Lehigh Valley News Digest: October 15-22, 2026

This digest rounds up five community, business, and development stories from the past week in the Lehigh Valley, covering Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth, and surrounding communities in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Each story below includes a two-sentence summary and a link to the full article as published by the original outlet.

All five stories were verified against their original reporting on October 22, 2026. Headlines follow the articles as published; external sites may adjust titles over time. This digest focuses on community, business, and development news and intentionally omits crime and political coverage.

1. Greenlight Networks Expands Fiber Internet Into Easton

Greenlight Networks announced an investment of more than $20 million to expand its fiber-to-the-home internet network into Easton, Pennsylvania, and Phillipsburg, New Jersey, with construction already underway. The company expects its initial Easton City neighborhoods to become serviceable in early 2027, with the network positioned to reach tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the eastern Lehigh Valley.

Full article: "Greenlight Networks talks expansion in the Lehigh Valley," Lehigh Valley Business, October 21, 2026

2. Lehigh County Authority Rebrands as LCA WaterWorks

The Lehigh County Authority announced that it is rebranding as LCA WaterWorks and that it secured $15.44 million in PENNVEST funding, including an $8.2 million grant, for the replacement of lead service lines in Allentown. The utility serves communities across Lehigh County, and the award supports a large-scale lead service line replacement program for the city.

Full article: "Lehigh County Authority rebrands as LCA WaterWorks," Lehigh Valley Business, October 19, 2026

3. Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem Returns for Its 34th Year

ArtsQuest announced that the 34th annual Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem will run November 13 through December 20, 2026, at the SteelStacks campus, with more than 200 artisans from 18 states and Scotland. The holiday market will double its heated igloos from four to eight and add new attractions in Winter Wonderland and the Holiday Pop-Up Artist Market after a record 2025 season that drew 145,552 visitors.

Full article: "See what's new this year at the 34th Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem," The Morning Call, October 21, 2026

4. Banana Ball Returns to Jefferson Park in Allentown in 2027

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs announced that Banana Ball will return to their home ballpark, Jefferson Park in Allentown, in 2027, with the Firefighters and Indianapolis Clowns scheduled for May 7-8, 2027. Fans can enter a ticket lottery, open through October 31, 2026, for the two games at the ballpark that takes on the Jefferson Park name effective with the 2027 season.

Full article: "Banana Ball Returns to Jefferson Park in 2027!" Lehigh Valley IronPigs / MiLB.com, October 15, 2026

5. The UPS Store Opens New Fogelsville Location

A new The UPS Store location is now open at 7751 Glenlivet Drive West, Suite 106, in the Fogelsville area of Upper Macungie Township, occupying the former site of a jewelry store. The store provides packing, shipping, printing, and mailbox services for residents and businesses in the western Lehigh Valley.

Full article: "New location of The UPS Store now open at former jewelry store site in the Lehigh Valley," WFMZ-TV 69 News, October 19, 2026

About This Digest

This is the weekly Lehigh Valley news digest for the communities featured on this site, including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth, and the surrounding Lehigh and Northampton County areas. A fresh edition posts each week covering community, business, and development news, and each story links to the full article at the original source.

If you are following the local market as well as the local news, the October 2026 housing market update has the latest numbers, and the full blog covers events, trails, farmers markets, and market reports across the Lehigh Valley.

About Tim Tepes

Tim Tepes is a Pennsylvania Licensed Associate Broker and REALTOR® with more than 36 years of experience serving the Lehigh Valley. He is the founder of Tim Tepes Real Estate LLC, affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate Cassidon Realty, and has helped more than 2,000 clients buy, sell, and invest in real estate since 1990. He specializes in residential resale, new construction, investment properties, probate and estate sales, downsizing, and small multifamily assets across Northampton, Lehigh, and Carbon Counties.

Tim Tepes, Broker Associate

Phone: (484) 275-0056
Email: timtepes@gmail.com
Website: timtepes.com
Schedule a Consultation: https://calendly.com/timtepes/30min

Tim Tepes is a licensed Associate Broker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PA License #AB062628L), affiliated with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Cassidon Realty, and a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS (GLVR). Equal Housing Opportunity. REALTOR®.