French Quarter Cafe

A Taste of the Crescent City in the Flower City

Only open for six weeks, the French Quarter Café on Arnett Boulevard already has the cozy feeling of a neighborhood institution. The warm, friendly dining room has little touches that make it feel just a bit like a tea parlor or your grandmother's living room, and the service is attentive and helpful without feeling intrusive or fussy. The real triumph is the food: simple, honest, straightforward - the sort of food your mother or grandmother would cook if she happened to be from New Orleans.

Click here to read the entire review by James Leach in this week's City Newspaper.

Good Neighbors

Local entrepreneur invests in neighborhood's future.

In one form or another, 332-336 Arnett Blvd. has long been home to commerce.Part of the row building housed The Creator's Hands gift store and gallery for a number of years. When the business showcasing works by American artists and craftspeople moved out in 2005, the storefront windows looked out on some far less savory capitalism, with occasional drug dealing out front.

Today the space in the 83-year-old building, just west of the Arnett branch of the Rochester Public Library, is hosting a family of businesses and business services aimed at a target audience of a few square blocks of southwest Rochester.

Inside the operation called "The Arnett," a small coffee shop sits alongside a copy shop. Diners at the cajun/creole restaurant The French Quarter Cafe eat steps away from a credit counseling service and a business consulting operation.

The idea is to provide both a series of niche businesses lacking in the city's 19th Ward, such as higher-end retail, and the needed training and services to help other businesses launch in the area.

The neighborhood "has a lot of good housing value," said David Dey, who created The Arnett and runs a pair of operations there with his wife, LaDonna. "But on the other hand, it has a series of challenges. It's an ideal area to launch this model."

Click here to read the entire Democrat & Chronicle article by Matthew Daneman.

RISEGO Grand Opening!

GMC Open House on 2/2

On Saturday, February 2nd from Noon to 4 pm we'll be holding an Open House at the Gerhardt Ministry Center (906-918 N. Goodman St. next door to Joy Community Church). Our satellite medical office (Joy Family Medicine) and crisis pregnancy care center (Embracing Options) will be open as well as a food pantry (the Hope Shop) next door. Staff will be there to show you the facilities and answer any questions you may have. Refreshments will be served. Come and bring your friends and neighbors!

Christmas Caroling!

Christmas Caroling in the Park

Join us on Tuesday, December 18th from 6:30-7:30 pm
at the corner of Arnett and Wellington.

All are welcome! Bring flashlights or candles. Hot cocoa provided.

RISEGO Open House

I am writing to invite you to either Open House event on Friday, December 7, 2007 or Friday, December 14, 2007. The events will allow our special friends to tour the Social Entrepreneurship Center before we open it up to the general public later this month.

You have been instrumental in helping RISEGO achieve this milestone. We also had a great deal of help from youth and volunteers (some pictured above) that have devoted their weekends to help complete the development project. The specific event information is as follows:

Date: December 7, 2007 or December 14, 2007
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: 336 Arnett Blvd., Rochester, NY

We look forward to seeing you on December 7th or 14th. Coffee and refreshments will be served.

David Dey
President & CEO, RISEGO, Inc.

DREAM GIRLS Party

EMBRACING OPTIONS presents our 1st "DREAM GIRLS" Christmas Party to be held here at 342 Arnett Boulevard on Sunday December 16th from 2 to 4 pm.

GIRLS ONLY, ages 13-18. Dessert and hot beverages provided on beautiful Tea Cup sets. Bring a friend and both will receive a Christmas gift. Call Jess to hold your place - space is limited - (585) 355-1317.

NEEDED for the event: Mature Christian women to come along side these young girls to love on them and show the love of Christ to our young girls in the neighborhood. Donation of home made desserts and/or Christmas cookies. For more information, contact Sandi Clawson at (585) 235-0690.

