—
CUMBERLAND — More than 60 business and community leaders and members of the public came together at the Allegany Arts Council Tuesday night for a Power of 32 Community Conversation meeting, beginning the listening phase of the program that will help mold the future of the region.
The Power of 32 is a regional project that involves community members from 32 counties in Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The program consists of three phases: a series of community conversations this summer, the creation of framing solutions based on ideas from those conversations in the fall and a regional town meeting using webcast technology next year.
More than 20 similar meetings took place in counties throughout the region on Tuesday.
The local meeting was focused on finding out attendees’ ideas for the future of the region. Questions asked of the attendees included what they thought a thriving region looked like, key challenges that needed to be addressed for the region to thrive and strengths that the region can build on.
“We’ve had a lot of input about transportation, concerns about our aging population,” said Jessica Zembower, a former city resident who serves as operation director of the Power of 32.
“We’ve heard everything from environmental to energy to education issues. Jobs is a really big one, as are job retention and creation. We’ve run the gamut — people come to the table with all kinds of individual ideas.”
Allegany and Garrett counties are the only two from Maryland involved. The 10 West Virginia counties involved are from the north-central part of the state. Mineral County is not included.
“When the (Power of 32 Executive Committee) drew the line they originally did not include Allegany County or Blair County in Pennsylvania,” said Colleen Peterson with the Power of 32 Steering Committee. “Allen Kukovich, the executive director of the Power of 32, spoke to the Greater Cumberland Committee in June. We have a lot of members in Mineral County who made the plea, and it was decided to include Mineral County’s comments with Allegany County.”
“We’re including all their comments with our comments,” said Peterson.
Cory Galliher can be reached at cgalliher@times-news.com.
Local News
States working to form regional blueprint
Power of 32 will help plot course for future
- Local News
-
-
Eight siblings served during World War II
An inspection of the Bridges of Bedford County shows that eight of the 12 siblings served their country with military service either during or shortly after World War II.
-
Giving back
Allegany High School students Casey Kidd, left, and Victoria Bohrer sweep gravestones and place flags at Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery on Friday. Kidd and Bohrer were part of a larger effort by their ninth-grade government class, who honored veterans by cleaning the site.
-
Almost half of new vets seek disability
As the nation commemorates the more than 6,400 troops who died in post-9/11 wars, the problems of those who survived also draw attention.
-
Millions in aid for Iraq goes unspent
Outside the crumbling elementary school, goats feed on trash strewn across the front yard. Inside, the ceiling is rotting, toilets don’t work and students scrunch hip-to-hip behind narrow desks.
-
For the fallen, for those who served, for those serving: Thank you
In observance of Memorial Day, the local Ali Ghan Shrine Club held a service at the club grounds on Saturday, honoring those who paid the ultimate price in defense of our freedom and giving thanks to those who served and are serving in the military.
-
Celebrating 100 years
Bertha V. Burkett celebrated her 100th birthday with family at the Frostburg Nursing Center on Saturday.
-
No trial date set in man’s murder case
A trial date in the capital murder case of a Maryland man charged in the slaying of his ex-wife’s boyfriend could not be set Wednesday because defense attorneys are awaiting reports from experts.
-
Pet oxygen masks donated to Oakland VFD
Resident Michael McGuire recently donated two pet oxygen mask kits to the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department.
-
PlanMaryland workshops set in region
People who are interested in PlanMaryland are invited to two workshops to discuss incorporating the economic development interests of Western Maryland into the first state development plan.
-
UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPS!
Mountain Ridge softball head coach Martha Mauzy and players react after the Miners’ 4-3 win over Mardela in the Maryland 1A state championship game at the University of Maryland on Saturday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
