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SIX at Shea’s brings ten high-energy women to an eighty-minute romp

THE BASICS:  SIX, a musical, by Toby Marlow and Lucy Ross, part of the M&T Bank 2022-23 Broadway Series at Shea’s, runs for two weeks! Apr 25 – May 7, 2023, Tuesdays – Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays at 2:00 and 8:00, Sundays at 1:00 and 6:30. Shea’s Buffalo Theatre 646 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14202 716-847-1410 www.sheas.org/buffalo-theatre

Recommended for ages 10+ 

RUNTIME: 80 minutes with no intermission!

THUMBNAIL SKETCH:  SIX, the Broadway musical at Shea’s is a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, who were, in order, as every British school child learns “divorced, beheaded and died, divorced, beheaded, survived.”  They were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Ann of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr.  No longer just Tudor Queens, they are now pop icons who sing in the style of “queens of pop” Beyoncé, Rihanna, Adele, Sia, and MANY more.  For 80 minutes, the SIX wives of Henry VIII put on a pop concert backed by a kick-ass four-woman band as they take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak (who suffered the most?) into “a celebration of 21st-century girl power!”  

THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: Right away, let me tell you that I’ve rarely heard more music out of four people than the women in the on-stage band for SIX: Conductor Lena Gabrielle and her fabulous keyboard (Phij Adams and Randy Cohen, techs), Caroline Moore and her heart-stopping drums, Sterlyn Termine, and her thumpin’ bass, and Liz Faure and her fine collection of guitars.  I know I’m not alone in that opinion because after the show as the musicians left the stage, they received a spontaneous round of applause.

The individual songs are inspired by a long list of pop stars (see below) but the group numbers, especially the opening “Six Wives” and the closing “Six,” had catchy rhythms that reminded me of the musical HAMILTON.  In fact, as HAMILTON did in 2016, the musical SIX won a Tony Award in 2020 for Best Original Score. 

The SIX queens are dressed in highly stylized, wasp-waisted, very leggy costumes (Gabriella Slade, 2020 Tony Award for SIX for “Best Costume Design for a Musical”) the better to show off their spirited dance moves (Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, choreographer).  The set is surprisingly static for a Broadway tour and is quite constrained to the front of the stage, but that just focuses your attention on the ladies.  I mention the set to remind all the high school musical kids who come to the show that it’s not the set, but rather, as Shakespeare’s Hamlet said: “The play’s the thing.”  And this is one non-stop entertainment.

This musical had its start at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and then was presented in the West End (of London) so early audiences would have been more familiar with the six wives of Henry VIII.  You don’t need to know your British history to enjoy SIX, but I highly recommend visiting Shea’s website and clicking through all the background material offered, including a study guide and links to the original Broadway cast recording.  That pre-show web-browsing advice goes for any of Shea’s Broadway touring shows, but especially here, because to cover about 40 years of British history in 80 minutes means things move along quickly.

If you don’t do your history homework before you go (or as they say during the show you haven’t been watching PBS) you’ll get a “second chance” once in your seat because pages 17 and 18 of the playbill give a quick summary (which is previewed on the website here.) 

As the musical progresses, we are presented with solos by the six queens in the order (which is repeated often) “divorced, beheaded and died, divorced, beheaded, survived.”  And they are Catherine of Aragon (whose “Queenspirations” are Beyoncé and Shakira); Anne Boleyn (Queenspirations Lily Allen and Avril Lavigne); Jane Seymour (Adele and Sia); Anne of Cleves (Nicki Minaj and Rihanna); Katherine Howard (Ariana Grande and Britney Spears); and Catherine Parr (Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé).  

There are six cast members and five alternates.  The six regular cast members are (in order, you DO remember that by now, no?) Gerianne Pérez, Zan Berube, Amina Faye, Terica Marie, Aline Mayagoitia, and Sydney Parra.  On the night we went, Taylor Pearlstein was in for Sydney Parra as Catherine Parr and if we hadn’t looked at the board in the lobby (see photo), we wouldn’t have known because the entire team is so strong.  It goes to show that whatever night (or afternoon) you go, you’ll get a great performance.

