Our friends over at
Buffalo Rising are up to something amazing…I believe the new launch will be on Monday…stay tuned to what’s in store for us!

From Channel 7 Sports…

Channel 7 is shooting a new show called “Bills Digest”.. and we are looking for “audience members” to help create a better atmosphere and Buzz for the program.

We “shoot” the show each and EVERY Thursday at Darcy McGee’s starting at 7:15 pm… and I’m recruiting your help this week to get in on the action. Come down to the bar… grab a drink, some food.. and hang-out… and be a part of the Bills Discussion. The show airs Saturday Nights at 11:30 p.m.

7 Sports Director John Murphy, Former Bills Defensive Back Jeff Burris, Bills Digest (Magazine) Editor Chris Brown, and “Bull” from 103.3 the edge are a part of the round-table segments to discuss the Bills past week.. and up-coming opponent.. and Yes.. they even let me be a part of the program.

We are also looking for audience participation… so if you have questions.. comments.. or just want to yell.. please come on down..

So here is the information again:

Bills Digest (Taping)
Thursday’s
7:15 Darcy McGee’s Franklin Street near Chippewa

Invite your friends… invite co-fans… invite your family.. grab a beer and some food..
and HELP ME OUT…

Hey.. you’ll even be on TV if you want to..but trust me.. it’s not all that cool.

RSVP at the link below and let me know if you can make it.

http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=YMZEJWPNZYQAAOXZLASK&src=email

Thanks
Jeff Russo

On Friday my best friend is getting married.

Frannie and I met over twenty years ago on a Walk-A-Thon for the March of Dimes. The supermarket where we both worked after school had formed a team, but when the day of the walk arrived we were the only two people from our team who actually showed up. It was awkward, because we barely knew each other, but we shrugged our shoulders and decided to make the best of it. After all, we were about to spend a lot of time together. See, back in those days a Walk-A-Thon was a Walk-A-Thon, damn it. Twenty six big, beautiful, hilly miles, not like those 5-K wimp-a-thons they have today with water stations and porta-potties every half block. When you walked a Walk-A-Thon your legs knew it, and they made it a point to punish you for it pretty much constantly for the next four days.

Fran and I hadn’t been walking very long when we realized something was wrong. Looking around and behind us, there wasn’t anyone else to be seen. I was afraid that we’d strayed off the route, but a quick check of the map assured us we were on track. Turns out we’d jumped the gun and just started walking, rather than waiting for the official start. We had a forty five minute head start but we were having such a great time we’d never even noticed. That’s when I realized something special was happening, and though it may sound overly dramatic, I knew then and there Fran and I would be friends our entire lives. It’s one of the few things in my life I’ve been right about, and every day I thank my lucky stars that nobody else showed up that Saturday in Syracuse over twenty years ago. Fran and I have been through a lot together, good times and bad, and while some of it was brutal I wouldn’t trade a minute of it away. I’m the luckiest guy in the world to have her as a friend.

And now my Frannie’s getting married.

I remember the first time she mentioned Amy. We were on the phone, and Fran talked like it wasn’t any big thing… they’d gone on a couple of movie dates and Amy seemed really nice. I didn’t think much of it. But as the weeks and months went by Amy remained constant, and Fran’s affection for her grew. They found an apartment together. It had become a relationship. I got an invitation via email to spend New Years Day 2005 with Fran and Amy. Shell-shocked from the various holiday obligations, I showed up at their door with a bottle of wine in my hands and left, hours later, almost crying with joy that my Frannie had found such happiness.

So Friday I’ll drive to Rochester for this happy occasion. I’ll see Fran’s family, and friends I haven’t seen in years: Frank and Speranza and Phil and probably a few surprises as well. We’ll catch up and reconnect and talk about old times. We’ll dance and eat delicious food and toast the happy couple. And at some point I’ll look around the room, a room filled with music and happiness and love, and I’ll say a silent thank you that life can be so wonderful.

It hardly seems possible, but Summer is rapidly drawing to a close and Autumn is upon us. Again. That means cooler nights, apple cider, cardigan sweaters, colorful foliage, and, of course, political campaigns. As you probably already knew, the primaries were held last Tuesday and now the real campaigning begins to become the next Mayor of Buffalo. The next few weeks are going to be very interesting indeed. And while much has already been written by better writers than myself about the primary results, I’d like to address the issue of turnout here. Or rather, the lack thereof. Now, there are a lot of things in life I don’t understand. Among them are the following:

1. how nuclear fission/fusion works
2. the popularity of Celine Dion
3. Latin
4. why cell phone service is so expensive
5. astrology
6. why more people don’t vote

I’ve long ago made my peace with not understanding numbers 1, 3, and 5. Numbers 2 and 4 are annoying but relatively harmless. But number 6? That’s a biggie. Why don’t more people vote? It boggles the mind that a privelege people have fought and died for, all over the world and throughout history, can be treated so indifferently by Americans. So why don’t more people vote? I realize people who read a blog like Revitalize Buffalo’s are probably more interested in the political process than the average person. So if you’re reading this you probably voted. But then again, maybe you didn’t. If not, why?

I’m in Tampa airport, waiting for my flight back home to Buffalo. I’m wrapping up a 5 day vacation here in sunny Florida. Two days on the east coast and then two days here in the Tampa area, rounded out by the Bills’-Bucs’ game…too bad we didn’t win.

