Elva Howell of Tamaqua celebrated her 96th birthday on Saturday, Jan. 23 at Home In Tamaqua, Inc., 237 E. Broad St., where she has resided for the past seven years.

Elva is a 1932 graduate of Tamaqua High School. She served as a bookkeeper for the former Eames Bakery, as well as for Tamaqua Borough for over 30 years. She is also well-known as an artist and for her poetry.Elva had three sisters, all of whom are deceased: Florence Eames, Beatrice Koch and Doris Howell. She has a niece, Barbara Price, of Washington, D.C., and a nephew, David Koch of Lewistown Valley.