Next on Shea’s Broadway Tour lineup is JAGGED LITTLE PILL (June 6-11) followed by DEAR EVAN HANSEN (June 20-25).  But before those come, on the other nearby Shea’s stages, KINKY BOOTS will be at Shea’s 710 Theatre from May 4-21, TICK, TICK…BOOM! will be at Shea’s Smith Theatre (May 19-28), and Starring Buffalo will present Buffalo’s own Michele Ragusa in HELLO, DOLLY! at Shea’s 710 (June 2-3 only).  

*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)

ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.

TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.

THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.

FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.

FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!

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The Stanford Lipsey Art Glass Collection finds a home at the Burchfield Penney Art Center

As I have pointed out in previous articles, there’s a growing glass community in Buffalo. Whether it’s Buffalo as a stained glass hub, or glass blowers looking to brand Buffalo as an artisan hub, people are rallying around all sorts of glass enterprises.

Brilliance: The Stanford Lipsey Art Glass Collection, Burchfield Penney Art Center, 2023. [Exhibition catalog cover]; featuring detail of Sidney Hutter, Twisted Abstracted Strip Vase #14, 1990. Photo by Stanford Lipsey.

Now, the Burchfield Penney Art Center has announced that has been gifted The Stanford Lipsey Art Glass Collection, along with funding to establish a permanent endowment dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of the collection.

For the regional glass community, this is very exciting. The collection will also be a real attraction for travelers who are interested in the medium of glass works, as the exhibition consists of 50 creations by 45 artists from 11 countries.

The collection represents many of the most prominent artists in the field today, including Harvey Littleton, Greg Fidler, John Healey, Lino Tagliapietra, and Michael Taylor.

The one-of-a-kind gift is courtesy of Judith C. Lipsey and her late husband Stan, former publisher of The Buffalo News. The Lipseys gifted the works in honor of Burchfield Penney Director Emeritus Dr. Anthony Bannon, who was a staunch advocate for the Art Center.

“We cannot thank Stan and Judi enough for their generosity,” Burchfield Penney Art Center director Scott Propeack said. “The Burchfield Penney Art Center has a long- standing commitment to collect and exhibit art in craft media. With the acquisition of The Stanford Lipsey Art Glass Collection, we can immediately and meaningfully expand our ability to highlight the very best in this challenging and exquisite medium.”

Steven Weinberg (b. 1954, American) #4-111, c. 1988; Cast crystal, 7″ x 7″ x 7″; Promised gift of Stanford and Judith Lipsey. Photo by Biff Henrich.

Harvey K. Littleton, Arc, 2-piece hot- glass sculpture; Gift of Stanford and Judith Lipsey. Photo by Biff Henrich.

Maude Bussières (b.1974, Canadian) The Creation, 2006; Lampwork glass and metal, 23″ x 22″ x 7.” Burchfield Penney Art Center Collection; Gift of Stanford and Judith Lipsey. Photo by Biff Henrich.

Michael Taylor (b. 1944, American) Synoptic Torsion 21, 1991; Laminated and polished cold-worked glass 16″ x 201⁄2″ x 16″; Burchfield Penney Art Center Collection; Gift of Stanford and Judith Lipsey. Photo by Biff Henrich.
Collected over the course of more than three decades, the works in the Stanford Lipsey Art Glass Collection are both worldwide in origin and world-class in quality.

The Burchfield Penney Art Center will celebrate the Lipsey’s donation on Friday, May 12, 2023, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm with the public exhibition opening of Brilliance: The Stanford Lipsey Art Glass Collection. A comprehensive full-color catalog features stunning images of all 50 works from the collection, many accompanied by commentary by the artists. The catalog also includes essays from art historian William Warmus, former curator at the Corning Museum of Glass, and Burchfield Penney Director Emeritus Anthony Bannon. This collector’s item will be available for sale in The Museum Store and online. Lectures and symposia will be offered during the course of the exhibition, which will continue until December 31, 2023.

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May Day at Debs!

