather blocks of ice from the pond. Cost: $31, ages 17-61; $26, ages 62 and older; $20, ages 6 to 16 years old; “no charge” ages five and under. The $6 daily park entrance fee is included in the ticket cost. Info: For reservations, call 340-5204, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily (10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. after Jan. 3, 2009).

January 18: Saint Vincent College admission, get acquainted day, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe. Info: 1-800-782-5549 or admission@stvincent.edu.

January 19: “Marketing and Public Relations in an Uncertain Economy,” 5:30 p.m., Gricos Restaurant, Exeter. Cost: $20 per member and $30 per non-member. Guest Speaker: Catherine Bolton owner of River Rock Communications. Info: To register email chefpatti@echoes.net

January 20: Johnson College Adjunct Training Program classes, held twice a week for six weeks, every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 8:15 p.m. in the Woolworth Building Carpentry classroom. It is open to anyone with a minimum of an associate’s degree in a technical area and four years of on-the-job experience in the same technical area. Cost: $250, includes training materials. Info: Marie Allison at 702-8924 or mallison@johnson.edu or www.johnson.edu.

University of Scranton Financial Aid Workshop, 5 p.m. for prospective students and their parents, which will include a line-by-line review of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Moskovitz Theater DeNaples Center. Free. Info: 941-7700.

January 22: University of Scranton Internet Symposium for representatives, 9 a.m. Brennan Hall. From universities, primary and secondary schools, government, heath care and economic development agencies interested in learning about the capabilities and applications for the high-speed network. Reservations required. Info: 941-4123.

January 26: Schemel Forum Courses, 6 p.m. Running to to March 2. The University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum seminar series “Ethnic American Literature: A Tasting” with Joseph E Krauss, PhD., associate professor of English, and Susan C. Mendez, PhD., assistant professor of English. Session fees vary. Info: 941-7816.

February 4: Abington Heights 8th Grade Fundraiser Spaghetti Supper, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Abington Heights Middle School Cafeteria. Take outs available. A bake sale will also be held. Snow date is Feb. 6. Cost: TBA

February 7: 10th annual Brain Bee, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Brennan Hall at the University of Scranton. Open to grades nine to 12. Quizzes students on brain physiology, sensation, perception, sleep, stress, aging and disorders. All material drawn exclusively from material in the Brain Facts booklet. To download the booklet visit: nepaahec.org or academic.scranton.edu/department/neuron/brainbee/

Inaugural Northeastern Pennsylvania Heart Ball, at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza, honors Ellen Casey, wife of former Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey. The black tie event will include a silent and live auction, dinner and dancing. Proceeds will support research and community education in the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke. Info: American Heart Association, 822-9438.

March 16: Free preschool program offered this week, by The Family and Consumer Science Department of Lakeland High School, residents of the Lakeland School District only, children between the ages of 3 to 5 and must be potty trained, 10-week preschool program in two sessions, first session will alternate each week between Mon, Wed, Fri and Tues, Thurs from 11 to 12:20 p.m. Second session will alternate each week between Mon, Wed, Fri and Tues, Thurs from 1:10 to 2:30 p.m. Info: To register, call Lakeland High School at 254-9485 or visit the school for appropriate forms. Due to limited space, enrollment is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

REMINDERS

Abington Heights Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) collecting cell phones for recycling. Cell phones may be dropped off in the main office of the High School.

American Red Cross, to find a blood drive location and date near you, go to www.NEPAGIVELIFE.ORG. Click on the NEPA map under Donations or call 1-800-GiveLife and make a local appointment.

Centennial Scavenger Hunt, through December 31, Celebrate the Everhart’s Centennial Year by participating in a yearlong scavenger hunt. Locate 100 objects in Everhart Museum’s galleries throughout the year. Log on to www.everhart-museum.org every month to print a list of objects chosen. Bring in your list, find all the objects and get a stamp at the end of your hunt. Info: Contact the Museum at 346-7186 or email education@everhart-museum.org.

Glenburn 4-H Sewing Club, registration for 4-H textile science projects. Boys and girls, age 8 to 19 are invited. Info: Register at Penn State Cooperative Extension office, 963-6842.

Hatha yoga, with Nora Fox, RYT, Everything Natural, 426 S. State St., Clarks Summit, Mondays, 9:30 a.m., and Thursdays, 9 a.m. Cost: $12 per class, $80 for eight weeks. Info: 586-9684.

Lupus support group meeting, Tunkhannock Public Library, 220 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, third Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m. and 615 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, third Monday of every month at 7:15 p.m. Info: 1-888-99-LUPUS

Overeaters Anonymous meetings, First Presbyterian Church, 201 Stone Ave., Clarks Summit, weekly, Mon. and Wed., 7 p.m.; Tue. and Thu., 9:30 a.m. and Sun., 4 p.m. Info: 587-4313.

Pilates Classes, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 9 to 10:15 a.m., Waverly Comm CRB Room. Info: 587-1403

Tots and Toddlers Informal Play Group, meets Wednesdays and Friday mornings in the Waverly Community House gym from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Cost: Free.

Volunteers needed for Ombudsman (Resident Rights’ Advocate) Program, Community neighbors who are trained to help clarify responsibilities and the rights of those in long-term living facilities. Must be over 18. Info: Sylvia Kolosinsky, Director of volunteer services, 344-3931.

Weight Training Classes, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., Waverly Comm gym. Bring your weights and a mat or ball. Info: 575-7853.