A few weeks ago, Coplay Borough Council President Lou Bodish suggested council members gather at the Coplay end of the Coplay-Northampton Bridge to share memories about the bridge and have a photo taken for placement in a time capsule planned for Coplay’s 150th birthday celebration in 2019.

The conversation among the officials turned to the struggles local businesses and establishments will face over the next three years while the bridge is under construction.

Councilmen Charles Sodl - chairperson of the borough planning committee - and Steve Burker - chairperson of the borough’s parks and recreation committee - joined forces and committees to form a co-op program appropriately called Bridge Closed Coplay Open. They hope it will help ease some of the hardship for the borough.

Inserts have been placed in the Whitehall-Coplay Press advertising dining specials and other incentives to support the borough. Recent inserts have featured Gigi’s Pizza and Samuel Owens, both of which offered a percentage of sales toward the Community Plaza project.

The program has drawn a lot of attention and positive feedback, Burker said, and so far, it has been a win-win situation for everyone.

Mayor Dean Molitoris and Bodish stressed just how important it is for Coplay’s elected officials to show support and unity to help the local establishments and businesses survive the next three years.

Council members Mark Molitoris, Dave Royer, Janet Eisenhauer and Carl Luckenbach all agreed the borough must exhaust all options to help the dining establishments, social clubs, food markets and other businesses survive.

It is going to be a long three years, Burker said, adding the borough needs to do what Coplay people do best when a family member needs help - show that Coplay pride and work together to support our local and neighboring establishments.