Christmas trees

The borough of Tamaqua's Street Department will be collecting discarded Christmas trees throughout January.Residents are to place their trees curbside on their regular trash collection days. Trees will be collected as time and weather permit.Trees must be free of all tinsel and decorations. Residents are also asked to remove any plastic bags from the trees.Trees may also be dropped off behind the Tamaqua Borough Garage, at 421 rear E. Broad St.No trees will be collected after Jan. 31.Tax exemptionsThe Schuylkill County and Tamaqua Borough Per Capita and Occupation Tax Exemption Forms for the year 2014 will become available on Monday for borough of Tamaqua residents.The exemption forms can be obtained at the Tamaqua Municipal Building, 320 E. Broad St., from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.Forms will also be available at tax collector Alan Kerr's office, the Tamaqua Area School District Administration building, the Tamaqua ABC High Rise, Majestic House Apartment Complex, the Tamaqua Public Library and the Tamaqua Post Office.Residents must complete the form each year to qualify for the tax exemption.Exoneration forms must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 31.SS. Peter and PaulSS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church will observe a Fatima Saturday this week. 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 this Sunday and receive Holy Communion as a group. A rosary will be said before the Mass.First Friday will be observed next week with confessions 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 were made to those areas on Thursday morning.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 8 a.m. traditional service Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church.A contemporary service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Tamaqua YMCA, including nursery and primary church. Sunday school classes, for all ages, will meet at 9:15 a.m. at the church.Activities for next week will include: Tuesday, prayer time at 8:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m., GriefShare meets at 7 p.m.; Saturday, musician rehearsal at 8:30 a.m., praise practice at 9 a.m.