Category: PostNews

Black Man/Black Woman Seeds of the PO/ET/TREE, a new book by BaBa Eng, has been released by RoseDog Books

 Baba Eng

This collection of po/et/tree and essays are the expressions of a man locked down under the most inhumane conditions imaginable here in the United States of America.

BaBa Eng was sentenced to twenty-five years to life in New York State’s prison system in 1977 for shooting a man who had pulled a gun on his wife in an illegal after-hours club in Harlem, New York. When Mr. Eng discovered the enormity of the act he had committed, he dedicated himself to education and self-improvement. That pursuit, according to Mr. Eng, was so he could at least attempt to balance the scales and be able to work for his community upon release from prison.

These writings are the result of his meditations and contemplations while in prison, in solitary confinement, and upon his release.

Upon his release in 2013, BaBa, as he is affectionately known in prisons throughout New York State, became an advocate for his fellow prisoners and in the Western New York community as a social justice advocate, his writing and his work continues.

Black Man/Black Woman Seeds of the PO/ET/TREE represents the reflections of a Black Man determined to share love and justice in a world where both are so desperately needed.

Black Man/Black Woman Seeds of the PO/ET/TREE is a 96-page paperback with a retail price of $12.00 (eBook $7.00). The ISBN is 978-1-6376-4449-2. It was published by RoseDog Books of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

For more information, or to request a review copy, please go to our virtual pressroom at https://dorrancepressroom.com/black-man-black-woman-seeds-of-the-po-et-tree/  or our online bookstore at https://rosedogbookstore.com/black-man-black-woman-seeds-of-the-po-et-tree/.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Police have reported a 27-year-old man is in critical condition at ECMC after being shot on E. Delavan Avenue Friday night.

The shooting took place around 10 p.m. near the intersection of Newburgh Avenue, and remains under investigation. Detectives said the man was taken to ECMC by ambulance following the shooting.

Police ask that anyone with information call or text their confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255. 

With their recent move into a bigger facility at 3199 Delaware Ave in Kenmore, NY, Studio J – now in its 9th season, is embracing the theme ‘AIN’T NO STOPPIN’ US NOW’! 

Their competition team (pictured) recently won 5 gold and one platinum awards at Empire Dance Challenge competition held at Sweet Home Middle School. ‘Mr. Pinstripe,’ a tap routine choreographed by Miss Jayme, took the top award along with ‘Best costume’ and ‘Top 10.’

The team is preparing for two more upcoming local competitions: Summerdanse at Maryvale High School and NYS Dance Challenge at the Ken-Ton Commons. 

Studio J’s 9th annual recital will return to Shea’s 710 theater after a 2-year hiatus on June 25th at 2pm.                                                                                                        Tickets will go on sale May 15th and can be purchased at Shea’s box office or ticketmaster.com

The studio has BIG plans for the 2022-2023 season as it will celebrate its 10th season! A grand opening and sampler classes will take place July 11th-21st. The studio is looking forward to the return of its annual father-daughter dance as well as a 2nd Disney performance in Orlando, FL in July 2023. 

For more information, call (716) 83-DANCE or visit www.studioj-buffalo.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Mark Goodwin from Buffalo Eats joined News 4 at 7 Friday to talk about the meat raffle they’re hosting next month, as well as Compass Run — a new casual southern restaurant on Seneca Street.

The full segment can be seen above.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Starbucks is in hot water after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) says the coffee giant discriminated against its unionized workers in Buffalo.

Members of Starbucks Workers United, the labor union created by local workers, are calling this lengthy review of their allegations historic and far-reaching. The NLRB investigated workers’ claims and says Starbucks broke the law, and must provide a remedy.

The 45-page complaint details many allegations of intimidation and discrimination for unionized workers. It claims Starbucks tried to bully employees into not unionizing by offering them similar benefits that the union fought hard to gain. The complaint also describes that several employees were fired for being union advocates and some Starbucks locations were even shutdown because of the effort.

The complaint can be viewed in its entirety here:

The Federal Board alleges Starbucks also illegally surveyed their employees and cut hours of union-advocates.

“The NLRB’s regional office in Buffalo confirmed that Starbucks has been breaking the law in numerous ways in hundreds of accounts,” Ian Hayes, Esq., partner at Hayes Dolce, which represents Starbucks Workers United, told News 4.

