'UB Getting Dirty'

On April 10th, UB's Student Association will be coordinating the annual "UB Getting Dirty" cleanup campaign that recruits several hundred volunteers to perform service within the area around the South Campus.

Every year, the program partners homeowner volunteers with university volunteers in order to facilitate camaraderie and achieve the highest impact in the neighborhood. There are already a number of projects planned for this year's event, but there will most likely be accomodations made for a few more. If you have a project for which you are interested in seeking volunteers and if you will be able to work with the volunteers as well, please contact UB's Office of Off-Campus Student Services at 829-3541.

Projects with the largest number of homeowners volunteering with UB Getting Dirty volunteers will recieve the highest priority, as they will have the greatest affect on this day of service.

UB’s School of Nursing Hosts Grand Opening of New Facilities on South Campus

The University at Buffalo recently relocated its School of Nursing to Wende Hall, one of South Campus’ original buildings built in 1885. UB invested $7.1 million to renovate the historic building into a model, energy efficient 21st century research building equipped with new classrooms, offices, and laboratories. These physical improvements accompany advancements in the school’s administrative and educational structure as well, in an effort to make itself one of the most competitive nursing programs in the United States.
Wende Hall’s restoration is a part of an overarching goal attributed to UB2020’s plan to update facilities to the highest standard as well as to locate all five of the university’s health sciences schools on the South Campus.

UB Named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

Pictured: UB students spending their spring break cleaning up the Heights neighborhood.

For the third consecutive year, the University at Buffalo has been nationally recognized for its community service in areas of volunteerism, service-learning, and civic engagement. The award is a collaborative recognition from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Department of Education, HUD, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education. Recipients of the award are chosen based on a compilation of factors including the scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation, and the incentives provided by the school to participate in service-learning programs.
UB qualified for the honor roll due to their free tax preparation service that returned almost $640,000 in tax refunds to low-income families, the Center for Leadership and Community Engagement’s “Saturday of Service” program that paired students with Habitat for Humanity twice a month, UB’s free medical clinic on the city’s East Side that provided health care to over 1,500 Buffalonians, and the Community as a Classroom program that taught inner-city students how to use their educations to positively impact their neighborhoods. Overall, approximately 4,700 UB students along with hundreds more faculty and staff provided the Western New York community with an estimated 323,000 service hours.

Well done to all of those who contributed to this esteemed effort!

VEDA Yoga Space

New to University Heights:
VEDA Yoga Space
1862 hertel Avenue
716-446-9225

beyoga3@gmail.com

http://www.vedayogaspace.com

VEDA is a primarily hatha yoga studio offering a variety of classes to suit all bodies and levels.
Stop in and say hello or get information and sign up online at: http://www.vedayogaspace.com

Yoga: A school of Indian philosophy accepted as a science and practical method of self-discovery.

Benefits of yoga practice (among many others!):

• Stress relief
• Postural improvements
• Reduction in muscle tension
• Improved muscle strength and tone
• Increased joint flexibility
• Increased range of motion
• Improved physical balance and coordination
• Replenished endurance/ energy
• Cleansing and nourishing of tissues through increased respiration and circulation
• Nervous system regulation/ restoration of emotional balance
• Relaxation and rejuvenation
• Improved self-awareness/sensitivity
• Improved concentration/ mental clarity
• Promotion of restful sleep
• You will learn to love and understand your own body, listening to what it needs. You will discover your strengths and accept your areas of resistance without fear or avoidance. With heightened sensitivity and awareness, you will progressively grow and gain confidence in all areas of life.

