Well here is December. We are saying farewell to 2021 and greeting 2022.

The year 2021 was far from the normal year we expected after the pandemic of 2020. We still wore masks and COVID-19 was still on our minds everywhere we went. Many of us got vaccinations early in the year and are now looking to get boosters.

However, many of our annual events returned so we were able to celebrate the new normalcy. One highlight of note in 2021 was the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Emmaus Halloween Parade.

Although it was in our neighboring community, we made national news when President Joe Biden visited Mack Trucks facility in August.

Weather again was a popular topic during the year. We had several snow events in February. On Groundhog Day, we saw a record amount – schools were closed. It was freezing cold the second week in February and we had an ice storm on Presidents Day with snow and sleet the end of the week.

May 29 we broke a 70-year-old record for coldest high temperature ever. Then, July was recorded as the hottest month on record. We felt the ravages of Hurricane Ida, with a record breaking rainfall, which caused flooding and an early closure of the community pool.

Some new additions to beautify the borough are the murals painted on the park building at Emmaus Community Park and on the former Wentz building on Main Street.

As I sit and compile this column, there is a new word in my vocabulary – Omicron. This new variant of COVID-19 is causing concern through December. Let’s hope it goes away quickly.

Let’s hope in 2022 COVID-19 becomes a thing of history.

Whenever I do the year in review, I always neglect to mention some events or folks. However, I am always impressed with how generous our volunteers are in giving of their time and finances to make Emmaus a great place to live. Thank you to all of you.

The Emmaus Farmers Market opened its winter market Dec. 12. The market at the Triangle, Main Street, Emmaus, will be open all winter long 10 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Sundays December through April, 2022. For information, emmausmarket.com.

Emmaus Public Library has great programs scheduled for January, 2022. Among them are the Jan. 3, 2022 Pinterest Party @Home which features a sparkly snowflake sun catcher. Sign up to get your craft kit then share what you’ve created with the library staff online or in person. All supplies are provided except permanent markers. There is a limit of four kits per family.

RSVP to save your seat for the 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 2022 lecture from a featured Lehigh Art Alliance artist.

Join the group 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 2022 for a program about the experiences of an 8th Air Force B-17 pilot in World War II. A representative from the Lehigh County Historical society will talk about aviator training, problems and strategies for conducting the air war and the horrors of air combat over Europe during the war.

Melissa Draving, owner of Here for You Concierge of Emmaus, will share strategies via ZOOM videoconference for setting healthy habits and getting your life organized in order to achieve your 2022 goals 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 2022.

The library will have tables set for a board game afternoon, noon and 1 p.m. Jan. 15, 2022. Pick one you’d like to try and share the fun together.

Come out 10:30 a.m. Jan. 15, 2022 for a free screening of Disney Pixar’s family movie “Luca” (2021). Luca finds himself in Portorosso for the summer. He meets Alberto for an adventure but their fun is constantly threatened by their fear of the townspeople finding out about their little secret.

Family board games online will be held 5:30 p.m. Jan. 20, 2022. Meet up with friends in the EPL Board Game Arena Room online from any Internet-connected device and an active email account. No download necessary.

Books ‘n’ Barks will be back 6:30 p.m. Jan. 2, 2022. Bring your own books or choose one from the library. No registration is necessary.

The library will be closed Jan. 1, 2022. For more information and lists of programs, visit eplcollection@cliu.org or call 610-965-9284, ext. 210.

Lower Lehigh AARP will meet noon Jan. 6, 2022 in the lower level of the Macungie Memorial Park building. Bring your own lunch. For information, call Dot at 610-967-3284.

Emmaus Borough Hall, 28 S. Fourth St., is officially closed and will remain closed until further notice, at least for 18 months due to the large renovation project. During that time, borough offices will be temporarily located at 420 S. Tenth St. The offices will be closed Dec. 31 for the New Year’s holiday. The Dec. 27 zoning hearing board meeting will be held via Zoom only. Beginning Jan. 3, 2022, council meetings, planning commission meetings and zoning hearing board meetings will all be held at St. John’s UCC, 139 N. Fourth St. Council will meet 7 p.m. Jan. 10 and 24, 2022. Committee meetings are still being held via Zoom only.

The Public Works Department will collect Christmas trees beginning Jan. 3 through Jan. 14, 2022. Place your tree at the curb without a bag or decorations. Trees placed at the curb after Jan. 14, 2022 will not be picked up. The compost site will be open 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17 until Jan. 21, 2022 for the disposal of Christmas trees and other yard waste. For information, visit borough.emmaus.pa.us or call 610-965-9292.

The Emmaus Historical Society’s museum, 218 Main St., Emmaus, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. It will be closed Christmas and New Year’s Day. In January 2022, stop by for a visit and learn more about this history-filled community. Member meetings and programs are still on hold until further notice.

The society has scheduled the first three bus trips for 2022. Join the fun March 15, 2022 for “Sherlock Returns” and May 24, 2022 for “I Left My Dignity in My Other Purse,” both at Hunterdon Hills Playhouse and Aug. 16, 2022 for “David” at Sight & Sound Theater. Call Nancy at 610-967-5715, for more information and to sign up.

The society’s fundraising committee is accepting donations for next year’s community yard sale. Call the office to schedule a time to drop off items. Neither clothing nor upholstered furniture are accepted.

The society is interested in donations of memorabilia that came from, was used or enjoyed by Emaus/Emmaus residents. They are currently looking for vintage holiday decorations and copies of the Emmaus High School newspapers from the 1970s to present. Call the office at 610-966-6591 for more information.

The historical society’s 2022 membership drive is in full swing. If interested in joining or giving a gift of membership, stop by Saturdays or call or visit the society’s website at www.emmaushistoricalsociety.org to complete an online form and for payment information.

Stay informed about all Emmaus Historical Society happenings by visiting their website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Looking forward to 2022. Please send your February 2022 submissions for this column by Jan. 15, 2022. My best wishes for happy holidays and a very Happy New Year.