Challenger Community News

INSIDE ROCHESTER

BLACK BARBIE CELEBRATES 43RD BIRTHDAY: THE STORY BEHIND AN ICONIC DOLL

The Black Cinema Series, a partnership between the Rochester Association of Black Journalists (RABJ) and the Little Theatre, presents " Black Barbie" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday ( Aug. 2) in Rochester.

Through intimate access to a charismatic Mattel insider, Beulah Mae Mitchell, "Black Barbie" delves into the cross section of merchandise and representation as Black women strive to elevate their own voices and stories, refusing to be invisible.

Saturday August 5

It’s Rochester Pan Afrikan Festival Time!

The A.B.O.V.E. Organization is happy to officially announce the festival date and entertainment line-up for the 15th Annual Pan Afrikan Festival Saturday, August 5, from 11a.m. to 8p.m. at Highland Bowl, 1137 South Avenue, Rochester.

The festival is $15 pp and free for children 12 years old and under. VIP is $75 pp. Tickets can be purchased online at https://rocabove.ticketspice.com/pan-afrikan-festival or Beads and Bangles located on 733 East Main St., Rochester, NY.

The theme for this year is “We Are One.” Please join us for a day of live music, food, vendors, cultural history and displays, activities, health activities/information, and so much more. Volunteers and vendors can go to the website to get information and complete the applications. This year’s lineup features headliners Chubb Rock and Kwamé! Also Ghanian Womba Africa Drumming & Dancing, Freddy C and the Latin Jazz Quartet, Jay Baba Afrobeats Music, KT The Gangster Rapper, Ekua, Nyk Tyrell, Ignite Reggae Band, L éD (Hip Hop & Afrobeats Music), Spoken Word by Erica Griffin, Fatima (Blues) and JWhispers (Dancer).

A.B.O.V.E. would like to thank all of its sponsors: Greater Rochester Health Foundation, ESL, Monroe County, Wegmans, the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, WDKX and the City of Rochester. The Pan Afrikan Festival brings together the diverse Rochester community to celebrate and shares the Afrikan/Afrikan American Heritage through culture, history, health, activities, food, entertainment performances, information, art and so much more.

This year the Health Tent will be overseen by Khadijah Tillman, LCSW-R, and the theme is “MIND Your Health.” Partnering and working closely with the Sankofa Family Counseling Services and other agencies, for this one-day event, there will be discussion on mental health awareness and health risks that affects communities of color and disbursement of literature on these subjects. Also, healthy food and snacks will be provided to individuals and families that participate. Lastly, there will be various activities that promote healthy living, exercise and physical activities such as dancing, and much more.

For more information visit Panaffestival.org/festivalevents SEE YOU SOON!!

After the film, there will be a post-screening panel discussion about "Black Barbie."

Tickets available online in advance or at the box office day of the screening.

The Little Theatre is at 240 East Ave., East End District, Rochester, New York.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m., film at 7:30 p.m. For details, go to https://thelittle.org/black-barbie/

IT’S A COOKOUT, VENDING, RAFFLE EVENT!

Ms. Katie’s Hair Boutique

1071 Portland Ave.

When: August 4th & 5th

11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Who: Local Vendors, Professional Hair Dressers, Community Volunteers, Voter Registration

Events: Raffle for “Free Silk Press“

* 2 tickets for $5 or * 3 tickets for $5 (If you donate a new pair of socks towards our “Sock Drive for City School students). For vending opportunities contact Diane Techeney at 585-329-7963

Memorable Silhouettes & Collectibles

The Ghanian Womba Africa Drummers.

Brown Announces More New Appointments

Mayor Brown has named Oswaldo Mestre, Jr. as one of his senior advisors and changed his title from Director of Citizen Services to Executive Director of Citizens Services.

He also announced that Michael J. DeGeorge, who most recently served as Mayor Brown’s Communication’s Director, has been appointed as senior advisor to the mayor.

In their new roles DeGeorge and Mestre will advise Mayor Brown and his Senior Staff on major initiatives that further improve the lives of City residents and effectively communicate the city’s vision and goals. They will continue to oversee their previous departments, including the Mayor’s Office of Communications and the Division of Citizen Services, respectively.

The appointments follow a number of key appointments made by Mayor Brown recently including Rashied McDuffie, Esq who was named Deputy Mayor of Operations,; Callie Johnson, PhD Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement; Michael Marcy was named Mayor Brown’s Chief of Staff; Jessica M. Smith is serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, and Bernadette Taylor, Office Manager of the Mayor’s Office.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT!

Fruitbelt Coalition aka Fruit of The City to Celebrate National Night Out

The Fruitbelt Coalition, aka Fruit of the City, along with the William-Emslie YMCA and other participating sponsors, will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1 from 5- 8 p.m. at the William-Emslie YMCA, 585 William Street. RAIN OR SHINE! National Night Out, which is celebrated annually on the first Tuesday in August, is a nation wide event which is designed to enhance the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. RSVP for all group participants and additional information please contact, Fruit of the city150 Maple Street, (716) 8455440. Volunteers are needed!

JAMM BLOCK Club and BFNC National Night Out

Pridgen Assures Congregation, Community

This past Sunday morning Bishop Darius Pridgen was back in the pulpit of his beloved True Bethel Baptist Church.

It had been a life changing week for the popular and powerful religious leader and politician.

The front page headline in the Buffalo News on July 20 sent shock waves through the community: “Pridgen Accused of Sex Abuse in Parishioner’s Suit.”

Claiming his innocence from day one he said he initially found out about the lawsuit from the media.

The word spread quickly, and a lot happened in a matter of days.

On Saturday, July 22, a follow up headline declared: “Claimant Now Denies Pridgen assaulted her.”

Many people, not only in his church, but throughout out the community were wondering what he would say on Sunday morning.

“Number one thank you,” he told his followers.

“ After 29 years you know I would never, ever disrespect God’s house.”

He said he “wrestled with God on day number one…when I woke up my life was forever changed…(and) I have to publicly apologize to God because I was disrespectful.”

In his despair he cried out “God where are you? I did this for 29 and years and you’re telling me you’ve left me down here by myself?”

He said in the middle of his “disrespectful argument with God” he received a phone call and a friend asked how he was doing. “ I said I’m arguing with God. But God ain’t arguing back and they said ‘God ain’t arguing you back because he’s already working on your behalf.’ ”

“A couple of hours later I got a phone call that I just never thought I would get,” he continued. “Someone put me in touch with someone….that someone had talked to a few reporters…and that person (his accuser was on the phone ) said to me and to her pastor ‘I’ve never met you I’ve only been to True Bethel for a funeral,“ denying that anything ever happened.

He said he could not go into detail because the issue has yet to be legally resolved.

The attorney for the Buffalo woman is Antigone Curis of New York City. She recently claimed that her client is being harassed by the media.

-I Ain’t Stepping Down”-

When the news first broke he said reporters asked him if he planned to step down from the church and resign from the Common Council.

“At that point honestly I was so lost and in such a fog but after I … found out that He (God) was working (on my behalf) I do have an announcement…” he said Sunday.

“Hell no I ain’t stepping down! I’m stepping up! You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

He proceeded to preach his sermon, touching on the lessons Job, the Crucifixion, betrayal, faith , suffering and redemption and the key to successfully maneuvering between a rock and a hard place.

“I was born on purpose with a purpose to keep leading…keep working, even when you're caught between a rock and a hard place…” he stated.

Enslavement Was Not On The Job Training

Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis recently defended a hard-right, racist school curriculum that went into effect in his state of Florida in particular one that teaches that enslavement benefited Black people and taught them skills and crafts; ignoring the evils of slavery. Enslavement was in fact brutal and inhumane and its ramifications still impact Black people to this day. It was not "On The Job Training. "An example follows.

