Challenger Community News

B U F F A L O

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February 1, 2024 | FREE | Community News

The New

MASTERS Healing Buffalo Through The Arts Page 8 Rochester’s Kiara Warren: Young History-Maker Is A First!

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1000 BLACK PASTORS CALL FOR CEASE-FIRE Page 4

Remembering Jimmy Page 9

Humboldt Parkway/ 33 Expressway Town Hall Meeting!

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Policing Buffalo’s Police: Who Has The Authority? Page 10

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Challenger Community News • February 1, 2024

Rochester Black Arts Kiara Warren Makes History as Child Council Black History Care Council’s First Black Board Chair Month Events Begin

JOIN THE BLACK POWER MARKETPLACE!

INSIDE ROCHESTER

ROCHESTER, N.Y., – Kiara Warren has been elected to serve as chair of the Child Care Council Inc. board of directors.

Warren is the first African American and youngest board chair in the Council’s history, and her threeyear term as chair started Jan. 1, 2024. A member of the board since 2017, she most recently served as vice president.

Kiara Warren

The Rochester Black Arts Council is commemorating Black History throughout the month, opening with the exhibit: “The Harvest: White Supremacy in BlackFace.” The show, which will feature 10 artists from Rochester and Buffalo, opens Thursday, February 1 with a free reception.

The Black Power Marketplace is now once a month. Join this collective process building stores, shops and business together as one community.

On February 4 from 11-4p.m. this showcase of business of all kinds will be held at 803 West Avenue . This is FREE to the public. The fee for vendors is $50 for food vendors, $35 for adult merchandise vendors and $20 for youth vendors.

Register TODAY! Set up is at 10 a.m. We ask that folks bring their own tables (we can provide them if truly needed) and provide items for a raffle. All other questions or concerns can be addressed to this email as well!

“It is an honor to be elected by the board to serve Child Care Council as chair, said Kiara Warren. “I have enjoyed being part Additional programming of the board guiding the Council as it transitions from a referral through the month will agency to a more holistic organization that helps families and include: advocates for improvements to the child care system. I look forward to working with board members, Council leadership •February 3rd Sip and Paint - tea and butter tasting . We Weland staff to further this transition and to continue expanding come from Buffalo New York Paint The Town CEO & Rochprogram offerings.” ester's own Holistic practitioners and health connoisseurs Sama Sesay of Naturally Nique LLC, Aboriginal Brother Imhotep “I am excited to continue working with Kiara on the board in from B+Healthy Fresh Food Market, and Larry Red Eye Rabbit her new leadership role,” said Child Care Council CEO Jeff of Red Eyes Rabbit Tea & Herbs who will provide guest with Pier. “Kiara is a forward-thinking, innovative young profes- different natural healing techniques and products to optimize sional who brings strategic thinking, great perspective and your health journey. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 585communications expertise to our board.”

770-8487 •February 14th- A night of Black love Kiara Warren serves as a public relations associate at the Uni- •February 16/17 - One woman stage play by Kristan Kupid versity of Rochester Medical Center’s Golisano Children’s Sandford Hospital. In this role, she is a lead writer and develops and publishes content and communications programs for internal and February 23rd- THE COLexternal audiences. Prior to that, she was executive assistant to ORED MUSEUM the Commissioner, City of Rochester’s Department of Recre- 3 skits will be performed with ation and Human Services. a plethora of musical performances.

Ms. Warren is working toward earning a master’s degree in •February 24th - WE PAY Communication Management from Syracuse University, and HOMAGE and childrens day she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications: Advertising and Public Relations from RIT. She resides in the city of •February 28th- TBA Rochester’s 19th Ward.

-About Child Care Council Inc._ Founded in 1972, Child Care Council Inc. (childcarecouncil.com) •February 29th- Closing is a comprehensive parent-referral, adult-education and communi- ceremonies with community ty-resource agency working to improve the quality of child care. A wide forum hosted by The New York State Standards of Excellence agency, the Council pro- Rochester Black Arts Council, vides information, training and resources to child care providers, tic,"How Do We Repair Our parents and businesses in Monroe, Wayne and Livingston counties. Nation?" Community activThe nonprofit agency offers coordinated services to support child ist, author and educator Howcare programs, including a professional library, referral services, ard J. Eagle will be honored. free notary public, fingerprinting waivers and reduced-cost business services. Photo:City of Rochester Bureau of Communications

Register Your business today at COMMUNITYJUSTICEINITIATIVE@GMAIL.COM

T H E B L AC K ST U D E N TS U N I O N AT E A ST M A N PRESENTS A BLACK HISTORY MONTH RECITAL:

A Brighter Day M O N DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 2 KILBOURN HALL | 7:30 PM PERFORMERS INCLUDE: M. Jerome Bell | Dykeem Cervantes | Jafrè Chase | Nathan Clarke | Alexander Diaz Lauren Edwards | Justice Freeman | Jarett Jean Jacques (JR) | Daniel Mach-Holt Wynter McCray | Myles Meader | Lorenzo Monk | Arthur Nyanfor | Alexis Prescott Weverton Santos | Kayla Sconiers | Lauren Smith | Nyla Thomas | Holden Turner | Miles Woods WITH: Dr. Alison d’Amato | Abigail Hanna | Cole Hannon | Vincent Li Sam Schaeffer | Gregory Smith

GEORGE WALKER CENTER FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN MUSIC

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Challenger Community News •February 1, 2024

Humboldt Parkway/33 Expressway Project Is Topic of Upcoming Town Hall Meeting: Dr. Doyle Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Elected State Officials Invited to Attend "Eye On History" Column T AREA BRIEFS

Columnist, Educator, and Historian Dr. Eva M. Doyle is celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the column Eye On History. Dr. Doyle has written over 4,000 articles on African and African American History without interruption for the past 45 years. The Column Eye On History began in the Challenger in 1979 and it continues today in the Criterion.

Dr. Doyle is a retired Buffalo teacher with 30 years classroom experience known for teaching Black History from September to June. She is the author of 13 books. Her column will appear in the Buffalo News every Sunday in February.

Dr. Doyle's goal is to write more books and articles to educate the entire Western New York area and beyond. She says: To God Be the Glory" for His many Blessings!

PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING

Buffalo Public School 82 Early Childhood Center announces its intent to apply to have the name of the school changed from Early Childhood Center PS 82; to The Ronald Peoples School of Scholars. A Public Comment Meeting will be held on February 15, 2024 at PS 82, located at 230 Easton Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215 at 5:00 PM in the school auditorium.

Questions and comments regarding this notice may be directed to: Dr. Tracie-Michele A Lewis, Principal Buffalo Public School 82 230 Easton Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 Phone: (716) 816-4070

he Eastside Collaborative Partnership is hosting an important Town Hall meeting Friday, February 9 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Merriweather Library.

The community is invited to hear concerns about health issues, air From left: Assemblywoman People-Stokes, Senator Kennedy, Gov. quality, public engagement Hochul. and to ask questions of our elected state representatives relating to the Humboldt Parkway/33 Expressway Project.

Invited guests include NYS Gov. Kathy Hochul, NYS Sen. Timothy Kennedy and NYS Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes.

A video presentation titled "In Our Own Voices," a collection of recollections and life experiences by former and current residents, will be shown at the beginning of the event.

The Town Hall is being hosted by The Eastside Collaborative Partnership and is sponsored by East Side Parkways Coalition, We Are Women Warriors, Covington Consulting Associates, Jes Breathe Cancer Awareness Group, Stop The Violence Coalition, WNY Peace Center, and the Harriet Tubman Holiday Committee.

For more information, call 716-430-1158 or 716-602-5877.

Remaining Awake: Why I Support Removal of NY Route 33 Kensington Expressway

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By Sherry Sherrill

he question of whether or not the New York State Department of Transportation's Route 33 Kensington Expressway Project, in its current version, is actually a “win” for Black Buffalo, will be determined by the majority opinion of East Side Buffalo community residents. Some of us are Humboldt Parkway neighborhood residents, or residents of nearby and adjacent neighborhoods.

The facts surrounding the expressway’s construction, and its under-explored negative impacts, as well as its selection for a mega-project budget in this generation, are needed. Here, are a few: •Route 33 Kensington Expressway was not constructed for East Side Community Residents' sake.

•It was forced on a generation of us , and many Black home buyers didn't know it was going to be built.

•Humboldt Parkway, before then, looked like a central city park reaching all the way to Delaware Park.

•MLK Park's greenspace used to extend to Delaware Park, and also to Cazenovia Park, in South Buffalo.

•The Kensington Expressway's construction destroyed Humboldt Parkway's trees, and its greenspace.

•The Federal Government built similarly invasive expressways, all across urban America: deliberately.

•Over 30 urban cities have already removed, or are studying removal of, their 1950s era highways.

•Studies have proven that living near a high-speed highway, like The 33, can make people sick.

•Humboldt Parkway Neighborhood Households report that their persons did contract such Illnesses.

•A May 27, 2021 New York Times article listed Route 33, as: “under official Removal Study.”

•NYSDOT has not presented our East Side Buffalo Community, any Removal Study.

