Feb14

FRIDAY, FEB. 14, 2014

For a review of “RoboCop,” see Page 3

We saw you at...

Little Red Dress event, Schuylkill Haven

Dolores Zemantauski, left, and Rosalind Rux, both of Port Carbon

Laura Gordon, left, and Emily Gordon, both of Auburn For more photos from the event, see Page 4

Showing off your skills on the court See Page 2

Hot shots Annual basketball competition to take place Sunday

BY ERIC PEDDIGREE STAFF WRITER

epeddigree@ republicanherald.com

K

ids will show off their basketball skills Sunday as they try to light up the scoreboard at Martz Hall in Pottsville for prizes and pride.

The Hot Shot basketball competition will be held at 4 p.m. at the facility on Laurel Boulevard and 16th Street in the city, with registration scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

The event is expected to run for about two hours. Attendees are asked to use the lower entrance to Martz Hall.

The long-running competi-

2

If you go

What: Hot Shot basketball competition When: 4 p.m. Sunday Where: Martz Hall, Pottsville Admission: Free

tion is free and open to children ages 9 to 14.

Mary Quirk, director of the Pottsville Recreation Commission, who sponsors the event, said the children will be divided into three age categories — 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14. Each category will be split by gender, “so girls and boys don’t compete against each other,” she said.

Quirk said on average, the

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

competition gets between 50 and 60 participants. Demonstrations will be held before the competition to show the shooters what to do. The participants will also be instructed on the scoring method and infractions.

During the competition, Quirk said the participants will have one minute to take aim from five designated points around the key. Like in a regular basketball game, the shooters earn points for each made basket. Bonus points can be earned by making a shot from all the designated points. In addition to shooting, the participants will also get to show off other basketball skills, such as dribbling.

Quirk said the winner for each age category will receive a gift card to Schuylkill Valley Sports.

Quirk said the competition is a chance for young athletes to step into the spotlight by themselves and show their abilities.

“It’s an individual competition so it’s letting them show their individual talent,” she said.

Quirk said the event has been held for about 25 or 30 years.

“It’s been going on for a long, long time,” she said.

In the event of inclement weather, Quirk said there are no plans to cancel or reschedule.

“We will just play it by ear,” she said.

For more information, call 570-622-1234, ext. 346 or visit www.ci.pottsville.pa.us/ html/rec.htm.

POTTSVILLE (PA.) REPUBLICAN HERALD

DAVID MCKEOWN/STAFF PHOTOS

Kade Henninger, Orwigsburg, attempts a shot from one of the designated spots around the key during last year’s Hot Shot basketball competition at Martz Hall, Pottsville. This year’s competition will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday. LEFT: Theresa Tellez takes a shot during the competition, which is sponsored by Pottsville Recreation Commission.

New ‘RoboCop’ somewhat improved The reboot of “RoboCop” uses the basic blueprint from the 1987 movie starring Peter Weller. It’s been modified and updated to create a sleeker design, but it is not as intellectually cutting-edge.

Big business has become the new go-to villains now that the Russians aren’t as scary, making the film less of a cautionary tale about how machines are taking over our lives and more focused on the evils of corporate America.

Just like the original, the new “RoboCop” focuses on Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman), a first-rate cop who becomes the target of one of the top criminals in nearfuture Detroit. An explosive attack leaves Murphy with little more than his brain and right hand worth saving. Fortunately for him, Raymond Sellars (Michael Keaton) has been trying to come up with a way to get the public and politicians to get on board with his new robot peacekeepers.

The chief complaint is that robots are too analytical in their thinking. That’s when Sellars comes up with the plan to have his chief robot expert, Dr. Dennett Norton (Gary Oldman), put the few remaining parts of Murphy into a robot body to create the perfect union of a machine’s abilities with a human’s thinking.

In the original film, Murphy’s past was a blank, returning in only spits and spurts of images. His emotional struggles came out of trying to recapture the world that helped define his humanity. The new Murphy remembers his family and his struggle is more of how to be a husband and father when most of your body has a limited warranty.

Because the new RoboCop has more memory of past life, the performance by Kinnaman has more emotional impact than Weller’s work.

MOVIE REVIEWS But Weller sold the idea of a manbot far more convincingly because he wasn’t saddled with sentimental situations.

Both films offer plenty of action, with the new version having a slight edge just because of the technology that’s available to create massive battle sequences. What the new “RoboCop” loses in its message, it makes up with first-rate fights.

The least interesting part of the new “RoboCop” are segments that feature Samuel L. Jackson as the host of a TV news program. The over-thetop rants by Jackson do little to advance the plot or make any serious commentary on the movie’s deeper message.

The new “RoboCop” shows we have the technology to build a sleeker, faster and more powerful version of the original film. But it comes at a price — the new movie isn’t as crisp when it comes to its political and social messages.

If you are looking for action, the new version is perfect for you. If you want a “RoboCop” with more depth, stick with the original on DVD. “RoboCop,” a a Columbia Pictures release, is rated PG13 for disturbing images, language and drug use. Running time: 110 minutes. ★★★

“About Last Night” Kevin Hart brings his “A” game to “About Last Night.”

