Band festival

The Tamaqua Area "Raider" Band and Band Boosters will host the 16th Annual Land of the Running Water Band Festival on Sept. 29 in the Tamaqua Sports Stadium. This year's event will feature 11 visiting bands to be judged by a panel of current and former music educators. Trophies will be awarded.High school marching bands scheduled to perform their fall field shows are: Annville-Cleona Dutchmen; Bangor Slaters; Emmaus Green Hornets; Exeter Township Eagles; Hamburg Area Hawks; Mahanoy Area Golden Bears; Minersville Battlin' Miners; Panther Valley Panthers; Pottsville Area Crimson Tide; Tri Valley Bulldogs; and Wilson Area Warriors.The host band will also perform.Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the competition will begin at 6:30 p.m., rain or shine.Fall clean upTamaqua residents will have the opportunity to dispose of old tires, appliances, bulk items and electronics during the annual fall clean up campaign, scheduled locally for the week of Sept. 24. Electronics, tires, appliances and bulky items may be dropped off at the Tamaqua Transfer Station that week, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon.The Great Pennsylvania Fall/SKIP Clean Up campaign is scheduled for Sept. 22. Volunteers will meet at the M and T parking lot, Broad and Center Street. Residents and business owners may lend a hand by cleaning their respective sidewalks and properties that day.Garbage bags, safety vests, gloves and complimentary beverages will be provided. Trash bags must then be placed beside a state highway for collection purposes. Trash may also be disposed of in a dumpster located at the rear of the Tamaqua Municipal Building, 320 E. Broad St.For more information, contact Tamaqua Beautification Association President Kevin Steigerwalt at (570) 668-1252 or 668-3444.GriefShareA new GriefShare group is forming at Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, scheduled to begin weekly meetings on Sept. 26. GriefShare is a ministry to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. The Biblically-based, nondenominational sessions will be held Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for a 13-week period.Bethany EC is located at 223 E. Broad St., Tamaqua.For more information, or to enroll, call (570) 668-2520.Book discussionThe Tamaqua Public Library's Book Discussion Group will meet Monday, at 6 p.m., to review the novel "Tallgrass," written by Sandra Dallas. The book is a murder mystery set in the post Pearl Harbor era, but centers much of its focus on one family, the Strouds, and the nearby Japanese interment camp and its people.New members are always welcome. For more information, contact the library at (570) 668-4660.St. Peter's UnionThe Rev. Cheryl Moore will officiate at the 9 a.m. worship service this Sunday in St. Peter's Union Church, Mantzville. Sunday school classes meet at 10:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, a scout meeting will be held from 2-5 p.m. and the Daisies, Brownies and Cub Scouts will all meet at 6 p.m.Activities for next week will include: Monday, Bible study session will be held at 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Scouts meet at 6 p.m.; Thursday, prayer group will meet at 4:45 p.m. and the senior choir will rehearse at 7:30 p.m.Calvary EvangelicalThe Rev. Dr. Edward Bean will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Calvary Evangelical Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley. Sunday school classes will meet at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, a time of praise, worship and Bible study will be held at 6:30 p.m.On Wednesday, a time of praise, worship and Bible study will be held at 7 p.m.