Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Thanksgiving is a civil holiday declared in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln noted it is to occur on the last Thursday of November as a day of “thanksgiving and praise.”

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Coplay Recreation and Welfare Association is sponsoring the annual holiday tree-lighting ceremony, set for Nov. 30 outside borough hall, 98 S. Fourth St.

Tom Yurasits will perform his magic act inside the borough hall auditorium 6:30 p.m. The holiday display lighting will take place after the magic show.

Refreshments will be served.

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Mark your calendar: St. Peter Roman Catholic Church has set its second annual Mardi Gras celebration for 5 p.m. Jan. 27, 2024.

Call 610-767-1887 for details.

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Coplay Garden Club meets 7 p.m. the last Thursday of the month in the social hall at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 18 S. Third St.

A tip of the month - Window plants turned occasionally will keep a better shape.

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Crime watching is simple: “If you see something; say something.”

Call the Lehigh County nonemergency number, 610-437-5252.

Email billleiner@aol.com for crime watch information or setting up a block watch.

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The borough fire department and fire police are reorganizing.

If you have a desire to serve Coplay and surrounding communities, consider joining. They are seeking volunteer firefighters and fire police.

Call 610-261-2233 for information.

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Coplay Senior Citizens meets 1 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays at the Coplay Fire Hall building, 165 Cherry St. Doors open noon.

Membership is open to all Lehigh Valley seniors.

Call Dale at 610-262-5464 to join or for further information.

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Coplay Food Bank, located in the lower level of the municipal building, is open 8:30-10 a.m. the second Tuesday of every month.

If unable to attend the scheduled Tuesday morning time frame, call Jodi at 610-262-0928 to make other arrangements.

The food bank needs coffee, spaghetti sauce and noodles, canned pasta, rice pouches and non-sweetened dry cereals. Monetary donations are always accepted.

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To have an announcement shared in this column, email billleiner@aol.com or text 610-751-2745.