Lower Macungie Library hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The library will be closed Dec. 23-25 for the winter holiday and Jan. 1, 2024 for New Year’s Day. Library hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 31.

The Lower Macungie Library Book Club book for 10:30 to noon Jan. 3, 2024 is “The Reading List” by Sara Nisha Adams. The book for Feb. 7, 2024 is “The Maid” by Nita Prose. The book club meets virtually.

Brick Builders for grades K-5 will be held 10 a.m. Jan. 6, 2024.

Positively Puzzling! for grades K-5 will be held 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2024. Learn about brain teasers, riddles and optical illusions.

Homeschool Hour for grades K-5 will meet 1:30-2:30 p.m. Jan. 9, 2024. The theme for January 2024 is brain teasers.

There will be a Build It! Block Party for ages 2-6 years 10 a.m. Jan. 11, 2024 and Jan. 24, 2024. Children can enjoy open-ended block play.

Creation Station Crafts for ages 2 years and up will be 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15, 2024.

Sew Cute Sewing Class for grades 5-12 will meet 1 p.m. Jan. 15, 2024. Learn hand sewing basics and make your own creation.

There are many toddler and preschool story times. Check the website for dates and times.

For more information on library events, go to the website www.lowermaclib.org or call 610-966-6864.

The Lower Macungie Township Senior Citizens will meet noon Jan. 2, 2024 at the Lower Macungie Township Community Center. Entertainment will be provided by Tom Yurasits. Members are welcome to stay after the meeting to socialize and play games.

Lower Lehigh AARP will meet noon Jan. 4, 2024 in the lower level of Macungie Memorial Hall. For more information, contact Dot at 610-967-3284.

The Alburtis seniors will meet noon Jan. 17, 2024 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 135 Quarry Road, Alburtis. For more information, call Doris at 610-966-3653.

Concordia Lutheran Preschool will have a registration day open house to enroll students for the 2024-2025 school year 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 15, 2024. The staff will be giving tours and accepting registration for the 2024-2025 school year. For more information, call 610-965-3265.

Christmas trees will be picked up the weeks of Jan. 1, 8 and 15, 2024 on the regular trash collection day. Remove all decorations and do not bind with rope or string or place in a plastic bag. Trees can also be dropped off at the yard waste recycling center, 5536 Indian Creek Road.

There will be a Love Bug Dance Party for children ages 3-12 years with a parent 6-8 p.m. Feb. 3, 2024 at the community center. Details are available at www.lowermac.com.

For information on Lower Macungie Garden Club events, go to LMGC2.shutterfly.com or email lmgctoday@yahoo.com.

The Lower Macungie Township staff is available by phone 610-966-4343 or email info@lowermac.com for information.

Lower Macungie Township now offers indoor pickleball at the community center gymnasium. Advance registration is required.

Open gym is available at the community center. Residents must purchase an annual membership to use the gym.

Lower Macungie Township offers many programs for adults and children. For more information, go to http://www.lowermac.com/recreation/activities-programs/. Adult classes include baking, belly dance, yoga, karate, ballroom dance, and tai chi. Youth classes include cooking, Kindermusik, Safe Sitter, tennis, pre-ballet and tot sports.

The community center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Staff will be available by phone 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 610-966-6924. Updates will also be posted on Facebook and www.lowermac.com.

Yard waste center hours for December are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Winter hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for January and February. Yard waste permits are required for drop-off. The center is located at 5536 Indian Creek Road, Macungie.

For years there was an evergreen tree in our neighborhood bedecked with lights worthy of a Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. One year it even got a shoutout in Bill White’s Christmas Light Tour in The Morning Call. One of the first sights of Christmas for our family was to ooh and aah as we drove past it. One year I made the comment “There are so many lights on that tree, it’s a wonder it doesn’t go up in flames!” Year after year, my kids wouldn’t leave me alone until I repeated that comment.

As the years went by, the tree got sparser until it looked like it was held together by strings of lights and vines that wound themselves around the tree. It still looked beautiful in December though.

Finally, last year the neighbors had the tree cut down. I noticed the missing tree as I drove by one summer day. I took a picture and texted it to my kids with the comment: “Well, it finally happened! There were so many lights on that tree that it burst into flames and burned to the ground!”

The next township column will be published Jan. 17, 2024; copy deadline is Jan. 11, 2024.