By Lee Harkness
DJDC executive director
There are so many good things to talk about when it comes to Jamestown. I know there are many who are still very negative, but I am thinking if we keep letting everyone know about all the good things, sooner or later, everyone will begin to see all the positives we are producing in Jamestown.
As many of you are aware DJDC does a lot of activities and events that involve the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department. They are great to work with and are always very helpful and positive in everything we do. John Williams is an integral part of that cooperation. Williams followed Tony Purpura when he retired as director of parks. Both of these gentlemen have been very involved in the Jamestown Area Soap Box Derby. Purpura is the director of that event and Williams is responsible for the city-owned property that hosts this event. They are two great guys.
Well this year, we can take this one step further. Williams and his wife, will be making a trip to Akron, Ohio, to the All American Soap Box Derby. They have a granddaughter, Chelsey Vincent, who was the Stock Division champion here in Jamestown in the 28th annual Jamestown Area Soap Box Derby last month. Chelsey is 12 years old and I believe this is her first trip to the Akron event. Chelsey will be accompanied by BobbieJo Ostrum, who was this year's Super Stock Division winner. This will be a return trip for BobbieJo as she has participated in this national event once before.
While this sport has not received the attention other sports do, it is a great sport and once again showcases some of the great young people we have here in the Jamestown area. It not only showcases our youth but also their parents, family and friends. We can be proud of them all and we certainly wish them luck in their contests this next week. It's just another very proud, positive point for Jamestown.
I would also like to finish today with a big thank you to state Sen. Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell for their part in passing legislation that will allow two Jamestown bridges over I-86 to be named after two of our famous citizens., Lucy Arnaz and Robert Jackson. We started these discussions several years ago and last year we were able to get a Falconer bridge named after the famous naturalist Roger Tory Peterson. Sen. Young had worked to get the bridges named after Lucy and Jackson in the state Senate and, when Assemblyman Goodell was elected to office, he worked on these same bridges and names to obtain Assembly approval.
Both the Senate and Assembly have now approved the official naming. We will keep you informed as to when the official ceremonies will take place. When you think about it, what a great thing it is to name these bridges after some of our most prominent citizens. Millions of people will pass by these bridges on I-86 and be able to recognize these people are from Jamestown.
There is one last thing. The planning for Fireball Run continues. The organizers at Universal just released a teaser ad for the event that includes Jamestown. Now I am not real proficient at this, but go to the Internet and type in Fireball Run. When it comes up scroll down to "FIREBALL RUN Adventurally-You Tube" and click on it - and make sure your sound is on. It's a great ad and it premiered Thursday.