Paul Szmal: Good morning. It is 749. It's the Friday Extravaganza. Okay, I get a little confused from time to time. I was told we had somebody from Waterloo Rotary, but it's from the ROW Committee, which is R-O-W. Steph Krizek is here. Good morning.
Steph Krzysik: Good morning, Ted. How are you?
Paul Szmal: I'm doing well.
So now, that clears up a few things. So, R-O-W, explain the acronym and what this committee is all about.
Steph Krzysik: Absolutely. R-O-W stands for Revitalization of Waterloo. And what we've been doing is we've been offering programs throughout last year and this year that we are hoping to bring in people from a wide radius around Waterloo back into our town and community to hopefully stimulate our business, downtown business district. And we also give back to local nonprofit organizations, even though we are a nonprofit. Whatever money we raise from our programs, we donate back to several organizations, like our Oktoberfest that's coming up this Sunday. It's dedicated to our vets, our VFW and American Legion posts in town. And next month, at the end of the month, we're doing a zombie distance festival that's going to help the North Seneca Ambulance Corp and the local Boy Scout Troop 74.
Paul Szmal: So, this committee evolved out of what was called earlier the Image, Identity, and Public Spaces Committee. That started in 2017. So, is the feeling kind of like, hey, we've got this great gem here, we've got to let people know?
Steph Krzysik: Correct. We just felt that the IIP committee took care of some of the public spaces issues, like signage for parking and other things. And then the person who was operating, really heading the committee, all of a sudden, without notice, just disappeared in a way. And so, myself and two other former members, we got together one October morning in 17, no, was it 19? And we said, well, we've got to do something here. And so, between 19 and 20, it kind of got off to a slow start. And then that summer of 20, I started networking with people. And then in the fall of 20, that's where Roe was born, out of that committee, the former committee.
Paul Szmal: So, I imagine the pandemic must have slowed things down a little bit and made it difficult to get up and rolling.
Steph Krzysik: Well, for us, not really, because it was after, by then, the vaccines were out there and whatever, and people were able to move around. It's just that everybody was meeting like everybody else on virtual, on Zoom. And so, at that time, again, the IIP was not involved with running programs. And so, we just decided that we needed to work on our image and identity in Waterloo, because everybody, because Waterloo, they think of Waterloo as a drive-through community, and we shouldn't be.
Paul Szmal: Right. All right? Yeah. So, we figured, okay, let's work on doing stuff to bring people in here where people could see Waterloo as a happening town.
So, one of those events is, you mentioned it, the Oktoberfest coming up Sunday from noon to six at the Seneca County Fairgrounds. What do you have planned?
Steph Krzysik: Well, we're going to have a wonderful German band and dancers. They're called the Syracuse Oktoberfest Band and Dancers. They're going to put on a four-hour show for us from one to five. All right? It'll be like audience participation with them and everything. You know, you get your polkas on and, you know, wear your lederhosen and things like that. Sure. We're going to have food. There'll be refreshments like beer, soda, wine, beer, soda, water for extra sale. If you're going to get the dinner and the show, that's $30. And then if you're just going to come for the show only, for a family of four, it's $25. Any extra person is $10. And, again, all the proceeds after expenses will be splitting up to go between the American Legion and the VFW. It's American Legion Post 435, VFW Post 6433. It's a salute to our veterans.
Paul Szmal: So, that's at the Seneca County Fairgrounds. That's this Sunday from noon to six. And then coming up, we have the Zombie Distance Festival for Halloween. So, that sounds cool.
Steph Krzysik: It is. We did one last year. We actually ran through the north end of the village, past several of the cemeteries. And we had about 64 runners last year. And it was just a 5K. And then this year, we're going to be racing on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail.
Paul Szmal: Oh, wow.
Steph Krzysik: Yeah. So, we're going to be doing two distances. One is a 5K, where there will be a separate 5K walk. There will be a separate 5K run. And then we're going to get a 14K that's going to go up and down, out and back on the entire canal trail. And throughout the trail, we will have zombies in the woods. They're not going to come chasing anybody, but they're going to just be there. Oh, yeah. You know? And we'll have a good time. We've got a DJ coming in, playing music and everything.
And so, you can get all our details. Like, if you come to our Facebook page, Revitalization Waterloo, you can find out all the information there. We have posters and yard signs posted throughout. There's a couple here in Geneva as well. And that's October 27th, by the way.
Paul Szmal: Correct. Packet pickup is in the morning from 8 to 930 at F&A Rhythm & Booze at South Virginia Street. You're encouraged to dress up and really celebrate. For the 5K, it's $13, kids 6 to 10, $23, 11 to 17, 18 and up, $30. If you want to do the 14K, $40, ages 13 and up. If you sign up by October 15th, you get a t-shirt. And these proceeds, you're splitting between the Boy Scout Troop. You've got a great troop, I know, in Waterloo, Troop 74 and North Seneca Ambulance.
Pretty neat. That's right. They could really use the help as well. So, if people want to help this ROW committee and say, wow, this is a great idea, I want to be part of it, how can they hook up with you and get involved?
Steph Krzysik: Sure. Well, we meet. I actually own and operate the Gridley Inn right on West Main Street. Well, I give myself a plug. Sure. But we use the inn as a – I see the inn as a community place. All right. And we have a nice dining room where we meet. And we have our meetings the second Thursday of every month. It's starting at 6 o'clock. So, all you've got to do is if you're interested in helping out, come down. I think the next one will be – if you can flip over here. October, let's see. Oh, the 10th, October 10th.
Paul Szmal: Okay, October 10th. Very good.
Steph Krzysik: Yeah. And, you know, we could always use an extra hand or two and more so the talent. You know, you'd be surprised, you know, people come in with their ideas and that. And that's how you get things rolling. And that – because, you know, we already have a committee of about eight, nine people. And not everybody shows up at the – you know.
Paul Szmal: Right, right. So, if we can get a few more people that are more – you know, that will come and add their talent, time and talents.
Steph Krzysik: Yeah, bring your ideas, too. That's right. For future things. That's right. Because, you know, we can't just be doing the same thing all the time.
Paul Szmal: Well, I think this is a fantastic idea just to raise the visibility. And like you say, there's so many things all over our small towns in this area. And sometimes they get overlooked.
Steph Krzysik: Exactly, exactly. And, again, we just want to make sure that we bring – we attract people from – like last year, the zombie race. We had people from Vestal, Binghamton.
Paul Szmal: Wow, nice.
Steph Krzysik: Yeah. Palmyra. We actually had two Canadians.
Paul Szmal: Neat.
Yeah. So, we were international. So, Oktoberfest is this Sunday at the fairgrounds and then the Waterloo Zombie Distance Festival for Halloween. That's October 27th. Steph, thanks. Best of luck with the committee and keep us up to date.
Steph Krzysik: Thanks for having me, Ted. All right. We appreciate the time. It's 7.58 now.
