Here is an update on the parks system and volunteer information if you want to help out!

Riverside Park - Open to the public today. This is the ONLY Omsted Park that is now open. The other parks in the system (Cazenovia, Delaware, Front, Martin Luther King, Jr. and South Parks) remain closed as Olmsted staff and professional contractors tirelessly work to clean up the damage sustained by the snowstorm and to make the parks safe again for all users. While portions of each of the parks may already be cleared of major hazards, there is still pruning and tree debris removal, so please stay out of the parks. We extend our thanks to the community for their patience, support and cooperation during this time of disaster recovery.

Cazenovia Park - the park took a heavy hit from the October 12th storm with a multitude of trees affected. Volunteers, ages 15 and over, who can manually lift and remove debris from the ground, are needed this Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29, beginning at 9:00 a.m. to assist. Meet at the Caz Casino. (See notes below regarding important volunteer details.)

South Park - debris removal continues. Volunteers, ages 15 and over, who can manually lift and remove debris from the ground, are needed this Saturday, October 28, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Meet in front of the Botanical Gardens. (See notes below regarding important volunteer details.)

Delaware Park - while debris has been cleared from some sections of the system’s largest park, professional contractors are focusing on removal of the brush from Rumsey Woods (off of Rumsey Rd. & Lincoln Parkway) and Crandall Woods (near Colvin and Amherst Streets). Both are two heavily wooded areas that suffered damage. Volunteers, ages 15 and over, who can manually lift and remove debris from the ground, are needed this Saturday, October 28 at 9:00 a.m. in the Japanese Garden to assist. (See notes below regarding important volunteer details.)

Volunteers can also assist in Rumsey Woods on Saturday, October 28 at 9:00 a.m. Meet by the playground (near the Rose Garden) in Delaware Park. (See notes below regarding important volunteer details.)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Park - professional contractors are currently cutting and trimming hazardous trees.

Front Park - damage recovery continues. Front Park remains under construction for restoration work that is expected to be completed next spring.

Circles, Parkways & Smaller spaces:

McKinley & McClellan Circles, McKinley and Red Jacket Parkways in South Buffalo - attention will be focused on those areas next week.

Ferry Circle and Symphony Circle - clean up has been completed!

Colonial Circle - clean up expected to be completed today.

Days Park and Prospect Park - clean up completed! Thank you to neighbors who assisted in the clean up.

Soldiers Circle, Gates Circle, Bidwell, Chapin, Lincoln Parkways - while much has been done to gather the debris, these areas suffered greatly and the Conservancy will, with the help of supportive nearby volunteer and neighborhood groups, continue to use its resources to clear these areas and make plans for future reforestation.

Important Volunteer notes:

• Volunteers will be managed and supervised by Olmsted staff and will be asked to work in specific areas of the Olmsted Park that are deemed safe for pedestrians.
• Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age.
• Volunteers should come dressed for the weather and must have appropriate boots (work boots) and gloves (heavy gloves to protect hands while picking up and lifting tree branches, bark, etc.).
• Volunteers should wear goggles.
• Volunteers should be in good physical shape and able to lift and carry tree branches and limbs of all shapes and weights.
• Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and food or snacks. Park concession areas will not be available.
• Volunteers will not use any power tools.
• Volunteers should not bring any type of power tools.
• Volunteers must call #308-2361 to confirm their availability.
• Volunteers are being asked to commit to a minimum of 2 hours.

The Conservancy wishes to thank all of those who have already assisted in the recovery efforts.

Buffalo is the city of good neighbors and such an amazing community spirit…please help out if you can!

Event: Squeaky Wheel celebrates its 20th Anniversary for two jam-packed weekends in November at Squeaky Wheel and the Burchfield-Penney Art Center

When: Thursday, November 2; Saturday, November 11

Where: Burchfield-Penney Art Center and Squeaky Wheel

The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is commemorating 20 years of independent media art at Squeaky Wheel with a series of screenings and presentations of Squeaky Wheel founders and directors, many of which are coming to Buffalo for hte occassion.  Presented artists include Chris Hill, Julie Zando, Tony Conrad, Brian Springer, Armin Heurich, Robert Rayler, and Eric Jensen.  Squeaky Wheel is presenting three screenings that highlight its role as a place to mobilize and assist collective action and artistic growth.  At Squeaky Wheel’s November Open Screening local filmmakers are called upon to share their own work to celebrate 20 years of independent media art in Buffalo.

At all these events look out for Squealer XX, a special 98-page edition of Squeaky Wheel’s media arts journal edited by Elizabeth Licata.  This beautiful book provides a compelling history of Squeaky Wheel and the role it played and plays in Buffalo’s thriving cultural scene.

Here is a list of the events in detail:

11/2, 8 PM @ BP: Screenings of works by Squeaky Wheel Cheryl Jackson and Dorothea Braemer

11/3, 8PM @SW: Spring of Lies (1991): Compilation documentary produced by the Media Coalition for Reproductive Rights as a response to anti-choice aggression.  WIth panel discussion.

11/4, 8PM @SW: Squeaky Wheel founders Chris Hill and Brian Springer present their work

11/5, 4PM @BP: Learning to Squeak: A survey of short works produced by Squeaky Wheel’s youth media initiatives

11/8, 4PM @SW: Happy Birthday Open Screening.  Bring your own work to celebrate SW’s 20th Anniversary!

