Category: PostEvents

Open Workshops and Master Classes include Irish Music, Song, and Dance

Looking to unleash your inner Irish-ness? If that’s the case, then South Buffalo Roots makes it easy, as the group hosts the second annual South Buffalo Irish Festival Culture Circle (Fáinne Cultúrtha).

On Friday, August 26, from 4pm to midnight, the community is invited to partake in open workshops and master classes dedicated to Irish music, song, and dance. The event centers around “free cultural workshops, trivia, showcases, and jam sessions with festival main stage performers, culminating in a performance by The Spain Brothers and an open traditional Irish music session.”

The festival expands its cultural offerings in a commitment to providing an even deeper connection between the South Buffalo community and its Irish roots.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our South Buffalo Irish community more than ever this year by inviting our friends, family, and neighbors to explore our history and common culture through our new Culture Circle workshops,” said Kathleen Sullivan, President of South Buffalo Roots. “It’s a welcome addition to the South Buffalo Irish Festival, a day where we have always enjoyed bringing the South Buffalo community together while showcasing our unique heritage.”

The Culture Circle is the official kick off to the South Buffalo Irish Festival, held the next day.

Have you ever thought about playing the fiddle? Do you love Irish ballads? Have you wanted to try out a new dance routine? Well, you can do all of that, and more at this one stop shop for all things pertaining to Irish heritage. And if that’s not enough, the following day is the South Buffalo Irish Festival:

South Buffalo Roots presents the South Buffalo Irish Festival on Saturday, August 27 from 11:00am-10:30pm in Cazenovia Park. The free event showcases some of the top performers in the Irish music world including The Prodigals, The Drowsy Lads, and Kilrush along with beloved local bands including Crikwater, McCarthyizm, John Dady & Friends, Whiskey Thief, The Spain Brothers, Tom Keefer & Celtic Cross, The Blarney Bunch, Owen Ó Súilleabháin, Greater Buffalo Firefighters Pipes & Drums and the Rince na Tiarna School of Irish Dance. For more information, please visit www.southbuffaloirishfestival.org.

South Buffalo Irish Festival Culture Circle (Fáinne Cultúrtha) presented by South Buffalo Roots

Friday, August 26, 2022 from 4:00pm-12:00am

Buffalo Irish Center | 245 Abbott Rd | Buffalo, NY

FREE

The event is kid and family friendly, and open to all levels of skill and experience

www.southbuffaloirishfestival.org/copy-of-festival-kick-off 

Program

Sean Nós Singing Circle

Owen Ó Súilleabháin, song leader 4:00pm, GAAA Library

Come and learn to sing a song in the Sean Nós style of Irish traditional music with singer, composer, and storyteller, Owen Ó Súilleabháin.

Beginner Fiddle Workshop

Charlie Coughlin, fiddle 4:00pm, Claddagh Room

What’s the difference between the violin and the fiddle? It’s all in the way you play it! Learn the fundamentals of basic bowings and ornamentation in the Irish style with Crikwater fiddle player Charlie Coughlin.

Intro to Irish Solo & Ceili Dancing 1

Katie Cunningham (TCRG) & Glenna Rankin 5:00pm, BIC Dance Studio, 2nd Floor

Ceili dancing is one of the oldest dance traditions in Ireland. Like contra or even square dancing, the social aspect of this group dance is just as important as the footwork. Bring a friend or make a new one with this introduction to solo and ceili dancing led by Katie Cunningham and Glenna Rankin of the Rince na Tiarna Adult Irish Dance team. No prior dance experience required.

Upstate Crossroads: Fiddle Music from Upstate New York

Tim Ball, fiddle & Max Newman, guitar 5:00pm, GAAA Library

Tim Ball explores the Celtic roots of fiddle music in upstate New York, from old-time square dance tunes to the intricate Sligo/New York style of Irish-American fiddle playing. Open to musicians and non-musicians alike!

Tunes & Ballads Workshop

John Dady, guitar/vocals & John Ryan, tin whistle/button accordion 5:00pm, Claddagh Room

Rochester-based musicians John Dady and John Ryan explore the intersection between Irish tunes and ballads. Open to musicians and non-musicians alike!

