Happy Spring! King and I are hoping that this beautiful sunny weather is here to stay… On March 23rd, from 12:30pm-2:30pm the 19WCA, in collaboration with University of Rochester Residential Life & Housing Services students, hosted our annual Family Skating Party at the Genesee Valley Sports Complex. We had a great turnout meeting up with old friends and making new ones – a good time was held by all! Also on March 23rd our annual Spelling Bee was held at the University of Rochester Wegman Hall. Please see the Schools Committee report inside. The 19WCA partnered with Eclipse events at St. Monica’s Church (Sandra Powell and Barbara Watts) while I partnered with SEAC and others at the Genesee Valley Park Field House. John DeMott, one of our SW Street Managers and District 17 Delegate provided this “Quote of the Week” from Sandra Powell, VP1 of the 19WCA: “This whole Eclipse experience turned out to have so many wonderful aspects that I don’t even feel bad that the clouds covered the sun!” Agreed! May 4th is the City of Rochester’s Clean Sweep. Click here to register >> The 19WCA has 7 Clean Sweep teams participating in our neighborhood. If interested in […]
Update 19 – March 2024
Presidents Message Happy March! King and I have enjoyed our walks with March’s fluctuating weather – Spring is coming soon! March 23rd, from 12:30pm-2:30pm the 19WCA, in collaboration with University of Rochester Residential Life & Housing Services students, will be hosting our annual Family Skating Party at the Genesee Valley Sports Complex. Family and friends can enjoy this FREE event that includes free skate rental and refreshments – please come out and enjoy the fun! Also on March 23rd at 2pm our annual Spelling Bee will be hosted at the University of Rochester Wegman Hall. Please support our youth at the Spelling Bee! We’ve started planning for our annual Square Fair 2024 to be held June 1st in Aberdeen Square Park. This is a fun family event – and if you have an hour or more to give of your time, we welcome your help! Please reach out to our office if you would like to be a sponsor, vendor, parade participant or volunteer. Solar Eclipse – To learn more about the eclipse and why this is so cool for Rochester, check out www.rochestereclipse2024.org. For more information on what to expect on the day of the eclipse, visit www.monroecounty.gov/eclipse-2024. There will be a […]
Update 19 – February 2024
Presidents Message Americans have played a central role in shaping US History. From slavery and its eradication to the great migration, the civil rights movement, military, science, cultural and political achievements. Let’s back track for a minute with a little history lesson: Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. The group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures. By the late 1960s, thanks in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black identity “Negro History Week” had evolved into Black History Month! Pres. Ford officially recognized Black History month in 1976 calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history. Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of […]
Update 19- January 2024
Presidents Message 2023 concluded one year of the 19WCA presidency for me. Although we don’t have a brick and mortar we have participated in community events and fairs (RCSD Board Public Meeting, City Council Public Meeting, tabling at Church and Community events) – it was a busy year! My thanks to all who joined with me! We collaborated and partnered with the Greater Rochester Martin Luther King Commission to put on the Juneteeenth celebration. We worked with ReConnect Rochester, City of Rochester and our Community to get traffic calming measures on Thurston (Cross Walk, Signs and lights). We enjoyed super fun events at the MLK luminaries night with St. Monica’s Church and UR Ambassadors, the annual Skate Party at Genesee Valley Park Skating Rink with UR students and neighborhood families, a great turnout at our National Night Out in partnership with our Neighborhood Services Center and Rochester Police Department and one of the best Square Fair events to date! And we can’t forget our 2023 Annual Convention! We are currently working with the City, Cannabis Operation Management and Community to keep illegal Smoke Shops out of our community. The following committees are looking forward to continuing their work in our community […]
Update 19 – December 2023
Presidents Message Welcome December! It’s hard to believe that the year 2023 is coming to a close. I hope everyone will look back at the successes and the lessons learned in 2023 and look forward to 2024 with anticipation toward what the new year will bring. In November we hosted our Annual Convention at School 16! Our feedback from those in attendance was that it was great to meet new people and have an opportunity to catch up with those we knew, the food from People’s Choice was “more of a dinner than light refreshment”, the auction was fun and exciting and the business meeting was very informative. Overall, a good time was had by all! Thank you to everyone who took the time to support and experience our 2023 Annual Convention. Thank you (not goodbye!) to Donna Sarnacki and Jacob Adams who resigned as delegate (and alternate delegate) to District 10 and Tyrese Bryant who resigned as District 15 delegate. We welcome Cody Donahue and David Buonaugurio who have been elected as delegate and alternate delegate in District 10 and Susan McMeekin-Davis who will serve as delegate in District 15 with Laura Suda continuing as the alternate. Please mark […]
