EMPORIUM — A police report will be filed concerning vandalism perpetrated in Emporium over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Cameron County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tina Johns-Solak said vandals damaged several recycled-tire Christmas decorations, uprooted plants in flower pots and damaged a concrete bench in Emporium’s business district.
“Disappointment does not begin to describe my feelings,” Johns-Solak remarked on social media outlets following the crime spree. “These businesses struggle to keep their doors open, due to shoppers purchasing on the internet or from big box stores, so they create an inviting atmosphere that is ruined by thugs.”
Johns-Solak said the vandalism actually took place over two different nights. Some items were damaged Thursday night and others on Saturday night.
“This really hurts the volunteers who took time out of their days to try and make Emporium’s downtown area look nice,” she said. Arrangements were torn from the planters on the corners of Fourth and Broad streets. Although none of the items were stolen, they have to all be put back into the planters, costing additional time.
A concrete memorial bench was also damaged. It appears as though a group of people attempted to pick the bench up and move it, but dropped it instead. The benches weigh several hundred pounds and would require more than one person to lift. The Dolan Memorial Bench was placed in front of the Chamber of Commerce through a private donation.
Several of the recycled-tire Christmas decorations, crafted by area business owners as part of a Chamber-sponsored contest, were damaged or destroyed.
Johns-Solak said the Santa Claus decoration that sat atop a chimney made from recycled tires was stolen from in front of the River 98.9 office, while the tires in front of the Chamber of Commerce that made up a Christmas tree display were thrown across Fourth Street and all the ornamentation was removed. At least three other locations reported damage to their decorations, as well. All damage reported at this point has been isolated to the first block of East Fourth Street.
The Chamber’s decoration will not be replaced, as it was damaged beyond repair. The Chamber was not part of the contest, but participated to help make the downtown area more festive.
“This is absolutely unnecessary, to do this kind of stuff. What do you get out of this?” Johns-Solak wonders. John-Solak filed a report with Emporium Borough Police on Monday morning in the hope that the perpetrators will be caught. Several downtown locations have surveillance cameras that may have caught the vandals in the act.
The downtown businesses and Chamber of Commerce plan to sponsor a town-wide meeting to address these concerns. Johns-Solak said that individuals are ready to patrol the area, if necessary, to ensure acts of vandalism of this kind do not continue. More details will be released in the near future.
