Two damaged lightposts on Gates Circle will be getting some love if the Common Council approves a contract on Tuesday.  The Buffalo Arts Commission is seeking to hire Russell-Marti Conservation Services, Inc. to restore Lampposts No. 2 and No. 3. at a cost of $138,520. Russell-Marti Conservation Services (RMCS) has extensive experience handling the more than a century old bronze lampposts and urns in the Gates Circle fountain.

Some background from the proposal:

Gates Circle is a large circular construction – a small park – consisting of granite benches, three sets of granite steps, two granite pools with fountains, six cast bronze lampposts mounted on large rectangular granite blocks, and two cast bronze urns. Trees and grass are also incorporated within the design. Gates Circle is located at the junction of several major streets in the city of Buffalo, and is open only to foot traffic.

The six bronze lampposts, all identical, are composed of a highly ornate leaf and scroll motif. There are eight cast sections that make up the body of the lamppost. Each section interlocks with its neighbor and is bolted together.

Lamppost No. 2 is located in a vulnerable location within Gates Circle, facing oncoming northbound traffic on Delaware A venue. It has been struck by vehicles on several occasions prior to the most recent damage. The last known repairs to the lamppost were performed during a three-year period from the summer of 1998 to the summer of 2001, when the lamppost was reinstalled after extensive repairs and reconstruction by RMCS. In 2013, the lamppost was struck by an automobile that knocked it and the capstone to which it was anchored to the ground. The lamppost sustained extensive damage.

At some point after the event that damaged Lamppost No. 2, Lamppost No. 3 was struck by a vehicle and knocked down. It was disassembled by Buffalo City staff and brought to storage. As far as is known to RMCS, Lamppost No. 3 has not received any prior conservation treatment.

The following treatment steps are proposed for both lampposts.

1. Disassemble, repair damaged elements where possible, and replace as necessary by mold making and casting new elements as needed. (Note: While Lamppost No. 3 does not appear to have the extensive damage that Lamppost No. 2 has, the issue of alignment and accurate fit of the eight individual sections appears to be the same.)
2. For both lampposts, the light superficial scratches will be blended using hand tools to work the metal. The heavier, deeper abrasions will require additional metal by welding, followed by filing and blending.
3. The surface texture of the repaired areas will be matched to the surrounding bronze.
4. The tube drains such as the one located in the Section H will be replaced as necessary.
5. A new interior structure of copper alloy square tubing will be fabricated and installed in both lampposts. This will assist in stabilizing the overall structure and anchoring of the lampposts. The internal structure will be attached to the bronze by welding.
6. Exterior surfaces will be cleaned of corrosion products and repatinated as necessary, and a final protective coating of Permalac will be applied for surface protection.

Entry Image from Buffalo Architecture and History

As an artist, escaping the busyness of everyday life to create can almost seem like an impossible task. If burnouts or creative slumps prove to be a habitual part of your creative process, then the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts may be just what you are looking for. With a quiet studio, beautiful setting, and time for inspiration, Saltonstall offers free residencies to artists and writers who are current residents of New York State and/or one of the Indian Nations located therein. Each residency is designed for those looking for a quiet, supportive environment in which to focus on their craft.

The two-week and four-week summer residencies, or Fellowships, run from June to October each year. They accept applications in the following disciplines: poetry; fiction & creative nonfiction; photography & filmmaking; and painting, sculpture, and visual arts. The residencies are competitive, stipend-supported, and accessible to artists and writers with disabilities.

Residency Dates

The third annual six-night residency for parents:

• Thursday, June 2 – Wednesday, June 8

(Please note: this residency is strictly for artist/writer parents who have at least one dependent child at home. The residency is designed to be a period of solitude and focus; as such, we ask that children and other family members remain home.)

Four-week residencies:

• Monday, June 13 – Monday, July 11
• Monday, July 18 – Monday, August 15
• Monday, August 22 – Monday, September 19

Two-week residencies:

• Monday, September 26 – Monday, October 10
• Friday, October 14 – Friday, October 28

There is no cost associated with the residency and no cost to apply. Artists and writers who are awarded a residency are provided the following:

• a $200 stipend for artists/writers awarded the six-night residency for parents
• a $375 or $750 stipend (based on a two- or four-week session)
• writers: a spacious private apartment with ample desk space
• visual artists: a private apartment with adjoining studio space on the same level
• photographers or filmmakers: a private apartment with ample desk space and a fully functional wet darkroom
• all apartments have private baths and a patio or balcony
• hearty chef-prepared vegetarian dinners
• all groceries and a 24-hour accessible kitchen
• washer and dryer

Located just seven miles outside of Ithaca, New York in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region, Saltonstall is situated above a valley providing a wide vista of meadows, cultivated fields, and forested hills. Three miles of hiking trails traverse a number of different habitats: fields, old growth forests, streams, and wetlands, making this a haven for uninterrupted solitude.

Should this program seem just like it was sent from the heavens, then do not hesitate to apply for residencies, as the deadline quickly approaches. Applications can be sent online via Submittable until Sunday, January 23rd at 11:59pm. For more information about the foundation or residency opportunities visit www.saltonstall.org/residencies/application-guidelines.

UB’s GRoW Clean Energy Center is now open for tours, meetings and as an event space for small groups, according to a recent article by University at Buffalo’s Tessie Mar. 

The structure, which sits near the Flint Road entrance to the North Campus, is an immersive lesson in clean energy. GRoW, which stands for Garden, Relax or Work, was originally designed as a solar-powered home, by UB students and professors (200 UB students, along with faculty and staff, in 13 departments), as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s elite 2015 Solar Decathlon competition (learn more).

