When Lorraine Zukovich and her husband, Ron Blickley, moved back to the Hometown area after his military career took them all over the world, she was looking for ways to become actively involved in the community. Her search took her to the Tamaqua Community Art Center, which led to her hosting a one-day class called "Yes, It's Yarn" on creating necklaces from yarn.

That was three years ago and that one-day event has evolved into a one-day a week class where Zukovich finds she's not always the instructor. It also created a tight-knit group of friends who spend a lot of time socializing, whether it's at art center events, lunch or dinner, or spending a day together helping others.With their laughter mingling with the clicks of crochet or knitting needles, the group tosses around ideas for projects the members want to try next."We inspire each other," said member Nelleke Sabol.One of those "inspirations" was to change the name of the group from "Yes, It's Yarn" to the "Happy Hookers," a suggestion brushed off by Zukovich as being just a bit of a stretch, eliciting even more laughter.The group meets at the art center every Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon and new members are always welcome