For those of us despairing that we’d ever see the little man at his antic best, after that lame second concert film and halfspeed blockbuster “Ride Along,” that’s good news.

Paired up with Regina Hall, who gives as good as she gets, in the raunchy romantic African-American remake of the 1986 Rob Lowe/Demi Moore romance based on David Mamet’s play “Sexual

Perversity in Chicago,” Hart knocks back drinks and blasts out one-liner observations about the opposite sex and relationships.

And Hall, as Joan to Hart’s Bernie, throws it right back at him and anybody else within range.

Their banter is so sharp and so well-timed that in many of their scenes, this illmatched but perfectly suited couple are shouting funny stuff at the same time. And they’re so good they do what other versions of this oncecutting edge piece only flirted with. They overwhelm the romantic leads.

That would be the “serious” couple, played by Rob and Demi back in the day, here performed with a minimum of pathos and comic

pop by Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant. Theirs is the relationship we track in this story, one so predictable and bland that the movie is waiting on Hart to show up again and Hall to march into the scene and take him down.

Danny (Ealy) meets Debbie (Bryant) in the middle of a drunken, out-of-control outing with Bernie and Joan.

Over the months, as the louder couple feud, break up and drunkenly hook back up, Debbie and Danny get close, closer then domestic.

The boys and girls debrief each other in assorted L.A. bars, where it’s always “About Last Night” — explicit, blowby-blow accounts of seductions, pickups and the wrong moves each thinks the other is making. One commits, the oth-

er “knows when to get out.”

Breakups are abrupt and kind of half-hearted in Leslye Headland’s updated script, though girl bonding over Bruno Mars and Nutella straight out of the jar is funny. Career stumbles and taking a stand on principle over a bar owner’s beer bill (the guys are in restaurant supply) seem flimsy in the current economy.

Which is a problem the whole film — funny as it sometimes is — struggles with. How can you break new ground on “rules” and relationship “tells” after “Friends” and “Seinfeld” and “Rules of Engagement” and scores of films and TV shows have covered and re-covered that ground in the ensuing decade?

The sex scenes are less

romantic and generally played more for laughs. And the conclusions are obvious shortly after the opening credits.

But what keeps us around until the closing credits, where Hart and Hall bust each other up, is the electrical charge between those two.

They’re the Wimbledon Finals of sexy, sassy, drunken comic banter — two pros, evenly matched enough to put on a great show, even if they make us forget about the rest of the movie around them as they do.

“About Last Night,” a Screen Gems release, is rated R for sexual content, language and brief drug use.

Running time: 100 minutes. ★★½

West Coast Video New Releases First Featuring

Elmer’s Hobby Shop

And Chris’s AndElectronic Chris’s Cigarettes

Schuylkill Mall

Electronic Thanks to All Our Loyal Customers!

Cigarettes

For Showtimes: 570-874-2505 • www.schuylkillmalltheatres.com www.facebook.com/schuylkillmalltheatres Playing 2/14 - 2/20

ROBOCOP 12:45PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM, 9:30PM

VAMPIRE ACADEMY 3:45PM, 9:45PM LONE SURVIVOR 1:00PM, 6:30PM

LEGO MOVIE 3D 3:00PM, 5:45PM, 8:30PM RIDE ALONG 4:00PM, 9:30PM MONUMENTS MEN 12:30 PM, 3:30PM, 6:00 PM, 9:00PM ABOUT LAST NIGHT 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:00PM

PHILOMENA 12:15PM, 6:15PM Experience Good Food/ Drinks and a movie in the VIP Auditorium at

BAR & GRILL

ENDLESS LOVE 1:00PM, 4:00PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM LEGO MOVIE 12:15PM

HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS DAILY

POTTSVILLE (PA.) REPUBLICAN HERALD

DON’T JUST SEE A MOVIE, EXPERIENCE IT AT

Reading Movies 11 & IMAX 30 N. 2nd Street 610-374-2828 ∙ www.rctheatres.com FREE GARAGE PARKING Digital Projection & Sound • Stadium Seating

Showtimes for Friday, February 14 Through Wednesday, February 19

Tickets are now on sale for: Kids for Cash • Begins 2/21 Envisioned • Filmed Locally! • Sunday 2/23 at 4pm BARGAIN TUESDAYS ALL SHOWS ALL DAY $5.25 (Excluding IMAX, Additional fee for 3D) Hidden River Film Initiative Presents: Escape From Tomorrow Wednesday, 2/19 at 7:00 Discussion Afterwards

NOW SHOWING IMAX: ROBOCOP IN IMAX (PG13)

