Mark Croce/Artspace/Buffalo Culture On The Ice/Hearts for Homeless/Hot Chocolate pg. 30
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B
uffalo has gotten a bad rap when it comes to weather, especially winter. We all know that our region, on a typical winter enjoys our fair share of snow, like any city in the Northeast. But, for a number of reasons Buffalo has gotten the reputation of being one of the snow capitals of the country. On page 22 we (with the help of a number of data miners including buffaloresearch.com) debunk some of the myths about our region’s weather and yet our cover story celebrates the region’s assets when it comes to things to enjoy in the winter, namely skiing. It’s an interesting dichotomy. On one hand we despise the label of our city being a snow capital and on the other hand we have assets that help us enjoy the colder months. There is one camp that tries to educate the country that Buffalo really isn’t the snow capital the country thinks it is. On the other hand ski resorts and winter sports lovers try to convince locals to get out and embrace the cold and enjoy winter activities. In our cover story and throughout this issue you will find that tension existing, it’s something that Buffalonians live with. Also in this issue we introduce THRiVE! For A Cause a new initiative adopting a worthy cause and an affiliated non-profit. Then we educate readers, support local business and raise awareness and money for a hard working non-profit. This issue we selected Hearts for the Homeless, a ministry based in Buffalo’s Riverside District on Buffalo’s West Side. In this new section you can explore the issue of poverty and homelessness and then get involved by participating in our 30 Day Challenge. The challenge will take place the month of March and you can stay in touch, participate and win cool prizes by liking us on Facebook and or by subscribing to our daily email for the 30 Days. Your participation can and will make a difference. Thanks again for reading and as always feel free to send your comments and opinions to kyle@thrivebuffalo.org.
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Thanks,
Kyle Patterson, Publisher and Editor
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The Winter Fun City
Winter doesn’t have to be a drag. Here are a few ways to get out and enjoy the season.
Kawelle, a Buffalo based non-profit organization serving and supplying distressed schools, students and teachers in Liberia and Kenya hosted its first “Ugly Sweater” 5k Run/Walk to raise funds for schools in Liberia and Kenya on Saturday, December 10th. The race started and finished on Glen Avenue near Glen Falls Park in Williamsville. With a donation of $25 participants were able to participate in the 5k while wearing their ugliest holiday sweater. They also received a free hooded sweatshirt at the end of the race. All profits from the sale of registration went toward helping with the mission of supplying schools in Liberia and Kenya with adequate school supplies. With proper and adequate educational resources, a virtuous and thorough education can be provided in the efforts of escaping unrelenting poverty. For more information you can visit www.kawelle.org.
25 HR. BUSINESS MAKEOVER
MERCYME
CANALSIDE
The annual New Year’s Ball drop in downtown Buffalo behind the Electric Tower attracted another great year end turn out. Independent Health has been sponsoring healthy New Year’s Eve celebrations in Western New York including First Night Buffalo and the ball drop for a number of years and continues to attract a big turn out.
Ad Agency Crowley Webb awarded their newest client You And Who, a Buffalo based t-shirt designer and producer (with a cool mission to give away one shirt every time you buy one similar to Toms Shoes) with a 25 hour work day (straight through, no breaks, etc) doing what Crowley Webb does best--identity, design, branding and strategy for the startup to take them to the next level in their business.
MERCYME and special guest Bebo Norman came to the University of Buffalo’s Center for the Arts this past December for a night of Christmas inspiration. The strong dedication that MercyMe has shown to their music and ideology has helped the band reach a higher level of success than many of their contemporaries. Their career first took off in 2001 with the number one crossover smash, "I Can Only Imagine."
The search for an anchor tenant continues at Canalside with the community speaking out in favor of a local tenant rather than a heavily subsidize national chain that takes money away from the local economy.
SNOWMEN FORTS IGLOO TUBING
cocoa
HAPPY NEW YEAR
M
FIRES
SKIING
HOT CHOCOLATE WALKS
COFFEE
PLOWS
BAKING
SLEDDING
SKATING
everywhere
FISHING
snow FUN
Approval of UB’s NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant application by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher provides a critical piece of funding needed for UB to move ahead with its UB 2020 plan for academic excellence. In securing the $35 million Challenge Grant—together with additional funding provided through the NYSUNY 2020 legislation approved by the state Legislature in June—UB will move ahead with plans to hire new faculty across the university, expand its academic offerings and facilities for all students, and relocate the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
Every year for the past four years Buffalo City Mission in conjunction with technology partner Noobis launches their campaign to raise funds to continue ministering to the poor and homeless. Since February is one of the coldest winter months in WNY there is no better time to do it. Because of that—this is also the time when many families in our area must make heartbreaking choices between rent costs, heating bill and feeding their families. Locals are encouraged to join and help "Stamp Out Hunger" through hungerhunt.com.
Tom Brady's careless (and uninformed) comment about Buffalo hotels sparked a wave of local reaction including but not limited to The Mansion on Delaware Avenue (MoDA). The luxury hotel has offered Tom Brady a free night stay in the luxurious hotel in downtown Buffalo and opened up a Facebook contest for participants on the social media site to join in the fun. Participants were encouraged to simply post, "Tom doesn't know what he is missing" on MoDA's Facebook wall and share it with your friends. Overall a fun way to build Buffalo camaraderie around a dirty shot at Buffalo.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Member and former Buffalo Bills Quarterback Jim Kelly, his wife Jill, and the Hunter’s Hope Foundation, hosted the 14th Annual Hunter’s Day of Hope for Children on Saturday, February 11 at the Buffalo Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse in Orchard Park. This free community event took place from 1:00PM - 4:00PM and included food, activities and entertainment for the whole family.
On January 1, 2012, Mark C. Poloncarz was sworn in as Erie County’s eighth County Executive during a ceremony held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Poloncarz said, “We’re going to do it by working together, finding common ground, listening and respecting one another. Erie County is much more than any one of us or any one place. It’s urban, suburban and rural communities; its cities, towns, villages and even a few hamlets….And although issues and opinions differed from one place to another, we need to realize that we are all in this together. I am here today because Democrats and Republicans, Conservatives, Liberals and Independents put their faith in me.”
LOCAL VIBE
Joni Stovroff and team launched “Sold on Buffalo” a new initiative promoting the region.
Joni Stovroff (left) and Jacque Taylor, principals of two of the fastest growing WNY companies.
Members of the Stovroff Taylor "Sold on Buffalo" relocation team: Left to Right Brendan Cunningham, Joni Stovroff, Mia Banazak, Joe Genevese, Carol Esposito and Jacque Taylor.
