Good morning, Allentown.

PCFLV held a groundbreaking on Dec.

4 at its South Whitehall office for a new (1,088 sqft) facility to expand programs for children with cancer; construction will finish by March 2026 before the annual Hearts of Gold Gala.

Seven local UCC and Lutheran churches held the first Love Your Neighbor Day on Nov.

15 in Allentown — collecting toiletries and assembling 200 hygiene kits for the Caring Hearts homeless outreach while volunteers helped with local cleanup projects.

Emmaus Public Library opened the Share Shelf— a pantry stocked with shelf-stable foods and personal care items— at 11 E.

Main St. in late October. Donations can be made during regular hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, a local business owner served free pizza to residents at the Rescue Mission to offer warm meals during the holiday season—he also provided soup, focaccia, and cannolis (donated by Meadowood Community) to ensure everyone felt cared for.

Hundreds attended the Lights and Leashes event at Coca-Cola Park last night — part of the Illumination Holiday Light Show that offered dog-friendly fun.

The event will return on Dec. 17 and Dec. 30 with more festive displays and activities.

Lehigh County police are hosting a Shop with a Cop event to help families shop for holiday gifts this season.

The free event is set to support local residents at designated community locations (check details locally).

Residents in Salisbury Township gathered at Franko Park on Nov.

29 for the annual tree lighting that featured caroling by the high school band, hot dogs served by a local officer, and s’mores from Scout Troop 146 — marking a bright start to the holiday season.

Love After Holidays, a film featuring local landmarks (Greater Shiloh Church in Easton and SteelStacks in Bethlehem), will stream nationwide on BET Plus starting Thursday.

The movie stars Jacinth Headlam, Malik Yoba and Jeremy Meeks and explores themes of forgiveness, transformation and second chances.

The Allentown School District swore in five new board members—four with four-year terms until 2029 and one with a two-year term until 2027—at a recent Thursday night meeting; the board also elected Andrene Brown-Nowell as president and Audrey Mathison as vice president for 2026.

Lehigh County Authority has declared a drought watch and asked water customers to reduce usage by 5% as persistent dry conditions and below-average rainfall hit the region — residents are advised to fix leaks and limit outdoor watering.

Pennsylvania will spend nearly $20 million to bring satellite internet to over 20,000 locations, with SpaceX already available in many areas and Amazon set to expand coverage once it launches, pending federal approval early December + residents in grant zones may face monthly fees.

Southern Lehigh students and family gathered at an afternoon pep rally on Thursday for a heartfelt sendoff, as police & firefighters escorted the Spartans & supporters before their state championship game against the Twin Valley Raiders.

Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton launches its 2025-26 ski season today at 9 a.m. with five operating chairlifts and major snowmaking upgrades that include 380 new LED trail lights to improve night skiing; snow tubing will begin on Dec.

11.

Freedom’s basketball team finished last season (12-12) without any returning varsity starters and now features an entirely new, inexperienced roster.

Head coach Joe Stellato said the team expects to work hard and be competitive as the season begins.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. Utica Comets

7:05-8:35 p.m. — PPL Center — Ticket prices vary — Catch an exciting ice hockey showdown between the Phantoms and the Comets.

Disney On Ice: Road Trip Adventures

7-8:30 p.m. — PPL Center — Family-friendly pricing available — Embark on an adventurous ride with Mickey Mouse and friends to famous Disney destinations.

Eric Mintel Quartet Performance

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Miller Symphony Hall — Ticketed event — Experience the captivating jazz sounds of Eric Mintel and his quartet, blending original compositions with smooth improvisation.

Living Succulent Holiday Ornament Workshop

6-7 p.m. — Illumination/Funk Brewing West End Taproom — Materials included — Create a unique living succulent ornament with a festive twist.

Road To Riches Showcase

7 PM — Sportsmen's Cafe — Food and drink vendors available — Celebrate 4 years of OIA Promotions with live performances and local artists.

Gogol Bordello Concert

7-9 p.m. — Archer Music Hall — All ages welcome — Experience the energetic Gypsy punk music of Gogol Bordello live in concert.

Hershey Bears vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms

3:05 – 4:35 p.m. — PPL Center — Check website for ticket pricing — Celebrate New Year's Eve with an exciting hockey match between the Phantoms and Bears.