CHURCH NOTES
All Saints Orthodox Church: 211 Willow Ave., Olyphant, offers a frozen pierogi sale from 9 to 11 a.m. every Friday and 10:30 a.m. to noon every Sunday in the church basement.
Dickson City Community Church: 516 Jackson St., Dickson City, will host Illumination Station Vacation Bible School 2026, Aug. 10-14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. All children in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade are welcome. To register, visit dicksoncitychurch.com.
Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church: Jessup, will hold its annual rummage sale and basket raffle July 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Aug 1-2, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 309 First Ave., Holy Ghost Hall at LaSalle Academy, Jessup. Info: contact Linda Mokay at 570-575-2184.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church: hosts a food giveaway from 1 to 2 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Giveaways are sponsored by Friends of the Poor and take place in the attached Holy Family Hall, 1101 Willow St., Peckville.
St. James-St. George Episcopal Church: 398 Washington Ave., Jermyn, hosts a food pantry from 1 to 2 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month.
St. John’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral: Mayfield, will hold its annual Baba’s Flea Market on Sept. 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Small appliances, jewelry, furniture, trinkets, collectibles, etc., will be sold at bargain prices. To donate items, the front door to the church center, 701 Hill St., Mayfield, will be open between 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Place donations near the bar area on the right of the main hall of the center. Donations can be used, but not abused. No clothing. Info: call Evie at 570-335-5919.
St. Mary’s Visitation Church: 625 Dundaff St., Dickson City, holds a weekly Monday night bingo. Early bird starts at 6:30 p.m. and regular games at 6:45 p.m. with doors opening at 5 p.m. Weekly jackpot is $1,000. Kitchen serves food and beverages beginning at 5:30 p.m. Info: call 570-489-2091.
Trinity Episcopal Church: 58 River St., Carbondale, is having its free monthly community lunch Aug. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. No income requirements. All are welcome.
ONGOING PROGRAMS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Browndale Fire Company sporting arms or cash raffle: Throughout August, the winning number will match the “Pick3” lottery number of the first drawing of the Pennsylvania evening lottery. Each day participants will have the chance to win the daily prize of either a shotgun, rifle, cross bow or inline and the winner has the choice of the sporting arm or the cash value as stated on the ticket. Donation is $25 with tickets available from any Browndale Fire Company member, by calling 570-785-5300 and leaving a message or through the Browndale Fire Co. No.1 Station 43 Facebook page. Winners will be contacted by phone or mail. All sporting arms may be upgraded at the winner’s expense. Winners must comply with all firearms regulations, otherwise they must take the cash value for that day. All sporting arm prizes must be claimed by the winner at Heberling’s Sport Shop in Prompton by Oct. 3.
Forest City Regional class of 1976 reunion: Golden anniversary event will be held Aug. 15. Attendees are encouraged to bring memorabilia and photos and to participate in a group photo. Organizing committee will pay tribute to deceased classmates. Info/RSVP: contact Juliann Nagoda Doyle at 570-499-4908 or jdoyle@nep.net. Additional details and updates are available from Juliann when making the reservation.
“Joshua” bus trip: “Joshua” at Sight and Sound, sponsored by Grace E. Barthold Chapter 216, OES, on Sept. 22. Bus leaves from Green Ridge Shopping Center at 6:45 a.m. Show at 11 a.m. Cost is $189 per adult. Includes the show, bus and lunch at Shady Maple Restaurant. Deadline to register is Aug. 14. Reservations/info: contact Edie Thomas at 570-562-1935 or Margaret Ann Dutchman at 570-489-3727.
Scranton Technical class of 1977 50th high school reunion: The 50th reunion is being planned for August or September 2027. Classmates who are planning on attending are asked to email one of the classmates listed as they try to get an approximate head count of attendees: Patrice Hess Gasper, patclem9@aol.com; Debbie Toole Bohn, dbohn926@aol.com; Jeanine Albert, lvhrn@yahoo.com; Peggy Williams, peggy2265 @gmail.com, and Mary Shibak Edwards, sugarpuffers@aol.com.
