Community Watch: Riverside Park Vandalized!

     Earlier last week, Riverside Park sustained a significant amount of criminal damage. Vandals destroyed the stone work on a park entrance sign on Crowley Avenue along with a stone park bench. Recently planted trees were also torn out of the ground and a Port-a-potty was also flipped over and broken. Several bleachers were damaged and flipped over along with a large sign used by the football league. The vandals also left graffiti all across the park. Anyone with information regarding the vandalism of the park is asked to contact the police.

     Riverside Park is a shared asset that benefits the Riverside community and the City of Buffalo at large. The park is a popular place for sports and recreation in the area. In recent years the Conservancy has enhanced the football field with a grant from the National Football League and the Buffalo Bills. It is up to the community who patronizes and benefit from the park to see that Riverside is maintained as a kid-friendly place free from crime and destruction. Those with information regarding the vandalism are asked to contact the Buffalo City Police tip line, (716)847-2255, and or the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, (716)838-1249.

Encore performances of "Music at the Marcy" April 7th & 14th

Due to popular demand, 2 encore performances have been added to the Music at the Marcy Concert Series in Delaware Park. These two additional performance dates will feature Buffalo’s own “All Star Band” and are slated for Thursday April 7th & 14th.

The members of the “All Star Band” have played with many reputable artists that include but aren’t limited to Rick James, Teddy Riley, Mary Jane Girls, Process & the Doo Rags, N'Dambi, Shirley Ceaser, LeVert, Blue Magic, Mickey Howard, Stephanie Mills, Shanice Wilson, Lenny Williams, and Shawnee Mac. With a broad range of influences including Jeff Labro, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vie, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clark, Billy Cob Ham, Michael Jackson, Charlie Wilson, Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Rick James, the “All Star Band” certainly lives up to their name and is sure to make these encore performances at the Marcy Casino unforgettable!

The “All Star Band” features Wade Hawkins (Keys), Kenny Hawkins (guitar), Flute Johnson (Drums), Rodney Appleby (Bass guitar) and John Miller (Technician).

Music at the Marcy is an all-ages concert series of musical acts performing in the historic Marcy Casino (199 Lincoln Parkway) in Delaware Park. Admission is FREE for members of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, $5 for general public, and $3 for college students with valid college ID. Proceeds from the series go to benefit the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

For more information please visit www.bfloparks.org or call 716-838-1249 ext 23.

2011 GOLF SEASON PASS INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE BUFFALO OLMSTED PARKS GOLF COURSES

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy announces that seasonal Golf passes will be available for sale for all 3 of the Olmsted Parks golf courses including Cazenovia Park, Delaware Park, and South Park starting Sunday, March 27 2011 at our BOPC golf course golf houses. Delaware Park has an 18-hole course located on the Parkside Avenue – Nottingham side of the Park. Cazenovia Park and South Park courses’ are 9-hole courses located in South Buffalo area.

This year power golf carts will be available to rent at both our Delaware Park and Cazenovia Park golf courses. Locker rooms with locker availability will be available for rent at Delaware Park golf course, Parkside lodge and lockers for golf bags and misc. golf items will be for rent at the South Park golf house. The 2011 Golf season will begins Saturday, April 23rd (weather permitting) and runs through October 31st.
Golf passes can be purchased on the following dates:

"Special Sales Days":

Sunday, March 27th
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
* All 3 golf courses
South Park golf house, Cazenovia Park golf house
& Parkside Lodge golf shop, Delaware Park

Sunday, April 10th
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
* All 3 golf courses *
South Park golf house, Cazenovia Park golf house
& Delaware Park golf shop, Parkside lodge

Saturday, April 16th
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
* All 3 golf courses *
South Park golf house, Cazenovia Park golf house
& Delaware Park Parkside lodge golf shop

Golfers must bring:
proper identification (valid driver’s license)
headshot photograph, no larger than 1” X 1”
cash, check, MasterCard or Visa

Golf season pass cards will not be honored without a photo and signature.
City of Buffalo Resident Regular Golf Season Pass pricing

Regular 7 day pass (Regular golfer - age 17 to 59); $ 185
Regular 7 day pass (Senior golfer - age 60 or older); $ 150
Regular 7 day pass (Youth golfer - age 16 and under); $ 125

Regular 5 day pass (Senior golfer – age 60 or older); $ 90

Locker Rental Card; $30 (Specific info. on application)
Non-Resident City of Buffalo Golf Season Pass Pricing
Regular 7 day pass (Regular golfer – age 17 to 59); $ 250
Regular 7 day pass (Senior golfer – age 60 or older); $ 200
Regular 7 day pass (Youth golfer – age 16 and under); $ 175
Single day, twilight, league and tournament play is also available.

Course hours are dawn to dusk, weather permitting. Check with each course golf house for hours of operation.

