I have bolded the areas that I think are most interesting. While Miller-Williams repeats twice how she “welcomes” this order, and claims that it is similar to the Republican/Miller-Williams map (it isn’t, really), and notes that it does especial harm to her chances of being re-elected; when push comes to shove, she is not a “part of the Party system” as it’s constituted in Erie County.

But why is she discussing her re-election campaign in a press release sent from an erie.gov address in her capacity as Legislature Chair, as opposed to her campaign apparatus?

Statement by Barbara Miller-Williams, Chair Erie County Legislature
Regarding Redistricting of the Erie County Legislature

 

Yesterday, Judge William Skretny issued his Order that presents us with new lines for the 11 Districts of the Erie County Legislature.

I welcome the resolution to the matter and applaud the Judge on his attention to the important federal principles. Judge Skretny, in his decision, maintained 2 majority-minority districts for the Legislature, following the directives of the Federal Voting Rights Act. And although the new districts do not adhere as closely as proposed Local Law 3-1 did to the principal of one person-one vote, the deviation in size between districts still falls well within federal guidelines. With this map, Judge Skretny has followed those principles that I have championed throughout this process – the principles that assure each voter has an equal voice in their County government.

Currently I serve as the 3^rd District Legislator. The new District I reside in will be District 1. I welcome the additional residents of District 1 and am looking forward to the opportunity to address their interests in County government. This new district preserves the heart of the neighborhoods I have come to know and champion in the City and adds many neighborhoods that I have become acquainted with in my time as Chair of the Legislature. I am excited to get to better know these new neighborhoods and listen to the needs of the residents as I take my re-election campaign to every corner of the new 1^st District.

There is one issue that is of concern to me with regard to the Judge’s ruling in this case. Ballot access, the mechanism of our democracy that allows anyone with the will to challenge an incumbent, has been severely restricted in this process. By ordering that the Party leaders will designate those that will be listed on the ballot lines, ordinary citizens are not allowed to participate in that choice. And those that may seek the office of Legislator, if they are not a part of the Party system, are left without any real hope of a viable campaign. I understand the extreme time constraints this process has imposed upon us, but I want to make sure that a true spirit of democracy is not sacrificed in the name of expediency.

So I welcome the Order that Judge Skretny has presented us, and the resolution to the question of what the 11 Districts of the Erie County Legislature will look like beginning in 2012. I respect the process that the Judge has decreed, recognizing that it may be difficult for a challenger to step forward and run for a position on the Legislature.

I look forward to the opportunity to represent the residents of what will be the 1^st Legislative District for Erie County in the upcoming election. And I thank all those who have been involved in this process to assure that every resident of Erie County is fairly represented for the next 10 years.

A state inspector and two City of Buffalo inspectors are among 9 individuals and 2 companies charged.

Superintendent says the event is funded by donations from vendors, not taxpayer money.

Heavyweight's era of success saluted by veterans' organization.

Familiarity with Gailey's system will make it easy for quarterback to get up and running with Bills.

By Thea Hassan:

The 7th annual Be Vocal, Eat Local community cookout, hosted by the Massachusetts Avenue Project program Growing Green, was held today.

The event held at the urban youth farm at 389 Massachusetts Avenue celebrates communities eating food grown locally. The event was abundant with children, skateboarding in the closed-off street and dancing to the disc-jockeyed music. Farm tours, face painting, music, and a three-legged race were also part of the fun. Tours of the farm were conducted, offering visitors the chance to see the 27,000 gallon aquaponics system that houses the one week-old tilapia and a plethora of lush greens.

The Massachusetts Avenue Project promotes urban agriculture, provides local jobs for youth and generates healthy food for Buffalo communities. Their Growing Green program is a youth development and urban agriculture initiative to make the food system more local and inclusive.  

"Growing Green youth have transformed vacant lots into productive urban farmland where they grow fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs for neighbors, the elderly, local restaurants and other markets," said a press release from MAP. 

Answers still sought in shooting that killed two, wounded three others.

If the past six weeks are any indication, next year it will be “Sayonara, Square. Hello, Central Wharf.”

Pits four incumbents against each other in two of 11 districts.

The tinkering with Buffalo’s training camp roster continues. Bills GM Buddy Nix has been busy this first week of camp with several roster changes and there were a couple more Friday. The Bills sign...

