The Lower Macungie Township building has reopened. Township offices have moved back. The tax office and the office of state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-134th, will remain at the Lower Macungie Township Community Center until renovations are completed. Staff is available by phone 610-966-4343 or email info@lowermac.com for information.

The Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners and staff are holding the 15th 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 new food, toiletry items, batteries, magazines and phone cards will be accepted at the community center 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and 8-10 a.m. Sunday through Nov. 25. A list of acceptable donations is available at the community center.

The community center is collecting children’s new pajamas and books during the fall and holiday season. Items will be donated to local area children’s shelters. A large receptacle is located in the lobby through Dec. 31.

Curbside leaf collection continues through the week of Nov. 30. Leaves should be out for collection by 7 a.m. Nov. 30 to ensure collection.

Lower Macungie Township’s visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus has been canceled this year.

The community center is open to the public while following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The center will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Public restrooms are not available. There are no free open gym sessions. There will be facility rentals, gym rentals and Tuesday morning “Walk and Talk” for adults 8-10 a.m. Class participants and renters will be contacted with more information.

The following classes for adults will be offered this fall: belly dance and Latin partner dance. New virtual classes include help for cramped hands and living room funkadelics. Adult fitness classes include barre, metabolic conditioning, Pilates, tai chi and yoga. Fall classes for children include pre-ballet and toddlers and tutus. Staff are available by phone 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 610-966-6924. Updates will also be posted on Facebook and www.lowermac.com.

The yard waste center hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December. Yard waste permits are required for drop-off.

Lower Macungie Library will be closed Nov. 22-28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Lower Macungie Library is now open by appointment only; no walk-ins are permitted. A mask is required per the CDC guidelines. Contactless pickup service is available. Computer services and browsing by appointment is available. The book drop will be open 24/7 for book returns; returns must be made through the book drop. All returns are quarantined for seven days. The library is currently fine free. Staff will be available by email and phone.

The Lower Macungie Library Book Club is meeting virtually. The discussion for “Letters To My Palestinian Neighbor” by Yossi Klein Halevi will be held 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 2. Register online by 8 a.m. Dec. 1. The book for Jan. 6, 2021, is “Becoming” by Michelle Obama.

There will be a virtual “History of Food Trucks” presented by the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 19. Registration is required.

Books & Beyond will hold a Zoom meeting 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 14. Chat about what you’ve read, watched and listened to over the past month. Bring ideas for future discussions. Registration required.

There will be a “Craft-Down” to 2021 grab and go craft kit offered each Monday in December starting Dec. 7. Kits can be picked up outside the library while supplies last.

There will be a Christmas grab and go craft kit for kids offered Dec. 18 in the box by the outdoor book drop.

Facebook story times are being offered through the library Facebook page. Virtual story time rooms are open to the public. There will be a weekly story time for children ages 2-6 years and some infant/toddler programming. Virtual story time play-along kits are available for pickup with a reservation. There will be online registration for the story times.

Library patrons can still access digital services including Overdrive. Other digital resources are available for free during the COVID-19 crisis. For more information, go to the library website www.lowermaclib.org or call 610-966-6864.

Ben’s Boy Scout Troop recently went on an Appalachian Trail hike. This annual event requires the Scouts and leaders to carry everything they need including tents, food and sleeping bags for an overnight trip in their backpacks. The weather was perfect and the trip uneventful until less than 2 miles from the pickup site.

At that point my husband was momentarily distracted while putting something in his pocket and, as he described it later, “the next thing I knew a rock was coming at my face.”

With a 50-pound pack throwing off his balance, he landed face down on a rock while using his hand to break his fall. As bad as it sounds, Matt’s injuries were only a sprained wrist, two chipped teeth and a cut lip. We were so thankful he wasn’t more seriously injured.

Apparently, falls were running in the Fletcher family that week: when Matt told his dad about it, he shared with Matt that his sister had also just fallen and chipped her tooth, too!

The next township column will be published Dec. 16; copy deadline is Dec. 10.