Lansford took the first step in launching its tourism development plan with the approval of dates for guided trolley tours in December.

Borough council this month approved the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau’s special events request for the guided history tours through Lansford on the first three Saturdays of the holiday season.

Council gave permission for multiple dates, beginning in November. Additional details on the actual tour dates will be announced by PMVB, and tickets will be available on its website, PoconoMountains.com.

The tours are being conducted in partnership with the Lansford Historical Society, Lansford Alive, the Borough of Lansford, the No. 9 Mine and Museum and Jim Thorpe Trolley Co., the visitors bureau said.

Tours will begin and end at the No. 9 Mine, and stop at various historical sites, including the Welsh Church, the Old Jail and the historical society, and explore the role of coal mining in the area as well as the ties to Molly Maugires and infamous murders.

Organizers also plan a catered lunch at The 80’s Bar, where Dave Matsinko will perform live coal country folk music. Organizers also hope to explore railroading in the Panther Valley, possibly with a visit to the closed Hauto Tunnel.

The PMVB will announce more information about the tours as dates draw closer, Marianne Rustad, community relations coordinator for the bureau, said.

Other events

Borough council also approved two other special event requests.

One is from Lansford Halloween Special Events for the annual Children’s Halloween Fun Festival at Ashton Park on Oct. 26 from 2-7 p.m.

Councilwoman Michele Bartek, one of the organizers, also asked council for permission to store decorations at the borough building, as well as addressed water and electricity concerns during the festival.

The other request came from the Friends of Lansford Recreation for the annual Tree Decorating and Lighting at John F. Kennedy Park on Dec. 1 to 7 from 4-5 p.m.

Bartek also had a request to place a live 10-foot tree in Kennedy Park donated by Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton in memory of Francis Botek. She would like to have a dedication during the annual tree lighting, she said.

Council approved the request for the tree, as well a request from the Panther Valley School District to temporarily block off a section of Cortright Street on Sept. 25 for the Panther Valley cheerleaders homecoming tradition.

The streets crew will drop off the barricades to allow organizers to block the street as needed, and Councilman George Gilbert said he didn’t believe this would impede the fire company’s ability to respond to an emergency. This would be an exception to rules against blocking borough streets.

9/11 and valor

Borough council also held a moment of silence to reflect and remember the events of Sept. 11 on the eve of the attacks on the United States 24 years earlier.

They also recognized two Lansford residents who were recently honored for their valor in responding to a house fire in Coaldale and saving a teenager from the blaze. Those firefighters are Anthony and Kevin Soberick.