The crowd was bundled in gloves and coats Saturday but the community still came together for The Gathering, enjoying the food and entertainment provided at the 12th annual event.

The Venture Group spent a year gathering together local businesses such as Eastern Star and Blue Ridge Cable to sponsor and run the event. Venture Group Director President Nancy Treskot was on hand to run the Chinese auction table that was filled with 50 donated baskets."With the cold and rain I'm surprised how many people showed up," Treskot said as she sold tickets. "The local businesses are working on saving the community. There are a lot of dedicated people out here."The event was held at the covered bridge on Seventh Street. The bridge has become plagued by carpenter bees and will need some heavy repair."The bees have started living in the pillars. First we have to get rid of the bees and then repair the wood," Treskot said.To completely rid the bridge of the bees will be a three-step process. First an exterminator will have to spray the bees before winter, again in the spring and finally the holes will be filled in."We are taking steps to preserve the bridge," she said. The covered bridge construction started in 2001 and finished in 2004. It has been the location of the event every year since The Gathering began.Live music entertained the chilly crowd, pumpkins were painted and food stands that included the Slatedale Lions Club and Pickle Dog were visited.The cold breeze and rain drizzle prevented the Northern Lehigh Community Center's fundraising ducks from racing in the river, but the organization still sold $500 worth of ducks from August right up until the winner was picked at the event."We love the duck race. We came here for this," Walnutport resident Paul Hoffman said.A beer garden was held in the Bier Garden where Miller Lite and Yuengling were poured. Slatington Historical Society member and volunteer Joanne Maher worked on tapping the kegs for the afternoon."I love this event. You get to see a lot of people and I love this community," Maher said. Maher has resided in Slatington for seven years and believes it's important to volunteer. "If you don't volunteer there isn't a community."The venture group runs the annual fundraiser for maintenance on the Slate Heritage Trail. Both Slatington trail heads are now the group's responsibility.This year they will donate a portion of funds raised to the 108th Slatington Halloween Parade that will take place Oct. 31. The parade is still in desperate need of floats to fill the streets for the town. The deadline has been extended, and anyone wishing to have a float can contact the event through their website or Facebook page.