The union held a press conference Friday to address these claims. One of the workers said Starbucks cut her hours for being pro-union. She had to find a second job to make up for her lost pay, but she says because she was less available for her barista job, Starbucks fired her.

“In doing so, they decided I no long met the needs for business. That was their grounds for firing me essentially,” Cassie Fleischer said.

Fleischer hopes to return to her job soon and believes this compliant by the NLRB will allow her to do that.

The official document from the Labor Board follows an investigation into the union’s claims that Starbucks violated worker’s rights. The board concluded that the workers allegations were true. They say Starbucks should reinstate workers who were fired, reopen closed locations in Western New York, provide apology letters to employees affected, train managers on workers rights and more.

“The company has been essentially lying to the rest of the country and the world by saying nothing like that is going on in Buffalo. That’s not taking place in Buffalo,” Michelle Eisen, organizer of Starbucks Workers United, said. “These workers are lying to you. Well, it turns out the company was lying to everybody else.”

Starbucks must provide a formal response to the NLRB by May 20, but legal experts say this could go before a judge.

“The NLRB, the Federal agency, is going to be prosecuting Starbucks for breaking the law for violating workers rights under Federal labor law. That’s going to involve a trial before a judge,” Hayes added.

The company disputes the claims made by the workers and the NLRB in a statement issued to News 4.

The complaint, issued by the NLRB Regional Director in Buffalo, involves important issues. However, Starbucks does not agree that the claims have merit, and the complaint’s issuance does not constitute a finding by the NLRB. It is the beginning of a litigation process that permits both sides to be heard and to present evidence.  We believe the allegations contained in the complaint are false, and we look forward to presenting our evidence when the allegations are adjudicated. 

Starbucks

The union is calling the NLRB confirmation a major victory.

“It was their word against ours, but it is no longer our word against ours anymore, so I think that that will add a lot of strength to these campaigns that are popping up across the country to the stores that are currently organizing,” Eisen concluded.

Many workers hope their efforts will help not only Starbucks employees in Western New York, but workers at the dozens of stores that have organized since the unionization effort began in Buffalo.

Accusations made by the union against Starbucks include the coffee chain’s firing of workers in support of the union and new benefits not being offered to unionized workers.

Angel Krempa, who led unionization efforts in Depew, was terminated April 1. Starbucks said it was due to her lack of following late arrival protocols, but Krempa said she went through proper communication channels to report these late arrivals.

“I was fired yesterday, and their reasons for firing me are that I was late two times. They said I didn’t use the proper forms of communication channels,” Krempa told News 4 in April. “I have the time logs and the proof showing I did use — and went through the proper channels and everything like that.”

Starbucks spokesperson Reggie Borges presented the corporation’s feelings on the situation.

“Specifically to Angel, we have a track record here dating back prior to November,” Borges said. “Really, she was at the point where she got a final written warning of behavior and attendance issues, and that behavior has not changed.”

After Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced Thursday that he’d be raising pay and extending benefits for non-union stores only, a store in downtown Buffalo participated in a one-day strike.

“Where Starbucks lacks the right to unilaterally make these changes (for example, stores where there is a union or union organizing) Starbucks will provide wage increases that were announced in October 2021 and will otherwise comply with all applicable legal requirements,” Schultz said in the announcement.

Employee Emily Bassett expressed her love for her place of work, saying unionization was only ever about wanting better benefits for partners. She spoke with News 4 on union stores being excluded.

“We are partners coming together because we love Starbucks and we want those benefits for partners, Bassett said. “So being excluded in this because we are attempting to come together and make it a better company, it hurts.”

Per the NLRB website, an administrative law judge will preside over the case and will file a decision.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — As detectives investigate multiple armed robberies in Niagara Falls, another suspect has been arrested in connection with the crimes.

Isaiah Christian, 19, of Niagara Falls, was arrested Friday afternoon for his involvement in two Main Street robberies — one May 3 near Pierce Avenue, and one May 5 near Orchard Parkway. Christian, along with Rohmelo Lewis, who was charged Thursday, is accused of committing the robberies while armed with a gun. Victims of both robberies sustained minor head injuries, according to the NFPD.

Christian has been charged with two counts of assault in the second degree, three counts of robbery in the second degree, one count of robbery in the first degree and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Saturday morning in Niagara Falls City Court.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — A man has been sentenced following the 2020 killing of a woman in Niagara Falls.

