Attending Try Transit Day on Friday, December 28, 2007, from Left to Right, Andy Roman, Lehigh County Commissioner; Ismael Arcelay, Special Assistant to the Mayor of Allentown, Ed Pawlowski; Michael Donavan, Allentown City Council Member-Elect; Gloria Hamm, Lehigh County Commissioner-Elect; Sterling Raber, Lehigh County Commissioner; Dean Browning, Lehigh County Commissioner-Elect; Dr. Percy H. Dougherty, Chair, Lehigh County Commissioners; and Glenn Eckhart, Lehigh County Commissioner.

Thanks to Chairman of the Lehigh County Commissioners, Dr. Percy H. Doughtery, six Commissioners and Commissioners-Elect for LehighCounty, rode the bus. Dr. Dougherty has long been a supporter of LANTA. On Try Transit Day he organized the Commissioner participation. As Lehigh County provides a significant percentage of LANTA’s budget and approves 1/2 the positions on LANTA’s Board of Directors, it is vitally important that the Commissioners understand the importance of public transportation.

Our thanks also go out to Allentown City Council Member-Elect Mike Donavan for attending December 2007 Try Transit Day and brining a strong interest in public transportation to the table at Allentown City Council.

Representing Mayor Ed Pawlowski and his pledge to ride at least once every month (the Mayor was on vacation) was Special Assistant, Ismael Arcelay. CAT looks forward to working with Arcelay and the Interfaith Alliance in Allentown to encourage participation in future Try Transit Day activities and our Adopt-A-Bus Stop program.

We also thank Raj Suraswati, owner of the newly opened Dunkin’ Doughnuts at the Allentown Transportation Center for getting in the spirit of things and offering a free doughnut onTry Transit Day to anyone making any other purchase at his new establishment.

Assisting with the event was Barbara O. Rowley, a Bus Buddy Program organizer. Rowley, resplendent in her CAT headband, helped with the logistics on site. Experienced bus riders are encouraged to check out the Bus Buddy Program which helps new riders feel more comfortable when trying the bus.