Last week, we had a chance to speak with Superintendent Williams–a conversation that began with the recent incident at the Performing Arts School then went on to issues of unions, single carrier health insurance, organizational and civic culture and many points in between. We’ve broken this interview into a series of parts which we’ll run over the course of the next few days. We presented the first part of the conversation yesterday. Today, Dr. Williams continues with the incident at the Performing Arts School. He talks about how it’s not just the kids who fight in public schools. He cites…
Author: George Johnson
Last week, we had a chance to speak with Superintendent Williams–a conversation that began with the recent incident at the Performing Arts School, then went on to issues of unions, single carrier health insurance, organizational and civic culture and many points between. We found him to be as charismatic as he is frank. He believes in the transformative power of education. He seems to see confrontation as part of his mission to change things. He says repeatedly he doesn’t care about popularity and he seems confident enough to mean it–an earned confidence he enjoys wearing, tempered by experience. He manages…
Buffalo’s snowy Valentine’s Day marked the third meeting where Women and Children’s Hospital discussed plans with surrounding residents to rebuild an Ambulatory Care Center on Hodge Avenue. The first general meeting was held in July and the second in December. About 30 people from neighborhoods surrounding the hospital attended the meeting, including members of the Hodge Block Club, the Bryant, Oakland, Summer Block Club and the West Utica, Atlantic Block Club. Resident concerns: Block club members showed concern about the three residential houses (hospital owned) that would be demolished if the center were to be built. A fairly new, less…
Imagine if Nietzsche’s had been around in 1907 – the venue would have certainly featured the headliner composer, singer, and rollicking piano-man who owned the building four doors to its east on Allen Street. At 230 Allen Street there still stands today a three-story stone building (photo) that, back in 1907, was the Record Theater of its day. Dewitt T. Bell ran a music store there on the first floor’s double storefront. The second floor held his presses for printing the music. And the third floor was where he lived, and composed much of the music he published and sold.…
On Tuesday and Wednesday night this week a world dance phenomena ‘arrives to thrive’ at Shea’s. Tickets for both nights are still available, so please grab them as quickly as you can. Artistic Director Judith Jamison will be there to guide the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and its members will be there to dance up a storm of sound and vision, together channeling the mystical powers and dreams of Alvin Ailey. Judith Jamison is behind the scenes these days – rounded, big, buoyant and truly ‘Buddha-ful’ carrying on as the medium of Alvin Ailey’s theme. Once a tall, young black…
Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper (affiliated with Waterkeeper) covers and protects river and waterway issues all over the land. RFK Jr coined the term and found the legion, which continues to lead the cause worldwide. Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, once known as The Friends of Buffalo River, held its 2007 Annual Meeting last Thursday at Harry’s Harbour Place Grille. A truly impressive gathering of citizenry was present. Executive Director Julie O’Neill (photo) stated that in addition to Riverkeeper’s active supporters, their knowledge of individuals actively engaged in some form of environmental protection in Western New York numbers over 100,000 individuals. The staggering number is…
We could use your help.
Warning: If you have no interest in the build out of our office (the first leased office space in the Cobblestone District), innovative, cost-effective construction and design, the work of some gifted creative professionals, or a couch from the lobby of the Courier Express, please don’t read this. There’s nothing for you here.
A big part of web publishing is paying attention to performance metrics,Aeinot just how many people come to a site and with what frequency (though that is remarkably important), but taking a close look at where they come from, what they come looking for, where they go on the site, what they do on the site, and where they go when they leave. Like just about every site, a big chunk of BRO’s traffic comes from Google. And those queries in a way reflect a part of the local zeitgeist. We thought you might find them interesting, so here they…
Last week, the December BRM (our second tabloid issue) hit the streets-75,000 copies in over 300 locations throughout Western New York. The book features a host of stories we’ll be excerpting throughout the month. The issue also features a Holiday Gift Guide you really ought to check out. Organized by shopping district (Hertel, Allentown and Elmwood Village), you’ll find the piece helpful in selecting urban retailers who offer unique items and quality services ideal for gifting this holiday season. The piece is also a creative and visual delight. Designed by Hero Design, the piece showcases retailers in a way that…