Night Out

This year's National Night Out celebration in Tamaqua will be one for the ages as organizers present Dear Tamaqua ... In a New Light on Tuesday.The celebration will start with the Tamaqua Salvation Army's Kidz Karnival at 2 p.m. at the South Railroad Street parking lot, and conclude at 9:30 p.m. with a big bang.In between, walking tours will be held through the downtown area, designed to bring together Tamaqua's past, present and future.The tours will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Broad Street railroad watchtower, then wind its way to the St. John XXIII parish parking lot, where the NNO vendors will include the first "Taste of Tamaqua."From there, the walking tour will take participants through a "remembrance tunnel" on the way back to the Tamaqua Train Station.Displays, re-enactments and Jumbotrons will be featured all along the tour route.Live music will be provided by Won Ton, Ricky and the Ricardos and Ecosphere.The public is welcome to attend.TASD newsThe Tamaqua Area School District is gearing up for the beginning of a new school year, with classes scheduled to begin on Aug. 24.The Blue Raider Band will hold Old and New Night on Tuesday, with camp scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Monday.The last day for senior and junior students to apply for a parking permit is Aug. 3. Senior class members will be given priority for the 74 available spaces and permits will be issued on Aug. 17.Registration and initial drug testing for students participating in extra-curricular activities will be held from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday in the athletic center locker rooms of the middle school.Sixth-grade orientation will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Tamaqua Area Middle School. Homeroom assignments will be posted on the school's front door as of Aug. 10.For more information on any school activity/event, visit the district's website at

www.tamaqua.k12.pa.us.Cressona BandThe Cressona Band continues to perform free band concerts in our area.The band will perform from 3-5 p.m. Sunday at Heisler's Dairy Bar in the Lewistown Valley.The concert will feature selections by the Junior Cressona Band.The public, and their lawn chairs, are welcome.Community eventThe annual Tamaqua Community Downtown Sidewalk and Yard Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.The event is sponsored annually by the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce.For more information, call 570-668-1880 or email

tamaquachamber@verizon.net.Calvary EvangelicalAll services and activities for Calvary Evangelical United Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley will be held at the Lewistown Valley Tabernacle, 614 Valley Road, through Labor Day.The Rev. Ed Bean will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday. The service will include Holy Communion. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, the Sunday school all day picnic will be held following the worship service. Bring a covered dish to share. A campfire service will be held at 6 p.m.On Wednesday, an hour of praise and prayer will be held at 7 p.m.