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.
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. 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 a homemade soup sale until sold out; chicken noodle, Italian wedding, pasta fagioli, beef barley and cabbage roll are available. Quarts are $9 and pints are $5. Chili and stew are also available for $6. A spring raffle fundraiser is underway, with the drawing date on Mother’s Day, May 10. Prizes include a 50-inch smart TV, lottery tickets, bicycle, cash, gift cards and more. Tickets are $6 per sheet of 10 tickets and $10 for two sheets. Ticket holders don’t need to be present to win. For soup sale and/or to buy raffle tickets, stop at the church weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or call the office at at 570-282-3620.
MUNICIPAL MEMOS
Jermyn Townwide Clean Up Month: Underway through May 15. Sponsored by the Jermyn Shade Tree Commission. Volunteers will clean the WWI Veterans Park, plant the Main Street flowerpots, clean bridges and the Callahan Recreational Park and Memorial Garden. Jermyn residents are asked to clean their particular section of street, curb and sidewalks of the winter’s dirt, rocks and recyclables. The goal is to have clean streets and curbs for the summer months, including the upcoming May Memorial weekend, summer activities and the celebration of America’s 250th birthday on July 19 in Jermyn. Winter refuse should be bagged and placed at the curb no more than 24 hours prior to the regularly scheduled trash and recyclable containers pickup. For brush pickup after May 1, call the Jermyn Borough office at 570-876-0610. Updates/dumpster availability: visit the borough’s website at jermynpa.com.
Throop Borough shredding event: May 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., municipal parking lot. No metal clips and no garbage accepted. Throop residents only.
Throop Hometown Heroes Banners: For those who are interested in purchasing a Throop Hometown Heroes banner, call Commander Peter P. Puhalla Sr. at 570-335-5551.
ONGOING PROGRAMS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
America 250 trip to Baltimore: Mid-Valley Travelers will have a bus trip to Baltimore for the America 250 Celebration on June 27. Group will visit the tall ships in the Harbor, watch the air show and visit the Inner Harbor Festival. Cost is $99. Reservations: call 570-955-6989.
Atlantic City bus trip: The Friends of the Valley Community Library will host a bus trip to Atlantic City on June 13. Bus will leave the library, 739 River St., Peckville, at 7:30 a.m., will 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); 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. Info: contact Ann at 570-479-0806 or valleylibraryfriends@outlook.com.
Marjon Men Senior Golf League: Plays every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from the end of April until the middle of September. Info: call 570-489-8458.
Olyphant Hometown Hero banners: Unclaimed banners will be on display and may be picked up during the week of May 23-30 at the Freedom Fighter Veterans Memorial Park on Nestor Chylak Boulevard. Banners that remain unclaimed will be disposed of honorably.
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.
Walk with a Doc events: Hosted by the Wright Center for Community Health. Scranton walk, May 9, 9 a.m., Lackawanna River Heritage Trail; walkers should meet at the Olive Street entrance. Jermyn walk, May 16, 9 a.m., Lackawanna River Heritage Trail; walkers should gather at the Delaware Street Trailhead entrance. Free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required. Info: contact Melissa Germano-Ryczak at germanom@TheWrightCenter.org.
MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES
Olyphant: May 25, Memorial Day Program and free “Concert in the Park.” American Legion Post 327, Ladies Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion, 11 a.m., at 113 Willow Ave. Honored guest speaker is Sgt. Maj. Claudette Williams, U.S. Army retired, founder of the Women Veterans Museum in Mount Pocono. Following will be the program at the Freedom Fighter Veterans Memorial Park, with honored guest speaker SP4 Shamus Gower McGuigan, U.S. Army, Afghanistan, Wounded Warrior. A free patriotic “Concert in the Park” by Brass Storm will follow. Seating will be available. Light luncheon will be provided in the American Legion Post 327 hall by the Ladies Auxiliary and Sons of Post 327. In case of rain, the program and concert will be held inside the legion hall. Info: call Kim Atkinson at 570-892-0378.
PERFORMING ARTS
Double “R” Twirlettes will present “America 250″: May 13, 7 p.m., Mid Valley Secondary Center, Throop. The show will feature the Twirlettes as they celebrate America’s birthday and their invitation to represent Pennsylvania in the Salute to Independence Parade, which will be held in Philadelphia in July. To purchase tickets, call 570-489-1935 or visit doublertwirl.com; tickets will also be available at the door.
To submit your event listing for publication, email advantage@scrantontimes.com. (Metro)
DAILY EVENTS
May 1
Tinnitus Support Group of Northeast Pennsylvania meeting: 2 p.m., Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. Support group welcomes individuals living with tinnitus, their loved ones and anyone interested in learning more about this condition. Virtual meeting options available for those unable to attend in person. No fee to attend; new members welcome. For more info or the virtual meeting link, contact Joe Kelly, community health worker at the Wright Center for Community Health, at kellyj@TheWrightCenter.org or 570-230-0019.
May 2
32nd annual Fred Ciotti 5K Race: 9 a.m., Greater Carbondale YMCA, 82 N. Main St., Carbondale. Participants can choose from a 5K run, 5K walk or a 1-mile Color Fun Run. Trophies awarded to overall male and female runners; medals will go to top three finishers in both run and walk races. High School Cup is back; top three finishers from the same school will take home the cup. Registration, $20 early bird rate available through April 18; afterward, $25. Youth ages 12 and under, $15. Register: visit greatercarbondaleymca.org or stop by the Y’s Member Service Desk.
