Kindergarten changes

The Tamaqua Area School District has announced a change in dates for registration sessions for kindergarten classes for the 2011-12 school year.An orientation night is scheduled for Feb. 22, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Tamaqua Elementary School. Parents of incoming kindergarten students will be provided with information about what programs the district has to offer, the benefits of different tracts of learning and other general information needed to get students ready for registration and the first day of school.Registration packets will be handed out at the orientation. Registration requests will be accepted beginning Feb. 22. This is a change from the original press release. Appointments will then be scheduled for March.Registration will be held March 14, 15 and 16 at Tamaqua Elementary; and on March 17 at West Penn Elementary. Registration hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children residing within the Tamaqua Area School District who will reach the age of 5 before Sept. 1, 2011 are eligible.To register, call (570) 668-3306 the week of Feb. 22, from 9:30-11:30 a.m., and from 1-3 p.m. to schedule an appointment. Proof of residency, health records, original birth certificates and original Social Security cards will be required. Children will be evaluated by a classroom teacher, nurse and speech therapist.Zion LewistownThe 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 Holy Communion and an offering to benefit the soup kitchen. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:30 a.m.A joint Consistory meeting will be held Monday, at 7 p.m., in Zion's social hall.Dog licensesSchuylkill County Treasurer Jackie McGovern reminds residents that 2011 dog licenses are now available. Dogs 3 months of age or older must be licensed.Licenses may be obtained at the county courthouse in Pottsville, by mail or at a variety of licensing agents. Locally, those agents include AAA at 202 E. Broad St.; Tom's Auto and Marine, Greenwood Street and Mountain Avenue; and Koch's Farm Service in the Lewistown Valley.For more information, call McGovern's office at (570) 628-1433.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Nursery care is provided. Sunday school for all ages is held at 9:30 a.m.Also on Sunday, a TRIAD leader's meeting will be held at 11:45 a.m.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, prayer time at 8:30 a.m., Men's Fraternity meets at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, GriefShare, adult Bible study and Tamaqua Youth Ministry meet at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Musician rehearsal at 9 a.m., praise practice at 9:30 a.m.Calvary UMThe 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 4:30 p.m., followed by a Super Bowl party.An hour of praise and prayer will be held Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m.Relay for lifeThere will be a meeting for everyone interested in the 2011 Relay for Life for Tamaqua and Surrounding Communities, on Monday, at 7 p.m., at the Morgan Center of Lehigh Carbon Community College. The meeting will be held in room 104/105.Committee members will meet prior to the general meeting, at 6:30 p.m., also at LCCC.The campus is located on High Street.First MethodistThe Rev. James Cavallero will officiate at two worship services this 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: Tuesday, quilters meet at 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday, senior choir rehearsal at 7:30 p.m.The churches have combined forces to offer a new program, the Methodist Outreach Ministry. The committee will meet Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m., at the home of Frances Zukovich.United Methodist Women will meet Feb. 12, at 12:30 p.m., at the Beacon Diner in Hometown.Also, a Lenten Christian Development Series, "God Is Closer Than You Think," will begin March 13 and run for six consecutive weeks. The 6 p.m. workshops will be preceded by covered dish socials.First Church is now a member of the Facebook social network. Church news, schedule changes and motivational thoughts will be available.Plans are underway for the annual Tamaqua-Panther Valley Welsh Songfest, scheduled for March 13, 2 p.m. The annual event is sponsored annually by First Church.St. John's LutheranThe Rev. Phyllis Wolford will officiate at the 9:15 a.m. worship service this Sunday in St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. Confirmation and Sunday school classes meet following the service.Also on Sunday, a special meeting of the Music and Worship Committee will be held following the service.Activities for next week include: Monday, Learning Ministry will meet at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Constitution Committee will meet at 3 p.m., Chime Choir meets at 5:30 p.m., Angel Choir rehearses at 6 p.m., Shepherds at 6:30 p.m. and Praise Choir at 7:30 p.m.