Community Calendar 2-11-2010

Little League Sign Ups: Sign ups for the Taylor Little League 2010 season for ages 5-17 will be on Thursday, Feb. 11, 18, 25 and March 4 at the Taylor Community Center from 5:30-8 p.m.

Softball Signups: The Moosic RedWings Girls Softball and the Moosic Little League will hold sign ups at the Moosic Borough Building from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

Animal Food Collection: Kevin Young, a volunteer at the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, Clarks Summit, will once again hold his food drive for the shelter. This is the sixth year that Young has done this drive to benefit the animals at the shelter. 
This drive will take place until Sunday, Feb. 14.
This year, the following Triboro-area schools and businesses will participate in the drive: Old Forge and Riverside school districts, Cigna Healthcare, WNEP-16, Taylor Post Office, Taylor Community Library and Price Chopper in Taylor.
If any business or organization is interested in being a collection site, please contact Kevin Young at 947-1393 and a collection bin will be dropped off.
The shelter would like to express thanks to the community for all of the support for the animals. 

Report Cards: Parent-teacher conferences in the Riverside Elementary School system will be held during the afternoons of Tuesday, Feb. 16 and Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Conference scheduling forms will come home in the report card envelope.

Dog Licenses: The Lackawanna County Treasurer’s Office and Old Forge Borough officials announce that dog licenses will be available for residents between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the borough building on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Mardi Gras Dance: USA Dance NEPA Chapter 3016 will host a Mardi Gras Masked Ball at Fiorelli’s in Peckville on Saturday, Feb. 13. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a bolero lesson at 6:45 p.m. A buffet dinner and dancing follow the lesson. The cost is $25 for members; $30  non-members. 
Make reservations by calling Joe Szumski at 475-2709.

Vow Renewal: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Taylor, will offer an opportunity to renew wedding vows at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.
There is no charge for this and you can invite as many guests as you like. Call Pastor Norm Demming, if interested, at the church 562-2200 or home 689-5052.
There will be refreshments and activities after the ceremony.

Pysanky Workshop: Take home a decorated Pysanky egg that you will create yourself while learning about the meaning of the symbols and colors used to decorate the eggs. Workshops will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Snow date is Saturday, Feb. 20.
There is a $12 fee, which includes all materials and supplies needed. Due to limited class size, payment is due at registration. Be sure to wear old clothes, as the dyes and wax may stain.
This workshop  is open to anyone age 12 to adult. Stop by or call the Taylor Community Library at 562-1234 to register or for more information.

Mardi Gras: Prince of Peace Parish, Old Forge, will sponsor a “Mardi Gras” on at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13,  at Arcaro & Genell banquet room. Cost is $25 and will include a hot and cold buffet. Beer, wine, soda and entertainment will be provided by Prince of Peace Parish Society.
Rerservations must be made by by Sunday, Feb. 7.
Call 457-2095 or 451-0112 for more information. 

Camp Kestrel: Alliance Landfill will present a Camp Kestrel habitat workshop on Saturday, Feb. 13.
The free workshop will include birdhouse building, a landfill site tour, wildlife presentations, a low-litter lunch and information about recycling, composting and conserving resources.
The camp will use a number of presentations and hands-on exercises to familiarize children with local habitat issues, how they can improve wildlife habitat and how they can become better recyclers.
The camp is recommended for children age 8 and older. Reservations are required.
The Feb. 13 camp will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Alliance Community Center, 360 S. Keyser Ave., Taylor. More information and camp registration is available by contacting 562-1600 ext. 244 or sending an e-mail to jhambros@wm.com.

Input Wanted: The Old Forge School District will conduct a strategic plan midpoint review. District officials are looking for a few community and parent volunteers to replace individuals who are unable to continue to serve on the committee.  Anyone interested in serving in this capacity should contact Geanine Giglio at 457-6721 ext. 130 by Friday, Feb. 12.  A committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25 in the Iarge group instructional room.
As part of the district’s 100th anniversary celebration, alumni career presentations are being scheduled for district classes. Any alumni of the district interested in making a presentation to one of the classes should contact Giglio at 457-6721, ext. 130.

Lenten Food Sale: Sacred Heart of Jesus/Saint Joseph churches, Stephenson Street, Duryea, will host a Lenten food sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The sale will feature potato pancakes, homemade red clam chowder, vegetarian vegetable, seafood bisque, pierogi, haluski and pizza. On Friday, March 5, homemade red clam chowder, pierogi, haluski, pizza and a bake sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with eat-in or take-out service. 

Winter in the City: Winter in the City will be held Friday, Feb. 19, from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Electric City Trolley Museum. Admission is $15 and includes complimentary cocktails, beverages, hors d’oeuvres from more than 30 restaurants and live music by Paul LaBelle & the Exact Change.
The event includes a silent auction showcasing eclectic items from local retailers. Proceeds benefit Scranton Tomorrow, a non-profit community and economic development organization, to further projects including Main Street Scranton, the Collegtown Initiative, Artspace, the Scranton Riverfront Partnership and the Scranton Business Alliance.
For more information contact Scranton Tomorrow at 963-5901 or visit www.scrantontomorrow.org.

