First Posted: 2/10/2013
Nearly 11 years ago, I introduced myself to all of you as the new Duryea News columnist. Today, I bid you a fond farewell as I leave this role to assume new duties at the newspaper.
Soon, you will see a new format for your town news with the hope that it will be more reader-friendly for you and make your Sunday mornings even brighter as you peruse the pages of The Sunday Dispatch.
Although you will no longer see me in this space on Sundays, you will still see my byline pop up in the paper from time to time. In my new role, I, along with my fellow town columnists, have been invited to write stories about what is happening in each of the towns we currently serve.
You can also still count on The Sunday Dispatch publishing your community news briefs, too.
Those can be submitted any of the following ways: by phone to 655-1418, by e-mail to sd@s24530.p831.sites.pressdns.com, by fax to 602-0184 or by mail to 109 New St., Pittston, PA 18640.
Now that we have all of that covered, I do want to take this opportunity to thank my husband, Jim, my mom, Lorraine, and my brother, Tom, for their support. Together, they formed a team who I bounced news ideas off, listened to me proofread to make sure what I was writing had a nice flow and they are just generally the best people I know.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank all of you for allowing me to share your stories with our community. I cannot express just how much I have loved bringing you all of Duryea’s news.
Happy belated birthday to Kathy Haduck who celebrated her special day on Jan. 27.
Happy birthday to Elaine Slusark who is celebrating her special day today, Feb. 10.
Happy birthday to Tracey Carey who will celebrate her special day on Sunday, Feb. 17.
Happy 38th birthday to Michelle Reviello who will also celebrate her special day on Sunday, Feb. 17.
The members of the American Legion Brennan Regan Post 585 will have their monthly meeting at 1 p.m. today, Feb. 10 at the post home, 329 Main St.
The Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 585 will have their monthly meeting at 3 p.m. today, Feb. 10 at the Brennan Regan post home, 329 Main St. Plans will be discussed for the upcoming boat raffle and chicken barbecue dinner.
The Duryea Little League will have a mandatory meeting for all coaches and managers at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 10 at the Duryea V.F.W. Post 1227, 492 Stephenson St., to discuss team rosters.
This will also be the last official day to sign up for the 2013 season. The cost is $55 per player or $75 per family.
The cost for junior and senior league players is separate and is $75 per player.
The Duryea Borough Sewer Authority has mailed delinquent notices. Any owner who has not paid their bill will be placed on the water shutoff list. The deadline for payment is Tuesday, Feb. 12. For more information, call 457-0122 between 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Duryea Borough Council will have its monthly work session and meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12 in the Duryea Municipal Building, 315 Main St.
Members of the American Legion Auxiliary to Brennan Regan Post 585 will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the post home, 329 Main St.
The auxiliary will have its annual dinner on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Valenti’s Restaurant, Exeter. Any member interested in attending may sign up at the post home by Feb. 12. This year the ladies are responsible for paying for their own meal and the auxiliary will provide the gratuity. Attendees will meet at the post home at 6:30 p.m. the day of the dinner. The reservation is for 7 p.m.
Nativity of Our Lord Parish will have the blessing and distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13 at the following times and locations: 7 a.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Church, 127 Stephenson St.; 9:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Church with the Holy Rosary School students; 11 a.m. service at Crossin Towers, 500 Brown St.; noon service at Holy Rosary Church; 4 p.m. service at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 529 Stephenson St; and 7 p.m. Mass at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.
The parish will have its annual Ash Wednesday Lenten Food Sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 13 in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church hall, 529 Stephenson St. The menu includes potato pancakes, vegetarian vegetable soup and pizza as well as homemade red clam chowder, pierogi and haluski. There will also be a bake sale.
The parish will have a second Lenten Food Sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 8 in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church hall.
The menu for this sale will include homemade red clam chowder, pierogi, haluski, pizza and a bake sale.
While both events are scheduled to end at 6 p.m., they may end earlier if the menu items sell out.
The parish’s newly-formed women’s society is conducting a fundraiser to purchase oxygen masks to be used on dogs and cats for local fire and rescue units. Because many fire departments lack these apparatus, they are unable to help pets if they become overcome by smoke due to a lack of oxygen. With these masks, which cost $68 each, pets will have an increased chance of survival.
Monetary donations can be made by placing them in the large containers in the back of Holy Rosary or Sacred Heart of Jesus Churches. Donations can also be placed in the collection basket at any of the weekend Masses, mailed to Holy Rosary Church or placed in the collection containers at Main Street business’ My Sister’s Kitchen or the Family Prescription Counter.
For more information about this project or joining this new group, call Denise Decker, president, at 457-5420 or 677-7820; Michelle Piontek, vice president, at 498-9442; or Beverly Dulny, secretary/treasurer, at 457-3158. Betty Minchak is the spiritual moderator for the group.
St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Church will have the distribution of ashes at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13 at the church, 200 Stephenson St. The ashes will be blessed at the 8 a.m. Mass, and the 7 p.m. service will also include Bitter Lamentations.
The parish will gather at 7 p.m. on Fridays during Lent for Lenten devotions at the church.
The Duryea Rec Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the Duryea Municipal Building, 315 Main St.
The Polish Falcons, Nest 128 will have a DJ and karaoke night from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Feb. 16 at the nest, 631 Main St. All regular and social members are invited to attend.
The Polish Falcons will have their monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the nest.
The Germania Hose Company will have its annual pancake breakfast buffet from 7 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the hose company, 430 Foote Ave. The menu includes homemade pancakes, sausage, ham, home fries, eggs, rolls, coffee and a choice of juice. Tickets, which can be purchased at the door or from any hose company member, are $9 for adults and $6 for children. All proceeds will benefit the hose company’s building fund. For more information, call 457-4160.
The Germania Hose Company’s fund drive is also underway. Anyone who did not receive a contribution form may send a donation to the company.
Duryea Cub Scout Pack 375 will have its annual Derby Day on Sunday, Feb. 17 in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church hall, 529 Stephenson St. Registration is at 12:30 p.m. and the Pinewood and Regatta Races begin at 1 p.m.
The 2013 Duryea Borough garbage stickers were due Feb. 1; however, stickers can still be purchased. from 7 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Duryea Municipal Building, 315 Main St. Stickers can also be purchased from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the municipal building. Prices of the garbage stickers with a $10 late charge are one bag, $90; two bags, $145; three bags, $185; and four bags, $225.
Garbage will not be collected from homes that do not have the 2013 garbage sticker displayed.
The Lackawanna Valley Sanitary Authority 2013 rate schedule is as follows: residential users per unit is $70 per quarter, residential yearly per unit is $280 and the yearly rate is $266 if paid by March 31.
With the 10 percent senior citizen discount, the quarterly rate is $63. The senior citizen yearly rate is $238 if paid by March 31.
Individuals applying for the senior citizen rate must present a copy of a valid photo ID or driver’s license with their first quarter bill when they submit it either via mail or at the office, Coxton Road, Duryea.
The senior citizen discount is available to anyone 62 years of age or older, who owns and resides in their home and whose accounts are paid in full. Businesses and tenant-occupied units do not qualify for the discount.
St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church is seeking crafters for its spring craft fair on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 in the church hall, 205 N. Main St., Pittston.
For more information, call Michael at 704-6520 or Jerry at 654-4568.