Holiday help

The Tamaqua Salvation Army will accept registrations for Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday assistance over a three-day period, Nov. 4-6. Hours will be from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. each day. There will not be any registrations taken before or after that three day period.Applicants must provide proof of physical address; a working telephone number; original birth certificates; social security cards for every household member; proof of ALL household income; and expenses.There will not be any exemptions allowed.Writing contestThe Black Diamond Writers Network is sponsoring a holiday writing contest that is open to the public. Entries may include holiday stories, anecdotes and/or poems and must be no more than 250 words.Other guidelines include: one entry per person; must be holiday themed; have separate pages for author's name and contact information, as well as the entry itself; must be postmarked by Nov. 30, 2009.Submissions are to be mailed to BDWN, 116 Second St., Coaldale, PA 18218.Winners will be notified, by phone or email, after Dec. 19. Winning entries will be published in the January edition of Carbon Copy, the BDWN newsletter.