First Posted: 2/3/2013
Growing up as the daughter of one of Avoca’s longest serving Boy Scout leaders and the little sister of my brother, Tom, an Eagle Scout, I learned the value of Scouting from a very early age.
For my dad, Jack Borthwick, Scouting was much more than pitching tents and tying knots. For him, it was more like a vocation. He felt a personal responsibility as a good man of God to help make this world better. And I think he did.
But it’s not just me who thinks it. It was evidenced by the outpouring of admiration many of his former Scouts shared with me before and after his death. In fact, one man told me that my dad gave his son the childhood he could never give him. If that’s not a testament of making a difference in this world, I don’t know what is.
So you see the fact that Scout Sunday is taking place today in churches all across America means a great deal to me. But, more importantly, it should mean a great deal to those of you who were involved with Scouting or have any opportunity to let your child take advantage of it today.
To learn more about Scouting and to celebrate Scout Sunday, be sure to see members of Cub and Boy Scout Troop 316 and the Venturing Crews as they participate in the 9:30 a.m. Mass today, Feb. 3 at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St. Scouting will not only give your child a chance to learn good life skills but also learn how to contribute and build a more just society.
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.
Please note the senior citizens’ 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.
Queen of the Apostles Parish will celebrate the Feast of St. Blaise, the Catholic patron saint of illness, today, Feb. 3. Individuals are invited to receive a traditional throat blessing following the 7, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Masses at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St.
The parish’s First Communion Class will receive its First Penance at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 in the church.
Queen of the Apostles Parish will have a Night at the Races on Saturday, Feb. 23 in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and races will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 which includes dinner, soda and coffee. This is a B.Y.O.B. event. Horses are $10 each. Racing forms can be obtained at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St., following weekend Masses (Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 8, 9:30, and 11 a.m.), by calling the parish office at 457-3412, or at the event. The sponsor of the winning horse will win $50 and does not need to be present to win.
Avoca/Dupont Little League will have sign-up sessions from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 4 to 6 at the upper Avoca Little League field clubhouse, 700 Mill St.
Registration fee is $60 per player and $75 for a family of two or more children. Teener baseball fee is $60 per player. A fundraising fee must also be pre-paid at the time of registration.
Registration is open for the following divisions: tee-ball (4 to 6 years old), coach pitch (7 to 8 years old), minor softball (8 to 10 years old), major softball (10 to 12 years old), minor baseball (8-10 years old), major baseball (10-12 years old), junior teener baseball (13-14 years old) and senior teener baseball (15-16 years old). Players need three proofs of residency, and new players need a copy of their birth certificate.
The Ladies Auxiliary to V.F.W. Post 8335 will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4 in the post home, 915 Main St. President June Fitzgerald will preside. Betty Lewis and June Fitzgerald will serve as hostesses.
The Avoca Lions will have its monthly food bank from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Bethel United Methodist Church, 532 Main St. Volunteers are needed at 1:30 p.m. to unload the truck. Beneficiaries are encouraged to bring boxes.
The Avoca Borough Council will have its regular monthly meeting and work session at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14 in the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St. Council President Joseph Satkowski will preside.
The Avoca Neighborhood Crime Watch will have its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19 in the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St. For more information, call Jim at 457-8446 or Ned at 457-6109.
Avoca Tax Collector Therese Wrubel reminds residents the 2013 Luzerne County/Avoca Borough taxes have been mailed. The rebate period ends April 1. The taxes and 2013 garbage stickers can be purchased from Wrubel at the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St. The office will be open from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 5 to 6 p.m. on Fridays.
The fee schedule for purchasing the window garbage sticker in order to have up to three bags collected weekly is as follows: $160 if purchased by Feb. 20, $165 if purchased between Feb.21 and March 20, $175 if purchased between March 21 and April 20, $185 if purchased between April 21 and May 20 and $195 if purchased between May 21 and June 21. Delinquent accounts will be referred to district court after June 21. All Avoca homeowners and renters are obligated to purchase a garbage sticker.
Extra stickers for additional bags of garbage may be purchased for $3 each.
Residents 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.
For more information, call Wrubel at 457-4891.