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Greater Pittston might be known for having the best homegrown tomatoes, but did you know they also have another “homegrown” product that’s worth bragging about? Although it isn’t round and red, it’s full of flavor and peppered with some spicy sides. Care to take a guess as to what it might me?
If you guessed the musical stylings of The Home Town Boyz, you guessed right.
The Home Town Boyz, featuring Mike Haduck, Jim Reap, Ed Haduck, Mike Lavelle, and Joe Sweeney, have won the hearts of many Greater Pittston residents playing a mix of country, bluegrass, classic rock, and their own original songs. And now, they’re taking their music and lady luck with them to the Poconos when they perform at the Mount Airy Casino Resort.
“The Boyz” are booked for several dates at the resort. Be sure to join in the fun with the hometown crowd Saturdays at 8 p.m. on the following dates: January 23 and 30; and February 6, 13, and 27. For more information about the group and to hear samples of their original music, visit www.thehometownboyz.com.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday to Samantha Smith who celebrated her special day January 8.
Happy birthday to Lori Charnogursky who celebrated her special day January 10.
Happy birthday to Theresa Ryzner who celebrated her special day January 13.
Happy birthday to Sherri Petrokonis who will celebrate her special day Tuesday, Jan. 19
Happy birthday to The Home Town Boyz front man, Mike Lavelle, who will celebrate his special day Tuesday, Jan. 26.
Raffle Winners
Congratulations to the winners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church’s razzle dazzle raffle for January 1-11: G. Aulisio, Old Forge; Joan Uskavizy, Avoca; and Marie Gromada, Avoca.
Congratulations to the winners of St. Mary’s Church’s pot of gold raffle for January 1-11: Mike Gilroy; Kevin Sowa; Jane Salmon; Cynthia Cipolla; Jim Berlew; Darlene Cortese Bergamino; and Sam Taffera.
Langcliffe Services
The congregation of the Langcliffe Presbyterian Church will have their Sunday services at the Moosic Presbyterian Church at 10:30 a.m. throughout January.
CCD Schedule
St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will not have religious education classes today or Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
St. Mary’s A&R
St. Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society will meet today at 2 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.
Healing Mass
St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ healing Mass, which normally takes place on the first Friday of the month, will take place today at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St. Come and receive the healing that only Christ can give.
Doughnut Sale
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. The group is currently selling Krispy Kreme dozen doughnut vouchers for $6.50 each. Vouchers can be purchased before or after weekend Masses. The next meeting is Sunday, Jan. 31 from 6:30-8 p.m. at SS. Peter and Paul’s Church. New members are welcome.
Confirmation Info
St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ confirmation teachers will meet Monday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.
Parents of St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ confirmation candidates will meet Sunday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St. The snow date for this event is January 31.
Garbage Stickers
The 2009 Avoca Borough garbage stickers can be purchased from Therese Wrubel at the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St., beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19 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.
Implementation Team
St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ implementation team will meet Thursday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.
Youth Group
St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ high school youth group will meet Sunday, Jan. 24 from 6-9 p.m. New members are welcome. Please call Kay Price at 504-4199 for meeting location information and for details on how your child can join this group.
Lectors to Meet
Lectors at St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ will meet Monday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.
Finance Council
St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ joint finance council will meet Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.
Dance Marathon
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) will have a benefit concert Saturday, Jan. 30 from 8 p.m. to midnight at St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St.
This 21 and older event will feature live entertainment by The Cadillacs, The Dawgs, and Fender Bender. My Sister’s Kitchen restaurant will also be on hand with several types of food for sale. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at My Sister’s Kitchen, 421 Main St., Duryea; Rock Street Music, 148 S. Main St., Pittston; or by calling 267-5472. All proceeds will be donated to the yearlong fundraising efforts of THON. THON culminates with a 46-hour no sleeping, no sitting dance marathon in February at the university’s main campus.
The funds raised at THON, in turn, benefit the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, which helps defray the cost of treatment for families fighting pediatric cancer. The event organizers would like to thank the bands as well as Rock Street Music, My Sister’s Kitchen, and Saint Mary’s Church for supporting this event. For more information about THON, please visit www.thon.org.
First Communion
Parents of First Communion students at St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will meet Sunday, Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring 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.
Food Collection
St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ social concerns committee will collect food for the needy throughout the year. Food donations can be placed in the collection containers located in either church. Although any type of non-perishable food item will be accepted, the parishes are focusing on collecting pasta and sauce during January. Monetary donations can be made by placing the gift in an envelope marked “food bank” and placing it in the collection basket.
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.
Al-Anon Meetings
Al-Anon, a support group offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics, no longer meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in the basement meeting room of St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St., due to lack of attendance. However meetings will continue 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.