Page 50 - Outlook

Basic HTML Version

By Dr. Thomas R.
Hawkins
SVI Executive Vice President
Did you ever feel that the
old cities of the Shenango
Valley are ghosts of cities
past? What of the present,
and future?
You need to do something
about some recent events
tearing apart this communi-
ty. If something is not done,
soon, you will see the same
forces that helped to destroy
the original communities will
continue to destroy them
now and into the future.
Read the current head-
lines. Change needs to be or-
ganized.
SVI supports the East
State Street/U.S. Route 62
transportation, economic de-
velopment study now going
on. There will be policy
changes you will need to
support and that will need
public support and public of-
ficials initiatives for the im-
provement process.
You can help SVI support
change in Farrell and Sharon
if you citizens want to organ-
ize the change. What out-
come is needed? How will
there be solutions for the
present condition? You or-
ganize with a change organi-
zation!
The Shenango Valley Ini-
tiative began community or-
ganizing in 1995. As the
years passed, active, risk-tak-
ing pastors took leadership.
Several changes were recom-
mended and have taken
place over the years, since.
The recent change of leader-
ship in Sharon, the ongoing
leadership in Hermitage and,
hopefully, leadership in Far-
rell, Sharpsville and nearby
communities will use part-
nerships with the private or
nonprofit sector to improve
n e i g h b o r -
hoods and
i ndu s t r i a l -
commercial
centers to
provide jobs.
Ask for it to get done. Elect
leaders and hire qualified
people that are advocates for
your community.
Visionary leaders and
planners have to work for re-
vitalization in depressed ar-
eas. This includes better
schooling for positive out-
comes for 18- to 23-year-olds.
Will investors want to invest
in the older sections of the
valley? Not under present cir-
cumstances. These areas
need to be pioneered in new
ways for investment, travel-
ing, working and living, not
advocacy for being dis-
tressed.
What is SVI? A faith-based
pastor lead organization that
welcomes you and people of
all faiths. SVI provides an op-
portunity to work beyond
solitary walls and reach out
for the common good and
act your faith. SVI is a way to
organize those issues that
demean your level of society
that need made whole,
whether inner-city, suburban
or rural.
SVI are people and pastors
who are tenacious enough to
insist, care, and who won’t
back down about social jus-
tice for the pursuit of a just
society.
Now, with the current rob-
beries, shootings, and as-
saults; this community, per-
haps out of control, should
seek to partner and build a
community as ISAAC, in
Kalamazoo, Mich., a sister
organization, and others are
doing – where hope tri-
umphs over fear, where
God’s abundance meets the
needs of all, where they seek
to live in a sacred and
beloved community instead
of dehumanizing isolation,
where the sun of equality
has risen, and in a land
where love endures.
ISAAC, Michigan says,
“We are united across social
barriers, organizing so that
our common values are re-
flected in the world we
share.”
Pastors, stand up for the
citizens of the Shenango Val-
ley/Mercer County and lead
in an organized way, togeth-
er! One hundred congrega-
tions, one hundred pastoral
leaders who need to join
hands with SVI and seek so-
cial justice. SVI is unique
and a vehicle for hope and
better public policy. SVI is a
501(c)3 tax-exempt, faith-
based organization united in
order to accomplish what
cannot be done by individu-
als or single congregations.
Together, SVI focuses collec-
tive people-power on the
most pressing issues of injus-
tice local, state and national.
Contact SVI today and join
hands for your community.
SVI trains leaders. Pastors,
get involved!
For more information, call
724-981-0240; visit www.svi1
.com;
or
e-mail
svi@roadrunner.com
Courts/Register of Wills
Kathy Kloos, Controller Tom
Amundsen, Coroner J.
Bradley McGonigle III, Dis-
trict Attorney Bob Kochems
and Treasurer Ginny Steese
Richardson.
Among the 2012 goals for
the county are:
ä A joint venture with
counties in Southwest Penn-
sylvania to share call routing
equipment between 911 Cen-
ters that will save money and
give residents an extra layer
of protection in the event
phone service is lost in any
of those counties.
ä Upgrades to the Geo-
graphic Information System
(GIS) mapping that should
prove beneficial to those or-
ganizations and individuals
focused on economic devel-
opment.
ä Expanding the option
for toll-free calling to the
courthouse for all residents
of the county by increasing
the number of available lines
through an upgrade in tech-
nology that will
tantly save ta
lowering mon
costs.
ä A new a
natural gas at a
that will save
dollars over p
tracts.
Perhaps mo
for taxpayers is
cials will conti
forts while kee
ful eye on spe
enabled them t
2012 with a bal
and no property
for residents.
F-2
THE HERALD,
Sharon, Pa.,
Sunday, February 19, 2012; HUBBARD PRESS,
Hubbard, Ohio,
Saturday, February 25, 2012 í
Outlook 2012
www.sharo
The Place to Find the Perfect
…Whatever the
the
E
NGRAVING
P
L
1945 E. State St., Hermitage (across fro
724-342-7480 • M-F 11-5, Sat 1
Make Yo
One-of-a-K
Engravin
Custom E
STEVENSON I
and RESTAUR
American, Italian & Middle Easter
BUY ONE
50%
SECOND
(Same Price) (excl
Expires 3/
1144 Broadway Ave., Masury, OH • 330-
OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY AT
PLAY KENO HERE
Monday - BUY ONE 4 PIECE CHICKEN DIN
(Second one a
Tuesday - STEAK - BUY ONE - SECOND
(Of equal or le
Wednesday - FAMILY ITALIAN DINNER
(Children under 10 - FREE - Italian e
Thursday - PRIME RIB
Friday - AYCE FISH (HADDOCK)
Saturday - STEVENSON’S BBQ RIBS
1/2 Slab - $8.95 Full Sla
TAKING RESERVATIONS
FOR PRIVATE PARTIES,
HOLIDAY BANQUETS,
CLASS REUNIONS,
AND CATERING ORDERS
County
County gov’t tries to
stay on the go
from page F-1
The Mercer County Courthouse dominates the skyline of the county
government is a key player in the local economy.
By Erin Palko
Communications Coordinator,
Hermitage Business Association
Hermitage Business Asso-
ciation provides the business
community of Hermitage
and beyond with a forum for
networking and collaboration
among its members.
HBA’s diverse member-
ship represents many sectors
of business, including finance,
health care, insurance, restau-
rants, education, media, con-
struction and retail.
HBA in 2012 will remain
committed to helping area
high school
students de-
velop bud-
ding inter-
ests
in
business by
once again offering a $500
scholarship to a high school
senior who lives in Her-
mitage and plans to pursue
post-secondary education.
HBA members also take part
in interviewing workshops at
Hickory High School, giving
juniors and seniors the op-
portunity to hone their inter-
view skills before entering
the job market.
In July, HBA will once
again host the annual city
Fireworks Extravaganza, as
well as contribute to the Fa-
ther’s Day Car Show, the
Hermitage Arts Festival, and
the Holiday Light Parade.
HBA holds lunch meet-
ings the fourth Thursday of
every month and always wel-
comes new members.
For more information
about HBA, call the Her-
mitage Office of Community
and Economic Development
at 724-983-0900, or send an
e-mail to hba@hermitage.net.
HBA committed to
business partners
The
Outlook
A community
point of view
HERMITAGE
SHENANGO VALLEY
Will ghosts of cities past
continue to haunt us?
Follow local business
every month in the
Find the next issue free
inside The Herald
Monday, Feb. 27
The
Outlook
A community
point of view