Category: PostEvents

Due to a projected $40 million budget shortfall, the Buffalo Common Council has adopted a resolution that aims to help “right the ship.” A comprehensive series of measures will be enacted, geared towards resolving the short term fiscal woes, as well as addressing larger budget deficits down the road.

The resolution calls for the following key actions: 

Council Appointment to the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority: The resolution requests that a member of the Buffalo Common Council, selected by the Council President, be appointed to the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority by New York State, the appointing authority.

Detailed Monthly Vacancy Reports: The Administration and Finance Department is being requested to provide detailed monthly vacancy reports to the Common Council. These reports will include civil service, exempt, and union employee vacancies, along with budget line details and the contractual status of vacant positions.

Comprehensive Review of Non-Revenue Generating Activities: The Department of Administration and Finance, in collaboration with the Comptroller’s Office, the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority, and department heads, are being requesting to conduct a thorough review of all non-revenue generating programs, non-contractually obligated costs, and other expenditures that can be suspended to reduce future budget deficits.

Strategies for Revenue Generation: The resolution requests the departments to explore strategies to enhance revenue generation, including proactively collecting adjudicated funds owed to the City of Buffalo, reviewing and updating fee schedules, pursuing grant opportunities, and leveraging public and private partnerships.

Monthly Budget Status Meetings: The resolution requests the City Comptroller and the Department of Administration and Finance to meet with the Common Council monthly to discuss the budget status. These meetings will include detailed accounts of expenditure reductions, gap reports, revenue enhancements, and the impact of the four-year plan.

“In light of the significant budget shortfall we are facing in the City of Buffalo, it is imperative that we take action to ensure the fiscal stability of our city,” Buffalo Common Council President Christopher P. Scanlon, South District. “By closely monitoring our financial operations and collaborating with all branches of government and city departments, we can address inefficiencies and make informed decisions that will guide us through these challenging times. Responsible financial management is crucial to maintaining essential public safety, services, and the overall well-being of our community.” 

The City Clerk is directed to forward copies of this resolution to the Department of Administration and Finance, the City Comptroller’s Office, the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Board, and Corporation Counsel.

“By implementing these comprehensive actions, we aim to ensure the fiscal stability of our city while continuing to provide essential services to our residents,” said Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Leah M. Halton-Pope, Ellicott District Council Woman. “This resolution reflects our dedication to responsible financial management and our resolve to navigate through these challenging times.”

“Facing a projected $40 million budget shortfall, it is crucial that we take strong and resolute action to secure our fiscal stability,” said Buffalo Common Council President Pro Tempore Bryan J. Bollman, Lovejoy District. “Through attentive oversight of our financial operations, reducing non-essential spending, and ensuring cooperation between all departments, we can effectively address these challenges.”

The resolution was adopted on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 by the Buffalo Common Council, with the remainder sent to the Council’s Finance Committee for further discussion.

The post Buffalo Common Council adopts resolution to address projected $40 million budget shortfall appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

Fillmore District Council Member Mitch Nowakowski is seeking an update from developer Nick Sinatra, CEO of Sinatra and Company, per the hold up of the Heritage Point Development project at Canalside. Work remains at a standstill, which has become worrisome for the City, as well as for neighbors of the development, or lack thereof.

In December 2019, the developer paid the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation $1 for the project parcels. At the time, this looked like a promising proposal, with a restaurant, retail and office space, and 61 apartments coming to the waterfront. And for a while, the project was moving right along, until it hit a financial roadblock. In recent months the site has been dormant, leaving people wondering exactly what it would take to get it back on track.

Now Nowakowski is expecting answers, which he hopes to get at the City’s Community Development Committee meeting on September 10, 2024, at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers. 

In his letter filed with the Buffalo Common Council on the Tuesday, July 23, 2024 Council Meeting Nowakowski questioned the delays that have been brought about by a a $10 million funding gap that has resulted in Sinatra and Company calling upon New York State for a $4 million loan in order to get back to the business at hand.

The update from Sinatra and Company should detail the steps being taken to address the funding gap and the anticipated timeline for resuming and completing construction.