SOLD on Buffalo A lot of people may say they are sold on Buffalo, but there is one company that is putting its money where its mouth is. Anyone that has lived here for a few years will probably have heard of the name Stovroff. Joni Stovroff, together with her partner Jacque Taylor are owners of two of the fastest growing Western New York companies the last three years in a row, one of them a Real Estate company, the other a travel agency. Both of them bear the moniker of Stovroff & Taylor. In January of 2012 they rolled out their newest program, appropriately called “SOLD on Buffalo.” Paradoxically, neither Joni nor Jacque is from Buffalo yet both chose to make their homes here. “We love it here: the theater, the awesome and affordable restaurants, the 20 minute average commuting time, the Bills,
the Sabres, the Bisons, the Bandits, and the fact that we have probably the best and most affordable housing stock in the nation. It’s just a great town. From the Delaware District, to Depew, from Allentown to East Aurora, from Snyder to Swormsville, Buffalo and its surrounding area is just the coolest place to live anywhere. We are SOLD on Buffalo.” Having said that, one of the biggest challenges HR managers, employers, and relocation departments face is not so much getting people to take the job; it is convincing them that taking the job in Buffalo is not some cruel form of punishment or a bad joke. Many of you have heard former Bills say they blanched when they heard that they actually might have to live in Buffalo only to hear them change their tunes after they lived here for a while. The list of happy émigrés is extensive and so many professionals eagerly decided to stay here and plant roots, long after their careers ended because they liked the Buffalo lifestyle so much. That’s where this new program comes in. The “SOLD on Buffalo” program is designed to do two things. First, it
greatly allays employers’ concerns that their would-be employees will get the proper introduction to our town so they get sold on the area, before they decide not to take a position. The bad publicity about the area and weather need to be put to rest. And no, it really doesn’t snow here in July and August. To that end, Stovroff & Taylor Realtors have assembled a special team of agents who are sold on Buffalo themselves. Agents work with incoming out of towners and in effect, become Buffalo best good will ambassadors. The second part of the program is to give an extra something back to the community. For each home sold through the program, a portion of the firm’s professional fee will either be directed to the “Buffalo in Bloom” project— an organization dedicated to beautifying the city through gardens or to a charity of the employers choosing. It’s a good thing no matter how you cut it and numerous business owners have jumped on this value added service in an effort to build their organizations and attract the best talent to their teams. As one would expect, this won’t be the first time Joni Stovroff (Business First Woman of the Year in 2010) will be caught making WNY an even better place to live. Quite to the contrary, she was also recognized for her beautification project in 2009 by the Chamber of Commerce in Orchard Park for her work in revitalizing and improving what is now known as the Stovroff Center on North Buffalo Rd. As a result of her commitment and continuing investment to the place she calls home, it has become one of the busiest plazas in the entire town and attracted several new and exciting businesses. What can I tell you, “I’m sold on Buffalo and all of its other communities.”!
THiNK LOCAL
Di Camillo Bakery
Back in 1920 one married couple, Tomaso and Addolorata Di Camillo, took the warmth and love from their Italian kitchen and generously offered it to the residents of the Niagara Falls and Buffalo regions. They opened their first bakery on 14th street in Niagara Falls with their 11 children, who were all willing to lend helping hands. While some families bond over music or sports— this family bonded over food. “It started in a three story commercial building,” said Michael Di Camillo, grandson of Tomas and Addolorata. “The store was on the first floor, the bakery was in the cellar and they lived on the third floor. The building is still standing.” Michael, who currently works in the bakery, continues the tradition of making their famous Italian bread and cookies, along with a wide variety of other savory treats that were once delivered to neighbors by horse-drawn wagons and are now sent to customers all over the world. “I think there’s like four leading items, but the main one is the Italian breads that we make, which are the Scaletta breads,” said Michael. “Our Biscotti we ship all over the world. Locally in the retail stores certainly our peanut donuts and Romano pizza are popular too.” The Scaletta bread is a handmade loaf that is also referred to as Italian “curly bread.” This hearty bread is crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. It can only be shipped out on Mondays and Tuesdays to ensure freshness, which is one aspect they go to great lengths to guarantee. Their Scaletta breads range from $2.65 for a small loaf to $4.65 for a large loaf. JoAnn “Distefano” Blatner has been an employee at Di Camillo Bakery at the Williamsville location for two years.
“I love working here,” said Blatner. “The customers are great and a lot of fun.” Blatner says not only does the bakery carry traditional Italian bread, but they also pay homage to other heritages, as they are stocked with a wide variety of unique breads, such as the Placek, which is a Polish type of bread, Irish Sweet bread and Armenian bread. In addition they also sell cracked wheat bread, whole bread, rye bread, home-style bread and round bread. At Christmas time the bakery also sells their seasonal Panettone bread, which they wrap in festive shiny red paper topped with a bow to celebrate the holiday season. “Panettone is an Italian type of sweet bread and ours are brought right in from Italy,” said Blatner. “They tend to sell out very quickly. It has a baked almond crust on top. It’s delicious just on its own, toasted and some people buy it to make French toast. There are fruits in it and again it’s very traditional Italian.” The specialty desserts at Di Camillo look just as delicious as they taste and are made to perfection, while remaining reasonable in price. “As far as the pastries my favorite would be the Napoleon,” said Blatner. “There are two different types of cream in it, then it’s topped with chocolate, so it’s pretty much perfect.” Other treats on the menu to satisfy any sweet tooth include the éclair, cannoli, tiramisu, custard puff, Napoleon, ladylock, chocolate fudge tart, walnut butter tart and mini Cassatta cake. These desserts range from $1.10 being the cheapest for the custard puff and $4.99 for the mini-Cassatta cake, being the most expensive. Along with these desserts they also sell doughnuts, which include the peanut stix, chocolate iced custard, chocolate iced cream, (Continued pg. 51)
special advertising section
SHOP LOCAL BUFFALO
877-58-PEACE (73223) www.RKLFinancial.com
GOOD
An Interview with Co-Founder and Director of Kawelle, Dan Corrigan. Kawelle serves children in Africa with school supplies and other needed resources.
Why Africa? What stirred your heart to start a non-profit supporting education overseas? First, as a teacher by trade education is a passion of mine and I have become well aware of how a focus in education can change lives and make dreams of students come true. It wasn't until college that I realized how fortunate I was growing up to receive a free public education that would allow me to pursue any avenue I chose. It’s something most students here in the states take for granted by wanting days off, enjoying days where a substitute teacher may just show a video, or by putting forth limited effort to just get by. I was inspired through many texts which described the educational systems overseas and how they very much differed from what I was used to. My growing knowledge of various oversea educational systems grew further when I met my wife, Jaclyn, who spent many months volunteering in Liberia as a dental hygienist. She met numerous young people and become a part of the community while she was there. She told me stories and showed me pictures of the lives of the youth in Liberia and the in-adequate educational system where students have no supplies and resources to attend schools, and where in many rural areas there is no school to even attend. The need is much greater in the areas we serve and our passion for Africa stems from that. The second area of focus, Kisumu Kenya, came through discussions with Future in Our Hands (FOH) which helps to support teachers at Kanyamedha Mixed Secondary school in Kisumu Ken-
ya. since the teachers there receive no salary; only that which the non-profit FOH donates. As we began planning the trip, FOH arranged for us to stay with a teacher they sponsor named Paul. We began speaking with Paul about what we could do at the school once we arrived. We never took the missions trip with FOH, because we soon realized that Paul and Kanyamedha Mixed Secondary school was in much need for something greater than just two people looking for a missions trip; they needed school supplies and professional development that could be investments for the future of their students. We saw a community with leaders who would take hold of and pursue their missions to succeed, but they needed help. We decided that we needed to do something for these two communities and soon asked friends of ours, Courtney McCann and Yan Shmatnik, if they would volunteer in adopting a mission to help bring the dreams of these students to fruition, thus starting Kawelle. Both are extremely talented, humble, and passionate individuals. Yan does web and graphic design through his business, Klyk Studios and offered to create the web appeal of Kawelle. Courtney aids with her resilient attitude, willingness to make a difference, extremely creative ideas, and as Kawelle's sole grant writer. Your working on sending your first container of supplies, what do you hope it accomplishes and where specifically is it going? The supplies will be going to both the school in Bong County Liberia and the school in Kisumu Kenya. They will provide students the ability to receive a better, more profitable education. Their imaginations will be put to work through the novels they receive. The expansion of knowledge on topics they never heard of will be gained from the textbooks they receive. They will be able to study what they have learned due to being able to take books home with backpacks and the reviewing of notes they took using pencils and paper. What else is on your heart to do through Kawelle? Never will Kawelle be an organization that thinks we know what is best for the communities we serve. These communities already have the answers to their problems yet lack the resources to act. Kawelle's
mission is focused around empowering those communities, helping them to become self-sufficient, and aiding in getting the resources to them they need. Our mission is simply the dreams and aspirations that already exist within the students of these communities. How can people get involved? People can get involved through any number of ways: 1) Pray 2) Spread the word by educating others about the need that exists within these communities. Doing this first will then help people to want to get more involved with any of the suggestions below. 3) Hold a Kawelle fundraiser such as a gift basket auction, garage sale, office gathering, benefit dinner, etc. 4) Organize clubs in your school, child's school, or college that support Kawelle with educating, fundraising, and supply collecting. Service clubs can be a huge help. 5) Attend our events. We hold a few events a year that we hope are family fun and enjoyable for all who attend. Attendance at these events helps raise awareness and funds for Kawelle. 6) Donate any denomination to Kawelle through our website. We are 100% volunteer with no staff and all donations go strictly towards our cause.
