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For most school districts, an all-weather track can be considered a luxury item. For Tamaqua, it's been a $600,000 investment that has fostered priceless opportunities. Whether it be the school, its sports teams, the student athletes or the community, the benefits of the artificial rubberized surface has paid instant dividends.

"It's certainly an asset to all of our athletic programs and a project that we've been very pleased with," stated Tamaqua athletic director Mike Hromyak. "Knowing the weather we have in northeastern Pennsylvania, especially in the early spring, not having an all-weather track was definitely a disadvantage to our student athletes." "Now, instead of running around on cinders and mud like we had in the past, they were able to get down there on the first day of spring sports practice and start preparing for the season."

TAMAQUA GIRL SCOUTS LEARN ABOUT CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 

Reported March 25, 2011.

(Times News Story)  (TamaquaArea.com Photos)

Guest speaker and Air Products chemical engineer Kate Lordan used Hershey chocolate bars to explain the various aspects of chemical engineering while pointing out each ingredient and the amount of work that goes into producing and manufacturing various types of products to Tamaqua Girl Scouts recently at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. She also discussed her many duties and responsibilities at the Hometown Air Products plant.

 

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TAMAQUA TIGERS LEARN ABOUT MEDIA REPORTING 

Reported March 25, 2011.

(Times News Story)  (TamaquaArea.com Photos)

Tamaqua Tiger Scouts Pack 777 and parents were visited by guest speaker Andrew Leibenguth who talked about the various processes of writing newspaper and internet stories, taking photos, producing videos, website design, and other media reporting aspects recently at the St John's UCC Church social hall in Tamaqua. Pictured learning about media reporting are Rowan Kranch, 7, left, with mother Laurie Kranch, Derek DeAngelo, 7, with mother Julie DeAngelo, right, all from Tamaqua.

 

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TAMAQUA RED CROSS BLOODMOBILE, BLOOD DRIVE, TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK AT TAMAQUA SALVATION ARMY 

Reported March 25, 2011.

(Times News Story)

TAMAQUA GIRL SCOUTS COLLECTING TOILET PAPER FOR AIR PRODUCTS PLANT CAREER AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Reported March 25, 2011.

(Times News Story)  (TamaquaArea.com Photos)

Tamaqua Girl Scouts are collecting toilet paper to help the Hometown Air Products plant Career and Development Program (CDP) provide needed supplies to Lehigh Valley and area shelters. Donations can be given to any Air Products employee or Tamaqua Girl Scout. Pictured from left are Tamaqua Girl Scouts Tiffany Porambo, 13, Emma Osenbach, 12, Air Products chemical engineer and CDP representative Kate Lordan, Tamaqua Girl Scouts Victoria Carrell, 13, and Rachael Paisley, 14.

 

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NEW MOBILE VETERANS CENTER ONLY 20 MINUTES FROM TAMAQUA 

Reported March 25, 2011.

(Times News Story)

LIHEAP GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED 

The Tamaqua Area School Board held a special meeting Tuesday evening to discuss budget items. The meeting began with President Larry Witting leading the board in a moment of silence in remembrance of TIMES NEWS reporter Joe Plasko who passed away earlier in the day. Plasko was an alumnus of the high school who covered the Tamaqua Area School District beat for many years, including academics and athletics. In committee action, the auxiliary committee approved the hiring of Tom Miller, Minersville, as volunteer boys tennis coach for the 2010-11 school year; Janet P. Smolden, New Ringgold, was hired as drama club designer for 2010-2011 school year at the established stipend of $657.00.

The Tamaqua Area School Board held a special meeting Tuesday evening to discuss budget items. The meeting began with President Larry Witting leading the board in a moment of silence in remembrance of TIMES NEWS reporter Joe Plasko who passed away earlier in the day. Plasko was an alumnus of the high school who covered the Tamaqua Area School District beat for many years, including academics and athletics.