The structure is energy-negative, meaning it produces more clean energy than it consumes.

The project was initially designed and built to educate and inspire, as people are beginning to look at building more sustainable homes. Hopefully, some of the sustainable features baked into this home will see real world applications. Local developers and architects are encouraged to tour the home.

Actually, anyone looking to build a home in Buffalo should pay a visit to the unique structure, which was relocated from the South Campus to the North Campus during the 2020-21 academic year.

The GRoW Clean Energy Center is strategically positioned beside the Solar Strand — a collection of 3,200 photovoltaic panels that generate solar power for the campus.

Mar described the structure in her article thusly:

“The center’s design accommodates up to two dozen people. It comprises a conference room, a greenhouse and solarium called the GRoWlarium, a wraparound deck with outdoor seating, a kitchenette and a bathroom. Sliding open an accordion door turns the conference room into a presentation room, with seating for an additional audience in the adjacent GRoWlarium, which was originally designed to be used to grow food year-round. Its highly insulated walls and windows regulate temperatures during cold winters and hot summers.”

The GRoW Clean Energy Center is just one of many sustainable projects that can be found at UB, including the innovative battery-technology system, the Solar Strand, and UB Bees.

The GRoW Clean Energy Center is available for booking by university individuals and groups, both on and off campus. Users can submit a request to reserve the space, or request a staffed tour.

UB’s GRoW Clean Energy Center is officially open for use as a tour, meeting and event space for small groups. Reserve your space today.

Reserve the Space

Lead image courtesy UB

Is your car stuck in the snow? Have you considered riding your bike to get around town until your car is no longer snowbound?

Unfortunately, a lot of people are unsure about biking in the wintertime, for understandable reasons. That’s why GObike Buffalo is offering a winter riding training session workshop that will teach people the ins and out of biking in the snow. 

What sort of tires should I be using for traction? What’s the best bike to use to get down a snowy street?

The free clinic will answer those questions, and more, including safety, equipment, and learning/practicing new skills.

The more people that ride their bikes during the wintertime, the more bike-friendly features, services, infrastructure, etc. will be available to riders.

“The more we ride in all four seasons, the more we can push for year-round maintenance of bike lanes and paths by our area municipalities. Other northern cities are doing it, we can too!” – GObike Buffalo

GObike’s 2022 Winter Biking Clinic

Saturday February 5, 2022 

12pm-2:30pm

Start and end at 98 Colvin Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216

On-bike skill development and practice will be at the Delaware Park loop.

This event is free and open to those 16 years of age or older.

Online registration for the event will close at 12 pm on Thursday, February 3rd; in-person registration will be accepted at the event.

Click here for additional information, and to register for the clinic

Contact Gobike at (716) 320-0193 or education@gobikebuffalo.org with any questions.

Lead image: Photo by Nikita Ignatev

As a way to get more people out fishing year round, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has set aside a number of days in 2022 where people can fish without a fishing license. These free fishing days are as follows:

February 19-20
June 25-26
September 24
November 11

For those who are out of practice, or who want to learn how to fish, the DEC also provides a series of free fishing clinics throughout the course of the year. And don’t forget that fishing during the wintertime can be a lot of fun, as long as you know what you’re doing. Here’s an informative video that will help you to see the upsides of ice fishing in New York State.

For more information:

Learn to Fish

Free Fishing Clinics

Taking a Child Fishing

Places to Fish

Fishing Regulations

Also visit Learn to Ice Fish web page for great tips, and Ice Fishing web page for places to go

Author: Erik Brady

Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight

Come out tonight, come out tonight

Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight

And dance by the light of the moon?

Christine Baranski is a Buffalo gal. And on Wednesday night, the actress appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which in a postmodern world is one way to dance by the light of the moon.

“You grew up in Buffalo, New York,” Colbert said. “How much, after all these years — because you kind of scream ‘Manhattan’ at this point — how much Buffalo girl is left in you?”

Baranski grinned and used her hands as if to say, Look at this glam get-up, look at me.

“Everyone thinks this sophisticated lady, this New York type, these characters that I play, they think that’s me,” she said. “They should be in a room alone with me when I watch the Buffalo Bills. It is LOUD.”

She noted that the Bills are having a great season, then pivoted to the Super Bowl years.

“Growing up in Buffalo, you have to understand we lived through four consecutive Super Bowl losses. So I have a T-shirt that says, ‘Buffalo: A drinking town with a football problem.’ ”

This drew a laugh from Colbert as well as the audience.

Baranski – recently referred to as The First Lady of Buffalo – was on the show to promote “The Gilded Age,” her HBO drama, which debuts on Monday. The series is set in New York in the 1880s. She stars as Agnes van Rhijn, an old-money Dutch-American socialite. She actually grew up as a Polish-American latchkey kid in Cheektowaga and Buffalo. Her father died when she was 8, and her mother struggled to pay the bills.

“Even when I was studying acting at the Juilliard, I was often cast as the sophisticated best friend with the witty line, and it’s so funny to me because I do not come from a wealthy background,” she told the Guardian newspaper in a story published this week. “I’m from a blue-collar neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, and if you’re writing for the Guardian, you could say that’s like Manchester,” where the British daily newspaper began 200 years ago.

