Besides your own children there are a few things that may make you feel proud. One of them could be pride for your hometown, especially when someone represents it in the best light.
Many Fredonians and Western New Yorkers witnessed hometown Olympian Jenn Stuczynski break her own American record in the pole vault Sunday night. Stuczynski cleared 16 feet, 1 3/4 inches to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic track and field team.
Since then, ideas have been flowing and continue to grow throughout the community, regarding a special celebration in honor of Stuczynski, a Fredonia native.
"We really want to do something because you don't often get someone who will be a favor to win an Olympic medal from your area," said Fredonia Mayor Michael Sullivan.
"Going to the Olympics is one thing, but to have someone who looks like they'll be a favorite to win doesn't come out of the community very often. I can't think of the last one out of Chautauqua County myself. It just doesn't happen a lot."
The Fredonia Village Board will be holding a public meeting this Saturday, July 12 at 9:30 a.m. at village hall to brainstorm ideas to honor Stuczynski during and after her competition in Beijing.
"Everyone has been approached by someone who wants to get involved in some way," Sullivan said. "This doesn't happen very often so we figure we'll get a bunch of people together Saturday, everyone can throw their ideas together and out of that we'll come up with something that's appropriate."
Preliminary ideas among board members includes a community get-together where residents can come together and watch Stuczynski compete.
"We'd like to get some kind of a gathering together either at the high school or the Opera House the night she's actually competing," said Trustee Gary Damico. "I'd really like to see some recognition, not necessarily for the family themselves but for Jennifer of course. The highlight is in Fredonia once again because of this young lady. I certainly hope she does win the gold."
Damico said he would like to see some signage around the community and suggested signs with her name be made, similar to voting signs, and sold to help raise funds. The money would not go to the Stuczynski family because Adidas, her sponsor, will fund their Aug. 14 - 21 trip to China.
"I've been kicking around the idea that maybe we can get Channel 2 to help out with something because I don't know if they're going to have anyone else in their viewing area that's going to be on teams out there or not," Sullivan said. "If it turns out we wanted to rent a large television to bring in, we may end up doing something like the fundraising signs to help pay for that."
Rick Davis, executive director at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House, Mike Ferguson, general manager of the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena and many teachers from the Athletic Department at Fredonia High School have already expressed an interest in putting together an event.
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