Chairperson Janine Santoro announced that “Bethlehem’s Climate Challenge is now live” at WeBuild.Bethlehem-PA.gov during the Mayor’s South Side Task Force hybrid meeting held in the NCC Fowler Center Dec. 19.

She walked attendees through the Bethlehem’s Climate Challenge new website menu. Santoro encouraged residents to check it out and fill out a “45-second survey.”

According to Santoro, the first “Opening Doors” community Meeting will be held Jan. 24, 5:30 – 8 p.m. in NCC Room 605.

Regarding the city’s South Side Community Center Feasibility Study, Santoro announced public meetings are to be scheduled for sometime in January or February 2024. MASS Design Group and Atkin Olshin Schade Architects, as well as Taggart and Associates will be participating.

The Bethlehem Police Department is still seeking recruits and there are open positions at City Hall that need to be filled as well.

Santoro said there are open seats on several authorities, boards and commissions, including the Bethlehem Human Relations Commission.

Bethlehem Police Officer Sean Landis spoke about the department assisting with distributing holiday presents to families in need from Walmart recently. He reported on the annual Christmas Tree Toss that benefited Turning Point. The city police also helped Women Of Excellence, Bethlehem (WOEB) and Home Depot with gift distribution to low-income area households.

“I’m still talking trash,“ remarked Kate Jackson, a Lehigh assistant professor and resident about the environmental projects she and her students are working on. They continue conducting a community survey on rubbish collection and littering issues.

Adrienne McNeil from Lehigh University (attending in person) joined her colleague from Lehigh, Tracey King, (attending online) in speaking about the school’s fall semester wrapping up. They also described two upcoming events for 2024. Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is the featured speaker for the university’s ongoing Compelling Perspectives Series scheduled for Jan. 30. Also in the New Year, former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R) is speaking Feb. 27 at the 2024 Kenner Lecture on Cultural Understanding.

Attending remotely from the Bethlehem Area Public Library South Side Branch, Allison Madden mentioned a possible partnership with the Zoellner Center with the branch’s Storytime program. She said the library continues outreach to schools and organizations on the Southside.

The Mayor’s South Side Task Force regularly meets on the last Tuesday of the month. The December meeting was held Dec. 19 as the last Tuesday of the month fell on the day after Christmas. The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 30.