429 Rhode Island to house 3 businesses

Buffalo native Frits Abell stands in front of 429 Rhode Island St., which is the seventh building Abell has renovated since 2011. Some of his other buildings house restaurants, homes and businesses, but this location will host a coffee shop, Pilates studio and art studio. Abell said he decided to restore buildings on the West Side because he loves the cultural diversity and architecture of the area, and he saw opportunity there. Abell wants to make an impact on the community, restoring one building at a time. By Jillian LeBlanc and Christina Stuart

City gets serious about filling potholes

Construction worker Bryan Kopinski and his crew recently closed two blocks on Forest Avenue to repair a large pothole on Forest Avenue and Dart Street. Kopinski, an employee of E.J. Militello Concrete, says he has repaired numerous streets on the West Side since the beginning of the season, and he is happy about the city’s attention to road damage. “Buffalo fell behind on it for decades but now they are pumping a lot of money into the streets with paving and fixing the potholes, I think in a few years Buffalo’s streets will be a lot better,” Kopinski said. In addition to the city’s commitment to repair road damage, Mayor Byron Brown issued a 48-hour pothole repair guarantee with allows Buffalo residents to call and report any pothole, and one of seven repair crews will fix the damaged street. By Gregory Garrett and Osman Shire

Green Sun Seed Library and Bank has plans

 

The Green Sun Seed Library and Bank is a group based on the West Side that shares seeds, plants and gardening tips to promote organic plant culture. The group of over a hundred members held its first seed swap event in early April to exchange seeds and ideas with one another. The Green Sun Seed Library and Bank is working on becoming a non-profit organization and would like to develop a West Side refugee gardening program within the group as well. By Jillian Leblanc and Christina Stewart

Gypsy Parlor prepares patio for Summer fun

Felicia Fullmer, manager of the Gypsy Parlor on 376 Grant St., prepares the patio for its official opening on May 1. The patio will feature Saturday and Sunday brunches, reggaenights, belly dancing and DJ shows. The Gypsy Parlor serves a variety of West Side-inspired dishes to appeal to the different cultures in the area. Fullmer says Gypsy Parlor appreciates the West Side’s diverse cultures and wants to be a part of it. The Gypsy Parlor will participate in the Taste of Buffalo July 8-9.  
                                                                         By Rayven Satterfield

Colleges weigh in on Excelsior Scholarship

           The New York state budget was passed on April 9, allocating $153.1 billion in state funds. Part of the budget was the Excelsior Scholarship.

The Excelsior Scholarship will be available Fall 2017. Students, whose family income is under $100,000, will be eligible the first year. The program will expand over the next years to include families making up to $125,000 a year.

College students who do not receive enough New York Tuition Assistance Program funds and Federal Pell Grants will be given the Excelsior Scholarship. However, the scholarship is a Last Dollar Scholarship that will not be disbursed if the student’s grants surpass the cost of tuition.

Dean J. Reinhart, Ph.D., associate director of admissions at SUNY Buffalo State –located at 1300 Elmwood Ave., described its impact at the public institution.

“Over 90 percent of our students would be eligible, potentially. They’d meet the adjusted gross income as a family. You must keep in mind that the majority of those students already acquire full TAP, full Pell and this scholarship is known as the ‘Last Dollar’ in,” he said.

Steve Smith, director of undergraduate admissions at D’Youville College, questions the effect it will have on his campus, located at 320 Porter Ave.

“We don’t know what the impact is going to be. We understand that the nature of the scholarship is a number of requirements that the students need to fill post-graduation,” he said. “We hope that our array of health care programs here at D’Youville helps us stay competitive.”

Josh Larcom is a junior health and wellness major at Canisius College, 2001 Main St. He feels the Excelsior Scholarship would not have affected his decision to attend a private institution.

“If I were able to go to a SUNY school for free, yeah, maybe I would’ve thought about it,” Larcom said. “I still think I would have chosen Canisius.” By Dan Almasi, Nick Fass and Andrew Kuczkowski

Cherry Blossom Fest set for April 29-May 6

The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival will return once again at the Olmsted Park Conservancy’s Japanese Garden, located in Delaware Park. The festival will run from April 29 to May 6.

The annual event, hosted in front of the Buffalo History Museum, has aimed to support the upkeep of the Cherry Tree Grove planted in the Japanese Garden while allowing Buffalo to celebrate springtime.

This year’s festival includes a preview of Madame Butterfly, presented by Buffalo Opera Unlimited, an Asian food fusion party, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, and a special appearance from the Kanazawa Jazz Ensemble, among other events.  

Festival Co-Chairman Paula Hinz feels that the partnership between the Olmsted Parks Conservancy and the City of Buffalo has been valuable for both parties regarding the festival.

“The effort to maintain and preserve parkland across the Olmsted system has increased the quality of life throughout Buffalo.  This makes Buffalo a desirable place to live, work, and visit, which is excellent for our city.  The city and Conservancy share a unique partnership, and we are proud and pleased that the success of the Cherry Blossom Festival is a factor, which benefits that relationship,” Hinz said. 

While maintaining Olmsted Parks has had a positive impact on the West Side and the rest of Buffalo, Hinz says there is always a need for more help, volunteers, equipment and funding.  

"Our proceeds from the festival go to support the maintenance, care, and seasonal workers in the Japanese Garden.  It’s a critical to this beautiful special place that's free for all to enjoy,” Hinz said. By Jessica Freda and Meaghan Michel

Books for Kids drive continues to April 30

         Books for Kids is hosting its annual drive and collecting new children’s books for distribution on the West Side and throughout Western New York.

         Throughout 22 years of service, this organization has distributed 2.5 million books to disadvantaged children, schools, and community service organizations that partner with lending libraries including West Side Community Services.

         “Some kids can’t afford to buy books. They probably don’t even get the opportunity to go to the library so when we get the books here at the center, they have an opportunity to take one home,” said Danette Porto, director of operations at West Side Community Services.

         Locals looking to get involved can donate books through April 30 at the Niagara Branch Library on 280 Porter Ave.

         New children’s book also can be delivered to Books for Kids at the following locations:

                  • The Buffalo News, Washington and Scott streets

                  • Wegmans, all Erie and Niagara county locations

                  • Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries, all locations

                  • Raymour & Flanigan, all Erie County locations

                  • Mattress Firm,  all Erie County locations

                  • Dipson Movie Theaters, Erie and Niagara county locations

                  • Tom’s Restaurant,  3221 Sheridan Drive, Amherst

         Last year, the program collected over 50,000 brand new children’s books. By Dan Carapetyan and Georgina Hallowell