Janine Santoro from the Bethlehem Area Public Library South Side Branch announced at the May 28 Mayor’s South Side Task Force meeting they had received a $5,000 Mellon grant from the Lehigh Valley Engaged Humanities Consortium (LVEHC) .

She is engaged in a project to gather and document historical information on Bethlehem’s Latinx community. Santoro estimated it would take a year or year-and-a-half to conduct the research. She is seeking oral histories and access to materials such as blueprints of businesses, business plans, documents, photographs, newspaper clippings, and artifacts that could possibly assist her with the project. A digital archive of the materials would be made available to the public on the LVEHC website.

Santoro listed several free programs for children and adults during the summer based on an outer space theme. The branch is also hosting gardening workshops by Penn State Master Gardeners and the South Side Garden Alliance during the summer and early fall. Some of these programs require registration. For information: bapl.org; or call 610-867-7852.

Representing Community Action Development Corp. of Bethlehem (CADCB), Estefania Perdomo said they are hosting a series of four-week “Start Your Business” classes beginning Aug. 8, with a different topic each month. She mentioned the organization has a marketing coordinator available to assist small business owners. CADCB also serves as a fair housing advocate. For information: cadcb.org.

Perdomo brought along flyers highlighting free programs held at various neighborhood playgrounds during the summer. The family-friendly activities provided by the City of Bethlehem include outdoor games, sports, arts and crafts, movies and more.

Jill Schennum, sitting in for Susan Vitez from the Steelworkers’ Archive, said they have already begun their annual guided tours along Bethlehem’s Hoover Mason Trestle walkway on every Saturday and Sunday morning.

She announced that, in partnership with the South Bethlehem Historical Society and with funding through Northampton County, they are offering guided “Steeples and Steel” bus tours again. The $25 per person tour package includes drive-by history lessons on South Bethlehem’s ethnic neighborhoods, places of worship, cemeteries, and the former steel plant. Included are stops at a church or cemetery, and Bethlehem Steel site. Also included is an Eastern European goulash lunch, and open house at John’s Windish Lutheran Church. Information: steelworkersarchives.com.

Rev. Suzanne Trump from St. John’s said there will be a Kellyn Foundation Mobile Market truck selling fresh fruit and vegetables in the church parking lot on Wednesday afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m.

Chairman Roger Hudak announced that Lehigh University recently hired an intern to work on a video history of South Bethlehem. He also mentioned the Sands Casino has turned over the development plans and blueprints for the No. 2 Machine Shop to the Creek Nation, which will soon own the property.

Stephanie Augello from the mayor’s office reported progress on the transition of the Sands Casino over to Wind Creek. Besides the state gambling license transfer, there are plans for a second hotel and indoor water park in the works.

Augello, BASD director of Student Services and Minority Affairs, Vivian Robledo-Shorey, and State Rep. Steve Samuelson (D) each discussed the importance of the 2020 census and their involvement in attempting to create more awareness and encourage more citizen participation.

Samuelson said the State Legislature is working on bills to provide fair funding to public schools. He mentioned a free Southside Community and Senior Fair will be held at St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church Sept. 13.

The Mayor’s South Side Task Force meets regularly on the last Tuesday of the month at Northampton Community College’s E. Third street campus. Hudak announced there will be no meetings in June or July. The next one is scheduled for Aug. 27.