Honoring first

respondersTamaqua Masonic Lodge 238, Free and Accepted Masons, will honor all first responders from the greater Tamaqua area today. 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 14 at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St. The meeting was attended by 59 members, with one guest, Helene Kellner.President Melody Weicker conducted the business session and secretary Ruthann Feane provided an inspirational reading, "I Hope Life Treats You Kindly." Kathleen Valentine and Bill Price were added to the sick list.The group meets at 1 p.m. every Thursday. This week's meeting will include a memorial observance.Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join. The YMCA is handicap accessible.Garden workshopThe Schuylkill County Penn State Master Gardeners program had to reschedule its walking workshop due to Mother Nature. The workshop is designed to help residents improve their gardening skills.The walk will be held on May 30, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Tuscarora State Park.Anyone interested in participating in this 1-mile hike, along an easy trail, is to meet at the Day Use Area before 10 a.m.Naturalist Robin Tracy and several master gardeners will point out the native plants and provide information on how they can be used in the home garden.St. John UCCThe Rev. Kevin Duffy Guy will officiate at the 9:30 a.m. worship service Sunday in St. John United Church of Christ. Sunday school begins at the end of the junior sermon.Upcoming events will include a hoagie sale on June 2. For more information, call the church office at 570-668-2573.Bethany ECThe Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. worship services this Sunday in Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church. Sunday school will meet at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, a reception of new members will be held at 10:30 a.m.; Global Outreach Commission will meet at 10:30 a.m.; commission meetings will be held at 11:45 a.m.Activities for next week include: Monday, Memorial Day Parade at 9 a.m.; 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, local outreach work project at 8 a.m.The Evangelical Congregational National Conference will be held next Wednesday through Friday.