Joseph M. Plasko, 50, of Tamaqua, died unexpectedly Tuesday morning, March 22, 2011, in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of Donna Marie (Markovchick) Plasko. They were married Aug. 23, 2008. He was an employee of the TIMES NEWS, serving as bureau chief in the Tamaqua office. He had previously worked in the newspaper's Sports Department. He earned a 2010 Keystone Press Award in the Sports Event Coverage category. Born in Chester, he was a son of Patricia A. (Kubilus) Plasko of Tamaqua and the late Joseph A. Plasko. A 1979 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and communications from Penn State University. While at the university, he was a disc jockey for the campus radio station. He was a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church, Tamaqua, where he also served as a lector. An avid sports and music fan, Plasko served as president of the Tamaqua YMCA; secretary of the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission; president of Downtown Tamaqua Inc.; secretary of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership; Panther Valley Little League Tournament director; secretary of the Tamaqua High School Hall of Fame; past president and current board member of the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce; a guest sportscaster on radio station WMGH; and was a member of the Nittany Lions Club, the Tamaqua BPO Elks and the Tamaqua Lions Club. Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are a sister, Tricia M. Rocchino of Plymouth Meeting; three brothers, Steven W., and his wife, Nicola, of Lancaster, William J. in Florida and Michael G., and his wife, Susan, of New Orleans, La.; his parents-in-law, Paul and Jean Markovchick, and a grandmother-in-law, Mary Sherpinsky, all of Tamaqua; and nieces and nephews.
Service: Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at the St. Jerome Catholic Church, Tamaqua, with the Rev. James Bechtel officiating. Interment, St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery, Summit Hill. Call 6-8 p.m. Friday, E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home, 655 E. Broad St., Tamaqua. Contributions in his name may be made to the St Jerome Catholic Church or the Tamaqua YMCA. Online registry at www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com.

After a long and cold winter, Rita's Italian Ice held its 19th Annual First Day of Spring Free Ice Giveaway Custard Happiness by providing one free, regular size cup of Italian Ice to more than a thousand people locally and 1.4 million people nationwide. Despite colder temperatures on Sunday, most locations still noted long lines. Pictured are Hometown Rita's Italian Ice employee Mike Vanwert and owner Kathy Tebin, right, providing complimentary Italian Ices to Autumn Mumich, 9, left, and Wyatt Mumich, 7, children of Prudence Mumich of Lake Hauto.

Tamaqua YMCA members, employees and board members, represented themselves as the Tamaqua YMCA team while participating in the 5th annual YMCA St Patty's Marsh Madness Ice Plunge for Kids event held Saturday at Blue Marsh Lake in Berks County. Spectators and icy-water jumpers for the Tamaqua YMCA team traveled via the Tamaqua YMCA bus to participate in the annual ice plunge event, More than 300 people, representing area YMCA branches, participated in the chilly event. Pledge funds raised prior to the event go to each YMCA's youth programs. Volunteers pictured just before the icy plunge are Tamaqua YMCA employee Heather Souders, executive director Nick Zigmant, dressed as an Umpa-Lumpa, board member Andrew Leibenguth, dressed as Willy Wonka, Steph Reppert, also dressed as a Umpa-Lumpas, and Sckyler Souders, 10, dressed as a spoiled Violet.

Some driver's license services will not be available at PennDOT driver's license centers on Saturday, March 26 due to a scheduled upgrade of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Problem Driver Pointer System, or PDPS. The federal government requires states to use the system to determine if applicants have outstanding driver sanctions in other states. All outstanding sanctions must be reconciled before individuals can obtain a driver's license or learner's permit in another state.

Many fire companies throughout our area were kept busy clearing flooded streets and basements following the past two weeks of heavy rains, rising waters and melting snow that caused havoc for area drivers and residents. Borough officials and residents from area communities pointed out their great appreciation to all the volunteer firefighters and dedicated municipal workers who worked hard in the rain to clear drains, streets and basements over the past two weeks. Volunteers using their pumps and hoses to remove tons of water from a family's basement located on Spruce Drive in West Penn Township are West Penn Fire Company Lt. Martin Baddick, left, and firefighter Cloyd Troxell.