Intro to Irish Solo & Ceili Dancing 2

Katie Cunningham (TCRG) & Glenna Rankin 6:00pm, BIC Dance Studio, 2nd Floor

Ceili dancing is one of the oldest dance traditions in Ireland. Like contra or even square dancing, the social aspect of this group dance is just as important as the footwork. Bring a friend or make a new one with this introduction to solo and ceili dancing led by Katie Cunningham and Glenna Rankin of the Rince na Tiarna Adult Irish Dance team. No prior dance experience required.

Irish Music for Classical Players

Leah Rankin, cello 6:00pm, GAAA Library

You’ve practiced, practiced, and practiced but the tune still doesn’t sound Irish! It’s time to take that hard-earned classical technique and turn it loose Irish style with classical-turned-trad cellist, Leah Rankin. Open to all instruments, ages, and skill levels.

Intro to Irish Accompaniment

Matt Sperber, guitar 6:00pm, Claddagh Room

Crikwater guitar player Matt Sperber teaches simple harmony and backing rhythms that will allow you to accompany any Irish tune.

South Buffalo Irish Trivia with TE Caulfield

TE Caulfield, host 7:00pm, Claddagh Room

Learn some fun facts about South Buffalo’s fascinating Irish history as you test your knowledge with a game of South Buffalo Irish Trivia, hosted by South Buffalo’s own TE Caulfield!

The Spain Brothers

8:00pm, BIC Pub

Enjoy a performance of traditional and contemporary Irish folk songs by Liam and Mickey Spain.

Traditional Irish Music Session

9:00pm, BIC Pub

Put what you learned in today’s music and dance workshops into practice with a traditional Irish music session, open to all ages and levels.

*Program subject to change. For the most up-to-date schedule of events, please visit www.southbuffaloirishfestival.org.

Artists

About Owen Ó Súilleabháin

Eoin “Owen” Ó Súilleabháin is a singer, composer and storyteller with a deep-rooted belief in the creative power of art. Music, one might say, runs in his blood. Owen’s mother Noírín Ni Riain is a leading sacred singer and theologian, and his father Mícheál is a pioneering national composer and founder of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. Along with his brother Mícheál ‘Moley’, Owen writes songs that aspire to “lift and apprentice the human heart to generosity and gratitude”, and has released five albums of both ancient and contemporary music, the latest released by Sounds True, called Fields Of Grace – Celtic Meditation Music from the Heart of Ireland.

About John Dady

Originally from Rochester, NY, John Dady and his brother, Joe Dady, have shared their unique variety of Celtic and American folk music in diverse venues around the country and abroad for more than forty years.

Self-styled singers, multi-instrumentalist musicians and composers, John and Joe possessed a solid command of many folk instruments including, but not limited to guitar, pennywhistle, fiddle,

banjo, octave mandolin, harmonica, uilleann pipes, bodhran and ukulele. Their wide repertoire ranges from Irish Traditional and Irish and American Folk to original and contemporary Folk, Bluegrass, and Acoustic Blues. Always at ease with their audiences, they had a knack for finding humor in the moment and sharing it spontaneously.

In May of 2019, Joe lost his battle with leukemia. John continues to carry on the music, performing solo or with a number of close friends. In 2020, the Dady brothers were inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.

About John Michael Ryan

Growing up in the busy Irish music community in Rochester, New York, John Michael Ryan cut his teeth as a young teenager playing tin whistle and bodhran in the city’s many traditional jam sessions, absorbing countless tunes from Clareman Martin O’Keefe (fiddle), Kerry’s Jim Finucane (button accordion), and Galawayman Brian Clancy (whistle, sean nos singing)

This devotion to the old tunes and regional styles of playing carried over once John picked up the button accordion at the age of 17. Since then he has shared the stage with such Irish legends as Kevin Burke, Oisin Mac Diarmada and the Scahill and Howley Brothers (of We Banjo 3 fame). He can be found performing with John Dady, as well as sessions all over the region.

Rince na Tiarna Adult Irish Dance Team

Katie Cunningham (TCRG) has been Irish step dancing and teaching adults competitive and non-competitive Irish dance since 1980. Her dancers, including Glenna Rankin, have gone on to win gold at the Mid Atlantic Oireachtas in both solos and team dances as well as countless top placements at the North American Irish Dance Championships. Adult Irish dancers range in age from 18-65 with various levels of experience, some having danced since childhood and others learning to Irish dance for the first time. With a shared love for Irish culture and tradition, Katie and her team of adult Irish dancers joined the Rince na Tiarna School of Irish Dance in 2022. RNT promotes a welcoming, accepting community for dancers of all levels with classes that are composed of both competitive and noncompetitive dancers and offer both solo and ceili (group) dancing. Find out more on Facebook at @RNTIrishDance and @RNTadultirishdance, and online at www.irishdancewny.com.

