Diane Prince to retire after decades in decor
Diane Prince was convinced she would retire nine years ago when she decided to close her furniture and gifts business on Liftbridge Lane in Fairport.
She was nearing eighty years old and had operated Diane Prince Furniture & Gifts on Liftbridge for more than thirty years. But then a space opened on South Main Street in Fairport—a new build with tall ceilings and large windows and 5,000 square feet on one floor.
It was too good to be true for Prince. She signed a three-year lease and then another and another. Customers followed her to the new location, which also brought increased foot traffic to her door. The boutique offers furniture, gifts, silk floral arrangements, and accessories for sale, as well as design services. Prince’s style, reflected in the boutique, is very traditional, with a love of primitives and Early American style.
Now, after nearly a decade on South Main, Prince has decided to close the store—which she refers to as “the frosting on the cake” of her career—at the end of July, officially retiring at eighty-eight years old.
“I’ve loved every minute of what I’ve done,” she says. “If I hadn’t done this, I’m not sure what I would’ve done.”
In the final weeks of business, Diane and her daughter Robyn, the store manager, hope that customers will visit, share stories and photos of their homes decorated with the shop’s help, and sign a memory book.
In her retirement, Prince is looking forward to more time for travel and working on her home and in her garden. She will also have more time for friends who have gotten older and may not be as healthy as she is, visiting them more often to check in and lift their spirits.
She also hopes to stay in touch with the friends she’s made through the business.
“It was a really good feeling to have made friends [while running the business],” says Prince. “I guess that’s what I’m really going to miss. We’ll miss the customers that have almost become regulars, they come in so often.”
Breaking barriers and making history
Local actor Race Eberhardt has become the first actor with Down syndrome to star in an action movie.
The film, Strait Undercover, was written for Eberhardt by Ben Gonyo after the two shot a TV pilot together in 2019.
“We met Race, and when we saw how charismatic and funny he is, we wanted to create something bigger around him,” says Gonyo, owner of Fish & Crown Creative and writer/director of the film.
“Race is naturally funny and very comedic in real life. He also brings a real openness to trying new things and a strong work ethic when it comes to achieving his goals.”
The film, which was shot in Rochester and released this spring, follows Eberhardt’s character, Race Strait, a low-level US Department of Agriculture employee with telepathic powers, as he uncovers corrupt government forces.
Importantly, the film never mentions the leading character’s disability.
Strait Undercover has played at film festivals around the country, and its star and writer/director were interviewed for The Today Show.
While Gonyo is searching for professional distribution partners, the full film is currently available to watch on YouTube.
Eberhardt, who has been working at Paychex for the last seventeen years, has dreamed of being “a real actor in a real movie” for most of his life.
His love of acting came at an early age when his second-grade teachers would act out lesson plans and organize class performances on stage. Eberhardt also participated in elementary school plays and joined a performing arts group for kids with special needs when he was young.
Stepping onto a movie set for the first time had the actor feeling “excited, special, and happy.” He understands the importance of his role in the film, especially for audience members with special needs.
“[I hope the audience is] excited to see me and to see someone with Down syndrome on the big screen and feels special. I want them to see their dreams come true [and to know] that anything is possible. [You] just have to dream big!” says the film’s star. Learn more at straitundercover.com.
Celebrating culture this summer
With the season upon us, there are festivals a-plenty to attend when looking for a way to fill the summer days.
There are festivals for the art lovers, the music stans, and the foodies. Here, we highlight a couple that celebrate our community members, their heritage, and their culture.
This year on July 26 and 27 at Parcel 5 in Rochester, the Black Culture Festival will host educational workshops and discussions celebrating the cultural heritage and accomplishments of Black individuals in our country.
The festival will showcase the work of Black artists, and Black-owned businesses will offer authentic African American cuisine. Cultural performances will celebrate the Black community’s traditions.
During the past six years, more than 30,000 community members have attended the festival, and more than 200 businesses, performers, and artists have shared their work or artistry with attendees.
Shortly after the Black Culture Festival, from July 30 to August 1, Parcel 5 will host the Puerto Rican Festival. The event will celebrate the sounds of the islands, with live music from a variety of genres, including reggaeton, salsa, and more. Both local and international musical artists will perform. Vendors on-site will sell locally made crafts and products.
The festival will honor and celebrate Puerto Rican culture through various dance performances, cultural workshops, and a parade on the final day of the festival.
The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday with an opening ceremony on the parade stage at East Avenue and Alexander Street. Music, dancers, and floats will make their way toward the festival site.
Both festivals aim to bring their communities together in celebration and homage.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2026 issue of (585).
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