Third Thursdays in the Queen City: Olyphant Borough gears up with retail stores, restaurants, outdoor vendors and events for special promotions and sales every third Thursday of the month all day, especially from 5 to 8 p.m. Walk and shop on Lackawanna Avenue from the bridge to the Queen City train station. Free parking in the evening. Call DJ Gordo for info regarding vendors, food tents, entertainment and school fundraiser events at 570-766-3050.
SUMMER FESTIVALS
St. Carlo Acutis Parish Annual Family Festival: Aug 14-16. Aug 14: Youth event, 6 p.m., Throop Civic Center, Sanderson Street, Throop. Boys and girls will participate in soccer, baseball and soccer skills; ages 16 and under. Aug. 15: Family Bicycle Ride will leave Olyphant for Throop at 8:30 a.m. All ages and skill levels are invited; ages 18 and under must wear a helmet. Food portion of the festival will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. at St. Anthony’s, Rebecca Street, Throop; traditional picnic and ethnic foods will be available. Kosmic Kidz will provide live music from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 16: Bingo, 1 p.m., St. Anthony of Padua Church Hall, 215 Rebecca St., with doors opening at noon. Special food menu, 50/50 drawing and wide variety of baskets will be available; family festival wraps up at 5 p.m. Tickets: contact the parish office at 570-489-0752. Donations: contact Karen Doyle at 570-904-3241. Youth event: contact Ed Long at 570-561-8764.
The Scranton Tennis Club, 1029 Morgan Highway, Clarks Summit, will hold a Junior Tennis Tournament on Aug. 4-7 with play scheduled each afternoon. Competition will be held in Boys and Girls Singles in 14 and Under and 18 and Under categories. Young players can get competitive experience with minimal financial investment. There is also a consolation tournament for first-time losers, so everyone gets to play at least two matches. Entry fee for each event is $10 for STC members, $20 for non-members. The club will provide balls and awards for all finalists. Entry blanks are available at the club. The entry fee must be paid before the entry deadline of Saturday, Aug. 1. Players may drop their entry form and check in the mailbox on the porch at the club. Checks should be made out to Scranton Tennis Club. Players can also use Venmo to pay the entry fee (account.venmo.com/u/ScrantonTennisClub). From left, John Weiss, tournament director, stands with last year’s Boys 18 and Under finalists, William Arp, finalist, and Alex Harrison, champion. (Submitted)
DAILY EVENTS
July 30
Last Minute College Planning Day: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Enrollment and Financial Aid Suite, Ideal Saldi Hall, Johnson College Scranton campus. Designed to help prospective students finalize their plans for the upcoming academic term by providing one-on-one assistance throughout the enrollment process. Attendees can meet individually with recruitment advisers, explore financial aid opportunities, receive answers to enrollment-related questions and learn about the next steps to becoming a Johnson College student. Prospective students who bring official high school or college transcripts may be eligible to receive an instant admission decision. Free. Info/begin enrollment process: visit Johnson.edu or contact the Enrollment Office at enroll@johnson.edu or 570-702-8856.
August 1
Designer purse bingo: Blakely Hose Company No. 2 designer purse bingo, 3 p.m., Club at the Highlands, 2700 Highland Blvd., Archbald. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Designer and specialty purses and cash prizes. Special games, raffles and additional chances to win. Tickets cost $30. Food and refreshments will be available. Tickets/more info: contact any of the following bingo committee members, Maureen Santerangelo 570-650-5397; Christy Coates, 904-524-1218; Kim Davis, 570-909-4757; Marie Finley, 570-479-0052.
August 2
Blueberries & Fire Summer Fest: The Nature Conservancy hosts a family-friendly summer celebration, 9 a.m. to noon, Dick & Nancy Eales Preserve, Jessup. Free. Visitors can participate in guided hike options, blueberry and huckleberry picking, prescribed fire education and games, hands-on activities for kids and more. Cool off with fresh blueberry lemonade and enjoy treats from an ice cream truck. Info/register: visit nature.org/PAevents.
