YARD SALE: Heidelberg Union Church, 5187 Irvin Road, Slatington, will hold a yard sale 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. July 11 and noon to 3 p.m. July 12. Household goods will be for sale. There will be something for everyone. Contact the church office at 610-767-4740 if you have any questions.

HEIDELBERG VBS: Heidelberg Union Church, 5187 Irvin Road, Slatington, will hold its ‘Snowball Mountain Challenge’ Vacation Bible School 5:45 - 8 p.m. July 20 - 24. Save the dates and join them for an awesome week of “Snowball Mountain Challenge” VBS! Registration information can be found at https://heidelbergunionchurch.mycokesburyvbs.com.

WEISENBERG VBS: “Superheroes of the Bible” is coming to 7645 Weisenberg Church Road, New Tripoli, 6-8 p.m. for four Wednesdays, July 15 to Aug. 5. Kids ages 4 to fifth grade will discover Bible stories of faith, courage, and trust, while enjoying games, music, snacks, crafts, and learn how God works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways! An adult VBS is offered on the same days from 6:30-7:30 p.m. to learn about the same stories. To register or for more information, email WeisenbergLutheranChurch@gmail.com.

LOWHILL VBS: Christ’s Church at Lowhill, 4695 Lowhill Church Road, New Tripoli, will hold its Armor of God Vacation Bible School 6-8 p.m. July 20-24. All ages are welcome. Each day kids will discover what it means to “put on the full armor of God” and stand strong in faith through engaging Bible lessons, energetic music, hands-on activities, fun games and tasty snacks. For more information or questions, contact Sarah at 610-298-2527.

JORDAN VBS: Jordan Lutheran Church, 5103 Snowdrift Road, Orefield, will hold its Vacation Bible School 9 a.m.- noon July 13-17. Theme is Rain Forest Falls. Register at vbspro.events/p/f1884a.

TRACTOR SHOW: Ziegels Church Tractor and Car show, a free community event, will take place noon to 6 p.m. July 11. Entertainment will be by The Hannah Violet Trio and The Majestics. There will be food, games, raffles, bake sale, tractor pulls and fun for all ages. Interested in showing your tractor or classic car, email ziegelsfellowship@gmail.com. For more information on this event, call the church office at 610-285-6157.

RECOVERY HOUSE: Victory Recovery Homes will host an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 10 at its newly renovated residential facility, 33 S. 15th St., Allentown. The Allentown Area Chamber of Commerce will lead a formal ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m.

The nonprofit provides structured, nine- to 12-month residential recovery programs for adult men overcoming addiction, helping bridge the gap between treatment and independent living. Founded in 2018 and reorganized in 2023, the organization prioritizes veterans while serving men across the Lehigh Valley.

The renovated home can house up to 15 residents and offers services including recovery support, employment readiness, life skills training and peer mentorship. Leaders say about 75% of program graduates achieve long-term recovery outcomes, including stable employment and housing.

The public is invited to tour the facility, meet staff and learn about partnership opportunities during the event.

EASTON CELEBRATION: Downtown Easton will take center stage in a regional celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, with four days of history-themed events planned July 8–11.

Organized by the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, the commemoration will highlight Easton’s role as one of the first places where the Declaration of Independence was publicly read in 1776.

The celebration opens July 8 with a midday program at the Sigal Museum marking the exact 250th anniversary of Easton’s historic reading, followed by a champagne toast and exhibition tour. A ticketed “Easton Declaration Dinner” will take place that evening at Thyme Rooftop Grille.

Events continue July 9 with a noon panel featuring cartoonist Jonathan Hill discussing a graphic novel on the American Revolution, and an evening members’ reception and book launch at the 1753 Bachmann Publick House.

On July 10, a Bachmann Block Party will transform Second Street into a festival space from 3 to 10 p.m., with live music, food, drinks and a large-screen watch party.

The celebration culminates July 11 with Heritage Day in Centre Square and throughout downtown Easton beginning at 10 a.m. Highlights include a noon re-reading of the Declaration of Independence, live music, colonial reenactments and expanded food offerings.

Additional programming includes historic site tours and a ticketed bus tour exploring locations tied to early public readings of the Declaration in Easton, Trenton and Philadelphia.

Organizers say advance registration is recommended, with some events offering limited capacity.

INDIA HERITAGE: Saara Arts will present its ninth annual India Heritage Day 3-6 p.m. July 26 at Allentown Arts Park. This free, family-friendly festival celebrates the arts, traditions and heritage of India while bringing together people from across the Lehigh Valley. This year’s theme, “Rhythms of India,” will feature live cultural performances, interactive art and dance workshops, authentic Indian cuisine, children’s activities and a multicultural finale, “Weaving Cultures Together,” celebrating unity through traditional Indian attire. Josh Siegel is scheduled to participate in the opening ceremony with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp.

MEASLE RISK: With measles cases increasing in eastern Pennsylvania, St. Luke’s University Health Network pediatricians are urging parents to ensure their children are protected through vaccination and to discuss an accelerated immunization schedule with their child’s health care provider if they live in or plan to travel to areas where cases have been reported.

