Chairperson Janine Santoro announced at the March 26 Mayor’s South Side Task Force meeting that the deadline for submitting “Community Anthem” videos has been extended to April 15.

Attending remotely, CADCB board member Donna Taggart described the favorable reaction several of these videos received when screened at a March 13 event. Public input is sought for a new Southside community center as part of a feasibility study.

Taggart expressed gratitude to the Bethlehem Area School District for its help with the project, which involves short video tributes submitted by residents.

Santoro encouraged residents to participate by taking the community center survey and sending in videos.

Also attending online were Eric Fontanez, with BASD, Guillermo Lopez from the National Coalition Building Institute and Alison Madden from the Bethlehem Area Public Library Southside branch.

Fontanez said the district is seeking public feedback on its cell phone use policy. He also announced school coordinator job openings for Fountain Hill and Thomas Jefferson elementary schools.

Lopez said there is an opening at the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation for a Program Officer.

Madden described continuing programs such as playtimes, story times and homework help. A homebound delivery volunteer is needed for the Southside branch.

Santoro announced the Opening Doors Steering Committee is scheduled to address affordable housing May 15 at 6:30 p.m. in room 605 at the NCC Fowler Center.

The mayor’s State of the City address is set for April 11 at 8 a.m. at ArtsQuest.

The Latino Health Summit at Wind Creek Event Center happens April 19 and 20.

April 27 is the date for Spring on the Southside along the Greenway between Adams and Webster streets. Focused on “food, yoga, art and plants,” it is presented by Southside Arts District and St. Luke’s University Health Network.

May 17 is the date for the HCLV Fiesta Dominican Republic.

The Community Recovery Fund application process for nonprofits and businesses with public outreach proposals ends April 30, according to Santoro. Bethlehem’s Climate Challenge is still live online at: WeBuild.Bethlehem-PA.gov.

Attending in person, Bethlehem Southside Community Police Officers William Rodriguez and Sean Landis spoke about the Cops ’n’ Kids Celebration of Reading to be held at the NCC Fowler Center April 20 at 11 a.m.

Tracey King from Lehigh University said the the South Side Sale will be June 1 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., on the Broughal MS Field.

Southside Cleanup is scheduled for April 13 from 10 a.m. until noon, with breakfast provided at 9:30 a.m. at Farrington Square.

According to King, Lehigh University’s Center for Ethics was hosting New York Times columnist David Brooks for its 2024 Hagerman Lecture April 9 to speak on “Character, Ethics, & Contemporary Politics in America.”

Glorilex Vasquez from State Representative Steve Samuelson’s (D) office related they have assisted around 663 constituents with Pennsylvania’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate applications. She mentioned the deadline for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was April 5.

Bethlehem Grants Administrator Paige Hoffman said the Community Recovery Fund application deadline for nonprofits and businesses with public outreach proposals is April 30.

Santoro reminded attendees there are open seats waiting to be filled on several authorities, boards and commissions, including the Bethlehem Human Relations Commission.

There are job openings at City Hall and the Bethlehem Police Department continues seeking recruits.

The Mayor’s South Side Task Force regularly meets on the last Tuesday of the month.