1:10, 4:10, 7:05, 9:45 FEATURING IN REALD DIGITAL 3D: THE LEGO MOVIE IN DIGITAL 3D (PG) (4:15), 9:30 ABOUT LAST NIGHT (R) (1:20, 4:20), 7:20, 10:00 ENDLESS LOVE (PG13) (1:30, 4:30), 7:30, 10:10 WINTER’S TALE (PG13) (1:00, 4:00), 7:00, 9:50 ROBOCOP (PG13) (1:40, 4:40), 7:25, 10:05 THE LEGO MOVIE (PG) (1:15, 1:45, 4:45), 7:05, 7:35, 10:00 THE MONUMENTS MEN (PG13) (1:20, 4:20), 7:10, 9:55 VAMPIRE ACADEMY (PG13) 7:30, 10:10 RIDE ALONG (PG13) (1:05, 4:05), 7:05, 10:05 THE NUT JOB (PG) (1:20, 4:10) LONE SURVIVOR (R) (1:15, 4:15), 7:15, 9:40

CHILDREN UNDER 3 NOT ADMITTEDTO PG13 or R RATED MOVIES AFTER 6PM SHOWTIMES SUBJECTTO CHANGEWITHOUT NOTICE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

3

We saw you at ... Little Red Dress on Saturday From left, Megan Whitecavage, Samantha Cody and Debbie Cody, all of Pottsville

From left, Lindsay Trout, Kathy Case and Kristyn Case, all of Pottsville

Jerry and Joyce Pawlowki, Auburn

Photos by David McKeown From left, Ann Subick, Ashland; Tammy Sausser, Frackville; Renata Blozousky, Ashland; Judi Rakowsky, Frackville

DELCAMP’S

Friday

STEVE’S

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Ham Hoagie ..................... $3.99

Fri. Feb. 14th - “FAT CATS” Sat. Feb. 15th - “AMOS STONE”

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Battered Fish Dinner........ $5.99

4

Valentine’s Day Dance & Auction Fund Raiser for Pottsville Pythons Baseball Saturday, Feb. 15th 7pm-12 midnight

St. Clair Fish & Game Music by

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570-366-1914

570-544-6096 Weekend Special Scrapple, Eggs & Homefries

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Thursdays Ribs & Beer

Fri., Feb. 14th.

“JOHN PE-WE DAMITER”

Make your Valentine’s Reservations.

Coal Creek Plaza, Saint Clair

570-429-1888

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

2501 West End Avenue Pottsville - 570-622-8741 Tonite 10 pm - 2 am

“KANNED FISH” Saturday 10 pm - 2 am

iDJ “JOHN DELOWERY”

Mon-Happy Hour 5 - 6 pm Tues.-Tacos 2 /$1.50 Happy Hour 5-6 p.m.

Wed.-60¢ Wings-Happy Hour 4 - 6 pm Thurs.-Happy Hour 8- 10 pm Fri.-60¢ Wings & Happy Hour 4 - 8 pm Sun $1.80 Natural Light Drafts

Coming 3/15 - “Adrenalyn”

POTTSVILLE (PA.) REPUBLICAN HERALD

204 Peacock St., Pottsville

570-622-8920

Open Friday 3 pm Sat., Sun., Mon., & Thurs. 6 pm

SATURDAY 9 PM “STEVIE C” No Cover FRI., FEB. 21ST. "PARTY TYME" DJ & Karaoke SAT., FEB. 22ND. Guinness "BOY'S UPSTAIRS" on Tap Friend us on Facebook

Paulette Zuppert, left, Pottsville, and Lisa Valenti, Orwigsburg

Anne's Bakery and More

Middleport Inn

We Have Mackerel

• Prime Rib • Shrimp & Crab Au Gratin • 8 oz Lobster Tail • Lobster Bisque Soup Thursday - Wing Night

Branchdale Call 570-544-5105 Weekend Special Cheese Omelet with Bacon & Homefries

Thur.-Fri.-Sat.-Sun. 6 a.m.-12 noon

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Friday Specials

570-277-9015

WICONISCO FIRE CO. SOCIAL HALL SAT. FEBRUARY 15TH

BACK IN BLACK (AC/DC TRIBUTE BAND)

10PM-1AM $10 Donation Must be 21 ID Required

What’s all the flap about ‘Flappy Bird?’

Lately, there has been a lot of fuss over a little game called “Flappy Bird.”

That’s right, “Flappy Bird.”

It is the brainchild of Vietnam-based developer Dong Nguyen.

Nope, still not making this up, people.

Anyway, although it was released in May 2013, its popularity seemed to peak midJanuary 2014 when it became the number one downloaded app with more than 50 million downloads.

Fifty million.

When I heard this, I thought, like any bandwagon jumper, “Surely this game is awesome, I must see what all the fuss is about.”

So, I downloaded it. It was free, so there was no reason not to, right?

Wrong.

What “Flappy Bird” didn’t come with was a disclaimer stating it consequently opens the gates of hell and sucks

and highly addictive. You would think it would be simple, but you must have your timing almost perfect to get Jenna though the pipes.

Wasakoski I tried about 17 times until I got through my first one and I got so excited, I wrecked right into the next one, overshadowing my joy with rage.

If you wake up in the your life through them at morning and find yourself first play. saying, “What can I do today to raise my frustration and What is it? anxiety levels higher and Let me give you the lowhigher in 3-second interdown on the game and all it vals?” then “Flappy Bird” is entails. the game for you.

