RUN AGAINST HUNGER - Friends of Night People’s annual 5K Run/Walk Against Hunger was held on April 22 to benefit its efforts to assist homeless people in the area. Runners of all skill levels took part in the race, which ended with an after-race party at D’Youville College. The race started on Niagara Street and winded its way through the West Side. Photo by Michael Canfield and Jacob Tierney

Firefighters visit during Young Child Week

 The siren roared as the fire engine pulled out of the parking lot of the Belle Center.
 There was no fire; no threat of emergency; just a fire safety demonstration conducted by the Buffalo Fire Department in front of an excited group of young children.
The demonstration was part of the National Week of the Young Child, an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which was locally celebrated at the Belle Center, located at 104 Maryland St.
“The purpose of this week is to raise awareness about early childhood education and the programs and services that meet those needs,” said Callie Johnson, marketing communications director at the Belle Center.
 The Belle Center partnered up with Child Care Resource Network to bring a wide range of activities to the community including a series of guest readers, an ice cream social and a family swim day held at the Belle Center’s indoor pool.
 “We’re really excited to be celebrating the National Week of the Young Child and proud to be representing the City of Buffalo,” said Johnson. By Jacob Becker and Edward Mazzu

Grant supports more workers at Mattina

   The Neighborhood Health Center at 300 Niagara St. is adding several new staff members thanks to a grant from the New York State Health Foundation.
 The grant, which was one of 10 grants awarded throughout the state, is worth $100,000.
 The money will go towards administrative training, administrative support staff and nurses.
 “By adding more staff we can increase the amount of people we can see,” said Joanne Haefner, executive director of Neighborhood Health.
 The health center, known in the community as Mattina Health, was re-opened in November as a part of the Neighborhood Health Center that includes Northwest Buffalo Community Health Center.
 Neighborhood Health leases the Mattina building from Kaleida Health.
 Like Neighborhood Health’s other locations, health services at Mattina are currently by appointment only.
 The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with hours extended to 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The center is not open on the weekend.  By Michael Hargrave and Shayna McKie

New business set to open on Grant Street

              Another small business is making  its way to Grant Street with high hopes of surviving the neighborhood economy.

Re-Tree Western New York celebrates Earth Day

 Re-Tree Western New York held its Sixth Annual Buffalo Enviro-Fair at Niagara Square on Friday April 20, in celebration of Earth Day.

 According to Paul Maurer, chairman of the event, the fair consisted of a series of not-for-profit booths that supplied information about a variety of environmental concerns including soil conservation, the Great Lakes, free tree samplings and alternative energy options.

  "It's something that is good to have for Buffalo so that people know exactly the ways that they can be more energy conscious and sustain our earth, so it's good when we can do that every year,” Maurer said.

   Maurer said the 80-degree day encouraged a high turnout.

   “We were giving out a lot of tree seed, more than I've ever given out, so I couldn't even take a breather, it was busy," Maurer said.

   "This was our sixth annual, so we hope to keep doing it every year as long as I can still get some great generous companies like the ones that did it this year to come back again every year," Maurer said.

    The event was inspired in 2007 when Al Gore came to the Univeristy at Buffalo to give a speech about global warming.

    According to its website, Re-Tree has a goal of planting 30,000 trees by May. By the time of Enviro-Fair , Re-Tree had surpassed the 23,000 mark. By Anna Dinger and Kevin Freiheit

Niagara Branch Library sets Children’s Day

 The Niagara Branch Library’s annual Children's Day/Book Day, or  Dia, El Dia de los Ninos, El Dia de los Libros, is occurring on May 2 and high attendance is expected from West Side residents and their ninos. 

 The event is a festivity that emphasizes literacy for children of all cultural backgrounds.Because of literacy events and programs like Children's Day/Book Day, libraries work with parents to raise enthusiastic readers, said Kathryn Galvin, manager of the Niagara Branch.
  “The library plays a key role in this community,” said Joy Testa Cinquino, Library System Public Affairs Manager. “Our libraries meet the needs of the neighborhoods. We made a commitment to make sure every library stayed open, by reducing library hours, staff, and programs across the system all 37 libraries.”

 Having opened in 1957, the Niagara Branch Library, located on 280 Porter Ave, has serviced the West Side for more than 50 years. In hopes of remaining open, the Niagara Branch schedules monthly events, after school programs, and updated library items that draw West Side residents through its doors. By Mackenzie Clarke and Cheri St. Croix

          

MAP farm opens for Tuesday, Saturday tours

The Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) has begun its farm tours for the spring season.  

The tours take place 4 p.m. Tuesdays and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at its one acre urban farm located at 389 Massachusetts Ave.

“Our tours are seasonal from April through October or November each year, depending on weather conditions,” said Zoe Hollomon, MAP’s enterprise director.

Katie Pfohl, farm and markets intern and Erin Sharkey, outreach and education director are the tour guides.

When giving the tours, Pfohl and Sharkey show off the farm’s urban chickens as well as a 1,200 gallon rainwater catchment system, a straw bale greenhouse with a small aquaponics system, home to many largemouth bass.

Another scaly component of the farm is the 25,000 Tilapia residing in a separate commercial scale aquaponics system.

The farm also features a composting system and many inground and raised garden beds. Three perennial gardens border the farm, said Hollomon.

The tours also provide opportunities for people to volunteer and join the MAP team.

“Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. are our volunteer days, so many people come for the tour and learn about us,” said Hollomon.  “Some become volunteers.”

Groups larger than three people can schedule tours on the MAP’s website (www.mass-ave.org) or by phone at 882-5327. By Katie Anderson and Danielle Wayne