Tamaqua column
Blood drive
An American Red Cross Bloodmobile will visit Tamaqua on July 12 at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St. Hours will be from 1-6 p.m. and walk-ins are welcome.Anyone 17 or older, who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good general health is eligible to donate blood.For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 800-733-2767 or visit online at
www.redcrossblood.org.Cressona bandThe Cressona Band will present concerts in the Tamaqua area twice in July.The band will be at Heisler's Dairy Bar in the Lewistown Valley on July 9, playing from 4-6 p.m. The Cressona Junior Band will also perform.On July 26, the band will make its annual appearance at the east End Playground on Mountain Avenue. The music will begin at 7 p.m.Concertgoers are welcome to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets.Tamaqua seniorsThe Tamaqua Senior Citizens met June 29 with 54 members in attendance. President Melody Weicker conducted the business session and provided the inspirational reading "Good Morning God."May and June birthdays were celebrated, with special wishes going to Penny Schlorf, Melody Weicker, Diane Gould and Mary Bittle.The group is planning a pizza party for the July 6 meeting and a trip to the Mohegan Sun Casino in Wilkes-Barre on July 17.The group is open to anyone 55 or older.Meetings are held at 1 p.m. Thursdays at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. worship services this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Sunday school classes meet at 9:15 a.m.Activities for next week include: Tuesday, prayer gathering at 8:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m., TYM staff meet at 8 p.m., preparing the VBS backdrop from 10-11 p.m.; Thursday, worship team meets at 7 p.m., worship team leaders meet at 8 p.m.Vacation Bible School will be held the week of July 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.Out of the darknessSafer Streets for Tamaqua's Little Feet will hold its Second Annual Out of the Darkness, Into the Light candlelight walk on July 22. This year's special guest speaker will be Vance Johnson, former NFL football wide receiver.The event, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Bungalow Park, is part of the group's efforts to provide awareness and support in the fight against opioid drug addiction. The focus will be honoring those taken too soon and bring awareness of the dangers of addiction, a "disease that is taking lives and destroying communities."In addition to Johnson's motivational talk, there will be food, music, T-shirts, Chinese lanterns and other speakers.Rain date will be July 23.Calvary UMAll services and activities for Calvary Evangelical United Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley will be held at the Lewistown Valley Tabernacle, 614 Valley Road, from July 2 through Labor Day.The Rev. Phillip Sabas will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, an evening service will be held at 6 p.m.Upcoming events include: July 16, Brian Reading will present a worship service concert at 10:25 a.m.; July 27, Dixie Melody Boys will present a concert at 7 p.m.Zion LewistownPastor Jim Williams will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. service this Sunday at Zion Church, Lewistown Valley. Sunday school will be held at 9:15 a.m.Upcoming activities include: July 11, fundraising committee will meet at 6:30 p.m., preschool board meeting at 7:30 p.m.; July 12, youth group will meet at 6 p.m., in the church parking lot; July 13, OWLS will meet at 11 a.m., consistory meets at 6:30 p.m.St. John LutheranThe Rev. Phyllis Wolford will officiate at this Sunday's 9:15 a.m. worship service in St. John's Lutheran Church.Vacation Bible School will be a joint venture with Zion Lutheran Church. It will be held at Zion's from 6 to 8 p.m. from July 10-14.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or
kkunkel@tnonline.com. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or