Tamaqua seniors

The Tamaqua Senior Citizens met Feb. 23 with 51 members in attendance. President Melody Weicker conducted the business session and provided the inspirational reading "Tomorrow Begins With Today."One new member, Albert Patrick, was given a warm welcome. Kathleen Valentine, Francis Hill, Helene Kellner, Anthony Zahora, Jackie Patrick and Jim Sloboda were added to the sick list.The meeting included a celebration of January and February birthdays, honoring Normalee Burke, Pat Benerik, Eleanor Schmerfeld, Helen Trimmel, Shirley Mooney, Edith Varano, Gus Schlorf, Edna Fegley, Mary Reed, Mary DeBenedict, Alice Tite and Ruth Betz.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.Soup socialThe next monthly community soup social at Trinity United Church of Christ will be held this Saturday. The social will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the social hall.The meal is free to the public and everyone is welcome to enjoy the soup, desserts, refreshments and time with friends.For more information or to volunteer, stop by the church at 22 Lafayette St. or call 570-668-4139.Citizenship awardThe Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its 2017 Joseph M. Plasko Citizen of the Year and Tamaqua Business Person of the Year awards.The awards will be presented at the 65th annual Chamber/TIDE Dinner, which will be held on April 26.The awards are open to all residents of the Tamaqua Area School District, 18 years of age or older.Nominations may be mailed to the Citizenship Award Committee, Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce, 37 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, PA 18252; faxed to 570-668-0826 or emailed to

tamaquachamber@verizon.net.Deadline for nominations is April 3.For more information, contact the Tamaqua Chamber at 570-668-1880.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.Activities for next week include: Tuesday, prayer gathering at 8:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m., TYM staff meet at 8 p.m.; Thursday, worship team practices at 7 p.m., worship leaders meet at 8 p.m.Hunger Walk volunteers will meet at 2:30 p.m. March 5.Calvary EvangelicalThe Rev. Phillip Sabas will officiate at the 10:25 a.m. worship service this Sunday in Calvary Evangelical Methodist Church in the Lewistown Valley. Sunday school classes meet at 9:15 a.m.Also on Sunday, a service of praise and singing will be held at 6:30 p.m.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.