Update 19 – June 2024
President’s Message – Josie McClary
The 19th Ward Community Association hosted volunteers from Paychex on May 23rd for the United Way Day of Caring.
Ravenwood and Chili Peace gardens committee chairs are thankful for their help! It was a beautiful day with fun loving volunteers!
The month of June started off with a beautiful summer day and our Annual Square Fair! From the arrival of volunteers at 6am to the close of the event, the spirit of the theme “Together We Are One” was felt as all, young and “seasoned” gathered to enjoy a good time! And let’s not forget the parade where residents in our community shared their enthusiasm as our Parade Grand Marshall Dr. Eva Thomas and parade participants passed through. Our thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Square Fair memorable!
Enjoy the Square Fair photos by clicking on the link below:
https://lashayharris0.smugmug.com/2024-19WCA-Square-Fair
June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. The Rochester Against Gun Violence holds a monthly meeting in Council Chambers at City Hall and via zoom. The next meeting is Monday June 10th at 6pm. Zoom Link: https://cityofrochester.zoom.us/j/88964510159
Rochester’s Juneteenth Festival is Saturday June 15, 12-8pm at Dr. Maetin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. Come out and have some fun!
Also in June, the19th Ward Community Association, Thurston Road Business Merchants and ESL would like to have a conversation with 19th ward residents to help better understand the challenges and opportunities for living and doing business around Thurston Road and the 19th ward. ESL will provide snacks and raffle off a gift card to attendees. Please see flyer inside for upcoming dates and topics.
Thank you for your continued support of the 19th Ward Community Association!
Be Safe. Stay Healthy. Be Kind.
Josie McClary
President, 19th Ward Community Association
AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
In Memoriam
The 19th Ward Community grieves the loss of Jay Ross who passed away unexpectedly in May 2024.
Born and raised in Missoula, MT, Jay left home to attend Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA. There she met Dan Ross and the two were married and started a life of grand adventures. They moved to Chicago where Jay received a BA and MFA from the University of Chicago in ceramics. They briefly lived in Florida but Jay couldn’t stand the climate or the alligators.
Jay and Dan settled in Rochester where she found a new home in the 19th Ward. Even though they were far away from their families, they raised their four children with a close-knit community. Jay worked at The Creator’s Hands and as an artist, making ceramics in her basement studio and jewelry at her dining room table. She later received an associates degree in wetlands conservation and worked for the DEC. Walking swamps and waterfronts in the Finger Lakes was her idea of a dream job. Jay was deeply committed to her community, volunteering over the years at the 19th Ward Community Association, School 16 and the Arnett Public Library. She loved gardening, reading, and spending time in nature. Despite serious health challenges she was an avid traveler, visiting 49 states, over 30 countries, and 6 continents.
As an only child, Jay’s greatest love was her large family. Dan and Jay recently celebrated their 58th anniversary. Her children and their partners, eleven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren loved spending time with her at Sodus Bay, packed into her living room for holidays, and at school concerts or sporting events for which she would always find time.
Jay was beloved by Dan, her family, and her friends. She will be fondly remembered for her unwavering thoughtfulness and warmth, intelligence and curiosity, and persistence and bravery. She had a good life, but always thought of others. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that her memory be honored with acts of kindness or a gift to the Wilderness Society or the Genesee Land Trust.
Jay is survived by her husband Dan Ross; children Michael, Eric (Lisa), Jesse (Erin) and Katheryn (Will); grandchildren Jaynah (Omar), Grayden, Owen, Julia, Marta, Charles, Ellis, Theodore, Samuel, Odell and Dante, great-grandchildren Matthew, Matías and Adella; cousin Hazel; siblings-in-law and nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Rapids Cemetery
submitted by John Curran
John will be at Rapids Cemetery this Sunday 6/9/24 from 1-3:00pm preparing the raspberry pathways for harvesting in early July. Helpers are needed for pulling-out invasive garlic also. This is one of our regular “second & fourth Sunday” volunteer dates for Rapids Cemetery.
Street Managers
Westside Farmers Market
The Westside Farmers Market opened Tuesday June 4th at 4pm for the summer season! Located in the parking lot of St. Monica Church at 831 Genesee St., the market will run every Tuesday from 4-7pm until October 8th, offering an array of locally sourced products and community festivities.
“Come visit the Westside Farmers Market to get great local products and spend time with your neighbors,” encourages Jessica DiSalvo, market manager. “In addition to our wonderful vendors, we feature a local musician each week, offer a free kids activity tent, and provide opportunities for shoppers using SNAP to stretch their dollars with our “$2 for $2” FMNP check program, where you can essentially double your money!”
The market is not just about fresh produce and artisanal goods; it’s a hub for community engagement. Throughout the season, the Westside Farmers Market hosts various community organizations on-site, including R Community Bikes, the Arnett Branch Library, and Repair Cafe, offering valuable services and resources to visitors.
Attendees can expect an enriching experience beyond shopping. “Grab dinner, get your bike tuned up, enjoy the music, let the kids burn off some energy and take home some local fruits and veggies, baked goods, organic tea, and SO much more!” adds Jessica DiSalvo.
For those looking to stay connected, the Westside Farmers Market can be found online at Westsidemarketrochester.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram. For inquiries, please contact via email at westsidemarketrochester@gmail.com or call 585-210-3422.
Join us as we celebrate community, sustainability, and the bounties of local agriculture at the Westside Farmers Market!
CIVICS CORNER
Monroe County: Age-Friendly Community
In 2022, in direct response to the RASE recommendation calling to: “Support and Invest in Livable Communities for Older Adults (pg. 160 printed//pg. 170 digital)” and the Monroe County Aging Alliance’s Livable Communities Plan, Monroe County’s Office for the Aging sought designation as an “age-friendly” livable community through American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the World Health Organization. As highlighted in the RASE report, many issues that older adults face, specifically those of color, include access to inclusive environments, nutritious food, transportation, and quality housing.
In May 2024, the county executive announced that Monroe County received designation as an Age-Friendly Community. Achieving this designation underscores the ongoing work to improve our community by enhancing accessibility, inclusivity and making it a welcoming place for people of all ages. Several age-friendly goals already achieved include opening the first new Senior Nutrition Program in the City of Rochester in over a decade, making improvements in county parks’ facilities, and hosting digital literacy classes for older adults.
Click here to read the press release and access the full Livable Communities report.
FLYERS
Committee Information
Reach out to our office manager if you would like to get involved.
Delegates Council
Delegates Council is currently meeting via Zoom the 2nd Thursday of each month NEW TIME! 6:30pm. The months of July and August the delegates will break for the summer and resume meetings in September.
Garden Committee
The Garden Committee is always looking for help in maintaining our neighborhood gardens.
Communications Committee, Kate Phillips, Chair
Housing Committee
The 19th Ward Housing Committee will be restarting soon. Our meetings generally last about an hour. A City representative from Buildings and Code Enforcement attends to work with us on specific properties, concerns/issues, code enforcement, etc.
Schools Committee
The schools committee is continuing to meet and will keep us updated on the good work they’re doing.
19th Ward Community Association, P.O. Box 24754, Rochester NY 14624 – 585-328-6571 – email: 19thward@19wca.org website: 19wca.org
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