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Carter G. Woodson: Founder Of Black History Month Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week in 1926, chosen in the second week of February between the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, which evolved into Black History Month in 1976.

Dr. Woodson, known for writing the contributions of Black Americans into the national spotlight, received a Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1912.

He founded the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH) in 1915 and founded the Journal of Negro History in 1916 Historian Carter G. Woodson was born to poor, yet land-owning, former slaves in New Canton, Virginia on December 19, 1875.

In the early 1900s, he taught Black youth in West Virginia.

From late 1903 until early 1907, Woodson worked in the Philippines under the auspices of the US War Department. Woodson then traveled to Africa, Asia, and Europe and briefly attended the Sorbonne in Paris, France In 1933, he published The MisEducation of the Negro. Though he wrote, coauthored, and/or edited more than twenty books, this is his

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Challenger Community News • February 1, 2024

1,000 Black Pastors Call for Cease-Fire in Gaza!

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coalition of 1,000 Black pastors warn President Biden meetings with the White House, the pastors reportedly put that ignoring their calls for a cease-fire could cost him Democrats in Washington on notice about where they stand the Black Vote. on the issue.

Black faith leaders from around the country are calling That frustration is even more concerning, considerfor an end to the Israel-Gaza ing some Black voters are war with an urgent message “We see them as a part of us,” Rev. Cynthia Hale, questioning what the adto President Joe Biden and founder and senior pastor of Ray of Hope ministration has done for Democratic leadership that Christian Church in Decatur, Ga. explained. “They are them and have considered inaction could cost them oppressed people. We are oppressed people.” throwing their support beBlack voters. hind a Republican nominee.

According to The New York Times, a coalition of 1,000 Recent polling from The New York Times and Siena ColBlack pastors has launched a multi-tiered effort on behalf lege showed that Black support for President Trump was at of their congregations, calling for a cease-fire and the re- 22 percent in six battleground states, a stat that could make lease of Palestinian hostages in Gaza. In a letters, ads and Biden’s reelection campaign even more challenging.

“Black faith leaders are extremely disappointed in the Biden administration on this issue,” Rev. Timothy McDonald, the senior pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta, told The New York Times. “We are afraid. And we’ve talked about it — it’s going to be very hard to persuade our people to go back to the polls and vote for Biden.”

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As the death toll passes 25,000, Black Pastors continue pressure for Biden to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, release of ALL hostages, humanitarian aid and lasting peace in the Middle East.

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Challenger Community News •February 1, 2024

BUSINESS NEWS

East Buffalo Development Corp. Announces Kickoff of The 890 Housing Development

East Buffalo Development Corp. (EBDC) held the kickoff of the construction planning of The 890, a mix-use housing development to be located on Kensington Avenue near Bailey on the first day of Black History Month, Thursday, February 1. Check in begins at 1:30 p.m.; meeting time from 2-4 p.m. at Kideney Architects, Grand Conference Room, 143 Genesee Street.

Proprietors, Anita and John Sanders are leading The 890 development with a community-driven mindset.

Mrs. Sanders, CEO of Woodruff Enterprises, graduated from the Eastside Avenues Community-Based Real Estate Training Program and the CPC Access Incubator.

Upon graduation, Anita has worked diligently to bring her vision to life. Mrs. Sanders is a licensed realtor, entrepreneur, eastside property

Anita Sanders

owner, and has served our community as a Transit Police Lieutenant.

Applications Are Still Being Accepted For The City Of Buffalo Small Business Assistance Grants Applications are still being accepted for the City of Buffalo Small Business Assistance Grants to help small minority businesses within the City of Buffalo recover from impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The grant, up to $25,000, is available to eligible applicants with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. Additionally each business will be matched with customized technical assistance.

Eligibility Applicants must: •Be the principal (majority owner) of a small business in Buffalo •Own a small business in one of the 9 Council Districts of Buffalo •Have been in operation prior to January 1, 2021 •Be in operation at the time of application

•Have 50 or fewer full time equivalent (FTE) employees •Have had between $35,000 and $1,500,000 in annual revenue in fiscal years 2021 or 2022 •Have experienced economic or financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other economic factors •Agree to participate in tech-

nical assistance offered by a partner organization •Not be an ineligible business TO APPLY VISIT: https:// ndc.smapply.io/prog/bufalo_small_business_assistance_program_/ Or for more Information email Buffalosmallbusinessgrants @growamerica.org

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Challenger Community News • February 1, 2024

HEALTH MATTERS

Carfentanil

An Opioid 100 Times More Potent Than Fentanyl Is Here!

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he Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the first Erie County opioid-related overdose death linked to carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is about 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. The death occurred this past September. " Carfentanil’s effects hit faster and last longer than fentanyl.The discovery of this toxic and incredibly dangerous drug signals another phase in the opioid epidemic,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. Veterinarians generally use it to anesthetize large animals like elephants for surgery or medical treatment. Carfentanil is added to cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other illicit drugs as a cheap, easy to obtain filler substance.

Narcan (naloxone) will work to reverse the effects of carfentanil exposure. However, because of its extreme potency, higher doses or more doses of naloxone may be required to get a person breathing again.

Fentanyl test strips are available for people who use drugs to test for the presence of fentanyl. No test is 100% accurate.

Fentanyl test strips do not indicate which type of fentanyl or fentanyl-analog, like carfentanil, is present, nor do they indicate the concentration or potency.

People who use any drugs, especially people who use cocaine, should expect that their drugs contain opioids that could cause an overdose – now possibly including carfentanil – stop them from breathing, and lead to death. Cocaine contaminated with fentanyl has contributed to about 75% – three out of four – opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023.

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) offers harm reduction supplies and peer support – call (716) 8.

58-7695.

Mind Cleansing Other ways to reduce the risk Meditation of harm from drug use: • Carry Narcan, and I Cleanse My Mind know how and when to use it. Text (716) 225-5473 to All that has offended me have Narcan and fentanyl I forgive. test strips mailed to you for free.

Within and without, • Never use alone. Have I forgive.

Narcan and a friend with you who is not using drugs, or Things past, things present, contact a service like Never things future, I forgive.

Use Alone (neverusealone. com) I forgive everything and • Test your drugs for feneverybody who can tanyl even if you think it is possibly need forgiveness cocaine or another substance of the past or present, that is not an opioid. Free I forgive test strips available from the positively everyone.

Erie County Department of Health. Call (716) 858-7695.

I am free and they are free • Seek support. ECDOH too. All things are cleared has peer navigators and a up between us now and family coordinator; call forever.

(716) 858-7695. The Buffalo & Erie County Addictions I now let go of worn out Hotline is available 24/7. things, worn out conditions Call (716) 831-7007. worn out relationships.

• Seek treatment. Local hospital emergency departDivine order is now ments can connect patients established and maintained to immediate medication in me and in my world. assisted treatment. Ask for MATTERS Network.

Photo of the first class in this series held Januay 22 captured by Through His Lens Photography.

Health & Wellness Boxing Session A Reimagine I am The Change Event Health & Wellness Boxing Session will be held February 1 from 7 -9p.m. at the Bombsquad Academy Center (The FLARE Center), 307 Leroy Street. It’s a safe space for youth and men to learn some lessons on boxing and wellness. Thanks to our partners Say Yes Buffalo and Breaking Barriers, Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN) Fatherhood Initiative is offering this safe space for men and boys of color to address mental wellness and to promote the mental, spiritual, and physical health of fathers, boys, and young men of color in the City of Buffalo.

Additional dates are February 15 and February 22nd at 7p.m.

F o r g i ve n e s s : Yo u r Health Depends on It Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may realize—it may be affecting your physical health.

The good news: Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress. And research points to an increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age.

“There is an enormous physical burden to being hurt and disappointed,” says Karen Swartz, M.D., director of the Mood Disorders Adult Consultation Clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Chronic anger puts you into a fightor-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health. (excerpt from hopkinsmedicine.org)

Say Yes Little Scholars Expands to Eight Classrooms Beginning for the 2024-2025 school year, the youngest students in Buffalo will have more options for a full-day school program. Say Yes Little Scholars, a free pre-K program for three-year-olds in partnership with Buffalo Public Schools is adding two more classrooms, one at PS #97 Harvey Austin School and one at PS #30 Frank Sedita Academy.

As no transportation is provided by the program, all eight locations are in areas without many child care options, and four of the locations serve the East Side. Designed with working parents in mind, the program is located throughout the city and includes longer school hours and a six-week summer program.

If you or someone you know would like to find more information on the program and find the eligibility screener which begins the enrollment process, head to www.sayyeslittlescholars.org.

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Challenger Community News •February 1, 2024

African American Veterans Arts and Culture and Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post No. 24 Black History Month Series

The African American Veterans Arts and Culture Corporation in Collaboration with the Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post No. 24 will present the following 2024 Black History Month Series “African Americans in the Arts” All exhibits take place in the Foyer of the Merriweather, Branch Library,1324 Jefferson at E. Utica during regular business hours.

