MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City Borough Councilwoman Diane Rachuk is working with two borough organizations for new American flags along the main street and to bring back an official borough Christmas tree.
Rachuk, who took office in January, raised the ideas during the council’s February meeting during her community development report.
Borough Manager Daniel L. Lynch said the efforts also include keeping the fireworks on or near July 4.
“Council member Rachuk said she is working with the (American Legion Post 74) Ladies Auxiliary to get flags for the downtown area,” Lynch said. “She is also working with the Mahanoy City Social Club in regards to a plan for a new community Christmas tree.”
The social club has been a sponsor since 1937 of the holiday tree that had been located in the parking lot of the former Wachovia Bank. When the property was purchased by Family Dollar, the bank building was demolished in 2014, with the store opening in January 2015. During the construction work, including a new parking lot and landscaping, the tree had been removed.
With the tree gone, a temporary Christmas tree was provided in 2014 and 2015 by the Citizens Fire Company in Mahanoy City so the borough could have its official tree lighting program on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day.
“We’re also still looking to see if we can possibly raise the money to keep the fireworks this year,” Lynch said. The borough fireworks returned after two years through a cooperative effort with the Mahanoy Area School District students.
“We’re still talking with the school. We said we don’t want to abandon the idea,” he said.
In other business, the borough council:
• Approved a request from the American Hose Company No. 3 for permission to close off the 700 and 800 blocks of East Mahanoy Street and Eighth Street from Pine to South streets on June 17 to 19 for the annual bazaar, and approved a request for an exemption from the “Brown Bag Law” and permission to hold a local truck parade on June 17 at 7 p.m.
• Authorized the advertising for the positions of part-time clerk, part-time police officer and part-time seasonal emergency worker.
• Approved the purchase of a replacement code official vehicle not to exceed $7,780.
No specific vehicle has been selected at this time, Lynch said.
“We had an accident with the old vehicle and that’s what we’ll get from the insurance,” Lynch said. “We already got a another vehicle.”
Lynch said that Councilman Louis Huber, a Vietnam War veteran, will hold a veterans outreach every first Monday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. at the borough hall.
“He will assist veterans to direct them to what they may be entitled to,” Lynch said. “He will be just an outreach since he is not certified to directly assist them, but he will guide them. He has the contacts so he’ll get them in touch with the right people.”
Lynch said the council also formed a Veterans Affairs Committee.