Regular garbage collection, which includes garbage and recycling, will be held Dec. 22 the week of Christmas and Dec. 29 the week of the New Year holiday.

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Catasauqua Community Thrift Shop, 113 Bridge St., is having a half-price sale on all Christmas items until Dec. 23.

The thrift shop’s 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 will be closed for Christmas vacation Dec. 24-Jan. 3, 2026. The shop will reopen Jan. 5, 2026.

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

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The borough office, 1066 Fourth St., will be closed Dec. 24, 25 and 26 for the Christmas holiday and is set to reopen 8 a.m. Dec. 29.

It will also be closed Jan. 1 and 2, 2026, for the New Year holiday and will be reopening 8 a.m. Jan. 5, 2026.

If you have any questions, call the office at 610-264-1504.

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St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church, 1229 Third St., has announced its 2025 Christmas schedule. Christmas Eve Mass will take place 4 p.m., and Christmas Day Mass will take place 9:30 a.m. A New Year’s Eve Mass will take place 4 p.m.

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Consider donating to the Catasauqua Community Food Bank, 527 Front St. The food bank is in need of pasta, cereal, soup, rice, stuffing, instant potatoes, granola bars and peanut butter crackers. Ham and turkeys are being accepted for the holiday season.

Donations may be dropped off during open hours, 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.

The food bank will be closed Dec. 24 and 31.

Monetary donations are also accepted. Any donations or checks to the food bank must be written to Catasauqua Community Partnership or CCPI, due to banking regulations.

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

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St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 122 Union St., Catasauqua, announced its holiday schedule.

Christmas Eve services include the children’s Christmas pageant 3:15 p.m. and Christmas vigil Masses 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

There will be a Solemnity of Mary Mass 9 a.m. Jan. 1, 2026.

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North Catasauqua Police Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. The donation box can be found at borough hall, 1066 Fourth St., which is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.

If you’d like to make a donation after hours, you can reach an officer at 610-437-5252.

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St. Mary’s Catholic Church is selling keepsake ornaments this holiday season. Preorders are being taken and delivery should be in time for Christmas. The 3-inch glass ornament is uniquely designed and provides a gift motif that brings an elegant and timeless charm to your Christmas décor.

There is a cost.

For more information or to order, contact the parish office at 610-264-0332 or kim.stmarys122@gmail.com.

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Christmas oplatki is available for purchase at St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church. This Slovak and Eastern European tradition is a blessed wafter to be shared with those at the Christmas Eve meal.

A donation for a pack of four is suggested.

For more information, call the church office at 610-264-1972.

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St. Mary’s Catholic Church is holding a gift card raffle calendar sale. There is a chance to win every day during the month of January.

There is a cost for each calendar.

To purchase a calendar, call the church office at 610-264-0332 or visit the parish office during business hours.

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The 2025 North Catasauqua small Town USA holiday lights self-tour to see the Christmas lights and displays of small Town USA returns this year. The tour travels throughout North Catasauqua and showcases displays of the residents as well as the borough holiday displays.

More than 150 snowflakes on the street poles help to guide the way through the night in small Town USA. The self-tour route will also be available on the North Catasauqua Facebook page.

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The annual Deck Your Halls Holiday Home Decorating Awards, given to North Catasauqua residents who have awesome holiday displays and great Christmas spirit, will take place again this year. The awards are for first-place large residence, first-place small residence, second place, third place and judge’s honorable mention. Winners will be announced on the North Catasauqua Facebook page.

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The next borough council meeting will be held 6 p.m. Jan. 6, 2026, in the basement-level meeting room at borough hall, 1066 Fourth St. This will be the reorganization meeting, followed by the regular meeting 7 p.m.

Visit northcatasauqua.org for the access code to view the meeting virtually.

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Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, 210 Pine St., will hold its monthly food drive 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 9, 2026, in the church parking lot. Drive through to donate your items.

Nonperishable food items will be accepted to benefit Catasauqua Community Food Bank.

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Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua’s next free community lunch is set for 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jan. 12, 2026. The lunch is for community members 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 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. The next meeting is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 15, 2026, at borough hall.

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.

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Save the dates for these upcoming fundraiser events at St. John Fisher Roman Catholic: Kornfiend’s sandwich sales Jan. 21-March 18, 2026; Lenten fish dinner Feb. 20, 2026; Kaufman’s chicken dinner April 29, 2026; and then the second annual basket social May 30 and 31, 2026.

For questions about any of the events, call the church office at 610-264-1972.

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Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, 604 Fourth St., Catasauqua, will be holding its Warm Up Wednesday gatherings 4-6 p.m. each Wednesday. This is a free soup night and everyone in the Catasauqua area is welcome.

This is a way for the community to get together sharing a friendly a meal and a friendly word and is a nontraditional worship gather experience.

For more information, call the church at 610-264-2641.

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Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church is seeking donations for the church food pantry. Items that are especially in need include individual nonperishable meals such as Dinty Moore, cups of soup, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, individual servings of fruit that don’t need refrigeration, fruit boxes and men’s and women’s personal care items such as toilet paper, shampoo, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant.

Items may be placed on the offering table at the back of sanctuary.

For more information or questions, call the church office at 610-264-2641.

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Parishioners and visitors of St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church should be aware of new safety procedures going into effect. Starting Nov. 29 and 30, the entrance doors to the church will be locked after Mass begins for the safety and security of all those in attendance.

At St. Mary’s Catholic Church, only the Union Street door and the ramp door will be the only unlocked doors before the start of Mass. The Second Street doors will be locked at all times.

Plan accordingly to be sure you are in church before Mass begins.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the parish offices.

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Public Library of Catasauqua, 302 Bridge St., is interested in hiring a craft person to plan and run the craft programs for different adult groups.

The days of the position will be 1:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 2-4:30 p.m. Wednesdays each week. This is a paid position.

Call Brad at the library at 610-264-4151 between the hours of 2-7 p.m.

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Remember there has been a revision to the borough trash ordinance. Residents are not allowed to put out their trash receptacles more than 24 hours before scheduled pickup. Also, residents must remove their trash receptacles no later than 24 hours after pickup.

For more information or questions, call the borough office at 610-264-1504.

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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.