Aurora/East Aurora
The school year begins with new chances for young musicians in need of lessons and high school kids interested in getting college credit for vocational study in environmental science.The Community Music School, now in its 90th year in Buffalo, has expanded its offerings in East Aurora and will open Tuesday in its new satellite space at the Boys and Girls Club at 16 Paine Street.
Music lessons had been taught through the school for more than 40 years at St. Matthias Church.
The school’s new East Aurora spot is an opportunity to connect with the 300 young people who use the club and attract more, with classes like Music, My Grownup and Me, at $195 for 13 classes.
While it won’t be scheduled until enough interested people sign up, the class for parents and guardians introduces music to children from 6 months old to three years. “It’s a bonding experience,” said Samantha Pierce, coordinator of marketing and communication at the school’s Elmwood Avenue headquarters. “It’s a very popular class on Elmwood.”
The school will offer more kinds of lessons to older students: voice and piano, viola, violin, drums, flute, clarinet and saxophone. Rates range from $22 for a half an hour to $44 for an hour.
“We’re offering so much more now,” said Pierce.
High school vocational students from the Southtowns interested in college credit and environment-related study are invited to come alone or with their parents to an informational meeting at Friday from 8:45 - 9:15 a.m. at the Ormsby BOCES campus, 1010 Center Road.
This fall Dale Kepner will teach environmental science, offering field trips to fit student areas of interest. Those studying criminal justice may visit the Environmental Protection Agency, while animal science majors can go to the Hawk Creek animal refuge.
In January, the college credit options will include one more: a pilot program class in “biomanufacturing,” the study of food processing and the making of pharmaceuticals.
College credit classes, coordinated with Erie Community College, attracted 24 students last year, with 19 signing up for environmental science and five taking English, which is not being offered this semester.
So far, brochures have been sent to about 40 families. For information, email dkepner@e2ccb.org.
Since ECC is part of SUNY system, the three course credits for each class are transferable, Kepner said. “It’s just a great opportunity for high school kids to get college credit,” he said.
Also this week:
• Fire Department is hosting its annual Ox Roast today from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Fireman’s Field, Pine Street. The fundraising event, which does not involve roasting an ox, was named decades ago when the rod and gun club ran it and did roast one, said Roger LeBlanc, fire chief. Instead food for sale includes roast beef, hot dogs, clam chowder and Limburger cheese sandwiches.
• The East Aurora Village Board meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall, 571 Main Street.