Pinewood Derby: Old Forge Cub Scout Pack 98 will conduct an adult pinewood derby fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 20. Pre-race inspection begins at 5:30 p.m., with the first race at 7 p.m. The registration donation is $25 per car and includes an official BSA Pinewood Derby car kit. All proceeds will be used to fund events for the cub scouts. 
For more information or to register, contact cub master Harold Jones at 562-2012.

Pasta Dinner: The United Baptist Church of Taylor, 125 Church St., will host a pasta dinner from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, with takeout available at 3 p.m.
The cost is $8; $4 for children. For tickets and information, contact Marie Eskra at 562-2856.

Night at the Races: St. Mary’s Church, Avoca, 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.

Fashion Show: The sixth annual Pink Elegance on Parade fashion show to benefit the northeast Pennsylvania affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, Scranton.
The show spotlights breast cancer survivors and their families, government officials and local celebrities. Fashions will be featured from Coldwater Creek, Duffy Accessories, Hansel and Gretel, Lee’s Denim Diner and Suburban Casuals.  
Lunch and a silent auction are part of the afternoon’s festivities. A cash bar will be available.
Seating is limited to the first 500 paid guests and no tickets will be sold at the door. Reserve tickets by  Thursday, Feb. 11. Tickets are $35 for adults; $15  children.
Call 587-1995 for more information or to request an invitation. 

Doughnuts for Dad: Triboro-area children are invited to bring their fathers and attend a special day at the Taylor Public Library on Saturday, Feb. 27. Activites are from 10-10:45 a.m. and include storytime and crafts with light refreshments. Call 562-1234 to register.

Easter Egg Hunt: The Old Forge Lions Club will hold its annual Easter egg hunt, open to borough children up to 8 years of age, at noon on Saturday, March 27,  at the Old Forge Veterans Memorial Stadium on Elio Ghigarelli Drive in Old Forge. The Easter Bunny will be present to help children in collecting Easter eggs and help in the festivities.

Seeking Input: The Old Forge School District is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and is seeking information from the community to help celebrate the school’s history.
The 100th anniversary committee is seeking the names of all former students who served as class officers, and all class valedictorians and salutatorians from classes before 1961. Anyone with information can contact the superintendent’s office at 457-6721.
The committee is also seeking Graduate family trees.
Forms can be found at the main office in the high school and online at www.ofsd.cc. Graduate family tree forms will also be sent home with elementary students. The next 100th anniversary committee meeting will be held this month with the exact date yet to be confirmed.

Sewer Payment Notice: Old Forge residents are reminded that the Old Forge sewer bills are to be paid at the Old Forge Branch of Penn Security Bank only. Other branches of Penn Security will not accept these payments.

Free Tax Help: Accounting students in Wilkes University’s Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership will offer free tax assistance to the public through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
The service will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27 in room 105 of Breiseth Hall, 137 South Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre.
The VITA program offers free tax help to people with household income of less than $49,000 who file basic federal and state tax returns. Anyone interested in the service should call 408-4710 or 1-800-WILKES-U ext.4710.

Baby Item Collection: The Old Forge Catholic Community Social Concerns Group is conducting a collection of baby items for the St. Joseph Center’s mother-infant program. This program provides transitional housing for new mothers and their babies.
The mothers participate in parenting education classes and life-skills programs in order to give them the tools they need to be self-sufficient.  They receive support and assistance in obtaining employment and permanent housing.
The program is in need of many baby items, such as gently used clothing and sleepers in sizes newborn to 6, cribs, highchairs, car seats, strollers, swings, pack and plays, nursery monitors and diapers.
They also need Good Start baby formula, baby cereal, blankets and baby toiletries. Due to allergy and sanitary concerns, the center cannot accept stuffed animals or used toys.
Anyone wishing to donate, or who would like more information, is asked to call Mary Ann Jones at 562-1589, or 498-2953. Drop off or pick up can be arranged.

Mass Schedule: The following is a Mass schedule for Prince of Peace Church, Old Forge:
Saturday vigil is celebrated at St. Mary’s at 4 p.m., Church Street, and at 5:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence’s Church on Main Street.
Sunday Mass is celebrated at 8 and 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s and 11:15 a.m. at St. Lawrence’s.

Parent, Family, Friends, Alumni Testimonial: Holy Rosary School, Duryea, is currently putting together several different publications for upcoming use.
If you or anyone with an association to the school and would like to have your thoughts on what the Holy Rosary School experience means to you and your family, e-mail your testimonial to hrsduryea@hotmail.com  (subject: testimonial) or call the school office at 457-2553.

