This is the ReNU Niagara office talk page.

For updates on what's going on with ReNU projects, programs, and people, check in here!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Meet the Partners: Seth Piccirillo

"Meet the Partners" is a new ReNU Talk series.  We will introduce readers to individuals, projects, and events in the Niagara Falls community.  To start things off, ReNU Talk features Seth Piccirillo, the Director of Niagara Falls Community Development.  Learn a little about his work here, and be sure to check out the Niagara Falls Community Development and Live NF and Facebook pages for more information!



As summer comes to an end and fall begins, what would you say was the highlight of the summer for you?
Work: The City was recommended for a $450,000 Empire State Development grant to help demolish blight and improve the downtown commercial district. That was a big step for us.

Non-Work: I saw Mumford & Sons in concert. Great Show.

What is your favorite thing about the City of Niagara Falls, NY?
Niagara Falls will be a great American City, and that is not a slogan or naiveté.  We have people here that are committed to new ideas and working hard. We are close to putting that puzzle together. That is my favorite thing about Niagara Falls right now.

Tell us a little about where you work.  What does your organization do?
I am Director of Niagara Falls Community Development. Our motto is Housing is Economic Development.  We administer several housing, commercial, and public programs designed to make neighborhood investments.

Do you have any current or upcoming projects you’d like to share?
We just launched the LiveNF campaign and www.live-nf.com this week.
The goal is to connect new and existing residents to incentives and opportunities to help them build a livelihood in Niagara Falls. 

Are there any upcoming events or activities you are involved in? Or any that you look forward to attending? 
Downtown housing applications are due on November 16. It can be downloaded under the live tab of www.live-NF.com
This Saturday, September 29 1 pm, at the Niagara Hub, is Barrel Jam. It is a Kan Jam tournament to raise money for the 2013 Niagara Falls Arts and Music Festival. Only $20 a team. Stop by. 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Meet the Staff: Kelly


Meet Kelly, ReNu's new work study student/communications consultant from now until May 2013. Kelly is a second year Clinical Mental Health Counseling student at Niagara University.


 

1.    What is your favorite vegetable?
Carrots                                                                   
                                                     
2.    What is your favorite saying/quote/phrase?
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead

3.    Name something healthy you did this week.
Dancing games on my Wii fit, yoga, weight training

4.    Say something about your favorite pet.
I don’t currently have a pet, but my favorite pet was my dog Cassie. She was a border collie/black lab mix that we adopted from the SPCA. 

5.    How many people in your family?
Four: Me, my mother, and my grandparents. And then a bunch of extended family. 

6.    What is your favorite childhood past time?
Pretending to be a Spice Girl, had to be Baby or Ginger.

7.    What is your favorite vacation/vacation spot?
Newport, Rhode Island

8.    What is someplace you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?
San Francisco, Italy, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand 

9.    What was your first job? Good? Bad? Ugly?
Nursing home dietary aid, pretty bleak 

10.  What is your favorite thing about where you grew up?
Being by the ocean, going to the beach

11.  What is your favorite board game?
Apples to Apples

12.  What sitcom character reminds you of yourself?
April Ludgate, Lily Aldrin

13.  What is your favorite month?
October

14.  Where is your favorite place to eat?
Romeo & Juliet’s and Pizza Plant in Williamsville...best pizza!

15.  Do you have any phobias/fears?
Spiders, drowning, being buried alive

16.  What is your earliest family car?
Red Toyota truck

17.  Do you side with a political party?
Democrat

18.  How old do you hope to live to be?
Old enough to have lived life fully, but not old enough to be in chronic pain or have everyone I know die long before I do

19.  What is your favorite TV show of all time?
Veronica Mars

20.  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Veterinarian even though I am allergic to most animals

21.  What is your favorite thing about the City of Niagara Falls, NY?
The multiculturalism of the area

Monday, September 24, 2012

Meet the Staff: Linda


This week, learn a little bit about Linda.  Linda is a horticulture student at NCCC and interns here at ReNU as well as helping with the beautiful Niagara Falls library garden.  



