Caz Cafe closing it's doors

I was sad to hear the news of the Caz Coffee Cafe closing down. Since it opened a few years ago, I heard nothing but great things about the place. I'm not a coffee drinker, but stop by many times to listen to live music.


The experiences I had there were terrific. The only drawback to me was the cramped space inside. Sometimes, it could be difficult finding a seat when the musicians played. I enjoyed listening to the many types of music the coffee house had to offer. My niece, Sarah, the official mayor of the cafe (according to four square), wrote the following piece for Buffalo.com. There seemed to be an interest in this type of place on Abbott Rd. Hopefully, another entrepreneur will give it a go (perhaps at a slightly bigger building).

Caz Coffee Cafe to close up shop Friday

 They put a parking lot on a piece of land
When the supermarket used to stand
Before that they put up a bowling alley
On the site that used to be the local Palais
That's where the big bands used to come and play...

What's going on at St. Ambrose?

 
I know the neighborhood politicians will never do anything about it, so I thought I'd take a minute to talk about St. Ambrose School. Not sure if it's true, but I heard recently that only six students had registered for next Fall's Kindergarten class. It makes you wonder whether the neighborhood can support five Catholic grammar schools. Currently, we have St. Ambrose, Notre Dame, Trinity Catholic, OLV, and Our Lady of Discovery. I include the Discovery School because it is essentially a Catholic School minus the daily prayer rituals and Murphy's Oil Soap. When the politicians are all sending their kids there, you know it is not your typical public school. I don't see any of these snake oil salesmen sending their kids to Southside or School #27.


Let's face it, times are tough around here. Parents able to get a free education equivalent to a private education, jump at the chance. Then, you have the South Buffalo Charter School, which also takes students away from private schools like St. Ambrose, due to price (free) and proximity. There are also so many families who have fled the city due to better job opportunities out of state or for quality of life. My mother sits in her backyard and watches people walking by, smoking marijuana in public, littering on her property, and uttering obscenities. Then, the cars speed by going 85MPH with their speakers blaring. Not to sound like a prude, but it's no wonder so many people choose to move to the suburbs.

St. Ambrose is a very good school. I've met several students from there over the years and they are great, intelligent kids. I have to ask whether there is more at play here than just increased competition from other schools? Schools like St. Ambrose are going to have to be ahead of the curve in order to remain open. What can they offer prospective students that the other schools cannot? The simple answer is a Catholic education. However, people are fickle, and will jump ship if they think the grass is greener on the other side (of McKinley Parkway).


They have a great group of dedicated parents over at St. Ambrose. I see it in their sports programs. Unfortunately, their numbers are so low, it makes it difficult for them to compete against bigger schools like Notre Dame. I would be interested to hear from parents from St. Ambrose and elsewhere to understand what has really been taking place. I know the parents from the school have been trying to drum up support and hopefully, it will pay off with an increase in future enrollment. This post is not meant to deride any of the other schools in South Buffalo. I just hope St. Ambrose doesn't suffer the same fate as St. Agatha's, St. Thomas', and Holy Family. I think it can be saved if people work together and come up with innovative ideas.

He took the bait...

 
Shredd and Reagan interviewed the South Buffalo resident with the outspoken views on race today. He said neighbors were coming up to him and thanking him for his comments to channel IV. He also said he has received some death threats.


I'm not afraid to touch on controversial topics. We've all heard people talk about the increased number of black people who have moved onto the side streets off of South Park Avenue and Seneca Streets. It has dominated many conversations on porches and at dinner tables. To pretend that it hasn't, is an outright fabrication. Although very politically incorrect, this man was just saying publicly what others have said privately.


I'm not an advocate of any kind of racism. We've all heard the stories about our Irish ancestors being greeted with signs that read "Irish need not apply" when they arrived in this country. It's something every Catholic school teacher in South Buffalo discussed at one point or another.


While this man's opinion might be ugly, it was how he felt. To me, hypocrites are worse than anyone. There are three hypocritical groups/people which need to be pointed out here...

