Walk with a doc

Dr. Joanne Calabrese will lead Tamaqua's second Walk With a Doc event, sponsored by St. Luke's's Health Network, this Thursday, Aug. 17.The walk will begin at 6 p.m. at St. Luke's Internal Medicine Office, 120 Pine St.Free blood pressure screenings and fresh fruits and vegetables will be available.The walk is approximately 1 mile long.BloodmobileAn American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be held from 1-6 p.m. at the Tamaqua YMCA onAug. 24.Anyone 17 or older, who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in general good health, is eligible to donate blood.Walk-ins are welcome or you can schedule an appointment by calling 800-733-2767 or online at

www.redcross.org.The Y is located at 1201 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, in the shopping plaza.Summer concertsThe Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce continues its 11th Annual Summer Concert Series this Thursday with an appearance by Greater Than 2, sponsored by St. Luke's Health Network.Concerts are held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on select Thursdays throughout the summer months with all events to be held on the platform of the Tamaqua Train Station.Additional concerts will be: Aug. 24, Christopher Dean Band, sponsored by Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman; Sept. 17, It Takes Two, sponsored by Cal's Tire and Auto.Tamaqua seniorsThe Tamaqua Senior Citizens met Aug. 10 with 59 members in attendance. President Melody Weicker conducted the business session and provided the inspirational reading "Don't Forget to Pray."Pearl Davis was added to the sick list.Upcoming trips were discussed, including an Aug. 14 visit to Red Lobster in Wilkes-Barre; Sept. 18, Dutchway Restaurant in Myerstown; Oct. 18, Mohegan Sun Casino in Wilkes-Barre.Janine Holter of the state attorney general's office will be the guest speaker at the Aug. 17 meeting. Her topic will be scams and how to avoid them.The group is open to anyone 55 or older.Meetings are held at 1 p.m. Thursdays at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St.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 classes meet at 9:15 a.m.Also this Sunday, the monthly worship service at the Hometown Nursing Center will be held at 2:30 p.m.Activities for next week include: Tuesday, prayer gathering at 8:30 a.m., ministry council meets at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry staff meet at 7 p.m.; Thursday, worship team meets at 7 p.m., worship team leaders meet at 8 p.m.Primitive MethodistPastor Rick Clemson will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service on Sunday in American Primitive Methodist Church. The service will include the reception of new members.Sunday school classes are held at 9:30 a.m.The church family picnic will be held at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 3.Back to schoolThe Tamaqua and West Penn Elementary Schools will be conducting Back to School Nights on Aug. 22Sessions at both schools will follow a schedule, offering two sessions, to make it easier for parents who wish to attend.At Tamaqua Elementary, the schedule will be: kindergarten and K+, 6 or 7 p.m.; first grade, 6:15 or 6:45 p.m.; second grade, 6:30 or 7 p.m.; third grade, 7:30 or 8 p.m.; fourth grade, 7:45 or 8:15 p.m.; fifth grade, 8 or 8:30 p.m.West Penn Elementary's schedule will be: kindergarten and K+, 6 or 7 p.m.; first grade, 6:15 or 7:15 p.m.; second grade, 6:30 or 7:30 p.m.; third grade, 6 or 7 p.m.; fourth grade, 6:15 or 7:15 p.m.; fifth grade, 6:30 or 7:30 p.m.Health seriesSt. Luke's Miners Campus in Coaldale is sponsoring a series of continuing education sessions on a variety of health topics. Sessions are held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. the third Friday of each month.This month's session will be held on Aug. 18 and will focus on diabetes awareness.Rush-Ryan seniorsThe Rush, Ryan and Delano Senior Citizens Inc. met Aug. 8 at the Ryan Township Fire Company with 49 in attendance. President Bill Morrison conducted the business session and provided the inspirational reading "Three Gifts."Joan Brown was added to the sick list. Upcoming events were discussed, including an Aug. 15 trip to the Mohegan Sun Casino in Wilkes-Barre and a sept. 25 trip to the Bloomsburg Fair.The group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at the Ryan Township Fire Company in Barnesville. The next meeting will be held Aug. 22.Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join.Calvary LewistownAll services and activities for Calvary United Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley will be held at the Lewistown Valley Tabernacle through Labor Day.The Rev. Phillip Sabas will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday. Sunday school classes meet at 10:25 a.m.Also on Sunday, a service with congregational singing will be held at 6:30 p.m.The Lumber River Quartet from North Carolina will perform a Southern Gospel Concert at 7 p.m. on Aug. 24.The 104th Annual Camp meeting and services will be held Aug. 25 through Sept. 4. Special concerts will include "The Witness" at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 and "Mended Heart" at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. Evangelists the Rev. Jeff and Jeanie Shelburne will provide music and word ministry for most of the services. Jennifer McDonald will be the featured speaker for Missionary Night on Aug. 30.St. Peter's UnionSunday worship services in St. Peter's Union Church in Mantzville are held at 9 a.m. Sunday school classes meet at 10:15 a.m. The service will include a visit from the Motovilov Family. Sunday school classes meet at 10:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, the board will meet at 10:30 a.m.Next week's activities include: Tuesday, prayer group meets at 5 p.m., called to care committee meets at 6 p.m.A blessing of backpacks will be held during the 9 a.m. service on Aug. 27.Zion LewistownPastor Jim Williams will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. service this Sunday at Zion Church, Lewistown Valley. Sunday school is scheduled for 9:15 a.m.The annual church picnic will be held Aug. 27 at Leiby's Grove. Activities will begin at 10:30 a.m.A donation box for Bethany Children's Home has been placed in the church entry way.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.