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
Ronald McDonald House Charities in December marked 40 years in service to families with children seeking medical treatment in Buffalo hospitals. Marking the occasion are, from left, Marketing and Communications Director Darlene Wilber, Executive Director Marianne Hoover, Director of Development Krystina Burow and House Operations and Guest Services Manager Yulanda McVay. More than 500 people stay at the Ronald McDonald House, 780 W. Ferry St., every year. The organization also provides respite space and other services for the comfort of families with children in John R. Oishei Children’s Hospitals. By George McClendon
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 theprogram for 10 years. He said the program has changed and formed
into what itis 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 regionand 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
Ashera De Rosa, owner of Whole Stories Therapy
at 257 Lafayette St.,wants to make therapy accessible for everyone. As a private pay
institution, the practice does not need to tangle with insurance companies.
Whole Stories Therapy works with organizations throughout the West Side to
serve the community. With services such as therapy, sex education, and Narcan
training, Whole Stories Therapy is more than just another practice in the area;
it is a service to the community. By Andrew Forsyth
In the latest step towards cleaner
waters, a lawsuit against PepsiCo Inc. was
filed by the New York Attorney Generalon 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 Generalin
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.
In preparation for the year’s busiest shopping season,
Sales Associate Cassidy Kozub of Sunshine
& Bluebirds 798 Elmwood Ave., arranges a festive display to get
shoppers in the holiday spirit. Elmwood Village is home to many small
businesses that have special sales this month. To kick off the holiday season on
Dec. 5, the Elmwood Village Association
and Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church will host caroling and a visit from
Kris Kringle beginning at 3 p.m. followed by a holiday tree lighting ceremony at
6 p.m. at the church, 875 Elmwood Ave. By Kelly Ackerman
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 mmis 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.
Jim Tamol and The Square podcast have selected the West Side
Community Services to be the beneficiary of the podcast’s third annual
Christmas party. “We’re grateful to The Square Podcast for choosing West Side
Community Services as the recipient of the proceeds of their annual Christmas
party,” said Mary Schaefer, director. “Their donation will go toward things
like enriching after-school programs for K-6, the West Side Teens programs, and
the adult program for folks 55 and up. All programs that work to make the West Side
a better healthier and more connected
place to live," Schaefer said. The Square is a culture, politics, and economic podcast covering Western
New York. The Christmas party will be held from 7-10 p.m., Dec. 8 at Armory Restaurant,
311 Connecticut St. Admission is $40 for food a drink and the live show. By Michael
Mueller
Leighton Jones, communication director for Our City
Action Buffalo, is preparing for the 5th annual Anti-Displacement Summit in
partnership with PUSH Buffalo. The Summit will be held from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Dec.
9 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 371 Delaware Ave. The event gives community
members insight on issues taking place within the community. The event will
consist of several workshops and discussions on topics such as immigration,
education, and transportation. PUSH will be hosting workshops and discussions
on affordable housing and climate. There also will be a panel discussion on
last year’s blizzard and a memorial held for the lives that were lost during
the blizzard. “This year we want to have an emergency plan. Are there going to
be emergency services in place? Are we going to have emergency vehicles and
things of that nature to ensure our community is safe in the future,” Jones
said. Reservations requested.
By George McClendon, Jr.
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
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 Universityesports, 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 CanisiusUniversity.
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.”
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
The holidays are a wonderful time for all, but they
can be dangerous for pets due to the abundance of new and toxic items in our
homes during this time. JJ Johnson, a pet sitter serving the West Side, reminds pet owners to stay up to date on their
pet’s safety and care, as well as knowing where to go to find
out more. By Kelly Ackerman
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
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.
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.