Announcements
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October 18, 2010
Winterlake Launches HeroConnect
Unique Program Brings Read-Aloud Storybooks Home for the Holidays for Military Families Kept Apart by Active Service
HeroConnect, a program that enables military families to stay emotionally connected across time-zones, continents and oceans begins operations today. Throughout the fall of 2010, HeroConnect will create personalized picture book gift packages to ship to the children of deployed soldiers during the holidays-at no cost to the soldier or his family.
Deployed soldiers visiting www.heroconnect.org will select one of two award-winning children’s picture-books to read aloud and record. Soldiers will upload or email their recorded media files to HeroConnect’s secure website. HeroConnect staff-which includes volunteers from Clarence, NY High School’s Digital Media Club-will access and download the recorded media files and press them to DVD media. The personalized DVD recording will be paired with the selected picture-book, wrapped and shipped to the child identified by the service member… all in time for the holidays. Learn more.
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September 18, 2010
Storybook Window Walk
Western New York will celebrate its first STORYBOOK WINDOW WALK event in the village of East Aurora, on September 18, 2010. Like the famed holiday storybook windows on Manhattan’s 5th Avenue, storefronts from Pine Street to Elm Street will showcase the original paintings and text from the pages of THE SCARIEST DREAM EVER, a whimsical picture book for children, written by Maria T. DiVencenzo, author of the award-winning, critically acclaimed The Star of Christmas (Winterlake Press, 2009) and Little House in Brookfield, Little Town at the Crossroads, and Little Clearing in the Woods (HarperCollins Publishers.) The magical, mixed-media illustrations are created by East Aurora, NY artist and gallery owner Alixandra Martin.
A one-of a-kind celebration that includes a full day of family activities, the STORYBOOK WINDOW WALK will highlight East Aurora’s thriving art and literary communities, small businesses, and Living Main Street. Beginning at 11 am with the first public reading of THE SCARIEST DREAM EVER, the event will feature crafts and contests for kids, sidewalk chalk murals, Pocket Lady surprises, character readings, book seminars and signings, food and fun. Like the story’s main character, children are encouraged to take part in the festivities wearing – what else? Their favorite pajamas! Live music and refreshments will be provided at redFISH Art Studios from 4-10pm.