All posts by Darren Cotton

ReTree the District Planting Day Logistics

ReTree

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ReTree the District is on November 7th!

ReTree the District is a collaborative project of community partners in Buffalo’s University District that is working to plant 1,000 trees across the community. By planting trees we are not only creating a healthier environment, we’re also creating a stronger community and building relationships between residents, students, and neighbors.

We can’t thank you enough for volunteering your time and talent with ReTree the District. Without your support this project would not be possible!

As we prepare for the planting day on November 7th please find event details below. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to email us.

Logistics for Planting Day – November 7th @ 9AM

Please arrive at Kapoor Hall on UB’s South Campus at 9AM on Saturday, November 7th. If you are unfamiliar with the area please refer to this map. A brief rundown of the day’s event are as follows:

  • 9:00AM – 10:00AM: Registration & Training
  • 10:00AM – 1:00PM: Planting 150 Trees!

You can also preview the ReTree the District presentation to familiarize yourself with how to property plant a tree:

Practice Planting – October 31 @ 9AM

If you’re planning on being a team leader on November 7th you MUST attend the practice planting!

Learn how to properly plant a bare root tree at our practice planting day on Saturday, October 31st!

We’ll meet at the Tool Library located at 5 W. Northrup Place at 9AM to pick up the tools we need and then walk over to our planting sites on Heath Street. Once there, we’ll plant 10 trees.

Tree Delivery Day – November 5th

We are working with ReTree WNY and the City of Buffalo to unload close to 300 trees to be planted across the city, including 150 in University District. There are two opportunities to help unload on Thursday, November 5th:
  •  9:45AM City of Buffalo Engineering Garage – 1120 Seneca Street
  •  10:30AM Uptown Theatre – 3163 Bailey Avenue

Some key points to remember on the day of:

  • “Home Base” for the day is Kapoor Hall. Please arrive at 9AM
  • Please dress according to the weather (hopefully no parkas necessary)
  • Boots or sneakers are better than high heels
  • Prepare to get a little dirty
  • Volunteers must be 18 years or older and able to sign a waiver from the University Heights Tool Library
  • Parking is available on UB South Campus, accessible from Winspear Avenue
  • The site is also accessible from public transit (NFTA: Metro Rail and Bus Lines 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44 47, 48, 49/UB Stampede), and volunteers are encouraged to minimize their carbon footprints
  • Breakfast food and drinks will be available for volunteers in the morning
  • Lunch will be provided in the afternoon
  • Bathrooms are available at Kapoor Hall and the Tool Library

Thank you to our ReTree the District Sponsors:


ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: Akron Tree Farms, Bailey Avenue Business Association, B Team Buffalo, Buffalo CarShare, Chestnut Ridge Nursery, City of Buffalo Division of Parks and Recreation, Grow716, Home Depot, ReTree WNY, Schichtel’s Nursery, St. Joseph University Parish, St. Joseph Neighborhood Housing Initiative, University District Block Club Coalition, and the University Heights Tool Library

University Community Farmers Market Farewell

Farmers Market

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The University Community Farmers Market final date is October 17, 2015 from 8:00AM until 1:00PM.

Farmers have an excellent selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables all grown locally!

So stock up on root vegetables and winter squash and other product which store well into the fall and winter. Pumpkins are in good supply with a variety of sizes. Think Thanksgiving with winter squash and pumpkin pie. Stop by the Market Managers table to pick up creative recipes for these products.

Finally, as the Market concludes its ninth season, the Board of the University Community Market wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to all the customers, farmers and artisans how have made this community resource all possible. We would also like to thank the University Heights Collaborative and the Gloria Parks Community Center for helping promote the market and taking care of the finances, and the University of Buffalo Office of Community Relations for providing personnel, space for storage and meetings along with financial support over the course of the market.

Finally, the Board is looking for new leadership if the market is to continue. If you are interested in participating in the leadership and continuance of the Market please contact the University Heights Collaborative (info@ourheights.org) or better yet stop by the Market at Main and Kenmore Avenue during the final Saturday.

