Borough property owners are receiving in the mail the 2016 real estate tax bills, which have gone up since Whitehall-Coplay School District School Board raised the millage rate.

Jeffry Deutsch, borough tax collector, reports there is a savings property owners can take advantage of: a 2-percent discount if the tax is paid no later than the end of August. Beginning in September, the school real estate tax is to be paid at the flat rate through October. A 10-percent penalty is added starting in November if it is still unpaid.

Since the school taxes present a burden to some, if not many, property owners can pay the school tax in three installments: Aug. 10, Sept. 10 and Dec. 10.

Deutsch does not collect Lehigh County real estate taxes. The county bills and collects its property taxes, a program it initiated several years ago.

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Now that an in-ground electrical system has been completed at the Second and Chestnut streets community civic park, Coplay Garden Club has spruced up the site by planting flowers.

More improvements are in the process, some of which may take grants to complete.

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While on the topic of Second and Chestnut streets, people driving through the intersection note the ride is becoming more bumpy. The borough said it is because of the constant number of vehicles that stop at the traffic signal at the intersection.

There are no immediate plans to correct the problem as the borough did several years ago at South Second and Center streets. The only long-term solution is what Catasauqua did at such an intersection - using concrete rather than blacktop.

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Coplay Public Library is holding a Christmas in July event. The library invites the public to come and enjoy the display.

Also, the library board meets 7 p.m. July 14 in borough council chambers at the municipal building. The meeting is open to the public.