President’s Message Karen Emerson Karen Emerson, President John Perkins in his book Dream with Me states that “American society has lost its capacity for pluralism. We have begun to believe that if others don’t agree with us, we don’t have to listen to them. We dehumanize people who don’t think like we do and, consequently, justify our violence against them. …We live in a county that proclaims freedom of speech and freedom of expression and we must be willing to listen to and try to understand the thoughts and ideas of others. This is the way to make change happen without violence.” I could not agree more. It can be discouraging to hear constant bad news of the hatred and violence that is being portrayed at all levels of our government and in our families. It is easy to think that nothing good is happening in our city, county or country. The fact is there is a lot happening. Since I took this position as 19th Ward Community Association president, I have had my eyes open to the hard work and dedication of city workers. Our Neighborhood Service Center has staff willing to help us. They can supply neighbors with […]
Update 19 – November 2021
President’s Message Karen Emerson November is the month we give thanks. Thanks for all we have, thanks for our friends and family and thanks for a community. I am thankful for all of you who have given me advice, support, encouragement, and help in so many ways. I am thankful that we have a community who takes care of one another by filling our food pantries and little libraries. Our office manager Ruth takes calls from concerned neighbors who are trying to make a better neighborhood. Because our neighbors are committed, we have started some events which I believe will make our neighborhood stronger and more resilient. We had our first mini Clean Sweep October 9th. We had 7 participants and we collected 6 big bags of garbage. I was amazed at the amount of waves, horn beeps and cheers from neighbors. It is a small effort but it speaks volumes in showing that we care about how our community looks. We are planning another Clean Sweep November 13th at the corner of Brooks and Thurston from 10am-12noon. Please feel free to join us for some or all of the time. You will have a chance to meet your neighbors […]
Update 19 – October 2021
President’s Message Karen Emerson Welcome to autumn, pumpkin spice, sweaters, blankets, socks, thoughts of Halloween goblins, turkeys roasting in the oven and the November elections. What’s going on in the neighborhood? We started Scout Troop #1965. We are starting monthly Mini Clean Sweeps, Meet and Greets, convention with a twist. We are beginning to think about MLK luminary night Mini Clean Sweeps I have had many of our neighbors asking for help with street clean up on some of our main thoroughfares. A monthly event is being planned with the help of our scouts, Rotary Club and some of the fraternities/sororities at the University of Rochester. Our goal is to touch areas that need some TLC and create neighborhood. We will supply gloves, some tools and bags. Our first event will be the second Saturday of the month. Saturday October 9th event will start at the corner of Thurston and Chili from 10am-12pm. Park in the old Key Bank parking lot. Scouts The Association has made a commitment to supporting these young people and we are covering the costs of troop start up and registration. We had the first meeting September 30th. We had 8 young people equally divided amongst […]
Found Cats
Do you recognize this cat? He seems lost and is eating at a neighbors house near Ravenwood and Thurston. If he is your cat please call 585-709-6229.