19th Ward House Tour

The 19th Ward Community Association's thirty-second House Tour will take place on Saturday, October 6 from noon to 5 pm. This year's Tour will feature seven fabulous houses, including the home of Dr. Bill and Susan Morehouse, St. Monica's School, and the Pioneer Cemetery. As usual, the tour will highlight diverse architectural styles and decors. Gracious homeowners include singles, families and extended families, all eager to share their love of their homes and the neighborhood. Tickets cost $10 with a $2/ticket discount for Association members purchasing tickets at the Association office. Tickets are also available (at full price) at Hunt's Hardware, The Creator's Hands, Parkleigh, and at all Wegman's locations (Wegman's sells vouchers which must be redeemed for a ticket book at the Office on or before the tour).

Discussions with tour-goers in prior years reveals several reasons people take our tour - curiosity about the "old neighborhood" where they or their parents grew up, prospective homeowners interested in learning what it is like to live in the 19th Ward, and searching for decorating/renovating ideas.

Click here to read the description of the Morehouse's home published in the House Tour guide.

RYO Literacy Program

Rochester Youth Outreach is co-sponsoring a Children's Literacy Program with the Arnett Branch Library this fall on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, starting on September 25th. Under the supervision of RYO's Jessica Speares and Gabe Pelligrino from the Library, volunteers from Roberts Wesleyan College and Elim Bible Institute will be working with 4-8 year old kids whose parents have signed them up.

The program will offer enrolled children a safe place to go after school, a confidence builder in academics, nutritious snacks, and parental involvement.

Click here to view a flyer and here to download an application form.

Cut the Violence Event

Willie J. Lightfoot, County Legislator and member of our Board, will be hosting another "Cut the Violence Initiative" event on Monday, September 17th from 4-7 pm at the Jefferson Avenue Childhood Development Center, 793 Jefferson Avenue. From 3-4 pm a special community forum will be held to talk about the recent rash of violence in the neighborhood. Community agencies, including Embracing Options and Rochester Youth Outreach, will have information booths, and youth will be offered free haircuts at New Creations Unisex Barbershop, 649 Jefferson Avenue.

Willie has this to say about the project:
I have partnered with Councilman Adam McFadden and his “Thou Shall Not Kill” campaign to create the “Cut The Violence Initiative,” which brings local service agencies, and professional barbers together to combat the violence with our youth. We have successfully held many “Cut the Violence” events at different locations throughout the City, providing free haircuts and assisting over 400 families. We know that violence is not just in the 27th district but plagues our entire community. I am committed to linking community service agencies with over 160 local professional barbershops and beauticians who are willing to offer their shops as informational centers and safe havens for young people.

Click here to read more about Willie's role in the community as a professional barber. Contact WJL office @ 753-1940 for more information.

Block Party a Big Success!

This year's Arnett Block Party is going to go down in neighborhood history as one of the most successful community events in years! Hundreds turned out on a wonderfully sunny, dry, warm Saturday to enjoy music, free food, face painting, rap artist Cuevo, helium balloons, spectacular entertainment, educational booths, Gabe Pelligrino reading stories reading, free horse rides, Happy the clown, and a juggling act put on by Wes and Jeff Peden that had us gasping with delight.

With two blocks of Arnett Blvd. officially closed off, RPD had its van there, along with an ambulance from Rural-Metro and a Fire Truck, all for kids to climb up in and meet their crews. As the afternoon was drawing to a close, the New Life Fellowship flag team led us in a procession down the Boulevard to our newly renovated neighborhood park, the Arnett Bird & Butterfly Garden, for a Gospel concert and ribbon-cutting dedication ceremony.

Monroe County Legislator Willie Lightfoot served as MC, assisted in the park dedication by State Senator Joe Robach and Commissioner of Parks Charles Reeves.

Click here to view a slide show of the festivities (previews below). Thanks to everyone who helped make our day so successful. You're what it's all about! Please stay tuned for opportunities to team up with the Arnett Block Association in making our neighborhood a place we can all proudly call home. And of course we'll need help planning next year's Block Party!

