The Buffalo Bills and team partner Verizon Wireless have selected Travis Brummer of Williamsville, NY, Deb Martin from Wellsville, NY and David Underwood of Bellaire, OH as the Buffalo Bills TXT2Wi...

According to the Buffalo Fire Department, the fire broke out around 5 a.m. Wednesday at this home on Pooley Place.

The last several days have been a whirlwind for NY State Senator Mark Grisanti, but that’s what happens when you make history. After casting a crucial vote in favor of marriage equality in New York State, the Senator has found himself featured on The Daily Show, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and in media outlets across the country. He’s held press conferences here in Buffalo and done numerous interviews. He’s kind of a big deal.

With that sudden notoriety also came some serious questions from local officials in the Republican and Conservative Parties who were not happy with Sen. Grisanti’s decision to vote in favor of marriage equality. There have been local stories all week about how disappointed the members of those parties are with Grisanti’s actions.

When contacted for comment, Erie County Republican Chariman Nick Langworthy said, “As I’ve said a few times, I’m disappointed with Mark’s choice to vote in favor of gay marriage. He went back on his word to support the institution of marriage being between one man and one woman.”

But what are the political consequences that Grisanti now faces after “disappointing” his party chariman and senior members of the party? Yesterday, we heard a rumor from three different sources that Langworthy had arranged a meeting of at least some of the members of the Erie County Republican Executive Committee to determine what the roadmap would be for dealing with Grisanti. The sources reported that Langworthy and other Republican leaders were considering a move to sever political ties with the Senator. When asked, Langworthy said that meeting was not happening and added, “I’m not out rattling cages about this, but I think Senator Grisanti should spend some time with his constituents.”

The rumor of a secret Republican cabal to kick Grisanti out of the party, as it were, seems unlikely. After all, the decision to force Grisanti into the arms of an eager Democratic Party is not Langworthy’s alone to make. A decision like that has tremendous statewide consequences that would effect redistricting and the overall balance of power in the state senate. Any move on Grisanti would need approval from the state party chairman and other members of the party apparatus. Langworthy may be a lot of things, but a move like that would be politically tone deaf.

With that said, Democrat party regulars are chasing Grisanti like hormonal tweens chasing Justin Bieber at the airport. Pulling Grisanti back into the Democrat party from whence he came would be a massive coup. When asked for comment, Erie County Democratic Committee Chairman Len Lenihan said, “There are always informal discussions locally and in Albany over issues like this, but nothing formal or direct has happened. I have not spoken with Senator Grisanti about this.” Lenihan continued, “Senator Grisanti was a lifelong Democrat until this past election and he is now a hero in this party after voting his conscience.”

The stakes are high for a first term Senator who earned praise not only for his marriage equality vote but for his entire body of work during his first year. An independent report done by the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) shows Grisanti was one of the state’s busiest and most effective lawmakers, according to a recently released study of legislation that passed this session in both the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly.

Grisanti sponsored a total of 103 bills and had 23 pass both houses ranking him 8th out of the 212 combined members who represent the state in the Senate and Assembly. These 23 bills also placed him 7th in terms of numbers of bills passed by senators. Grisanti passed the most bills of any first term senator or Assembly member. He also is the only first-year legislator among the list of 10 who passed at least 20 bills, with the other nine who made the list having served in office for at least five terms.

It seems to me that the battle for Senator Grisanti is just getting started. “The situation is ripe for discussion and Senator Grisanti essentially holds the majority for the Republicans in the State Senate.” said Lenihan.

To be continued…

Listen to Nick Mendola live on weekdays from noon-3 p.m.

Hour One: Nick discusses the financial crisis in the country and sees blame on both sides, Nathan Gerbe’s new contract with the Sabres and the movie career of Haley Joel Osment.
Download audio file (062911nick01.mp3)
6/29/11 Nick Mendola Hour One

Hour Two: Nick shares his “A-Ha Moment,” touches on the impact of Elvis Presley and Sun Records, looks at the health care legal debate, and gives a bit of a free agent preview.

Download audio file (062911nick02.mp3)
6/29/11 Nick Mendola Hour Two

Nick will be on the air Friday at noon when NHL free agency opens up. Join in for a live chat starting at 10 a.m. here.