What our volunteers have been up to
As usual, we have been spending most of our time providing vet care for feral or community cats. We trap which takes hours and even days of prep work, hold the cats in a garage until they are transported to Lollypop veterinarian clinic. They return, get fed and monitored and then released to the colony where they live and get fed.Foodlink has been generous enough to provide canned cat food to us monthly. We distribute it to close to 30 colony caregivers and over 120 cats!!! 2 volunteers are fostering cats that are too sick, young or too friendly to be released outdoors. Please see our adoptables on our web site. We have also helped out 2 very sick cats that were friendly but need vet care. Both are indoors and safe now, but still need more care. Any donations help. Scarface or “Big Al” needs his eye stitched up as it appears to be missing. Molly , seen below, has healed and been spayed and vaccinated. She was adopted by the kind neighbor who found her. This is her before we attended to her fleas, poor skin, and lack of regular food. One of our neighbors and feral feeders […]
Update 19 September 2021
President’s Message Karen Emerson In a newsletter received from Sister Diana Dolci of Hope Hall, she wrote about community, hope and changing lives. She defined community as ”a group of people who come together for a particular purpose and who care about what happens to each member of that group.” Our neighborhood/city is struggling with having a sense of community. Recent incidents have made me sad, mad and befuddled. I know that we are a neighborhood and a city that cares. How do I know this? We have little free libraries, little free food pantries, neighbors who organize to help those who are burned out of their homes, and we have groups that go to every homicide in the city to give support to grieving families. We also have our share of problems: failing schools, drugs, violence and noise. It is my observation that the problems suck up all the attention and obscure our view of the amazing good things that happen daily in our neighborhood. Sometimes it becomes overwhelming and easy to believe that things will never change. My dear neighbors do not despair; a lot of good things are being done. We have strong business associations, we have […]
Update 19 – August 2021
President’s Message – Karen Emerson I hope you have been enjoying the lovely summer. In May the summer was a promise of all sorts of fun and exciting adventures. Easing of COVID restrictions and getting some normalcy back. Well, that was shattered by increased street violence in our nation and our city and the Delta variant. As we move toward the end of the summer we are facing continued uncertainty about restrictions due to COVID. What’s going on? We see and hear about all the bad things going on but rarely do we see the work being done behind the scenes. I will admit I did not know the extent of the work that our city and neighbors are doing but here are a few examples. I had the opportunity to attend the Violence Prevention Summit last week. I listened to Melvin Cross, Jr, the head of Pathways to Peace, speaking about the peacemakers who are out on the streets and at our community centers nightly making connections with our troubled youth. Helping them navigate their complicated lives and interactions with others. I also attended the PCIC (Police and Citizen Interaction Committee) meeting held every third Wednesday at the […]
Update 19 – July 2021
President’s Message Karen Emerson Karen Emerson, President SUMMER has begun! There continues to be a steady flow of food coming and going from our food pantry. It is so interesting to see what thoughtful things are left in the cupboard: toiletries, spices, formula, baby foods, breakfast cereals and picnic supplies for the holiday. Thanks to all who are providing needed food for our neighbors in need. I know we all have concerns about the violence that is pervasive in our city and country. What can we DO? I am meeting with our Neighborhood Service Center (NSC) representatives, our public safety committee and Captain Michael Jones, RPD to familiarize our organization with the current situation. I would encourage anyone who is interested to also attend the Police and Citizen Interaction Committee (PCIC) meeting held every second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM at Public Safety Building Auditorium, 185 Exchange Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14614. These meetings help keep us informed. The next meeting is July 14, 2021. Our NSC is located at Southwest Quadrant Neighborhood Service Center(585) 428-7630923 Genesee StRochester, NY 14611James H. Demps III, Administrator. James Demps and John McMahon are our representatives. This is the place where you can call about […]
Some of our 19th Ward Adoptable Cats
Tilly is sweet as can be and awaiting her purrfect family. She is outgoing and gentle. You can visit her, Jackson and others at the new 9Lives Shop and Adopt lounge in the Chili Paul Plaza. Buffy, Anya and their 2 sisters and mom are still growing but will be ready for adoption in October!!! Call Robin to ask about visiting them 585-709-6229
Update 19 – June 2021
President’s Message Karen Emerson So much is going on! We are sponsoring Boy Scout Troop #1965. It is a new troop which will allow a safe environment for our young boys and girls to learn through activities and service. The troop number is the significant because it is the year the 19th Ward Community Association started. We have a small group of neighborhood children that are ready to get started. If you have been a scout or wanted to be, please consider volunteering. We need children to join and adults to help lead. Call the office and we can get you connected. The 19th Ward Virtual Trivia Night, scheduled for June 17, is being postponed until September. This will allow the committee to provide a more exciting opportunity for our neighbors and friends. We hope you will join in on the fun in September! After decades of talking, the city announced that the Bull’s Head Redevelopment Project is going to start. I had the opportunity to meet several of the developers. Many of them have 19th Ward connections. Melissa James Geska’s company will be working on the project. She grew up in the neighborhood, and her family owned the […]
