Wine & Chocolate Tasting at Choco-Logo, 141 Broadway
Wednesday, October 17th 5:30 pm $25

Our community’s health doesn’t just depend on the choices we make as individuals, our health and well-being is affected by where we live, work and play. The Clean Air Coalition’s photography exhibit, Tonawanda Through Our Eyes captures the social and environmental determinants of health in  Tonawanda.

The exhibition is the result of months of hard work by Tonawanda residents. The work began with a community mapping exercise where residents plotted where they lived, and identified locations that promote and harm public health. The group identified similarities and differences between each neighborhood. Residents then headed into their community to capture images of Tonawanda, both the good and the bad, that community members live day after day.

The exhibition will be used to educate the public about the connections between the environment and public health. It will also be used as a forum to call on elected officials to implement policies to reduce pollution in neighborhoods. Tonawanda Through Our Eyes is part of the Clean Air Coalition’s PhotoVoice Program, an innovative participatory photography and storytelling method that allows communities to represent themselves and crate tools for advocacy to achieve positive social change. PhotoVoice was initiated by the Coalition last year by residents on Buffalo’s West Side.

The gallery opening is Thursday, October 11th at 6PM at the Brighton Library, 999 Brighton Road Tonawanda. To RSVP call 852-3813 or email Danielle@cacwny.org.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency’s CARE Program, a broad based partnership to reduce toxins in Tonawanda.

Join us for lunch! Each month we’re chowing down with the leaders who are running incredible campaigns to make their communities healthier – and you’re invited!

PLEASE NOTE SEPTEMBER’S LUNCH HAS BEEN DELAYED AND WILL NOT TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH.

The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York applauds Attorney General Eric Schiderman for defending Tonawanda resident’s rights to breathe clean air.

“Today marks a significant turning point in the fight against the Amigone Crematory,” said Rebecca Newberry of the Clean Air Coalition, “Eric Schneiderman and the Attorney General’s team have taken decisive action to ensure our communities are healthy and safe.”

The Coalition and area residents requested the Amigones shut down the crematory in May due to overwhelming odor and noise complaints, but the Amigone family denied the request. As a result, the Coalition called on the NYS Attorney General to take legal action against the crematory. Residents collected over 300 postcards from neighbors to Schneiderman requesting action and held a press conference on July 9^th that drew over 50 neighbors.

“We will finally be able to enjoy our property, hold picnics, family gatherings, and open our windows and breathe fresh, clean air.” Ron Labuda, Werkley Resident

The Coalition backed residents because of the quality of life issues and potential negative health impacts of the crematory. The EPA has stated that: “the incineration of bodies, body parts, infections and chemotherapeutic wastes collectively represent the second largest know source of dioxin and mercury pollution in the US”.

Read the Attorney Generals official statement here.

This past Wednesday, July 11^th at the River Road Fire Hall on Kaufman Ave. 20 residents gathered to take kick off our Tonawanda PhotoVoice Project.

PhotoVoice is a way to document community strengths and challenges and initiate change. Armed with cameras, residents will head into their community to capture challenges to community health. The results of these pictures will be showcased in an exhibit in the fall, and used in meetings with political leaders to change policy to positively affect our health.

As part of the first session, members created their own maps of their neighborhoods. The maps illustrated the great things about each community, including parks and the waterfront. Issues such as industrial facilities, pollution caused by trucks, and non-walkable neighborhoods were also highlighted in the maps.

PhotoVoice is one of the many activities sponsored by the EPA’s CARE Program, a broad based partnership to reduce toxins in Tonawanda.

We believe that the knowledge we have about our own neighborhoods is the key to create a healthy environment for healthy people.  We are excited to see what types of pictures come back. Stay tuned for the exhibit in September!

A few months ago The Board of Directors of the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York voted to join the fight against the Sheridan Park Crematory, run by the Amigone Family.

The Coalition decided to back the residents because of the nuisance the facility is causing to the neighborhood. Since the crematory opened, residents have complained of dark heavy smoke and nauseating odors. “Just last week I had to cover my face with a sheet in bed. The small made me sick and I couldn’t fall back asleep,” said a Werkley Ave. resident. Residents speak of not being able to use their yards because the smell of human cremations is so strong.

The EPA has stated that: “the incineration of bodies, body parts, infections and chemotherapeutic wastes collectively represent the second largest know source of dioxin and mercury pollution in the US”.  In addition to dioxin and mercury, crematory emissions may include hydrochloric acid, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

The World Health Organization has determined that mercury is toxic to the central and peripheral nervous system, and that the inhalation of mercury vapor can produce harmful effects on the digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal.

