People Archives - Page 12 of 34 - Buffalo Latíno Village

“I Will Have What She’s Having this Holiday Season”

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I do not like saying goodbye to the brief summers in Buffalo, NY. Especially this summer was cut short for me as I experienced a bicycle injury in July that led to a near-life-threatening blood clot in August. So, I want to appreciate life and the people in my life in a way I haven’t before. I just couldn’t help myself from wanting to focus the Buffalo Spotlight on a dear friend of mine – Mark Bondon. Mark and I met in 2020 at the Labor Day Midnight Bike Ride. He caught me checking out the dynamic lights on his bike while I donned the incredibly heavy Independent Health Bike because my bike needed repair. The following week his wife, Heather, told him to lend me her bike as she was with child and wasn’t using it anyway. Mind you, we had not even met yet. Our friendships grew so much that our families have invested time in getting to know one another. I was with Mark when I injured myself & he made sure I made it home from the Slow Roll that night. They frequently check on me and my family. As the temperature drops, leaves change color, and holidays approach, we experience aromas and specialty flavors specific to the season! And so I’m very much reminded of Mark’s talents beyond being a great friend. Mark Bondon is Pastry Chef that works extremely hard to satisfy customers. He is the owner of Geen’s Flour Shop. He aims to create delectable treats for that sweet tooth in all of us! He truly creates an experience with his pastries! I’ve had the privilege to indulge in his fall treats. The apple crumbles pie is my favorite. His pumpkin pie is the right amount of sweet – not overbearing as some out there. And when it comes to custom cakes – he’s truly a Genius. Creativity is always a collaboration between the customer’s general idea and imagination, giving it the WOW factor! He truly aims to provide you with what you desire and more! A glance at his Facebook page will make your jaw drop from the Hennessey Birthday cake he made for his sister that came to visit him from Detroit, Mi; to the Little Tea Pot Cake; to the Night Before Christmas Theme; to the Amazing Wedding Cake with handmade roses which each easily took one hour to make from start to finish. His nearly entirely edible works of art become the Centerpiece at every venue. So, whether you are looking to bring the best-tasting cookies to the holiday office party OR tired of wondering, ‘Who made the pumpkin pie?’ at the holiday dinners OR want to WOW the guests at a Graduation, Birthday Party, Baby Shower, or Wedding CONNECT with Geen’s Flour Shop on Facebook! I promise you’ll be beyond satisfied! You’re Welcome in Advance! Happy Holidays & Bon Appetit! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports “UNAPOLOGETICALLY & UNCOMPROMISING” August 1, 2023/No Comments This month I am shining the spotlight on a woman whom I met a few years ago. When I met Read More “MAKE LOVE HAPPEN!” June 7, 2023/No Comments As Juneteenth is quickly approaching, I decided to feature Jomo Akono. I have known him for over 15 years. He Read More Focused on What Counts: “The People” MEET RENATO GRAHAM May 4, 2023/No Comments Focused on What Counts: “The People” MEET RENATO GRAHAM When I thought of which Uncrowned King in our community that Read More Load More End of Content.

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INTERVIEW #23: FEATURING SANDRA MAYORAL