11/9, 8PM @SW: Spoke: Inventing the Wheel: Featuring the work of early collectives and individuals who were connected to Squeaky Wheel

11/10, 5:30 & 8PM @BP: 5:30-7PM Opening Reception: Squeaky Wheel 20th Anniv Exhibition. 8PM: SW founder Armin Heurich plays with his band, The El Caminos

11/11, 8PM @BP: SW founders Julie Zando and Barbara Latanzi present their work

Don’t miss this exciting lineup of events celebrating an important piece of Buffalo!

Ever wonder how much we pay our politicians?
Now you can find out. Revitalize Buffalo
Buffalo Rising * NAACP, Buffalo Branch
Depew-Cheektowaga Taxpayers Association
WNY Coalition for Progress * Buffalo 2032
WNY Media Network

Present

“Paying Our Politicians:
What 439 Elected Officials Cost Us”

With Kevin Gaughan

Wednesday, October 25
6:00 pm

Hallwalls at the Church
341 Delaware Avenue

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

www.TheCost.org

Tree in Delaware Park

In the aftermath of our October 12th lake effect snow storm, which has devastated our urban forest, additional resources are now considered crucial for the City’s trees. Keep Western New York Beautiful is putting together an application to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Urban and Community Forestry Program for their 2006 Tree Planting Cost Share Grant that will go towards neighborhood tree planting efforts. Your support is needed for this application.

We ask that you write a letter of support on behalf of Keep Western New York Beautiful to enhance their application for future tree planting. Please show your support.

Our grant application is due next week October 31st please send all letters to:

Frank Dunstan
Division of Lands & Forests
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4253

And please copy:
Jim Pavel
Keep Western New York Beautiful
City Hall, Room 1808
Buffalo, NY 14202

Thank you,
Justin S. Booth MS
The Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo
65 Niagara Square Rm. 607
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716)851-4052
Fax:(716)851-4309

Here are some images of the trees in Sloan from Friday and in Delaware Park on Monday Buffalo Trees.

PA150149

Originally uploaded by buffalo_amy.

I feel very blessed. I didn’t lose power. I have heat. There was no damage to my house or car. None of my friends were hurt (of which I’m aware). I still have food to eat and things to drink.

Others weren’t that lucky. This storm took us all by surprise…that’s probably the understatement of the year…

As I was driving through the city today, I tried to wrap my brain around the enormity of this storm…I don’t think any of us can quite grasp what’s happened. It’s forever changed the landscape of the city, as you can see by this picture…Delaware Park will never be the same. Obviously, we’re all very lucky that there only a few injuries/deaths. But to think about all that we’ve lost…the beautiful landscape…the only good thing we can say is that the city of good neighbors has pulled through…we are helping each other…no matter the capacity…

I had the opportunity to volunteer at City Hall and help with the Mayor’s call center…I was answering phones and entering data into the computer…it was a real experience. This morning, I was sitting there, taking complaints from people in the city, drinking my coffee and eating my croissant and I felt terribly guilty…I’m so blessed. I didn’t go without anything at all…and I could help people by making them feel a little better.

I hope that you’ve all survived okay…there are many stories to share…

PA120138

Originally uploaded by buffalo_amy.

Okay, I’m not superstitious, but…come on!!!

Snow in Oct?!?

Originally uploaded by buffalo_amy.

Don’t adjust your eyes…or your computer. That’s right, snow in mid-October. The last time I remember having snow early was on Halloween…in fact a friend and I were musing over drinks about the very thing tonight. He was in from out of town and not prepared for the snow.

It certainly is a beautiful sight, isn’t it!!! Skiing, yeah!

So…I have enjoyed the past two weeks of the Citizen’s Participation Academy immensely.  Last week, we learned all about economic development from Commissioner Tobe, got to have our own mock Citistat session and heard about both Citistat, BURA and the Office of Strategic Planning from Timothy Wanamaker.

The Citistat session was pretty cool.  They’d asked one of the department heads to stay and answer questions the way he would in front of the Mayor and his staff.  Five of us (yes, I was one of the five) got to sit in the seats and ask questions of the department head about boarding up houses.

Commissioner Tobe then spoke about all the projects that are in development or have been completed…Asteria Hanover listed them a few weeks ago on this site…it’s an impressive list!

Then Director Wanamaker walked us through the OSP and told us all about Citistat for which he’s taken some heat recently.  (I think that session will be aired tonight on the Government Channel 22.)

Last night, we met at the Buffalo Employment Training Center (BETC) to learn about what they do as well as learn about the Department of Community Relations and Recreational Services.  Commissioner Tanya Perin-Johnson walked us through her department, and it’s amazing all the things that they are doing and the services that are provided.

We had a tour of BETC and a quick presentation on how to access the services.

Then Rita Hubbard-Robinson, Executive Director of the Department of Citizen’s Rights and Human Rights (not exactly the right title), explained what her department does.

It was a great two weeks.  I’m learning so much and I look forward to next week…

The Cost

Originally uploaded by Asteria Hanover.

Do you know how much we pay our politicians?

Want to find out?
Then be sure to check out: Revitalize Buffalo | Buffalo Rising | NAACP, Buffalo Branch | Depew-Cheektowaga Taxpayers Association | WNY Coalition for Progress | Buffalo 2032 | as they present

“Paying the Politicians: What Our 439 Elected Officials Cost Us”

with Kevin Gaughan

Wednesday, October 25
6:00 pm
Hallwalls at the Church
341 Delaware Avenue

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC