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May 26, 2022 | FREE | thechallengernews.com | Community News

JEFFERSON AVENUE STRONG!

“Ancestors never die till there is no one to call their names.”- African Proverb

HARAMBEE! Community Celebrates the Life & Legacy of Katherine “Kat” Massey

Shantelle Patton: Supporting Black Business One Certification at a Time

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The Carnage Continues

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When Will Buffalo Pass A Budget That’s Truly For The People? Page 3

As we collectively mourn and bury our dead in the wake of the May 14 Tops Market Massacre in Buffalo, New York we pray for the families of the children and adults who were massacred by a gunman in Uvalde ,Texas on Tuesday.

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INSIDE ROCHESTER

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

NAACP SPEAKS

Mass Shootings and Why They Continue

By John Singleton, III President, Rochester NAACP

Above is a snap shot of the new mural honoring local and international Civil Rights icons at East High School, 1801 E. Main St.

Community Celebrates Completion of Mural Honoring Civil Rights Leaders at East High School Mayor Malik D. Evans, City Councilmember LaShay Harris, Monroe County Legislature President Sabrina LaMar, and East High School Superintendent Dr. Shaun Nelms, today joined the families of Constance Mitchell and Minister Franklin D. Florence, and mural artist Ephraim Gebre to reveal a new mural honoring local and international civil rights icons at East High School, 1801 E. Main St. “Artists paint the stories of our lives and our city is grateful for the Constance Mitchell, Minister Franklin D. Florence, and Malcolm X Mural Committee for their dedication to this project,” said Mayor Evans. “Artist Ephraim Gebre captured the essence of the iconic civil rights leaders that students of East High and citizens near and far.”

Constance Mitchell was the first African-American woman elected to the Monroe County Legislature and Minister Franklin D. Florence was the founder and the first president of the civil rights group F.I.G.H.T. Mitchell and Florence were trailblazers who fought for educational opportunities, improved living and working conditions, and higher wages for people of color.

Ephraim Gebre’s rendition of the icons was inspired by a photograph taken of them in Rochester in 1965.

Gebre is the artist also responsible for the “I am Speaking” mural of the late Congressman and Civil Rights Leader John Lewis, located on State Street. A Rochester native and RCSD graduate, Gebre paints murals around the world and returned to his home city to paint the mural.

More than 250 people contributed funds to make this mural project possible. Major donors include the City of Rochester, Rochester Area Community Foundation, Spiritus Christi Church, ROC Freedom Riders, Michelle Daniels, and the Daniels Family Foundation.

There was a mass shooting on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Tops Market, in our beloved neighboring city of Buffalo. This grocery store was a place frequented predominantly by African Americans. The assailant sought out an area where there was a large African American population and murdered them.

The Rochester NAACP sends condolences to the families in Buffalo that lost loved ones, and to the entire community affected by this senseless act.

Once again, politicians gathered at microphones, taking turns explaining what happened and what they will do. There were leaders expressing their condolences and speaking about their proposals. There was a march and even a barbeque. There were heartfelt speeches and remembrances of loved ones. There were statements of radicalization. There were statements of mental health services (or lack of) and how this assailant was given help before the shooting and then sent home. There were statements of guns purchased legally.

This is the same scenario at every mass shooting. The only thing that changes are the faces making the statements. We all know that very soon there will be another mass shooting.

Many people are being radicalized on the internet as you read this statement. They will eventually show up somewhere with deadly weapons. We just don’t know where it will be next time.

It could be your neighborhood.

Guns are still flowing into our cities and towns, and not enough politicians and leaders are willing to support gun reform laws that will significantly reduce gun availability. With the same access to our vast volume of guns in the United States and an unchecked internet that radicalizes people, how long do you think it will be before another mass shooting happens?

Speeches, visits, and condolences are mentally soothing, however, these things will not prevent mass shootings or gun violence. To reduce gun violence, we must reduce the number of guns available and restrict access to those guns.

A radicalized person cannot commit a mass shooting without a weapon. This might seem to be a daunting task; however, Congress has the power to make these changes.

I would like to give some insight on how Congress is being prevented from passing bills, like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 and gun reform laws.

The House of Representatives and the Senate are both controlled by Democrats who are pushing for gun reform.

So, what is preventing Congress from passing gun reform laws? It’s called the filibuster.

The Senate needs a 2/3 majority vote to pass a bill. The

filibuster allows for unlimited debates, which can prevent a bill from coming to the floor for a vote. It takes 60 Senators to vote to end the filibuster so the bill can be voted on. With a 50/50 split in the Senate, the numbers aren’t there, and this becomes a no-win situation for gun reform.

There is a way to end a filibuster, it’s called the “nuclear option.” This is implementing a rule change. This can only be initiated by the Senate Majority Leader. The Senate will then only need a simple majority vote to pass a bill. There are 50 Senators caucusing with the Republicans and 50 Senators caucusing with Democrats. The Vice President is the tie breaking vote in John Singleton, III the Senate.

So, can Congress get rid of the filibuster to return to a simple majority vote? Yes, they can, however, two Democratic Senators refused to eliminate the filibuster, so the Democrats are two votes short. It is politics that is preventing the American people from getting closer to real gun reform and preventing the suppression of voting rights.

What can you as a citizen do to help this process? While gathering and protesting for gun reform is truly needed, voting will get the job done. Vote out politicians that will not get on board with gun reform and vote in politicians that will. I cannot advise you on what party or leader to vote for. I will recommend that you vote for leaders that will deliver the reforms and services that you need in your community and your country.

Mr Singleton is President of the NAACP Rochester, NY Branch #2172

ON THE COVER: The collage on this weeks cover are of images captured on Jefferson Avenue over the past week as the community came together to pay their respects to the Buffalo Ten. Photographers include Cams Banks, The Challenger News and Street Legacy Photos/DarvinAdams.

_____________ ACCESS TO THE ARTS. RESTRICT / EXPAND

The mural dedication ceremony also commemorated the birthdays of both Constance “Connie” Mitchell and Malcolm X, who later changed his name to el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz.

We’re celebrating our 50th year by providing free access to a range of cultural attractions in the greater RochesterFinger Lakes region between now and March 2023.

Learn more at racf.org/50

ADVERTISE YOUR ROCHESTER BASED BUSINESS CALL US AT 716 881-1051

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

AREA BRIEFS

Buffalo’s Budget – More for Police

When will Buffalo produce a budget that sheds the guides of systemic racism and invest in those things that the community has been begging for?

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Canisius College President John J. Hurley and Aaron W. Salter III Photo credit Tom Wolf Photography

Aaron W. Salter Jr., Hailed as Hero in Tops Massacre, Receives Degree from Canisius, Posthumously Canisius College conferred upon Aaron W. Salter Jr., a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies, posthumously, on Saturday, May 21 during undergraduate ceremonies for the College of

Charles Leon Rivers

Of Snellville, GA, formerly of Buffalo, NY, entered into rest on May 17, 2022.

In 1984 he was ordained and from 1996-2018 Elder Rivers served as the founding pastor of End-Time Revival Center Church. Relatives and friends may visit Greater Apostolic House of Prayer, 1455 Fillmore Ave., Buffalo, Saturday, June 4th, from 10-11 AM, where the Funeral Service will immediately follow.

Interment Acacia Park Cemetery. Arrangements

by Lombardo Funeral Service.

Arts and Sciences.

Aaron Salter Jr., the retired Buffalo police officer and Tops security guard, has been hailed as a hero got so bravely confronting and trying to stop the gunman before he himself was shot and killed. Salter had completed all but three credit hours (one course) for his bachelor’s degree in communication studies. Work and family demands had put that final class on hold. Aaron W. Salter III, accepted the degree for his father.

Aaron W. Salter Jr. attended Canisius College from Fall 1984 through Fall 1988 completing the majority of his coursework as a communication studies major. He returned and took four classes (12 credits) during the Spring 2007 and Summer 2007 semesters, leaving one course (3 credits) to complete his bachelor’s degree.

In addition to his diploma, the family received his ALANA (African American, Latino/a American, Asian American, or Native American) stole at graduation. Aaron Salter Jr. was also inducted, posthumously, into the college’s Delta Gamma Chapter of Tri-Alpha First Generation Student Honor Society, and his family received his

Tri-Alpha graduation cord as well.

By Myles Carter IG @myles4sheriff

he Buffalo Common Council voted this past Friday to pass a roughly $1.7 billion budget, with nearly $1.2 billion earmarked for the Buffalo Public Schools and $568 million operating budget for the City of Buffalo.

The vote came six days on the heels of the deadliest terrorist attack the city has ever seen against the Black community.

The public comment period that was held on May 10th set Last Thursday nearly 40 people gathered on the steps of City Hall the tone as a diverse group of to speak out against the proposed 2022-2023 budget for the City community members shared of Buffalo. Hosted by Free the People WNY, Black Love Resists in Rust, Colored Girls Bike Too, Fair Fines + Fees Coalition, Open their comments regarding the the Buffalo, Partnership for the Public Good, and VOICE Buffalo, the budget. Most of the speakers press conference also included Cariol Horne, Myles Carter, and addressed the proposed 4.5% other speakers. Pictured above at the mike, Deacon Jerome Wright, property tax increase, the $5.4 Co-Director of the #HALTsolitary Campaign and First Vice Chair of million increase to the Bufalo VOICE Buffalo declared: "We don't need BolaWraps. We don't need police budget, and another pro- [ShotSpotter]. We don't need anything but resources poured back our community so that we can live the way everybody else in this gram called “Shot Spotter.” into country lives."

The floor was essentially unanimous. Studies were entered into public record regarding the flawed technology of the “Shot Spotter” system, and pleas were made with the common council to block the proposed multi-million dollar increase to the police budget where that money could be better spent on community and youth programs that better impact the quality of life in the city.

Local community advocate and retired Buffalo Police Officer Cariol Horne commented on the lack of resources available for the youth, and her opposition to increasing the police budget.

Giovera Hernzandez, an organizer with Free the People WNY, stated “It’s about time we get participatory budgeting with the community. The common council and Mayor Brown have continued to make decisions for this city without adequate community input… we don’t need more money put into false solutions,” Hernandez said referring to the “Shot Spotter” technology and the proposed $5.4m police increase.

This writer spoke out regarding the budget, requesting more efforts be taken towards street sanitation throughout the east side and youth programs that offer year-round paid employment, all in efforts to reduce crime and impact poverty.

Many organizations and local activists called for Mayor Brown to exercise an emergency provision, utilizing his executive authority, to pause the budget process while additional community input could be gained.

Despite the efforts to delay the proceedings following the tragedy, local government decided to push forward and bring an amended budget to the 13th floor of city hall for a vote.

The amended budget, while touted by the Common Council as a better alternative to the mayor’s budget, did little to address the community concerns that were presented throughout the public comment period. The proposed 4.5% tax hike was reduced to 3.5%, still higher than the mayor's 2021 opponent’s proposed 3% increase which he criticized as “not a modest tax increase.” When asked about the change of policy by a reporter from WKBW, Brown

provided the following statement: “Gasoline has gone up, utilities have gone up, everything is more expensive now than it was last summer.”

The Common Council also provided for a $5.2 million increase to the Buffalo Police budget through the amendments, increasing their total budget to $90.7 million or 19.6% of the city's operating budget (not including fringe benefits.) Based on a study completed by Partnership for Public Good, it was found that the city is using roughly 28% of its operating budget on police expenses when fringe benefits are factored in. The increase to the police budget will account for an additional 14 detectives and 20 police vehicles even though the department is projecting similar arrest numbers to 2021, fewer moving violations, fewer parking tickets and fewer 911 calls for the next fiscal budgeting year. Police overtime is spelled out in the upcoming budget, noting that the city is currently at $10.1 millioon in Continued Page10

Beyond the Cookout: Black Folks Started Memorial Day! The African-American history of the federal holiday has been nearly wiped from public memory, the history books and most official accounts.

Memorial Day has long been known as a holiday to celebrate and honor America’s soldiers. It’s also the day that officially kicks off summer, a seasonal beginning that is typically celebrated with family gaherings, cookouts, picnics and fun in the sun.

But did you know that on May 1 in 1865, former Black enslaved Africans started Memorial Day in America?

This occurred in Charleston, SC., after the American Civil War. It was to honor about 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp.

They dug up the bodies and worked for 2 weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. Together with teachers and missionaries, Black residents of Charleston organized a May Day ceremony that year which was covered by the New York Tribune and other national papers.

The freedmen cleaned up and landscaped the burial ground, building an Continued Page12

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HEALTH MATTERS

The Quest for Healing: Coping with Grief, Loss, and Trauma

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he date, May 14, 2022, will forever be etched into the memory of our community. The shocking and tragic events of this day have shaken us to the core and its effects will be long-lasting. The families and friends of the victims, the workers and shoppers at Tops who were witnesses, and the community-at-large, are all experiencing the toll of grief, loss, and trauma on an individual and collective level.

According to the Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Center, trauma “results from exposure to an incident or series of events that are emotionally disturbing or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual wellbeing.” Collective trauma, on the other hand, is a shared emotional reaction to a terrible event.

Therefore, we need to consider the effects of these two types of trauma in reference to our response in helping us to heal. Most commonly individuals can experience Acute Stress Disorder, in which the effects of trauma are experienced for a month or less. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has symptoms that persist for more than a month.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can include the following: ● Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event ● Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks) ● Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event ● Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event ● Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event ● Avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the traumatic event In addition, individuals may experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, or maladaptive coping mechanisms such as drug and alcohol use.

If you find yourself experiencing any of these effects, it is advised that you seek professional help. It is well known that this is a particular issue in the black community. “We don’t do that,” “That’s for white folks,” or “I can handle it” are common refrains. Much of these beliefs are deep-rooted in the history of African Americans and our mistrust of the medical community as well as long-standing coping strategies that stemmed from the need for self-reliance and the stigma of mental illness itself. My TEDx Buffalo talk from this past October, African American

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

and Mental Health: Crisis or Opportunity, touches on many of these issues.

As a credentialed behavioral health professional with over 20 years of experience and the personal experience of living with co-occurring bipolar and substance use disorder, I can attest to the many benefits of seeking counseling. And while we do have a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals of color, there are many clinicians of other ethnicities who are fully competent and able to help someone in need of support. The key element is the therapeutic alliance between the therapist and the client. When this relationship is one built on trust and open communication, healing can begin.

We need to use every single resource we have available to overcome this tragedy and lift up our community. We need to support the most vulnerable, our elders and children. And we need to always remember that help is available. Our communitybased organizations, faith communities, schools, and local, state and federal government must all work together to create a safety net for those who may otherwise fall through the cracks. We cannot forget one single person. We must love our neighbor as ourselves. And we mus keep hope alive. In the immortal words of the Rev. Dr, Martin Luther King, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Karl Shallowhorn is the Director of Youth Programs at the Mental Health Advocates of WNY and President and Founder of Shallowhorn Consulting, LLC. For more information contact: karl@shallowhornconsulting.com

Services at the Johnnie B. Wiley Center

*Biblical Grief Counseling at the Delaware Avenue Baptists Church,965 Delaware Ave. Call 884-0070 Pastor M.J. Robinson *Mental Health and Christian Counseling is offering free support via Zoom contact me at mhcmsvee@gmail.com. *Community Health Center Buffalo offering crisis counseling Crisis Services 24/7 Hotline 716 834-3131 *Project Hope Line: Crisis Counselors avail 8am-10pm 716 8639314 Mental Health Advocates of WNY available8:30am – 4:30pm 716 886-1242 NAMI Buffalo and Erie County 716 226-6264

Free Rides for Grocery Shopping

Mental Health Resources

HEALTHCARE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Linkage to Health insurance, Primary care and Sexual healthcare Call 716.852.5969 or visit CASWNY.org

1100 Jefferson Ave. Free Food and Community Services Free Mental Health & Trauma Counseling for Adults and Children from 1-9pm until May 27 No appointment needed.

Community members in need of support can also call the Crisis Services Hotline at 716-834-3131.

Services at the Community Resource Center

347 E. Ferry St. Free Food provided by Feed More WNY and Tops Friendly Markets . Counseling and other services Monday- Friday 9am1:30pm and 6:30-9:30pm Saturday 2pm -6pm Sunday 9am -4pm

Tops is Offering Free Bus Service to and from its Jefferson Location to Elmwood location from 10am -7pm.

Monday thru Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sundays.

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

Are You Brown Bag Certified?

Shantelle Patton Founder of That Brown Bag Minority Business Directory Expands Support for Black Owned Businesses with Brown Bag Business Association With the plethora of businesses emerging and long standing in Buffalo and WN, it makes sense to have a directory for easy access to finding those businesses. Enter Shantelle Patton.

