County Legislator John Bargnesi

Today is National Grief Awareness Day.

Grief is a difficult emotion for everyone. Difficult to experience, to express, to quantify, and to live with. Throughout our lives, it is something that we all grow to understand and be familiar with. It is a ubiquitous experience, yet it is something that humans still struggle with. There is no timeline or how-to manual that we can use. There is no way to skip over the grief we experience, no matter what we do, it will find a way to come to the surface.

Honoring our grief can be challenging. For some it can seem so daunting it may be impossible. But, it is something that we all must do. Learning to live with our grief, no matter what form it may take on, is essential to us going on in the wake of tragedy or loss. Offer grace, compassion, and understanding to yourself when you are going through such intense emotions as grief. And remember, that you do not need to suffer through your grief alone. Reach out to loved ones or trusted professionals. You deserve support.

If you, or someone you know, is going through a tough time and in need of assistance? Check out these mental health resources that Erie County offers: https://www3.erie.gov/mentalhealth/

Congratulations to Edison Elementary on their ribbon cutting today for their expansion. Getting the chance to see our KenTon educators so excited, and the new classrooms ready to welcome students was such a treat. I hope that all of the parents who came through today for supply drop off were able to soak in the new space and are excited for their children to learn there. It will be a fantastic school year there for the students and teachers alike!

This month for my article in the Ken-Ton Bee, I wanted to go through some updates on the term limit legislation that I have proposed.

Happy Senior Citizens Day!

Today is intended to increase awareness of the factors and issues that affect older adults, such as health deterioration and elder abuse. We must not only protect, but appreciate the keepers of knowledge in our community. The aging and elderly cared for us as we grew up and we must continue to return that to them now that they are in need.

Last chance!

Today, August 18, is your last chance to be a part of the Erie County fair! Stop by if you haven’t already to get your fair food and fun before it’s too late.

To check out the schedule, buy tickets, or get more information, visit https://www.ecfair.org/

Happy National Son’s and Daughter’s Day!

Having children, while often stressful, is one of the most rewarding things in the world. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be difficult to remember to truly appreciate the moments we have with our children. Take the time today to appreciate your children, no matter where they are or how old they may be.

It’s fair time!

Today through August 18 is the 184th Erie County Fair! Stop by to enjoy some snacks, entertainment and more!

To check out the schedule, buy tickets, or get more information, visit https://www.ecfair.org/

Today is Purple Heart Day.

The Purple Heart honors the men and women who are of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. And today, we honor and remember the brave current and former service members who were wounded or killed in action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Cheers to 78 Years! Anderson's Sheridan Drive, Kenmore and all Anderson's locations celebrate their anniversary with $1.78 small cones on AUGUST 7, tomorrow😄🥳🍦

"Our founders, Mr & Mrs Carl Anderson, started our tradition in the Bronx in 1946. Soon afterward, they grew homesick for Buffalo and their family. Hence a short time after their first store opened, they returned to WNY. Since our first days, we have always served our creamy, smooth frozen custard. The rich taste, is derived from a high egg yolk content & it will transport your taste buds to a happy place! In honor of our guests and our first product, join us for a special sale:
August 7th, Frozen Custard Cones are just 1.78!

This sweet deal is on small sized cones. Thank you to our guests and teammates for the smiles given and created through the years! "

This year's National Night Out is going to be next Tuesday, August 6! Join your local Police Department for a night of fun demonstrations, certified car seat installation technicians, and to see the equipment that our first responders use every day!

You can join the City of Tonawanda Police Department at 200 Niagara Street from 5:30pm to 8:00pm.

Or, you can join the Town of Tonawanda Police Department at the Lincoln Park Athletic Complex (1200 Parker Blvd) from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

‼ ATTENTION ‼

REMINDER: Starting today, August 5, there will be a single lane restriction along Elmwood Avenue, between Shepard Avenue and Kenmore Avenue. The work will continue through August 26, or until complete.

The restriction will be in effect between the hours of 7am - 5pm.

Make sure that you plan your time and routes accordingly!

Today is National Sisters Day!

If you are a daughter, sister or mother, today is a great day to check in with the people you care about. Catch up with your sisters and remind them that you love them. Thank your mothers, daughters and granddaughters for all that they do to help you. And to my own sister, happy National Sisters Day. And to my daughters as well!

Today is August 1st, and we begin to think about the kids going back to school. With that, the "Back To School Student Supply Drive" is back for it's 11 th year and scheduled for Saturday, August 24th from 9 - 11 am at the THS Parking Lot.

