“What’s Happening in Luzerne”

MAY 2020

      LUZERNE BOROUGH MEETINGS

Council Work Session – Canceled

Council Monthly  Meeting – Wednesday, May 13, 2020 7:00 pm

Meeting will be held outdoors in front of Borough Building with Chairman and Solicitor only in attendance. Remaining Council will participate via teleconference.

Public is welcome to attend.  Everyone is asked to stay a safe distance of 6′ apart.  At present, the only topics on the agenda are approval of the monthly reports. Council will take questions of extreme importance only and ask they be kept at a minimum.

Luzerne Borough Building – The Luzerne Borough Building remains on lock down to the public for the safety of our employees,  police officers and their families.  Any questions, please call 570-287-7633 during the business hours of Monday thru Thursday 9 am to 3 pm

Memorial Day Service – It is with sad heart that Luzerne Borough will not hold a Veterans Memorial Day Service this year.  Veterans Banners will be hung throughout town as always.  Anyone wishing to place flowers at the memorial in honor of a loved one may do so by placing their pot of flowers at the large headstone. Big thank you to Natalie Goodman, Frank & Tommy of the Luzerne Borough Street Dept. and anyone else who may assist in the hard work and loving care maintaining the Veterans Memorial grounds.

Yard Waste – Borough Street Dept would like to remind everyone of the following:  No plastic bags accepted – open containers and paper bags only – 30 lb weight limit – No rocks or stones – No dog waste – No feces at all – shrubs and branches must be cut to at least 3 ft and tied.

Luzerne Borough Planning/Zoning Workshop– postponed indefinitely

All meetings are open to the public and held at the Luzerne Borough Building, 144 Academy Street, Luzerne, Pa 18709

TODAY THE ONE THING EVERYONE CAN DO TO ASSIST THE FIGHT AGAINST THE CORONA VIRUS: 

FILL OUT THE CENSUS!

2020 Census Matters More Than Ever

  Completing your 2020 United States Census is now more important than ever for the future of Northeast Pennsylvania. In general, the Census helps determine the amount of federal funding our local municipalities and the County receive, which while always crucial will play an even larger role now as the area recovers from the COVID-19 crisis gripping the nation.

Why It Matters
Each census response from the community has the potential to help the area move forward from our current crisis, while ensuring that Luzerne County and its municipalities can meet the needs of its residents over the next ten years. Here is a breakdown of how powerful taking the time to complete the census can be:

• Each person counted equals $2,100 in federal funding each year for a variety of federal projects, including:  social programs, infrastructure, roads, prisons, schools and parks. 
• If we miss just 500 people county-wide, that comes out to over $1 million per year, and $10 million total until the next census
• Additionally, the census can decide how the concerns of Luzerne County residents are heard in Washington, D.C. since it helps determine Electoral College votes and congressional districts

Be Counted
While April 1^st is considered Census Day, responses will be collected over the next several months, but the earlier the response the better. When you respond to the census, count everyone living in your home as of April 1^st. There are several options available to complete your census:

·         Online– Visit www.2020census.gov .

·         By Phone– Call 844-330-2020. Phone lines are open every day from 7am to 2am Eastern Time.

·         By mail– All homes will receive a paper questionnaire if they do not first respond online or by phone. Simply fill out form and return it via mail.

Useful Links

• Track the response rate in your community in real time: https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html
• For questions on who should be counted and language support visit: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond.html