First Posted: 7/29/2013

The Reading And Reception by Dr. Carmella Sebastian of ‘Sex and Spaghetti Sauce’ scheduled for today, Sunday, Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. in the Pittston Memorial Library has been changed to the Pittston Chamber of Commerce Building on Kennedy Boulevard.

Dr. Carmella, a native of Pittston, known for her wit and common sense writes about her Italian mother’s recipes for getting healthy and getting busy in your 50s and beyond. The public is invited to attend. There is no charge. A reception and book signing will follow the reading.

CUTS FOR KIDS

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BENEFIT TODAY

Cuts for Kids benefit will be held today, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at J&M Barber Shop and Straight Razor Shaves in the Petro Shopping Center, 98 Grove Street, Dupont. Haircuts and shaves area $8 with all proceeds going toward the Make-A-Wish Foundation. There will also be raffle baskets from local sponsors.

JIM THORPE

TRAIN RIDE

The Annual Greater Pittston Charity Train Ride to Jim Thorpe is set for Sunday, Sept. 15. Passengers will once again travel on the historical Reading and Northern Company rail line.

Passengers will have the opportunity to take a ride back in time and travel on one of the oldest rail routes in the country on one of the oldest forms of transportation and they’ll be able to see and feel what it was like as this area developed.

The excursion in a 1920s era open window coach pulled by a diesel locomotive will take folks from Duryea to Jim Thorpe as they ride along the tracks traveling through towns of Northeastern Pennsylvania that seem to be set in time.

The train will depart at 9 a.m. from Duryea and return at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Upon arrival in Jim Thorpe, passengers will have an opportunity to browse the many specialty shops and restaurants sprinkled throughout this historic area.

Tickets are $65 each. Checks should be made payable and sent to the Greater Pittston Chamber Charity Train Ride c/o Greater Pittston YMCA, Main St., Pittston, PA 18640.

All proceeds will benefit the Pittston Memorial Library, Greater Pittston YMCA, and the Care and Concern Free Health Clinic. For more information, contact Kelly at 570-430-4244.

WORKPLACE AWARDS

The Greater Pittston Chamber is accepting nominations for the 2013 Healthy Workplace Awards Program.

Pittston area employers may nominate themselves, or can be nominated by a third party, by visiting www.chamberchoice.com, entering their county and clicking Health and Well-Being to download the form.

Nominations may also be submitted by contacting the Chamber at 570-655-1424.

FREE BARBERSHOP

HARMONY CONCERT

A free concert Celebrate Harmony will be presented by the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus at 7 p.m. today, Aug. 11 in the Pavillion of Irem Country Club, Dallas.

It will feature choral selections under the direction of Raymond Patsko, Wilkes-Barre and Assistant Director Phillip Brown, Shavertown. Quartet performance by Sounds Abound with tenor, Jim Morpeth and lead, Joe Husty, both of Wilkes-Barre; baritone, drew smith, West Pittston and bass, Tom Roberts, Kingston. Octet and special features will include community singing and awarding of harmony door prizes.

Concert is part of the Summer Sunday Free Program sponsored by the Irem Country Club. Public is invited to attend.

ILGWU MEETING

The ILGWU Retiree and members meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. August 12 at Savo’s Pizzeria. Everyone is welcome.

WPHS CLASS OF ‘64

The West Pittston High School class of 1964 is holding a 50th reunion meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 12 at the home of Elaine Smiles Kuffa, Philadelphia, Ave. West Pittston. For more information call Marie at 655-0283.

RAILRIDERS’ NIGHT

The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce visitation committee and Women’s Network, along with the city of Pittston invite you to attend ‘Greater Pittston Community Night’ at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders PNC Field on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

The event will honor the Pittston Tomato Festival Committee and the Pittston Redevelopment Authority. Tickets are $13 and include seat, hotdog, chips and soday.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact the Chamber at 655-1424.

VETS TO HOST

FAMILY PICNIC

The American Vets Post 189 will be hosting their Annual AMVETS Post No. 189 Family Picnic from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, the Jenkins Township Volunteer Hose Company, 2 Second Street, Pittston.

This community event will include food, refreshments and live music, and all proceeds from donations will fund AMVETS programs to benefit Pittston Area Veterans and their families. During the picnic, an awards ceremony will be held to recognize Pittston Area elementary and high school student winners of the AMVETS Americanism Program. Veterans from the W-B VAMC Assisted Living Center and the Gino Merli Vets Center in Scranton (nursing homes) will be shuttled and are also our guests.

AMVETS offers the patriotic program to schools and youth organizations as a resource for teaching children in kindergarten through grade 12 about their American heritage, civics and citizenship. The program includes flag drawing, poster and essay contests that are grade specific and age appropriate. AMVETS and AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary sponsor a series of contests at the local and state level wherein children design flags or posters and write essays. The winners at the local level progress to the state contests and the state winners are then entered into the National competition.

The winning students from the Pittston Area School District were contestants in the AMVETS Sate Competition on March 8 in Harrisburg. All Pittston Area 1st Place Winners will be awarded. All 1st place State winners entries are entered in the AMVETS National Competition July 31 at the AMVETS National Convention in Reno, Nevada.

The donation for picnic tickets is Adults is $15, children 7 to 17 years are $10. Kids six and under are free. To purchase tickets or to join AMVETS Post No. 189 please call Post Commander Bernie McDonald 817-4858, Post Adjutant Jerry Gurnari 479-2366 or Picnic Chairman Richard White 407-2044.

