Honoring first responders

Tamaqua Masonic Lodge 238, Free and Accepted Masons, will honor all first responders from the greater Tamaqua area on May 20. Festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge, Route 54 and Shawn Avenue in Hometown.The evening will include a brief ceremony, presentation of pins to the responders and refreshments.All EMS personnel, firefighters and law enforcement officers, and their families and friends, are welcome.Reservations are required to ensure there are enough pins and refreshments.For more information, or to respond, call 570-668-4532 or 570-668-5311.Senior CitizensThe Tamaqua Senior Citizens group met May 7 at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St. The meeting was attended by 59 members, with President Melody Weicker conducting the business session.Secretary Ruthann Feane provided an inspirational reading, "Thank You Lord For The Blessings." The group discussed a trip to Shady Maple planned for May 12.The next meeting will be at 1 p.m. Thursday. Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join. The YMCA is handicap accessible.Dog walkThe Tamaqua Area Animal Rescue group will hold its Seventh Annual Dog Walk on Saturday at the Owl Creek Reservoir on Owl Creek Road.Pets and their caregivers will meet at the trail run. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and will be held rain or shine. All registrants will receive a free pet bandanna.Forms are available at Tamaqua Borough Hall, the Times News Tamaqua office and at the Tamaqua YMCA. Forms may also be mailed or emailed by texting the words "dog walk forms" to 570-527-6808.The walkers with the top two pledge amounts will each receive a free T-shirt.Neuro supportThe St. Luke's Miners Hospital, Coaldale, neurological support group will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday in the hospital's community room.The group offers support to survivors, families and friends of those who suffer from neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and strokes.In addition to the opportunity to socialize with people facing the same difficulties, the support group will offer ways to deal with problems related to such diseases and disorders.For more information, call 570-645-8197.Calvary EvangelicalPastor Edward Bean will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Calvary Evangelical Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley. The service will include a Second Mile Offering. 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.An hour of praise and prayer is held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.Combined Memorial Day services will be held at 10:25 a.m. at Calvary on May 24. Following the service, a covered dish luncheon will be held in Zion's Church social hall.