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JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

+ OPERATION LEGACY - From May 1 through May 16 the Montgomery Park retirement community will be collecting supplies and assembling care packages through Operation Legacy for active-duty soldiers serving in Iraq. Many of Montgomery Park's residents are veterans who have served in all branches of the military throughout the years. The resident veterans know how valuable it is for soldiers to receive encouragement and Montgomery Park's hope is that these care packages will show the sol- diers how much they are appreciated and thought of every day.

A donation site is at the facility, 6363 Transit Road, East Amherst, north of Transit Valley Country Club. Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Some items requested by soldiers include baby wipes, beef jerky, energy bars, sunflower seeds, hard candy, chewing gum, Avon Skin So Soft, AA batteries, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, eye drops, and prepaid phone cards. For information, call 688-7880.

+ CELEBRATE THE ARTS - Art and cultural organizations are encouraged to participate in Amherst Celebrates the Arts 2007, a Family Festival that is being held in June. The event will showcase artisans and performers. To sign up your organization call 689-1440. The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 30 at the Amherst Museum, 3755 Tonawanda Creek Road.

+ SHORT END OF THE (HOCKEY) STICK - I was disappointed when the National Hockey League finally released the schedule for the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, slated to begin tonight with the Sabres hosting the New York Rangers. The NHL decided Buffalo's first two home games in this round would be played Wednesday and Friday evening, awarding a prime exposure national telecast this weekend instead to the Rangers when they return to Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

You may have heard those early reports that Buffalo was to have hosted game two on Saturday afternoon, which is nearly as good as the matinee slot on Sunday. But that report proved to be erroneous and we may never really know how the decision was made. There were no conflicts at the HSBC Arena, although an ice show at the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey had to be moved up three hours to accomodate Saturday night's game between the Devils and the Ottawa Senators.

This Saturday afternoon's nationally broadcast game will come from Detroit, where the Red Wings will face the San Jose Sharks. Detroit also gets an afternoon TV game on May 5, if necessary.

I can't help but feel that the powers that be at NBC and other broadcast networks don't think the Sabres warrant an afternoon game. It's been dark here at game time for the past six months.

There's something to be said about the joy of heading downtown in the spring sunshine to enjoy the arena and its adjacent atmosphere. And like the World Series, at least one Stanley Cup playoff game should be on TV when kids can watch it live.

For the record, the one and only time Buffalo hosted the NHL All-Star Game was in 1978. The late Rodney Dangerfield would call that "no respect."