The 11th Annual Artvoice Mardi Gras was another successful fundraiser and great party for the city of Buffalo. It was remarkable to see a full contingent from the Buffalo Police Department lead over 200 runners huffing 4.5 miles through freezing weather down Elmwood, through Allentown and across Chippewa Street. They were followed by more than 40 Mardi Gras floats, which are getting more lavish each year. The Crocodile Bar and Nietzsche’s both won Best Float awards.

Change is hard to come by in this city, even when it’s clearly written that the old way is the wrong way. A reminder of this fact came recently when Common Councilmember Marc Coppola won the special election for Byron Brown’s old State Senate post in the 60th District, vacating the Delaware District seat.

Several hundred protesters gathered Saturday in Lafayette Square to mark the third anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq. For nearly two hours, students, veterans, activists and everyday people endured windchills of 10 degrees Fahrenheit, while calling for an end to the war and the return of US troops. There were signs of all shapes and messages. People banged tambourines and drums, and yelled into bullhorns. American, Palestinian and Peace flags cracked in the gusts. It was beautiful bedlam in the name of peace. Thirty wooden crosses were set across the base of the monument in the square, each one representing a WNYer killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Their names were read off, as well as a short bio and his or her cause of death. The message of the day, which was sung loud and clear by all present was, “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” Hopefully someone was listening.