Mars Borough swears in new council member, plans Applefest 2022
MARS — Borough resident John McWilliams was sworn in as a new member at the council’s meeting Monday night.
McWilliams will serve the remainder of the term vacated by James “Rick” Foster, until Dec. 31, 2023. Foster resigned from the board in March.
McWilliams is a lifelong Mars resident and a life member of the Adams Area Fire District. He will draw on his business background, having owned Keystone Specialties on Route 8 in Butler since 1982, to help the borough.
The council approved the request of Brian Fleeson of Rich-Mar Rotary Satellite Club to hold the annual Applefest event on Oct. 1.
The autumn festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Mars.
Fleeson explained why there were so many business-related booths at the previous Applefest.
“Last year was a bit of an oddity, because a lot of our craft vendors and food vendors no longer exist,” he said. “This year, we’ve reached out to a lot more craft vendors, a lot more food vendors, and a lot more apple-based vendors, as there was a complete dearth of apples at Applefest. We’re trying to get back (to what it was).”