About Tim Ball & Max Newman

After 20 years performing in Celtic and contra dance bands and a lifetime of playing traditional fiddle music, Tim Ball takes center stage with his upcoming solo release Upstate Crossroads. His playing breathes new life into nearly-forgotten tunes and old favorites from all corners of New York State, drawing repertoire and inspiration from the surrounding Irish-American, New England, Canadian, and Bluegrass traditions. From these deep roots in dance tunes and folk songs, Tim’s music tells stories about hard work, immigration, community, and simple pleasures.

Max Newman will join Tim for the South Buffalo Irish Festival, playing guitar, piano, and mandolin. A member of the nationally-known contra dance band Stringrays, Max’s playing is refreshing, fun, and creative, and has allowed him to collaborate with a great variety of traditional musicians. He’s made several albums with the Stringrays and others, and has also been profiled in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. When not on the road, Max can often be found at his local contra dance in Concord, Massachusetts.

About Charlie Coughlin

With a brand new expression and expansion of folk music, Charlie Coughlin brings new life to old music and old sounds to new tunes. Born in Buffalo, New York, Charlie grew up playing violin and Irish fiddle from a young age. He now draws inspiration from the folk tales of Irish tradition, Old-time, and modern artists such as Kishi Bashi and Arcade Fire to create new Post-Trad/Indie Folk music.

Charlie Coughlin has played the fiddle/violin for over 10 years. He also sings in the sean nós Irish style and plays various other instruments including guitar, mandolin, button accordion, and whistle. As a solo artist and with groups like The Brothers Blue, Crikwater, and more, he has played venues and festivals including the Town Ballroom, Sportsmans Tavern, Duende at Silo City, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Old Tone festival, An Beal Bocht, Folkfaces Fest, the Buffalo Irish Festival, the South Buffalo Irish Festival, the Hornell Irish Festival, and other great locations and festivals. He has also taught master classes at SUNY Plattsburgh, Honeoye Highschool, the South Buffalo Music school, and more.

About Matt Sperber

Matthew Sperber has been instructing guitar in the Buffalo area since 2005 and is currently on the faculty at The Castellani-Andriaccio Guitar Studios in Snyder, NY where he teaches students of all ages in Suzuki and traditional guitar methods. He attended SUNY University at Buffalo where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music History in 2006 and a Master of Music in Guitar Performance in February 2010. There, he studied under world-renowned guitarist and teacher, Joanne Castellani. Matthew is guitarist and singer in Western New York’s premier Irish group, Crikwater. In addition he is a part of the group, Normal St. Entrance with members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Amy Licata and Brett Shurtliffe. They have performed on multiple occasions with the orchestra and were featured on the PBS special, “Live at the Kate” with Owen and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin.

About Leah Rankin

Having recently relocated back to her hometown of Buffalo, NY from New York City, Leah Rankin is one of the leading cellists playing traditional Irish music today. Since studying cello performance with Alan Harris at the Eastman School of Music, and with renowned Celtic cellist Natalie Haas, she has played alongside some of the most reputable musicians in the Irish music world and has appeared on close to a dozen albums in a variety of genres. Notable live performances include The Ferryman on Broadway, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Irish Arts Center, The American Irish Historical Society, NYC Irish American Writers & Artists Salon, NYC Tartan Week, BB King Blues Club, Rockwood Music Hall, Fairport Music Festival, Dublin Irish Festival, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and all three stages at Carnegie Hall where she worked for nearly eight years.

About TE Caulfield

Thomas E. Caulfield is a lifelong South Buffalo resident and a charter member of the South Buffalo Irish Festival — formerly South Buffalo Irish Feis. He earned an MA in Irish Studies with a concentration in Political Conflict and a doctorate in Public Administration completing a dissertation in non-violent resistance in nationalist Northern Ireland during the Troubles. After a career working in both corporate America and local government, he keeps occupied working as a volunteer for various non-profit organizations. He is quick to acknowledge the joy of sharing an appreciation of Irish language, music, and culture with his wife, Nancy, his two children, Liam and Lauren, and the community at-large.

