Eileen Buckley

There is yet another historic piece of property in the city of Buffalo that is in need of help.
The Lyceum --  at 215 Broadway -- was built in 1909 by the Most Holy Redeemer society, founders of St. Mary’s. 

In this week's Press Pass interview, Buffalo Spree editor Elizabeth Licata tells WBFO'S Eileen about her tour of the building and also introduces us to some young preservationists.

U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords is resigning from Congress.  Giffords, a democratic congresswoman from Arizona, has announced her resignation.  Giffords was shot and seriously wounded in January of 2011 during a “Congress on your Conner” event in Arizona.   In issuing her announcement, Giffords said she has more work to do on her on-going recovery.

U.S . Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement after Congresswoman Giffords announced her decision to resign from the U.S. House of Representatives:

35-area individuals and organizations were honored in downtown Buffalo Thursday by the National Federation for Just Communities. 

 The NFJC held its annual Community Leader awards ceremony at the Buffalo Convention Center.  

Among some of the categories individuals were recognized from included business, education, health care and interfaith communities.  

A learning center in Buffalo that is allowing citizens to get off of welfare is considering expansion. 

Skyview Learning on Delaware Avenue is transforming lives with job training and partnering with area employers. 

Skyview's founder tells WBFO News about how this program maintains such a high successful rate for job placement among its clients.

"We've been able to maintain a 90% success rate," said  Orlando Perez.  He founded Skyview more than three years ago.

A federal lawmaker is urging an end to the National Football League's television blackout rule. Western New York Congressman Brian Higgins is calling on the FCC to change the rule saying it hurts markets like Buffalo.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss an issue of great importance to Western New York– the Buffalo Bills," said Congressman Brian Higgins as he appeared before his colleagues on the House Floor Wednesday.

Winds with gusts from 50 to 70 mph ripped through Western New York Tuesday night bringing down trees and power lines, with most of the damage coming along the Lake Erie Shore. 

It knocked out power and downed some trees and tree limbs in parts of the region.  A few thousand lost power Tuesday night in parts of  East Aurora, Elma, Colden and Orchard Park. Scattered outages also were reported in parts of North Buffalo.

Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his second budget address from Albany Thursday. The Governor did mention the already promised  $1 Billion for Buffalo.  

Cuomo said the funding coming will have many purposes.    He said plans are still being finalized for the funding, but noted the city will receive $100 million this year.

"Until we have a specific plan $100 million this year, $100 million next year and the funds are flexible depending on what the business plan is that actually comes to Buffalo," said Cuomo.

Dr. Anthony Billittier will be leaving as County health commissioner February 1st.   

Dr. Gale Burstein, a pediatrician at Women & Children’s Hospital, was named as the new commissioner by the Poloncarz administration. 

WBFO News spoke with Billittier as he winds down his 11-years as the county's health leader.

Dr. Billittier will be working briefly with the new health commissioner as he transitions out.  Billittier actually recruited Dr. Burstein to work at the Health department.

While many Western New Yorkers were enjoying a relaxing day off from school and work for the Martin Luther King Holiday, others marked Monday by volunteering to serve others. 

The MLK Day of Service was held at The King Center Charter School in Buffalo. 

Adam Bartoszek is a regional volunteer center manager with the Service Collaborative of Western New York.  He said the volunteers painted the some hallways inside the charter school..

"They are going to be expanding in the future so we painted an entire hallway for them," said Bartoszek.

Late last week Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula pointed to player injuries as the root cause of the team's difficult season. 

But Pegula did note that he remains confident the team will be able to bounce back in the second half of the season.  

WBFO'S Eileen Buckley had a chance to ask a former Sabre about the lackluster season.

When the Sabres are in a slump, fans often call changes both on and off the ice.

A community organization that fights for affordable housing is unveiling a new energy efficiency program.

PUSH Buffalo is launching PUSH Green.

Scaling up residential energy efficiency is part of this new statewide initiative -- PUSH Green is designed to help homeowners by reducing energy usage and cost.

Clarke Gocker is a Green Jobs -- Green New York project manager.  He said residents in Erie County will be able to apply for a loan program offered by NYSERTA.

Parents and community leaders are demanding that the Buffalo Board of Education approve a new school suspension policy. 

They gathered on the steps of Buffalo City Hall late Wednesday morning in the rain to call for the Jawaan Daniels Student Safety Resolution.  

Daniels was a Lafayette High School student who was shot and killed while standing at a bus stop last year after he was suspended for loitering in the halls.   

KeyBank has announced the purchase of 37-HSBC bank branches in Buffalo and Rochester from First Niagara. 

KeyCorp signed a purchase and assumption agreement.  26-of those branches are in Buffalo, 11 are in Rochester.

The bank branches are being sold by First Niagara Bank in connection with the acquistion of HSBC's Upstate New York banking franchise.

"This transaction is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our franchise in these attractive markets and, at the same time, build long-term shareholder value," according to KeyCorp Chairman and CEO Beth Mooney.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is gearing up for its 88th annual Appeal drive. 

