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Kenmore Courier /Friday, January 23, 2015
Craft show, basket raffle to take place
Franklin Elementary School will host its Craft Show & Basket Raffle from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Sat., Jan. 31. This annual event has become one of the elementary school’s largest fundraisers and is used to fund student field trips, assemblies, and all extra student programs at the school. “This event enables the school and the PTA to offer an expansion of the academic experience of our students,” said Julia Volle, PTA president. In years past, the students at Franklin Elementary have visited the Lockport Locks, the Buffalo Zoo, Kelkenberg Farm and Camp Tahigwa. Proceeds from the Craft Show & Basket Raffle also help fund visits from children’s book authors, Nickel City Reptiles, and Hawk Creek. The Craft Show will include local crafters selling artwork, jewelry, flower arrangements, handmade greeting cards and home decor items, pet accessories, handmade wood furniture, and much more. The Basket Raffle boasts more than 75 baskets
Guests browse the vendor tables, baskets and raffle items at last year’s Franklin Elementary School Craft Show & Basket Raffle. This year’s event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31. including some large donations from local sports groups and community businesses. “In addition to the baskets made by our students and donated by the crafters from our Craft Show, we will also raffle off four oneday Park Hopper passes to Disney World, a $536 value; an air hockey/ping pong table; a three-month family membership to JCC; and
a bar-style table and four stools, all generously donated from our community,” said Florence Vecchione, one of the PTA parents helping to organize the event. Admission to the show is $2 or 20 Box Tops for Education. Parking will be available in the Franklin Elementary School parking lot behind the school at 500 Parkhurst Blvd.
Canisius presents award-winning performer
Canisius College presents Maria Costa’s award-winning one woman show “Macho Men and the Women Who Love Them” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. in the Montante Cultural Center. The event, which is cosponsored by the Afro-American Society and the ALANA Student Center, is free and open to the public. Costa is a performer, writer, producer and change maker who has sold out the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and toured in 16 cities and six countries worldwide with her onewoman theatrical comedy show called Macho Men and The Women Who Love Them. She has been described by critics as the female John Leguizamo and the Latina Lucille Ball
and has appeared on a number of prime-time television shows like Ugly Betty. Macho Men was also filmed as a comedy concert film which won an Imagen Award for excellence in Latino film and TV and is distributed worldwide on DVD by Image Entertainment. Costa’s newest film, Viva America - also performed, written and produced by Costa - is nominated for an Imagen Award and is in development as a television series with Bravo TV producers. She recently co-hosted the Urban Wheel Awards with fellow actor Morris Chestnut and is set to receive a star on the Motown Walk of Fame alongside Kid Rock and Aretha Franklin.
Ken-Ton Schools to hold annual sleepout
For the 28th year in a row, current and retired teachers from Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda schools along with students and others in the Ken-Ton community will spend the night outdoors the first Friday in February to collect donations for those in the community who may be in need of a helping hand. The 28th annual Jerry Starr Ken-Ton Schools’ Sleepout will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6 in the Hoover Middle School parking lot, ending at 6 a.m. the following morning. Participants will brave the elements inside cardboard refrigerator boxes to collect donations and raise awareness of the needs of the less fortunate. To date, approximately $850,000 has been collected and each and every penny has gone to helping those in need, according to retired Kenmore West High School teacher Stephen Ash, and that figure does not account for other donations that have been collected through the years such as food, clothes and other items. Ash coordinates the efforts of Educators Totally Committed (ETC), a group of current and retired employees from Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda schools who, since 1988, have sought to call attention to the needs of the less fortunate on the first Friday of February with a philosophy emphasizing awareness, commitment and action. They chose the first Friday in February because of the sharp drop in charitable donations that usually follows the holiday season and the challenges that winter brings to the less fortunate. “We address the ongoing needs of the poor with ongoing efforts,” Ash said. “ETC emphasizes a program of awareness, commitment, and action. Our focus is to make our school communities aware of people in need, show that we are committed to help them, and take action.” Through this effort, donations of cash, food, clothing, personal care items, and household items such as small furniture is collected and distributed to those in need in the community.