About The Spain Brothers

Liam and Mickey Spain are second generation singer / songwriters from the mill town of Manchester, NH. They grew up in a household steeped in folk music and musicians. Their father, Mike Spain, was a well known folk singer performing Irish and American Folk songs throughout the New England area. Mike, not only inspired the boys to perform, but he introduced them to the work of a myriad of artists, and educated them on the folk song tradition and its importance in society. The brothers have recorded with folk icons such as Tom Paxton, Noel Paul Stookey, Roger McGuinn, Dave Mallett and Bill Staines to name a few, and host an annual concert held in Liam and Mickey’s hometown called the NH Folk Extravaganza. Find out more about The Spain Brothers at www.spainbrothers.com.

Photo courtesy South Buffalo Roots

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Are you a fan of Black Rock and Riverside? Do you like to run? If you checked both of those boxes, then you will want to take part in the inaugural River Rock Run – an event that supports the BRRAlliance.

This 5K run will be very unique, in that runners will get to enjoy an incredible vista along the Niagara River. Participants will gather at Riverside Park at 8am, before embarking upon the Shoreline Trail run. It’s a wonder that a run of this nature has never been held before, especially with the magnificent Niagara River as the backdrop.

Inaugural River Rock Run

Saturday, September 24, 2022

8am

Riverside Park (Buffalo, New York) | 1 Hotaling Drive | Buffalo, NY 14207

The BRRAlliance is proud to bring you the first annual River Rock Run, with the help and support of Highmark of Western New York and Feel Rite Fresh Markets. Giveaways for the event will include free t-shirts for all participants and medals to be handed out to race finishers.  All proceeds from the 5K will go to benefit the BRRAlliance and its community mission. For more information on the River Rock Run including how to register for the event, please visit the River Rock Run Eventbrite page.

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ZIZO Technologies – a company that is headquartered in North Buffalo – is in the business of developing a technology platform that turns work into a game. I’m not kidding.

If that sounds too good to be true, then you should meet ZIZO founder, Jimmy Chebat (lead image), who developed the original iteration for his gamification platform in 2010, when he was looking for ways to professionally modernized his accounts receivable business (a call center). He hated the culture that surrounded the industry, and felt that there was an opportunity to take his business to a different level – an elevated level. That’s when he began to ponder the possibilities of creating a gaming atmosphere at the office, where employees would be incentivized to work, and rewarded for their accomplishments.

With a background in technology, Chebat set out to develop the software that, he felt, would revolutionize the workplace. It just so happens that as he was selling his call center, to concentrate on ZIZO, the pandemic hit. According to Chebat, that turned out to be a bit of good fortune for the fledgling company, as people began to work from home. Employers were finding it more difficult to hold their employees accountable, even with ZOOM video conferencing. Chebat realized that ZIZO was the solution to many of their problems.

If you’re not familiar with gamification software, just think of some of your favorite companies – like Starbucks – that offer rewards to their customers. Drink coffee, get rewarded. Or the Apple Watch. Walk a certain number of steps, and get a badge. Or Peloton. Chebat told me that the company took the stationary bike “as a coatrack” and turned it into a billion dollar brand… by rewarding users. Could this same sort of reward system be applied to companies around the world? Yes.

ZIZO, which stands for “Zoom In Zoom Out,” is in the business of adding game mechanics to non-game tasks.

“We have designed a tool that makes work fun,” Chebat explains. “It’s based on recognizing and rewarding employees’ performances, especially now when so many people are working from home. There’s no better time to shift and modernize workforce management. The application gamifies work. Think about the business objective – to bring in revenues, for example. Then identify the indicators that drive the sales… making outbound calls, getting prospects, drawing up proposals, and landing contracts. ZIZO rewards the employees for showing up to work on time, working hours, and making sales. It tracks and logs the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and identifies the rookies and the pros. There are the employees that conduct the minimal work expected, but what does a unicorn look like?”

