Winter Weather

In light of today's weather forecast, I have reposted some important information for you to remember about going to school in the winter in Buffalo:

When the weather is bad, check for closings!  

In the coming winter months, it is important to check the weather throughout the day.  Sometimes, heavy snow or large snowstorms called blizzards can cause schools and businesses to close down.  You can check the following websites to see if our class will be cancelled, if your children’s school will be cancelled or if UB, other businesses, schools, churches or organizations will be closed.

For our school, look for Amherst Central Schools.

Closed = no school all day

No afternoon or evening activities = children will go to school during the day, but no ESL

1 Hour Delay = children will go to school 1 hour later than normal

2 Hour Delay = children will go to school 2 hours later than normal

News Channel 2, WGRZ Closing Central

News Channel 7, WKBK Closings

News Channel 4, WIVB Closings

You can also listen to the radio for closings or watch any of these channels on TV for a list of closings.

University at Buffalo Emergency Announcements (only for UB, not other schools)

If I have checked, I will try to put up a post on here as well.

Calendar

Music is Art Live

This Saturday, September 13th, the annual Music is Art Festival will take place. The festival

is located on the grounds outside of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Live music, dance performances, a kids' village and, of course, food and drink are there to enjoy. The full event schedule is available on their mobile app.

Music is Art is a non-profit group dedicated to enriching the community through access to music and music education.

Keep an eye on the weather, and be sure to be patient in parking. Pay attention to street signs to avoid parking where you shouldn't. 

Erie Canal and More

In class this evening, we heard a little bit about the Erie Canal and locks. As I mentioned, the Erie Canal is a very important part of New York's history. School children across New York State will learn about the Erie Canal, and most young children will listen to and sing about it as well.

If you are interested in learning more about the Erie Canal, you might want to check out the Erie Canal Discovery Center in Lockport, NY. The Discovery Center offers tours and information for adults and kids and is part of Niagara County's Historical Society.

As the canal stretched from Albany to Buffalo, there are countless parks, tours, historical sites and museums to check out across the state.

Summer is an exciting time in New York, and there is a lot the Buffalo-Niagara region has to offer!

Annual Summer Picnic

On Thursday, June 26th we will have our annual summer picnic!  Weather permitting, we will hold class in Dellwood Park in Amherst. Check the map below for the park's location.

If you are driving, I suggest parking on Ivyhurst, but be sure to pay attention to any parking signs and fire hydrants! 

It will be a potluck so be sure to bring something to share.  As I mentioned in class, I will take care of the basics--cups, plates, forks, spoons, etc.--and a dish or two.

Feel free to bring friends or family with you, and keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

View Larger Map

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In case of rain, we will meet at our summer location: St. Peter's Episcopal Church.


St. Peter's is located at 205 Longmeadow Road at the corner of Callodine Ave and Longmeadow Road.

Our first class at St. Peter's is Tuesday, July 1st.

Summer Film Series

Everyone loves a good movie! During the summer there are two ways you can see films either for free or at a really cheap price!

The UB Student Association offers a Summer Film Series every year. Movies are played outside on both North and South Campus. Check out the schedule on the UB SA website for a listing of films, times and dates. Remember, these films are outside so if it is raining, they won't be shown. Also, bring your own blanket or chairs--oh and snacks, too!

At the Regal Cinemas on Transit Road in Williamsville, you can take advantage of the Summer Movie Express. Children's films (rated G and PG) are shown every Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am starting July 1st. Tickets are only $1! All the possible films are listed on the Summer Movie Express website, but be sure to check local listings that week to see what is playing.

Summer Class Location

It's almost summer! That means Windermere Elementary will be closing for the summer and our class will be moving to St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

Our last class at Windermere will be Tuesday, June 24th.
Our annual summer picnic will be Thursday, June 26th. 
In case of bad weather, we will meet at St. Peter's.
Our first class at St. Peter's is Tuesday, July 1st.