Donations may be dropped off at the Sleepout site on Feb. 6 between 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Those wishing to donate by check may make it payable to KEN-TON SCHOOLS E.T.C., and mailed to Ken-Ton Schools’ Sleepout, c/o Kenmore West Senior High School, 33 Highland Pkwy., Buffalo, NY 14223. For more information on donating or participating, Ash may be contacted at 6944492 or allhelpall@yahoo.com. Children and students must be accompanied by parents. Younger participants may sleep inside the school. The Sleepout is named in honor of its founder, the late Samuel “Jerry” Starr, who taught at Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda schools for 34 years, teaching English, drama and public speaking at Kenmore West High School. After it had become an annual occasion, Starr reflected on a very cold day in 1987 when he was shopping with his wife Elaine and spent just a little time outside without wearing gloves. He dwelled on what it would be like to live without necessities such as a pair of gloves on a bitterly cold day. Soon, the very first Sleepout had been envisioned by Starr, Ash, and their colleague, Charles Kohler. They held the event in March 1988, raising $1,500, and formed ETC so that it would live on. In 1993, Starr was one of 50 “Search for Real Heroes” winners nationwide for his contributions to the community and was honored in Washington D.C. by former First Lady Barbara Bush. Starr always put others before himself, according to Lisa Davidson, a science teacher at Kenmore West who worked with him for many years, and she wants to see his legacy continue. “He had the biggest heart you could ever imagine,” she said. “He was always looking for people in need or opportunities where he could insert himself and make life easier for them.”
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Kenmore Courier /Friday, January 23, 2015
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Around Town W W W. C P O W N Y. C O M
The Herschell Carousel Factory Museum will be closed for the season from now 2 through April 2 (open for group tours). Spring hours (April 3 to June 14) noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday-Tuesday. Summer hours (July 15 to Sept. 3) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Fall hours (Sept. 4 to Dec. 30) noon to 4 p.m. WednesdaySunday, closed MondayTuesday. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Hall Walking Program will be offered from 4-9 p.m. Monday-Friday at North Tonawanda Middle School. Program Dates: now to Feb. 27 and March 2 to April 17. $10 per session. Register: North Tonawanda Recreation Office, 500 Wheatfield St., North Tonawanda. Info: 695-8520. Winter Used Book Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 7 at the North Tonawanda History Museum. “Genesis – Selling England by the Pound Album” begins at 8 p.m. Sat., Feb. 21 at the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Tickets are $39. Presented by Musical Box. Part of the Tribute to the Aud Concert Series. Info: 692-2413, www.RivieraTheatre.org or www.Facebook.com/ RivieraTheatre. “Genesis – FoxTrot Album” begins at 7 p.m. Sun., Feb. 22 at the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Tickets are $39. Presented by Musical Box. Part of the Tribute to the Aud Concert Series. Info: 692-2413, www.RivieraTheatre.org
or www.Facebook.com/ RivieraTheatre. “The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience Presents Led Zeppelin Albums 1-4” at 8 p.m. Fri., March 6 at the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Tickets are $30. Presented by Zoso. Part of the Tribute to the Aud Concert Series. Info: 692-2413, www. RivieraTheatre.org or www.Facebook.com/ RivieraTheatre. “The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience Presents Led Zeppelin Albums 4-7” at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Tickets are $30. Presented by Zoso. Part of the Tribute to the Aud Concert Series. Info: 692-2413, www.RivieraTheatre.org or www.Facebook.com/ RivieraTheatre. “A Salute to the Eagles” begins at 8 p.m. Fri., May 8 at the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Tickets are $30. Presented by Hotel California. Part of the Tribute to the Aud Concert Series. Info: 692-2413, www.RivieraTheatre.org or www.Facebook.com/ RivieraTheatre. Spring Used Book Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9 at the North Tonawanda History Museum. Bible Study will be held now through June 7 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 453 Old Falls Blvd., North Tonawanda. “Faith Lessons” offered from 9:20-10:20 a.m. Sundays in the Upper Fellowship Hall, 8-9 p.m. Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. Enter through parking lot door for all classes. “The Story”