ZIZO helps employers set up daily challenges for employees to hit their targets, by playing a game. Even the interface is designed to mimic their favorite games (Candy Crush Saga, for example), which means that the software is immediately intuitive. Those who hit their targets are rewarded with the likes of, say, a day off, a gift certificate, or any other company perk that is prized by staff. There might even be a reward of upgrading an avatar, to let everyone know that someone is moving up in the ZIZO world. Employers can also arrange contests and tournaments for individuals or teams. Awards are handed out for tasks that range from fulfilling daily duties to reeling in a big fish. There’s even a rewards store to cash in points! The idea is to make it competitive, fun… and rewarding.

Not only does this gamification process make work more interesting, it also creates an allegiance with the employer, who is able to better engage with employees.

“ZIZO develops a gamification culture at the workplace,” says Chebat. “It’s a highly effective tool. It impacts performance and curbs attrition. This is going to reshape and revolutionize the way we work. Up until recently, gamification was a buzzword. Now it’s the lexicon. It’s the future of incentivizing people to work, no matter where they are working.”

ZIZO is now in growth mode, and is looking for some talented people to join its team. Chebat says that he’s happy to be headquartered in Buffalo, as he grew up on the city’s West Side.

“As we shift into our ‘Growth Stage’, we’ve begun to focus on our Mission, Vision and Values and aligning our leadership team to help carry these core components of our organization into all aspects of our business.  As part of this process, we have made some key HR decisions that will help lead our organization into the next chapter.  We recently hired a new Director of Sales, Gabby Hager, who will help develop our sales department and prepare it for growth. In addition, we’ve promoted one of our key employees, Megan Kelly (formerly Megan Baldi), to COO.”

It looks as if ZIZO might be another innovative Buffalo company to watch, and even work at. And if you’re reading this and you’re looking to move to Buffalo, this could be a good opportunity for you to join a team that is redefining what it means to be a team player.

Get connected: playzizo.com

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A feel good film about garage bands, bullies, and first loves

Chances are, we’ve all thought of subject matter for a film, at some point or another. For fledgling film producers Colin Taylor and Louie Visone, it took a pandemic for them to realize their dreams of writing a monumental film script and producing a feature film, which was recently shot in Buffalo.

While Taylor studied writing, directing, and producing, Visone dedicated himself to theater. Together, the two wrote the script for Chicken Strips: The Trials and Tribulations of Becoming a Garage Band, which was loosely based on Taylor’s own high school band (Chicken Strips) that never made it out of his parent’s basement.

The movie is a PG-13 rock-comedy, being a mix between Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World and Hot Rod.

The self described feel good film touches upon the anguish of being bullied, and whether we ever truly forgive those who have bullied us in the past. It’s also about the dream of being a rock ‘n’ roller, while balancing young love.

In order to pull off the feature film (an hour and a half), Taylor and Visone took full advantage of the pandemic, and the downtime that occurred. That downtime allowed them to write every day, which meant that the script was continually getting bigger and bigger. And since there were not a lot of other films being written, and in production, the duo amassed a significant sized production crew and cast, especially considering that the size of the budget was just under $10,000 (not including post production).

In order to procure the funds, Taylor and Visone launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised around $7500. 90 people ended up donating to the campaign, which was not only significant, it was also a testament to the project.

“When we saw that people were donating, it’s when we first realized that we really had to do this,” said Visone, who was unsure from the start if they could ever pull off the film. “Every time we would get notified that someone had donated, we would get excited, because we would be one step closer. It motivated us, knowing that people believed in the film. We also got a donation from The Cheesy Chick food truck, and ended up putting some of our own money into it too. I had my doubts at the start, but Colin was always determined, and pushed for it. Somehow we manifested pulling it off.”

As for the band in the film – Chicken Strips – it turns out that all of the band members knew how to play their respective instruments, but the actual sounds that are captured on the film are that of a local band by the name of Fluse. The members of Fluse (friends of Taylor and Visone) were given the sound palette to work with, and came back with a fitting soundtrack that was completely distinct from their own style of music.

Along with Taylor and Visone, and the band, came the cast and crew, many of which were wholeheartedly welcomed into the Chicken Strips family as Chicken Strippers. The producers mentioned that for many of these young people, the film was their first shot at being part of a feature film production (and post production). And with the pandemic in full swing, many people donated their time and energies in order to make the film a reality. It is these people – the Chick Strip family – that Taylor and Visone say they owe so much.

Being part of a new extended family is one thing. Being able to chase your dream is another. That was the takeaway from Taylor, who obviously identifies with the lead character of the film, as the part is loosely based on his life.

