The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002

FARRELL, SHARON

Residents prep for role to revitalize local cities

By Kristen Garrett
Herald Staff Writer

Members of the Weed and Seed team are hoping the public will be interested in focusing on and helping with the "seed" part of the program to revitalize target areas of Farrell and Sharon.

Marcia Brown, coordinator of the Target Area Local Leadership program, and Adrienne Gordon, coordinator of the Assistance for Impact Delegation program, both agree that it's important for people to know about the "weed" part of Weed and Seed but there's also another aspect to the program.

Weed and Seed is a state program that boosts the law enforcement in a targeted area to combat crime, especially drug trafficking, and then works to revitalize the area through jobs, transportation, a "safe haven" center for children, housing and community activism.

Ms. Brown said TALL will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday with Carl Anderson, state director of Weed and Seed, and all community members interested in helping with the program are invited to attend. The meeting will be held at the Endorse Resistance of All Substance abuse Everywhere office, 901 Fruit Ave., Farrell.

TALL is looking for people willing to make a commitment to better the community, Ms. Brown said. Initially 25 people will be selected to go through a two-year training program in areas like leadership, public speaking and enterprising. After the two years are complete another group of 25 can enter the training, she said.

People interested in volunteering will "definitely need to be committed," Ms. Brown said.

While turnout for the first organizational meeting was good, Ms. Brown said they would like some representation from residents and business owners in the target area of Sharon that extends through Sharpsville Avenue, Meek Street and around First through Fourth avenues.

The other target areas are west along South Dock Street in Sharon and Broadway in Farrell, with Prindle Street in Sharon as the northern boundary, Stambaugh Avenue in Sharon and Beechwood Avenue in Farrell as the eastern boundary, and the Farrell Wheatland line as the southern boundary.

Mrs. Gordon said she and a team of local politicians, business owners, school officials and community groups will take the input they get from the TALL group and work to develop a revitalization plan. The plan will have goals for the cities and must be submitted to the state by June 30, Mrs. Gordon said.

A completed plan will also give the local Weed and Seed program priority for state grant money, Mrs. Gordon said.

"We want families to stay, to grow and have their families here," Mrs. Gordon said.

Robert Kochems, Mercer County assistant district attorney and coordinator of the weed effort, stressed the importance of community involvement in the program.

"The seed side is so much more important," he said. "Once we get the streets ready, people have to believe in their city."

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at

kgarrett@sharon-herald.com



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