Event coordinators Jessica Kutza, left, and her mother, Mary Ann Dulaney, both of Coaldale, take inventory of some of the many ACS Chinese Auction prizes for their 12th Annual Chinese Auction and fundraising event to be held Sunday at the Lakeside Ballroom in Barnesville, Rt. 54. Doors open at noon and the auction drawing starts at 3 p.m. More than 500 items will be available. There are many new types of prizes this year, such as Phillies tickets, Penn State and Yuengling items, Pocono 500, Longaberger baskets, as well as many local gift certificates. For more information or to donate, contact Dulaney at (570) 645-4228.

The French and Spanish Honor Societies of Marian High School inducted 17 students at a special Mass celebrated in the school gymnasium. Taking part in the ceremony were the officers of the French Honor Society: Jessica McKinley, President; Sara Pisak, Vice-President; Maria Oberto, Secretary; Tyler Zawatski, Treasurer The officers of the Spanish Honor Society are: Laura Cinicola, President; Michael Moran, Vice-President; Dominick Richards, Secretary; Holly Massar, Treasurer.

Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center, Inc. is looking for volunteers to help with its program of therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with special needs. The center is located 10 miles south of Tamaqua, near Route 309 and offers special riding lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings from May through October.

The West Penn Lions Club has joined the Lions of the world in providing support for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan by donating $2,000 to the Lions Clubs International Foundation designated fund for Japanese disaster relief. "The devastation that has hit that country is unimaginable," commented Past International Director Robert W. Miller at a recent Lions meeting. "Our motto is We Serve and Japan and its people are definitely in need of service and support."

Great weekend weather is a perfect excuse to get outdoors for Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's annual Spring Equinox Celebration this Saturday, March 19, 2011 from 11 am to 3 pm in and around the Visitor Center. The event is held on the Saturday closest to the spring equinox and designed to build excitement for the arrival of the spring season. {I just noticed that the dates don't match, please call to confirm information.}

The USS Carbon County Navy Club is planning to travel to Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 9, for the 20th anniversary of the blessing of the fleet. All Marine, Navy and Coast Guard veterans, and anyone else interested, are invited to join the group, which will travel by car for the annual service at the Navy Memorial. Robert Siesputowski, an organizer of the trip, said plans are to travel by car. He is hoping others interested in attending will be willing to car-pool so as to group up everyone who is interested in the event.

The American Cancer Society will host Look Good, Feel Better makeover workshops from 4-6 p.m., March 28, at St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital's Board Room, Coaldale, and at the Schuylkill Medical Center South, 420 S. Jackson St., Pottsville. The sessions are free and open to all local female cancer patients actively undergoing cancer treatment. During the session, trained cosmetologists will meet with patients to discuss ways of using makeup and accessories to minimize appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

The Tamaqua Elementary Parent Teacher Organization will sponsor a free movie night for children in kindergarden through second grade. The movie "Phineas and Ferb" will be presented on March 25 in the Rush Elementary School gym. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the movie scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Parents and siblings are also welcome. Students, and their siblings, may come in their pajamas and are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag or beach towel. Refreshments will be available.

Five persons were taken into custody Saturday afternoon when a specialized state police unit raided a home in the quiet community of Quakake, Rush Township. The raid began just after 2 p.m. when the state police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team, acting on a tip from a confidential informant (CI), entered the home of Jeremy Snyder, 29, of 62 Heckman Street in Quakake. State police were backed up by police from Rush Township, Tamaqua, Coaldale, Ryan Township and Mahanoy City. Township police realized they had found a working meth lab and immediately took Snyder into custody, along with Jennifer DiPietro, 27, of Green Street, and William Mannes, 29, of 326 W. Rowe St., both of Tamaqua; Joseph Holland, 29, of 51 Hollow Ave., MaryD; and Russell Gernert IV, 30, of 38 Schuylkill Rd., New Ringgold.

Spring has sprung, meaning that it is time for flowers to bloom, longer days, warmer weather and snow? As residents across the TIMES NEWS coverage area woke up this morning, they were greeted by the first sign of spring, or rather the last hoorah of winter. A storm loaded with a wintry mix blew through the region overnight, dropping nearly four inches of snow before changing over to a sleet and rain mix around 6 a.m.