“These delays have not only affected the immediate neighbors but also disrupted programming, quality of life, and prompted concern from many residents,” stated Nowakowski, who is asking for more transparency seeing that taxpayer resources are invested in the project. “It is crucial that we address these issues expeditiously and transparently to maintain the trust of our community, so that Canalside can continue to progress into a wonderful and inviting area.

“According to Pamm Lent, a spokesperson for the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, the project is still slated to be completed in 2025. The pause in construction is untenable, and we must work together to find a viable solution that will allow us to move this forward.

“It is essential that we keep our community informed and work collaboratively to overcome these challenges.”

The post Construction Lull: Nowakowski seeks answers from Sinatra appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

Hanes Supply is planning a 56,575 sq.ft. expansion of its existing facility located at 55 James E. Casey Drive.  The $5 million project will double the size of the current 55,000 sq.ft.east side facility that occupies a 5.4-acre site.

From the Application to the Planning Board:

Hanes Supply, Inc. (HSI) has been splicing wire rope and manufacturing slings since 1930. HSI is a leader in the rigging and heavy lifting industry specializing in manufacturing American made slings and below-the-hook lifting devices. The company provided solutions for difficult rigging jobs, and their custom solutions have backed projects from the Panama Canal to the North Pole for industries ranging from wind energy to marine and military. Hanes Supply Inc. is a complete construction and industrial supplier offering professional power tools and hand tools, safety supplies, fall protection systems, and personal protective equipment (PPE) from the most trusted, well-known brands and manufacturers.

Approximately ten new jobs are expected to be created due to the expansion.

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What could be better than visiting “Open Gardens” throughout Western New York. The answer would be, artists! Yes, that’s what Artists in Open Gardens is all about – a chance to explore the region’s most exquisite gardens, accompanied by free arts programming thanks to a collaboration between Gardens Buffalo Niagara and Open Gardens.

If you stop to think about it, gardens are fairly artistic themselves. That’s why, by incorporating regional artists into the mix, the level of art is raised exponentially.

Gardens Buffalo Niagara invites you to celebrate the integration of art and nature during these events.

According to Gardens Buffalo Niagara, this unique initiative aims to foster a vibrant cultural exchange by showcasing talented visual and performing artists in a diverse range of locations, including rural communities such as Alden and East Aurora; suburban towns like West Seneca, Hamburg, and Williamsville; and the City of Buffalo. 

Artists in Open Gardens is an even more intimate look into the artistic world of gardening. The engaging artists participating in this event invite families, friends, and fans to join them on this fun, frolicking, and flowery adventure.

ARTIST SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, JULY 25 

ALDEN

10am-6pm

Artist Emma Brittain

The Bove Grove (Joe & Michelle Bove), 11607 Genesee Street (If using GPS, type 11551 Genesee St)

