Buffalo Rising Online

The planters were built by residents of Manchester Place. Specifically, Todd Patti, owner of Changes Construction, and Peter Riphahn, spent many hours fabricating and installing the planters earlier this summer. Ann Oehler created a great artist rendering of the planter for approval by the Manchester Block Club. Since then, the portrait of the planter has become kind of the unofficial logo of our block club. It's also framed and on the walls of a few homes on our great street.

If you didn't see the planters in full bloom last summer, visit next spring. We just planted about 75 bulbs per planter which should stop traffic come spring. You will also see the planters in full bloom next summer for the garden walk where we expect to increase our presence from six houses in 2008. Currently, we're working on a grant to obtain funding for plant hooks and plants on the light poles. The MP theme will be tied in. The same team will be designing and making the one-of-a-kind planter hood as well.

Kudos also go to the residents of the 400 Block of Potomac who made the great flags mounted on their light poles and the Baynes block club for also hand-building planters. In the six years I have lived in Buffalo, the Upper West Village has seen a lot of positive momentum to improve and maintain this community. Credit goes to a very dedicated group of residents who have started and/or participate in block clubs or neighborhood associations and invest time into improving their communities.

The planters were built by residents of Manchester Place. Specifically, Todd Patti, owner of Changes Construction, and Peter Riphahn, spent many hours fabricating and installing the planters earlier this summer. Ann Oehler created a great artist rendering of the planter for approval by the Manchester Block Club. Since then, the portrait of the planter has become kind of the unofficial logo of our block club. It's also framed and on the walls of a few homes on our great street.

If you didn't see the planters in full bloom last summer, visit next spring. We just planted about 75 bulbs per planter which should stop traffic come spring. You will also see the planters in full bloom next summer for the garden walk where we expect to increase our presence from six houses in 2008. Currently, we're working on a grant to obtain funding for plant hooks and plants on the light poles. The MP theme will be tied in. The same team will be designing and making the one-of-a-kind planter hood as well.

Kudos also go to the residents of the 400 Block of Potomac who made the great flags mounted on their light poles and the Baynes block club for also hand-building planters. In the six years I have lived in Buffalo, the Upper West Village has seen a lot of positive momentum to improve and maintain this community. Credit goes to a very dedicated group of residents who have started and/or participate in block clubs or neighborhood associations and invest time into improving their communities.

In reference to the lawnmower slipping under, there is a metal retaining ring the same size as the top of the planter that keeps cocoa mulch under the planter. This keeps weeds from growing underneath and allows the grass to be trimmed neatly without banging into the planter. As much as we appreciate Councilman Rivera's grant, I want to also thank all of the residents on our street that helped with various fund raising efforts and labor for this project. There was $950.00 in materials and about 85 man hours of labor, 60 of these hours were skilled labor that required shop time. Thank you Councilman and all those that helped in any way!

In response to meanoldman, even though your response is a bit off topic: Besides designing and building the planters I am the the Vice President of the Manchester Block Club. Councilman Rivera has made himself very available to us and discussed with us on more than one occasion the bigger problems he is working on besides planters. We have been very impressed with what he has done and is trying to do to help revitalize our neighborhood and city! There are problems that cannot be fixed by one man or within a short time period. If you have I commend you, if you have not, I ask what have you done besides making a phone call to complain? Have you started a block club or organized a group of concerned citizens to meet with the Councilman in a productive manner? I am aware of the type of problems that you are complaining of and from our experiences with Councilman Rivera I have to believe that even though he has not responded specifically to your complaint that he has been working towards resolve in any manner that he can. Contact the Councilman with some ideas about how you and other concerned citizens can help solve these problems and I am sure you will hear back from him.