Good morning, Allentown.

The Great Allentown Fair, held from Aug.

27 to Sept. 1 at the Allentown Fairgrounds, brought local workers, contestants, and families together to enjoy livestock, art, and contest exhibits—showcasing a mix of local traditions and first-time experiences.

An Allentown nonprofit that helps people with disabilities laid off one-third of its staff—citing delayed state budget funding.

The agency now struggles to meet rising demand as remaining workers work to serve clients.

United Way’s 32nd Day of Caring will bring 1,500 corporate volunteers to support more than 65 nonprofit projects in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties—renovating community schools, stocking food pantries and beautifying outdoor areas.

Crayola, Victaulic and PPL volunteers will help at the Slate Belt Senior Center, Paxinosa Elementary and the Sixth Street Shelter.

Northampton County's Department of Community and Economic Development and Lehigh SBDC will host the Meet the Buyers Expo on Sept.

23 at Lehigh Valley International Airport—doors open at 8:30 a.m., networking begins at 9:00 a.m., and the event runs until 12:00 p.m. The expo will connect local business owners with major corporations and community partners to create new growth opportunities.

Lehigh Valley Business honored forty young professionals for their work and community service on Sept.

11 at DeSales University—an annual event that recognizes emerging leaders in the region.

William Allen High School was evacuated Wednesday morning due to a bomb threat — police and fire departments responded while families were asked to avoid the school.

Local singer/songwriter Dina Hall returns with her Songwriters In The Round series today at the Nazareth Arts Performing Center from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.—the free event features Sug Daniels and Antar Goodwin and accepts donations to support the center.

Lehigh Valley Zoo announced that its 12th annual Winter Light Spectacular will run from November 14 to January 3 and feature 1.2 million holiday lights—more than any other attraction in Pennsylvania.

Timed ticket sales began at 10 a.m. September 17 and the fundraiser will support animal conservation, with general admission priced at $16 for adults.

Home prices in Lehigh Valley dipped to a median of $350,000 in August as new listings fell 4.6 percent and overall inventory dropped to 1.4 months' supply—indicating a very tight market.

Mortgage rates have eased to about 6.35 percent while pending sales rose and Carbon County saw a median of $265,000 with reduced supply, showing that buyers are moving quickly in a seller’s market.

As students return to school, many Allentown parents face a decision on when their child is ready to be home alone—experts emphasize that maturity, emergency skills, and emotional readiness matter more than age alone.

They advise setting clear rules and gradually increasing unsupervised time to help children adjust safely.

On Sept.15, the Northampton Area School District facilities committee voted to demolish Moore Elementary School—set to close at the end of the 2025-26 school year and estimated to cost nearly $2 million—while the board will review four options at the Oct.13 meeting and vote on demolition at the Nov.10 meeting. Demolition bids are expected to be sought later in 2026.

Whitehall Township commissioners and Mayor Marx debated Water Street’s future on Sept.

8 as they discussed a traffic-calming study—proposing a temporary closure to improve safe school bus access. Solicitor Gross said the board could not vote on changes due to notice rules—commissioners postponed the motion after lengthy debate.

At a Lehigh County Board meeting in August, residents voiced strong concerns about a new public comment rule—ordinance 2025-149—that will require virtual participants to register 24 hours in advance beginning in October.

Ed Angelo labeled the rule an unconstitutional restraint on speech while Mary Tomlinson also opposed the change.

8th Annual LVASCE EPIC Golf Outing

8 AM – 3 PM — The Club at Twin Lakes — Sponsorships available — Enjoy a day of golf while supporting scholarships for local engineering students.

International Culture Festival 2025

2-10 p.m. — Cedar Beach Park — Free entry — Experience a vibrant celebration of diverse cultures with performances, cuisines, and art displays.

Seasonal Organic Dinner Series

6-9 p.m. — Rodale Organic Gardening Experimental Farm — $175/person — Experience a seasonal outdoor dinner featuring local organic cuisine and cocktails under the stars.

Seasonal Organic Dinner Series

6-9 p.m. — Rodale Organic Gardening Experimental Farm — $175/person — Dine under the stars at a historic organic farm with seasonal dishes and cocktails made from fresh local ingredients.

Belleville Senators vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms

7:05-8:35 p.m. — PPL Center — Ticket prices vary — Catch the exciting AHL matchup as the Senators take on the Phantoms.

11th Annual Harvest 5K

10 a.m. — Cedar Beach Park — Registration required — A fun and scenic 5K run/walk event for all ages, benefiting local elementary school students.

CPR/AED/First Aid Certification Course

9 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. — The Office Quarters — $100.00 — Gain essential lifesaving skills with this certification course from the American Red Cross.

Shrek The Musical

7:30-10:00 PM — Civic Theatre of Allentown — Tickets from $13 — Experience a hilarious, heartwarming journey with everyone’s favorite ogre in this hit Broadway show.

FREE Vaccine & Microchipping Pop Up!

2-5 p.m. — Arts Park — Free entry — Ensure your dog's health with free vaccines and microchipping at this community-focused event.