Thursday - February 18: The first Town Hall was held this past Thursday evening. It was hosted by the Revitalization Committee at Wellsville's Village Hall and attended by twenty plus people. Although not an overwhelming crowd it was a very successful turn-out consisting of Village officials, members of the Wellsville business community and Village residents. Conflicting with another event the missus took our recorder to cover the meeting for us. After listening to over one hour and elevan minutes of the meeting twice and talking to others that attended we can say it was a very productive, encouraging get together.
Town Hall meetings in Wellsville history were very common in our early days. Before the Village government really got organized back in the 19th Century decisions for the community were made at Town Hall meetings. Last Thursday's meeting revived that tradition.
Village Mayor Joe Surace got things started stating he feels that those at Thursday's meeting was "a good nucleus of starting what we need in Wellsville". Surace went on to say that the Revitalization Committee is for real and he believes Wellsville is "on the verge of good things happening right now". Surace set the tone saying "someday you're going to open the door, come out and see a brand new Wellsville".
Connie Carmichael thanked the Haughs for providing refreshments and said the meeting "is not about negativity. It's going to be about positivity". From from we heard recorded and accounts from others that was exactly what occurred. There were some facts stated that are sometimes hard pills to swallow but we really didn't hear anything negative. Carmichael asked for ideas saying "what does a revitalized Main Street look like to you?"
Candy Bangor remarked that "you just want to close your eyes sometimes when driving through town and pretend you're not on Main Street", referring to a lot of places we see today. From her tone of voice and knowing Bangor is one of the originators of the revitalization efforts, she wasn't being negative. Unfortunately for Wellsville it's a true statement of fact.
Bangor said there are a lot of people in Wellsville with good ideas not even thought of yet. No idea or suggestion for improvement should be considered silly. She said the Committee's goals for this project is to clean up the town to make it a better place to live. They want to create ways for keeping our money in the village as much as possible to help Wellsville businesses. They would like to come up with ways to provide residents with the goods and services they need. Bangor stated that once money is spent out of town it is gone forever.
As an example Bangor said Dairy Queen cakes are delicious but if you want something other than an ice cream cake you're forced to shop elsewhere. That is money lost that could have supported Wellsville. Nick DaLonzo stated statistics show that for every dollar spent at a Village business, 60 cents of it stays in town. It is used by the merchants to buy what supplies or services they can get locally. DaLonzo said you pay me a dollar for pizza I can use 60 cents of that to get a hair cut in town.
With that in mind Bangor announced that beginning sometime next month Wellsville's Save-A-Lot will begin taking orders for baked goods made from scratch at their Youngstown area bakery. You'll be able to get cakes for graduations, birthdays, etc that, if ordered early enough, will be delivered to the Wellsville store the next day for you to pick up. By doing that the money stays in town. It not only helps Save-A-Lot, some of it will trickle down to other Wellsville businesses. It not only benefits Wellsville businesses. It will benefit the whole Village.
Many good ideas were brought up - fixing up the old Liberty Theater with owners Potter Players Community Theater group so that it can be used for their plays and other social functions. Building an amphitheater in Hammonds Park, installing tourist attraction signs along the highways into town, fixing sidewalks and curbs, doing one block at a time with pavers inscribed with the buyers favorite saying or short poem were some of the other ideas brought up.
Mayor Joe Surace said maybe we should zero in on one project to show our sincerity to start. Candy Bangor called it an anchor project. Councilwoman Sue Haugh said concentration should be given to cleaning up some business buldings that are currently being used to store junk visible in their front windows. Haugh remarked that she has spoken to some owners that have expressed an interest in cleaning their places up. As an incentive Jeff & Sue Haugh have offered to go in and take pictures of these places once they are cleaned up. They would then place ads free of charge on Haugh Designs WellsvilleOhio.net web site for them to sell or rent.
Councilwoman Haugh went on to say "people are watching us. They are interested and watching us from outside the village. They see our enthusiasm and know we want to do something. Now's the time to strike".
Center Pharmacy Co-owner Joe Amaismeier addressed the issue of why some people are not cleaning up. In addition to the pharmacy they own the building across the street and the gravel parking lot next to it. He said they would love to tear that building down, pave the parking lot and replace sidewalks on both sides of the street. Amaismeir stated "I don't have the money to do it. Maybe they don't have money either. It's a money issue." It's tough to get loans from the bank. They are not giving loans for as much as you want and the loans they are giving are for half the time you want to repay it. It's a constant game of catch up. Right now it's a matter of keeping caught up on the mortgage. After six years they are beginning to see some daylight and will someday eventually be able to make those wishes come true on their own.
Councilman Joe Soldano applauded Wellsville businesses for taking the chance in a small town. We owe our existing businesses a debt of gratitude. Soldano continued
times are tough in today's economy and said that the Village Council and Administration are all dedicated to the effort. Soldano remarked there are a lot of people willing to help. It's a team effort. With the Revitalization Committee taking on the project and business people showing they care we need to keep fired up.