Eugene V. Debs Hall to host second annual May Day on May 1, 2023

First, some background on Eugene V. Debs Hall from Explore Buffalo:

Eugene V. Debs Hall is a restored 1914 saloon first opened by saloonkeeper John M. Kucharski and owned by the Schreiber Brewing Company as a showcase for its Manru lager and ale. Last open as Al’s Place in 1991, and after being vacant for 30 years, the space is now active again and a contributor to Broadway Fillmore’s revival. Eugene V. Debs Hall is a non-profit social organization dedicated to honoring five-time Socialist Party presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs and Buffalo and U.S. labor movement history.

It’s hard to imagine the time when there was no standard 8-hour workday in the US. It wasn’t until a public outcry, in tandem with demands voiced by the broader U.S. labor movement, that work conditions began to change for the better.

Here in Buffalo, in 1895, the rallying cry for a more manageable workday led to a demonstration that was held in Teutonia Park (present site of East High School). The demonstration drew 2000 working people who unanimously adopted the following resolution:

“Resolved, That in fully sympathy and fellowship with the millions of disinherited toilers, who, on May Day, throughout the world, march unitedly under the banner of International Socialism, we, workingmen and women of Buffalo, in mass meeting assembled, hereby pledge our means and our lives to the abolition of wage slavery, and to the substitution of the co-operative commonwealth for the present odious system of class robbery and despotism.”

In honor of those people who fought for fair labor guidelines well over a century ago, Eugene V. Debs Hall will be hosting its second annual May Day celebration on Monday, May 1, 5 to 10 pm, at 483 Peckham Street.

“The original Labor Day – May Day – is the International Workers’ Day, celebrated just about everywhere on the planet except in the country where it originated: the U.S. of A.” – Chris Hawley, owner of Eugene V. Debs Hall

Second Annual May Day

Monday, May 1, 2023

5 to 10 pm

Eugene V. Debs Hall | 483 Peckham Street | Buffalo NY

The legendary local band Yellow Jack will play folk and union music from 6 to 9 pm. Chef Steve will be serving up a $15 dish of Italian sausage, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw, or a vegetarian option, with homemade apple cakes and coffee for dessert.

See Facebook event

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Madcap Monster Musical

THE BASICS: KRAGTAR!: THE AMERICAN MONSTER MUSICAL, by Kyle Wilson & Sam French, directed by Chris J Handley, presented by The Alleyway Theatre, starring Amy Jakiel, Amanda Funicello, Anthony Lazzaro, and Justin Gaskill.  Previews are April 21,22,23,25 all at 7:30. Regular run April 26 – May 13, Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30. Industry night is Monday, May 1. There is one matinee Saturday, May 6 at 3:30. The Alleyway Theatre Main Stage, 1 Curtain Up Alley (between Pearl St. and Main St. a few feet north of Shea’s Buffalo) 716-852-2600 www.alleyway.com 

RUNTIME: 2:10 including intermission. 

THUMBNAIL SKETCH: This totally irreverent zany campy adventure follows scientists (and former lovers), Harry and Harvey, as they battle the Godzilla-like monster taking over America. With Congress shut down and refusing to help, they are the only ones who can keep the country from collapsing. 

THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: KRAGTAR! The American Monster Musical was written by two Carnegie Mellon theatre graduates, Kyle Wilson and Sam French. There have been concert performances of KRAGTAR! In NYC, but Alleyway Theatre has given KRAGTAR a full-scale musical production and this the show’s Western New York premiere.

It’s hard to categorize KRAGTAR! — it starts off as a parody of monster films like Godzilla, but it turns into more of a parody of musical theatre. This is Little Shop of Horrors meets Book of Mormon with a dash of hippie sensibility about love tossed into the mix. And serious subjects like homophobia and crooked politicians are tackled, too.

Photo by Vince Berbano

The musical direction by James Welch is terrific – all the singing voices and the band — Mr. Welch, Robert Caso, Robert Zolnowski, and Jonathan Hager are top notch.  A few of the mics needed to be turned up a bit – once in a while lyrics were difficult to catch. Speaking of the lyrics, they are surprising, wild, and sometimes x-rated. The book is laugh out loud funny and director Chris J. Handley has gone one step farther and added tons of clever comedic touches. This is a highly amusing production!

