Fire prevention week

The East Aurora Fire Department will be holding their open house on Saturday Oct. 15. The open house is a way to encourage the public to get to know their fire department and to practice safe fire habits. Fire prevention is teaches adults and children how to be prepared in case of a fire.

Listen here

Paws for Love event

I sat down with Allexxia Durant, a health educator with SUNY Buffalo State’s Weigel Health Center to talk about the therapy dog program, Paws for Love. We spoke at length about how events like this have a positive effect on the student body.

Listen here

SUNY newspaper goes digital

The SUNY Buffalo State student newspaper called The Record is going to look quite different in the 2017 spring semester. The paper announced in their Nov. 30 issue that it would cease future print publications. The editorial staff and faculty advisor Annemarie Franczyk decided it would be best for the readers, as well as the staff, if The Record focused on a solely digital platform.

Listen here

SUNY student art show

SUNY Buffalo State hosted a student art sale on Wednesday Dec. 7 in Upton Hall. The 20^th annual event featured various pieces from the art education department as well as the design and fine arts departments. Students were given the opportunity to sell their pieces and gain experience with setting price points.

SignAloud fails to properly translate sign language

By Jillian LeBlanc

Some ideas and inventions have good intentions but fail to fall into the practicality of life. Thomas Pryor and Navid Azodi, two sophomores at the University of Washington, recently won the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize with their invention SignAloud.

The Lemelson-MIT Student Prize is awarded to undergraduate teams and graduate students across the country. It honors students with exceptional inventions in the categories of healthcare, transportation, food and agriculture, or consumer devices.

In 2016, three undergraduate teams were awarded this prize, and four graduate students received this award as well.

SignAloud won due to its global impact, appearing to be an extremely useful device for both hearing and deaf people. A pair of SignAloud gloves utilizes Bluetooth technology, transmitting the user’s hand shape to a computer, translating signs into text or speech.

The Aurora Theatre sets itself apart from theaters in the area

By Jillian LeBlanc

Gourmet popcorn stand in
the Aurora Theatre lobby
(Photo by Jillian LeBlanc)

The Aurora Theatre sits on 673 Main St., a location it has called home since 1925. With a rustic look and retro feel, the theater visually stands out against modern competitors in the area. But under the ownership of Paul and Lynn Kinsella, it works to remain up to date and relevant, keeping in stride with chain theaters.

The Kinsellas purchased the theatre in 2010, and have consistently worked to expand the brand.

With a diminishing release window – the time it takes for a movie to go from theater to home – the Aurora Theatre is constantly making changes to draw customers.

Leo's Pizzeria flourishes in East Aurora

By Jillian LeBlanc 

Montana Skimin makes a slice
pie for hungry customers at
Leo's Pizzeria in East Aurora
(Photo by Jillian LeBlanc)

Nearly four years ago, Leo’s Pizzeria gambled and opened a new location in East Aurora. In a village packed with restaurants - three of which are pizzerias - Leo’s was faced with tough competition. Despite initial reservations, owner Keith Leo pursued an opportunity and left the confines of South Buffalo to open his third store.

“I didn’t want to do it“ Leo said. “I hung up on the person. I said two stores are enough for me, I’m content, and I make OK money. Yet I kept coming back, and I ended up buying it.”

The first location on Seneca Street in South Buffalo is a tiny 600-square-foot shop which consists of a small takeout counter, with no seating.