Week I “The Art of Photography”Exhibit Thursday February 1Saturday February 3 Week 2 “Art of the Ride” Exhibit Sunday February 4-Thursday, February 8 . Discussion With Edwin Gadson and Display 4-5 p.m. Feb. 8 library auditorium Light Refreshments Week 3 “The Art of Tattoos” Exhibit Sunday February11-Thursday, February 15 Discussion and Display 5-7p.m. Feb. 15 library auditorium. Light Refreshments available Week 4 The Art of Self Defense and Physical Fitness Exhibit Tuesday, Feb.20- Sunday, Feb. 25 Discussion and Display12-1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25

Malcolm Rankin Jeter’s Art of Photography In honor of Black History Month the African American Ve t e r a n s Arts and Culture Corporation, in collaboration with the Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post No. 24, proudly presents "The Art of Photography" by renowned photographer Malcolm Rankin Jeter. This captivating exhibition, the first in a series, will be hosted at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch Library from February 1 to February 3.

Malcolm discovered his passion for photography within the walls of ECC. His camera became a bridge, encapsulating the stories and faces that made Buffalo a vibrant tapestry of life.

Taking a leap of faith, Jeter emerged as an burgeoning entrepreneur, establishing his own photography business, RBG Real Business Gallery.

The Niagara Movement Civil Rights Documentary

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he WNED PBS original "The Niagara Movement: The Early Battle for Civil Rights," an engrossing documentary capturing the conflict between three national Black leaders at the turn of the 20th century over the pathway to Black liberation, will premiere during Black History Month on Monday, February 12, at 8 p.m. on WORLD. The film shines a spotlight on the fight pitting sociologist W.E.B Du Bois and Boston newspaper publisher William Monroe Trotter against educator and orator Booker T. Washington, then the de facto leader of Black America.

The Niagara Movement will also be distributed to public television stations around the country by American Public Television beginning February 1.

The hour-long film immerses viewers in the conflict between three prominent Black leaders in the early days of the 1900s.

While Washington had called the idea of social equality for African-Americans “folly” and urged Blacks “to learn to dignify and glorify common labour,” the repressive Jim Crow laws and widespread lynching that sprung up at the end of Reconstruction pressed Du Bois and Trotter to oppose Washington’s conciliatory tact. The duo helped summon Black intellectuals, clergy, writers, newspapermen and activists from across the country to Buffalo, New York, to plan next steps. To avert disruption

by Washington’s supporters, the group of 29 men ultimately met across the Niagara River in Fort Erie, Canada, where they formed a national crusade called The Niagara Movement which called for full rights for African Americans.

The short-lived movement — named to evoke the power of the nearby Niagara Falls and the “mighty current” of protest they hoped to generate — set the tone for the modern American civil rights movement and inspired the formation of the NAACP. Encore presentations on WORLD will air on Tuesday, February 13, at 1 a.m. and again at 9 a.m. ; and on Sunday, February 18, at 5 a.m. EST. The Niagara Movement can currently be streamed on Buffalo Toronto Public Media’s YouTube Channel, the PBS app and theniagaramovement.org. The film, which premiered in November on WNED PBS, will re-air on the station on Friday, Feb. 9, at 10 p.m.

Art of the Ride

Celebrating Equine Therapy Advocate Edwin Gadson In celebration of Black History Month' the African American Veterans Arts and Culture Corporation, in partnership with the Johnetta R. Cole AMVETS Post No. 24, proudly hosts "Art of the Ride" at the Merriweather Library from February 4 to February 8.

Edwin Gadson, a decorated military veteran with 16 distinguished years in the US Navy Submarine Service, has become a prominent figure in advocating for the healing power of equine therapy. Gadson's journey is one of resilience, compassion, and dedication.

Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Will Feature “Stories to Tell: 2024 Black History Month Talks" The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor will host free Black History Month talks on Wednesdays during the month of February from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Merriweather Library, Jefferson @ East Utica Street .

•Wednesday, February 7 the talks kick off with “Uncovering the History of the Underground Railroad in Central New York.” Professor Gerard Aching will be the guest speaker.

•Wednesday, February 14 “WUFO Rhythms of Love: Valentine’s Day and The Power of Music.” Speaker, WUFO President CEO Sheila Brown.

•Wednesday, February 21 “The History of the Colored Musicians Club. Speaker George Scott •Wednesday February 28 “What Are You Reading Rev. Nash?” Speaker Sharon Holley with Charles Alamo,

For more information go to @michiganstreetbuffalo.org. or see their ad Page 16.

Buffalo African American Museum “Together As One 2024 Black History Month Bus Tours”

The African American Museum “Together As One 2024” Black History Program will feature weekly bus tours on February 3,10,17 and 24.There is no cost to attend! Themeeting and parking location for each tour is The Buffalo Museum of Science.

• Saturday, February 3: The tours will kick off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with “The Journey to Freedom.” This tour features a historical narrative of Freedom Park (formally Broderick Park) by Storyteller Sharon Holley and a guided tour of the Niagara Falls Underground Heritage Center.

•Saturday February 10: This tour, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., has as its theme, “Honoring Black Leaders of WNY.” It will feature a presentation by the Buffalo Museum of Science, a tour of the Buffalo Black Achievers Museum and a guided tour of The Buffalo History Museum.

• Saturday February 17: “The Buffalo African American Museum and John E. Brent” is the theme of this tour from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. It will feature a visit to the John E. Brent Garden, MLK Jr. Monument Plaza and concludes at the Buffalo and Erie County Central Library. The Library features an exhibit of the history and stories of The Buffalo African American Museum chaired by Clifford Bell.

•Saturday, February 24: “Celebrating Black History, Culture and Milestones” is the theme of this tour from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. It includes a visit to the Nash House at the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor, a stop at the African American Cultural Center and finally The Freedom Wall on Michigan Street..

For reservations or more information email buffalo.aam@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook, Instagram or You Tube.

To honor Black History Month, the Friends of Freedom Park invite you to join us at the Underground Railroad Museum for a free tour and discussion.

Every Saturday in February, 10am to 12pm, the Underground Railroad Museum in Freedom Park (at the foot of Ferry)

To Support FOFP

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Challenger Community News • February 1, 2024

Entertainment

HEALING BUFFALO THROUGH THE ARTS!

The New Masters Pictured from top left YNX716,Muhammad Zaman, Laura Chenault,Center Edreys and Alexa Wajed, on top right Jillian Hanesworth, Marquis Ten Thousand Burton and Rashaad Holley.

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his year's theme for Black History Month is “African Americans and the Arts,” spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music and other forms of cultural expression.

With a continual emergence of art in Buffalo, a new generation of local artists are changing the narrative of what masters in the arts not only look like but how they use their individual practices to heal the community. They are The New Masters.

Led by Cultrue, Inc. a non profit agency that focuses on making art accessible to diverse communities, founding master artists Edreys and Alexa Wajed have created an empowering series of 8 different types of free workshops, with 8 unique artists, to explore new healing paths for Buffalo’s East Side community, which has endured more than enough trauma and tragedy in recent years.

“Participants create art responsively related to national and local economic and social disparity-based tragedies and injustices (ie: Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Buffalo Tops Massacre, etc.).

These traumas are all interlinked to the emotional and mental health of the individ-

uals most underserved in the Buffalo community,”said the Wajed’s in a joint statement.

Centered in an arts-based healing approach, the New Masters, pulled together

by Buffalo’s creative powerhouse couple Alexa and Edreys, consists of the following teaching artists with five to 20-plus years of experience. They include distinguished decorated poet and educator Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton; interdisciplinary femme artist Laura Chenault; Community Organizer and Buffalo’s first Poet Laureate Jillian Hanesworth; fashion designer and educator Rashaad Holley; Hip Hop artist and lyricist Deon “Y.N.X. 716” Thedford; and Urban Calligraffiti artists Muhammad Zaman; all who have contributed greatly to Buffalo’s community and art world.

“Our team members have actively participated in and championed many community workshops in the past. Their extensive track records and involvement in numerous individual community events instilled a high level of trust, making it an easy decision to open our spaces to them. Importantly, each artist within the team shares deep connections and ties with the East Side of Buffalo, further enhancing our collective commitment to community engagement,” said Muhammad Zaman.

The artists are equipped not only to provide space for the community to engage in their crafts, they are also prepared to render Psychological support. Fifty percent of the New Masters are certified in Psychological First aid, a course that was provided by the Office of Mental Health, who is also one of the supporting sponsors of the series.

“We all have personal experiences using our artistic practices to heal and grow over the course of our individual careers,” said Edreys .

For the healing experience, workshop participants create a physical piece of artwork that they get to take home along with a bag full of new art making supplies that will assist them in continuing the healing practice they have learned. All workshops are intergenerational for Adults and Children age 12 and up ( except the sewing class age requirement which is 17 and up). These warm and welcoming workshops, also stocked with light beverages and snacks, are held on the 4th floor of the Tri-Main building at 2495 Main Street between Rodney and Jewett. Registration is required but workshops are all free!

Providing a safe spacefor community members to show up and open up about their grief and trauma so the

healing can begin, has been a challenge met with much success. To date roughly 44 members of the community have participated. Each one has found healing through artistic exploration in these workshops, as well as discovering that creative community fellowship really does work.