1.)The white resident from the outer lying suburb who is "shocked" by the man's comments: Could you remind us all again why you fled to an all white area?


2.) Reverend Darius Pridgen: Ironically, the racist, blue collar South Buffalo man in question has more in common with the average black person than Pridgen does. He drives fancy cars and lives in an expensive condo on the waterfront. The only time Pridgen is black is when he's preaching from the alter or speaking in front of a TV camera.


3.)The South Buffalo/ 1st Ward racists who turned around and whored themselves to Byron Brown when he ran against a South Buffalo resident: We all know who they are. If you're going to be a racist, it's on you, but don't just do it when it's convenient for you. Practice what you preach. I don't dislike Brown because he's, well... brown. I dislike him because he's an empty suit. These people, who talk out of both sides of their mouths, are an embarrassment to the true racist, idiots everywhere.At least they're not hypocritical.


Attached is the full interview from Shredd and Reagan. No word yet on whether the man plans on tossing his white hood into the ring for City Council. 
You can listen to him on Shredd and Ragan here.

Full interview with Buffalo resident | WIVB.com

Candid interview

 You won't believe this interview. This guy is more outspoken than I am. Channel IV's Ed Dranch went down to the Old 1st Ward to speak with neighbors about some recent arsons. The FBI is exploring the possibility they were racially motivated. You may be shocked by what the man on the back of his pickup truck says (beginning at 1:30). Not shocked by what he says, but shocked by the fact that he says it in front of a news camera. Most people these days will give you the politically correct, carefully worded answer. Not this guy.

I don't agree with what he says, but you can't call him disingenuous. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he is probably not an Obama supporter. Call it a hunch...

Arson fire may have been race-related: wivb.com

Here's a clip from the last time I heard someone as outspoken on the issue of race...

Blog contributer responds to Fahey's salary

I would love for one of the South Buffalo political prostitutes to respond to this contributor. After you read this, you need to go outside, take down your Fahey sign, quit your government job, and go look for work in the private sector. This reader pretty much sums up how the rest of us feel about people of your ilk...

I can't believe that we taxpayers actually shell out $80,000 a year for that stooge to hold Jiggins' coat. This is an absolute outrage! People are hurting, and I mean really hurting in this neighborhood. We've had one ratbag politician after another promise us the world here in South Buffalo, but there hasn't been a decent paying job brought to this neighborhood since Republic Steel, Trico, Mobil Oil, etc., all closed their gates. And all we got in return for allowing manufacturing to leave our shores was boarded-up businesses, abandoned houses and lots of hot air from our so called "leaders." Please, no more lies about "Brownfield Redevelopments."

Meanwhile, the same self-centered opportunists keep getting elected to office around here, their war chests grow richer and richer, all while their army of political hack flunkies act as their Pretorian Guard. And this job for life comes at the mere price of shelling out to the legion of political hacks a few City/County/State jobs and the obligatory summer gig at the pools for their teenage kids. We allow these crooked politicians to get away with complete neglect of our communities, and at the same time everyone kow-tows at the local gin-mills to these thieves. Yes, times are good for the South Buffalo political class and their legion of flunkies who derive mainly from some of the most unenlightened members of South Buffalo's self-anointed "first families." Yeah, times are good for these elites, despite the fact that 99% of the rest of the people in the neighborhood are really suffering.

In my lifetime I've seen our South Buffalo neighborhood descend from what was once a respectable working-class area to what it is today, an inner-city urban ghetto comprised of the underclass and vestages of the white working-poor.

Yet, St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and the Shamrock Run is on tap too: you just watch how many people will go out of their way to shake hands and slap the backs of these professional phonies. The Abbott Road/Potter Road/McKinley Parkway crowd will turn a blind ignorant eye to all the blight and poverty which now overwhelms the South Buffalo area and pretend that it's still 1952, as they elbow each other while trying to get their faces forward in the posed photographs with the local rat-bag politicians.

Some people need to wake up and see things for what they are and not what they were.

