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Public health exercise to provide free flu shots
UB employees are invited to receive free flu shots on Nov. 8 as part of a public health exercise designed to help New York State prepare to protect citizens in the event of widespread disease outbreak.
During the "ProtEX NY" exercise, to be held on the South Campus, state Department of Health volunteers plan to provide free flu vaccine to hundreds of individuals. The exercise will give the state valuable experience in vaccinating a large number of people in a very short time.
The exercise will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Clark Hall and in the UB Service Building, 220 Winspear Ave., for employees unable to walk up one flight of stairs. Pre-registration is required. Employees without Internet access can obtain a registration form from the Human Resources office in Crofts Hall.
"In addition to receiving free flu shots, participants will contribute to a training exercise that will enhance our collective capabilities to respond to a disease outbreak in the future," said David L. Dunn, vice president for health sciences.
In a true emergency, large numbers of people will need to be vaccinated quickly, particularly those who provide critical services, Dunn noted.
"The state Health Department has been working closely with UB to be ready for all types of public health emergencies, no matter what their origin," said state Commissioner Richard F. Daines. "By partnering with UB, we will gain crucial experience that cannot be replicated except in a real event. It is essential that we be prepared."
Employees approved by their supervisors to participate in the training exercise may do so with no charge to leave accruals. Employees will be responsible for their own transportation and related costs to and from the vaccination site. Exclusive of travel time to and from the exercise, employees should anticipate spending approximately 30 to 45 minutes at the exercise.
For questions regarding this exercise or if you have difficulty with the registration process, call the New York State Department of Health at 847-4503 or send an email to wrop@health.state.ny.us.
Gender Institute presents awards
The Gender Institute honored two individuals and two organizations for outstanding civic engagement in public service, research, business and philanthropy for women and girls in the greater Buffalo-Niagara region at its 10th-anniversary gala held Friday in UB's Jacobs Executive Development Center, 672 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.
Janet Meiselman, president of Oxford Consulting Inc., received the Business and Community Development Award for the influential role she has played in securing affordable housing for women and children in Western New York.
The Leadership in Research Award was presented to UB's Research Institute on Addictions, where federally funded studies have had a major impact on our understanding of the role of gender in the etiology and treatment of a number of addiction disorders.
Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples received the Public Service Award and was praised as an outstanding public servant and community leader, and a forthright advocate on issues that affect women's daily lives: health and substance abuse issues, environmental conservation, entrepreneurship, business and higher education.
The Western New York Women's Fund received the Leadership in Philanthropy Award for its leadership in investing in innovative philanthropic solutions that raise money and give grants to local community programs promoting systemic change for women and girls to develop self-reliance and economic self-sufficiency.
'A Musical Feast' set for Nov. 13
"A Musical Feast," with performances for voice, violin and piano featuring UB faculty members Max Wickert and Tony Arnold, will take place at 8 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Kavinoky Theater at D'Youville College, 320 Porter Ave., Buffalo.
The concert is co-sponsored by UB's Robert G. and Carol L. Morris Center for 21st Century Music.
The concert will open with excerpts of Wickert's new translation of an epic poem by Tasso, followed by the last work of Debussy and the piano pieces " Rocket Summer" by UB faculty member David Felder and "Confini" by Paolo Cavallone.
A labyrinth of songs by Hugo Wolf, set to texts of Goethe and Morike, will be explored by soprano Arnold, and Charles Castleman will perform Ysaye's works for solo violin.
The concert will conclude with Mendelssohn's first piano trio featuring former Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster Charles Haupt, violin; Feng Hew, BPO associate principal cellist; and pianist Claudia Hoca.
Tickets are $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors and $10 for students.
For information and tickets, call: 820-7668 or go to their Web site.
CFA to host Barrage fiddle-fest
Barrage, "a high-octane fiddle-fest" featuring an international, multitalented cast performing an eclectic mix of music, song and dance, will perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Mainstage theater in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.
Barrage features six violinists/vocalists, one drummer, one bass player and a guitarist. Performances offer a diverse fusion of cultures, musical styles and incredible performance vitality. The music of Barrage continues to evolve—combining contemporary world music influences, layered vocal arrangements and pulsating modern beats and rhythms. The cast delivers the show with amazing energy and musical virtuosity.
