While festivals and veterans’ events have been cancelled this month because of the pandemic, there’s one event on Memorial Day that will be held.

Pennsylvania’s Music Preservation Society (PAMPS) has teamed up with WFMZ to present a live streaming music and remembrance program that will involve Lehigh Valley residents standing together, but at a safe distance.

All you have to do to be part of this event is to go out on your lawns or porches, or open your apartment windows, on Monday, May 25. At exactly 2:30 in the afternoon, tune your mobile devices to WFMZ’s live streaming online. While you are listening, wave to your neighbors and wish them well.

The 35-minute streaming program will include:

• Singing together “America the Beautiful”

• Listening to and singing patriotic music with Alex Meixner and Dave Fry

• Tributes to our fallen military

• Thanks to first responders and caregivers on the front lines of the coronavirus

• The national Minute of Silence (Moment of Remembrance)

• “Taps” being played

• Everyone singing together “God Bless America”

You are encouraged to carry signs or wave flags during the program.

Mark your calendar for Monday, May 25, at 2:30 p.m., and join Lehigh Valley residents in being part of this special event.

Effective Friday, May 8, 2020, the Berks Street Yard Waste Facility will reopen for Palmer Township residents only. In order to protect our residents and our employees, new procedures are now in place. Only credit and/or debit cards will be accepted. NO CASH TRANSACTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED. Because of the recent facility closure, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are opening the facility seven days a week, at this time. A front end loader will be available to load free mulch in to residents trucks on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Hours of operation are as follows: Monday through Friday - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday – Noon to 4 p.m.

Effective Friday, May 8, 2020, the Hartley Avenue Recycling Center will reopen for Palmer Township residents only. Because of the recent facility closure, due to the COVID-9 Pandemic, we are opening the facility seven days a week, at this time. Hours of operation are as follows: Monday through Friday – 8 a.m. To 4 p.m., Saturday – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday – Noon to 4 p.m.

When it comes to "rags" and the sewer system, they don't mix! They are small, but mightly and can cause very costly damage to wastewater equipment. The consequences of the damages and repairs will be reflected in your sewer rates. In the wastewater industry the term "rags" is used to describe wipes, towels, shop rags, industrial rags, cleaning wipes, etc.; basically, materials tougher than toilet paper, that are not able to break down in the sewer system. Please make sure you are only using toilet paper when you are flushing!

For additional information visit Easton Area Joint Sewer Authority

All Palmer Township parks and parking lots will reopen on Friday, May 1, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic all Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines must be adhered to - to include no organized sports or groups of 10 or more. The basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and restrooms will remain closed until further notice. Palmer Township walking trails and bike paths continue to remain open for individual exercise. Trail users are also required to follow all state guidelines and you must provide social distancing.

Palmer Township is pleased to announce the release of our newly designed website. This responsive website will work in any device including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. The menu system has been simplified to make it easier to navigate by department. The site also includes a news reader, search feature, and calendar of events. It can also be translated into nearly any language.

The website was designed by the local based company na studios who has been creating websites and other digital content since 1997.

Feel free to browse around and if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact us.

In response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic, the Township has temporarily changed its business practices and operations.

To maintain essential municipal operations and protect the health and safety of Township employees and residents, the Township buildings, including the Charles Chrin Community Center of Palmer Township, remain closed to the public, until further notice.

Township staff will be available during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by phone or email to conduct routine business. A complete staff directory is available at: https://palmertwp.com/township-staff.html. The township's general telephone number is 610-253-7191.

All payments (taxes, utility bills, and other) must be made electronically, by mail, or via the drop box in front of the municipal building. Please note on your envelope if you would like a paid receipt mailed to you. Due to these extraordinary circumstances, the Township has extended the tax filing due dates for Business Privilege Tax filings with Berkheimer Tax Associates and the June 3, 2020 Township Real Estate Tax deadline, until July 15, 2020.

Anyone needing to apply for a permit or submit plans, please contact the Permits/Code/Zoning Department (610-253-7191) to discuss appropriate fees and required plans.

If Township staff is required to enter a residence or business (for an inspection, for example), the staff reserves the right to ask questions regarding the health status of individuals in the building before scheduling an appointment. If the inspection is not urgent, we ask to consider rescheduling to a later date.

Governor Tom Wolf issued a Stay-at-Home order for Northampton County which began on March 25, 2020. To protect the public health and to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus or COVID-19, all residents are urged to stay in their homes and only go out for essential life sustaining services. Currently, the Stay-at-Home order is in effect until May 8, 2020. The Stay-at-Home order does not apply to businesses or projects that have received waivers.

Individuals may leave their residence only to perform any of the following allowable individual activities and allowable essential travel:

- Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, or the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets), such as obtaining medicine or medical supplies, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home
- Getting necessary services or supplies for themselves, for their family or household members, or as part of volunteer efforts, or to deliver those services or supplies to others to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
- Engaging in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running if they maintain social distancing
- To perform work providing essential products and services at a life-sustaining business
- To care for a family member or pet in another household
- Any travel related to the provision of or access to the above-mentioned individual activities or life-sustaining business activities
- Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons
- Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services
- Travel to return to a place of residence from an outside jurisdiction
- Travel required by law enforcement or court order
- Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the commonwealth
- Anyone performing life-sustaining travel does not need paperwork to prove the reason for travel

The following operations are exempt:
- Life-sustaining business activities
- Health care or medical services providers
- Access to life-sustaining services for low-income residents, including food banks

- Access to child care services for employees of life-sustaining businesses that remain open as follows: child care facilities operating under the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning waiver process; group and family child care operating in a residence; and part-day school age programs operating under an exemption from the March 19, 2020 business closure Orders
- News media
- Law enforcement
- The federal government
- Religious institutions

The Governor's Office and PA Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) has information available for small businesses to cope with the current COVID-19 Pandemic. Small Businesses can contact PA DCED by phone at 1-866-466-3972 or by email at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov.

Other resources for businesses affected by COVID-19, including a definition of essential vs. non-essential business, are available at dced.pa.gov/resources

Just a reminder to all residents...if you haven't taken the census yet, please do so. Your response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services. You can view more information on my2020cencus.gov

Northampton County will offer Household document shredding on September 12, 2020 (10am-12pm) at the Cliff Cowling Field Pavilion (next to Basketball Court) on 301 Allen St, Bath, PA 18014. Accepted items include accounting files, cancelled checks, credit/reward cards, pay stubs, financial statements, legal documents, and medical records. Limit 2 bag/boxes per vehicle with a 25lb weight limit per bag/box.

Northampton County will be offering a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Collection Event on May 16, 2020 from 8:30am-2:00pm (rain or shine) at 3835 Green Pond Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18020. Collection events are intended for Northampton County residents only. Proof of residency is required. Please visit Northampton County website for more information.

Northampton County will be offering a Houshold Electronics Recycling Drop-Off Collection Event on June 13, 2020 from 9:00am-12:00pm at the Northampton Borough Community Center at 1601 Laubach Ave, Northampton, PA 18067. Collection events are intended for Northampton County residents only. Proof of residency is required. Please visit Northampton County website for more information.