Terry Pegula, who purchased the Sabres from Tom Golisano about four months ago, officially became the new owner of the Amerks on Wednesday. His ownership group will close on the deal Thursday.

Thirty-five years ago, Peter Frampton released a live album, one that would come to define its era, at the same time making Frampton a massive star.

The  Inaugural Lord Bedlington Cup Football (Soccer) Match and cup presentation is tonight, June 29, at 6:30 p.m. The match will highlight the Bedlington football club's week long visit to Western New York, which also will include youth soccer clinics conducted by players from Bedlington and FC Buffalo earlier this week and with the Terriers and Niagara United in Niagara Falls, Canada on July 2.

Tonight's match will be held at  Robert E. Rich Sr. All-High Stadium, 2885 Main Street, behind Bennett High School.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 kids ages 14 and under.  Tickets can be purchased at RER All-High Stadium.

The Bedlington Football Club's visit to Western New York was conceived by Bob Rich, Jr., Chairman, Rich Products Corporation and Bison Baseball Inc., who became interested in Bedlington and its football club in 2010 after tracing his ancestral roots back to the town.

Parent Talk

July 2011 Topics

Weekly Radio Show on Hometown 1230-AM WECK

Saturdays at 8AM

July 2 – Risks to Kids From Sun Exposure & Tanning Beds — Studies suggest that many children are at higher risk of skin cancer because of less than optimal sunscreen use, high rates of sun burning and tanning bed use.  Many states have banned the use of tanning beds by children under 18 – a move supported by the World Health Organization which has classified tanning beds as carcinogenic.  Ilene Rothman, MD, chief of pediatric dermatology at Women and Children’s Hospital; staff physician, Dept. of Dermatology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute; and assistant professor of dermatology, chief of pediatric dermatology training at SUNY at Buffalo discusses the risks to kids from tanning and offer suggestions on how to protect children from ultraviolet exposure.

July 9 – Understanding Juvenile Diabetes – Each year, more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S.  For this show, we’ll learn the symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes and discuss warning signs, checking blood sugar levels, diabetes control and management, and how to help children cope with the disease.  Parent Talk guest will be Karen A. Swierski, Executive Director, WNY Chapter, Juvenile Diabetes Research Association.  .

July 16 – “You’re Pregnant, Now What?”  — For this show, we’ll talk with renowned pediatrician and author Dr. Ari Brown about when to tell relatives and friends you’re pregnant, cut out bad habits, start prenatal vitamins, select a practitioner and schedule an appointment.  We’ll also discuss red flags that would indicate you should see your doctor right away.   

July 23 – Does Your Child Have An Eating Disorder? — Eating disorders in children and teens cause serious changes in eating habits that can lead to major, even life threatening health problems. This show will look at warning signs and offer advice on how to respond and who to contact if you fear your child has an eating disorder.  We’ll explore the three main types of eating disorders Anorexia, refusal to eat adequate calories out of an intense and irrational fear of becoming fat; Bulimia, grossly overeating (binging) and then purging the food by vomiting or using laxatives to prevent weight gain; and Binge eating, gorging rapidly on food, but without purging.

July 30 – The Circumcision Decision – Expecting a baby boy and trying to decide whether the foreskin should stay or go? Then tune into this Parent Talk show as we talk about the pros and cons of circumcision.   Circumcision continues to be a subject of debate among parents and even some pediatricians. Once considered routine in the U.S., more and more parents are weighing their options rather than subjecting their infant to a surgical procedure.

George Booth III sells barbecue equipment at Adventures in Heat, but the advice is free.

A Washington lawyer accused by Buffalo casino opponents of unethical conduct fired back Tuesday

With a the now focus on wooing filmmakers to shoot in NYS, there are some in the local film community who are chomping at the bit to get organized, so that when the industry does look at Buffalo, we are prepped to participate. Often times studios can't rely on the cities that they embark upon, unless they are assured that there are enough resources to rely upon. Buffalo's Film Commission is just a piece of the puzzle, securing film gigs, scouting locations, etc.

