MOSCOW BOROUGH NEWSLETTER
JULY 2008

BOROUGH OFFICE

LANDLORDS:  Landlords are reminded to provide all tenants with a copy of this newsletter.  If you would like your tenants to be on a mailing list to receive the newsletter directly please contact the Borough Office at 842-1699. 

HOMEOWNERS/BUSINESS OWNERS:  Please see that all members of your household or employees of your business are aware of this newsletter.

MOSCOW BOROUGH OFFICE HOURS:  The Moscow Borough Office hours are Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

E-MAIL ADDRESSES/TELEPHONE NUMBERS:  Moscow Borough’s e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are as follows:

COUNCILMEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD:  Art Pencek, President of Moscow Borough Council, was recently nominated for the Pennsylvania State Association of Borough’s Councilmember Association “Outstanding Councilmember of the Year” Award by Borough employees and council members.  Art was chosen as the recipient of the award from eastern Pennsylvania and was presented the award at a luncheon at the 97th Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs on June 10, 2008.  This award recognizes individuals for their faithful and effective service by elected and appointed borough officials.  Art became a member of Moscow Borough Council in 1978 and has been President since 1990.  In his role as council president, Art does not allow the involvement of any type of partisan politics, but instead, requires all council members to work for the betterment of our town.  He has weighed the individual wishes of the citizens with the Borough’s ability to deliver services, always treating residents with respect and concern.  We are all very proud of Art and consider the award well deserved!

VOTING:  Absentee ballot applications and voter registration forms can be picked up at the Moscow Borough Office.

PARKS:  Moscow Borough recently received a recreation grant from Senator Mellow’s office and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in the amount of $30,000.00.  Funds for this grant are being used to finish Centennial Park, improve the fencing and parking areas at Golden Park, and to put regulation signs up at all four Borough parks. 

BUTTERFLY GARDEN:  As one of the Borough’s Centennial events, Dan Schilling in cooperation with the North Pocono Public Library, established a butterfly garden at the Moscow Borough Building.  Please stop by and enjoy this beautiful area. 

ZONING ORDINANCE:  Moscow Borough Council adopted a revised zoning ordinance on June 2, 2008 based on new technology, and growth and development within the Borough.  The ordinance may be reviewed in the Borough Office or purchased for $15.00. 

ELECTION OFFICIALS:  John Glaser, the Borough’s Judge of Elections, has moved out of the Borough, therefore a replacement is needed.  If you are interested in being the Judge of Elections, please contact the Borough Office.

PHOTOGRAPHS:  The Borough has accumulated an extensive collection of old photographs of people and places in the Borough.  We are looking for individuals interested in organizing and framing these photos.  Please call the Borough Office if interested.  This would be a great community service project for anyone looking for service hours. 

POLICE DEPARTMENT

SEE IT, HEAR IT, REPORT IT:  The Police Department would again like to remind you that if you observe or hear anything suspicious, or if you need immediate assistance, you should IMMEDIATELY call 911 or 342-9111.  If it is a non-emergency, call the Police Department Office at 842-2061. 

FOUND PROPERTY:  Check with the Police Department for any found property such as bicycles, outdoor planters, statues, etc.

PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY:   Please use caution when driving through the crosswalk areas on Main and Church Streets as the pedestrians in crosswalks have the right of way and motorists are required to stop their vehicles and permit pedestrians to cross the street.   This is a law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.   

IDENTITY THEFT PRESENTATION:  The North Pocono Rotary, in conjunction with the Moscow Borough Police Department, is sponsoring a program on identity theft at the Moscow Borough Building on September 18, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.  The program will include a representative from a document and PC shredding company, two local insurance agents, and a presentation by Police Chief Ivy Brenzel, to offer all sides to this problem and some solutions.   The program is open to the public.   

SECURITY CHECKS:  If you would like to have security checks performed while you are away please call the Police Department at 842-2061.

MOTORIZED SCOOTERS/ATV’S/DIRT BIKES:  Motorized scooters, ATV’s or dirt bikes are not permitted on any sidewalks or roadways in Moscow Borough.  They are only permitted on private property.

DOGS:  This is a reminder that Moscow Borough has an ordinance in place pertaining to animal defecation and barking, and requires that all dogs be leashed at all times.  The Borough has been receiving complaints from residents regarding dogs defecating on their personal property and roaming unleashed.  This is a reminder that all dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their own dogs and not allowing them to bark excessively or roam unleashed.
 
SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS NEEDED:  The Moscow Borough Police Department, along with the North Pocono School District, employs five part-time school crossing guards who are presently deployed at five locations in the Borough.  The crossing guards are vital in ensuring that school age children are protected from the hazards of crossing our busy roadways in their daily travels to and from school.  If you would like more information on becoming a school crossing guard for the 2008/2009 school year, contact Chief Ivy Brenzel of the Moscow Borough Police Department.

PARKING ON SIDEWALKS:  No one should be parking on sidewalks anywhere in the Borough.  All vehicles must be parked along the roadway or in driveways.

