LABOR DAY: “”Bradford deserves more credit as a blue-collar town
where people work very hard for their money, only to be rewarded
with paychecks that are substantially smaller than the state or
national average.[neWLine]

“”Then they get kicked around by those who say this is a welfare
town or, my favorite, a place where a third of the people work, a
third are retired, and a third are on welfare.””[neWLine]

It’s Labor Day, of course. An RTS contributor wrote the opening
paragraphs of today’s column and, interestingly, gave voice to many
of our own feelings on the subject.[neWLine]

On a recent drive back from the eastern hills of Kentucky, we
were struck by the physical similarity between that part of the
world and ours. Gorgeous. But down there, you feel a profound sense
of desolation, isolation, hopelessness.[neWLine]

What’s the difference? It’s what they don’t have that stands
our: Factories.[neWLine]

Bradford has certainly lost its share of manufacturing jobs – we
beat the outsourcing rush many years ago. But think of what’s
left.[neWLine]

Oil is newly revigorated and think of the jobs that has created.
Timbering remains strong, and hardwoods bring a good buck on the
open market.[neWLine]

We have Zippo. We have Case Cutlery! Does anyone realize how
simple it would be for company owners to move these two factories
to any other town in the world?[neWLine]

Our co-writer also pointed out other brights spots:[neWLine]

* FCI McKean, several hundred jobs;[neWLine]

* Bradford Forest Products, several hundred jobs;[neWLine]

* ARG saved, jobs almost doubling in the last 10
years;[neWLine]

* Increased enrollment and employment at
Pitt-Bradford;[neWLine]

* BRMC regionalizing itself over the last 15 years and adding
many jobs.[neWLine]

We have many smaller factories, too, aggressive agencies which
hunt down every economic development opportunity on the face of the
earth, and several groups providing theater, music and the
arts.[neWLine]

Bradford also has unusually generous people, and a
well-organized system of support that has helped many from falling
totally through the cracks.[neWLine]

Not to pat ourselves on the back, but Bradford also has a
vigorous newspaper working to inform the community and draw it
together.[neWLine]

Does this mean we have no problems? Lord, no. We have way too
many for one short column.[neWLine]

But today, Labor Day, we also have nothing to be ashamed of.