Page 1 - GC-May-June-2026

A NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GERMAN-AMERICANS OF UPSTATE NEW YORK
AUSTRIA • GERMANY • LIECHTENSTEIN • SWITZERLAND
Vol. 14 No. 3 May - June 2026

Children's German Heritage Mural installed

By Elaine Timm
ate last year the Explore and
More Children's Museum in
LBuffalo was looking for a
group of children to paint a mural
depicting German heritage. Holy
Ghost Lutheran School in Wheat-
field agreed to create the mural with
teacher Gail Carrier and art teacher
Becky Orlowski leading the project.
The size of the mural was 63
inches x 45 inches. Pastor Denton
White constructed the frame and
mounted the mural, and Thrivent
A SPRING SPECTACULAR: SGTV Edelweiss Buffalo celebrated Financial funded the supplies with
Fruhlingsfest at Hofbrauhaus in Buffalo on March 28. See additional an Action Team card.
photos on page 4. The students who created the
Photos courtesy of Federation of German-American Societies mural are from the 5th-8th grade
of Buffalo and Vicinity facebook page. classes at Holy Ghost:
Jack Barauskas, Jordan Ciurc-
zak, Drew Fisher, Jasper Godlews-
ki, Landon Keleher, Blake Kempf,
and Paisley Kubit.
Also, Emilie Davis, Alexia Mc-
Cue, Alyssa Meehan, I. Oswald,
Juliana Schimschack, Sofia Donley,
Sofia D'Angelo, and Madeline Wi-
kander.
On March 28, 2026 the students
and teachers presented the mural to
the museum. Two members of the
Bergholz German Band also attend-
ed, as the students included their
logo on the mural to acknowledge
the importance of music in German
culture.
The mural was installed in the
stairway wall between the 3rd and tween the 1st and 2nd floors con- The Explore and More Museum
4th floors, while the students tains a mural previously done by will soon include a description of
watched. (The stairway wall be- Chinese children.) the design on their website.

Plan now for next Sister City City won’t cover cost of rehab or

summer exchange demolition at former St. Ann’s School

s this summer approaches, Dortmund is planned for July 17 to
Mayor Sean M. Ryan has an-
the Buffalo-Dortmund Sis- Aug. 9, 2028
nounced that the City of Buffalo has
Ater City Committee summer The visit to Dortmund will take
been in contact with the owner
exchange program is looking ahead place during the 2027 summer vaca-
of the former St. Ann’s School, 51
to 2027 and 2028. tion. Alongside their German host Emslie St. who, he says, will take
The program spans two consec- students, participants will enjoy a
responsibility for the costs associat-
utive summer vacations and oper- variety of excursions and activities. ed with either rehabilitating or de-
ates independently of public or The program features visits to local
molishing the structure.
private school programs in Western landmarks in Dortmund, including “The City of Buffalo has
New York. Students from Buffalo the BVB football stadium, as well
often operated with a ‘demolition
will travel to Dortmund in the sum- as a multi-day trip to Germany’s first’ mentality that has
mer of 2027, and students from capital, Berlin, and the Dutch city of
cost taxpayers millions of dollars
Dortmund will come visit Buffalo Amsterdam. During the 2028 sum- and led to the unnecessary loss of
in summer 2028. Whenever possi- mer break, young people from Dort-
much of Buffalo’s historic architec-
ble, the same exchange partners mund will travel to Buffalo. They ture,” Mayor Ryan said. “Under my
from 2027 will be paired again for will fly from Germany to New York
administration there will be an ex-
the 2028 visit. Each stay lasts three City, spending four days there be- pectation that property owners are
weeks. fore taking a private coach to Buffa- Former St. Ann Parish complex with school at right.
responsible for the buildings they
Amy Hardy, American Coordi- lo, where their host families and own.”
nator of Buffalo-Dortmund Ex- program director, Hardy, will be
On Jan. 15, the Buffalo Fire Inc., regarding plans
changes, says, “The students who waiting to welcome them. Department responded to a four- for the heavily dam-
participate make a friend for life - In Buffalo, they will join their
alarm fire that severely damaged the aged structure. The
someone to travel with, learn about American exchange partners for an historic former school on Emslie owner will deter-
the world with, and share valuable exciting excursion and sightseeing
Street off Broadway on Buffalo’s mine whether to
experiences with - and stay in touch program, featuring activities like East Side. preserve portions of
for years after the exchange. It is not high ropes climbing, river rafting,
In the days that followed, the the building or pro-
just a trip, but a true cultural experi- and trips to Toronto, Niagara Falls, City of Buffalo opted not to seek ceed with demoli-
ence that leads to curiosity, maturi- and an amusement park.
immediate demolition. Instead, city tion and bear the
ty, and improved language skills.” Families interested in being a crews secured the site while longer- associated costs.
Young people aged 14 to 18 are host family can contact Hardy who
term decisions were made regarding By declining
invited to participate in the ex- says, “Absolutely. Please reach out the building, installing a temporary to proceed with an
change program, which offers 30 with any interest.”
barrier around the property to deter emergency demoli-
spots – 15 for participants from She added, “If anyone feels in- unauthorized access and help pre- tion in January
Dortmund and 15 from Buffalo. secure about hosting or sending
vent further safety concerns until a immediately followi
Approximate dates for the next ex- their child abroad, there are families semi-permanent barrier could be in- ng the fire, the City
change – Visit in Buffalo – are July who are happy to share their experi-
stalled. of Buffalo has saved
18 to Aug. 8, 2027. July 18 to July ences with the program.” They mayor’s office says upwards of $2 mil-
21 the German group will be in For more information contact
city representatives have been in lion in demolition
New York City. The return visit in Hardy at buffalodortmund exchang- discussions with the property’s costs, based on
es @ gmail.com.
owner, Muna Center of Buffalo current estimates.