Photo provided
Monacelli, with Rep. George Miller, who chairs he House Committee on Education and Labor
Grocery shoppers are probably not aware of the fact that Wegmans of Geneseo is a hotbed of talent.
Behind the meat counter and cash registers, stocking the shelves, doing the bookkeeping in the front office and manning the Helping Hands stations are superb singers, songwriters, musicians, photographers, poets, dancers and acrobats — not to mention the outstanding bakers and dessert designers that you would expect to find there.
These folks got the chance to strut their stuff last Saturday, May 22, when an all-Wegmans talent show was presented at Geneseo Central School auditorium. Wegmans staff, customers and the general public were all invited.
Proceeds raised from admission and raffles were donated to Teresa House. The tally was an impressive $601, which show organizers Christine McDaniels and Angel Lynch presented to Teresa House Director Carol Cook on Monday afternoon.
While Teresa House was the principal beneficiary, the best of the employees/performers, as judged by store manager Rita Gibney and store customers Marty and Warren Linsner, themselves received Wegmans gift cards.
First place was won by Len Squires, performing two of his original songs on guitar, “Sweat Pants” and “14 Days”. Second place was Joe Circierega’s poetry reading. Third place was Joe Syracusa and Alex Richmond’s singing with guitar accompaniment. Fourth place was Becky Waterman and Mike Starke, also singing with guitar accompaniment.
Among the other acts were Diane Reynold’s slide show about Wegmans, entitled ‘Who We Are,’ with original photographs. Christine McDaniels sang, accompanied by guest dancers. There were other singing guitarists: Dan Long and Henry Robbin. Ken Foster was on his unicycle. Kaitlin Fisher sang to a CD, and James Fayiah danced. Henry Robbin played piano and Tammy Wise presented a slide show, also with original photography, depicting all her pets.
Serving as masters of ceremony were Hop Manapol and Craig McKeel.
The entire show was digitally videotaped for a DVD — sales of which might further benefit Teresa House.
Several Wegmans’ employees were not present to perform, but made their contributions in the form of baked goods — cakes, cheese cake, fudge and bread — photographic works and flowers, all of which were set out for bid and auctioned. One particularly interesting item which drew quite a few bids was an ocean-themed display of a dozen twinkies cupcakes shaped into buoys and sharks.
“We found a lot of talent for this show that we didn’t know about,” said Angel Lynch.
“It was a lot of fun.”
Organizers are already contemplating a ‘second annual’ Wegmans talent show for Teresa House for 2011.