UB's Moving Off-Campus Fair

On Thursday March 4th, UB’s Office of Off-Campus Student Services hosted its annual “Moving Off-Campus Fair”, which welcomes both on-and off-campus service providers to conduct demonstrations and provide information for UB students who are moving into off-campus neighborhoods. Organizations participating in this event included the City of Buffalo Housing Inspectors and Office of Citizen Services, UB’s offices of Environmental Health & Safety, University Police, the Student Wellness Team, and Legal Services. Students were enlightened on issues regarding tenants’ rights, selecting roommates and landlords, transportation, utilities, recycling and garbage pickup, preventing burglaries, and acting as responsible members of their community.
UB’s office of Environmental Health & Safety also provided fire extinguisher training and simulated a bedroom burn outside of the Student Union to portray the quickness in which a room can be engulfed in flames.

For more information regarding UB’s Off-Campus Student Services or to be involved in next year’s Moving Off-Camus Fair, call 829-3541 or visit http://livingoffcampus.buffalo.edu/.

Amanda's Law: Giving a Voice to the Silent Killer

Amanda's Law: Giving a Voice to the Silent Killer

On Monday Governor David Paterson signed "Amanda's Law" into New York State law, making it mandatory for all homes to be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector. The law is named after Amanda Hansen, the 16-year-old West Seneca girl who lost her life to a carbon monoxide leak while at a sleepover party. The bill that became Amanda's Law was drafted by South Buffalo Assemblymember Mark Schroeder at the behest of the Hansen family.

Carbon monoxide leaks are particularly prevalent in multi-unit homes, such as those throughout the University Heights, where shared utilities often cause mechanical problems. Carbon monoxide is known as the 'silent killer' because it is undetectable without a CO detector and can kill within minutes.

As of right now, there is no funding to distribute carbon monoxide detectors on a large scale. However, everyone should take it as a personal responsibility to provide their homes with these life saving devices and ensure those in your home will be protected.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors can be bought at hardware stores, such as ABC Rental on Bailey Avenue for $26.

Sign Up for Summer Home Repair Event

Group Workcamps, a national Christian-based youth mission organization, will make basic home repairs to 100 selected homes in the University Heights area for a week in June. The work crews will consist of high school students with adult chaperones. The volunteers will paint, build or repair wheelchair ramps, weatherize and repair steps and porches for elderly, disabled or low-income residents.

Local sponsors of the program are the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, UB’s Office of Community Relations, the City of Buffalo, Nichols School (where the visitors will stay) and the Erie County Department of Health.

Several sponsors are also members of Wipe Out Lead, a Western New York coalition dedicated to educating the community about the dangers of lead. Used in many homes built before 1978, leadbased paints pose a serious health hazard, especially for children.

Applications for Group Workcamps home repair are being accepted until Feb. 28. To apply, contact Linwood Roberts, neighborhood outreach coordinator in the Office of Community Relations, at 829-3524 or lr26@buffalo.edu.

Interested homeowners should have insurance, have someone present at the home during the event in June, and be physically or financially unable to make repairs.

Photo by Enid Bloch

Free Tax Preparation Services Available at UB

IRS-certified accounting students from the University at Buffalo School of Management will again provide free tax preparation services to individuals and families with annual incomes below $49,000.

Area residents and students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity, which will be held on UB's North and South campuses. The IRS estimates that using such free services can save taxpayers between $100 and $300 in preparation fees.

This service can be especially valuable to low-income tax filers by helping them apply for earned income-tax credits that can provide a needed boost in annual income. The tax credits, which can reduce or completely eliminate income taxes by refunding taxes already withheld from wages, can mean as much as $5,028 for a family with two children.

Earned income-tax credits also can be collected from back tax filings. The service will prepare tax filings for the two previous years, as well as 2009.

Free tax preparation will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis in 109 Allen Hall, South Campus, on Feb. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28, and in 106 Jacobs Management Center, North Campus, on March 27, 28 and April 3, 4, 10 and 11.

Participants must bring proof of identification (government-issued ID for each adult, such as driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, military ID card, etc.); original Social Security card for each filer and dependent; date of birth for self, spouse and dependents; wage and earning statements (Forms W-2 and 1099) from all employers; interest and dividend statements (Form 1099); a copy of last year's federal and state tax returns, if available; and bank routing numbers and account numbers, if direct deposit is desired.