“Music was very much a part of our life,” she told The New Yorker this summer. “I remember my deepest, most vivid memory of my father. Shortly before he died, my father took me to Kleinhans Music Hall, which was the Carnegie Hall of Buffalo, to see a Polish singing troupe from Warsaw. … I grew up with people who loved performing arts, who loved music, who loved dancing, but I didn’t think of myself as destined for that life. It took me a long time to get to a point where I would audition for a play in high school. Then I wound up being the leading lady for the next two years. I was Mame in the senior-class play” at Villa Maria Academy, in Cheektowaga, in 1970.

She also joined “an avant-garde dance-and-theater company that performed in the old Pierce-Arrow plant in Buffalo. I did my first professional play, although I don’t think I got paid. I wore an actual American flag, as a minidress, and white go-go boots.”

She survived the rigors of the Juilliard School and won her first Tony in her second Broadway play, Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Thing.” (Cynthia Nixon played her daughter in that show and now plays her spinster sister on “The Gilded Age.”) Over the years Baranski frequently appeared in Stephen Sondheim musicals, and she and Sondheim became good friends. She told Colbert that she and Meryl Streep often took him out for dinner in his later years.

Baranski did not get TV roles until she was in her 40s. She played Cybill Shepherd’s alcohol-swilling best friend, Maryanne, on “Cybill,” the 1990s sitcom that gave her character a Buffalo backstory.

In one 1996 episode, Maryann goes home to Buffalo for her 25th high school reunion. Name of said episode: “Buffalo Gals.”

Two years later, Mayor Anthony Masiello proclaimed Christine Baranski Day in Buffalo. “I never really left,” she said.

That was evident the other night as she spoke with Colbert. She ended the Buffalo portion of her interview by invoking last week’s wild-card win against the New England Patriots.

“These are people who will sit in the stands for hours in subzero temperatures,” she said. “So if you are in Buffalo, you are a survivor. You know how to endure.”

Then, as the New York audience applauded, Baranski raised a fist and shouted, “Go Bills!”

True to her word, she was LOUD.

Business pop-ups aren’t just for adults. In the case of Muzé‘s Children’s Business Fair, youth business owners, Mateen and Yusef Thomas (of Muzé Apparel, LLC) are challenging children to discover their inner entrepreneur. That’s the underlying premise of the umbrella organization – Acton Children’s Business Fair, which was founded in 2007 in Austin, Texas by Jeff and Laura Sandefer who were hoping to “spark a sense of wonder and entrepreneurship in their own children.”

The Buffalo chapter of Acton Children’s Business Fair is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 29, from 1PM to 4PM at the Innovation Center – BNMC.

When I learned that the local children’s fair was being hosted by Mateen (12-years old) and Yusef (9-years old), I was astounded. Thus, I reached out to them to ask a few questions about their business, and their passion for supporting youth entrepreneurship. 

Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at the one-day marketplace.

According to Mateen and Yusef’s mother, Zaheera Hemphill, “The boys began the journey of creating a children’s clothing brand during quarantine.  They simply had outgrown their clothing and wanted to purchase clothing that was made by children. They Googled and Googled but could not find one, so they created their own.  Muzé Apparel became an LLC in 2021.”

Prompted by their newfound accomplishments, Mateen and Yusef decided that they were in a position to help other Buffalo youth to follow in their entrepreneurial footsteps. 

When I asked them what drives them, their answer was, “Success is not achievable until you learn how to succeed; meaning that you have to work hard, have a healthy mindset, learn, and persevere to be great.”

Per the importance of entrepreneurial skills as a youth, they said, “No matter who you are, you have the opportunity to do great things and it helps us to be innovative.”

Mateen and Yusef noted that their inspiration for their clothing line was to create their own wealth, and to be the first children to do something that no other kids had done.  They added that their role models are their Dad, “… because he teaches us how to do things as an adult. And mom, because she supports everything we want to do. And our Jeddah (grandmother in Arabic) because she compliments us and congratulates us on the small accomplishments.”

As much as the young boys are concentrating on developing their clothing line, and preparing for the fair, they each have alternate plans and goals, as they mature. Mateen’s dream career is to become a paleontologist.  Yusef’s is to become either an engineer or fireman.

First things first – here’s hoping that the boys have a super successful fair, supported by anyone and everyone that believes in the dreams and far-reaching achievements of our region’s youth.

In the meantime, it would be great to see Mateen and Yusef rewarded for their accomplishments, with a 40 Under 14 designation. Is there such a thing? If not, I know a couple of young go-getters that might be up to the challenge.

Buffalo Children’s Business Fair

Saturday, January 29, 2022

1 pm – 4 pm

Free and open to the public

Hosted by Kidtrepreneurs, the makers of Muzé Apparel

Innovation Center – Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) | 640 Ellicott St, Buffalo, NY 14203-1221

25 booths – register your child’s business at the fair’s website

This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of donors and volunteers

See Facebook event

Knox State Farm is getting into the brewery action.

If you’ve been to beer tasting events before, then you pretty much know the drill. Or do you?

You see, this particular craft beer event involves a lot more that simply tasting beers. Participants to Brewski 2022 are invited to snowshoe and/or x-country ski around Knox Farm State Park… while tasting local craft beers with 42N.

The 2.5 mile track features multiple craft beer tasting stations where you can try some classic beers and new recipes all the while wandering around the beautiful and historic Knox Farm.

Brewski 2022 offers the perfect opportunity to get outside, enjoying WNY’s wintertime activities, while partaking in some beer tastings at the same time. Does it get any better than that?

