Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How First Presbyterian’s big campus overhaul could reshape North Bethlehem

Make time for Cards and Collectibles Festival on the Bethlehem Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Saturday October 3rd Patch AM
Saturday October 3rd Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Bethlehem! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How First Presbyterian's big campus overhaul could reshape North Bethlehem
  • See which beloved Bethlehem landmarks now hang in Kirkland Village
  • How will Bethlehem listeners tune into the new Dominican-focused station?

Also on today's calendar: Cards and Collectibles Festival and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What has a cap but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Partly sunny and not as warm, with a high of 74 and low of 50 degrees.
  • Sunday: Cooler; a little p.m. rain, temps: high: 61, low: 54.
  • Monday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high of 70 and low of 44 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Bethlehem's First Presbyterian Church to redevelop campus, auction off accessories (mcall.com) — First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem is moving ahead with a major redevelopment of its 32-acre Center Street campus, partnering with Presbyterian Senior Living and Pennrose to expand Kirkland Village and add affordable housing. Beginning January 2027, worship will temporarily shift to Christ United Church of Christ on East Market Street while plans advance for a smaller on-site facility and auctions clear out furnishings and equipment.
   

2. Kirkland Village residents welcome new art of historic Bethlehem (mcall.com) — Residents at Kirkland Village in Bethlehem have pooled donations to add four new paintings of iconic historic sites, including the 1754 Waterworks and 1742 Gemeinhaus, to their main dining room. The works, by artist Sergei Yaralov, highlight Bethlehem's early industrial and religious history, from the pioneering municipal water system to the reconstructed 1750 Smithy and Luckenbach Mill, deepening residents' daily connection to local heritage.
   

3. New Spanish radio station launches in the Lehigh Valley (wfmz.com) — Bethlehem listeners will soon have another Spanish-language radio option as La Kalle 106.5 launches to serve the Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and nearby communities. The station will feature Dominican-focused music, news, culture and community information while sister station Mega 101.7 continues broader Latino programming.
   

4. Largest project in St. Luke's 150-year history now open. Images of the new Heart Hospital. (lehighvalleylive.com) — St. Luke's University Health Network has opened its new five-story Heart Hospital at the Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township, adding 140 beds and significantly expanding regional cardiac care. The $252 million facility, built with U.S. steel, aims to draw patients from across eastern Pennsylvania and beyond while serving as a showcase site for advanced Siemens cardiac imaging technology and creating hundreds of permanent health care jobs.
   

5. Proposed Northampton County budget includes 43% tax hike. 'We need to get ahead,' executive says (mcall.com) — Northampton County is weighing a 43.5% property tax increase for 2027, a change that would significantly raise bills for Bethlehem Township homeowners and others across the county. Officials say the hike is needed to cover rising costs, boost worker pay, fund pensions and healthcare, and invest in facilities like the courthouse, prison and Gracedale nursing home.
   

📸 Around Bethlehem

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Bethlehem

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Bethlehem Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Bethlehem PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Community Voices Clinic Expands to Marvine Elementary School —Steven Infanti Read on Patch
  • Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol Celebrates Grand Opening of Journeys Expanding Support for Children and —Tiffany Sondergaard Read on Patch
  • Found this baby in the bushes/shrubbery in the essence of health parking lot on Nicholas st.
    The street right behind Rita's on freemansburg ave. It was very friendly and didn't seem scared or run away. I got very close and talked to it and it… (Nextdoor Miller Heights)
  • THIS IS A HUGE LIST OF RESCUES THAT HELP FERAL CATS AND KITTENS.
    I CAN ONLY ADD 3 PHOTOS AT A TIME. PLEASE CHECK FOR ALL THE PHOTOS IN THE COMMENTS. IF YOU NEED HELP TRAPPING OR TNR'ING OR ARE TRYING TO FIND A… (Nextdoor Bethlehem West)
  • Oak View Group, LLC posted a job opening for Production Runner | Part Time | PPL Center in Allentown. Apply here.
  • Redner's Markets, Inc. posted a job opening for Regional Loss Prevention Agent in Allentown. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bethlehem here.

Ok Bethlehem! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What has a cap but no head?" — A bottle (Thank you Glo M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Bethlehem