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New YBPA brochure, busy events schedule discussed
By Terry Duffy
Editor-in-Chief
Youngstown Business and Professional Association members covered a number of areas on Tuesday as YBPA held its pre-summer get-together at Bandana’s Bar and Grill on Lake Road.
“Special congratulations, because this is your 16th year in business,” YBPA secretary Mark Butera told Bandanna’s owners Rob and Melissa Kudel. Joined by YBPA President Cheryl Butera and board members, he went on to recognize the hosts of the evening’s event. “We are so glad you’re here. And this facility is outstanding.”
What followed was a recap of the year thus far:
•YBPA made note of its latest members: Brian and Salise Price of Niagara Jet Adventures, and Robert Jeeves of That Barber and Co. Welcoming the two, Mark Butera commented, “We’re hearing all good things, and we’re really glad that Youngstown has got a barber, too.”
•YBPA congratulated The Galley at 400 Main, recognized as the 2019 Youngstown Business of the Year at the Niagara River Region Chamber Awards dinner in May.
•YBPA announced it provided a letter of support to state legislators for a dedicated 1% “bed tax” funding source to assist Discover Niagara Shuttle operations and future expansion endeavors.
“It’s been on the table for a while to get 1% of the dedicated ‘bed tax’ funding for Niagara Falls, Lockport and the Tonawanda’s to the Discover Niagara Shuttle,” Mark Butera said. “We were asked to provide a letter of support. Our board felt this was an admirable project; Canada is like 20 years ahead of us (on this).
“So this was a great thing to happen. We know it brings traffic into Fort Niagara; know it brings traffic everywhere it stops. So, we wholeheartedly support it.
•YBPA went on to announce its new 2019-20 Town of Porter/Village of Youngstown brochure is now out.
“It’s an expanded version of the old brochure,” Mark Butera said. He told attendees the annual informational brochure went from eight to 12 panels in size, with more consistency in YBPA’s schedule of events. There’s also “a much bigger map that now includes the entire Town of Porter – Youngstown and Ransomville.”
He related that, due to a loss in funding earlier from the Village of Youngstown, YBPA went to the Town of Porter, which, in turn, offered YBPA $1,500 in support funding for the project.
“We thought it was very appropriate to welcome everyone to the Town of Porter,” Mark Butera said, as went on to praise the assistance of Town Supervisor John “Duffy” Johnston and the Porter Town Board. “This is a big area; the three biggest attractions we have here in our part of the town are Ransomville Speedway, Niagara Jet Adventures and Old Fort Niagara … and farming. So, it was very appropriate for this.”
Town of Porter Councilman Tim Adamson said, “Our board unanimously voted for this. We were happy to support the YBPA. You’re very important to the Town of Porter. We need to start thinking more like a town, the entire town. And we’re glad to do it.”
“I’m on board with Tim and other members,” Town of Porter Councilwoman Irene Myers added. “Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to what you are doing and trying to accomplish here.”
Mark Butera said YBPA has gotten very favorable feedback so far. He noted 11,000 copies went out with the recent Sentinel. “This is a great thing to have in peoples’ hands. We’ve been doing that for the last couple of years with this distribution. It puts everything right out there.”
He said the brochure is hitting all the tourism distribution offices in the area, as well as chamber offices, Destination Niagara USA, the Niagara USA Visitors Center, Old Fort Niagara Visitors Center, and the OFN State Park entry tollbooths. The guide also is available at Four Mile Creek and KOA campground, and The Sentinel office on Grand Island.
Other funding for the brochure came via a $2,900 grant award from the William C. Mayne/Niagara Falls Bridge Commission/Niagara County Economic Development grant, as well as $1,500 in funding from NC Legislator Clyde Burmaster.
Mark Butera also said funding benefitted a new, reusable street banner featuring a “Welcome to Youngstown” message on one side, and promoting the Town of Porter SummerFest at Porter on the Lake on the other side. The sign hangs over Lockport Street in the center of the village. It was created by Just Signs and installed by the Town of Porter.
“We’re just thrilled that we’re able to resurrect this, with support of the Town of Porter and the grant programs. It’s a great little eye-catcher,” Mark Butera said
For the balance of the session, YBPA members reviewed the major events taking place over coming months in northern Niagara. On the calendar: the annual Welcome to Summer Street Dance and Car Show on June 20; the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Co. seafood boil on July 6; the 2019 Town of Porter SummerFest, July 20 at Porter on the Lake; and the Youngstown Community Picnic on Aug. 3
Stay tuned to The Sentinel for more on these and other upcoming events in the Youngstown and Porter areas.
Town of Porter council members Tim Adamson and Irene Myers displayed the town’s new T-shirts, promoting SummerFest 2019. (Photos by Kevin and Dawn Cobello, K&D Action Photo and Aerial Imaging)