What is your favorite vegetable? 
Peas and squash

Name something healthy you did this week. 
I walked my dog.

Say something about your favorite pet.
I have a 5 year old French Bulldog and a 5 year old. Pomeranian.  I rescued them from puppy mills.   The 3rd dog is a 9 year old French Bulldog that I adopted from the Erie SPCA.  I can’t imagine life without them!

How many people in your family?
I have a husband, a 28 year old son, a 25 year old son and a 23 year old daughter.

What is your favorite vacation/vacation spot? 
Paradise Island, Bahamas

What is someplace you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?
Ireland or Australia

What was your first job? Good? Bad? Ugly?
I was a hospitality hostess at Burger King. Not a bad job for a 17 year old!

What is your favorite thing about where you grew up?
I grew up in a small city.  It was a safe and friendly neighborhood with a lot of other kids to hang out with.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
People acting inconsiderate to others.  

What is your favorite month?
July.

What is your favorite TV show of all time?
Seinfeld.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A fashion designer, a hair stylist or to work in an office.

What is your favorite thing about the City of Niagara Falls, NY?
The Falls, and the casino. There is so much potential in the City of Niagara Falls.

Do you have any current or upcoming projects you’d like to share?
Design work for the Niagara Falls Main Library, Fall Fest at Kalfas School.

Are there any upcoming events or activities you are involved in? Or any that you look forward to attending? 
The kick off for the vacant lot for some time in October.  It will be great to see all of the hard work that went into this project become a reality!

Friday, September 14, 2012

AmeriCorps and the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance


On Tuesday September 11th, 2012, The Western New York Regional Volunteer Center, The Service Collaborative of WNY, Vets H.E.R.D, Buffalo State College Service Learning Center, and Team Depot came to the VFW 7275 in Lancaster, NY for the “9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance” project. 

Volunteers painted, built a new shed, and landscaped near the gazebo and rear of the building.  Two of ReNU’s ServiceCorps members were two of many volunteers.  It was a beautiful day and it was great to see so many people out making a difference for veterans.  The following photos show some of the work done.  

AmeriCorps crew and gear finishing up a fresh coat of paint.
 
Lunch time hosted and cooked by VFW members
Painting the last bit of the roof
The Depot Team building a new storage shed

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Back to School Market Day!


To celebrate the start of school this week, HCVG is hosting an additional market day tomorrow. 

This Friday (9/7) from 3:30pm-5:00pm stop by and get eggplant, cherry tomatoes, collard greens, beets, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, and more—then try one of these recipes!

Donations are: $2/bag, $.50/eggplant, $5/bag of collards
Regular Market Days are Monday's 5pm-7pm and Wednesday's 5pm-7pm.  

SALSA:











Servings: 10
Ingredients:
      1/2 sweet onion, chopped
      1/2 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
      1/4 cup cilantro
      2-3 cups of yellow, red, and brown tomatoes, diced
      2 teaspoons olive oil
      1/2 lime, juiced
      1/8 teaspoon salt
      For hot salsa, add a hot pepper
Nutritional Information (per serving):
      Calories: 30
      Total Fat: 1.2g
      Cholesterol: 0mg
Directions:
      Chop, dice and mix onion, bell pepper, cilantro, and hot pepper. Use a blender or food processor for ease.  Add tomatoes, somewhat more coarsely chopped.  Transfer to a bowl with a tight-fitting lid.
      In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, salt, and lime juice.
      Pour dressing over tomatoes, and stir well. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN








Servings: 10
Ingredients:
      3 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced
      2 eggs, beaten
      4 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
      6 cups spaghetti sauce
      1 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded
      1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
      1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Nutritional Information (per serving):
      Calories: 487
      Total Fat: 16g
      Cholesterol: 78mg
Directions:
      Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
    Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side.
     In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.
      Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.