St. Peter's is located at 205 Longmeadow Road at the corner of Callodine Ave and Longmeadow Road.

There is a parking lot for students who drive. We enter through one of the back doors. Look for the sign on the door the first night of class.

Our class is in the basement of the church. After opening the door, go down the stairs to your left.

Apartment Hunting

Looking for a new apartment isn't easy. Doing research is very important to be able to find what is available in an area and to read reviews from people who have lived there.

In class we mentioned Craigslist,which is a great resource for many things, but please do be cautious when giving out your personal information.

Realtors and real-estate websites often have listings for available apartments and homes, but will only have their own properties listed. Some such websites are MJ Peterson, realtor.com, Zillow and Apartment Finder.

The Buffalo News also has their real-estate listings online or in Friday's newspaper. This section is called Home Finder.

Reminder: Class Location Change for Thursday, June 5th

On Thursday, June 5th, Windermere is not available for our class. However, we will still have our regularly scheduled class.

Class will be held at our main location:

Maryvale Community Education

1050 Maryvale Drive

Cheektowaga, NY 14225

When you come to the school, enter the building at door number 46. You will see a sign that says 46 above the door.

The ESL classroom is room 272 on the second floor.

After walking in the doors, turn left. Go up the stairs you will see. At the top of the stairs, go left again. Down the hall on your right you will see class 272.

Written directions from Windermere to Maryvale:

Go north on Windermere Blvd. toward Oxford Ave.
Take the first right onto Oxford Ave.
Take a right onto Bailey Ave.
Take a sharp left onto Grover Cleveland Highway.
Take the ramp to merge onto 290 East.
Take exit 51-61 to merge onto 90 West.
Take exit 51E onto 33E toward the airport.
Take Union Road exit and keep left.
Turn left onto Union Road.
Turn right onto Maryvale Drive.
At the light, turn left into the Maryvale parking lot.
Our building will be the first one on the right.

The 1000 Islands

Last week I was asked about the 1000 Islands region in Upstate New York. It is a popular summer vacation area that follows the St. Lawrence River.

Take a look at the area's official Tourism Bureau website for further details on lodgings (hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns and camps), activities, attractions and so on.

Camping is always a popular choice for lodging in the area. You must make a reservation for a camp site and do make sure you pay attention to the amenities offered or not offered (garbage cans, bathrooms, etc.). Information and reservations for parks can be made through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Alexandia Bay is the most common city to see and stay in.

One of the most popular attractions is Boldt Castle. This beautiful home has an interesting and sad history.

Another popular thing to do is to take a ride on the river with the Uncle Sam Boat Tours. 

Recipes

On Thursday, a few students asked for recipes for two foods we talked about in class: scones and quiche.

As I mentioned in class, you can put anything you like in your scones or in your quiche. 

When adding fruit to quiche make sure you use dried fruits! Scones are typically eaten with clotted cream and jam along with a nice pot of tea.

Happy cooking!

Reminder of Classroom Rules

Due to recent events in the library, I have been asked to remind students of our classroom rules.

Please remember that we are only guests of Windermere Boulevard Elementary School. We must respect their wishes with regard to the use of the library.

In class on Thursday, we will read the following information together and answer any questions you may have.

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As an ESL student in Maryvale Community Education’s class at Windermere Boulevard Elementary School we ask that you read the following information.

As a rule, children under the age of 12 are not allowed in class.

This class is for adults only. No supervision for children is provided.

We are guests of Windermere Boulevard Elementary School. We are borrowing their library.

We are not allowed to use the library’s materials or computers. The librarian’s desk is off-limits.

Food and drink are not allowed in the library. We must clean up any garbage we bring into the library and leave it in the same condition as when we entered. We are not allowed to go to other areas of the school other than the entryway, bathroom and library.

We do realize that many students are not able to attend without their children.

However, children must be supervised by a parent at all times. Running, screaming, disrupting items in the library and other such behavior are not permitted.