The Final Makeover

Our new next-door neighbor, RISEGO, is putting the finishing touches on the development of a Social Entrepreneurship Center in the city of Rochester. The center will help young entrepreneurs create businesses that address problems in their community and avoid the pitfalls of selling drugs and other negative behaviors. The site will feature four new businesses that model how entrepreneurs create wealth the right way. Social Entrepreneurial classes will be beginning in mid-September, so they need your help during the days outlined below.

RISEGO has set aside six days, and volunteers are needed to complete a variety of skilled and general projects. Please join us for one or more days and feel free to bring your son, daughter (over 12), or friend along. This is a great opportunity to make a lasting investment in the lives of others or serve as a community service project.

Lunch will be provided each day!

Dates: August 16th - 18th and August 23rd - 25th
Daily Time: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: 336 Arnett Blvd., Rochester 14619

Things to Bring with You:

• Tool Belt (additional tools and materials will be available on site)
• A Friend to Help
• Desire to Make a Difference

Please confirm your attendance by sending an email to David Dey noting which day(s) you will be volunteering along with the number of volunteers that will be joining you.

Airplay Jugglers Coming!

Famous Airplay jugglers, Wes and Jeff Peden, are coming to our Block Party for a special performance this Saturday, August 4th, at 1 pm. This is a show you and your kids won't want to miss! Today's Democrat & Chronicle published a marvelous story about Wes and his dad in today's edition that starts out:

When he was 5, Wes Peden was already juggling three balls. "At first, I did it to impress my dad," says Wes, 17, of Rochester. His dad, Jeff Peden, has been juggling since elementary school. "I would watch juggling videos instead of Barney," he says. A chest of drawers in the Pedens' living room offers proof: Every drawer is filled with juggling videos. Instructional videos, show videos, competition videos. "I'd watch and figure out how to do what they were doing," he says.

He caught on. Jeff Peden, a former teacher (he still teaches a juggling class at Rochester Institute of Technology), has been making his living as a juggler for years — since 2004 with Wes as his partner. In a good summer month, they'll do 30 or more shows at schools, rec centers, camps, parties, you name it.

Click here to read the whole story about the international plans Wes has, then click this link to view a video that will get your enthusiasm up. We're stoked!

Block Party 2007!

This year's Block Party, being hosted by the Arnett Block Association in our parking lot on August 4th from Noon to 4 pm, is shaping up to be an extravaganza! We got the tipoff when we applied to the City to close 2 blocks of Arnett Blvd. for the afternoon (YES, the street will be closed off!) "What you're describing is more like a festival than a block party," we were told. After our Neighborhood Bible Club Monday ends on Friday (see below), here's what's on the schedule for Saturday:

* Free food, hot dogs, and beverages!
* Famous juggling team, Airplay!
* Rap artist Cuevo!
* Willie Lightfoot, Master of Ceremonies!
* Free horse rides for the kids!
* Health fair booths!
* Fire trucks, ambulances, and police van!
* New Life flag team and gospel choir!
* Dedication of the new Bird & Butterfly Garden park!
* Dignitaries (maybe even the Mayor)!
* Face painting, balloons, and prizes!
* Happy the Clown!
* And much more!!!

Be sure to tell everyone you know about it and come out on Saturday, August 4th for the highlight event of your summer.

Bible Club Next Week

Last year's Backyard Bible Club was such a success that we'll be hosting another one for kids 12 and under next week in the green space and parking lot at 350 Arnett Blvd. The youth group from Grace Community Church in Allentown, PA will be with us again to share their faith and enthusiasm. Here's the full info:


* Fun in the Son All Week Long!
* 350 Arnett Boulevard!
* Monday July 30 - Friday August 3!
* Every Afternoon 2:00 - 3:00 pm!
* Children 12 and Under!
* Bible Stories!
* Music and Sing-Alongs!
* Games and Prizes!
* Team from Pennsylvania!

