The annual 2025 Deck Your Halls Holiday Home Decorating awards are given to North Catasauqua residents who have awesome holiday displays and great Christmas spirit.

The 2025 winners are: first place large residence, 1152 Eighth St.; first place small residence, 351 Grove St.; second place, 1007 Third St.; third place, 1337 Woodmont Lane; and judge’s honorable mention, 617 Wyandotte St.

Congratulations!

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The North Catasauqua small Town USA holiday lights self tour takes you through the borough to see the Christmas lights and displays. More than 150 snowflakes on the street poles help to guide the way.

The self-tour route is available on the North Catasauqua Facebook page and in this edition of the Catasauqua Press.

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The borough office, 1066 Fourth St., will be closed Dec. 24-26 for the Christmas holiday and reopens 8 a.m. Dec. 29.

It will also be closed Jan. 1 and 2, 2026, for the New Year holiday and reopens 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 holiday schedule. Christmas Day Mass will take place 9:30 a.m. A New Year’s Eve Mass will take place 4 p.m. Dec. 31, and a Solemnity of Mary service will be 11 a.m. Jan. 1, 2026.

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St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 122 Union St., Catasauqua, announced its holiday schedule. There will be a Solemnity of Mary Mass 9 a.m. Jan. 1, 2026.

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Consider donating to 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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There is no change to borough’s garbage collection pick up with regard to the New Year holiday week, which includes garbage and recycling collection. The week of the New Year holiday will take place as usual Dec. 29.

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Catasauqua American Legion Post 215, 330 Second St., Catasauqua, invites you to join them 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve. There will be a Champagne toast, drink specials and giveaways.

For more information, call 610-264-1606 or email at cmdrpost215@gmail.com.

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St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church, 1229 Third St., is having sandwich sale, made by Kornfiend’s Market in Egypt. Orders are due by Jan. 9, 2026.

The choices are roast beef, ham and turkey. All sandwiches are on Kaiser rolls and come with white American cheese and a packet of mustard or mayonnaise. There is a cost.

Order forms are located at the church, or call the church office to order at 610-264-1972. Pickup will be 4-6 p.m. Jan. 21 in the lower level of the church hall.

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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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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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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, call the church office at 610-264-2641.

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Save the dates for these upcoming fundraiser events at St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Church: Lenten fish dinner Feb. 20, 2026; Kaufman’s chicken dinner April 29, 2026; and the second annual basket social May 30 and 31, 2026.

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

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North Catasauqua Police Department encourages residents to review these burglary prevention tips.

Secure your home, and lock all doors and windows even when you are stepping out briefly, lock garage doors and sheds, use dead bolts and upgrade older locks.

Keep exterior lights on at night and use motion lights if possible. When not at home, leave interior lights on and utilize timers.

Install cameras at doors, garages and driveways. Post surveillance signs for deterrence.

Protect your vehicle. Don’t leave valuables in your car, especially in plain sight. Put your windows up, lock your car, hide garage door openers and park your car in a lit area.

Evaluate your property. Store and secure movable property such as toys, lawn equipment, bicycles and off-road vehicles and trim trees, bushes and hedges around your home.

Stay alert. Report suspicious activity to the police department at 610-437-5252. If you witness a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. Take note of vehicle descriptions, license plates and direction of travel when reporting.

If you have any questions regarding these tips, reach out to Officer Safadi at ssafadi@ncatapd.org.

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Wishing everyone in and from small Town USA a merry Christmas. I hope your holiday season is full of peace, joy and happiness.

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 at ncatacentennial@aol.com.