I have lived in Carlisle since 2014, my now wife and I moved from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to the area for work. Growing up in Eastern, PA, the first I had ever heard of Carlisle was when people would talk about their basketball and the historic title runs in the 1980’s. I then got to visit when I attended a fourth of July concert with my wife in 2013 and immediately fell in love with Carlisle.

Work then brought us to the area and when we were making the choice on where to live there was no competition, it had to be Carlisle. I was immediately drawn to the overall beauty of Carlisle, from our Center Square, charming Main Street, unique neighborhoods, and awesome parks. Carlisle had everything we could ask for – we could walk or ride our bikes from one side of the borough to the other. We had access to great restaurants, shops, library, doctors, and recreational areas.

Another bonus to living in Carlisle is having Dickison College, Penn State Law School, and the Army War College which brings a unique mix of residents and ideas to the borough. We can also be proud of the Carlisle School District and the great job it does educating our future with its dedicated teachers and leadership. Carlisle has done an amazing job pushing forward through good times and bad to come out on the right side and be an attractive location for people to live, work, and play. Carlisle remains an example of a perfect place to live in Pennsylvania and that wasn’t any more apparent than when it won the “Strong Town in America” award in 2016.

I currently have the honor of serving the residents of Carlisle as a member of the Carlisle Borough Council. In 2015 I decided I wanted to be a larger part in the decision making process in Carlisle and was lucky enough to receive the support of Carlisle residents by getting elected in 2015 and sworn into office in 2016.

In my two years the borough and borough council has done a lot of work to help move the borough forward. From continuing the work on redevelopment of the old Tire & Wheel and Masland sites to passing an anti-discrimination ordinance, I have been proud to be a part of our local government. In my experience the Mayor and Borough Council in Carlisle have tried to do what is best for the borough and its residents. While we may not always agree on ideas or how to execute policy we always engage in a civil debate, I think that is something Carlisle should be proud of.

The list of what I love about Carlisle could fill pages, but I can try to narrow down what I love in three parts:

1. The people of Carlisle – The greatest asset in Carlisle in my opinion is its residents. The borough is able to run and excel due to the people that serve the borough. Our police, fire, and EMS employees work to keep us safe, our neighborhood groups volunteer their time and efforts to make sure that each neighborhood has a voice and is working together, and groups like the YWCA and Hope Station serve our community in so many valuable ways. The borough staff works hard day in and day out to serve the needs of our residents and do everything from plowing our roads, keeping us safe, balancing our budgets, or planning for the future. We take things like clean water and smooth roads for granted but there are dedicated employees who work behind the scenes each day to serve the borough.
2. Carlisle downtown / businesses – Carlisle attracts many visitors from in and our of state due to our unique shops and restaurants. I can’t tell you how many times I hear from non-Carlisle residents about their visit to one of our shops or their trip to Carlisle for dinner and show. Carlisle offers so much for all ages. If you visit Carlisle there is so much to do and so much to chose from. On a perfect weekend I can check out a Dickinson Lacrosse game, head downtown to catch a movie or a show, grab some of my favorite vintage candy, and have dinner and a micro-brew that rivals anywhere in Pennsylvania.
3. Carlisle’s Community – Carlisle is strongest when it comes together as a community. As I mentioned our residents are our strongest asset but seeing the community rally together is something special that you won’t see if many other places. I have seen Carlisle come together to support our first responders, show up to support  our businesses, and show up at community events around our borough. Carlisle’s community supports everything we do in the borough whether it’s supporting our school district or showing up to denounce hate as we did with a rally in response to Charlottesville.

Carlisle, like many other areas of the state, faces various issues. I think our local government is moving in the right direction trying to provide the best life possible for our residents. One issue impacting not only Carlisle but the state of Pennsylvania is the opioid epidemic and the damaging impact heroin is having in our community. I think our community as well as our police department are taking the necessary steps to do the best job possible combating this devastating epidemic. This will not be an easy fight but I have been proud to see the way local citizens have come together to build a task force and work with our police to take those first steps. Carlisle has also experienced challenges in moving forward as a welcoming community. While many residents felt Carlisle was opening and welcoming to all we can not ignore those who have experienced discrimination in our community. We can not ignore discrimination and hope that it will go away. I am proud of the steps Carlisle took in passing an anti-discrimination ordinance but still now in 2018 more than ever we have seen hateful actions on the rise. It is my hope our community at every level can overcome the hate and call out those hateful actions in a way that furthers the discussion on the type of community we strive to be.

I hope our Carlisle community can continue to move forward in building a future that is bright for all our residents. I think borough council is taking those steps by continuing to invest in our infrastructure and helping to rebuild Carlisle literally from the ground up. I hope the redevelopment that is currently happening continues to thrive and we see a diverse borough with affordable housing, walkability, and a strong business climate. I also hope Carlisle can continue to push forward. – Sean Crampsie, Borough Council Member and Carlisle Resident