Brewski 2022

Saturday, February 19, 2022

Knox Farm State Park (East Aurora, NY)

Time: 12-3PM (after party at 42 North Brewery)

Learn more and get tickets here: bit.ly/brewski2022

Music By:

• Jungle Steve at Knox Farm State Park
• Crikwater at 42N After-Party from 4pm-7pm

See Facebook event

The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly walk to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Team up, walk, and fundraise! It’s cold out there… but there’s no place like home.

Typically, the only way that you’re going to walk/run a 5K in the middle of winter is in tandem with a winter festival. But when it comes to good causes, Buffalonians are also willing to go the distance.

On Saturday, February 26, people are invited to take part in a 5K Walk that will help to raise funds for Compass House (founded in 1972) – an emergency shelter that accommodates approximately 300 runaway/homeless youth annually, and an additional 300 youth at their Resource Center.

A strong focus is centered on coming together as a community to give back and aid people that have no escape from the cold.

As for the upcoming walk – Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) – it all began in Canada via Blue Sea Philanthropy, and has now come to the US. Buffalo joins eight other cities in the US to raise funds for youth battling hurt, hunger, and homelessness. The run is held in the wintertime to demonstrate the hardships of being outdoors for an extended period of time. The only difference is the participants get to wear warm winter gear, and go home afterwards.

This is the inaugural event for Compass House – anyone interested in signing up or donating can visit the CNOY website.

The Coldest Night of the Year 5K

February 26, 2022

Delaware Park on Ring Road with check-in at the Amherst-Colvin Green Space

Check-in for the 5K will begin at 4pm with walker send-off at 5pm. There will be a rest stop on the route with light refreshments. All routes will be marked with blue CNOY signs and volunteers will be there to provide route support.

All proceeds will benefit Compass House and the work they do in Western New York.

A prime mixed-use property on Hertel has traded hands.  Hertel Properties LLC paid $1.7 million for the two-story retail and residential building at 1239 Hertel Avenue.  Timothy Welch was the seller.

The buyer appears to be tied to Power Play Partners, a Clarence-based property management company with real estate assets throughout the region.  The firm manages 700 residential units, 100 commercial units and 280,000 sq.ft. of building space according to its website.

Per the Common Council Demolition Moratorium for Great Northern Grain Elevator:

Citizens to Save the Great Northern is planning a rally today (Thursday, January 20) at the steps of City Hall. Community members in support of preserving the iconic grain elevator – the oldest surviving elevator in Buffalo – are asked to gather at the steps of City Hall at 2:30pm, to voice their discontent and opposition to the demolition of the Great Northern, an internationally renowned landmark.

In a recent article, Jessie Fisher (Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara – PBN) stated, “This is the Notre-Dame of Buffalo. This is not some small building on a city side street. This building is significant, and is a testament to the City’s industrial heritage. It’s our architectural legacy. And to not put up a fight for it? To be so blasé about it? It is infuriating. We have a developer that is willing to take it on – a developer that has a proven track record. We’re up against the owners that want to take it down.

“As preservationists, we have proven our case. Since the emergency demolition permit was issued, a lot has come to light. Different engineers have come forward pertaining to the solid construction of the building. We are seeing with our own eyes that this is not an emergency situation. The City should reconsider the emergency demolition procedure altogether. They should make the owners – ADM – go through the regular process and apply for a demo permit, which would allow the Preservation Board and City inspections to require repairs. The Preservation Board would then be allowed to hire their own experts to come up with alternatives.

“We just can’t give up – we have seen a billion dollars in private investments because we have these historic buildings. If that doesn’t convince people to save the Great Northern, then I’m not sure what else will. Preservation is bringing this city back, that is clear.”

Citizens to Save the Great Northern is urging the Buffalo Common Council to pass a law placing a sixty moratorium on demolition of this internationally known local landmark.

Lead image by Peg Overdorf

“In a moment of pure frustration today, I came to the conclusion that there is no angry way to say ‘bubbles’…” – Anon

It’s a sad day for Allentown, and for all of Buffalo for that matter. Charles “Chuck” – The Bubble Man – Incorvaia has passed away at the age of 75.

To think, that for two decades (he started in 2002), Chuck brought so much happiness to so many people by simply (and magically) waving his bubble wand, day in and day out. For hours at a time, the man would sit at his window, high atop Jim’s Steakout at the corner of Elmwood and Allen, releasing thousands of soapy bubbles that would drift downwards and outwards, to the delight of passersby.

Knowing that his bubble making was such a hit with people in the neighborhood, Chuck concocted a better way to produce the bubbles. Instead of blowing them himself, he set up an electric fan, which made it easier for him to perform. He would dutifully dip the wand into the solution, then place it in front of the fan, over and over, hour after hour… day after day, and year after year.

The only time that the bubbles appeared to stop would be when Chuck would take a break to head over to his favorite café – Taza, which is now called The Intersection. He was a staple there. So much so, that there was a tip jar on the counter where people could drop in a dollar or two, with the funds going directly to Chuck and his bubble making enterprise.

According to Jim’s Steakout, the Library of Congress has Chuck and his bubble making hobby listed in its archives. How cool is that? The guy was beyond prolific. He was a huge part of Buffalo. That is why I am hoping that his legacy lives on, not simply via memories, but in tangible action.

Maybe there should be a Bubble Man celebration every year. Or maybe an artist can come up with a fun way to hook up a permanent bubble machine atop the Jim’s Steakout building. Or maybe both. How much fun would that be?

Allentown will never be the same without Chuck and his bubbles.

