MARS — Mayor Gregg Hartung has been busy in his first year on the job.

Hartung, who took political office for the first time on Jan. 1, 2014, has married two couples, overseen the police force, met monthly since October with the Mars Business Association, and made an effort to listen to the concerns of residents and business owners.

But an idea Hartung has for an unusual borough event to replace the former New Year's Eve Celebration is out of this world.

Hartung wrote the town's Historic and Landmark Society a note thanking its members for their years of work at the annual New Year's Eve Celebration, which was canceled this past Wednesday night because of waning participation and unpredictable weather.

He suggested some other event could supplant that celebration. When he attended the next historical society meeting, the members asked Hartung if he had any suggestions for an event.

“I said, 'Did you ever consider when new years would be on the planet Mars?'” he said.

When the society members expressed interest in the idea, Hartung got going.

He called NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., to see when the new year would be on the red planet.

“I said 'Hey, this is the mayor of Mars,' and they said 'Yeah, right,'” recalled Hartung, who is the director of the Presbyterian Media Mission on Pittsburgh's North Side.

After explaining that there really is a borough named Mars, the official remembered that he had seen a sign for Mars on Interstate 79 while at a conference in Clarion.

The answer to Hartung's question is June 18 and 19 in 2015, based on the summer solstice on Mars. However, that event only happens every two years.

“I took the information back to the historical society, and they said 'That's really neat,'” Hartung said.

The mayor then got in touch with the Mars Public Engagement Team at NASA, which works with schools across the United States regarding the fourth planet from the sun.

“They said they can do lots of things with us (for the celebration),” Hartung said.

He was told that they could not sponsor the celebration because they are a government agency, but could work with the school district, which would participate in the event with exhibits and presentations.

Hartung called Matt Friedman, Mars School District assistant superintendent for secondary education, and asked to talk about the celebration, which is tentatively called the Martian New Year.

“He said 'How about today?'” Hartung said.

As a result of their meeting over coffee, the science departments in various Mars schools will work on projects in conjunction with NASA which will be displayed at the event.

NASA also promised to try to get sponsors for the celebration, and suggested that the borough become affiliated with its Science and Engineering Festival in April in Washington, D.C.

Most exciting of all, NASA officials said they will try to have a replica of the Mars Rover vehicle available for the June event. The replica is touring scientific venues around the United States, and NASA will try to time the Carnegie Science Center's stop during the Martian New Year.

John Watson, president of the Mars Historical and Landmark Society, said his group thinks Hartung's Martian New Year is great.

“It's definitely something we want to push forward on,” Watson said.

He said the Martian New Year will be a great replacement for the New Year's Eve celebration because at least for this year, it will be in June and because it's alternating years will allow more time for planning.

Watson also appreciates Hartung's efforts in reaching NASA and seeking large corporate sponsors.

“His family lives here and he grew up here,” Watson said of Hartung. “He's doing all he can to make Mars a more family-oriented place.”

Hartung is meeting with the Mars Business Association to plan the Martian New Year. He also talked with the Mars Boy Scouts about some type of rocket launch during the event.

Hartung said the borough council on Tuesday will vote on the Martian New Year, which would be held every two years to coincide with the summer solstice on the planet Mars.

Regarding his first year of leading the borough, Hartung said the job of mayor is interesting because it is open to some interpretation.

“You can make it whatever you want to some degree,” Hartung said.

He said one pleasant surprise is how much residents and business owners care about the borough.

Hartung is excited to participate in a revitalization effort for Mars.

He said the borough has received a $25,000 state grant for that project. He said officials will apply for other state and federal grants for the revitalization project.

“This seems like a good time for Mars to take some steps forward,” Hartung said of a revitalization.

Longtime council President Mike Fleming said he is more than pleased with the job Hartung has done.

“I think he's stepped right in and made a positive impact on the community with all the efforts he's been involved in,” Fleming said.

He appreciates Hartung's ability to deal well with people and his willingness to be involved in the community as much as possible.

“I continue to look forward to working with him,” Fleming said. “I think he's going to be a difference-maker.”

Hartung, 59, attended Butler County Community College, then earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Slippery Rock University. He earned his master's degree in public policy management from Carnegie Mellon University.

He said he spends about 20 to 30 hours per week on his mayoral duties.

“That's a lot more than I anticipated,” he said.

But Watson thinks the time and effort Hartung puts in demonstrates his devotion to the town.

“You can definitely tell he loves Mars,” Watson said.