Mayor Jonathan Taylor spoke to us about the Village of Newark and the progress of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Opening and Invocation led by Michele McManus
Wellness Report – Update on Maury Strobridge - he is at Friendly Home re-hab; Dave Albrecht’s husband Dave is doing better
Guests: Hannah Feely, GRHFH; Luis Alonso, exchange student
Strange Laws:
In Arkansas it is illegal to buy or sell blue light bulbs
In Blithe, CA you are not permitted to wear cowboy boots unless you already own 2 cows
In Burlington, CA, caramel ice cream may not be eaten on the sidewalk, but Mayor Clint Eastwood did repeal it.
In Hollywood it is illegal to drive more than 2000 sheep down Hollywood Blvd
In California it is against regulations to let phones ring more than 9 times in state offices.
In California it is illegal to cry on the witness stand.
In Lodi, California it is illegal to possess or sell silly string.
Announcements:
Linda Werts — promoting the 25th anniversary of the Rotary Bee-cathlon - please consider joining or creating a team.
Luis Alonso — gave us a weather update. Attended a ski weekend at Hunt Hollow and loved it. He is participating in the High School Musical - Pajama Game on March 1, 2, 3. Tickets are sold at the door. Please support this fun production.
Happy Moments:
Adam O. going to Las Vegas to watch Dave Matthews Band
Doug Forgue - celebrating the Buffalo Sabers 1 game winning steak
Scott Healy — celebrating the Syracuse win and his daughter visited - first time visiting with the new baby. Had a wonderful time in spite of his wife’s car breaking down on the way to the airport to pick them up!
Birthdays: Steve Hallagan 2/19, Sharon SanAngelo 2/23
Club Anniversaries: Dave Hannan - 38 years
Queen of Hearts. Clayton Depew did not pick the Queen - the pot continues to grow.
Program: Bob Bendix introduced our own Rotarian, Mayor Jonathan Taylor.
Updating the DRI award projects and what has been and will be done in the village. The Village has done tremendous work in improving the infrastructure and communicating with the residents of the Village of Newark. We were finally awarded the 10 million DRI award in 2021.
A programing committee was formed - 20 members to take proposed DRI projects to consider them and the funding. A consultant was assigned — La Bella was assigned to Newark.
Projects that are approved must then be approved by the Department of State.
There will be 9 apartments created at the old St. Elizabeth hospital
There will be an upgrade at T. Spencer Knight park — amphitheater, promenade, canoe and kayak launch
Coventry Commons - 101 apartments - focusing on being able to age in place
Hotel/Conference Center - still looking for a developer
Regional Health and Wellness Center — to have a center, 80,000 square foot facility, track, gym, RGH; Brownstone; Martial Arts; outside courts; Finger Lakes track - it would be a place for the AECC to have their home; child care; expanded programing for adults and youth. Design Team,
The DRI is Not Funding the following projects — municipal facility; old railway bridge pedestrian crossway; Runaway Blue beer garden
Consultants have been chosen to move forward.
Main Street Grant is finishing up — the last project to finish up is to upgrade Central Park.
We have brought in many new businesses, upgrading current building, taking down buildings that are not usable. There is much to be excited about in Newark! Jonathan’s favorite saying: “We’ve been in it for the long haul and will be in it for long haul.”
Closing message from President Adam: Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. Michael Jordan