Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The town has gradually taken on the Christmas season glow, an uplifting addition to these sun-shortened days.

Starting with the lighting of our borough Christmas tree this past Saturday, I want to acknowledge the added effort by borough Manager LeRoy Brobst and our fine public works personnel in managing to squeeze the lighting in between two very rainy Sundays.

As you know, the first date of Nov. 26 was a washout and was rescheduled for Dec. 3. That day’s forecast looked no better than the previous week’s, so a last-minute audible was called. The lighting moved ahead a day to Dec. 2, and all in all, it was a success. The lighting was a well-attended, dry, festive affair, with many families enjoying the beautiful tree and Santa’s visit, with our fire department serving as his escort.

I also extend a “thank you” to everyone who is decorating their homes, big and small, for livening up our borough during this season. It’s a real pleasure to drive around town and see the vast array of lights and seasonal decorations adorning many lawns and rooftops.

I’m always impressed by the creativity of our citizens. This year, it looks like you’ve taken the designs and volume of lights to a whole new level. Well done, Northampton!

During this season of giving, please remember the Northampton Area Food Bank when making your Christmas donations. Unfortunately, we still have members of our community who are unable to make ends meet, and the food bank and its volunteers have been a blessing and a much-needed life line.

No one should have anxiety over whether or not their family will have a nice Christmas meal, so let’s do our part and be sure the food bank has the resources to provide for all of our citizens who are in need. Thank you.

Now, I am very happy to announce that this week, I, along with a group of our high school students, will begin the next phase of the Northampton Hometown Heroes project.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ll be opening a Facebook and Instagram page dedicated to our Hometown Heroes. The pages will feature a Hometown Hero of the Day starting in February. The page will include a photo of the hero and their banner, a few informational and homespun highlights and insights about the person and an inset map as to where the banner is located.

To do this, with the help of Northampton Area School District Volunteer Club adviser Becky Wagner, we’ve put together a committee of very bright and energetic students to contact the banner sponsors and initiate a conversation about the hero and what informational tidbits the sponsor would like to include on the page.

My intent for this project is to get everyone to know the hero a little bit better than just a photo on a banner, to further humanize them and show how they all had ambitions, hobbies and likes in life, just as you and I have. The students also look forward to this project as a learning experience as they hear the stories behind of the lives of the men and women who so selflessly served our county.

The student committee, chaired by our own junior borough Councilman Mason Smolenak, is more than eager to get started. So, if you are a sponsor of a Northampton Hometown Heroes banner, look forward to a call from one of the student volunteers.

I do want to make it crystal clear that cooperating in this conversation is completely voluntary on your part as a sponsor. This is only meant to be an enjoyable conversation for you to brag about your hero and let us know about their wonderful attributes and how much they meant to you and our community.

I will also be on hand to assist the students, if necessary, to answer additional questions, but I am fully confident in their ability to successfully and professionally handle these calls, bringing forth the most interesting stories into this project. Onward and upward for our heroes.

Now, as the days seem to move all the faster as we approach Christmas, I wish each and every one of you peace and a most enjoyable time of preparation, decorating, baking and continuing all the great Northampton traditions we learned from our parents and grandparents, along with all the joy this season brings.

From me, as your mayor and neighbor, to you and your family - Merry Christmas!