The tax service is coordinated by the UB chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors organization for accounting, finance and information systems students, with help from the UB Accounting Association.

Frequently asked questions as well as maps and directions can be found at http://mgt.buffalo.edu/freetaxprep. Additional questions can be directed to mgt-freetaxprep@buffalo.edu or 716-533-1553. Services on the South Campus are available thanks to support and equipment provided by the UB Office of Community Relations.

An Open Letter to the"Answer Lady"

To whom it may concern, but I think just about everyone knows who you are………

I am very tired….. very tired of your negative blogging. Many of us in the University District are working hard to improve the living conditions in the area we have all chosen to call home. Your type of anonymous and generally venomous commentary does absolutely nothing to help those of us that are trying to generate positive change. I for one, not that you probably care, am retired and have chosen to give back to the community in many different and satisfying ways and I know that we have a long slog ahead of us. There is an old saying that should become the motto of all of us that have chosen to give their time to the enrichment of our community. “If you are not part of the solution you are probably part of the problem”.

I am available, at your convenience, to discuss your comments…. But I would be very surprised if that occurred.

Fred Brace

Less is More: Promoting Recycling and Waste Reduction in Western New York

Join us in the Allen Hall Theatre on 2/23 at 7pm to learn more about recycling and waste reduction efforts that are happening in Western New York! Heard about single stream recycling? Wondering what it is? Come here to find out! We'll be talking about all that is new and exciting about waste and recycling in our region!

Moderator: Erin Moscati, UB Green Environmental Educator

Panel:

Andrew Goldstein: Community Recycling Expert
Susan Attridge: Area Manager, Abitibi Bowater Recycling Division
Ted Osborne: Buffalo Recycling Enterprises

Midnight Movie Madness at the Amherst Theater

The University at Buffalo and the Amherst Theater have announced the Winter/Spring lineup of films for the popular Midnight Movie Madness series. This event occurs every Saturday at Midnight in the Amherst Theater and is free for UB students and $5 for the public.

The Winter/Spring lineup includes:

January 30th- Shaun of the Dead
February 6th- Couples Retreat and Crazy Heart
February 13th- Twilight New Moon
February 20th-Hot Fuzz
February 27th- Star Trek (2009)
March 20th- Transformers
March 27th- The Hangover
April 10th- I Love You Man
April 17th- The Blindside
April 24th- Pirate Radio

UB continues its abandonment of South Campus

Research institute moves downtown

Buffalo News story
By Jay Rey

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

December 16, 2009, 6:53 AM

A policy and research center at the University at Buffalo has been relocated, in what marks the beginning of similar moves to strengthen UB’s presence downtown.
UB’s Regional Institute has moved from Beck Hall on the South Campus to refurbished space on the third floor of UB’s Downtown Gateway building, formerly the M. Wile building, 77 Goodell St.
Moving the institute’s 10-member staff into the building is just a small part of the university’s larger plan to create a vibrant downtown campus along the Buffalo Niagara Medical Corridor.
UB eventually wants to relocate its Medical School and other health-related fields downtown, where this year it broke ground with Kaleida Health on a new 10- story vascular and research center.
Next spring, the university is scheduled to start building a four-story Educational Opportunity Center on a parking lot next to the UB Gateway building.
UB acquired the former M. Wile building in 2007 to relocate several of its community outreach programs, like the Regional Institute. They include: UB’s Office of Economic Engagement; administrative offices for UBMD, which represents 450 faculty physicians; UB’s office of Government and Community Relations; and the Center of Educational Collaboration, an initiative designed to collaborate with the Buffalo Public Schools.
“Over the course of the next few years, the community can expect to see additional units follow the institute to create an engaging, vibrant space for university-community interaction,” UB President John B. Simpson said in a prepared statement.
Founded in 1997 as the Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth, the Regional Institute analyzes issues affecting the Buffalo Niagara region, such as the economy, governance reform and demographic change.
For the institute, the move downtown offers greater visibility and the opportunity for new partnerships, Kathryn A. Foster, institute director, said during an open house Tuesday afternoon.
“Proximity to our government, business and civic partners in the region’s hub lets us broaden and deepen our regional connections,” Foster said.
jrey@buffnews.com "> e-mail: jrey@buffnews.com

Home Improvement Program

The Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo is looking for up to 100 homes to repair! High school students with adult chaperones will provide basic home repairs-painting on the inside or outside, building/repairing wheelchair ramps, weatherization and step/porch repair in your neighborhood during the week of June 20 - 26,2010.

