Jewish Family Services , 70 Barker St., has expanded its counseling services in response to the Israel-Hamas war. The organization's Manager Matthew Stewart says the Buffalo Jewish community has deep ties to Israel. “Some people say we are too pro-Israel. Some say we are too pro-Palestine. We are a humanitarian organization. We help all of those in need,” Stewart says. By Brittany Whalen
By Joseph Cali
When thinking about sports to start young children in, most times parents fear the financial dread that comes along with them.
The West Side International Soccer Club offers programs, whether it be a travel team or through public schools, around the West Side to help families provide a safe, affordable, and memorable experience on the soccer field for their children.
The club was founded in 2012 by former University at Buffalo soccer player, Mateo Escobar and his wife Amanda Escobar.
According to the team website, it “uses soccer as a vehicle to provide a safe place to play, connect with mentors, break down barriers, and empower participants to become leaders in their community and their chosen life pursuits.”
Graham Vosburg, the vice president of West Side International Soccer, has been involved in the program for 10 years. He said the program has changed and formed into what it is today over the decade he has been involved.
“We were looking at walkable locations along the West Side," Vosberg said. "Probably 90% of our players were just from foot traffic alone. When I would drive there on Saturday mornings or afternoons depending on practice time, I would usually see the players walking there. There is really a neighborhood feel and to serve that neighborhood specifically is great.”
According to Project Play, an Aspen Institute research initiative on sports and society, the average cost to start a child in soccer last year was $1,188. That is a large amount of money for an average family just to give their child an opportunity to play the game of soccer at the youth level. As they grow and need new equipment that number only increases from there.
FC Buffalo’s City United Initiative works with any person or group who wants to bring free or cost-minimized soccer to the Western New York region and aims to elevate top underserved talents to the top teams and programs in the area.
Nick Mendola, a writer for NBC sports, board member of the West Side soccer club and owner of FC Buffalo, said the West Side organization has been inspiring from the start.
“West Side has been doing the right thing ever since they have existed," Mendola said. "Matteo, Amanda, Graham, and everyone there are just the sort of people that you want to work with. Frankly, I think one of the things about groups like them, who start and very much grow into what they are as a labor of love, working with them is very inspiring. The odds are all of the things that they want to do are worth doing.”
Though Covid-19 shut down many programs, the West Side club live on, operating withint the Buffalo Public School system.. The leaders want to be as adaptable as possible with the West Side residents' needs. The organization tends to be one of the more popular options for students within the district to pick from. Whether it’s a weekday or weekend program, they will continue to provide as much as they can for soccer lovers on the West Side.
Manager Zena Bliss readies a Christmas tree at InnBuffalo off Elmwood, 619 Lafayette Ave., in preparation for the hotel's Christmas Market to be held from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Dec. 9. Visitors will be able to shop at 15 vendors while enjoying complimentary hot chocolate and mulled wine. Tarot card readings will add to the fun. This will be the first-ever Christmas Market at InnBuffalo, the 1898 Victorian mansion named for its first owner, Herbert H. Hewitt, a Buffalo industrialist. The home was purchased in 2011 by Ellen and Joseph Lettieri and opened as a hotel four years later. By Ariel Scarbrough
In the latest step towards cleaner waters, a lawsuit against PepsiCo Inc. was filed by the New York Attorney General on Nov. 15 for playing a significant role in the plastic pollution of the lake bordering Buffalo.
The lawsuit is the result of extensive research done by the Attorney General in collaboration with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, an organization that seeks to restore and maintain Western New York’s freshwater shoreline. Each spring, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper works with hundreds of volunteers to conduct a shoreline sweep, and the majority of the litter they recover is composed of plastic. Last year, that plastic was predominantly traced back to PepsiCo.
“People shouldn’t have to worry about microplastics in their water, garbage in their communities, and a lower quality of life all because of rampant trash and plastic garbage throughout the Buffalo River,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Assemblymember Jon Rivera said that he remembers coming to Canalside when he was a kid, and it’s one of his favorite places to take his children to now. He credits the work of Waterkeeper for making it one of Buffalo’s most beautiful sights to visit. He agrees that also includes the help of policy leaders and holding contributing corporations accountable.
“At the end of the day, people that produce things have a responsibility for the things that they produce,” Rivera said.
The lawsuit is the most recent action taken in Waterkeeper's commitment to its vision of a litter-free water source in the city. Emily Dyett, Waterkeeper community engagement project manager, said that the two key components of accomplishing this goal are data collection and policy.
Dyett said that the West Side is especially affected by this pollution because it is one of the most densely populated areas next to the water. The mouth of Scajaquada, just off Niagara Street on the West Side, is one of the most polluted sites due to sewer overflow and trash coming down from four municipalities including Lancaster.