Tamaqua Area Middle School participated in the American Heart Association's Hoops for Heart program, in which students voluntarily raised money and played basketball-related activities. A total of 82 students in grades 6-8 raised $2,887 for the American Heart Association. Pictured from left are the top three fundraisers in the middle school: Matthew Sargent, grade 8, raised $260; Zeke Wassell, grade 6, raised $250; and Adam Melnick, grade 6, raised $131.

St. Jerome Regional School, Tamaqua, will have its re-accreditation evaluation visit by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The evaluation visit is scheduled for April 3-6, 2011. SJRS began the self-study process last year. Faculty and Administration completed an in-depth study of the following areas of the school: philosophy, community, educational program studies, leadership, school climate and organization, facilities, student services, and information and resources.

Science and technology are important subjects in the field of education. St. Jerome Regional School, Tamaqua, designates a week every March to celebrate Science/technology in its school and in its community. The students make special projects this month to show their skills in science/technology. Special events with guest speakers are planned this week.

Activities include:

March 21 – Demonstration by Air Products Inc. (Gr. K -8)

March 22 – Parents are invited to computer class to observe the computer program (Gr. K,1,2,3,5)

Members, guests and friends of the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce will have the opportunity to learn about the activities planned during this year's Schuylkill County Bicentennial Celebration at a breakfast planned for Wednesday, March 23, 2011. The event will take place in the community room of the ABC Tamaqua Hi-Rise beginning at 8 a.m. Special guest for this event will be Mike McCord, chairman of the county's Bicentennial Committee.

Zumba classes are becoming more popular throughout the country. Dozens of new Zumba classes have gained popularity throughout our region as well. Pictured is Tamaqua YMCA Zumba dance instructorJennifer Eberts. More than 60 people fill the Tamaqua YMCA twice a weekduring the YMCA's Zumba dance sessions held Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Tolena Hofstetter, 3, plays with her mom, Amanda Hofstetter, at the North and Middle Ward Playground in Tamaqua, while McKenzee Coombe, 6, sits behind Calissa Blackwell, 7, as they travel down a slide.

Over $20,000 worth of prizes will be awarded to lucky supporters of the Men of Marian's 21st Annual Chinese Auction, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and April 3, 2011, at Marian High School. Through the generosity of numerous business people in the Carbon/Schuylkill/Luzerne county region, parents and friends of Marian High School students, the auction will offer not only the largest selection of items and gifts, but some of the most valuable as well.

Fourteen churches and 30 singers from Tamaqua, Coaldale, New Ringgold, Lansford, Summit Hill, and Mantzville took part in the annual Tamaqua - Panther Valley Welsh Songfest held recently at the First United Methodist Church in Tamaqua.

Rush Township Police responded to two motor vehicle accidents on March 16, 2011. At 3:15 p.m. a 1998 Pontiac driven by Christine Reeves, 39, of Lehighton, was attempting to exit the parking lot of the Hometown Nursing and Rehabilitation onto SR54 and struck a 2008 Volkswagen driven by Raeanne Whitaker, 44, Lehighton, which was traveling east on 54. Reeves stated she did not see the Whitaker vehicle, police said. There were no injuries reported. Whitaker's vehicle was towed from the scene.

West Penn Township police are investigating a rash of burglaries which occurred early Friday morning in the South Tamaqua Plaza along SR309. Police Chief Brian Johnson reported that Officer Tom Duarte was on patrol shortly after 1 a.m. when he spotted an individual inside the Stoves & Stuff store in the far north building of the mall. Duarte positioned himself across the roadway and soon two individuals exited the building and attempted to enter the business of R. & L. Construction

The Rush Township board of supervisors announced that a Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in the township municipal building, 104 Mahanoy Avenue, on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 from 1 to 6 p.m. Additionally, the township bicentennial committee welcomes all interested persons to attend their next meeting on Wednesday, April 13, at 6 p.m. The board also gratefully acknowledged the receipt of two floral arrangements in commemoration of the bicentennial. One was sent from Guy's Flowers in Hometown, the other from Marian High School.