BUFFALO

4-8pm

Artist Mj Myers

Paul & Leslie Curtin Garden, 172 College Street

CHEEKTOWAGA

3-9pm

Artist Bianca McGraw

Dragon’s Den (Beth & Brian Kreutzer), 137 White Road

EDEN

1-4pm

Artist Madeline Bartley

Fernshaw Garden (Katie, Nat & Max), 2820 Kulp Road

LANCASTER

3-6pm

Artist Kristin Brandt

Two Chicks and A Rooster (Julie & Dan Curtis), 732 Aurora Street

TONAWANDA

4-8pm

Artist Helen Beckley-Forest

Never Ending Story Garden (Jody & Dean), 68 Park Avenue

WEST FALLS

2-6pm

Artist DeeDee Stachowski

Eddie’s Garden (Shane & Terri Bays), 7730 Ellicott Road

WILLIAMSVILLE

2-6pm

Artist Emma Stanton

Rose Splendor Gardens (Lori & Klaus Schonrank), 210 Monroe Drive

2-6pm 

Artist Sarah Field Sonnenberg

Our Never Ending Journey (Tony & Bev Tylenda), 8543 Howard Drive

FRIDAY, JULY 26

EAST AURORA

10am-2pm

Artist Ruby Merritt

Sit & Sip (Kim & Seth Kaiser), 538 Oakwood Avenue

10am-2pm

Artist Alison Cortes

Pamela Sieracki’s Garden, 505 Fillmore Avenue

GRAND ISLAND

2-6pm

Artist Liz Spector

Blumengarten (Paul & Peggy Koppmann), 246 Timberlake Drive

HAMBURG

4-8pm

Artist Cecelia Favorito

Jeff & Wendy Leyonmark Garden, 88 Woodview Avenue

LOCKPORT

10am-2pm

Artist DeeDee Stachowski

Lonesome Oak Gardens (Deborah & Charles Heinrich), 5390 Ernest Road

SOUTH BUFFALO

2-5pm

Artist Eugene Sims
Sharon’s Garden (Sharon Mucciaccio), 32 Rutland Street

WEST FALLS

10am-2pm

Artist Emma Stanton

West Falls Garden (Cheryl Hall), 7690 Ellicott Road

WEST SENECA

2-5pm

Artist Tatiana Ryckman

Tom & Maureen Szpara Garden, 321 Reserve Road

2-6pm

Artist Joey Goergen

Shangri-la di da (Paul & Marianne Rice), 186 Indian Church Road

“Artists in Open Gardens” is made possible with support from the Statewide Community Regrant program, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature, and Arts Services Inc.

Gardens Buffalo Niagara’s mission is to create more vibrant and beautiful communities by sharing gardens with events like the Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale, Tours of Open Gardens in July, Conservation Day on Bidwell Parkway, East Side Garden Walk, Garden Walk Buffalo, and Urban Farm Day.

The post 2024 Artists in Open Gardens appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

This year’s Cheektowaga Polish American Arts Festival is a three-day event that will take place from Friday July 26 to Sunday, July 28 at Cheektowaga’s Town Park on Harlem Road. The festivities will kick off with a grand entrance march of community organizations and families, celebrating their ancestry in what was once the second-largest Polish colony in the world outside of Warsaw.

To this day, Buffalo’s Polish heritage remains strong, as can be seen in the numerous festivals and events that celebrate Poland’s strong traditions. This particular festival, which began in 1979, has become a heralded event that is considered one of the largest ethnic festivals of its kind in North America drawing visitors from all across the US and Canada. 

Everyone is welcome to pay a visit to the Cheektowaga Polish American Arts Festival, whether it’s for the arts, the food and drink, the people, or simply the culture that binds it all together.

A few of this year’s entertainment features include:

The Kwik Fill PolAm Amphitheater stage at Cheektowaga Town Park will see performances from some of the biggest names in polka music — including Grammy nominated Polka favorites “Maestros Men” from Connecticut, the Buffalo Touch, New Direction and a very special tribute to the legendary G-Notes featuring Johnny Karas of the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra.

Stellar polka line-up, this years festival is thrilled to present “Polky” a group of extremely talented musicians and vocalists that blend traditional Polish folk music with sounds and rhythms from across the globe. 

Throughout the multi day event, crowds will be able to enjoy performances from some of the best folk dance ensembles in North America including WNY’s own Krakowiacy dancers, Opole from Michigan and Lechowia Dance Company from Toronto

More ethnic entertainment will take place throughout the weekend on the Polonia Platform stage with performances from Dave Gawronski of the Forgotten Buffalo Orchestra, International Polka Association inductee Al Piatkowski,  Polka Boyz, the Polish Saturday School Chorus, Polanie from St. Catherines, Ontario, Kapela Pokolynie and a retro Polka Party in the Park with The Buffalo Concertina All Stars on Saturday night

The family-friendly celebration will feature an expanded food court, food trucks, heritage bazaar marketplace, old world craft vendors, beer and wine garden, the Saint Casimir Heritage Village, featuring cooking & craft demos along with lectures, an authentic medieval Hussar knight camp re-enactment, and a traditional outdoor mass featuring the Chopin Singing Society.

