The Beechwood Report
www.beechwood14609.com
Mayor Warren to Speak at
February BNC Meeting
Winter 2014
"The Beechwood neighborhood has too many minimarkets located within its boundaries,” Crandall said.
“1275 East Main Street, designated as a full-line food
store, will sell all of the same products as 1280 East
Main Street with the exception of alcohol and lottery
tickets. Obviously the action taken by City Council has
not deemed itself to be effective."
Mayor Warren will be asked to explain her views on
mini-markets in the city.
“The full-line food stores are still mini-markets,”
Crandall said. “They just have a few more hurdles to
clear to sell the same basic unhealthy foods as minimarkets at ridiculous markups, thus perpetuating the
poverty cycle in our neighborhood.”
Mayor Lovely Warren will be the guest speaker at the
BNC February 6 meeting at 7pm at the Thomas P.
Ryan Community Center, 530 Webster Avenue.
Neighbors Gather for Holiday Party and
Police Recognition Dinner
At issue is the Planning Commission’s action to grant a
special use permit to 1275 East Main Street, allowing
it to open as a full-line food store. Although neighbors
recommend a grocery store on East Main Street,
Beechwood sees this action as a setback to the East
Main Street Economic Impact Project.
“The applicant stated in a meeting that produce
would likely be two percent of the store's sales,”
explained Kyle Crandall, BNC president. “They are
allowed to sell all other unhealthy foods that minimarkets in the city sell. Therefore, this store will be
nothing more than a glorified mini-market offering
produce only because the city requires them to do so,
not because the ownership of the store cares about
the health of its patrons.”
An additional concern at 1275 East Main Street is its
proximity to a high-impact store across the street.
High-impact stores are defined as selling more than
one of the BLTs - beer, lottery tickets and tobacco.
Zoning code changes of 2012 require high-impact
stores to be at least 500 feet apart, but no such
distance requirement exists for a high-impact store
and a full-line food store. Beechwood sees this as
flawed legislation.
Approximately 80 Beechwood neighbors gathered on
Thursday, December 5 at St. Mark’s & St. John’s
Church for the 21st Annual Holiday Party and Police
Recognition Dinner. This popular event is a way for
the Beechwood neighborhood to thank the officers of
the Rochester Police Department for their service to
the community.
After dinner by Terry King and Professional Katerers,
outgoing Chief James Sheppard gave the keynote
address, thanking all of the officers for their work and
dedication to public safety. Special recognition went
to Officer Whitney Celentano for her positive
interactions and investigative skills, especially with
domestic abuse and emotionally disturbed persons;
Officer Tony Delvecchio for his astute attention to
detail and investigative skills in policing; and Officer
Andrea Rine for her ability to effectively communicate
and empathize with a wide cross section of the
neighborhood.
Thank you to all of the evening’s sponsors and BNC
board members Marion Hunte-Robinson, Clara
Meyers and Agnes Perez for their commitment of
time and energy to make the dinner possible.
The Police Recognition Dinner was the final BNC
program for 2013. Previous fall programs included
updates from the Rochester Genesee Regional
Transportation Authority and information on tax lien
and land bank usage. Be sure to check the Community
Calendar in this issue for future meetings.
Saturday, March 1, Reading Across America, join in
reading Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham,” Sully
Branch Library, 530 Webster Ave. 428.8208.
Thursday, March 6, BNC Monthly Meeting, 7pm,
Thomas P. Ryan Community Center, 530 Webster Ave.
www.beechwood14609.com.
Saturday, March 8, Flower City Soccer League Final
Tournament, 9am, Thomas P. Ryan Community
Center, 530 Webster Ave. 428.8880 or
www.cityofrochester.gov.
Monday, March 10 - Friday, March 14, submissions
accepted for Origami Art Show and Competition, with
voting the following week in four age categories and
winners announced on March 21, Sully Branch
Library, 530 Webster Ave. 428.8208.
Saturdays, March 8 and 15, Rochester Youth Hispanic
Baseball League registration, 11am - 4pm, Thomas P.
Ryan Community Center, 530 Webster Ave. 428.8880
or www.cityofrochester.gov.
Thursday, April 3, BNC Annual Meeting, election of
board members and vote on bylaws revisions, 7pm,
Thomas P. Ryan Community Center, 530 Webster Ave.
www.beechwood14609.com.
Photo: Officer Celentano comments after receiving
special recognition
Community Calendar
Thursday, Feb. 6, BNC Monthly Meeting with Mayor
Lovely Warren, 7pm, Thomas P. Ryan Community
Center, 530 Webster Ave.
www.beechwood14609.com.
Thursday, Feb. 13 and every other Thursday, Teen
Manga Club: theme-related movies, drawing, crafts
and snacks, 5 - 6pm, Sully Branch Library, 530
Webster Ave. 428.8208.
Monday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 21, Kids Club
for grades K - 6, 9am - 3:30pm, St. Mark’s & St. John’s
Church, 1245 Culver Road, $50 for first child, $35 for
each sibling, financial aid available, preregistration
required. 654.9229 or www.stmarksandstjohns.org.
Monday, April 14 through Friday, April 18, Kids Club
for grades K - 6, 9am - 3:30pm, St. Mark’s & St. John’s
Church, 1245 Culver Road, $50 for first child, $35 for
each sibling, financial aid available, preregistration
required. 654.9229 or www.stmarksandstjohns.org.
Wednesday, April 16, Community Dinner, 5- 7pm,
Covenant United Methodist Church, 1124 Culver
Road. Free. 654.8115.
Ongoing at Parsells Avenue Community Church, 345
Parsells Ave.: Saturday SonShine, 10am - noon. Arts &
crafts, recreation and fourth Saturday field trips for
ages 7 - 13. Co-sponsored with Project Urge
Ministries. Free with parent registration.
www.parsellschurch.org.
The Beechwood Report is a quarterly publication of
the Beechwood Neighborhood Coalition (BNC), Kyle
Crandall, president. Please direct your comments or
questions regarding this newsletter to Rebecca Fuss,
editor, at 482.8963 or rtfuss@frontiernet.net.