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Sports Clothing Line LAGIRLstyle Fashion… SANDRA MAYORAL: This month I turn 33 years old. I hardly know what I’m doing in life, but this month I feel like I know a little more about what I’m doing. I call that success. All because of something I knew all along. One of my most famous lines is the following: “To change something. You need one person inside the city hall, one person outside the city hall protesting, and one person who wants to write about it.” If you have that trifecta, you have an old fashion New York fighting chance. Throughout my life, I have rotated between those three positions (within the city council), and (outside the city council). I gave my speech at the women’s march right in front of city hall, it’s on YouTube y’all. Now I am (the most underrated) of them all: the person who writes about it. Because (the other half of my line). “Because if nobody writes about it, nobody knows about it, and if nobody knows about it, they can’t care.” That’s a Talia original. For the record. Empathy is what I want to write about. It is defined as the first step towards a compassionate response and/or the ability to identify and understand other people’s emotions. The world lacks empathy for my people or for all the people who suffer. The whole lack of empathy for a few, it’s a problem discussed in philosophy classes, including mine at St John Fisher College. I believe that the lack of empathy in human beings is the root of evil. You recover your spirit from envy when you are proud of others. I couldn’t be prouder of Sandra Mayoral, born thousands of miles away in San Salvador, El Salvador. She tells stories of her grandmother, Paula, brushing her beautiful long hair and telling her to close her eyes and imagine the United States. MILLIONS HAVE THAT DREAM BUT PLOT TWIST: she made it, she made it out of the “mud”, as my people would say. Her aunt raised her and taught at the only university in El Salvador. Sandra is truly a movement, everyone around her instantly becomes more positive and is engulfed in the power of positive thinking. Science says that positive thinking encompasses the mental attitude of optimism. That’s Sandra, she is optimism embodied in a beautiful being with perfect hair and the most feminine voice you’ve ever heard from a CFO. And that I love (on and off my radio show where she joined me. She owns three businesses and several real estate investments, has a son who is in a very prestigious university, and an adoring husband who could have mentioned her a thousand times the first time he and I had lunch. To be loved, I think is what we all seek. So many people love Sandra; if you were to make a map around that girl who is brushing her hair and add all the people she helped or allowed, along the way, there would be thousands of people in so many places on her map. The journey to CFO was not easy, she came to the United States with expectations: to excel. She earned her excellent Bachelor of Business Administration and an MPA in Public Administration. New to Buffalo, she is from Los Angeles, a place almost a world away. A place of beaches and privilege, but she brings with her the best of California, the sun, and the determination of a young girl who wanted something she hadn’t seen yet. When I sat next to her, I felt capable. Sandra Mayoral runs several companies. LAGER STYLE on Instagram is an expression of her style and the community she wants to build for women, where all girls and women feel empowered and beautiful. We will talk about it all month on our social networks. Sandra makes women feel energized, loved, and safe and that’s why she’s our #latinaherstory for November. THE INTERVIEW WITH SANDRA MAYORAL: Where were you born? I was born in San Salvador, El Salvador. I was raised by my grandmother Paula and my educated by my Auntie Isaura Catalina. The main top five values I learned from them were the following: § Working hard for success § Education is a must not an option § Treat others as you would like to be treated § Pay it forward § Work hard and play hard. what was your experience as a student? As a child, I didn’t necessarily enjoy school. I will rather be outside playing with my friends. Until the age of 10, I lived with my Auntie Isaura Catalina who was a professor at the UCA-only University in El Salvador. Where she noticed my deficiencies and instilled the skills necessary to become an outstanding student. Once I left home to come to the US the skills, she taught me were never forgotten. I developed a joy for studies and achieved my BS in Business Management, Minor in Human Resources and finally my MPA emphasis in Public Administration which was quite helpful during my 23-tenure working as an accountant for LAUSD in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles the Business district and focusing on a $35M monthly/budget. When did you realize that you were a Leader? I do not necessarily think that I am a Leader, I am a humble servant of the General public and enjoy helping others, whether that is via encouragement 2 or guiding them and sharing my story of an immigrant girl who achieved the American Dream. What is your favorite part of yourself? My positive outlook in life. I enjoy being who I am and my Life. I think that Life is too short to let it pass you by. I encourage everyone to travel the world, meet other cultures submerge themselves into a world that is so small yet so big. Why? Fitness and fashion combined are my passion. What/Who inspired you? Two women shaped my life and developed

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“AGAINST ALL ODDS”

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“AGAINST ALL ODDS” As the Fall/Winter Sports Season gets underway in Buffalo, NY, there is a rush of energy that gets infused into our city. It may be seen on the fields or courts at a park near you. You see parents huddled close to one another on their chairs cheering their favs! Or in the way, folks show up to a basketball court with hoodies & breakaways only to have these sprawled at the edge because the players are warmed up! When I think of a youth that is making a buzz in the basketball community I think of Malak Bontzolakes. Malak’s first word may have very well been ‘Ball’! At 13 years young, he has played football and basketball since he was about 7 years old. He not ONLY loves to play but he loves to watch professional sports. He can carry on heated conversations with the best of adults. He enjoys it so much that he creates short videos highlighting players & game highlights to post to TikTok! Last year, he had decided, along with his number one fan, his mom, Jacqueline Bontzolakes, to focus on basketball. She doubles as his coach and triples as his public relations coordinator. They’re often seen at the YMCA as soon as they open – practicing. One day, Malak decided that he would stay up and be absorbed in the technology. Well, Mom woke up and it was 3:30 AM when she heard him still on his phone. She sternly addressed him; took his phone while promising that she’ll be back to wake him up at 5:30 AM for PRACTICE. And THAT she did, she even posted about this as they entered the Y! Next year, he would have been entering high school at CSAT. Malak is being homeschooled as the family chose to maintain their core religious beliefs and not vaccinate (NYS decided to remove religious exemptions on June 13, 2019). So being seen playing on a high school team in hopes of being noticed by colleges has faded into non-existence. Mom works to instill dedication and resiliency. He trains just as much as he learns if not MORE Than if he was in school. She finds community coaches & teams. When his dedication is NOT valued or recognized – she switches him to a new team. Other children that are in both school and community teams will have opportunities that are close to him. There’s no time to play as he’s aspiring to play professional basketball. Mom’s figuring it out and opening other opportunities for him! This past summer his team, THE UNIT, made it to the Championships in South Carolina. Malak took the initiative and sold 30 dinners using his social media skills to help fund the trip. And he just came back from the weekend B-Ball Training Camp in Texas. Just Days after being Nominated AND ADDED to the team that is traveling across the globe with Richie Schueler’s Ph.D. Hoops! If you follow Buffalo sports and desire to witness the progress of a child that’s striving to put Buffalo, NY on the map through Basketball in a Most Untraditional Way – follow their social media accounts. Come cheer them on at games throughout the year! Read More From This Writer All Post Food Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development People “AGAINST ALL ODDS” October 13, 2022/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More BREAKING COMMUNITY BARRIERS September 13, 2022/No Comments BREAKING COMMUNITY BARRIERS One thing about lasting friendships, especially with those whom we consider our elders in the community, is Read More LISTEN TO THE CHILD August 13, 2022/No Comments LISTEN TO THE CHILD Asheem Ali is a talented Homeschooled 10-year-old that keeps his momma (Me!) & older sister, AAliyah Read More Load More End of Content.

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