“People will relate to the characters,” said Taylor. “It’s about chasing dreams, versus facing reality and growing up. The main character doesn’t want to grow up. But growing up doesn’t mean that you have to be miserable.”

The biggest lesson? Feel free to chase your dreams, because that’s the only way you will ever be able to realize them.

“When was the last time a bunch of twenty year olds from Buffalo made a full length feature simply because they wanted to?” asked Visone. “Even without the right resources.”

It turns out that the right resources are reliable friends, who eventually become part of an extended Buffalo family.

SLP Entertainment will be premiering its full-length feature film called Chicken Strips: The Trials and Tribulations of Becoming a Garage Band at the North Park Theatre this September, from the 2nd through the 8th. 

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A new residence in Clarence sold yesterday for $6,530,361.53 yesterday.  The sale shatters the area’s previous record sale of $3 million for a residential property in Hamburg.  The 7,000 sq.ft. home at 5439 Waterlefe Drive in the Spaulding Green subdivision off of Goodrich Road was built by Tesmer Builders.  The buyer is hiding behind the STM 5439 LLC and is registered to a law office in the Brisbane Building.

Meanwhile for one quarter the price, 161 Middlesex Road sold today for $1.425 million (below).  The 5,836 sq.ft. home was built in 1936 and has eight bedrooms and seven baths.  161 Middlesex LLC was the buyer.

The post Big Deal: Clarence New Build Sells for Over $6 million appeared first on Buffalo Rising.

The Buffalo Lighthouse Association has been awarded a $14,000 Preserve New York grant to fund the Historic Structures Report for the fog signal building at the 1903 South Buffalo Light Station. This is welcome news for the preservation team that has been fighting to restore the light station/fog signal building, which will one day be a unique destination for boaters, as the grounds can only be access by water at this point.

To get a better understanding of the site, and its preservation and restoration needs, I took a tour of the Light Station a couple years back (see here). The funding for this new study will, in essence, create a roadmap that will make it easier to understand the preservation process moving forward.

“We are excited about this opportunity to turn our attention from the South Buffalo Lighthouse itself to the even more historic fog signal building on the breakwater light station,” said Buffalo Lighthouse Association president Mike Vogel. “We are nearing completion of efforts to restore the exterior of the lighthouse, and this study will be the basis for the next major stage of our million-dollar preservation project.”

The historic breakwater light station is located at the south entrance to Buffalo Harbor, where it once helped to guide ships to the ore docks at the former Bethlehem Steel plant. Eventually, modern navigation technology, including an automated light (1962) at the once-manned station, signaled that times were a changin’. Unfortunately, without someone tending the station, Mother Nature had her way with the structure. The good news is that the bones of the structure are still intact, as are a number of the coveted aesthetic and mechanical features.

Since stepping up to safeguard the station a decade ago, the Association has managed to raise over $650,000, with support from the Buffalo and Erie County Standing Committee of the Niagara River Greenway, and from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds. That funding has been directed towards restoring the tower, which is almost complete.

Now, it’s the fog signal building that is the task at hand. According to the Association, “The building once served as the U.S. Lighthouse Service’s fog signal testing station for the Great Lakes as well as the support building for a Marconi tower that was the Great Lakes region’s first radio station.”

Along with other repairs, the compromised roof of the fog signal building must be addressed, as it supports 11-foot reflectors and trumpets.

The Historic Structures Report, being conducted by Clinton Brown Company Architecture, PC, will hopefully open some additional funding doors, including New York State and Federal Historic Tax Credits. The report will also help with ongoing station work by the nation’s leading lighthouse engineering firm, locally based ICC Commonwealth.

This latest funding development is thanks to The Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

To keep up with the progress of the South Buffalo Lighthouse and Fog Signal Building, be sure to tune into this Facebook page.

The Preserve New York program is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Get connected at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, twitter.com/preservenys, and instagram.com/preservenys, and youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague.

BUFFALO LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATION, INC.

P.O. Box 206, Buffalo NY 14240 / buffalolightshines@gmail.com

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Mark your calendars for THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 and catch the “Polka Buzz” at Batavia Downs. Enjoy this fun night of dancing to live music from “The Buffalo Touch”! WBBZ will be LIVE recording 4 tapings this evening, so give your best performance! Must be 21+ to attend.

