LSCFTA December Newsletter |
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| | Hohoho! It’s that time of the year when Santa and Mrs. Claus’s thoughts turn to… end of the year tax deductions. Hey! Just stay with me here a minute. We want you to know that you can renew or initiate a 2026 membership with us before the end of 2025, and, if you qualify, you may apply that contribution as a tax deduction. Of course, verify that with your friendly tax consultant. Whether you choose to renew/initiate this year or in January of 2026, we respectfully request that you use our website to do so. If you don’t like to use your credit card online, the mail in info is available there, too, and can be sent to LSCFTA, 49 S. Portage St., Westfield, NY 14787. You help save us mailing costs. Every little bit helps. |
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| | Saturday night’s parade “Let There Be Light” was the best ever! Hosted by LSCFTA, we thank Marilyn Hemmer and Sue Poster for the excellent organization and Libby Sciarrino for videotaping. It was a great pleasure to see our Executive Director, Rick Mascaro, serve as Grand Marshal of that production. Of course, the parade would not have been the same without his narration of the proceedings with Doc Hamels. So, after getting the parade underway, he was whisked to the reviewing stand to slide into his traditional role. Those of you who missed the parade can watch it online on our Facebook page. |
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| Of course, we delighted in reprising IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE on our stage. This free performance and perennial favorite was our Christmas gift to Westfield. |
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| There’s some good news and some sad news regarding our Writers Group. Good news: The winners of the 2025 Literary Contest have been announced. Short story: 1st Place: Cat by Sara Shea 2nd Place: The Rhino in the Garden by Lawrence Bechtel 3rd Place: Predictions by Lynda Graham-Barber Poetry 1st Place: Haiku from the Porch by Judy Shuler 2nd Place: The Old Purple Martin House by Hank Gerber 3rd Place: Brown Anole by Susan Landrigan First Place winners award $250 Second Place winners award $100 Third Place winners award $ 50 Currently, the group is on hiatus, scheduled to resume January 7. |
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| The sad news is that Mary Ellen Humphrey, founder and organizer extraordinaire of Writers Group, has decided to step away from her leadership role to free time for some other interests. Mary Ellen, we thank you for all you have done to create, guide and expand this important branch of our offerings. And that WNY Writers Conference?! WOW!! What a Finale! |
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| The Innovation Studio has served as the production studio for the YouTube channel Oak Island Plus with Jim McQuiston and Doc Hamels (of Chautauqua Sunrise Fame) for more than a year. The channel has hundreds of thousands of viewers all over the world. Sadly, Jim McQuiston passed away suddenly this week. We offer our condolences to Jim’s family, Doc, and their many followers.
These are studio-focused sessions and classes hosted by the Innovation Studio at Lake Shore Center for the Arts, primarily geared toward digital art, photography, and creative practice:
Recurring / Regular Studio Activities: Open Studio sessions – Drop-in creative workspace for digital artists/members, normally 11:00 am – 1:00 pm on multiple days throughout December (e.g., Dec 20, 27, and Jan 3). These are informal opportunities to work, network, and use studio equipment.
Scheduled Classes / Workshops in December and January: Understanding Manual Exposure – A class aimed at learning manual camera exposure techniques, frequently paired with an Open Studio day (e.g., Dec 20 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm). Composition in Photography. Understanding composition is fundamental for transforming a simple snapshot into a compelling photograph by controlling how the subject is presented and how the viewer feels about the image. Jan 17th at 12:00 pm-1:30 pm. Creating a Digital Art Website – Part 2. Local photographer, Victor Matthews, will continue to provide hands-on assistance while you create your website using Wix. Jan 20th at 6 pm-8 pm.
Innovation Studio users, the room will be open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for your personal use during Open Studio. |
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| We are pleased to announce that some segments of our Songwriters Circle are now being recorded and played on WRFA LP 107.9 on Saturday evening at 8 pm, following the performances. As Anthony Merchant, Studio Manager, stated, the recordings are great, but don’t really compare with being in the theater live.
Songwriters Circle brings artists from around the country and from our local area. If you haven’t attended yet, you really should. You know that by Thursday, December 18, 7:30 p.m., you’re going to need a break from Amazon boxes, wrapping paper, and Scotch tape. The perfect antidote is Songwriters Circle.
This month brings artists from Houston, Texas, Buffalo, NY, and Erie, Pennsylvania. Thank you to our Director of Music, Tim Wright. |
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| The Bill Ward Christmas Concert on Saturday, the 13th, was postponed due to the weather. The new date is Friday, Jan 2nd at 7:30pm. Bill will be joined by John Cross and Adam McKillip. Don’t miss it! |
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| Juice Box entries continue to come in, with our panel of ten evaluators hard at work. Submissions close January 3, 2026. |
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| As we come to the close of 2025, we want you to know how much we have appreciated your support this year. From your membership, to your attendance at a gallery opening, to your laughter, tears and applause at a performance to your casual compliment regarding another mural: all of these may not seem much to you, but they verify for us why we continue this journey. May you enjoy a blessed and healthy 2026. |
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