Spindle items
JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

+ BRING IT ON - I welcome the beeping cars until 1 a.m., the shouts from Elmwood Avenue audible from my apartment and the crowds at the bars and restaurants. All in the name of National Hockey League playoffs, with our Buffalo Sabres leading the NHL. Admit it, your daily routine as you know it comes to an end when the puck drops tomorrow night. You know what you are doing every other day, give or take the game schedule, for as long as the Sabres add to the win column. The roads are noticeably less crowded, and a vacant bar stool can't be found in Western New York's radius.

Friends compete as to who knows about what it will take to win and voices are hoarse the next morning from three hours of screaming at Lindy Ruff and his players. Morning conversations are dominated by, "Did you see that goal?" or "Miller's save in the second period was amazing," and so on and so forth.

It's great, isn't it? We all said at one point last year, "This is great for the city." I have been looking forward to tomorrow since September, well technically since last summer.

Living just a few miles from the HSBC Arena, really puts me in the heart of the energy. Bring it on, Islanders.

+ AMHERST PRIDE - The Amherst Bee has always prided itself on giving you, the readers, the local scope. Even about residents who have left the area. Last week I spoke with Thomas Snyder, 2007 World Sudoku Champion, and a former Amherst resident. Since his victory he has been interviewed by international magazines, newspapers and television stations. In agreeing to speak with me, Snyder said he was excited about being in his hometown paper. He has been featured in several countries but still felt pride in knowing his hometown would hear of his recent feat.

+ LAST TIME I LISTEN TO AN ANIMAL - It was more than two months ago the furry creature from Punxsutawney, Pa., made his prediction of a short winter. Well it's April 9 as I am writing this and snow is falling in Williamsville, and has been doing so for the past few days. The groundhog was wrong ... but I guess we are a bit pathetic for thinking a groundhog knows anything about Buffalo weather. Can you sense my frustration? Well we deserve to be, it's April, it's freezing and I'm miserable. And how come Christmas Eve was green? This is really just not fair.

+ SITE SEEING - Erie County Legislator Dr. Barry A. Weinstein, RAmherst, has copies of "Walk Buffalo" available.

The pamphlet, presented by the New Millennium Group of Western New York with the support of the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, is a self-guided walking tour of historic downtown Buffalo and highlights the most influential buildings and places. Some of the venues listed in the pamphlet include Buffalo City Hall, Sheas Performing Arts Center and Fountain Plaza.

To receive your copy of the Walk Buffalo pamphlet, call his office at 633-0617.

+ AMERICORPS OFFERS TO HELP - Assistance is available from Ameri- Corps for senior citizens and disabled residents needing assistance cleaning up storm debris. The free program is available through May. For information, call 558-3325.