Argall Report – January 2025: Tamaqua’s CRIZ program update



(Click image to view video report)


Times-News report on state officials’ tour of Tamaqua CRIZ


Read page one | Read page two


Cultural Sustainability Assessment: Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 2023


Jenna Ashton Winton of Cultural Sustainability Consulting LLC conducted the research and fieldwork underlying this report beginning in October 2022 and concluding in March 2023. The research and documentation focused upon the assets of cultural sustainability defined by residents of Tamaqua who served as a “Cultural Sustainability Advisory Council.”

Fieldwork took place to gather assets and cultural context. An interview process started from suggestions by community advisors and previous folklorist reports, eventually branching out from these contacts to include residents recommended by others.

Significant statements collected through interviews and the workshops were transcribed verbatim to authentically represent the speaker and acknowledge the importance of community members’ agency over their own narratives.

This study has shown how a handful of passionate community members can revitalize and steward cultural sustainability when having the resources to do so. [Download report] [View video description of report]

All are invited to attend a presentation of this report by Jenna Winton, Cultural Sustainability Consulting, on May 8, 2024 at 6:00 pm at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center.


Mental health center coming to Tamaqua

As reported in the Lehighton Times News, Friday March 22, 2024.

St. Luke’s University Health Network held a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday [March 21, 2024] for a new behavioral health facility at 600 Pine St. in Tamaqua.

When the site opens in late fall, the St; Luke’s Psychiatric Associates will offer mental and behavioral health services to the community – something it has been doing for years, said Diana Laquinta, president of St. Luke’s Miners campus in Coaldale.
Read more >


Crime risk down 42 percent in Tamaqua

The Lehighton Times-News reported on recent findings released by Tamaqua’s Reducing Crime Seminar regarding the fight against crime in Tamaqua. Tamaqua Choose HappinessThe Reducing Crime Seminar was made possible through the sponsorship of the Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, Rural LISC, and the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership. Read more about, “Tamaqua knocks down crime risk.”

Similarly, The Republican Herald of Pottsville covered the same story. Read more.

 

Note the differences in comparing the 2022 Crime Report with the 2013 report. Click images to download the reports.

crimecast 2022

2022 CrimeCast Report

comcast 2013

2013 CrimeCast Report

 



‘Sopranos’ actor makes coffee stop in Tamaqua

According to a report in the October 18, 2022 edition of the Lehighton Times News, “A Pennsylvania filmmaker who wants to build a $30 million film studio complex in Tamaqua brought a star-studded cast to the [Tamaqua] borough Friday.”

(Click here to view Times News report)


Keystone Edition Arts: Community Building Through Creativity
as seen on WVIA-TV

Tamaqua, Pa., was one of three communities in the U.S. featured in a 2021 report by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kresge Foundation, for using arts and culture to improve social cohesion and community well-being.

Watch Keystone Edition Arts to learn why social cohesion is important, and what the people and organizations in Tamaqua did to improve their community’s well-being.

[click image for video report from WVIA-TV]


Download Report

How Arts and Culture Unite People Towards Community Well-being from UF College of the Arts on Vimeo.


Hope & Entertainment served at
Hope and Coffee

In this report captured by SSPTV, Damien Dillon, host of Open Mic Nights at Hope and Coffee explains what it is and how anyone can participate.

OPEN MIC NIGHTS
for musicians and poets
Fridays 5pm till 7pm

Hope and Coffee
137 Pine Street
Tamaqua

[click image for video report from SSPTV]


Disability Can’t Stop Tamaqua Artist

The work of an inspiring Tamaqua artist will be on display until September 25 at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center.

Twenty-four-year-old Jillian Franko was born with Larsen Syndrome, a disorder that affects development of the bones in her body and limits her physical mobility, but Jillian hasn’t let her disability stop her from creating beautiful works of art.

Art plays an important role in her life, but not the only role. Jillian works as an administrative assistant at the Arts Center.

[click image for video report from BRCTV-13]


train night visitors and tour guides

Tamaqua Night Out

In a special report to the Times-News, correspondent Donald R. Serfass describes the good times enjoyed by those taking part in Train Night in Tamaqua.


“WE-Making: How Arts & Culture Unite People to Work Toward Community Well-Being”

Micah Gursky, Executive Director of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, speaking to Erika Funke of WVIA Media about the recent report by the National Endowment for the Arts & the Kresge Foundation titled, “WE-Making: How Arts & Culture Unite People to Work Toward Community Well-Being.” Tamaqua is one of three community case studies in the nation highlighting the success of arts & cultural projects to improve social cohesion.

See WE-Making Report


Senator Argall highlights Tamaqua Revitalization

Click image to view this July 2021 video edition of the Argall Report.

Senator Dave Argall highlights revitalization efforts taking place in Tamaqua Borough.

(Click here to download this video for offline viewing)


Dear Tamaqua – Tamaqua in New Light

A partnership with Touchstone Theater of Bethlehem, led by Tamaqua native James P. Jordan gave us the coaching we needed to pull off our first large-scale public initiative. Spanning two years of planning and culminating in a one mile immersive walking experience in the center of town, the project gave visible evidence of the change of momentum and exchange of energy from our past to our present and future.

More than 1,400 local residents and visitors took part in the no-cost theatrical community event held in August 2015.

Read Dear Tamaqua letters

NEWS REPORTS


 

REPORTS of INTEREST


 

EARLIER REPORTS


 

Tamaqua helped to “write the book” on three reports that deserve to be listed here.


 

[click image for video]

video: The Art of Community

From Allendale to Tamaqua
The Art of Community: Rural South Carolina

As part of The Art of Community: Rural SC initiative of the South Carolina Arts Commission, the Allendale Rural Arts Team met in 2019 with the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, a partner of national community development intermediary, Rural LISC, and shared new ideas for community building that help transcend local challenges and demonstrate the value of ‘creative placemaking.’

Their takeaway, “We can’t change everything. But we can change some things.”

 

Archived Video

Our YouTube channel is home to more than 50 information-rich videos produced since 2010. Get the backstory. Go to TamaquaAreaCP.