Where do you see the organization in five years? We hope to have regular donors and partnerships, sponsorships and scholarships for students, have the teachers receiving our professional development become the trainers themselves for newer teachers, and create a holistic school in each community by creating sports programs and youth development programs.!
W
hile Buffalo continually lands the reputation of being the snow capital of the East, we haven't yet landed the reputation for our great ski destinations, even amongst locals much less the rest of the country.
The fact is we do, on a normal winter, get our fair share of the winter flurries but with the snow we also have a variety of options (namely skiing in this article) to get out and enjoy the snow and the cold rather than just shovel it. And for the winters when we don't necessarily get all the snow we had expected, our resorts are equipped with the equipment to make it and keep it as long as the temperatures remain cold. Pre-historic Nordic people and Sami skied to assist in hunting, military maneuvers, and as a practical means of transportation. The main purpose one could fairly say was the survival of winter. In modern times skiing is still serving the same purpose if you think about it. It continues to serve as a survival of sorts for the long winter months. Now we may not think about it like that on the forefront but it’s true, Buffalonians and any area sustaining 3-4 months of cold needs something to escape the routine and drudgery of the winter months and skiing has been doing that since its inception. The sport has since of course progressed into a popular recreational and athletic hobby for those with the means and at times dare to enjoy it. Tim Fancher of Lockport has been enjoying the winter months this year with his 6-year old twins at Kissing Bridge. He stated, "Skiing is definitely a life sport and the perception of future winters with my wife and kids includes enjoying this as a family! It’s hard to describe the awesome feeling of cruising down a nicely groomed slope but it’s something I would encourage everyone to try at least once.
We’re fortunate to have multiple ski areas in WNY and it really is a fun way to embrace the “white gold” that may come off of Lake Erie by the foot!” In this spirit of enjoying the white gold we have uncovered some of the destinations that make Western New York a destination ski town. While we don't have the mountains of Colorado or Vermont, collectively our region has plenty of ways to get out and break the winter blues. Skiing is one of those sports that once you learn, you're pretty much good for life. While life throws the curves at you where you miss a season or two, once you strap the skies back on, it's like you never left. Here's a quick look at what Western New York has to offer from beginner to advanced. Holiday Valley Holiday Valley is known as the Aspen of the East because of the similar quaint towns with shops, boutiques, quality restaurants and entertainment options that surround both resorts. The resort has garnered an incredible reputation for its ability to deliver a great ski experience time and again with great amenities surrounding the resort. Holiday Valley includes fifty-eight slopes and 13 lifts (including three high speed quads) that are spread over four distinct faces that offer challenging steeps, gentle cruisers, glades and fun terrain parks. A mountain coaster ride adds to the wintertime thrills. Three beautiful base lodges provide full service dining, marketplaces and coffee bars as well as ski and snowboard rentals and repair. Fantastic children’s ski programs and on-site day
care means convenience and flexibility for families. Comfortable lodging is available on the slopes and in nearby Ellicottville, a quaint ski town with shops, restaurants and après-ski fun. The amenities provided attract regular skiers from Canada, Pennsylvania and Ohio on a regular basis. New for this year, in January the resort opened SnowPine Quad Chairlift, a $650,000 chairlift and Holiday Valley’s tenth quad chairlift. The lift was constructed over the summer by the resort’s Mountain Crew and has a capacity of 1,600 skiers per hour almost doubling the capacity of a double chair and enhancing the ski-in, ski-out access to the SnowPine Village condominiums. Holiday Valley is recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers and is approximately 32 miles from Buffalo. Kissing Bridge Kissing Bridge located in Glenwood, NY prides itself on creating a fun and stimulating ski experience for the whole family. The 36 slopes measure a full 1-1/4 miles wide, encompass 700 acres of terrain and are served by nine lifts. The slopes are divided into the North, Central, and South areas, and are serviced by two base lodges, a ski and snowboard shop and full rental facilities. With snow making capabilities and plenty of kids programs to get the whole family on skis, Kissing Bridge has become the premier ski resort in Erie County. The 700 acres that make up Kissing Bridge are south of Orchard Park past Colden located in the country setting of Glenwood, approximately 15 miles from Buffalo. The difficulty level is beginner to intermediate with each slope offering a different experience.
Holimont A private ski resort started in 1961 in Ellicottville, Holimont has been serving families and sports enthusiasts for over 50 years. Touted as North America’s largest private ski area devoted to family skiing adventures (without the normal crowds because it is private), Holimont offers over 50 slopes and trails and 8 lifts to get you out and about. Located 32 miles from Buffalo, weekday visits are open to non-members. Peek-N-Peak Roughly 80 miles from Buffalo, Peek-N-Peak offers 7 days a week skiing on 27 slopes and trails serviced by eight chairlifts and an extensive snow making system. Ski/snowboard equipment and helmet rentals are available as well as lessons for all levels given by trained, professional instructors. Turn a trip to Peek-N-Peak into a mini vacation with a visit to nearby Splash Lagoon, a fun family experience. At Peek-N-Peak you'll enjoy miles of terrain for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, snow tubing for all ages, three progression terrain parks and half pipe and direct access to the Chautauqua Lake snowmobile trail system Emery Park Emery Park located just past East Aurora in South Wales is the ideal spot for children to learn the sport of skiing. With the T-Bar operating from 11 AM- 7:30 PM on weekends and holidays, and from 3 PM- 8 PM on weekdays (weather permitting) and the cozy fireplaces at the ski lodge make Emery Park ideal for the beginner skier.
1405 Olde Road Findley Lake, NY 716-355-4141 www.pknpk.com
6557 Holiday Valley Road Ellicottville 716-699-2345 www.holidayvalley.com
6921 Rte. 242 Ellicottville, NY 14731 716-699-2320 Snow Phone: 716-699-4720 www.holimont.com
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EMERY PARK 2084 Emery Road South Wales (716) 858-8355 www.erie.gov/parks/emery.asp
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10296 State Rd Glenwood, NY 716-592-4963 Snow Phone 716-592-4961 www.kbski.com
Is The Grass Greener On The Other Side? Buffalo, despite its many positive attributes has managed to get a really bad wrap when it comes to our weather. A closer look however, reveals that the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side. Our examination shows it may be isolated incidences coupled with a lot of media attention that has given Buffalo this reputation.
Was a year that attracted national attention to Buffalo as the snow capital of the country. Though the storm wasn’t large enough to make the top 10 storms of the century, it began a “downhill slide” for the region. 2012 however is proving to reverse the curse.
Despite popular belief, Buffalo is not even a top ten snowiest city. Nor is our city within the top 10 coldest in the country.
(BELOW) Average July Temperatures
SOURCE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE/BUFFALORESEARCH.COM
SOURCE WEATHER.COM
Figures as of February 16, 2012
SOURCE WWW.GOLDENSNOWBALL.COM
(BELOW) Average temperature throughout the 4 Buffalo seasons
From the months of June through August Buffalo boasts 67% sunshine, higher than comparable Northeast cities like Albany, Boston, NYC and Baltimore.
SOURCE WWW.ERSYS.COM
ART
o N 001 THIS IS THRIVE FOR A CAUSE. A BI-MONTHLY INSERT RAISING AWARENESS AND EDUCATING READERS ON PRACTICAL WAYS TO COMBAT ILLS FACING OUR CITY.