“An elder gentleman hadn’t picked up a paint brush in decades and you could see the elation and joy in him just from putting paint on the canvas,” recalled Muhammad Zaman.

"A couple of teen girls who came with their mom and were not interested in the beginning – folded arms and long faces – by the end were both engaged and made powerful zines…. A great bonding time…” said Laura Chenault.

"Shared one participant, "I really loved it … (it) honestly might have been my favorite yet because we held space to share our emotions about the writing. At the end of the workshop, participants swapped voice recorders to leave words of encouragement on each other’s devices" said Marquis Burton.

Outside of the healing workshops There will be a Community Remembrance Ceremony held on February 29 Similar to a traditional African ceremony used to say goodbye and acknowledge all lives lost (Maafa).

This event will be a celebration of life while holding space for and remembering our ancestors that we have lost, and those that have been taken from us in tragic

events. The ceremony, highlighting Storytellers, African Drummers and Dancers, will be healing and encourage the community to heal out loud and heal together which is necessary for our community in light of all of the collective loss experienced last year. The belief is that speaking the names of our ancestors out loud empowers us to not only heal but to reimagine what loss looks like moving from a painful experience to a celebration of eternal life.

The program runs through March however for the month of February the free workshops continue being offered and include: ● Heal Off Art (Visual Arts) ● Art as Expression (Visual Arts) ● Fashion Construction Fundamentals (Sewing) ● Pen Your Pain for Progress (Literature) ● Healing through Zine Making (Creative and Expressive Arts) ● Celebration of your Story (Poetry) ● Reimagining Public Safety (Creative and Expressive Arts - Community Pop-in Arts Activity) All Program information and Registration details can be found at https://www.

CULTRUELIFE.org or call (716) 201-0428 .

- L.H. These free workshops and events are made possible through the generous support of: SERG Grant: “Reimagine: I am the Change”, WNY field office - NYS Office of Mental Health, CULTRUE, Inc, Creatives Rebuild New York, and Eat Off Art.This grant was awarded from The New York State’s SAMHSA Emergency Response Grant (SERG) award renamed “ReImagine I am the Change”, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) with the goal of providing a full-spectrum of community-based alternatives for healing, emotional support, connection and when necessary, linkage to mental health.

Challenger Community News •February 1, 2024

Remembering Jimmy….

I

t seems like everybody knew Jimmy.

I met him in a snow storm. One of those blowing, freezing, zero visibility winter blasts about six years ago.

I just happened to be out on Jefferson taking pictures. The avenue was deserted - no cars no people. At one point I saw a snowy figure coming towards me.

It was Jimmy - “Sharp as a Tack" (like we used to say when someone was dressed well).

He asked me to take his picture. After that he asked me for $5. I obliged. He politely thanked me and continued down Jefferson headed towards E. Ferry.

I saw him a couple more times that winter – in calmer weather. He was always uniquely dressed, from head to toe, asking me to take his picture, followed by the $5 request. Over the years he would come by the office, especially if he was expecting his picture to be in the Challenger.

He shared a lot about growing up back in the day; he knew his community well. He loved fashion and the fashion shows he participated in and produced in the early seventies.

Just before the holidays he wanted to know if I had Challengers from 1973-1974. He said he was a model in a fashion show at Carpenter’s Hall. Going through our limited archives, we could not find the year he wanted, but we had fun looking thru the old papers anyway.

He said they brought back memories.

He also loved looking at our “history wall” and identifying Black Leaders. I was impressed and asked him one time where he went to high school. In a classic “Jimmy response” he said he went to four! And that he ran cross country for Kensington, adding that he was once named best dressed and president of a Fashion Club while there.

The week before he transition, he stopped by the office to tell me some exciting news.

“They wrote a book about me” he said excitedly. I’m going to be famous! I’m gong to get a copy and bring it to you next week, then you can do a story about me.

Jimmy never came back.

When I was told that he had passed I was so hurt. That was “my guy!” I still owed him a story and $5.

I found out last week that the book deal was real.

A talented young writer from Buffalo, Demetrius Borden, is the author.

It’s a children’s book, he told me and he was basically paying homage to Jimmy and all his uniqueness, for example, his different colored suits.

In a beautifully illustrated sample page, he shared, “I talk about his different suits”: “here once was a man who liked to dress, so (when) seen he looked his best. Different color hats and different color ties in all colors nobody knew why.”

Demetrius says he plans to have it out by the end of this month and hopes to get it into the libraries.

“Jimmy was a good man…a real good friend…,” he said. “It’s still sinking in that he’s gone.”

-Services SetServices for Jimmy will be held on Tuesday, February 6 at Greater Refuge Temple, 943 Jefferson Avenue. The wake is from 11-12. Funeral services begin at noon.

James "Jimmy" Archie was 65 years young. -alnisa

A Tribute Poem To My Uncle Jimmy

by Daisy Bae A familiar face A well-known figure You’ve seen him around A secret fashion model Always seen in vibrant and stylish attire Bringing a unique brightness to every room he entered More than that A beloved brother and A treasured uncle A cherished presence in the town His passing has left a huge gap in our hearts .

ON STAGE

On Stage At The Robeson Theatre In February •"An Evening with Jon Cesar " Friday and Saturday Feb. 2 & 3 at 7p.m. Tickets $15.

•”Harriet Tubman Speaks" - Saturday & Sunday Feb. 17 at 5p.m. & Feb. 18 at 4p.m. Free .Written by & featuring Cathy Robinson , The Union (Leslie Gardner & Simone Appleby), DeAnna Burgess as Young Harriet Tubman, Tammy S. Martin, Nicholas Price (passengers) & others. Contact the Theater at (716) 884-2013 for reservations & information.

Spreading Love the Beau Fleuve Way for M&T First Friday An

array of music, talks and film spreading love the Beau Flueve way. Musical performances from 5 -7p.m. AKG Town Square by DJ Unk, Jon Jon featuring Jukebox and Vibrant Stringz on the sculpture terrace. A special screening of Love Jones the movie in the Knox building auditorium 5p.m. followed by a poetry reading from Brandon Williams and Tatianna Annette..

At 6p.m. Community Insights with Beau Fleuve Admission to the first Friday events is always free.

Anne of Green Gables at Theatre of Youth (TOY)

Public Performances run weekends Saturday & Sunday remaining dates are February 4 at 2p.m.. Scheduled Understudy Performance is Saturday, February 3 at 2p.m..

Special post-show talkback TOY is located at 203 Allen Street.Tickets range from $15 – 30 and are available online at www.theatreofyouth.org.

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Challenger Community News • February 1, 2024

Policing Buffalo’s Police: Who Has The Authority?

Honoring Dr. Carter G. Woodson

Buffalo's mayor and police commissioner grumble they lack sufficient power to discipline bad cops due to the contract with the city's police union. Legal decisions suggest City Hall has bargained away those powers in violation of state law.

B

By Bruce Rushton/Investigative Post

uffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia and Mayor Byron Brown say the city’s contract with the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association prevents the city’s top cop from disciplining officers.

During a deposition last fall, Gramaglia testified that the union contract gives an arbitrator, not the commissioner, power to discipline officers.

“I think any chief executive that’s running the department would like to have the managerial ability to run a department, but that’s not the contractual language that was laid out well before my time,” Gramaglia testified as part of a lawsuit filed by Martin Gugino, who suffered a fractured skull when he was pushed by police during a 2020 protest.

In a separate lawsuit, the mayor in a November deposition testified that state and federal laws also prevent the commissioner from disciplining officers.

Gramaglia and the mayor are wrong, according to police reform advocates and lawyers who point to court decisions and the city’s charter, which says the commissioner is in charge of discipline.

“They gave away something they didn’t have the power to give,” said Melissa Wischerath, an attorney who represents Gugino.

Even a lawyer for the city has said that the commissioner, not an arbitrator, has final disciplinary authority. And the state’s highest court three times since 2006 has ruled that disciplinary procedures aren’t controlled by union contracts, including in cities where charters assign authority to police commissioners.

In a 2021 policy brief, the Partnership for the Public Good, a local nonprofit organization, argued that the city has disciplinary authority, citing court rulings and quoting Buffalo’s charter: “The commissioner of police shall be charged with the power and duty of governing and disciplining the department and the members of the police force and all subordinates and employees of the department.”

The mayor testified that he’s discussed the brief with Common Council members, police brass and the city’s law department.

“Basically, we don’t agree with this policy brief,” the mayor testified during his November deposition taken in a lawsuit filed by Black Love Resists in the Rust, which accuses the city of unfairly targeting minorities by setting up east side roadblocks.

At least twice in recent years, an arbitrator has rejected department attempts to discipline officers.

In 2020, arbitrator Jeffrey Selchick ordered reinstatement for Officer Joseph Hassett, whom the department tried to fire after District Attorney John Flynn, citing “irremediable problems of credibility,” banned him from testifying in court. In 2022, Selchick ruled against the city and cleared officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski, the two officers who’d pushed Gugino, of wrongdoing.

During arbitration proceedings in the Gugino case, a lawyer for the city told Selchick that the police commissioner, not an arbitrator, has final disciplinary authority.