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Please take part in my poll

Are you following the special election for NY state Assemblymen between Chris "11,000 doors" Fahey and Mickey "Rivers" Kearns? Please take part in our special unscientific poll to the right of this post.

It will be interesting to see who wins the $79,000/yr do-nothing part time job. Fahey is backed by Congressman Brian Higgins and City Comptroller Mark Schroeder, while Kearns counts local developer Carl Paladino (and his wallet) as well as the City Hall Rooster amongst his supporters. I like Kearns, but I don't know 11,000 doors Fahey very well.

I'm sitting this race out, as neither candidate cares who I support. And nor should they. With the election being held on my birthday, there may be an "October surprise" waiting in the wings. Being in control of the press, the Blogger has a lot at his disposal. He hears things. People send him things.

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Baby alligator found on Lockwood Ave.; long neck goose and unicorn still at large

WIVB reports that a baby alligator was seized from a home on Lockwood Avenue today by the SPCA. No big surprise there. It would have been news if they raided an apartment on Lockwood and didn't find an exotic pet, marijuana plants, meth lab,etc.

I think they should set aside one day a year where anyone can go and dump their exotic pets off at Tifft Farms with no questions asked. Forget deer and birds, why not make it a true place for adventure? No word yet on who tipped the SBCA off, but we're pretty sure the word "babydaddy" was used at some point during the investigation...

Baby alligator seized from Buffalo home: wivb.com

Hey Lord,'

'I've got green alligators and long-necked geese,
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.
Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I'm so forlorn,
I just can't find no unicorns!'




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Hit and run driver charged

I was saddened to recognize the name of the hit and run driver from Broadway and Sobieski St. Mike Held 32, was a former soccer player of mine from the school #28 Lighted Schoolhouse days...

Michael D. Held, 32, was identified as the driver after an intensive, three-week police investigation that focused on auto parts suppliers and auto repair shops, Buffalo Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda said at a news conference.

One summer, we tried to help Mike with a summer youth job. I was running soccer camps for 8 to 12 year olds. He had been a very good worker. He was on time and helpful towards the kids. But halfway through the summer, he was caught stealing something from one of the participants and had to be let go. I felt bad about it, because I knew him to be a good kid from a pretty troubled background. He had been fighting this difficult background from a very early age. I honestly felt he was trying to break away from it. We had no choice, however.

I feel bad for the victim's (April Smith) family in this case. She leaves seven children without a mother. One can only wonder what these guys were up to driving around the East Side at six in the morning. This is the 2nd hit and run death in WNY this month. The last victim, Ryan Purcell, was a former South Buffalo soccer player from a great family, and now the suspect in this case, a former player. Very unfortunate couple of weeks.

Man charged in fatal hit-run


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The pizza incident

I was at Leo's Pizza with a friend yesterday when the Ninja called my cell. He got out of work early so I encouraged him to meet up with us. Nothing unusual there.

Things got weird when he walked into the pizzeria with two slices from Leo's chief rival, Imperial Pizza! Apparently, the Ninja had already ordered the slices before he got in touch with me. Not wanting to waste the food or risk eating it cold, he brought it into another pizzeria in the same neighborhood. The whole thing reminded me of something Kramer might do on a Seinfeld episode. When he arrived at Leo's, the Ninja did order an Italian Sausage Sub and a drink (he's been on a health kick lately.) Although he did his best to cover the box, an acquaintance of his was nice enough to throw him under the bus and alerted the girl at the register, who in turn, told the manager.

I have to admit I was a little uncomfortable sitting in one pizzeria, while my friend was sitting across from me, eating food from their main competitor. The manager came out from the back. As regulars, we knew the manager by face and have shared brief, pleasant conversations with him.