400 Black Men, Women and Children Sold at Largest Slave Auction in the South

One of the largest slave auctions that was ever held in the South took place during a two-day slave auction that occurred in Savannah, Ga., in 1859 .The enslaved Africans put on the block belonged to Pierce Butler, who needed to sell more than 400 Black men, women and children in order to satisfy his creditors.

For the world he continued, “the rock is an obstacle, the rock is a place that stops you, a place that hurts you, a place that blocks you, but I got some believers in here that knows Matthew 16:8 ‘Upon this Rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’

“In times like these we need an anchor…this solid Rock is Jesus.”

“When you’re in between a hard place and a rock…I go to the rock… of my salvation . I go to the stone that the builders rejected…Go to the rock. The rock will lead you. The rock will guide you , the rock will keep you, the rock will free you…”

A Northern journalist who attended the auction wrote of the skilled slaves that “their knowledge of various trades sold in some cases for nearly as much as the man — that is, a man without a trade, who would be valued at $900, would readily bring $1,600 or $1,700 if he was a passable blacksmith or cooper.”

The enslaved were housed

JAMM Block Club, (Jefferson Adams, Madison and Monroe Streets on the East Side and The Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers (BFNC) is observing National Night Out August 1 from 5:30 to 8 :30 p.m. at Westminister Community House 421 Monroe St. for an evening of food, fun and games connecting with neighbors and law officials who serve the community. Residents are invited to come out get to know each other and consider joining JAMM if they live in the area. Continued Page 10

Oswaldo Mestre

"I Ain't Stepping Down! I'm Stepping Up!"

HEALTH MATTERS Healing Together: Mental Health & Trauma in Communities of Color

Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers and Positive Steps Consulting are hosting the Free seminar on July 29 from 9am – 12pm (Breakfast will be provided) at Mt. Olive Baptist Church 701 East Delavan Ave.

Community Holds “Menthol Funeral”

-Pastor George Nicholas

Tobacco-Free Erie Niagara (TFEN) recently partnered with community organizations and residents to raise awareness about the tobacco industry’s notorious, targeted marketing of mentholated tobacco products to inner-city Black and Brown communities since the 1950s by hosting a full-blown “Menthol Funeral” service. The lively and energetic ceremony honored those who lost their lives to smoking-related diseases and bidding a farewell to Menthol tobacco.

Around 70 people gathered to pay their respects at the funeral service, which was filled with powerful spoken word musical selections, scripture readings, and a touching eulogy dedicated to Menthol. Community leaders, Pastor George F. Nicholas and Pastor Alan Core, delivered heartfelt speeches.

"I usually always find good things to say about the deceased, but in this case, I have NOTHING good to say about Menthol," said Pastor Nicholas. It was a powerful and emotional moment, which brought those in attendance to their feet. The casket, draped with various menthol tobacco products, was donated by Rev. Core and was ceremoniously carried away as Menthol was laid to rest.

During the event attendees passed by the casket, cheering and saying “good riddance” to menthol flavored tobacco products. Tobacco Free New York’s statewide campaign, “Not Just Menthol,” messaging lined the walls and tables at the funeral amplifying that menthol is not just a flavor. It was a beautiful service!

“Menthol is not just a flavor, it is a manipulative way for Big Tobacco to target, attract and addict Black Americans because menthol makes it easier to start smoking, and harder to quit, said Rashawn Smalls. “85% of Black smokers smoke menthol, and that is not by coincidence. There are up to 10 times more tobacco ads in Black neighborhoods than in others.”

The focus of the “Not Just Menthol” campaign is on Big Tobacco’s ongoing, targeted marketing of menthol tobacco products to the Black community, the focus is NOT on smokers,” said Amanda Hucksoll. “It’s Not Just” invites people to come together to uplift and liberate the Black community from the burden of menthol and health disparities, she added.

“I’m constantly around that mess the big tobacco industry pours into my culture and community in both subtle, and blatant ways. My parents were also exposed to this mess, who were exposed by their parents, and so on,” said Jah’Asya Cannon, Reality Check Youth Leader.” To think that the tobacco, like that in tobacco products that line shelves today, were once picked by my black ancestors when they were forced into slavery to fuel the tobacco trade is heartbreaking and evil. I am just one person, a youth, in a world of billions of people. My community is plagued by billion-dollar companies that want to keep exploiting us through any means possible. We can and will continue to fight back.”

The Faith based community is invited to join the conversation and help create solutions to help our community.

The workshop is created for faith-based community leaders and members, grassroots leaders, behavioral health providers, and volunteers and caregivers that will provide resources and support in addressing mental wellness, and trauma in communities of color.

The workshop includes keynote speaker, Dr. Myra Mathis, MD. Panelists include Charles Anthony Rice, Pastor Shannon Carter and Rev. Jeff E. Carter Jr.

To register Email hisom@ bfnc.org or register on EVENTBRITE at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/ healing-together-faith-community-role-or-responsibility-in-mental-wellness-tickets670462991857?aff=oddtdtcreator

Walking Through Solutions Soft Launch Event July 28

Walking Through Solutions is a minority and women owned business based in the City of Buffalo offering mental health counselling, relationship bootcamps, and education.

The free soft launch is Friday, July 28 from 4:30pm - 7:30pm At Princessa's Art Studio & Gallery 1271 Hertel Ave. Come and hear about our upcoming couples bootcamp designed to strengthen intimacy, embrace vulnerability, and improve communication.

Founded by therapists LaShawn Davis, LMSW and Déja Middlebrook, LMSW, JD Walking through solutions offers individual , couples and family therapy. FREE event and giveaways.

“I usually always find good things to say about the deceased, but in this case, I have NOTHING good to say about Menthol."

Pictured: Pastor Nicholas during his eulogy for the Menthol Funeral

AUGUST 1ST SUPER MOON!

This month there will be two Supermoons!

August’s first full SUPERMOON of the month will appear on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 1, 2023 in Aquarius. That evening, look toward the south-east after sunset to catch a glimpse of the Sturgeon Supermoon rising!

This breathtaking lunar phenomenon will be visible in the southeast sky right after sunset, so make sure to mark your calendars. Get ready to witness a spectacular super moon sight! Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the beauty of nature at its finest.

Each one of us is beginning the quest as a collective to learn how to integrate mindfulness into such a busy world. We keep seeking and peeling away the layers to find the clearest version of the divine in a modern world.

We are full of energy and know we are ready to make a step further. Using the energy of the Sturgeon Moon we can connect better with each other and look for people who share the same interests as us!

Great waves of life are flowing all around us at this time. August is a powerful month of releasing and reevaluating your life. It’s time to let go of anything that is holding you back because you want to be open and ready for the new energies that are coming in at this point in the year.

When you clear out the old you are signaling The Universe that you are ready to embrace all that is vibrant and new. Start With:

•Cleansing Your Spirit •Clean out closets and drawers

•Clean off the clutter around your sleeping area •Clean out old papers and receipts •Cleanse and charge your crystals and jewelry

The theme of this full Moon is one of gratitude and giving back. The Full Moon is the time of greatest power and the perfect night for spiritual work, giving thanks, and rituals as it’s a night where energy is in abundance.

At the end of the month, Wednesday August 30 into August 31, the second Supermoon – a Blue Supermoon - will peak at 9:36 a.m. This supermoon will be the biggest we see all year!

-Cherokee Billie

Oishei Fellowship for Leaders of

Color Program Celebrates its Fifth Year, Offering a Rigorous Leadership Training Program Held in Partnership with Rockwood Leadership Institute

The John R. Oishei Foundation invites WNY leaders of color in the nonprofit field to apply for the Karen Lee Spaulding Oishei Fellowship for Leaders of Color, a rigorous leadership training program focused on both personal and organizational leadership skills.

