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.

There will be live demonstrations of skills, hands-on activities and exciting games. Try your hand at Lego Pinewood Derby races and so much more.

Scouting is adventure, leadership, service and lifelong values, all in one program. Scouting builds character and confidence while creating memories that last a lifetime.

For more information, visit beascout.org.

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Padre Pio relics are coming to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 122 Union St., Catasauqua, Aug. 31. Take this opportunity to come and pray in the presence of the relics and seek Padre Pio’s intercession for healing or other needs.

The day begins with an 8 a.m. Mass, followed by a brief presentation from Nicholas Salkowski, director of communications from the National Centre for Padre Pio. The Rosary will be recited noon, followed by another brief presentation. Father Tolentino will celebrate the sacrament of the anointing of the sick 1 p.m. The relics will be available for veneration until 2 p.m.

Contact the parish office at 610-264-0332 or kim.stmarys122@gmail.com with any questions.

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There are only a couple days left for Catasauqua Community Thrift Shop’s half-price, back-to-school sale. Visit the shop at 113 Bridge St.

Regular store hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 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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The borough office is set to be tentatively closed Aug. 29. Call the office at 610-264-1504 to verify if the office is open or closed.

In addition, the borough office will be closed Sept. 1 in observance of Labor Day. The office will reopen 8 a.m. Sept. 2.

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Because of the Labor Day holiday, garbage and recycling collection in the borough will take place Sept. 2. Residents should put their garbage and recycling out for collection Monday night.

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The next borough council meeting is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 2 in the basement-level meeting room at borough hall, 1066 Fourth St. Note the change from Monday to Tuesday because of the Labor Day holiday.

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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Catasauqua Garden Club will hold its next meeting 1 p.m. Sept. 3 at Slovak Center Social Club, 1233 Fifth St. This meeting will be a workshop with no speaker. Guests are welcome.

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The 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, 210 Pine St., will hold its monthly food drive 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 12 in the church 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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The Catasauqua Club, 226 Pine St., is holding a basket social 5-8 p.m. Sept. 12 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 13. There will be food available for purchase, a bake sale and an additional 50/50 raffle.

Tickets will be available at the door.

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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 begins 5:30 p.m. with 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.

For tickets or more information, call Sue at 484-767-3882. Proceeds from this event will benefit 2025 Lehigh Valley Walk to End Alzheimers.

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St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church, 1239 Third St., is having a sandwich sale fundraiser. Order forms and payment are due by Sept. 14 and pickup will be 4-6 p.m. Sept. 24 in the parish basement hall.

Sandwich choices include roast beef, ham or turkey. All sandwiches come with white American cheese with a packet of mustard or mayonnaise. Sandwiches are being made by Kornfiend’s Market in Egypt.

The sandwich sale benefits the church. Order forms are available at the church entrances.

For questions or to order, call the church office at 610-264-1972.

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Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua will hold its next free community lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 15. 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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Northampton Borough Municipal Authority water invoices have been mailed out to borough residents and businesses. The due date, without a penalty, is Sept. 19.

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St. Mary’s Catholic Church will hold its ninth annual Oktoberfest 5-9 p.m. Sept. 20 in the parish center. Outdoor seating will be available, weather permitting.

Come for dinner and enjoy your homemade German favorites like pulled pork, chicken schnitzel, spaetzle, brats and more. The biergarten will be stocked with your favorite German and domestic beers. There will be live music all night long by Robbie Lawrence and the Steelworkers band.

A fall-themed basket raffle will take place, and homemade desserts will be sold. This event is free to attend, so no outside food or drinks are permitted.

Contact the parish office with any questions.

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It’s scarecrow season for Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association. Volunteers will be starting to spruce up and reimagine HCPA’s collection of approximately 90 whimsical characters you will see adorning light posts around the borough as the Halloween season approaches. Every year HCPA’s volunteers add a few new scarecrows to the collection.

If you would love to be part of this fun project that has such a positive impact on our community, email historiccatasauqua@gmail.com.

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The North Catasauqua/Catasauqua Halloween parade committee is seeking participants and sponsors for the 2025 event. The parade will take place Oct. 22.

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

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Students returned to school this week. This is a friendly reminder about the Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law, which states motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Motorists must stop when behind a bus, meeting a bus or approaching an intersection where a bus has stopped.

Vehicles should remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is withdrawn. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.

Penalties for failure to obey school bus safety laws can result in a $250 fine, five points on a driving record and a 60-day license suspension.

Parents are reminded to ensure their children are at a bus stop early to avoid rushing. Students should stay where the bus driver can see them while boarding or exiting the bus.

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Reminder: Due to a bee hive, the front entrance to St. John Fisher 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, 1239 Third St., announces that Good Shepherd 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 School, 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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Northampton County Emergency Management Services would like to remind residents that with any days of extreme heat or high temperatures, never leave people or pets in a closed car.

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Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association is seeking anyone that is removing Creeping Juniper bushes from their home to contact them. The association will gladly take any of it to give it a “new home.”

For more information or questions, call 610-231-0603 or email historiccatasauqua@gmail.com.

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It’s summer’s last hurrah! Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend and holiday.

If you would like something to be included in the 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.