Neighborhood spotlight: Lansford Alive president works to revitalize downtown
Christopher Ondrus is working with Lansford Alive to improve the town. CHRIS REBER/TIMES NEWS
As the fourth generation in his family to call the coal region home, Christopher Ondrus feels a deep connection to the area.
That connection has driven him to sacrifice countless hours to help improve it for future generations.
“I think you take a little more pride when you’re heavily rooted in the community you live in,” Ondrus said.
As president of Lansford Alive, Ondrus works hard to promote local businesses and organize events for the community.
They organize festivals and holiday events, and concerts through the Lansford Alive events committee. They band together to clean up the town each spring, and reward families who decorate their homes for the holidays.
The achievement Ondrus is most proud of is the continued effort to attract investment. Under his leadership, the organization has been responsible for attracting grants and investments, which benefit the downtown.
They’ve erected new signs at each entrance to the borough, as well as at two borough parks all using grant money.
Ondrus says he’s constantly looking for grant opportunities — whether it’s from the county’s hotel tax or the Main Street Lehigh Valley Foundation. For some projects, they’ve partnered with the borough to help attract even more grant money.
“It’s been pretty substantial over the last few years. I’m quite proud of that,” he said.
A member of the organization since it started in 2000, Ondrus took a bigger role about 10 years ago and eventually became president.
Ondrus said he has a dedicated group of board members who help share the load. Donna Valent handles much of the organizing of the annual fall festival. BJ Berk offers construction expertise from his business.
“It’s good when you have different members who want to take the lead on different projects,” Ondrus said.
During his time, they’ve made extensive efforts to promote local businesses and attract new ones. They’ve created online and print promotions for Fridays in Lansford, which is a joint effort between groups like the No. 9 Mine and Museum and the Lansford Historical Society.
Each winter, they recognize an individual, business or organization with the Black Diamond Award.
In recent years, several businesses have opened their doors in downtown Lansford. Ondrus tries to connect with each of them to let them know what Lansford Alive can do to help.
“A lot of the small towns, they’ll never come back to the way they were, but I still think there’s hope for the downtown,” he said.
They also provide entertainment for residents. Each year, they partner with Grace Community Church to hold the fall festival.
The Lansford Alive events committee’s Music in the Park series has grown from a handful of attendees to sometimes more than 100.
“That’s something that speaks volumes on our organization, helping to put something together, sticking with it,” he said.
Ondrus recently welcomed his own son, the fifth generation of his family living in the area. Now, his support for his hometown is inspired not only by past generations, but future ones as well.
“My roots are here and I’m not planning on leaving,” Ondrus said.
Comments
Volunteer local organizations, and their memberships, play an every more important role in assisting their communities to maintain the infrastructure and to help develop a positive attitude among its residents to feel proud of their residency. More residents, like Chris Ondrus, the Lansford Alive members, fire company volunteers, local Lions and Rotary clubs, local Veterans Organizations, and the local business establishments - all that contribute much time, finances, knowledge, and expertise, are needed. While local government officials
may have limited funds to make the many necessary improvements, they should seek out the State legislators to amend and improve the Borough Code Statute to allow small towns to combine (even mandate) the combining of police departments, fire departments, borough workers, Code and zoning enforcement (including using commonly adopted ordinances), clerical office staff (and use of buildings) and the many more daily operations. Municipalities may combine many services voluntarily, but the old days of keeping a proud community identity should be secondary to the rationale of each community's financial survival that should take preference for its property owners and taxpayers.
If it weren't for those current community-minded volunteers, many of our local ,small town communities would not see the continued attempt to maintain and upgrade the many projects, both small and large, that make a difference- much of which is taken for granted.
It would be best to see more elected officials take an active part in as many volunteer organizations simply for communications and cooperation effectiveness.
Continued ideas for improvements coupled with additional volunteerism will foster a renewed revival for small communities to exist both with its past accomplishments and its future identity yet to be continued and recognized.
YES, Chris Ondrus and all of the many volunteers in all of our local communities should be
identified, thanked, and commended! Their accomplishments can best be appreciated by
replication of future, new volunteers, like themselves. BEST WISHES . . . . .
Volunteer local organizations, and their memberships, play an every more important role in assisting their communities to maintain the infrastructure and to help develop a positive attitude among its residents to feel proud of their residency. More residents, like Chris Ondrus, the Lansford Alive members, fire company volunteers, local Lions and Rotary clubs, local Veterans Organizations, and the local business establishments - all that contribute much time, finances, knowledge, and expertise, are needed. While local government officials
may have limited funds to make the many necessary improvements, they should seek out the State legislators to amend and improve the Borough Code Statute to allow small towns to combine (even mandate) the combining of police departments, fire departments, borough workers, Code and zoning enforcement (including using commonly adopted ordinances), clerical office staff (and use of buildings) and the many more daily operations. Municipalities may combine many services voluntarily, but the old days of keeping a proud community identity should be secondary to the rationale of each community's financial survival that should take preference for its property owners and taxpayers.
If it weren't for those current community-minded volunteers, many of our local ,small town communities would not see the continued attempt to maintain and upgrade the many projects, both small and large, that make a difference- much of which is taken for granted.
It would be best to see more elected officials take an active part in as many volunteer organizations simply for communications and cooperation effectiveness.
Continued ideas for improvements coupled with additional volunteerism will foster a renewed revival for small communities to exist both with its past accomplishments and its future identity yet to be continued and recognized.
YES, Chris Ondrus and all of the many volunteers in all of our local communities should be
identified, thanked, and commended! Their accomplishments can best be appreciated by
replication of future, new volunteers, like themselves. BEST WISHES . . . . .