February 13

SERVICE: Wed., Feb. 13, Ash Wednesday Lenten Service , 7:00 pm, United Methodist Community Church, Great Bend, PA.

February 19

MEETING: Tues., Feb. 19, Noon to 2, St. Marks Community Center, New Milford, making Greeting Cards and Gift Bags.

February 23

PIEROGI SALE: Sat., Feb. 23, St. Martins Pierogi Sale, Pick up at 3:00 p.m., Pre-order at 756-2983.

February 24

PROGRAM: Sun., Feb. 24, “Who Goes There?”, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Nancy Wottrich will lead a hike to follow the tracks of the mammals living in Salt Springs.

Mon., Feb. 18: Centers Closed President’s Day

Tues., Feb. 19: pork chop, brussel sprouts, baked sweet potato, ww dinner roll, apple bread pudding, cranberry sauce.

Wed., Feb. 20: meatloaf w/gravy, mashed potatoes, dilled carrots, ww dinner roll, cherry crisp.

Thurs., Feb. 21: lemon pepper fish, broccoli & cauliflower augratin, roasted red skin potatoes, ww dinner roll, ambrosia.

Fri., Feb. 22: fish sandwich, vegetable barley soup, broccoli salad, ww sandwich roll, chocolate pudding pie.

Pictured is Drew Speier from WBRE who will join other celebrity readers for Reading Time at the Mall sponsored by The Northeastern PA Reading Association. This is a free event for children and their parents. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, February 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mall at Steamtown.

Celebrity readers, entertaining characters, fun craft activities, and a free book to take home is what the Northeastern Pennsylvania Reading Association (NPRA) has for kids. NPRA is a professional reading organization whose members are from Lackawanna, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties. This annual event will be at the Mall at Steamtown on Saturday, February 16th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It is a free event for children of all ages to enjoy listening to celebrity readers such as Mindi Ramsey and Noreen Clark from WNEP; Drew Speier from WBRE; and children’s authors Lindsay Barrett George, and Patricia Thomas. Amelia Bedelia will be there celebrating her 50th birthday with her mixed up antics.

Students majoring in education from the local colleges will be on hand with a variety of crafts for the kids to make. Every child who listens to a story will receive a free book.

This is just one of the many events which NPRA offers to children, families, teachers and schools in the area. Upcoming professional development sessions include Creative Classrooms with the Common Core presented by Mary Lou Heron at the NEIU on March 5th; Using Stories in Your Classroom by Annette Fisher at the University of Scranton on March 14th; Making Book Characters Come Alive by Cindy G. Reynolds at the Taylor Public Library on March 21st; Using Children’s Literature in the Mathematics Classroom by Dana Naylor and Kathy Bossi at the University of Scranton on April 18th.

In its quest to support excellence in education of future teachers, NPRA will award a $500.00 scholarship to a qualified student member of the association. The student must be enrolled as a third year education major in a four year program at a local college or university. The scholarship will be awarded at the Spring Brunch on April 27th at the Ramada Inn in Clarks Summit.

Plan to bring your children, your nieces and nephews, your grandchildren, or your friends’ children to Reading Time at the Mall for a fun time for everyone.