The annual Vera Cruz Homecoming, sponsored by the Vera Cruz Community Association and held rain or shine, is Vera Cruz’s version of a community block party. It is open to everyone (residents and non-residents of Vera Cruz). The event will be held noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 19 at Mystic Chain Park on Main Road East in Vera Cruz.

The 67th annual Homecoming will include antique tractors displayed by the Old Time Plowboys and local farmers. There will also be lots of children’s entertainment, including a face painter, children’s games and a bounce house. Additional entertainment for everyone will include cake walks and bingo. The day’s events will begin with a community Homecoming service 9 a.m. at the Vera Cruz E.C. Church which will feature special music.

Local television personality “Uncle Jeffrey,” Jeff Tapler, will broadcast his weekly Health and Happiness show live from the Homecoming 3 to 5 p.m.

Additional musical entertainment will include a return by the Rehrig Brothers, who will take the stage noon to 3 p.m. The Large Flowerheads will be making their Homecoming debut and will perform 5 to 8 p.m.

Homemade food will be provided by the Vera Cruz Community Association and there will be plenty of ice cream, funnel cakes and hot dogs to go around. To volunteer to help at the Homecoming or for questions, call Dave Lindstrom at 610 704-9808.

St. Peter’s Union Church has scheduled not one, but two community yard sales, Aug. 18 and Sept. 22. Times are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 7863 St. Peters Road, Macungie.

Both sales will feature a light lunch, including such goodies as hot dogs, egg sandwiches, breakfast items, baked goods and desserts.

The Saturday sale will also feature a pig roast. The menu will include pork roast, baked potato, corn on the cob, pepper cabbages, rolls and butter. Eat in or take out. To pre-order tickets, call Ron at 610-845-2525, or the church at 610-966-3030.

To rent a table, call Ron at the above number.

Harry Anselmo, an annual presenter at the Goshenhoppen Folk Festival, will talk about beekeeping at the Aug. 30 meeting of the Upper Milford Historical Society. The meeting begins 7 p.m. at the Upper Milford Township building. As always, all are welcome.

Milford Park’s 91st summer program continues the first two weeks of August. All concerts begin 7 p.m. On Aug. 4, there will be a gospel concert by The Ball Brothers of Chickamauga, Ga.

Milford Park Family Camp will be held Monday through Friday, Aug. 6 to 10, beginning 10 a.m. each morning. Bible study will be taught by the Rev. Dana Weller. On Aug. 11, the concert will be presented by Dwayne and Martha Dunn of Portsmouth, Va. All programs and services at Milford Park are open to everyone and will take place rain or shine. A free will offering will be taken at each program.

Milford Park is located on Routes 29 and 100 in Zionsville, 10 miles south of Allentown. For more information, call 610-966-4240. View the entire summer schedule at www.milfordpark.org

The Lower Milford Township Fall Festival will be held Sept. 22. Volunteers and vendors are needed. If you would like to volunteer, call the township office at 610-967-4949.

Vendors can find registration forms on the township website, by clicking on the Fall Festival.

There is a vacancy on the Southern Lehigh Library Board for a Lower Milford resident for a three-year term expiring June 30, 2021. If you are interested, send a letter to the township supervisors at the township building, 7607 Chestnut Hill Church Road, Coopersburg 18036. For more information on what is involved in serving on this board, contact the library director at lsaeger@solehipl.org.

The Vera Cruz Community Association meets 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the fire company. All are welcome. For information, contact Betsy Eltz at 610-965-8627.

The Western District Fire Company on Route 100 will serve breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 5. The September breakfast will be Sept. 2. For information on the breakfasts, call the fire company at 610-966-3541 or Carol Shade at 610-966-3902.

The Upper Milford Fire Company’s ladies auxiliary will meet 7 p.m. Aug. 6. New members are always welcome.

The Ladies Auxiliary of Citizens Fire Company of Vera Cruz will meet 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Vera Cruz Fire Department Social Hall.

Vera Cruz senior citizens meet 1 p.m. Aug. 2 and 16 at the Vera Cruz Fire Company. All are welcome.

Lower Milford Township supervisors will hold their regular meetings 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 and 16.

Other Lower Milford meetings are as follows; unless otherwise noted, they will begin 7:30 p.m.: the planning commission will meet Aug. 6. recreation and open space board, Aug. 8; historical commission will meet Aug. 14.

Upper Milford supervisors will meet 7 p.m. Aug. 2 and 16.

The Upper Milford Planning Commission will hold a workshop meeting Aug. 14 and the next regular meeting Sept. 4, both 7:30 p.m.

The recreation commission meets 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20. The Joint Environmental Advisory Council will meet Aug. 27 in Emmaus. The open space committee meets 7 p.m. Aug. 8. The emergency services committee meets 7 p.m. Aug. 15.

If you have news or information for this column, which runs the first Wednesday of every month, call me at 610-838-8923 or email me at bruce.swan@rcn.com.