'It Really Works'

review! Call for a complimentary — Award-Winning Investigative Journalism — WWW.OURTOWNJOHNSTOWN.COM (814) 534-4445 SO-689098-1 WEEK OF AUGUST ‘It really works’ 28 - SEPTEMBER Airbnb 3, 2019 shows SPORTS upside locally BRUCE SIWY [email protected] For three decades the Schraders rented their apartment space along Bedford Street in Geis- town to full-time tenants. Just a few years ago, Barbara and her husband, Bill, decided to try ATHLETE short-term rentals at the OF THE facility — located above a four-car garage next to WEEK: their business, Schrader’s Staff photo by Bruce Siwy Florist & Greenhouse — Barbara Schrader — co-owner of Schrader’s Florist & Greenhouse in Geistown with her husband, Bill — seated in the living room of JOE through Airbnb. And she their short-term rental apartment. The couple is among just 50 total Airbnb hosts in Cambria County. MESSINA said they’ve had just one bad batch of guests out of expected to see a total of other counties. Stats show first home constructed the need for affordable — B1 75 or more total bookings. approximately 950 Airbnb that Cambria County’s along Main Street in short-term housing when “It really works,” she guest arrivals Memorial $142,400 in Airbnb Portage. tourists and extended said, noting that the Day through Labor Day income last year placed it According to Shuler, families visit the area. venue has been popular this year. That’s up from around 42nd out of Penn- Airbnb was better choice “Beyond just a finan- among extended families approximately 610 guest sylvania’s 67 counties. than a long-term rental cial endeavor and entre- in town for graduations, arrivals last summer. There are also just 50 because he and his wife prenurial opportunity, funerals and tourist-heavy Estimated revenue to Airbnb hosts in Cambria live in Los Angeles, Cali- having these bed and events such as Thunder in FAMILY VALUES hosts during that period County. Neighboring fornia. breakfasts is a benefit to the Valley. from last year to this year Somerset County, mean- “If we rented it out full the community,” Shuler Airbnb is an online is expected to double to while, has 280 active time, it’s hard to say how said. He noted that their platform that allows hosts approximately $97,000. listings. often tenants might take monthly occupancy rate to list rooms, apartments But local hosts such Among Cambria care of repairs around the has ranged from 25% to and houses for others to as the Schraders — who County’s hosts are Patrick house,” he said. 75%, and that they’ve rent. The company was charge $120 per night Quinn Shuler and his Shuler added that he had guests from as far as founded in 2008 in San for a space that includes wife, Taryn. thinks big opportunities Australia. “I think there’s Francisco, California, and up to seven beds, a full Shuler said their Airbnb exist through companies a lot of opportunity on seems to be catching on kitchen, two bathrooms, rental, dubbed The Quinn such as Airbnb in Cam- the entrepreneurial level locally. living room, laundry Inn, was built by one of bria County, citing the and as a good community According to statistics facilities and deck — are his ancestors shortly after large volume of unoc- builder.” provided by the compa- scarce in comparison to the Civil War. It was the cupied structures and (See BOOKINGS, A4) ny, Cambria County is WEDDING CEREMONY Locals marry at Richland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. — C1 FALL APPLIANCE AND TIRE COLLECTION Keep Cambria County Beautiful, in conjunction with For further information please contact the WEEKLY cooperating municipal-ities, will hold its semi-annual Cambria County Conservation District at RECIPE WINNER Appliance and Tire Collection Program this fall. All (814) 472-2120 MELISSA GORE collections will be held Saturdays from 8:00 am to – A4 1:00 pm. The dates and locations are below: OPEN TO ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS • September 7th: Summerhill Township—Take Rt. 869 East to Beaverdale, turn left onto Irvin COSTS: ARE YOU DOWNSIZING? St., Township building is on left. NEED MONEY FOR TAXES? Appliances: DID YOU INHERIT A COLLECTION? • September 21st: Susquehanna Township— $6.00—for Freon-containing appliances WE CAN HELP! Take 219 North to Northern Cambria. Turn WE BUY ALL COINS FREE—for non-Freon containing appliances GOLD-SILVER right onto Philadelphia Ave, travel 1 mile to PAPER MONEY Hillcrest St. Turn right onto Hillcrest St and Tires (passenger and light truck) JOHN PAUL SAROSI, INC. the building is the first one on the right. $1.00 off-rim 106 Market Street ∙ Downtown Johnstown M-F 10-5 Eve/Sat by appt. $2.00 on-rim 1-814-535-5766 ∙ 1-800-334-1163 • September 28th: Tunnelhill Borough—Take SO-694099-1 SINCE 1974 - WE PAY MORE! Rt. 22 East to Gallitzin exit, take left travel ½ $15.00 4 ft. tall and/or wider than 14 in. mile, take left onto Portage Street, travel 