Hello, everyone! As I drive around the town, it gets easier and easier to tell the Halloween and fall seasons are upon us. The proliferation of the black and orange Halloween decorations, pumpkin-spiced everything and colorful foliage are quite evident - and often stunning.

There are only a few weeks left before our popular fall event, the Jack Frost parade. The parade is scheduled for Oct. 19.

It’s one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Halloween parades in the Lehigh Valley. I know it’s a treat for the many spectators who come from far and wide to line our streets, along with all who participate in the parade, like myself. It’s always entertaining, colorful and a time- honored tradition here in Northampton.

As one of the keepers of our public safety, I must remind parents to keep children, eager to snatch up every piece of candy during the parade, on the sidewalks and a safe distance away from all vehicles. The last thing I want to see is a child injured over what would then seem like an inconsequential small, sweet treat. Yes, enjoy the parade for all the pageantry that it is, but be safe and stay out of the street.

If you’ve recently traveled on 21st Street and over the Cementon-Northampton Bridge, you can’t help but notice all of the latest construction activity. After many years of waiting, the anticipation is coming to an end as we see day-by-day progress, most notably along the borough shoreline. I see the rocky cofferdam is already in place on the Northampton side, with plenty of work being done to move all of the power lines.

It’s great to see the weekly progress, as a new bridge will end the safety concerns we have with the old, well-worn expanse we’re traveling on now. My understanding is the newly constructed bridge - to be completed by 2027 - will be modeled after the Coplay-Northampton Bridge, with plenty of roadway and additional sidewalk space.

I look forward to the dedicated bike lane so we can have a smoother transition from the D&L Trail on Canal Street over to the Route 329 trailhead in Whitehall. If you haven’t noticed, that section of the trail is highly traveled on weekends and holidays, as more bikers and runners discover the trail.

As to be expected with bridge construction of this sort, traffic patterns will be altered and the railroad crossing moved slightly to the south.

Along with our other projects along Canal Street and the park, these pattern changes will bring traffic, and the public’s attention, closer to our proposed welcome center. With the engineering process underway, this grant-funded project will be yet another highlight along the D&L Trail.

The center, situated in the parking lot across from the gazebo on the north end of the pathway, will be a simple rest stop for bikers and travelers along the trail. As part of the discussions, I see the center providing restrooms, park benches and two large maps, one detailing the D&L Trail path and the other a map of Northampton, highlighting local restaurants and stores where our traveling guests can refuel and restock.

I’m also working to have additional photos detailing some of Northampton’s past cement history featured, too. This will not be a pavilion as we have on the south end of the park, but rather a nostalgic-looking and inviting site to refresh and gather information to continue one’s trip.

Lastly, as we near completion of the structure, we’ll hang the “Welcome to Northampton” shingle prominently on the front side, akin to the style on our Siegfried train station across the street. I’ll keep you posted on any other additions as this project moves forward.

For now, keep those black and orange decorations coming, keep stocking up on your Halloween candy as the 31st will be here before we know it, and I’ll certainly look forward to greeting you at the parade.

Be well, Northampton!