“We wanted to continue the tradition of this highly anticipated annual affair, as well as share the customs and cuisine of Polonia by offering even more attractions and interactive family fun from beginning to end,” said new Town Supervisor Brian Nowak, who is thrilled to be able to carry on the celebration in conjunction with the Polish American Congress, WNY Division. “Starting with our Grand Entrance March that everyone is welcome to be a part of. We want to include as many people and organizations as possible with an Olympic-style opening ceremony enabling families, friends and groups to join together and celebrate our collective heritage in a way that anyone can participate.”

For more detailed festival information or to register your family or organization to be part of the Entrance March, visit the festival website, www.polamartfest.com or follow them on facebook.

The festival is free to the public.

The post Cheektowaga Polish American Arts Festival – BIGGER and better appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

The art festival season continues to chug along, with the pending 9th Annual Oliver Street Art Festival Hosted by Project 308 Gallery. This art festival, which takes place in North Tonawanda, features over 60 regional artist vendors that specialize in trades and crafts such as handcrafted items, artwork, and vintage wares. Visitors to the free festival will also be treated to plenty of live music by some of the area’s hottest music acts.

Photo by Jack Sierk

Project 308 Gallery, located at 308 Oliver Street, is the homebase for the Oliver Street Art Festival, which was established in 2012 by Natalie Brown. Brown organizes the festival in order to showcase the wide array of artisans and craftspeople that live in the Western Nork Region. Many of the creatives are located in North Tonawanda, which happens to be a hotbed of independent studios and galleries.

“I am thrilled to host the festival for the ninth year on Oliver Street and I hope the community continues to support the event,” said Brown, owner of Plak Art Plus and Project 308 Gallery. 

Photo by Jack Sierk

The highly anticipated event transforms a block of Oliver Street into a celebratory arts festival that highlights the talents of regional artists and musicians, according to Brown. Creative artist/artisan enterprises such as Lotus WoodCrafts and artist Alyssa Capri will be partaking in this year’s show. Capri’s work (multimedia artist and muralist) will be exhibited at Project 308 Gallery during the months of August and September, while the works of Lotus WoodCrafts can be found by simply exploring the festival.

“We upcycle and repurpose metal, wood, and other materials to create furniture and art pieces,” says David Moerler, co-owner of Lotus WoodCrafts. “We always enjoy being in this festival and we look forward to this year’s event!”

Photo by Jack Sierk

Along with the festival grounds and the artwork at Project 308 Gallery, people will also get a chance to explore The Old Chapel Antique & Artisan Market, conveniently located nearby at 172 Robinson Street (the corner of Oliver and Robinson Streets).  On that day,The Old Chapel will be hosting free activities for children, live music, and additional vendors. The Old Chapel and the Kids Zone will be open 10AM to 6PM, and there will be live music by Samuel Tambe Band from 12PM to 3PM.

“Our family-friendly venue serves as an extension of the festival by providing free games, a bounce house and other activities for all ages to enjoy,” says Jacob Wankasky, owner of The Old Chapel. “We enjoy partnering with the festival each year as we build the Oliver Street community.”

The Oliver Street Art Festival is also made possible thanks to the support from the Oliver Street Merchants Association.

“This seasoned and established art festival on Oliver Street is essential to the continued revitalization efforts on the street,” says Gabbie Richard, owner of the Vegan Grocery Store and Vice President of the Oliver Street Merchants Association. “The Oliver Street Merchants Association recognizes the contribution that this festival makes to the establishment of the business corridor’s positive reputation… and as a business owner on the block, I know that we are always excited to participate in the day – it brings vibrancy to the street and plenty of foot traffic to the sidewalk.”

9th Annual Oliver Street Art Festival

Saturday, August 3, 2024

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Oliver Street between Robinson and Schenck Streets in North Tonawanda, NY 

Headquarters: Project 308 Gallery, 308 Oliver Street, North Tonawanda, NY 14120

Admission: Free and Open to the Public

Festival on Facebook – www.facebook.com/events/7338779329508574

Instagram: @project308gallery 

www.facebook.com/Project308Gallery

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Coming soon, a new mural will be installed at Stitch Buffalo’s new headquarters at 284 Plymouth Avenue. The collaborative mural project is thanks to a partnership between the AKG Public Art Initiative and Stitch Buffalo. A local artist by the name of Saira Siddiqui (American, born 1991) has been selected to create the work of art that will be applied to the building, which is owned by Ellicott Development Company. 