According to the Niagara County District Attorney’s office, Michael Mease was sentenced to 21 years in prison Friday for manslaughter in the first degree. He pleaded guilty to killing Shakiya Boyce, 25, in September 2020.

Boyce was reportedly shot while getting into a friend’s car near the intersection of 20th Street and Center Avenue, and died at a local hospital.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — To wrap up International Compost Awareness Week, a local compost facility made a big donation to FeedMore Western New York.

Buffalo River Compost donated five cubic yards of compost to FeedMore’s community garden.

This will help them grow more fruits and vegetables to benefit the community while recycling at the same time.

“This will really allow us to really grow more nutritious fruits and vegetables. We know compost helps aerate the soil and really grow better products,” said Catherine Shick, public relations specialist at FeedMore.

The garden benefits the community in several ways. People can come and learn about the benefits of growing their own food, take nutrition classes, and take home the crops they grow.

Many fruits and vegetables are also donated to local food pantries like St. Patrick Food Pantry in Buffalo.

“We welcome it in the summer. We look forward to getting the fresh fruits and vegetables, our clients look forward to it, we’ve actually benefited in getting plants, getting some seedlings and giving them to the clients who have grown their own vegetables,” said Annie Carlson, co-coordinator at the pantry. “That’s a big plus to get the fresh right from the farm.”

That’s the end of the process, but the starting point is Buffalo River Compost. They take people’s food scraps, turn them into compost material to go to the gardens, and so on, all reducing waste.

“At the and of the day there’s sort of an end of that cycle and those byproducts that come from that cycle then come back to us we put them back into our process and turn it back into a premium product that would be used back at FeedMore here. So it’s the shop local, support local, and the circular economy,” said Brian Murphy, general manager of Buffalo River Compost.

They also bring their compost to several other places around the area. There are many third parties people can compost through, and the scraps end up at BRC.

The food pantry is always accepting food donations at 1119 William Street. Both the pantry and community garden welcome more volunteers.

To volunteer at the FeedMore garden, people should call (716) 822-2002.

Kayla Green is a reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

WESTERN NEW YORK (WIVB) — Millions of pets were adopted in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but now, adoption rates are slowing down and some pets are even being returned.

“I think honestly, for the rescues, nothing good happened from the pandemic,” Jeanne D’Angelo, Buffalo events coordinator for Joyful Rescues in Cattaraugus County, said.

There was a surge in pet adoptions across the United States because people were stuck in their homes. As the world returns to normal, adoption rates are slowing down; shelters and rescues are filling with pets again.

“A lot of shelters cleared out people couldn’t even get dogs at one point because everybody was adopting dogs,” Julie Starr, co-founder of Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue, added.

Twenty-three million households adopted pets in 2020, which far exceeded years past. That is one-in-five homes across the country. Now, as restrictions lift, and people return to daily activities, many pets have been left behind. They are not used to being away from their owners for extended periods of time, which can lead to behavioral and psychological problems.

“Joyful Rescues kind of thinks that we’ve really gone back probably about 15 years in time,” D’Angelo said. “[We’ve gone back to] the things that we were fighting 15 years ago. We’ve kind of lost a lot of the gains that we’ve made in recent years.”

While nationally, there is not a surge in pets being surrendered, there is a new term for animals who are being returned.

“A ‘pandemic pet’ is, you know, an animal that was acquired during the COVID pandemic where everybody was at home in the world was shut down,” Dr. Kimberly Parkhill, medical director at McBride Animal Hospital, said.

Dr. Parkhill also explained some pets were adopted impulsively because humans did not want to be alone during such a difficult time. Now, rescues are receiving many messages from people who want to surrender their pets.

“[We receive] daily messages and emails of people just to surrendering their dogs. We’ve seen a crazy, huge amount — just — it’s very heartbreaking. It’s hard to talk about,” Starr said.

Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue and Joyful Rescues foster dogs from high kill shelters and work to find them forever homes in Western New York. Both say they have heard of people trying to return their pets as they return to normal life.

“A lot of people don’t understand going into a shelter environment is very very stressful. A lot of people think, ‘Oh, I’ll surrender my dog with shelter. They’ll find a home.’,” Starr said. “It’s really not how it works.”

