Lisa Clarke, executive director of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency since 2014, will retire in January.
She is being replaced by Patrick Seeb, who joined the DMC in 2015. Clarke has been called the biggest champion for the DMC initiative, and two words kept popping up as people discussed Clarke's contributions: Enthusiasm and energy.
“Through her leadership and enthusiastic collaboration with business partners, legislators, developers and entrepreneurs, DMC has made great progress on its 20-year journey to realize Rochester’s full potential as an economic engine for the region and state," said DMC EDA Board President Jeff Bolton.
During Clarke's tenure as executive director, Mayo Clinic and private developers invested nearly $1 billion in DMC projects.
While Clarke will no longer be part of everyday operations, she will continue to act as an ambassador for DMC and the city. We should make sure to not let that energy go to waste.
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Thumbs up to Clarke and her contributions to Rochester.
Get your flu shot
Health officials are fearful of a two-fer.
Flu season is about to begin, and health care experts say it might be difficult to differentiate between flu symptoms and those of COVID-19 if the two illnesses happen at the same time. A flood of flu patients who fear they have COVID-19 could overwhelm testing and treatment sites.
To avoid that, health officials are urging people to get flu shots. There are a variety of locations available to receive vaccines, including Mayo Clinic sites by appointment, an OMC drive-thru service , local pharmacies and some grocery stores. And remember that all of the things you do to prevent COVID-19 infection also apply to the flu: Wash your hands, cover your cough, maintain social distancing and wear a mask.
Thumbs down to the flu.
Putting heads together
When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade, or pizza, or cake, or popcorn.
Some Rochester businesses are joining forces in order to survive the challenges of COVID-19 and road construction.
The latest is a collaboration of Penny Bracken's Kismet consignment stores and Joan Blakley-McCoy's Tangerine gift store. Bracken saw how downtown construction had essentially made an island of Tangerine., so she asked Blakely-McCoy if she might help. The result is a store-within-a store that offers a selection of Tangerine items in the Kismet shops.
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Similar arrangements have been made between Hy-Vee grocery and a number of local businesses. Hy-Vee customers can find pizza from Pasquale's, Bunnie's Cake from Canadian Honker, popcorn from Carroll's Corn and coffee from Bravo Espresso.
Thumbs up to meeting the challenge.