You have this bird, he flies One player posted online, to the right, when you tap the screen he flaps his wings, ele- “The best position to play ‘Flappy Bird’ is in the fetal vating the bird. The landposition, because it’s also the scape is very original Super best position to cry in.”

Mario Brothers-esque, so Flappy Bird is terrible. there are these pipes coming It’s worse than waking up out of the bottom and top of and finding out more snow the screen and the goal is to just fly through the openings. and below zero temperatures are coming.

That’s it.

It’s worse than being sinThat’s all there is to it. gle on Valentine’s Day. The catch is, the game is almost comically difficult It’s worse than your heat-

Blu Tavern

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Rt. 209, Llewellyn • 570-544-9919

Featured Entrees • Prime Rib of Beef • Steak & Cake • Salmon en Croute Sunday Brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Taking Reservations for Valentine’s Day 4-10 pm For more info www.blutavern.com

PINE GROVE VFW 570-345-6347

Public Welcome – Weekly Specials

Kitchen Hours

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY DRINK SPECIALS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH HOLY SMOKE @ 10 PM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 ACCOUCO SOLO @ 4 PM-7 PM TH

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST KRISTIN KARAOKE @ 9 PM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND THE ATOMIC POP @ 10 PM ID A MUST 19 FRONT ST., CRESSONA

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Valentine’s Day Dance with music by “The Krew”

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Phone 570-739-4418 www.stonemountainwinecellars.com

2501 West End Ave., Pottsville

NOW FORMING - 10 for 10 LEAGUE $10 a week - 3 games

SAT. FEB 15TH 9PM-12AM Catering for All Occasions, Funeral Dinners and Luncheons, Birthdays, Christenings etc.

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Guests Accompanied By Members Only – ID a Must Visit Us On Facebook

Saturday, Feb. 15th. • 5-8pm All Welcome WE DELIVER

Coming Feb. 22 “Kat &The Mad Dogs”

“CHUCK CAHOE”

Friday, February 14th

WING NI T E

Bowl 10 weeks Recieve a FREE Bowling Ball

Strike Zone Alleys

GIORGIO’S PIZZA RESTAURANT

(570) 429-1237 36 N. 2nd St., St. Clair PA

Happy Valentine’s Day

Specials Pasta Trio, Lasagna, Manicotti and Beef Ravioli or a Heart Shaped Pizza Your Way. Closed Mondays.

Like Us on Facebook

Please see JENNA, Page 7

The Pottsville Zone Sports Bar & Grill

11am-5pm Indulge yourself in wine tastings and chocolate fondue . . . enjoy special music!

Starts Tues. Feb 18th, 2014 @ 9pm Don’t Delay Call Today

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Village Inn presents

Mar Lin Citizens Hose Co.

Sat. Feb. 15th. & Sun. Feb. 16th

Valentine’s Day Weekend Specials serving from 5pm-9pm

Then, the people of the Internet did what they always do — tried to cash in.

Almost immediately, phones that had the game installed were being auctioned off to the highest bidder on eBay. It was reported one sold for nearly $100,000.

Since word spread on that little sale faster than fire and a gallon of gasoline, there are now literally thousands of phones with “Flappy Bird” installed listed on eBay. Really, people?

First of all, eBay rules state that a smartphone must be wiped clean and restored to original settings in order to be sold. That means no “Flappy Bird” on the phone.

The site has since been messaging those trying to sell their devices in an obvious attempt to end the madness.

Now, some guy on Craigslist is even offering to rent his phone for people to play.

Now serving breakfast Saturday and Sundays 7 am - 12 pm

Friday 4-8 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday 7-11 a.m. & 4-8 p.m.

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Searching for answers

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ing bills this winter.

It’s worse than when your ice cream falls off your cone.

It’s worse than Nickelback.

Eh, I’m not sure about that last one, but it’s bad; trust me.

It is frustrating and addictive on such a level, that’s I think it should be classified as a narcotic.

And the world loves it. Go figure.

Demise But on Feb. 10, something crazy happened. The game was pulled from the App Store. That’s right, Dong announced via Twitter 22 hours previous to the takedown that he “couldn’t take this anymore” and the game was to be removed.

Nguyen claims the game, which reportedly pulled in $50,000 a day in ad revenue, ruined his simple life.

People had apparently been taking their anger for the game out on Nguyen, he was threatened with legal action for copying other games and he just crumbled under all the attention.

So, he deleted it.

Enter the firestorm that is the Internet.

Now, all those cursing the game’s very existence who deleted it in a moment of blind rage were as angry as torch-wielding villagers by his decision to take it down.

9:30 pm - 12:30 am Come for dinner and stay for the entertainment!

Special Dinner Menu plus full menu available for Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th!

For Our Full Menu and List of Events Check Our Website www.mineshaftcafe.com

1120 Centre Street, Ashland • 875-3292

Stop in or take out Lunch and Dinner.

Choose from our Full Menu.

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337 Peacock Street Pottsville • 570-628-9793

Milefsky’s Licenced Massage and Chiropractic Cheryl Milefsky, LMT 107 West Centre St. Manahoy City, PA 17948

Valentine’s Day Certificates Available!