Update 19 – October 2023
Presidents Message Welcome October! Our thanks to the City of Rochester, County of Monroe and everyone involved with moving forward the traffic calming solution on Thurston Rd. The City of Rochester/County of Monroe news release can be read in this newsletter’s Around the Neighborhood section. There were several community engagement opportunities in September that the 19WCA participated in. Kate Washington and I tabled at Senator Cooney’s End of Summer BBQ held at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church on September 9. Sandra Powell and Barbara Watts joined Ruth and I at the Genesee Baptist Church Health Fair. The Leadership Rochester class visited the 19th Ward Community Association at the Arnett Library on September 22nd. Sandra, Ruth and I enjoyed the wonderful exchange of information learning about the different organizations they represented, as they learned about the 19WCA’s role and priorities. Also on September 22nd residents of the 19WCA enjoyed a lovely evening of food, fun and fellowship at the Meet Your Delegates and Neighbors event., held at the home of Kate Washington. Planning for our Annual Convention has begun! Please mark your calendar for November 17th, 6-8pm at School #16. If you are interested in helping with this annual event, please email […]
Update 19 – September 2023
Presidents Message Wow September – the ninth month of the year, consisting of 30 days! For many, it is typically considered the ending of one season (summer) and the beginning of another (fall). To others it marks the time to get things in order and prepare for the future. I’m looking forward to the seasonal change and my walks with King as we enjoy the falling leaves and changing weather 🙂 September marked the beginning of the RCSD school year. We accepted Rochester Academy’s invitation to welcome their students on their first day of school. It was an exciting morning with cheers and handclapping from the fire department and neighbors, and dancing to the beat of the drums playing! Wilson Day on August 25th was equally exciting as we hosted some of the first year students from the University of Rochester. Everyone enjoyed the Reading Circle with Dr. Phyllis Moss and the Peace Garden with Toni Nelson. Here’s a photo of our Wilson Day students and some students of the Reading Circle. The Leadership Rochester class will be participating in small team neighborhood tours all over the city and county. They will be visiting the 19th Ward Community Association on September […]
Update 19 – August 2023
Presidents Message August is here! 8th month – a sign of new beginnings – and my birth month! August 1st started with our National Night Out – our collaboration with our city neighbors and police officers. It was a fun event held at Genesee Valley Park. Rochester is full of positive opportunities to enjoy and support. Our Summer Reading Circle continues through August 17th. “A Gift From A Stranger,” an original one-act play is running from August 18-20, 2023 at MuCCC Theater, by its founder, Christopher T. “Amunubenheh” Brown, and his “Mom”, renowned master storyteller, multiple award-winning actor, performing arts master teaching artist, and published writer, Mama Almeta Whitis Story Doula. Performances will take place on Friday, August 18 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, August 19 at 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm, and Sunday, August 20 at 2:00 pm. August 18 is the Roc Summer Soul Festival August 19 is our monthly Clean Sweep – location to be determined. August 25 hosts several senior citizens events – please check out the enclosed flyers for details. Also on August 25th the 19WCA and Rapids Cemetery will be hosts for annual Wilson Day student volunteers (more details to come). The Westside Farmers Market […]
Update 19 – July 2023
Presidents Message This month began with the mourning and burial of one of our neighborhood students. Six-year-old Ryan Grantham Jr. lived in the neighborhood and attended School #16. He was hit by a vehicle at Thurston and Sawyer and passed away from his injuries on June 23rd. His funeral was July 1st. Please keep his family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve the passing of this fine young man. There is a petition circulating requesting/demanding a cross walk at the intersection where the accident occurred. If you get an opportunity, please sign it! A new Emergency Family Shelter is coming to the 19th Ward through the efforts of the YWCA. It will be housed at 33-53 Ardmore St. A welcoming letter from the YWCA can be read in this month’s Update 19. I am very excited about this shelter coming to the 19th Ward! Save the Date! Tuesday August 1st 6-8pm for National Night Out – more details to come! Our Rapids Cemetery received a historic marker from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. An excerpt from the D&C article written by Justin Murphy is included in this Update. Reminder – The raspberries are ready for harvesting […]