Tickets are $10 & include $10 Free Play.

A $69 hotel/Free Play deal is also available to ticket holders! An amazing deal with $40 worth of Free Play, a hotel room, and two show tickets that include $10 of Free Play each. This means your total cost is only $9!

In order to book this amazing deal visit www.bataviadownsgaming.com, click “BOOK NOW” on the home page, enter rate access/corporate code: POLKA

Doors open at 6pm and the show begins at 7pm.

Front desk: 585-815-7000

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Back in 2018, I wrote about “plogging” – an activity that involves jogging and picking up litter – a mash-up of plucking litter and jogging. At the time, it was merely an informational post, letting people know about this unusual, and very helpful, running routine with roots in Sweden. I also haven’t heard much about plogging (locally) since I posted on it four years ago.

Finally, there is a local plogging event to look forward to, thanks to Flying Bison’s Urban Run Series that has announced a “Plogging Run” on Saturday, August 20, from 11am to 2pm.

On that day there is a 6 mile run and a 4 mile run, both serving as trash pick-ups. Then there is a 2 mile walk that is for cigarette butt pick-ups.

The event starts at 11am at Flying Bison Brewery in Larkinville. And don’t be surprised to find some donuts and pint specials throughout the day.

So join the Buffalo Run Club and the Urban Run Series for a day dedicated to running, walking, and keeping Buffalo clean.

And hopefully this is the start of a new plogging movement in Buffalo. The city could sure use it.

Find the Urban Run Series “Plogging Run” on Facebook.

Flying Bison Brewing Co. | 840 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY 14210

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The Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood just got another big boost in the form of the Cigar Factory Apartments – a $2.4 million mixed-use development that offers up 11 affordable apartments and a new commercial space. The development at 595 Fillmore Avenue is twofold in that it consists of the redevelopment of the Jankowski Cigar Factory site, along with the construction of an adjacent new build. A small coffee shop will be located in the commercial space, which is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

A grand opening for the project was held earlier today.

“This development is a major component of our commitment to doing right by East Buffalo,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “Thanks to $2 million in state funding, the Cigar Factory Apartments have transformed an old cigar plant into beautiful, safe, affordable homes. With today’s grand opening, in addition to the $50 million to support homeowners and revitalize commercial districts, we are investing in East Buffalo to uplift the entire community.”

All apartments are affordable to households with incomes below 50 percent of the Area Median Income.

The new project unveiling is just part of Governor Hochul’s plan to make housing “affordable, equitable, and stable.”

Originally, the cigar factory site was purchased by Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services (BFNHS) in 2015, but any plans on the table were quickly shelved when a fire broke out at the property shortly after the purchase. Thankfully, two buildings towards the rear of the property were saved, including a brick building where tobacco leaves were cured and prepared for rolling. BFNHS then purchased the adjacent site (591 Fillmore), which significantly contributed to the development potential of the site.

Stephen Karnath, Executive Director of Broadway-Fillmore NHS, Inc. & HomeFront, Inc. said, “This project has overcome a lot of obstacles to get to this day, including a devastating fire shortly after we acquired it, and a pandemic which significantly slowed the pace of construction. It may be a small project, but we believe it can be transformational. It echoes its past as a cigar store and family home, and it offers a gateway to the future of the Broadway Fillmore neighborhood.” 

Working with architecture, engineering and interior design firm Carmina Wood Morris, Broadway-Fillmore NHS/Home Front drew up plans for the site.

Mayor Byron W. Brown said, “I congratulate Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services for its tenacity in completing this affordable housing and retail project. Converting the former Jankowski Cigar Factory into residences was a daunting effort, but overcoming the 2015 fire, required a commitment that went above and beyond. This development, located at the gateway to the Buffalo Central Terminal, is an important addition to overall City and New York State efforts to revitalize the Broadway Fillmore corridor and East Buffalo.”

