LOCK HAVEN — During this week’s meeting, City Council followed through on community interest in including other religions in the holiday Triangle Park display with a unanimous 6-0 vote.

Alexander Di Costanzo and Two Maidens Cafe & Tea Room, LLC attended the meeting Monday night to request the use of Triangle Park beginning Dec. 2 for inflatable displays relating to Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia, Yule, Festivus and Bodhi Day.

Each display will include a plaque describing the holiday’s origin and traditions.

“I’m not sure that you personally represent each one of those,” said Council member Steve Stevenson, “I’m not sure it’s a genuine request — it might be more of a rebuttal to the results of last week’s request. If it’s genuine, it’s not so bad. That’s too many — that’s six. I’m not sure the heights of their religion (fall) during the dates requested. It sounds and looks like everything got thrown into one big pot. I usually support most requests… I think you want to try to make a point that everything should be accepted. I’m just not sure everything there is pertinent.”

“It is a genuine request. I am assisting all of these communities (in) showing their faith and their beliefs in the same way they did last week. Individuals that we have spoken to were quite scared from last week’s display, so a lot of them cannot or will not publicly come out to fight for this stuff. And I will, and my wife will,” said Alexander.

Aly Di Costanzo, representing Two Maidens, seconded this, “On my end, these are all religions my store sells inventory for, that residents of our town participate in and follow. I personally am on the request for Yule and Saturnalia for my religious beliefs… I’m not going to list names of people who did not give me permission to name them.”

Alexander also explained the reasoning behind the dates for the request, noting first and foremost that these holidays are in fact celebrated during the month of December.

“I put (the end date) as January 11 just in case I couldn’t get down to get everything back out, If you want to shorten that, I’m fine with that too as long as (they are displayed) through December,” said Alexander.

Council member Jeff Brinker commented on the request, noting that they typically receive a diagram with exact dimensions of the displays. The use request did have the sizes, but did not have exact images of the displays. Each display was under 8 feet — most of them being 6 feet with heights ranging from 2 to 8 feet. The plaques will be incorporated into each individual display.

Brinker also pointed out that they are currently having issues with power sources downtown, so there are lights that are out. It was agreed that because of the electrical problem, they must work with Downtown Lock Haven to make sure there are no further issues.

There was also confusion around the request from Council member Richard “Rick” Conklin, who misunderstood the timeframe of the display. Conklin suggested tabling the request, thinking that it was annual and wanting to see if it would interfere with future plans. The miscommunication was cleared up by Mayor Joel Long, as this use request is just for this year.

An audience member spoke up from the back, expressing her fears.

“I fear that if you do not support all religions, if you deny this request, the city is setting themselves up for legal action. I don’t know if you have the resources for that. That’s what happens when you let one religion (to have) a display. You have to let them all,” she said.

Brinker spoke up again after the motion to approve the request, discussing his thoughts.

“Last week was brought up, this week is a new week. You make a great statement. Regardless of how people feel in the community, regarding anything we do, our Triangle Park has been a freedom of speech location, regardless if you like it or not. Last week should have been 7-0 because of that… If it had been 3-4 the other way, can you imagine the Ministerium suing for this same right? Regardless of if you like how people acted,” said Brinker.

Conklin chimed in with a joking, “Suing wouldn’t have been very Christian of them would it?” Earning laughs from those in attendance.

Brinker pushed on, “It doesn’t matter what we feel or what we think. It’s what’s principal. It goes all the way back to the flag. If we allow one, we have to allow the other. Even going forward as a community, if Triangle Park is going to be the freedom of speech place that it is, everything has to be (passed.) Regardless of if we like it, or we don’t like it. I don’t worship any of these. That’s okay. That’s the legal principle that we have to follow. That’s the stance that council should be taking,” said Brinker.

The use request vote passed, 6-0, with Barb Masorti not in attendance.