LOST IN THE STORM...

Pictured are some of the beloved members of the community who we lost in the storm. From top left row: Demetrius Robinson, Monique Alexander, Anndel Nicole Taylor, Lederise Curry, William Clay, Timothy Murphy, Doris Williams, Morris Singer Jr.

While Blacks make up 33 percent of the population in Erie County and 14 percent in Buffalo, they account for 51 percent of those who died in the storm. So far, 42 deaths in Western New York have been attributed to the blizzard, including one in Niagara County.

Here are just some of the names we have been able to research to date. Our deepest, heartfelt sympathy to the families and loved ones of those left to mourn their memory.

•Margaret Hawkins was left without power during the blizzard from Friday to Monday (Christmas Day). When she was finally picked up by ambulance and taken to the hospital her organs had failed after severe Hyperthermia. She died of her injuries of Dec. 29.

• Demetrius Robinson carpenter & handyman. His body was found on Christmas Day - the day before his 59th birthday - in a snowbank on Clinton Street near Jefferson not far from his apartment.

•Monique Alexander, 52, left her house on Christmas Eve. She was later found frozen and covered in snow.

•Abdul Sharifu, 26, left his pregnant wife at home on Christmas Eve to go for groceries. His car was found abandoned on the corner of Main and Utica. A Congolese refugee, his body was later identified by a friend at Children’s Hospital.

•Carolyn Eubanks, 63, who had no electricity to run her oxygen machine, died despite her son Antwaine Parker and his step brother Kenneth Johnson’s heroic efforts to get to her. When they got there, they had to park two blocks from her house and walk her back to the vehicle, but Mrs. Eubanks, who had a heart condition, was unable to make the walk and collapsed and died in her sons arms. Knocking on doors and seeking help, a neighbor, David Purdy and his fiancée Cassieopia Layhee, let them in and kept the body at their home for about 24 hours before it was taken to ECMC.

•Anndel Nicole Taylor 22 got stuck driving home from work. She called repeatedly for emergency services but none ever came she was in contact with her family and eventally fell asleep. She was found dead in her car on Christmas Eve .

•William Clay, 56 was found frozen in a snowbank.

•Timothy M. Murphy, 27, died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by heavy snow covering the external furnace.

•Lederise Curry, known as "Nicky" to her friends, died around 2:15 a.m. Monday from an apparent asthma attack. Rescuers were slowed in reaching her house due to the aftermath of the Buffalo blizzard. She was 46.

•Morris Singer Jr., 65, was found dead in a snowbank at the height of the storm. He got within a block of his house on Broadway but could not walk any further.

Miss Doris Williams known as Mama Doris 91, died cold, and alone in her dark apartment after all the power and heat went out at LBJ Senior Housing Development Complex on December 23, 2022. Neither loved ones nor the 911 Rescue Teams could come to her aid until early morning on December 25. Despite their best efforts, she was found frozen and unresponsive.

A YEAR OF PRAYER continued from page 6 our alone time with God.

3. Ask for God’s will.

The one thing we can know with absolute certainty is that God’s plan for those who love him is good, and the safest place we can be is in the center of His divine will.

4. Say what you need. The Bible says, “You do not have because you do not ask God.”

5. Ask for forgiveness. James 5:16 reminds us that if we want our prayers to be heard, our hearts need to be right with God and with one another.

6. Pray with a friend. There is power in agreement when we pray in Jesus’ name.

7. Pray the Word. “The Word of God has power and is our great spiritual weapon... Pray the Word.” Jesus did the same when he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness (see Luke 4:1-12).

8. Memorize Scripture. Even a few minutes a day in the Word of God will add strength and authority to your prayers in 2023.

MAYOR BYRON W. BROWN

Honors the REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Jan. 16, 2023 marks the 28th anniversary of the national day of service. This day was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

On this special day, let’s reflect and study how The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made our City, Country and world a better place to live, as we continue to work together to foster a more inclusive and equitable Buffalo.

As we celebrate the vision and the Prophet Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , our focus should be on Keeping The Dream Alive by being responsible for extending a helping hand to everyone. We have much to do with breaking the chains of ignorance, destroying the divisive nature of acceptance of race, creed, religion, and gender.

This past year has been very harsh and trying. Our city has yet to be healed from the ungodly act of terrorism and hate. We must yet herald that peaceful protest yet make a difference to increase a better way of living.

Let's strive to be free at last from the devalue of lives. All lives matter, and we should protect our neighbors, and keep our hearts inoculated against society's genocidal infectious germ. We must upgrade our intellectual intake to a level of respect of self and others. We were not born to be savages and disrespectful on purpose. We must ask ourselves, what can I do to help somebody along life's way?

"Let us live and let live."

The Dream Can't Die!

