City lines up design firm for skate park

            The City of Buffalo has contracted New Line Skateparks, a design and construction firm out of British Columbia, Canada, to design a skate plaza in La Salle Park.

            Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Andrew Rabb said this will be the first public skate park in Buffalo.

            The current design budget is $250,000. The plaza will be two acres, built on an area of the park previously used for storage.

            “We’re looking to provide a safe place for skaters to skate and people to come together,” Rabb said. “Skating is something that crosses every type of social barrier.”           

            The city held public forums on Sept. 26 and Oct. 17 to incorporate feedback from the local skate community in the design process.

            New Line Senior Design Manager Bill Gurney said New Line’s services will carry the project through the design phase.

            “We are currently in the later stages of the concept phase,” he said. “From here we will transition into the design phase where any workshop participants can substitute suggestions about the design. Then we’ll close the door and prepare the construction design.”

            Rabb said New Line will be getting the final design out next month when they begin the bidding process. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring. By Brian Alexander and Jennifer Waters

MAP lends support to Corfu farm after fire

The Massachusetts Avenue Project is raising money to help its long-time partner, the Oles Family Farm, rebuild in the wake of a barn fire.

MAP’s shareholders have already donated to The Oles Family Farm in Corfu, and the organization as a whole is raising money in any way possible.

 "We've already raised some money for them and offered to go help put the barn up and help with any labor needs they have, once we know what they need," said Diane Picard, executive director of MAP.

According to Picard, donations prove vital because although the community is working to help, it may not cover the total amount of loss.

The partnership between the two organizations spans back to about six or seven years, including the annual Tour de Farms event, in which the Oles have donated their farm as the destination point.

"They have been incredibly generous to us and so many other people,” said Picard. “We really value their partnership and friendship and it is an awful thing that happened, so we are trying to do what we can to help."

Jane Oles, co-owner of the Oles Family Farm, said that they are rebuilding and focusing on the new structure of the barn, and are hoping to have it finished by November.

Oles said that the outpour of support the farm has, serves a builder of faith within the community. Story by Lakisha Ford and Narmeen Karzoun

IN DEPTH: Policy in action to reduce air pollution

The five-minute idling policy has gone unnoticed to drivers at the Peace Bridge and the idling of trucks still remains a problem for the air quality on the West Side. Full story by Joe Losito and Mhairi Moorhead

HALLOWEEN HOUSE - The Medley family of 320 14^th St.  is out and about preparing for Halloween night right around the corner. Photo by Sara O'Brien and James Wright

West Side Bazaar moving to new location

Vendors at the West Side Bazaar are eagerly anticipating the move to their new location next month.

            The Bazaar, which is currently located 242 Grant Street, will be moving to 240 West Ferry Street after some final renovations are complete. The move to the new location is made possible by a $100,000 grant given to the Bazaar by Westminster Economic Development Initiative (W.E.D.I.) earlier this year.

            With the grant, the West Side Bazaar hoped to build a kitchen in their new location; a plan that is now in action.

            Bonnie Smith, economic development director at W.E.D.I, said, “There has been great progress made possible by the grant.”

            Guysma Thik, a vendor at the Bazaar and a native of the South Sudan, said, “They are fixing the floors and the walls. They started on the kitchen this week.”

            “I feel excited because now we are only 6 six vendors. At the new location, we will have more than 20 vendors,” said Pou Ma, a vendor from India. “Also, another good thing is over here we just have a small washroom, and in the new location we will have a separate dressing room. Right now, when people come in and they want to try on clothes, they have to use our washroom.”

            In addition to the kitchen, the new location will house larger spaces for vendors, an eatery and a seating area for customers. The Bazaar plans to be moved into their new location in November of this year. By Sara O'Brien and James Wright

Trees to be planted throughout West Side

Winter is around the corner and The Belle Center, in collaboration with Re-Tree Western New Work and Keep Western New Work Beautiful, plans on planting one hundred trees throughout the West Side of Buffalo.

            The project, which is expected to happen on Nov. 3, will replace the trees that were ruined during the October Storm in 2006.

            Paul Mauer, chairman of Re-Tree WNY, created the idea to plant the new trees because of the beneficial factors that trees have.

“Trees have been shown to reduce stress, produce clean air, and unite families as well because as the trees grow people also watch their families grow,” said Mauer.

All of the trees will be planted on public properties and focus on 26 municipalities where the storm had hit. This year, organizations are focusing on seven of the municipalities.

            A variety of trees will be distributed depending on the location. Pennsylvania Street, Busti Avenue, Maryland Street, Hudson Street, and Virginia Street, are some of the locations listed to have the trees planted.

The Belle Center is coordinating 25 volunteers needed for the project. Jim Pavel, president of corporation for Keep Western New York Beautiful, is responsible for recruiting the volunteers for community service projects.

            “There are a lot of people that want to help their community in one way or another,” said Pavel. “Those that volunteer are individuals in the community that want to do something in their own neighborhood.” Story by Joshua Clegatt and Stephanie Delaunay

IN DEPTH: Grant aims to improve future of W.S. kids

Since securing a five-year $625,000 grant in September, the Buffalo State College Center of Health and Social Research along with many West Side organizations are setting the groundwork to benefit West Side families.  Full story by Jessica Chetney and Chelsea Goodridge