Lower Macungie Library is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library now offers auto renewals on eligible items. The book drop is open 24/7.

The library is sponsoring a Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Project. Through Jan. 31 the library will collect canned and dry nonperishable food and new children’s books for the Grace Food Cupboard.

Grab and Go Crafts Kits for kids will be available beginning Jan. 17. Geometry craft kits can be picked up in the children’s library during library hours while supplies last.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide will offer tax return preparation services at the library Thursday afternoons Feb. 3 through April 14. Appointments are required. Appointments can be made 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 27 at the Wescosville Recreation Center.

There will be a National Puzzle Day Virtual Puzzle Tournament 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 29. Each team must register and pay the registration fee by Jan. 19. Puzzles will be picked up at the library and each team will receive a Zoom link. Staff will monitor progress via Zoom. The first team to complete their puzzle wins.

The Lower Macungie Library Book Club book for 10:30 to noon Feb. 2 is “The Alice Network” by Kate Quinn. The book for March 2 is “The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper” by Phaedra Patrick. The book club meets virtually.

For more information on library events, visit the website www.lowermaclib.org or call 610-966-6864.

The Lower Macungie Township building is open for business. Masks and social distancing are required. Staff is available by phone 610-966-4343 or email info@lowermac.com for information.

The Lower Macungie Township Senior Citizens have resumed meetings at the community center. The next meetings are noon Feb. 1 and 15.

The Lower Lehigh AARP has canceled its Feb. 3 meeting. Their next meeting will be noon March 3 in the lower level of Macungie Memorial Hall in Macungie. For more information, contact Dot at 610-967-3284.

Concordia Lutheran Preschool will hold its annual spaghetti dinner as a takeout 2-4 p.m. Jan. 29. Tickets can be purchased by calling the church office at 610-965-3265.

Lower Macungie Township offers many programs for adults and children. For more information, go to http://www.lowermac.com/recreation/activities-programs/. Upcoming classes include chair yoga, baking, card making, Pilates, tai chi, photography and Latin partner dance. Children’s classes include photography, Toddlers and Tutus, pre-ballet, cooking, Kindermusik, and multisport skills.

A Safe@Home program will be offered 4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 8 for children ages 9-11 years at the Lower Macungie Community Center. The program is designed to prepare students in grades 4-6 to be safe when home alone. Registration is limited.

The Lower Macungie Community Center is open to the public while following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The center will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no free open gym at this time. Public restrooms are not available. Staff will be 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.

Yard waste center hours for January and February are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Yard waste permits are required for drop-off. The center is located at 5536 Indian Creek Road, Macungie.

COVID-19 struck our home over the holidays. First my mother, then my husband, then me, and, we think at some point in that time period, Ben had a much milder version. So over a period of three weeks, we all had varying degrees of cough, congestion, aches, fever, exhaustion, headaches and the most defining symptom, loss of taste and smell. The last one hit my husband the hardest. It did not seem to affect his appetite though. In fact, the one evening we were eating a stir fry when Matt reached for the soy sauce. I said, “If you can’t taste anything, why are you adding soy sauce?” He looked at me for a moment and said, “I don’t know. Habit?”

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