This week I sat down with Realtor, Rusty Gordon, to discuss inferences resulting from a September 27 article in the local daily paper. Distress over these sound bites or quotes has fueled unfortunate comment and misunderstanding throughout our district.

Regrettably her comments, taken out of context from the meeting of the Save the Lake Schools group appear segregating and harsh to our local area. However, Ms. Gordon assures the Valley, the comments were not intended to take sides in a debate that has become polarizing in its effects. Rather they were intended to apply to property values, not personal values of the property owners.

Admittedly, the tone of this particular meeting did not lend itself to the commerce or business side its leadership initially intended. That disregarded business/commercial aspect was the background to which Ms. Gordon’s comments were directed.

As a business owner and Realtor, Ms. Gordon requested to make comment during the meeting to highlight the recent Sadsbury and Vernon Township decision to bring utilities down Gable Hill. This is a significant resolution for ongoing development of the Route 322 corridor and a momentous development opportunity for this part of Crawford County.

Her intention was to stress the importance of Conneaut Lake area development and celebrate that long awaited potential for growth for that our area. In mentioning Conneaut Valley, she tried to stress that properties are purchased in Beaver Township and/or any outlying area, for that matter, because the buyers are purchasing acreage for farming, love of nature, wildlife, and/or general quiet and privacy – all values equally important as business development. Both are essential to the land use diversity appreciated and encouraged in our part of Pennsylvania.

Sadly, the intense, escalating, and emotional mood of the meeting combined with her word selections created the unfortunate sound bites and quotes bringing distress to Ms. Gordon as well as Conneaut Valley residents.

Speaking of diversity, Ms. Gordon brought to my attention the different aspects of the Conneaut Lake attendance area. There is the noticeable “lake community” of residents surrounding the lake, but there is additionally the people who do not own lake property and create the small town community similar to Linesville, Harmonsburg, Springboro, and Conneautville or Beaver Center.

All of us have differing population numbers, but place similar value on community importance. Ms. Gordon indicated the last thing she wanted to do was destroy or belittle a community or the spirit of a community.

Additionally, when a real estate professional speaks with buyers or potential residents, legally they are not permitted to recommend schools; they only indicate location of the schools and refer buyers to education web sites designed for and by local schools.

However, a large percentage of incoming residents already live in a larger school district and only ask how many miles to each school, rather than identifying loyalties as we existing residents traditionally do. And, as we are aware, loyalty is normally derived from longevity or permanence in an area.

At the end of the day, dear residents, Rusty Gordon, addressed the Save the Lake School group as a Realtor, local business owner, and, incidentally, her school was part of the consolidation creating Maplewood a few years ago, so she understands the dilemma facing the district and is sympathetic to the concerns of every attendance area.

As Crawford County citizens we all appreciate the progressive requirements for land as well as the conservation of farmland, rural traditions, and community inter-dependence on which we all rely. As we progress in the months ahead and keep our students foremost in our minds, working together with our School Board will bring the results students need from planning, thoughtful decision makers in each attendance area.