Reprinted from the Wayne County Star

by Louise Hoffman Broach

LYONS – Don't tell these people Lyons is a place that nobody cares about.

State Sen. Michael Nozzolio's warning last week he'd rethink state aid for Amtrak unless the rail line seriously addressed stopping in Lyons resulted in this comment on a Syracuse website: "Why would you spend that kind of money on a train station in a town that no one cares about?"

Some community leaders saw the blog comment on Syracuse.com, as well as musings in a local publication discrediting the train station idea and the Mural Mania project, which so far, contrary to what was said, has brought four murals to the village at no taxpayer cost.

It's no surprise, then, that a lot of people have gotten a little defensive.

 "You have to have people who have vision," said Andi Evangelist, of the Lyons Civic Club, the group that got more than $80,000 from a private donor to fix the village clock. "Otherwise, that kind of negative logic will slow you down to a standstill and nothing gets done, ever."

Last week, a group of Lyons and Wayne County leaders gathered in front of one of the murals, at the corner of Montezuma and William streets, to demonstrate that there are a lot of people who care. They were joined by Nozzolio, who drove from Albany to meet with them.

"This is the attitude I am faced with every day in Albany when I advocate for the region, but Rochester and Syracuse is the focus," Nozzolio said about the negative comment on the blog. "I care about Lyons, about Wayne County and central New York."

Nozzolio said the central Finger Lakes are critical to drawing tourists, and their dollars to all of New York State. The train station, he said, would open up a whole new way for people to reach the region that includes wine country.

He said there's the opportunity for multi-modal transportation at such a station that could go beyond rail.

"They forget you're a sum of your parts," Evangelist said. "OK, we're Lyons, and you think you're a lot better because you're Rochester, or Syracuse, but anything that helps one part, is going to help all the parts. To me, its just logical to have the train station here."

Lyons Mayor Corrine Kleisle said the train station isn't a whim. Town Supervisor James Fabino and Wayne County Planning Director Sharon Lilla, as well as many local residents, including Trombino's owner Mike Santelli, have worked for 18 years on the project. The stop was really Santelli's idea, Lilla has said.

 "There is life outside the urban areas of New York State," said Kleisle, who grew up in Lyons. She was clerk treasurer here, left to work in Chicago and then returned and ran successfully for mayor.

"Rural New York faces the same challenges as do our cities and our suburbs," she said.

Kleisle pointed out the goal of the station has always been to promote regional benefits, to be a transportation hub for the entire area between the two cities.

"Obviously, all these activities would be a boost to the economic climate of upstate New York between Rochester and Syracuse," she said.

She also sees the murals as a draw, something that will bring people to the village, especially if they are done in the context of a mural trail, as envisioned by Lyons Chamber of Commerce President Mark DeCracker, the energy behind Mural Mania with his late friend, Noel Dobbins.

 "What I love about Lyons is that we are a can-do town," DeCracker said, noting that Clyde and Newark have caught the fever and are looking at murals projects. There are already murals in Port Byron and Weedsport. Only Newark is looking at spending public money for the project.

When DeCracker asked for volunteers to show up and help put the mural 'Winston's Dream' up on a Saturday in April last year, more than 40 volunteers showed up.

"Whether it's a campaign to save a building, put in a new historical town clock, or help a friend in need, the citizens of Lyons have always been there to help," DeCracker said. "In spite of all negatives thrown at us there is still hope and hope is the key to happiness."

Sean Dobbins, owner of Dobbins Drugs, paid for his mural himself and dismissed the criticism, saying the writers "must have gotten up on the wrong side of bed and looked at a half-full glass all day."

Mary Mastracy, who works for Wayne County Tourism, said all that her department does, day after day, is promote Wayne County. She said there is a lot of energy generated by the prospect of a rail station, and the murals, besides making the village look better, are an additional draw.

"What are we supposed to do?" Lilla said about the comments. "Fold up our tents and move to Syracuse? That isn't the way it's going to be. We're going to stand up and fight for our lifestyle. Who cares about Lyons? I do."

Lyons School Superintendent Rick Amundson said he tries to ignore the negativity and said he's willing to work to move positive ideas for the village forward. One of Lyons' students, Luke Quagliata, who helped DeCracker with the murals project and also spoke out in favor of the train station, said it's important for people of his generation to stand up for their communities as well.

"The people who do work for Lyons are strong," said Evangelist. "They know how to put on the earmuffs and not listen to the nay-sayers."