For A Cause
www.thrivebuffalo.org
The Fight Against Homelessness
Since our inception in 1990 we have been blessed with support for the poor and homeless of our city from companies, churches and individuals from Western New York and beyond. Over the years this support has taken many forms. People support our mission by believing in our work and they stand behind the outreach of our mobile soup kitchen. Donors provide food and generous financial gifts that make a difference in the lives of people they don’t even know. The people of the community support Hearts Thrift Shop by donating their unwanted possessions and also by shopping in our wonderful store. In turn the thrift store is able help support the outreach of Hearts for the Homeless. All of this support, the many different forms it takes, is what allows the continuation of Hearts for the Homeless. It is in-fact made possible by people such as yourself. Our expansion for the future is based on increased support from people like you through our donation collection bins. We see a great need in the Riverside community specifically and our goal is to continue expanding. This need has created a strong vision that, if achieved, will change the lives of countless families. Family dinners play a crucial role in the fabric of healthy society. Our vision is to create a “free” family dining center. Together, parents and children would be able to come and enjoy a meal in a comfortable setting. To begin this vision we would first need to move our thrift store to
a larger facility in Riverside. This expansion would have a two-fold effect. First, a larger store would increase sales and revenue having a profound effect. This would allow the sustainability of the mobile soup kitchen, where we reach out to the chronic homeless on the streets, while also providing for the new family dinner center. Second, it will allow us to open up the space that will be needed for the family dinning center. This transformation would be an example of what Buffalo is all about, the city of good neighbors. If the last two decades have been any indication of what the next two will bring we certainly have a lot to look forward to! Your continued support will help us move ahead with our vision to make a difference in the lives of the many disadvantaged families in our city. Nick Calandra serves at Chief Operating Office at Hearts for the Homeless.
Homelessness and poverty are still a problem for select segments of Western New York. While not news. The Bad News: The plague of homelessness and poverty affect more people than we care to yourself below in our infographic and engage in our Thirty Day Challenge on the next page and
The Bad News
4,000 1/3 of Buffalo lives at poverty level. 28% have high school diplomas and in some cases college.
64.9% are homeless for the first time.
People are homeless in Buffalo on any given night. 85% of adults in homeless families are women.
33% End up homeless in attempts to escape an abusive situation.
In 2008 14.4% stated substance abuse for the reason they are on the streets. 21.5% said family problems. While only 4% said unemployment.
39,000 of the clients served by The Food Bank of WNY are under 18.
42% are concentrated in the West Side of Buffalo.
15.1% of chronically homeless adults are veterans.
$400 The average homeless person.
34%
of households had to choose between paying for food and rent or mortgage.
the most pleasant topic to focus on there is bad news and good admit. The Good News:You can be a part of the solution. Educate through social media.
The Good News
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While these stats can seem overwhelming concentrated efforts at working for change can have big results. Surveys found….
The majority of poverty in Buffalo is isolated to the East and West Sides. This means concentrated efforts can have big impact.
Ministries like Hearts for the Homeless are on ground zero every night making sure homeless men, women and children have a warm meal.
Your old clothes not only help those who don’t have access to or can’t afford shopping malls they also help support nonprofits with a mission to help the community.
Recycling old products even ones that can’t be salvaged or resold still helps thrift shops who can in turn sell the old material.
Awareness starts at home. By educating our children and teaching them about the role they can play advances good values.
For under $2 a hot meal can feed one person, one time. Your left over spare change can keep Buffalo healthy.
Research shows how important healthy family life is. Successful family life leads to successful adult life. By working to restore healthy relationships in the family there will be a chain effect. Christian organizations like Hearts for the Homeless, Buffalo City Mission and The Salvation Army to name just a few have continually worked to help the poor in Buffalo. Many times there are more to the problems of homelessness than what meets the eye. Your involvement can make a difference. By joining in the 30 Day Challenge (next page) you can win cool stuff and get educated.
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BUFFALO CULTURE Hot Chocolate, Artspace, Buffalo Style, Buffalo Bulls, Mark Croce Ice Rinks, Paget Films, Senseless, University Heights, Elmwood Restoration
Photo provided by Holiday Valley
The Best Hot Chocolate IN TOWN
TASTE While you may have a hard time getting through the line because of Taste’s popularity and lack of competition in East Aurora (Starbucks recently closed their location) the wait is worth it at this locally owned and operated shop. An order of hot chocolate is served in a glass beer mug with whipped topping by a friendly staff making Taste one of our recommended stops for a fresh glass of hot chocolate to warm you up this winter.
PANERA PANERA has made a splash entrance into WNY and has been expanding with new stores on Main Street in Williamsville, Transit and Losson in Depew and more planned. Their unique approach to delightful deserts and lunch has attracted a cult like lunch following. Their hot chocolate is no different, bringing a tasty sweet treat. Recommended with a cinnamon roll.
SPOT While everyone knows SPOT as the place to go for coffee, SPOT is becoming a popular place for lunch as well. They also offer one kicking cup of hot chocolate fittingly topped with an abundance of whipped cream and cinnamon topping, the perfect remedy for to warm up on a cold afternoon. The rich combination of Ghirardella Chocolate, steamed milk and whipped cream is top of the line. Add to it a cookie of choice and you have the perfect comfort food for a cold winter’s day. Other treats include specialty coffee, upscale beverages, fresh baked goods and friendly, neighborhood-like environment.
Buffalo Style
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By Amy Kissling Smith
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MAXIMIZE STYLE
WINTER
Wear Boots but bring your heels for inside. This way you are practical in the snow and ice and feel fashionable and sexy at the party. Nobody will look down on this, they will only wish they did the same thing as they walk around in their boots or scuffed up shoes. Mix, match and layer your sweaters. You will be warmer and look hipper. Take your turtlenecks and keep going. Add a cardigan and a belt or a short sleeve sweater of another color but keep adding for a new looks. Bring out the accessories to make some new outfits and to challenge your inner fashionista. Belt those sweaters, double the necklace, add a scarf and put a little bling in your hair to maximize your basic outfit. Switch your coat. Bring out the coat you bought but never wear or last year’s coat. IF you are like me, you own lots of coats and wear the same one every day. It has made it from your closet to the mudroom so it gets priority…change that. Wear a dress on Valentine’s day. Whether you are going on a date or out with the friends get dressed up. You have the right to look great on Valentine’s day. You don’t have to be going to a five star restaurant to wear a dress so wear one and you will feel like you are at a five star restaurant. Boots are on sale for Presidents day weekend – buy a new pair for next year. You will always need new leather boots so why not get them on sale. If yours are in good shape go for a new color – brown, camel, grey and black are always welcome in your wardrobe. Start looking at what you are wearing and what you haven’t touched this year. Put the unworn clothes together and think about getting rid of them at the end of the season. I am a true believer in getting rid of what you don’t use. Others may really appreciate them…look for a charity that would benefit from your clothes. If you put them all away at the end of the season you won’t remember next fall and they just start to pile up. Buy some new gloves, a scarf and hat. These accessories can totally change your look. I love hats that have style. Hats are so in fashion right now. If you haven’t bought a new one this season go ahead and splurge. By February you want something new to change your look, you are getting bored with your winter clothes so add a few inexpensive pieces that will change everything and make you feel stylish. Dry clean your sweaters. Not all of them, just your favorites. You have been wearing them since November…it is time to get them cleaned and a lot of sweaters require dry cleaning. Just bring a couple at a time so you aren’t stuck with a HUGE dry cleaning bill. You won’t miss a couple of sweaters out of your closet for a few days. Wear your trendy pieces. This is the end of the season and since they are IN fashion this year they may be out of style by next year. This may be your last opportunity so wear them. Most of all, enjoy your February and don’t wish it away. As you get dressed each morning, remember, a smile is your best accessory so wear it!
Amy Kissling Smith is founder of Re-Style ME a company birthed as Amy discovered how much she enjoyed helping family and friends shop for stylish clothes, find bargains, and create new looks. Amy is unique in that she delights to find new outfits using the clothes her client already owns. Then, they go shopping anywhere from designer boutiques to thrift shops to find an accessory or two to made an ordinary outfit a fashion hit. Amy is also a stay-at-home Mom who lives with her husband and 3 children.
