LOWER MACUNGIE COLUMN
The eighth annual craft/vendor fair will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Lower Macungie Township Community Center. Over 100 crafters and vendors will be participating. Brookside Deli will offer lunch 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch can be purchased 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A free shuttle from the parking lot to the door is available.
The Lower Macungie Township Library fall book sale will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19. On Nov. 19, the bag sale will start 2:30 p.m. Member preview night is 5 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17. Memberships purchased Nov. 17 are good throughout 2017 which includes two more book sales. All proceeds will benefit the library.
Lower Macungie Library will be closed Nov. 24 and 25 in observation of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The library will celebrate International Games Day 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19. Stop by to play board games, computer and online games or work on the community puzzle. There will be life-sized Candy Land for children ages three to 12 9 to 10 a.m.; Bring Your Own Book (a take on Apples to Apples) for ages 13 and up 10 to 11 a.m.; Mahjong tournament for ages 18 and up 1 to 2 p.m. and super-sized Scrabble 2 to 3 p.m.
There will be a presentation on the history of wooden covered bridges in America 6 p.m. Nov. 30 by Ray Finkelstein of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society.
New at the library are museum passes for Allentown Art Museum, America on Wheels and the Liberty Bell Museum.
The library offers “Book a Librarian” services for one-on-one help with using eReaders, downloading eBooks, tablets or computer programs such as Excel and Microsoft Word.
The library also offers a number of programs for children, students and adults. Class size is limited and registration is required for some events. For more information on classes or storytimes, call the library at 610-966-6864 or go to library website www.lowermaclib.org.
The Friends of the Library will have thenext meeting 10 a.m. Jan. 21, 2017, in the library.
Concordia Lutheran Church, 2623 Brookside Road, will hold its annual chili cook-off 2 p.m. Nov. 20 followed by a talent show and the Not-So-Newlywed Game. All are welcome to taste and judge chili and stay for the show. There is a small donation for your voting pepper.
Concordia Lutheran Church will hold a Thanksgiving Eve Service 7 p.m. Nov. 23. Immediately following, there will be an open house for the new addition and a pie festival. For more information, call 610-965-3265.
Curbside leaf collection continues through Nov. 25.
The Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners and staff are holding the 11th annual Troop Support Program to collect donated items to send to township residents in the armed services who will not be home for the holidays. To register a loved one in the holiday program, call 610-966-6924 or take donations to the community center 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Donations of food, toiletry items, batteries, magazines and phone cards will be accepted through Nov. 30. A list of acceptable donations is available at the community center. Over the last 10 years, 903 boxes of donated items were sent to 110 soldiers.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit the Lower Macungie Community Center 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 4. Bar None Photography will be available to take pictures with Santa. Avoid the crowds at the mall.
The Lower Macungie Township Historical Society will hold Christmas at the Log House 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 11. There will be an open house at the historic Bortz log house at the Wescosville Recreation area on Route 222. The house will be decorated for Christmas in period fashion and lighted by candles. All are welcome. The log house is located near the eastern entrance of the new Hamilton Crossings shopping center. Hamilton Crossings has placed local history signs along their walkways telling about farming, industry, villages, transportation and more.
The Lower Macungie Senior Citizens Club meets noon Dec. 5 and 19 at the community center. After a business meeting, members play bingo or card games.
The Ancient Oak Women’s Organization will meet for a cookie exchange 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at St. Paul’s U.C.C. Each member should bring six dozen cookies. There will also be a Santa re-gift and members are asked to each donate $10 for a needy family.
Ancient Oak will hold a Holiday House Decorating Contest with cash prizes. The judging date has yet to be determined.
Happy Thanksgiving to all the residents of Ancient Oak.
The community center offers a number of activities and programs for the fall include Ballroom Dance classes, Balance classes for seniors, Zumba, Guided Meditation/Relaxation, Tai Chi, Chair Yoga, card making classes, Pilates, and Cize Live. Children’s programs include art classes, Kindermusik, Toddlers and Tutus, Soccer-Mommy/Daddy and Me, and cooking classes.
For more information, contact the community center at 610-966-6924.
Family Open Gym time is 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays for ages infant through 10 years with a parent. Proof of residency is required.
Yard waste site hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The center is closed Tuesday and Thursday. Yard waste permits are now required for dropoff. Applications can be found at www.lowermac.com. Be prepared to show your photo I.D. as proof of residency.
At Thanksgiving we give thanks for our Thanksgiving girl. Happy 18th birthday, Caroline.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
The next township column will be published Dec. 21; copy deadline is Dec. 15.