East Penn News

Emmaus' Old Fashioned Christmas on Saturday will ring in the holiday season for many participating businesses and nonprofits. It will be joined by other nearby festivities in the East Penn area.

Joe Samba will play a free show at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, at Rising River Brewing, 1955 Willow Lane, Macungie. Doors open at 3 p.m.

The Lehigh County Authority used municipal meetings to highlight what upgrades were currently planned to Lehigh County's sewer system, and what might be needed form the local governments

In a meeting dominated by discussions of the Macungie Volunteer Fire Company's future, council approved a new spending plan following a monthlong series of workshop meetings.

At Angel Tree Farms in Alburtis, you won't find prices on the Christmas trees. You make a donation and you take a tree. All proceeds go to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley.

Macungie Borough Council requested its solicitor to prepare an ordinance to swap the official fire service from Macungie Volunteer Fire Department to the Lower Macungie Township Fire Department.

The borough is finalizing a multi-year process to update the zoning and land development ordinances, with many priorities centered on density, growth and walkability.

Emmaus is among many Lehigh Valley communities to host Small Business Saturday events, to encourage residents to support locally-owned businesses.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Lower Macungie Township gave a first public look at its final 2024 budget, with no tax increases but potential increased charges related to waste management

Juxtahub has tapped Ryan Hill, who previously served as its chief programming officer since April, to serve as its executive director. Hill will participate in the arts center and gallery's JuxTuesday on Jan. 13.

The school district alerted the community about three hours after an incident involving pepper spray occurred in the upstairs cafeteria of Emmaus High School on Wednesday afternoon. Legislation that went into effect this month requires districts to alert parents, guardians and teachers of school weapon incidents.

The Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary still is closed to the public after an April bridge collapse. Officials said a new, permanent bridge is slated to be installed in spring.

After customers speculated its permanent closure online, Casa Catrina shared an announcement on social media thanking patrons for their continued support over the past six years. This month, the Mexican restaurant posted on its doors a notice of a temporary closure.

Dan Kelly, who has fronted the band Fortunate Youth since its 2009 start, will perform a solo acoustic show at 6:30 p.m. March 19 at Rising River Brewing, 1955 Willow Lane.

Vice President JD Vance visited Uline Shipping Supplies in the Alburtis area and made a surprise stop at the Allentown Rescue Mission in his first trip to the Lehigh Valley since becoming President Trump's second-in-command.

Vice President JD Vance will swing through the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday as the Republican Party courts voters ahead of the midterm election. The Lehigh Valley and the surrounding area are ripe with swing voters who could flip control of the U.S. House in next year's election.

After setting aside a realignment plan in fall 2025, East Penn School District now is exploring a $142 million redistricting project that would see hundreds of students moved to different schools, and building renovations.

The family of Renna Marra, who has Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, is raising funds for a trained guide dog to help Renna with tasks as mobility assistance, behavioral calming and social communication.

Macungie residents, including a long-serving corporal of the police department, packed a borough council meeting Wednesday morning to protest a revised police internal affairs policy.

Hilary Unger, owner of Perianth Interior Design, was chosen Designer of the Year for 2025 by the Interior Design Society in the category of Living Spaces Over $100,000.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie helped secure $1.6 million in earmarks toward a new Alburtis Fire Station. The existing structure is too small to serve a modern fire department.