Children must remain visible to parents at all times with at least one parent sitting with the children. Children are not allowed to leave the library for any reason without a parent.

If we do not follow these rules we risk losing our classroom. We want to be able to continue offering English classes to the community, but we need the cooperation of the parents and all students in our class to do so.

Class Location on Thursday, June 5th

On Thursday, June 5th, Windermere is not available for our class. However, we will still have our regularly scheduled class.

Class will be held at our main location:

Maryvale Community Education

1050 Maryvale Drive

Cheektowaga, NY 14225

When you come to the school, enter the building at door number 46. You will see a sign that says 46 above the door.

The ESL classroom is room 272 on the second floor.

Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival

In class last week I mentioned the first annual Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival began on April 23rd and will end Sunday, May 4th. Check out the website for details and events. A PDF schedule of events is also available.

Please keep in mind that outdoor events do depend on the weather. 

Party Reminder

Don't forget!

Today is the day! I look forward to seeing many of you and your families tonight at our International Party.

Remember: the party is from 4:00 until 7:00 in our ESL classroom at Maryvale Community Education. The address is below if you missed it.

1050 Maryvale Drive
Cheektowaga, NY
14225

See you soon!

Maryvale's International Party

In class last week we discussed the possibility of having an International Party. 
I am happy to share that the party is now scheduled for next week! 

Wednesday, April 16th 

from 4:00 to 7:00

Maryvale Community Education

The Robert A. Binner Educational Center

Room 272

1050 Maryvale Drive

Cheektowaga, NY 14225

Come have fun, meet friends and enjoy yourself!

Bring a dish to share!

When you come to the school, enter the building at door number 46. You will see a sign that says 46 above the door.

Don't forget: next week is Spring Break so there are no regularly scheduled classes.

Local Restaurant Week Spring 2014

Local Restaurant Week happens twice a year. It began on Monday, March 31st and will end Sunday, April 6th.



As mentioned in class, participating restaurants will have a special menu during this time. It will cost $20.14 either for one person or for two. Check each restaurant for their menus.

Some students requested that I make recommendations for restaurants, so below I have listed a few.

Duff's
Some of the best wings in Buffalo!

Family Tree or Milos
Two nice diners owned by the same family.

Pizza Plant
A unique pizza experience with a large variety of pizza pods!

The Garage Deli
I tried this restaurant on Monday and the meatball sandwich was quite nice!

Buffalo Roadhouse Grill
Tasty steak for a very tasty price!

Applewood Cafe and Catering
A great place for a fresh and tasty meal.

Betty's
One of my favorite places in Buffalo.

Kabab and Curry
Delicious Indian and Pakistani food. I always get a mango lassi!

SATO
A new Japanese restaurant that opened in February. A husband and wife own the restaurant and are very friendly people!

Amaretto Bistro
An Italian restaurant that is slightly fancier for a nice evening out.

Trattoria Aroma
One of my favorite Italian restaurants. It's a nice atmosphere and has a unique menu.

La Bella Sicilia
A home-style Italian restaurant good for the whole family.

Saint Patrick's Day 2014

As we discussed in class, Monday, March 17th is Saint Patrick's Day.  Buffalo has two parades celebrating this holiday.

Below I have inserted maps for the routes of each parade.  As far as parking, Buffalo has a lot of street parking.  Go early for the best parking and view of the parade.  Find a side street close to the parade route, such as Virginia Street or Franklin Street, for the parade on Sunday.  Be sure to pay attention to any signs and fire hydrants to avoid parking tickets.

Old Neighborhood Parade

Saturday, March 15th at 12:00PM 

Parade Route

View Larger Map

Downtown Parade

Sunday, March 16th at 2:00PM

Parade Route

View Larger Map

No Class Tuesday, January 28th

Due to the extreme temperatures today, we have no class. Please stay warm and safe. I will see you Thursday!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

On Monday, January 21st, schools are closed.  This is because of the national holiday celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King was a phenomenal public speaker.  He is famously known throughout the world for his "I Have a Dream" speech given on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington.

