5 Things to Know Today

Good morning Bethlehem. Today is Thursday, December 1, 2011. And it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

1. Today is World AIDS Day. Locally, that is being commemorated at the with a daylong conference, featuring an array of expert speakers. The conference is sponsored by the and the Allentown Health Bureau. Office of Institutional Diversity is organizing a commemoration involving the formation of a 200-person, or more, awareness ribbon on the quad behind the Haupert Union Building at 11:45 a.m. Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are invited to participate. If you do, wear a red shirt. At 4 p.m., Dawn Breedon, an HIV-positive motivational speaker and the author of Remember to Breathe speaks at 4 p.m. in the HUB’s UBC Room.
2. CareerLink of the Lehigh Valley, 1601 Union Boulevard, Allentown, is hosting two job fairs. The first, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is for UDS Angels At Your Service, a full-service, personal care, cleaning and handyman service providing help to seniors, professionals, people with physical or other disabilities, those recovering from an injury or surgery, new moms and anyone who needs a little help with everyday household tasks. They are looking for handymen, housecleaners and personal care associates. Berks & Beyond Employment Services is looking for seasonal warehouse employees. Apply in person at that job fair between 12:30 and 4 p.m.
3. is open today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the campus. The holiday market, featuring artisan crafts, food, music and Santa Claus, are under the tents in the parking lot just west of the old blast furnaces. Single day admission is $8. When the market ends, check out the Lehigh Valley’s own improvisational comedy troupe, The Associated Mess, and its Christmas Movie Re-Dub Show at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas inside the center. They’ll take scenes from classic Christmas movies, mute the sound, and improvise hilarious dialogue. Tickets are $8 and $5 for ArtsQuest members.
4. on Main Street returns for a sixth season tonight. At 5 p.m. sharp, the front door of the 1810 Goundie House, 505 Main St., will open with a holiday surprise – entertainment, treats or both, courtesy of a Bethlehem-based business – for those who gather around. will be the first presenter. The will run daily through December 23.
5. returns to the for its 12th season tonight at 8 p.m. The seasonal variety show features live music, whimsical characters, seasonal sentiment and a lot of laughs. The traditional show takes a look at the holiday season and the past year in the Christmas City, sometimes with a satirical eye. Part of the tradition holds that a local celebrity guest joins the cast each night. Mayor John Callahan and WFMZ-TV morning anchor Eve Tannery are expected to be among those participants this season. Tickets for each show are $25 and $15 for seniors and students.