The name of William Boyer, 105 Ryan Avenue, Rush Township, was removed from the Primary Election ballot by President Judge William E. Baldwin after a hearing Friday in the Schuylkill County Court. Boyer had filed on the Republican ballot as a candidate for a six-year term as auditor for Rush Township. The petition to remove him was filed by Walter Taylor.

The Tamaqua Area High School Band is hosting the 36th annual Schuylkill County Band Festival this week. The honors band festival will culminate in a concert open to the public on Saturday, March 19 at 1:30 p.m. in the school district's Center for The Performing Arts on the secondary campus.

One person was injured Wednesday afternoon when two cars collided along SR309 in Rush township. The crash occurred just before 4 p.m. in the north bound lanes about a half mile north of the intersection with SR54 in Hometown. One person was treated by members of the Tamaqua Community ambulance and transported to an area hospital. The occupants of the second car appeared to have escaped injury in the mishap. The north bound lanes were reduced to one lane during the investigation. Rush township police are investigating the incident.

Tamaqua Police have released details of two burglaries reported to the department last Friday morning. Two businesses in the former Jamesway Shopping Plaza, BRL Groceries and the Fresenius Medical Center, were forcibly entered sometime early Friday morning.

These big Irish eyes of Zak Dolan are definitely smiling. He is the 8-1/2-month-old Grandest Kid of Sue Dolan. His great-grandmother is Betty Dolan and proud mom is Erica Dolan of Tamaqua. He wishes everyone a "Happy St. Patrick's Day."

Zack King and Chissy Micholick, members of Panther Valley High School's National Honor Society, wrap daffodils for the American Cancer Society's Carbon Tamaqua Unit at Hiles Brothers warehouse in Summit Hill. Direct sales will be held at the following locations from today through Saturday March 19 from noon to 6 p.m. at Boyer's Market in Tamaqua, Redner's Market in Nesquehoning, Jim Thorpe Market in Jim Thorpe, Mallard Market in Lehighton, Country Harvest Market in Palmerton, The Village in Palmerton (Tues., Thurs., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.), and St. Luke's Miners Hospital in Coaldale (Oncolgoy Dept.) today from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Rush Township wants to create a safe connection between Rush Elementary School and other areas in the village of Hometown. On Tuesday the board announced an ambitious, $240,000 federally-funded project with the lion's share of the money $204,000 secured through the Northeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Enhancement Funding Program, and the remaining $36,000 match coming from the township general fund. Specifically, the project, called the Hometown Area Safe Routes to School Project, will upgrade the sidewalks and paths to connect Rush Elementary to Mahanoy Avenue (SR54).

Celebrating its 200th year, Rush Township has been officially honored by the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives for two centuries of contributions to the development of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, Senator David G, Argall, R-29, and Representative Jerry P. Knowles, R-124, presented citations to the township board of supervisors at the start of the board's monthly meeting held at the municipal building, 104 Mahanoy Avenue. Coincidentally, both Argall and Knowles are residents of the township and natives of Tamaqua, just three miles away.

An operator of a tractor trailer was injured this morning when involved in a crash along the north bound lanes of I-81 Ryan Township, Schuylkill County. The crash occurred just before 7 a.m. as the driver was traveling north and struck a tractor trailer which was parked along the right berm. The rig, hauling a 112,000-pound rock crusher, continued on, entering the south berm and coming to rest against an earth embankment.

The Tamaqua Area School District continues to explore its options regarding the use of solar power. On Tuesday evening the district's board of education heard a presentation from Reading Electric Renewables regarding the installation of solar panels on district property. According to the proposal Reading Electric Renewables and its partner firm, SMX Capital Inc., which is the east coach branch of Solar Max, would install and maintain the panels on district property at their cost, in exchange for Tamaqua Area purchasing the energy produced at a fixed rate.

Tamaqua borough workers spent Tuesday repairing a small water main break located in Yetten Circle. Residents living on Yetten Circle and at the Laurel Run Commons in Pitt Street, in addition to a small number of surrounding homes were affected. No water boil advisory was needed as pressure loss was minimal.

