Macungie Borough leaf collection will take place Nov. 11, 18 and 25. Leaves only will be collected curbside and should be at the curb before 7 a.m. Residents are also encouraged to drop off leaves any day or time at the newly expanded fenced area at the borough garage off of South Church Street.

Grace Lutheran Church will host a free community meal 5-7 p.m. Nov. 8.

There will be an electronics recycling event 9 a.m. to noon (or until the trucks are full) Nov. 9 at Macungie Memorial Park. This event is only for the residents of Macungie and Alburtis boroughs. Photo I.D. may be required.

The Macungie Historical Society, the Lower Macungie Township Historical Society and VFW Memorial Post 9264 will hold a Veterans Day Service 2-3:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Lower Macungie Township Community Center. Guest speaker Cpt. Richard Henry Buss, U.S. Navy (retired) will give a presentation on World War I and several local men who served during the conflict.

The Parkland Art League will meet 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 6667 Lower Macungie Road, Trexlertown. Artist William Harmuth will be the guest presenter. For more information, go to https://sites.google.com/site/parklandartleague or call 610-533-5345.

The Friends of the Macungie Institute will present the annual Elegant Holiday Tea 2-4 p.m. Nov. 16. Tickets for the second seating are still available. For information or tickets, contact Tim Brown at 610-966-7830.

Concordia Lutheran Church will have a Thanksgiving Eve Service 7 p.m. Nov. 27. Local food bank offerings will be collected during the service. There will be a pie fest immediately following the service.

The annual Community Thanksgiving Service will be held 7 p.m. Nov. 27 at Solomon’s UCC at 82 S. Church St. Pastors from Macungie Community Church the Church of the Nazarene (now Brookside Community), Solomon’s UCC and Grace Lutheran Church will be participating.

Grace Lutheran Church will host a free community Thanksgiving dinner 1 p.m. Nov. 28 at the church. For more information, call 610-393-1766.

The 91st Annual Sheeprock Trek and Thanksgiving Sunrise Service will leave promptly 5:45 a.m. Nov. 28 (yes, Thanksgiving morning) from the Macungie Fire Company. Boy Scout Troop 71 will light the way up Macungie Mountain where there will be a brief Thanksgiving message. Girl Scout Troop 6413 will serve hot chocolate and donuts at the end of the hike. The event is coordinated by the Macungie Historical Society. Hikers should be prepared with flashlights, gloves and hiking boots.

In the case of inclement weather, the service will be held in the garage of the Macungie Fire Department, starting 5:45 a.m. For more information, call the Macungie Historical Society at 610-965-0372.

The second annual Macungie Holiday Fireworks Spectacular will be held Nov. 30 at Macungie Memorial Park. There will be kids’ activities and a visit from Santa 5:30-7 p.m.; food trucks and hayrides 5:30-7:30 p.m. and fireworks 7 p.m. The event is hosted by Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley.

The deadline for entries for the 17th annual Gingerbread Creation Competition and Display is Nov. 30. Gingerbread houses will be on display at Kalmbach Park during Macungie Holiday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 14. For more information, call 610-965-1140 or go to www.kalmbachpark.com.

The Macungie Holiday Tree Lighting will take place at the Flower Park near the railroad tracks 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3. There will be holiday music and light refreshments.

Macungie Holiday will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 8. Local businesses, the historical society and Macungie Memorial Park participate in this borough-wide event. The Macungie Institute will feature Macungie Farmers Market vendors, Boy Scout displays and food and Santa and Mrs. Claus for photos. There will also be a scavenger hunt, horse drawn surrey rides and gingerbread displays at Kalmbach.

The next bus trip to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is scheduled Nov. 18. Call the park at 610-966-4289 to reserve a seat.

Educational programs are offered through Kalmbach Institute. More information is available at kalmbachpark.com.

The Lower Lehigh Lions will meet 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Macungie Institute.

Macungie Fire Company meets 7 p.m. Nov.13 at its social quarters.

Macungie VFW Post 9264 meets 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at the post home on Lehigh Street.

The VFW Auxiliary of Macungie VFW Post 9264 meets 1 p.m. Nov. 21 at the post home.

Macungie Rod and Gun Club Board meets 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at the club.

Macungie Borough Council meets 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 and Dec. 2 at borough hall, 21 Locust St.

The Macungie Park Board of Directors meeting will be held downstairs 7 p.m. Nov. 26. The public is welcome.

Bingo is held weekly Saturday evenings at Macungie Memorial Park. Doors open 4:30 p.m. and games begin 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 610-966-4289.

We recently took my mother out for a birthday brunch at Perkins. She was struggling with what to order so Matt pointed out the 55 and older section of the menu with smaller portions. When I pointed out that he could also be ordering off that section, he sputtered and then stopped when the truth dawned on him. The realization shocked us both. In the end, we ordered off the regular menu – I guess, at least mentally, we’re not there yet!

The copy deadline for the Dec. 4 column will be Nov. 27.