Bethlehem Press

Beginning Jan. 2, the Bethlehem Area Public Library is trimming hours and reducing staff costs due to budget constraints. The library will assume an additional $230,000 in expenses for 2013 due to the loss of subsidies by the City of Bethlehem.

Here is a sampling of the topics to be addressed at the Shakespeare Theatre Association Conference:

Jan. 7: "Shakespeare's Geography of Thought," Lisa Wolpe, Globe International Theatre Fellow, Actor, Director, Playwright

Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company

Jan. 8: "New World Shakespeare," Terry OBrien, Founding Artistic Director, Hudson Valley Shakespeare

Jan. 9: "Original Practices and the Actor-Audience Connection," Laura Cole, Director of Education and Training, Atlanta Shakespeare Co.

Ziegels Union Church celebrates Christmas.

Traditions of Hanover Independent Living is holding "Taste of the Holidays" Open House, 2 - 4 p.m. Dec. 30, 5300 Northgate Drive, Bethlehem, near Wegman's, off Route 512.

Feast on culinary treats created by Traditions chefs and listen to holiday classics performed by the Old Towne Carolers, classical pianist Evelyn Michaels, and harpist Rebecca Simpson. Prizes will be offered.

"After the busy holiday season, guests are invited to relax, enjoy memorable entertainment and take a tour," said Rosalind Haglund, Traditions executive director.

The Thomas Fun Room is open through Jan. 13, Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum, 432 W. Walnut St., Allentown.

The 3,000-square-foot exhibit re-creates the era when railroads were king.

The display includes 50 enlarged images of Lehigh Valley Railroad steam locomotives.

Information: lehighvalleyheritagemuseum.org, 610-435-1074

KidsPeace has announced that John G. Lees, LSW, has joined the organization as Executive Director of KidsPeace Psychiatric Hospital on the Orchard Hills Campus, Orefield, North Whitehall Township.

Lees' duties will include overseeing all aspects of the hospital's operations including, staffing, program development and quality of patient care.

Prior to joining KidsPeace, Lees spent nine years with Magellan Health Services, first as a Child and Adolescent Care Manager and more recently as Child and Adolescent Care Management Supervisor.

J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc. (JGPCO) has announced that Martin K. Till has joined the firm as Regional President. His principal responsibility will be in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia region.

Till spent the past four years as President to PennJersey Advance, New Providence, N. J.He was Chief Executive for three regional media companies: the Lehigh Valley Media Group, South Jersey Media Group and NJN Publishing.

For 14 years he was the Publisher for The Express Times- Lehigh Valley Media Group, Easton.

The annual Holiday Train Exhibit continues through Dec. 30, America On Wheels (AOW) Museum, 5 N. Front St., Allentown.

AOW holds its New Year's Eve Day-Time Party noon - 3 p.m..Dec. 29.

The holiday exhibit of pedal cars continues through Dec. 31. Children may get behind the wheel at "Pedal Place."

Information: americaonwheels.org, 610-432-4200, x16

Six Lehigh Valley-based filmmakers were honored with awards for their work during the second-annual Greater Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Festival (GLVFF), which took place Nov. 2 - 4 at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks. The awards were presented Nov. 4 at the conclusion of the festival, which featured more than 25 different shorts and feature films produced by filmmakers from throughout the region.

The 2012 GLVFF award winners are:

Best Feature: "Wallowitch & Ross: This Moment," Richard Morris, Bethlehem

Gather your peeps, as in family and friends, for PeepsFest, returning for its fourth year Dec. 30 and 31, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.

The event, for which most activities are free, features two days of live music, arts and Peeps-related programming, culminating at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 31 with the dropping of a 4.5 - foot tall, 85 - pound, lit Peeps Chick and fireworks to welcome in the New Year.