Cressona Band

The Cressona Band will honor the late Sheldon Shafer, former band member and benefactor, with a memorial concert on Aug. 1 at the East End Playground. The concert will begin at 7 p.m.

The playground is located on Mountain Avenue. The refreshment stand will be open.

Concertgoers are welcome to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets for either event.

TAHS parking

Student parking at the Tamaqua Area Senior High School will once again be by permit only.

Applications for parking permits are now available in the high school office, Mondays through Thursdays, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Forms must be completed and returned no later than Aug. 2.

A total of 74 parking spaces will be available and will be assigned by lottery. Only senior and junior students are eligible for a permit, with priority given to seniors. Students will be notified by mail if they have been issued a permit. Permits will then be issued beginning Aug. 14.

Students who wish to receive parking permits are subject to the district’s drug testing policy and must register for the drug test.

Chamber concerts

The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce continues its 12th Annual Summer Concert Series on Aug. 2, with Buddy Musselman playing classic rock and outlaw country. The concerts are held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the platform at the Tamaqua Train Station. Platform and dining room seating at the restaurant are available by reservation. All events are weather permitting.

The entertainment will continue on: Aug. 9, The Fat Cats, rock ’n’ roll; Aug 16, Magic Stew, classic rock/jams; Aug. 23, The Bees Knees, ’60s rock and the British invasion bands; Aug. 30, Gene Morrison, oldies and classic rock; Sept. 6, Clayton, Tom and Dee.

For more information, contact the chamber office at 570-668-1880.

Library news

The Tamaqua Public Library has a lot going on during the Summer months, from reading competitions to fundraisers to book signings to book discussions.

First up is the annual book and bake sale, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 4.

Meet Anna Chaikowsky La Voie, author of “Lithuanians of Schuylkill County,” on Aug. 13. She will be at the library beginning at 6 p.m. to discuss her research and sign copies of her book.

Summit Hill resident Stanley “Porky” Szczecina will be at the library from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 12 to discuss his newest book, “Porky’s Shorts.”

Adult book discussions are held on the last Monday of each month. August’s book is “The Wife Between Us,” written by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen.

For more information on any library program or event, call 570-668-4660.

The library is located at 30 S. Railroad St., Tamaqua.

Bethany EC

The 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.

Activities for next week include: Monday, Celebrate Recovery men’s training at 5:30 p.m., Celebrate Recovery meets at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, worship practice at 7 p.m.

A Summer Celebration will be held at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St., at 6 p.m. on Aug. 12.

Primitive Methodist

Pastor Rick Clemson will officiate at the 10:45 a.m. worship service on Sunday in American Primitive Methodist Church. Sunday school classes are held at 9:30 a.m.

Also on Sunday, the monthly worship service at the Hometown Nursing Center will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Bible study sessions are held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Hope in the Mountains NFG is held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Thursday.

From field to fork

Schuylkill County Master Gardeners will offer a free learning experience for county residents to learn more about how vegetables go from the fields to the dinner table.

The Second Annual Garden Gathering will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 18 at First United Church of Christ, 110 Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven. This is adjacent to the Penn State Schuylkill Campus.

Master Gardeners will be on hand to help with any gardening questions or concerns. The event will include music, artisans, food and vendors. Parking and admission are free.

To learn more, go to www.extension.psu.edu/schuylkill.

Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or kkunkel@tnonline.com. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or tneditor@tnonline.com.