The Go Joe XIII bicycle tour will make an official stop in Tamaqua next week.

The tour is the brainchild of WNEP Channel 16 morning meteorologist Joe Snedeker, who has ridden on his summer bicycle trips for a number of years as a fundraiser for St. Joseph's Center in Scranton.St. Joseph's Center serves hundreds of people throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania on a daily basis, through pregnancy, family and adoption services; outpatient therapy; and extensive residential and community-based programs for children and adults diagnosed with mental retardation.This year, Snedeker will do his bike ride during the week of July 19. He will begin his ride from the the main campus of Penn State University. WNEP-TV will man a Go Joe RV that leads the tour and stops at towns in advance of Joe.On past tours Snedeker has ridden through Tamaqua at times. Last year he made a stop at Skipper Dippers on SR309 in Ginthers, where he was presented a check by owner Joe Pilla, who even named a milkshake after the TV weatherman.This year downtown Tamaqua is going to be an official Go Joe XIII stop, which includes a live noontime broadcast on WNEP.The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce wants to make sure Snedeker receives a warm welcome. The public is invited to come out and greet him on the stop.Snedeker is scheduled to arrive at Tamaqua's Depot Square Park on Wednesday, July 21, at noon. He is expected to stop in the park as well as at The Restaurant at The Station.Linda Yulanavage, executive director of the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce, is asking businesses and individuals who would like to donate to the Go Joe XIII Tour to either bring their donations to Depot Square Park on the day of the tour stop, or drop them off or mail them to the Chamber office at 114 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, PA. 18252.Checks should be made payable to St. Joseph's Center.For more information, call chamber at (570) 668-1880 or visit

www.stjosephscenter.org on the web.