The Andreas General George S. Patton Jr. VFW Post 5069 provided a $1,000 donation to the Tamaqua Public Library. Gayle Heath, library director, stated the donation came at a great time as state funding for public libraries has been decreasing by about 1.3 percent each year since 2008. Pictured from left are VFW Post 5069 Chaplain Ted Bogosh, Heath and VFW Post 5069 quartermaster Harold Osenbach.

The Tamaqua Area School District is seeking bids for the renovations of its high school locker rooms. At Tuesday evening's monthly meeting the district's board of education authorized business manager Connie Ligenza to advertise for the bids for the locker room project. The board had considered refurbishing the Tamaqua High locker rooms as part of phase two of its guaranteed energy savings project, which includes working with McClure Inc., Harrisburg, for the installation of geothermal heating systems at Tamaqua and West Penn Elementary schools.

Three incumbent district judges of magisterial districts in Schuylkill County have no opposition in their bid for reelection in the Primary Election on Tuesday, May 17, but in the district in the Frackville area, where there is a vacancy, there are eight candidates seeking the nomination or election. The term of office is six years.

The Tamaqua Borough may join with other local municipalities to get to the bottom of why the company they contracted with to maintain the town's street lights is not performing their duties. The borough signed the contract with MEM, Material Energy Matters, last year to initiate the purchase of street lights from PPL and have the company do the maintenance on the lights. So far, the company has not been responsive and there are multiple complaints of burned out lights throughout the borough.

Christopher J. Sanders, 21, of Tamaqua, was taken into custody Saturday evening after calling in a false fire alarm to the Schuylkill County Communications Center. He was escorted to his arraignment by Tamaqua Patrolmen Matt Bynon (left) and Karl Harig (right). Sanders admitted calling the 9-1-1 center with three false alarms in the past three months. Details of the arrest were published in Monday's TIMES NEWS.

Two holders of offices in the Schuylkill County Courthouse are unopposed in the Primary Election to be held Tuesday, May 17, according to filings in the Schuylkill County Registration Bureau.

Parishioners of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Tamaqua held their first monthly community outreach soup kitchen this past Saturday in their social hall. The free community dinner included vegetable beef soup, homemade bread, refreshments and a large variety of desserts. Trinity UCC Reverend Dr. David Grant gives full credit to his parishioners for their desire to help the community and pointed out that the soup kitchen isn't only for low income, as anyone can come enjoy some great soup with great people. Their next monthly soup kitchen will be Saturday April 2nd, 2011 from 4 PM to 6:30 PM.

The nominating petition of William D. Boyer, 105 Ryan Avenue, Tamaqua, who is seeking nomination to a six year term as auditor in Rush Township, is being challenged by Walter Taylor, Rush Township, according to a petition filed in the prothonotary's office in the Schuylkill County Courthouse. President Judge William D. Baldwin has scheduled a hearing on the complaint for Friday at the courthouse in Pottsville.

A Mobile Veterans Center is coming soon to Carbon County. The 38-foot van will be at the Lehighton American Legion Post 314, 314 Veterans Ave., Lehighton from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29 and will be back every month. Future dates are April 26 and May 24, 2011. State Rep. Doyle Heffley arranged for the van to visit Carbon County to assist veterans with a variety of issues.

Customers enter Nancy's Fresh Cut Market early Monday at Hometown Village Square. The new market was created from the former Agosti's IGA building and is now open for business, along with Guy's Flowers & More, also located along SR309 shopping plaza. Yet to open are Hometown Village Pharmacy in April and a bake shop called Pamkakes, a McAdoo business set to open their Hometown location April 1. The plaza, located just north of the Hometown intersection, has undergone a complete reconstruction over the past year.

Eight members of the Tamaqua Fire Department have earned their Fire Officer II certificates. The purpose of the 48-hour Fire Officer II program is to identify emergency service personnel who demonstrate knowledge and skills competency related to fire officer ship. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications identifies the minimum requirements for a person at the second level of progression. A person certified at the Fire Officer II level will have demonstrated the ability to perform the tasks at the supervisory level.

