Wellsville's Revitalization Committee

Monday - February 8: Wellsville's Revitalization Committee met Monday evening at the Beverly & Lonnie Hentzell home on Riverside. Present at the meeting were the "Sisters Carmichael" - Connie Carmichael & Candy Bangor, Ruth Ensinger, Nick DaLonzo, Joyce Lynn, J.C. Coulter and the Hentzells.

As announced at last week's Council Meeting the Revitalization Committee is hosting a Town Hall Meeting (THM) on Thursday, February 18. The purpose of the THM is to gather ideas, thoughts and wishes about the revitalization of Wellsville's Main Street business district. The idea to breathe new life into the business district began fromulating last fall when the Committee first contacted Heritage Ohio. Heritage Ohio is a group based in Columbus that have overseen successful revitalization projects in many of the state's towns and villages. Representatives of that organization have been to Wellsville twice explaining their program, offering suggestions and answer a multitude of questions.

Wellsville's business district was once a thriving area that enticed residents to support and take advantage of the many businesses available in town. Business owners took pride in the appearance of their stores. It is hard to say when the decline really started. Some say it was with the closing of the railroad yard, the demise of the steel industries up and down the valley in the 80s, the introduction of "big box" stores in the 90s or the overall decline in the nation's economy since the post WWII boom days. Except for a few bright spots the over all condition of Main Street Wellsville is sad. It doesn't have to be that way. There are communities all across this state that have suffered the same fate as Wellsville that have said enough is enough. With a concentrated community effort they have revitalized their home towns to be attractive places to live, work and do business in. While others have thrown up their hands in despair and given up a core group in each of those communities slowly set to work to turn things around. They didn't wait for a big industrial business to break ground and flood the area with construction workers.

In our Wellsville that core group is our Revitalization Committee. Look what they have accomplished with the floodwall murals. For over 60 years those walls were just plain cement walls that not even Wellsville citizens really noticed until the water started to raise. Now they are a tourist attraction that draw visitors from all over.

The THM is the next step to hear ideas, suggestions, thoughts and plans on how to return our Wellsville to an attractive place to do business in and attract customers. It's not a gripe session. All residents, business people, potential business people and Village officials are invited and encouraged to attend. This is a project for the whole community to join in. It's for the benefit of all of us that call the ville home. The THM starts at 7 P.M. at Wellsville Village Hall.

Also at last Monday's meeting it was announced there will be an Alumni Basketball game vs the aging East Liverpool Potters March 26 in East Liverpool. Anyone around 50 years of age or older that wishes to represent the Tiger pride is asked to contact Connie Carmichael at 330-532-9064. It's a chance to even the score from the Old Gray Mayor's Basketball game last year. Remember if you're caught running you'll be penalized. Running is not permitted. It's a "walk in the park" with a basketball. Please consider joining in the fun and call Connie. The ELO group plans to be reciprocal later this spring in Wellsville.

See you on the 18th...

ole nib