AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 35
CAR. TR. MKTG MAIL US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 244 BRADFORD, PA
L I L V E G SP RIN TIMES
The official newspaper of the Town of Concord, and the Village of Springville. Serving Springville, the surrounding communities and Springville-Griffith Institute Central Schools
Joylan Theatre renovations underway on Main Street By Kellen M. Quigley Springville’s hometown theater for 70 years is undergoing a facelift for its Platinum Anniversary as the Joylan Theater on West Main Street makes its way into the 21st century. Keith Clark, pastor of Springville Crossing Church, which owns the building, said so far the renovation process is going well. “Everything is going to plan so far,” he said. “We’re just trying to continue to move forward with it.” The final movie shown for the summer took place Aug. 8 with renovations beginning the next day. Clark said the project is expected to last through October with
movies resuming by the end of the month. “We’re on schedule for that October time frame,” he added. So far, the seats inside the theater were removed and the walls were painted, Clark said, as were some other rooms in the building that are being renovated for children’s use, which continued this week. “There have been some electrical upgrades to the building overall,” he added. “It’s getting close to wrapping some of that up.” The renovation project is through the partnership of building owners Watermark Wesleyan Church/Springville Crossing and Movie Business owners, Ted and Debby Adams.
Although the project has a few volunteers helping with some areas of the work, Clark said a majority of the renovations are being done by professional contractors. “Taking out the seats and painting of some of those side rooms were volunteers, but we’ve hired out the electrical work, the building work and painting of the interior of the Joylan itself.” Clark said he did not have a cost estimate for the project at this time. Still to come is the installation of the seats, new flooring and carpeting in the theater itself, Clark said. He said they also plan to do some painting and install new carpeting in the rear of
Photo by Alex Simmons The Joylan Theatre on West Main Street in Springville is currently closed for a major renovation project to bring the beloved building into the future to celebrate its 70th anniversary later this fall.
the theater as you walk in past the foyer. “Some of the next stuff is rebuilding the half-wall and adding to some of the stage,” he continued. “We’re
just waiting on some drawings for that.” Finalizing the sale of the building to Springville Crossing was a factor in deciding to do the project now,
but Clark said the theater turning 70 years old in the fall was a significant milestone and renovating the Joylan would be a nice way to See Theatre page 9
SGI, West Valley hope to Eskew announces candidacy for District 11 Legislator boost the number of athletes participating in merger By Alex Simmons
By Sam Wilson The initial number isn’t as high as Joe DeMartino or Chris Schiumo had hoped, but with recognition and word of mouth, they can boost the number of West Valley students who elect to play sports in Springville this year. Since taking on the job of West Valley athletic director and physical education teacher this summer and moving from Virginia, Schiumo has worked with DeMartino, the Springville AD, on the plan to bring students
north for the fall sports season. In recent years, West Valley had sent athletes to Ellicottville for sports due to low participation numbers making it impossible to field its own teams in most sports. West Valley students have the opportunity to play any sport — modified, junior varsity or varsity — that Springville offers. So far, Schiumo said he expects “between 10 and 15” to play a fall sport. “Modified sports are starting up on Monday, so we have a couple kids trying out for modified
teams,” Schiumo said. “At the end of the day, it might be about 10 kids.” DeMartino, who met with Schiumo on Tuesday to give him a tour of the SGI facilities and meet coaches, said he wished the number was higher. “That would have been ideal, but we’re hoping with the winter and then spring certainly, once the word gets out, that this is a great opportunity for kids to participate,” DeMartino said. “We did a thing in the spring leading up to (this) where we invited See Merger page 11
Kate Eskew, a resident of Western New York for over 30 years, recently announced she is running for Erie County Legislator for District 11. “I am running for Erie County Legislator because it’s time for a new voice in District 11,” she said. District 11 covers many of the Southtowns in Erie County, including the town of Concord and village of Springville. Eskew has promised that if elected, “I will be a full-time legislator, I will be visible and involved in all parts of the district and host regular office hours in the district.” Eskew said she is focused on working with the community to “fix our roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure, to ensure our tax dollars go to good use,” believing that a legislator should be accessible and transparent to all. Prior to her retirement, Eskew was an Associate Professor of Human Services at Hilbert College, serving as the director of the Masters
Kate Eskew is running for Erie County Legislator in District 11, which covers many of the Southtowns, including Concord and Springville.
in Public Administration for the last two years. She said she believes that all county residents and businesses deserve high-speed internet. While working as a professor for many years, she said she “learned the importance of broadband access plays in our day to day lives.” For example, Eskew said high-speed internet provides educational access and opportunities
to children, and it is “vital to our small businesses and allows our district to compete with the rest of Erie County.” Eskew said she also wants to address that opioid and drug abuse, saying it is a “public health issue in our communities.” After teaching Human Services for many years at Hilbert College, Eskew worked See Eskew page 4
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