• South Buffalo Promotion Booklet & Website – This is a big project, and we want to have it completed by April. We are making progress but could still use some researchers and fact checkers, as well as writers.
  Check Facebook to see what we have written so far.
• Homebuyer Workshop – Know someone who’s thinking about buying a home? We’ll have realtors and other experts available for questions. Date TBD
• Problem Property Workshops – to help residents take action in their neighborhoods, these workshops are designed to help  you navigate the system and get results. We bring together experts to present the facts and answer questions. We are planning dates and locations, let us know if you are interested. Dates TBD
• Spring Cleanups start Saturday April 21, 2012, at Tim Russert’s Childrens Garden on South Park!

Community Garden

This was the first year for the Seneca Caz Community Garden. It’s hard to believe that this project is brand new, but it is. We held at least 5 events there and turned this empty lot into an asset for the community. More Garden Info Here

Special thanks to Bill for watering almost every day, he kept the plants alive through that early season drought. Nancy for weeding every week. Jesse for getting the soil well fertilized. Chris and Jen for bringing a truck load of field-stones to line the paths. Tara for donating vegetable plants, watering and getting dirty with us regularly. Also thanks to Peter, Connor, Kevin, Maria, Joan, Susan, Cathy, Adam, Nicole, Tristan, Ethan, Eric, Debi, Paul, Ann, Pat, Molly, Alex, Kristen, Christine, Beth her kids and the other people I’m forgetting at the moment. Plus Matt, who got the ball rolling on the crazy idea in the first place.

I also want to thank our sponsors for helping us get the supplies we needed, Assemblyman Mark Schroeder, Councilman Mickey Kearns, Legislator Tim Whalen, Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, M&T Bank, South Buffalo Alive, Desi’s Produce Market (Fran & Paul Desiderio), J&M Produce

Storefront Art Display

Local artists were featured in our project to brighten up store windows along Seneca Street.

Thanks to Susan and Cathy for putting this together, and to everyone who helped hang up artwork anfd participated in the event.

We had artists of all ages and abilities, and we got a lot of complements from people in the area.

Garden & Artwork Debut Day

Many of you missed this fantastic event in the Garden. During lat year’s Garden Walk we had refreshments and live Jazz Music in the Community Garden. It was a really great time. Thanks especially to the musicians. Bill, Ed, Jim, Kevin and Mike. Go Here to see some Video from the event too!

Earth Day Cleanup

We got about 20 volunteers together to clean up the area around Seneca, Caz and Buffum. Everyone did a great job and collected a lot of trash, leaves, and even some loose gravel. We targeted streets, parking lots, and definitely made an impact in the area.

Afterward we got together for a fun Pizza Party at the Cazenovia Resource Center (Caz Library).

Problem Properties Workshop

We wanted to help people better understand how to address problem properties. We held an event that featured knowledgeable speakers, and we created an information packet for people to take home.

Parades & Promotion

This year we participated in 2 parades, and did 2 information tables, all at different events. We marched in the Old Neighborhood St Patricks Day Parade, and the McKinley Parkway Parade of Circles. We had a table at the South Buffalo EXPO and Irish Feis, and Riverfest.This year we need you to come help us out, the best turnout we got from the group was 5 people.

This is part of the Buffalo Promise Scholarship, a program of Say Yes to Education. This includes students of traditional public and Charter Schools in Buffalo.

“fund scholarships for students in the Buffalo Public School system to cover up to 100 percent of their tuition at a post-secondary institution for the next 20 years. The class of 2013 will be the first class eligible for the scholarships… Say Yes to Education committed to bring an initial $15 million to partner with local providers to deliver comprehensive supports to all schools, including free after-school and summer programming, counseling, legal services, and health care.”

This means our children will soon all have an equal chance to get a higher education based on how hard they study, rather than how much money they have.

It’s just another reason to raise a family in South Buffalo. Students, parents & teachers in this community take education seriously. Our kids will grow up in classrooms where all children have the opportunity to create a better future through a good education. And that hope will create a great learning environment for everyone.

