To say that the newest additions to the staff at the Western New York Land Conservancy — Jajean Rose-Burney and his wife Ana Hernández Balzac — have interesting resumes would be a dramatic understatement. While volunteers in the Peace Corps, Jajean and Ana spent 27 months in Puebla, Mexico, successfully tackling problems that often seemed insurmountable. 

Among other things, Jajean helped protect a globally important wetland twice the size of the city of Buffalo from rapid and unplanned urban development, while Ana enabled nearly 100 schools throughout the state of Puebla to become certified “Green Schools.”

Erie County Legislator Edward Rath announces that a free guided walk at Akron Falls Park will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013. The walk is part of the “Be Active Erie County!” series to promote an active and healthy lifestyle. 

Registration begins at 9 a.m. at Cummings Lodge, 44 Parkview Drive Akron.

“Akron Falls is a great place for hiking, featuring of course the waterfalls. This is a perfect opportunity to walk through the park and learn more about all it has to offer,” said Legislator Rath. 

The series concludes on Saturday, June 22 at Chestnut Ridge Park

Niagara Falls Park receives another installment of $125,000 extreme makeover

In what has become something of a rite of spring, more than 50 National Grid employees returned to Gill Creek Park in Niagara Falls to continue efforts to beautify and transform this popular public park and community asset into one of Niagara County’s most picturesque and useful green spaces.  This is the fourth time in five years that National Grid volunteers have worked with city and neighbor organizations on projects in the park.