In order to see the project to fruition, Siddiqui will lead a series of workshops in which she will enlist members of the community to participate. This process is one that Siddiqui is quite familiar with, as she has recently embarked upon a number of these types of art projects at the Niagara Frontier Food Terminal, where her studio is located.

Following is the timeline of the process:

Siddiqui will lead workshops with Stitch Buffalo and members of the public to develop the mural design through the end of 2024.

Once a final design is selected, the mural will be painted by members of the public in the spring of 2025.

The mural will be painted on sections of Polytab, a non-woven fabric that is lighter than traditional canvas and can adapt to the form of the surface on which it is being applied.

Once completed, the mural will be installed on the new Stitch Buffalo building later in the spring. 

“Stitch Buffalo is excited to partner with Saira and the AKG on this project,” said Stitch Buffalo founder and Executive Director Dawne Hoeg. “We look forward to engaging with the whole community to create a mural that celebrates the textile arts, elevates our neighborhood, and welcomes new people to explore Stitch Buffalo.”

“I’m honored to have been selected for this project. I’m passionate about creating authentic public spaces in collaboration with community voices,” said Siddiqui. “This project offers a unique opportunity to foster a welcoming environment and support meaningful connections between people in the neighborhood where Stitch Buffalo is located.”

“Through the AKG’s impactful Public Art Initiative, we are pleased with the opportunity to provide a canvas for Saira Siddiqui to showcase her talents, and through that effort, foster meaningful community engagement,” said Thomas Fox, Director of Development for Ellicott Development Company. 

The Public Art Initiative was established and is supported by leadership funding from the County of Erie and the City of Buffalo.

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The City of Buffalo’s new fiscal year began on July 1 and already it has sprung a couple leaks.  The state Legislature took no action on the proposed hotel occupancy tax, which was anticipated to bring in $4.2 million before June 30, 2025.  The Buffalo Common Council killed a proposal to increase parking rates in the city which was projected to produce an additional $2 million in revenue.  These are the first of what will likely be several shortfalls in revenue or under estimations in certain spending categories.

The Council is looking at revisions to the city’s budget approval process which will give the Council more time to review and revise proposed budgets from the mayor.  If enacted that will help a bit.  But process is not money and the city needs a ton of money.  The next budget will start with a hole of more than $40 million created by this year’s use of one-time revenues.  The above-mentioned negative actions on revenue will add another $6 million to that gap.  Then, if the city administration chooses to use additional federal pandemic-related one-time revenues to fill the 2024-2025 hole, the problem will only grow the following year.

Aside from wanting a larger share of the county sales tax revenues and additional state funding there have been no real solutions offered to the impending financial crisis.  The Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority has thus far offered no recommendations to improve the city’s “Fiscal Stability.”  While all this nothingness is going on, there have been some suggestions made by citizens who take an interest in seeing the city financially healthy and therefore best able to serve residents, businesses, and public institutions.  We’re talking about thinking out-of-the-box.

Citizen action

Our City Action Buffalo describes itself as “a broad coalition of Buffalo residents who have come together to disrupt the political status quo in our city through movement and people-centered politics and co-governance structures.  We work to change systems and to shape policies to ensure racial, social, and economic justice for all Buffalonians.”

In June the organization published a well-researched and well written report on city taxing procedures, The rich don’t pay but you do:  the city’s free rides for the report analyzes certain aspects of the city’s property tax revenues in great detail.

Among the findings:

“Payments by top taxpayers have significantly decreased,” citing a utility and bank in particular.  Estimated annual tax lost:  $350,000

“Payments by wealthy homeowners [defined as owners of property assessed at $400,000 or more] have significantly decreased.”  The decreases are attributed to successful challenges to assessments, which the report suggests are most common among wealthy property owners.  Estimated annual tax lost:  $300,000-400,000

“Major landlords and wealthy homeowners have successfully challenged their assessments, lowering their tax bills significantly.