The application process is open now through August 10. For more information please contact Kim LaVare atkim@clemetinegoldgroup.com or (716) 222-2750.

Now in its fifth year, the program was developed and is hosted by the Oishei Foundation in partnership with the Oakland, California-based Rockwood Leadership Institute. The Fellowship training will take place in October 16-20 at Beaver Hollow Event and Conference Center after a comprehensive vetting process for applicants this summer. The deadline to apply is August 10, 2023, to be considered.

More than 100 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) nonprofit professionals have participated in the Fellowship and continue to network and learn together. In follow-up assessments of the program, current Fellows have characterized the training as “transformational” and “lifechanging” and have commented that it has led to new and strengthened relationships among their peers.

Named in honor of Karen Lee Spaulding, who retired in 2021 as Vice President of Philanthropic Support, the program was developed in response to a need for leadership development in the nonprofit sector in Western New York, particularly for people of color, and is part of the Foundation’s commitment to advancing racial equity.

PROFILE

MODEL BEHAVIOR! Pictured above is the pretty and talented team of professionals who make up Model Behavior Salon, which recently held its grand opening at 3076 Bailey Avenue (inside No Cap Barber Shop). From left (front row) Lakisha Sudduth, Marianna Walker and Kimarah Bolden; (back) Ericka Humphrey and Brittany Harper. (It’s a family affair! Marianna, Kimarah and Brittany are cousins and Ericka is the daughter of owner Eric Humphrey). The establishment specializes in short cuts and color, braids, locks, facials, beard treatments, make up, waxing and full body wax. Ericka also sells body scrubs and candles. The business prides itself on being "judgement and drama free," family oriented and “very professional.” Children are welcome! For more information or to make an appointment call (716) 812-2512. Challenger Photo

“Knowing when to stop, you can avoid any danger.”

-Tao Te Ching

ONE IN CHRIST! Taking the ministry beyond the pulpit, Bishop Frederick Gelsey and his One In Christ Church, located at 940 Fillmore is providing FREE COMMUNITY MEALS in conjunction with Friends of the Night People every Saturday at the Church on the corner of Broadway and Fillmore from 2-5 p.m. Pictured in the group shot from left is Evangelist Anita, Deacon Roderick, Sister Ernestine volunteer Brenda and Bishop Gelsey. Profiling in front of the table is First Lady Lydia Gelsey! They'll returm Aug. 5! Challenger Photo

"New Jail" For Erie County? Reparations for Black People? What's Your View?

Our meeting last month, considered the “new jail” that has been proposed by the Erie County Legislature. This month’s meeting will consider where we stand currently. There have been two Community Town Hall meetings at the Merriweather Library where we have had an opportunity to express our views on how millions of dollars may be better spent on the community’s need for better mental health care, education, housing, decarceration and more. In June, when the County Executive announced the building of a new jail, with a $2.5 million dollar allocation for “site acquisition, engineering, and architectural work,” some of us balked at spending our tax payer dollars for this purpose. No one asked us how we felt about this allocation. There will be a third Community Town Hall very soon. Keep your eyes and ears open. Our voices matter!

Next we considered the issue of reparations for Black people. What’s your view? Several states have taken steps toward granting reparations to Black citizens. They are Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, California, and New York. All have recognized the many ways that the Government of the United States has denied “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness“ to Black people since Slavery. Both the NYS Senate and Assembly have said “YES” to a reparation bill that is now in the hands of Gov. Kathy Hochul who has vowed to establish a commission to study what reparations should look like. How do you feel about reparations for Black Americans in NYS? Call the Governor and let her know. Or send a message online. PHONE: 518-474-8390. www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form.

Our meetings are always open to the public. What do you think about the possibility of a new jail in Erie County? Join the conversation. What do you think about reparations for Black people? The Governor is waiting to hear from you. Express yourself by writing or calling and make a difference.

Join us on MONDAY, JULY 31, 2023, at the RAFI GREEN CENTER, 1423 Fillmore Ave. @ corner of Glenwood Ave. in Buffalo, NY, 7:00 – 9:00pm. More info: 716-834-8438; 716-4915319.

Board of Elections Recruiting Election Workers for November

As the final phase of electronic book deployment begins for the Tuesday, Nov. 7 general election, the Erie County Board of Elections is launching a major effort to recruit and train election workers, particularly in the City of Buffalo.

The BOE began using e-poll books for voter check-in for the fall 2019 early voting cycle. Since then, e-poll book use has expanded to Primary and Election days, and deployment has occurred in most communities across Erie County.

Commissioners Ralph M. Mohr and Jeremy J. Zellner explained that the pandemic and need to expand the BOE’s facilities at 134 W. Eagle St. made it necessary to wait to make the transition to e-poll books in Buffalo.

“This has been a time of dramatic change on many levels for the Board of Elections and for the voters of Erie County, and I am proud of the way our staff and the public have met so many challenges,” Zellner said. “Our challenge now is equipping every polling place in Buffalo, and every community we serve, with well-trained workers to ensure fair, efficient elections in November.” Poll workers, also called inspectors, are the BOE’s primary public liaisons during elections, greeting voters and assisting them with each step as they cast their ballots.

Inspectors are paid $25 for training, $156 for a full day of early voting, and $250 for a full Election Day. Classes begin in August, and those interested in applying may visit elections. erie.gov/ElectionWorker. Applicants enrolled in the Democratic Party may call 716-8586294 or email justin.colston@erie.gov. Applicants enrolled in the Republican Party may call 716-858-4982 or email anne.desiderio@erie.gov.

Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church to Celebrate Silver Jubilee And Inauguration of St. Mary Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church

The Silver Jubilee celebration of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, Diocese of North America And Inauguration of St. Mary Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church of Buffalo will be held on Sunday August 6 between 10am and 3pm at St. Mary Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, 124 Macamley Street Buffalo.

Entertainment PINE GRILL JAZZ REUNION CELEBRATES 34 YEARS!

Central Terminal Summer Concert Series: Another Week of Good Music on the Great Lawn

The Buffalo Central Terminal is proud to host the second installation of the new 'Central Terminal Summer Concert Series' on Thursday, July 27th from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on the Great Lawn.

Local artists Jukeboxxx Band, a neo soul and funk band featuring Cal Parmer, Anthony Payne, Brandon Sherman, and Harp Sinclair and showstopping vocal talents of Kimera Lattimore best known for being a singer, songwriter, producer, and vocal coach are set to rock the Great Lawn with R&B, neo soul, funk, and gospel inspired performances.

Live music will be joined by local food and beverage from Buffalo Brewing Co. and the Mad Sauces food truck.

Central Terminal Summer Concert Series are completely free and held on the Buffalo Central Terminal Great Lawn located at 495 Paderewski Drive.

The 2023 season of events at the Buffalo Central Terminal is sponsored by East Side Avenues, KeyBank, Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski, Legislator Howard Johnson, Lawley Insurance, Moog, Inc., and Beau Fleuve Music & Arts. For information and event updates, please visit the Buffalo Central Terminal website at www.buffalocentralterminal.org/ events/.

On August 6 & 13 beginning at 2:00 p.m., our community will once again explode with the 34th Pine Grill Jazz Reunion. MLK Park will be jumping, swinging, dancing, eating and greeting our old and new friends and relatives. The concerts end at 9:00 p.m. on each Sunday.

