Financial aid

The Tamaqua Area High School Guidance Department will sponsor a Financial Aid Night on Jan. 16. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and be held in the district auditorium.The 2013-2014 Financial Aid form will be reviewed and general financial aid questions will be answered. Junior and senior class students planning to further their education, as well as their parents, are welcome to attend.No preregistration or fee is required.Christmas treesThe Borough of Tamaqua's Street Department will be collecting discarded Christmas trees throughout January. Residents are to place their trees curbside on their regular trash collection days.Trees will be collected as time and weather permit.Trees must be free of all tinsel and decorations. Residents are also asked to remove any plastic bags from the trees.Trees may also be dropped off behind the Tamaqua Borough Garage, at 421 rear E. Broad St.No trees will be collected after Jan. 31.Dog licensesSchuylkill County treasurer Jackie McGovern reminds residents that 2014 dog licenses are now available.Dogs 3 months of age or older must be licensed by law.Licenses may be obtained at the county courthouse in Pottsville, by mail, online at

www.padoglicense.com or at a variety of licensing agents.Locally, those agents include AAA at 202 E. Broad St.; Tom's Auto and Marine, Greenwood Street and Mountain Avenue; and Koch's Farm Service in the Lewistown Valley.For more information, call McGovern's office at 570-628-1433. The county treasurer's office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on holidays.Zion LewistownThe Rev. Jim Williams will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday in Zion Church in the Lewistown Valley. The service will include the reception of new members. Sunday school classes will meet at 9:15 a.m.The annual congregational meeting will be held on Jan. 26. The meeting will be preceded by a covered dish meal following the regular worship service.St. Peter's UnionSunday worship services are held at 9 a.m. in St. Peter's Union Church, Mantzville. This Sunday's service will include a Joyous Noise Offering.Also this Sunday, the Confirmation class will meet at 11:30 a.m.; Daisies, Brownies and Scouts meet at 6 p.m.Thursday activities include: prayer group meets at 4:45 p.m., cherub choir rehearses at 6:30 p.m., junior choir practices at 7 p.m. and senior choir meets at 7:30 p.m.The Youth Group will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 for the Winter Jam in Reading.St. John LutheranThe Rev. Phyllis Wolford will officiate at the 9:15 a.m. worship service Sunday in St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. The service will include Holy Communion and Baptism. Sunday school and Confirmation class meet at 10:30 a.m.Next week's activities include: Thursday, angel choir rehearsal at 6 p.m., shepherd choir rehearses at 6:30 p.m., chancel choir rehearses at 7:30 p.m.Items for the next issue of The Messenger are due no later than Jan. 13.