Tamaqua news

Rush-Ryan seniors

The Rush, Ryan and Delano Senior Citizens Inc. met March 8 at the Ryan Township Fire Company with 50 members in attendance. Two new members, Vern Balliet and Bill Morrison, were welcomed. Leona Machay was welcomed back following an absence.

President Eleanor Schmerfeld conducted the business meeting. Jane Springer offered an invocation. Reports were presented by secretary Florina Martin and treasurer Shirley Becker. A thank you card was received from Sylvia Garcia. Birthday greetings were extended to Ruth Grube, Ellie Zakrewsky and Vern Balliet.

Jean Machamer, Florina Martin and Shirley Becker provided inspirational readings. A discussion was held on upcoming trips to the Bloomsburg Fair and Knoebel's Grove.

The group meets the second and fourth Monday of every month. Anyone 50 or older is welcome to join.

Rush taxes

Rush Township tax collector Dolores Walck has set new office hours for 2011. During the months of March and April, the office will be open Tuesdays, from 6-8 p.m., and Wednesdays, from 9-11 a.m. Hours will be extended for the last week of the discount period. In addition to the Tuesday and Wednesday hours, the office will be open, Thursday, April 28 from 10-11 a.m. and from 6-7 p.m.

Hours during May and June will be Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9-10 a.m.

The office, located at 117 Cumberland Ave., Hometown, will be closed May 24-25 and June 14-15. Tax bills will be mailed out at the beginning of March.

SW neighbors

The South Ward Neighborhood Committee will meet next Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held in room 104 at the Lehigh Carbon Community College Morgan Center. New members are always welcome.

Lenten service

The Tamaqua ministerium will sponsor a series of free Community Lenten services leading up to Easter.

The first service will be held March 16 at Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, 223 E. Broad St. The services will begin at noon and will be followed by light luncheons.

Other services and locations will be: March 23, Primitive Methodist Church, 57 Hunter St.; March 30, First United Methodist Church, 124 W. Broad St.; April 6, St. Jerome's Catholic Church, 266 W. Broad St.; and April 13, Tamaqua Salvation Army, 105 W. Broad St.

A Community Good Friday service will be held April 22, at noon, at Trinity United Church of Christ, 22 Lafayette St. This service will not be followed by a luncheon.

SS. Peter and Paul

Lenten services in SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church will include Stations of the Cross on Wednesdays, at 7 p.m. Also during Lent, confessions will be heard Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. and Saturdays, from 4-5 p.m., in conjunction with a holy hour that will include Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

Also on Wednesdays, the Adult Choir will rehearse at 7:30 p.m.

Zion Lewistown

The Rev. Sunny Stock will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service Sunday in Zion Church in the Lewistown Valley. The service will include a presentation by Haitian school teacher Erica Thompson. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:30 a.m.

The Women's Alter Guild will meet Monday at 7:30 p.m., in the social hall.

Fitness for Friends, a community exercise class, meets Mondays and Thursdays, 6-7 p.m., in the social hall.

Calvary UM

The Rev. Brian Reading will officiate at Sunday's 10:25 a.m. worship service in Calvary Evangelical United Methodist Church. Sunday school classes meet at 9:15 a.m.

Also on Sunday, a session of praise, worship and Bible study, in the evangelistic style, will be held at 6:30 p.m.

A Community Lenten service will be held March 16, at 7:30 p.m., at Congregational Free Church, McKeansburg. The service will be preceded by a hymnsing, beginning at 7:15 p.m.

First Methodist

The Rev. James Cavalerro will officiate at two worship services Sunday: 9:30 a.m. at Salem United Methodist, and 10:45 a.m. at First United Methodist Church.

First Methodist activities for next week include: Monday, Bible study program begins at 6 p.m., preceded by a covered dish dinner; Tuesday, quilters meet at 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday, senior choir rehearsal at 7:30 p.m.

The annual Tamaqua-Panther Valley Welsh Songfest is scheduled for March 13, 2 p.m. The event is sponsored annually by First Church. Final rehearsal will be held today at 7 p.m.

The Herald Biblical Theater Company will present "His Last Days" at First Church on April 8, at 8 p.m.

First Church is now on Facebook. Church news, schedule changes and motivational thoughts will be available.