“Where’s my heart”? was a popular refrain at Thursday night’s Tamaqua Has Heart Walking Tour.

The question was being asked by numerous people, especially the younger crowd, who had placed their handprints on the fiberglass structure used to explain and promote the project during the past year.That heart, known as the “Heart of the Community,” is displayed in a place of prominence, almost directly centered on Broad Street, near the railroad tracks. It will remain in place while the rest of the hearts are slated to be auctioned off in September.Almost 300 people took advantage of the nice weather, blue skies and temperatures in the 70s to walk the six-block tour route, oohing and ahing at each new display. The artists and sponsors were stationed at their individual hearts to provide information on their selected designs and answer any questions.Even the residents of the Majestic House Apartment Complex got in on the act, displaying red paper hearts in every window of the multistory complex. Complex employees Cheryl Martuscelli and Sandy Davis suggested creating the hearts and the residents embraced the project, creating more than 400 hearts to adorn the building. “Every window has a heart,” Martuscelli said. “And the hearts in the front window list the names of residents who paid $1 each, which will be given to the art center. We have more than $50 to donate.”In addition to the display of hearts, the evening included a “Walk With a Doc” event, courtesy of St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale. Dr. Joanne Calabrese led the walk, explaining the benefits of such simple exercise as well as enjoying the sights and sounds. Calabrese has an office in Tamaqua and was excited about the turnout for the walk, which attracted dozens of people of all ages.“The walk is part of St. Luke’s Tail on the Trail program. When I was asked to lead a walk, I immediately thought of the heart tour and coordinated our walk with the tour.”The evening also coincided with a free concert, sponsored by the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce. The concert was held on the platform of the historic Tamaqua Train Station, featuring Steve Brosky and Jimmy Meyer.Tamaqua resident Lynn Meyers said the project was amazing. “I wish they could do something like this every month to get people out and about to see what Tamaqua has to offer.”The heart project is sponsored by the Tamaqua Community Art Center, the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership and Rural LISC. It was coordinated by art center director Leona Rega and volunteers Wandie Zammer-Little and Kyle Whitley.Rega was excited about the turnout for the tour, saying, “We hoped to have about 200 people come for the tour, but we’ve already handed out more than 250 ballots.”The ballots are for people to vote for their favorite hearts in each of five categories.While the official project will end with a gala and art auction of the hearts on Sept. 28, the “Heart of the Community” will remain in place as proof that Tamaqua is the small town with a big heart.