Tranquility is marketable

Whenever I make my way up north, I always purchase an Endeavor News. This time, the the article titled, "Potter County Businesses Cry Help!" (June 30) caught my attention.

The topic concerns an issue that I have witnessed since I started coming in 2005. Empty storefronts and "for sale" signs are cropping up faster and faster.

I have a suggestion. Since the lower half of Pennsylvania is becoming more and more stressful to live in, why not sell the tranquil environment that can be found in numerous places there?

Lord knows we all need a break. Aggressive drivers, shootings, gang wars, etc., all point to the need for a quiet getaway. When I mention Coudersport to people, they have no clue where the town is. I tell them that it's like Mayberry with a Sheetz.

Much of the tourism information put out by the county focuses on either trout fishing or hunting. The longrange solution to tourism may be to broaden the scope of advertising about the many attributes Potter County has to offer. Billboards, newspaper articles, a commercial or two - just enough to get the word out. You know you're there, but others don't.

People like my husband and I simply like the outdoors. There are many species of birds that can be heard and seen. There are photographic opportunities such as the ruffed grouse and baby raccoon that we saw. The lack of loud, obnoxious cars and people; forests, trails, farms, beautiful countryside, stargazing -- in short, what draws me there is the ability to relax. My trips are literally what my doctor ordered.

The product Potter County has to deliver is just what many people need: relaxation. Advertise this message in and you may have to put up roadblocks to keep the county relaxing.

My favorite place to stay is the Lindy Motel (actually it's a group of cabins). Dan Parson is a heck of a nice guy, always with a laugh and a smile, always willing to help. He makes one feel right at home. The cabins are set back off the road, next to a pleasant little stream with native trout, wood ducks and muskrats.

The only problem is that Dan and others who are in the hospitality industry are hardpressed by the economy, and it isn't easy to keep providing nice accommodations.

With gas prices the way they are, Potter County has an advantage in being close enough to require less than a tank of gas to get there, but far enough to be away from the maddening crowd.

It's up to Potter County to get the word out. Soon you may have to start worrying about having too much business and becoming like the lower end of Pennsylvania. But you can worry about that when the time comes!

Jane Smith-Decker

Millersburg