“It’s your job to make a record and a recommendation to the commissioner which he can ultimately accept or not accept,” Sean Beiter, an attorney hired by the city, told Selchick in 2021, when a union lawyer asked the arbitrator to dismiss charges against two officers charged with excessive force for pushing Gugino.

The city’s power to decide discipline eroded in 1992, when the police union complained that the commissioner was rejecting more than half of hearing officers’ discipline recommendations. During contract negotiations, the union asked for binding arbitration in disciplinary matters.

An arbitration panel that settled negotiations wrote that the frequency of the commissioner rejecting discipline recommendations was “cause for concern.”

“Also cause for concern to the extent it occurs, is the fact that individuals plead guilty to charges of which they are innocent out of fear of more substantial penalty,” the panel wrote.

The panel set new rules. If a commissioner rejected disciplinary recommendations from a hearing officer, the union could appeal to an arbitrator, who, based on a review of the hearing record, could overrule the commissioner, and the arbitrator’s decision would be final.

Since then, the state’s highest court at least three times has ruled that disciplinary procedures aren’t subject to collective bargaining and that public officials, not arbitrators, have final authority: •In 2006, the state Court of Appeals rejected police union arguments that disciplinary procedures should be decided by collective bargaining in New York City, where the charter states: “The [police] commissioner shall have cognizance and control of the government, administration, disposition and discipline of the department, and of the police force of the department.” The charter, the court ruled, trumps state law that gives collective bargaining rights to public employees.

•In 2012, the Court of Appeals ruled that town officials, not an arbitrator, should control police discipline in the town of Wallkill, about 80 miles north of New York City. The town doesn’t have a charter, but a statewide law that gives town officials power to pass laws spelling out disciplinary procedures negated a union contract, the court ruled.

•Citing its decisions in Wallkill and New York City, the Court of Appeals in 2017 ruled that a 1906 state law that gives police commissioners power to discipline in cities with between 50,000 and 250,000 residents precluded an arbitrator from handling discipline in Schenectady.

Despite court decisions, Brown testified that the union contract can make discipline “challenging.” He said that the commissioner should have more power, but that’s not possible under state and federal law.

“There are basic common sense things that the police commissioner and police management should be allowed to do in the way of discipline that laws do not allow, period, plain and simple,” the mayor testified during his November deposition.

The mayor rejected the notion that the city has surrendered authority.

“Isn’t it the case that the city has entered into an agreement voluntarily that has weakened oversight of the BPD?” asked Chinyere Ezie, attorney for Black Love Resists in the Rust.

“Absolutely not,” Brown answered. “One hundred percent not.”

Neither Brown, Gramaglia nor John Evans, president of the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, responded to requests for comment.

SUPPORT

Investigative Post is a nonprofit investigative reporting center based in Buffalo. You can find their work at investigativepost. org and on WGRZ, Channel 2. You can subscribe to their free weekly newsletter by emailing info@investigativepost.org

I

n February We Honor Dr. Carter G. Woodson, The Father Of Black History, It Was Dr. Woodson Who Started The Celebration Of Negro History Week In February 1926 To Commemorate The Birthdays Of Frederick Douglass And Abraham Lincoln, Negro History Week Has Now Evolved Into Black History Month And Officially Recognized By President Gerald Ford In 1976, Dr. Woodson Was A Writer, Historian , Educator And Publisher. Some Of His Notable Works Include: A Century Of Negro Migration, History Of The Negro Church.

Education Of The Negro Prior To 1861, African Myths And Folktales And Mis-Education Of The Negro. One Of His Quotes:"When You Control A Man's Thinking You Do Not Have To Worry About His Actions."

And Then We Rise: A Guide To Loving And Taking Care Of Self By Common Big (Children's Book) By Vashti Harrison Introduction To Black Studies By Maulana Karenga Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons With Racism In Medicine By Uche Blackstock, Md We Dream A World (Children's Book) By Yolanda Renee King Mark Your Calendar And Save The Date For The African American Read-In On Sunday, February 18 At 2 Pm In The Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue. Bring Something To Read By An African American Author. Maximum Reading Time Is 3 Minutes.

Humboldt Park/33 Expressway continued from page 3

•North Buffalo residents were aided by Greater Buffalo Regional Transportation Council.

•North Buffalo Residents were also aided by New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan. Due to such interventions, North Buffalo Residents' demands concerning Scajaquada Corridor were met. Similar aid and intervention is needed, in the Kensington Corridor.

At least $55 Million of the NYSDOT's Route 33 Kensington Expressway Project Budget, is from the U.S. Federal Government's “Reconnecting Communities” Programme. That is just one of several programmes, offering funding for Highway Removals. According to that programme's summary and description, our East Side Buffalo Community was supposed to be presented with a choice in what type of Transportation Project/Plan is going to be conducted, here. Instead, we've been presented a dictated non-alternative. The result? Humboldt Parkway Neighborhood's Residents’ health, Property Values, (Home Equity-related) Generational Wealth Opportunity, Reduction of Greenhouse Gases [GHGs] in Humboldt Parkway Neighborhoods, and the East Side Community's inheritance of a central city park that formerly connected all the way from Humboldt/MLK Park, to North Buffalo’s Delaware Park...are all 'at-risk'.

Highways are being removed all over the country, and in cities like Rochester (NY) and New Orleans (LA), residents have insisted upon that development, for their locations. In Rochester, even our State’s Senators, The Honorable Charles Schumer, and The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand, are furthering the REMOVAL of the Inner Loop, an inner-city highway nicknamed: 'the moat'. Rochester's proactive residents are finally becoming rid of it. City of Buffalo is less than 100 miles away. What about us?

Sherry Sherrill is President and CEO, Covington Associates Consulting

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Challenger Community News •February 1, 2024

Time For The Youth To Step Up!

May My Apology Begin The Healing...

appy Back history month to everyone! Around this time last year I received my DNA test kit for my maternal and paternal lineage trace. I found my paternal with people living in Portugal and my maternal lineage with the Bamileke people in Cameroon. Thank you again African Ancestry. Go check their website, they give discounts during Black History Month.

Yes it is Black History Month and we can go for days celebrating our ancestors accomplishments but WE NEED TO START OPERATING LIKE OUR GREAT GRANDPARENTS AND ANCESTORS! We have too much disposJAYLEN able income to not be putting together monthly $20-$100, if not more to fiourselves with our own banks, after school programs, grocery stores, YOUNG nance farms so we can know what we are eating and learn at the same time.

My first time being published in the Challenger was last year on December 7th and I want to thank the editors. The paper was celebrating its 60th year anniversary and that meant something special to have a spot in the paper for that moment. I mentioned that I am working on a grocery Co-op here in Buffalo and how I am looking for people that want to be a part of the board and also just anyone out there that can genuinely help. I also mentioned that we need a community crowd fund organization here in Buffalo to put our Black dollars together for the better good. I have been networking with people who are part of the National Association Of Real Estate Brokers. I am still working some things out. I've had a few people reach out to me that saw my last message in the Challenger and I’m doing my best to get this done ASAP. I want to say thank you to all the elders out there that continue to pray over us. We need each other more than ever right now. This month people will be learning or relearning about our past history here in America and in my opinion that should fuel us up. What I mean by that is we should be angry from what happened in the past, sad, proud, and have the courage to do anything we put your minds to.

Africa Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.” That applies to a lot of things in life but right now this fits for us coming together for cooperative economics. I want to go far with you all and leave a legacy behind just like the pyramids in Egypt.

The elders are here for us but it's up to the youth to have these same conversations with each other to start to make a change.

y Dear People, I am so sorry that I was not at Kwanzaa personally, to raise my voice. But by the Grace and Mercy of Allah, I was called for surgery, a hernia repair, on the 26th of December at 5:00 am. All I can say is that I thank God that the people who participated in Kwanzaa 2023, did the best that they could with what they had.

I was praying that my Beloved People would provide a solid foundation for the activities that would uphold the values of Kwanzaa, rooted in Kwanzaa 365 as a lifestyle to be lived with the best intention of Defying The Lies and Embracing The Truth in celebrating the excellence of our culture.

In my heart, I believe that many embraced that sentiment and focused on the good of our gathering, without allowing any detractors to take away the spirit of Unity and Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Creativity, Purpose and Faith.I don’t think that anyone operating on any agenda other than that were successful. I believe the people were given the gift of discernment and were able to see and judge accordingly.

So, my Beloved community, I am happy that some of what Our Beloved Brother, Dr. Maul

H

M

ana Karenga, intended for us to get out of this years Kwanzaa, was shared, despite these times we are under which is a greater attack and assault on our present and future than at any other time in our history.

Just think, My People, about what the enslavers and the colonizers have done since they first came into Our Motherland to displace, exploit and oppress us. Are we not in a better place now, to fight back and overcome? I believe those were the ideas and conversations shared among those who truly love Kwanzaa.

I give thanks to The One God that no one was arrested or otherwise brutalized for raising Our hand or Our Voice to stop the travesty of that one night. Now that we have been reminded out of the proverbial horse's mouth, we will continue to move forward into a better space as we prepare for Kwanzaa 2024 to make it all that it was and is intended to be for Our People and not fall into the same hole(s) again, In Sha Allah. Asante Sana Family,!

