The August 11 Honesdale Borough Council meeting highlighted the apparent paradox of poverty and prosperity in rural America. Reports from the Greater Honesdale Partnership (GHP) on the resounding success of both Sidewalk Sales Days and the Wayne County Fair contrasted sharply with a letter from the Wayne County Human Services Department requesting assistance with data collection for a homeless census.

GHP Executive Director Gail Tucker and Fred Miller delivered a joint report on record-breaking attendance at the borough’s annual sidewalk sales and the county fair. Attendance at the fair reached an all-time high of 103,000 visitors, while this year’s sidewalk sales theme “Hollywood Comes to Honesdale,” which featured an Irving Cliff rendition of the iconic “Hollywood” sign, here spelled “Honesdale,” proved so much of an attention-grabber and crowd-pleaser that the council voted to keep it in place until after Columbus Day. It will probably make a return appearance next summer. Tucker noted that sales days’ crowds were larger than those of previous years and drove higher-than-anticipated sales revenues.

Almost immediately after the GHP report, council president James Brennan read aloud a letter from Cindy Matthews, Intellectual Disabilities & Early Intervention Program director for the Wayne County Human Services Department. The letter advised that rural homelessness often goes unnoticed and unreported, and it asked for the public’s assistance in identifying homeless families and individuals living in unsafe shelters such as tents, cars, garages, barns and other type of substandard housing. If any member of the public becomes aware of such a situation within Wayne County, please report it to Matthews at 570/253-9200 or 866/558-0735.

In the miscellaneous good news department, councilmember Daniel Barnes reported that two park benches have been purchased for installation in the Park N Shop lot. The Honesdale Lions Club will replace the defunct drinking water fountain in Central Park. Mayor Jack Bishop reported citizen praise for the actions and demeanor of borough police officer Rebecca Clark, who masterfully defused a volatile situation. Councilmember Bill Canfield praised police chief Rick Southerton and his officers for their quick and efficient actions to unsnarl a borough-wide traffic jam on the first night of the Wayne County Fair.

Before recessing to executive session, Brennan tabled some agenda items, due to the unexpected absence of finance committee chairman Scott Smith; Brennan voiced his concern for Smith’s wellbeing, noting that it was unlike Smith to be absent without prior notice to the council.

For complete meeting minutes and information about Honesdale borough governance, see honesdaleborough.com/.