The Catasauqua/North Catasauqua J4 celebration will be held on Saturday, July 5, at the North Catasauqua Playground.

If you would like to have your home in the patriotic home decorating contest, register by July 4 at the North Catasauqua Borough office, at the Catasauqua Borough office or call Joe Tognoli at 610-264-4130. Leave your name, address and phone number.

The decorations may be bunting, ribbons, flowers, figures, pictures, lights and flags. They must be visible from the street and the American flag must be prominently displayed.

Judging will be completed by 2 p.m. July 5 and awards will be announced at the fireworks. You do have to be present to win.

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The Borough of Catasauqua will host the reading of the Declaration of Independence at the George Taylor House, Lehigh and Poplar streets. This will take place 10 a.m. Friday, July 4.

The reading will be done by William Albert, co-chairman of the 1976 Lehigh County Bicentennial Committee, and will be followed by an honor guard salute by the Catasauqua American Legion Post 215.

Patriotic music by the Antebellum Marine Band, conducted by Bandmaster GySgt. Kenneth J. Serfass USMC (ret.) will take place. The George Taylor House will be open for tours in conjunction with the Biery House, 8 Race St.

For more information, call 610-264-0571 or www.catasauqua.org.

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Bethany Church, 429 Walnut St., will be hosting vacation Bible school starting July 18.

The theme is "weird animals."

The hours are 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, July 18; 9:30 a.m. to noon both Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20.

For more information, visit www.bethanyumchurch.com.

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My email address is lhahn775@verizon.net if there is any information you would like published in this column. I hope everyone has a wonderful and festive Fourth of July!