Editor’s Note: This column has been edited since being printed in the Oct. 28 edition.

The reverse Halloween parade scheduled 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Emmaus Community Park sponsored by The Emmaus Main Street Partners has been canceled.This was in place of the annual Halloween parade which was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions on outdoor events.

The borough hopes to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Emmaus Halloween parade in 2021. For information, visit www.facebook.com/emmaus.borough.

Be sure to thank a veteran for his or her service.

Reminder: Emmaus’ trick or treat night will be held 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30. Please be on the lookout for little ghosts and goblins. Turn on your house light if you’d like to welcome trick-or-treaters.

The Emmaus Public Library, 11 E. Main St., has some fun activities planned for Halloween. A virtual Halloween parade is ongoing online until Oct. 31, trick or treat is set for 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for all ages Oct. 29 and the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild will be telling silly and scary stories online 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Remember to vote: polls open 7 a.m. Nov. 3. Be sure to check your usual polling location to ensure it has not changed. Reminder: wear a mask, bring your own pen and follow social distancing guidelines. Also, there is a ballot drop-off box located in the Emmaus Borough Hall lobby, 28 S. Fourth St., Emmaus, during office hours, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Emmaus Lioness Lions Club will host a free scarf shower 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 7 on the Emmaus Triangle. Rain date is Nov. 14. The hand-knit scarves will be hung on the fence and anyone who needs one is welcome to take it without cost.

Earth Day 2020-Community Cleanup will be held 8:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 21. This event was postponed from April 18. This is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Volunteers will meet at Emmaus Community Park, Shimerville Road at South 14th St., for instructions and directions to all the cleanup sites. If anyone needs gloves, safety vests and bags, contact info@uppermilford.net. The object is to clean up litter and debris from sites around the borough and township. Electronics recycling and document shredding will be available. This event is presented by the Borough of Emmaus and Upper Milford Township Joint Environmental Advisory Council. For information, info@uppermilford.net.

St. Ann’s Food Fest continues in November. The food fest committee advises you to “Keep Calm and Carry Out.” This month’s food offering is Manhattan clam chowder and pork barbecue sandwiches. Every offering is ready to eat, delicious and homemade. To pre-order, visit the parish website, www.churchstann.org or the St. Ann’s Fall Fest Facebook page. Order by Nov. 5; pick up Nov. 14. The food will be available for takeout in a social distancing drive-by arrangement in the church parking lot off South Fifth Street.

The Emmaus Farmers Market will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday, rain or shine. The market is held at Triangle Park, Main Street in Emmaus. Come out and enjoy the musical entertainment, visit with folks at the community table and of course, purchase delicious homegrown food products from the 27 vendors. Please remember, coronavirus restrictions are in effect. For information, visit info@emmausmarket.com.

Emmaus Borough Council meets 7 p.m. Nov. 2 and 16 in council chambers. Zoom access is available.

E-waste recycling is held noon Nov. 9 at Kline’s Lane.

Compost site hours changed Oct. 10. Hours until Dec. 18 are 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. There is no public works department staff available to help load vehicles.

The borough offices will be closed Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day and Nov. 26 and 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Emmaus Historical Society members wish the community a beautiful fall. At this time, the museum, 218 Main St., Emmaus, will remain closed until further notice. However, the historical society is accepting donations so when in doubt, don’t throw it out. Contact the society at 610-966-6591 for appointments for yard sale or memorabilia donations drop off, including vintage holiday decorations.

Also, the Emmaus Historical Society is currently looking for original photographs of World War I veterans from Emaus who served. (Scans and copies of any kind will not be accepted). The society is attempting to create an archive of Emmaus’ World War I heroes for future exhibits and preservation. Contact the Emmaus Historical Society at 610-966-6591 if you have any photos of any World War I veterans or with any questions.

A fun history fact: On Oct. 28, 1921, Emaus held the first Halloween Parade of many. An article in The Morning Call (Oct. 13, 1921) stated: “The committee takes this means of informing its fellow townsmen that a canvass of the citizens and business places will be made this week and asks for their hearty support, financially. This money will be used to defray the expenses of the parade and for the prizes to be given, the number of which will be as liberal as possible.”

The historical society looks forward to the Emmaus Halloween Parade’s 100th anniversary celebration next year.

For current information and great opportunities for a glimpse into Emmaus’ history, visit https://www.emmaushistoricalsociety.org or go to Facebook (and now Instagram).

Toys for Tots boxes will be arriving soon at the Emmaus Public Library. The boxes are open for new, unwrapped toys and books for the next six weeks and the boxes will be rounded up Dec. 1. Last year the library’s donations were so great, the library had to request another box. The library is hoping this COVID-19 holiday season will be even better for area children in need.

Among the other program offerings at the library for adults are a career class: LinkedIn presented by Bill Miner, career counselor with PA CareerLink, 7 p.m. Nov. 2.

Youngsters are invited to take home a packet to make a pine cone turkey beginning Nov. 2. The library asks the youngsters to send them a copy of their finished creation.

For information on other programs, visit www.emmauspl.org or call 610-965-9284. The library is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday 5 p.m. Nov. 25, Nov. 26, 27 and 28. It reopens Nov. 30.

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s a time to remember those who may not be able to enjoy a bountiful meal. One way to ensure that those folks have a meal at Thanksgiving and throughout the year is to donate to the Emmaus Food Bank. The food bank is housed at the Bethel Bible Fellowship Church, 418 Elm St., Emmaus. Monetary donations can be mailed to the church and marked food bank. The bank has a current need for donations of ravioli, canned potatoes, coffee, pancake mix and syrup, peanut butter and macaroni and cheese. Toiletries and nonperishable foods can be dropped off 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call 610-965-2682.

Plaudits to the Emmaus Rotary. According to the Rotary newsletter, in September the club handed out 432 bags of food to East Penn School District students.

The deadline for including items in the December column is Nov. 17. Please send articles to Corrine Durdock, 913 Little Lehigh Dr., Emmaus, email durdock@aol.com or call 610-967-2661.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.