The July 26 public hearing on the Ram Community Centre is now history.

Some distortions have been repeated by the Penns Valley Community Action Group, and I’d like to set the record straight.

The Ram Club is a nonprofit begun in partnership with the Penns Valley School District. The Ram Community Centre was formed on the advice of the Ram Club and Ram Centre attorneys. Both are nonprofits; no individual will profit.

Revenue would flow to the school district and taxes would be offset, not increased. Taxes would go up dramatically if the district has to build the needed facilities. The Ram Centre has compensated the district for all expenses related to the project.

Whether a wrestling room, fieldhouse, athletic center or the Ram Centre, all were to be on school property.

If the YMCA ever comes to Penns Valley, it has to be on or near school property. Penns Valley lacks a gathering place for youth.

The Ram Centre did not approach the medical center’s tenant and I personally made that board aware of those discussions the week after they started. That was not done on our initiative.

PVCAG members have been very negative. They continue to misrepresent the Ram Centre and to intimidate its supporters. We cannot allow negativity to determine the future of Penns Valley, and Penns Valley cannot preserve the past at the expense of the future.

Chris Hosterman Spring Mills

The writer is president of the Penns Valley Ram Club.