Senator Helming Visits Ontario ARC’s North Star Coffee in Canandaigua

CANANDAIGUA – Senator Pam Helming visited North Star Coffee, a division of Ontario ARC, on Wednesday, Nov. 1 and presented ARC representatives with a New York State Senate Citation to recognize the coffee shop’s recent ribbon cutting ceremony. Ontario ARC opened North Star Coffee in June to create meaningful employment in a supportive environment for people of all abilities. North Star Coffee allows those with special needs to hone their job skills in a real-life training environment. The business’ name comes from the North Star, which serves as a guiding light in the night sky, as Ontario ARC aims to be a beacon of hope and opportunity for the individuals and families that it serves. Senator Helming met employee Janet DeMay, who told her that she enjoys her job at the coffee shop because she has learned how to handle money and interact with customers.

“This project began during my tenure as Canandaigua Town Supervisor. It is very exciting to see this new business come to fruition. As someone who began my career serving those with special needs, I appreciate the terrific opportunities North Star Coffee has brought to our community. It is fantastic to see that the Ontario ARC is providing the individuals it serves with real-life job opportunities. As well as offering workers meaningful employment, North Star Coffee gives its customers a comfortable, friendly atmosphere to enjoy a beverage and some conversation. It was a pleasure to visit North Star, see the energy and excitement on the faces of everybody there, and recognize the opening of this terrific new business,” Senator Helming said.

North Star Coffee is located at 1880 Rochester Road/State Route 332 in Canandaigua. The public is encouraged to stop by to have a great cup of coffee and a snack, use the free Wi-Fi, and pick up some North Star Coffee or Bad Dog/Pet Connections merchandise.

Senator Helming represents the 54^th Senate District, which consists of Seneca and Wayne Counties, parts of Cayuga and Ontario Counties, and the towns of Lansing and Webster. For more information, please visit Senator Helming’s website, or follow @SenatorHelming on Facebook or Twitter.
 

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