Lead image by Jim Kupczyk

Traditionally, when you think of sports in Buffalo, your mind immediately goes to the Bills or Sabres, the city’s lone two professional franchises. With the multitude of players both teams have rostered over the years, countless have retired and wound up finding and building careers in Buffalo, and as a result, a fair number of former pro hockey and football players reside around Western New York.

However, there’s more to the world of athletics than just hockey and football – and as a result, plenty of Buffalonians have found success in other avenues both during their athletic careers and in retirement. Former soccer pro Liam Callahan and former baseball pro Bill Scherrer are no exception, and while both hail from the Queen City, their respective sports endeavors took them across the country.

Now, both are finding success in the work world, while staying true to their Buffalo roots.

In Callahan’s case, soccer was instilled in him young, and it only propelled him into reaching some of the highest ranks of the beautiful game.

“As a child, I was always told I had a soccer ball at my foot,” Callahan said. “From the time that I was first walking and playing with a ball it was just kind of ingrained in me … It was something that at a young age I kept up with for a very long time.”

After playing at Sweet Home High School, in 2012, Callahan began his college career at Villanova before transferring to Syracuse prior to the 2014 season. Playing defense and midfield, he tallied three goals and 12 assists over his three years with the Orange and captained the team in 2016.

In 2015, his Syracuse side, which featured the current U.S. Men’s National Team defender Miles Robinson, won the ACC championship and reached the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Clemson in the semifinals.
His superb play with the Orange wound up getting him selected in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, going in the second round, 24th overall to the Colorado Rapids. It marked the first time a Western New York high school soccer product was selected in the MLS SuperDraft.

“Transferring to Syracuse was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Callahan said. “I didn’t expect to go that early [in the draft]. I didn’t get invited to their combine that they do every year … so I thought I’d get a tryout outside … That was something I dreamed of as a kid, so really no words to explain it.”

After spending training camp with the Rapids in 2017, Callahan’s time in the MLS would unfortunately come to an end before getting any game action. However, his soccer career wouldn’t come to an end there, as from 2018-2020, Callahan played for Utica City FC, an indoor soccer team that plays in the Major Arena Soccer League.

“[Indoor soccer] was a completely different game,” Callahan said. “It’s certainly not for everybody … In the time I played, Utica had probably the best fans that I’ve ever seen … it was a cool experience that I probably wouldn’t get anywhere else.”

Nowadays, at age 27, Callahan has retired from the professional soccer grind and is back in Buffalo working for Alliance Advisory Group, with aspirations to pursue a career in financial advising. Currently working as a business development associate, it’s the next step in his post-soccer journey.

“I help people align their minds with their money,” Callahan said. “Financial advising was not something I ever expected to get into … Alliance and the people that recruited me there had a different message and a different way of working things. Put the clients first in their process and try to help people and that’s something I enjoy doing and something I could see moving the road.”

Scherrer on the other hand navigated his way through a seven-year MLB career, and has been in baseball ever since as a scout for multiple pro baseball organizations.

Growing up in Tonawanda, Scherrer and his family played a multitude of different sports and excelled at many, but eventually, it became clear that baseball (in particular pitching) was the one he was most skilled at.

“I think we all thought we excelled at sports when we were kids,” Scherrer said. “God gave me a good arm so I enjoyed playing [baseball] and I guess we all enjoy something you really are good at, and I guess I was good at that.”

After playing at Cardinal O’Hara High School, Scherrer was drafted in the sixth round of the 1976 MLB Amateur Draft by the Cleveland Indians before again being drafted in the 1977 January Draft by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round.

He would make his MLB debut in 1982 with the Reds, and act as a relief pitcher for Cincinnati as well as the Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies before his MLB career came to an end in 1988.

In 228 games, Scherrer posted a 4.08 career ERA and 207 strikeouts. He was traded to Detroit in 1984 and was a member of the Tigers team that won the World Series that season.

“I was traded to the Tigers and it was comical, I wasn’t even in the big leagues, I was in AAA,” Scherrer said. “You couldn’t have written a better script. From a guy from Buffalo to eventually get to the big leagues and then all of a sudden be down in the minors and all of a sudden play for the best team in baseball and be a part of it … You sit back later on after you eventually retire and think of all the fond memories, but I’m sure that’ll come to the top.”

After his playing days came to a close, he managed to find a gig in scouting with the Florida Marlins, an expansion team at the time in 1993, and it would go on to kickstart a lengthy career in the industry. Currently, he works in the Chicago White Sox organization, trying to find the next generation of MLB talent.

“You can be a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, you can go to school for a lot of things, but there isn’t a definition of a baseball scout,” Scherrer said. “Somebody gave me an opportunity to scout, you learn the trade running around territories and trying to get the best players available … From 1992 to now, it’s been a great ride.”

While Scherrer currently resides in Arizona and has traveled across the country and the world for work and during his playing career, one thing has remained the same: his roots back in Buffalo still hold strong.

“I wear it on my sleeve, where I’m from,” Scherrer said. “Of all the different places I’ve lived and played, my home will always be Western New York.”

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Author Adam Gorski
Editing Addison Shoonmaker and Zoe Oleshansky

“Get Sauced” is back with a second edition, scheduled for Thursday, February 10… and this time the event is featuring Paradise Wine and DiTondo Ristorante Bar & Bottega.

The second edition of Get Sauced coincides with Valentine’s Day, which means that participants can pick up their wine and food and settle in at home, to eat and drink, before snuggling up with a loved one. Not to mention the fabulous wine and food pairings by two of the region’s most beloved businesses – Paradise Wine, and DiTondo. Think of the virtual affair as a Valentine’s kick-off. 

