n Frackville: The first Schuylkill On the Move walk for 2014 is set for 1 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 12 will be a tour of the Whippoorwill Park and its nearby dam along the Morea Road, led by John Domalakes. Participants should dress for the weather, including for a path that may have snow and ice. The two-mile walk, free and open to the public, is rated easy. Participants will meet at the Odd Fellows Cemetery at the far end of East Oak Street, Frackville. "Be sure to not turn onto Morea Road," SOM officials said in a release. SOM walks are held monthly and feature a variety of locations throughout the county and region. People can get a copy of the hike schedule by emailing Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney at porcupinepat@yahoo.com or by calling at 570-622-4124, ext. 113. SOM is a consortium of health and wellness organizations and agencies that include Schuylkill County's VISION, the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, Diakon Social Services for Seniors and Schuylkill Conservation District.
n Harrisburg: In an effort to educate retail liquor licensees interested in tavern gaming, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Gaming Control Board, Department of Revenue and State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement will hold a series of informational seminars across Pennsylvania beginning with a Jan. 13 event in Harrisburg. Signed into law on Nov. 27, Act 90 of 2013 allows the owners of most retail liquor licenses the ability to apply for a new Tavern Gaming License when the application becomes available on Jan. 27, according to a press release. The new license grants owners the authority to offer tavern raffles for a charitable or public purpose, pull-tab games and tavern daily drawings. "Since the Tavern Gaming License is completely new, the PLCB, in conjunction with the Gaming Control Board, developed a new application and application process based on the statutory requirements detailed in the law," PLCB Chairman Joseph E. Brion said in the release. Under the new law, retail alcohol beverage licensees may be eligible to apply for the Tavern Gaming License with the exception of: Eating place retail dispenser licenses, club and catering club licenses, grocery stores, casinos, venues that hold professional sporting events. While the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will process the applications and ultimately approve them, other state agencies will also have a role in tavern gaming. For instance, the Gaming Control Board will conduct a thorough background check on applicants and provide that information to the PLCB. During the informational sessions, the Department of Revenue will discuss the new tavern tax and its filing and payment obligations related to taverns as well as the annual reporting requirements of the law. The State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement will enforce the licensing and gaming requirements of the new law in addition to maintaining their current responsibilities enforcing the Liquor Code. The seminars are intended for taverns interested in Tavern Gaming Licenses only; small games of chance distributors, club licensees and eligible organizations are discouraged from attending and are instead encouraged to visit www.revenue.state.pa.us/SGOC for information on how Acts 90 and 92 of 2013 impact them. Anyone with questions regarding the informational sessions should call 717-783-8250. All of the sessions are from 1 to 3 p.m. The closest session site for Schuylkill County is one slated for Jan. 24 at Best Western Genetti Hotel and Conference Center, 77 E. Market St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701. A session also is slated for Jan. 17 at the Best Western Plus Lehigh Valley Hotel and Conference LCLenter, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017. The Harrisburg session is set for Jan. 14 at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St.
n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua YMCA has announced that new membership fees will be waived through Jan. 18. A free trial week is being offered from Jan. 11 through 18. For more information about any Y activities, call 570-668-2903.