BLOOM BENEFIT: Bloom for Women will host its fourth annual Freedom Benefit Dinner 6 p.m. Oct. 22 at Lehigh University’s Iacocca Center. The fundraiser will support the Easton-based nonprofit’s mission of helping survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation through residential programs, survivor services and employment opportunities.

The keynote speaker will be Becca Stevens, founder and president of Thistle Farms, a Nashville organization that helps women survivors heal and rebuild their lives. Bloom is a sister community of Thistle Farms.

Funds raised from the event will support Bloom’s continuum of care and workforce development programs for survivors in the Lehigh Valley. For information about attending or supporting the event, contact Karen Higgins, marketing manager, at 484-686-0262 or visit Bloom for Women.

HALLOWEEN EVENTS: The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem will host several family-friendly Halloween and fall-themed events throughout October.

A Spooktacular Halloween celebration is scheduled for Oct. 24 and will feature trick-or-treating, crafts, games, music, costume contests and photo opportunities. A Tricky Pop-Up Craft & Vendor Show also will be held Oct. 24-25 with seasonal crafts, décor and gifts from local vendors.

On Oct. 31, Twisted Tees will host “Twisted After Dark,” a Halloween-themed evening featuring mini golf, music, food and drink specials and activities for families and adults. Monthly promotions also include discounted mini golf at Twisted Tees and Oktoberfest dining specials at Bethlehem Barrel & Drafthouse.

BLOOM BENEFIT: Bloom has announced its fourth annual Freedom Benefit Dinner will be held 6 p.m. Oct. 22 at Lehigh University’s Iacocca Conference Center.

The keynote speaker will be Becca Stevens, founder and president of Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tenn. The event, hosted by Olav and Gina Sandnes, raises funds to support Bloom’s programs serving survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Bloom provides safe exit strategies, trauma-informed residential services, workforce development and other support to help survivors build independent futures. The annual fundraiser has generated more than $100,000 each year to support the organization’s mission.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For information, contact Vickie Nisbet, Bloom’s director of development, at 610-866-5755 or vickie.nisbet@bloomforwomen.org.

ANNIVERSARY MASS: The Society of St. Joseph of Bethlehem will celebrate the 1917 consecration of St. Joseph’s Church with an anniversary Mass at 11 a.m. Oct. 28 at St. Joseph’s Windish Slovenian Church, 413 E. Fifth St., Bethlehem. Doors open at 10 a.m. The Rev. Brendon Laroche of St. Ursula’s Church will celebrate the Mass.

An optional buffet luncheon will follow at 12:45 p.m. at The Tavern Room at the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill, 170 W. Walnut St., Hellertown. Cost is $32.50, or $27.50 for members and friends. Reservations are due Oct. 25.

For information, visit societystjosephbethlehem.org, email SSJB.email@gmail.com or call 504-258-6018.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: The City of Bethlehem Fire Department will hold its annual Memorial Service at 9 a.m. Oct. 28 at Fire Company No. 6, Memorial Fire Station, 521 W. Broad St., Bethlehem. The service honors firefighters and department members, and the public is invited to attend.

HALLOWEEN EVENT: The Northeast Community Center will host a Trunk or Treat and Resource Fair from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at 1161 Fritz Drive, Bethlehem. The event is free and open to Bethlehem families.

The event will feature food, resources and candy, along with a costume contest for children ages 0-18. Partner organizations are invited to participate in a trunk-decorating contest.

The rain date is Oct. 29.

For more information, call the Northeast Community Center at 610-691-3355 or email info@neccbethlehem.org.

CRAFT FAIR: The Northampton Community College Alumni Association will host its annual Fall Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, on the Bethlehem campus. More than 190 vendors will offer handmade items including jewelry, food products, woodworking and other crafts in the Arthur L. Scott Spartan Center Gym and nearby campus locations.

The event will also feature visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a holiday craft workshop for children. Proceeds benefit student scholarships and internship awards, and donations of nonperishable food items and toiletries will be collected for student-run food pantries. Admission is $2, with discounts for seniors and NCC students; children younger than 12 are admitted free.