What the Ninja had done could only be described as bizarre. However, we thought the manager might take it all in good fun. After all, Leo's doesn't seem to be hurting for business, and anyone who knows the Ninja, knows he has a crazy sense of humor. This was not to be the case. The manager gave the Ninja a piece of his mind in front of the whole restaurant. It got so bad, the Ninja even asked him if he wanted him to leave. You could hear a pin drop as the standoff unfolded. Later on, the Ninja would go on to say as a longtime patron of Leo's on Seneca St, next to Recchio's, and the current location, he felt blindsided. The manager told him it was ok for him to stay, but said his act was disrespectful. Needless to say, the rest of the meal was very tense. For the record, I like both Leo's and Imperial.

The next night, in an effort to extend the olive branch, we went back to Leo's. As the Ninja often says, "A man who doesn't shop in his own neighborhood, can never be a man at all."

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The chicken man grew up in my house

The Blogger lived in one house growing up in South Buffalo. In fact, the red brick house has been there for over 100 years. Recently, the paparazzi has begun gathering there at all hours, in an effort to document my humble beginnings. Until now, the only famous inhabitant was thought to be baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, who lived there while he was a student at nearby South Park High School.


But that all changed the other day when my mother was outside doing some gardening. A van pulled up to look at the house. The man behind the wheel explained to her that he grew up in the house (upstairs) and wanted to see if it still looked the same as it had. He introduced himself as Don Hoffman. At first, the name didn't resonate with my mother. But then, she remembered the family lived upstairs during the early 1960's.

Hoffman, according to my mother, then made some crazy gesture with his hands and began making chicken noises. He told her she might know him better as the "chicken man" from his television commercials for Airport Plaza Jewelers. Everyone has seen the commercials: "Got gold? We'll buy it!"

The chicken man and my mother reminisced about the old times before he gave her these three rubber chickens (he told her he has distributed 20,000 of them around Western New York:


My mother was kind enough to give me one of the chickens, which will adorn my Wall of Fame, along with my "Gimmy Jimmy" Griffin T-shirt and Carl Paladino "Mad as Hell' duck whistle. Warren Spahn and the Chicken Man both growing up in the same house. Talk about a small world. Remember, "a new diamond doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg". I have to go. I think Billy Fucillo is at my front door...

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Cars vandalized on McKinley Pkwy.

This is a typical crime involving people who don't understand what it means to have to work for something. Some vandals spray painted two dozen vehicles on McKinley Parkway last night. If caught, they should be made an example out of. I feel bad for the people who had to wake up to this nonsense. Where are the crime prevention cameras Byron Brown is always touting? The vandals sprayed 3399 or 399 on the cars, which will probably lead to them getting caught. Police have no word yet on the whereabouts of Byron Brown, Jr. between 4 and 6AM last night...

Son arrested for Susan Lane murder

Some sad news to report this evening from WGRZ. Buffalo police have charged Brian Rossel with the March 29th murder of his father on Susan Lane...

Buffalo, NY - Homicide detectives have arrested and charged a man in connection with the murder of his father.t Buffalo police found 84 year old Donald Rossel dead in his home at 45 Susan Lane in South Buffalo on March 29.

Brian Rossel of Forest Avenue in Buffalo was arrested by detectives Friday afternoon and charged with one count of murder in the second degree.

Rossel is currently being held at the Erie County Holding Center.

Police Arrest Son of 84-Year-Old Murdered Man

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So what

The annual "South Buffalo Get Together" will be this Saturday, April 9th at the Iron workers Hall in of all places,West Seneca. I invite my readers to attend and try to find the five people there who actually still live in South Buffalo...

This year’s contest in coordination with the release of the song, “South Buffalo” will seek to determine which street is South Buffalo was the best street to grow up on. Nominations in the form of an essay not to exceed 100 words will be accepted until Friday April 6th and can be sent via e-mail to the South Buffalo Fresh Air Club at sbfreshair@verizon.net or mailed to SB Fresh Air Club, 86 Woodview Drive Buffalo NY 14127.