Chicken barbecue: Annual spring chicken barbecue, noon to 4 p.m., Throop VFW Post 7251, 179 Boulevard Ave. Drive-thru or eat-in. Dinner includes half-chicken, vegetable, baked potato, roll and cake desert. Cost is $15; tickets available at the post home.
Greater Scranton YMCA Healthy Kids Day: 10 a.m., Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 N. Blakely St., Dunmore. Free annual event features rides, vendor fair, bounce houses, face painting, entertainment, refreshments and more. Info: contact Brandon Whipple, senior director of programming, at 570-828-3116 or bwhipple@gsymca.org or visit greaterscrantonymca.org/healthy-kids-day/.
Purse bingo: Eynon/Sturges Volunteer Fire Department annual purse bingo, 3 p.m., Club at the Highlands, Archbald. Tickets are $30. Doors open at 1 p.m. Food and beverages available for purchase. There will be 16 regular games and four specials; specials will be purses and cash. 50/50 will be a purse and cash. Door prizes and raffle baskets. To buy tickets, reach out to any member, send a message through the Eynon/Sturges Hose Co. #3 Facebook page or buy through PayPal at paypal.me/ESVHC3.
Spring craft fair and bake sale: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Montdale Community Church, 961 Lakeland Drive, Scott Twp. Indoor event features craft vendors selling a variety of items, along with a bake sale featuring Welsh cookies, pies, cakes, cookies and breads, and a basket raffle. Lunch will be served; soup, chili, wimpies, hot dogs and homemade pierogies available.
St. Ubaldo Society hosts Hospitality Night: St. Ubaldo Cultural Center, 310 Third Ave., Jessup. 5 p.m., procession; 6 p.m., dignitary announcements. Reception to follow, with light fare. Cost is $5 for members, $15 for non-members.
May 3
Healing service: Monthly healing service at Christ Episcopal Church, 9 a.m., Delaware and Dundaff streets, Forest City, with the Rev. Bill McGinty. All are welcome. Light refreshments to follow.
Spring into Cash event: Noon to 2 p.m., Christ the King Hall, 429 Church St., Archbald. Donation is $20 and non-refundable. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win. $100 drawings held every 15 minutes, with the last drawing being a mystery cash amount of at least $100 or more. Winners returned to the drawing for multiple chances to win. Basket raffle, 25 chances/$10; 50/50, three chances/$5; lottery tree, three chances/$5. Live music and light fare provided. Tickets: Available at the parish office, 570-876-1701, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call/text Karen S. at 570-604-7682; Venmo accepted by contacting Karen. Tickets and all raffles will be available after Masses starting April 11 through May 3 in Christ the King Hall.
May 7
Books Appétit: 6 to 9 p.m., Valley Community Library, 739 River St., Peckville. Annual fundraiser features local food, beer, wine, raffle baskets and live music by The Wanabees. For individuals 21 and older. Tickets cost $35 in advance or $40 at the door. All proceeds benefit Valley Community Library. Tickets can be purchased online at givebutter.com/books-appetit-2026 or in person at the library.
Chicken and biscuit dinner: Noon to 5 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 58 River St., Carbondale. Dinners are $14 and include biscuits with roasted chicken, mashed potatoes w/gravy, vegetable and dessert. Preordering is suggested but not necessary. To place preorders, call 570-282-3620.
May 9
Free community lunch: Noon to 1 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 58 River St., Carbondale. All are welcome.
May 14
Growing Strawberries: 6 p.m., Greenhouse Project, 200 Arthur Ave., Scranton. Penn State Master Gardener Gary White will explain the best practices: plant habits and needs, recommended varieties, containers or beds, common pests and diseases. Fee is $5. Registration required by emailing programs@scrantongreenhouse.org.
May 16
Community luncheon: Noon to 12:45 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 700 Delaware and Dundaff streets, Forest City. All are welcome.
Magic show fundraiser: Damian the Magician will perform a Concert of Magic, 2 to 4:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 58 River St., Carbondale. Doors open at 1 p.m. Snack bar available. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Stop by the church office for tickets weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or buy online at trinity-episcopal.weebly.com.
May 18
Vegetable Gardening program: 1:15 p.m., Carbondale Public Library, 5 N. Main St., Carbondale. Penn State Master Gardeners will conduct a free program that will explain how certain vegetables grow well together, manage your garden growing space and yield. Register: call the library at 570-282-4281.
May 20
Growing Herbs: 6 p.m., Abington Library, 1200 W. Grove St., South Abington Twp. Join 4-H and Penn State Extension Master Gardeners to discuss common herbs, how to care for them and the best ways to plant them. For beginner and experienced gardeners. Lackawanna County PA 4-H will also have herbs for sale as part of a fundraiser for the organization.
May 21
Gardening for Birds: 1 p.m., The Gathering Place, 3S State St., Clarks Summit. Penn State Extension Master Gardeners will discuss how to attract birds to your garden; it takes more than a bird food feeder. Register: visit gatheringplacecs.org.
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.