Lower Macungie Library has been awarded a $2,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor to present a 12-week program of films, lectures and live music called, "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway."

Scheduled for this fall, the programs and films will be free to the general public and will cover six genres of American popular music; blues and gospel, Tin Pan Alley and Broadway, swing jazz, bluegrass and country, rock, mambo and hip-hop.

ArtsQuest has partnered with Lower Macungie Library to facilitate the events. The Appalachian Fiddle and Bluegrass Association, Muhlenberg College Theater Department, Kutztown University Jazz Ensemble, Moravian Gospel Choir, Martin Guitar and Hispanic American League of Artists have also agreed to partner with the library by providing live entertainment and lectures to complement the music genre films.

Denise Stevens, the library's adult programming coordinator, will act as the America's Music Program coordinator for the 12-weeks of film viewing, discussion and live performances.

The series will kick off 6 p.m. Sept. 14 with Blues and Gospel at Saal Hall at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem. The film "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Episode 1, Feel Like Going Home" will be followed by a scholar-led discussion; St. John's AME Zion Gospel Choir will perform 7 p.m. On Sept. 27, Muhlenberg Theatre Department will present a program of Tin Pan Alley and Broadway music at 8 p.m. at the Baker Center at Muhlenberg College in Allentown. The film "Broadway: the American Musical" will be shown 7 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Throughout the months of August and September, Lower Macungie Library will feature the pencil drawings of Alan West who is a professional illustrator and graphic designer. He will also be teaching a beginner drawing class at the Wescosville Recreation Center beginning Sept. 11.

The library Book Club will meet 10:30 a.m. Sept. 4 to discuss "Run" by Ann Patchett. The book for Oct. 2 is "The Swerve: How the World Became Modern" by Stephen Greenbalt.

Free unlimited access to BookFlix is now offered for families through Lower Macungie Library. BookFlix is an online e-reading program from Scholastic and made available by the Pa. Department of Education to make reading more engaging for children ages three to eight. The program combines classic children's fiction with similarly themed non-fiction. It can be accessed through www.lowermaclib.org by clicking on the Power Library link that takes you to BookFlix.

Adult computer classes including Microsoft Word, Excel, Intro to the Web and social networking are offered monthly. The schedule is available at the library.

Class size is limited and sign-up is required for the above events.

For more information on these classes or storytimes, call the library at 610-966-6864 or go to library website www.lowermaclib.org.

The Friends of the Lower Macungie Library will meet 10 a.m. Sept. 14 in the library.

The Friends will sponsor a bus trip Sept. 21 to the National Book Festival on the Mall in Washington, D.C. If interested, contact Joyce at 610-395-1475 by Sept. 6. Tickets can also be purchased at the library Circulation Desk.

Volunteer applications are always accepted for any Lower Macungie Township board or commission. Any questions can be directed to the Township Secretary Renea Flexer at 610-966-4343, ext. 113.

The Lower Macungie Pool will be open noon to 7 p.m. daily through Aug. 25. The pool will be closed Aug. 26 through 30 and re-open noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 for Labor Day weekend. For more information, check the website www.lowermac.org.

The Lions will hold a Flea Market and Garage Sale 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m Sept. 7 at Macungie Memorial Park. The rain date is Sept. 8. To reserve a spot, call Ron at 610-966-3040 or Bob at 610-966-4941 or go to www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/lowerlehigh/contact.php.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center and Lower Macungie Township will hold a blood drive 4 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the community center.

Lower Macungie Township has partnered with Life Line Screening to offer five non-invasive tests to assess risk for serious disease such as stroke. The screening will be offered 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug.27 at the community center. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 1-888-653-6441 or go to www.lifelinescreening.com/community-partners.

Crafters are needed for Concordia Lutheran Church's second annual Holiday Bazaar 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26. For more information, call Corin at 610-530-9588.

The fourth annual craft/vendor fair will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 23 at the community center. Vendor spaces are available on a first-come, first serve basis. Register at the community center or download the form at www.lowermac.com.

The Lower Macungie Senior Citizens Club meets noon Sept. 3 and 17 at the community center. After a business meeting, members play bingo or card games. On Sept. 17, the games are followed by special entertainment.

The Board of Commissioners and staff are holding the eighth annual Troop Support Program to collect donated items to send to township residents in the armed services who won't be home for the holidays. To register a loved one in the holiday program, call 610-966-6924 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Donations of food, toiletry items, batteries, magazines and phone cards will be accepted at the community center 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 to noon Saturday starting Sept. 1 through Nov. 10. A list of acceptable donations is available at the community center. Over the last seven years, 649 boxes of donated items were sent to 87 soldiers.

The township is also collecting old cell phones that will be recycled in exchange for prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas. The community center is an official drop-off point for "Cell Phones for Soldiers" until Oct. 31.

There will be a Father-Daughter Dance 50s Sock Hop for girls enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Lower Macungie Community Center. To register, call or go to the community center 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or call 610-966-6924.

Pickleball will be coming soon to Rodale Park. Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines badminton, tennis and table tennis with a perforated plastic ball.

The Lower Macungie Township Community Center offers a number of activities including Walkercise, yoga, pilates, and Zumba. Upcoming classes include art classes, Couch to 5K, self-defense, interior design, home staging, and karate lessons for ages 13 and older. Fall children's programs include Kindermusik, painting and holiday art classes, Minecraft, and tennis lessons. Note: some classes are held at the Wescosville Recreation Center and the Hills at Lockridge Community Center.

A practice SAT test will be given 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at the community center. Registration deadline is Sept. 13.

For more information or to register, visit the community center 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or call 610-966-6924.

The township offers discounted movie tickets for Regal Entertainment as well as discounted tickets for Camelbeach, Dorney Park, Hersheypark, Philadelphia Zoo and Six Flags.

Family Open Gym time is 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays for ages infant through 10 years with a parent. Proof of residency is required.

Yard waste site hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. They are closed on Tuesday and Thursday. Be prepared to show your photo I.D. as proof of residency.

Happy birthday to my dear husband!

The next township column will be published Sept. 18; copy deadline is Sept. 12.