BaBa Omowale Eng.

THE POWER OF PROPER PLANNING

Homelessness, Gentrification and Misleadership

eace and Welcome, we are Success +Me and a new column in the Challenger to offer you insight, research, and perspectives related to your educational, personal and professional skills.

This month, we'll be discussing planning. As we navigate a new year, we make resolutions for ourselves, our family and businesses. Failing to SAM HILL appropriately make these plans, however, we can quickly become stagnant. To get a better idea of this point; let's take a look at a short story about two teenagers who discovered how powerful proper planning can be.

Students, Jamal and Mike, found themselves confronted with their first major history test. They cracked open their textbooks, scattered notes around, and dove headfirst into the course material. As hours passed, however, topics overlapped and nothing was in order, which led to frustration.

Feeling the pressure, they sought guidance from their older friend and honor student, Keesha. Ambitious and driven, Keesha helped her friends by stressing the power of planning and building a study strategy. In doing so, they devised a schedule and pinpointed key topics to focus on each day.

Equipped with new knowledge, Jamal and Mike adhered to every step of their plan. Soon the information clicked and their understanding deepened. Their confidence transcended their initial anxiety, and as the test day arrived, their successful results mirrored their efforts.

The lesson here extends far beyond history tests! When confronted with challenges, take time to strategically plan out your actions. By breaking down your steps and recording your progress, you can reap the rewards of your hard work; a boost of confidence and a clearer view of your God given potential.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook. You can also email us at, success.me.biz@gmail.com or visit our website, www.successme.biz. We can't wait to hear from you!

t is disheartening to see homelessness persist despite the advancements of the 21st century.

Homelessness is a complex issue with various underlying causes, including economic inequality, lack of affordable housing, mental health issues, and social disparities. Efforts to address homelessness often require a multifaceted approach involving government initiatives, social services, and community support. The limited hours of shelters, where individuals experiencing homelessness have to leave early in the morning, can indeed pose challenges for those seeking a safe and stable place to stay. This situation highlights the need for extended and more flexible shelter hours to better accommodate the needs of the homeless population.

Gentrification and rising rent costs are significant contributors to the homelessness problem in many cities, including Buffalo. Gentrification can lead to increased property values and rents, making it difficult for long-time residents, particularly those with lower incomes, to afford housing in their own neighborhoods. Additionally, landlords raising rent without a corresponding increase in property value can create financial burdens for tenants.

Locally all too many of those in Black leadership positions are useless and do not have the best interests of their constituents at heart. Todays Black leaders are simply YES men YES women to a Black mayor that has turned his back on the BLACK community, especially on the city's East side. It's important to note that constructive dialogue and collaboration is key in addressing community concerns. By actively participating in the democratic process, community members can play a role in shaping the direction of their neighborhoods and holding leaders accountable.

Transparency is a fundamental aspect of effective leadership, and community members have the right to expect openness and accountability from their leaders. If there are concerns about the lack of transparency among Black leaders in your community, it's important to address these issues to foster trust and better governance.

We the people must actively voice the need for transparency within the community. Encourage leaders to communicate openly about their decisions, actions, and the use of resources.

I’m Just Saying…

P

I

“Knowing when to stop, you can avoid any danger.” -Tao Te Ching

Writer Unhappy With Payton Gendron Name Error

Dear Editor The premiere Black newspaper in this town seems to be ill indear formed as to whom editor the Tops Shooter is. It was not Michael Gendron. It was Payton Gendron. Do not let this mishap define your reporting. Be accurate in your reporting. We the community expect the mainstream media to misrepresent the Tops issue. The Challenger’s standards should be higher.

Remember., it could have been you or your loved one assassinated because you’re Black.

-Richard Stevens Ed Note: As soon as we were made aware of the mistake we published an apology and correction in the very next edition on page 3 (January 25). Perhaps Mr. Stevens did not see it before sending his letter. We are human and it was an honest oversight and again, we offer our sincere apologies to the families of the victims and the community.

12 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF NAMES OF PERSONS APPEARING AS OWNERS OF CERTAIN UNCLAIMED PROPERTY HELD BY THE COMPTROLLER OF ERIE COUNTY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 601 of the Abandoned Property Law of the State of New York, that, The undersigned, as Comptroller of the County of Erie has on deposit or in his custody certain moneys and property paid or deposited in actions or proceedings in the several courts in the said County.

The person(s) or actions set forth below appear from the records of the said County Comptroller to be entitled to certain such properties of the amount of $50.00 or more.

DEPOSITED IN ACTIONS OR PROCEDINGS IN THE SUPREME COURT BELLAMY ENTERPRISES II, LLC VS NYS DEPT. OF TAXATION AND FINANCE KEYBANK, N.A. VS MARY COLLEEN CONNELL; AMERICAN EXPRESS CENTURION BANK U.S. BANK TRUST N.A. VS KENNETH H. PIERI, ET. AL. U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION VS JASON M. SARANAK ET AL. WELLS FARGO BANK N.A. VS MARION BORDERS ET AL. QUICKEN LOAN INC. VS GARY STRANG EXECUTOR, ET AL NORTHWEST BANK VS HEIRS OF JOHN CAMPAGNA, ET AL. EGRIU, EMIN E. D/B/A EMIN EGRIU VS BUFFALO PROPERTIES LTD. CITIZENS BANK VS WALTER CROOKALL CITIBANK, N.A. VS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - IRS, RITA WICK HSBC BANK VS JANET LEE VAUGHAN U.S. BANK TRUST N.A. VS RICHARD KESSLER, ET AL. ABS REO TRUST III VS VICKIE JETER, AS HEIR TO ESTATE OF GARY JETER, ET AL. MILHERST CONSTRUCTION VS NATALE BUILDING CORP SUNBELT RENTALS INC. VS LAFAYETTE BARTON APARTMENTS LLC DEPOSITED IN ACTIONS OR PROCEDINGS IN THE ERIE COUNTY COURT FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #52 DISTR#1 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #52 DISTR#3 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #52 DISTR#4 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #52 DISTR#5 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #51 DISTR#15 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #52 DISTR#8 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #52 DISTR#10 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS COUNTY OF ERIE IN REM #165 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS COUNTY OF ERIE IN REM #166 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS COUNTY OF ERIE IN REM #167 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #47 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #48 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #50 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #51 FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS VS CITY OF BUFFALO IN REM #52 BAIL MONEY CURRENTLY HELD

BY ERIE COUTNY COMPTROLLER Bail for GAI, GUY posted by JACOB GAI Bail for ROBERT MAZELLA posted

Challenger Community News • February 1, 2024

by MELISSA ARRINGTON Bail for COOLEY, CHRISTOPHER posted by LEE, ANTHONY Bail for HINSON, CHRISTOPHER posted by COLLINS, DEMETRIOUS Bail for HAMPTON, MARKIESE posted by OSEI-GYAMFI, GEORGE Bail for SHAHEED WHITE posted by SHAHEED WHITE Bail for VARIOUS - LACKAWANNA COURT posted by VARIOUS Bail for VARIOUS - TONAWANDA COURT posted by VARIOUS Bail for VARIOUS - BUFFALO COURT posted by VARIOUS Bail for STANLEY ALDROW posted

by STANLEY ALDROW TO TAKE FURTHER NOTICE: (A) A list of the names contained in this notice is on file and open to the public inspection at the Office of the Comptroller at No. 95 Franklin Street, in the City of Buffalo, State of New York; (B) Any such unclaimed moneys or other property will be paid or delivered by him on or before the thirtyfirst day of March to persons establishing to his satisfaction their right to receive the same; and (C) In the succeeding month of April, and on or before the tenth day, thereof, such unclaimed moneys or other property still remaining will be paid or delivered to the State Comptroller and the undersigned shall thereupon cease to be liable therefore.

DATED: Buffalo, New York Comptroller County of Erie Phone 858-8400

LEGAL NOTICE COUNTY OF ERIE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES 95 FRANKLIN STREET BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14202 County of Erie, New York RFP RELEASE The Erie County Department of Social Services is seeking proposals from qualified agencies to provide Nurse Assessor/Reassessor Services. The RFP #2024-007VF can be found at http://www.erie.gov and a complete copy of the package can also be obtained by contacting Carrie Godfrey at 716-858-6086, or via Carrie.Godfrey@erie.gov as of February 12, 2024.

All correspondence, communications and/or contact with the County in regard to any aspect of this proposal shall be with the ECDSS contact person listed on the specific RFP. Prospective proponents, or their representatives, shall not make contact with or communicate with any representatives of the County, including employees and consultants, other than the designated person in regard to any aspect of this proposal.

Sealed bids are due to the Erie County Department of Social Services by 4:00 p.m. (EST) on March 12, 2024.

Erie County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and waive any informality.