The 34th season line up is as follows: Adorning the stage Week 1 will be Bobby Bonner Review, Will Holton Review, Master T, Samuel Walker, Annetta M. Williams, and Uncle Willie. Week 2 will feature Nia Badger, Brian Freeman & Friends, Jeanetter Harris & David Stevens, Intuition, Kenyada Nikile, and Old School B. Boys.

For additional info contact Dorothea Baxter Hughes at (716)884-2013 or Africancultural350@gmail.com.

A Fantasy Whale Tale About Oceans and Working Together for the Love of Our Planet

The Whale Speaks is an original production presented for one night only on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Shea’s 710 Theater. The story is told using original music, choreography, and dialogue inspired by various poetic forms written by poet, Celeste Lawson, music by Daniel Haskin and choreography by Robin Hibbert and Dominic Giambra. The cast of nine includes Mary Craig, Joyce Carolyn, Verneice Turner, Kerrykate AbelSmith, Joy Scime, Sonia Angeli, John Vines, David Landrey, Shawnell Tillery and VerNia Gavin. Tickets at sheas.org/performances/the-whale-speaks or call the Shea’s Box Office at (716)847.0850 for more info.

Queen City Jazz Festival Saturday July 29th Downtown Buffalo

Get your chairs ready for the 19th Annual Queen City Jazz Festival features Acclaimed artists Gerald, Albright, Spyro Gyra and local musicians like pianist and producer Rod Bonner, The Damone Jackson Outcome led by drummer Damone Jackson and the GLVT Love Xtreme jazz ensemble led by seasoned musician Gregory Treadwell to celebrate The Colored Musicians Club and Buffalo’s Iconic History of Jazz on Saturday July 29th. The festival starts at 1pm and is free to the public. Attendees should definitely bring chairs. For info visit thecoloredmusiciansclub.com

JAZZ NIGHT RETURNS!

Jazz Night returns to the Friends Inc. @ Dorothy J. Collier Community Center, 118 E. Utica, Friday July 28 from 6-8 p.m. Enjoy live music, delicious food and more. THIS IS A FREE EVENT

Sponsored by AARP. For more information call (716)882-0602 www.dorothyjcolliercommunitycenter. com

Save The Date

The Colored Musicians Club presents the Wooten Brothers in concert Saturday October 14t At Villa Maria College. More info forth coming !

“If you want to know the end, look at the beginning.”

Kimera Lattimore

Jukeboxxx

'THE WHALE SPEAKS" CAST

-African Proverb

Pappy Martin Jazz Fest Continues This Sunday Afternoon

This Sunday, July 30, Part

Kuleta Pamoja Marketplace Keeping The Spirit of “Coming Together” Alive Every Saturday On Jefferson Avenue

It’sthe 4th year that Cedric Holloway Director of the Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion and his cousin Latesha Wiley who serves as Community Outreach Associate for the organization, arehosting the largest weekly summer marketplace in the heart of the East Side community.

They call it KULETA PAMOJA which is Swahili and means coming together. Located on Jefferson Avenue in front of the Johnnie B. Wiley Pavilion, along the sidewalk as well as the parking lot is where weekly marketplace activities are in full swing, Cedric and Latesha, along with volunteers, bring this spirited community engaging marketplace every Saturday now through September 2nd from 9am-4pm rain or shine.

Not your average market place, Kuleta Pamoja is a movement to improve opportunities not only for vendors but for the community consumer to support Black business. It's keeping Jefferson avenue buzzing with positive energy, fellowship and commerce for us and by us making buying Black and local, a centerpiece for growth in the area.

“The market provides a reliable venue for our people, the folks who sell and the folks who buy in our neighborhood with hopes they can grow their business further,” said Cedric. Kuleta Pamoja offers a variety of community food vendors, small businesses and youth entrepreneurs. There’s a fruit and veggies sale from the African Heritage Food Co-Op which is also a good way to support the organization! There is scheduled entertainment from local artists and easy access to community information and resources provided by the Buffalo Urban League. Every Saturday morning there is exercise for the mind body and soul with a variety of group workouts starting with Body of Wealth Bootcamp sponsored by Highmark at 9a.m. and Zumba by Best Self at 10a.m. as well as Yoga. This Saturday, July 29 is Caribbean Day from 9a.m.-4p.m.

“It brings life to Jefferson Avenue. I see so much potential for the area with all that goes on from Friday afternoons in front of Johnnie B. Wiley with Massachusetts Avenue Project’s mobile veggie market and Best Self offering their services between 3:30-5p.m., to Friday Night Live that Marnetta Malcolm started that happens down the road from us on Utica and Jefferson in the evenings to Saturdays at the Kuleta Pamoja marketplace for a full day of folks walking up, passing through and supporting these great and often unique vendors. We have with handmade goods, food and more” said Holloway,

“ I hope what we are all doing will inspire others to become active and invest more activities that the community can benefit from as well year round.”

If you are interested in donating giveaways for the Kuleta Pamoja Marketplace or want to become a vendor ( fee is a mere $30 ) call (716) 390-0075, If you want to speak with Cedric Holloway about how to come together and further expand the market place or other ideas give him a call at the Pavilion (716) 885-8500.

Upcoming events for Kuleta Pamoja include:

July 29- Caribbean Day

Aug. 1-National Night Out

Aug. 5- Health Fair

Aug. 6- Vegan Fest

Aug. 12 & 13- East Side Taste of Buffalo

Aug. 19- Backpack GiveAway/Kids Day

Aug. 26 -Job Fair/Step Show

Sept 2 -Veterans Parade

Sept. 3- Teen Block Party Follow @Johnnie B Wiley on Facebook and visit their website johnniebwiley.org for updates.

2 of the Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz festival continues its legacy of excellence with performances by revered saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and renowned bassist Curtis Lundy and Umoja. Also, Odyssey, The Love Supreme School of Music, and Brian Freeman.

SAIBO African Imports, above, is just one of the geat vendors at the Jefferson Avenue Market.

A Salute In Memory of The Life, Legacy And Service Of Katherine "Kat" Massey

Katherine “Kat” Massey, like the nine other precious souls we lost in the Tops Massacre May 14, 2022, was taken from us all too suddenly, all too soon, at the hands of a hateful racist with a gun.

Born July 30, 1949, to Robert and Katie Massey, she was the oldest of five children: Robert Jr., Barbara, Warren, and Patti. Kat would have turned 74 this week.

A true community advocate and dedicated contributor to the editorial pages of the Challenger, we miss her words and honor her memory. Ironically, the last article Kat submitted talked about the proliferation of guns and violence in our community and how she hoped that something would be done about it. She was an exemplary human being who loved her culture, her community and her people.

The footprints of Kat's love, service and precious memories are forever etched in the hearts of her family and all those who loved, honored and respected her. In memory of her indelible warrior spirit, we will continue to strive for HARAMBEE (“Let’s all pull together”)!

Sharing My Personal Healing Journey

Let me take you on a little journey on getting my health back in order. About 5 years ago I had to undergo a surgical procedure that probably could have been prevented. Although I was not eating all bad foods, my eating habits were not all that great.

I was tipping the scale at 253 pounds, over weight and very much out of shape. One day I started feeling abdominal pains, minor at first, then after a couple days the pain increased drastically. By the third day I was on the way to the emergency room.

After a few days in the hospital I had to undergo exploratory surgery. There it was discovered I needed an appendectomy.

Could healthy dietary habits have prevented this?

After consulting with my nephew Jamel Werts, a health fanatic / guru, he introduced me to juicing, herbal teas etc. The one key health item Jamel introduced me to was whole cloves!

It turns out that if you take a few cloves and steep them in a cup of hot water and add a little honey for taste, the health benefits are extraordinary. Clove water can help improve digestion and relieve gas and bloating. It can also help to detoxify the body and boost the immune system.