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FASHIONABLE BUFFALO
ArtSpace Buffalo A Community Revitalization Project.
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century after they enjoyed their first wave of popularity, electric vehicles are back. Advances in technology sparked car makers to reintroduce “E-Vs” to the market in 2011, with seven new models to choose from. But electric vehicles actually have been around since the 1830s, when Dutch inventor Sibrandus Stratingh created an electromagnetic cart. From Stratingh's invention evolved cars that were manufactured in Buffalo in the early 1900s. President William McKinley was even whisked away in an electric ambulance to the hospital after being shot at the 1901 Pan-Am Exposition. David Torke, a local activist and blogger who has led historic tours for Preservation Buffalo Niagara, said the Mid-town section of Main Street was full of automobile production at the time. Electric cars were manufactured by the Buffalo Electric Carriage Company, which struggled through merger and ownership changes to become the Babcock Electric Carriage Company, then the Buffalo Electric Vehicle Company. Torke said, although Buffalo was the City of Light, the company suffered from many of the same challenges that still impede the industry today. “You had Frank Babcock's electric vehicles priced at about $3,000 apiece, which in today's dollars is equivalent to $50,000,” Torke said. “Down the street a little bit, Henry Ford was mass producing automobiles at $500 apiece, which is equivalent to about $10,000 today.” This price disadvantage limited the company's customer base to the wealthiest consumers. “Of course, Ford wins because he was producing cars at a price point that his employees could purchase, and that was not the case with Frank Babcock,” Torke said. “His market probably included the doctors and professionals one block away on Linwood Avenue, where Buffalo's finest positions lived at the time.” Also like today, the company’s cars had limited power and range compared to their gasoline competition. But what was lifechanging to the industry, according to Torke, was the 1913 introduction of the electric starter, which eliminated the need to manually crank-start gasoline cars. He said this technical advancement instantly elevated gasoline cars to the same easy level
The Remington Lofts feature a NYC Soho Loft Style Floor Plan
Included in each unit are custom kitchens with GE commercial grade appliances.
With 12 different loft layout rentals to choose from, you decide what works best for your needs.
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BUILDING BUFFALO
“NOT ONLY IS THIS AN APARTMENT BUILDING, BUT I THINK THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS ENHANCED BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS THAT COMMON THREAD OF BEING AN ARTIST,” SAID PETOCK. “IT’S THE HEARTBEAT OF THE BUILDING.” of operability as electric models and allowed gasoline to secure its dominance for the future. The Buffalo Electric Vehicle Company manufactured and sold electric vehicles at the corner of Main and Northhampton streets until 1916, when it went out of business. The building had periods of use and vacancy since. In 2005, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and converted by the Minneapolis-based Artspace Projects Inc. into residential lofts and commercial space for artists and arts organizations. It was then that the century-old former manufacturing plant became a catalyst for other high-level investments in the neighborhood. Among the development sparked by the $17 million conversion of 1219 Main Street into Artspace Buffalo Lofts was the $10 million conversion of the Packard Automobile building at 1325 Main Street into the Packard Apartments, the $6 million conversion of St. Vincent’s Orphanage at 1140 Ellicott Street into the Health Sciences Charter School and the restoration of nearby Coe Place and its Queen Anne-style homes. Artspace is the nation’s leading non-profit real estate developer for the arts. Its mission is to use the arts as an economic development engine. So it was especially fitting to reuse a building originally purposed to manufacture electric cars. “The City of Buffalo originally contacted us to do a project and Buffalo scored very high on all our criteria,” said Wendy Holmes, Artspace Senior Vice President of Consulting. “We did due diligence on four or five sites. This site on Main Street was very important to the community at the time because it was at the end of the one subway stop in Buffalo, it was a perceived dividing line between a traditionally African-American community and a Caucasian community, it was near a growing medical campus and it was also in the midst of a very poor neighborhood where they wanted to have some positive economic change.” Holmes said Artspace has completed 30 similar projects across the United States and 14 others are in various stages of development. Matthew Meier, the project leader on Artspace Buffalo Lofts for HHL Architects, said the National Trust for Historic Preservation toured the property during its October conference in Buffalo. “Buildings back then were built for permanence in such a way that today allow us to do a variety of things to them and still make them really big contributors, not only in the landscape of the street but the community,” Meier said. “Not only did Artspace see a good building for adaptive reuse, but it was an opportunity to begin to have art fix some of the ills of the
community.” The Buffalo Electric Vehicle Company building is historically significant for its architecture and engineering design as an intact example of an early generation automobile factory built of steel and reinforced concrete, which would later become known as the “daylight factory.” “Daylight was such a critical component of being able to work,” Meier said. “You had to make big tall windows that would open so you could get cross ventilation and allow daylight to go deep in the building. That’s the perfect formula for artists. We saved virtually everything we could. The structure was basically left as is.” Site Manager Tracy Petock said the Artspace Buffalo Lofts are nearly 100 percent occupied by artists and individuals involved in Buffalo’s arts community, and there is a very long waiting list to lease an apartment there. Rents are based upon income, which helps struggling artists, and there are many common areas where residents can gather, share ideas, and exhibit their work. “Not only is this an apartment building, but I think the sense of community is enhanced because everyone has that common thread of being an artist,” said Petock. “It’s the heartbeat of the building.” “I think the thing that we’re most proud of is how engaged that community of artists is in the neighborhood and in their own sense of collaboration and maturity,” said Holmes. “They’re programming the gallery more, they’re doing more things in the community, they’re doing all the things that we hoped could happen as a result of these artists being together in one place. It’s a pretty phenomenal community that I think sometimes the rest of the country doesn’t know a lot about.” Buffalo is full of similar buildings begging for reuse. Holmes said the company is currently having quiet discussions about a second project in another neighborhood of the city and working to sign a new non-profit arts and science organization to occupy the commercial space on the first floor of Artspace Buffalo Lofts beginning in 2012.!
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BUILDING BUFFALO
ACTIVE BUFFALO
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Sports Illustrated.
