Memorial parade

Tamaqua's Memorial Day Parade will be held Monday, beginning at 10 a.m. This is a change in time from previous years. The parade will again form in the area of the former CVS/Maff Motors parking lots. Lawrence J. Kabana has been named as the parade's grand marshal, while Neal E. Smith will be the featured speaker for the service at the Odd Fellows Cemetery.The day's activities will begin at 9:45 a.m. at the Rahn Township Memorial on East Broad Street. The color guard of C.H. Berry Post 173, Tamaqua American Legion, will render honors.The Legion Post 173 Color Guard will lead the parade, followed by Grand Marshal Kabana, Tamaqua Business and Professional Women's Club Young Woman of the Year, Tamaqua Poppy Queen McKayla McLaughlin, and Major Sharon Whispell of the Tamaqua Salvation Army, who will serve as clergy for the cemetery service at Odd Fellows.Also included in the line-up will be the Marian Catholic High School Band, the Tamaqua Area High School Raider Band, the 18th North Carolina Reenactment Group, various Boy and Girl Scout units, the Tamaqua and Tuscarora Fire Companies, Tamaqua Ambulance and Rescue Squad, the West Penn Township VFW and members of Company C, 109th Armor, Pennsylvania National Guard.The parade will march the length of Broad Street and conclude at the Odd Fellows Cemetery. At the cemetery, there will be a release of biodegradable red, while and blue balloons during the reading of the deceased veterans. The release is being coordinated by Stephen Ulicny, advisor of the Tamaqua Area Student Government Association and TASGA members.The parade will be held rain or shine, unless there is a forecast of thunder storms. Anyone interested in joining the parade can do so by contacting Jon Zizelmann at (570) 668-0390.Firemen's memorialThe Tamaqua Volunteer Firemen's Relief Association will conduct its 82 Annual Memorial Day service this Sunday at 6 p.m., in St. Jerome's Catholic Church.The public is welcome to attend and pay tribute to the members who passed away during the last year.First StepsFirst Steps, a support group for mothers, will have its monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 1, at the Primitive Methodist Church, 55 Hunter St., Tamaqua. The meeting will be held in the church social room from 6:30-7:30 p.m.Participants will learn how to make fabric wreaths.The sessions are free and open to the public. Child care for all ages will be provided free of charge. New members and volunteers are welcome.For more information, call Linda Murphy at (570) 668-2972 or email

firststepmom@msn.com.Zion LewistownThis Sunday, Zion Lewistown Church and Calvary Evangelical United Methodist Church will hold a combined memorial service, at 10:25 a.m., at Calvary Church and Cemetery. The Rev. Sunny Stock of Zion's will conduct, while the Rev. Brian Reading of Calvary will direct the service.Special music will be provided by a combined choir and the Middleport American Legion will provide an honor guard.The Rev. Stock will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Zion Church in the Lewistown Valley. The service will include recognition of 2011 graduates. The preschool students will be participating. The service will be followed by a fellowship with light refreshments.The Zion's Youth Group will meet May 13, from 7-9 p.m., in Zion's social hall.Next Wednesday, the fundraising committee will meet at 6:30

p.m.and the preschool meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m.Fitness for Friends, a community exercise class, meets Mondays and Thursdays, 6-7 p.m., in the social hall.Older and BolderThe Tamaqua Salvation Army's Older and Bolder program meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The program is open to adults ages 55 and up. Musician Bill Clause is scheduled to entertain at next week's meeting.Upcoming scheduled programs include: June 22, pamper yourself day; and June 29, Summer picnic.For further information about the group, call (570) 668-0410.