web1_WVW-Mikovitch_CMYK.jpg

Wyoming Valley West rushing attack too much for Coughlin

web1_United-Way-Navient.jpg

United Way of Wyoming Valley goes anywhere to get out message

WILKES-BARRE &#8212; It&#8217;s time for free turkey dinners, free chances at prizes, and access to lots of information for Wilkes-Barre Area School District residents.The district will hold its seventh annual Harvest Festival on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Heights Elementary School.As in the past, the event is free and open to all comers, though there is a boon to getting their early: The first 350 people get a free turkey dinner with all the trimmings. But there are also plenty of snack options, games for the youngsters, a DJ, and prizes to win.The prizes, in fact, serve as subtle prodding toward what has always been the real goal of the Harvest Fest: Connecting families to the wide range of information and services available to them throughout the community.&#8220;It&#8217;s a free auction,&#8221; school psychologist Jennifer Welgosh explained. An array of gift baskets and other potential prizes are spread out, and a visitor gets to put tickets, or chances, into the one(s) they would most like to win. The tickets come from visiting any one of numerous agencies and organizations that will set up booths.Geisinger Health is the newest addition to the agencies at the festival this year. Welgosh said it will offer various health displays and free blood pressure screenings.The Wilkes-Barre City Health Department will return to offer free flu shots, she added.Others signed up to participate include the Children&#8217;s Service Center, Pennsylvania State Police, Wyoming Valley Drugs and Alcohol, Victims Resource Center, the United Way, and Northeast Highway Safety Program.The festival is organized each year by the district&#8217;s FACES of Wilkes-Barre program, short for Family And Community Enrichment Services, created as a proactive effort to see to the mental health and well-being of district students.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Mark Guydishmguydish@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>IF YOU GOWhat: Wilkes-Barre Area School District Harvest FestivalWhen: Thursday, Nov. 2, 4 p.m. tp 7 p.m.Where: Heights Murray Elementary School, 1 S. Sherman St., Wilkes-BarreDetails: Free turkey dinner to first 350 people; free snacks, games and music; free chances for gift baskets and prizes; free information from area service agencies</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</shirttailMeta></div>

Turkey dinner, games and info: W-B Area Harvest Fest set for Thursday