With daylight saving time on our calendar this weekend, can spring be far behind? I think not!

I got a head start, spending a very enjoyable day bike riding on our D&L Canal Park Trail this past Sunday. Most of my ride was spent happily introducing myself and welcoming all of the trail-goers I encountered.

To say they were a happy group would be an understatement. Many were glad just to be out enjoying the warm day, knowing the slush and cold of winter may soon be history.

As I traveled, I took some inventory of who is using the trail. In the end, I enjoyed hearing from the 57 persons I encountered. Surprisingly, only 21 were from the borough, and 36 trail users visited us from out of town, telling me how much they enjoy the scenery and ease of walking the trail.

Needless to say, it was also an educational experience for me, listening to many requests and suggestions for park improvements and added amenities. For my part as mayor, priorities include repaving the trail from the Cementon bridge down to the Hokendauqua Creek bridge, getting a very attractive welcome center built on the north end of the park and planting the monarch butterfly gardens and additional floral gardens throughout the park.

Not only as a recreational area, I certainly see the trail as an economic engine for our business community, with our visitors taking advantage of the amenities and services our local business community provides. I found that of those coming from out of town, a few were already planning to patronize one of our local business establishments after their walk or bike ride. Quite a nice extra the trail brings.

I know this sounds like a long list, but with the strong game plan I’m introducing, along with borough council’s blessings and the encouragement of the many I’ve heard from who’d like to help out and make this a reality, I know we can make Canal Street Park an engaging attraction and destination for those who love the great outdoors and the relaxation a trip along the picturesque Lehigh River brings.

Next, coming to smartphones near you - GOGov is on its way! GOGov is an application, exclusively for your cellphone, allowing you to receive boroughwide push notifications regarding traffic or snow emergencies, road closures, upcoming events or any other borough happening of importance.

Named “My Northampton,” this initiative, led by Assistant to the Borough Manager Brian Welsko, is planned to be up and running around mid-March. There is absolutely no charge for this application, available through your play store or app store, depending on which type of phone you’re using.

Brian tells me the app is quick and easy to use, with no need to set up an account. You simply go into your app store, find My Northampton and download it to your phone. From there, you can choose which notifications to download, suited to your own personal requirements. Download just one, all or any combination of the choices listed, as it’s all up to your specific personal preferences.

I can’t wait to download mine, knowing this will be a great informational vehicle, enhancing our borough’s abilities to communicate to our citizens in a very timely manner.

Now, along with our junior councilman Mason Smolenak, this Thursday will be the launch of the next phase of our Northampton Hometown Heroes project. That phase is the extended version of the banners, featured on the upcoming Northampton Hometown Heroes Facebook and Instagram pages.

With Mason and our school advisers, the ever- helpful Rebecca Wagner and Gretchen Troxell leading an enthusiastic group of Northampton Area High School student volunteers, the students have been contacting families or sponsors of the banners for some additional background on each hero. From these interviews, I hope to more humanize them beyond just a photograph on a banner.

Each posting will feature the hero’s banner, a few interesting facts about their likes and life in Northampton, along with an inset map showing where the specific banner is located.

As I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside these most-talented students, I’ve seen firsthand how they’ve been touched by the stories and history lessons they’ve learned from these interviews, even to the point of tears. I know history might not be the most important subject taught in schools anymore, but I do know these upfront and personal history lessons the students are receiving from their interviewees are far more inspirational than they’ll ever receive in a classroom.

I consider this phase of the project a complete success. Stay tuned, and we’ll get this launched shortly!

In the meantime, come on, spring!