Attorney General James to Hold Public Hearing on Mental Health Access in Western New York

New York Attorney General Le- titia James announced that her office will hold its second inperson public hearing concerning the provision of mental health care for people with serious mental illness in the Western New York region. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 18, at 11 AM at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, and members of the public, advocacy groups, and healthcare providers are encouraged to testify. Individuals who wish to provide oral testimony at the hearing must submit their testimony online in writing by 5 PM on Wednesday, January 11, and written testimony will be accepted online through January 18.

For those who can't attend James' hearing in person, it also will be live streamed on the attorney general's websiteat https://ag.ny.gov/livestream .

James' hearing comes as the need for mental health services in Western New York, and across the country, has skyrocketed in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Buffalo, in particular, has had a difficult, trauma-filled last eight months, starting with the racist mass shooting on May 14 at Tops on Jefferson Avenue that left 10 people dead and three wounded. Then, just in the last couple of weeks, a Christmas weekend blizzard claimed at least 44 victims, a tragic fire in Buffalo killed five young children and, most recently, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed in cardiac arrest during a game, shocking millions of fans across the world.

Eat To Live

Winter Is A Time to Focus on Your Kidneys & Bladder

Winter is also a time to focus on care for Your Kidneys/ Bladder.

Beneficial foods for the kidneys include brown rice, buckwheat, adzuki beans, sturdy greens, roots, winter squash, seaweeds (kombu, hijiki, miso soup, arme and watermelon extract.

Additional good winter foods that support the kidneys and bladder include warm herbal teas with ginger, licorice root and cinnamon; an abundance of

Moon Watch

New Moon: January 21

vegetable and bean soups (to promote kidney cleansing); lettuce, turnip, celery, asparagus, alfalfa, rye, oats, quinoa and amaranth; gar- lic, black pepper, cloves, flaxseed oil; black beans, chicken, wild salmon; tofu, lentils, spirulina, blackberries, blueberries lemon juice, and cranberry juice.

Winter is a time for storing and conserving energy – to slow down, rejuvenate, rest, nourish our inner life, restore our foundations anddeepen our roots – within ourselves, within our family our spiritual community and faith.

Billie

It's the first New Moon of 2023! This New Moon is asking you to wake up! The New Moon is called the Seed Moon. It is a time of sprouting and new beginnings. It’s also a time to spiritually wake up! It’s time to cut the cords to the past. This is one of the biggest messages from this New Moon. Let go of anything that does not serve you…Cherokee

M&T Bank Announces Pitch Competition Winners for its Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab

M&T Bank recently announced the winners of its Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab pitch competition, which was held at Canisius College. Ari Parson PR, a marketing and public relations agency led by Porsha Ari Parson, earned the $10,000 top prize to accelerate the growth of her business. Kiper Moving and Transportation was awarded the $6,000 second prize, and MOBE Kitchen & Bath Remodeling received the $4,000 third prize.

The Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab was created by M&T Bank to empower racially and ethnically diverse entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses that strengthen neighborhoods and meet local market needs. Organized in collaboration with Canisius College, the sixweek program provides business education, guidance and resources to help small business owners gain expertise in effective business planning, understanding credit, accessing capital, networking, marketing and more.

Over 50 local entrepreneurs participated in this year’s Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab in Buffalo, and seven program finalists earned an opportunity to pitch their business during a Shark Tank-style competition. A total of $20,000 in funding from M&T Bank was awarded to the pitch competition’s top three businesses.

“As a bank for communities, we’re grateful for this opportunity to make a difference for our city’s multicultural small businesses.” said Eric Feldstein, M&T Bank Regional President for Western New York.

Finalists included: Luv Me Onesie, led by Lamiyah Jabar; Salud Market, led by Marielyn Santiago; The ETECH Foundation, led by Munirah Ali; and St. Brian Clothiers, LLC, led by Dewitt Lee.

ON STAGE AT THE PAUL ROBESON THEATRE…

The African American Cultural Center’s Paul Robeson Theatre, 350 Masten Avenue, will present “The Niceties,” by Eleanor Burgess, directed by Yao Kahlil Newkirk February 10-19. For tickets go to www.AACCBuffalo.org or call the Paul Robeson Theatre at (716)884-2013. “Celebrating Women who Lead,” this is the Theatre’s 55th season.

THE SNOWY DAY AND OTHER STORIES ON STAGE AT THEATRE OF YOUTH!

Ezra Jack Keats images

JUMP Off the page from his books in Theatre of Youth upcoming production of THE SNOWY DAY AND OTHER STORIES, which opens this Friday, January 13 at 2pm and continues through February 4 and 5. All showtimes are scheudled for 2p.m.. The 1962 publication is an all time favorite from its time to the present especially for African American Children where through colorful illustration could identify with characters who looked like them. This classic story is one you don't want to miss. The play is directed by Annette Daniels Taylor with costume design by Rashaad Holley, set design by Ron Schwartz, music director Joe Isgar. Cast includes Megan Rakeepile (Mom, Archie, Amy, various kid voices) Davida Tolbert (Peter) Roderick Garr (Dad, Willie, Pepe, Boys and various kid voices). Tickets and more info at TheatreOfYouth.org.