Once against the streets of downtown Jim Thorpe rang out with the distinctive sound of bagpipes and the loud reports of Civil War-era rifles as the 14th Annual Carbon County St. Patrick's Day Parade made its way down Broadway Sunday afternoon. The parade was sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Alec Campbell Division 1 of Carbon County and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernian Molly Maguire Division 1 of Carbon County. While the crowd of spectators downtown was near overflow capacity, spectators were out in large numbers all along the entire length of the parade. Coaldale Fire Company also participated in the parade.

The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 48th Annual Citizenship Award. The award will be presented at the 60th Annual Chamber/TIDE Dinner to be held on Wednesday, April 27 at the Tamaqua Community Center. The award is open to all residents of the Tamaqua Area School District, 18 years of age or older. The recipient is selected on the basis of voluntary contributions to the civic advancement of Tamaqua and the well-being of its citizens. Any work for which the nominee was paid shall not be considered in the selection.

They could have been cheering. Instead, Tamaqua Police, along with fire and emergency personnel, were left shaking their heads after a 21-year-old male was arrested Saturday night for calling in a series of false fire alarms.

Gayle Heath, director of the Tamaqua Public Library, announced the availability of Wi-Fi at the library. Wi-Fi, also known as a hotspot, enables devices such as laptops, personal computers, and smart phones to connect to the Internet. There is no cost for the service. Heath also pointed out the future addition of a wireless printer for library patrons to use. This project has been partially funded with federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. Pictured is Tony Carlino of Tamaqua.

A new addiction recovery support group has started at the First United Methodist Church in Tamaqua. The addiction recovery program is held every Monday at 7 p.m. and located at 124 W. Broad St. The free "Jesus in the Steps, From Addiction to Recovery" course is a recovery and group support program designed at helping anyone struggling with any form of addiction, such as smoking, sex, drugs, alcohol, sugar, chocolate and anything else. The program will feature Biblical teaching that will help integrate Christian faith into recovery. More information is available by calling (570) 668-3653.

Former St. Clair Borough Council president and current co-chairman of the Schuylkill County Bicentennial Steering Committee, Mike McCord, is running for re-election to his second term in office as Schuylkill County Register of Wills. "It has been my honor to serve the people of Schuylkill County as their Register of Wills for the past 39 months," he stated. McCord, who has been named to the Executive Committee of the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Association of Pennsylvania, also served as this year's NRA Banquet Committee chairperson.

Lady Raider basketball team players visited all three Tamaqua elementary schools recently. In each school, students lined the halls with banners of support after the team's District XI Class 3A victory over Allentown Central Catholic, 46-42, on Saturday and its entry into the state AAA playoffs at Pottsville Saturday.

One hundred local high school students descended upon the Pottsville Campus of McCann School of Business and Technology recently for the 7th Annual McCann Madness. This annual event invites local high school juniors and seniors to the campus for a career focused scavenger hunt. Students put together clues leading them to a career focused room where they must complete a challenge to get their next clue. Students from the following districts competed in the challenge: Mahanoy Area, Schuylkill Haven, North Schuylkill, Marian Catholic, and Williams Valley.

An American Cancer Society Pre-Event Party and Power of Purple event was held recently at the Hometown Fire Company to promote upcoming fundraising efforts of local Relay For Life teams of Tamaqua and surrounding communities as well as recognize the Power of Purple. Some events include a Lehighton Pizza Hut fundraiser on March 21, a Vendor and food sale at the Tamaqua St John's Lutheran Church from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 26, and a relay breakfast at the Masonic Lodge Temple in Hometown from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 3, 2011. Click HERE to view event calendar flyer.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in cooperation with the National Park Service, will oversee use of an aircraft to plant grass and other vegetation on a 500-acre section of the Palmerton Zinc Superfund site in Pennsylvania along the Appalachian Trail at the top of Blue Mountain. This project is part of an ongoing action to repair environmental damage that was caused by emissions from zinc smelting operations in the Borough of Palmerton.

