Fighting hard to retain home-field advantage

Just before Christmas, I accompanied my eight-year-old daughter and her second-grade class to a local personal care home to spread joy among a population of people who often have trouble feeling joyful during the holiday season.

I had attended this same gathering with my older daughter just two years before so I knew the routine. The children would sing a number of Christmas carols, work on small craft projects with the residents and then enjoy an assortment of baked goods and fruit punch. It was clearly an enjoyable time for both young and old and it fascinated me to see the connections that were made and the heartfelt information that was exchanged in little more than an hour.

It was while I was seated at a table following the loudest rendition of Silent Night that I have ever heard, that I was engaged in conversation by a lady who was spending her first Christmas at her new “home.” She was quite articulate, had no evidence of limited mobility or impairment and spent much of her time helping other residents to acclimate themselves to the high-speed scurrying of the school students.

“I really like this place,” she told me after I had remarked at what a festive atmosphere had been created by the activities staff. “It’s just that it will never be like my old house. I’m sentimental and a little bitter too. I don’t know exactly how to overcome the bitterness.”

The bitterness, I would find out, was the result of her placement at the home due to family concerns for her safety.

“I’ve lived in Lakemont my entire life,” she explained. “There was never any reason to fear anything or anybody. But for the last couple years, I had young people come to my door looking for money. I learned later that they needed it to buy drugs. They kept coming back and one time they actually tried to push their way into the house. I live alone. And it scared me to death.

“I really had no choice. My family did the best they could to keep me there for as long as possible but there was no reason to think that the situation would get better. And my neighbors faced the same threats. It’s really a shame that the drug thing has affected so many innocent people.”

On Thursday, The Chamber will help commemorate the one-year anniversary of Operation Our Town with a special program at our Breakfast Club featuring an address by State Attorney General Tom Corbett. In the half-century that I have lived in Blair County, I have witnessed the creation of literally hundreds of task forces, economic stimulus programs, consortiums and non-profit organizations. All of them were designed to target some aspect of the community that was lacking or just needed a boost. Most fell into the category of important and a few might even have been considered essential.

None could even begin to touch the penetrating severity facing Operation Our Town.

The turf war that has been waged between those determined to save the community and those content to destroy it has not been fought on a level playing field. We might be the home team but the penetration of vermin within our borders is organized and relentless. And in a flourishing market, they’re not likely to pull up stakes any time soon.

Michael Fiore, one of the founders of Operation Our Town, has stated from the outset that despite a tremendous outpouring of financial contributions to OOT, “we’re not going to be able to outspend (the drug dealers).” Fiore could not have imagined the caldron of violence and family upheaval that law enforcement and social service agencies are seeing every day as the result of the confrontational nature of ridding the county of its greatest scourge.

The impact on the business community has been extensive yet somewhat subtle. Retail theft is up although not to the extent that many had predicted. Where this hurts us the most is in our ability to recruit new businesses. Our marketing materials portray us as “a safe environment to live and raise kids.” It is incumbent upon us to take whatever steps are necessary to validate that claim.

Operation Our Town is an incredible example of the impact the community can have when pushed to the wall. The companies, organizations and individuals that have willingly put time and money into this effort should be commended for recognizing that what we have here will not be relinquished without a fight.

The home team must win because the consequences of losing are too great.

If you’re not already involved, sign-on.

There’s much to be done.

Past Chamber Notes

Dec 04 | Jan 05 | Feb 05| Mar 05 | Apr 05| May 05| June 05 | July 05 | Aug 05 |Sep 05 |Oct 05 |Nov 05 |Dec 05 | Jan 06 |Feb 06| Mar 06 | Apr 06 | May 06 | June 06 | July 06 | Aug 06 |
Sept 06| Oct 06 | Nov 06 | Dec 06 | Jan 07 | Feb 07 |Mar 07 | Apr 07 | May 07 | Jun 07 | July 07 | Aug 07 | Sept 07 | Oct 07 |Nov 07 |Dec 07