Graycliff Executive Director, Anna Kaplan, explains, “This event will be an opportunity to taste and test a trio of Italian wines with one of the finest Italian dishes—a fun and low-pressure romantic night in where you will be sure to learn something new, all while supporting local business and Graycliff.”

Each ticket purchase includes:

• At least three bottles of premium Italian wine and access to the Zoom event on February 10th at 6pm, where Paula Paradise of Paradise Wine will walk you through each bottle—one white and two red.
• There is also the option to buy a ticket package that includes a ready-to-heat main dish by DiTondo —Braised pork jowl with polenta (Guanciale di maiale con polenta). 
• A dessert add-on includes tiramisu and a fourth bottle of wine to pair.
• Rita DiTondo will also be involved in the Zoom event, adding a layer of culinary education to complement the experience.
• Also included in the program on February 10th will be video content related to Graycliff, with the opportunity to peek inside the restored Frank Lloyd Wright-designed interior of the main house.

All information is available at www.experiencegraycliff.org where you can also purchase your ticket (wine only, or wine with ready-to-heat food, including the option to add on a dessert package) now through Friday, February 4th at noon.

TICKET INFO:

Premium Italian Wine Package: $80

A trio of Italian wine

Premium Italian Wine + Food Package: $125

A trio of Italian wine plus
Braised pork jowl with polenta (Guanciale di maiale con polenta) portioned for two, or healthy serving + leftovers for one

Dessert Package ($35)

Tiramisu & one bottle of wine to pair

The Full Experience! ($150)

All four bottles of wine, main course, and dessert portioned for two

Graycliff Members save an additional $15 with coupon code WRIGHTSAUCE

Second Annual “Get Sauced” Virtual Wine Tasting & Culinary Experience

Thursday, February 10, 2022

6pm

Wine/food pick up available at two locations: Graycliff (Derby, NY) and DiTondo (Buffalo, NY) February 8-10

The food is portioned for two, or a generous helping for one with leftovers, designed to be the main course and dessert of a delicious and romantic Italian meal at home. Because of the nature of the event, there is the option to not open all of the bottles on the night of the virtual tasting—you can always take in the information and sip at your own pace.

Campaign 2022 is underway as political committees file their first financial disclosure reports of the year.  The numbers demonstrate, not surprisingly, that those already in a good position financially are getting even stronger.

Having a ton of money in a campaign account is good news for a candidate, but money does not necessarily lead to votes.  A candidate’s credibility for the office sought, the strength and ability of a committee’s organization and even the general political climate at any given time all have a great deal to do with the potential success of the candidate.  Nonetheless low bankrolls stress a candidacy while big dollar accounts are a source of comfort to political committees.

All political committees in New York State were required to file reports by January 18^th for their financial transactions through January 14^th.  This post was last updated at 10 am on January 19^th and will be edited to note information from the remaining legislators when available.

Statewide offices

The major focus in 2022 will be on the race for governor.  Both the Democratic and Republican parties have several candidates in contention now, heading into next month’s state committee conventions to select the endorsed candidates for statewide office.

As expected, Governor Kathy Hochul’s financials lead the way by a large margin.  Here are the numbers for the announced Democratic candidates for governor:

• Hochul – raised $21,927,407 since July 2021.  Balance in the account:  $21,337,928
• Tom Suozzi – raised $3,363,101; Suozzi also transferred $2,101,573 from his congressional campaign account.  Balance:  $5,254,456
• Jumaane Williams – raised $221,996.  Balance:  $189,221

Here are the numbers for the announced or anticipated Republican candidates for governor:

• Lee Zeldin – raised $4,322,517.  Balance:  $5,622,103
• Rob Astorino – raised $764,205.  Balance:  $1,300,693
• Andrew Guiliani – raised $85,601.  Balance:  $188,410

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli raised $847,302 since July 2021 and has $1,760,424 in his campaign treasury.  Attorney General Leticia James raised $2,020,893 and has $3,096,521 available.

A potential Democratic primary for governor may be possible but who will be the candidates?  Bill DeBlasio is out.  Congressman Tom Suozzi could drop out and run for re-election but he has complicated that possibility by transferring over $2 million from his congressional campaign account into his gubernatorial account.  Do either Suozzi or Williams have enough support in the state Democratic committee to get them 25 percent of the vote at the state party convention?  Absent that they would need to go the petition route.

A new Siena College poll reports that Hochul is favored by 46 percent of Democrats; DeBlasio had 12 percent, Williams 11 percent, and Suozzi 6 percent.  It will be very hard to stop or slow down Hochul’s momentum.

It does not seem likely that there will be a Republican primary for governor as support for the “presumptive” nominee, Congressman Lee Zeldin, remains solid.  Astorino and Guiliani have not gotten off the ground.

And then there is the wild card:  Andrew Cuomo.  His campaign committee continues to send out emails that reek of bitterness about his fall from grace. During the past six months he raised $240,306, which includes thousands raised after he resigned, mostly in small donations; spent $2,091,851, including hundreds of thousands of dollars on attorneys; and still has $16,405,354.  It seems doubtful that he will spend his campaign treasury on a campaign that would try to focus on redemption but will actually look more like revenge.  Perhaps the son of Hamlet on the Hudson will simply stay home (wherever that is) and brood?