During the sweep and all year round, volunteers are encouraged to track the types of trash they recover within the Clean Swell app, a mobile app started by the Ocean Conservancy. This collection of data infinitely equips organizations like Waterkeeper with the numbers needed to fight for things such as policy changes.
For example, in 2020 New York State banned plastic bags. Prior to this, plastic bags were one of the most collected items from the Buffalo River. Now, Dyett said, it’s one of the least.
“The power of litter data can be used well beyond that one day that you pick it up,” Dyett said.
By Brittany Whalen
Since the legalization of adult-use cannabis in New York State as of March 2021 for adults 21 and over, there has been a broad spectrum of products released on the market for recreational use. This leads first-time cannabis consumers to wonder: Where do I start? What products will work best for me? How will I feel?
Dank 716, the first adult-use dispensary to open on the West side at 501 Main St, has been leading the charge to create a friendly and educational environment for the most experienced cannabis consumers to first-time consumers.
“Purchase from a legal dispensary. Start low and go slow. We want you to have a good first experience,” Dank 716 Budtender Dan McCormick says.
With many products on the market such as pre-rolled joints, vape cartridges, and edibles, the options to “start low and go slow” can be extremely overwhelming. Yancy Matos, Dank 716 budtender, says dividing an edible into smaller doses is an important step to “start low and go slow.”
“If you purchase a 10-mm gummy, cut it into fourths. Take one-fourth, which is approximately 2.5 mm, and see how you feel,” Matos says.
Anywhere between a half of a milligram to 5 mm is considered a micro-dose. Edibles such as gummies, chocolates, chews, drinks, and tinctures are available to purchase and are a good option for first-time cannabis consumers who do not want to inhale or smoke cannabis.
The rules of micro-dosing cannabis for first-time consumers are a staple in other areas of practice. Daniel Ryszka, a New York State pharmacist working in the local cannabis industry, says divisible dosing is a necessary step in the process.
“Dividing doses, such as splitting a 5-milligram gummy into halves or quarters, is close to taking between 1-2 milligrams of THC. Make sure to take half or a quarter of the gummy while at home. Do not go anywhere or drive anywhere. After about an hour, walk around and see how you feel,” Ryszka says.
For the first-time cannabis consumer who wants to try flower, aka the cannabis plant, there are products available with lower THC contents that can be inhaled.
“It’s all about how the cannabis is grown. Outdoor-grown cannabis will have a lower THC profile, but the flower will have a better flavor when smoked,” says Miranda Sherman, cultivator and consultant of local cannabis farms.
Sherman encourages consumers to take THC breaks to help with THC receptor sensitivity. The market leans towards higher THC percentages but Sherman says there’s a market for lower THC percentage products.
“I think sales are driven by higher THC potency, but pricing is more friendly to a lower THC potency,” Sherman says.
Safety and guidance are incredibly important for cannabis consumers regardless of medical status. New York State pharmacist, Ryszka, says listening to your medical provider is crucial.
“If a patient has a particular issue, they need to speak with their provider about a proper cannabis product. I want to emphasize to speak with your pharmacist and provider,” Ryszka says.
As for non-medical patients, the rules of safety are still crucial for an enjoyable experience for adult-users.
“Listen to your budtenders. When you purchase from a legal dispensary, you’re going to know what the THC contents are,” McCormick says.
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management provides further information on topics such as general education, home cultivation, and health effects.
Lindsay Pike, a bartender at Community Beer Works, 520 7th St., on drops off a cold and crisp pilsner with quite an interesting color. This special beer is Polar Plunge Pilsner, created to support the Polar Plunge on Dec. 2 at Woodlawn Beach State Park. All proceeds from the sale of the beer will benefit the Special Olympics. Chris Groves, marketing director at Community Beer Works, described the beer as a blue raspberry pilsner. "We made a special batch of beer for this event. Come down and try the beer, you have never seen a beer like this before,” Groves said. The beer is on tap at Community Beer Works and is available at any Fattey Beer Co. store. By Joseph Cali
Folwell Senior Apartments an affordable apartment building owned and operated by People Inc. for adults 62 and older. The apartments were opened in July in the maternity building of the former Women & Children’s Hospital, 140 Hodge Ave., part of the larger Elmwood Crossing project. People Inc.'s Chief Innovation and Program Development Officer Concetta Ferguson says seven out of the 44 units are set aside for medically frail homeless individuals. By: Ariel Scarbrough
By Andrew Forsyth
A pastime that has been held to the bedrooms and basements of teenagers now makes its way onto the college campus as an equal to football, hockey, and other regularly offered sports. With many universities adopting the new sport, students have a new avenue when applying to schools.
