Garden club

The Lewistown Valley Garden Club will hold its annual picnic July 23, at 6 p.m., at Leiby's Grove. For more information, call (570) 668-4288.The most recent meeting was held at the home of Evelyn Adams and included a tour of her gardens and a discussion on the different varieties of plants and trees she grows.President June Leiby conducted the business session, which focused on the upcoming Schuylkill County Fair. There have been some changes this year, reducing the number of categories to five. A section of the exhibition building will now house FFA students' Agricultural Education Horticultural Exhibits. Garden club members will compete in the Artistic Arrangements sector. All entries must be submitted on July 27, between noon and 5 p.m.Cross Country teamsThe Tamaqua Cross Country Boosters are calling all team alumni to participate in a picnic and 5K Fun Run on Aug. 18. The event will be held at the Tuscarora State Park. For more information, email

stite@ptd.net or visit the Tamaqua Cross Country Alumni page on Facebook.Senior citizensThe Tamaqua Senior Citizens group met July 11 at the Masonic Lodge in Hometown, with 79 members in attendance. President Jean Machamer conducted the business session.Jacque Patrick provided an inspirational reading. Reports were given by the secretary and treasurer. June and July birthdays will be celebrated at the Aug. 1 meeting. A trip to Shady Maple is being planned for some time in August. A sign up sheet is now available for the annual picnic. The meeting concluded with cards and social games.The seniors meet at 1 p.m. every Thursday at the Masonic Lodge, located on SR54 (East) in Hometown. Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join. The center is handicap accessible.Stuff the busThe Schuylkill United Way is again sponsoring its annual "Stuff the Bus" campaign, collecting school supplies for county students from low income families. In addition to collection locations at the Schuylkill Mall, Cressona Mall and Fairlane Village Mall, donations will also be collected at the Tamaqua Salvation Army and the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce office.Backpacks, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, binders, folders, rulers, crayons, highlighters, mini staplers and markers are needed. The items will be collected during the entire month of July.Raider BandThe Tamaqua Raider Band will hold its next summer rehearsal from 9-11 a.m. on July 23 for the instrumentalists.Old and New Night will be held on July 30. New members will rehearse from 4-6 p.m. All instrumentalists and majorettes will rehearse from 6-8 p.m.Band Camp will begin at 8 a.m. on Aug. 5. Camp is mandatory for all band members.All rehearsals will be held in the band room.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 8 a.m. traditional service this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. A contemporary service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Tamaqua YMCA. Sunday school is held at 9:15 a.m., at the church.Also on Sunday, the monthly service at the Hometown Nursing Center will be held at 2:30 p.m.Activities for next week will include: Monday through Friday, 5 Day Club at 1 p.m. at the South Ward Playground; Tuesday, Playground Pals at 11:30 a.m. at the South Ward Playground, kitchen and social commission meeting at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Waterside Whistle Stop at 2:30 p.m. at the Bungalow, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m., TYM staff meeting at 8 p.m.; Thursday, Bethany night at Heisler's, 7 p.m., for an evening of mini golf; Saturday, musician practice at 8 a.m., praise rehearsal at 9:30 a.m.