meets from 9:20-10:30 a.m. each Sunday in the Upper Education Building. All residents of our community are invited to attend. Info: 692-3255. “The Marriage of Figaro” will be presented by Nickel City Opera Fri., June 26 to Sun., June 28 at the Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Includes a full set, costumes and a full orchestra and chorus. Summer Used Book Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 1 at the North Tonawanda History Museum. Fall Used Book Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 3 at the North Tonawanda History Museum. Grocery Shopping Program The North Tonawanda Senior Center offers transportation for North Tonawanda senior residents for grocery shopping at Tops and Budweys every Wednesday. Cost: $2. Also offering ride to NT Wal-Mart ($2), Boulevard Mall ($4) and The Christmas Tree Store ($4) once a month. Register: 695-8582. The Conrad F. Kania Marine Corps League is looking for a few good men and women to join our detachment. If you have honorably served in the U. S. Marine Corps and would like to learn more about us, come to one of our detachment meetings. We meet at 8 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Amvets Post, 600 Ward Rd., North Tonawanda. Info: Joan Schuster at 695-8480. Support the NonProfit Riviera Theatre Restoration and preservation of the Historic 1926 Riviera Theatre and Mighty
WurliTzer Pipe Organ continues. Generous taxdeductible donations are needed. Visit: www.rivieratheatre.org/support-us to make a generous donation today, or make checks payable to: Rivera Theatre. North Tonawanda Citizens on Patrol meetings are held at 7 p.m. every second Thursday of the month at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 265 Falconer St., North Tonawanda. Help make our neighborhoods safer. Ideal Weight Shape up with the help of Ideal Weight class, conducted by weight-loss specialist Ida Shapiro, who has over 46 years of experience. Classes begin at 6:15 p.m. every Tuesday at Zion United Church of Christ, Koenig and Parker, Tonawanda; and at 6:15 p.m. every Thursday at St. Gregory the Great School, Maple Road, Williamsville. The classes offer help on achieving weight-loss goals through personal touch, visualization, guest speakers and strong group support. First class free during the month of December. For further information, call 636-3698. Donations Sought The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 120 is accepting donations of paper products including toilet paper and napkins, coffee, toiletries, canned food and ladies personal products. All donations can be dropped off at Post 120 Commander Gerald Tidd’s home at 460 North Ave., North Tonawanda. Donations will be transported to the homeless veterans shelter to help low-income and homeless veterans. There, items will be separated accordingly. Info: call Tidd at 310-2004.
Empowering parents to manage their kids’ wireless use (NAPSI) Today’s techsavvy generation quickly adapts and enjoys using mobile devices such as cell phones, smartphones and tablets to communicate, learn and play, anytime and anywhere. To help parents manage their kids’ usage and encourage responsible behavior, CTIA The Wireless Association, which represents the wireless industry, developed GrowingWireless.com, a website developed by parents in the wireless industry for parents who need easyto-understand information and resources. Updated regularly, the website offers examples of situations and how parents may want to respond; for example, what parents can do if their child is being bullied, how to protect their privacy and how to manage their kids’ monthly usage so they don’t go over the allotted monthly limits in the Dollars and Sense section. Visitors to the website will also see information on how to identify and prevent sexting and how to protect kids’ personal information in the Privacy and Security section. GrowingWireless.com also offers a parent’s “tool kit” with a list of parental control tools that are offered by wireless carriers and manufacturers. Parental control tools help parents
manage and monitor their kids’ wireless usage. The website also provides information about federal and state laws that help protect kids when they use mobile products and services. Setting family rules is one of the most important and effective steps that parents can take to help kids be responsible wireless users. GrowingWireless.com offers a sample template to help families make their own decisions about what is acceptable wireless behavior for their kids, and the consequences if those rules are broken. Once agreed upon, these rules should be posted in a central location, such as the refrigerator, and periodically revisited as kids age and technology evolves. What is appropriate for a 12-year-old may be different than the rules for a 13-year-old. By empowering parents with accessible information, they will be able to proactively educate themselves and their kids to solve problems before they arise. By teaching kids about wireless common sense and responsible use today, they will be better prepared to harness wireless increasingly for education and will be better equipped for jobs in other sectors such as utilities, health care, government services and public safety.
