Free lunch

The South Ward Playground Association is hosting a free summer lunch program for all local children up to and including the age of 18. Lunch is being served weekdays, from noon to 1:15 p.m., at the South Ward playground.The program is an offshoot of the free school lunch program, with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The nondiscriminatory program is open to all children regardless of race, origin, religion, etc. In addition to a healthy lunch, participants will be offered a variety of summer activities.The playground is located at the intersection of Penn and Oak streets in the South Ward.West Penn LionsThe West Penn Lions Club meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month as they work toward helping others, both locally and nationally.Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in the West Penn Township Annex Building, located just off Route 309 on Municipal Road.The next meeting will be held on July 5.For further information, call 570-386-2272.Middle schoolPlans for the 2017-18 school year are already underway at the Tamaqua Area Middle School, as Principal Chris Czapla has announced a date for the school's summer open house.The open house will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 21, providing families with an opportunity to follow their child's schedule and meet the teachers.This is not a night for parent-teacher conferences, but such conferences may be scheduled for another date and time.Parents will also be able to learn more about the MMS student portal, student planners, Accelerated Reader and extracurricular activities.Homeroom assignments will be posted on the main doors of the school on Aug. 14.Outdoor funSt. Luke's Miners Campus in Coaldale is sponsoring a monthly series of educational events.The July topic is "National Parks and Recreation" and will focus on ways to safely enjoy the outdoors when using an assistive device.The workshop will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on July 21 in the hospital's first-floor community room, 360 W. Ruddle St., Coaldale.Reservations are required and may be made by calling 570-645-8157.Light refreshments will be provided.Calvary UMAll services and activities for Calvary Evangelical United Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley will be held at the Lewistown Valley Tabernacle, 614 Valley Road, from July 2 through Labor Day.The Rev. Phillip Sabas will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:15 a.m.Camp meetings will be held through July 2 in Auburn.Upcoming events include: July 16, Brian Reading will present a worship service concert at 10:25 a.m.; July 27, Dixie Melody Boys will present a concert at 7 p.m.St. John LutheranThe Rev. Phyllis Wolford will officiate at this Sunday's 9:15 a.m. worship service in St. John's Lutheran Church.Also on Sunday, the bell choir will travel to Onondago Community College for a bell festival.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or

kkunkel@tnonline.com. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or

tneditor@tnonline.com.