Master gardeners

Penn State Extension in Schuylkill County will have an introductory program for new volunteers wishing to become Penn State Master Gardeners. The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on March 22 at the Schuylkill County AG Center, 1202 AG Center Drive, Pottsville.Current Master Gardeners will be on hand to discuss the program and chat about their experiences.Application packets will be available, but there is no obligation for attending this free introductory session.To reserve a seat, call 570-622-4225, ext. 13, or email

schuylkillmg@psu.edu.Recruitment sessions are only held every two years.BloodmobileAn American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be in Tamaqua on Mondayat the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St.Hours will be from 1-6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health.Appointments may be made by calling 800-733-2767 or by registering online at

www.redcross.org/YMCATamaqua.Tamaqua seniorsThe Tamaqua Senior Citizens met Feb. 16 with 50 members in attendance. President Melody Weicker conducted the business session and provided the inspirational reading "Each Day."New member Joann McHale and guest Mimi Marrin were given warm welcomes. Rose Vallee, Barbara Gallagher and Norma Baker were added to the sick list.Pat Fredericks and Grace Sakusky volunteered to help audit the books.The next meeting will include a celebration of January and February birthdays.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.WorkshopThe next step in local efforts to reduce the stigma of addiction recovery will be a leadership workshop, to be held Saturdayat Trinity United Church of Christ.The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with training to be provided by the Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance (Pro-A) through a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.Sponsors include the Stepping Stones Recovery Foundation, STEP-Up Tamaqua, Safer Streets for Tamaqua's Little Feet and the Skook Recovers. STEP-Up Tamaqua is a Tamaqua Area Faith and Fellowship Network project.Registration is free. Seating is limited to 30 participants. To register or for more information, call 267-664-9022 or email

robertbedford67@gmail.com.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: Wednesday, Tamaqua Youth Ministry meets at 6:30 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.Contact Kathy Kunkel at 570-668-1250 or

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

tneditor@tnonline.com.