Halloween parade

The Annual Tamaqua Halloween Parade will be held on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m., with a rain date of Oct. 27.The parade will be sponsored by the Tamaqua Lions Club, with assistance from the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce. Communication assistance along the parade route will be provided by the Tamaqua Wireless Association.Entries are being accepted now for floats/motorized units and marching units. Today is the deadline for registration.Registration forms are available at the Tamaqua Area Chamber office, 114 West Broad St. The office can also be reached at (570) 668-1880, by fax at (570) 668-0826 or e-mail

tamaquachamber@verizon.net.Schuylkill HalloweenTrick or Treat Night in Schuylkill Township will be held Oct. 31, from 6-8 p.m.Veterans paradeA meeting to help plan Tamaqua's Veterans Day Parade will be held on Monday, at 7 p.m., at the Tamaqua American Legion. The public is welcome to attend.Recovery help"Celebrate Recovery" sessions are held every Friday, 7-9 p.m., at New Life Assembly of God Church, 407 Schuylkill Ave. Anyone who needs help recovering is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Phil at (570) 645-4453 or Drew at (484) 629-3025.Writers' groupThe Black Diamond Writers' Network will meet Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. until noon, at the Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St. Guest speaker will be Kelly Ann Butterbaugh, whose topic will be "copywriting." The public is welcome to attend. The group also holds mini critiques during their meetings. Local authors are welcome to bring a page of their unpublished work for review.The BDWN is a nonprofit organization offering writing education and networking opportunities. It meets the third Saturday of every month.For more information call Kathy at (570) 645-3059.TOPSThe local Chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets every Wednesday in the education room at St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale. Weigh ins begin at 6 p.m., followed by a short business session and a program.TOPS is a weight loss support group for men and women of all ages. Visitors are welcome to attend their first meeting without obligation.For more information, stop by a meeting or call Kathy Ruff at (570) 645-3059. Information is also available on the Web at TOPS.org.St. John's LutheranThe Rev. Phyllis Wolford will officiate at the 9:15 a.m. worship service this Sunday in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Sunday school and Confirmation classes will meet at 10:30 a.m.Welsh cookie baking will take place on Oct. 16-17, with pick up on Oct. 18.Activities for next week will include: Monday, Music and Worship Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Cemetery Committee meeting; Thursday, Messenger assembly. The choirs rehearse on Thursdays: Chimes at 5:30 p.m.; Angel Choir at 6 p.m.; Shepherds at 6:15 p.m.; and Praise at 7:30 p.m.A special service to commemorate St. John's 175 anniversary will be held Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.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.For more information concerning Zion's activities, visit the website at

www.zionchurchlewistownvalley.org.