To qualify, you must:
1. Be physically or financially unable to repair your own home.
2. Own your home.
3. Have homeowners insurance.
4. Have someone present at the home during the week of June 20-26, 2010 (it could
be a family member, friend or neighbor).

Want to Hear More?

Please join us at one of the following meetings!
• December 10, 6:00 p.m. at 100 Allen Hall, UB South Campus
• December 15, 6:00 p.m. at Gloria J Parks Community Center, 3242 Main St.
• January 5, 6:00 p.m. at Ken-Bailey Neighborhood Housing Services 995 Kensington Ave.

To be considered. you must complete an application and mail it in by January 30. 2010.
Space is limited! ApplyNow!
Questions?
Call Mary Fisher at the Wipe Out Lead Hotline
(716) 712-5500 or WipeOutLead.com

Click here for a form yiou can print out and send in or bring to the information session.

Video from Buffalo Rising Story

Buffalo Rising on "University Slope"

Full article here
University Slope - Again
by Steel

A year or so ago I wrote a BRO story on a portion of University Heights that I took upon myself to call "University Slope". I did not have a very extensive or very good set of photographs of the neighborhood at the time; now that I do, I have put together this slideshow stroll through one of Buffalo's least known neighborhood treasures. This section of University Heights occupies a triangular area at the north end of the city, west of the UB Main Street Campus.

The streets sweep up a gentle but dramatic (by Buffalo Standards) slope. The bell tower of Hayes Hall on campus forms an elegant backdrop to many streets. In recent years, University Heights has been painted with a broad brush as a place with growing urban problems including crime, rowdy students, badly managed absentee property, and poor city services. This neighborhood really does not fit that stereotype, hence I gave it a new name.



What one finds in this portion of the city is actually a picturesque enclave of streets with well-kept (mostly owner occupied) houses. The streets wind and angle in a complex weave as they fit into the triangle between Kenmore Avenue and Main Street. You feel enveloped within this comfortable setting as you explore its small blocks and mini parks lined, with comfortable houses mostly in the homey craftsman style. You will even find a major Buffalo art gallery (UB's Anderson Gallery) here. The people who live here are friendly and eager to brag about their hidden treasure. Check out the slide show and see if you agree.

Buffalo CarShare comes to University Heights

Buffalo CarShare, the rapidly expanding nonprofit car sharing service, has chosen the parking lot behind St. Joseph’s University Church as its newest hub location. The organization was created six months ago by University at Buffalo urban planning graduates and has since become a popular transportation alternative for over 130 dues-paying Buffalonians. With a growing fleet of vehicles concentrated in downtown and the Elmwood Village, the car at St. Joseph’s is the first and only uptown location.
The service allows its users the advantages of driving a car without the hassles that accompany car ownership. Members rent the car on an hourly basis, typically for errands, shopping, or other brief trips. Cars can be reserved either online where the availability of their cars is shown or over the phone. Once reserved, the member uses an electronic key to access the car and then returns it to the same spot for the next member to use. The cost of the service is $5-$8 per hour with a small additional mileage charge, depending on use. There is also a monthly membership fee of either $5 or $20, also depending on use. Membership is available to anyone 18 or older with a relatively clean driving record. Once accepted, members are insured through Buffalo CarShare to drive any of the vehicles in their fleet.
Contact Buffalo CarShare at 898-0850 or online here to enroll in this unique neighborhood amenity.