Boards across the county are recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month. Halfmoon declined
The Halfmoon Township board of supervisors declined a resident’s request Thursday night to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Halfmoon resident Sharon Rovansek presented the board with a resolution to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The month celebrates “the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America,” according to its website, which is hosted by the Library of Congress.
Other municipalities within the Centre Region, including Ferguson and Patton townships and the State College Borough, have already acknowledged the month through an agenda item or proclamation, or have it on an upcoming agenda.
Halfmoon supervisors previously recognized Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, though Rovansek said she was asked why it’s important to pass such a resolution.
“To me, it’s because we feel seen by our community, we feel welcomed by our community,” she said.
Rovansek said her great-grandfather was a rancher. He voted for the first time in the United States in 1902, after he came from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He cast his first vote in Eagle Pass, Texas. She brought his ballot to show the board and said she uses it to show her children the importance of voting and how important their heritage is in the U.S.
Halfmoon Supervisor Patti Hartle made a motion to pass the resolution recognizing the month. But no other supervisor seconded it, so the motion failed.
Later in the meeting, resident Virginia Squier asked the board to reconsider.
“Passing a resolution costs this board nothing but it increases the feeling of goodwill and belonging for all members of our community. And I would like to ask the board to reconsider their previous vote, and move to demonstrate to everybody that Halfmoon Township is a welcoming community,” she said.
Another resident, who did not state her name, suggested the township dedicate a resolution to all heritages and celebrate everybody, “instead of pointing out and separating people.” She pitched a resolution for “Halfmoon Heritage Month,” where they celebrate anyone who has come to Halfmoon.
Squier agreed and said the Halfmoon Inclusion and Diversity Alliance group would be happy to work on that, but pointed to the importance of recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month.
“But this is a national month, where our national government and our state government has recognized Hispanic contributions to our country. When you go down to Way Fruit Farm, I think we should recognize the contributions that … a lot of the people who work there are Hispanic. It costs nothing to do this,” she said. “And if other groups want to propose a Heritage Month or resolution, by all means, it is about celebrating the diversity that is in not only this country, but also this township.”
The board didn’t budge on its decision. Board Chair David Piper said that he’d rather “unify than divide.”
“I think maybe we ought to pass a resolution to recognize all the heritage. We’re all from someplace else. Most of us are not pure A, B, C or D. I mean, I probably got at least 12 different backgrounds in my family that I even know and I have no idea on most of them. So I think it’s better to unify and say we’re citizens of Halfmoon Township and we’re glad to be here,” Piper said.
But when Squier argued that the move not to pass a resolution was more divisive than unifying, Supervisor Ron Servello said that was just an opinion and moved to adjourn the meeting.
“Well, I believe that’s an opinion. And I think we have 2,700 and then some … opinions in this township. And I think we should respect all opinions. Equally,” Servello said.
