Community clean up

The annual Fall Schuylkill Keep It Pretty Clean Up Campaign will be held this Saturday throughout the county. In Tamaqua, two groups will be sponsoring the clean up campaign, the Tamaqua Beautification Association and the South Ward Neighborhood Committee.The Beautification Association will meet at the M and T Bank parking lot, Broad and Center streets, at 8:30 a.m. The group will concentrate its efforts in the Broad, Center, Railroad and Mauch Chunk Streets area.The South Ward Neighborhood Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the South Ward Playground, Race and Oak streets, and will pick up litter throughout the ward.Garbage bags, gloves, safety vests and complimentary beverages will be provided. Tamaqua residents and business owners are encouraged to lend a hand by cleaning their properties and sidewalks that day.Garden clubThe Lewistown Valley Garden Club met recently in the social hall of Zions Church, Lewistown Valley. The business session was conducted by President June Leiby. A program about the life cycle of Monarch butterflies was presented by Ann and Lee Schlegel. The presentation include live specimens and highlighted their habitat. The Monarch feeds exclusively on the milkweed types commonly found in this area.Arrangement theme for the meeting was "Beach Party," incorporating driftwood into the design. First place was awarded to Evelyn Adams, Mary Bridygham earned second place and June Leiby was awarded third place. The specimen was any blooming flower. Winners were Linda Leiby's green gladiolas in first, Mary Bridygham's pink dahlia in second and Evelyn Adam's rose won third place.The meeting ended with a luncheon presented by Pam Klitsch and Sue Hower.The next regular club meeting will be held Sept. 28 at the church hall. The program will be a workshop on dried materials, presented by Brenda Steward Boyer.Clothing driveThe Tamaqua Area Class of 2011 will sponsor a used clothing/toy drive this weekend at the Citizen's Fire Company on Rowe Street in Tamaqua. Items may be dropped off Saturday or Sunday, between noon and 3 p.m.Items which may be donated include: wearable and usable clothing; shoes, belts and handbags; coats, hats and gloves; bed and bath linens; stuffed animals and toys. All items must be packaged in plastic garbage bags.GriefShare to startA new GriefShare group is forming at Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, scheduled to begin weekly meetings on Oct. 6. GriefShare is a ministry to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. The Biblically based, non-denominational sessions will be held Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for a 13-week time period.Bethany EC is located at 223 E. Broad St.For more information, or to enroll, call (570) 668-2520.Zion LewistownThe Rev. Sunny Stock will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Zion Church in the Lewistown Valley. A children's service will be included. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:30 a.m.Valley Christian Preschool is now open and will continue accepting registrations through the end of September.For more information concerning Zion's activities, visit the website at

www.zionchurchlewistownvalley.org.Cross countryThe Tamaqua Cross Country Boosters will meet Sept. 21, at 7 p.m., in front of the Tamaqua Senior High School. Anyone interested in supporting the teams is welcome to attend.Open houseTamaqua Senior High School Principal RuthAnn Gardiner has announced the annual Senior High School Open House will be held on Sept. 29. The event will be held from 7-9 p.m., beginning in the district's auditorium. Parents of all students in grades 9 through 12 are welcome to attend.