Jamestown, NY – When Jamestown residents Bob and Kathleen Frucella lost their daughter, a fourth grade teacher, they established a fund at Audubon Community Nature Center in her memory.

Since 2009, young people have earned their way to Summer Day Camps at Audubon Community Nature Center by receiving the Stephanie Frucella Memorial “Making A Difference” Scholarships.

As a child, Stephanie loved to come to the Audubon with her family to walk the trails and discover wildlife, flowers, and the beauty of nature. In her life, Stephanie strived daily to make a difference in the lives of her students and her community. Through this fund, her legacy continues.

Preference for the merit-based scholarship is given to campers in grades five and up who have demonstrated interest in volunteering, giving back to their communities, mentoring others, or who wish to start volunteering as a counselor in training or junior counselor for Day Camps.

The Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s 48th annual Street Festival & Sidewalk Sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, along Main Street in the heart of the Village of East Aurora. The event will feature local vendors, plenty of activities for kids and families, food and entertainment, Chalk Walk Murals, Operation Kids and much more!

Opening festivities will include the National Anthem at 9:45 a.m. with the American Legion Post #362 Color Guard. Other highlights will include the popular Chalk Walk Murals sponsored by the Town of Aurora Recreation Department from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a West Herr Buick GMC, West Herr Cadillac new car display from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at TNT Oil Change; Holland NASCAR Race Car display from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and DJ entertainment from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Jamestown, NY – Much of Audubon Community Nature Center’s 600-acre wetland preserve is covered by a series of ponds, making it dangerously vulnerable to what has become the annual arrival of the European Water Chestnut.

Accidentally released into waters of the Northeast in the late 1800s, this invasive species is native to Europe, Asia and Africa, where it has natural predators.  A different species from the edible water chestnut, this plant is capable of spreading rapidly. It forms a thick layer on top of ponds, lakes and streams, blocking sunlight from other plants and animals and making boating, fishing, and other water recreation very difficult.  

Since 2013 Audubon has worked hard every summer to control its infestation and prevent it from spreading to other waterways in the region, including Conewango Creek and Chautauqua Lake.