As I’m sure you’ve noticed, the days are getting shorter, the swimming pool has closed, kids are just back in school, and your favorite football team is taking the field. Welcome to September!

After an especially hot and humid summer, I, for one, am looking forward to some cooler days ahead, when working outdoors will be much more comfortable. Be it some late-season gardening, a few more lawn mowings, some pre-winter home improvements or whatever plans you have, make time to get out of the house and enjoy the late-summer air before it’s gone.

You do know that the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a colder, snow-filled winter, so before you have to be stuck indoors, enjoy outdoor Northampton now.

As we just celebrated Labor Day, let’s take a moment to honor the working men and women of our area, whose everyday efforts to build a cohesive community, in whatever job they hold, often go underappreciated or unnoticed.

As former president of our Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce, watching the evolution of our ever-growing business community from my front row seat, again confirmed that a strong, motivated workforce overwhelmingly benefits the quality of life here in Northampton. Let’s encourage and thank our local workers whenever and wherever we can. No doubt, any act of appreciation will go a long way to making their day all the brighter.

Get out your calendars and mark Sept. 9 in big red letters because the 34th annual Uptown Northampton Street Fair will run 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

I know preparations have been underway for an even bigger and better event than last year’s fair!

Your host, Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce, plans a fun day of outdoor dining, early Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping and entertainment for all between 17th and 21st streets in the uptown area of Main Street.

This year’s festival, showcasing more than 100 vendors, has some new attractions. For the youngsters, a petting zoo, rock climbing from LV Rocks and Touch-a-Truck will be available.

For adults, the main stage bandshell, located next to Gin Mill and Grille, will have live music featuring Third Hand Trio 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Trick Stacy 2:30-4 p.m.

There will be two beer tents from the Gin Mill and The Chamber and other adult beverages from Triple Sun Spirits, Clever Girl Winery, Lucci Family Wine Cellars and Sleepy Cat Urban Winery. Don’t forget your ID.

Additional entertainment includes demonstrations from 3D Dance Studio 11-11:30 a.m. and Elite Mixed Martial Arts 1:30-2 p.m. If you’ve never been backstage of the Roxy Theater, enlightening tours are held throughout the day.

For our dog lovers, get your pup dressed up in their Northampton best for Pup-Town Northampton, a competition that will award a Best Dressed and a Best Trick award. A small entry fee will benefit the Greater Northampton Area Chamber’s scholarship fund. You can preregister today at tinyurl.com/mr2ffd7z.

This year’s food vendors include Mattie’s Strudel Haus, Mon & Mel’s Sweet Scoops, Curdzone, Island Expressions, Greek Street, Slide on By, Smokehouse Food Truck, Kalli Inc. Sweet Treats Funnel Cakes and Grub Night Food Truck.

As for me, I’ll be out and about the fair throughout the day, mainly assisting our police department to provide children’s safety ID cards to parents. An officer will take a photograph of your child, a fingerprint and vital information, which is printed on a credit card-sized plastic card for safe keeping.

We certainly hope no parent will ever need to access this card, but it’s a great wealth of information if needed. Joining the police, our fire department will display two of our firetrucks, along with games and gifts for the kids.

Uptown Northampton Street Fair organizers continue their very proud tradition in the borough, as this fall-time spectacle brings friends and families together. Please join me for a fun day with your friends or family, patronizing these many crafters, food vendors and talented entertainers. See you uptown!