By Terry Ahner

Tahner@tnonline.com

Worried that the coronavirus may throw a monkey wrench into your Independence Day plans?

Despite the presence of COVID-19, there are still ways to celebrate the holiday safely without entirely having to put the kibosh to your Fourth of July activities.

While there’s no doubt Fourth of July celebrations will look a little different this year, that doesn’t totally have to rule out traditional activities such as pools, picnics and fireworks.

Provided they are comfortable doing so, people can still partake in those pursuits safely by practicing the recommended social distancing guidelines that say to stay 6 feet apart and to wear face masks.

Locally, there are several endeavors people can engage themselves in this holiday weekend.

Those in the mood for a swim can take a dip in Baer Memorial Swimming Pool in Lehighton, which has been open since June 13.

However, memberships and day passes are limited to Lehighton area residents only.

For those who have an existing out-of-town membership, the borough will honor the pass along with issuing memberships of previous out-of-town members. There will be no new memberships or day passes issued for out-of-town residents.

Meanwhile, the pool in Palmerton Memorial Park was scheduled to open Thursday, but is only open to season members this summer because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Additionally, the pool won’t be able to accommodate daily memberships upon its opening; all special events for the season have also been canceled; and swim lessons will not be held.

Also, those who aren’t in the Palmerton Area School District and who haven’t purchased a season pass in the recent past will not be able to buy one this year either.

Picnics can still be held, though AccuWeather recommends that they be held in your backyard or a neighborhood green space, rather than a popular park or tourist area that is more likely to be crowded.

According to AccuWeather, the safest way to enjoy a picnic and still practice social distancing is to picnic with other people in your household.

Those who invite guests to their household should be sure to set up at least 6 feet apart and refrain from sharing food or utensils.

AccuWeather also recommends to clean up after the picnic is over, and to aim to leave things better than they were found.

While pools are refreshing and picnics can be reinvigorating, the sight of fireworks can be exhilarating.

Fortunately, fireworks will go off when the Lehighton Downtown Initiative holds its fifth annual Lehighton fireworks.

The event is being sponsored by the Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, and spectators can see fireworks that will be launched from the rear parking lot of the Lehighton Outdoor Center.

Although no events or public gatherings can be held at this time, the community will be able to enjoy the show from their homes, backyards or the comfort of their own vehicles should they choose to park in a public parking lot.

The LDI was asked to run the Lehighton Fireworks by the Lehighton Parks & Rec Board, according to Ryan Saunders, president of the LDI, who added the LDI asks that patrons view this year’s fireworks as the “light at the end of the tunnel.”

So, while it’s still possible to enjoy these conventional activities this Fourth of July, the manner in which we partake in them will by all accounts be unconventional.