– The UCFM Planning Committee

Join us for the final day of the market, October 17, 2015!

Letter to Planning Board RE: Self-Storage Facility on Kenmore Avenue

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Below is a letter submitted by the UHC to the City of Buffalo Planning Board outlining our organization’s concern with the proposed Self-Storage Project located at 416 Kenmore Avenue as submitted for review. After significant public feedback through in-person meetings, community forums, and correspondence with Mr. Dash, we are disappointed that seemingly none of this feedback has been taken into consideration.

UHC is open to continuing to work with Mr. Dash in an open and transparent manner. We look forward to a project that is developed through an iterative and collaborative process.

Click on the image to download a PDF of the full letter.

Click on the image to download a PDF of the full letter.

The project will go before the Planning Board on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 at 8:15 AM in Room 901. Representatives from the UHC will be in attendance will copies of the above letter.

Comments, questions, concerns should be sent to Buffalo Planning Board; 901 City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202. Comments can also be emailed to Planning Board Staff and Members listed below:

Kenmore Storage Facility Goes Before Planning Board

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dash storage elevations dash storage site plan

Renderings of the Uncle Bob’s Self-Storage Facility on Kenmore Avenue.

The project will go before the Planning Board on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 at 8:15 AM in Room 901.

Comments, questions, concerns should be sent to Buffalo Planning Board; 901 City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202. Comments can also be emailed to Planning Board Staff and Members listed below:

 

ReTree the District Fall 2015 Planting

ReTree

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ReTree the District is a collaborative project of community partners in Buffalo’s University District that is working to plant 1,000 trees across the community. By planting trees we are not only creating a healthier environment, we’re also creating a stronger community and building relationships between residents, students, and neighbors.

Join us on November 7th from 9:00AM to 1:00PM for our fall planting day and help us reach our goal of 1,000 new trees across University District!

Please arrive at Kapoor Hall on UB’s South Campus at 9AM on Saturday, November 7th.  A brief rundown of the day’s event are as follows:

  • 9:00AM – 10:00AM: Registration & Training
  • 10:00AM – 1:00PM: Planting Trees!

Community Garden Cookout

Community Garden

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In order to celebrate the sweat and hard work we’ve put into maintaining the Tyler Street Community Garden this year we’ll be throwing a cookout at the garden on Sept. 19th from 12-2pm immediately following the Extend Your Growing Season Workshop. Bring your family, friends, neighbors, and fellow gardening fanatics for some good food and even better company!

If you would like to bring a snack or drink to share, we’ve listed a few things we’ll need below. Please email Joe Kurtz at kurtz.josephj@gmail.com if you’re bringing so we can avoid having 5 veggie platters and 1 bag of chips 🙂

  • Chips/Pretzels
  • Pop/Juice
  • Plates
  • Lawn Games (cornhole, kan jam, croquet, ladder golf, lawn darts, bocce, etc…)
  • Veggies (we can eat some of our crops too)

This is a community cookout so anyone and everyone is invited! If you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact Joe at the above email. Looking forward to seeing you there!

The George Scott Big Band Benefit Concert

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The-George-Scott-Big-Band-1Join the George Scott Big Band  from the Colored Musicians Club for a Benefit Concert on Saturday, September 19th at the University Presbyterian Church.

The Benefit Concert will support Friends of the Night People, an organization that helps the poor, homeless, and destitute by providing clothing, medical care, counseling and hope to those in need.

Community Soup Microgrant Program

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Community-Soup-flyer-Nov-8-2015

University Presbyterian Church is continuing their innovative program called Community Soup, which is a grassroots model for funding small projects (between $400 – $600) through community meals. Community members come together to share a meal at an affordable price.

All income from the meal is given as a grant to support a project to benefit the Buffalo community. Everyone who purchases a meal has one vote to decide who gets the grant. The church would like the project ideas to come from individuals between the ages of 15 and 25 to help encourage young people to engage in their community.

You can find more information on the program in the brochure below:

Community-Soupbrochurethumb (Please click on the image to download a PDF of the brochure)