Tim McGrath’s sets are inventive, and set changes (and there are a lot of them) are fluid.

Photo by Vince Berbano

The lighting by Emma Schimminger is fine and adds a lot to the production, and the dozens of costumes by Lara Berich are memorable – especially an amazing Act 2 boudoir outfit worn by Amy Jakiel! All the choreography by Kevin Leary is lots of fun. I especially enjoyed the “dance” number on rolling stools. 

Both handsome romantic leads have first rate singing voices, are strong actors, and they provide us with some lovely poignant moments. Justin Gaskell is the noble one, and Anthony Lazzaro is the idealistic one. They are the welcome ballast amidst the evening’s madness. 

Amanda Funicello is Lazzaro’s stalwart teaching assistant and she shines in her heartfelt finale song about love.

Amy Jakiel is a force of nature who brings down the house  when she lets loose with a hilarious performance as the antagonist – a religious dominatrix!

There is a lively, hard working, very talented ensemble — each member plays lots of roles and changes their costumes…..I don’t know…10 times? 20 times? More??? Backstage must be chaotic, but onstage it all looks effortless. Emily Bassett plays an austere librarian. Jetaun Louie and Sarah Blewett deftly dance a delightful soft shoe.

The ensemble is rounded out with three very funny performers who are an asset to any production. Nick Lama commands the stage as the wildly misguided coked-up Speaker of the House. Jeremy  Kreuzer is a hoot as 4 year old Sunday school student. Actually, Jeremy and Nick even manage to get laughs moving scenery! Towards the end of the evening, Matt Rittler gets his turn in the limelight as a renegade congressman with a propensity for gold lamé!

KRAGTAR! is an offbeat musical featuring a high-spirited cast, top notch production values, and Chris J. Handley’s creative direction. I had a monstrously good time!

*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)

ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.

TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.

THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.

FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.

FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!

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Green Thumb Beginner Gardening Workshop

When it comes to gardening, sometimes it’s best to get some advice when just starting off. Just think about all of the things to consider when planting – soil, sun, water, climate, and the types of plants that will best suit the conditions.

On Saturday, May 20, at 10:00 am, the East Side Garden Walk will present a free Green Thumb Beginner Gardening Workshop. The workshop will be hosted by Phyllis Lobbins, East Side Garden Walk participant and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, with Sally Cunningham, an internationally celebrated writer, horticultural consultant, organic gardener, and lecturer. 

This class will be an instrumental way to learn the ins and outs of gardening in WNY. Lobbins and Cunningham will discuss plants and gardens as they pertain to food, flowers, landscapes, and personal, community, and pollinator-friendly gardens.

As we have witnessed at Buffalo’s varied garden walks, gardens are as diverse as the people that tend them. Some are based solely on aesthetics, while others concentrate on supplying food. No matter the purpose of a garden, it’s important to know how to sustain it. That’s where these two expert gardeners come into the picture.

Green Thumb Beginner Gardening Class

Saturday, May 20, 2023

10:00 a.m.

Gerard Place, 2515 Bailey Ave, Buffalo, NY

Learn more and register at www.GardensBuffaloNiagara.com/talk

East Side Garden Walk is an event produced by Gardens Buffalo Niagara (GBN) whose mission is to create more vibrant and beautiful communities by sharing our gardens. Other GBN events include Garden Walk BuffaloTours of Open Gardens on Thursdays and Fridays in July, The Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale, and Urban Farm Day

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2023 Bike Month is going to be A Blast!

Throughout the month of May (Bike Month), GObike Buffalo will be organizing over 50 parties, rides, discounts, contests, etc. It’s going to be a fun-filled 31-day trek, accompanied by throngs of bike advocates who are all pushing for stronger bike advocacy, measures, and implementations.

Over 30 participating organizations and 31 events!