570-773-2690 Most Insurances Accepted

POTTSVILLE (PA.) REPUBLICAN HERALD

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

5

THIS WEEKEND’S EVENTS TODAY

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SPAGHETTI DINNER — 4:30 to 8 p.m., St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Valley View. Eat in or take out. Adults $8, children 12 and under $6, children 4 and under free. For more information, call 570-682-3430 or 570-527-3206. All proceeds benefit Youth Group.

CHINESE AUCTION RESCHEDULED — Shop and drop, 4 to 9 p.m. Feb. 21 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22, Grace United Methodist Church, 233 Coal St., Port Carbon. Drawings 4 p.m.

Benefits St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund.

FUNDRAISER — Chinese auction and spaghetti dinner, Mechanicsville Game and Fish, 925 First St., Mechanicsville.

Shop and drop, 5 to 9 p.m. today and 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Dinner available 3 to 8 p.m.

Saturday. Cost $10. For delivery, call Gina at 570-952-5093.

Proceeds benefit Sandy Kerby Davis, Lake Wynonah, a breast and brain cancer victim.

PET LUV WEEKEND — 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Fairlane Village mall, Pottsville. Fundraiser for Hillside SPCA. Donations accepted.

VALENTINE DANCE — 8 to 11 p.m., West End Hose Company, 12th and Market streets, Pottsville. No cover charge. Call 570-622-5570.

BALLROOM DANCE CLASSES — 7 to 9 p.m.,

Trinity Episcopal Church, Centre Street and Howard Avenue, Pottsville. Sponsored

by Pottsville Recreation Commission. Call 570-622-6619.

SMOKE-FREE BINGO — 6:45 p.m., doors open 5:30 p.m., Summit Station Fire Company, 88 Firehouse Road, Summit Station.

SummitFire34@comcast.net for more information.

FOOD PANTRY — Hosted

by New Life in Christ Ministries, 3:30 to 5 p.m., 217219 Market St., Cumbola.

Emergency food pantry available by appointment only, call 570-277-6041.

SATURDAY AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE — Noon to 5 p.m., Schuylkill Mall, Frackville. To make an appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or log onto redcrossblood.org.

ANNUAL CHILI AND BOILO COOK OFF — Registration 11 a.m., fee $20, tasting 1 to 5 p.m., fee $10, East End Fire Company, 553 E. Broad St., Tamaqua. Sponsored by American Hose Company and East End Fire Company, to benefit Carbon/Tamaqua American Cancer Society. To register or for questions, call 570-233-8006.

ANNUAL ROAST — 6 to 7 p.m., Good Will Gun Club, Cressona. Cost $20. Music by Sapphire, 8 to 11 p.m. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend. For tickets, call Ce Emerich at 570-294-1360.

BREAKFAST FUNDRAIS-

Pine View Acres

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

BUFFET BREAKFAST Sunday, February 16, 7:30 a.m. -12 Noon East Norwegian Twp. Fire Dept.

570-429-0867

Steak Night

Feb. 8th. and starting @ 4pm Featuring Chef Bob McDonald Delmonico Filet & T-Bones and Yocko's featured Cast Iron Corn Bread w/almond butter $4 Margaritas Reservations recommended.

570-399-5365 570-544 5442

SECOND MOUNTAIN

ROD & GUN CLUB 156 N. Greenview Rd., Sch. Haven

Valentine’s Dance Saturday February 15

“Chase”

9:30-12:30 - $5 Cover I.D. a Must

Weekend Specials

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sonny’s Smoked & Tiki Bar Now Open

Now Accept 570-628-3207 • Chamberlaine Ave., Pottsville WeEBT Cards

MARDI GRAS — 8 p.m. to midnight, Good Will Hose Company No. 1, 225 S. Balliet St., Frackville. Must be 21 and older to attend. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets available at Frackville Free Public Library, 56 N. Lehigh Ave. For more information, call 570-874-3382.

Sponsored by Frackville Area Fireworks group.

MEETING — Black Diamond Writers’ Network, 10 a.m. to noon, Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St., Tamaqua.

For more information, call 570-645-3059 or visit www. tamaquapubliclibrary.com. For directions, 570-668-4660.

MEETING — Celebrate Recovery, 9 to 11 a.m., Fearnot Assembly of God Church, 1152 W. Mountain Road, Hegins. For more information, call Brian at 570-205-2813.

M&T MOVIES AT THE MAJESTIC — “Monsters Univer-

Diener's Hill

Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge

SUNDAYS SPECIALS FRIDAY SEAFOOD BUFFET BIG BREAKFAST BUFFET King Crab Legs-Steamed Clams Open Saturdays 4 - 8 pm Haddock-Shrimp (Fried & Cocktail) Open Tues Thru Fri 11:30 am - 8 pm Includes Dessert & Salad Bar & 12 other items $19.95 For lunches & dinners “DJ PARTY TYME” Thursdays 8-12 FEBRUARY SPECIALS Yuengling Breaded Scallops $10.95 Line Dancing Stuffed Haddock w/ Crabmeat $18.95 Every 2nd Friday of the Month Twin Lobster Tails $38.50 LUNCH SPECIALS Sat., Feb. 15th.

