Health reform

The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce and the Washko and Thomas Agency are teaming up to provide a free seminar on "Health Care Reform." The session will be held from 6-8 p.m. July 29 at the Morgan Center at LCCC, 234 High St., Tamaqua.The seminar is open to the public and will provide information about the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare."Seating is limited. For more information call (570) 668-1880.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.East End auxiliarySupporters of the East End Fire Company are in the process of starting an auxiliary unit. A planning session is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Aug. 11 at the fire company. For more information, call (570) 778-7407.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 all this month.SS. Peter and PaulFirst Friday will be observed next week in SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.First Friday confessions will be heard at 7:30 a.m., followed by Mass and devotions at 8 a.m. Communion calls will begin at 9 a.m., with the exception of parishioners in the Tamaqua ABC Hi Rise, Coaldale and Hometown. Communion calls will be made to those areas on Thursday morning.Aug. 3 will be a Fatima Saturday. Confessions will be heard at 7:30 a.m., followed by a Recitation of the rosary and Devotions before the 8 a.m. Mass.Members of the parish Holy Rosary Society will attend the 8 a.m. Mass on Aug. 4 and receive Holy Communion as a group. A rosary will be said before the Mass.St. John UCCSunday worship services are held at 9:30 a.m. in St. John United Church of Christ.