Community Calendar

Holiday Schedule: David Woods, Riverside superintendent of schools, announces the upcoming winter holiday vacation schedule as follows:

Early dismissal on Friday, Dec. 21, high school at 11:06 a.m., east elementary at 11:40 a.m., and west elementary at 12:10 p.m. Classes resume on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Call to Action: State rep. Kevin Haggerty will host a meeting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22, at his office at the Dunmore Community Center, 1414 Monroe Ave., regarding changing animal cruelty laws in Pennsylvania.

The meeting will discuss the creation of new laws that will strengthen current state laws against animal abuse.

Call 342-2710 for more information.

Schedule Change: The Moosic Borough administration office and department of public works will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 25. Garbage and recyclable collections will be on a one-day delay schedule for the entire week.

Offices to Close: The Lower Lackawanna Valley Sanitary Authority business office will close at noon on Friday, Dec. 21 for computer maintenance. The office will be closed on Monday, Dec. 24, Tuesday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday, Jan. 1. For more information call 655-1665.

Arena Climb: The American Lung Association is planning an informational Arena Climb meeting at Odyssey Fitness in Wilkes-Barre at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, and every first Thursday in February, March and April until the climb on Saturday, April 6.

This meeting will explain the American Lung Association's Arena Climb at the Mohegan Sun Arena and how you can be a part of the event and help in the mission to save lives. Everyone participating in the meetings is encouraged to share ideas, accomplishments and inspiration.

Everyone attending this event will earn a free day pass to Odyssey Fitness to start their preparation for the climb. Climb information and registration can also be found at www.lunginfo.org/arenaclimb.

Ski for Lupus: The Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania Pocono/NE Branch announces its 16th annual Ski for Lupus Day. The event will be held at Elk Mountain on Sunday, Jan. 6.

According to organizers, Ski for Lupus Day is a fun family event that helps raise awareness for the autoimmune disease lupus, and all funds raised will support patient education services.

A limited number of half-day lift tickets will be sold for $25. Lift tickets are available for 12:30-4:30 p.m. or 4:30-10 p.m. All tickets must be ordered in advance. Call the branch office at 558-2008 for more information or to order tickets.

Recycling Notice: The Lackawanna County Office of Environmental Sustainability would like to advise all residents that as of Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, landfills in Pennsylvania will no longer be allowed to accept electronics under the provisions set forth in the Covered Device Recycling Act (Act 108) of 2010.

Items such as laptops, desktops, monitors, televisions, and computer peripherals will no longer be able to be collected via curbside pick-up or dumpster refuse. Municipal and private haulers will not be able to dispose of these items in a landfill or other solid waste facilities. The items must be recycled.

Barbara Giovagnoli, the County's community outreach coordinator and education specialist, noted that the Lackawanna County Recycling Center does accept these types of electronics free-of-charge on a daily basis. This would be the most prudent and environmentally sound way to dispose of them.

The goals of Act 108 are to help protect the environment from hazardous components, illegal dumping and conserving landfill capacity and to get into the habit of recycling to save our natural resources.

For further information on either Act 108 or recycling protocol, contact Ms. Giovagnoli at 963-2017, ext. 1.

Peddling Notice: In response to community concerns and complaints, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of peddling, hawking, selling or soliciting for the sale of any types of goods, services, wares or merchandise, at any residence or along any street within the confines of the Borough of Moosic, or conduct any other type of temporary commercial activity without first having secured a temporary sales permit. All individuals engaged in or desiring to be engaged in peddling or other activities licensed under Moosic Borough Ordinance No. 18-1995, shall submit to a background check at their own expense. The fee for such a permit shall be in the amount of $25 per person for each day of intended activity. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this ordinance shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $600, plus costs of prosecution, for each such offense, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, shall be imprisoned for a period of not more than 30 days and each day that a violation occurs or continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

Residents should contact Moosic Borough Police Department at the non-emergency number: 342-9111.

Reunion Planning: The Old Forge Class of 1947 is planning its 65th reunion. Any graduate interested in attending should call 457-2007 or 457-6329.

Reading to Dogs: The Taylor Community Library is once again hosting a "Read to the Dogs" program for children in grades one through five. They are encouraged to come to the library and read to a therapy dog. The program is held on the fourth Monday of the month. The program begins at 6:30 p.m. and books will be provided for the child to read.

If you have any questions or would like to participate in this program contact the library at 562-1234. Registration is required.