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Kenmore Courier / Friday, January 23, 2015
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Local sports Annual charity hockey game held as part of Winterfest By Kimberlee Sabshin COURIER CORRESPONDENT
Last weekend, this year’s edition of a seasonal tradition in the Town of Tonawanda was a big success, the town police department said. On Sunday, Jan. 18, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department and Paramedic Unit faced off against the Ellwood Volunteer Fire Company for their annual charity hockey game as part of the town’s Winterfest festivities. All proceeds from the game, which the police officers won, went to Amherst Police Officer Corey Brown, who was injured last November while trying to apprehend a shoplifter at a retail store on Sheridan Drive. Brown, who attended the event wearing a neck brace, received the money and an outpouring of
support from the community, police and firefighters inside Lincoln Arena. Captain Joseph Carosi of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department’s Planning Bureau said on Monday all of the proceeds, which totaled over $2,200, went directly to Brown. About 15 police officers and firefighters skated on each team’s side in support of Brown, and about 225 people attended the event, which was open to the public with no minimum donation required. “That’s not bad for an impromptu kind of fundraiser,” Carosi commented Monday. “The charity hockey game between the police and the fire department has been going on for, this is year four as a charity game. The game itself is a long-standing tradition. It was always just an annual game we’d have
amongst ourselves. It was incorporated into the town’s Winterfest about four years ago.” Each year, the proceeds from the game go to a different cause, and the recipient is determined based on what the community or its individual organizations need each year, and who needs the most help. “This was a pretty obvious choice this year, since what happened to Corey was just this past November,” he added. “He’s still recovering from his injuries.” Carosi said although his side did win the game this year, it was not about who won or lost, as much as it was about giving support to a fellow officer in need. Since the towns of Tonawanda and Amherst are right next to one another, Carosi said the officers of both communities
Wheatfield defeats Stallions
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Mite Major Wheatfield Blades defeated the Clarence Stallions, 2-0, Jan. 18 at Cornerstone CFCU Arena in Lockport. The Stallions are made up of Tonawanda-area residents. Wheatfield goals were scored by Owen Tylec and Joseph Muscarella. Tylec and Zachary Zemrac had assists. Pictured are TJ Bamrick of the Wheatfield Blades (left) and Miles Santa Maria of the Clarence Stallions.
often work together, and many members of the department are in Brown’ age group and can relate to him. “There’s a lot of crossover between departments. We see each other at various events and stuff, and a lot of people, their families know each other,” Carosi said. In addition to the charity hockey game, other Winterfest events on Sunday included a co-ed softball tournament, a parent-child golf tournament and the 13th annual Winterfest Classic game between the Kenmore East and Kenmore West federation hockey teams at Lincoln Arena after the charity event ended. The Aquatic and Fitness Center featured indoor events including a model boat demonstration, a UNYTS blood drive and a free recreational afternoon swim with a DJ.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Captain Dave Baumgartner, flanked by members of the Police/Paramedic squad and Ellwood Fire members, presents Amherst Police Officer Corey Brown (wearing neckbrace) with proceeds raised from the game. On Monday, Winterfest concluded with a “Studio Style Family Feud” event at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center, a free Town of Tonawanda Police Department skate at Lincoln
Arena and a parent-child golf tournament at the Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome. The Town of Tonawanda Youth, Parks and Recreation Department sponsored and organized the events.
Buffalo Turners compete at Graffiti Invitational
Buffalo Turners teams participated in the Graffiti Invitational Jan. 10-11 at the Niagara Falls Conference Center. Level 4 Sabrina Lee won the all-around with a 37.025. She placed first on the beam and floor exercises and second on bars. Kylie Newton took second all-around in her age group, finishing second on bars, beam and floor and third on vault. Caitlin Folga placed second on bars, fourth on vault and fifth allaround. Kayla Hervey finished second on the floor exercise. Ellie Graney placed fourth on bars. Teammates were Avery White, Meena Rose, Lucy Dietrich and Singo Lekeuneu. The girls placed third in the team
competition. Level 5 Claire Huber won beam and finished second on floor and all-around. Camryn Smith won floor exercise, finishing third on vault and fourth all-around. Emily Kuhn won vault and took fourth all-around. Grace Clement and Jaina Dulniak also competed. Angelyn Johnson, Kayleen Jenkins and Shay Sommer comprised the Level 6 team. Johnson won bars and took third on vault to finish second allaround. Jenkins placed second on vault and third on bars and all-around. Sommer was fourth on bars and all-around. Level 7 competitors were Kemba Seals, who took fourth
on vault and bars, Rebecca O’Connor, who placed fourth on beam, and Ava Curry. The Level 8 team placed second in the team competition. Molly Denman won beam and finished second all-around. Emily Battaglia won bars and Lara Krys finished first on floor and third all-around. Mikala Thursam placed second on beam and second all-around, Ali Piehler took second on bars, and Emily Maulucci placed third on bars and beam. Rounding out the team were Meadow Wright and Dakota Piehler. Level 9 competitor Aaliyah Blanks finished third on bars and beam.