big offseason for Javon McCrea has translated into a fast start for the University at Buffalo men’s basketball team. The Bulls have been victorious in sixteen of their first twenty three games this season, and can point to a number of key factors to their success:
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A balanced scoring attack that relies on the outside shooting of senior guard Zach Filzen (averaging 16.0 points and four 3pointers per game) and the deft touch of UB’s big men, including senior Mitchell Watt (14.0 ppg). Strong team defense, which is allowing a tad less than 64 points per game . And, buckets of quality minutes from their bench, including big contributions from
senior Titus Robinson and junior Tony Watson. And then, there’s the play of McCrea. The 6-foot-7 sophomore forward has been a dominant figure for the Bulls this season, averaging team highs in points (16.8 ppg) and rebounds (8.6 rpg), while also handing out 2.2 assists per game and shooting nearly 62 percent from the floor. His performance this season builds upon an eventful offseason that included an opportunity to compete for a spot on USA Basketball’s U-19 team. McCrea had an impressive camp and was the last player cut from that squad, a fact not forgotten by those who assemble preseason previews and rankings. McCrea was named one of the top 100 players in the nation (ranking at No. 91) by CBSsports.com and was one of five players poised to have a breakout season in 2011-12, according to
“It makes me feel good. It makes me feel like my hard work has paid off,” said McCrea, 19, who played scholastically for Newark High, a mid-sized school east of Rochester. “I know I still got more to go. I can work harder. So, that’s what pushes me. “ “I think he was always confident, but I’m sure it gave him a little more confidence,” Bulls head coach Reggie Witherspoon said of McCrea’s strong showing at the USA Basketball camp. “More than anything else, I think it validated what he thought, what he believes. You’ve got this ‘it,’ whatever ‘it’ is, and you want to take it to another level and see if it works there. You know it works for you where you are, but will it work there? I think in his mind, it validated his belief that it would.” Not that there were too many questions about McCrea after his stellar freshman season at UB. The Mid-American Conference (MAC) Freshman of the Year, McCrea excelled as the Bulls’ sixth man last year, averaging 11.8 points and (Continued pg. 51)
Mark Croce Buffalo Development Corporation Statler City, LLC Article and photo by Kyle Patterson
Mark Croce didn't need the Statler Towers. It wasn't that he didn't have enough to do. With numerous restaurants and night clubs in Buffalo, the man doesn't need more business opportunities. His restaurants are some of the most successful in the city--Buffalo Chophouse and Darcy McGee's to name a couple. He is also involved in a separate hotel project on Franklin Street and has a family of his own. Yet after years of watching the Statler change ownership, go through bankruptcy proceeding, defaults and failed attempts to develop one of Buffalo’s landmark buildings Mark Croce stepped in, doing what others said couldn’t be done. Even Andrew Rudnick of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership said the property needed to be torn down. Croce however saw what others didn’t and in doing so has made himself the poster boy amongst historic preservation groups who couldn't be more happy with what he is doing. His secret? Restore the Statlerrs to the original intent of the building—an entertainment and hospitality centerpiece in the middle of the city. Where other developers looked at it from a purely office building perspective and doubted the potential, Croce saw the opportunity to capitalize on weddings, banquets, restaurants, a night club, office and residential space and a possible hotel, bringing the building back to life again as a multi-use space. "Everyone has a story about the Statler," Croce said in response to the support his work has garnered from the community. While Buffalo is known for supporting good causes, Croce and the Statlers are no exception. With over 12,000 fans on Facebook, weddings and banquets being booked weekly, Croce is already seeing a return on some of the nearly 4 million dollars he invested in it of his own money. Still waiting for grant money to come from the City of Buffalo for some of the exterior renovations, Croce is moving forward at lightning speed including a successful Ice Ball event on New Years where close to 200 workers were hard at work at any given time in the building. For now though Croce is enjoying a bit of the lime light with his step of faith transforming the once dilapidated building into a cultural icon once again. He appears to have once again succeeded where others said it couldn’t be done.!
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FRIENDLY BUFFALO
PLACES
Rotary Rink
Time Warner Classic Rink
Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza is celebrating its 12th Anniversary season as Downtown Buffalo’s only free-to-the-public outdoor skating rink. Rotary Rink was completed in 1991 after more than a decade of planning and design and is named after the Rotary Club of Buffalo, who generously made a $500,000 commitment to the project. In 1998, Buffalo Place Inc. partnered with the City of Buffalo to manage the outdoor skating Rink in Downtown Buffalo, offering free ice-skating and the unique opportunity to skate outdoors in an urban setting. Located in close proximity to the Theatre and Entertainment Districts of Downtown and surrounded by many of Buffalo’s award winning eateries, Rotary Rink is an important initiative to the continued success of Downtown Buffalo. The free, above-ground Light Rail Rapid Transit systems offers skaters easy transport to and from Buffalo’s exciting destinations.
Shortly after the historic 2008 Winter Classic Game at Ralph Wilson Stadium The Winter Classic portable rink system was purchased and erected as a tribute rink to this historic event in the center of the Village of East Aurora. The Winter Classic rink is now operating under an open-sided pavilion roof in East Aurora. The rink also offers Learn-to-Skate and Beginner Hockey programs including "Mommy, Daddy and Me" program for preschoolers. The rink provides a great opportunity to learn to skate for parents and kids.
Holiday Twin Rinks Built during the Buffalo hockey fever of 1971 when the Sabres came to town, Holiday Twin Rinks has been serving everyone from senior leagues to mini-mite kids leagues to open skates and everything in between. Holiday Twin Rinks on Broadway in Cheektowaga may not be the most luxurious rink in town but it gets the job done when it come to providing a smooth set of ice when you need it. From early mornings to mid-night skates and at all times during the day you can find someone or somebody at Holiday. The rinks also serve as home to multiple championship winning Buffalo Regals youth hockey association.
Northtown Center The 1,800-seat multipurpose arena in Amherst located adjacent to UB North features three NHL regulation-sized ice sheets as well as an Olympic-sized ice sheet. The facility also has a roller hockey rink, sports training facility, restaurant, and pro shop. The Northtown Center also serves as a practice facility for the Buffalo Sabres and is the home to the University at Buffalo Bulls men's ice hockey team competing at the ACHA Division I level in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey League as well as the home of Buffalo Wings, a professional inline hockey team competing in Major League Roller Hockey. The rink also serves the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League. The arena is home to several local high school ice hockey teams, and is used by local figure skating clubs, youth, and adult recreational ice hockey leagues, as well as public skating.!
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ROAMING BUFFALO
ARTS
By Vanessa Oswald
B
uffalo is the empire state’s best kept secret. Sometimes our city gets a bad rap for the way the media portrays us in the news or because we’re not at the top of everyone’s vacation destination list because of the whole winter perception. Despite the fact that we have this reputation, the people who inhabit the Queen City know different, and people like John Paget set the example by shining a positive light on Buffalo and showing the rest of the country what we as a city have to offer. “When I first got here people would ask me, ‘Why did you come here, did you lose a bet?’” said 41-year-old Paget. Paget who is originally from Olympia, Washington moved to Buffalo in 2005. He says it was like the city had some sort of gravitational pull on him, and since moving here a lot of his documentaries seem to portray themes that sort of align with the essence of Buffalo. “If you look at the themes of a lot of my work it has to do with telling the stories of people or things that have been misunderstood or forgotten or neglected or undervalued,” said Paget. From Elvis impersonators to Alcatraz to Route 66 to his newest venture, “Believe,” which takes a look at the lives of real-bearded Santa Clauses; Paget’s subjects are all pretty much out of the ordinary. How he stumbled upon filmmaking though wasn’t unusual, through working for his high school’s student-run news station. “Our high school had a news service,” he said. “They would shoot and produce their own news program. I got involved with that and sort of enjoyed doing that. I didn’t know then that I necessarily wanted to do that for a living or anything. I didn’t have any plans for that, but that’s kind of why I started doing it.” Since his high school days, Paget has accrued a cabinet full of documentary ideas. His inspiration stems from several different places, such as photo essays, coffee tables books and The New Yorker. Basically, he spends a lot of time in used bookstores. “My ideas come from stuff I read,” said Paget. “I read a lot of non-fiction, like the New York Times, New York Times Magazine or The New Yorker. I use human interest stories, like the odd stories that you read about.”
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ARTISTIC BUFFALO
camera, he realized there was more to them than just a wig and shiny suit. “What I try to do with my films is portray the passion, artistry, dedication and sincerity and really kind of dignify who they are and what they are,” said Paget. “I think that’s what made the film the success it was. Yeah, it’s comedic, but all of the impersonators in the film are among the proudest of the film.” Paget also tries to add various aesthetic elements within his pieces through a series of different shots, which can display a whirlwind of emotion from humor to drama while still maintaining the realness of every situation. “I would say his strengths are that he is super creative and hard -working,” said Robin Paget. “I’ve never ever known him to cut corners when he’s working. He will do whatever it takes to get the right shot.” “Alcatraz Reunion” is Paget’s favorite documentary he’s made to date. The documentary follows a group of ex-cons as they reunite with the guards who used to torture them while they served their time at the famous prison. Now it’s known as a popular tourist spot where people can visit and learn about the prison’s haunting history. “It’s an amazing story because these guys would have killed each other,” said Paget. “If you can imagine, today it would be the equivalent of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Imagine 50 years from now they have a reunion and the guards who tortured those terrorists are now having a picnic with their children and their grandchildren are hanging out and they’re friends now.” Each one of Paget’s films comes to fruition after he has explored down avenues that no one else has gone down, or as in fully in-depth, and finds the real story behind these people, places, or things that have gone unnoticed or have been misconstrued, like Buffalo itself in some cases. “I feel like Buffalo is a city that is the epitome of all of that: the underdog, the forgotten town, the empire that was left behind, the abandoned place. I think I was destined to come here. It was part of my nature or something.” Besides showing his documentaries on the film festival circuit, Paget’s films have also been aired on PBS, Documentary Channel and Ovation. He is also currently producing a series of commissioned short films for the Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau. Paget also owns his own media company True Blue Buffalo, which creates episodic online programs and branded content.!
