5 Things to Know Today

Good morning Bethlehem. Today is Friday, September 23, 2011. Happy 62nd birthday to The Boss, Bruce Springsteen. Here comes the weekend.

1. Today may be the first official day of fall, but it won’t feel much like autumn at all. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for our area, with a likelihood of some two inches of rain and perhaps as much as five inches of rain. The Monocacy Creek, which has , could overspill its banks yet again before we are through. The flood watch continues until Saturday.
2. All that rain and the potential for flooding is not good news for the Celtic Cultural Alliance, which is preparing for its 24th Annual Celtic Classic Festival and Highland Games, scheduled to start this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in the traditional festival grounds downtown near the Monocacy’s banks. Highland Field events scheduled include the Haggis Eating Contest and a Border Collie demonstration. There are also indoor music events planned at Foy Hall and the . The events are free. Perhaps they will enjoy the luck of the Irish and the weather will not be nearly as bad as the forecasters predict.
3. It’s a night of free music at PNC Plaza at as the Dan Wilkins Duo, jazz with saxophone and guitar, takes the stage at 6 p.m. The Defending Champions, from Verona, N.J., go on at 9 p.m. to play their own brand of reggae, rock and soul.
4. The scions of three legends of jazz – The Coryell, Auger, Sample Trio – play shows at the Zoellner Arts Center at 7 and 9 p.m. The performance and seating will all be contained on the intimate setting of the Baker Hall stage. Tickets are $27.
5. Weather permitting, the Friday night lights will be on at the Bethlehem Area School District Stadium for the 2-1 Hurricanes who host the undefeated Whitehall Zephyrs in another key Lehigh Valley Conference matchup. The undefeated Patriots visit Emmaus to play the 2-1 Hornets; the 2-1 Golden Hawks go to Allentown for the second straight week, this time to play the winless Dieruff Huskies; and the Crusaders, still looking for their first win, host the undefeated Bangor Slaters in Colonial League action. All games start at 7 p.m.