Check the concert schedule for this summers events!
In a game without meaning in the International League standings, Justin Turner ensured that the 10,007 fans on hand in Rochester to see Monday’s season finale against Buffalo would remember his name.
With a triple to lead off the eighth inning, Turner completed the cycle, becoming the first Triple-A Bisons player to do so since April [...]
The Obama administration has bailed out Detroit. They’ve bailed out Wall Street. And now they’re finally bailing out something I agree with: Route 66.
Over the long weekend, a plan was unveiled for the first large-scale upgrade to our nation’s infrastructure in over 50 years. It’s something I’ve been calling for for years.
Granted, there was some infrastructure in the president’s stimulus bill last year, but not nearly as much as their should have been. This new proposal aims to spend at least $50 billion on refurbishing roads, railways and airports.
Anyone who spends any time in their car in Western New York knows all-too-well that we need new roads. We need new bridges. And we simply need better ways to get from point A to point B.
The six year plan is designed to rebuilding 150,000 miles of roads; 4,000 miles of railways, and 150 miles of airport runways. It also calls for a new air navigation system to get us to our destinations faster.
While the stimulus package put money in people’s pockets, this proposal fixes problems that have stood for far too long while doing the same.
Of course, as much sense as this makes to me, there are people who hate the idea. Before the plan was even formally announced, I was hearing the typical response from the ultra right-wing faction of this greatly-divided nation: No.
I’ve always maintained the the best government is the least government. I despise government intrusion into our lives. For the most part, I tend to think that – individually – we can take care of ourselves.
There are, however, certain things that we must do collectively. And for those things, government is a necessity. One of the big ones on that list of things that must be done collectively is transportation infrastructure.
Could you imagine if we were all required to pave the portion of road in front of our homes? It would be an unsafe, nonuniform roughshod mess.
It makes much more sense to have government do it for us and bill us in the form of taxes.
There are some who would say that transportation infrastructure should be the responsibility of the states. Again I say, “phooey.” It would still be a nonuniform roughshod mess, just on a grander scale. And, frankly, there are some states that simply couldn’t afford it. Not to mention, with the number of tourists and visitors we get throughout New York State, why should they be exempt from picking up part of the tab on fixing our roads?
It seems like when the federal government leaves the states to figure things out, this state then passes that burden onto the counties. In that case, we’d have our counties trying to improve our infrastructure.Niagara and Erie County have some of the highest property taxes in the country. And I trust them even less than I trust the state – which is saying a lot. So the thought of them being charged with building roads – let alone bridges and runways – scares the heck out of me.
I’m not saying that the federal government will do it flawlessly, but it will be better than the states could do. And certainly better than the nothing we’ve been doing for decades.
Americans are known to rise to the occasion to help those around the world who are in crisis. Following the devastating floods in Pakistan, there is a new opportunity to make a difference. Our Kaitlyn Lionti tells us about a local effort that’s calling on Western New Yorkers to do just that.
This special benefit sale & auction is taking place Friday evening at the WNY Book Arts Center - an auction will be held featuring several rare broadsides culled from the collection of White Pine Press. The lots include signed, limited-edition works by famous poets such as Robert Creeley, Diane DiPrima, Denise Levertov, Jerome Rothenberg, David St. John, Jane Hirshfield, among others. Titled The Art of the Broadside, the show and auction will include broadsides from up to 40 years ago, including many with vintage illustrations by Buffalo artist Michael Morgulis.
The broadside as a medium dates back to the 1600s when proclamations were posted in public spaces. The broadside has evolved in recent years to become a venue for collaborative limited-edition prints, evoking the historical legacy of the tangible object made with deliberate care. Often printed with letterpress, silkscreen, or other labor intensive methods and signed by the poets, broadsides can range from a very affordable piece of art to highly collectible works.
Many of the broadsides are hard to find items, and nearly all the items up for auction are signed by the poet. About a dozen lots will be offered in a live auction Friday night and another set of items are listed in a concurrent auction on eBay. In addition to the items up for auction, there will be many other broadsides at set-sale prices starting at $10 a piece. Hundreds of broadsides will be on view for those who'd simply like to peruse the unique and diverse art form.
