Letters to the editor for the week of Feb. 2, 2012

Former Artcraft customers have printing options

Editor, The Sun

Everyday, people come into my printing shop at Evenhouse Printing and hope that we have acquired the graphic assets of Artcraft Printing. We have not. I think this is a shame, simply because their once valued customers were not notified of the impending closing and also because of the costs that each will have to pay associated with creating new artwork from scratch.

In an effort not to come across as self serving, I would like your readers to know that they have other choices in the southtowns to get great quality prepress and printing ... without going to a box store. I urge them to check out our printing shop at Evenhouse Printing or Gateway Printing, both located in Hamburg or Boncraft Printing in Orchard Park.

Some of us cater more to walk-in retail customers than others, that may be why many feel comfortable walking into a box store. But before you throw up your hands in frustration and determine that it doesn’t matter, I want you to know that your level of quality does matter and that you have real choices.

Traditionally box stores haven’t nearly the experience level and they don’t typically “give back” to our area, like private owners do. When we think about shopping locally or building community ties, box stores are not my first thought.

All three companies that I have mentioned have very important attributes that keep the trade strong: an educated workforce, some have union workers, all have focused customer service, mature and long-term employees and we do 99 percent of our work in-house, not farmed out.

We feel a lot of compassion for those of you who lost their graphic assets, and in some cases, have lost a real friendship bond with their vendor, but you have other local companies that want to help you through it. There is a difference when you shop locally. Visit us, we’ll show you the proof.

Thank you.

Robin Evenhouse
Evenhouse Printing



‘Warm the Children’ is very successful this season

Editor, The Sun

As Old Man Winter made himself known once again, the 110 families served by Warm the Children this season were prepared; the children warm and cozy despite the single-digit temperatures. For this, the Rotary Club of Hamburg, which runs the program with the support of the community and several special partnerships, is extremely grateful.

Partners in the program include The Sun, which donates free advertising used to solicit and acknowledge contributions from its readership and Evans Bank, serving as the program’s fiscal partner. Integral to the success of Warm the Children is the over 100 community volunteers who serve as shoppers. We wish to commend The Sun Editor Christopher Gordon for his abundant support in giving us not only the needed newspaper space for our articles publicizing Warm the Children, but his efforts over and above, such as his editorials bringing further attention and an outpouring of donations from the community.

We also wish to commend Evans Bank, our fiscal partners, Kim Heiburg, Hamburg branch manager and Jack Keefe, assistant manager. We also thank Target of Orchard Park and their employees who made the purchases of new clothing through Warm the Children possible.

The Hamburg Rotary Warm the Children Committee members are Elizabeth Angelbeck, Tim Hoelscher, myself (Eileen Hotho), Tom Johnston, Earl Knauss and Larry Wilson.

The community in The Sun’s circulation area blew us away with its support and we thank you for your continued generosity.

Our volunteer shoppers were amazing. Some shopped with a number of families. They are: Elizabeth Angelbeck, Diane Barber, Patricia Bernard, Toni Jean Bevalaqu, Terry Blaine, Marian Borowiak, Lynn Bratek, Donna Braunscheidel, Patricia Britton, Susan Brown, Jessica Cantali, Susan Cardamone, Doreen Casacci, Jennifer Cataldo, Debbie Chamberlain, Cheryl Check, Debi Cleary, Kristen Coleman, Carol Conklin, Tracy Conway, Ethel Cooper, Karen Coppola, Jeanne Costello, Rita Cupples Liza Damiani, Nicole Dayka, Mary Jo Duggan, Dawn Ellis, Teresa Ferraro, Chris Frawley, Mary Granger, Katie Grogan, Kim Grundtisch, Elaine Hayden, Kelly Hayden, Sally Herzog, Denise Hibit, Nancy Hilton, Chi Chi Hoelscher, Erin Holstein, Janice Hood, Donna Horvatis, Russell Hurlburt, Gail King, Joanie Kirst, Kaitlyn Kirst, Kathy Korhummel, Cheryl Koelmel, Jean Kohn, Susan Kopryanski, Debbie Kostran, Peter Kosanovich, Ginger Krusko, Marlene Krypel, Pamela Landes, Jeanne Marie, Helen Mateer, Joanne Mauer, Judy Mathis, Denise McCarthy, Laura McCarthy, Mary Ann Meegan, Anita Meissner, Susan Melski, Dan and Dee Meyer, Lynn Miller, Chris Mokadam, Lori Mumbach Paula Nelson, Emily Newell, Melissa Pitarresi, Lynn Pohlman, Judy Powers, Adrienne Puniterio, Peggy Queen, Tori Rettig, Alice Roberts, Maria Siebert, Rita Staffan, Barbara Stanley, Ed and Katy Sturm, Donna Suto, Gloria Tilley, Noreen Walker, Karen Waring, Brenda Werely, Becky Woodworth, Michele Wright, Cynthia Zane, Kathy Zimmerman, Rosemary Zobel, Kathy Zotara and Dorothy Zydel.

Based in Hamburg, Warm the Children the children just completed its 16th year. The program clothes youngsters in Hamburg, Angola, Blasdell, Derby, Boston, Eden, North Collins, Lake View, Evans and Brant. Since 2007, the program has been sponsored and coordinated by the Rotary Club of Hamburg, which collects and distributes donated funds to buy clothing for families who have been referred by local schools, churches and social agencies. Each child accepted into the program receives brand new clothing which parents select with the help of volunteer shoppers who accompany them to Target. Children age birth to 3 years receive $40 worth of new clothing, while those age 4 to 18 receive $80 worth. Every penny of every donation goes directly to funding the purchase of clothing for children. Rotary funds any administrative costs and volunteers coordinate the program.

Thank you once again to our partners and the most caring community that we call home.

Eileen Hotho
Rotary Club of Hamburg