The short answer to that question is "a lot."

The Bull Run Neighborhood is in the middle of a Flood Mitigation Project that demolished three buildings along the creek side of S 6th St last month and will also bring down six more properties during the summer of 2014.  As advertised in public notices and public meetings last month, the neighborhood is also applying for a Public Improvement Grant through DCED for the S 6th St - Phase I Project which runs along St Louis St from S 6th to Hawn Alley.  The Hufnagle Gift Card project has both raised the profile of the neighborhood and raised over $800 for the Bull Run Neighborhood Project Fund.  Neighbors are looking forward to collaborating with Bucknell students to bring another Little Free Library to the playground at Hufnagle Park, this one focused on children's books.  And this spring should bring the construction of a small permanent shelter to screen the perpetual portapotties from view.

The North Ward Neighborhood is also working on a number of initiatives.  Most prominently, there are preparations underway to collaborate with the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership and explore the creation of a River Town Team to facilitate assessment and planning for the river frontage.  Residents are interested in enhanced recreational access and in the process of reviewing the options, all the possible sites and avenues for improvement opened up.  People, whether residents or not, are welcome to join this effort.  In addition, there will be public meetings set up during the year about the Historic Architectural Review Board, Wolfe Field planning, and Flood Insurance rate changes.  Small-scale efforts include work on establishing a tool lending library, promoting local events and businesses, and promoting public safety and positive lines of communication with the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department.

In addition to these neighborhood-specific projects, the manager and the board are also involved in cultivating connections with other area organizations like BVRA, Union County Housing Authority, Union County Planning Office, and the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Downtown Affiliates, as well as state level entities like DCED, DCNR, and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center.  The board is working on long term organizational sustainability and making the work of the organization more evident to the broader community.  And they are engaged with other Borough officials and the Lewisburg Area School District in the Repurposing Committee for the Lewisburg Area High School.  The first meeting of that committee will be held on February 6 at 7pm at the Middle School.  It will be open to the public.

Residents of Lewisburg are most directly involved in these tasks, but they invite the wider regional public to join with them on pursuing these goals.  It's all in the name of ensuring we have vibrant, functional neighborhoods satisfying local housing needs and complementing the economic promotion work of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership.  Just like the Partnership, we have goals that are geographically constrained and yet have far broader impacts in our area.  Let's work together to keep Greater Lewisburg great!