Marie A. Cannon, Commissioner of Social Services

LEGAL NOTICE BID NFTA PROCUREMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL/ BID 230117 – RECYCLING AND WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICE Go to NFTA's Website to register as a supplier and for instructions to download the Procurement Document at https://www.nfta. com/departments/procurement

LEGAL NOTICE INDEX NO.: 815246/2019 Date Filed: 01/03/2024 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS WITH NOTICE MORTGAGED PREMISES: 907 Walden Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14211 SBL #: 101.67-1-7 Plaintiff designates ERIE County as the place of trial; venue is based upon the county in which the mortgaged premises is situate.

STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF ERIE Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, Plaintiff, vs.

Erie County Public Administrator, as Administrator of the Estate of Shirley Barney a/k/a Shirley A, Barney, deceased; Unknown Heirs of the Estate of Shirley Barney, and all the heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, devisees, grantees, trustees, lienors, creditors, assignees and successors in interest of any of the aforesaid defendants, next of kin, distributees, devisees, grantees, trustees, lienors, creditors, assignees and successors in interest of any of the aforesaid classes of person, if they or any of them be dead, and their respective husbands, wives or widows, if any, and all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to plaintiff, except as herein stated; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; United States of America o/b/o Internal Revenue Service; The Erie County Department of Social Services; Health Management Systems, Inc. on behalf of the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General and the Erie County Department of Social Services; Kelle Barney, as Heir and Distributee of the Estate of Shirley Barney a/k/a Shirley A. Barney, deceased; Belinda Barton a/k/a Belinda S. Barton a/k/a Belinda Spartan, as Heir and Distributee of the Estate of Shirley Barney a/k/a Shirley A. Barney, deceased; John Doe #1 through #6, and Jane Doe #1 through #6, the last twelve names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants, tenants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises being foreclosed herein Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Amended Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Amended Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Amended Complaint.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY.

SENDING PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $50,255.00 and interest, recorded in the Office of the Clerk of Erie on December 3, 1996, in Book 12728, Page 6916, covering premises known as 907 Walden Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14211, SBL #: 101.67-1-7 The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. The Plaintiff also seeks a deficiency judgment against the Defendants and for any debt secured by said Mortgage which is not satisfied by the proceeds of the sale of said premises.

TO the Defendants Unknown Heirs of the Estate of Shirley Barney, and all the heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, devisees, grantees, trustees, lienors, creditors, assignees and successors in interest of any of the aforesaid defendants, next of kin, distributees, devisees, grantees, trustees, lienors, creditors, assignees and successors in interest of any of the aforesaid classes of person, if they or any of them be dead, and their respective husbands, wives or widows, if any, and all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to plaintiff, except as herein stated, the foregoing Supplemental Summons with Notice is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Dennis E. Ward of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Erie, dated and filed December 21, 2023.

Dated: January 5, 2024 /s/ Christhie M. Montero Christhie M. Montero, Esq. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, New York 10170 Phone: 347.286.7409 Fax: 347-286-7414 Attorneys for Plaintiff, Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure.

In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non-profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process.

To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Banking Department of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or visit the Department's website at www. dfs.ny.gov.

FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who ap-

proach you with offers to "save" your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner's distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed.

State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services.

JANUARY 18, 25 FEBRUARY 1, 8

LEGAL NOTICE SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Erie County GITSIT SOLUTIONS LLC, Plaintiff, -againstDOUGLAS GIERMAN AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARY GIERMAN; KEVIN GIERMAN AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARY GIERMAN; GAIL MANGUS AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARY GIERMAN; UNKNOWN HEIRS TO THE ESTATE OF MARY GIERMAN; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (WESTERN DISTRICT) O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; "JOHN DOE" AND "JANE DOE" said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of the premises being foreclosed herein,, Defendants. Index No. 810896/2023 Mortgaged Premises: 37 Philadelphia Street, Buffalo, NY 14207 Section: 77.41 Block: 1 Lot: 48. To The Above Named Defendant(s): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. If you fail to appear or to answer within the aforementioned time frame, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Consolidation and/or Modified Mortgage to secure $70,500.00 and interest, recorded in the Erie County Clerk’s Office on May 15, 2009, in Book 13446, Page 5249, Control Number 2009096771, covering the premises known as 37 Philadelphia Street, Buffalo, NY 14207. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Erie County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered, and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND

FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, New York 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

January 11, 18, 25 February 1

LEGAL NOTICE COUNTY OF ERIE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSAL Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park Green Infrastructure Parking Lot Design Project No. 2024-999-01 The County of Erie is seeking qualification statements and proposals from interested firms to provide A/E design and construction services for the Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park Green Infrastructure Parking Lot Design. Qualification statements and proposals for the above project will be received by the County’s Commissioner of Public Works in Suite 1400 of the Rath County Office Building, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York 14202 until 2:00 PM local time on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. A site visit is scheduled for February 6, 2024 at 11:00 am local time at Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park. RFQ/ RFP submission instructions may be found at: www.erie.gov/dpw/

1,000 PASTORS

continued from page 4 tion campaign even more challenging.

“Black faith leaders are extremely disappointed in the Biden administration on this issue,” Rev. Timothy McDonald, the senior pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta, told The New York Times. “We are afraid. And we’ve talked about it — it’s going to be very hard to persuade our people to go back to the polls and vote for Biden.”

President Biden’s recent address at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston was also infamously interrupted by protestors calling for the him to do more about the Israel-Gaza war.

Rev. Frederick D. Haynes, senior pastor of FriendshipWest Baptist Church in Dallas and the president and chief executive of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition adds that President Biden’s position doesn’t match the message that got Black voters to turn out for him in 2020.

What they are witnessing from the administration in Gaza is a glaring contradiction to what we thought the president and the administration was about,” he told The New York Times. “So when you hear a president say the term, ‘redeem the soul of America,’ well, this is a stain, a scar on the soul of America. There’s something about this that becomes hypocritical.”

-The Root

13

Challenger Community News •February 1, 2024

AFC & NFC Wrap Ups: It’s On To Superbowl LVIII! I

hope you followed my lead and won yourself a lot of money off my picks from Championship Sunday.

The Chiefs won 17-10 over an overly aggressive Baltimore Ravens team. It seems Patrick Mahomes had a harder time beating The Buffalo Bills than the Ravens.

The four-and-a-half-point underdog Chiefs took command of the game from the start and never looked back as the Ravens imploded with unnecessary penalties and bad turnovers by Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers. Flowers had to protect the football at the goal line but L’Jarius Sneed punched it out to save a touchdown. Lamar threw into triple coverage in the endzone that stopped another Ravens scoring opportunity. The Chiefs baited Ravens into throwing the football instead of running the football. The Ravens forgot they’re a running football team but your opponent forced you into doing things that Ravens are not comfortable in doing. Ravens led the league in rushing attempts and had only six in the second half.

Lamar said, “We got to finish the job only one touchdown scored (on offense) by us and not like us. I’m proud of my team in all phrases. I was not trying to do too much just wanting to win. They did a great job of not turning the ball over and scoring points. We just turned the ball over and one game away from the Super Bowl, we are angry because we worked so hard to get to this point.” Lamar also had balls batted down at the line of scrimmage and the Chiefs frustrated the Ravens throughout the game. Chiefs’ defensive lineman Chris Jones disrupted the Ravens rhythm and his batting or deflecting the ball was critical in their dominance of the Ravens.

It’s crystal clear that Patrick Mahomes is the modern day Tom Brady. Who would have thought that a cool as cucumber player like Mahomes would be coming right behind him? The only opposing QB Mahomes has lost to in the playoffs is Tom Brady. It’s Patrick Mahomes and all the rest of NFL QB’s are several steps behind him.

-49ers Come Back to Beat Detroit LionsThe 49ers came back from being down 17 points due to a Detroit Lions team imploding late in the second half. The Lions went away from their running game and their Head Coach Dan Campbell must take the points when he can and stop going for first downs on fourth downs. The Lions turned the ball over on downs twice in a game when they should have taken the field goals for a total of six points. In hindsight those six points would have been looking real good.

Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell said: “I know am being scrutinized over some decisions, but we were making them throughout the season and they did not work today. We must work twice as hard next season in order to get back to this position because everybody is going to want a piece of you. I want players that look fierce and go out and give it their best effort in making plays and that’s what were about with our Detroit Lions football team.

San Francisco 49ers All Pro offensive lineman Trent Williams said:“I can’t describe it! You dream about this and for some people it never comes around. The Lions got off to a hot start…but you regroup at halftime and give it your best shot to win the game. Brock has been Brock all season he’s the reason why we’re going to the Super Bowl. He’s the reason why we’re in NFL Championship. We live and die with him.”

Indeed, Brock Purdy came through for his team and their defense came up with some big plays in their 34-31 win over the Lions. We will be in Las Vegas covering Super Bowl LVII and look forward to bringing you wall to wall coverage each day via our social media platforms listed at the end of this article. I will give you my prediction in next week’s edition. Remember to be a good sport!

Follow @georgeradman, FACEBOOK: George Radney & Real Deal Sports Show, RADIO: WLGZ HD2 The Beat 105.5 FM Every Saturday Morning 8am – 9am; YouTube: Real Deal Sports Show, please subscribe cost you nothing but means everything to us. WEBSITE: realdealsportsshow.com Sunday’s 8am – 9am

On Second Thought . . .

