Calvary Lewistown

Pastor Ralph Saunders will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Calvary Evangelical Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley. Sunday school classes are held at 9:15 a.m. Evening praise and Bible study is 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Lenten service for March 18 will be at Zion Church, Lewistown Valley at 7:15 p.m.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on March 18 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Salvation Army Gym, 105 W. Broad St., Tamaqua.

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 visit www.redcross.org.

Tamaqua Seniors

The Tamaqua Senior Citizens met March 5 at the Tamaqua YMCA with 39 members in attendance. The meeting was opened with the reading “Let’s Take a Walk.”

The group is open to anyone 55 or older, meeting at 1 p.m. every Thursday at the YMCA. The next meeting will be held on March 12.

Hoagie Sale

St. John UCC is holding a deluxe Italian hoagie sale. Orders are due by March 19 by calling 570-668-2573. Pick up at the church on March 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 150 Pine St. Delivery is available to businesses upon request. Hoagies are $6 each.

Pierogie Sale

The Loaves & Fishes youth ministry at Zion Lutheran Church in Tamaqua is sponsoring a homemade pierogi sale. Potato-cheese and sauerkraut pierogies are available.

Orders can be placed at www.ziontamaqua.com or by calling 570-668-2180 by March 18. Pick up is March 22 from noon to 3 p.m. Zion is located at Mauch Chunk and Greenwood streets in Tamaqua.

Bus trip

Visit a Wildflower Preserve, have lunch in New Hope, spend the afternoon on a second walk or browse and shop on May 7, when the South Schuylkill Garden Club and PSU Master Gardeners co-sponsor a bus to Bucks County. The morning guided tour of Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve will awaken your senses, walking among late-spring blooming native (over 700 species) flowers, shrubs, trees and meadows. Bowman’s does have a handicap accessible tour. Wear comfortable shoes.

Lunch is not provided; however, 1½ hour is allotted to explore, shop and/or dine in New Hope, known for his exquisite restaurants. After lunch, walkers can pay $5 to self-tour part of 32 acres at Paxson Hill which has gardens labeled as shade, pond, Temple, “never, never land,” etc. The alternative is browse or shop the nursery greenhouses selling annuals, perennials, and all-natural, itch-free yarn made from sheep, Alpaca and Angora Goats — all part of Paxson Hill.

The bus departs Giant in Cressona at 7:15 a.m. and returns at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $60. Checks are payable to South Schuylkill Garden Club and mailed to Carol Haldeman at 105 Beuchler Lane in Pine Grove, 17963. April 7 is the registration deadline. This is a rain or shine event. No refunds — find a substitute. Additional info at 570-345-2423 or 570-640-7511.

To submit information for this column, contact Susan Eckhart at 570-668-1250 or seckhart@tnonline.com. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or tneditor@tnonline.com.