Since its founding in Calgary in 1996, Barrage has been featured numerous times at events worldwide, having played for presidents, prime ministers and princes. The group also has appeared on international TV networks, including PBS in the U.S., the BBC in the UK and CBC in Canada, and has performed live shows in New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Poland, Germany, Norway, Monaco, the U.S. and the UK.
Tickets for Barrage are $24 for the general public and $15 for students and are available at the CFA box Office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and at all Ticketmaster locations, including Ticketmaster.com.
For more information, call 645-ARTS.
'Solid Blues' to appear in CFA
The Center for the Arts will present "Solid Blues," which brings together Mavis Staples, Charlie Musselwhite, North Mississippi Allstars and Joe Krown in their first-ever tour, at 8 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Mainstage theater in the CFA, North Campus.
From early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking gospel group the Staple Singers—with such hits as "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There"—to acclaimed solo recordings, Staples has become an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, she received three Grammy nominations in 2004, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, three W.C. Handy Awards in 2005, and the National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2006.
Musselwhite has been called "the world's greatest living blues harmonica player" by the New York press. Eight-time Grammy nominee and 18-time W.C. Handy Award-winner, Musselwhite also has won Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Monterey Blues Festival.
North Mississippi Allstars won three Grammy nominations for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" for their debut recording, "Shake Hands With Shorty" in 2001, "Phantom 51" in 2003, and their latest recording, "Electric Blue Watermelon," in 2005. "Electric Blue Watermelon" also reached the top spot on the 2005 Billboard top blues album chart.
New Orleans-styled piano and Hammond B-3 player Krown is a favorite of the Crescent City and has won numerous awards there for his recordings and performances. He held the keyboard chair with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Gate's Express from 1992 until Gatemouth's passing in 2005, and has performed and recorded with such notable artists as Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and B.B. King.
Tickets for "Solid Blues" are $30 for general admission and $15 for students and are available at the CFA box office and at all Ticketmaster locations, including Ticketmaster.com.
Ciminelli named executive of year
Louis P. Ciminelli, chairman and CEO of LPCiminelli Inc., has been named the 2007 Niagara Frontier Executive of the Year by the School of Management.
The award will be presented at the 58th annual School of Management Alumni Association awards banquet, to be held at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Millennium Airport Hotel.
Ciminelli was selected by a vote of past honorees and the board of directors of the alumni association, who cited his career success, civic leadership and professional integrity.
"I sincerely thank the UB School of Management for honoring me with such a prestigious award," said Ciminelli. "It is truly humbling to be listed among so many great men and women in our community who have previously received this award."
A 35-year veteran of the construction industry, Ciminelli has combined his civil engineering and construction expertise to establish Western New York's largest construction group. Once a field superintendent in his father's organization, Frank L. Ciminelli Construction Co. Inc, Ciminelli now leads 200 full-time professionals and oversees the vision and overall direction of all LPCiminelli Inc. corporate entities.
Ciminelli is a passionate advocate of free enterprise, participating in several local and statewide business organizations. In addition to creating jobs through the success of his company, his notable contributions to the local and regional economy include his prior appointments with the New York State Power Authority, first as a trustee and then as chair. Ciminelli currently chairs the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and is chairman emeritus of 43 X 79.
When not championing local businesses, he lends his support to numerous nonprofits, including cultural groups, schools and other community organizations. He currently serves on the board of trustees of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and LPCiminelli annually sponsors the BPO's Opening Night Gala.
Ciminelli is a member of the Canisius College Board of Regents and the Niagara River Greenway Commission. He has served on the Buffalo State College Council, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation and the Regional Advisory Board for Empire State Development.
Established in 1949, the Niagara Frontier Executive of the Year award is presented annually to an area resident. Past recipients include Robert B. Adam, Harlan J. Swift, Whitworth Ferguson, Robert E. Rich Sr., Robert E. Rich Jr., Seymour H. Knox III, Robert G. Wilmers and Frank L. Ciminelli, the father of this year's award recipient.