Apr 3, 2021
The League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County tackled the topic of fair housing at a recent virtual meeting.
Mary Croxton, league president, introduced three speakers, addressing a wide range of housing issues.
Jessica Mallon, director of fair housing and policy for the Chicago Housing Authority, focused on the “History of Discrimination in Housing,” noting widespread discrimination towards individuals with disabilities, along with other protected classes. She traced the development of fair housing law from passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968 until today.
Josiah Lamp, director of housing and community development with Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. serves as president of the Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition and on the Board of Directors for the NYS Rural Housing Coalition. Lamp provided an overview of homelessness in Chautauqua County, with focus on data, services, needs, and impact of COVID-19 on housing.
In 2019, the Fredonia Shakespeare Club lost a beloved member with the passing of Patricia McQuiston.
Throughout her 50 years with the club, McQuiston offered her talents and skills, and she left behind an array of papers and notes. These included a play which McQuiston wrote and directed in 1985, commemorating the club’s first 100 years. McQuiston’s research was based on extensive review of articles published in 1885-86, in the “Fredonia Censor.”
Current club members decided to honor McQuiston (and relieve “COVID-weariness”) by presenting the play, under the direction of club member Joyce Haines. The virtual presentation took place on January 21.
The play revolves around two original members of the Fredonia Shakespeare Club (“Mrs. Green” and “Miss Blair”), as they discuss news items found in the “Censor,” pertaining to other club members and village events. These characters were energetically portrayed by Mary Croxton and Dr. Irene Strychalski, garbe
Judi Lutz Woods
Fourteen members attended the 12th virtual meeting of the Club’s 2020-21 year. President Mary Croxton introduced Judi Lutz Woods, presenting her paper on Benjamin Franklin:
Although most of us are fairly well acquainted with Benjamin Franklin’s many contributions as a scientist, inventor, politician, statesman, ambassador, philanthropist, and businessman, few of us are aware he wrote some of the most memorable, hilarious, satire of the 18th century. He loved to “skewer the comfortable by making sport of their foibles.” He took satire and put a uniquely American twist on it, inspiring future American humorists, such as Garrison Keller and Mark Twain. Franklin’s form of humor was witty, folksy wisdom that included a generous portion of irreverence. Ben valued humor not as an end in itself, but as a means to gain a competitive edge, disseminate information, or promote a program. He made them laugh … but also made them think.
Jan 10, 2021
The 10th meeting of the Shakespeare Club’s 2020-2021 year was held on Dec. 17. Members elected officers for the Club’s upcoming year: Dr. Leanna McMahon, President; Mrs. Barbara Albert, Vice-President; Ms. Amy Near, Treasurer; Mrs. Karin Seager Cockram, Secretary. New officers begin their term at the June 2021 picnic.
The Club’s area of study this year is “Humor and Humorists.” President Mary Croxton presented her paper on Garrison Keillor, entitled “The Man on the Radio with Red Shoes,” which is summarized as follows:
Garrison Keillor is far more than a storyteller. He is also an American author, voice actor and radio personality. Most importantly for our purposes he is a humorist.
Dr. Leanna McMahon
The eighth virtual meeting of the Fredonia Shakespeare Club’s 2020-2021 year was held on Dec. 3, with fourteen members present. Secretary Gail Crowe read the minutes from Nov. 19, which were approved as written.
Mary Croxton introduced Dr. Leanna McMahon, who presented her paper on humorist David Sedaris:
David Raymond Sedaris was born near Binghamton, NY in 1956 to IBM engineer Lou Sedaris and his wife Sharon. Lou Sedaris was soon transferred to Raleigh, North Carolina. Sedaris grew up there along with his four sisters; Lisa, Gretchen, Amy, and Tiffany; and the baby of the family, his brother, Paul; all have been frequent subjects of his many humorous essays.