North Buffalo Courier/ Friday, February 27, 2015
Buffalo Sem performs The Madwoman of Challot
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The contest will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at The Broadway Market, 999 Broadway in Buffalo. During the contest, a Polish Beer Bar will offer unique brands of Polish beer. Tastings will be offered, 3 for $1 or 6 for $2, and you can certainly buy a bottle to enjoy. Admission to the event is free. Tickets for kielbasa tastings will be sold for 50 cents each. Those in attendance will receive a ballot to vote for the People’s Choice Contest, which means you get to sample the best from the Commercial Vendors and help decide the People’s Choice Winner. The Broadway Market will continue its Dyngus Day Celebrations with the Docenko Brothers and Polish Beer Bar from 2 to 5 p.m. Applications are being accepted for Buffalo’s Best Kielbasa Contest in Wholesale, Commercial, and Homemade categories until March 20. Anyone who wishes to participate in the kielbasa contest must register in advance by completing a registration form. Any questions can be emailed to buffalobestkielbasa@gmail. com, or by calling 4792342.
ANTHONY C. LEONE
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Hannah Porter wants this to be a performance, and a night, to remember. Porter, a Buffalo Seminary senior, will have the lead role when the Buff Sem theater group puts on its spring production of “The Madwoman of Chaillot” March 5-7. “The theater director (Susan Drozd) at Sem had announced it,” said Porter, who will be taking part in her eighth and final play at Buff Sem. “Saying the title and sort of telling us a little bit about the gist of it and I was highly intrigued. It’s my last chance to be in a play at Sem. Because we do two plays a year and I’m a senior. So I was just really excited about doing it.” Written by Jean Giraudoux in 1943, “The Madwoman of Chaillot” was first performed in 1945. It’s satirical mix of comedy and drama with a plot line of the eccentric Countess Aurelia (played by Hannah Porter) and her efforts to stop a corrupt group of businessmen that want to dig up Paris because they believe there is a rich oil deposit under the city. The idealistic Aurelia, who always sees the beauty in the world, decides to fightback against the nefarious plans of the scheming businessmen and enlists a group of various other dreamers to help her. Porter, who sees a lot of herself in Countess Aurelia’s character, feels
So you think you can make kielbasa? Maybe you even think that your kielbasa is the best in Buffalo. Applications are being sought for Buffalo’s Best Kielbasa Contest in the Wholesale, Commercial and Homemade categories. Here’s your chance to prove it. The Broadway Market and Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle, Mickey’s, are bringing back the spirited Buffalo’s Best Kielbasa Contest on Dyngus Day, noon, on April 6. This way you can start your Dyngus Day celebration early in Polonia at Buffalo’s Broadway Market . This contest will converge Dyngus Day revelers, polish beer connoisseurs and polish sausage lovers into the Heart of Polonia to determine Buffalo’s Best Kielbasa. The sponsor of this event is Fillmore District Council Member David A. Franczyk and he is looking for the best kielbasamakers in the area. The winner of this year’s contest will receive a basket of Polish Cheer and best of all, the honor of being designated Buffalo’s Best Homemade, Commercial, and Wholesale Kielbasa and People’s Choice Winner.
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By Dave Ricci
COURIER CORRESPONDENT
that connection will help her breath life into the role. “I’m trying to present her and someone who really cares about the world and cares about her friends and the people around her,” said Porter. “I think she definitely has an affinity for humanity and the diversity. The little things and friendships and appreciating every moment of life. I definitely identify with Aurelia. I think I have her excitement about the world and her wonder about flowers. Little beautiful things. Little things that she finds beautiful. I definitely share that with her.” Aurelia’s cohorts include the Ragpicker played by sophomore Emily Broxup, and the three other “Madwomen” Constance played by sophomore Bleu Ruby Daniels-Taylor, Gabrielle played by freshman Megan Urbaniak and Josephine played by junior Sophia Adamucci. Saying how her time at Buff Sem and with the school’s theater group has been a joy that has helped her to appreciate every day, Porter, who lives in the town of Tonawanda, really wants to make this final show special. Not only for herself but for everyone in the group. “This is my last chance to go for it on this stage,” said Porter. The shows will take place in the Performing Arts Center at Buffalo Seminary located at 205 Bidwell Parkway in Buffalo. Performances will be 7pm all three nights and a 2pm matinee on Saturday.
Test your skills: Buffalo’s Best Kielbasa Contest
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Local sports Senior night: Smith, Songin leave their mark By Dave Ricci
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
As Ashley Songin and Ellis Smith stood on the ice inside the Dann Memorial Rink on senior night, a flood on memories washed through their minds. How quickly the time passed. How much their teammates meant to them. Most of all, they thought about how much they hoped they gave back to Nichols hockey.