Again this was my personal journey and I’m not suggesting that it works for everyone, but I did research on this little spice. It is an inflammatory and an antioxidant and provides many nutrients that help in controlling sugar (which can help in weight loss) , reduce cholesterol, improve bone, liver, and gastric health, reduce pain, reduce risks of heart disease and cancer, and is also good for oral health.

Please be mindful that if you are on medication, you should always contact your physician before embarking on something new, as some medications may interact negatively with various herbs. And clove OIL can have serious adverse side effects.

After steeping whole cloves and soaking cloves in mason jars and using the clove infused water to make my smoothies I am now proud to say that my weight is down from two hundred and fifty-three pounds to two hundred and twenty six since several days ago. I no longer have to take heart burn medication every day anymore. My Prediabetic numbers are going down as well as my cholesterol levels are too. My blood pressure has improved greatly as well.

In addition to my nephew Jemel’s clove remedy, my big brother Ross gave me a can of Matcha green tea, a dried tea powder. The benefits of Matcha green tea is also to help in weight loss and is said to be good for your heart.

Since I changed my lifestyle of eating, I feel very good. I try not to eat too much red meat or animal products. I eat more fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. Staying away from canned foods is also very important and has been very helpful.

So people, eat to live, eat healthy and stay healthy! I'm just getting started, and already a living testament to the benefits of health choices and clean eating.

I'm Just Saying...

President Biden Signs Proclamation Establishing National Monument Honoring Emmett Till

by NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent Stacy M. Brown

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation on , July 25, establishing a national monument honoring Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black teenager whose tragic lynching in 1955 ignited a nationwide outcry against racial injustice and discrimination.

Named the “Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument,” the historic memorial will span three sites in Illinois and Mississippi, symbolizing locations that played a central role in Till’s heartbreaking story.

“The new monument will protect places that tell the story of Emmett Till’s too-short life and racially motivated murder, the unjust acquittal of his murderers, and the activism of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who courageously brought the world’s attention to the brutal injustices and racism of the time, catalyzing the civil rights movement,” White House officials explained.

Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, two white men, allegedly kidnapped, brutally beat, and lynched him for allegedly whistling at a white woman.

The men’s trial, which occurred before an all-white jury, ended in their acquittal, sparking outrage and disbelief nationwide.

However, in a later interview with Look Magazine, Bryant and Milam admitted their responsibility for Till’s heinous murder, revealing the justice system’s deeply flawed and biased nature during that era.

As Till’s story continued to gain national attention, the brave actions of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, became a driving force behind the Civil Rights Movement. She insisted that her son’s casket remain open during the funeral, allowing the world to witness the brutality of racial violence and the stark realities of America’s rampant racism.

Photographs of Till’s battered and mutilated body were published in Jet Magazine, impacting the collective consciousness, and mobilizing people across the nation to fight against racial injustice.

Earlier this year, Carolyn Bryant Donham, the white woman whose false accusation against Till triggered the events leading to his lynching, died at the age of 88. Donham passed away in Westlake, Louisiana, while receiving hospice care, according to a death record from the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office.

President Biden’s decision to establish the national monument is seen as crucial to acknowledging and preserving the painful history of racial violence in the United States. By commemorating Emmett Till’s life and the legacy of his courageous mother, the monument will serve as a reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those who fought for civil rights, and it will stand as a beacon of hope and a call to action against ongoing injustices.

Administration officials said the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument would symbolize resilience, progress, and the enduring fight for a more equitable society

BLACK HISTORY continued from page 3

during the auction in horse sheds, where prospective buyers could inspect, prod and poke the merchandise. During the auction, bidders demanded that the auctioneer strip a pregnant Black woman naked. “What’s the fault of the gal? Ain’t she sound? Pull off her rags and let us see her.”

Thirty babies, one just a few days old, went on the block and sold for around $100 each as long-term investments, because their value to the buyers would presumably increase each year until they became adults.

This auction was actually considered more humane than others, because many of the babies were sold with their mothers. When the auction ended, young couples were torn from each other’s arms and some enslaved Africans began the journey to the killing fields of the rice plantations farther south. Butler earned $300,000 from the auction. The only one who realized a personal benefit from their “skills “was Pierce Butler — first as the plantation owner and then as the seller at the auction.

are you registered to VOTE?

Katherine “Kat” Massey

John Smith Became A Peacemaker The Hard Way

By I’Jaz Ja’ciel/Investigative Post

John Smith became a Peacemaker the hard way.

Born in a prison — his mother was an inmate — he was given a generic name because his parents weren’t available to name him or sign his birth certificate. As a youth he bounced around “every foster home on the East Side,” then killed a bystander in a botched hit job at the age of 17. Instead of attending college on a basketball scholarship, he spent 27 years in prison.

"My background, definitely different. From the streets to prison to now,” he told Investigative Post. "I’ve been cut, stabbed, whatever you can think of. Beat up by police, the whole nine,” Smith said. “But the most beautiful thing about all of that is that the journey brought me here. The journey brought me back to where I started, just with a better outlook about where I came from.”

After he was released from prison two years ago at the age of 48, Smith joined the Buffalo Peacemakers, formed in response to a 2007 shooting at a Juneteenth celebration. It’s an umbrella organization of six groups that employs 34 on a part-time basis, along with up to a dozen volunteers.

Officially founded in 2012, the Buffalo Peacemakers Youth Violence and Gang Intervention Program evolved from monitoring community events to establishing a presence at schools, transit stations, libraries and the streets of some neighborhoods. Peacemakers like Smith work to mentor young people, monitor public spaces and diffuse potentially volatile situations.

“They’ve definitely stopped many fights at the train stations with a lot of kids, they stop a lot of violence, help the community out,” said Myah Durham, 16, a student at the Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School. Indeed, the Peacemakers have their work cut out for them. As Investigative Post reported in 2021, Buffalo is one of the most violent mid-sized cities in the nation.

Buffalo’s violent crime rate - murders, rapes, assaults and robberies — ranked 12th worst among 79 cities with a population between 200,000 to 500,000, according to FBI crime data. While crime occurs citywide, much of it happens on the East Side.

Schools are not immune, as evidenced by a shooting and stabbing last year at McKinley High School, where Smith interacts with students outside the school five days a week during the school year. While located on Elmwood Avenue on the West Side, many of its students live on the East Side. Fifty-five percent of students are Black, 20 percent Hispanic or Latino. Nearly one in four students have been suspended this year alone — and McKinley’s suspension rate is only the fifth worst in the district.

Smith’s Story

Smith said he and his younger brother spent their childhood in numerous foster homes on the East Side before being reunited with their mother for a spell. “I went to school one day, came home, she left,” Smith said. “[She] left a note for me and my brother, and she slid. Once she left, we had to fend for ourselves, and that was it. I was in high school, he was in grammar school.”

Smith nevertheless achieved success in school as a star basketball player, earning a scholarship to SUNY Fredonia. But at the age of 17, shortly after becoming a father, Smith shot and

killed a bystander in a hit job gone wrong. The mistake would cost him nearly three decades in correctional facilities across New York.

“From Sing Sing all the way back to Wende, I visited every single prison,” Smith said. Even still, he found ways to improve himself during his prison sentence.

While incarcerated, he earned a degree in psychology and authored a book, Tears From a Prison Yard, an account of his life behind bars and the effect it had on his family. Upon his release from prison, Smith joined the ranks of the Peacemakers.

Peacemakers and Related Programs

In 2007, Pastor James Giles assembled six violence prevention groups — Back to Basics Ministries, FATHERS, Stop the Violence Coalition, MAD Dads of Buffalo, No More Tears and Buffalo United Front — to serve as a volunteer force to police events and intervene with gang members. The coalition was initially called Community Peacemakers.