Real estate developers receive significant tax breaks from the city.  Ten major developers “are paying about $6 million per year less in taxes than they would without [tax exemption] programs.”  That amount is mitigated to a degree by PILOTs (Payments in lieu of taxes).

The report recommends:

“A full and transparent inquiry into the above [raised issues], as well as the overall distribution of the city’s property tax burden, needs to be conducted, especially in advance of the city’s reassessment process…

“The city should consider implementing a progressive property tax structure. This can be done through higher rates on high-value properties, exemptions for lower-value owner-occupied properties, and other mechanisms…

The city should discontinue future subsidies for any real estate development project which does not work to address the city’s housing crisis, and which further exacerbates the city’s commercial real estate crisis…

“The city should end the use of PILOTS to lower the tax rates for real estate developers, as they unfairly and undemocratically privatize the control of city funds.

“The city should ensure an open and accessible process through which city residents can participate in improving the fairness of assessments…

“The city should report annually on the specific measures it has taken to ensure the tax burden is distributed equitably across income levels, and that the wealthiest pay their fair share.”

Mayor Byron Brown, in an interview about this report published in the Buffalo News, noted that the recommended changes in policy concerning programs such as PILOTs and tax exemptions could only be achieved through state legislation.  Variable property tax rates dependent upon a property’s value might also require state action.

Some other ideas

Some city leaders who have been thinking about how the city’s financial crisis might be managed have been discussing a few other ideas.  These ideas are lacking in dollar details, which in some cases might be difficult or even impossible to gather.  Nonetheless, here are some other suggestions:

Approximately 32 percent of property in the city is tax exempt in one form or another.  That mostly includes government offices, schools, and public organizations.  The suggestion on the table is that these properties should be assessed a special tax that is equal to the salary of the organization’s CEO.  The theory is that if the organization can afford to pay the CEO’s salary (pick-a-number, say $500,000) then they should also be able to pay the special assessment.  In cases of government properties, the state or federal government should pay the required amount.

A three percent tax should be added to any hospital bills of patients from outside of New York State who are being treated in hospitals in Buffalo.  (Aside from the anticipated opposition to such a plan, it may not be possible to gather information about what such a suggestion is worth.)

Seek expert advice about what revenue opportunities or potential savings in city programs might be produced by retaining a national firm like McKinsey to assist with such analysis.

Most of the suggestions listed above would likely contribute a few million dollars at best to resolving Buffalo’s fiscal problems, while the magnitude of the problem is in the tens of millions of dollars.  More thinking “out-of-the-box” will be needed. 

Apropos of anything?

A new documentary became available through Amazon ($2.99) last week which reviews the difficulties of a rust belt city in deep financial distress.  The city lost more than one-half its population between 1950 and today; has a large part of its population living in poverty; has substantial vacant property scattered throughout the city; and had dug itself into significant debt.  Solutions enacted included transferring a major city-owned asset, the art museum, to a private organization funded by major foundations and private donors, with the proceeds forwarded to the city government to reduce its debt; and having city retirees voluntarily reduce their pension and medical insurance coverage.  The name of the documentary is “Gradually Then Suddenly: The Bankruptcy of Detroit.” 

Henry Nowak

Former Congressman Henry Nowak passed away this past Sunday at the age of 89.  I knew him from the time when he was the Erie County Comptroller in the 1970s, which was followed by his 18 years in Congress. 

Henry was a quiet and respectful gentleman who worked very hard for his community.  He was not into self-promotion.  He delivered hundreds of millions of dollars to the Buffalo community on projects that continue to be valued to this day.  He did his job very well.  Rest in peace, Henry.

X/Twitter  @kenkruly

Threads   kenkruly                   

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Special Pre-Sale Code for Buffalo Rising Readers for “A JOYFUL HOLIDAY featuring SAMARA and the McLENDON FAMILY.”