The 43-year-old mother, artist and entrepreneur created That Brown Bag Minority Business Directory in August of 2018 and has been full steam ahead ever since. The directory is a resource providing consumers with a onestop shop to locate Black owned businesses in Buffalo and WNY. On March 1 of this year, Patton expanded her effort to support Black owned businesses, launching the Brown Bag Business Association.

The goal of the organization is to provide benefits that will not only help cultivate members but Shantelle Patton also help the community grow.

The association is a membership-based group centered around providing information and support to the businesses listed within the publication. Shantelle is on a nonstop mission to create, build, and sustain the quality of life and business opportunities for the African American community through business education, African American cultural values, legislative advocacy, and economic development.

She was inspired to create the Association by her own personal experience. “I had a less than stellar experience with a local business and was inspired to create the association as a way to educate both the business owners and consumers and the best practices to do business with one another”.

With a starting goal of enrolling 50 members by the close of 2022, in just two months of her launch, Patton has enrolled 40 active members. The businesses include those who are both dot.com / online entities as well as brick and mortar locations.

Upon entering storefront businesses enrolled you will find a Brown Bag Business Association sticker; a symbol of community, pride, trust, progress, growth, and of course Black ownership.

Through networking and cooperative economics Patton acknowledges “It takes a village …Black businesses are the backbone of our community.” Patton works with all levels of business but has found her sweet-spot. “My niche is the emerging business sector of Black owned businesses, helping them reinforce their foundation through my work” she said. Of those enrolled in the association, Patton has a handful of members on Jefferson Avenue alone.

“In light of recent events , it highlights the need for support of Black owned businesses now more than ever," she said.

Operating as a one Black woman show, Patton is planting the seeds for strong steady growth.

“One of my main challenges has proven to be funding, I’ve done the Brown Bag out of pocket since inception. With the Brown Bag Association, I’m learning with the business owners.

I’m learning what they need and finding a solution to that need."

Patton has a reliable network of support. She receives help from organizations like WEDI, E For All, The Enterprise Center at PathStone among others for additional educational; and funding resources.

Membership to the Association is available on a monthly ($14.99/month) or annual basis ($150/year).

To become a member or learn more visit www.brownbagcertified.com -staff writer

Uncertainty Amidst Covid: From Northland’s Training Program to a Welding Career

By Nina Cray

J

ust two years ago, coronavirus was at its peak, causing shut-downs and uncertainty for many – Jaelin Grey, a 25-year-old Buffalo native, included.

Grey, who attended Buffalo’s Northland Workforce Training Center, finished his final semester of his Welding Technology program in the fall of 2020, officially graduating the following spring with a GPA of 3.9.

Welding without proper eye and face protection is similar to staring at the sun, Grey said. It can cause a condition called “arc eyes,” which is a painful condition caused by inflammation of the eye’s cornea. This gear also protects from heat and flash burns.

Despite the dangers, Grey really enjoys his work as a welder and says he has a passion for it.

“The things that we spend most of our time doing, we should enjoy,” Grey said.

Jaelin Grey

His success didn’t come without obstacles. The struggle coronavirus caused added a lot of stress and uncertainty – but Grey had a huge inspiration to power through.

Calia, Grey’s now five-year-old daughter, was always at the forefront of his mind.

“My relationship with my daughter is something I have always held in high regard,” Grey said. She inspired him to provide stability and a better life financially for her.

Grey said he spent the year following his Northland program completion taking care of his daughter full-time and didn’t start working a welding job until October of 2021.

When the time came, Grey’s experience in the Welding Technology program at Northland had well-positioned him for a role with PNG Steel Products as a welder. Grey started off welding on the fabrication team, primarily doing “MIG” welding, which Jaelin at work. stands for “metal inner gas.”

He was eventually promoted to the tool room, where he primarily does “TIG” welding, which stands for “tungsten inner gas.”

Prior to Northland, Grey worked as a carpenter/property manager where he developed skills that are very useful in welding like measuring and cutting. Grey said he has done assembly line fixtures, worked on radiator frames for trucks and molded product pieces.

Welding requires very technical and specific skills, but certain safety measures must be followed as well.

Due to highly concentrated ultraviolet and infrared rays emitted by the welding process, a safety helmet – often called an auto darkening helmet – must be worn so a welder can be as safe and precise as possible.

He made many friends at Northland and owes thanks to everyone who helped him during his program.

“I want to say thank you to my teachers, Mr. Hughson, Mr. Piazza, Mr. Tucker, Mrs. Brown & my career coaches, Katherine and Wade and Jason,” Grey said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

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FAITH & FAMILY

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

20th Wedding Wedding Anniersary!

From left Dr. & Mrs. Ben Chavis, and Rev. Frank & First Lady Bostic.

The Honorable Mr. & Mrs. Dillard & Anita Williams will celebrate 20 years of marriage bliss on their 20th Wedding Anniversary June 6th! Congratulations to the happy couple!

Rev. Sharpton (left) and Rev.Wingo

National Civil Rights Leaders Visit Queen City Among the national leaders who visited Buffalo in the wake of the Tops Massacre, was president

of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and a leader of the Million Man March, Dr. Benjamin Chavis and his wife pictured with Rev. Frank Bostic of Pilgrim Baptist Church and First Lady Mrs. Bostic. In photo on the right, Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights activist, politician, and founder of the National Action Network, with Ulysees O. Wingo,Masten District Council Member and Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church on Fillmore Avenue where Rev Sharpton spoke last Thursday.

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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

Harambee!

Celebration of Life For Community Icon Katherine "Kat" Massey “How does one begin to describe this woman with the beautiful soul who was an advocate for all?”

-Tee

K

at Massey would have been pleased with her Homegoing services -perhaps even surprised by the tremendous outpouring of love and respect shown to her during the two and a half hour service at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church on Monday.

That’s because Katherine “Kat” Massey dedicated her life’s work to her community and her family unconditionally.

Her obituary, which she wrote herself in 2012, did not list a host of awards and high accomplishments. It did not, for example, talk about the outstanding contributions she made to this newspaper over the years, although she was an exceptional researcher, writer and staunch supporter of the Black press (both the Challenger and The Criterion). Our “honorary editor at large,” was an example of the kind of sustainable contribution that’s helped define us as a community voice in every sense of the word. Her story, as told by herself, is just a true and simple, yet an impressive and heartfelt remembrance of her “life, legacy and Service.” (See her obituary page 10).

Kat was a familiar presence at all the cultural events such as Kwanzaa and Juneteenth and a supporter of the arts.

In 2020 I “discovered” a cultural treasure. Each panel along the walls of the expressway along Cherry Street was adorned with an African adinkra symbol and its meaning. I learned on Monday that those culturally enriched walls were proposed by Kat who worked with the city until her “vision” materialized.

She loved her people and her culture and made sure that it was well represented at her Celebration of Life. Her casket was beautifully draped in brilliantly colored African Kente cloth and her pall bearers wore matching Kente bands around the sleeves of their black shirts.

The service opened with host pastor Reverend Frank Bostic of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist, a close family friend, who referred to Kat as ”a soldier on the battlefield…a soldier in the community for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

The accolades continued from Congressman Brian Higgins, State Senator Tim Kennedy, Erie County Legislative Chairwoman April Baskin , Comptroller Barbara Miller Williams and Mayor Byron Brown.

A special guest, Civil Rights leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis, president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and a leader of the Million Man March, described Kat as a “freedom fighting journalist. ” “The greatest way we can pay our respects to Kat Massey is to keep her spirt alive by keeping her journalism alive,” he said.

Dr. Chavis also had praise for Buffalo’s resilient Black community which, in the wake of the horrific massacre of ten of its beloved citizens, did not resort to violence.

“I’m so thankful that in our anger ,in our pain and suffering ,we didn’t decide to destroy our community," he said. "Buffalo is a different place…the rest of the country can learn from Buffalo… learn from Katherine Massey.”

Overseer Alan R. Core , Pastor of First Centennial Baptist Church, delivered the kind of eulogy Kat would have stood and cheered for; perhaps even written about because he spoke truth to power, taking his message beyond simply eulogizing her - to using her values to teach and direct the beloved community she left behind.

He focused on “tragedy, trauma and triumph.”; not only the tragic massacre but the tragedies before the massacre; the ongoing inequities and selfish leadership in our community and the disrespect and lack of caring for one another.

