DSI looks to shift effort to high gear
08/25/2007
Now that the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah
Inc. has finally settled on a downtown manager, we can anticipate
regular daily hours at the DSI headquarters and a new resolve at leading
the community on the path of its Main Street Program fundraising slogan,
"Return to Prominence."
Only a fool would think that achieving revitalization
and returning to prominence will be an easy task, but through hard
work, determination and persistence, it can be done. So the manager,
Mary Luscavage, has her work cut out.
However, her long involvement in DSI and the revitalization
effort has established her track record as one of hard work, determination
and persistence - a match for what's required. "It was a long
process," DSI President Valerie E. Macdonald said about the manager
selections process in what seems an understatement.
"But I am very glad we selected the best candidate
and very appropriately, a Shenandoah resident," she added.
Since Shenandoah was accepted into the state's Main
Street Program and DSI launched the fundraising effort to raise the
local match needed for the program, members of the group have agonized
over selecting a manager.
In fact, DSI in May re-advertised for candidates after
the original applicants reviewed in March were not accepted. Beginning
Sept. 3, when Luscavage begins her duties, the DSI front office at
the Anthony P. Damato American Legion "Medal of Honor" Post
792 building, 116 N. Main St., will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. daily.
That's progress already.
Maybe the borough will even be able to find a way to
get the stalled streetscape program back on track.
In any event, the time is at hand to shift the Main
Street Program into high gear.
During the August DSI meeting, Macdonald spoke about
the need to build the revitalization effort with workers from the
business community. Block managers, she said, will talk with business
people to get them interested in joining the revitalization effort.
For business people, the benefits of revitalization
should be self-evident. By getting on board, they would not only be
helping their community - they'd also be helping themselves.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2007
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