WATSONTOWN -- An area resident has stepped forward to lead a committee to develop plans for a band shell in the borough's park.
Keith Foust, a resident of Delaware Township with many ties to Watsontown, brought his idea to the Borough Council at a committee meeting last week.
He wound up being appointed chairman of a new task force after he presented his idea to build a band shell in the area formerly occupied by the borough's swimming pool. Foust suggested that location since it would not require removal of mature trees and otherwise disrupt the integrity of the park. In addition, the pool locker rooms and concession stand buildings would provide restrooms and storage areas, which were proposed in a previous band-shell concept.
In early January, members of the original band-shell committee resigned after they learned that state grant funds for the Eighth Street Park could not be used to advance the band-shell project. The group had begun raising money through sales of commemorative bricks. While the members recognized that grant funds would be needed for the construction of a band shell, they didn't realize that available grant dollars could not be diverted to their project.
Foust said Monday he envisions the task force including representatives from the community, as well as from the Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, Delaware Township, Warrior Run Area Fire Department, Warrior Run Community Corp. and Watasontown Area Business Association.
"I like the original plan, but I thought we should consider other options," he said. "I just thought it was important to keep the park the way it is."
"I don't want to lose the money already donated," he continued. "I want to involve people who know how to get things done."
Foust said he's open to suggestions and recommendations. Nothing is cast in stone, he said. He said the committee will have to determine how floods might affect the area, which is close to the Susquehanna River. The group also will have to consider how the band shell would be oriented. His original thought was for the band shell to be near the rear of the convenience store, with seating where the pool was. However, he said, the band shell also could face south so the music could heard throughout the park.
"It's a starting point," he said. "My mind is open."
After the original committee members resigned, the Borough Council opened a dedicated bank account for the band-shell project. Funds raised through the brick sales were placed in that account, and new donations are being accepted at the borough office.
Harry Hefty, council vice president, said the council continues to support the band-shell project.
He said that although Karen Bottdorf, a member of the original committee, and Mayor Bob Brown met with state Rep. Merle Phillips about the project, borough officials felt it was more important to complete the Eighth Street Park project before taking on additional projects.
"Eighth Street has been hanging around for years," he said.
The council has amended the Eighth Street application to provide $30,000 for comprehensive planning, which includes the borough's other park.
"I know they (members of the original committee) felt frustration with the process," Hefty said. "But it doesn't matter any more. The band-shell idea has been around for a long time, and now it's going forward."
News
Related Photos
-
Wayne Laepple/The Daily Item
Discussion
Man revives band-shell project
Previous committee members resigned over money woes
- News
-
-
Pen pals become BFFs
NORTHUMBERLAND — More than 40 Valley first-grade students may have found their “best friends forever” on Monday, thanks to a mother-daughter teaching combination.
-
2 of 134 fail Midd-West drug tests
MIDDLEBURG —The Midd-West School District has spent $1,500 this year to conduct drug tests on 134 students as part of a new policy that requires students in extracurricular activities to agree to random testing.
-
Four earn EMS Providers of the Year awards
DANVILLE — More than 50 emergency medical services workers and first responders, including fire and police department personnel, joined together Monday to honor four of their own — winners of the EMS Providers of the Year awards.
-
Police: Boy playing with lighter destroyed barn
PAXINOS — An 8-year-old boy playing with a lighter caused a fire that destroyed a barn Saturday evening along Route 890, state police reported Monday.
-
Fate of Dalmatia, Leck Kill schools to be discussed
MANDATA — After years of back-and-forth discussion by the Line Mountain school board, a community discussion on the fates of the Dalmatia and Leck Kill elementary schools will be held tonight after the board’s regularly scheduled meeting.
-
Police: Ford F-150 pickup truck stolen in Watsontown
WATSONTOWN — Borough police said a Ford F-150 pickup truck was stolen over the weekend.
The truck was parked along East Sixth Street and was last seen Saturday afternoon. Its absence was noticed Sunday afternoon. -
Nursing home exec gets house arrest
MIDDLEBURG — A former Selinsgrove personal care home administrator will spend 23 months on intermediate punishment for pleading no contest to stealing money from an elderly resident.
-
YMCA summer lunch program aids hungry kids
MILTON — More than 8,000 Valley children receive free lunches at school because their families’ household incomes are below 130 percent of the federal poverty level. Come summer, the vast majority of them do not have access to free nutritional meals or do not take advantage of the federal program intended to fill that gap.
-
Tons of pot found floating off Southern California
DANA POINT, Calif. — Authorities say three and a half tons of marijuana have been found floating in the ocean off Southern California.
-
Man becomes third person to survive plunge at Niagara Falls
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A man plunged at least 180 feet over Niagara Falls and survived — only the third person known to have gone over without a safety device and live.
-
Facebook shares plunge today on the stock market
NEW YORK — Facebook Inc. shares plunged on their second day on the stock market today, a black eye for all those involved with the social networking company going public.
The shares fell 13.7% early today to well below the $38 price for the initial public offering, before pulling off the low. -
Take Me Home: Daryll
Daryll is a 45 pound, 6-month-old happy, happy Yellow Lab pup. He loves everyone and everything. Some of his favorites are: playing with the other dogs in his foster home, trying to get the cat to play with him too, car rides, walks, playing in the rain, toys, human laps to sit on, and learning new tricks. He is a fun active dog, who is eager to learn and please, and has a great love of life attitude.
- More News Headlines
-