If you'd like to help, call Jessica at 235-9000.

Willie in "about...time"

In the most recent issue of "about...time" magazine, our very own Willie Lightfoot was featured in a delightful cover article about his role in the community as a barber at New Creations Unisex Barbershop. He is quoted:

"New Creations is tailored after the expression that when you come into Christ you are a new creature: old things are passed away ~ behold all things are created new," explains Lightfoot. "We are a Christian shop. Anybody should be able to walk in here and get respect and feel comfortable. Our shop is always clean. We really believe in maintaining a positive atmosphere for the family. The sign in our shop that says 'No negativity allowed,' is taken from our understanding of Philippians 4:13. that we can do positive work through our faith in Christ."

Click here to download and read the entire article in PDF format.

Arnett Block Association

Kids just love
"Happy" the Clown (our own Dick Stutzman)

The Block Association has been very busy this summer raising community spirit, developing our community "pocket park" known officially as the "Arnett Bird & Butterfly Garden" on the corner of Arnett Blvd. and Wellington Avenue, and helping Jessica with her Community Survey (see below).

ABA also hosted the neighborhood's first Block Party in years. It seemed like the whole neighborhood showed up! We had mounted police, a big fire truck, balloons, face painting, Happy the clown, gospel singing and live rap music, a Punch & Judy puppet show, and lots of fun, food, and fellowship in the sun! For a slide show of pictures from the Block Party, click here.

Earlier in the week His Branches hosted a youth group from Pennsylvania who dedicated an entire week of their summer vacation to urban youth ministry. They helped us get our grounds in good shape, hosted a kids' Vacation Bible Study in our back yard, and did a lot of neighborhood outreach. And when Saturday arrived, they were able to stay long enough to help us set up for the Block Party and greet the first guests before heading back home. Thanks
to all who helped!

Neighborhood Survey

This summer we were gifted with the services of Jessica Speares (pictured painting a neighborhood face at our Block Party), a premedical student at Roberts Wesleyan College who gathered a team and conducted a health resources survey of leaders and residents in the neighborhood. She was delighted with the reception she received and the results she was able to gather.

In her report to the community on August 21st, Jessica reviewed the results of her study which revealed a need in our neighborhood for increased youth services, especially for teenagers, and easier access to counseling and referral services. We're going to be actively working with her and others to find some solutions this coming year.

Her full report is available as an online PowerPoint presentation as well as in a written outline. If you'd like to help, just give us a call!

Garden and Block Party

The Block Association has been very busy this spring working with neighbors and local authorities to reduce crime and drug activity, raising community spirit, and cleaning up our community "pocket park" known officially as the "Arnett Bird & Butterfly Garden" on the corner of Arnett Blvd. and Wellington Avenue.

On Saturday, August 5th, from 12 to 4 pm ABA will also be hosting the neighborhood's first Block Party in years. There will be activities for kids, talent shows, visits from the police and fire departments, balloons, hot dogs and refreshments, and much more. Be sure to tell your neighbors and come on out!

New Parking, Green Space

The development of our parking space is finally FINISHED! Ground was broken on Saturday, August 21, and we declared victory on November 1! We have been waiting for over three years to see this project come together! Now we have a brand new door, new lighting and a new parking lot from which to enter and exit the building. Praise the Lord for His will being accomplished in this process. And, the entire project is paid for! Praise the Lord for His provision!!! If anyone is interested in using our newly accessible conference room for meetings, please do not hesitate to give us a call! We have done most of the landscaping (although it still looks a little brown) and look forward to seeing many new tulips and daffodils come up in the spring.

We would like to specifically recognize the donated material and time offered by Countryside Flower Farm, The Garden Factory, Susan Morehouse's brother Tom Lowry, and Davey Tree and Landscape. Thank you as well to all those who offered their prayers along the way. The finished product is great!