Delmont officials receive 1st American Relief plan payment

Delmont officials will tuck away their first payment of federal American Relief Plan funding until they decide how they’d like to spend it.

The borough received roughly $132,000 in federal covid relief funds, a partial payment that will be completed next year.

Council President Andrew Shissler said the money will be placed into an interest-generating savings account as council navigates the restrictions placed on the money.

“That way we can set it aside until we know what we want to do with it,” Shissler said.

In addition to mitigating financial losses related to the pandemic, the money is able to be used for infrastructure projects, according to solicitor Dan Hewitt.

“Roads, water, broadband, those types of projects,” he said.

‘Family Fun Night’

The Delmont Recreation Board will host an Aug. 21 “Family Fun Night” at Newhouse Park.

The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with live music from the Phisbins, followed by a showing of the 1987 comedy “Harry and the Hendersons” after dusk. Food will be available from the Steel City Chimney food truck, and the Delmont Public Library officials will be on hand to do a craft project with children prior to the movie.

The public is invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the film, and the concession stand at Newhouse Park will be open with drinks, popcorn and candy.

Apple’n Arts update

Delmont Apple’n Arts Festival organizers have secured a sponsor to help fund shuttle buses in and out of the festival grounds, according to organizing committee member Brandy Walters.

Walters said members of the Fort Allen Antique Farm Equipment Association are putting together a group to operate the century-old apple press at the Shields Farm property and create the apple cider that regularly has customers lined up.

Organizers are also working with members of the Delmont-Salem Rotary and the Delmont Visionary Committee. Walters said they are waiting to hear back from food vendors.

“A lot of the times they’ll wait until the deadline and then all jump in,” Walters said. “And they have to carry insurance for events, so a lot of them probably don’t want to pay that insurance until they have to, in case we would be forced to cancel.”

The festival is slated for Oct. 2-3, 2021 at Shields Farm.