Rise Up Right Sports Highlights elcome to Rise Up Right, where The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers have now W we give you sports news and highadvanced to Super Bowl LVIII to be played in Las Vegas, lights, and updates taking full circle in Kansas City vs. San Francisco in Super Bowl

Nevada. This Sunday’s Conference Championship games was the high holy day of the NFL season, surpassed only by the Super Bowl itself.

Although a 4½ point underdog to the Baltimore Ravens, Patrick Mahomes again showed the world that there is no mountain too high for him to climb. In his anxiously awaited duel with the Ravens electric QB, Lamar Jackson, the presumptive league MVP, Mahomes showed that he is still the top dog until someone else comes along to take away his bark. But, if anyone was going to do that, Lamar Jackson seemed like the guy to do it.

However, Mahomes showed that he is as much a road warrior as he is in the familiar confines of Arrowhead Stadium. Unfortunately, however, the biggest takeaway in this game was not the fact that Mahomes and the Chiefs prevailed, but rather the discouraging, if not disgraceful, state of NFL officiating.

Although, the Chiefs looked like the better team, they were also aided by what appeared to be grievously missed penalty calls that could have changed the entire outcome of the contest. The officials appeared to swallow their whistles on a couple of pass interference penalties against K.C. that could have very well changed the outcome.

It has been harder than almost any season in recent memory to find as many critical officiating decisions that have impacted the outcome of so many games as this one.

And, rightly so, the NFL now faces growing concerns about the very integrity of its game. When coupled with the meteoric rise in legalized sports gambling, the work of the game officials is increasingly put under a microscope and the results have not been encouraging.

The NFL is perhaps the most popular and respected brand name in sports and unless it is to be lumped into the same laughable category of professional wrestling, the league needs to come up with a fix for the poor officiating that has been so evident this past season.

While officiating is an art and not a science - where some mistakes will always be made - the technology does exist to minimize the mistakes, missed calls, bad calls, etc.

The league will need to take a much closer look this offseason at how to improve the officiating without causing too much time delay or disruption to the flow of the game.

The NFC Conference Championship ended with the 49ers staging a massive second half comeback that derailed my sentimental favorite, the Detroit Lions. After the Bills’ elimination, my next favorite team was the Lions. Detroit and Buffalo are, in many ways, the same city. Both are proud blue collar towns that were left for dead more than three decades ago by the collapse of manufacturing and the demise of the steel and auto industries. But like the Phoenix, both cities have begun rising from their ashes.

Unfortunately, Lions head coach, “Riverboat” Dan Campbell gambled away his team’s chance to trump the Niners by eschewing two makeable field goals in order to go for it on fourth downs. In both instances, the failed attempts swung momentum San Francisco’s way and prevented the Lions from putting extra insurance points on the board, which may have thwarted San Francisco’s furious comeback.

Everyone knows that Campbell has an uber-aggressive coaching style and has not been timid about going for it on fourth downs all year long. However, on these two occasions, his team would have been better served by taking the field goal opportunities and living to fight another day.

By failing to do so, Campbell cost his team the game and for that, he gets the Bonehead Coach of Year Award.

the sports world. Thank you for your continued support....and with that being said Let's Rise Up!

Buffalo Sabres Review The Buffalo Sabres have been very busy trying to find different ways to turn their season around as a New Year has begun but the expectation hasn't changed. Let's make it very clear, the Buffalo Sabres should be a playoff team this season. The Sabres have started the New Year with a 7-4 record. Is this progress promising? It seems as if the Sabres are trying to address the two main concerns this team has had in past which is defense and goaltending. The Sabres have only given up 23 goals in the last 11 games. Definitely a great start to the New Year.

Can the Buffalo Sabres get back to .500 this week as they play the Dallas Stars on February 6th at KeyBank Center?

Hopefully "the month of love, creativity and greatness" can catapult the Sabres to a higher level as the next 4 games will be at home.

More Buffalo Sports News Maurice Linguist is leaving the UB football head coaching position as he has been hired by the Alabama Clemson Tide to join their coaching staff. Pete Lembo will be the UB football head coach on a 5-year deal that will give him a $500,000 base salary. Lembo is now the 28th head coach in UB football program history. As a special teams coordinator at South Carolina University, the Gamecocks special teams unit was rated the highest in college football in 2022 under Lembo's leadership. Can Lembo and the Bulls get back being a "bowl eligible" football team?

The Buffalo Bandits have started out the New Year with a 3 -1 record for the month of January as they have compiled wins against Colorado, Rochester, and Toronto. For the month of February, we'll see the Bandits play at February 3rd against Rochester. On February 16th they will play on the road against Halifax. Finally, the Bandits will return home on February 24th to face Albany. Can the Bandits continue to play championship lacrosse in the month of February?

The Buffalo Extreme basketball team has made a great impression on the ABA pro basketball world. Under Richard Jacob, the Extreme started the season with a thriller and they have been extremely dangerous as the Extreme ended 2023 with an 8-2 record. The Team of extreme has been standing on business in 2024 as they have elevated their record to 102. Next home game will be Saturday February 3rd against the Rochester Kingz at 7:00pm. The XGen Elite Center will be the place to be. For more information go to buffaloextreme.com.

For more sports talk and news follow me on Facebook @Andre Robinson or D'Andre Torch Robinson. Check out The Andre and Angie Show every Sunday at 7:30pm on the Rise Up Family YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, and Facebook pages.

14

Challenger Community News • February 1, 2024

NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NUMBERS SUN 1/21

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FLORISTS MAUREEN’S Flower Market 441 Ellicott St. * 852-4600

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Challenger Community News •February 1, 2024

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FEBRUARY

•The Revolutionary King Lecture Series: What They Never Taught Us In School About Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Sunday February 4th, between 2:30 p.m. &4:30 p.m. Merriweather Library and Zoom. Visit the NMP. org.

Rev. Gregory J Brice Branch - US Army Dates of Service 1986 - 1988 Basic Training Ft. Benning, GA MOS - 11B Infantry Duty Station Ft. Richardson, Alaska

Careeer Exploration Event Tops Friendly markets will host a Career Exploration Event and Open House Inormation Sessiion on Saturday, February 10 from 3-6 p.m. There will be open interviews for all Tops locations. Apply early at www.topsmarket. com/careers CARTER G WOODSON continued from page 3 most famous and enduring book. Woodson died suddenly from a heart attack in his “office home” on April 3, 1950. He never married and had no children. Deservingly dubbed “The Father of Black History,” he was, simply put, a Black history institution builder.

“Our history did not begin in chains. It will not end in chains.”

•Saturday , February 3, BUFFALO CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INC. CRIMSON & CRÈME GALA, 6 p.m., Niagara Falls Convention Center, 101 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls. Tickets $100. Proceeds to Benefit Scholarships & Public Service Projects. For More information visit WWW.DSTBUFFALO.ORG •Monday, February 26, HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE BLACK EAST SIDE: A SYMPOSIUM,” From 6-8p.m., Free.

Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, M&T Auditorium, 955 Main Street featuring Henry Louis Taylor Jr., PhD, hosted by the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute, Buffalo Center for Health Equity and the UB Center for

CALENDAR OF EVENTS •Community Grief Support Group CAO Masten Resource Center, 1423 Black Lives Matter Way (Fillmore Ave.) (716)332-3773: 7 p.m. each night: February 1,15,29 •African Consciousness Workshop: Every Monday 4-6 p.m., Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave. “Where we learn About Our Glorious Past & Present African Family.”

(716)400-8644 Bro. Shango or kmtflix@gmail.com

15

16

Challenger Community News • February 1, 2024

THERE ARE STORIES TO TELL: 2024 BLACK HISTORY MONTH TALKS TALKS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WEDNESDAYS FROM 6-7:30PM IN PERSON: @ FRANK E MERRIWEATHER JR LIBRARY, 1324 JEFFERSON AVE, BUFFALO, NY 14208 | ONLINE: VIRTUAL STREAMING AT WWW.MICHIGANSTREETBUFFALO.ORG

WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 7

WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 14

WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 21

WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 28

| FREE TALK | Uncovering the History of the Underground Railroad in Central New York

| FREE TALK | WUFO Rhythms of Love: Valentine's Day and the Power of Music

| FREE TALK | The History of the Colored Musicians Club

| FREE TALK | What Are You Reading Rev. Nash?

presents Underground Railroad

the impact of radio and music on

into the history and significance

assistance from Charles Alamo

@FRANK E MERRIWEATHER JR LIBRARY

Speaker, Professor Gerard Aching, Research Projects in central New

York and the Finger Lakes Region,

centering on the St. James AME Zion Church in Ithaca and the Michigan

@FRANK E MERRIWEATHER JR LIBRARY

Speaker Sheila Brown discusses

love. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, a rose will be given to the first 25

@FRANK E MERRIWEATHER JR LIBRARY Speaker George Scott will delve of Local 533 and the Colored Musicians Club.

women in attendance.

@FRANK E MERRIWEATHER JR LIBRARY Speaker Sharon Holley, with

from the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, discuss the

extensive book collection of Rev. Nash, including both local and national authors.

Street Baptist Church of Buffalo.

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