Lonnie Hentzell reported he is in the process of putting together a business directory for the Revitalization Committee. It will list every business, their products and what services they offer. It will have names, addresses,contact numbers and short stories why it is important to shop locally. Plans are to have it delivered to every resident in town. Nick DaLonzo said they are looking at "Ville Bills". It's a form of currency where you can get $1 for 95 cents that Village businesses will accept. It's still being researched according to Bangor but it is being used in other areas of the country.
Jeff Haugh proposed a good old fashion broom & shovel brigade as an anchor project cleaning Main Street from 3rd to 9th. It takes very little money. Mostly all that is needed is a lot of work and some elbow grease. It's something a lot of people of all ages can join in to help with. It was accepted as an excellent suggestion and will be seriously looked at before the next meeting.
It was an great kick off to an exciting idea. There will be more meetings to get it all organized once everything is digested. We'll keep you informed. There was sad parts and good news. The sad part was the noticeable absence of any Chamber-of-Commerce ranking officers. At a meeting earlier last week with the Mayor, the Chamber's President & President-elect and the Sisters Carmichael of the Revitalization Committee, the Chamber President said the CofC would not interfere with the project nor would they support it with funds or Chamber resources. While still in the meeting he placed a call to Heritage Ohio advising them of their position. That's sad. In our opinion that decision is turning their backs to a very large per centage of their membership, the very same business people that this project is targeted for.
The good news came out in Monday's newspaper and was confirmed by Candy Bangor. Last Friday she received a call from Jeff Siegler, Director of Revitalization for Heritage Ohio, saying they would help with the Revitalization Committee's project. Their expertise will be invaluable. As Wellsville resident Janet Taggart summed up the Town Hall Meeting saying "there is something about Wellsville that just fills your heart. We got to keep that here to give our kids". We believe it's called pride in our little village. With everybody pitching in one way or another our town will be something everyone will be proud to call home. As the Mayor likes to say "We're rolling on the river!"
For more information on the meeting check out the blog Dream Soup Village at www.dreamsoupvillage.blogspot.com. If you have any suggestions or ideas to add we would be glad to pass them on. You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at olenib@gmail.com.
Before closing this post we would like to wish a speedy recovery to our good friend Nick DaLonzo. Hang in there buddy. You can't keep a good man down. We're all pulling for you. You'll be back before you know it.
ole nib
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11 comments:
I like Jeff Haugh's idea about the cleaning of Main Street. Perhaps we could get groups such as the Lions Club, church or school groups to adopt a block of Main Street and keep it clean.
Also,prayers for a speedy recovery to Nick D.
It is very sad that our Chamber members have turned their back to the efforts of this group. I cannot understand why both groups can't work together to make the village better. Put your egos aside and lets just do it !
With all due respect, i have to ask what the chamber is going to do to help our businesses if they are not willing to support this main street project. It seems like sour grapes on their part and that is something that this village can ill afford. It is hard to fathom that chamber officials would actually come out and say they will not give money or resources to something that could benefit the businesses on main street. Apparently, Main street isn't the only thing that needs revitalized.
I think the Chamber should go back
to the drawing board and decide what their goals as the Chamber really are. Are they going to promote and help the downtown businesses or are they going to print pamphlets at nausiem out of town. I think everyone in town, is aware of what businesses are here, why doesn't the Chamber promote them. New leadership in the Chamber might be a good first step toward them getting their act together.
I have to disagree about the chamber (and I am not a member, nor do I even live in town).
It seems the chamber often promotes business, by awarding business of month, hosting ribbon cuttings, sponsoring events such as the christmas parade.
There is a sad lack of cooperation between the chamber and revitalization committee but to say the chamber doesn't do anything is incorrect. Both groups do a lot. Now, they just need to do it as a team.
I agree, get new officers in the Chamber. We need new ideas, new blood.
I think that main street is way over due for a facelift. Good luck to those who have the guts and fortitude to take it on.
Is bad mouthing the Chamber of Commerce going to help? Kindness goes a long way. You "FOLKS" should use some. These remarks are nasty and totally lack professionalism.
Randy Allmon has been a good chamber president. membership has grown; it has been an active organization.
This situation with the revitalization committee shouldn't negate those facts.
I agree Randy Allmon is a good Chamber President. The Chamber has moved into the 21st century under his leadership.
I think both groups are grown ups are they not. I don't think the Chamber should be showered with kindness to be swayed to do what it should be doing in the first place. If you want to do good things for the village, you will do it no matter what. And the Revitalization Committee knows that all to well. And, no one knows what was said at the meeting to get the Chamber to come on board. We did ask them, nicely to participate with us, among other things. So, it is up to the Powers That Be, where they go from here. Nobody would blame us if we were unkind, which we were not, after the way we were treated by the Pres. and Vice.
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