Lots of after-school fun at West Side Teens program

 

Kameron Dilaura and Marino Frias welcome students to the West Side Teens after-school program held at West Side Community Services. The program returned on Sept. 24 and was created to provide a safe space for teens and help prepare them for life after high school. Frias, director of the youth department, said that the program offers other activities apart from fitness, arts and programming. It offers life skill readiness, resume building, a study hall for the teens to work on anything outside of the program, SAT prep, and many more fun activities to help keep them engaged. Dilaura, teen council president of the program, is 16 years old and said that within a year of being there he’s gained many connections through different organizations and colleges. “There’s a lot of opportunities for any age, you can come here for one year, two years, no matter how long you’re going to get a lot of opportunities later on,” Dilaura said. West Side Teens is available to students in 7th grade to 19-year-olds. They meet at 161 Vermont St. at 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays. By Shanice Forbes

Weaknesses in local health system mirror national trend

By Antonio Calderon

In a country that is known for its ability to innovate on new ideas and ways of life to create wealth, the balance of the current healthcare system in the United State shows the opposite.

            A report done by the Commonwealth Fund showed that when compared to nine other countries in the world that have a high income, the United States ranked last when it comes to overall health care.

            In the Buffalo area, medical officials were not satisfied with the current state of health care.

Paul Violanti, the director of global health education at the Jericho Road Community Health Center believes that health care within the United States is not at all in a good place.

            “For all the money and resources that are put into health care within this country, there are still too many barriers placed in front of those that truly need it,”  Violanti said.

            He also mentioned the need for there to be more foundations and community based projects to help those in need and mentioned the Kaleida Health Foundation as being an example of what Buffalo needs more of.

            Jack Cukierman, a doctor who works with diabetes and metabolism at WNY Medical on Grant Street, agrees.

            “I have had many experiences with patients who were not able to get all of the care that would provide them with the best chance for a healthy future and it hurts to know that it happens to so many despite being in a country that has the resources to make things work,”  Cukierman said.

Western New York Medical

 

    An article from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration speaks on one potential way to solve health care challenges and that is through collaborative communities.

 These are groups in which members of the public and commercial sectors, including the FDA, collaborate on health care concerns in order to accomplish shared goals and objectives. They may last indefinitely, are called together by interested parties, generate outcomes as needed, and address issues with wide-ranging effects.

A local named Justin Mendoza who has worked with the Neighborhood Health Center, has experience with collaborative communities and is in favor of what they offer.

“During my time working with these areas, I have witnessed many good deeds done for community members, and this solely serves to emphasize that there is still more to be done to make sure that everyone can take advantage of the advances in health care that the country has made,” Mendoza said.

As a whole, America has made many mistakes concerning their health care and it is now impacting millions negatively but that doesn’t mean that change can’t still happen.

Local health professionals in Buffalo understand all of these issues and are actively doing more to speak up about it in hopes of others catching on and sharing the message as well.

From local foundations to collaborative communities, there is a lot that can be done to help many in the Buffalo area and beyond.

           

Universalist Church marks start of Banned Books Week

In celebration of Banned Books Week, Sept. 22-28, Sharon Walker and Mary Louise Hill, two of the founders of the Banned Book Club within the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, will host a sale by Burning Books bookstore on Sept. 29 after church services. The bookstore, 420 Connecticut St., offers books that have received national attention due to book bans. The church's Banned Book Club meets at 10 a.m., the fourth Saturday of each month. By Matt Szucs

Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute on track for 2026 open

 

After breaking ground on the corner of Niagara and Hudson streets last September, the Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute has faced a $8 million funding gap that organizers are hoping to close. Casimiro Rodriguez Sr., founder and president of the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York, said that the situation was expected.   “Capital campaigns are very challenging especially during these times. The project is a $26.5 million project, and we were able to raise $18 million,” Rodriguez said. The council has plans to close that gap through new market tax credits, grant applications, and private and public donations. Rodriguez said the project is on track to finish by early 2026. By Shanice Forbes