It’s Christmas in July as The University at Buffalo Center for the Arts (UBCFA) has announced jazz vocalist sensation, Samara Joy, will perform a December concert celebrating the season in A JOYFUL HOLIDAY featuring Samara and the McLendon Family. The concert will take place on December 17, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

Buffalo Rising is pleased to offer our readers the link for pre-sale tickets for this not-to-be-missed show, which goes live on Wednesday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. through Thursday, July 25 at 10:00 p.m. The special pre-sale code is JOYFULCFA and available online only at ubcfa.org or Ticketmaster. Do not sleep on this one. Those of us who were fortunate to attend one of her fantastic shows in in 2022 have
been clamoring for her return. This is an early holiday gift to Western New York audiences!

The CFA is one of only a handful of venues to present this very special evening of music,” said Jamie Enser, UBCFA’s Executive Director. “Samara Joy has been called the first Gen Z jazz singing star, and we could not be more pleased to have her perform this all-ages concert to celebrate the holidays.

The three-time Grammy winner will perform with musicians that include Shedrick Mitchell on piano, Eric Wheeler on bass, and Charles Haynes on drums as well as members of her musical McLendon family, including her father, Antonio.

She has been performing to sold-out audiences ever since making her self-titled recording debut in 2021 at age 22. With Grammys in 2023 for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album followed by Best Jazz Performance this year, her latest studio album, Linger Awhile, reached #1 on Amazon Best Sellers, Billboard Jazz, Pandora Trendsetters, iTunes and more.

A Bronx native, Samara hails from a musical family. Her paternal grandparents, Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, were founders of the Philadelphia gospel group, The Savettes. Her father is an accomplished vocalist and bass player who toured with gospel musician Andrae Couch. According to Joy, “Singing alongside my family has always been a special time kept between us, but this December I’m excited to
share that special feeling with you all! It brings me great joy to present my first role models, the McLendon Family, on a month-long tour throughout the US.”

Tickets are $44, $49 and $79. For more ticket information call 716-645-2787 or ubcfatickets@buffalo.edu. If you prefer to purchase in person, the CFA ticket office will open for general ticket sales at 12 p.m. Friday, July26th, and will resume summer hours on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.

For additional information on other previously announced shows which include Ben Folds, Rickie Lee Jones and Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, or view the full schedule of programs and activities in the UBCFA, visit the events and exhibitions web page.

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St. Joseph University School – the oldest operating Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Buffalo – is in the midst of launching a project that will see teachers, students, and landscape architects re-envisioning a significant and unproductive greenspace. The plan is to transition the space into a unique outdoor classroom setting, that will accommodate a program called Outdoor Education Program: Learning Through Nature.

There are two parts to the program:

Integrating the school curriculum for all grade levels into lessons and experiences that are conducted outdoors and using nature as the classroom

Developing a nutritional education program using the outdoors to learn about where food comes from and the value of fresh fruits and vegetables

“An initial grant from a private donor provided the funds to begin the planning phase for this ambitious endeavor,” said Principal Mark Mattle. “The first step is developing the physical environment to house the program. This process is a collaborative effort involving teachers, students and landscape architects to reimagine what is currently an expanse of green space adjacent to the school.

“Once fully developed, plans will be shared with the student and faculty community, parishioners and community stakeholders. An initial announcement about the project is planned for our annual Back to School Event in August that will highlight nature experiences for students and include an ice cream social in the school cafeteria.”

“This program is another reflection of the school’s commitment to educating the whole child — physically, socially and spiritually,” added M. Anne Wojick, director of curriculum & partnership. “No other school in the Diocese currently offers such a program.”

Hopefully this program will inspire other education-based entities to reevaluate their own lawns, to see if they can be more productive. There is essentially nothing beneficial to a green lawn, other than to play sports, for example. By converting a lan into a garden, people can grow food, attract pollinators, enjoy flowers in bloom, and simply live life the way that it was intended. Green lawns have been promoted by the lawn industry for generations. They are a tool to sell lawn mowers and weed killer. Kudos to St. Joseph University School for initiating this program that will benefit everyone involved.

St. Joseph University School | 3275 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214

There are a limited number of openings for the 2024-25 school year. To learn more about this one-of-a-kind program and all that SJUS has to offer, please call (716) 835-7395 for a personalized visit and more information about funding assistance and the registration process. Additional information about the school can be found at sjsbuffalo.org.

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