HI NEIGHBORS: First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem, is offering a free Monday speakers program featuring local presenters on topics including music, history, travel and technology. Programs begin with social time at 9:30 a.m., followed by presentations at 10 a.m. No registration is required.

The Oct. 26 program will feature Emily Lyter from Good Shepherd, who will share “The Latest Advances in Rehabilitation and the Effect of AI in Rehab Practices.”

For more information: info@fpc-bethlehem.org.

MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT: Four manufacturers that have established operations in the Lehigh Valley in recent years will discuss why they chose the region during Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation’s Fall Signature Event, “Made Here. From Everywhere.,” on Nov. 18 at the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem. Executives from Easy Signs, Kerry Group, HAWE Manufacturing US Inc. and Spot & Tango will participate in a panel discussion. Don Cunningham, LVEDC president and CEO, said the event will highlight manufacturers from across the United States and around the world that have selected the Lehigh Valley for their operations. Attendance is free, but registration is required. To register, visit LVEDC’s event registration page through the organization’s website.

HOUSING UPDATE: Housing inventory continued to grow across the Lehigh Valley in September while sales activity slowed and home prices remained higher than a year ago, according to the Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS®. Closed sales fell 6.1% from a year earlier to 580, while inventory increased 10.8% to 963 available units in Lehigh and Northampton counties. The median sales price rose 6.8% to $375,000.

Justin Porembo, CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS®, said growing inventory is giving buyers more options, though supply remains below balanced market levels.

MEASLE UPDATE: The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,078 confirmed measles cases across 41 counties in Pennsylvania so far in 2026, with 74 new cases added in its latest update. Officials noted that more than 40 of those cases involved people who were sick more than two weeks earlier and are no longer contagious, meaning the increase does not reflect a current surge in infections. [Re: Measle...nformation | Outlook]

The outbreak has resulted in 207 hospitalizations and five confirmed deaths statewide. Health officials said the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the best protection against the disease, providing 97% lifetime protection after two doses. Since the outbreak began in late April, state health workers have administered nearly 9,000 MMR vaccine doses through health centers and pop-up clinics. [Re: Measle...nformation | Outlook]

HAUNTED HOUSE: The Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts (Charter Arts) Production Arts Department presents its HAUNTED HOUSE on Oct. 31, from 6-8 p.m. Enjoy some spine-tingling fun at this showcase of imagination, artistry and skill that’s packed with fun frights and clever scares. From sound and lighting to props, costumes and set design every chilling detail is crafted by the school’s production arts students. Tickets are online at CharterArts.org or at the door.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Community Action Lehigh Valley has announced that Bethlehem native, veteran, business leader and philanthropist Charlie Marcon will serve as keynote speaker for the organization’s annual meeting Nov. 19 at Wind Creek Bethlehem. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will also feature stories from individuals who have benefited from the nonprofit’s programs and services. Organizers said Marcon was selected for his long-standing commitment to community service, equity and regional development in the Lehigh Valley.

FLU SHOTS: Jefferson Health will provide free drive-through influenza vaccinations for adults and children ages 6 months and older during two clinics in the Lehigh Valley in November. The clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Dorney Park, and Sunday, Nov. 8, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks.

BETHLEHEM CO-OP: The Bethlehem Co-op Market has announced it will officially open Dec. 5 at 250 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, following a series of Preview Markets.

The community-owned grocery store will host preview events Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Nov. 12, along with Saturday markets through Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. Shoppers will be able to purchase products from local vendors, buy curated produce and grocery boxes, tour the store and learn more about the co-op.

Organizers also launched a Member Buy-In Challenge, encouraging the co-op’s more than 1,750 member-owners to make at least one purchase during the preview period. Membership is not required to shop.

HISTORICAL LECTURE: The Moravian Historical Society will hold its 169th Annual Meeting, Lecture and Reception on Nov. 12 at Moravian University’s Haupert Union Building in Bethlehem. Cultural heritage tourism expert Dr. Simon Woodward will present the keynote lecture on strategies for enhancing visitor experiences at World Heritage sites. The event begins with the annual meeting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the lecture at 7 p.m. and a reception. Admission is free, though registration is requested.

