Tamaqua news
Back to school
The Tamaqua Area School District will host back to school events at the Tamaqua Middle School as well as the Tamaqua and West Penn Elementary schools.The elementary schools will host open houses on Monday, with specific times set for each grade.At Tamaqua Elementary, the schedule will be: kindergarten, 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; first grade, 6:15 and 6:45 p.m.; second grade, 6:30 and 7 p.m.; third grade, 7:30 and 8 p.m.; fourth grade, 7:45 and 8:15 p.m.; fifth grade, 8 and 8:30 p.m.West Penn Elementary's schedule is: kindergarten and third grade, 6 and 7 p.m.; first and fourth grades, 6:15 and 7:15 p.m.; second and fifth grades, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.An orientation session at the Tamaqua Middle School is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Parents of sixth-graders, as well as seventh- and eighth-graders new to the district, are welcome to attend as information will be presented on student schedules, activities, facilities and discipline.Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to follow their child's schedule, meet with teachers and become familiar with the MMS Student portal, student planners, the Accelerated Reader course, clubs and Middle States Accreditation.Classes for the new school year begin on Aug. 29.BloodmobileAn American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be held in Tamaqua on from 1-6 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St.Anyone 17 or older, in good general health, who weighs at least 110 pounds is eligible to donate. Donors will receive a $5 Amazon gift code by email.For more information or an appointment, call 800-733-2767 or visit
www.redcross.org.Walk-ins are also welcome.Free concertsThe Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce's 10th annual free summer concert series continues this week with an evening of rhythm and blues by the Christopher Dean Band.Concerts are held from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays throughout the summer on the platform of the historic Tamaqua Train Station.The final concert will be held Sept. 1 and will feature Diaspora, a classic rock band.Anyone planning to attend is welcome to bring a lawn chair or make a reservation at the new Tamaqua Station Restaurant.Concerts are weather permitting.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 time at 8:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, worship team practice at 6:30 p.m., worship leader practice at 7:30 p.m.The annual church picnic will be held Aug. 28 following the 10:30 a.m. worship service.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or
kkunkel@tnonline.com. Contact the Times News at 800-443-0377 or