“We don’t need to build another stadium until we build Jefferson ,” he said to thunderous applause. “I want to see it vibrant again”…adding that the potholes and poor condition of the street is a tragedy within itself.

He described the trauma of White Supremacy and racism as complex, but nothing new.

“I submit to you that we’ve got to deal with Goliath and his brothers,” he quipped.

“But right now we’ve got to be allowed to heal.”

“We’ve not broken one window…burned one building…and the nation should take note that we are a true model of peace…..because we know that God will bring us justice,” he added.

“We must mourn but we must not self-destruct. We’re going to raise the banner ‘I’m Black and I’m proud!’ We are moving from desperation to destiny!”

There were shouts of Harambee ! (Let’s all pull together) and fists in the air as Kat was led from the church to her final resting place in Forest Lawn.

Katherine “Kat” Massey, at 72-years young, like the nine other precious souls we lost in the Tops Massacre May 14, was taken from us all too suddenly…all too soon at the hands of a hateful racist with a gun.

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 …soon.

-alnisa

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Entertainment

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

Concerts

Buffalo Pride Week Parade & Festival!

‘Kornbread Jeté’ will perform for the Pride Festival Finale of the weeklong LGBTQ+ celebration. It will be first inperson celebration in two years and feature RuPaul’s Drag Race star.

Buffalo Pride Week will be celebrated May 31 thru June 5, and tickets are now available on buffaloprideweek.com for the Pride Festival, which will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. at Canalside on Sunday, June 5.

The much anticipated PrideWeek Parade, leading up to the festival’s main event, will also be held on Sunday June 5 starting at 11 a.m. at Elmwood and Forest and ending at Elmwood and Allen Street.

The Pride Festival is traditionally considered the grand finale of Pride Week and ‘Kornbread Jeté,’ drag performer and popular contestant on season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2022, has been named as one of the national acts, the first in a series of upcoming Pride Festival entertainment announcements.

Outer Harbor Summer Concerts

T-Pain May 29 at the Outer Harbor Concert Series 825 Fuhrmann Blvd.

Info@buffalowaterfront.com

George Scott's Big Band Bash

Sabu Adeyola Perfprms Manhattan Concert

Bassist extraordinaire Buffalo’s own Sabu Adeyola and his Reunion Band featuring Kamal Ab-dul Alim on trumpet, T.K. Blue on sax, Derek Lewis on piano and Kahlil Kwame Bell on drums performed in the West Side Community Garden in Manhattan last Sunday.

Congratulations Sabu!

Thursday June 2 from 7-9pm at Buffalo History Museum tickets at thecoloredmusiciansclub.com

stageplays

"Ninety Four” by Crossfield House Producitons May 27 and 28 at the Flexible Theatre 205 Donald Savage Theater Arts Building, 1300 Elmwood.Tickets $35 on eventbrite or call 716-8786416. Doors open at 7pm Showtime is at 8pm.

Little Anthony & The Imperials plus the Crystals & The Marcels Sunday

June 12, Riviera. Theatre, 67 Webster St. North Tonawanda. rivieratheatre.org .

"A Rasin In The Sun" presented by the Paul Robeson Theatre June 10 thru June 26 Friday and Saturday 7pm and Sunday2pm & 7pm at the African American Cultural Center 350 Masten, for tickets call 884-2013

Herbie Hancock Live in Concert at Kleinhans June 17 @ 8:00 -

Art On View Portraits In Black: Solo Exhibit

9:30 p.m. Kleinhans Music Hall, Tickets at bpo.org.

Portraits in Black, a solo exhibition by Dee Edwards on Saturday, June 11 from 5-7 p.m. second floor, Kudela Galleries at the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls.

"In These Truths" Group Exhibition

On View until June 5 Albright Knox Northland 612 Northland Ave. Friday 12-7p.m.

Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.-5p.m.

"The Bridge" Solo Show

Taylor Made Jazz

Taylor Made Jazz Releases New Song

Van Taylor of Taylor Made Jazz has written a new song “Come Together We Can Make It,” featuring Joe Diggs, Taylor Made Jazz and Donald (L-Biz) Foreman https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=elxd4UmO-wY which is planned for a global release in support of world health organizations in mid-2022/23. " The Events of Saturday, May 14th in Buffalo New York Have left people in shock and distress. Perhaps it can be used in our city at this time!” says Taylor. “ In a Positive respectful light, following the standard rules of YouTube and decency. Artists, dancers, visual artists, and video artists can use this song to make their own video in their / neighborhood with the people who believe we can make it. Show how people in their area can come together and teach the rest of the world they can do the same - WE CAN MAKE IT."

Upcoming shows At Artpark There are a ton of great shows in the lineup at Artpark this summer. Check the line up tickets are going fast!

•June 14 Trombone Shorty's Voodoo Threauxdown •June 21 Patti Labelle •July 31 Earth, Wind & Fire •August 10 Ziggy Marley Go to artpark.net for more info on shows and tickets.

at Burchfield Penney where artist Edreys Wajed explores the culture and language of Hip Hop. Show up until July 31. Visit burchfieldpenney.org

Support The Arts

9

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

Imani Bray to Compete in Miss Teen USA Pageant Imani Bray of Buffalo will compete for the title of miss Teen USA June 2-4 at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, NY. Miss Bray is currently employed with Greater Buffalo united Accountable Care organization as a medical assistant for their inner-city primary clinic. Her hobbies include modeling, writing and drawing. Her sponsors for the pageant are Cinq health/Gbuhan partner, You In Mind Events Catering, Freddy J’s Barbecue, Majestic Lashes LLC, Touch of Paris Beauty LLC, MMB Realty, the Thompson Family Market and numerous family, extended family and friends.

The contestant chosen as Miss New York Teen USA 2022 will go on to represent the state of New York in the 2022 Miss Teen USA pageant.

Applications Open for Just Buffalo Writing Center Youth Fellowship

Applications are now open for Just Buffalo Literary Center’s 2022 Just Buffalo Writing Center Youth Fellowship, a six-week summer fellowship opportunity for a Western New Yorkbased young writer 15-18 to develop their craft and explore professional avenues within the literary arts. The fellow will be offered a $1,200 stipend. More information, as well as the application, can be found at justbuffalo.org/youth-fellowship.

Imani Bray Support The Arts

Racism has no place in our society.

WE ARE BUFFALO STRONG!

Visit www.caiglobal.org to learn more about our community work in Buffalo with REACH Buffalo, HOPE Buffalo, and Tobacco Free Coalition Erie & Niagara.

10

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

Remembering The Life, Legacy And Service Of Katherine "Kat" Massey

K

atherine “Kat” Massey was born July 30, 1949, to Rob-

ert and Katie Massey. She was the oldest of five children: Robert Jr., Barbara, Warren, and Patti.

She attended East High School and received a business diploma from Bryant & Stratton. Kat retired from BlueCross BlueShield in 2011 after 40 years of employment. Her last position was in the Communications Department as a document processor. She was a dedicated member of the Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) and co-editor with Patti of Union's Newspaper, The 212. For many years she was a proud usher at Mount Ararat. In retirement, she volunteered with the block club's department located in City Hall.

In the late 1980's, Kat "created" the Cherry Street Block Club as she needed to add weight to her advocacy letters. A major problem was the continuously overgrown area behind the Department of Transportation's fence, at the beginning of the street, and the perpetual rusted railings. Self-designated as the block club president, she designed letterhead and sent a letter to Governor Mario Cuomo asking for his assistance. (The secret was she was the only member. Some years later it became a bonafide, registered block club-a see-and-do entity.)

As a result of the Albany letter, the DOT made a short-fall proposal. That is, they would sand the railings and supply the paint for the "block club" to paint them. As always, the immediate family and extended Cherry Street family supported Kat and the painting effort. They got it done.

Kat's long-time dream was to have the street span lined with beautiful flowers and to have the "Triangle" (really several City lots) at the Jefferson Avenue end face lifted.

In 2000, the DOT revealed their potential beautification project to address the ugly railings and for landscaping along them.

She and Ms. Ware of the Friendly Fruit Belt Block Club were sent to give input by the council member. Not being shy, Kat whipped out a piece of African Kente cloth, at the first meeting,

and asked if at least its colors could be incorporated into the cement for the project.

That material became the inspiration for the replacement rails, thanks to DOT's Mike Christner's research and support.

As secretary, mainly through the use of creative correspondence and basic people skills interaction, Kat made it her relentless mission to keep the project on the burner.