D’Angelo said returning to normal activities can also have a toll on pets, which could result in behavioral and emotional problems. Returning pets can also negatively affect animals.

“It’s very confusing to the animal and that’s really why we try so hard to make the first match to be the last match,” D’Angelo said.

From a health standpoint, Dr. Parkhill says pet-owners should be concerned about their animals’ mental health. She added that psychological health is a major component of overall welfare.

“That [being surrendered or returning to normal] takes a toll on their mental health. Even though people don’t necessarily associate pets with mental health, it’s something that we talk about. They do have anxiety and they do have feelings. You’re seeing those manifested and that’s hard,” Dr. Parkhill said.

There are resources available for pets who are struggling with the new normal. Dr. Parkhill says there are behavioral specialists, dog trainers and even veterinarians like her who can help. Rescues can also provide resources to pet owners.

Many rescues have struggled during the pandemic, especially as adoption rates have decreased after a spike in the early days of COVID. Joyful Rescues said their adoptions are down right now, meaning they cannot save dogs from high-kill shelters and bring them to the Greater-Buffalo area.

“If our adoptions are down, then we can’t take as many dogs in from the high-kill shelters, because we’re trying to anticipate how many adoptions we’re gonna have next week,” D’Angelo added.

The cost to rescue is also on the rise. For Buddy’s Second Chance, they typically spend more than the adoption fee to bring the dog to New York and provide them medical care. They also provide other supplies like food, collars, leashes and toys to new pet owners, which is an added expense.

“You’re looking at at least $300 and that’s just before the dog basically even walks in the door. Then, we have food, then we have treats, leashes, collars, toys,” Starr continued. “Our adoption fees are $400, but we usually exceed that with almost every dog.”

For these organizations, their primary goal was and continues to be helping pets find families and homes in Western New York, no matter the cost or the challenges that stand in their way. They look forward to the moment that pets unite with their families.

“It’s heartwarming. It’s why I started this organization in the first place because we want to save dogs. We want to see them go to the forever home. Seeing them from the beginning to the end is quite a journey,” Starr concluded.

MIAMI, Fla. (WIVB) — The ship that took about 100 Bills Mafia members to the Bahamas this week is safely docked back in Miami, and still afloat.

“We made it back, (in) one piece, (with) all members on the ship,” Victoria Pascuzzi said, the organizer of ‘Mafia at Sea.’

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Last year, almost as a joke, Victoria Pascuzzi posted this onto Twitter: ‘Million dollar idea: What if Bills Mafia all booked the same vacation on the same cruise?’ But that joke turned into reality this week when she and others headed out to sea on Monday.

With the help from a friend who owns a travel agency, Pascuzzi pulled off the first ever ‘Mafia at Sea’ cruise.

“Someone came up to me after and he just gave me a hug and he’s like, ‘You know, I never would have cruised in my life but then I saw this and I was like, this is it, I gotta go.'”

The Bills fans booked a row of cabins on board, but they didn’t have the entire boat to themselves. There were other, unsuspecting vacationers onboard too.

“There were people going, ‘What is going on? There’s not a game. Why are you all here?” Pascuzzi laughed. “People were very confused. Even down in Miami, people were like, ‘What are all you guys doing down here?’ And I was doing this sea lion excursion yesterday and someone goes, ‘You guys travel really well,’ and I was like, ‘Yep, we are known for that.'”

And she thinks Bills Mafia made quite the impression.

“Even if they have their own team that they root for, for the rest of their life they’re probably going to watch a Bills game and be like, ‘Oh my God, remember that time there were all those Bills fans on that ship?”

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Folding tables weren’t allowed on board, and The Shout Song couldn’t be played over the loud speakers, but Pascuzzi said plenty of fun was had. She wouldn’t get into the details of any debauchery, but as of right now, Royal Caribbean still plans on inviting them back for another cruise next year.

‘Mafia at Sea’ is coming back March 4-9, 2023. The ship will stop in Puerto Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. There’s also a ‘Mafia at the Beach’ event planned for June 25, 2023. Fans can choose to stay five or seven days at the Hard Rock Punta Cana all-inclusive Resort.

For more information on ‘Mafia at Sea’ or ‘Mafia on the Beach,’ call Sam Richter of Richter Travel at (716) 216-5300 or email Sam@richtertravel.com.