Spaghetti, Italian Meatball & Salad $6.95 “SOUL REBELS” Chicken Wings $6.95 doz. Everyday Oldies

6

ER — 7 to 11 a.m., Bethany Christian Fellowship, Front and Railroad streets, Cressona. Adults $5.50, children 12 and under $4.

CANCELLATION — Cabin Fever Hike at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove, due to icy conditions.

CANCELLATION — Spaghetti dinner at Saint Clair Wade United Methodist Church.

CHILDREN’S VALENTINE DANCE — 2 to 4 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 141 East St., Williamstown.

Free. Open to kindergarten to sixth-grade students.

FREE CLOTHING AND FREE MEAL — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. third Saturday of every month, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 1931 E. Wiconisco St., Reinerton. Call Dale Oxenrider at 570617-1530 or 717-647-4855.

FREE CLOTHING CLOSET — 10 a.m. to noon, Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, 13th and Market streets, Ashland. Call 570875-3000.

Friday and Saturday

116 Ringtown Blvd Ringtown 570-889-2357 Join Us This Weekend!

Jive Turkey Cityscape waffle- it’s like Thanksgiving on a stuffing waffle $8.95 Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with a Brandied Peppercorn Sauce $10.95 Shrimp & Lobster Cavatappi $13.95 Prim Rib $15.95

Sunday

Beef Pot Pie with Rolled Dumplings $8.95 Lemon Pepper Catfish $9.95 Chicken Stroganoff $10.95

POTTSVILLE (PA.) REPUBLICAN HERALD

Sunday Breakfast Chipped beef Breakfast Panini

sity,” 7 p.m., Sovereign Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St., Pottsville. Free admission and popcorn. Hosted by Pottsville Recreation Commission and sponsored by M&T Bank.

PORK AND SAUERKRAUT SUPPER — 3 to 7 p.m..

Cressona Masonic Hall, Third and Ash streets, Cressona.

Adults $8, children 12 and under $4. Eat in or take out.

SPAGHETTI DINNER — 3 to 6 p.m., Friedens Lutheran Church, 525 Church St., New Ringgold. Adults $7, children 12 and under $5, children 5 and under free. Gluten-free spaghetti available. Sponsored

by Advent Lutheran Church.

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALL DINNER — 2 to 6 p.m., Saint Clair Lions Club building, McCord Avenue, Saint Clair. Eat in or take out. Cost $7.50. Local delivery avail-

able. Also selling homemade bean soup, takeouts only, $3 per quart. Benefits St. John’s United Church of Christ, Saint Clair. Call Bob at 570-4290549 or 570-429-9939.

SWEETHEART SPAGHETTI DINNER RESCHEDULED — To 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22, Grace United Methodist Church, 233 Coal St., Port Carbon. Adults $8, children 10 and under $4. Eat in or take out. Sponsored by Port Carbon Citizens Committee to benefit July 4 parade and Fireworks.

VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION — An Evening with Gene Morrison and spaghetti dinner, acoustic musical entertainment, 6 to 9 p.m., dinner, 4 to 9 p.m., Frackville Elks Lodge, 307 S. Third St., Frackville. Cost $12 per person.

Sovereign Majestic

The Anthracite Philharmoic presents:

M&T Movies at the Majestic

Please see CALENDAR, Page 7

Saturday, February 15, 7:00 p.m.

Valentines,Voices and Vino

STANDARDIZED

at Schuylkill Co. Council

Free Admission and Popcorn.

Lies, Money, & Civil Rights: How Testing is Ruining Public Education

1440 Mahantongo St ., Pottsville

One special screening: Saturday, February 22, 12:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10.00

Sunday, Feb 16, 2014 3 pm - 6pm $15/person or $25/couple

570-628-4647

http://www.sovereignmajestic.com

Evans CornEr Pub Valentine’s Day Surf N’Turf Dinner $24.95 per person Call For Reservations $1 Lagers John Frye Just Acoustic Saturday Feb. 15th 9pm-Close No Cover $1 Lagers 239 E. Centre St. Mahanoy City

570-773-0526

for the Arts

Info: 570-628-5158

Proceeds to benefit the Anthracie Philharmonic

PINE GROVE LEGION POST 374 42 S.Tulpehocken St. Pine Grove 570-345-8050 FRI., FEB. 14th.

VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIALS

DINNER 4-7PM • STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST • SEARED SCALLOPS OVER VINAIGRETTE SALAD • HADDOCK W/ MAC & CHEESE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN THE DINING ROOM

Music & Dancing During Dinner 5-8pm Featuring Mark Rissinger

BAR BINGO 7 PM SHARP

SAT., BREAKFAST 7-11 AM COMING FEB. 21st.

“TOMMY ZITO”

Reservations 570-345-8050

CALENDAR Continued from Page 6

VALENTINE’S DAY DANCE AND CHINESE AUCTION — 7 p.m. to midnight, Saint Clair Fish and Game, 1 McCord Ave., Saint Clair. Tickets $25. Fundraiser for Pottsville Python baseball club to play in Cooperstown, N.Y.