And all those educated people will be part of our highly skilled labor market. I expect that to lure jobs and investment to the area creating a brighter future for us all.

Specifically, Say Yes will:

• Provide students who graduate from a Buffalo Public School (traditional or charter) with up to 100 percent of the tuition needed to attend a SUNY post-secondary institution. The amount of tuition support is based on financial need and length of time in the public school system which at a minimum can be four years of high school.
• Provide comprehensive out-of-school supports—including after-school tutoring and summer learning opportunities—that extend learning time for students and place service coordinators in every school.
• Support research and professional development to strengthen instruction and school performance; and
• Create tools and strategies to help improve fiscal responsibility in spending and promote improved transparency for school and district performance.

Learn about the Buffalo Green Code initiative, what the Draft Plan proposes in South Buffalo and to share insight and feedback about the Draft Plan and land use issues South Buffalo.

The Draft Land Use Plan is available on the web at www.buffalogreencode.com.

The City of Buffalo is creating a “Green Code” to guide the rebuilding of our city for the next twenty years and beyond. Community and stakeholder involvement are key to the success of the Green Code. Please plan on attending and spread the word.

Our future depends on it! Please mark your calendar

• Fundraiser Recap, we had a great time. Come to the meeting to get the full report.
• Renovation contest. We need your help connecting with the nominees and winners.
• Homebuyer Packet. Time to get involved! This is our big winter project. Do you want to help promote South Buffalo? You can help tell the world what our neighborhoods have to offer. The committee has started, we need help researching and writing content for the booklet. Join the committee.
• Get your new t-shirt and Stickers.
• Bring your ideas. All of our projects come from people like you.

Community Police Meeting
Thursday October 27, 6:30pm
At the newly renovated Southside Elementary School, 430 Southside Parkway.

Hosted By A District Police Chief Pat Pascal, and A District Community Police Officers Tony LeBron & David Fay. Officials from 911, 311 and more will be on hand to answer questions.

And don’t forget about monthly police meetings at the A District Station on South Park Ave. 3rd Friday of every month, 10am.

• Caz Coffee Cafe, Coffee & Gift Certificate
• Conlon’s Bar, 2 t-shirts & Gift Certificate
• McKays, Embroidered Hoodie “South Buffalo Irish”
• Signature’s Sign Art, framed Art “Buffalo on St Patrick’s Day”
• Murray Brothers Nursery, Basket
• Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, $25 Gift Certificate
• Mighty Taco, $60
• Head’s & Tails Salon, Hair Products & Gift Certificate
• Buffalo Hiking Group Membership
• Dog Bar, Colden, 3 $20 Gift Certificates
• E-Cigarettes Kit
• New South Buffalo CREW T-Shirt
• More prizes are definitely on the way.

South Park Students have been volunteering here for the past 4 years with the help of Earth Science Teacher Adam Hovey. As part of the Green Team students have planted numerous native trees to help protect the ecosystem of this unique area where Buffalo Creek and Cazenovia Creek come together and form the Buffalo River, known by locals as the Bailey Peninsula. They have also installed multiple benches on the property, encouraging visitors to enjoy the area. They expect to add a small shelter and a new garbage can at the site soon.

I had the opportunity to work alongside this great group of students, and I’m proud of the work they’ve done to improve South Buffalo. The faculty and students that make this happen deserve our gratitude and support.

Keep up the good work!

Our Planning Groups happen the first Wednesday of every month.

We need your help advertising for our upcoming fundraiser October 15, come to the meeting this Wednesday to pick up fliers. Invite your friends!! -> Facebook Event Page

We are also forming a committee to work on the Homebuyer Promotion Packet. Join Us!

• Final Push for the fundraiser. We need your help to hang up the rest of the fliers and get all your friends to come!
• Renovation contest! We’re voting for the best renovations on South Park Abbott and Seneca.
• Homebuyer Packet. South Buffalo is a great neighborhood, and we want to tell the world about it. We’re putting the best of South Buffalo in an info-packet and website, join the committee.
• Garden Updates, on the sign and benches.