BY JACKIE BORTHWICK-GALVIN
The Avoca Community Committee is celebrating the luck of the Irish with a friendly St. Patrick’s Day home decorating contest. To spread even more Irish cheer, the group has organized two blessing services to honor the saint behind the celebrations.
Beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 13, this special town event to honor St. Patrick will start with a blessing service on the Langcliffe Presbyterian Church Cemetery grounds, 1001 Main St., followed by another blessing service at St. Mary’s Cemetery grounds, St. Mary’s Street, weather permitting.
Religious leaders from both churches will offer the blessings, and leaders from various organizations will offer brief remarks. Following the blessing services, a local bagpiper will provide music courtesy of Mayor Robert Mullen.
Anyone who wants to attend the services must wear a mask and abide by social distancing guidelines. The entire event also will be live streamed on the Avoca CC Facebook page.
In addition, in the spirit of friendly competition, the community committee encourages residents to decorate their homes and porches to celebrate this special time of the year. From now until Wednesday, March 17, the Avoca Community Committee’s leprechauns will narrow down the list of the best-decorated homes in town, and Mayor Mullen will award a $100 “Pot-O-Gold” to one lucky winner. Runner-up will receive $50.
The Avoca Community Committee will post pictures of all of the decorated homes on the Avoca CC Facebook page for everyone to enjoy.
