Jamestown News
Posted by Kristen Johnson Lombardi
BUFFALO BILLS LEGENDS MAKES FOR AN AWESOME TALK
At the September 14 meeting of the Rotary Club of Jamestown, Greg Peterson, an attorney with Philips-Lytle LLC, spoke about a series of interviews he performed with members of the 1964 and 1965 Buffalo Bills American Football League championship teams. He has interviewed several players from that championship team, including Jack Kemp, Booker Edgerson, and Paul McGuire. During his presentation, Peterson played a video featuring vignettes from his interviews with these Buffalo Bills legends, along with clips of coverage from the championship games and the seasons leading up to them. His presentation was timely, as the Buffalo Bills honored the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championship teams at halftime during their Sunday, Sept. 13 win over the Indianapolis Colts. During the celebration, 18 surviving members of those championship teams took a bow at midfield and enjoyed a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
In the photo (left to right): Rotarian Mark Baldwin; Rotarian Mark Olson; and Greg Peterson, guest speaker.
READING CAMP REPORTS IN
During its Sept. 21 meeting, members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown heard a presentation from the Rev. Luke Fodor of St. Luke's Episcopal Church about the Children of the Book Reading Camp, which was held at the church between June 29 and July 25. Earlier this summer, Rotary Club of Jamestown sponsored the reading camp with a gift of $2,500. Rev. Fodor said the camp was a success, with as many as 20 children participating each week. As part of the camp, children enjoyed group activities; attention from certified teachers who worked with the children to teach them phonics, writing, and reading; and partner reading with community volunteers.
"This was intended to create a transformative relationship for both the kids and the community," Rev. Fodor said of the program. "This program emotionally impacted every person in the parish. One child told me, 'I wish this were my home.' That's what this community, working through this program, enabled us to do. It honestly turned into a life celebration and a real opportunity for engagement with children and families who might not otherwise have it. It mobilized people in our community and it was an incredibly humbling experience."
In the photo (left to right): Willow Fodor; the Rev. Paul Fodor; Rotarian Cheri Krull, a member of the club's Literacy Committee; and Rotarian Sally Martinez, chair of the club's Literacy Committee.