Well, readers, this concludes a very lengthy and important chapter in my professional career.

I’m writing this column from my desk in The Post-Journal newsroom for the final time, while eagerly anticipating what my journey has in store for me next.

Last week’s column was dedicated to the announcement that my tenure here at the P-J has come to an end, bringing to a close a long and fruitful run at my longest-held job. At the time I thought I’d still have plenty to say in my final column as an employee of our daily periodical, and yet I’m sitting here feeling as though everything I’ve wanted to talk about has already been said.

Now that I’ve had plenty of time to process what this change means for me, I’m definitely at peace with taking a leap of faith and opening myself to new opportunities and experiences. There’s really not much more to be done except to say “thank you” to my co-workers and supervisors, and to the community that has supported me in my position here.

I can’t say enough about what this job has done for me from that final perspective. When I started here I was only vaguely familiar with downtown Jamestown, and even less so with the various groups, businesses and organizations that make it tick. That’s no longer the case.

I was also a very introverted, shy and insecure individual, who dreaded going out on assignment and having to talk to complete strangers. Even answering the phone and making calls of my own was a source of anxiety for me.

Now I’ve advanced myself to a level of complete comfortability with my surroundings and myself as a person. I’ve gained a new confidence in my communication abilities, and my network of community connections has grown a hundredfold. Rarely a day passes where I can walk anywhere around town and not have at least one person flag me down or wave from afar.

I also want to thank you, my readers, for sticking with me here for the past four years. It’s easy to take for granted that I have no choice but to come up with something to fill this space every Thursday, but when I’m getting unsolicited feedback from people I hardly — or, in some cases, don’t — know, that actually goes a long way in affirming that my work here has made a difference in some way.

It would be extremely untruthful of me to say that there haven’t been several instances over these past 213 weeks where I could think of literally nothing to write about. And yet, somehow, I’ve still managed to produce something of myself — be it a personal story, or just my general thoughts or emotions on any given topic — and make it work.

It’s also been amazing for me to have an outlet for talking about my bands and to be able to provide updates along the way for anybody with an interest to hear it. I can imagine it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but my music means the world to me and it’s been great sharing that with you. I appreciate everyone for bearing with me on that.

As I said last week, though I no longer will be the one in charge of compiling the highlights and happenings you see below, the intent here is for me to continue contributing a column to the P-J on either a weekly or bi-weekly basis. So keep an eye out for that! Cold Lazarus and Gavin Paterniti have many adventures to come, and I’m still willing to talk about them if you’re still willing to hear about them.

So I bid you all a very fond farewell from the newsroom. The next time you hear from me I’ll be regaling you with tales through a slightly different lens on life.

And now, for one last time, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Infinity To Host Evening Of Jazz With Karl Lydell, Mark Alpaugh Friday: On Friday, the Infinity Arts Cafe’s Friday Night Jazz Concert Series at 300 E. Third St., Jamestown, will feature “An Evening Of Jazz with Karl Lydell and Mark Alpaugh” at 7 p.m. The evening will feature vocalist-guitarist Lydell and keyboardist Alpaugh performing a variety of blues, swing and jazz songs with host and area saxophonist John Cross. Lydell was an active jazz and blues musician in the Chicago area for more than 15 years performing at South Chicago venues Lee’s Unleaded Blues and City Lights. He has returned to Jamestown, performing locally with Alpaugh in the Karl/Marks Show, No Limit, Red Letter Blues Band, Bluze Inn and Smokehouse. He recently was a featured guitarist with the Trinity Church of Chicago’s Gospel Choir at the Chautauqua Amphitheater.

The concert is free to the public, with an offering at intermission, is supported with contributions from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. Audience members can enter by using the door under the guitar near the corner of Third Street and Prendergast Avenue.

See HIGHLIGHTS, Page D2

From Page D1

Guests needing handicapped access can contact Infinity ahead of time by calling 664-0991 to let them know they will need to be let in at the Second Street entrance.

Reg Lenna To Offer Construction Tour Friday: The Reg Lenna Center for The Arts welcomes community members to learn about the construction and renovation at the facility and to take a hard-hat tour Friday at 3 p.m. This tour will give participants a look at the many changes being made to the Reg theater lobby and box office, WRFA offices and studios, 3rd on 3rd Gallery and more spaces within the 40,000-square foot space. The new lobby and box office will be open before the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and the 3rd on 3rd Gallery will open in a new street level space in August. Offices for administration and both offices and studios for WRFA are on track to reopen this fall. A new multimedia arts studio and an adjacent pre-function meeting space will open to the community before the year’s end.

Demolition for the multi-million dollar project began in December, 2017 with renovation and construction following in early 2018. Funding for the project comes from Western New York Regional Economic Development Council DRI, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Gebbie Foundation and Lenna Foundation. Those interested in touring are asked to convene in the theater through the Spring St. entrance. Monthly public tours of the construction spaces are planned until the entire facility is officially re-opened. Movie screenings and live events will continue to be programmed through the spring and summer. Additionally, Forte Restaurant will remain open throughout the process.

JCC To Hold ‘Newsies’ Auditions June 4: The Jamestown Community College Uncommoners will hold auditions for its fall production of “Newsies” on Monday, June 4, at 7 p.m. in the Scharmann Theatre. The auditions are open to JCC students, high school students and community members. Julie Costantini will direct the production, which is the premier local performance of the popular musical. Those auditioning should be prepared to sing a song from “Newsies,” and wear proper clothing and shoes for dance auditions.

For more information about the audition process, contact theater manager Steven Gustafson at 338-1166.

Infinity Seeks Bands For 15th Annual Local Music Showcase: Infinity Visual and Performing Arts is inviting local musicians and bands to participate in the 15th annual Local Music Showcase on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Local Music Showcase is an annual event that raises funds to support youth music and arts instruction at the Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center. Nearly 50 local bands and musicians donate their time each year to help Infinity. More than a dozen local venues will donate their space for the cause.

Online registration for interested bands or musicians is available at infinityperformingarts.org. Forms must be received no later than July 1 in order to be considered for this year’s schedule. No late submissions will be accepted. The official performance schedule for the evening will be released on July 15.

For more information call the Infinity Center at 664-0991 or contact Stephanie Rogers at lms@infinityperformingarts.org.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

The Karl-Marks Show: 7 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Comedy Open Mic: 8 p.m., Labyrinth Press Co., 14 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10:30 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Friday

Charity Nuse: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., MJ’s Tavern, 10933 Mace Road in Napoli

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 7:30 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Pressure Sensitive: 8 p.m., Vikings Lake Lodge, 4923 Route 430 in Maple Springs

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 9 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Fate: 9 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

Jackson Station: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Karate Sleepover: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown

Steelhorse: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Haewa: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Saturday

Stray Kat: 4:30 p.m., The Vegas Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Big Tone: 8 p.m., Vikings Lake Lodge, 4923 Route 430 in Maple Springs

Juli Bessey and Stan Barton: 8 p.m., Busti Tap House, 792 Busti-Sugar Grove Road in Busti

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Screamin’ Lou: 9 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

New Wave Nation: 10 p.m., 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Sunday

Willie May: 2 p.m., The Vegas Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Porcelain Busdrivers: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Tuesday

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Wednesday

“Isle of Dogs” screening: 7 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for The Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown.