Greetings and salutations!

I can’t help but start this month’s message with a heartfelt “thank you” to each and every one who has participated in our Hometown Heroes banner project. The outpouring of banner requests has far exceeded my wildest expectations, and the list continues to grow.

We now have 136 banners in place and 65 more in production, to be hung as soon as possible. With the next phase ready to roll out, are 250 banners out of the question? I think not!

As promised, I open up the doors for friends and families to sponsor Hometown Heroes banners for any police, fire or EMT member who has served the borough of Northampton, past or present, as of March 1. The banners will have a slightly different design and color from our current military banners but will still feature the large photograph and service history of the honoree. The size will remain the same. Each banner is available for $250.

As with the military banners, they will be up for three years, then returned to the sponsor upon removal. Applications are available at our borough hall office during normal business hours or available on our borough website, northamptonboro.com.

Now, for the record, the military-style banners are still available. However, any banner requests must be into the borough hall office by April 30, as I’ll be closing out this project at that time. This gives you plenty of time to get your application into the borough, along with enough time for me to get all of the requests completed and banners in place for our Memorial Day celebration May 29.

I fully expect to have Northampton decked out end to end with banners flying everywhere, memorializing or commemorating all of these heroes who have selflessly served our borough. Please, don’t wait to apply if haven’t yet done so!

Elsewhere in the borough, the new LED streetlight installations march on, to many a mixed review. I’ve heard quite a few opinions, complaints and reviews on the lights, specifically their intrusive brightness. I have shared the highlights (no pun intended) with borough Manager LeRoy Brobst.

We are aware there will be growing pains with such a project. Please remember, first and foremost, the new lights are there for enhanced public safety, along with the cost savings they bring. Brighter lights mean better roadway visibility, reduced criminal activity and safer streets for pedestrians to walk. These are some things I think we can all get behind.

Speaking of safety, two more police officers recently volunteered to serve on our bike patrol. With these two additions, it brings our bicycle force up to five officers, circulating throughout borough parks and streets, especially with backwoods and off-road calls when necessary.

If you have yet to check out our livestreamed borough council meetings, now’s a great time to start. You can easily join into the meetings by going to YouTube and searching Northampton Borough Council.

With the recent audio upgrades and crystal-clear visuals, we’ve made it all the more convenient for you to stay abreast of how council is governing on your behalf. Tune in!

Lastly, I congratulate our newly elected borough council President Judith Kutzler, the first woman to hold that position in borough history, and to Sandra Sayuk, just elected to serve as 4th Ward councilwoman. I look forward to working with both of these fine councilwomen, bringing new and exciting initiatives to the forefront in building a better Northampton for all.

Take care, everyone. Enjoy these longer, sunnier days.