After taking a break in July, the Mayor’s South Side Task Force met Aug. 27 for a hybrid meeting at the NCC Fowler Center.

After announcing that Bethlehem is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chairperson Janine Santoro mentioned plans for a celebration of this prestigious ranking is in the works for spring 2025.

She got down to business by providing attendees with a list of upcoming community meetings and events, some of which coincide with National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is annually celebrated from mid-September to mid-October.

Topping the list is the Bethlehem Sister City Ceremony with Patillas, Puerto Rico, scheduled for Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. in town hall. Santoro provided background information on the relationship between the two cities. She explained workers from Patillas and nearby communities found employment at Bethlehem Steel Corp. during the 1940s and ’50s forming faith-based communities in their new hometown, as well as advocacy groups.

After several years of dialogue between the two city governments and advocacy groups, a delegation from Patillas is visiting Bethlehem Sept. 17 – 23. They will meet with a group from the mayor’s office to make the sister city relationship official Sept. 20.

A Sept. 15 Chilean Flag Raising ceremony at Payrow Plaza takes place from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Sep. 26 Opening Doors public meeting to discuss affordable housing begins at 6 p.m. at NCC Fowler Center Room 605.

Recovering from a bout with poison ivy, State Rep. Steve Samuelson (D) was itching to announce the Bethlehem School District will be receiving $9.6 million of the $1.2 billion in new education funding from the recently-passed 2024-25 state budget.

In other news from Harrisburg, the state rep said there is a new student loan interest deduction added to the state income tax form.

A Neighborhood Assistance tax credit for businesses investing in community projects has been doubled to $72 million and PHARE, an affordable housing fund, has been increased upward from $60 million over the next four years according to Samuelson.

“Northampton Community College, where we are sitting right now got a $2 million grant,” Samuelson said. The funding is for infrastructure and paving.

In keeping with National Hispanic Heritage Month, Samuelson distributed flyers for the Sept. 19 Hispanic Heritage Celebration being held at PNC Plaza at 711 E. First St. from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sponsored by his office and several community nonprofits, the free event features music, food and family activities.

“First Friday celebration is happening Sept. 6,” said Katy Wirth from the Southside Arts District. The Banana Factory, Charter Arts and several other venues featuring art exhibitions and live music were listed.

Diana Vargas from St. Luke’s asked for assistance in getting the word out about St. Luke’s Community Health Needs Assessment online survey. She said the information gathered from this questionnaire will help them assess where St. Luke’s and their community partners need to focus resources. “That’s our guiding torch,” she said.

Attending online, Bethlehem Health Bureau Community Health Specialist Erin Postel described the Health Bureau’s “Walking School Bus” program. Partnering with Better Blocks for Bethlehem, the bureau encourages students to attend school by providing safe walking routes to Fountain Hill Elementary in the company of one or more screened adult volunteers.

These kids live within one mile of the school and do not receive bus transportation. “It is called a ‘walking school bus’ because students will get picked up at ‘stops’ along the route,” said Postel.

She spoke about the Lead and Healthy Homes Program for families who live within the Bethlehem School District. Income-qualifying residents may receive free assistance to remediate homes with lead-based paint or other home health and safety concerns.

Also online, Robin Gow from Queer & Trans Lehigh Valley promoted the new organization’s upcoming first event. “Fruits in Boots” is a Western-themed fundraising party happening Sept. 13 at in the Ice House.

Santoro mentioned there is a Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce/PA CDFI Technical Assistance Grant available for qualified historically disadvantaged small businesses.

She described how St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, in collaboration with Northampton Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College and The Literacy Center will be launching Cultural and Linguistic Workforce Development Centers.

Santoro provided additional updates from community partners:

The next Community Action Development Bethlehem’s Southside Cleanup was Sept. 14 at Madison Park.

Miller-Keystone is encouraging more people to donate blood by offering donors a chance to win four tickets to see Luis Fonsi’s Oct. 8 performance at the Santander Arena. The deadline to enter is Sept. 22.

Lehigh University is celebrating 40 years of the Berman Center with a series of public events with “Year of Jews and the Arts” starting Sept. 10.

Lehigh University Art Gallery’s “Stories in the Garden: Family Storytime Series” continues through Sept. 28 at the MLK Garden in South Bethlehem. This weekly event, led by community gardener, musician and artist Nia Watson, takes place at 11 a.m. She is joined by guest storytellers on select dates.

YWCA’s Courageous Action Luncheon is set for Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

A screening of “Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life” is Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Univest Public Media Center/SteelStacks. A panel discussion moderated by Santoro follows the film.

Santoro reminded all that there are still open seats on several authorities, boards and commissions, especially on the Human Relations Commission and Civil Service Board.

The Bethlehem Police Department seeks recruits and there are open positions at City Hall.

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