As the nation prepared to ring in the new year, The Era talked to several local officials, clergy and residents to find out about what they’d like to see for themselves and the community in 2020.
“I would love to see a kinder, gentler people who are more understanding of one another, who respect their differences and agree to disagree. That can apply to the parish or anything in this town,” noted Father Ray Gramata from St. Bernard’s Church.
For state Rep. Marty Causer, R-Turtlepoint, he’s remaining hopeful and positive in the new year.
“I’m looking forward to working with community leaders and elected officials to build on our successes and promote additional opportunities in our region,” Causer said of his plans for 2020.
“We have made a lot of progress but have much more to do with education, with rural health care, with agriculture and for rural farmers. For me it’s all about building with what we’ve been working on,” he said.
There has been a lot of progress, Causer said. “Change is incremental, everything revolves around people working together. I think that we’ve made a lot of progress but there’s so much more to be done. I think there’s a number of things on the horizon and I firmly believe 2020 will be a great year.”
In regards to the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, Shane Oschman, interim consultant, said the chamber would like to continue to stay focused on local businesses and see them thrive.
“We plan on doing this through a series of events including the annual auction and annual dinner. We’re still looking into possibly doing a Brewfest and plan on continuing the Old Fashioned Christmas and Christmas parade,” explained Oschman. “One of our main goals is to look for an executive director which we hope to do in the first quarter of 2020. Someone who is dedicated to the businesses in the Bradford community and all the events.”
Continuing with positive momentum seemed to be a common theme.
Jim Erwin, Bradford Township supervisor, conveyed the township would like to keep things going the way they are, in addition to completing some much needed roadwork and bridge repair.
“We’re going to maintain what we have. We didn’t raise taxes this year. It’s like the 10th or 11th year that we haven’t raised taxes. We’re really tightening up the budget,” Erwin said.
He said the township has applied for grant money to get some of the bridges repaired, including East Warren Road and Clarks Lane, which are currently closed.
“We’d like to get the East Warren Road open as quickly as possible. Especially with the fire department in Custer City; it serves as the main artery of the town,” Erwin explained.
As for resolutions, Bradford resident Barry Larson said he’d like to become more organized.
“That would be a leap for me,” he noted. “I think we’d all be better off if we spent less time on our phones and paid more attention to one another.”
Self-improvement was a common goal as well.
“I’d like to be a better person,” said Kris Hund.
Hurd also mentioned he’d like to see the community getting together year-round instead of just during the holiday season.
