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s e r v i n g m i d va l l e y & u p pe r l ac k awa n n a va l l e y thevalleyadvantage.com | July 28, 2017
Holy Cross Parish in Olyphant will hold its chicken barbecue |page 2
A Lakeland High student has completed a service project |page 3
sun on sunny days or rain on rainy days,” Best added. The structure was built by Wiseman Property Services in Peckville. Another group that got involved was the Greater Carbondale YMCA. “We have had several events in cooperation with the Y,” he said. “The minisbe,” Best said. “We see kid’s interest in terium’s and YMCA’s missions are very skateboarding as a good springboard for ADVAntAGe eDitor similar — to encourage wholesome and enjoyable, constructive and life-changing spiritual values in everyone we can.” interactions between the youth’s interests The skate park on Belmont Street in On Thursday, Aug. 3, at 6:30 p.m., a and the churches’ ministry. For a numCarbondale recently got a welcome addedication service will be held for the ber of reasons, there are many children dition: a wooden pavillion that offers an newly built pavilion. Prior to the dedicaescape from bad weather and the summer and youths who don’t participate in any tion services, the ministerium will raffle church at all. We see the skatepark as a sun. And the money to build it came from off two sets of skateboards and accesplace where we can take the church to the a source that may seem, at first, a bit sories at the YMCA’s summer carnival, children and youths.” surprising. But there was one issue that needed to which will be happening on that day. AtThe funds were donated by the be addressed. “It was a successful effort, tendees can buy raffle tickets beginning at Carbondale Area Ministerium, a loose 5 p.m. The winning tickets will be picked but there was no shelter from the hot affiliation of area churches. Why would at the dedication service. church leaders want to make improvements to a skateboard park? It makes sense for a number of reasons, explained Rev. Jay Best, pastor of the Community Bible Church in Montdale and one of the leaders of the ministerium. “Several years ago the ministerium and interested churches took up the task of serving summer lunches to children, youths and families,” Best said. “We had been approached by Commission on Economic Opportunity’s Weinberg Regional Food Bank, and they asked us if we wouldn’t start a lunch distribution there.” The logical place to set up that lunch program was where many area kids were already congregating, and where most would feel comfortable. In addition, the location allowed Best and ministerium to reach out to the kids. “Where kids are, churches should
Skate park upgrade New structure built at Carbondale facility by Christopher Cornell
The new structure will be dedicated next week. TS_CNG/ADVANTAGE/PAGES [A01] | 07/27/17
11:09 | CORNELLCHR
A Peckville karate school recently awarded black belts |page 5
In addition to the ministerium, the organizations and individuals who contributed to the construction of the pavilion include the Albert H. Crane Veterans Camp Home Association, Ascension Parish, Berean Baptist Church, the Greater Carbondale YMCA, Communuity Bible Church, Community Bank, Covenant Reformed Church, Nancy Esbenshade, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church Carbondale, Lighthouse Church, Rose Orehek, Rescue and Restore Church, Sue Postlewaite, Thomas Ploch, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and William Galavity. The entire project was done in cooperation with the Carbondale City Council. Best said more ideas are being discussed. “We’re looking into sponsoring a skateboarding festival, possibly next year. The pavilion will be a great asset to that.”