Mr. Sizzles adding a location in Clarence

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 promoted to Division II, adds amenities

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

da Vinci awaits move to Buffalo State University in 2025

 

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.

Provisions 139 pantry now open at new location

Mary Schaefer, director of operations at West Side Community Services, stocks shelves at the new Provisions 139 location at 44 Breckenridge St. Provisions 139 is open twice a week every week on Wednesdays 12-3 p.m. and Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. The pantry is open to anyone living in zip codes 14201, 14209, 14213, and 14222. To register you will need a photo ID and a proof of address. There is also a diaper bank available for thsoe with proof of birth certificate for a child under three years old. If you register to shop you can come into the pantry twice a month, once every two weeks. The space is two times the size of the previous location, and Provisions is working with Nourish New York as well. “Because we have this money from Nourish NY, we now have a much wider group of suppliers,” Schaefer said. To donate or volunteer, contact Provisions 139 at info@wscsbuffalo.org By Andrew Forsyth

 

Free Narcan training Saturdays at Lafayette Center

 

Every third Saturday of the month, residents can attend free Narcan training at 257 Lafayette Center. The training is the result of a three-way partnership between the site’s tenants, Whole Stories Therapy, Queer City Therapy and Western New York Mobile Overdose Prevention Services. WNY Mobile OPS CEO Rashone Scott-Williams says although it’s important to learn how to administer Narcan, prevention is also a key factor in avoiding an overdose death. “We also give participants something so that they can test the drug before they consume it,” she said. The training is held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the center, 257 Lafayette Ave., Suite 103, is free to attend and does not require registration. By Angela Caico

Stitch Buffalo heads to new home in 2024

 

Dawne Hoeg, founder and executive director of Stitch Buffalo, is excited for the opportunities the  new Stitch Buffalo location will bring in the future. What started out as an embroidery shop for refugee women on the West Side has grown to become a diverse textile arts center. It has grown so much throughout its nine years of being in business to the point where the organization has outgrown its 1,500-square-foot store on Niagara Street.  The new location will be at 284 Plymouth Ave. Stitch Buffalo will occupy the first floor, which is 4,800 square feet.  The construction has begun and is expected to be completed in early 2024. Stitch Buffalo has launch a capital campaign to fund the new location. By George McClendon

New W.S. Bazaar offers business services for vendors

 

Yanush Sanmugaraja, senior director of Economic Development with the West Side Bazaar, says the bazaar offers its WEDI entrepreneurs business workshops and services such as accounting. The workshops and training include support for business plan development, building a social media presence, and creating monthly financial statements. The new West Side Bazaar,  1432 Niagara St., is running its long-awaited  grand opening celebration until Nov. 4. The celebration includes the opening of eight restaurants and four retail businesses. The new location has two floors with space for 24 businesses and 82 café seats. By Brittany Whalen