Nishan I. Elabadage works at Lucky’s Market at the Valero gas station in Ellenville.

How did you or your family come to Ellenville?

NE: I’m here with my wife for now almost 10 years. I work at the gas station here.

What do you like about Ellenville?

NE: It’s good for business. I like the environment; we have Sam’s Point and things like that. I just like living here.

What would you change about Ellenville?

NE: The people. These people don’t have much, these guys don’t have jobs. I see it here, guys asking [about jobs], some don’t have money, they have those problems. I don’t know what’s the reason, whether it’s their problem or another problem, but they have problems. There are some nice guys but some have drug [problems], I don’t like those sorts of things, but I don’t exactly know what’s the reason. That’s really the problem – so many guys don’t have jobs.

How do you think Ellenville will be different in 10 years?

NE: Before I worked [here] we had the smaller gas station, when I started here, I don’t know if you remember when that corner had a smaller station, but now they have a new station here and at the same time they opened the new Stewart’s. There’s not a big difference after opening these things, but we need more business, I think. Food restaurants, grocery. I see now they’re going to open the new Wendy’s. We need another bank – we only have two banks here. We had Bank of America a long time ago, now we only have M&T and Webster Bank.