Tax exemptions

The Schuylkill County and Tamaqua Borough Per Capita and Occupation Tax Exemption forms for the year 2011 are currently available for Borough of Tamaqua residents.The exemption forms can be obtained at the Tamaqua Municipal Building, 320 E. Broad St., Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Forms will also be available at tax collector Alan Keer's office, the Tamaqua Area School District Administration building, the Tamaqua ABC High Rise, Majestic House Apartment Complex, the Tamaqua Public Library and the Tamaqua Post Office.Residents must complete the form each year to qualify for the tax exemption.Exoneration forms must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 28, 2011.Little Miss SpiritEntries for the Little Miss Spirit of Christmas Contest are now available for viewing and voting at the Wachovia Bank branch office in Tamaqua. The photos and essays will be available through Nov. 26.The top vote getter will be named Little Miss Spirit of Christmas and will have the opportunity to participate in numerous activities during the annual Spirit of Christmas Festival. The festival will be held from Dec. 2-5.Community serviceA Community Thanksgiving service will be celebrated next Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve, at 7:30 p.m., in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Rev. James Bechtel will offer the sermon.The public is welcome to attend. The church is located at the intersection of Greenwood and Mauch Chunk Streets.Bethany ECThe Rev. Fred Maury will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. Thankoffering service this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Nursery care is provided. Sunday school for all ages is held at 9:30 a.m.Also on Sunday, a new member class will be held at 9:30 a.m., will meet at 11:45 a.m. and a worship service will be held at the Hometown Nursing Center at 2:30 p.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.; Saturday, musician rehearsal at 9 a.m., praise practice at 9:30 a.m. and quilters meet at 11 a.m.Calvary UMThe Rev. Brian Reading will officiate at Sunday's 10:25 a.m. worship service in Calvary Evangelical United Methodist Church. Sunday school classes meet at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, the annual Thanksgiving Harvest service begin at 6:30 p.m. The event will include a celebration of Thanksgiving and National Bible Week, along with music, skits, old fashion decorations and dress, words of praise and a Harvest Home gathering. The public is welcome to attend.Primitive MethodistThe Rev. Rodney Hall will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service Sunday in Primitive Methodist Church. The service will include a children's sermon. Nursery care is available. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:30 a.m.First Steps, a support group for mothers of young children, meets the first Tuesday of each month, from 6-8 p.m., at the church.