State financing for Cigar Factory Apartments included:

$1.9 million in HOME Local Program funding$40,000 from the Rural and Urban Community Investment Fund from New York State Homes and Community RenewalThe New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has committed $11,000 in support through its Low-rise Residential New Construction programHomeFront provided $160,000The city of Buffalo provided $11,000

The project goes hand-in-hand with Governor Hochul’s previous announcement that $50 million of targeted investments would be allocated to East Buffalo, as part of a concerted effort to remedy issues that face the underserved neighborhood, especially in the wake of the Tops Supermarket attack back in May. To that end, the State has come to the aid of struggling homeowners in East Buffalo with an investment of $34.5 million*, including: 

$20 million for New York State Homes and Community Renewal and the Department of Taxation and Finance to serve up to 4,000 homeowners in need of tax, water, and sewage arrears assistance.$10 million to serve up to 1,000 homeowners with homes in need of serious repairs.$4.5 million to serve up to 150 homeowners who will have access to down payment assistance. 

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Cigar Factory Apartments are a valuable component of the State’s ongoing investment in Buffalo’s East Side. This development provides safe and comfortable affordable homes for the 11 households who now live here and has created valuable commercial space at a strategic location in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood. We applaud Governor Hochul for her ongoing commitment to the East Side community and thank our partners at Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services for their support in making this development possible.”

*Governor Hochul recently announced that applications opened August 9 for the comprehensive housing programs supporting residents of East Buffalo. Residents can call 211 to learn about housing programs and how to apply. 

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Shetice Jackson has been a chef her entire life. She cooked throughout high school, and then she attended Emerson Vocational High School for Culinary Arts, where she graduated first in her class. From there, she graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Her experience includes being a sous chef for a number of restaurants, working for Emeril Lagasse at the MGM Grand Hotel, and earning her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from SUNY Buffalo State. She also did an 8-year stint as chef-instructor of Campus House – a teaching laboratory – on the grounds of SUNY Buffalo State.

It was only when she wanted to purchase a birthday cake for her mother that she ventured into the world of baking. It turns out that her mother’s birthday is on New Year’s Eve. She went to Wegman’s, to purchase “a sparkly cake,” but all they had were cakes with balloons on them. Instead of purchasing a cake, she bought all of the ingredients to make a cake, and went home to teach herself how to bake.

“It was so bad. I even forgot to use oil,” said Shetice [laughing]. “So I had to do it again. The next cake – a sheet cake – I put in a box and gave to my mother. We were poor, and none of us knew anything about fancy bakeries at the time, so she was so happy with the cake. That’s when I became obsessed with learning how to bake and decorate. I began YouTubing everything – my mother called my favorite aunt and said Shetice is cake crazy!‘ That’s how I came up with the name Cake Crazy Bakery. At one point, we were in Wegman’s and five other locations, but I wanted to focus more on cooking, so I ended those relationships.”

Cake Crazy Bakery and Gourmet Catering is located in Cheektowaga. As you can imagine, the premise is on baking, but at one point, a few years back, Shetice began to serve up soups and sandwiches. It turns out that the location (for an eatery) was too far out of the way. She realized that if she was going to serve soups and sandwiches, it would have to be at a different location.

When Shetice announced to her employees that she was going to take off for six months, to enter a body building competition, she asked them to keep Cake Crazy Bakery running smoothly. While she did end up talking to the staff each day during those six months, the break from the business signaled that she could dedicate more time to cooking, as her staff was able to take care of the bakery end of the operation.

“I didn’t want to lose the bakery,” said Shetice. “Buffalo has a lot of great restaurants, but not a lot of great bakeries. When an opportunity presented itself to open a restaurant, I knew that I had to take it.”

That opportunity turned out to be opening a fast casual restaurant called Crazy Good Eatz, located at 2285 Main Street (the former location of Tony’s Ranch House).

When Crazy Good Eatz opens in September, it will have a heavy focus on soups. Shetice told me that there will be six different scratch made soups each day, along with salads, sandwiches, specials, and “amazing desserts provided by Cake Crazy Bakery.” Not only has the interior of the restaurant been completely updated, the restaurant grounds have been spruced up very nicely, which is great to see at this high profile intersection.

Once open, the neighborhood will, once again, have a reliable restaurant, operated by a professional team that is dedicated to perfection. And with cooler weather on the way, it’s going to be nice having a place to depend on for some delicious homemade soups. Not to mention the rest of Shetice’s menu items, which will reflect her passion and personality.

“My specials will show my personality and creativity as a chef,” said Shetice. “I’m excited to show off my culinary skills for Buffalo.”

Crazy Good Eatz | 2285 Main Street | Buffalo NY | Facebook

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