The group officially became the Buffalo Peacemakers Youth Violence and Gang Intervention Program in 2012, when Mayor Byron Brown and the Common Council provided a $325,000 grant. Funding has continued from the city, along with support from organizations including the John R. Oishei Foundation, the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation and the M&T Bank and its foundation.

J’anah Thurmond, 13, an 8th-grader at Harvey Austin School and another HEAT participant, said of Smith: “I think the best thing that he’s said to me before is that fighting really isn’t necessary, or you don’t always have to use your hands to win anything, or violence isn’t the answer; it doesn’t really solve anything.”

Role inThe Schools

The Peacemakers aren’t just at special events anymore. They’re embedded in the community as a less-intrusive alternative to police patrols, though the group also works with the department.

The Peacemakers have contracts with the City of Buffalo, the Erie County Public Library and Buffalo Public Schools, which hired Peacemakers for the Safe Passage program. Every weekday, Peacemakers guard 11 of what Giles calls “the most volatile schools,” including Burgard High School; Math, Science, & Technology Preparatory School; and East Community High School.

Smith’s role at McKinley — and the roles of four other Peacemakers and volunteers from the nearby neighborhood — is to interact with students entering and leaving the school. Smith’s biggest fear, he said, is saying goodbye to a student on Friday and not knowing if he’ll see them again on Monday.

“Saturday night, around 10, that’s when it happens. As soon as you hear those sirens, you’re like, ‘Yo, I hope that wasn’t one of mine.’ You don’t want it to be nobody’s. You don’t want it to be nobody’s, but it’s going to happen because of the way the city is. Not on my watch.”

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

Grant

For Braymiller Market Delayed By Common Council

Even though the loan/grant proposal for Braymiller Market was expected to be approved at the Common Council's session on Tuesday, July 25, the request was sent to the Buffalo Common Council's Committee Of The Whole. What this means is that the Councilmembers can call a special council meeting without holding a committee meeting, retrieve the Grant proposal and vote on it before they close for business and go on August Recess.

The reason the proposal was not voted on was because many Councilmembers were upset because the proposal to deliver 5.5 million dollars to small and minority businesses was flawed. It was flawed due to the fact that the City of Buffalo Office Of Strategic Planning put a stipulation on the Request For Application (RFA), that in order to manage the project, the successful awardee must be located in the City of Buffalo. The National Development Council ( NDC), which ultimately was chosen by Strategic Planning, was a company located in New York City.

Thanks to the watchful eye of North District Councilmember Joe Golombeck, the mistake was caught before the Council approved a contract that was not correct or possibly may have been illegal. There was a push by NDC to include the Buffalo Urban League and the Beverly Gray Resource Center as partners to fulfill the local component issue but the council president believed the best move would be to hold it in the Council Of The Whole until all Councilmembers' concerns are addressed.

To his credit, Council President Pridgen kept his word that he was withholding his vote on the Braymiller Market assistance until the commitment Mayor Byron Brown made to assist other small businesses was put in place.

"We need to get the American rescue plan money out to the streets, there are people who have been waiting for two years," Pridgen said. "I won't be pressed or pressured to move on something that even today, we were just receiving information, hours before the meeting."

By the time you read this column, the common council probably would have met and approved the monies for Braymiller Market as they must hold a special session before August 1 to vote on the ARPA measures.

But rest assured if that happens, the small businesses would at least have had a small seat at the money table.

It is truly refreshing to see Councilmembers such as Darius Pridgen, Rasheed Wyatt, Bryan Bowman, David Rivera and Joe Golombek fighting to make sure that small neighborhood businesses, in their respective districts, are not leaving that city hall economic table with an empty stomach.

Eating Fruit While Black…

A New Rochelle, N.Y., police officer shot Jarrell Garris, 37 on July 3 after he was accused of eating some grapes and a banana without paying, his family’s lawyer said. He later died from his wounds.

The New Rochelle Police Department said Mr. Garris was shot when he tried to grab a gun from an officer’s holster. It released body camera footage that shows the events leading up to the shooting but cuts off before it takes place. -NYT

John Smih

LEGAL NOTICE

Bid

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed proposals will be received by the Town Board of the Town of Cheektowaga until 11:00 am on the 9th day of August, 2023. All bids will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 am at the Town Hall Council Chambers, 3301 Broadway, Cheektowaga, New York 14227 for furnishing all labor, materials, tools, equipment and incidentals required for General Construction Work, Plumbing Work, HVAC Work and Electrical Work for the New Construction of the Police Classroom and Training Center located at 325 Scott Place, Cheektowaga, NY complete in place and ready for use in accordance with the Contract Documents, therefore, including Plans and Specifications, Instructions to Bidders, etc. prepared by Sutton Architecture, PLLC and Nussbaumer & Clark, Inc.

All proposals shall be submitted on the Proposal forms furnished herein, including any addenda, shall be submitted in a sealed envelope and addressed to the Town of Cheektowaga, 3301 Broadway, Cheektowaga, New York 14227, to the attention of Kimberly A. Burst, Town Clerk, and marked as “Police Classroom and Training Center (BID# 2023-25)” along w/ Contractor name, bid date, bid number and Bid Bond (5% of bid amount)

Bidding Documents will be made available on June 14th, 2023. Copies may be obtained at Avalon, 40 La Riviere Drive, Buffalo, NY 14202 (716) 995-7777, upon deposit of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per complete set. Checks shall be made payable to Town of Cheektowaga but sent to Avalon @ the above address. Contact Avalon in advance for pick up. Bidders requesting sets of Plans & Specifications to be mailed, shall include an additional thirty five ($35.00) per set for handling & postage. Check made payable to Avalon.

Any bidder returning the Bidding Documents in good condition within 10 business days following the bid opening will be refunded the full amount of the deposit. The deposit WILL NOT be returned to non-bidders. Material suppliers and anyone returning the Bidding Documents before the bid opening will be considered non-bidders. Any bidders requesting more than one (1) set of Bidding Documents, may purchase the excess, but it is understood that these are non-refundable.

The work shall be completed within 250 consecutive calendar days, to begin ten (10) days after the “Notice to Proceed” has been issued.

A pre-bid meeting will be held at the site at 9:00 a.m. on Monday June 26th, 2023.

An additional site visit may be made available upon request. No bidder may withdraw his bid within thirty (30) days after actual date of bid opening thereof.

The Town Board reserves the right to consider informal any bid not prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions of the specifications and contract documents, and may wave any informalities, make an award to other than the low bidder, should it be in the best interest of the Town, or reject any and all bids.

Please be advised that in accordance with a resolution adopted by the Cheektowaga Town Board on December 23, 2004, effective December 24, 2004, and as amended by Town Board Resolution dated February 23, 2008, contractors on all construction contracts with a value in excess of $1,000,000.00 and up to $3,000,000.00 must have Apprentice Agreements appropriate for the type and scope of work to be performed that have been registered with and approved by the NYS Commissioner of Labor in accordance with Article 23 of the New York Labor law.

In addition, New York General Municipal Law 101, known as Wick’s Law, provides that when the total

cost of contract work for the erection, construction, reconstruction, or alteration of a public building exceeds $500,000.00 or more, independent prime contractors must be used for

1). General Construction Work 2). Plumbing and gas fitting work; 3). Steam, hot water heating, ventilation and air conditioning work; and

4). Electrical wiring and illuminating fixtures work.

“This project was supported in whole or in part, by federal funds awarded to the County of Erie through the American Rescue Plan Act. As such it is subject to all federal rules and regulations pertinent thereto including, but not limited to, federal policy of encouraging the participation of minority and women business enterprises sources of suppliers, equipment, construction and services.”

