Category Archives: Culture

Niagara St Adopt-A-Block

We love our Niagara Street cycle track but it could use a bit more love from all of us. Although the City of Buffalo does some maintenance, and the Buffalo Sewer Authority works on the stormwater gardens, trash, glass and grit builds up quickly. We’re delighted that the Niagara River Greenway is organizing a collaboration of businesses, organizations and individuals to adopt bits of the blocks. Folks will take responsibility for a section of the trail and help keep it in better shape for bicyclists and pedestrians.

March 23rd from 10am to noon, teams will spread out from Busti Avenue to Hertel Avenue on Niagara Street for a spring clean up. Gloves, garbage bags and high-vis vests will be provided to volunteers. Folks can pick one of three sections to help out:

  1. Busti to Breckenridge – meet at Rich Products
  2. Breckenridge to Amherst St – meet at Campus Wheelworks
  3. Amherst St to Hertel – meet at Black Rock Riverside Alliance

 

Lunch options with discounts available at Mint Mojito Bar, Free Street Tavern, West Side Bazaar* (*limited swag bags) and Turning Bridge Tavern.

Provisions 139 Moving to Upper Rock

We recently had a conversation with Crystal Selk, Executive Director of West Side Community Services about the food pantry, Provisions 139. WSCS opened the pantry during the pandemic with an eye towards offering healthy options. Crystal gave us a tour of the pantry – so impressive! Visitors pick options from various food groups, e.g. proteins and grains, based on the number of people in their household. Donations come from several sources including Feed More and fresh produce from the Providence Farm Collective.

We’re excited to welcome Provisions 139 to the neighborhood! They will be moving to 44 Breckenridge, a significantly larger space. WSCS is hiring a full time staff member who will be able to coordinate more programming for clients: e.g., nutrition classes, prepping and cooking, and yoga. Provisions 139 joins a few other amazing not-for-profits in the neighborhood, including Stitch Buffalo and Buffalo String Works, creating a nice mix with new and existing businesses.

Brush Up Broderick 2023

Vision Niagara and Friends of Broderick Park invite you to our annual Brush Up Broderick – May 13th from 10am to 1pm.

Our park is the jewel of Buffalo parks. Let’s get it spruced up for the warm weather! We’ll be mulching and weeding.

We’ll have lunch and goodies for our volunteers. And, if the weather obliges, we’ll have music to keep you entertained.

Everyone’s help is greatly appreciated. We can’t do it without our volunteers! It’s always a fun event.

AND…if you’re ready to jump in sooner, be sure to join Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper’s Spring Sweep. Sign up here and choose Broderick Park from the list of locations. That’s April 22 @ 10:00 am.

It doesn’t have to be this way…

As seen in the image above, highway ramps dominate the western section of the Scajaquada corridor, Wasted land, cut-off neighborhoods and a polluted creek are a few of the conditions as a result of Rte. 198. As part of Scajaquada Corridor Coalition, we studied maps, collected input and envisioned a different landscape.

GBNRTC presented recommendations for the Scajaquada corridor and we couldn’t be more pleased. With the help of Stantec, a global consulting firm, they analyzed the region in terms of its people, rather than just cars. The data and analysis is available for examination on GBNRTC’s website. The preferred plan calls for a two-lane boulevard, connecting neighborhoods and Olmsted Park and the removal of these ramps.

Questions and comments can be made on-line. We’re pleased that Hal Morse, who led the project for GBNRTC, will be attending our January 24 meetup. Bring your questions and comments. Spread the word and your support for this generational change.

What’s next in the process?•Public engagement regarding recommendations •Assemble full report and documentation •Reconcile project to environmental review process and funding •Prepare a detailed traffic analysis to assess impacts of traffic diversion and recommend mitigation measures necessary to address the impacts •Obtain stakeholder and public consensus on the recommended mitigation measures •Determine projects owners and resource needs •Build Action Matrix of key stakeholders to implement all initiatives •Establish continuing mechanism to ensure timely completion of project

Shop & Stroll Returns for 2022

Shop Small Saturday is November 26th. Instead of visiting those big box stores, we invite you to support your local businesses. We’ll make it as enticing as we can with discounts and specials offered in Upper Rock.

And we will have a pop-up location at 1270 Niagara Street – stop in for refreshments and pick up an Upper Rock passport. Visit 5 of our lovely establishments and you will be entered in a raffle for a cash prize – $100. Our hours are 11am to 4pm. Stop back to show us your stamped passport or send a photo to Vision Niagara’s Instagram by 4pm and we’ll drop a raffle ticket for you.

Participating businesses have special offers! Check our Instagram feed for updates.

Signing As Art

Something amazing is happening on the West Side. Kamil Gerald offers free signing lessons at various locations. The photograph of Kamil conveys just a smidgen of her enthusiasm and effectiveness. She began her project “to bring hearing loss awareness to the community and how to communicate with the hearing loss community effectively.”  We became aware of Ms Gerald’s work through Creative Mornings’ founder, Kelly Atkinson. If you don’t know about CM, check them out, too! We’ve met amazing people in the community thanks to their monthly programming – the 2nd Friday of the month.

Kamil Gerald was recently awarded a grant through the Awesome Foundation. She will also have an event at Community Beer Works this Friday, October 21 6-10 pm. Fall Festive REMIX.

What is Possible for Scajaquada Corridor?

May 4th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Buffalo State Alumni Center

Four mobility scenarios will be presented. Roads, cars, bikes, people, water, land, neighborhoods, air, space, quality of life….the list goes on regarding the future of this corridor and our city. Public comment will be part of the decision making which is why we all need to be part of the process.

Presentation will be by GBNRTC.

Scajaquada Corridor Coalition has developed a vision for the corridor that is community based and compelling. Our Niagara Street corridor is impacted by the #198 which is why Vision Niagara is part of the Scajaquada Corridor Coalition and its vision.

 

Brush Up Broderick Returns!

Our beautiful Broderick Park is ready to be spruced up for summer events. Friends of Broderick Park is lining up a packed summer of music, art, and performance.

We’ll be at the park April 30, from 10 to 1:00 pm, weeding, mulching and tidying up. It’s work but it’s fun, especially because our volunteers are enthusiastic about the park.

We’ll have lunch and take-home goodies for our volunteers this year, thanks to a grant from Air & Waste Management – Niagara Frontier Division. And, once again, Rich Products has donated mulch!

Register here.

Evolution of Niagara Street

The folks at Company B are offering an evening for history and foodie buffs. Great combination! kerry trainor of kta preservation specialists will speak about the history of electricity, transportation, a female CEO and a working class neighborhood. It goes back to the battle for the terminus of the Erie Canal through today. It is a story of time, people, and place. 

March 30 @ 6:00 pm. Drinks and delicious food are part of the package. As well as interesting people! If you’ve been to Company B’s Tasting Room, you know the setting is beautiful and inviting. Register at this link.