Whitehall-Coplay Press

Coplay and Whitehall Township will usher in the holiday season with programs, both taking place on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m. The holiday programs will have the fire departments and their red fire engines poised to escort Santa to the official ceremonies where there will be anxious children waiting for Santa with their mothers and fathers.

Eight-month-old Brooklyn Adams, of Whitehall, gives Santa a puzzled look as she sits on his lap Sunday at the Borough of Northampton's annual tree lighting ceremony held at Christmas Plaza at Main Street and Laubach Avenue. Whitehall and Coplay each will host tree lighting and holiday programs Wednesday, Dec. 6. See this page for story.

Golden Corral, an all-you-can-eat chain buffet restaurant currently undergoing construction on land at the south side of the Lehigh Valley Mall, did not open as expected in time for Thanksgiving.

Some reports say the owners now are looking for the restaurant to open by Christmas.

Other indicators mention it could be later.

The popular all-you-can eat buffet restaurant had a ground-breaking ceremony in July. The restaurant is going up at site of the former Chi-Chi's Restaurant, across from Macy's at the Lehigh Valley Mall.

Earning an Eagle badge is quite an honor for a Boy Scout.

Only 5 percent of Scouts achieve this distinction and Andrew Madura, 18, of Whitehall, is now one of them.

A community project must be completed to attain the Eagle badge.

Madura explained his project in pursuing his badge. He said it involved sorting and organizing boxes among boxes of items at the Helfrich Springs Grist Mill in Whitehall.

Madura said he categorized the boxes to create a master list for the Whitehall Historical Preservation Society.

Girl Scouts go skating.

DECEMBER

MONDAY 3

Whitehall Township Commissioners will hold a workshop meeting at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 3219 MacArthur Road.

TUESDAY 4

Coplay Borough Council holds a workshop meeting at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 98 S. Fourth St.

The Egypt branch of First Northern Bank and Trust teamed up with St. Stephen's Episcopal Church to collect food for the Whitehall Food Bank last Wednesday.

They had worked together on a food drive last year, but this year did something a little different.

The bank collected donations for a month, using a tree that was on display in its office.

The tree allowed customers to pick a leaf which described what that customer could donate.

In addition to customers, employees of the bank also donated.