Kimberly A. Burst

Town Clerk

DATED: June 14, 2023

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for Project No. 47435-H, comprising a contract for HVAC Work, Rehabilitate 2nd & 3rd Floor Latrines & Locker Rooms, State Armory, 27 Masten Avenue, Buffalo (Erie County), NY will be received by the Office of General Services (OGS), Design & Construction Group (D&C), Division of Contract Management, 35th Fl., Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242, on behalf of the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 when they will be publicly opened and read. Each bid must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and must be accompanied by a bid security (i.e. certified check, bank check, or bid bond in the amount of $22,800 for H).

All successful bidders will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Labor and Material Bond pursuant to Sections 136 and 137 of the State Finance Law, each for 100% of the amount of the Contract estimated to be between $500,000 and $1,000,000 for H.

Designated staff are Jessica Cook, Jessica Hoffman, and Pierre Alric in the Division of Contract Management, telephone (518) 474-0203, fax (518) 4737862.

Pursuant to Public Buildings Law § 8(6), effective January 11, 2020, for any projects where the project design commenced on or after January 1, 2020 and for any contracts over $5,000 for the work of construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any State building, a responsible and reliable NYS-certified Minority or Women-Owned Business Enterprise that submits a bid within ten percent of the lowest bid will be deemed the apparent low bidder provided that the bid is $1,400,000 or less, as adjusted annually for inflation beginning January 1, 2020. If more than one responsible and reliable MWBE firm meets these requirements, the MWBE firm with the lowest bid will be deemed the apparent low bidder.

LEGAL NOTICE Bid

COUNTY OF ERIE NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Rehabilitation of Clarksburg Road Bridge over Eighteen Mile Creek

PROJ# CAP-BR715-23

Department of Public Works, Division of Highways seeking sealed bids for bridge rehabilitation (BIN 3327890) over South Branch Eighteen Mile Creek. Sealed proposals will be received at Rath County Office Building, DPW, 95 Franklin St, Room 1419A, Buffalo, NY 14202 by, and opened at, 10:00 am local time, Thursday, August 10, 2023. Certified check in the amount of $85,000.00 bid deposit is required with the bid submittal. Pre-let meeting scheduled Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 9:00 am local time, on site at bridge location.

NYSDOL Wage Rates, NYS Vendor

Responsibility CCA-2 A/B/C, Local Minority, & Disadvantaged Workforce goals, NYS Apprenticeship, and MWBE goals may be required. Plans and additional bid submittal information on the Erie County website at: http: //www3.erie.gov/dpw see Online Bid Retrieval.

Return of the Worms…

Worms Haven't Lived in the Arctic Since the Last Ice Age. But Now, they're bac , taking over territory in the far North. Scientists say the unexpected presence of earthworms in the Far North could cause rapid changes in some of the planet’s most fragile ecosystems.NYT

PROBATE CITATION

File Number: 2022-858

SURROGATE COURTERIE COUNTY CITATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

By the grace of God, Free and Independent

TO: Michael Lewis, Calvin Lewis, Jr., Jamar Lewis, Monique Lewis, Marlena Lewis, Jenna Lewis, Albert Lewis, and Kari Lewis, if they be living, and if they dead to their heirsat-law, next of kin, distributees, if any such there be, all of whom and all whose names, ages, and places of residence and post office addresses are unknown to the Petitioner(s) and cannot after due diligence be ascertained, and HON. LETITIA JAMES, Attorney General of the State of New York, and to JENNIFER G. FLANNERY, Erie County Public Administrator.

A Petition having been filed by Lena Marie Lewis, who is domiciled at 106 Donovan Drive, Apartment B, BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14211.

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED to SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Erie County, at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York 14202 on August 23, 2023 at 11 o'clock in the fore noon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Evelyn Lewis lately domiciled at 526 William Street, Buffalo, New York 14206 admitting to probate a will dated September 24, 2020 (a codicil dated n/a) a copy of which is attached, as the Will of Evelyn Lewis deceased, relating to real and personal property and directing that:

Letters Testamentary to Lena Marie Lewis

Dated, Attested, and Sealed

July 7, 2023

Hon. Acea Mosey- Surrogate Linda C Novotny - Chief Clerk

Rashied H McDuffie, Esq.

Attorney for Petitioner 594 Winslow Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14211

July 20, 27 August 3.10

LEGAL NOTICE Bid

NFTA PROCUREMENT INVITATION TO BID 230042 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS HELP DESK AND CONSULTING SERVICES

Download documents at https:// www.nfta.com/departments/procurement

Project commenced design before January 1, 2020. Not subject to provision.

XX Project commenced design on or after January 1, 2020. Subject to provision.

As a condition of award, within five (5) days of receipt of the proposed Contract Agreement from the State, the apparent low bidder shall return the Contract Agreement to the State, properly executed, along with the Bonds if required by said Agreement. Low bidders who cannot meet these provisions may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture of the bid security

No pre-bid site visits have been scheduled for this project and prospective bidders are not allowed to visit the project site or facility buildings and grounds to take measurements or examine existing conditions.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Article 15-A and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, OGS is required to promote opportunities for the maximum feasible participation of New York State-certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (“MWBEs”) and the employment of minority group members and women in the performance of OGS contracts. All bidders are expected to cooperate in implementing this policy. OGS hereby establishes an overall goal of 30% for MWBE participation, 15% for Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (“MBE”) participation and 15% for WomenOwned Business Enterprises (“WBE”) participation (based on the current availability of qualified MBEs and WBEs). The total contract goal can be obtained by utilizing any combination of MBE and /or WBE participation for subcontracting and supplies acquired under this Contract. Trades with 0% goals are encouraged to make “good faith efforts” to promote and assist in the participation of MWBEs on the Contract for the provision of services and materials.

Article 3 of the Veteran’s Services Law provides for more meaningful participation in public procurement by certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (“SDVOBs”). Bidders are expected to consider SDVOBs in the fulfillment of the requirements of the Contract. Such participation may be as subcontractors or suppliers, as protégés, or in other partnering or supporting roles. OGS hereby establishes overall goals for SDVOBs’ participation under this contract as follows: 6% for the C trade contractor, 3% for the E trade contractor, 3% for the H trade contractor, and 3% for the P trade contractor, based on the current availability of qualified SDVOBs. Trades with 0% goals are encouraged to make “good faith efforts” to promote and assist in the participation of SDVOBs on the Contract for the provision of services and materials.

The Bidding and Contract Documents for this Project are available for viewing, downloading, and Electronic Bidding from OGS Design & Construction’s Electronic Bidding service, Bid Express. Registration along with viewing, downloading, and electronic bidding can be accessed at the following link: http://www.bidexpress.com

For questions about downloading of bid documents, please send an e-mail to support@bidexpress.com, or call the Bid Express toll-free number at (888) 352-2439.

For all other questions, please send an email to DCPlans@ogs.ny.gov, or call (518) 474-0203.

For additional information on this project, please use the link below and then click on the project number: https://online.ogs.ny.gov/dnc/contractorConsultant/esb/ESBPlansAvailableIndex.asp.

OGS Design & Construction Group

LLC 'S

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Che Butter Skin, LLC. Filed with SSNY on 04/03/2023. Office: Erie County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail copy to 264 Bryant St, Buffalo, NY 14222 Purpose: any lawful.

June 22,29, July 6,13,20,27

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

The Earverse LLC. Filed with SSNY on 05/31/2023. Office: Erie County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail copy to 346 Cable St, Buffalo, NY 14206. Purpose: any lawful.