August 4
Forest City Police National Night Out: 5 to 8 p.m., Kennedy Park, Forest City. Hosted by the Forest City Police Department. Residents of Forest City, Browndale, Vandling, Richmondale and surrounding communities are invited. Annual event strengthens relationships between law enforcement, first responders and the communities they serve. The evening will feature opportunities to meet local police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and other first responders, along with emergency vehicle and equipment displays, family-friendly games, food, activities for all ages and community organizations.
August 8
Atlantic City bus trip: Friends of the Valley Community Library will host a bus trip to Atlantic City. Bus will leave the library at 7:30 a.m., drop attendees off at Resorts Casino at about 11 a.m. and will return to the library at around 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 a person ($63 for credit) and payment is needed to reserve your space on the bus. Ticket cost includes the bus and driver’s tip. No rebates. Signup available at the library, 739 River St., Peckville. Info: contact Ann at 570-479-0806 or valleylibraryfriends@outlook.com.
Chicken barbecue: Hricak McAndrew Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 869, annual chicken barbecue and basket raffle, noon to 4 p.m., post home, 161 S. Main St., Archbald. Tickets are $15 and are available at the legion or call 570-876-1615 or 570-241-4109. Gun raffle tickets are also available for $10.
August 10
Bees program: Archbald Historical Society will host guest speaker Renee Czubowicz, 7 p.m., Archbald Borough Building, 400 Church St. Czubowicz will present and display “Mason Bees – Mother Nature’s Super Pollinators.” Open to the public.
August 14
Football pre-season pizza party: Hosted by the Greater Scranton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, 6 p.m., Arcaro and Genell’s, Old Forge. Cost is $10/person; includes pizza, salad and soda. Cash bar. Donnie Collins will provide comments on the upcoming PSU season. Venmo payments accepted at @PennStateScranton-AlumniAssoci. Reservations: contact Jeff Mallas at JRM9@psu.edu, Nick DeLeo at NDeleo52@yahoo.com, Mike Duricko at Mduricko@gmail.com or Walter Telech at psuchief1@gmail.com. Event will also include raffling/auctioning of PSU football season tickets. Those who wish to participate in the raffle but are unable to attend can Venmo the raffle ticket cost ($20); to enter the raffle, email one of the above individuals with your name, physical address, email address and phone.
August 15-16
Jermyn Annual Town-Wide Yard Sale: Jermyn Shade Tree Commission is sponsoring the Jermyn annual town-wide yard sale, Aug. 15-16, starting at 8 a.m. All sale items should be on private property, with no obstruction to road and sidewalks. No borough permits are required.
August 16
Party in the Park with The Wanabees: 3 to 6 p.m., Archbald Borough Park, 400 Church St., as Archbald’s 150th anniversary festivities continue. Performance by The Wanabees. Bring lawn chairs. Food trucks and local food vendors will be there. Dancing encouraged. All are welcome to this free event.
August 29
Black Diamond Hose Company No. 2 pork dinner: Noon to 5 p.m., Rock Street Station, Archbald. Tickets are $15; takeouts only.
October 4
Barbecue event: Hosted by the Greater Scranton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association in honor of the memory of Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, 1 to 4 p.m., the Waldorf, 14 Waldorf Lane, Scranton. Cost is $30/person. Menu includes pulled pork, barbecued chicken, salad, coleslaw, corn on the cob, dessert. Soda, tea and coffee will be available. Cash bar. Chapter will name a scholarship to the Scranton campus in Sebastianelli’s name and present a plaque to the family. Matt McGloin, former PSU and Oakland Raiders quarterback, will provide comments. Reservations/payment: contact Jeff Mallas at JRM9@psu.edu, Ann McDonough at AFM8252@gmail.com, Nick DeLeo at NDeleo52@yahoo.com, Walter Telech at psuchief1@gmail.com, Mike Duricko at Mduricko2@gmail.com or Dave Garvey at dgf1747@aol.com.
Contact The Advantage: advantage@scrantontimes.com; 570-212-9657.
Submit community events
The Valley Advantage welcomes upcoming events for its Community Calendar. Please submit calendar items at least two weeks before the event. Email calendar items and photos to advantage@scrantontimes.com.