n Mount Carmel: Lift Your Spirits Performing Arts will present "Christmas Spirits," a special Christmas concert, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, 47 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, at 6 p.m. Dec. 9. The event, according to a press release, will feature the talents and stylings of more than 20 vocalists and six musicians performing a variety of Christmas music focusing on the Nativity. "This will be a wonderful event for the community and surrounding areas to share the spirit of Christmas," group director Dan Thomas said. "We will be performing some new Christmas music as well as different arrangements of classic Christmas carols." Admission is free but freewill offerings will be gratefully accepted. Lift Your Spirits is a private, nonprofit, nondenominational corporation. For more information or to view a list of upcoming shows, go online to www.lysperformingarts.com.
n Ringtown: The 2013 Ringtown historical calendars have arrived at the Ringtown Area Library, 132 W. Main St. The calendar, according to a press release, is filled with more than 20 images from Ringtown's past, plus important dates of many Ringtown area events in 2013. The cost is $5 per calendar to benefit the library. The supply is limited.
n Sheppton: St. James United Church of Christ, Center Street, is conducting a cold-weather clothing drive. New and gently used coats, mittens, sweaters and similar fare will be collected before and after the 9 a.m. worship service for the next few weeks. Items collected will be donated to a clothing bank for the needy. East Union Township will hold its Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. Saturday. A children's Christmas party will follow at the Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company with refreshments and a visit from Santa. A disc jockey will provide entertainment from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
n Tamaqua: Susan M. Featro, a Tamaqua Area School District ESL teacher, will perform a benefit concert of holiday music at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, 125 Pine St. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door, with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the Tamaqua Blue Raider Foundation, which supports special projects in the Tamaqua Area School District. The remaining 50 percent of the proceeds will go to the Tamaqua Community Arts Center. For tickets, contact Featro at sfeatro@tamaqua.k12.pa.us or call 570-668-3232.
n Tamaqua: The second annual Community Advent Breakfast will be hosted by Zion Lutheran Church beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. The program will feature the Bethlehem Area Moravian Trombone Choir, breakfast by the Zion Culinary Crew, an Advent message by First United Methodist pastor the Rev. James Cavallero and a candle-lighting ceremony. Tickets are available at the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce office, 114 W. Broad St., and at most Tamaqua area church offices. No tickets will be sold at the door. For more information, call 570-668-4451.
n Tamaqua: Weekly street sweeping operations in the borough have been discontinued for the winter months. The schedule will resume in the spring. For more information, call borough hall at 570-668-3444. The office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
n Tamaqua: The South Ward Playground is closed to the public as volunteers decorate it for Santa's arrival, slated for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13. The park will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. Playground officers asked the public to understand the need for the locked gates, especially in light of vandalism that occurred to last year's Christmas decorations.
n Tremont: The children of Branchdale, Donaldson, Echo Valley, Joliett, Lincoln, Lorberry, Molleystown, Newtown and Tremont borough are invited to visit Santa from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Tremont Area Ambulance building. According to a press release, Santa will be available to talk with the children, listen to their wishes and receive their Christmas list. According to the release, parents and grandparents also are encouraged to attend to talk with Santa first hand and make sure he has children's names and addresses correct in his Christmas address book.
