Freshmen orientation

Tamaqua Area High School Principal Thomas McCabe has announced that freshmen and new student orientation will be held on Aug. 22. Parents and students new to the school will meet in the district auditorium.

Orientation will begin at 6 p.m.

Hometown auxiliary

The Hometown Fire Company Auxiliary will meet Sept. 10 at Basile’s Restaurant on Route 309 in Hometown. The business meeting will begin at 7 p.m., but members are welcome to come early, at 6 p.m., for a Dutch treat dinner.

New members are always welcome.

Fireworks committee

In an effort to bring an annual professional fireworks display to Tamaqua, a fireworks committee is being considered. An initial meeting, to see if there is community interest in the project, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the South Ward Playground.

The playground is located at Oak and Penn streets.

Middle school news

Open House for the Tamaqua Area Middle School has been scheduled for Aug. 21. Principal Christopher Czapla recommends that parents report to their student’s homeroom no later than 6:30 p.m. Homeroom assignments are listed on the auditorium doors. Parents will receive a copy of their child’s schedule, which they will be able to follow during the open house.

All parents are welcome to attend to meet the teachers and learn about the curriculum and student expectations.

Chamber concerts

The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce has added several shows to its 12th Annual Summer Concert Series, continuing the shows into late September. The next event will be held this Thursday, featuring Magic Stew playing classic rock/jams.

The concerts are held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the platform at the Tamaqua Train Station. All events are weather permitting.

The rest of the schedule includes: Aug. 23, The Bees Knees, ’60s rock and the British invasion bands; Aug. 30, Gene Morrison, oldies and the classics; Sept. 6, Carbon Boxcar, a four-piece band covering rock "n’ roll’s top hits; Sept. 13, Vinyl Persuasion, a trio offering acoustic versions of hits from the ’60s and ’70s; Sept. 20, It Takes Two, top 40s and rock ’n’ roll classics.

For more information, contact the chamber office at 570-668-1880.

Meet the Raiders

The Tamaqua Area School District will hold its annual fall “Meet the Raiders” Night at 7 p.m. Aug. 23, at the Tamaqua Sports Stadium.

All fall sports participants, cheerleaders and coaches will be recognized along with the Raider Marching Band, which will perform its field show. The event is free of charge and the public is welcome to attend.

In case of inclement weather, the event will not be rescheduled.

Primitive Methodist

Pastor Rick Clemson will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service on Sunday in American Primitive Methodist Church.

Bible study sessions are held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. For more information, email virno.desk@outlook.com.

Hope in the Mountains NFG is held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Thursday.

Bethany EC

The 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.

Also on Sunday, the monthly worship service at the Hometown Nursing Center will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m.

Activities for next week include: Monday, Celebrate Recovery men’s training at 5:30 p.m., Celebrate Recovery meets at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, worship practice at 7 p.m.

Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or kkunkel@tnonline.com. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or tneditor@tnonline.com.