State legislative races

State Senator Tim Kennedy, as expected, continues to pile up large sums of money while representing a district that is not likely to be competitive anytime soon.  Other incumbent Western New York legislators have small fractions of the amount that Kennedy has.  Kennedy’s cash on hand is about equal to the total cash balances of the other 16 Western New York senators and assemblymembers combined.  Here is a summary:

• Senator George Borrello (R) – raised $75,300.  Balance:  $107,654
• Senator Pat Gallivan (R) – raised $73,164.  Balance:  $110,233
• Senator Tim Kennedy — raised $553,325. Balance: $1,793,808
• Senator Robert Ortt — raised $61,343. Balance: $217,001
• Senator Ed Rath — raised $75,635. Balance: $100,935
• Senator Sean Ryan — report not yet posted
• Assemblymember Pat Burke — raised $23,170. Balance: $62,026
• Assemblymember Bill Conrad — raised $3,000. Balance: $18,673
• Assemblymember David DiPietro –report not yet posted

• Assemblymember Andy Goodell (R)– raised $1,100.  Balance:  $49,770
• Assemblymember Stephan Hawley (R)– raised $25,700.  Balance:  $133,195
• Assemblymember Karen McMahon (D) – raised $8,075.  Balance:  $59,003
• Assemblymember Angelo Morinello (R) – report not yet posted
• Assemblymember Michael Norris (R)– raised $63,583.  Balance:  $183,823
• Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D) – raised $165,242.  Balance:  $260,476
• Assemblymember Jonathan Rivera (D) – raised $12,191.  Balance:  $18,085
• Assemblymember Monica Wallace (D) – raised $51,435.  Balance:  $102,231

The state Board of Elections’ enforcement of the law

The state Board of Elections is assigned responsibility for enforcing provisions of the Election Law.  Most registered campaign committees comply with the law on a timely basis, but a handful do not.  What does the BOE do about that?  I asked them.  Here is the email exchange:

• Politics and Other Stuff:  I write a political blog (politicsandstuff.com) and occasionally write about campaign financial filings.  Most committees I look at file on a timely basis but some do not. What is the state BOE’s procedure for enforcement of filing requirements?  Do you only act on complaints that are submitted to the BOE?  Are there penalties?
• BOE:  The Division of Election Law Enforcement is charged with investigating potential violations of the New York State Election Law and other laws pertaining to elections. Many of the penalties are set forth in Election Law section 14-126, available on the New York State Board of Elections website – www.elections.ny.gov , but some are also set forth in other sections of law. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact the Public Information Officer of the State Board of Elections at info@elections.ny.gov for assistance.
• POS:  Does the state BOE routinely look to see if all political committees file their required financial disclosures, and if so, do you penalize those who are non-compliant?
• BOE:  That is the role of the Division of Election Law Enforcement.
• POS:  Can you please direct me to a database that indicates fines levied by the BOE for violations of the Election Law since January 1, 2019?
• BOE:  There is no publicly available online database.  If you have questions about a specific filer you can submit a Freedom of Information request as to that filer.

So in other words, if you want to know, for example, how or if Stefan Mychajliw used the remaining $30,030 in his campaign account (since he has failed to file the required November 29^th report), or for that matter, some other candidate, you must FOIL it.  I have submitted a FOIL request to the BOE concerning Mychajliw’s committee.  I am awaiting a reply.

Ken Kruly writes about politics and other stuff at politicsandstuff.com. You can visit his site to leave a comment pertaining to this post.

Follow Ken on Twitter @kenkruly

Three ground-floor commercial spaces totaling 3,275 sq.ft. are planned. Twenty-three parking spaces will be provided on-site, located behind the commercial spaces with the residential component of the development construction over the parking area.

The exterior consists of brick veneer, terra cotta cladding, and fibre cement rainscreen. The fourth floor is setback from the front and rear facades.

Valentine’s Day is less than a month away. This year, instead of doing the same old thing, why not consider attending an adult Valentine’s Prom, to be held at Babeville? The event will not only be a blast, featuring plenty of live music from the 90’s, it’s also a benefit for Autism Services, the only agency in Western New York that solely serves autistic people.

This year’s entertainment line-up for the prom includes DJ Hogan, Geezer (Green Day & Weezer cover band), Off the Wall (90’s pop punk), and some 90s R&B. Formal attire is encouraged (it’s a prom after all), but not mandatory (though you might get scolded by one of your teachers).

Along with the opportunity to dance the night away, the event also includes passed appetizers and a cash bar. This shindig is definitely something to look forward to – a chance to relive one of the greatest nights of your life.

90’s Valentine’s Prom – A benefit for Autism Services

With support from the Gypsy Parlor

7:30pm

Babeville | 341 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202

Ages 21 and over

Tickets: $50 available at Eventbrite, or in person at the Babeville Box Office M-F 11a – 5p

Cash Bar | Passed Appetizers

Formal attire encouraged

All proceeds benefit Autism Services

See Facebook event

Please Note: This event will be presented in accordance with applicable public health requirements and considerations as of the date of the event; which could include changes to capacity, attendance prerequisites, procedures, and other protective measures per government and venue policies. This may include proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 Test.

This morning I posted on the opening of Days Park Tavern in Allentown. And now, right across the street, Bidwell (dinner club) is preparing for its opening.

Bidwell is the brainchild of Matt and Courtney Gunther, who initially came up with the idea for a 12-seater restaurant in Buffalo when they were living in NYC (see back story). At the time, they were experimenting with a dinner club concept in their apartment, which proved to be a big hit with their friends and acquaintances. So much so, that they decided to run with a similar concept upon moving/returning to Buffalo. Instead of an apartment however, they opted to build out a swank restaurant at 242 Allen Street. 

