A new set of banners could eventually replace those that currently welcome visitors to Palmerton's downtown business district.

With any luck, the new flags could be in place in time for the celebration of the centennial of the incorporation of the borough on Oct. 14, 2012.Peter Kern, president of the chamber, discussed the need for the new banners recently with members of the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce.The borough was officially incorporated on Oct. 14, 1912. The year 1998 marked the centennial of the founding of the borough.Kern said the year 2012 is "fast-approaching", and suggested one of the ways the borough could look to celebrate its centennial would be with the addition of new banners."We do need new banners on Delaware Avenue," Kern said. "The ones that are still up there are a little worse for wear."Kern said he believes the downtown should have a "new look" for 2012, and added that the new banners could be hung in time for the centennial celebration.The chamber then highlighted suggested events to commemorate the centennial of its incorporation two years from now.Some of the proposed events include a 5K Run/Walk in May of 2012; a Rolling Cruise that June; a Special Band Concert that July; a Private Label wine, cheese, and ethnic food sampling that August; the Community Festival that September; an event to exhume a 1987 Time Capsule and bury a new one that October, and a Gala Celebration to start the borough's second century that November.Other activities could include ethnic foods; a parade; an old fashioned ball; a post mark from the U.S. Post Office; fireworks, commissioned artwork, perhaps in the form of an auction; an essay or art contest for children; band and choral groups; and/or fundraisers to underwrite the costs.Regardless of which events it hosts, Kern stressed that volunteers are needed to serve on committees."I think if we limit this to May through October [2012], we could wrap it up with November [2012]," Kern said. "I think we could probably build a lot of existing events right into the celebration."Richard Nothstein, a member of Palmerton Borough Council and owner of Country Harvest Family Market, said plans are in the works for a veteran's memorial to mark the 100 year celebration of the borough.Nothstein said the Palmerton United Veteran's Organization and the borough plan to build a memorial to honor all of the Palmerton area servicemen and women.The site for the memorial will be the lower southwest corner of the borough park, where the present flagpole is located, and will include a list of all veterans names on granite monuments from all time periods of service.The memorial will consist of between 45-50 slabs of granite with the names of 94 veterans per slab engraved on the granite. A separate granite slab may also be included for "Those That Gave All."Nothstein said contribution toward the purchase of the granite slabs are being accepted.On a final note, Kern announced the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation on Monday, Oct. 25, at the Mahoning Valley Country Club.Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m. and a buffet style dinner will be served at 7 p.m. The awards ceremony will follow. Reservations should be made to Heather McClure at

mail@carboncountychamber.org, or call (610) 379-5000 by Oct. 20.