It's Done!

top: pavers line the sidewalk from the street to the garden
bottom: the Walkway before the corners were rounded off

Installation of the new Hope Blooms Commemorative Walkway behind the Victorian is complete. This beautiful brick and granite path takes visitors from Elmwood Avenue back to the garden, past the fish pond to a secluded patio that provides a welcome moment of tranquility. Stop by and see where hope blooms!

Big Bike is a Big Hit!

If there's one thing a bicycle built for 30 gets, it's a reaction. Some people cheered and waved, others grabbed their cellphones to get a picture. And some simply stared in disbelief as the Big Bike rode by, raising money and awareness for the fight against AIDS in Western New York. Thanks to everyone who helped make this super-fun event a success!

Walkway Update

Work has begun on the new Hope Blooms Commemorative Walkway at the Victorian! Shown above are some of the brick pavers that will line the sidewalk from Elmwood Avenue back to the Garden. We'll keep you posted on the progress.

Big Bike Update

September 18th is only a few days away and that means the Big Bike is getting ready to roll into Buffalo. Riders will pedal a special bicycle built for 30 on the 3.4 mile route around downtown and the waterfront (including Lafayette Square, Niagara Square and the Marina) so if you're in the area between 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. be sure to cheer them on!

P.S. ACS will have Big Bike Ambassadors stationed along the ride route answering questions and giving out Big Bike magnets... if you see an Ambassador say hi!

Say Cheese!

The Division of Prevention Education and Training poses for a "class picture" at their annual retreat day at Cradle Beach.

A New Direction for the Evergreen Center

One of the greatest challenges ACS continually faces is meeting the ever-changing, ever-growing needs of our clients with what resources we have at hand and/or are able to acquire at any given time. We’re proud of the way the Western New York community has always been in our corner, fighting with us to end the epidemic. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of our generous donors and dedicated volunteers, demands on our resources continue to grow at an astronomic rate. The ACS Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously that the only fiscally sound option in the current economic climate was to reconfigure plans for the proposed Evergreen Center, focusing on an extensive renovation of the Roanoke rather than construction of an annex. Reduced government funding along with skyrocketing construction costs made a new build too risky a venture for these uncertain times, and the Board’s primary concern is - and always has been - the fiscal responsibility and discipline necessary to ensure that our services remain secure no matter what. Renovation of the Roanoke will allow ACS to continue providing our core services and add innovative new services the community needs desperately. In fact, all of the programs and services planned for the new building will be provided in the renovated Roanoke. In one sense it’s a new direction, yet in another sense nothing has really changed. Still, there are bound to be questions so please feel free to leave comments!

The Life Changes group is barely a year old but already making waves in Buffalo's gay community. The group meets twice each month, and members discuss a wide range of GLBT issues in order to educate, inform, network and promote healthy choices. Thanks to the success of events like the recent picnic at LaSalle Park, the Life Changes group is getting some media attention, including mentions in About and the Black Gay News. If you're interested in checking out the Life Changes group, contact Marcus at 847-0315 x404. Or you can check out the brand new Life Changes Happy Hour at Club Tabu every Friday from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

From Up North...

A new online initiative called One Life is targeting sexually active Canadians 18 to 30 years old, urging them to practice safer sex and undergo HIV testing according to the Toronto Star. The campaign features Mary J. Blige and U2, and includes HIV/AIDS service organizations, medical clinics, testing facilities and physicians. One Life aims to spread its message through an online video set to U2's song "One," recorded with Blige and made available by the artists at no cost. Corporate sponsors Bristol Myers-Squibb and Universal Music Canada are pledging a $1 donation to HIV/AIDS prevention groups every time a viewer forwards the video, and the web site includes a search tool for local testing facilities and and HIV information.

Note: we're not including a link to the One Life site because access is restricted to Canadian IP addresses. Sorry!

Testing, One Two Three...

Testing is right there on the front line of defense against HIV and AIDS, and ACS plays a key role in making sure at-risk Western New Yorkers have access to quick, confidential free HIV testing. It's painless, and you can have your results in about 10 minutes. And did we mention that it's free?

Testing Sites:
AIDS Community Services
206 South Elmwood Avenue
Monday - Friday, 9 am - 3:30 pm
Tuesdays until 5:30 pm
(no appointment needed)

The Pride Center
18 Trinity Place
Thursdays, 4 pm - 8 pm
(no appointment needed)