We congratulate the Tamaqua Area and Northwestern Lehigh school district for being named two of 44 Pennsylvania school districts recognized for preparing their students well for college.

The 44 have been named to the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll that recognizes their students' achievements in Advanced Placement classes.Tamaqua is the only district to make the list from Schuylkill County, while Northwestern is one of three named from Lehigh County. The others are Parkland and East Penn (Emmaus area). There were no schools from Carbon, Northampton or Monroe among the 44 cited.Overall, 433 schools nationwide received the distinction. The AP Honor Roll recognizes district that offer high levels of AP classes, while having high numbers of students receiving final exam scores of three or more, on a scale of one to five.Inclusion on the seventh annual AP District Honor Roll is based on three years of AP data, from 2014 to 2016, using the following criteria:• Increased participation in taking the exams.• Increased or maintained the percentage of minority students scoring three or more on at least one AP exam.• Improved performance levels.• • •We also congratulate the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, which observed its fifth anniversary with a recent open house. The center, located at 312 Pine St., has been a fabulous addition to the community.The center is located in an old church that has been renovated through the collaborative support of the community, the Morgan Foundation, PPL and the center's annual fundraiser, the Big Benefit.Coordinator Leona Rega, who was hired in May 2012, said the number of volunteers has grown from about 10 to more than 40 today. Bit by bit, the project began to take shape. A performing arts center was added in 2013; the theater seats about 150 patrons. Each year, the organization tries to take on a project. Last year, it was the installation of a new sidewalk and landscaping. This year, the volunteer group hopes to install American Disabilities Act bathrooms.A group of volunteers who love Tamaqua and take great pride in the community began programs in 2013. In addition to offerings dealing with the performing arts, the center also sponsors classes and workshops and helps spearhead the Tamaqua Has Heart project.The center's mission is to provide "sustainable inclusive educational opportunities and a safe place to participate, appreciate, create and learn about the performing and fine arts."Workshops featuring such diverse topics from weaving to fly-tying were among last year's offerings.One of the more intriguing programs was called Villain School, where participants were encouraged to come dressed as their favorite villains.Organizations such as Tamaqua Community Arts Center help improve the quality of life in its community, and this is a good thing.By Bruce Frassinelli |

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