STREET DEPARTMENT

STREET PAVING PROJECT:   Moscow Borough will be paving New and Lincoln Streets, doing major drain work in Stephens Heights, and road patching throughout the Borough.  The street sweeping has been delayed due to circumstances beyond the Borough’s control; however, we are still planning on street sweeping sometime in the near future.

YARD WASTE:   The yard waste program is available for residents only and not for contractors that are hired to provide a service to you.  Yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, plants, and small branches (no longer than 8’ or wider than 6” in diameter) only are permitted, and does NOT include large branches or logs and is not meant for tree removal, only tree trimming of smaller branches.  Please do not leave bags, cardboard or any other type of containers in the yard waste drop off area. This area is monitored by security cameras so anyone caught disposing of inappropriate materials will be fined accordingly.

RECYCLING:  Please be reminded that the following items are not recyclable: cereal, tissue and pizza boxes, plastic bags, and styrofoam.  Corrugated cardboard only is recyclable and must be kept dry and separate from the other paper products.    

TREES ON BOROUGH RIGHT OF WAY:   Property owners are responsible for trimming and maintaining all trees on their property including the ones located on Borough right-of-way.  For those residents that have sidewalks, you should be reminded that any trees adjacent to the sidewalks must be trimmed so that anyone walking on the sidewalk is able to do so in a safe manner.  Please take a few minutes to check any trees near sidewalks to be sure that the branches do not interfere with anyone walking beneath them.

BOROUGH EVENTS

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT:  The next two meetings of the National Night Out Committee will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2008 and Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 7:00 p.m., immediately following the Centennial Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m.  Volunteers are always welcome!

National Night Out 2008 will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2008.  We are again encouraging everyone to hold block parties on Monday, August 4, 2008.  Please contact the Borough Office to complete a registration form so that we will know where the parties will be held.  As in the past, the Mayor, council members and other Borough employees will visit each block party. 

The theme for the poster and essay contests for 2008 is “Be a Superhero in Your Neighborhood”.   The poster contest is open to children ages 15 and under and must be submitted to the Moscow Borough Office by July 30, 2008.  The essay contest is open to children between the ages of 10 and 18 and must also be submitted to the Moscow Borough Office by July 30, 2008.  Each essay should be between 50 and 300 words.  All entries for both contests must include the following information on the BACK of the submission: name, address, phone number, and age of participant.  We would ask that you encourage your children to participate in both of these activities.  Prizes will be awarded for both contests on the evening of National Night Out.

A copy of the National Night Out program for 2008 will be mailed separately in the very near future.  Please note that all the activities that are scheduled for the afternoon and evening will take place at Centennial Park across from the Borough Building and at open houses at local businesses.  This is a wonderful opportunity for you and your children to meet other residents of the Borough.  Some of the activities this year include a magician, car show, and Froggy 101.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT:  As part of National Night Out we are again asking residents or businesses to donate items for an emergency preparedness kit to be raffled off on National Night Out.  Anyone interested in making any type of donation, whether monetary or supplies, can call the Borough Office or Police Office.  Some of the supplies needed are batteries, first aid kit, flashlight, small tool kit, phone cards, soap, blanket, hand sanitizer, toothbrush and toothpaste, toiletries, battery powered radio, duct tape, garbage bags, paper towels, over the counter medications, whistle, etc. 

CENTENNIAL:  Upcoming Centennial events include:

July 25th – Deadline extended for “Images of Moscow” photo entries (see North Pocono Cultural Society)
August 23rd – Borough Wide Yard Sales/Garage Sales – all residents are welcome to participate.  Each individual household will be responsible for posting their own signs.  The Borough will advertise in The Villager and Times/Tribune that there will be Borough wide yard sales from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
September 14th – Walking Tour of Moscow beginning at 9:00 a.m. from the Borough Building.  The tour will be given by Marc Gaughan, Ted Baird, and Dan Edwards.
September 27th – “Nickelodeon Night” - Old Time Movies at 7:30 p.m.
October 5th – Hayride and fall activities at Lake Hideaway
October 5th  – 11th – Fire Prevention Week – Moscow Volunteer Fire Company
October 18th – Judging for Scarecrow Contest
October 25th – Halloween Costume Party
October 31st  – Trick or Treating/Haunted House – 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
 
Please watch for further information in The Times/Tribune, the Villager, at local businesses, on the Borough Memo Board and web site (moscowboro.com) for further details on events.  If anyone is interested in being on this committee or has any suggestions please contact the Borough Office.  The next committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Moscow Borough Building, immediately followed by the National Night Out Committee meeting.  The committee will continue to meet on the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. throughout the year. Volunteers are welcome to attend!

Centennial Fundraisers: The Centennial Cookbook fundraiser has been a huge success.  Copies of the cookbook can be purchased at the Moscow Borough Building, Twiddley Bits and Treasures, and The Cabin Café, at a cost of $10.00 each.  Christmas ornaments with the Centennial Logo and a slide show of Moscow Borough businesses and residences are also available for $10.00 each.  Elise Hanna, a representative for Northern Lights, will also donate a percentage of any sales she makes to the Centennial Committee.  A calendar for 2009 will be available in the near future using the photos from the “Images of Moscow” photo contest.  Think of these items as Christmas gifts for friends and family!  Contact the Borough if you are interested in making any purchases.    