Crohn’s Support: A Crohn’s and Colitis support group meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at Community Medical Center in Scranton. For more information, call Maria Huggler  at 947-3575.

100th Anniversary: The Old Forge School District 100th anniversary committee is seeking the names of every student who served as Miss Devilette during the school’s history. It is believed the first Miss Devilette was named in 1949.
The majority of names have been found, but the committee is still seeking Miss Devilettes from 1950 to 1958 and for 1960. Anyone with information can contact the superintendent’s office at 457-6721.
The committee is also seeking the names of every student that has earned the honor of valedictorian during the school’s history.
Donors are needed for 100th anniversary banners that will be placed on telephone poles throughout the borough. Design of the banners is still in the planning stages but will feature the donor’s name.

New Members Welcome: The members of the First United Methodist Church, Harrison Street, Old Forge, announced that anyone new to the area who is looking for a place of worship is welcome to join the parish.  Worship begins at 11:15 a.m. Children and people from all denominations  are always welcome. The church is handicap accessible.

Seeking Volunteers: Serving Seniors is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and care of nursing home, assisted living/personal care home residents and older adults throughout Lackawanna County through its community services, transportation program, volunteer visitation, guardianship and ombudsman services and PEER (Pennsylvania’s Empowered Expert Residents) program.
Serving Seniors is funded by the Lackawanna County Commissioners through the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging with funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Federal Administration on Aging and the United Way of Lackawanna County. 
If you are available a few hours a month, 18 or older, concerned about the rights of nursing home and assisted living/personal care home residents and interested in making a difference in the lives of older adults, then you may be perfect for the volunteer program.  For more information, contact 344-3931.

Blue Devil Fundraiser: The Old Forge Jr. Blue Devils are selling five-inch-by-five-inch Devil helmet and megaphone vinyl car decals for $8 each and can be personalized with the player’s number or cheerleader’s name. Decals are available in Blue Devils and Jr. Devils. Contact Paula Rebar at 575-1441 if interested in purchasing.

Borough Meetings: The 2010 Old Forge Borough Council meetings are scheduled as follows: 
Work session meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.; public meetings are the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.; and planning meetings are the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. 
All meetings are held in council chambers located at the Old Forge Borough Building.

Democratic Meetings: The Taylor Democratic Committee meetings have resumed and will be held the third Sunday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Taylor Community Center. All residents are encouraged to attend. Romayne Nerch presides.

Window Decals: The Lady Devils basketball team is selling 5-inch-by-5-inch window decals. The cost is $10 per decal and they come in two designs: Lady Devils basketball or Blue Devils basketball. Decals can also be personalized with players’ numbers. Purchases can be made from any coach or player or by calling Donna Armillay at 562-3655. Make checks payable to Lady Devils Basketball.

Yard Sign Sale: The Lady Devils softball team is selling yard signs to support all Old Forge Blue Devil athletic programs.
One side has the outline of the Blue Devil head with the word “pride” running through the middle (in support of the Blue Devil Pride Program at the school).  The other side says “Good Luck Blue Devils.” It is a sign that can be placed in your yard throughout the school year as it doesn’t designate any particular sport or activity, just all Blue Devil activities. Cost is $20 a sign.
If anyone is interested in purchasing a sign, contact any varsity softball player.

Recycling Notice: Old Forge Borough officials remind residents that a state law requires recycling in the borough. Cans, bottles and plastic are picked up at the curb on alternate weeks with newspaper and cardboard. If you have any questions or for more details on what can be recycled  please call 457-8852.

Seeking Members: The Moosic Lions Club is opening membership for those interested in becoming a Knight of the Blind and Hearing Impaired and helping people in need. The group also sponsors a children’s Christmas party and a Easter egg hunt.
To apply, call 457-4037 or attend a meeting, which are held the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Grande’s Restaurant, and on the third Wednesday of the month in the rear of the Moosic Youth Center at 6:30 p.m.

Bucks for Books: Children opening a savings account or having a savings account at Old Forge Bank will have $1 deposited into their accounts for each book they read. The maximum is 12 books per year, one book per month.

Big Band Society: The Big Band Society of NEPA is conducting its annual membership drive. Interested persons may call Glenn Smith at 457-5009. Dues are $15. The society meets the first Friday of the month at Genetti’s in Wilkes-Barre.

Lupus Support Meetings: The Scranton area monthly lupus support group meeting is held every third Monday at 7:15 p.m., Lupus Foundation, 615 Jefferson Ave., Scranton.
For more information, call 1-888-99-LUPUS or visit www.lupuspa.org.

Support Group: The Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania hosts a support group meeting every Tuesday of the month from 7-8 p.m. For reservations, contact Rhonda Falk, 585-8099, or Rita Fenton, 342-1776 (work) or 586-0179 (home).

Support Meeting: T.O.P.S. Chapter 1569 will meet at the Taylor Library on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 562-1234

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