Paget also tries to add various aesthetic elements within his pieces through a series of different shots, which can display a whirlwind of emotion from humor to drama while still maintaining the realness of every situation. It was in a used bookstore where it dawned on him that Elvis impersonators would be an unusual, yet intriguing subject for a documentary. “There was this little photo book of Elvis impersonators, black and white photos,” he said. “Just seeing the richness of the visuals in some of these photo books sort of inspires you. I get a lot of inspiration from great imagery.” Some of Paget’s other influences have come from distinguished filmmakers as well, like Godfrey Reggio, Terrence Malick and Woody Allen. Reggio, an American director from New Orleans, focuses on experimental documentary film work, and caught Paget’s eye because of the unconventional and groundbreaking nature of his films. “Yes he’s inspired me,” said Paget. “You always have to say that with a grain of humility because you’re not comparing yourself at all, but he really has influenced my sort of style.” Some of John’s most recent work, such as “Alcatraz Reunion” (2008) and “Almost Elvis” (2001) have captivated several audiences at film festivals all over country and earned him numerous awards. Paget’s films delve into the lives of people who the general public wouldn’t normally think about on an everyday basis, but they are people who are passionate and have meaningful and riveting stories to tell. “I really admire him because he is really fascinated by groups that are more on the margins of society like Elvis impersonators and ex-cons and the subculture Route 66,” said Robin Paget, his wife of three years. She first met John in 2005 at a party when he was talking about an Elvis impersonator that died onstage. “He’s really interested in those people and that’s just so cool because he doesn’t dismiss people because they may be different or weird.” As Paget put together “Almost Elvis” he realized that normally Elvis impersonators are perceived as the butt of the joke, but when really getting to know them from behind a camera and off
FAITH
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!'........So he got up and went to his father." Luke 15:17,20
brother gets hacked off. Dad shows him love too. End of story. Ok, so I condensed it and did no justice to the narrative itself. Go back and read the whole story and live in it (Luke 15:1132), then look closely to see where YOU are in the story. My guess is that you can find yourself there (and don't say that you are the father). This story raised some questions for me, like: How much good can I handle? Can I get to a place that I have more available to me than my character can sustain? Do I ever ask for more than I am prepared for? But this story also gave me some incredible truth, even hope. I learned that I have available to me more than I realize from the Father, and I have the potential to squander it if independent of the Father, but to know and receive the Father's indescribable love alleviates the fear of both. Maybe the core thing that I learned is that it is senseless not to get up and go to the Father (note v.17,20). When the Father offers that kind of love, that kind of forgiveness, that kind of restoration...it lacks all the sense I have to stay wallowing in the mud. In fact, when we stay in the mud, we dull our senses. Coming to Father makes our senses live again. Think of the senses mentioned in this creative piece:
You know the story - the parable of the prodigal son as some call it. I like to call it "The Portrait of the Father's Love." Either way, you know the story. Young man gets itchy for his coming inheritance. Dad gives it to him. Young man goes out partying, in the words of Prince, like it's 1999. Young man blows everything and is living on the bottom side of life (don't know if it gets much worse than the pig pen). Young man comes to his senses and decides to return home just to work like a slave. Young man is blown away that Dad runs to him, kisses him, puts a robe on him, gives him a ring, and throws a huge barbeque for him. Older
"Touching the Father's love is a sweet embrace, a big ole bear hug, a kiss on the face Hearing the Father's love is a symphony of soul, it's music enough to make me whole Seeing the Father's love is an irrational treat, a ring on my finger? shoes on my feet? Tasting the Father's love is the choicest of fare, the swine are forgotten with a feast in the air But Knowing the Father's love, ah, that stands alone; Yes, knowing the Father's love - that's what brings me home." It's senseless not to come to the Father.! —Jerry Gillis is Lead Pastor of The Chapel at
Crosspoint in Getzville.
As one navigates the geography of the city of Buffalo, there are a dearth of different expressions and views of the city. One that is perhaps the most intriguing to me, because of my proximity to it, is the University Heights area of Northeast Buffalo. Through my myopic set of lenses, I see a great community in this area of Buffalo. Granted, a look at this area is a representative microcosm of what is happening as a whole in Western New York. The population in this area is decreasing (approximately 8,100 people, down 5.0% from the prior US census, with expected negative loss projected for 2015) . The household concerns of most residents include the much of the entry level to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs - affordable housing, employment opportunity, parenting skills, help with educational objectives, to name a few. The median household income in this neighborhood is just a smidge over $35,000; with the likelihood ratio of family units having two workers in the home (this to point out the living wage is low in this context in many situations). Sixty-six percent of households make $50,000 or less in this geography . Like any urban context, these things present themselves as challenges in many places. However, it’s not all bad news- quite the contrary, in my opinion. In many situations, dynamics such as gentrification (not exclusively racial; socio-economic as well) can assert itself. Given the influx of young professionals and the higher levels of education in this context, this idea must not be ruled out. Within this context, diversification is present and does serve as a potential impetus to stave off a full blown onset of said gentrification. The fastest growing minority group in this area is African American (32.7%), and there is a significant increase in the presence of an Asian Indian population in this context as well . One also must consider the infrastructure makeup of the area. There is a very good “set of bones” to this community. The influence of block clubs and things like the University Heights Community Blog are open places of communication for those who have a vested, neighborhood interest in the area . Awareness to problems with rental property, crime, etc., can be dialoged about and are very much an open part of discussion in a number of forums. Along those lines is the reality of relatively affordable housing (own or rent) within this context. For instance,
the median level of rent is $580 and the median price of a home in that area is $75,185 . Comparatively, these levels are higher than in other portions of the city (excluding Elmwood Village), but they are still a manageable ask for those inhabiting such a context (as reflected in median income earning). I drive through this area extensively, and have quite enjoyed the options available. From LaSalle to Kenmore and over to Bailey, there really appears to be a respectable infrastructure to choose from. In terms of transportation and logistics, the metro rail and bus have a very nice hub right at the South Campus of The University at Buffalo (UB). As someone who has taken both rail and bus in that context, I’ve personally enjoyed the mass transit in that area and to other parts of the city. Obviously, it is not without its problems, but I see this community as a great place to live in the city. The anchor in the community, without question, would be UB. There is a significant presence of employment and residential living in the area, and the geography of the campus serves as a veritable sort of economic stalwart for the community. As someone who has focused research in the areas of organizational communication, sociology and social psychology, having an educational hub and presence like this is something that likely helps residents in the area to have a sort of confidence that the neighborhood will not radically dissipate or face neglect. Likely my favorite part of University Heights is the food. The Steer, Lake Effect Diner, Amy’s Place, Sal’s, Zetti’s, Famous Donuts—if you live in this area, you likely have partaken in one of these places. If you haven’t, I recommend them highly. Granted, we’re not talking bourgeois eateries, but we are talking about a good representation of mom and pop food in this great city. One is also not far from the Hertel strip of restaurants as well. In sum, I truly am drawn to the University Heights Community. It is a place that has its challenges, as is the case with many areas in an urban context. However, with a draw like the education center of UB South Campus, I see this community as something that has much to offer for the resident, and for the suburban folk who would like to perhaps partake in something more local.!
Percept Report: Ministry Area Profile, 2010- Polygon Report of University Heights, Buffalo, NY (retrieved 12/21/11). Abraham Maslow, Motivation and Personality (New York: Harper, 1954). Percept Report: Ministry Area Profile, 2010. University Heights Community Blog; www.buffalouniversityheights.blogspot.com; (Information retrieved and examined on 12/21/11). Percept Report: Ministry Area Profile, 2010.