The auction and sale will take place Friday September 10th during a wine and cheese reception from 7-10pm. The live auction will take place at 8:30pm. The broadsides for sale can be previewed at the Book Arts Center on Wednesday and Thursday September 8 & 9 during gallery hours from 12-6pm. Space is limited but may be reserved online
It’s only on paper and certainly not official, but if you’re a Buffalo Bills fan hoping rookie C.J. Spiller will see plenty of action in his first regular season NFL game, it looks promising.
Bills.com has listed the “unofficial” team depth chart. Sitting first on the list of running backs is Spiller. Both Fred Jackson and [...]
Fire damaged a home in Buffalo’s Lovejoy District and sent one man and two firefighters to the hospital. The fire broke out on the second floor of a rental property that has three tenants.
This Labor Day many are focusing on Western New York’s work force. YNN’s Nicki Mayo reports a recent rise in the national unemployment rate is making many workers nervous about the local job outlook.
The fourth annual Fleet Feet 15K run took stride Monday through downtown Buffalo. The race will benefit Shoes on Students (S.O.S).
The Bills have continued to scour the league to try and make their (practice) roster the best it can be. The Bills signed WR Paul Hubbard and LB John Russell to the practice squad.
According to buffalobills.com, Hubbard, 25, is a 6′2″ 225 pound receiver who was drafted in the 6th round by the Cleveland Browns in 2008. He was on the Browns’ practice squad that season and on the Raiders’ practice squad last season. The Raiders cut him this year, but the Bills are intrigued by his prototypical size.
Russell, 23, is an OLB that is listed at 6′4″ 280 lbs. on the Bills’ web site. On his nfl.com player profile, he is listed at 6′3″ 260. He was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Wake Forest, who has already gone from the Packers to the Chiefs, and now the Bills. He is making the unique transition from college defensive tackle to professional outside linebacker. I suppose guys like this are the reason practice squads are available. If he’s playing OLB, I hope that nfl.com has the right weight on him.
I'm pissed you got sacked, but I didn't tweet about it
In former Bills news, QB Levi Brown recently tweeted his displeasure for not being invited to the Bills’ practice squad. Brown posted, “NEVER woulda guessed id be in this position right now. Not even a practice squad invite. i’ve now officially gone from surprised to pissed!”
I’d expect Levi to be pissed, but I don’t know that I’d expect him to tweet it. Listen Levi, you’re a 7th-round draft pick from Troy, I hope you didn’t get a sense of entitlement because you felt teams were falling all over themselves to acquire you. The Bills still have available spots on their practice squad, and I don’t think this tweet should affect his chances to make it. Maybe some humble pie for a guy who completed just 15 of 30 passes for 130 yards, with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the preseason against third and fourth string players, was just what Levi needed. Maybe he’ll be a capable NFL QB someday, but for a project player who has proved nothing, he should realize he has to earn everything he can get at this point. Bills’ fans have no reason to doubt Gailey’s evaluations so far. Good luck Levi; work hard, tweet less, and maybe you can be the next Tom Brady (but probably not).
Monday evening at 7 p.m. EST, competitors will converge both live and on the information superhighway to wage battle in the Fantasy Athletics International League. You can come watch the fun at Hucklebuckets in Northtown Plaza in Amherst, N.Y., or follow along online as the players are selected.
Here’s the link to watch the draft unfold.
Categories:
NFL (5):
QB — rotisserie — Yds, TD
RB — rotisserie — Yds, TD
WR — rotisserie — Rec, Yds, TD
DEF — rotisserie — yards allowed, points allowed, turnovers, TD
Team — Finish via draft order
NBA (4):
Three players — Pts + Asst + Reb
Team — Finish via draft order
NHL (5):
Two players — Goals
Defense — Points
Goalie — rotisserie — Wins, GAA, save percentage
Team — Finish via draft order
EPL (2):
Player — Goals
Team — Finish in standings
College football (2):
BCS team (ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, PAC-10) — Finish in year-end poll
Non-BCS team — rotisserie — Wins w/ year-end poll ranking as tie-breaker No. 1, bowl-win margin No. 2
College basketball (2):
Major conference team (ACC, SEC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, PAC-10) — Final round of tourney*
Mid-major — Final round of tourney*
*tie-breakers: No tourney? Wins. Same round of tourney? Wins.
Buy-in: A sports-related prize whose purchase prices total at least $20. For example, a football signed by Desmond Howard and UB coach Jeff Quinn may be my submission.
Transactions: Owners are not-allowed to change any of the teams they draft. As for individual players, they may make one roster move in-season per category.