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<p>SWOYERSVILLE &#8212; Swoyersville residents are preparing for a strawberry shortcake social to be held later this month.</p><p>Residents Paul and Cathy Matreselva joined Mayor Chris Concert recently at Whistle Pig farm in Noxen to pick strawberries for shortcakes for residents to enjoy at the social to be held on July 17 at the borough&#8217;s park on Slocum Street.</p><p>&#8220;When Chris mentioned strawberry picking, we said we would love to come along,&#8221; said Cathy Matreselva, who volunteered despite a sprained wrist.</p><p>The Matreselvas had never picked strawberries before, but they said they thoroughly enjoyed making their way through the field picking the sweet fruit.</p><p>&#8220;We started out with buckets, but I ended up carrying the strawberries in my shirt,&#8221; said Cathy Matreselva. &#8220;And we ate a lot of strawberries.&#8221;</p><p>Once at home, the strawberries needed to be cleaned, cut and frozen.</p><p>Again, the Matreselvas, along with their grandchildren &#8212; Tyler, 8, Paul, 3 &#8212; were eager to assist in the effort.</p><p>&#8220;I looked around and I saw generations working together to benefit the community,&#8221; Concert said. &#8220;That&#8217;s what I want the town to be about.&#8221;</p><p>Cathy Matreselva, whose family has lived in the borough for more than 30 years, said the spirit of the community is being passed to the next generation.</p><p>&#8220;My son and my grandchildren also live in Swoyersville,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Concert has come up with creative ideas to raise money for community efforts, often involving borough residents in unique ways.</p><p>The strawberry social is no exception.</p><p>Although Concert had enough money for the strawberries, he then had to find a way to buy whipped cream.</p><p>Concert decided to collect recyclable cans, with proceeds from their redemption going toward the whipped cream.</p><p>He said a Swoyersville resident will be providing the cake needed for preparation of the desserts at a very reasonable cost.</p><p>Both Concert and the Matreselvas said the real benefit of the upcoming event isn&#8217;t in the sweet treat that will find borough residents with sticky faces and full stomachs, but the opportunity to gather with friends and neighbors.</p><p>Concert said he comes up with ideas while in bed and then tries to make them happen.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m so grateful it&#8217;s going to happen, grateful especially to the residents who are willing to support their community,&#8221; he said of the social.</p><p>Paul Matreselva is hoping for another chance to pick strawberries.</p><p>&#8220;The other night he heard that Chris (Concert) was out picking strawberries again,&#8221; said Cathy Matreselva. &#8220;He said, &#8216;He should have asked, I wanted to come.&#8217;&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070216swoyersville-strawberry1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Chris Concert, Tyler Matreselva, 8, Paul Matreselva III, 3, and Paul Matreselva cut and chop strawberries to be frozen for an upcoming Swoyersville strawberry shortcake social. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070216swoyersville-strawberry1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Chris Concert, Tyler Matreselva, 8, Paul Matreselva III, 3, and Paul Matreselva cut and chop strawberries to be frozen for an upcoming Swoyersville strawberry shortcake social. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070216swoyersville-strawberry2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Paul Matreselva III, 3, eats a strawberry while his family readies them to freeze for an upcoming strawberry shortcake social. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070216swoyersville-strawberry2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Paul Matreselva III, 3, eats a strawberry while his family readies them to freeze for an upcoming strawberry shortcake social. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>To help</strong></p><p>To donate cans for recycling to raise money for whipped cream, call Chris Concert at 570-239-4124 to schedule a pickup.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Swoyersville prepares for upcoming strawberry shortcake social