As the community of Tyrone prepares to welcome in a New Year in 2003, Mayor Patricia Stoner said she hopes the continued positive attitudes of the community and optimism that is rebuilding the town to what it once was will continue well into the 21st Century.
“One of the things that pleases me most about 2002 is what I hear from the public,” said Stoner. “They’re happy with the community and they are pleased with what has happened here in the last year.
“The feeling has changed from that of pessimism to optimism meaning our residents believe that Tyrone is going to make. And I’m sure we will.”
According to Stoner, things are definitely on the “up-and-up” in the community, and she believes the key will be continuing to push the importance of economics in the downtown.
“First of all, it’s important that people are able to buy things in their own hometown and not have to go out of town to get them,” said Stoner. “Our downtown has been growing immensely in recent past and there’s no evidence that it’s going to slow down.”
According to Stoner, filling the vacant storefronts downtown will not only improve the looks of Tyrone, but will also employee more people, thus increasing the activity of the local economy.
“Ideally, we’ll be able to bring in businesses that aren’t typical and will bring people off the interstate to visit here,” said Stoner. “We’re looking for the kind of businesses that have something different to offer that people really want. We’re not looking for the kinds of retail stores and service providers that can be found at places like the Altoona Mall. We want businesses that are going to attract people who will walk about our streets and summon them into all the businesses that make up this great community.”
Stoner said she hopes to continue to meet with the Tyrone Area Community Partnership and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center to market the downtown and increase the economy.
“That’s our whole idea,” she said. “To help one another. Not just ourselves, but one another.”
Besides the dedication to increasing the economy of Tyrone in 2003, Stoner also hopes that projects that have already been started are seen through completion. This includes the final touches at Reservoir Park, the completion of the Streetscape Project (which also will be key for the downtown), and the construction of an in-line hockey rink.
“We have plenty of incredible projects that are in the fire and we can’t wait for these projects to be finished,” said Stoner. “They’re purely positive additions to the community.”
Earlier this year, the borough set-up a “community build” project at Reservoir Park which saw the installation of plenty of new items. Stoner said landscaping projects are planned, as are the addition of new swings at the swing sets and new boards and hardware for the see-saws.
“Once we get all that work completed, I’d like to have a ‘Day In The Park’ program for the kids,” Stoner said.
Concerning the Streetscape project, improvements to areas near Burger King, Choice and the Veterans of Foreign War building are planned for 2003.
“I’ve never doubted that if we’ve made the downtown and our community more attractive to people, the businesses and prospective merchants will want to come in,” said Stoner. “And our plan wasn’t a fluke. It’s already been proven that if we make ourselves look better, those kinds of people will come. Just look at what we have now compared to what we had a few years ago. It’s a world of difference.”
Stoner also commended the Tyrone Borough Police Department, Chief Joe Beachem and Tyrone Area High School Superintendent Dr. Bob Miller for their involvement with helping to rid Tyrone of drugs in 2002.
“The (drug) problem is immense here,” said Stoner, “but we must remember this is a problem every community, whether big or small, is dealing with. We have to be concerned about our own town and people need to know that. These people and their organizations are happy to tell the community what they’re doing to help get this junk of our streets and we really must pat each and everyone of them on their backs for what they’ve done.”
So what else could the mayor do for Tyrone in 2003? She said if she had some “Mayor Dust” things would be a whole lot easier.
“I would hope that dust would continue to nurture the positive attitude about our community and just fan the flames of optimism for our future,” she said, “and then bring peace not only to the community of Tyrone and its surrounding area, but throughout the world.
“If I could sprinkle it that far, I definitely would.”
