Whitehall Township's 2014 street reconstruction projects have been completed.

"Center, Ruch, Columbia and Wilson streets and Glenside Avenue turned out great," Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. told the commissioners at the Nov. 10 meeting.

He credited the township public works management team, employees and subcontractrors Livengood, Herman Paving and RECON "for all their hard work."

The projects totaled more than $550,000.

During the meeting, it was also announced the township was honored by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission at its annual Celebration of Planning Excellence Lehigh Valley Awards dinner and ceremony at Iacocca Hall on the Lehigh University campus. Whitehall was nominated in two categories.

The township was accorded first place for the Route 145/MacArthur Road safety improvement project, Eberhart Road-Municipal Drive. Representatives of the township, Larsen Design Group, PennDOT and Muschlitz Construction representatives accepted the award.

Whitehall also received an honorable mention for an open space project involving the purchase of the Prydun Mickley farm.

Hozza, in a separate announcement, said the township's holiday tree lighting ceremony will take place Wednesday, Dec. 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the plaza, in front of the municipal building.

Prior to Santa's arrival via a township fire truck, the Pennsylvania Performing Arts Academy, Whitehall, and the Cedar Crest College Chorale group will perform.

After the ceremony children will be individually greeted by Santa and presents will be distributed.