Author: Judith Frizlen

Judy Bradbury and I met in a writers’ group a few decades ago. The group changed but we stayed connected and have always enjoyed getting together, to talk about writing among other things. These days, we stay in touch remotely… When I heard about Judy’s latest book, The Mystery of the Barking Branches and the Sunken Ship, I was not only curious to read the story but excited to let other people know about it.  It’s the first in a series of mystery chapter books for young readers called the Cayuga Island Kids. The series has a local setting (Cayuga…

There’s nothing like visiting a jewelry store to get in a festive mood and to affirm the cliché that good things come in small packages. This week, there is still time to find a gift that fits in a small package and brings delight to the recipient even before it is opened! I can personally attest to the experience. To begin with, visiting a store full of sparkling gems and metals is like going to an art gallery. Then there is gifting the jewelry, witnessing the joy in opening the box, and of course, seeing the recipient try on the…

I met David Cloyd through a friend about four years ago, when I was looking for a website designer. I’m what you might call a “low-tech” person, so I need a lot of support. As we sat together many times at Spot Coffee and Ashker’s to discuss my project, I soon recognized that his knowledge and passion are not only technology-based, but that he is also an artist. Although his knowledge, high energy, and phase in life are unlike mine, we connected as artist entrepreneurs, interested in both art and business. When you live for music, how do you make…

On a misty Autumn evening, I went out to see how it feels to be out and about during this season. We had a quiet spring during the shutdown and a quieter than usual summer with lots of outdoor time. Now I am wondering how to approach the seasons ahead, to answer the call for more time indoors and to consider covid when we go out. I decided to visit Allen Street and check out some shops between Delaware and Franklin. Since I have always enjoyed my niece, Emily’s honest and droll take on all things fashion and health and…

Autumn is here and that means it’s coat weather. Few things can add flair as simply as putting a pin on the lapel of your jacket. This form of wearable art has been worn for centuries but still maintains a modern feel when pinned to a garment, hat, or bag. Pins can be used to express your personality or support a candidate or cause. In the case of the Stitch Buffalo’s Social Justice Pins, they also support the Refugee women who make them. Stitch Buffalo is a nonprofit organization located at 1215 Niagara Street where a group of Refugee women…

RÓ is a furniture and home goods store on Elmwood Avenue at the corner of Breckenridge. When stores re-opened, I ventured in to visit store owner Hayley Carrow-Jarecki, and to see what she had in the store. Just as it is a pleasure to step into a well curated home, it is a pleasure to step into RÓ. While sequestered, I know I have been enjoying my home and was wondering if and how people’s relationship to their homes has changed during this time, so I asked Hayley a few questions. JF: First of all, can you describe your store, tell…

Last December, I wrote about the importance of shopping locally, a favorite topic. To make the point, I conjured up the dystopian image of an Elmwood Village without its small stores, one I hoped would spur people into action, to avoid such a reality. Fast forward five months and here we are with the lights out in shops brimming with spring items for sale. When the county re-opens in the coming weeks, let’s show the store owners that we missed them and appreciate what they add to the streetscape, our shopping experience and purchasing options.      In this time…

We choose to live in the Elmwood Village for the sense of community and are appreciating the creative ways people are connecting during the pandemic. Seen on Nextdoor app, “Social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation”. There is a porch dance party being planned! The Ashland Block Association is drumming up some social connecting with physical distancing. Organizer Linda Gellman is sending emails to the block’s almost seventy-person-large list about a daily 5:00 p.m. jamboree on the first and second block of the street (beginning at Summer Street). That’s when residents are encouraged go to the end of their driveway and…

Birds flock to open waters and where there are birds, there are bird watchers. The Niagara River corridor, a recognized sanctuary for a variety of bird species, is the site of an International Celebration of Winter Birds called Birds on the Niagara.  Launched last year by the Niagara Greenway Commission in partnership with several state environmental conservation groups, the event has crossed the border to include Canadian organizations this year. According to Jay Burney, one of the event founders, “We will be able to experience and enjoy this celebration at many sites on both sides of the international Niagara River…

There are a lot of great things going on in town; it can be challenging to choose which ones get added to the calendar. An event to know about and attend is a lecture series at Canisius College sponsored by the William H. Fitzpatrick Institute of Public Affairs and Leadership. Every time I have been to one of these lectures, I have walked out enriched by the experience. Through the lecture series, I have been introduced to engaging, relevant writers whose words and works have inspired me. It is a gem of an event in a gem of a venue…