The joyous 2011 outcome was the African signs and descriptive wording that appears on the concrete. Also, included was the professional redo of the "Triangle" with pavers shaped like one of the signs and reference sign boards explaining the origins of Kente, etc.

Kat did not hesitate from being a "committee of one."Once she picketed her landlord's restaurant for the lack of heat in her apartment. She chose a comer, across from the Main Place Mall, (holding a huge Obama sign) as her one-woman Election Day effort to get votes for him.

One of her proudest moments and a time when she nearly got cold feet was her appearance as Ms. BrocCOOLI (her invention) at a health assembly at the Dr. Lydia T. Wright School.

Her rented broccoli costume was accessorized by sunglasses and leopard gloves. She performed the rap song written by her for the occasion. (She often said she was a single parent with 35,000 adopted children attending Buffalo's public schools.)

The footprints of Kat's love, service and memories are indelibly etched in the hearts of her brother, Warren Massey (Wanda Willis); sister, Barbara Mapps Oerry Hesson); sister-in­law, Debbie Massey; two nieces, Adrienne Massey Oim LiPuma) and Dawn Massey; four nephews, Damon Mapps Oamille Matthews), Damien Mapps, Darrale Massey (Nikki Garrison), and, Demtrius Massey (Desi'ree Massey); ten great nephews; four great nieces; one great-great niece; two aunts (Bessie Young and Elizabeth Frazier); cousin/sister, Teresa Brown (Leroy Brown); and, a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Robert Jr. and Patti.

(For Kat's complete Obituary -which she wrote herself - go to thechallengernews.com

Go to hrw.org/ReparationsNow# History is within reach. Tell President Biden to establish a federal Reparations Commission Now. The time for the United States to account for its legacy of enslavement is long overdue.

Go to hrw.org/ReparationsNow#

BUDGET

continued from page 3

police overtime, which is $2.6million higher than what was called for in this year’s budget. Another $1.5 million of the proposed police budget is allocated towards court time, where police are paid for 4 hours even if they never testify. The $360k funding for “Shot Spotter” was removed through the amended budget.

All in all, there’s no major change in this budget. The claims of investment in Buffalo’s East Side are unsubstantiated, calling for further workforce training, small business development and public safety, but not spelling out a plan on how to execute. The allocations for fringe benefits, police and fire remain large and part unchanged.

The budget calls for a total of $1.2m towards the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program and $845k in youth recreation and education, in comparison, over $90m is earmarked for the police budget. With so many resources being deployed towards policing, the expectation would be that crime would be decreasing. However, we continue to see crime projections remain stagnant while investments in policing are on the rise and programs geared towards youth engagement receive pennies in comparison.

When will Buffalo produce a budget that sheds the guides of systemic racism and invest in those things that the community has been begging for? It is shown through the numbers, even in this budget, that more funding for police does not reduce crime or improve the community.

Honoring the memory of our beloved friend and colleague.

The incredibly full life of Katherine Massey was cut tragically short on May 14, 2022. She was a civil rights advocate. A long-time volunteer with Buffalo Public Schools. A writer for The Challenger News, The Buffalo Criterion, and The Buffalo News. And a 40-year employee of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York.

She will be mourned. She will be missed. She will be remembered.

Katherine “Kat” Massey 1949–2022

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York is a trade name of Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

hm028798 Katherine Massey Memorial Ad | Buffalo Challenger | 1/2 page ad | 10.375" x 5.5" | CMYK

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

I'M JUST SAYIN...

by Darvin Adams

Time To Shut Em' Down !

The tragedy that struck the heart of our community this past weekend resulted in a strong show of solidarity both in the community and city-wide. We were all devastated in the wake of the massacre of ten innocent Black people at the Jefferson Avenue Tops Market at the hands of a 18-yearold White supremacist. The chain of events shocked us to the core.

On one hand it brought out the best in the community.

On the other, it magnified some sad realities.

First, I want to express my greatest and sincere appreciation to the clergy that come out in the midst of the tragedy; the most horrific act of violence to tear into the soul of our community. Among those who are always visible and out in the streets working with our youth and serving the community: Rev. Tim Newkirk, Rev Simmons, Rev Giles, Rev James Lewis, Rev. Gelsey, Rev. Denise Walden of Voice Buffalo, and others.

But as a whole, the presence of the Black Church was not strongly felt. Yes, there was a large showing of clergy that came to hear Rev. Al Sharpton speak at Antioch last week. But not enough of them come out to hear the people cry in the streets. Its shameful. City hall forsakes the Black community on a regular basis.

But the Black Church???

It was very disappointing to hear people express their disappointment in some of our Black civic, political - and yes - some of our religious leaders. Where were they? Easy question to answer, in the front of the television cameras.

But in all fairness there were some many present at the Continued Page 12

Buffalo is Segregation City

VOICES

In light of the supermarket massacre, it’s time to address the systemic concentration of Blacks on the East Side and the under-investment and over-policing of their community.

B

By Jim Heaney

uffalo and Western New York need to take a close look in the mirror in light of Saturday’s supermarket massacre.

And if we’re honest with ourselves, we’re not going to like what we see.

The region has a long history of racism, one that has been compounded in recent years by a growing undercurrent of rightwing extremism. Witness Saturday’s shootings.

In this column, I’m going to explore racism and its impact.

Hear me out.

The Partnership for the Public Good released a study in 2018 that reported the Buffalo area ranked as the sixth-most segregated metropolitan region in the nation.

Said PPG: “While racial segregation has declined slightly in recent years, economic segregation has increased, resulting in neighborhood conditions growing worse — not better — for most people of color in the region. Segregation imposes a wide range of costs on people of color, impairing their health, education, job access, and wealth. Individuals living in segregated neighborhoods tend to have less access to services that allow adequate standards of living, and their economic mobility is severely impaired.”

A few numbers illustrate the degree of the segregation, both across Erie and Niagara counties and within the city: •While Blacks account for 35.2 percent of Buffalo’s population, they account for just 6.1 percent of residents in the balance of the metropolitan area. Town after village after school district are overwhelmingly white.

•85 percent of Blacks in the city live east of Main Street, according to the PPG study.

The problems don’t end with segregation. Predominantly Black neighborhoods in Buffalo also suffer from under-investment and over-policing.

A study released last fall by the University at Buffalo Center for Urban Studies concluded that the city’s Black residents have not made progress over the past 30 years. In some ways, they’re faring worse.

As Investigative Post reported at the time: City leaders, including the last three mayors — Jimmy Griffin, Anthony Masiello and Byron Brown — never fully invested in a comprehensive action plan to address core problems facing Buffalo’s Black residents, the study concluded.

Instead, the city continued to emphasize a failed agenda that promoted economic development in certain areas of the city while “marginalizing and under-developing” Black communities and neighborhoods, said Henry Taylor, who authored the report.

I spoke last Tuesday with Taylor, director of the Center for Urban Studies, and he said poor housing and rent gouging are the most pressing issues facing the Black community. Indeed, a fair share of neighborhoods east of Main Street are blighted by dilapidated houses, some occupied, some boarded up, and vacant lots where houses stood until the city went on a demolition blitz.

Taylor faulted the city for not enforcing its building codes.

“Substandard housing is the root cause of many other problems,” he said.

Chief among them is lead poisoning. Buffalo, for several decades, has recorded high rates of lead poisoning among young children. One observer declared the city “ground zero” for the problem.

Yet the city has been slow to act, and while more inspections are finally being conducted, resources for abating lead remains sorely lacking. It’s perhaps the most glaring example of the lack of investment in the East Side.

Poverty is also a consequence of segregation. Buffalo remains

one of the poorest cities in the country, the third-poorest, actually, with a poverty rate of 29 percent. It’s even worse for children, 43 percent, ranking second-worst in the nation.

That poverty helps to explain another depressing statistic: Buffalo’s violent crime rate ranks as the 12th worst among 79 mid-sized cities in the United State. True, the violent crime rate has dropped over the years, but that’s been the case almost everywhere.

City Hall has attempted to deal with violent crime with several failed initiatives that have not sat well with the Black community, as evidenced by a survey of 2,018 city residents in 2016 by Open Buffalo, a local social justice organization. Only 43 percent of Black respondents said they trust the police. Just 12 percent said they believe police respect people of color.

Indeed, police have a reputation for heavy-handedness.

Four Black and Hispanic men have been shot and killed by Buffalo police since 2017.

A street crimes unit was disbanded in 2018 in the face of widespread complaints of misconduct.

