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<p>WEST PITTSTON &#8212; The First United Methodist Church in West Pittston held its annual Apple Fest Saturday with items ranging from foods and baked goods to homewares and books.</p><p>There was even a silent auction.</p><p>Patrons formed a line in the church hall in hopes of snagging a sweet treat as parishioners dished out apple pies and dumplings. Near the kitchen, guests gushed about the haluski, asking those around them who created the ethnic delight.</p><p>Nancy Pollard sat at a desk near the entrance to the hall. Known as the &#8220;matriarch&#8221; of the parish, she divulged that it was her husband who made the haluski.</p><p>&#8220;He cooked it all at our house,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Pollard said the church has been holding the Apple Fest for about two decades as a general fundraiser. She said that many of the volunteers created the baked goods, while her husband made the haluski and other foods.</p><p>Apple pies could be purchased by the slice or as a whole, along with cookies, muffins, dumplings and more. Books were arranged on tables, ranging from children&#8217;s to educational and fiction. Small plants were displayed, each one containing care instructions.</p><p>Karen Boone recently moved to the borough and is interested in joining the church. She decided to volunteer and help with the festival.</p><p>&#8220;I love the people in (the church), so I volunteered to work in the kitchen,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Many of the church&#8217;s parishioners stopped in front of the silent auction as they moved throughout the hall. Music boxes, art and collectibles were up for grabs, as well as gift certificates to various local businesses.</p><p>As Jen Washney made her way from the prizes to the book tables, she said that she loves coming to the festival to search for special items and help support a local church.</p><p>&#8220;All of the items for sale are of good quality,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I always leave with a treasure or two.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_TTL092516AppleFest1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tom Musso removes a tray of apple pies from a shelf at the First United Methodist Church in West Pittston on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_TTL092516AppleFest1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tom Musso removes a tray of apple pies from a shelf at the First United Methodist Church in West Pittston on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_TTL092516AppleFest2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Hazel and Jim Pepe, of Wyoming, look over items for sale at the Apple Fest flea market Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_TTL092516AppleFest2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Hazel and Jim Pepe, of Wyoming, look over items for sale at the Apple Fest flea market Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

First United Methodist Church holds annual Apple Fest