“I must get back to livin’ before it becomes a crime!” “Hard times, hard times” Get back to livin’ with the Albrights tonight at Mister Goodbar. Show starts at 10:3opm. Click here for more info. —a.v.  

The newest Bills wide receiver talks about needing a change of scenery, taking better care of his body, and what went wrong in San Diego.

It’s hard to get a good picture of the potential final roster at this point in training camp, as the veterans reported yesterday, there were no OTA’s, and there haven’t been any major injuries to this point. In the coming weeks, I expect that to change, as well as this roster.

A few notes:

- I don’t differentiate the linemen or linebackers, as my head spins trying to figure out where everyone fits.

- Yes, I only kept 2 tight ends. Why waste a spot on a position we never use? Plus, I consider David Nelson a de-facto tight end, even though he’s technically a receiver.

- Bye, Bye Aaron Maybin. Worst. Draft Pick. Ever.

- Doesn’t that offensive line strike fear into your heart?

- Our d-line is gonna be STACKED this year. Just sayin. … [visit site to read more]

By Thea Hassan:

Plans for the Buffalo Maritime Center's relocation are moving full-steam ahead (see back story), with the center busy in the fundraising process.

A 24,000 square foot, two-story brick industrial building at 1569 Niagara Street offers a basement, parking lot, fenced in lot, attached warehouse spaces, and a location on the bus route.

The center is engaged in a three phase fundraising campaign to "get the job done" and buy the location. The first phase includes raising funds for the downpayment, the second phase will last over two years to outright purchase the property, and the third phase involves improving and modifying to get the building in ship-shape to fulfill the center's needs.

The Maritime Center is also moving forward with news programs and partnerships.

Two new partnerships are with the Buffalo Outdoor Urban Education and the Great Lakes Water Sport Institute. The Buffalo Outdoor Urban Education aims to give students a hands on environmental education about Lake Erie and the waterfront, while the Great Lakes Water Sport Institute works to make the waterfront and water sports available to physically challenged people.

"They're logical partners, so we're joining with them so that even though our building is going to be landlocked, we are going to be able to use our equipment, our boats, our traditional methods with their staff doing joint programming," said Roger Allen, the new director of the Maritime Center. "We're really excited about it. It makes so much sense when you look at it. We are not competing with each other, we're working together. And so, even while we are doing the fundraising to move into this permanent home, we are moving ahead with that kind of programming."

The center is also designing a set of new programs designed for the public, including a series of weekend classes. Allen hopes boat building students will learn not only boat building skills, but also the craftsman's attitude, what he calls the "critical part."



"The bottom line is we don't really need a lot of wooden boat builders in the world. But what we do need is people with the craftsman-like attitude," said Allen. "I believe the wooden boat is the ultimate expression of manual arts because it has this black and white test. If you build it right, it will float. What you learn when you launch your own boat, you learn you can do anything... and that's what this program offers."

Allen also hopes to work with the school system in Buffalo, and two of the charter schools in order to offer maritime programs as part of their curriculum.

Anyone interested in donating to the Buffalo Maritime Center mail in a check to 1250 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14213.


^Click to enlarge

By Rebecca Bratek:

This Saturday and Sunday, the Seneca Nation of Indians, along with the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and Buffalo Place, will be hosting the first-annual Buffalo Creek Native Festival downtown at the historic Central Wharf.
          
The Seneca Nation created this festival in order to celebrate the rich heritage and culture of the Iroquois-Seneca Indians. Through this festival, they hope to highlight and commemorate artists within the Iroquois-Seneca communities while educating the public on the historic tribes' cultures and the influence the Buffalo Creek and the Central Wharf have had on those histories.
 
"It's the first kind of native festival, that I know of being done in downtown Buffalo and we're really excited to have it down in the Central Wharf," said Alex Jimerson, the tourism development coordinator for the Seneca Nation. "We feel the Central Wharf and Buffalo Creek are really significant and integral to the Seneca and Iroquois history, as far as Buffalo Creek is concerned for our homeland and how big of a part it was for our commerce, trading, and waterways for travel purposes."
 
The festival kicks off Saturday, August 6th, at 10 a.m. with an opening prayer. Throughout the day, patrons can enjoy cultural activities, vendors, and taste traditional foods.
 