To help supplement that days collections, we have placed a collection bin in the lobby of City Hall until Friday, August 23rd. All donations are appreciated. Thank you!

‼ ATTENTION ‼

Starting next Monday, August 5, there will be a single lane restriction along Elmwood Avenue, between Shepard Avenue and Kenmore Avenue. It will be between the hours of 7am to 5pm. There is an anticipated completion date of August 26 for the work. Make sure that you plan your route accordingly!

Are you interested in learning more about how emergencies are handled in the Town? If so, sign up today for Fall 2024 Community Emergency Response Team training. The course is free. To register, contact: [email protected]

July is a massive month for historical, landmark changes that impacted the foundation of our society and our country. Earlier in the month, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Now, today marks the anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention. Starting in the 1800s, women began to stand up and advocate for themselves and their rights. It took until 1920 to secure themselves the Constitutional right to vote in elections. Longer still before we saw the advancements of women’s rights in allowing them to own land, have their own bank accounts and things like that. We must be proud to see how far we have come, and the changes in our world as women have been able to take more of a foothold, be involved, and respected in our workforce, our government, and our world.

This month, my article in the Ken-Ton Bee Newspaper focuses on term limits and why they are not only good government, but why they should be brought into the Erie County Legislature.

As a fan of history and someone passionate about the progress that we make as a country, today we remember the Apollo 11 mission of 1969 and how three astronauts became the first men on the moon. Pioneers of space travel and exploration, the Apollo 11 mission always reminds me that humans are not limited by the things around us. We are capable of dreaming and creating things so massive and impactful that they allow us to leave our world and go exploring in space. So remember today, on this year’s anniversary of the first successful moon landing mission, that if we keep our eyes on the sky and let ourselves strive for more, we can accomplish incredible things!

A Tornado was reported in Eden near Hamburg. A Tornado Warning is in effect until 1:15 PM.

REMINDER: Single lane road restriction!

Remember that tomorrow, July 8, through work completion (anticipated end date of July 9), there will be a single lane road restriction on Ellicott Creek Road between Patricia Drive and Thistle Avenue. Work will be performed between the hours of 8am and 3pm daily. The restriction is for the purpose of utility work, and you can expect to see Erienet LLC performing the work.

Make sure that you plan accordingly for any travel issue or delay you might encounter.

The Erie County Fair is coming up!

From August 7 through August 18 the fair will be upon us again. Through the end of July tickets you can get your tickets for $17.

To check out the schedule, buy tickets, or get more information, visit https://www.ecfair.org/

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

It’s a wonderful day to acknowledge just how lucky we are to be Americans. Independence Day gives us the chance to remember that we live in the land of the free, and that it is because of the day. Thanks to our veterans and active duty service members for helping to keep our flag flying high. God bless.

With 4th of July events really kicking off this evening, I wanted to offer some safety tips and reminders for folks going into celebrations for the rest of this week and weekend.

Be sure to look after friends, family, children, and pets. Stay hydrated. Take safety guidelines serious when it comes to grilling and setting off any sort of firecrackers/fireworks, which includes making sure that there are no advisories based on weather and/or dryness where you live. Take impaired driving serious and plan for ride shares, taxis or the like when returning late from parties where you've been drinking. Look after your pets through the week.

And above all else, remember that this weekend is meant to be a fun, safe celebration that everyone comes home safe and sound from. So, enjoy the weather and your time with loved ones!

I was proud to be at Kenney Field today alongside Assemblyman Conrad for the unveiling of the new finished adaptive play facility. It is now open to the public and is an amazing addition to the Town of Tonawanda, and is going to be an incredible resource for all children regardless of their ability. I’m so glad that the county was able to contribute to this project alongside New York State to help make the Town of Tonawanda a better place for its younger residents to play. Including Assemblyman Conrad’s own daughter Katie who has been enjoying the facilities today and joined us for a picture to celebrate!

Today, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 2024. This was a massive, historical landmark of legislation that was signed into law by then President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964. The law officially made discrimination and segregation in public places illegal, provided for the integration of schools as well as other public facilities such as pools and restaurants, and made employment discrimination illegal. Since the Reconstruction, it was the most sweeping civil rights legislation that we’d seen. We have made a great deal of strides in the past 60 years, and we doubtlessly still have further steps to go. But, as a history buff myself, I find it important to remember these milestones as they came. We must remember where we came from to know where it is that we are going.

Happy National Postal Workers Day. Postal workers across all sectors are a large part at the heart of what keeps our country and our county running. They work tirelessly, and I not only see the efforts that they make to help us day in and day out, but deeply appreciate them for all that they do.