STUDENT REPORTER: The Northwestern Press is looking for a student reporter for Northwestern Lehigh High School. The reporter would be responsible for a news column once a month. This is a paid position. Interested journalists should respond to gtaylor@tnonline.com.

HAAFSVILLE DONATION: As 2025 draws to a close, we look back with gratitude — and forward with hope. Thanks to compassionate supporters like you we provided safe shelter, medical care and love to over 900 homeless pets. But, as the weather cools and the holidays approach, many more animals still need our help. As we prepare for another busy year, we need your help to continue this lifesaving work. Your year-end gift will directly provide:

Warm shelter and full bellies for animals in need, critical medical care, spay or neuter services and vaccinations, adoption support to match pets with loving families, rescue efforts for at-risk animals in our community.

Will you make a tax-deductible donation today to give more animals a second chance? With your help, we can begin 2026 strong — ready to save lives and spread compassion. From all of us — two-and four-legged — thank you for being part of our family. Your kindness changes lives, one wagging tail and happy purr at a time. With heartfelt thanks, All of us at The Sanctuary.

IRISH CONCERT: Lunasa, dubbed “the hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet,” will make a stop at Kutztown University’s Schaeffer Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, as part of the KU Presents! Performing Artists series. Founded in 1997, the six-member band has toured throughout the world; their latest album is “Live in Kyoto” (2024). The players are known for their complex arrangements of traditional and original music, their impeccable musical chops and their collaborations with artists from outside the genre, such as Mary Chapin Carpenter and Bruce Springsteen.

SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS: Precious memories are waiting to be made. Join Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty the Snowman and the Elves aboard the WK&S Santa Claus Express Dec. 6 and 7. Trains will depart at 11 a.m. noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. from 42 Community Center Drive, Kempton. There will be free gifts for kids and free treats for everyone. Adults and children age 3 and older are $18. Infants and children 2 and under are $2. Reservations are required. For more information, call 610-756-6469.

TRAIL CLOSURES: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, is reminding everyone deer season has began. For visitor safety all trails are closed on Dec. 6, 7 and 13. All trails except the main Lookout Trail are closed on the following dates Dec. 5 and Dec. 8-12.

TOY COLLECTION: Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 1343 Long Lane Road, Kutztown (Old Route 22 at Krumsville) is collecting Toys for Tots. Please bring donations to the church by Dec. 13. Toys will be picked up shortly afterward. For questions, call Janice at 484-650-5533.

FUNDRAISER: Christ’s Church at Lowhill, 4695 Lowhill Church Road, New Tripoli, will be hosting Vince’s Famous Cheesesteak food truck noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Vince will donate $1 for every sandwich sold back to the church. The church is also selling homemade Christmas candy.

SANTA BREAKFASTS

Ebenezer Church, 7293 Decatur St., New Tripoli, 9 a.m. until noon Dec. 6 in the church fellowship hall. All are welcome to enjoy an all-you-can-eat breakfast and fun family activities: crafts, coloring pages and a Christmas temporary tattoo station. Children can take photos with Santa and also write letters to Santa, his reindeer and elves. Santa will have a gift for every child attending. Reservations are recommended. Please call the church office at 610-298-8000.

Christ’s Church at Lowhill, 4695 Lowhill Church Road, New Tripoli, will hold its annual Breakfast with Santa 9-11 a.m. Dec. 13. This is a free community event. There will be crafts along with a visit from Santa. Homemade candy will be available for purchase. For more information, call 610-842-4781.

WREATH FUNDRAISER: Lyons Creek Farm Market, 3507 Blacksmith Road, New Tripoli, is holding a wreath fundraiser to support Weisenberg Volunteer Fire Department. Order wreaths on-line until Dec. 14 and they will email you a coupon to choose a 22-inch or 32-inch wreath. Bring the coupon to Lyon Creek Farm to pick up your wreath. Lyon Creek is open weekends now through Christmas: Dec. 5-7 and Dec. 12-14. To order, go to -https://weisenberg-volunteer-fire-department.square.site/.

