University Community Farmers Market to Open May 19, 2012 on UB South Campus

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The sixth season of the University Community Farmers Market will open Saturday May 19^thon the University at Buffalo South (Main Street) Campus featuring a variety of new and old vendors selling fresh food and local products.

The market will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through October 13^th on the Main Street sidewalk at Kenmore Avenue.  Attendees can park for free in the Allen, Main and Bailey parking lots on the South Campus, directly behind the market across from the University Plaza.

“The University Community Farmers Market improves the quality of life in our neighborhood by providing an opportunity to buy healthy fresh produce from local farmers, to support local artisans, and to meet our neighbors in a relaxed outdoor environment,” said Gail Willsky, Market Manager and faculty in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Vendors will be selling fresh fruits and vegetables, artisan pasta, homemade cookies, bread, pastries, homemade jams, jellies, and relishes, homemade dog treats, herbs, plants, flowers, and in the fall season mums, pumpkins, winter squash, ornamental corn, corn stalks, and gourds.

The Market Planning Committee needs individuals to help coordinate the market, all are welcome.  Vendor applications are encouraged.  For more information contact the UB Office of Community Relations at 716-829-6145 or visit http://www.ourheights.org/farmersmarket.html.

24th Annual Kids Run at Delaware Park

BUFFALO, N.Y. (May 21, 2012) – Plans are underway for the 24th Annual Independent Health Foundation’s 2012 Kids Run at 9 a.m., Saturday, June 2, at the Zoofari Courtyard at Delaware Park.

The free, annual event, which is presented by Wegmans, includes a mini-dash for kids ages 2 to 5 and a 1.8 mile run/walk for all ages. All ages are welcome – strollers, too. Trophies are awarded to the winning boys and girls and each participant receives a medal at the finish line, while supplies last. After the race, make a day of it at the Buffalo Zoo with $2 admission per person for all participants.

“Kids Run is a fun family event with something for everyone,” said Carrie Meyer, executive director, Independent Health Foundation. “We have a mini-dash for the young children and the run/walk for all ages. We encourage everyone to join us and use this opportunity to get and stay fit as a family. We’re looking forward to another great event and record participation.

To register online or download an entry form, please visit www.independenthealth.com/kidsrun. Entry forms are also available at all area Wegmans stores. Completed registration forms should be postmarked or submitted online by May 24 in order to receive official race numbers. Walk-up registration is open from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at the event.

For more information on how you, your family, organization or school can participate in Kids Run, call the Foundation at 635-4959. Kids Run is sponsored by Wegmans, the Independent Health Foundation and Channel 7.

The Fitness for Kids Challenge school grand prize winners will also be announced at Kids Run.

Grand Opening of ECMC's Grider Family Health Center

Community Residents are invited to attend the grand opening of ECMC's new Grider Family Health Center on May 24 at 2:30 pm. Community residents will have the opportunity to meet with Jody L. Lomeo, Chief Executive Officer, ECMC Corp., Ranjit Singh, MD, Medical Director, Assoc. Prof., Family Medicine, Antonia Redhead, MD, GFHC Medical Director, Assoc. Prof., Family Medicine,  Rev. Dr. James Lewis, Director, Pastoral Care, ECMC and Thomas J. Quatroche, Ph.D., Sr. Vice President, ECMC Corp. 

Grider Family Health Center (GFHC), ECMC Health Campus is located at 462 Grider St., Driveway #1, Buffalo. The open house takes place from 3-5 pm.

The GFHC is a primary care service for the entire family. The open house event gives community residents an opportunity to visit/tour the new facility, meet staff, and learn about the full range of health care services available to them in their neighborhood(s).

UB Emergency Medical Services Receives Health Care Innovation Award

We Can’t Wait: New York Project Receives Health Care Innovation Award

26 Programs Nationwide Will Save Estimated $254 Million, Improve Health Care

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the first batch of organizations for Health Care Innovation awards including a program serving patients in New York.  University Emergency Medical Services, affiliated with the University of Buffalo, received $2.6 million to identify people with Medicare and Medicaid with high rates of emergency room use and link them to primary care, social services and health coaching.

Made possible by the health care law – the Affordable Care Act – the awards will support 26 innovative projects nationwide that will save money, deliver high quality medical care and enhance the health care workforce.  The preliminary awardees announced today expect to reduce health spending by $254 million over the next 3 years. 

“We can’t wait to support innovative projects that will save money and make our health care system stronger,” said Secretary Sebelius. “It’s yet another way we are supporting local communities now in their efforts to provide better care and lower cost.”

The 26 projects include collaborations of leading hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technology innovators, community-based organizations, and patients’ advocacy groups, among others, located in urban and rural areas that will begin work this year to address health care issues in local communities.  This initiative allows applicants to come up with their best ideas to test how we can quickly and efficiently improve the quality and affordability of health care.  

