🌱 Patch AM: How Bethlehem is handling the fallout from a cleared homeless camp

Good morning to you Bethlehem! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Bethlehem is handling the fallout from a cleared homeless camp
• Which Bethlehem restaurants and shops opened—and closed—around you in 2025?
• Can you beat Bethlehem’s pros in this 2025 political quiz?

Also on today's calendar: LKV Holiday Open House 12-28-25 (Passenger Trains) and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: How many sheep does it take to make a sweater? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: A bit of ice in the morning, with a high of 33 and low of 23 degrees.
• Sunday: Cloudy with afternoon rain, temps: high: 38, low: 33.
• Monday: Rain; breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 53 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Amid removal of homeless camp, here's how Bethlehem says it's helping those affected (lehighvalleynews.com) — Bethlehem officials have cleared a long-standing homeless encampment along the Lehigh River, while emphasizing how city programs tried to connect 92 affected people with shelter, health care, and other services. As residents and volunteers question the human impact, the city is investing millions to expand Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering and create new emergency housing options in coming years.
   

2. Retail rewind: Lehigh Valley area restaurants, stores and more that opened or closed in 2025 (wfmz.com) — Bethlehem residents saw a busy 2025, with beloved spots like Darto’s, Southside 313, Bed Head Vegan Brunch House and Adagio closing, while dozens of new restaurants and shops opened across the city. From new cafes, pizza places and record stores to auto repair shops and juice bars, the piece recaps a year of major business turnover and previews even more Bethlehem openings coming in 2026.
   

3. Lehigh Valley Political Pulse: Political puzzler (lehighvalleynews.com) — Recorded from Bethlehem, this week’s Political Pulse turns local politics into a year-end quiz show, as reporters test how well they remember 2025’s elections, legislation and big headlines. Viewers can play along in the Political Puzzler and see who wins the tongue‑in‑cheek “Political Pinecone” trophy while revisiting major Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania political moments.
   

4. Girls basketball rankings for Dec. 26: There's a new No. 1 in an early Top 5 shuffle (lehighvalleylive.com) — Bethlehem Catholic’s girls basketball team has climbed to No. 1 in the latest regional rankings, riding an 8-0 start that includes a tight win over Nazareth. The rundown shows how other Lehigh Valley powers like Emmaus, Easton and Parkland stack up early in the season.
   

5. Man Killed After Slamming Into Utility Pole In Lehigh County: Coroner (dailyvoice.com) — State police from the Bethlehem station are investigating a deadly Christmas Day crash in Washington Township, Lehigh County, where a 78-year-old Walnutport man died after hitting a utility pole. The coroner ruled his death an accident from multiple blunt force injuries, and authorities are still gathering more information about his life and the circumstances of the collision.
   

📸 Around Bethlehem

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Bethlehem

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 27

• Cozy Winter Snowman
  Painting with a Twist, 3650 Nazareth Pike Unit 4, Bethlehem
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday December 28

• LKV Holiday Open House 12-28-25 (Passenger Trains)
  Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Museum, Inc. , 705 Linden St , Bethlehem
  1:00 pm
• Putz & Star & Candle Shoppe
  Ce Building , 73 W Church St , Bethlehem
  1:00 pm
• Frozen Falls
  Painting with a Twist , 3650 Nazareth Pike Unit 4 , Bethlehem
  1:30 pm

Thursday January 1

• Hank Williams Tribute with Jack Murray & The Blue Tarp Wranglers | Annual New Yearâs Day Homage to the Patron Saint of Singer-Songwriters
  Godfrey Daniels , 7 E. Fourth Street , Bethlehem
  7:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• At Whitâs End â Acoustic Trio Blending Originals, Swing, and Americana | Formerly Woomer & Whitaker
  Godfrey Daniels , 7 E. Fourth Street , Bethlehem
  8:00 pm

Sunday January 4

• First Sunday Open Mike Night
  Godfrey Daniels , 7 E. Fourth Street , Bethlehem
  7:00 pm

Monday January 5

• đżđ§ââď¸ Qigong: Meditation and Relaxation đżđ§ââď¸
  bethlehem area public library , 11 W Church Street , Bethlehem
  12:00 pm

📣 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!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 27

• A Holiday Puppet Show
  Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum , 432 Walnut St , Allentown
  11:30 am

Tuesday December 30

• Pre School Fun @ Hellertown Library
  Hellertown Area Library , 409 Constitution Ave , Hellertown
  1:30 pm

Thursday January 1

• Hank Williams Tribute with Jack Murray & The Blue Tarp Wranglers | Annual New Yearâs Day Homage to the Patron Saint of Singer-Songwriters
  Godfrey Daniels , 7 E. Fourth Street , Bethlehem
  7:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• At Whitâs End â Acoustic Trio Blending Originals, Swing, and Americana | Formerly Woomer & Whitaker
  Godfrey Daniels , 7 E. Fourth Street , Bethlehem
  8:00 pm

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

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Bethlehem PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

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

• I have been taking it easy today.
  I’m helping my mom with Christmas dinner. We are having ham, mashed potatoes and green beans. My parents are having yams which I don’t like. What is… (Nextdoor Bethlehem)
• Just had to RUSH our dog to the vets after he ate the Christmas tree lights.
  When the vet told him he would be ok, his face lit up. Christmas Day humor all ! (Nextdoor Wagner Farms)

• Atria Senior Living posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Bethlehem. Apply here.
• Pennsylvania Staffing posted a job opening for Environmental Services Aide/Housekeeping (Full Time, Nights) in Bethlehem. 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: I have no idea. I didn’t even know sheep could knit.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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