SUNDAY ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST — 8 a.m. to noon, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church Hall, 462 W. Ludlow St., Summit Hill. Cost $7.

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST BUFFET — 7:30 a.m. to noon, Independent Hose Company, Diener’s Hill, Saint Clair. Cost $7 adults, $3.50 children. Call 570-429-0867.

BINGO — 2 p.m., doors open 12:30 p.m.,Newtown Volunteer Fire Company, 36 Wood St., Zerbe. Call 570-695-3777.

BREAKFAST — 7 a.m. to noon, New Ringgold Fire Company, West Railroad Street, New Ringgold.

BREAKFAST BUFFET — 8 to 11 a.m., American Legion Post 434, 505 Centre St., Ashland. Cost $8.

BRIDAL FAIR — Noon to

Lakeside Ballroom Presents

The 46th 2014

Pennsylvania State Dart Tournament

The Longest Consecutively Running Dart Tournament in the World since 1969 Qualifying Dates Are Saturday January 25th Saturday February 8th Saturday February 15th

NEW Format this year!

3 Brackets of Starting Times for (Each Date) 10:30AM • 12:30PM • 2:00PM All Pairs Luck of the Drawl on arrival

Awards to ALL Teams that make the Finals Finals held Saturday February 22nd 10:30AM No Food or Alcohol permitted in Tournament (PA Law) For Information/Directions Please call 570-467-2630 or Visit www.lakesideballroom,net 40 Crystal Lane • Barnesville • 570-467-2630 www.lakesideballroom.net

JENNA 5 p.m., Walk In Art Center, Gallery on third floor, Parkway and Columbia streets (enter at 220 Parkway), Schuylkill Haven. Free. Call Laurie Marks at 570-732-3728, ext. 303, or by email laurie. marks@walkinartcenter.com.

FAT H E R - D A U G H T E R DANCE — 7 to 9 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 420 Saylor St., Schuylkill Haven. Tickets $7. To make reservations, call church office at 570-385-3941.

HOT SHOT BASKETBALL COMPETITION — 4 to 6 p.m., Martz Hall, 16th Street and Laurel Boulevard, Pottsville.

Free. Sponsored by Pottsville Recreation Commission.

HYMN SING — 3 to 4 p.m., Good News Bible Church, 221 Main St., Locustdale.

MEAT BINGO — 2 p.m., doors open 11 a.m., St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901, Primrose. Tickets $10. Call 570-544-4581.

MEMORIAL MASS — Anthony P. Damato American Legion “Medal of Honor” Post 792, 11:15 a.m., Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Shenandoah.

SUNDAY BREAKFAST —

7:30 a.m. to noon, Mountaineer Hose Company, Third and South streets, Minersville.

VALENTINES, VOICES AND VINO — Presented by Anthracite Philharmonic, 3 to 6 p.m., Schuylkill County Council for the Arts, 1440 Mahantongo St., Pottsville. Cost $15 per person and $25 per couple at the door. Must be 21 and older. For more information, call 570-622-5158.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY — 5 to 6 p.m., Faith Church, 1168 Centre Turnpike, Route 61, Orwigsburg. Free. Mailing address is P.O. Box 323, Orwigsburg, PA 17961.

FREE BREAD, PASTRY AND ROLLS — 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., pick up at Living Waters Church of God, 155 S. Balliet St., Frackville. Call 570-874-1585.

FREE FEEDING PROGRAM — Soup kitchen open 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every Sunday, New Life in Christ Ministries, 217-219 Market St., Cumbola. Call 570-277-6041.

WINGS — Noon until sellout every Sunday, Rainbow Hose Company, Dock Street, Schuylkill Haven. Cost $9 per dozen. Call 570-385-1511.

315 N. Centre St., Pottsville

570-628-4220 www.thegstone.com

Friday Night, February 14th

“J.E.M.” Starting at 8:00 pm - Friday, February 14th -

Special Valentine’s Dinner Menu

Sweetheart Horse Drawn Carriage Rides $30 If Dining With Us / $40 On A Whim -Saturday, February 15th-

-Special Valentine’s Dinner Menu-Sunday, February 16th -

- OUR AMAZING VALENTINE’S BRUNCH 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Call Today For Reservations

Continued from Page 5

You’ve got to be kidding me.

The Internet never ceases to amaze me with its stupidity. There is a lot of useful information out there, but the Internet, as a means for the entire world to interact with each other in a way that was completely unavailable 20 years ago, is a breeding ground for the ridiculous.

It shouldn’t surprise me, though. People auction off chicken nuggets shaped like their favorite deity for thousands and thousands of dollars and people buy this stuff.

Honestly? What are you possibly going to do with a Jesus-shaped chicken nugget? Pray to it? I guarantee, God has no intentions of communicating with you through a chicken nugget. That’s just insulting.

The level of gullibility in people truly frightens me.

