Hello, my friends! Well, the calendar says April, but winter is making us wait a bit longer for those nice, warm days we’ve been sporadically treated to the past few weeks. Still, I’m already biking on the D&L Trail and seeing more and more of you out there with me.

Thankfully, spring’s bound to take over for good very shortly. As with any spring, the excitement of a renewed, refreshed and much greener world awaits. That’s no different with all the energy in local events planned around the season.

Let’s start by feeding you! The Northampton Fire Department will hold its plentiful breakfast 8-11 a.m. April 12 at the Lerchenmiller Drive station.

If you’ve never experienced one of their breakfasts, the bacchanalia of breakfast treats is beyond compare. If you leave there hungry, it’s on you, my friends, because this department keeps the food coming. These breakfasts have become a truly enjoyable community social event, mixing and mingling with many a neighbor. I hope to see you there.

Adding to the spring festivities, the Northampton Police Department will hold its sixth annual fishing derby, scheduled for 8 a.m.-2 p.m. April 18. Held behind the police station on Smith Lane, the day will be filled with fishing, a basket raffle with an impressive variety of prizes, food and fun.

For all who enjoy fishing, this outing is a must for any age group. As always, there’ll be an assortment of brook, brown and rainbow trout stocked before the contest, including some sizable trophy fish to pull out of the creek. Tickets for the event are $20 apiece for anyone with a valid Pennsylvania fishing license. This event continues to be a springtime benchmark on the Hokendauqua Creek.

“The fishing derby serves as a vital fundraising initiative to support the department’s ongoing efforts to enhance public safety,” police Chief Bryan Kadingo said. “Proceeds from this event will be used to purchase essential police equipment and scholarship assistance for Northampton Area High School seniors pursuing a career in criminal justice.

“Beyond fundraising, the derby fosters a positive and collaborative relationship between the police department and the citizens of our community,” Kadingo added. “It provides an excellent opportunity for our officers to engage with residents in a relaxed, family-friendly environment, strengthening the mutual trust that is essential to effective community policing.”

Well said, Chief! Take some time out and join in all these activities, supporting our fine police department.

Later in April, I’ll be joining the borough office staff in tackling the second Earth Day cleanup. Last year, we took on cleaning, painting and refurbishing the 26th Street Playground during an enjoyable spring outing. This year, we’re off to Canal Street Park for a spring face-lift. From weeding to mulching to new plantings, we will be preparing and sprucing up the park for what will surely be an active spring and summer of activity along the Lehigh River.

Speaking of activity, the promised upgrades of the macadam trail took the first steps, as the required engineering study was completed. Once that comes back, look for those improvements to shortly follow, along with a variety of colorful wildflowers ready to bloom.

Also, as a reminder, if you have yet to pay your borough garbage bill, April 30 is the deadline for the base fee rate. After April 30, you’ll be assessed a penalty, and frankly, who needs to pay more of anything? Now, get that bill in, and save yourself the aggravation.

Lastly, in conjunction with our police department bike patrol and the newly formed Kiwanis Club of Greater Northampton Area, we have tentatively set May 30 as the first annual mayor’s bicycle rally. This event, centered around our young riders and their families, will be held in three consecutive parts at Canal Street Park — a bike safety program, the Kiwanis bike rodeo and a bike hike north to the Treichlers Bridge Trailhead and back to a picnic at the park pavilion.

I’ll have more details in my May article as well as a Facebook page where you can register. We want to be sure we send all our bicyclists off to a safe and enjoyable summer of riding.

Pack up your snow shovels and winter apparel, and get yourself outside and breathe in as much of that fantastic, fresh spring air as possible. Whether you’re in your yard planting flowers or mowing, enjoying one of our parks or just sitting on your porch watching the world go by, be happy we can once again be comfortable outdoors.

Be good to each other, my friends!