In Your Town – Dec. 25

FROM THE MORNING CALL

LEHIGH COUNTY

ALLENTOWN'S NEW YEAR'S EVE GALA designed to ring-in 2012 and the 250th anniversary of the city will feature a "Bells Will Be Ringing Gala" beginning at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 940 Hamilton St. The cost is $125 per person and includes a three-course meal, open bar, entertainment by Roberta Meek and Lucky Seven and commemorative souvenirs. Also, a free family-friendly outdoor celebration will be held 8 p.m. to midnight in the 800 block of Hamilton Street. Entertainment includes the Allentown School District's Orchestra, Helm's Deep, En Secuencia, East Coast Dance Connection, KiNetiK – X Dancers and Cover Story. There will also be ice carving, carriage rides, the Burning Hearts Fire and Light Theater fire performers and Zumba dancers. Food will be available for purchase. At 8 p.m. the bell will be lifted and the Rev. Bob Stevens and Pip the Mouse from Zion's UCC will ring the Allentown's Town Bell. The spectacular highlight of the evening will be the bell drop at midnight officially ringing in the 250th anniversary year and the participation of city churches ringing their bells at midnight. A number of churches have already committed and the committee is seeking more to participate. Commemorative bells are on sale for $9 at City Hall, 435 Hamilton St. Reservations for the "Bells Will Be Ringing Gala" may be made by visiting http://www.allentown250.com or calling 610-437-7610. Reservations and payments must be received by 4 p.m. Monday.

THE ALLENTOWN YM-YWCA, 425 S. 15th St., will hold a Community Open House for Healthier Living Jan. 2 to 7. For information, call 610-434-9333.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY


THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S Relay for Life of Easton team, Running Noses, will host a New Year's Eve celebration for ages 21 and older at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Ocean, 235 Ferry St., Easton. The cost is $105 and will include food, open bar, midnight champagne toast, DJ and dancing. For tickets, email Julia at RunningNoses@hotmail.com.

BETHLEHEM AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY, 11 W. Church St., will hold the following free events as part of its Five Days of Fun program Tuesday through Dec. 31: board games and puzzles, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday; stories told on the hour, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday; family movie and short film, 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday; crafts for all ages, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; and book prizes throughout the day, Dec. 31. For information, call 610-867-3761, ext. 499, or go online to http://www.bapl.org.

EAST BANGOR UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY CHURCH, 136 W. Central Ave., is accepting orders for its pastie sale until Jan. 1. Selections include beef and broccoli cheese. Onions are optional. Pasties can be picked up at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 3. To order, call Lois at 610-588-1745.

DELAWARE CANAL STATE PARK will hold a free first day hike along the Delaware Canal Towpath 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 1. Participants should meet at Wy-Hit-Tuk Park, Route 611, Williams Township. For information, visit http://tinyurl.com/DCSPcal.

NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township, will hold a grant-writing workshop 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 10. The workshop, which will be open to representatives from nonprofit agencies, will highlight the services provided by The Foundation Center, Northampton County's largest database of private foundations, and will provide an overview of its database of more than 100,000 grantmakers. The session will include an introduction to The Foundation Center, an organization devoted to supporting and improving institutional philanthropy, an overview and demonstration of grant resources included in the Foundation Directory Online database, and an opportunity to use the database. It is suggested that participants bring a flash drive with them to save information. Although the workshop is free, reservations are required, call 610-861-5358 by Jan. 6.

BUCKS COUNTY

UPPER BUCKS YMCA, 401 Fairview Ave., Quakertown, will offer free access to its facility as part of Community Gift Week, Monday through Dec. 31. A family friendly New Year's celebration for ages 3 and older will be held 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Individuals will make their own hats and noisemakers, dance and count down to noon. The celebration is topped off with a juice box toast. Children, ages 12 and under, must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $15 for nonmembers; $10 for program members; and $8 for full members. For information, call 215-536-9622 or go online to http://www.ubymca.org.

UPPER BUCKS SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER, 2183 Milford Square Pike, Milford Township, will hold a New Year's party with the Blue Notes at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 4. The cost is $12. For tickets, call 215-536-3066.

CARBON AND MONROE COUNTIES

MONROE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER, 8050 Running Valley Road, Hamilton Township, will hold winter discovery hikes for adults 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 4 through 25. Participants will explore the different trails of Kettle Creek in search of animal signs. The cost is $5; $3 for members. To register, call 570-629-3061.

JERUSALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 500 Church Drive, Trachsville, is accepting orders for its meat pie sale until Jan. 1. Individuals have their choice of chicken, pork, or chicken and pork mixed. The cost is $8 per pie. Orders may be picked up Jan. 16 and 17. To order, call 610-681-5200 or 610-681-5403.

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