Good morning, Allentown.

Residents affected by a four-alarm fire on Dec.

13 in Fullerton now get help at a Red Cross shelter at Lehigh Carbon Community College (Schnecksville), which offers meals, supplies, and health support. The shelter moved on Dec. 15 from Whitehall High School to let the school resume normal operations.

The PA Chamber recognized Hocus Pocus Cleaning of Schnecksville and The Lexis Group in Harrisburg as the 2025 Small Businesses of the Year for innovation and community engagement — the winners will be celebrated on social media and at events in 2026.

TierPoint, a St. Louis-based data center company, purchased the Tek Park property for $175M and is expanding its facility in Upper Macungie Township (adding around 100 jobs with a 100-megawatt upgrade set for the second half of next year).

Allentown City Hall hosted its first menorah lighting (a new community tradition) on Wednesday as locals gathered downtown to celebrate Hanukkah.

Hamnet, a film based on Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, offers a fresh take on Shakespeare’s world through Agnes’s eyes (the wife) and is showing today at AMC Center Valley 16; critics praise Chloé Zhao’s direction and Jessie Buckley’s performance.

ArtsQuest announced its 13th annual Improv Comedy Festival will run Jan.

23-24 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, featuring an improvised Broadway musical on Saturday along with acts from local and national teams. Tickets are available online or at the ArtsQuest Center box office (101 Founders Way).

A power grid upgrade is underway in Lehigh and Berks counties to improve reliability for thousands of customers and businesses.

The project rebuilds 15 miles of high-voltage lines and upgrades four substations; work began in August and will finish in November *2027*.

Saucon Valley Elementary School has set up a holiday shop where students use earned PAW passes to redeem donated gifts and surprise their parents; the program encourages positive behavior + respect among students this season.

Catasauqua Middle School announced the honor roll for the first marking period of the 2025-26 school year, recognizing students in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 (the official list was shared by the school).

A city firefighter visited Ms. Stephanie Marks' class at Dodd Elementary (part of the Tools of the Trade speaker series), sharing fire rescue stories and answering tough questions.

The program will return in January to help students learn about different careers.

Due to an uptick in carbon monoxide cases, local officials remind homeowners to check that their detectors are up to date (remember to replace batteries and units as needed) to keep families safe at home.

Cosmic baseball, a game played under black lights with glowing ball, bats and uniforms, will be held at Coca-Cola Park for three days in May.

The IronPigs added May 14 after May 15 and 16 sold out + group hospitality remains available.

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.

I Puritani

12:55-5:00 p.m. — Miller Symphony Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience the beauty of Bellini’s final masterpiece with a stellar cast and stunning new production.

Frank DiBussolo Trio: Bucky Pizzarelli Legacy

7:30-10 p.m. — Miller Symphony Hall — Tickets required — Experience masterful jazz guitar in tribute to the legendary Pizzarelli.

Neko Case Concert

7-10 p.m. — Archer Music Hall — $1 from each ticket benefits Peer Solutions — Experience an evening of enchanting music by Neko Case in a welcoming venue.