So, where is Woodview Drive? There certainly isn't a Woodview Drive in South Buffalo. And the event itself? Held in West Seneca. Of course it is. Please spare me the emails about how this event will benefit the South Buffalo Community Table. Everyone knows what it's about. It's a chance for the Brian Higgins worshipers to get together in their plaid skirts and khaki pants and talk about how their kids just got accepted into Nichols. They'll network with other like minded bores and talk about the good old days. If these posers love South Buffalo so much, why don't they move back there? I think what happens is this type moves away from the old neighborhood and finds out their new neighbors aren't that impressed with them. They long for the love and attention of their simple minded little cliques. Sorry! Blogger's not impressed. Enjoy your night!

South Buffalo "Get Together" This Saturday April 9th

So what I'm still a rock star I got my rock moves And I don't need you And guess what I'm havin more fun And now that were done I'm gonna show you tonight I'm alright I'm just fine And you're a tool so So what I am a rock star I got my rock moves And I don't want you tonight

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Police: Elderly Man's Death Appears "Suspicious" - WBEN NewsRadio 930 : Buffalo & Niagara Falls, NY

Susan Lane is the last street in South Buffalo where you would think a murder would take place. From WBEN...

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) -- Buffalo Police are investigating the discovery of an elderly man's body in his South Buffalo home.

Officers responding to an address on Susan Lane Tuesday afternoon found the 84-year-old man, dead, inside.

Buffalo Police Chief of Detectives, Dennis Richards, describes the death as "suspicious." He did not elaborate.

An autopsy will be performed to determine an exact cause of death. Homicide detectives are in charge of the investigation.

Police: Elderly Man's Death Appears "Suspicious" - WBEN NewsRadio 930 : Buffalo & Niagara Falls, NY

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South Buffalo girls becoming used to winning

It was a great weekend for our girls travel soccer teams. The girls are really starting to become passionate about the game. They went 5-0 this weekend at the Epic Center and Sportsplex. Each town puts the best girls from their programs onto travel teams that compete at these venues during the winter.

The girls from South Buffalo defeated Amherst, Grand Island, Clarence, Akron, and Tonawanda respectively this week. When we play in a u12 division, our 11 and 12 year olds compete almost exclusively against teams made up of all 12 year olds. Our 8,9, and 10 year olds play against entire teams of 10 year olds. Despite the age difference, three of our teams are currently in first place near the end of the regular season.

If you know any of the girls in our program, they will tell you how much they practice on their own (as well as with their team). In my opinion, the girls from the other clubs play often, but only a few of the players on these teams are passionate about the game. I don't think this is the case with our girls. I believe most of them spend considerable amounts of time with the ball. And it's starting to show. Back to the drawing board tomorrow. Congratulations to the girls for all of their hard work...

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Champions

Pictured here, wearing their championship t-shirts at the Buffalo State College 4 v4 indoor soccer tournament are the South Buffalo u10 girls coached by Jason Milne. Missing from the picture is 8 yr old Sasha Mojica, who broke her wrist with one minute left in the championship game. She was a great help to the team.


Our South Buffalo 10 and under and 12 and under girls' teams competed in the Buffalo State 4 v 4 tournament today. Our 12 and under team won all three of their bracket games to make it into the final. They tied that game 2-2. After no goals in the four minute overtime (we hit the post twice), we lost in a shootout. 2-1.

The 12 and under team went 2-1 and made it to the final, where they defeated Ken-Ton 4-0 in a game that wasn't even that close. Ken Ton had previously beaten them 1-0 for their our only loss of the tournament.

Other clubs competing were Ken-Ton, Hamburg, West Seneca, Grand Island, and the Empire Soccer Academy (where parents pay a ton of money for the privilege to get smoked by us).

Several of our girls also won individual skills competitions (ball control and shooting accuracy). Our two teams went 5-1-1. Not bad for the smallest club (physically and numbers wise in the tournament). We're the only city based club in our indoor travel leagues and at most tournaments we go to. The people who run city hall should be proud of the accomplishments of these girls in what traditionally has been a suburban sport. Unfortunately, the mayor and the Common Council are too caught up in promoting less successful youth activities and have no idea of our existence. But the players and the parents know. And the suburban soccer community is starting to really take notice of our girls.