When it comes to the local film community, there are plenty of actors, directors, producers, set designers, editors, writers, equipment and tech resources, animation wizards, film scorers, costume makers, food trucks, etc. who are willing to jump in to create a professional film package, or fill the gaps where needed. Many of these seasoned Buffalo pros like Peter McGennis and Justin Sammarco (aka Justin Ocrammas) have been living and working here for years, while others such as Jeff Wilber and Wildcat Christi are new to the scene and are looking to connect. We can't forget about the fresh grads on the street, looking for gigs in their hometown - we need to catch them before they flee to another city.

I recently connected with a guy named Garrett Vorreuter (photo left) who has his heart set on helping to wrangle together anyone who is interested in becoming part of something more organized. We talked about proximity to NYC and Toronto, the recent buzz in local indie films and festivals, and the need for collaboration to be of some assistance to the film commission. The Buffalo Cinematic Trust would tap into resources such as Squeaky Wheel, regional colleges and universities, and any other established entity in tune with anything film related.

This may be a large undertaking, but if you talk to anyone in the local film industry, they will tell you that there is a disconnect when it comes to sourcing resources. If you're new to Buffalo where do you event start? If you've been living in Buffalo, you might be jaded. Regardless of your station, your bent or your outlook, we would like to invite you to join us for an evening of networking at The Back Room located behind Hardware on Wednesday July 6th at 6pm.

The Back Room @ Hardware 245 Allen Street, Buffalo NY (716) 882-8843

Message from Garrett:  

Buffalo is not Hollywood, and that's a good thing. In the past those who wanted to make movies or be an actor thought it was necessary to move to places like LA or NYC, where the film industry existed. Consider that the stone age of modern movie making. Now with the development of digital technologies, which replaced the skill sets of what were trained professionals, makers are able to do more with less and in ways Hollywood would never dream achievable.

With the decentralization of the film industry, Buffalo like many other cities could potentially develop itself into a hotbed for the next generation of modern moviemakers, by embracing the digital wave as it unfolds upon us. This sort of a development of a "hot bed for digital cinema production," would require more than just a community of local film and video makers. What it requires is awareness, acclaim and a critical lens to illuminate the local makers, their achievements and the development of a model of behavior for others making work in this city (to learn and succeed from). Buffalo, like any other city looking to achieve this, can't do it with only one local maker, making something great. For instance, Vincent Gallo made Buffalo 66, which saw a great deal of acclaim and in itself could have served as the original step towards turning Buffalo into a city where the film industry is embraced. However it takes more than just one Vincent Gallo and their individual acclaims to achieve this. There needs to be a follow up by other local makers, who create work that will gain acclaim, and thus bring attention back to the City as a place for makers to achieve this. This is what's needed to create a positive model of behavior for makers to feed and grow from as part of the local film and video making community.

In creating a local community of makers that will work together to promote the city as a developing hotbed for the new wave of digital filmmaking... we can go ahead and skip the step that normally brings attention to a city by means of an individual's work receiving accolades and attention. Instead we could move ahead by coming together as a working collaborative community, creating a mutually beneficial model of behavior: for makers to learn and feed off of, as they grow, develop and create their own work individually. Inevitably over time one of these local makers will arise to create a locally made work, which will be good enough to receive some sort of acclaim. This is good, that's what was intended in creating a collaborative community that not only helps, but also challenges its local makers to create the kind of work that will bring attention from outside the city's community. But just like the case of Mr. Gallo and his film Buffalo 66, there needs to be another (preferably many others) who goes on to create work that will receive accolades and acclaim in order to direct a critical lens on to Buffalo as a hot bed - not only for Buffalonians- but for the larger new wave of modern American cinema production.

Please join us on Wednesday July 6!
 

It had appeared that a restaurant on the waterfront was on the verge of opening this summer. Now, it appears that might happen next year -- or not at all.

Aides to Gov. Cuomo say he will veto a bill that would allow school districts to borrow as much as $1 billion, to cover pension contributions.

More than half the students in Buffalo public high schools were absent 18 or more days last year.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says 18-year-old Zachary Wadding died Tuesday while swimming with friends. Deputies said Wadding and three friends jumped off a cliff into the water at Ripley Beach just before 8 p.m. Tuesday.