Since I initially wrote about the couple, they have been busy with the restaurant buildout, which took longer than expected. With the pandemic running rampant, there were supply chain issues. On top of that the City and the SLA were sluggish, with limited hours and staffing.

Other than the pandemic-related slowdowns, Matt and Courtney say that the are now prepared for the big opening day. They have already held two soft openings, with two more scheduled for this coming Friday and Saturday.

As of today, they have opened up their reservation bookings for subscribers on their e-blast list. Already there has been a rush to book one of the limited number of tables, where 12 guests will be treated to a 9 course menu, composed of 3 smaller starter plates, five savory course dishes, and two desserts. Adding to the demand for a table, there is a limited one seating per night – making the experience very dinner club-esque.

Starting February 1, the public will be invited to book reservations. According to Matt and Courtney, the best way to get the jump on the early bird reservations is to sign up for the Bidwell email list. From there, special invites will be sent out, allowing for ‘first dibs’ booking opportunities. Be sure to join the email list – there is a link on the Bidwell website.

“So far, people have been very excited. Since the email was sent out, we’ve seen a lot of people making reservations,” said Matt and Courtney. “We’ve also gotten a lot of feedback that our restaurant concept is filling a gap in the Buffalo dining scene. There are other restaurants with tasting menus, but we’re the only one with a one-seating supper club dinner party atmosphere.”

Reservations for February seating will open to the public on January 27. In the meantime, join the Bidwell email list to see what all of the hype is about. You are guaranteed to never miss a beet, or any other farm-to-table vegetable that chef is preparing for a special evening in Allentown.

www.bidwellbuffalo.com

Find Bidwell on Instagram

hello@bidwellbuffalo.com

Bidwell | 242 Allen Street | Facebook

All reservations begin at 6:30pm | Dining experience is approximately 2 hours | Choose table seating or counter seating

Like its ostensible subject, a woman of color “passing” for white, “Passing” is not the film one might think it would be. The risks for Clare, the now blonde wife of a Negro-hating white man, occupy little emotional or physical space in English actress Rebecca Hall’s (who herself could pass) directorial debut. The core of the film is the response to Clare by Irene, her school friend of 20 years ago, a doctor’s wife and a fixture of 1920s Harlem society.

Tessa Thompson is captivating as Irene, revealing most of her torment physically rather than verbally. She’s as quiet, contained, and emotionally wrought in private (though self-assured when out in her Harlem world) as Clare (Ruth Negga, nominated for an Oscar Best Actress for “Loving,” 2016) is cocky, brassy, and an acknowledged risk-taker. Clare’s passing is deeply troubling for Irene, though Irene shows no interest in being Clare—that is, in adopting Clare’s solution to what’s referred to here as the “race problem.” And, even though she has passed once (with great trepidation), Irene seems to have no interest in abandoning her Harlem life with her husband and two sons who, she states plainly to Clare, are too black to pass.

Irene twice tries to end her relationship with Clare, apparently not wanting the idea of passing, or another type of racial accommodation, to be in her head.

Irene twice tries to end her relationship with Clare, apparently not wanting the idea of passing, or another type of racial accommodation, to be in her head. “We’re all of us passing for something or other,” she tells a white author friend (Bill Camp) who comes up to Harlem to get a touch of the Negro exotic. It may be the film’s most poignant line, suggesting that Irene’s comfortable Harlem situation may involve more than a little pretense.

Irene and her husband, Brian (André Holland), have different views of their upper-class life. Irritated by Harlem’s dirt and crime, he wants to leave the country. She seems to enjoy her cocoon. He wants to inform their sons about lynching; she wants to preserve their childhood innocence (and perhaps her own). Along with her discussion with the white author, Irene’s few disagreements with Brian are as close to an overt political discussion as “Passing” gets. The unsaid, rather than the said, the refusal to dwell in stereotypes, are strengths of the film.

Clare is distraught by her white existence—though, with the exception of one early scene, her experience is largely unseen.

Clare is distraught by her white existence—though, with the exception of one early scene, her experience is largely unseen. She longs to be back in Harlem and, in a way, longs to have Irene’s life, complete with husband, sons, acquaintances, Southern cooking, and parties. Passing for white, married to a white banker (Alexander Skarsgård), Clare has money and one “light” child (not daring to have another, she tells Irene), but not happiness.

Based on a 1929 book by New York City novelist Nella Larsen (reissued in 2001 when Larsen was rediscovered), “Passing” is a quiet, dark, interior work, shot by Eduard Grau (“A Single Man” 2009) in chiaroscuro black and white, with even the frequent fades—and a final scene in the snow—going not to black but to white.

“Passing” does not rise to the level of an Oscar Best Picture nomination, for which it’s been mentioned by some critics. It should be valued for what it is: a small, contained, slow-paced, well-acted film that manages to tell its story without resorting to melodrama. A compelling portrait of two black women reconsidering their lives. 

Date: 2021

Stars: 3 (out of 4)

Director: Rebecca Hall

Starring: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Bill Camp, Alexander Skarsgård

Runtime: 98 minutes

Country: United States, United Kingdom, Canada

Other Awards:  18 wins and 87 nominations to date, including Ruth Negga for Best Supporting Actress by the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.

Availability: Currently only streaming on Netflix; for future availability, see JustWatch here.

Lead image: Ruth Negga, left, as Clare and Tessa Thompson, right, as Irene, both strong performances.

See all Five Cent Cine reviews by 2 Film Critics