Schuylkill Chorus

The Tamaqua Area School District's Music Department is hosting the 2015 Schuylkill County Choral Festival, an annual four-day event, which will conclude with a public concert on Saturday.The chorus features students from grades 8 through 12 from 13 participating high schools throughout the county, who were selected to participate after a competitive vocal audition, held in October.This year's chorus will be under the direction of David Lantz III, a noted composer, educator, and choral director at East Stroudsburg North High School. Tickets can be purchased at the door.The concert will be held in the Tamaqua Area auditorium. Doors open at 1:20 p.m.; the concert will begin at 2 p.m.School taxesThe Tamaqua Area School District is accepting Assessed Occupation Tax exemption applications for the 2015-2016 school year. This will cover the 2015 calendar year. This year's forms are orange.Retired people and those with no earned income who have previously been exempted do not need to file again unless their status has changed and they are now earning income.Also, those who are disabled or at least 75 years of age who have been specifically notified of their exemption by the district need not file an application.Students who reach the age of 18 by June 30 will be responsible for paying the tax unless exempt by application.Requests for exemption must be filed with the district by March 1. Application forms are available at the school district administration building, all tax collectors' offices, Tamaqua Borough Hall, the Tamaqua Public Library, and all post offices and bank branches within the district.Dog licensesSchuylkill County Treasurer Jackie McGovern reminds residents that 2015 dog licenses are now available.Dogs 3 months or older must be licensed by law.Licenses may be obtained at the county courthouse in Pottsville, by mail, online at

www.padoglicense.com or at a variety of licensing agents.Locally, those agents include AAA at 202 E. Broad St.; Tom's Auto and Marine, Greenwood Street and Mountain Avenue; and Koch's Farm Service in the Lewistown Valley.There has been a small increase in fees. Owners of unlicensed dogs face fines of up to $500.For more information, call McGovern's office at 570-628-1433.Zion LewistownPastor Jim Williams will officiate at this Sunday's 10:30 a.m. service in Zion Church in the Lewistown Valley. Sunday school classes will be held at 9:15 a.m.Activities for next week include: Thursday, Bible study session at 12:30 p.m., confirmation class meets at 6:30 p.m.