One of the most exciting advancements to come to pass is the new GObike Buffalo headquarters at 313 Broadway (learn more). As a way to celebrate, the community is invited to attend a Bike Month Blast-Off Barbecue Party at the snappy new headquarters building.

To learn more about all of the Blast-Off party, the contests, the open shops, expos, breakfasts, group rides, mobile repairs, tours, and all the rest, simply click here for a schedule of events.

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Alleyway Theatre’s Regional Premiere of Kragtar! The American Monster Musical rips through Buffalo and hits our funny bones in all the best ways!

“Kragtar! is one of the silliest musicals you’ve ever seen. It’s sort of like a combination of your classic musical theater [style] like Rodgers and Hammerstein, but it’s a monster story,” said Chris J Handley, director of Kragtar! The American Monster Musical is onstage from April 21 – May 13 at Alleyway Theatre.

This campy and zany musical adventure was written by Kyle Wilson (music, lyrics, and co-book) and Sam French (co-book) is having its regional premiere at The Alleyway Theatre in downtown Buffalo this week.

“The music is so great… Kyle wrote some really great music and it just sticks with you, and they’re songs that you can’t stop singing and can’t stop humming,” shared Handley. “And so I think that’s what initially drew me to it.”

The plot of Kragtar! The American Monster Musical from the Alleyway website is as follows:

An ancient prophecy is coming true just in time for another government shutdown as a Godzilla-esque monster appears, leaving America in its wake of blood, tears, and trampled Chick-Fil-As. Scientists and former lovers Harry and Harvey must reunite to save the country—and maybe rekindle their love, too—as they face the dreaded Kragtar in battle. Unbeknownst to our heroes, however, there may be a far greater monster lurking in the shadows, ready to swallow America whole.

Handley has assembled some of the strongest talent in Buffalo to bring Kragtar to life. “I’m so impressed with this cast. They are working so hard. They are so talented. [Everyday] They are bringing new jokes and hilarious things to the story and are so good at it… that’s something that really is sticking with me in rehearsals. They’re just bringing it every day, and everybody gets a star moment and that’s what I love about [this show].”

Handley hopes Kragtar! resonates with Buffalonians, “If you need a laugh, this is the show for you. It’s not serious theater.”

“This season at Alleyway has been about people trying to find and discover themselves, including Kragtar! because two scientists are trying to find and discover themselves but along the way, they’re fighting this Godzilla-like monster with these Sunday school kids at a Chick-fil-A because that’s where the monster is attacking. In summation, Handley laughed,

“It’s just nonsense. It’s silly, happy nonsense.”

Kragtar! The American Monster Musical
Alleyway Theatre
1 Curtain Up Alley
Buffalo, NY 14202
April 21 – May 13
7:30 evening, 3:30 Matinee
$30-$42

This production contains (hilariously) mature subject matter and is not recommended for children.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Construction Watch: 1076 Elmwood

A fire-damaged Elmwood Avenue building is on its way back and looking better than ever. Deco Development & Management is renovating 1076 Elmwood Avenue that was damaged in May 2019 when neighboring 1074 Elmwood caught fire, and now demolished.

Rendering by Schneider Architectural Services.

Exterior renovations nearly complete with porch repairs upcoming.

The building contains three full-floor apartments.  A historic rear garage has been converted into an apartment.

Karyn Trapp is project architect.

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Niagara Frontier Surfrider Foundation Chapter

Lake Erie is Picture Perfect from Afar

When it comes to clean waters in WNY, we should all be aware of the ongoing sustainability efforts of Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. The organization is ever-present these days, as it orchestrates monumental cleanups and pushes for stepped up clean water advocacy. While Waterkeeper is a high profile organization, there are other smaller groups that fight for similar causes. One of those groups is the Niagara Frontier Surfrider Foundation Chapter (NFSF).

Currently, regional members of the local Surfrider Foundation (in its second year) are looking to spread the good word about the organization, and how more people can join the effort to directly engage with our waterfront.

