The next North Catasauqua Police Department Neighborhood Crime Watch meeting will be 6 p.m. July 23 in the lower-level meeting room at North Catasauqua Borough Hall, 1066 Fourth St.

Topics to be discussed at the meeting include crime statistics, community events overview and community concerns/issues.

This is a great forum and opportunity to voice any concerns about anything that may be occurring in our community. The police department considers themselves a mutual partner to the North Catasauqua residents. The personal safety of the citizens is their highest priority, and they know they will not be successful without your continued and steadfast support.

If you would like to attend, RSVP by contacting Officer Hazim at nhazim@ncatapd.org, Cpl. Santiago at ssantiago@ncatapd.org or the borough office at 610-264-1504. Use the side entrance to access the meeting room.

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Borough businesses and residents are reminded that if you have not paid your sewer bill to do so immediately. Residents and businesses who have not paid their bills for six months or more may have service turned off for nonpayment.

Contact the borough office at 610-264-1504 for more information or to make a payment.

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Catasauqua Community Thrift Shop, 113 Bridge St., is holding a Christmas in July half-price sale until July 31. All Christmas items, as well as red, green and white clothing, will be half price.

The shop accepts donations of good, used, clean clothing, household items and toys during regular store hours, which are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Proceeds from the shop are returned to the community through contributions that support youth and adult programs and services.

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The borough summer concert series continues 7-9 p.m. July 31 with Shark Sandwich at North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park, 701 Grove St. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a swinging time in small Town USA.

Minsi Trails Council is holding a food drive for local food pantries and will have collection boxes for food items at the July 31 concert. In addition, there will also be a collection box available for food item donations in the lobby at borough hall during the month of July.

For more information, contact the borough office.

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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 the borough office.

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The next North Catasauqua Borough Council meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 5 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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The Public Library of Catasauqua’s yard sale is 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 more.

With every purchase, you will receive a ticket to return for bargain prices 1-1:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be sold.

For more information, call the library at 610-264-4151.

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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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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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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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It might be the middle of summer, but the North Catasauqua and Catasauqua Halloween parade committee met in June to start preparations for the 2024 parade. Any residents who are interested in volunteering on the parade committee or the parade itself should contact the borough office.

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The Willowbrook Road bridge remains closed 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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State Rep. Zach Mako, R-183rd, would like to make residents aware that as you spend more time outdoors during the summer, don’t let ticks ruin your summer. Be sure to take extra steps to protect yourself and your loved ones against ticks and associated illnesses such as Lyme disease.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind. Walk in the center of trails, and use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- registered repellants containing DEET, picaridin, IR 3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para menthane diol or 2- undecanone.

Bathe or shower within two hours after coming indoors to find and wash off ticks, check your entire body with a mirror for ticks after returning outdoors, examine your gear and pets to keep ticks from being brought inside, and tumble-dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on clothing.

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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.

Stay cool, and have a great week ahead!