We tailgated under the tent and were surrounded by tons of Buffalo fans…some still living in Buffalo and some transplants. I even talked to one guy who asked me about RB. Every person I talked to before and at the game said they were thinking about coming home because they loved Buffalo and missed it so much. Another guy explained to me the inside decor of his house…all Buffalo stuff!

I had a conversation with someone over the course of my mini-vacation and when I told her I was from Buffalo, she replied, “I’m sorry.” I looked at her and told her not to be sorry because I loved Buffalo. I then spent 10 minutes giving a brief review of everything I love about Buffalo.

This vacation has been a nice break from reality, I admit it. However, I found myself telling people that I don’t normally take vacations because I love where I live. Why would I need to leave Buffalo? It has everything I could ever want! (Including cooler weather while I was sitting at the game today.)

I shared a smile with a guy at the Bills’ game who was wearing a shirt from Soho. And while I don’t go to that bar, I thought to myself, “I can’t wait to get back home!”

Okay, I admit it. I love to vote. I love the political process and seeing democracy in action! So I was even more excited when I voted this morning and learned that I was #1!!! I feel this buzz when I know I’m going to vote…exercising my choice.
Alan’s post is great this morning on voting and its importance.

Polls are open until 9 PM tonight and if you’re in the city, don’t worry, it’s regular voting machines, not paper ballots!

So…I continue to remind you about the importance of tomorrow’s primary election…the most important one in 26 years! And here’s more from a friend…and again…we are not endorsing any candidates, but just passing along information when we get it. If the other candidates were out there doing these interviews/conversations, we’d be posting them as well.

You’ll find the letter below and over at
Alan’s site, you can find his post this morning about the importance of voting.

“I know it’s late, but I’m sending this email because I know that you,
like me, know that it’s never too late to do the right thing for
Buffalo.

This Tuesday is more than just the Democratic primary, it’s our last
chance to save the city’s nascent resurgence we’ve worked for and
witnessed these past few years. Historically, it is the election that
will determine who our next Mayor will be.

I think this Tuesday the choice is pretty clear…

So clear that I thought it was pretty important to pass on this link.
It’s a digital recording of conversation we had last night with Kevin
Gaughan. He wasn’t trying to attack another candidate or sell himself. He was sitting in a chair, spinning a vision, displaying a facility with words and ideas, showing a firm grasp of the realities of the city’s current condition, who and what’s responsible for getting us here, and articulating a plan to take Buffalo to where it should rightfully be.

Listen here. Read and listen to it before next Tuesday, especially if you’re a registered Democrat residing in Buffalo. It helps make the choice you’ll be making pretty easy.

As we continue to watch the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, tomorrow we remember another devastating time in our nation’s history. 9/11 was the worst attack America had ever experienced. And the first year after the attacks, we pulled together as a country and did our best to move on without forgetting what had happened.

Tomorrow, the County Executive, the Mayor and the folks at Seven Seas will pay their respects to the lives lost on 9/11 down at the Waterfront. Check out Queenseye’s post and see below for the details…everyone is invited to attend.

September 11th Remembrance Ceremony and Freedom Celebration

Date/Time: Sunday September 11, 2005, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Place: Erie Basin Marina, Buffalo, New York
Exact Location: Grounds by the Outlook Tower at the very end of the tip of Erie Basin Marina.

Contact: Bill Zimmermann, 716-885-6936, bill@indoorhealthcare.com

Theme and Attendance:

The Buffalo and Erie County Community at large is urged to join Erie County
Executive Joel Giambra and Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello, in addition to leaders
from Fire and Police Departments, Commander Patrick Dowden of the United States
Coast Guard, the Canadian Consul General, and other dignitaries and heroes of
homeland protection as we hold our remembrance Ceremony for those who perished in 9-11.

Several denominational religious leaders will share prayers, as bells are rung in
respect for each episode of terror from that fateful day. Bagpipes, soloists and a
choir ensemble will peform song.

Highlights of this one hour ceremony will include a stationary setting of boats in
the Harbor, with the theme Freedom Waters. The Buffalo Fireboat Edward M. Cotter
will be holding an on water wreath ceremony at the same time, and joined in said by
side the United States Coast Guard 47 foot MotorLife boat, as well as the Erie
County Sheriff safety vessel. All boaters are invited to join in this “stationary
parade” of boats by simply showing up and holding stationary for the ceremony.

The ceremonial theme begins with Remembrance, and builds to a Celebration of
Freedom, to Carry the Torch from those who Sacrificed so much.

There’s only two more shopping days left until the most important primary election in 30 years. On the democratic ballot, we’re down to two candidates, Kevin Gaughan and Byron Brown. And in case you’re trying to decide whom to vote for, check out
Figmo’s post on Gaughan which includes an interview.

Revitalize Buffalo is apolitical. It’s something we’ve been commited to since we began. That being said, it’s time for new government in City Hall. It’s time for a change…we’re tired of the status quo and we deserve to have leaders that will really listen to us. So, please make sure you’re doing your homework and making an educated vote…the best voter is a well-informed one.

If you haven’t already, check out both
Byron Brown’s website and
Kevin Gaughan’s website.

And most importantly, please go out and vote on Tuesday in the primary…

After A LOT of work from Marc, Matt and myself, and the proverbial clicking of our heels three times together…we’re finally at our new home! We’ve combined our blog and our website to make things easier on all of us! As you navigate through the site, you’ll see that some of the site is still a work in progress.

We didn’t carry over all the posts from our blog, but below you can find a few of the favorites! The blogroll will be up over the weekend…

Thanks for being patient…