Tax exemptions

The Tamaqua Area School District is accepting Assessed Occupation Tax exemption applications for the 2012-20113 school year. This will cover the 2012 calendar year. This year's forms are goldenrod in color.Retired persons and housewives with no earned income, who have previously been exempted, do not need to file again unless their status has changed and they are now earning income.Also, those who are disabled or at least 75 years of age, who have been specifically notified of their exemption by the district, need not file an application.Students who reach the age of 18 by June 30, 2012, will be responsible for paying the tax unless exempt by application.Requests for exemption must be filed with the district by March 1, 2012. Application forms are available at the following locations: school district administration building; local tax collectors' offices; the Tamaqua Public Library; Tamaqua Borough Hall; local post offices; and all local bank branches.Blood driveAn American Red Cross Bloodmobile held in Tamaqua on Jan. 25 netted 56 units of the "gift of life." The bloodmobile was held in the social hall of St. John United Church of Christ.Local volunteers who assisted Red Cross personnel were Bob and Dolly Shirey, Bob and Darlene Zeckman, Jean Stevens and Edie Hoffman.Two first time donors answered the call Allison Lareau and Nathan Steigerwalt. Multi-gallon pins were awarded to Daniel Kabana, 3 gallons; and Marilyn Titus, 7 gallons.This visit was sponsored by 309 Auto Sales in Tamaqua.Knee Hi CheerThe Tamaqua Knee Hi Cheerleading Association will have its first meeting of the 2012 season on Feb. 8. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the community room at the Tamaqua ABC High Rise.For more information, call Tami at (570) 952-5024.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 8 a.m. traditional and 10:30 a.m. contemporary worship services this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Nursery care and primary church are provided at the later service.Sunday school classes will be held at 9:30 a.m. with a presentation from the Binders concerning their mission trip to Africa.Also on Sunday, the monthly worship service at the Hometown Nursing Center will be held at 2:30 p.m.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, Prayer time at 8:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m.; Friday, 24 Hours of Prayer event begins at 8 a.m.; Saturday, musician rehearsal at 9 a.m., Praise practice at 9:30 a.m.SS. Peter and PaulThe Holy Name Society of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church will meet at 8 p.m. next Thursday, Feb. 8.The meeting will be preceded by a Mass, beginning at 7:30 p.m.Parents of members of the First Penance class will meet Feb. at 9:15 a.m. this Sunday, at St. Jerome's Church. First Penance will be celebrated at 6 p.m., Feb. 7, at St. Jerome's Church.Zion LewistownThe Rev. Sunny Stock will officiate at the 8:45 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Zion Church in the Lewistown Valley. This service is earlier than normal and the change is for this week only.On Tuesday, the fundraiser committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. and the preschool board will meet at 7:30 p.m.First MethodistThe Rev. James Cavallero will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service this Sunday in First United Methodist Church.Adult Sunday school will meet at 9:30 a.m.Children's Sunday school is held during the worship service on the first and third Sundays of each month.Activities for next week include: Tuesday, quilters meet at 9:30 a.m., MOM meets at 6 p.m.; Wednesday, United Methodist Women meets at noon, chancel choir rehearsal is at 7 p.m.; Friday, photo session from 2-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, photo session, 9:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m.Zion LutheranThe Rev. Jeffrey Kistler will officiate at the 9:30 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.Also on Sunday, the senior choir will rehearse at 11 a.m. and the scouts will meet at 6 p.m.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, property committee meeting at 6 p.m., scouts meet at 6:30 p.m. and the finance meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, scouts meet at 6 p.m.The annual meeting will be held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 12.Missing honorsA student's name was inadvertently missed from the honor roll listing for the Tamaqua Area Middle School.Ed Titus, a sixth grade student, was named to the honor roll.