Or maybe people just have enough money to blow on utter nonsense just so they can be that person who dropped a grand on a chicken nugget or 100 grand on an iPhone with a now-defunct app on it.

Copycats Sometimes, when you try to kill something, it only makes it stronger or it takes on a new form.

Such is the case with “Flappy Bird.”

Developers took to doing what people in general are so good at: taking someone else’s idea and copying it with only slight varianc-

DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOUR VALENTINE

es in an attempt to cash in.

Suddenly games like “Fluffy Bird,” “Happy Bee,” “Flappy Plane” and, my favorite, “Ironpants” started popping up all over the App Store in an attempt to satiate those in flappy withdrawal.

The world is full of followers and I, apparently in some capacity, am one of them. Forgive me.

I try to forge my own path and resist trends, but even I, like the “Candy Crush” incident of my past, get sucked in sometimes.

“Flappy Bird” is just one of many phenomenas to come. People will be onto something new before you know it because we, as a society, have the attention span of a goldfish.

It’s like everything that’s wrong with the world wrapped up in the life of one silly little game.

Three of my co-workers just tried it and immediately lost, hated it and handed my phone back to me. How hard could “Flappy Bird” be? That hard, fellas.

Now, I’m going to take a break and go play it, because in taking screenshots for this article, I snuck in two quick games and finally got a score of “2.”

Yes, that is my new record high score. I hate you, “Flappy Bird.”

(Jenna Wasakoski, an assitant editor at The News-Item, can be reached at jenna_ w@newsitem.com)

Chocolate, Wine & Triple Good Time, Galen Glen, February 15th & 16th Chocolate, Wine & Valentines, Stone Mountain Wine Cellars, February 15th & 16th Hearts for Hawks at Hawk Mountain, February 15th Valentines, Voices & Vino at SCCA, February 16th

Romantically Decadent Valentine Specials at: Roma Pizzeria & Restaurant, The Brick House Grill, The Greystone, Francesco’s Ristorante, Blue Mountain Summit, Oak Hill Inn, Vito’s Coal Fired Pizza & Restaurant, Raudy’s Tavern, The Red Lion Cafe’, Port Clinton Hotel, McKeansburg Hotel, Crossroads Inn and both locations of The Wooden Keg!

Make your reservations early!

Need a SPECIAL GIFT ? Go to www.schuylkill.org

Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau MONDAY - FRIDAY: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM 570-622-7700 • www.schuylkill.org One Progress Circle,Suite 100,Pottsville

POTTSVILLE (PA.) REPUBLICAN HERALD

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

7

Use Final Jeopardy tactics at blackjack

Dear Mark: A few weeks ago I got into the final round of a blackjack tournament. When we got to the final hand, the three remaining players with chips, me being one of them, had nearly an equal amount of chips remaining.

It felt like we were on the game show Jeopardy, and it was the final question.

Both player A and B bet all their chips, so I decided to go along and bet all of my chips.

The dealer ended up have a blackjack, and we all lost.

The rules stated that in the event of a tie, the remaining players are each given $200 worth of chips, and four additional hands were dealt to determine the place winner.

Naturally, my luck (cards) went downhill from there, and I ended up in third place.

Getting back to that final round before the “playoff,” what should have been my correct move? I blame myself for losing.

Nate S. Instead of blaming yourself, Nate, how about what Jean de la Fontaine once said: “Luck’s always to blame.”

One important thing you want to remember when playing in a blackjack tournament is that all players are competing against the same dealer.

The significance of this is that players tend to have similar outcomes on any given hand. In your example, if the dealer draws a blackjack, the entire table ends up with the same result, a loss.

One way to gain ground is by playing each hand correctly and having better cards than your opponents have. However, it is a lot easi8

pays the 10 percent commission, the winner or the loser?

Michael S. With most point-spread Deal Me In bets, Michael, the Lords of Chance make their money by charging a commission, or vigorish (aka vig) on every bet. When betting a typical football game, you er to gain ground by betting wager $11 to win $10. When and playing your hand differ- you redeem your winning ently than the others are at ticket, you get back $21. the table.

Assuming a 50 percent I was once in that same probability of winning, I can Final Jeopardy position as justify both the winner and you, Nate, and here is the loser paying the commission move that I made. that creates the 4.54 percent Unlike you, I pushed in all house edge. my chips on the last hand From the loser’s perspecbut for one $5 chip. The othtive, if you make an $11 ers on the table chucked in wager, you get a refundable all their chips on the last hand, only to be wiped out by fee of $1 if it wins. Otherwise, the loser is paying the the dealer having a blackjack. My remaining red chip $1 commission.

From the winner’s view of was enough to win the tourthat same $11 to win $10 nament. wager, if the bet wins, you Who pays? only get a return of $10. That missing dollar is viewed as Dear Mark: Now that football season is the vig. over I can say that I had a (Pilarski can be reached at decent year. Total net loss: pilarski@markpilarski.com) just over $100.

I consider this one of my better years. Typically, I bet against the spread, betting $11 to win $10. Who actually

Mark Pilarski

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16 regular games & 4 specials

POTTSVILLE (PA.) REPUBLICAN HERALD

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