By Kathryn Ross
Wellsville has been seeing some tough times for the last 18
or so months, so maybe it is time to look to the past to see our future. One of
the biggest blows came with the news that the Dresser-Rand plant owned by
Siemens and sold to Curtiss-Wright would be shutting down within two years. Now
the word is that about 120 or so engineering jobs will remain here, but the
question is what will happen to the 400,000 square foot plant and the men and
women who worked there? It remains up in the air. People were stunned to learn
that Wellsville’s only big box store, Kmart, would be closing. The news came just
after Christmas and the doors shut Sunday. The future of that building is up in
the air too. The jobs are just gone. With the purchase of the old hardware
store across from Bokman’s, news came out that Mattress Express was closing. The
King Wok restaurant on Bolivar Road closed suddenly. Hamilton’s Shoe Store closed
because Rich (Shear) decided to retire. A vape store took its place. And
finally, the Wellsville office (Daily Reporter building) of The Spectator is
closing, although there will still be mail delivery of the newspaper and places
to purchase single copies, along with digital offerings online. And so on. Is
Wellsville in some sort of decline, or is it just falling victim to the times? Internet
sales are driving out big box stores and malls are declining across the country.
The internet is also squashing the sales of paper copies of newspapers. There
have been some bright spots on Wellsville’s landscape — the Stillwater restaurant
and the Wellsville Brewing Company opened. Zippo, that powerhouse from
Bradford, bought out Northern Lights and plans to not only continue business but
to also expand the product line. The oft heard plea is that there is nothing
here (in Wellsville) for our children. They graduate, move away and only come
home for holidays and the like. They do not make their homes here because there
are no jobs for them. Our local and county governments work hard to keep jobs
and try to bring in new jobs, but that is basically catch as catch can. So what
do we have in Wellsville and why don’t we use it to attract people? Maybe we’re
barking up the wrong tree? Maybe we should be looking at attracting seniors —
people who are looking for a slower lifestyle, but who are not yet ready to
stop enjoying life and who don’t necessarily need a job. Why would senior
citizens want to live here? Why not? Think about it. In comparison to the rest of
the country, we seldom have hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wildfires,
hundred degree temperatures or sub-zero temperatures. That’s not to say we
haven’t had frigid temperatures this last winter, but they didn’t last for
months, only a few days, and we did have some hot weather last summer, but it
didn’t last long either. Rain and wind, yes we have some, but it is usually moderate.
So we basically have decent weather compared to what is happening in the rest
of the country. Today’s seniors are more active and involved. Wellsville has a
great golf course, areas to walk, run and hike, ride bikes or even horses.
There are places to ride ATVs and snowmobiles. There’s a wonderful indoor pool
and nice tennis courts. The “Y” offers exercise from lifting to Tai Chi. There
is a holistic health center with yoga, meditation, exercise and nutritional
programs. Or you can fish, canoe or kayak on the river, or cast a line in one
of the many protected trout habitats. There are places to gather, social and
services clubs. The library offers adult programming from crafts to book clubs.
You can even sit quietly and read a book, magazine or newspaper or check your email.
There are dance studios, an art association, art lessons, theater and music programs
and concerts. Many offerings are free such as Music On The Lawn in the summer
and movies and concerts monthly at the library. There are theatrical groups,
choral, and orchestral groups and art classes to enjoy or join. Main Street
offers diverse dining from the 50’s cheeseburgers and pizza to hummus and flat
bread and regional specialties like Buffalo wings and Beef on Weck. There are
antique shops, an old time movie theater, and pecialty shops where unique and original works
can be found. And you can relax, meditate, garden or just sit in the sun at the
Greenspace. There is also Jones Memorial Hospital which offers a variety of
health services of interest to seniors — cardiopulmonary, orthopedic, oncology,
diabetes, cessation programs, along with an emergency room and a walk-in clinic
and more. It is affiliated with the top notch University of Rochester and its
medical facilities. Wellsville also offers reasonably priced housing alternatives
with senior housing and apartment complexes and affordable homes on quiet
streets. There is even an airport where you can learn to fly, fly for fun or
travel to another area. I often see articles on the Internet or in the AARP magazine
that hype the best places for seniors to retire, live and play. Wellsville needs
to be on those lists. Maybe it is time for Wellsville to look at attracting a population
that has a broader and longer future than ever before — senior citizens.
