BETHLEHEM

MUNICIPAL ICE RINK: The Earl E. Schaffer Bethlehem Municipal Ice Rink will be open for the 2020-21 season from November through mid-March. Anyone interested in renting the rink should contact the Recreation office at 610-865-7081 or email recreation@bethlehem-pa.gov for more information. Public skate sessions began Nov. 20 this season. Due to 50 percent capacity restrictions, the rink is only allowed 230 skaters each session.

Due to the uncertainty of the length of the season because of the current pandemic, season passes will not be sold this season.

Public Skate Hours:

Friday: 7:30-9:30pm (Closed: Christmas Day)

Saturday: 1-3pm; 7:30-9:30pm (Closed: 1/30 for Winter Classic)

Sunday: 1-3pm

Holiday Hours: 1-3pm (Wed, 11/25; Fri, 11/27; Mon 11/30; Wed, 12/23; Mon, 12/28; Tues, 12/29; Wed, 12/30; Thurs, 12/31; Fri, 1/1; Mon, 1/18; Fri, 2/12; Mon, 2/15)

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

COVID RISK MANAGEMENT COURSE: The Department of Community and Economic Development announce a collaboration with Northampton Community College (NCC) to offer COVID-19 Risk Management courses to businesses, municipal governments, the hospitality industry, child care centers and Senior Personal Care staff. The courses are free and are funded with money from the CARES Act. Professor Tom Barnowski, the Director of Corporate and Public Safety Education at NCC will offer live Zoom classes, as well as a pre-recorded class participants can access via the internet. The courses will begin Dec. 4 and will only be available through 2020.

The six courses each run approximately 1.5 hours and include:

Recovery Awareness for Child Care

Recovery Awareness for Hospitality, Food and Beverage Industry

Recovery Awareness for Manufacturing Industry

Recovery Awareness for Municipal Governments

Recovery Awareness for Retail and Service Industry

Recovery Awareness for Senior Personal Care and Home Health

To register, please visit https://northampton.edu/NCCovid Participants must be employed in or residents of Northampton County. For questions, email safety@northampton.edu

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS: Lamont McClure and the Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) announce the opening of the application process for $1.3 million COVID-19 Small Business Assistance grants. To qualify for a grant, a business must be located in Northampton County and have fewer than 100 employees. The grants can be used for rent, payroll and other operating expenses. Priority will be given to small retail shops, restaurants and community staples operating on a main street or in a traditional neighborhood, and minority-owned businesses. The maximum grant amount is $15,000 per business. This opportunity is open to new businesses who have not yet received a county grant.

Northampton County Council approved the distribution of $1.3 million in CARES Act funds to small business owners at their Nov. 18 meeting. Applications will be reviewed by a committee that includes three members of county council.

LEHIGH VALLEY

YMCA UPDATE: Due to the spike in Coronavirus in the community as well as the Governor’s recent orders, starting Wednesday, Nov. 18, the Y adopted a “no mask, no service” policy. They ask all entering the facilities to wear a cloth mask properly as advised by the Health Department, over your nose and mouth at all times.

Those using the pool must properly wear a cloth mask to the pool deck, may remove the mask for active swimming, and replace the mask when exiting the pool deck.