The North Catasauqua Police Department recognizes Sgt. Tony Tramonte for receiving the Karen Tarney Bookstaff Drug Recognition Expert of the Year Award by the International Association of Chiefs of Police at this year’s Impaired Driving and Traffic Safety Conference. This is the most prestigious award in the DRE field, recognizing outstanding work in identifying and removing drug-impaired drivers from the road.

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The Catasauqua High School varsity boys soccer team will have a dine and donate fundraiser 4-8 p.m. Aug. 14 at Race Street Bar and Grill, 429 Race St., Catasauqua. The fundraiser is for dine in only and excludes alcohol.

Proceeds go to the team.

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St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 122 Union St., Catasauqua, will hold its Sizzlin’ Summer cash bingo Aug. 17 in the parish center. The doors and kitchen open 11:30 a.m., with bingo beginning 1 p.m. There is a cost, which includes 15 games, six specials and one jackpot round.

No outside food or drinks are permitted. The kitchen will be selling your favorites.

Bring your daubers, but no hardboards.

Reservations are encouraged by emailing kim.stmarys122@gmail.com or calling 610-264-0332.

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Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, 210 Pine St., will be holding its next free community lunch 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 18. The free community lunch is given out to folks in the community with food insecurity or those who could use a helping hand.

The church is also accepting donations for the Roughie Pantry. The pantry is set up to “love our school-aged neighbors.” The pantry is currently accepting shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, body wash, tampons, sanitary napkins, etc. Collection bins are located at the church entrances.

For more information or to make a donation, call Gail Burfeind at 717-379-0926.

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The next borough council meeting will tentatively be held 7 p.m. Aug. 18 in the basement-level meeting room at borough hall, 1066 Fourth St. The meeting is subject to change or cancellation.

The meeting will be a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. Visit northcatasauqua.org for the access code to view the meeting virtually.

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The borough will be holding a planning meeting 5:30 p.m. Aug. 26 for Mosaic & Co.’s request for a lot-line consolidation. The hearing will be held in borough hall.

The meeting is open to the public.

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Catty Seniors Plus will next meet Aug. 27 at Slovak Center Social Club, 1233 Fifth St. Doors open noon, and the meeting will start 1 p.m.

For more information, call Dorothy Vassa at 610-264-2853.

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Scouting America Minsi Trails Council will hold an informational event noon-2 p.m. Aug. 30 at North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park, 701 Grove St.

For more information, visit beascout.org.

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Catasauqua Garden Club will meet 1 p.m. Sept. 3 at Slovak Center Social Club. Guests are welcome.

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Catasauqua and North Catasauqua J4 Committee is looking for new members and volunteers to help organize the community celebration of our country’s 250th anniversary, which will occur in 2026. Any North Catasauqua resident interested in joining to help plan the celebration or volunteer is asked to attend a meeting or email the committee at cattyareaJ4@gmail.com and provide your contact information.

The next meeting is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at borough hall.

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Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua will hold its monthly food drive 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 12 in the parking lot. Nonperishable food items will be accepted to benefit Catasauqua Area Food Bank. Drive through to donate your items and church volunteers will help to unload your contributions.

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Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, 604 Fourth St., Catasauqua, will hold a mystery dinner theater night Sept. 13 at the church. The “Golden Girls” Murder Mystery event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. for a night of fun, felony and fellowship.

Dinner will consist of herb-roasted chicken breast, herb-roasted potatoes, salad, dessert and beverages.

There is a cost. Proceeds from this event will benefit 2025 Lehigh Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

For tickets or more information, call Sue at 484-767-3882.

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Save the date for St. Mary’s Catholic Church’s ninth annual Oktoberfest, planned for 5-9 p.m. Sept. 20 in the parish center. More details will follow.

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The North Catasauqua/Catasauqua Halloween parade committee is seeking participants and sponsors for the 2025 Halloween parade. The parade will be held Oct. 22.

To learn more, call 484-809-0528 or email paradein18032@gmail.com.

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Reminder: Due to a bee hive, the front entrance to St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church, 1239 Third St., will be closed until further notice. Use the parking lot doors to enter and exit the church.

The Third Street entrance will only be an emergency exit until the bee problem is resolved.

The church will keep everyone updated if there are any changes.

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St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church announces Good Shepherd Catholic School CYO sign-ups are taking place for cross country for grades K-8 and for girls volleyball for grades 5-8. You can play CYO sports even if you don’t go to Good Shepherd, as long as you belong to one of the local parishes.

Visit the Good Shepherd CYO Northampton website for more information or to register.

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In late July, a group of Catasauqua junior varsity and varsity soccer players represented the Catasauqua Area School District with pride in a summer tournament. The student athletes took the lead by organizing their team, collecting the entry fee and showing true Rough Rider spirit throughout the event.

In a great display of sportsmanship and inclusivity, the team welcomed an exchange student from France who was visiting the U.S. to improve his English. Henri quickly became an honorary Roughie and a valued teammate.

The team finished in third place and showed maturity, teamwork and leadership well beyond the field. Congratulations to the team!

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Catasauqua Community Thrift Shop, 113 Bridge St., is holding a half-price, back-to-school sale for the month of August. Regular store hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The shop is happy to accept donations of good, used, clean clothing, household items and toys during store hours.

Note, any donations or checks to the thrift shop must be written to Catasauqua Community Partnership or CCPI and not to the thrift shop, due to banking regulations.

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Catasauqua Area Food Bank, 527 Front St., is accepting donations of pasta, cereal, soup, rice, stuffing, instant potatoes, granola bars and peanut butter crackers. Donations may be dropped off during open hours, which are 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Monetary donations are also accepted.

If you have any questions, call 610-264-8366.

Note, any donations or checks to the food bank must be written to Catasauqua Community Partnership or CCPI, due to banking regulations.

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If you would like something to be included in this North Catasauqua column, submit it to me at least two weeks in advance, especially if a certain date is involved with your submission. I can be reached by email at ncatacentennial@aol.com.