Traffic enforcement has targeted minority neighborhoods, a move that coincided with the city jacking up fines and penalties for violations. While the city eventually rolled back some of the fines and fees, it continues to hand out a lot of traffic tickets, primarily in minority neighborhoods.

City budget priorities, for at least the past 16 years under Mayor Byron Brown, have skewed towards funding police at the expense of programs proven to alleviate crime’s root causes or to help rebuild besieged neighborhoods. Since 2006, the police budget has risen at three times the rate of all other city departments, according to an Investigative Post analysis. Overtime and bonuses for police by themselves amount to more than the city allocates collectively for parks, recreation and community services.

The mayor’s proposed budget for the coming year repeats the refrain, with a $5.4 million increase for police.

One program that has not suffered financially is the city’s school system, although it’s been no thanks to the city. The district’s budget has steadily grown over the years and stands at $1 billion. The state provides 83 percent of the funding. City support has remained flat at a frugal $70.8 million.

A court-ordered desegregation of schools starting in 1976 prompted a fair amount of white flight. Public schools are now 81 percent students of color, compared with 57 percent of the city’s population as a whole. As a result, schools have re-segregated: Nearly half — 27 of 60 schools — are at least 90 percent students of color. That figure is as high as 98 percent in a handful of cases.

Attendance and academic achievement are atrocious.

Fewer than one-third of elementary and middle school students score at proficient levels on state standardized tests that gauge reading, writing and math skills. At some schools, proficiency levels are less than 20 percent.

Only 18 percent of students showed up for class at what authorities consider “satisfactory” frequency through March of this school year. More than twice as many — 39 percent — missed school at least one day a week, which places them at “severe” risk of lower academic achievement.

Employers complain that too many graduates lack sufficient reading and math skills. Yet the district is content to graduate students who are functionally illiterate.

So, in a nutshell, most Blacks live in segregated neighborContinued Page 12

11

POETRY Ten for One

(A Response to Modern Black Lynchings)

By Celes Tisdale Native American warriors promised “ten for one” to Westward Expansion movers who killed them, ravaged their women, inflicted diseases, and slaughtered buffaloes on the plains for sport, for nothing, for Manifest Destiny.

“White eyes” burned villages and set natives on reservations to cold, starvation, massacre at Knee where They buried their hearts, and the “Trail of Tears” still waters barren treaties broken or never intended but to make natives “Five Civilized Tribes”: Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek Cherokee to make them white, they were told, and settled them in Indian Territory like inner-city ghettoes.

Now, policemen, like the calvary, are coming to the rescue of those who built plantations/ reservations with gunshots, ropes, and fire, and our answer may be “Ten for One,” A simple trade-off or reparations required.

Red Light Teenager pauses in a world of confusion Hikes her skirt and turns the corner.

Kat Massey

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

12 I'M JUST SAYIN' continued

food distribution locations, and serving in other capacities to assist the people.

I was told by two community members - and it’s been confirmed - that there were people capitalizing off the tragedy. At one food distribution location, the people confronted two women who repeatedly returned to get food and other items for the people effected and load them into trucks not far from the area. There was also reports that a store run by middle easterners located in the commuity had food and other items that were donated to the people, stocked on their store sheves and being resold to our people. One person said they witnessed items being “purchased” by a deli merchant who gave the individual a can of beer and two dollars!

People profiting from our pain and our grief cannot be tolerated. Had this been a Black own store accused of this act of greed it would have been shut down the same day or I guarantee the

BLACK HISTORY Memorial Day continued

enclosure and an arch labeled, "Martyrs of the Race Course." Nearly ten thousand people, mostly freedmen, gathered on May 1st to commemorate the war dead.

Involved were about 3,000 Black school children newly enrolled in Freedmen's schools, mutual aid societies, Union troops, Black ministers, and White northern missionaries. Most brought flowers to be placed on the burial field. Years later, the celebration would come to be called the "First Decoration Day" in the North.

The myth-busting research website Snopes, which also acknowledges that Blacks founded the Memorial Day, says the commemoration was formalized by an order issued in 1868 by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, the commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, who called for the annual decoration of war graves. Not surprisingly, Logan is - incorrectly - often credited with founding Memorial. Day Today the site is used as Hampton Park.

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

next day! What you think?

This issue needs to addressed and these stores in our community need to be investigated.

It’s my understanding that Masten District Council-

SEGREGATIION

member has already taken some legislative action.

Call on your district councilmembers in the Ellicott, University as well as lovejoy districts and inform them of any suspicious activities in these corner stores. Or as suggested by Councilmember Wingo, if you see it take your cell phone out!!!

continued from page 11 hoods that suffer from disinvestment and aggressive policing. Most have little choice but to send their kids to segregated schools where relatively few students thrive and at least a quarter don’t even graduate.

All this didn’t just happen by chance.

It’s the result of decisions made by political and business leaders over decades, some flat-out racist, some made without thought to their impact on people of color.

When there has been progress, it’s usually the result of agitation and litigation. Witness the lawsuits to desegregate the schools and public housing and diversify the police and fire departments.

The situation also reflects the attitude of many whites living in Western New York.

They live comfortably in their all-white enclaves, send their kids to all-white schools and keep electing the people responsible for this mess.

How do you like what you see in the mirror? If not about yourself, the community you live in. And more importantly, what are you prepared to do about it?

Thoughts, prayers and perhaps a small cash donation to the families of victims aren’t enough at this point.

Layne Dowdall and Geoff Kelly contributed to this column.

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK - COUNTY OF ERIE NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC., V. JOSEPH HUNTZ, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUDITH A. HUNTZ A/K/A JUDITH A. DYSON, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure dated November 5, 2021, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Erie, wherein NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC. is the Plaintiff and JOSEPH HUNTZ, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JUDITH A. HUNTZ A/K/A JUDITH A. DYSON, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the “CLOSING ROOM” OF THE ERIE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE, LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF 92 FRANKLIN STREET, CITY OF BUFFALO, STATE OF NEW YORK 14202, on June 27, 2022 at 10:00AM, premises known as 383 HOPKINS STREET, BUFFALO, NY 14220: Section 133.38, Block 5, Lot 52: ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO, COUNTY OF ERIE AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 807326/2017. Joseph J. Terranova, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. May 26, June 6,16,23

Cleaning Vacancies Buffalo State, State University of New York, seeks candidates for the position of Cleaning Vacancies.

7KH &XVWRGLDO 'HSDUWPHQW DW 681< %XIIDOR 6WDWH &ROOHJH VHHNV LQGLYLGXDOV WR ¿OO cleaner vacancies. Buffalo State College offers eligible employees a competitive DQG FRPSUHKHQVLYH VHW RI EHQH¿WV +LULQJ KRXUO\ UDWH LV $SSOLFDQWV PXVW EH physically able to perform medium to heavy physical labor and be able to understand and carry out written or oral instructions.

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LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY COURT : COUNTY OF ERIE IN THE MATTER OF FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS BY PROCEEDING IN REM PURSUANT TO THE IN REM PROVISIONS OF THE ERIE COUNTY TAX ACT AND THE RESOLUTION OF THE ITEM 4E-9 (2022) PAGES 145146 OF THE MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF SAID LEGISLATURE FOR THE YEAR 2022 PETITION AND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE OF TAX LIENS ACTION IN REM IN REM NO.170 INDEX NO. 2022-600093 Please take notice that on the 9th day of May, 2022 the County of Erie pursuant to law, filed with the Clerk of the County of Erie a list of parcels of property affected by unpaid tax liens held and owned by the County of Erie which on such date had been due and unpaid for a period of at least two years after the date on which the unpaid tax liens were sold. Such list contains as to each such parcel (a) a brief description of the property affected by each tax lien, (b) the name of the last known owner of such property as it appears on the latest tax roll in the hands of the Director of Real Property Tax Services or a statement that the owner is unknown if such be the case, (c) a statement of such tax liens upon such parcel of property including any tax sale certificates owned by the County of Erie which shall have been due for less than two years, together with the interest and penalties due as of the list date and (d) a statement that the amount required to redeem any such parcel of property, and the amount to be recovered by the County of Erie, includes all tax sale certificates owned by the County of Erie and affecting such property, together with all interest, penalties, additions and expenses as in this act provided, and also includes an “in rem fee” of $500.00 per parcel to cover the presumptive cost to the County of Erie for reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees, abstracts of title and other disbursements in connection with such foreclosure pursuant to law.