At the request of residents, the Coalition sent a letter to the Amigone Family in May asking to stop all cremations at the facility by June 18th until the facility is moved. The Amigone’s have denied this request. Clean Air members are now calling on Attorney General to file a public nuisance suit and shut down the crematory.

Do you live by the Amigone Crematory (2600 Sheridan Dr. in Tonawanda) and want to get involved? Call our office at 852-3813.

The Clean Air Coalition is building a grassroots base of residents concerned diesel exhaust from the Peace Bridge Plaza and forcing the powers that be to make change on the lower west side.

Next week, we will educate youth and parents from the neighborhood about their exposure to toxic diesel exhaust. In partnership with Public School 3, we are hosting a Field Day where students will do their own air testing, eat healthy foods and compete in fun activities!

Throughout the day, students learn from local scientists about air pollution and measure their exposure to diesel exhaust. We will engage over 500 students and take dozens of air samples. In order to make change, we need good data! The results of the testing will be used by the Coalition members to advocate for change in their neighborhood.

We need enthusiastic volunteers to make the day a success! Volunteers will be needed for two (2) shifts: Shift A is from 8:00am- 12:00pm. Shift A is responsible for set-up and an activity station. Shift B is from 11:00am- 3:00pm. Shift B is responsible for clean-up and an activity station.

Students will get to participate in traditional field day activities like dodgeball, as well as field science tutorials, like bucket testing, and selected students will get to wear a badge that will take an air sample throughout the day.

Interested volunteers should send an email to Natasha at Natasha@cacwny.org or call 852-3813 with their:

1. Name,
2. Phone number,
3. Address,
4. What shift they would like
5. Any special skills pertaining to the activities above

The Clean Air Coalition was established by Tonawanda residents in response to concerns about the connections between pollution and the high levels of chronic illness in their community. PhotoVoice brings the connections between what we live around day after day and our health.

Armed with camera, residents will head into their community to capture challenges to community health. The results of these pictures will be showcased in an exhibit in the fall, and used to show political leaders the environmental health concerns of Tonawanda residents.

PhotoVoice is open to all Tonawanda residents. There is space in the program. You can apply by downloading an application form.

Common Questions:

What are the requirements of PhotoVoice?

You must attend 3 sessions,

• Wednesday, July 11th
• Wednesday, July 25th
• Wednesday, August 8th

And attend the PhotoVoice Exhibit on September 7th. All sessions will be held in the early evening, to accommodate working people.

Does it Cost Anything?

No. PhotoVoice has no fee.

Do I have to own a camera?

No. We will lend cameras to any person who is accepted into the program and provide training on how to use them.

How do I apply?

Download this form, and send it to the Clean Air Coalition of WNY, 341 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202. You can also email forms to Rebecca@cacwny.org. Applications are due by June 25th.

Governor Cuomo, we are disappointed. Very disappointed.

We are disappointed that after repeated requests to prioritize the health of residents on Buffalo’s West Side, we have been ignored.

On May 23rd over 100 people marched at the foot of the Peace Bridge to call on our Governor  to install an air monitor at the base of the bridge and truck plaza.

We were grateful to be joined by Councilmen David Rivera and Mike Locurto.

The Rev. Alberto Lanzot of Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida said, “This is about justice, about equality, about doing the right thing.”

The press echoed our voices! See our coverage below:

Buffalo News
Channel 4
YNN

Or visit our YouTube channel with more footage of the action.

Want to join our fight? Sign the petition now!

Attention Residents of Tonawanda, We NEED Your Insight!

Tonawanda’s industrial zone has the highest concentration of air-regulated facilities in the state. Within a two mile area, the town had 53 facilities. Two major interstate highways intersect int he community and one holds a tollbooth were congestion is common. The town has 17 hazardous wastes sites, including 3 landfills. A 1992 study from the New York State Department of Health found that Tonawanda has elevated rates of breast, thyroid, bladder and brain cancer. Tonawanda has many environmental challenges and we want to hear your thoughts and concerns.

As part of our CARE Program, we will be holding listening sessions throughout the Town and City of Tonawanda. These sessions will gather feedback from residents about what environmental and health problems are the worst, and what changes you would like to see in your community. Your feedback is valuable, please join us on the following dates:

Thursday, May 17th 6PM at the Brighton Place Library (999 Brighton Rd.)

Thursday, May 24th 6:30PM at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center

More dates to come! Stay Tuned!