ITALIAN AMERICAN

DINNER MEETING

The August Dinner Dance of the Italian American Association of Luzerne County will be held on Thursday, August 22 at Genetti’s Convention Center, Wilkes Barre. Arrival time is 6:00 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Price is $25 per person. This is our Civic Community Award Dinner. Donations will be given to the local charities. Music for dancing by Gary Dee with dancing to 10:15 p.m.. Reservation deadline is Friday, July 16. For reservations and membership information, please call Judy Deice at 654-7600 or Louise Castellani 654-6454. President, James Deice will preside.

PROGRAM AT

SLOCUM PARK

Music in the Wood, will be heldat 7 p.m. Friday, August 23. Listen to Don Shappelle share songs of the river, the environment, the railroad, and more. Frances SLocoum State Park Campground amphitheater

JIMMY DUFFY

PALS FUNDRAISER

The PALS (Prevent ALS) of Jimmy Duffy will hold their annual ALS fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 24. Start time will be 2 p.m. at the home of Alan Hanczyc Jr., 219 Rock Street, Hughestown. We will all come together to remember our family member and good friend Jimmy Duffy, who died after a courageous battle from ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease at the age of 67. It will be a great tribute to Jimmy’s memory for us to get together and raise money for research for a cure for ALS.

The cost of the event will be $20 for adults and for children over 12 years old. Price will include drinks and food prepared by MD Pit, 1320 Wyoming Avenue, Exeter. Make reservations by Aug. 15. If you wish to attend or donate please call Mary at 947-9120.

WSCC REUNION

Sixty is the new 40 is the theme of the 60th birthday party for graduates, their spouses or their significant others from the class of West Side Central Catholic High School Class of 1971. Emailed invitations have been sent to those whose addresses on file. A “pay as you go” Ice breaker will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31 at The Grotto, Harveys Lake

The birthday celebration will be held from 1 to 7p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1 at The Grove at Checkerboard Inn, Carverton Road, Trucksville. Reservations may be made either through the class Facebook page, WSCCHS 1971, or by contacting Kate Taroli or Linda Hincken at KBTaroli@gmail.com.

WA CLASS OF ‘73

Wyoming Area High School Class of 1973 will hold its 40th anniversary reunion on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Swoyersville American Legion Pavilion. Any classmate who has not received an invitation is asked to conact Dotty Martin at dottymartin@comcast.net.

USS INDEPENDENCE

Dick White, of Pittston, announces the USS Independence CVA-62 24th reunion will be held Sept. 4-8 in Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN. For more information, contact USS Independence by mail at CVA-62, 65 Pioneer Ridge Road, Canton, North Carolina 28716, by phone at 828-648-7379 or by email at ussindycva-62@hotmail.com.

NARFE MEETING

Greater Pittston NARFE , Chapter 1723, President John Ryan has announced there will be no meetings conducted in July and August. The next meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the VFW Post 4909, 401 Main Street Dupont, Pa.

PITTSTON CENTRAL

CATHOLIC CLASS OF ‘55

A Mass for Edward Dickson, classmate and MIA in the Vietnam War will be held Sept. 15 at 12:10 at St. John the Evangelist Church, William Street, Pittston. A plaque provided by the class will be blessed. A dinner meeting will be held after the Mass at 1:30 p.m. at the Avenue Diner. R.S.V.P by August 31.

We are looking for the address of Mrs. Lorraine Gustitus Jackett. To make reservations or for more information contact Cataldo “Ky” Lazzari at 825-2648. If no answer leave a message.

BONSAI SOCIETY

OPEN HOUSE

The NEPA Bonsai Society will be holding its 23rd annual open house on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Midway Garden Center, 1865 Highway 315, Pittston. More information: 654-6194.

The agenda that day will include a large bonsai tree display by the society’s members, various demonstrations throughout the day and many bonsai trees and related items for sale. There will also be Shakuhachi flute entertainment by Jamie Orfanella and a friendly bonsai tree competition open to all members.

ST JOSEPH’S

SOCIAL CLUB

There will be no meeting in the month of August. Our next mrrting will be September 19th. The servers for this meeting will be, Gloria DeRosa, Jennie Figel, Josephine Fasciana and Emily Gorski. New Members Welcome. For information please call Theresa 654-2967

LADIES OF CHARITY

BINGO/CARD PARTY

The Ladies of Charity, will hold a bingo/card party at 2 p.m. on Sunday October 6, in the cafeteria of St. Robert Bellarmine (formerly St. Aloysius) Church in Wilkes-Barre. Chance to win monetary prizes and door prizes. Enjoy refreshments. Raffle tickets will be sold. Admission is $2 at the door. For more information call Christine Palmiter 868-3959.

WA CLASS OF ‘93

Wyoming Area Class of 1993 will hold its 20th anniversary class reunion on Nov. 29. The committee is still looking for email addresses for classmates. If you are interested in attending and have not received an invitation via Facebook or email, contact the reunion committee at wyoarea93@yahoo.com.

BUS TRIP TO A

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

The Pittston Memorial Library, along with Unlimited Travel with Theresa, will host ‘A Christmas Holiday’ bus trip stopping at the QVC Studio, Brandywine Museum and Longwood Gardens on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The price per seat is $145 and is all-inclusive.

After doing some shopping at the QVC Studio, the trip heads to Brandywine River Museum for a self-guided tour of the Wyeth Art Gallery. The next stop will be Longwood Gardens. It is truly a Christmas Wonderland. Christmas-themed sing-alongs, as well as outdoor shows and music highlight the night.

The final stop will be for dinner at the very popular Mendenhall Inn Restaurant. For reservations, call Theresa at 654-2967.