The above-captioned proceeding was commenced to enforce the payment of delinquent taxes which have accumulated and become liens against certain property. The parcels to which this proceeding applies were identified on the List of Delinquent Taxes which was filed in the Erie County Clerk’s Office on the 9th day of May, 2022. Take further notice that the ownership by the County of the tax sale certificates set forth on the List of Delinquent Taxes is conclusive evidence of the fact that the taxes, assessments and other legal charges represented thereby have not been paid to the County.

EFFECT OF FILING: All persons having or claiming to have an interest in the real property described in the List of Delinquent Taxes are hereby notified that the filing of said List constituted the commencement by the County of Erie of a proceeding in the County Court to foreclose each of the tax liens therein described by a foreclosure proceeding In Rem. Pursuant to Section 11-7.0 of the Erie County Tax Act, the filing of such List of Delinquent Taxes constitutes and has the same force and effect and is deemed to have given the same notice of such foreclosure proceeding as the filing and recording in the Erie County Clerk’s Office of an individual Notice of Pendency of a Tax Foreclosure Action and of the filing in the County Court of a separate and individual Complaint by the County of Erie against the owners of the real property proceeded against and described in the List of Delinquent Taxes.

NATURE OF PROCEEDING: This proceeding is brought against the real property only and is to foreclose the tax liens described in the List of Delinquent Taxes. No personal judgment will be entered herein for such liens/taxes or other legal charges or

any part thereof.

PERSONS AFFECTED: This notice is directed to all persons having or claiming to have an interest in the real property described in the List of Delinquent Taxes. Such persons are hereby notified further that a duplicate of this Petition and the List of Delinquent Taxes has been filed in the Erie County Clerk’s Office and the Office of Real Property Tax Services and will remain open for public inspection up to and including the date specified below as the last day of redemption.

RIGHT OF REDEMPTION: Any person having or claiming to have an interest in any such real property and the legal right thereto may on or before the 6th day of July, 2022 redeem the same by paying the amount of all such unpaid tax liens thereon, including all interest and penalties and other legal charges which are included in the lien against such real property, computed to and including the date of redemption.

Payments shall be made to: Director of Real Property Tax Services, Rath Building, 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York, 14202,

by CASH, CERTIFIED CHECK, BANK CHECK or MONEY ORDER. In the event that such tax liens are paid by a person other than the record owner of such real property, the person so paying shall be entitled to have the tax liens affected thereby satisfied of record or to receive an assignment of such tax liens evidenced by a proper written instrument.

LAST DAY OF REDEMPTION: The last day of redemption is hereby fixed as the 6th day of July, 2022.

SERVICE OF ANSWER: Every person having any right, title or interest in or lien upon any parcel of real property described in the List of Delinquent Taxes may serve a duly verified Answer upon the attorney for the Tax District, as set forth below, setting forth in detail the nature and amount of his or her interest, and any defense or objection to the foreclosure. Such Answer must be filed in the office of the County Clerk and served upon the attorney for the Tax District, Margaret A. Hurley, Esq., Lippes Mathias, LLP, 50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1700, Buffalo, New York, 14202, (716) 884-3135, on or before the 26th day of July 2022.

FAILURE TO REDEEM OR ANSWER: In the event of failure to redeem or answer by any person having the right to redeem or answer, such person shall be forever barred and foreclosed of all his or her right, title and interest and equity of redemption in and to the parcel described in the List of Delinquent Taxes and a judgment in foreclosure may be taken by default.

DATED: May 9, 2022 ENFORCING OFFICER: SCOTT A. BYLEWSKI, ESQ. Director of Real Property Tax Services STATE OF NEW YORK ) COUNTY OF ERIE ) ss: CITY OF BUFFALO ) I, SCOTT A. BYLEWSKI, ESQ., being duly sworn, depose and say: I am the Director of Real Property Tax Service for the County of Erie. I have read this Petition and Notice, which I have signed, and I am familiar with its contents. The contents of this Petition and Notice are true to the best of my knowledge, based upon the records and tax roll of the County of Erie, in the hands of the Department of Real Property Tax Services. I do not know of any errors or omissions in this Petition.

SCOTT A. BYLEWSKI, ESQ. Director of Real Property Tax Services Sworn to before me this 9th day of May, 2022.

Notary Public: Amy Honan No. 01HO6348829 Notary Public, State of New York Qualified in Erie County My Commission Expires Oct. 3, 2024 ATTORNEYS FOR TAX DISTRICT: Margaret A. Hurley, Esq. Lippes Mathias, LLP 50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1700 Buffalo, New York 14202 (716) 884-3135 May 19, 26, June 9, 16, 23, 30

LEGAL NOTICE PROBATE CITATION File No. 2022-351 SURROGATE'S COURT - ERIE COUNTY CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO: Renee Thompson, Shanise McCoy, Nautica McCoy, Myles McCoy, Donavon McCoy, Kala Rose McCoy and Ramona McCoy, Ramone McCoy if he and she be living, and if he and she be dead to their heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, if any such there be, all of whom and all of whose names, ages, places of residence and post office addresses are unknown to the Petitioner(s) and cannot after due diligence used be ascertained and HON. LETITIA JAMES - Attorney General of the State of New York and JENNIFER G. FLANNERY - Erie County Public Administrator.

A petition having been duly filed by ANDRE SCOTT , who is domiciled at 1720 Wehrle Drive, Apt 3, Williamsville, New York 14221 YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate's Court, Erie County, at 92 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, New York, on June 22 2022 , at 9:30 o'clock in the fore noon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of Claudia L Bridgers a/k/a Claudia Bridgers lately domiciled at 470 Best Street, Buffalo, New York 14208 admitting to probate a Will dated March 3, 2020 (a Codicil dated ,a copy of which is attached, as the Will of Claudia L Bridgers a/k/a Claudia Bridgers deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that X Letters Testamentary to ANDRE SCOTT Dated, Attested and Sealed May 9 , 2022 Hon. ACEA M. MOSEY Surrogate Kathleen A. Downing Chief Clerk Daria L Pratcher Attorney for Petitioner (716)541-8574 Telephone Number 37 Franklin Street, Suite 1000, Buffalo, New York 14202 Address of Attorney Attorney Email Address: dlpratcher@ dlpratcherlawoffice.com May 19, 26, June 9, 16

LEGAL NOTICE RFP REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO PROVIDE DESIGN/ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE ISLE VIEW ENHANCEMENT PROJECT Notice is hereby given that the County of Erie is seeking proposals from Landscape Architect/Engineering Consulting firms (consultant) to provide design services for the repair and enhancement of Erie County’s Isle View Park located in the Town and City of Tonawanda.

The request for proposals is available at www.erie.gov.

Proposals must be physically submitted to the below contact by June 13, 2022.

Daniel Castle, AICP, Commissioner Erie County Department of Environment and Planning 95 Franklin Street Room 1053 Buffalo, NY 14202

NFTA Procurement Invitation to Bid 220017 - FLOOR EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICE Download Bids from www.nfta.com

13

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

EMPLOYMENT Olmstead Housing Specialist

Housing Specialist (Temporary)

Independent Living Specialist-PT

Education & Outreach Training & Coaching Specialist

Help individuals seeking eligibility for Housing subsidy to transition from Institutional setting to the community. Asso deg and min 2 yrs exp req. Resume and cover letter to WNYIL, Inc 3108 Main St. Buffalo, NY, 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Coordinate living skills, evaluations, And trainings for persons with disabilities. Associate Degree required. 22.5 hrs/wk.

Resume and cover letter to WNYIL, Inc, 3108 Main St Buffalo, NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Health Homes Care Coordinator

Help enroll consumers in a Health Home. Help decrease costs of consumers being Served in a Health Home.

Bachelor’s & 5 yrs exp. Req. Resume and Cover letter to WNYIL Inc 3108 Main St Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Tech Support Specialist III

Set up & provide tech support/ training to Staff on electronic & peripheral equipment. Must have Associate deg & website builder exp. Cover letter & resume to WNYIL, Inc. 3108 Main St Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Family2Family Support Specialist

Provide resources and support to those Affected by someone else’s addiction. Positions available in both Erie and Niagara County. Min exp. Of 3 yrs. Resume and cover letter to WNYIL, INC 3108 Main St Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Facilitated Enroller

Educate, engage and enroll individuals over 65, To address their needs for health insurance

by Following LCDSS requirements. HS diploma & 5 yrs exp req. Resume and cover letter to WNYIL, INC 3108 Main St Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Quality Review Coordinator

Assist program staff in maintaining Quality Of services, documentation and files. HS diploma is required. Resume and cover letter to WNYIL, INC 3108 Main St Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Assist individuals to apply & navigate Programs offered through Independent Living.