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S. Buffalo pill popper busted robbing drug store

Here we have a class act. A South Buffalo druggie stealing painkillers so he can sell them to other South Buffalo druggies. I wonder why more people don't become drug dealers? It always seems to work out so well. You can live in your mother's basement until you either get shot or sent away for 15 years (usually before your mid 20s).Michael McCallum, 25, who is no relation to former Navy Midshipman/former Oaklan Raider Napoleon McCallum, was arrested after stealing 1,300 pills the other day...

A South Buffalo man was arrested this morning on charges that he robbed more than 1,300 painkiller pills from a pharmacy and has been selling them on the streets.

Michael D. McCallum, 25, was taken into custody about 10 a.m. by agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Buffalo Police.

He is accused of robbing the Clinton Pharmacy, 2032 Clinton St., on Dec. 31 and then selling stolen oxycodone pills to addicts. He also is accused of illegally possessing drugs with intent to distribute.

DEA charges South Buffalo man with stealing painkillers

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Grand Marshal

From The Buffalo News: Rick O'Sullivan has been named the grand marshal for this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade. O'Sullivan beat out a host of competitors for the title, including former Bills' Running Back Thurman Thomas and outgoing Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak...

O’Sullivan comes from a family of five boys and two girls with a long history of involvement in the parade. His brother, Michael, was grand marshal in 2006 and named their Irish immigrant father, the late Patrick O’Sullivan, as deputy grand marshal. Rick has selected his mother, Janet, as his deputy.

“My mother’s Scottish so I had to talk her into it,” he said.

This year’s parade, dedicated to the memory of real estate broker Daniel F. Hannon III, begins at 2 p. m. March 20 from Niagara Square, after a 10:30 a. m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec in St. Joseph Cathedral.

Irish alliance taps historian to lead parade - South Buffalo - The Buffalo News

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South Buffalo reporter attacked in Egypt

This South Buffalo reporter for ABC News says he was carjacked and threatened with decapitation. Brian Hartman says the last time he encountered such violence was when he covered the Cazenovia Carnival back in 2007...

BUFFALO, NY (WGRZ) -- Brian Hartman, a South Buffalo Native and Reporter for ABC News, narrowly escaped a frightening carjacking in Egypt, during which his captors threatened to behead him. According to ABC News, Reporter Brian Hartman, cameraman Akram Abi-Hartman, and two other ABC News employees were surrounded on a crowded road that leads from Cairo's airport to the city's downtown area. 2 On Your Side spoke to Hartman by phone. "I've been in some very hairy situations, but it was probably the most terrifying thing I've been through," said Hartman, who graduated from Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School and attended Buffalo State College.


The crew was saved when an Arab-American cameraman accompanying Hartman kissed the cheeks of the mob elder. (Coincidentally, the same thing most South Buffalo residents do before they get their politically appointed jobs.) Hartman says he's going to stay in Egypt to cover the revolution before returning to Seneca Street, where he can quite possibly be carjacked by someone he knows by name.
wgrz.com | Buffalo, NY | ABC News Reporter Brian Hartman Escapes Threatened Beheading in Egypt

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R.I.P. Nick's

It's not too often I can say I am genuinely shocked but today was one of those days. I was driving up South Park Avenue past Nick's, only it wasn't there. I thought I must have entered the Twilight Zone. Nick's had been there for as long as I could remember. A new owner has taken over and it is now Chuckie's Texas Hots. It's hard for me to even imagine it being anything but Nick's. Nick's is where I had my first order of french fries with slime sauce. It looks like the whole inside has been remodeled (probably the first time since 1975.)

Just like that, it was gone.The end of a very long era. I can only imagine how many drunks have been asked to leave over the years and how much puke has been removed from it's floors. The drive thru intercom never worked, since they added it a few years ago. It was a great place to have breakfast at 2AM after a night out. No matter how good the new place is, there can never be another Nick's.

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