There will be traditional Seneca stories for the children; while Iroquois social dances will instructed and demonstrated to help get festival goers on their feet and moving. Craft demonstrations will give everyone a chance to make traditional Iroquois crafts of their own to take home and traditional games will be led by educators from the Seneca Language and Cultural program and the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum.
 
On Saturday night, starting at 7 p.m., everyone is welcomed to the Haudenosaunee Social to share in a night of full of fun and Iroquois social dancing and singing.
 
The festival is open to the public, free-of-charge and is located on the Buffalo Canal Side of the Central Wharf in downtown Buffalo. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to reserve spots in the many cultural demonstrations.

For more information or if you have any questions, contact Alex Jimerson at alex.jimerson@sni.org.

While you're down at Canalside, here's the upcoming line-up:

Friday, August 5
Erie Canal Story by Buffalo Tours: One Hour Guided Walking Tour
Canalside: Whipple Truss Bridge - Central Wharf side
12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm - Free
 
Friday Family Fun on the Central Wharf with Explore & More Children's Museum
"Native Western New Yorkers"
Canalside: Central lawn
12:00 Noon to 4:00 pm - Free
Groups of more than 10 children must pre-register by calling 716/655-5131.
 
Songs of the Erie Canal Puppet Theatre performed by Franklin LaVoie
Canalside: South Grass Area -Under the Big Trees
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Free
 
MusicalFare Theatre presents a character from Buffalo's heyday - multiple performances for a four hour period
Canalside: Historic Ruins - Commercial Slip
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Free
 
Canal Side Astronomy with the Buffalo Astronomical Association
Enjoy observations of the sun, moon and celestial objects.
Canalside: Central Wharf
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm - Free
 
Saturday, August 6
Buffalo Creek Native Festival
A two-day family oriented festival showcasing an often overlooked segment of Buffalo's history and culture, that of the Seneca and other Haudenosaunee people who inhabited the Buffalo Creek Reservation prior to the 1840's.
Canalside: Central Wharf & Cobblestone Streets
10:00 am to 7:00 pm - Free
 
Friday Family Fun on the Central Wharf with Explore & More Children's Museum
"Native Western New Yorkers"
12:00 Noon to 4:00 pm - Free
Groups of more than 10 children must pre-register by calling 716/655-5131.
 
Erie Canal Story by Buffalo Tours: One Hour Guided Walking Tour
Canalside: Whipple Truss Bridge - Central Wharf side
12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm - Free
 
Sunday, August 7
Buffalo Creek Native Festival
Canalside: Central Wharf & Cobblestone Streets
10:00 am to 6:00 pm - Free
 
Beginner's Yoga
Canalside: Central lawn
10:00 am to 11:00 am - Free
 
Intermediate Yoga
Canalside: Central lawn
11:30 am to 12:30 pm - Free
 
Erie Canal Story by Buffalo Tours: One Hour Guided Walking Tour
Canalside: Whipple Truss Bridge - Central Wharf side
12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm - Free
 
Yogalates
Canalside: Central lawn
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Free
 
Boat Ride with Buffalo Maritime Center aboard the White Elektra or OK Clark
Canalside: Commercial Slip - Central Wharf side
2:00 pm - Weather Permitting - Free
(First come-first served with no reservations accepted.)
 
MusicalFare Theatre presents a character from Buffalo's heyday - multiple performances for a four hour period
Canalside: Historic Ruins - Commercial Slip
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Free
 
Monday, August 8
Science Outdoors with Tifft Nature Preserve
Learn more about the rich biodiversity of the plants and animals of WNY and how everything connects.
Canalside: Central lawn
11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Free
 
Zumba on the Waterfront
Exercise and Dance to Music
Canalside: Central lawn
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Free
 
Tuesday, August 9
Yogalates
Canalside: Central lawn
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Free
 
Wednesday, August 10
Boat Ride with Buffalo Maritime Center aboard the White Elektra or OK Clark
Canalside: Commercial Slip - Central Wharf side
5:00 pm - Weather Permitting - Free
(First come-first served with no reservations accepted.)
 
MusicalFare Theatre presents a character from Buffalo's heyday - multiple performances for a four hour period
Canalside: Historic Ruins - Commercial Slip
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Free
 
Sunset Yoga
Canalside: Central lawn
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Free