Associate degree req. Resume and cover letter to WNYIL, INC 3108 Main St Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Outreach to nursing homes for the Good Neighbor Program, Contact nursing homes & present on the Open Doors Program.

Bachelor’s & exp developing/ training groups required.

Cover letter & resume to WNYIL, Inc. 3108 Main St. Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Engagement & Community Outreach Peer

Educate & provide outreach to the mental Health community on the benefits of the Renewal Center and provide support.

HS diploma & 4 yrs exp req.

Cover letter & resume required to WNYIL, Inc. 3108 Main St Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

Administrative Assistant

Assist with large volume calls & documentation for reporting.

HS diploma & 1 yr office exp req Cover letter & resume required to WNYIL, Inc. 3108 Main St Buffalo NY 14214 employment@wnyil.org EEOC

STAFF PSYCHOLOGIST/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING Clinical/Counseling University at Buffalo, The State University of New York is recruiting for one Staff Psychologist/Assistant Director of Counseling at Counseling Services. The duties of the Staff Psychologist/Assistant Director of Counseling (1 full-time, 12 month position) include diagnosis and treatment of academic, vocational, emotional, personal, social, professional, and peer relationship problems. The Staff Psychologist must be a generalist with significant expertise and professional interest in providing counseling and educational programs to international college students who are experiencing personal and academic concerns. The Staff Psychologist will be expected to provide instruction, training, and supervision to graduate students, interns, and other staff members; provide consultation and training to University faculty, staff, and students; as well as organize outreach activities, such as workshops, seminars on mental health topics. The minimum qualifications (posting number: P220177) include: Completion of all coursework in a doctoral program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology and completion of an APA accredited internship program by the start of the position. Completion of all doctoral degree requirements in clinical or counseling psychology within 6 months of start date required. Licensed as a psychologist in New York State or license eligible within one year of hire. Must be a generalist with significant interest and experience in working with international students. Preferred: At least one year of university or college counseling center experience. Experience working with international students. Fluency in Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern, or South Asian languages is highly desirable. Significant experience working with individuals with persistent mental illness. Minimum salary: $69,395. Application deadline for these positions: July 15, 2022. Starting date: August 22, 2022. To review the vacancy announcement and/or to apply, https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/34959 The State University of New York at Buffalo is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer.

Taking It To The Streets Returns to MLK Park!

34th annual Taking it to the Streets returns after two years of hosting a virtual festival due to the pandemic! The upcoming festival in MLK Park will take place August 20 and 21.For more information and applications call Founder Anita O. Williams at 716-507-1931 or 716-891-4760 or Angelita Allen-Bellamy, Executive Assistant at 716-400-6749.

REGISTERED NURSE Student Health Services at the University at Buffalo is offering a unique opportunity for a Registered Nurse to join our team of college health professionals. Student Health Services is a physicianled practice that serves the diverse population of university students. The Registered Nurse will perform functions such as conducting nursing assessments, giving immunizations, assisting with treatments and wound care, and responding to in-office medical emergencies. We recognize the advantages diverse perspectives and backgrounds bring to the workplace. We are particularly interested in candidates who share this value and will work to achieve the university’s goals of inclusive excellence. The qualified candidate must be a registered professional nurse in New York State (NYS) with a valid NYS Nurse License. Knowledge of NYS Public Health Law immunization requirements is preferred. Hiring rate is $49,703 and is eligible for up to $8,000 in geographic differential. To review the vacancy announcement and/or to apply, https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/34954.

The State University of New York at Buffalo is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer.

14

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

advertising@ thechallengernews.com

ATTORNEYS PRATCHER & ASSOCIATES Franklin Muhammad (Pratcher) Attorney 1133 Kensington Avenue (716) 838-4612

AUTO BEN’S Downtown Tire

50 Sycamore (cor. Elm) (716) 856-1066 or 894-1483

BAKERY Taste of Supreme 100% Gluten Free Vegan Goodies Contact the Supreme Bakers

(585) 285 - 5496

www.tasteofsupreme.com Rochester Public Market 280 N. Union St. BLDG. B #44

ELECTRICAL EMPIRE ELECTRIC (716) 634-0330

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

Zakiyyah’s Rundown (ZR) Daily Vibrations 875-579-103-076-423-568-909-096-534-546-789-358219-765-187-890-919-953-542-438-910-680-194-234567-891-908-026-436-580-178-356-217-678-910-065843-468-451-742-567-689-301-978-543-467-470-246084-365-800-103-785-457-960-529-186-657-350-954689-955-467-809-074-657-906-671-978-010-743-234680-468-089-902-325-561-635-278-435-780-108-657562-178-930-354-763-469-012-757-689-208-645-785454-678-612-579-905-436-809-675-680-100-535-768MA RUTH SPEAKS THE TRUTH! SURE HITS! 168-985-678-198-256-890-054-

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CAR SERVICE WafersTransport.com FREE CATALOG (716) 249-4800

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15

15

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

CALENDAR OF EVENTS THURS. MAY 26 WE ARE WOMEN WARRIORS' “NO EXCUSES” COMMUNITY FORUM Thursday, May 26th, 5PM-8PM, Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch Library,1324 Jefferson @ E. Utica To register for Speaker's List, call or text (716) 248-8783.

MON. MAY 30 Hustle For Health Urban Line Dance Fitness at Gloria Parks C enter, 3242 Main St. 12 noon - 1p.m FREE ages55+ (716)832-1010 or HusteforHeath.com EVERY THURSDAY WITH

TIM THURSDAY NEWKIRK10-11 WITH PM EVERY WUFO 1080 AM / 96.5 F TIM NEWKIRK Podcast Every Friday 2:45 p.m.

10-11 All Social MediaPM Platforms WUFO 1080 AM / 96.5 FM

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

TUES. MAY 31 Free Line Dance Class every Tuesday 11AM-12PM @ at Dorothy J. Collier Community Center, 118 E. Utica. All are welcome! CALL 882-0602

Build a Bridge to Your College Education The 2022 Say Yes Summer Academy and EOP Pre-Freshman Summer Bridge Programs are Now Accepting Applications

Say Yes Summer Academy July 5 - August 4, 2022

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Stop DOCCS’s Attempt to Ban Family and Friends from Sending Packages to Incarcerted Loved Ones!

Family and friends opposed to DOCCS’s attempt to ban them from sending packages must immediately contact NY Governor Kathy Hochul and demand that this ban be blocked as it was in 2017 under Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Online: www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form Phone: 518-474-8390 Office Hours 9m-5pm Mail: Governor Kathy Hochul, NYS Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224

Offering BPS and Buffalo charter school June 2022 graduates an opportunity to earn 3 college credits before they start at SUNY Erie in Fall 2022!

EOP Pre-Freshman Summer Bridge Program July 14 - August 12, 2022

Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Offers a unique experience and an opportunity to grow and develop. You will meet fellow EOP peers and take an English and Math course to prepare you for the rigors of college coursework.

Both programs to be offered at City Campus, 121 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 Deadline to apply for both programs is June 10, 2022

For more information or to apply, visit: https://bit.ly/SUNYerieOpportunityPrograms

Vanessa Hall

WE HAVE 3,000 JOBS TO FILL

SUNY Erie at Northland Graduate

Summer is coming!

Catch up on credits or get yourself one class closer to graduation by taking a summer class.

Great Careers in Manufacturing & Energy

See a list of class offerings and get registered today at:

villa.edu/summer-classes

Call (716) 436-3229 or visit northlandwtc.org Train for what’s next.

240 Pine Ridge Road | Buffalo, NY 14225 VILLA.EDU

16

Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •May 26, 2022

In Buffalo, we stand together. The racist violence that occurred on May 14th has forever changed our community and we at Tops are collectively grieving alongside you. We stand with you, denouncing hatred, racism, and any act of violence.

The 10 Black lives lost, and their families, will forever be in our hearts and we will work together with the community in honoring their legacy.

Aaron W. Salter Jr. Andre S. Mackniel Celestine Chaney Geraldine Chapman Talley Heyward Patterson Katherine Massey Margus D. Morrison Pearl L. Young Roberta A. Drury Ruth E. Whitfield