What started as a mandatory community service project evolved into a life altering learning experience for one Tamaqua woman, convincing her to put her own dreams on hold in an effort to help others dare to have dreams of their own. And now, local residents have the opportunity to help this young woman make those dreams come true. Alexa Griffiths, daughter of Sank and Bernadette Griffiths of Tamaqua, has always had a powerful support system behind her through the years – a loving family, supportive teachers, a host of friends in a close knit, small town community. It wasn't until she began her college career at Bucknell University that she realized so many others did not have the same advantages. In the Spring of her junior year, Alexa was required to commit 18 hours of community service to a service learning site as part of a Feminist Theory class she took as she prepared to continue her dream to become a doctor. She elected to do her time at ClearVision, a residential facility in Montgomery for young women between the ages of 13 and 19.

The St. Jerome Regional School, Tamaqua, MATHCOUNTS team captured 2nd place in the Anthracite Chapter Math Counts (ACMC) competition held on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Penn State Schuylkill. Eleven area schools were in the contest. MATHCOUNTS is a national middle school competitive mathematics program that promotes mathematics achievement. It is designed to increase enthusiasm for and enhance achievement in middle school mathematics.

Pictured above is the yard, sidewalk and steps of 410 Washington St. in Tamaqua flowing with water following the recent rainfall.

Torrential downpours don't seem to bother these happy ducks as they waddle their way through the Evan George Willing Memorial Park behind Boyer's Store in Tamaqua.

One person was injured Thursday morning when involved in a single vehicle crash along SR309, near Owl Creek Road, in Tamaqua. The crash occurred just before 11 a.m. as Michael Brunda of 105 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, was traveling south and apparently lost control of his car. The Ford Focus crossed all four lanes of the roadway entering a dirt lot and impacting with a tree, then rolled onto its roof. Brunda was transported by Tamaqua ambulance to St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital in Coaldale. Borough police are investigating the incident. Chief Dave Mattson examines the wreckage.

An elderly Schuylkill County man died Thursday when his vehicle was swept off a county road by floodwaters. He died in submerged water. State police at Schuylkill Haven identified the victim as David H. Sallada, 74, of 29 E. Laurel St., Tremont. Troopers said the incident occurred about 8:55 p.m. along SR645 (Geary Wolfe Road), 300 feet south of SR443, in Pine Grove Township. Troopers said Sallada, driving a Dodge Stratus, drove through a flooded portion of the road. The section of road was previously barricaded due to the flood water covering both lanes.

'A One Service' workers, of Shenandoah, have been spending time over the past week investigating wildcat sewers throughout Tamaqua. An estimated 27,000 homes in Southwestern Pennsylvania have no sewage treatment system at all. Instead, they rely on "wildcat sewers" in which their sewage is piped directly into nearby ditches and streams. Wildcat sewers are illegal but hard to eliminate, especially in view of high retrofitting costs, the relatively low incomes of many affected families, and the lack of access to nearby public sewer systems.

On March 3, Denise Koons (right), CEO Mystic Ryder Productions, a non-profit corporation, presented Amber Rossochacy with the funds raised from the New Philadelphia fire benefit held on Jan. 30 at the Clamtown Tavern. Amber is a single mother of two young children. Mystic Ryder also thanks everyone for making the event a success.

Gary D. Marchalk has announced his candidacy for a Common Pleas Judge seat. Marchalk, 53, is a cum laude graduate of Widener School of Law, a magna cum laude graduate of New York Institute of Technology, a graduate of McCann School of Business and Tamaqua Area High School. He operates a general practice of law based in Tamaqua while also operating an affiliated title insurance agency and affiliated accounting and tax firm. Marchalk has had a wide range of experiences throughout his life.

Rush Township is ready to launch a vigorous sewer replacement and upgrade program along Meadow Avenue and property owned by Silberline Manufacturing that will bring sewerage in that area up to date. In some cases existing pipes in that vicinity are so old that they're made of terra cotta. In addition, sewer lines are filling with groundwater, a situation that impedes the flow of sewage, say project planners.