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The Orchard Park & East Aurora Sun /Saturday, December 27, 2014
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VOL 2 NO. 52
PAGE 6
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Carolcade sets local record, organizers eye Guinness book By Tim Fenster
ORCHARD PARK SUN EDITOR
This year’s Carolcade may have been one for the record-books. Though the crowd once again numbered well in the thousands – with singers packing Main Street from Pine to Church Street and beyond – organizers believe it’s the event’s long history, rather than its size, that might make the East Aurora tradition Guinnessworthy. Don Vidler, whose family started the tradition 42 years ago, believes East Aurora may be the longestrunning annual group caroling event in the world. “We’re going after any official longest-lasting group carol {record},” Don Vidler said. In a Facebook post after the event, Don Vidler estimated the crowd at 3,000 carolers. East Aurora Police, and several photographers corroborated those figures, he said. While it made for an impressive sight and full sound for anyone in attendance, roughly 3,000 carolers falls well short of any world record. A quick search on the Guinness World Record website reveals a massive group carol at Simón Bolívar Park in Bogotá, Columbia that took place last December. In that event, 15,674 carol-
Explore and More holding events for kids on break this holiday season ORCHARD PARK SUN CONTRIBUTOR
Photo by Tim Fenster
While there are no official tallies, estimates put the crowd at the 42nd Annual Carolcade at 3,000 - likely the largest the event has ever seen. ers joined together to sing a single carol, “Silent Night,” in Spanish. Town historian Robert Goller, who has served as song leader and master of ceremonies for the last 10 years, said the idea was first broached by East Aurora Chamber of Commerce Director Gary Grote.Grote was unavailable for comment as of press time. While it remains to be seen if Guinness will consider Carolcade for a world-record, Goller noted
that, record-worthy or not, the event has indeed had an impressive life. “I think this is our longest-lasting tradition in East Aurora,” Goller said. “Traditions come and go, but this one has stayed.” Carolcade began in the 1960s when Don Vidler’s father, Ed, offered a box of chocolates to girls scouts who came to sing in the store. The next year, Ed took out an ad in a local pennysaver offering a box of
chocolates to anyone who came to the store to sing at Christmas time. The next few years, many took him on his offer, but in 1972, a group of local merchants decided to make it into a larger, more official event. A friend of the elder Vidler concocted the name Carolcade as a riff off the title of the 1950s TV show, “Cavalcade of Stars,” and a tradition was born.
It may be Christmas break, but most parents know that too much laziness breeds irritability. It’s always a good idea to have a few planned activities up your sleeve to keep minds active and spirits high. The Explore and More Children’s Museum has always been a fantastic resource for school break activities that have appeal for the entire family, and this holiday season is no exception. “We always do family fun week for every school break,” said Explore and More Marketing Coordinator Jen Fee. “The activities tend to run midday and they’re geared for all ages, so older siblings that are also on break can get something out of it as well as the younger kids. It’s open to everyone, there’s no pre-registration required.” Fee and her museum staff cohorts are particularly enthused about a new addition to Explore and More, what they’re calling a “prototype exhibit,” entitled the Incredible Milking Cow. They’re calling it a prototype mainly because the final version, which will have a permanent home in the new Canalside museum location opening in 2016, will be larger. The exhibit was initiated by Dr. David Pierce, MD, and funded through the East Hill Foundation in Tonawanda. “The cow is the latest addition to our ‘Farm to Fork’ theme,” Fee explained. “It’s a mechanical cow, but not a ride like a mechanical bull,” she joked, adding that not having to clean up after a live animal is clearly a huge bonus. “It’s engineered specifically so that folks can learn how to milk it.” Fee said for Explore and More’s purposes, the new cow fits in perfectly with the upcoming break week activities, and the museum is encouraging guests to submit names for it. A winner will be drawn at random and a prize awarded.
See Activities Page 5
See Carolcade Page 2
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By Tim Fenster
ORCHARD PARK SUN EDITOR
THE SUN
HAMBURG VILLAGE SQUARE PLAZA 141 BUFFALO ST., HAMBURG, NY 14075
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2014
By Christopher Treacy
Aurora OKs special legal counsel for water authority negotiations The Aurora Town Board has approved a special legal counsel to work exclusively on the town’s ongoing negotiations with Erie County over a deal for direct water service. At an early meeting Monday, Dec. 22, the board voted to hire Neill & Strong, PLLC, to serve as legal counsel during the yearslong negotiating process with the Erie County Water Authority. Neill & Strong will be paid $180 per hour. The special legal counsel is needed because Town Attorney Ronald Bennett works for the county water authority as well, meaning that representing the town in these discussions would be a conflict of interest. Supervisor James Bach said Neill & Strong have background in this type of
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Neill & Strong will work with the Town of Aurora in the process of moving towartd direct service from the Erie County Water Authority. work, having helped Hamburg secure direct water service, and called their $180-per-hour rate “very reasonable.” Bach also pointed out that a deal for direct service from
the county water authority is The town is currently in the expected to lower residents’ process of mapping out all water bills. water lines in the town out“This is all part of a long- side the village, Bach said. term maintenance plan to See Counsel save residents’ costs,” Bach Page 3 said.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
CHAMBER AWARDS................................. SECT. A PAGE 4
BLOOD DRIVE .........................................SECT. SECT. A PAGES 7
POLICE BLOTTER ..................................... SECT. A PAGE 5
SECT. A PAGES 8 – 10 SPORTS..............................................SECT.
OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
GOV. CUOMO ANNOUNCEMENT ............. SECT. A PAGE 5
CLASSIFIEDS .................................... SECT. A PAGE 11 – 13
SECT. A PAGES 6 OPHS FACULTY HONORED.....................SECT.
CALENDAR .............................................SECT SECT A, PAGE 14
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BREAK WEEK PROGRAMMING ............... SECT. A PAGE 7
SECT A, PAGE 14 BON-TON DONATION ............................SECT
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