400 feet to municipal building on the left, located at 808 Portage Street. NO ELECTRONICS ACCEPTED (Televisions, Computers, Stereos, etc.) SO-726105-1 SO-685554-1 A2 Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Our Town, Johnstown, Pa. OPINION OUR TOWN LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY GENERAL MANAGER EDITORIAL CARTOON Our Town welcomes letters to the editor which express a - SALES MANAGER specific view on topics of general interest. Letters submitted Becky Flyte for publication must be signed and contain the address and bfl[email protected] telephone number of the writer. Letters should be limited to about 250 words. CIRCULATION Our Town reserves the right to edit all letters. Letters can- MANAGER Donna Riley not be returned. Letters may be mailed to Our Town at 334 [email protected] W. Main Street, PO Box 638, Somerset, PA 15501. You may also fax them to us at 814-269-9783 or email them to bruces@ EDITOR ourtownjohnstown.com. Bruce Siwy The following are additional guidelines: bsiwy@ourtownjohnstown. • Letters from local writers and about local topics or races com take precedence. • Letters should be the original works of the authors. Just WRITERS clearly make your case for the candidates or topics of your Beth Ann Miller choice, in your own words. Cody McDevitt • We will not publish form letters or letter-pushes. If we think the letters are cut-and-paste, we won’t run them. LAYOUT/GRAPHIC • Letters must be 300 words or less and signed with the writ- DESIGNERS er’s real name. Mindy Faidley • Writers must provide an address and phone number for Holly Pelliccione verification. Joyce Brown • Writers are limited to one letter per month. Bruce J. Siwy Editor - Our Town MEDIA CONSULTANTS Terrie Crisi Ginger Pollock LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 334 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 638, Somerset, PA 15501 Phone: Film tax credit program being abused 800.452.0823 Advertising Fax: 814.445.2935 To the editor: to the tax and regulatory credits and other incen- what amounts to corpo- practice is so prolific that policies that comprise a tives awarded to specific rate welfare handed out there actually are second- Editorial Fax: Every survey or study state’s business climate. businesses. to well-connected busi- ary tax brokers who make 814.444-5966 of state-by-state econom- Rather than reform those This policy of having nesses, the needle has large fees by guiding the ourtownjohnstown.com ic competitiveness puts policies, officials have at- government pick winners not moved on the state’s deals that transfer the tax Pennsylvania in the bot- tempted to spur economic and losers has been a standing relative to the 49 credits from film produc- dailyamerican.com tom third when it comes development through tax failure. After decades of other states in economic tion companies to other competitiveness. corporations. Our Town is published by GateHouse Media Pittsford, New An example of such State Rep. Dawn Keefer York every Wednesday. Please direct BECOME A PAID VOLUNTEER AS A FOSTER GRANDPARENT government waste is the (R-York/Cumberland) has comments, editorial submissions, or suggestions to Our Town Share Today. Shape Tomorrow. film tax credit program. It proposed legislation that Editor, PO Box 638, Somerset, PA was initiated by Gov. Ed would disallow the sale 15501. Our Town does not assume Local schools & students need YOU! responsibility for any unsolicited Help make a difference in a child’s life. Rendell in 2007 when $75 of these tax credits going contributions or communications. million was inserted into forward. That would force Our Town reserves the right to Nationally Funded by CNCS and locally sponsored by Area Agency On Aging. edit any content submitted for the state budget in what production companies publication. To submit press release HURRY! to utilize the tax credits or to suggest a story for an upcoming PAID TRAINING STARTS SOON he touted as an effort to issue of Our Town, direct your email Call by September 6, 2019 to secure a seat get production companies themselves, fulfilling the to [email protected]. If you are 55+, love children, and would like to earn a little extra money to bring more high-dollar intent of the legislation Reproduction or reuse of editorial each month, become a FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEER! or graphic content without the projects to Pennsylvania. that initially set up the expressed written consent of Our • Tax Free Stipend • Paid Holidays Town is strictly prohibited. • Paid Training • Recognition Events It turns out produc- program. • Paid Time Off • Transportation Assistance SO-700536-1 tion companies are not The film tax credit actually using the credit, program needs to be Call 814-536-9009 TODAY to secure your spot! but are “selling” them ended.

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