Clothing Dropbox: The Moosic Alliance Church, 608 Rocky Glen Road, in cooperation with St. Pauly Textile, is now sponsoring a clothing drop off shed as a fundraiser to send youth to camp. The youth at Moosic Alliance Church will in turn receive $40 for every 1,000 pounds of clothing that is donated.

Coal Miners Wanted: Did you work the coal mines of Old Forge in the 1950s and '60s?

If so, contact Carl Orechovsky, evenings at 702-4217 or email info@oldforgecoalmine.com. The group is searching for all types of information, photos, employees list, mine operations, stories and personal experiences.

Simply Smart: First National Community Bank, as part of a larger community outreach program, announced a program that rewards local students for their hard work and success during the school year, called Simply Smart. This program rewards students with $1 for every A or number grade above 90 percent on their report card every marking period. Starting with the current marking period, students need to bring their report card to any of the 21 FNCB branches in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Wayne counties. The reward amount will then be deposited into their new or existing interest-bearing youth savings account. In addition to the monetary reward, all participating students will receive a personalized certificate of participation.

Student Help: As students and parents begin the process of applying for college financial aid, state Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich reminds them that there is free help to complete the forms.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is offering free FAFSA completion sessions for students and parents who are filing FAFSA forms. For the complete listing of sessions, and more information on FAFSA, visit www.PHEAA.org/FAFSA.

Successful Living with Chronic Illness: All lupus patients and their family members or friends are invited to attend a support group that meets the third Thursday of each month at noon at 615 Jefferson Ave., Scranton.

For more information, call (888) 995-8787.

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.

Flag Program: Moosic Borough initiated a Memorial Flag Donation Program a few years ago; however the borough has exhausted all the flags and is in need of new ones.

When a member of the Fire Service or a Veteran of the United States Armed Services loses their life, the family of the deceased is usually presented with a United States Flag. Generally, this flag has never been raised and flown. The Memorial Flag Program will give individuals an opportunity to have their flags raised and flown in honor of their loved ones. The Memorial Flag Program may serve as closure for a family in mourning.

This program also gives Moosic Borough an opportunity to pay tribute to brothers and sisters in the fire service and to veterans in the armed services.

The flags are flown on a monthly basis from the date which the council holds its monthly meeting to the next meeting. Once the supply of flags is exhausted, the flags will be returned to the flagpole until it is no longer useful. Anyone wishing to donate a flag in memory of a loved one can do so by dropping off their flag at the Municipal Building.

Garbage Stickers: Attention Old Forge residents should note that garbage stickers are available at the following locations:

- Convenient Food Mart, Main Street;

- Convenient Food Mart, Moosic Road;

- Gerrity's, Birney Avenue;

- Heer Xpress, Main Street;

- Medicine Shoppe, Main Street;

- Ace Hardware, Main Street;

- Ray's ShurSave, Main Street;

- Sayona, Keyser Avenue; and

- Turkey Hill, Main Street.

Pet Notice: Old Forge residents are reminded that the borough has an ordinance governing the curbing of pets and other animals and the responsibility for the removal of all animal waste. This ordinance applies to all borough parks. Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to fines.

Zumba Classes: Zumba classes will be held at Romar Dance Studio at 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. The class is taught by Melissa Jones-Mariotti, certified Zumba instructor. The cost is $5 per class. For information, call at 457-6576.

Bulky Waste: Old Forge Borough Council has enacted an ordinance establishing a bulky waste collection rate of $6 per bulk waste item. The definition of bulky wastes is appliances, furniture, bedding and the like. The use of three $2 stickers is required. If you have any questions, call the administrative office at 457-8852.

Sewer Payment Notice: Old Forge residents are reminded that the borough 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.

Yard Waste Notice: Moosic Borough can no longer accept grass and leaves in any type of plastic bag (biodegradable or not).

This is a requirement by the Department of Environmental Protection. Grass and leaves must be placed in separate open containers, weighing no more than 35 pounds. Brush and tree limbs cannot be mixed with grass and leaves. They can be bundled together or placed in separate open containers.

Mass Schedule: The following is a Mass schedule for Prince of Peace Church, Old Forge: Saturday vigil is celebrated at 4 p.m. at St. Mary's, 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.

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.

Borough Meetings: The 2012 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.

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.

Big Band Society: The Big Band Society of NEPA is accepting applications for 2011 memberships. Dues are $15. The group meets the first Friday of each month at Genetti's in Wilkes-Barre. Call Glenn Smith, 457-5009, for more information.

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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