For more information on golf passes, league & tournament permits and single day passes, call Dave Hoover, Golf Operations Manager for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy at 838-1249 ext. 19 or visit our website at www.bfloparks.org – golf)

Fools Like Us at "Music at the Marcy" 3.10.11

Tonight, March 10th, Fools Like Us will be performing at the Marcy Casino (199 Lincoln Pkwy) as part of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks, “Music at the Marcy” concert series. Fools Like Us (FLU) is a local band based in Buffalo that performs roots, Americana, rock and original music.

Fools Like Us is comprised of lead guitarist Mike Sweeney, Bill Blanford on the guitar and vocals,Joe Marshall with the bass & vocals, and percussionist Chuck Terranova.

Come and catch FLU… FLU music is good for what ails you!

This is the band’s second year in a row performing at “Music at the Marcy”. For more detailed information about Fools Like Us contact them at www.foolslikeus.com or check them out on their facebook page.

Membership Drive at the Parkside Lodge 3.11.11

Whether you bike, run, walk, golf, play, bird watch or just relax – the Buffalo Olmsted Park & Parkway System is yours to enjoy! It is our mission to restore and maintain the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed green spaces for you and the entire community.
We want Buffalo residents to enjoy the rich recreational experiences and natural resources that our parks have to offer – that’s why a Membership with Buffalo Olmsted Park and Parkway System will get you all of the following:

Individual Membership ($35/year):
• Advance notice and great discounts to many Olmsted events and activities
• A subscription to The Leaflet newsletter, so you can stay up-to-date on all of the activities going on in our parks
• FREE summer boating on Hoyt Lake
• FREE ADMISSION for one person to the Music and the Marcy Concert Series
• Other park perks…

Family Membership ($50/year):
• EVERYONE in your household can enjoy all of the benefits of the Individual Membership for only $15 more!
• Additional Membership Cards available for family members upon request

On Friday, March 11th, 2011, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, we will be holding a Membership Drive! Come to the Parkside Lodge at 84 Parkside Ave to register as a Member and begin enjoying the benefits of your tax-deductible gift.

Help ensure a bright future for the parks.

Map of Parkside Lodge

Student Discount at Music at the Marcy

With the Music at the Marcy concert series now in full swing, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is proud to announce that we are now offering an admission discount to college students with valid student ID's!

Students with a valid college ID will be admitted to the Music at the Marcy concert series for $3. The remaining dates for the concert series are as follows:

-Fools Like Us (3.10.11)
-The Informers (3.17.11)
-Free Henry! (3.24.11)

Outer Circle Orchestra at Music at the Marcy 3/3/11

Tonight, March 3rd, Outer Circle Orchestra will be performing at the Marcy Casino (199 Lincoln Pkwy) as part of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks, “Music at the Marcy” concert series. Outer Circle Orchestra is a local band based in Buffalo that performs high energy music in the African-Caribbean, International, and World-Beat genres. Outer Circle Orchestra is comprised of John Allen –saxophone, Spenser Bolden-congas, percussion, Jim Burgess-trombone, trumpet, keyboard, Andrew Case -timbales, percussion, guitar, Rodney Chamberlain –bass, Reggie Evans –drums, Ed Handman –guitar, and Rick McRae-trombone. The tropical sounds of Outer Circle Orchestra will make you “feel good and move your body.” This is the band’s second year in a row performing at “Music at the Marcy”. For more detailed information about the Outer Circle Orchestra, contact them at oco716.info@gmail.com.

Check them out at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Outer-Circle-Orchestra/65712511418

Hoyt Lake Clean-Up April 16th

Volunteer for the Spring Clean-Up 2011 at Hoyt Lake!

On Saturday, April 16, 2011, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy will be teaming up with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper for a spring clean-up of Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park. This event will take place from 9am-12pm and volunteers are needed for helping remove trash from Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park.

The Hoyt Lake Clean-Up is part of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper’s Spring Shoreline Sweep. For those of you who are not familiar with Riverkeeper, over the past 15 years, they have organized biannual cleanups of local waterways to remove litter and other accumulated debris.

Where to meet: Marcy Casino (199 Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14222)

What to bring:
• Work Gloves
• Work Clothes (Including old sneakers or boots)
• Sunglasses or hat for sun protection
• Shovels, rakes, pool skimmers, pick sticks, garbage bags, etc.

Volunteer Incentives:
• Free stainless steel water bottle as a part of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper’s continuing effort to replace plastic, non-degradable water bottles (that could end up in our waterways) with reusable water bottles.
• Free volunteer BBQ immediately following the clean-up
o Where: American Legion Hall, 533 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14207
o When: 12pm-3pm
• Perfect for community service hours

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information please contact volunteer@bfloparks.org or call 716.838.1249 ext 15 or visitwww.bnriverkeeper.org .