My Side
By Jeanmare Holjencin

(Jeanmare Holjencin is a working mother of two, born and raised in Emporium. She has been active in the community for several years and is a big advocate of preserving the heritage and natural resources of the area.)

Sylvan Heritage Council (SHC) was formed in January after a wellattended meeting of interested residents and business owners. We resolved to move Emporium forward into a thriving place to live, work and visit.

Our mission is to pursue sustainable economic growth through the beautification, revitalization and historic preservation of the community. In doing so, we seek to capitalize on the area's abundant natural resources and maintain its proud local history.

As we work to obtain our non-profit status, the group is focused on revitalizing the business district of Emporium. We really need to work on an "image" for this community- something that business owners will want to be a part of.

We began with a Spring Clean-Up in April, and started a revolving display program in vacant storefront windows, showcasing the area's local talents and points of interest. It's a great way to let visitors know that we are not a community that is dying on the vine and it's also a great way to showcase vacant buildings that are available for lease or sale.

In the meantime, the group has formed a Business Development Committee, designed to entice new businesses and outlying businesses to come "downtown."

At the moment, we are working to put together an inventory of vacant, available buildings and their amenities so that when a perspective new business comes forward we are ready to assist. We have a Facade Improvement Committee which will work to utilize grant funding to assist in renovating building fronts that are in need of updating and repair.

SHC is excited to participate in the Pennsylvania Wilds Balancing Nature & Commerce for Sustainable Community Development workshop sponsored by the Pa. Wilds Planning Team, the Conservation Fund and the Stackpole Hall Foundation.

This competitive entry, three-day workshop is being offered to provide community leaders with an opportunity to explore significant issues facing communities that are balancing community and economic development with preserving the pristine beauty and nature in the Pennsylvania Wilds that residents and visitors love.

SHC looks to the future with many projects, some of which include possibly initiating a downtown Art Co-Op, implementing an Adopt-A-Banner program, and investigating the Anchor Building Program.

We are a diverse group of people. Nearly half of the group is native to Cameron County and have spent their entire lives in the area. The remaining members have either moved back to their hometown after extended residence in other communities, or have made Cameron County their home due to employment opportunities, all of whom come together with a collective effort and passion to bring sustained and lasting prosperity to our community.