North Catasauqua: Celebrate Fourth of July by fishing for free in state waters
Fish for free on Independence Day, July 4. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will host a fish for free day to allow anyone to legally fish on all Pennsylvania waterways. No license is required, but all other fishing regulations still apply.
This is a great way to spend the holiday and expose the next generation of anglers to the outdoors.
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Catasauqua Post Office, 205 Bridge St., is temporarily closed following a partial collapse of the ceiling in the lobby.
The post office will remain closed until further notice while the necessary repairs are made. Residents are advised to use the post office in Whitehall or Coplay.
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The Lehigh Valley summer music camp will run 8:30 a.m.-noon July 8-12 at Catasauqua Middle School, 850 Pine St. The camp is being provided by Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, Catasauqua.
Sessions include band, chorus, acting, music theory, bell choir, boom whacker choir, kinder music, ukulele and modern band.
For more information or to sign up, call 610-264-2641 or email at htmlcatasauqua@gmail.com.
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Catasauqua Community Thrift Shop, 113 Bridge St., is holding a Christmas in July half-price sale July 8-31. All Christmas items, as well as red, green and white clothing, will be half price.
The shop’s regular hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. For the Fourth of July holiday, the shop will be closed July 4-6.
The shop accepts donations of good, used clean clothing, household items and toys during regular store hours. Proceeds from the shop are returned to the community through contributions that support youth and adult programs and services.
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The summer concert series continues in July with Joey and the T-birds performing 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 10 at North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park, 701 Grove St. The event is partially funded by the Northampton County Hotel Tax Grant.
Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a swinging time in small Town USA.
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Minsi Trails Council is holding a food drive for local food pantries and will have collection boxes for food items July 10 and 31 at the summer concerts at the park. There will also be a collection box available for food item donations in the lobby at borough hall, 1066 Fourth St., during the month of July.
For more information, contact the borough office at 610-264-1504.
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The next North Catasauqua Borough Council meeting will be 7 p.m. July 15 in the basement-level meeting room at borough hall.
This meeting is subject to cancellation. Check the borough website at northcatasauqua.org for any changes or updates.
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St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 122 Union St., Catasauqua, will be holding its annual golf tournament beginning 1 p.m. Aug. 2 at Southmoore Golf Course, 235 Moorestown Drive, Bath. There are a couple of foursome spots remaining.
For more information, contact the parish office at 610-264-0332. You may also email kim.stmarys122@gmail.com or visit annunciationbvm.net.
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North Catasauqua Police Department will offer a self-defense training class for women 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 3 at Suburban North Family YMCA, 880 Walnut St., Catasauqua. The class is free for women ages 16 years of age and older.
Learn the skills, which will be taught by a North Catasauqua Police Department controlled tactics instructor, to protect yourself.
Registration is required, and participants must fill out and sign a waiver form Aug. 3. Email ssantiago@ncatapd.org or call 610-264-1504.
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Save the date for the Public Library of Catasauqua’s yard sale, set for 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 10 at Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, 604 Fourth St., Catasauqua. There will be many bargains on clothes, toys, decor, glassware and much more.
For more information, call the library at 610-264-4151.
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The following borough roads are on the schedule for repair this summer:
• Main Street
• Wyandotte Street from Main Street to Lincoln Street
• Lincoln Street from Wyandotte Street to Green Street
• Green Street from Lincoln Street to Washington Street
• Washington Street from Hunter Street to the borough line
• Hunter Street between Washington and Lincoln streets
• Green Street between Lincoln and Seventh streets
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Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association is working on two special summer displays for the Biery House Museum. HCPA is looking for Catasauqua history buffs to volunteer in helping to create an exhibit on the history of the Crane Iron Works and its impact on Catasauqua and the Industrial Revolution and a tribute to one of our hometown heroes, Tommy Lynch.
Email historiccatasauqua@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer for one of these projects.
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Reminder: The Willowbrook Road bridge closed June 5 for continuing construction on the bridge. Northampton County has given a tentative reopening date of mid-October.
Northampton County Public Works has given a summary of the bridge project to include the existing metal grate bridge will be replaced with a concrete box-beam bridge with a concrete deck. The new bridge will feature 11-foot travel lanes in each direction with a 2-foot shoulder on each side.
During the bridge replacement, Willowbrook Road will be closed in the area immediately adjacent to the bridge with a full detour plan in place. The posted detour will use Savage Road, State Route 329, Weaversville Road, Route 987 and Race Street.
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Visit the snack stand at the park. Remember it is cash only for this summer season. Stop by and get a snack or a cool drink while visiting the park.
The snack stand will remain open until the fall.
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State Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd, would like to help residents to stay cool and keep your energy costs down this summer. As the hot weather continues into the summer, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is offering these tips to help stay cool and conserve energy.
• Fans circulate the air, keeping you feeling cooler even at higher temps.
• Spend time in rooms that do not receive direct sunlight.
• Use window blinds and coverings at the sunniest time of day to reduce heat buildup.
• Postpone using heat-producing appliances like clothes dryers, dishwashers and stoves until it is cooler.
• Consider using outdoor barbecue grills or microwaves instead of stoves or ovens, which can increase indoor heat.
• The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your cooling bill.
• Regularly clean and replace air conditioner filters and ensure air circulation paths are clear.
• Turn off nonessential appliances and lights to reduce power use and unwanted heat.
• Close off unused rooms and adjust air vents or thermostats to avoid unnecessary cooling expenses.
• Seal cracks to prevent warm air from leaking into your home.
For more energy-saving tips, visit PAPowerSwitch.com and check your utility’s website for conservation and efficiency resources.
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If you would like something to be included in the North Catasauqua column, please submit it to me at least two weeks in advance, especially if a certain date is involved with your submission. I can be reached by email at NCataCentennial@aol.com.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July. Don’t forget to display your American flag. God bless America!