Below is footage of the March on Washington and Dr. King's speech.  There is also a link to the text of his speech.  It will not be an easy read or simple to understand because of the language he uses, but it is nonetheless important to understand the emotions and need for equality felt in the 1960s in America.

He was a great man and worthy of respect and remembrance with his message of equality and nonviolence.




Text of the speech:  http://www.archives.gov/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf

No Class Tuesday, January 7, 2014

There are no morning or evening classes tomorrow.

Due to the extremely cold temperatures and snow expected overnight and tomorrow, Maryvale and Amherst schools have been closed.

Please limit the amount of time spent outside and do not allow children to play outside. The temperature is expected to be very low with wind chill reaching around -30 degrees Fahrenheit (about -34 degrees Celsius).

Stay safe and warm! I'll see you all Thursday!

Winter Activities

Are you bored spending all of your free time inside at home? Don't be!
Here's a list of some of the wintertime activities the Buffalo area has to offer. Always remember to dress for the weather and be prepared.

Sports and other physical activities

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Skiing: downhill and cross-country

Kissing Bridge in Glenwood, NY

Skiing, snowboarding and lessons for adults and children are all offered at the Kissing Bridge resort.

Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, NY

This ski resort offers activities such as skiing, snowboarding, tubing and lessons along side full resort features such as a spa and shopping.

Iceskating

The Northtown Center at Amherst  

Located right next to UB North Campus, this indoor skating rink fills up quickly during open skate (when anyone can come in to skate). Skate rentals are available.

The Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza

Skate in the open air of Downtown Buffalo! Getting there is easy: take the subway from UB South Campus straight to Fountain Plaza. They also have snacks and drinks available to warm you up!

Sledding

Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, NY

Possibly one of the best places in the area for sledding, Chestnut Ridge Park has chutes for tobogganing, trails for snow shoeing and more!

Ellicott Creek Park in North Tonawanda, NY

Sledding, cross-country and snow showing are all available from 7am until dusk (when the sun goes down). Don't forget that all state parks close when the sun goes down.

Festivals

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Winterfest 2014

A number of exciting activities will be available for the public at Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, NY during Winterfest. This year it will be held on Sunday, January 26th from 11am to 4pm. Don't forget to dress for the weather!

Niagara Icewine Festival

From January 10th to the 26th, the Niagara area of Ontario, Canada celebrates the production of icewine. Adults may enjoy wine tasting, icewine grape picking, food and even an elegant gala! Check out the website for more details for specific events and locations.

Make sure that you have the proper documents to travel to Canada before doing so, and also keep in mind that the legal drinking age in Canada is 19. Please drink responsibly.

Weather Forecast

It looks like we have another very cold day coming on Tuesday. Be sure to watch the weather and be prepared!

Snow Day

We have no class tonight.

If you've looked or been outside, you've noticed that it is quite cold and snowy. The school district has just posted the closing for afternoon and evening activities. This includes our class.

If you have to leave home, please travel safely and wear warm clothing!

I'll see you all next week!

Brrrrrr!

Be sure to dress appropriately!

It's cold out there! According to the local weather forecast, we're in for some very cold and snowy weather over the next day or so.

Windermere is scheduled to open tomorrow (Thursday, January 2nd, 2014), however, if the weather is extremely cold or snowy, classes may be cancelled. 

As mentioned in an earlier post, there are a number of places to check for school closings. I suggest watching WGRZ (NBC/channel 2 on TV) for updates in the morning and before class tomorrow.

Schools may close if the weather is dangerous to travel or for children to be outside in due to snow, ice or cold. 

During frigid weather like this, there are places in the city for the homeless to seek shelter from the dangerous cold. It is often referred to as "Code Blue".


Also:  Happy New Year! I hope everyone has had a happy and healthy break! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!