ELMWOOD RESTORATION Converting a four unit Elmwood Village Victorian into a 5,300 square foot single family home is worth every penny for this Buffalo bound family of six. STORY BY CHRIS HILL
PHOTOS BY MATT BROWN
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t a time when many young professionals have chosen to move from Buffalo to pursue house, home, and employment out-of-state, a core of Buffalo folk have decided, unquestionably, that they are here to stay--a friendly regime with blood type “Go-Buffalo,” and a tie so strong to their city that they will take risks, get creative, and have patience beyond belief in order to stay. Such are Peter and Lisa Sauer, born and raised on Buffalo’s east and west sides, respectively. The story of their homestead is interesting from the perspective of smart realty and eclectic home decor, but it is most inspiring to the young Buffalonian professional who might somehow defer their dream of finding the “perfect house” just long enough to realize they may already be living in it. The Sauers purchased their Highland Avenue Victorian in the fall of 2001. Lisa was raised in a similar Auburn Avenue double, and was naturally drawn to the large wooden front porch, and ornate wooden foyer and staircase, while Peter was impressed by the home’s intangible benefits: off-street parking, backyard green space, a family-friendly neighborhood, and the income potential that a multi-family property could afford the couple early in their careers. Built in 1907, the home had many of its original features such as light fixtures and woodwork intact. Yet the family had no idea what beauty would lie beneath the wood and plaster that had been covered when the home took on a two-story addition and became four apartments in the 1940s. The decision to purchase and reside in the 3-story, wood framed property was the beginning of the homeowners’ journey, which would include cramped stints living in the home’s onebedroom studio apartment, and most recently, modest quarters for six in the second floor flat of 1100 square feet. Parents to four school-aged kids, the Sauers had made a decade of memories together thoroughly enjoying--and outgrowing--their space.
In the fall of 2010, after exploring their options in singlefamily properties available in Buffalo, the Sauers thought it would be worthwhile to try to stay in their Elmwood Village home because of its unmatched character and structural opportunities. They would stay, and they would convert the 4-unit dwelling into a single-family home. Peter now compares the Highland restoration to a pregnancy: “As you get closer and closer to the birth, things become more and more painful and you begin to question whether or not you knew what you were getting yourselves into...but then you see the result of your labor, and you love it.” The simultaneous undertaking of both the multi-unit conversion and Victorian restoration took approximately one year. In the fall of 2011, the Sauers Six moved in to their “new” home, started the school year, and have been enjoying spreading their (Buffalo) wings in their 5300 square-foot project. Entrepreneurial at heart, the Sauers designed every room themselves. Lisa states, “We imagined the space suiting each family members’ needs. Now, the house always looks neat because we designed it so that everything has its place. We made great effort to restore the Victorian elements of the home while making it functional for our family.” The Sauers have revived the charm and elegance of the Victorian foyer and stairwell while transitioning to a contemporary living space that is now the “modern Elmwood Village Victorian” of Buffalo’s young professional family. (continued page 51)
(Di Camillo Bakery continued from page 12) iced jelly, cinnamon glazed, glazed rings, iced lemon, plain stix, glazed stix and maple iced apple. These can be ordered for $1.10 each, $6.30 for half a dozen, or $9.50 for a dozen. There is also a selection of cookies to choose from as well, such as sugar (or otherwise known as Pizelle), peanut butter, Chinese butter and chocolate chip, which can be ordered for $1.10 each, $5.80 for half a dozen, or $8.50 for a dozen. “We serve soups, sandwiches and pizza every day,” said Blatner. “Our busiest times are between the hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then it picks up again when people are coming home from work.” At the Williamsville location there is a comfortable seating area for those who stop by for lunch. Like all the other traditional Italian food they make, their Sicilian pizza is prepared the oldfashioned way, sprinkled with Romano cheese. They also have other pizza options like the broccoli and cheese pizza. The pizza ranges from $1.90 to $2.50 a slice. Their enticing sandwich options include the turkey club, turkey and cheddar with roasted red peppers, pepper salami with turkey and provolone and capicola with provolone and pesto, which range in price from $5.50 to $6.50. “They’ve remained true to a very Italian product line and I think their strength is in that,” said Blatner. “People know this is a place to come for Italian bread and Italian pizzelles. The traditional Italian, the memories people have of the past. I mean not a day goes by where I don’t hear, ‘My grandmother used to make that,’ or ‘We drove from Washington to get this pizza.’” Di Camillo provides our community with a place for families to come from near and from far and wide to enjoy their substantial selection and traditional Italian food that brings back the memories people have of their own grandmother’s kitchen! (Continued from page 35) 6.5 rebounds per game (eighth in the conference). But, as McCrea continues to mature, so does his game. He’s quickly evolving into an elite player. “He’s the type of player than can – within the course of a game – do a couple of things that will make you think ‘Did I just see that? Did he really just do that?’ It really is special,” Witherspoon said. “What’s really good about it is that he’s a humble kid and he’s humorous. He’s someone who knows how to make a room laugh. In terms of being a teammate, his teammates appreciate him, and he’s easy to get along with.” And why not? Like McCrea, the Bulls are looking to make the leap to the next level. After tough non-conference games at BYU and Temple, UB will find out where it stands when it opens MAC play at home against conference powerhouse Kent State on Jan. 7. “That will be one of a number of tests for us,” Witherspoon said. “After a while you get numb to it. The good thing is you have to take it one game at a time, because they’re all too good to overlook. And once you get in conference play, you have to do that, too.” “I think we’re doing good, and we’re progressing each game,” McCrea said. “We’re definitely going to win the MAC. It’s a definite.”!
(Elmwood Restoration continued from page 49) The Kitchen The enormous 4 x 9-foot granite center island is Lisa’s favorite part of her modern kitchen. It is both gorgeous and functional, and serves as the “hub” for the entire family. The meeting-place allows seating for six barstools, and has stainless steel appliances strategically placed beneath. The bright, contemporary kitchen reflects tons of natural light on the glass subway-tile backsplash, with a monochromatic color scheme and bamboo-colored Silestone quartz countertop. Small bursts of color in the pendant lighting and accessories give the space a cool flair, while the ceramic tile floors warm underfoot with radiant heat (a feature Lisa particularly loves while enjoying her morning “joe” at the hub with her kids!). The pot filler faucet above the five-burner gas range “was a surprise for my Italian wife,” says Peter. The family is now enjoying over 800 square feet of kitchen living, which they especially appreciate after a decade in their apartment-cozy 10 x 12 nook. A 4 x 9-foot custom-built wooden breakfast nook, nearby mud room with large lockers for each family member, and a convenient half-bath, as well as a large sundries pantry complete the space which was once the first-floor apartment unit. The Foyer Taking into account budget, time, and feasibility, the Sauers carefully planned to restore as much of the Victorian charm as possible in the grand foyer and stairwell. In fact, the foyer is now restored to a near replica of its original form. Because the entrance had formerly been utilized as a quick, transient space to unload groceries, pile snowy boots, or run through to the shared laundry room in the basement, it never gave the family much pause; however, the family restored and refinished the hardwood floors in the foyer and throughout most of the first floor living space, restored the light fixtures, and built new banisters and railings leading to a new staircase to the third floor living space. They carefully matched the grain of the wood to the original oak finish of the foyer. After doing a little digging and demolition, the crews unearthed a gorgeous wall of stained glass windows that had been boarded and hidden in the 1940s. “The stairwell really unifies the home. It always has, but now it’s both beautiful and functional. It’s the showpiece of the house, the backbone.” Peter adds.! Chris Hill was born and raised in the Elmwood Village area and currently lives in East Amherst with her husband Tom and their three children. Their local company, Evanhill Paint distributes C2 Paint throughout the Western New York region. C2 Paint can be found in beautiful homes around the country and at evanhillpaint.com.