Halloween parade

The Tamaqua Halloween Parade will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. The rain date is Wednesday, Oct. 27.The parade will be sponsored by the Tamaqua Lions Club, with assistance from the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce. The Tamaqua Wireless Association will provide communication along the parade route.Entries are being accepted for floats/motorized units and marching units. The deadline for registration is Oct. 15.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.Owl Creek HalloweenThe Owl Creek Reservoir Commission will hold its annual Fall Foliage/Halloween Festival Oct. 23-24, beginning at noon each day.Activities will include a hay maze, pumpkin painting, scarecrow and pumpkin photos, face painting, marshmallow roasting and more. Hayrides will run until 11 p.m. that Saturday (haunted after dusk) and to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Food and refreshments will also be available.Rain dates will be Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.Writers' workshopThe Black Diamond Writers' network will sponsor a workshop on writing mystery novels featuring Josh Berk, award winning writer of "The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin." The workshop will be held from 1-3 p.m., Nov. 20 at the Tamaqua Public Library, following the monthly meeting of the BDWN.The workshop will include exercises on plot, setting, character, dialogue, description and more. Participants will be able to brainstorm outlines for detective stories during the hands on writing practice.Deadline for pre-registration is Nov. 13 as seating is limited. Applications are available online at

www.tamaquapubliclibrary.org. For more information concerning the workshop or the Black Diamond Writers' Network, call Kathy at (570) 645-3059.SWNCThe South Ward Neighborhood Committee will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday at 230 Race St. The meeting will include updates on the community center/playground projects. Anyone interested in improving the ward is welcome to attend.Senior newsThe Tamaqua Senior Citizens group met last week with 69 members in attendance. President Jean Machamer conducted the business session.Eleanor Roberts offered the invocation, entitled "A Thankful Heart." Reports were offered by secretary Eleanor Schmerfeld and Vice President Doris Brobst. A sympathy card was sent to the family of Jane Springer. Machamer provided several readings.The group meets every Thursday, at 1 p.m., at the Tamaqua Community Center, located to the rear of Boyer's Food Mart on Cedar Street. Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Nursery care is provided. Sunday school for all ages is held at 9:30 a.m.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, prayer time at 8:30 a.m., Men's Fraternity meets at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m., Prayer and Bible study at 6:30 p.m.; and Grief Share at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, hoagie sale; Saturday, musician rehearsal at 9 a.m., praise practice at 9:30 a.m. and quilting at 11 a.m.