Bishop Edward Kmiec announced a $10.6 million goal for the 2012 Appeal at the South Buffalo Food Pantry Wednesday.

Sister Mary  McCarrick is the diocesan director of Catholic Charities.  She noted that through food pantries and numerous other services, Catholic Charities is meeting needs every day.

"We want to provide the basic of food. We also wants to do other things that enhance and improve the lives of some of  our needy residents in Western New York," said McCarrick.

Interim Buffalo Schools Superintendent Amber Dixon says it is time for her to say yes to apply for the possible as a permanent superintendent. 

It was a question Dixon would not answer after taking over four months ago when James Williams retired. 

But now Dixon wants to be considered as a candidate. 

"And I think it is time to say yes. I think we have moved this district in the right direction," said Dixon.

Dixon recently  reached agreement with the school board on the seven models for the schools improvement grants. 

As the topic of bullying remains in the forefront in the wake of the local death of Williamsville North High School student  Jamey Rodemeyer  a private school in Amherst will be screening a documentary about  bulling. 

The Park School will feature "Finding Kind".   It focuses on girl to girl aggression and bullying.    WBFO'S Eileen Buckley talked to young women who are the filmakers of "Finding Kind".

Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson are 2009 graduates of Pepperdine University  in Malibu, California.  

There has been a coaching change for the Buffalo Junior Sabres. 

The team announced Tuesday that General Manager Michael Peca will assume the role of Head Coach at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 season.

Head coach Grant Ledyard has stepped down, effective immediately.  Russ Certo will serve as the team’s interim head coach for the remainder of this season with Peca serving as an assistant.

WBFO News spoke to Peca early Tuesday afternoon.

 The Town of Wheatfield supervisor weighed in Monday night into the probe of the SPCA of Niagara.  Supervisor Robert B. Cliffe told a board meeting that he would "prefer" an independent investigation surrounding recent allegations of hundreds of euthanized animals at the Niagara County SPCA.

The SPCA of Erie County is launching an investigation into the allegations.  But Cliffe told the board that it is  really a Niagara County-wide issue affecting all 12 towns and the three cities.  

A long-time ice cream and dessert shop on Elwmood  has called it quits. 

The Sweet Tooth announced on its facebook page that after 21-years, it closed it's business over the weekend. 

The facebook post says due to family health issues, increased expenses and uncertainty the operates have decided to shut its doors.  For year's Sweet Tooth was located on Elwmood Avenue between Hodge and Utica, but in May of 2006 it moved to the corner of Elmwood and Allen Street at 94 Elwmood. 
 
Here is the entire post on the Sweet Tooth facebook page:

Last week's cold, snowy weather provided the perfect climate for picking frozen grapes at Leonard Oaks Estate farm in Lyndonville.  Those grapes are now being processed for ice wine.

WBFO's Eileen Buckley talked with Wendy Oaks Wilson --president of Leonard Oaks Winery -- about ice wine making and why it's so popular.

The Buffalo Sabres disappointed fans on home ice Saturday night losing in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets 2 to 1 at First Niagara Arena.

The Jets Johnny Oduya scored just 57 seconds into overtime play getting the puck by Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth.  Enroth stopped 39 shots.

The Sabres scored one other goal with just 1:45 left in the third period, but the goal was not counted because the play had been whistled dead.

The Sabres have lost the last eight of ten games. 

Sabres Jason Pomminville's played his 500th NHL game Saturday night.   

The newly elected leadership of the Buffalo Common Council says the dispute between the MSG Network and Time Warner Cable could mean a "significant" lose of revenues for the city. 

The leadership is calling on the New York State Attorney General's office to intervene in the impasse. 

The two sides failed to reach a deal that has stripped Buffalo Sabres hockey games from the local cable viewing. 

Common Council president Richard  Fontana, Majority leader Demone Smith and lawmaker  Bonnie Russell sent a letter Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. 

Salamanca High School was placed in lockdown around 9-this morning when a student  threatened a teacher. 
A 15-year-old student picked up a pair of scissors and broken lacrosse stick making the threats.

"The student did make some overt verbal and physical threats about causing injury to self and others," said   Salamanca Schools Superintendent Robert Breidenstein. 

Staffers tried to intervene and negotiate with the student and Salamanca Police were called in.

The SPCA of Erie County will be conducting an independent review of the Niagara County SPCA.

SPCA of Erie County executive director Barbara Carr tells WBFO News her board agreed to conduct the review. 

Niagara County SPCA Executive director John Faso is accused of a high number of dog and cat euthanizations and  poor medical treatment of animals. 

Carr said  controlled substances are used to put animals to sleep and must be recorded.

Carr will be checking reasons why the animals were put to death.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said he is committing $1 billion over the next several years to jump start economic development in Buffalo. 

The Governor made the announcement as he delivered his State of the State Address from Albany Wednesday afternoon.

The $1 billion would be in addition to the $100 million a new regional economic development council approved for Western New York. 

Administration officials say the $1 billion package will send a message to industries worldwide that if they come to Buffalo, financing will be available.