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.

SCAM WARNING: Lehigh County Sheriff Joseph N. Hanna has announced that telephone scams are on the increase again throughout Lehigh County and the surrounding region. Citizens have reported receiving phone calls from persons representing themselves to be deputies, detectives and/or members of the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office. Hanna cautions that telephone scam artists are continuing to victimize citizens using various confidence schemes.

Hanna advises that the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office does not request any moneys for alleged fines, failure to appear for court or jury duty via telephone conversations. He advises the public not to disclose their personal biographical information over the telephone. This includes but is not limited to Social Security numbers, credit and/or debit card information, banking and/or checking account numbers, balance amounts and other financial details. The public should not respond to specific locations that are requested by an individual over the telephone without first verifying the nature and authenticity of the request by law enforcement. Citizens should also use extreme caution if any person requests their home address or place of residence over the telephone. Citizens should make every effort to verify the origin and identity of the caller. Our public is reminded that they can contact the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office at 610-782-3175 during business hours, or the Lehigh County Communications Center 24 hours a day, at the nonemergency number 610-437-5252.

WRITERS WORKSHOP: Registration for the 2026 Write Stuff Writers’ Conference, presented by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group is open. One of the premier writing events in the area, the conference welcomes writers in all genres, at all levels of publication, from unpublished to several writing credits. The conference will be held on March 12-14, 2026, at Homewood Suites Center Valley, 3350 Center Parkway, Center Valley. Early Bird prices are available through Jan. 15, 2026. Conference registration deadline is March 1, 2026, or until the hotel’s maximum capacity has been reached. New York Times-bestselling author Kristin Bair is the keynote speaker and main presenter. Bair will be presenting two half-day workshops as well as a breakout session on Saturday.

Recorded sessions will be available for a limited time after the event for those who cannot attend the conference. Registered conferees under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, with separate registration. For a complete schedule, list of presenters, and rate schedule, visit glvwg.org.

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.

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

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

BIRD COUNT: Join the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society in partnership with the Lehigh Gap Nature Center for their 12th annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 10, 2026, at Muhlenberg College, Allentown. CBC4Kids is a fun introduction to birding that teaches kids ages 6-12 and their families. Participants will learn how to use binoculars, identify common birds, collect scientific data and form teams and conduct a bird count in a nearby park. After an hour of birding, everyone will reconvene to tally up the data and share their discoveries. Participants are encouraged to stick around for a tour of the Muhlenberg College bird museum. To register, visit https://bit.ly/CBC4Kids.

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.

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, 2026 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. 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, email mail@lgnc.org.