AKG ready to unveil artistic eating, drinking options

 

Buffalo AKG Museum Executive Chef Jessica Arends is preparing the fall menu that will launch on Sept. 26 in both dining areas in the museum. The AKG is more than the artwork; it includes artful upscale dining experiences. Using fresh and local ingredients Arends is launching fall favorites in Cornelia cafe  such as a Dutch Baby with cinnamon apples, pork schnitzel with sweet potato spaetzle and apple beurre blanc, short ribs with a mushroom risotto, and maple crème brulee. The Sculpture Bar will include a menu of craft cocktails that are inspired by paintings of women throughout the gallery such as black walnut Manhattan, and strawberry basil infused Aperol spritz. The Sculpture Bar will include a menu of fall themed small plates including butternut squash humus, cheese plate, charcuterie plates, honey Cajan roasted nuts, and spiced pear parfait. Cornelia is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays to Mondays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. The Sculpture Bar is open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays to Sundays. By Rylee Shott

Colleges push for students to register to vote

By Alex Miley

            In 2020 48% of people ages 18-24 voted in the presidential election, the lowest among all age groups, according to Statista.

Dr. Shyam Sriram

 Despite less than half of the age group voting, it was a 9% increase from the 2016 election and the highest turnout from this age group since 1972.

            This is because there has been a push to increase voter turnout among this age group recently. The largest push to increase turnout in this age group comes from colleges and universities.

            Locally, there is a big push from Canisius University and Buffalo State University to get students to vote.

            “Politics matter, the people you elect affect your daily life. Voting does matter if it’s only one person” said Junior Analee DeGlopper, executive vice president of the United Student Association at Canisius.

            Both Canisius and Buffalo State are pushing hard to get students registered.

            “Go out and register,” said Dr. Peter Yacobucci, associate professor at Buffalo State’s Political Science department.     

            Dr. Shyam Sriram, the program director of Canisius’s Political Science department, is focused on getting students registered to vote because many people do not know they have to. At Canisius they have been putting up registration flyers all over campus that have a QR code that leads to a registration site so students can register to vote on their phones.

            One of the biggest issues with college students is if they are going to college and live out of state, how will they be able to vote?          

            “I always tell students you should want to define your residence where you live most of the year,” Dr. Yacobucci said.

    Dr. Yacobucci on what age group votes most reliably

            This gives more voting power to the student body not just for the presidential election but also local and state elections.

            If you choose to reside in your home state, you can request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you and you can still vote in your home state.

            In New York state you must register to vote a month before the election.

            Buffalo State is having a voter registration drive on Sept. 18. The League of Women Voters will be on campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 19 and Oct. 3^.

            Canisius is pushing for students to get more involved in local and state elections.

            Canisius tried to get people to register to vote last year for local elections but with people being from all different areas it fell through; they are hoping with this year being a presidential election it would be a great opportunity to do it this year.

            “The Presidential vote is important. But I am more interested in all the down ballot votes,” Dr. Sriram said.

            Many people in this age do not vote in elections due to lack of interest or knowledge of the elections.

            “Democracy only works if the voice of the people is heard,” Dr. Yacobucci said.
            Even if you’re not into politics just spend at least a few minutes researching the issues you care about and go out and vote said Dr. Yacobucci.

            Both Canisius and Buffalo State are expecting to have polling sites on their campus for the presidential election on Nov. 5.

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of time left to visit Elmwood Village Farmers Market

Vendors at the Elmwood Village Farmers Market impact West Side residents' day-to-day lives at the dinner table with their locally grown and produced goods. The market has been open since May 11taking place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday. As the summer winds down there is still time to get to the the Farmers Market. Located on Bidwell Parkway and Elmwood Avenue officially closes up shop for the season on Nov. 23. By Evan Harrington