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Development in Chili:
 A struggle for identity

(By Christine Carrie Fien,
News Editor, City Newspaper)

 
 
 
 

Is the sun rising or setting on Chili?
 

Below are some additional ideas:


 Theme number one is in the area of economic development:

  • We need to encourage future commercial development to occur in our current commercial center to assure the prosperity of the businesses in that area and bring new vitality to our commercial core.

  • Develop a warm, inviting Town Center Area on Chili Avenue across from Chili Paul Plaza. Consider brick walkways, a clock tower, a gazebo, perhaps a farmer's market and some kind of nice gathering area for the residents of Chili and shoppers in our commercial center. Chili could benefit from Main Street-like area that we could all be proud of! A combination of public and private money could be pursued as many other communities have done around the country.

  • Our elected officials could identify Federal, State, Local and private sources of revenue for these projects. Main Street revitalization projects used to be a very popular item for both public and private funding.

This is not the time to to be negative about obstacles to making such a vision come true. This is a time to join together and put in the hard work to see just how much we can get done!

 

Our second  theme is in the area of education:

  • Greater collaboration and cost-sharing across school districts.

         All Chili citizens currently pay tax money to one four school districts; Wheatland-Chili; Churchville-Chili, Cal - Mum and Gates-Chili. Currently these school districts operate completely separately, duplicating administrative functions and operating transportation routes that sometimes overlap or come within inches of each other. Advanced Placement classes as well as other educational offerings are duplicated at the various districts, with some offered in one district but not offered at the others. Perhaps some sports teams could also be combined. Such collaborations among school districts would add much needed efficiencies and create an educational environment of tremendous academic vitality while benefiting our Town citizens and children in a way that is unprecedented.

Our third theme is in the area of self-promotion:

  • Chili needs an identity of its own

    The Messenger Post Newspapers have a Gates-Chili edition. The Democrat and Chronicle have an Our Towns edition every Wednesday that includes Gates, Chili and Henrietta. For most of us it is "Rochester NY".  While it might be unrealistic to think that Chili could, someday warrant its own section in these two publications, perhaps one day, Chili might have its own publication. An online, weekly publication is a possibility if a traditional newspaper isn't. With enough economic growth and prosperity, anything is possible!

Do you have a theme to suggest for this web site? Do you have any commentary to share? Unlike the local newspapers, you can submit your "letters to the editor" or comments right now, for everyone to read, by clicking on this link:

Your suggestions are welcome!  You can send them to the webmaster by clicking here.