HOPE CHEST: Help us bring extra smiles this holiday season by organizing a gift-card-drive for children in the community. All gift cards are in support of Holiday Hope Chests, a program coordinated by the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley and are donated to our regional nonprofit partners who support youth in the community through their programs and services. This is a great project for groups, clubs, classes, families and individuals. To participate, go to www.volunteerlv.org/hhc-giftcards and fill out a Donor Pledge Form by Dec. 5.

FOSTER CARE: The Salvation Army Eastern Pennsylvania Children’s Services announces the launch of a new Short-Term Foster Care Program that provides safe, loving homes for children who require temporary care. No prior experience is required, just a willingness to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for children in need for days or weeks. Contact Emily at 610-821-7706 or emily.anthony@use.salvationarmy.org.

BUS TRIP: The Northwestern Elementary Scholarship Committee is hosting a bus trip to New York City May 9, 2026. The bus will leave Northwestern Elementary at 7:30 a.m. and depart New York City at 7:30 p.m. Price is $55 per seat. Contact Tracy Smoyer at smoyert@nwlehighsd for more information.

HAWK MOUNTAIN

AUTUMN HAWKWATCH: Counters and interpreters will tally migrant raptors daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 15.

HOMESCHOOL HAPPENINGS: Time to put on your knit thinking cap! This month they explore the adaptations of animals and plants surviving the winter in northern latitudes. Learn identification, natural history, and meet some raptors who winter in Pennsylvania 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 17. Adult and one child $20, members $15 and per additional child $10. Registration is required to attend.

APPALACHIAN WINTER ECOLOGY WORKSHOP: Taught by Dr. Dan Ardia, professor of biology at Franklin and Marshall College, this 3-day workshop will explore Hawk Mountain’s winter wildlife and how plants and other wildlife adapt to this critical life cycle period 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 2026. There is a cost and registration is required to attend this program. For more information or to register go to hawkmountain.org.

LEHIGH GAP

SENIORS GROUP: Lehigh Gap Nature Center, 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington, has formed a new group for nature-minded seniors. They seek to bring together LGNC members for fellowship and conversations about nature, conservation, and other topics.

Each session will include coffee/tea, refreshments, and a time for socializing. This will be followed by a brief presentation about a topic of interest and an open forum discussion among the group members. The sessions will be held in the Great Hall at the Osprey House on the second Monday of each month from 9-10:30 a.m.

OPEN HOUSE: LGNC will be holding a Holiday Open House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6. This year’s rain or shine event will include holiday crafts, DIY wreath and swag making, holiday gift shop, live music, a virtual reality experience, optics sales, holiday treat potluck and quilt raffle. Contact LGNC at mail@lgnc.org or call 610-760-8889.

SPEAKER SERIES: Join LGNC staff on select Thursday evenings from 6-7 p.m. through March to learn about local history and ecology, conservation initiatives, and more. There is a suggested donation per person for nonmembers. For more information or to register, go to https://lgnc.org, email mail@lgnc.org or call 610-760-8889.

ECOLOGY CLUB: LGNC’s Ecology Club is back for the 2025-26 school year! Children ages 9 and older are invited to meet from 4:15-5:15 p.m. at the Osprey House on the first Wednesday of every month until June 3 for fun, hands-on nature adventures. Participation is free to all LGNC members and their families, and no registration is required. Email riley.davenport@lgnc.org if you have any questions.

BOOK CLUB: The Cabin Fever Book Club meets once a month from 10 a.m. to noon during the fall and winter months to discuss books on ecology, environmental history, and environmentalism. This year’s book list is “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer for Dec. 18. Next year’s book list for 2026 is “The Comfort of Crows” by Margaret Renkl for Jan. 15, “West with Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge for Feb. 19 and “Tip of the Iceberg” by Mark Adams for March 19. Books are available at the Palmerton and Slatington libraries, Lehigh Gap Nature Center, or on Amazon for purchase. For more information or questions, email mail@lgnc.org.