Hello, Fall Vibes! 🍂

It’s Wednesday, September 24th, and autumn is settling in.

From cozy family fun to local

events, here’s what’s happening today in Northampton

County.

Mark & The Local Rundown Northampton Crew

Here’s a simple way to make reading more exciting without spending a dime: host a Family Book Swap Night right at home. Everyone in the family picks a favorite book (or a short story, magazine, or comic) and passes it to someone else. The idea is to get kids—and parents—trying something new, while also sharing what makes our personal favorites special.

You can make it as casual or festive as you like. Spread out blankets, put out some snacks (popcorn and hot cocoa are always crowd-pleasers), and let everyone take a turn introducing their pick. Younger kids might swap picture books, while older kids can pick from chapter books or even show off something they’ve been reading at school.

The best part? You’re not just swapping books—you’re swapping perspectives. Kids get to see what their siblings or parents enjoy, and it sparks fun conversations at the dinner table later in the week.

As fall rolls in and life gets busier, it’s easy to miss the little moments that make each day special. That’s where a Family Gratitude Jar comes in. All you need is a jar, some slips of paper, and a pen. Each evening (or once a week), every family member writes down one thing they’re grateful for and pops it in the jar.

It can be something big (“I’m grateful for my teacher helping me today”) or something tiny (“the cat made me laugh when she chased her tail”). Over time, the jar fills up with everyday joys and reminders of good things, even on tough days.

The best part is opening the jar together. You might choose to read them on Sunday nights to kick off the week, or save them for a holiday like Thanksgiving to reflect on the season as a family.

Sometimes the best midweek reset doesn’t involve screens, schedules, or even spending money—it just takes a notebook and a good walk outdoors. A DIY Nature Journaling activity is a wonderful way for kids (and parents) to slow down, notice the little details around them, and capture what they see.

Here’s how it works: grab a small notebook, sketch pad, or even a handful of blank printer paper clipped to a board. Head to a local trail like the Karl Stirner Arts Trail in Easton or Housenick Park in Bethlehem Township, or just your own backyard. Encourage kids to draw or write about what they observe: leaves starting to change color, a bug crawling along a rock, a bird perched on a branch.

The goal isn’t perfect art or spelling—it’s about pausing and noticing. Over time, you’ll build a little family collection of sketches and notes that show how the seasons shift in Northampton County.

This activity combines creativity, mindfulness, and fresh air—a gentle way to turn an ordinary Wednesday afternoon into something memorable.

Appreciate you spending a few minutes with

The Local Rundown.

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See you soon,

Mark