“The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection of the world’s oceans, lakes, waves and beaches for all people,” said Kevin Tocke, Chair of the Niagara Frontier Chapter. “We fight for plastic reduction, lake protection, beach access, coast and climate, and clean water. Our big, long-range Campaign is ‘Where’s the Beach?‘, which is part of the Surfrider ideology ‘The Beach Belongs to Everyone.’”

If you grew up in Buffalo, then you know that the American side of Lake Erie, close to the city, has essentially been considered “out of bounds” for residents, unless they happened to own a boat. We’ve been blocked off from our waters for the most part, until just recently. But even with efforts to reconnect people with the waterways, we are a long way off before we catch up with other cities that have much better access than we do.

In Buffalo, there are plenty of spots to view the waters of Lake Erie. At the same time, there are formidable boulder outcroppings, retaining walls, seawalls, etc., with very little naturalized shoreline. Even as we take steps toward reconnecting with the waterfront, it seems as if the efforts are designed more for recreational boaters than beach-goers, for example.

The Surfrider Foundation has adopted the 2-mile stretch of Route 5 by Hoak’s at Hamburg Town Beach.

“You may not know this but Buffalo is the only city on the Great Lakes without a Public Swimming Beach,” said Tocke, who worked with Surfrider Foundation in Portland, OR for almost 10 years, and decided to bring a Chapter to Buffalo. “Milwaukee has 5,  Chicago 11, and so on. Access and accessibility are an issue here in Buffalo. It’s a project we would like to move forward with, but it will take a large grassroots effort to bring it to fruition.”

The grassroots effort that Tocke is referring to includes social events, fundraisers, tabling events, and information dissemination. All of these initiatives are being put in place to inform about the possibilities when it comes to properly engage with the waterfront.

We tend to take things for granted, as we examine the way that our waterfront behaves. That’s because we don’t remember a time when people effortlessly interacted with our waters. Whether it’s windsurfing, or simply wading in the water, the time has come to demand for more ways to interact with the waters of Lake Erie.

For anyone interested in learning more about this movement, the Surfrider Foundation meets monthly (every first Wednesday) upstairs at Hoak’s Restaurant (4100 Lake Shore Rd, Hamburg, NY 14075) on the lake at 7:00pm. The meetings are a great way to learn about upcoming social events, beach cleanups, and grassroots initiatives, while getting to know others who care deeply about WNY waterways.

For those who want to learn more about the organization, please visit www.surfrider.org, and/or Facebook at Surfrider Foundation Niagara Frontier Chapter.

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The Foundry receives funding to grow middle school STEAM after-school program

Thanks to $225,000 in grant funding from Foundation 214, The Foundry will be able to sustain and expand its after-school STEAM programming for middle schools in Buffalo Charter and Public School District. This is great news, especially considering where The Foundry is located – in the heart of the East Side. The funding will allow The Foundry to keep the expanded program running over the course of the next three years.

The after-school program offerings at The Foundry include arts, design, and technology educational experience. By offering instruction in STEAM-centered fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, students are able to acquire life-long skills that will help them to enter into the workforce.

Executive Director, Chris Alfiero stated, “Foundation 214 is proud to support our youngest generation in pursuing their goals in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. Early introduction to these disciplines will invigorate young minds to properly chart their individual courses and steer them to their successes. And their successes will in turn, benefit us all.”

“Receiving multi-year support from Foundation 214 will ensure The Foundry can increase its impact for afterschool youth in Buffalo schools,” said Megan McNally, executive director of The Foundry. “Through our work at area schools, students enhance their design, mathematics, digital literacy, and problem-solving skills in a hands-on, fun after-school environment. Most importantly, students will be aware of the vast array of careers in STEAM/STEM and inspire students to seek out additional opportunities in these fields.”

Currently, The Foundry hosts four days of afterschool programming for 5-8th grade students at Buffalo Public School 89 Dr. Lydia T Wright School of Excellence and Buffalo Collegiate Charter School, with plans to expand this programming to five days a week. Students have been working on their own designs of futuristic cities, to be on display at Buffalo’s Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 17. 

The Foundry is a makerspace located at 298 Northampton Street, Buffalo, NY 14208 | 716-885-1381

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