Punxutawney Phil

I hope everyone has taken a deep breath and recovered from my comments about our favorite groundhog. If anyone wants to talk more about this subject I'm ready to listen. Mike Johnston, V.P. of Punxsutawney's Groundhog Club, got a kick out of the whole affair and agreed my comments were blown way out of proportion by the P.O. While he assured me it isn't necessary, he has graciously accepted my apology.

LANDLORD LICENSING

Considering the interest generated in this topic I've created a new Topic for the Blog. There are already a few comments on this subject under Open Comments. Please use this Topic to post comments on my proposal to require landlords to control the nuisance behavior of their tenants.

Nativity Scene on the Square

As many of you are aware Borough Council recently decided to require the creche be removed from the Fountain Square. While I didn't get to vote I support the Council's decision. Supreme Court decisions have made it clear that a religious display on public property is illegal unless it is part of a larger, non-religious presentation. In order to allow the creche to remain Council would have had to open the Fountain Square to the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Believers "Winter Solstice" sign as well as any other signs or displays that groups wanted to put up. As a result of Council's decision the creche was moved less than 100 feet to the front of Central Presbyterian Church and the Fountain Square was preserved as a memorial to those killed in our nation's wars.

Open Comments

Folks,

It looks like we need an "Open Comments" posting so you can post comments that don't relate to anything we've discussed before. If it turns out that we get a lot of comments regarding a new topic then we'll add a new Posting but for now just place comments that don't relate to any other topics under this Post. Thanks.

Mayor L.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

We are all concerned with the impact of illegal immigration on our community. I look forward to hearing your concerns, clearing up any misconceptions, and explaining what we are, and aren't, doing in the Borough to address this issue.

Mayor L.

AMENDMENT TO LIQUOR CONTROL ORDINANCE

WOLFE LAKE

Regarding a recent blog about the area around what was once Wolfe Lake. Unfortunately, the Wolfe Lake Dam was removed a few years ago and Wolfe Lake is no more. I understand that about 10 years ago Dick Leisher, former President of the U..S Chamber of Commerce, had hoped to restore the Lake to it early 20th century glory but funding was not available and the idea fell through. For now there are no plans to improve or revitalize the area. However, as times change and the area available for development within the Borough shrinks, a developer with deep pockets might consider locating there. Be aware however, that the area is also in the floodplain and new construction could be significantly constrained.

Mayor L.