Dr. Jennifer Janco, chair of St. Luke’s Pediatrics, said infants ages 6 to 11 months may be eligible for an early dose of the MMR vaccine, while children who have already received their first dose at age 1 may qualify to receive their second dose earlier than the routine schedule. Parents also are encouraged to contact their child’s health care provider before traveling to ensure vaccinations are up to date and to review the latest list of Pennsylvania counties with confirmed measles cases on the state website.

HAWK MOUNTAIN

SUMMER CAMP: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary invites families to plan ahead for an unforgettable summer of outdoor exploration with its 2026 Summer Nature Camps. Designed for youth in grades one through five, these week long day camps will immerse children in the natural world through hands-on, educational, and fun-filled experiences on the Mountain. All camps run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until Aug. 7. For camp details visit hawkmountain.org/summercamps. Contact Jessica Gary at gary@hawkmountain.org for more information.

HELPERS WANTED: The Sanctuary is also seeking 14- to 17-year-olds who need internship or volunteer hours to assist with camp by participating in the Counselors-In-Training program, which provides leadership training and hands-on experience working with youth in the outdoors. For more information, go to https://www.hawkmountain.org/education/programs/counselors-in-training.

LEHIGH GAP

NATURE HIKE: Join LGNC Founder and Director Emeritus Dan Kunkle on a summer hike to the 3 Ponds Trail located on the western end of LGNC’s Refuge 9-11 a.m. July 11. This will be a natural history walk where participants will look for birds, turtles, frogs, dragonflies, plants and more. LGNC staff hope to find turtles sunning on the platforms in the ponds and dragonflies hunting mosquitoes. LGNC staff will bring a net to try to catch some insects for close looks and a dip net to see what they can find in the pond water. Bring your binoculars, but LGNC staff will have extra to borrow.

VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE: Stop by the LGNC’s Osprey House anytime 9 a.m. to noon July 11 for a Virtual Reality Experience. Created in partnership with staff and students at Lehigh University, try this new virtual reality learning game which will take place at the Lehigh Gap before exploring the trails. For questions, contact the LGNC at mail@lgnc.org or call 610-760-8889.

BIRD WALK: Join Director Chad Schwartz on a summer bird walk around the Lehigh Gap Refuge 10-11:30 a.m. July 15. Binoculars will be provided to those who do not have them. Although these walks will be geared toward beginner birders, people of all ages are welcome to attend.

EVENING HIKE: You are invited to explore the trails at Lehigh Gap Nature Center on an evening guided hike 6-7:30 p.m. July 16. Join LGNC Staff members for a moderate level guided hike on their trails. The hike will begin on the LNE trail for one mile, and participants will return back to the nature center on the D&L Trail for about one mile, for a total distance of 2.2 miles.

JUNIOR WALK: Young explorers of all ages are invited to discover the cool critters of LGNC this summer 10-11:30 a.m. July 21. Each family-fun nature walk will meet at LGNC’s Osprey House. Kids will learn to use insect nets to catch and identify insects. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals), sunscreen, and a hat. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Walks will be canceled if heavy rain or thunderstorms are in the forecast.

NATURE AT NIGHT: Search for moths, caterpillars, bats, and other creatures of the night at the LGNC’s Nature at Night event 8-9:30 p.m. July 28. Discover critters that glow in the dark with black light flashlights. Flashlights will be provided. For questions on this event, the evening hike or any of the walks, contact LGNC at mail@lgnc.org or call 610-760-8889.

SENIORS GROUP: Lehigh Gap Nature Center, 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington, has formed a new group for nature-minded seniors. 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.

NATURE ART: Members are invited to join LGNC the second Wednesday of each month 10 a.m. to noon for a Drop-In Studio. Bring a personal art project to work on (all mediums are welcome) and enjoy conversation with fellow local artists. The Nature in Art Club is a free benefit of a Lehigh Gap Nature Center membership. The Drop-in Studio is free to attend and registration is not required.

VIA FEATURED: Via of the Lehigh Valley will be featured in an upcoming segment of All Access with Andy Garcia, a public television series highlighting organizations making a positive impact in their communities. Air dates have not been announced. Filmed in April, the segment showcases Via’s employment programs for individuals with disabilities and features Matt, a Via participant recognized for his outstanding job performance and lifesaving actions at work. Via has served individuals with disabilities in the Lehigh Valley since 1952.

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. For more information, contact Emily at 610-821-7706 or emily.anthony@use.salvationarmy.org.

NEWS WELCOME: The Northwestern Press welcomes student news, business accomplishments and details about your organization’s events and accomplishments. To have your news published, send information about the event and photos to gtaylor@tnonline.com. Photos should be sent high resolution with captions that list everyone in the photo from left to right, front to back. You can also send news about upcoming events. Please send two weeks ahead of time if possible, though we make every attempt to get last minute information published. Be sure to include a contact phone number in case we have any questions.