COMMUNITY EVENTS

NORTH POCONO CULTURAL SOCIETY:  The deadline for the “Images of Moscow” photo contest, sponsored by the North Pocono Cultural Society in conjunction with the Moscow Borough Centennial, has been extended to July 25, 2008.  Entries should be dropped off at the Moscow Borough Office.  The winning entry, as well as other entries, may appear in a Centennial Calendar Fundraiser being held in conjunction with The Villager.

MOSCOW VOLUNTEER FIRE AND HOSE COMPANY:  The fire company is holding a raffle with prizes from many of the local businesses and restaurants.  The raffle will be held on National Night Out, Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at Centennial Park.  Please stop at the firehouse, call the firehouse at 842-7211, or ask any member of the fire company if you are interested in purchasing a ticket.  Thank you to those who baked for the recent bake sale, purchased baked goods, or had their vehicles washed at the car wash.  Your support is appreciated.   

MOSCOW TRAIN STATION:  The Moscow Railway Station will hold a Mural Installation Dedication on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. at the train station.  The project is supported by a Lackawanna County Arts and Cultural Grant, a program of the Lackawanna County Commissioners, and the Lackawanna County Council on the Arts.  The public is welcome to attend.
    
The Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, Inc. is pleased to announce that they are privileged to have the Anthracite Hi-Railers O scale layout in the Freight House on National Night Out, August 5, 2008.

In connection with the Moscow Borough Centennial Celebration and Lackawanna Railfest 2008, the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, Inc. and PA En Plein Air Society present “Whistle Stops & Depots and Scenes from Moscow” Art show on August 30, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  A steam engine will arrive at 1:35 p.m.  Admission is free.

On August 30, 2008, the Steamtown National Historic Site will have a special train which will stop at the Moscow Train Station to board passengers for Lackawanna Railfest 2008 and the Italian Festival on Court House Square.  For more information check on the web site at www.nps.gov/tea or call Steamtown at 340-5200.

POCONO MOUNTAIN STREET RODS:  The Pocono Mountain Street Rods will be holding its 31st Annual show at the Moffat Estate on Route 435 on Sunday, July 27, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  
STEAMTOWN EXCURSIONS TO MOSCOW:  The 2008 Steamtown Excursion Schedule for the Moscow destination with departure times of 1:00 p.m. from Scranton  is as follows: Saturday, July 26th, Saturday, August 2nd, Saturday, August 16th, Saturday, August 23rd, Saturday, August 30th, Sunday, October 5th, Sunday, October 12th, Saturday, October 18th, and Sunday, October 26th

NORTH POCONO PUBLIC LIBRARY:  Family Movie Night - last Friday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Moscow Borough Building; Reptile Show – August 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at the Moscow Borough Building; Summer Reading Program Closing Party – August 9th at 11:00 a.m. at the Moscow Borough Building.  If you have any questions call the Library at 842-4700.

NORTH POCONO ROTARY:  The North Pocono Rotary is sponsoring a program on Identity Theft (see information under the Police Department); a bus trip to Lititz Craft Fair on August 9, 2008 (for additional information contact Rachel Gress at 842-2432); and a bus trip to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular on December 2, 2008 (for additional information contact Gloria Perna at 842-2289).

The Rotary sign attached to the gazebo on Main Street was recently stolen.  If you have any information regarding this please contact the Police Department at 842-2061.

NORTH POCONO YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE:  The final day to purchase soccer uniforms will be August 16, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m at the Moscow Borough Building.  Further information may be obtained by visiting www.eteamz.com/npysl

NORTH POCONO KIDS CLOSET:  The North Pocono Kids Closet is accepting monetary donations for the 5th annual event which will be held in August.  Monetary donations can be made payable to the North Pocono Kids Closet and mailed to Irene Woelkers, 916 Old Logger Road, Moscow, PA  18444.  Please contact Denise Voitik at 878-6077 if you have any questions.  Thank you to all in the community who continue to give so generously!

PROJECT GREENLIGHT:  Ryan Morgan, a resident of Moscow Borough and a student at the North Pocono High School, has been receiving national news coverage on the home page of treehugger.com and local media coverage in The Times/Tribune and The Villager for his environmental project “Project Greenlight”.  Ryan raised almost $1,300.00 from a recent raffle, received donations totaling $500.00, and received a donation of 700 CFL bulbs from TCP, the world’s largest manufacturer of CFL bulbs.  Ryan made a presentation at a Borough Council meeting on June 2, 2008 and distributed CFL bulbs to those in attendance.  He will also be distributing the bulbs throughout the community and particularly at Moscow Borough’s National Night Out on August 5, 2008.  In connection with a program offered by PPL, CFL bulbs can be placed in a container at the Borough Building to be recycled. 

LACKAWANNA COUNTY COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION:  Reduced fare transportation service may be available to individuals if they are a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act; between the ages of 18 – 64; and live in Lackawanna County.  Applications are available by mail from Lackawanna County Coordinated Transportation System and can be obtained by calling 570-963-6795 or by stopping in at 800 North South Road in Scranton. 

 

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