Esports has grown throughout the nation and has become a regular offering at many universities in the country. The National Association of College Esports boasts over 200 schools nationwide on its website.
The introduction of esports benefits students, although it also benefits the universities. The ability to entice online students with an organization they can be involved in increases recruitment and retention.
“It brings in students,” Mark Alicea, advisor and coach of D’Youville University esports, said.
Canisius is working to drive retention and recruitment efforts directly through the esports programs on campus.
“It is going to be a big play moving forward, especially as it starts to build and move forward,” said Nick Stenzel, assistant athletic director of athletic facilities at Canisius University.
Three esports programs are operating in various phases between D’Youville, Canisius, and Buffalo State University. The biggest of the three is at D’Youville, which recently opened a new state-of-the-art eSports arena.
The $200,000 project, funded by Spectrum Enterprises, pushes the college to the forefront of esports in Buffalo. D’Youville participates in two leagues, the East Coast Conference league against schools in the region, as well as in the NACE.
“We also play in the NACE, a national eSports conference, against many different schools,” Alicea said.
These schools include the likes of the University of Georgia and Florida State. He added that there are 1,300 schools in just D’Youville’s division alone.
D’Youville
offers games, including Overwatch 2, Rocket League and Valorant. As well it is
adding new teams in multiple different games. It also holds internal Madden
leagues for any students on campus.
Canisius invested in esports early on. The esports program has been around since 2018 and is looking to grow.
Canisius has built its program from the ground floor and grown the program and esports in the area over the past five years. The school took advantage of an uptick in gaming, specifically online in specific communities, and wanted to add that sense of community on Campus.
Canisius plays in the Mid-American Conference. The gamers play side by side in the same divisions as the athletes of the traditional sports of football, hockey, and other offered sports. The organization is recognized as a club team, although there is also a travel team to attend matches in the conference area.
Though esports is not quite at the level of football or other traditional sports at Canisius, in the last few years, it has seen growth in the member size and hopes to expand that number even more.
“Last year, we had about 30 individuals on the roster. We’ve almost doubled that this year; we’re at 55,” Stenzel said. “We will take roughly 28 to 30 individuals to the MAC Championship in March.”
Canisius offers an esports lab on campus grounds with 10 state-of-the-art PCs and gear to go along with it. Canisius has League of Legends, Valorant, and Rocket League for league play.
Buffalo State offers an esports option, though it is still in its infancy. Buffalo State is focused on building the foundations without real space for an esports lab or facility for now.
“There are challenges obviously of having a space dedicated to esports right now, but we are just trying to find a lot of the resources we can use here at Buffalo State to make sure this program is efficient,” Fardan Allen, assistant director of student leadership and engagement at Buffalo State, said.
The program now offers an NBA 2K tournament, Smash Bros tournaments, and competing with other SUNY teams. The program also pays for membership to compete in the Eastern Conference Athletic Conference, which includes teams outside the SUNY conference.
The Buffalo State organization looks to Canisius and D’Youville and other established programs outside the area as a blueprint for success. The goal remains to find a dedicated space on campus for eSports.
The organization just needs a starting point. Fardan Allen said it doesn’t need fancy computers right now but rather a place for the students to congregate and play games without needing to reserve time and lug around equipment.
In the rust belt city of Buffalo, New York, terms like “State of the Art” and “World Class” are not necessarily what you would hear paired with many public amenities in the area.
Terms like these have been constantly referenced when speaking of the new and improved LaSalle Park, now named the Ralph Wilson Jr. Centennial Park.
Changes are now visible in the park as construction has been underway for the past
few months. The core facilities of the park are closed, but the skate park, temporary dog park on
4th Street, and football field remain open for residents to use.
“We are looking at 2025 for the park to be open. Construction started in July of 2023 and they are working at a really fast clip to make sure that the park is completed by the end of 2025,”
Katie Campos, executive director of the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy, said.
A project of this magnitude comes at a cost of $110 million. That is where the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation came in, Fillmore District Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski, whose district includes the park, said.
“While, yes, it is a heavy price tag, being partnered with the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy helps us foot the hefty bill for the state-of-the-art park,” Nowakowski said.
The foundation is not the only big donor helping to foot the bill. Major League Baseball has contributed and additional $1 million to help enhance the quality of the baseball fields and other sports fields throughout the park.
Campos said the combination of funding will create a park with world-class amenities, the likes of which Buffalo has not yet experienced."
A project like this requires a very cohesive construction plan to obtain all of these goals and provide a world class experience in such a short amount of time. Kelly Maloney, senior project manager at Gilbane Building Co., contractor on the project, said the project is in the first of three phases, which consists of work on the shoreline, underground utilities, electric and the access bridge from the West Side to the park.
The recent mild weather has allowed Gilbane to conduct in-water work at the shoreline, which is progressing well, she said.