June 22,29, July 6,13,20,27

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Fast Clean Car LLC. 290 Kenmore Ave Buffalo NY 14223. Erie County

Articles of Incorporation filling date 06-06-2023

July 13,20,27 August 3,10, 17

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

SECOND CHANCE CREATIONS

LLC filed Articles of Organization with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 6/21/23. Office location: Erie County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 31 LOXLEY RD, CHEEKTOWAGA, NY 14225 Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

July 27,Aug 3,10,17,24,31

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

CFP DELIVERY SERVICES LLC filed Articles of Organization with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 6/26/23. Office location: Erie County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 156 MILLICENT, BUFFALO, NY, 14215. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

July 27,Aug 3,10,17,24,31

TERRENCE D. McKELVEY

Attorney at Law

181 Franklin Street Suite #301 Buffalo, New York 14202

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Maliek Nomir, LLC. Filed with SSNY on 04/05/2023. Office: Erie County. SSNY designated as agent for process & shall mail copy to 346 Cable St, Buffalo, NY 14206. Purpose: any lawful.

June 22,29, July 6,13,20,27

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Jaali Cypher LLC filed Articles of Organization with the NY Dept.of State 5/21/2023 Office of the LLC: 501 Washington Street buffalo NY 14203 Apt 610. Erie County The NY Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served : Justin Smith NYSS may mail a copy of process to the LLC at 501 Washington Street buffalo NY 14203 Apt 610. Purpose: Representation of the Business that is done by JAALI CYPHER.

June 22,29, July 6,13,20,27

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Diagnosing Sitcoms & Movies Podcast LLC’s Articles of Organization were filed by the with the Secretary of State (SSNY) on 5/6/2023. Its office location is Erie County. Its purpose is any lawful purpose. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to the LLC at 10 Markus Dr. Buffalo, NY 14225.

June 22,29, July 6,13,20,27

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF A DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Lightning Rod Strategies, L.L.C.. Date of filing of Articles of Organization with the NY Dept. of State: 26 April, 2023. Office of the LLC: Erie County. The NY Secretary of State has been designated as the agent upon whom process may be served. NYSS may mail a copy of process to the LLC at (622 Tacoma Ave. Apt 1, Buffalo NY 14216). Purpose of LLC: Any lawful business for which limited liability companies may be organized under the laws of the State of New York. No specific duration attached to LLC.

July 20, 27, August 3, 10, 17, 24

NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NUMBERS

365-902-784-456-790-109-535-780-735-632-460-179106-801-634-610-235-780-456-900-954-436-578-789195-434-567-801-089-435-791-225-883-107-457-091534-361-798-670-108-357-091-054-679-809-195-698238-584-137-479-340-645-790-190-653-334-568-919784-546-894-769-234-145-136-044-074-347-092-651908-756-090-108-652-882-681-192-345-678-978-567786-846-675-677-147-790-052-453-132-824-314-328182-913-427-680-909-845-781-173-356-891-019-671-

MA RUTH SPEAKS THE TRUTH! SURE HITS!

168-985-678-198-256-890054-698-679-943-001-202-

147-001-865-732-855-648-

514-996-202

Aquarius -496-235-165-579

Pisces - 056-362-237-694

Cancer - 482-372-895-718

Aries - 289-946-034-594

Taurus -258-231-026-695

Gemini-495-257-694-508

Leo-345-213-157-201

Virgo 385-291-431-170

Libra -247-723-179-501

Scorpio - 453-253-571-597

Sagittarius389-701-234-924

Capricorn:893-275-342-506

MIDDAY

2-0-6 TAURUS (BOX)

5-3-4 ZR (STRAIGHT & BOX), JULY VIBES (BOX), LEO (BOX), SCOPRIO (BOX)

2-9-3 GAMMA’S (BOX), MADAM OZLLA’S (BOX)

1-9-0 ZR (BOX), JULY VIBES (BOX), LUCKIE DUCKIE (BOX), QUICK $ (BOX)

7-4-3 ZR (BOX), LUCKIE DUCKIE (STRAIGHT)

EVENING

5-2-2 LUCKIE DUCKIE (STRAIGHT), QUICK $ (STRAIGHT), ZR (BOX)

2-6-3 PISCES (BOX), ZR (BOX), JULY VIBES (BOX)

4-3-9 MA RUTH (BOX), QUICK $ (BOX)

9-4-5 GEMINI (BOX), ZR (BOX)

0-6-8 ZR (BOX), # BOOK (BOX)

0-9-2 ZR (BOX), # BOOK (BOX)

980-422-809-981989-970-990-080-800515-996-390-196-102581-752-319-408-378-

352-126-189-444-886514- 332-522-112-432421-423-154-039-524119-616-719-593-655-97-127-111-019-200120-339-303-889-900 007-013-590-698-888

AnthonyUSMCGreggs

Basic Training: Parris Island

M.O.S. 0331 Machine Gunner, 0151 Admin Clerk

Duty Stations: Okinawa Japan, Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THURS. JULY 27

WUFO Free Outdoor Movie, “Space Jam” 8:45 p.m; Market Place Vendors, performers 6-9p.m. 136 Broadway.

Meeting of Board of Trustees Brick Buffalo Academy Charter School, 5:30 p.m. King Urban Life Center 938 Genesee St.

Central Terminal Summer Concert 5-8 The Great Lawn FREE.( See page 8)

FRI. JULY 28

Jazz Night returns to the Friends Inc. @ Dorothy J. Collier Community Center, 118 E. Utica 6-8 p.m. FREE (716)882-0602

SAT. JULY 29

Queen City Jazz Fest, Lafyette Square downtown, 1 p.m. FREE See pg. 8.

Jefferson Avenue Market Place, Johnnie Wiley Stadium, All Day.(See pg. 9)

SUN. JULY 30

Pappy Martin Legacy Masten Jazz Festival 2 p.m.,

OPEN BUFFALO COLOR

RUN, all ages welcome, free, Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium, 12:30 p.m. (716)243-8777 to sign up.

MON.JULY 31

Hustle for Health 12pm at Gloria Parks: 3242 Main St, Buffalo. FREE for ages 55+ Visit www.HustleforHealth. com

AUGUST

TUES. AUG. 1 Fruitbelt Coalition, aka Fruit of the City, William-Emslie YMCA National Night Out on 4- 8 p.m. at the YMCA, 585 William Street. (716)8936438.

JAMM BLOCK Club and BFNC National Night Out 5:30 to 8 :30 p.m. at Westminister Community House 421 Monroe St..

Free Line Dance Class, Dorothy Collier Community Center, 118 E. Utica, BEGINNER 11a.m.-12p.m.; ADVANCED 12-1 p.m. (716)882-0602.

WED. AUG. 2

Hustle for Health 11am, Gloria Parks, 3242 Main St. FREE 55+ Visit www.HustleForHealth.com

FREE Movie Night at MLK Park, “Super Pets” 5:206:20p.m. Hosted by Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes.

THURS. AUG. 3

JOB FAIR AT NORTHLAND WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER, 683 Northland. (607)587-4025. (See their ad page 13)

MON. AUG. 7 Hustle for Health 12pm at Gloria Parks: 3242 Main St, Buffalo. FREE for ages 55+ www.HustleforHealth.com

TUES. AUG. 8

Free Line Dance Class, Dorothy Collier Community Center, 118 E. Utica, BEGINNER 11a.m.-12p.m.; ADVANCED 12-1 p.m. (716)882-0602.

WED. AUG. 9

Hustle for Health 11am, Gloria Parks, 3242 Main St. FREE 55+ Visit www.HustleForHealth.com

“He who digs a grave for his enemy might as well be digging one for himself.”

-Afrikan Proverb