The year 2020 started off on a happy note personally. I was able to celebrate my January birthday at a local restaurant. My grandson celebrated his 13th birthday with a party in February.

And then we began hearing “coronavirus.” In March, the governor ordered all nonessential businesses to shut down. School went into a virtual online programming mode.

We learned a new vocabulary: COVID-19, mitigate, exponential, quarantine, unprecedented, social distancing, pandemic and of course, cancellations. Masks became an essential addition to our wardrobe.

Almost every annual event we came to expect for the rest of the year was canceled. Visits to skilled nursing homes were restricted as were visits to hospital patients.

Public buildings were closed. Public meetings were held using Zoom.

The woman’s club, garden club and senior citizens group did not meet for the rest of the year. The Emmaus Historical Society museum did not open for the rest of the year. The Emmaus Community Park pool did not open for the season.

However, among the many cancellations, several events were offered adapting to COVID-19 guidelines. Among them, the library opened offering curbside services and eventually allowed visitations. The farmers market opened. A mini-concert series was presented at community park. St. Ann’s Fall Fest was canceled; St. Ann’s Food Fest was substituted. The Halloween parade was canceled but the Emmaus 5K Halloween race was held. Earth Day was held on its postponed date.

The Lioness Club held a successful scarf shower. The borough celebrated its Old Fashioned Christmas.

Of course, COVID-19 didn’t stop the weather.

In July, we sweltered through 17 days above normal temperatures.

In August, there was flooding in the community park area and other areas due to the Isaias hurricane.

November weather may have been the warmest on record. And, of course, here in December, as I write, snow fell Dec. 14 and the forecast for Dec. 16 is for 8 to 12 inches.

Schools opened with a hybrid program scheduling, but later changed to virtual learning. They returned to the hybrid program but now are in virtual learning again.

Now, we look forward to January 2021. COVID-19 is still with us, but hopefully a vaccine will be available soon and we’ll be able to resume normal activities.

The annual Snowblast Winter Arts Festival was canceled.

Emmaus Winter Farmers Market will be held 10 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Sundays at Triangle Park. Restrictions due to COVID-19 guidelines are in order.

In keeping with the latest advisory from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, the Emmaus Public Library, 11 E. Main St., is reminding visitors to not enter the building if you have traveled out of state in the last two weeks or had contact with out-of-state guests. Do not enter the building if you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Masks must be worn over the nose and mouth at all times while inside the building. Use the automatic sanitizer dispenser at the entrance to the library. Keep a six-foot distance from others. Limit your visit to no more than an hour. Curbside pickup is encouraged via phone 610-965-9284, email emmauspl@cliu.org or through your online account.

The new hours at the library are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. High-risk reserved hours are 10-11 a.m. Thursday. The library will be closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, 2021.

The library will hold a winter book bingo for adults. Pick up a sheet and read books that fit the squares. Once you reach bingo, turn in your sheet to eplcollection@cliu.org for a small prize through March 19, 2021. The coloring club and memoir writing group will meet through Zoom.

Youngsters can pick up kits Jan. 4, 2021 which include fun experiments for winter. There will be an Amazon Scavenger Hunt beginning Jan 9 through Jan. 30, 2021. The teen writers group and board game arena group will be offered. For information on programs, visit eplcollection@cliu.org, elkids@cliu.org or call 610-965-9284.

Emmaus Borough Council will meet 7 p.m. Jan. 4 and 18, 2021 through Zoom. The borough offices remain closed to the public but are operating. The offices will be closed Jan. 1, 2021 for the New Year’s Day holiday.

The borough will begin collecting Christmas trees Jan. 4, 2021 and continue through Jan. 15, 2021. Place trees at the curb, without a bag, ornaments, tinsel or tree stands. After Jan. 15, 2021, residents must take their tree to the compost site for disposal. The compost site will be open daily 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 18 to 22, 2021 for disposal of Christmas trees and other yard waste.

Looking forward to 2021: Creative Arts & Innovation Center adopted a new name. The proposed center will occupy the 35,000 square foot vacant warehouse building on South 10th Street. It will be called JuxtaHub. It will be renovated into a state-of-the-art facility with resources for artists, performers, makers, culinary entrepreneurs and those interested in AR/VR technologies.

Three historic sites, the Knauss Homestead, Shelter House and 1803 House, launched new websites, which will provide more knowledge and insight into these historic properties, aiding in promoting tourism.

Plaudits to the police department and the mayor for their donation from No Shave November and December programs. Gift cards were purchased and will be divided up among five East Penn School district families to help make their holidays a little more special.

The deadline for submitting articles for the February 2021 column is Jan. 20, 2021. Please send to durdock@aol.com, 913 Little Lehigh Dr. or phone 610-967-2661. Best wishes for a happy, healthy new year. Be safe.