"Crews are also working on the stormwater drainage system, which can be continued throughout the winter months. Crews are now installing drainage structures, such as manholes and pipes. We are planning to conduct underground utility work in the winter months along with the bridge abutment work,” Maloney said.
The newly redesigned park is going to have resounding effects on the City of Buffalo and, specifically, the West Side.
“We are excited to bring that world-class experience so when people come it is safe, welcoming and a lot of fun," Campos said. "Also, for people to feel invited to play and hang out with these world-class amenities that are just going to create a higher standard going forward.”
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| Asarese-Matters Community Center, 50 Reese St. |
The City of Buffalo recently revealed its 2023-2024 Winter Snow Plan, which includes nine warming shelters, two of which are located on the West Side. Both locations, Asarese-Matters Community Center at 50 Reese St. and West Side Community Services at 161 Vermont St., are waiting to receive provisions including water, Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), and a new generator. According to the Snow Plan, critical facilities, including the warming sites, take priority on the plow schedule. They will open as instructed by the city, dependent on the weather. Asarese-Matters employee Jamel Dar says this location is scarcely utilized by community residents as a place of refuge from the frigid temperatures. Last winter, no one showed up. “We didn’t get a single person,” he said. “And during the bad storms that we had, people were unable to get around.” By Angela Caico
West
Side Community Services, 161 Vermont St.
Chris and Casey Casas, owners of Mister Sizzles, are taking their unique burgers and
chicken sandwiches, such
as the Sizzle and the W.S. Hot Stinger” that are staples on the West Side to Clarence. Chris and Casey
have nearly 50 years of experience from bartending and working in other
restaurants before opening their own on 346
Connecticut St. In the short period they have been open, Mister Sizzles has
experienced tremendous growth and success, to the point where they were
featured on an episode of “Best in Chow” on A&E this year. Mister Sizzle’s
expansion to Clarence will feature an outdoor bar, outdoor patio, and a game
room for children. The project has been delayed, but it is expected to open in
2024. Their location on Connecticut Street will remain open, serving people
everyday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. By George McClendon
D'Youville University is one of three universities on the West Side and it has now officially become a Division II school. D’Youville is the second university in the Buffalo area to make the Division III to Division II jump after Daemen University in 2015. Andy Rogacki, assistant athletic director for Athletic Communications, says many of the upgraded
amenities include a state-of-the-art weight room and other facilities that come with the promotion from Division III to Division II. By Joseph Cali
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| Buckham Hall at Buffalo State University is the future site of Leonardo da Vinci High School |
By Ariel Scarbrough
Leonardo da Vinci High School has moved out of D'Youville University and is in temporary quarters at School 8 on E. Utica Street while waiting to move to Buffalo State University in the coming years.
Renovations have not yet begun at Buffalo State's Buckham Hall, the former Campus West School, but Buffalo Schools officials believe the move will take place in about two years.
“Buffalo Public Schools and Buffalo State University are partnering to relocate the approximately 400 students attending Leonardo da Vinci High School to Buckham Hall after renovations are anticipated to be completed in 2025,” Buffalo Public Schools Public Relations Director Jeffrey Hammond said.
Da Vinci had been located within D’Youville for 30 years when then university decided it would no longer accommodate the high school. The partnership ended in June.
“Buffalo State can confirm it is working with Buffalo Public Schools on opening the Leonardo da Vinci High School on the Buffalo State University campus,” Buffalo State University Director of Communication and Content Strategy Geoffrey Nason said.
Da Vinci is a college preparatory school in the Buffalo Public School system. It is known for high academic achievement that included a 100% graduation rate last year. It is anticipated that this year's graduation rate will be 99%.
As a college preparatory high school, da Vinci has been fortunate to be physically located on a college campus.
The decision to locate da Vinci at Buffalo State was finalized by the New York State Legislature. on Oct. 25.
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| Leonardo da Vinci Principal Grogry Lodinsky |
“District officials were meeting with college and university representatives from throughout the area to determine their interest and their ability to accommodate a high school on their campus.” Gregory Lodinsky, da Vinci’s principal said.
Buffalo State has not started the process of renovating, but da Vinci will be housed within Buckham Hall and use the first floor and third floor, the auditorium, and the gym. The building is used currently for university classroom and is the site of several academic departments.
“What I am looking forward to most with the move to Buffalo State is the educational opportunities," Lodinsky said.
Da Vinci will have the full-on real college experience by walking through the college campus, taking classes with college students, and being taught by college professors. The students of da Vinci also have the option of taking co-credit college courses taught by da Vinci teachers.
The college courses the students will be taking will be free of charge. The objective for the students is that by the time the da Vinci students graduate they will earn enough credits to cover their first year of college.