Albion community concert on Saturday will benefit Elaina Webb’s family

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2017 at 4:44 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kyle Webb is pictured with his daughter, Elaina, after Make-A-Wish had a new playground built for the family in their backyard. Elaina passed away Feb. 7 from cancer.

ALBION – A group of singers and dancers from the Albion community will perform in a benefit concert this Saturday at 3 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to Elaina Webb’s family.

Elaina fought cancer for nine months. She passed away on Feb. 7 at age 2 ½. Her mother Beth Webb was a long-time dance instructor at Gotta Dance by Miss Amy.

The studio’s owner, Amy Sidari, organized the benefit concert for Saturday at the First Baptist Church, 30 West Park St.

“I want the Webb family to know that we love them,” Sidari said.

The lineup of performers include dancers from Gotta Dance, professional singer Marcy Downey, Albion High School Chorus Director Gary Simboli, the men and women’s select choirs at the school, and soloists Angela Tarricone, Evan Steier and Riley Seielstad, as well as Abel Zavitz of Medina. Kelly Kovaleski, who lost her son Nicholas to cancer, also will share a message.

The church has made some improvements for the performance, including putting in a new railing in the balcony so that space can be used. The balcony had been closed, but local contractor Jim Babcock put in the new railing, which stretches 40 feet. Babcock and his wife Linda also removed 85-year-old tattered carpet from the steps leading to the balcony, and painted the steps.

The church also opened up the platform in front, so performers have more space with fewer obstructions.

Aleka Schmidt, the church’s pastor, said she is pleased to see the church be used for a performance with a focus on “hope and love.”

She would like to see more community concerts and events at the church in the future.

A new railing has made it possible for the First Baptist Church to reopen its balcony. This group includes, from left, Aleka Schmidt, Amy Sidari and Jim Babcock.

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