“So many things (go through my mind),” said Songin. “I came here as a sophomore and over the past three years every year is so special. Every day I have fun. I got to play with the greatest group of girls. I wouldn’t want it any other way. This team is so special.” Songin and Smith, two of the most versatile players to ever suit up for the Nichols girls Prep A hockey team, stood along side fellow seniors Madison Welch, Olivia Zafuto and Lydia Gavner on senior night prior to the team’s lopsided win over Havergale College on Feb.12. They couldn’t believe that it was coming to an end. “It’s really emotional just
because our team is so close,” said Smith. “We’ve practically grown up together. We’re together on our outside team. Every little memory that we have with these girls is awesome and it’s bittersweet because it’s coming to an end and we’re the leaders now and it’s finally setting in that this is it.” Songin, who lives in Springville, went to Nardin her freshman year. But the combination of academics and several of her hockey friends going to Nichols inspired Songin to transfer. Smith, who recently moved to North Buffalo, has been at Nichols four years and echoed Songin’s love for this special group of girls.
“I just hope that they remember our team,” said Smith. “I hope they remember the environment I was a part of and the team. That’s what’s special, it’s not specific girls because we have so many great girls that go through here. It’s the environment on the team that our coaches set, our parents set and the school sets. That’s what makes it special.” Both have been core players during Nichols amazing four-year run, when the team won more than 100 games and three straight NAPHA titles. “Just be a good leader,” said Songin. “My strongest ability is to give back to the team and help in any way that I can.” When asked about being
tabbed as a ‘quite leader,’ Songin’s nose crinkled a bit as she smiled and replied: “I try to cheer them up after a rough shift or something. All the coaches call me quiet, but I think the girls on the team wouldn’t.” The seniors were given gifts and teammates read speeches about the impact the program and lives of their teammates made during a post game dinner. Staying composed during the pre-game ceremony, Smith said the speech portion of the night is when she knew she would most likely lose it and cry. “Especially with our parents here; because our parents are super invested in our team, it’s very emotional,”
said Smith. “And it’s going to get more emotional because we have our senior speeches where they talk about us and basically what we mean to them. And part of it is when you hear what they’re saying about you, you realized you had that experiences. You remember coming in as a freshman and feeling that way about someone you looked up to. You realize in those speeches that they look up to you. It’s very humbling.” “I’m incredibly lucky,” Songin added. “A lot goes out to my parents (for all they’ve done). They just make it so special here. Hopefully we can go out with a (NAPHA) four-peat.”
CSAT’s Harris embraces new role
Rallo rolls a 300
“Hoops” from page 6
“Bowling” from page 6
to go right just as strong as she goes left ... I just figured it would be a good change and it seems to have fit well.” Bergman continued on by saying that Harris is so strong on the dribble with both hands that it allows the Eagles to be more dynamic and daring with their offensive schemes. Always ready to battle for rebounds and scrap for loose balls, Harris is also the Eagles most constant defender. For Harris, the change in roles has been exciting for multiple reasons. Most of all, the fact that Bergman wanted to push Harris into a new role meant that her coach has confidence in her.
“I love a challenge,” said Harris. “She expects more. She knows my potential. Mentally, I had to really keep my head in it because I had a new position and I had to think of what I needed to do and how to handle that. Physically, I felt like it was home. I love to be point guard.” Not only pleased with how well Harris has thrived in her new role, Bergman is even happier with how Harris adjusted to the mental aspect. While Harris initially wasn’t thrilled with the change in duties, she didn’t pout or debate Bergman over why. Harris just went out and continued to play her best. “She was not real receptive,”
Bergman said with a smile. “But she never questioned it at all. She might not have thought she was ready for it, but I knew all along she’d be able to transition easily. It was seamless for her. She knew what she had to do and she learned as many positions as she could and that’s why she’s such an asset for us.” For Harris the change of job description was just an example of life’s lessons; how life always throws us all twists and turns and we just have to learn how to adjust and keep moving forward. “You have to expect challenges,” Harris said. “And I have to find my way to adapt in any way that I can.”
the rest of the game in the same manner as he did every other frame. Even though he knew the eyes of the entire alley were upon him. “I said, ‘Oh, I’m on seven. That’s cool,”’ Rallo casually explained. “But I had been there so many times that I didn’t really start to get nervous until the 10th frame. I went up to take my 10th frame shot, my hand started to get a little bit shaky; a little bit nervous, but I settled down. I was pretty calm.” Canisius bowling coach Pat Kwiatkowski said not only was it a memorable day for Rallo, but huge for the team itself as Rallo’s 300 game helped seal the victory. “His demeanor throughout the 300 game was very calm,” said Kwiatkowski. “He was very focused. He didn’t show a whole lot of emotion, every ball was right in the pocket. Tremendous 12-ball, 300 game. The team fed off it as
the game went on.” Rallo said being able to bowl a 300 game was obviously something to be proud of. But the better feeling was knowing he helped the team win. Rallo said he firmly believes the difference that helped get him over the hump this time out was the fact that his Canisius teammates were with him every step of the way, almost willing him to perfection. “The first time I came close in seventh grade it was my first year on the varsity team. I didn’t really know anybody. It was early in the season. I didn’t really have anybody to come back and talk to,” he said. “It was actually just my second time bowling for varsity so I just kind of came back and sat by myself. But having (my Canisius teammates) there really gave me a support system.”