Attending the Architectural Review Board (ARB) meeting last week with some fellow young Pike County residents, I was dismayed to learn that the pending application for a new main branch of the Pike County Public Library was withdrawn. Our eagerness was short-lived, as there is still no indication of when ground will ever be broken along East Harford Street.

While I appreciate the complexities of the circumstance and do not wish to diminish the immense amount of work accomplished by many volunteers, I really wonder what it is going to take to compromise on a plan that fulfills both the ordinance of the borough and the desires of the library board. And as time goes on, I am increasingly disheartened that the proposed community center, which promises to foster much unity and pride in Pike County, has become cause for needless polarization and frustration.

I’ll refrain from pretending to be an expert on the matter of the historic district ordinance and the library’s compliance; I have confidence that the ARB is fully competent in making that decision. But perhaps there should be greater communication and collaboration between the library and the ARB, particularly between the ARB’s consultant, Peter Benton, and the library's architect, Frederick Schwartz. Rather than trying to settle differences through technical communiqués, maybe an agreement can be reached through more deliberative and collaborative means. Surely these two talented architects can eventually concur on an answer to the primary question of what type of contemporary design is appropriate for the historic district; then we can all move forward without squandering additional time or resources.

The need for a new library is abundantly clear, as are the potential benefits from its services, especially for young people. At the same time, the building taskforce needs to ensure it adequately addresses some fundamental questions of scale and cost that remain of concern for some residents. Even as an enthusiastic supporter, I think that if the library is ever to be successfully sustained and supported, it will require broad based support. It is not something to be bestowed upon the community by any particular person or group of people, but something that we all must work to build and take ownership of.

I’ll exercise some license for being a bit optimistic, as it is the holiday season, and express a desire that our community makes its own New Years resolution. In 2009, in the spirit that the prospect of a new library ought to bring, let’s reach a consensus on a final proposal and commit to seeing it through to fruition. If we all stay committed to this vision, I believe 2009 can be a year of progress for the library project, which will be greatly beneficial for Pike County, and, in Milford’s greatest tradition, showcase architecture that is a feat for its own time. As the founder of the public library, Ben Franklin, once said, “Energy and Persistence conquer all things.”

Sincerely,

Nick Troiano, Milford

Executive Director, Pike County Youth Coalition

The Pike County Youth Coalition will meet at Matamoras Borough Hall at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 3rd for its monthly meeting. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

On the agenda are setting goals and planning out the coalition's work for 2009. Come with ideas!

The Pike County Youth Coalition will still have its holiday party on Sunday, December 21st at Dingmans Firehouse at 11am - regardless of weather. Please check out www.pikeyouth.org/holiday for event information.

You're safety matters more to us than your donation, so please use discretion before leaving your home in case it is snowing or if you are not comfortable driving. Thank you.

The Pike County Youth Coalition (PCYC) invites the community to its one-year founding anniversary and holiday party that will be held at the Dingman Township Firehouse on Sunday, December 21st at 11:00 am.

The brunch will showcase both youth culinary skills and entertainment talent. In addition, Santa Claus will make an appearance for young attendees. Tickets are $10 for members and Friends of PCYC and $12 for the general public. Money will be collected at the door. All proceeds from the event will benefit the organization’s 2009 scholarship fund.

The Pike County Youth Coalition was founded in December 2007 by twenty local students and alumni of Delaware Valley High School. Its mission is to educate the community about youth issues, serve as a resource for young people, and encourage greater youth volunteerism and civic engagement.

Tickets will be reduced by 50% for all students who participate in the organization’s holiday initiative, “Students for Seniors,” by bringing a gift for an elderly community member. The PCYC’s Youth Volunteer Corps will distribute these gifts to local senior citizens during the holiday.

“We want to show our appreciation to older members of the community and to make sure no one is forgotten about this holiday season,” said Jake Williams, Youth Volunteer Corps coordinator.

For more information about the event, including a list of gift ideas, visit www.pikeyouth.org/holiday. Please RSVP by December 17th on the website or by calling Samantha Dutkus at (845) 820-0067.