Preliminary awardees were chosen not only for their innovative solutions to the health care challenges facing their communities, but also for their focus on creating a well-trained health care workforce that is equipped to meet the need for new jobs in the 21^st century health system. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the health care and social assistance sector will gain the most jobs between now and 2020.

Today’s awards total $122.6 million. CMS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is administering these awards through cooperative agreements over 3 years.

For more information on the awards announced today, go to: http://innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/Innovation-Awards/Project-Profiles.html

To learn more about other innovative models being tested by the CMS Innovation Center, please visit:www.innovation.cms.gov.

Fine Art Healing and Health

Impact Artists’ Gallery

#545 Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St., Buffalo,14214

716-835-6817  Impact@Buffalo.com   impactartist.wordpress.com

Wed.-Fri. 11am-4pm & Sat. 11am-2 pm

Impact Artists’ Gallery Presents

The 11^th Annual Exhibition 5/04-6/2/12

“Fine Art Healing and Health”

May 10: Thursday 5:00 PM- 7:30 PM   Poetry & literary readings, book readings and signings.   Three book readings/signings including  Wade Stevenson.   

May 17: Thursday 5:00 PM- 7:30 PM –Panel discussion: Headway WNY, (Support/Advocacy)  Diana Landwehr, Occupational Therapist Jackie Trigilio ECMC Multidisciplinary & Ceramics    Program, Noell Hammer from Florida & the Art Without Boundaries Association (using art to    stimulate dramatic changes in the brain) & Diane Menchetti, Art Without Boundaries Association.      Individuals will discuss their art exhibited in the show, some recovering from Head Injuries, Pain,  MI or addiction that use expressive arts to promote &enhance their recovery process.

May 19th: Saturday 3:00 PM- 5:00 PM –Reception: Live Music by Jazz band Equinox

& Dance Demo and Class by Let's Dance Tango instructors Carol & Howard Allen

 

May 26: Saturday 1:30- 5:00 PM - Holistic Health Fair: presentations & workshops by the exhibitors: samples/ natural products, Chinese auction, Yoga, Reflexology, Chakra Energy, Reiki, Nutrition, AWB etc.        Members of the Holistic Community are invited to take part in this event on 5/26 for a Holistic Health Fair. Please contact the gallery if you would like to give a sample of your service, or hand out samples or your products, do a presentation or mini workshop, have a table for your items or literature of your services. The presentations will be 20-30min. each, determined by the number of presenters.  This year we must charge as a not for profit gallery we would appreciate $25 from each exhibitor toward the expenses of this show                         

First Buffalo Celebrates Women Event Features Female Favorites

The first Buffalo Celebrates Women will be held on Sunday, May 20 from 12 noon – 4 pm at the Millennium Hotel on Walden Ave in Cheektowaga. The event encourages women to uncover the secrets of living well, getting healthy and having fun through a series of interactive seminars, more than 50 healthy living providers, antioxidant screenings, an iridologist and astrologist, traditional and alternative practitioners, vibration therapy, yoga, an informal fashion show and more.

Admission is $20 and tickets are limited. Tickets can be purchased online at www.buffalocelebrateswomen.com. For a limited time, participants will receive a $20 gift certificate to Tony Walker & Co. stores or Giancarlo’s Sicilian Steakhouse and Pizzeria with the purchase of a ticket while supplies last.

As a highlight to the event, three break-out sessions will include best selling author Liz Diamond who will lead a session on guided meditation; Nancy Rizzo, life and wellness coach who will show participants how to utilize four quick and easy tools from life’s tool belt and Nancy Weil, founder of The Laugh Academy, will speak about introducing regular bouts of therapeutic laughter into your wellness routine.

In addition, participants can get a mini makeover, enjoy a spray tan and take advantage of fantastic retail therapy from some of the area’s best merchants including Tony Walker & Co., Malabar, Five Pearls Studios, Lia Sophia, Tastefully Simple, Thirty One Gifts, D’Avolio Olive Oil, Silpada and more.

A raffle will also be held with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit the Maureen R.L. Mussenden scholarship fund. The fund was established with the University at Buffalo Foundation, Inc. for the purpose of providing scholarship support to first generation students with priority given to female students attending one of the five health science schools at the University at Buffalo.

Buffalo Celebrates Women will also honor Colleen Darby as the 2012 woman of the year. Dabry is an artist who is devoted to the idea of bringing the healing power of the arts to Buffalo. She is the co-founder of Art Care for All and is helping lead the non-profit organization in its mission to bring the arts into a variety of healthcare settings.

Buffalo Celebrates Women is produced by Harmony Expositions and is sponsored in part by Tony Walker & Co. Body + Beauty, Giancarlo’s Sicilian Steakhouse and Pizzeria and Buffalo Healthy Living Magazine.

For information contact Nancy Murphy, president, Harmony Expositions, 539-5793