10TH ANNIVERSARY: The National Museum of Industrial History will host a cocktail reception Nov. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The gala will highlight a decade of public engagement and invites community participation through attendance, program advertising and donations for a silent auction.

Additional details are available through the museum’s website.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT: The Hellertown Historical Society is seeking community volunteers to help plan and coordinate the 2027 Hellertown-Lower Saucon Heritage Day celebration, scheduled for May 15.

Volunteers are needed for committees focused on parking and transportation, shuttle coordination, food and refreshments, community group participation, event setup and teardown, and general logistics.

Those interested in serving on a committee or as a committee chairperson can contact the society through its volunteer form.

STEAK & BURGER: The Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem will hold its annual Steak & Burger Dinner on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Foundry Ballroom at Wind Creek Bethlehem. The fundraiser supports educational, recreational and health programs serving nearly 800 local youths each year.

The event will honor St. Luke’s Health Network with the Dedication to Youth Award, Tom Hall with the Legacy Award and Dylan Stroup with the Blue Door Award for their contributions to the club and its mission. For more information, contact Miguel Rivera at 610-865-4241 or mrivera@bgcob.org.

ROTUNDA EXHIBIT: The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission will present Emerging Artists, a curated exhibition featuring the work of Arta Brito, Marta Czajka, Sarah Fiedler, Marissa McHugh and Lexi Soboleski in the Bethlehem Town Hall Rotunda Gallery through Nov. 5. The gallery, located at 10 E. Church St., is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit showcases a variety of artistic mediums, including portraiture, printmaking, fiber arts and mixed media.

SUN INN: The Sun Inn Preservation Association and The Bachmann Players will present Edge of Revolution, an interactive historical theater production, on Nov. 5 and Nov. 7 at the Sun Inn in Bethlehem.

The production blends drama, humor, history and audience participation as guests experience a divided colonial community grappling with loyalty, conscience and independence during the American Revolution.

An evening dinner-and-show performance is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, followed by a lunch-and-show matinee at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.

Reservations are required by Oct. 29. The event is hosted by the Sun Inn Preservation Association, 564 Main St., Bethlehem

CHARGING INCENTIVE: PPL Electric Utilities is offering residential electric vehicle owners incentives of up to $120 a year through voluntary programs that encourage charging during off-peak hours. Customers can choose an automated charging program with rewards of up to $120 annually or a self-managed option offering up to $60 a year. The utility said the programs help reduce demand on the electric grid during peak-use periods. Contact: PPL Electric Utilities, news@pplweb.com.

VETERANS: Office of Veterans Affairs: staffed with VA-accredited Veteran Service Officers: Northampton County: 610-829-4875, orcopa.gov/veterans-affairs; Lehigh: 610-782-3295, veteransaffairs@lehighcounty.org.

Veterans Support: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.- usually third Monday of the month, State Rep. McNeil’s district office, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall. Information on education, health care and death benefits. For appointments with an American Legion Service Office representative, call 610-266-1273.

STEWARDS NEEDED: Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is launching a new Colonial Industrial Quarter Stewards Program and is seeking volunteers and team leaders to help maintain paths, walkways and grounds at the historic site. The program comes ahead of the opening of the Overlook on History this fall. Volunteers interested in serving as Trail Tenders or team leaders can learn more and sign up at historicbethlehem.org.

ZUG EXHIBIT: Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is presenting Jeanette Barres Zug: A Life in Service to Moravian Bethlehem at the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, 66 W. Church St. The exhibit highlights the life and contributions of Zug, a longtime volunteer, educator and preservation leader who helped shape the museum and train generations of tour guides. Through photographs, archival materials and personal artifacts, the exhibition explores her lasting impact on preserving Bethlehem’s Moravian history.

More information is available at historicbethlehem.org.

HELLER REUNION: Hellertown, PA – The Hellertown Historical Society (HHS) will host a Heller Family Reunion for descendants of Hellertown’s founder – Johann Christian Heller – at its annual Heritage Day celebration May 15, 2027.

Heller descendants across the United States with genealogical ties to Johann Christian are invited to attend the reunion, which is being organized by the HHS and Heller family members living in eastern Pennsylvania.

Heller descendants interested in learning more about the reunion are asked to contact the historical society at info@hhstours.org.