BETHLEHEM

MUNICIPAL SKATING RINK: Mayor Bob Donchez announced that based on Governor Tom Wolf’s latest shutdown order, the Municipal Ice Rink closed Dec. 12 until further notice.

Please monitor the city’s website www.bethlehem-pa.gov and social media for additional information, including closures of city facilities, postponement of public meetings and updates on COVID-19.

SHOP AND STROLL: The Downtown Bethlehem Association (DBA) and the Southside Arts District are introducing a brand new event this holiday season. You can enjoy “A Merry Little Shop & Stroll” downtown in the Christmas City Dec. 19. It’s an outdoor walking holiday food fair and sidewalk sale. Lehigh Valley Health Network is sponsoring free two-hour parking downtown during the event. DBA Manager Tammy Wendling said, “We wanted to create an event that balanced the business community’s need for customers with the entire community’s need for safety. This socially distanced outdoor event achieves that beautifully.”

WIND CREEK CASINO: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that it will be working with the 12 operating casinos in the commonwealth on closing procedures as part of a COVID-19 mitigation order announced by Governor Wolf today. Under the order, Wind Creek is one of 12 casinos that was to cease all gaming activities and patron entry by 12:01 a.m. Dec, 12.

Under the governor’s order, casinos may reopen at 8:00 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

CITY HALL: Mayor Bob Donchez announced that Bethlehem city hall will continue to remain open for the general public to conduct business with the city. However, the public is encouraged to conduct as much business as possible via mail, email, online at www.bethlehem-pa.gov, phone and by appointment. The Bethlehem Service Center remains fully operational and can be reached at (610) 865-7000.

The city will continue to provide a drop-off area for customers on the first floor of City Hall to handle all inquiries, permit applications and to accept all payments. In addition, the public is encouraged to use the drop box outside the Church Street entrance to City Hall to make bill payments.

HOTEL BETHLEHEM: Christmas came early for Bethlehem this year and the Hotel Bethlehem rushed to put up their decorations to be a part of the holiday cheer in Historic Downtown Bethlehem. Sparkling lights, glistening ornaments and Christmas songs filled the lobby of Historic Hotel Bethlehem the first weekend of November. It may not have felt like the traditional “hustle and bustle” visitors were used to in the hotel lobby but Christmas was definitely happening. The goal was to maintain the Christmas festivities despite the unusual challenges from this pandemic.

However, with the new temporary mandates announced by the governor, the hotel was forced to close their restaurant and banquet operations. The hotel will not be offering take-out or curbside pickup during this period. In addition self-guided tours have been canceled until such time as the temporary mandate is lifted by the governor.

Therefore, entry to the hotel will be closed to the general public during this period. Only registered overnight guests will be permitted to enter the hotel until this temporary mandate is lifted in 2021.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

DRIVE THRU TESTING: The County-sponsored COVID-19 drive-through testing site continues to be available at 3100 Emrick Blvd Bethlehem Township. Hours of operation are Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday/Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The site is open on every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The drive-through testing center is located in the parking area to the rear of the Coordinated Health building and is separate from patient parking and routine patient care.

LEHIGH VALLEY

GREATER LV YMCA: Beginning Sat., Dec. 12, the following Lehigh and Northampton County Ys are closed: Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton/Phillipsburg, Nazareth, Suburban North and Slate Belt through Jan. 3, 2021. We will reopen Jan. 4, 2021 at 8 a.m. At the Greater Valley YMCA, the community’s health and safety is our foremost priority. In the wake of recent government announcements and mandated closures announced by Governor Wolf Dec. 10, the Y must temporarily close its facilities.

CENTER FOR HUMANISTIC CHANGE: Please note: Due to the uptick in local COVID-19 positivity rates, CHC’s physical locations are closed until further notice. However, they are still here for you, working remotely with full access to email and phones. CHC continues to offer alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and life skills programs in a virtual manner, on the website, and on location (Onsite programming will continue, but is subject to change per mitigation orders delivered by the State of Pennsylvania). Please contact them with your requests so they can continue to offer critical prevention programming.

PENNSYLVANIA

RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS: The Wolf administration began distribution of the ninth allotment of COVID-19 antigen test kits provided by the federal government to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified institutions in Carbon, Clarion, Lycoming, Northampton, Potter and York counties.

“Antigen test cards are a timely, quick and easy-to-use tool for communities to receive rapid COVID-19 testing,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “These test kits, provided by the federal government and being distributed to areas in need by the Wolf Administration, will further help communities struggling with the spread of COVID-19. Antigen tests look for pieces of proteins that make up the SARS-CoV-2 virus and are less sensitive than PCR tests for detecting COVID-19 infections.”

TECH SAVVY: GearHungry.com, the leading resource for reviews of gear, gadgets and gifts, surveyed 3,000 65+ year olds to find out how they coped, and overall, a significant majority of Pennsylvania seniors (68 percent) said their understanding of technology has actually improved since the start of the pandemic.

Fifty-five percent of seniors say video apps have helped with loneliness. Two-thirds of people will avoid seeing extended family this Christmas in order to protect seniors from any risk.

VIDEO GAMING ROOMS: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that it has ordered the closure of Video Gaming Terminal (VGTs) rooms located in truck stop establishments statewide Dec. 12 as part of a COVID-19 mitigation order announced by Governor Wolf.

Under the governor’s order, the operation of VGTs may commence again at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

PLCB ENFORCEMENT: Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 526 licensed liquor establishments from Friday, Dec. 11 through 13 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements, including the suspension of in-person service from Dec. 12 through Jan. 4, 2021, as outlined in the limited-time mitigation order.

Liquor Control Enforcement Officers issued 14 notices of violation and 24 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements Complaints regarding licensees not complying with COVID-19 mitigation mandates may be directed to the BLCE at 1-800-932-0602 or reported through the BLCE’s online complaint form.