Business First of Buffalo articles from December 1991

Business First of Buffalo archives from December 1991

Recession shrinks once-swollen ranks of real estate agents. (Industry Overview)
December 30, 1991... The recession has claimed another victim, though in this instance it was not unexpected. Real estate industry statistics show the number of agents has dropped 20 percent locally and 15.1 percent statewide in the past year. Industry...

Jury says Courier is off the hook in worker's $21 million libel suit. (Buffalo Courier-Express)
December 30, 1991... The former Buffalo Courier-Express has been found to have no liability in a $21 million libel suit brought by a former employee who was wrongly identified as a burglary suspect in a published story. After a week of testimony, a state Supreme...

Three tenants join retail roster at Main Place. (M.J. Carroll, Stuarts's Kids, Afterthoughts; Main Place Mall)
December 30, 1991... Main Place Mall has landed three new tenants, each of which hopes to open by spring in the downtown Buffalo shopping center. Joining the 85-store mall will be an 8,180-square-foot M.J. Carroll, a 2,160-square-foot Stuart's Kids and a...

Royal Bank regroups offices to concentrate on U.S. business. (Royal Bank of Canada)
December 30, 1991... The Royal Bank of Canada has sent a signal that after five years of suffering hefty losses from its U.S. operations, attention is being focused on making them profitable. The Montreal bank announced Nov. 18 that it will realign its U.S....

Orchard Park auto dealer ready to launch first Saturn in WNY. (Saturn of Orchard Park in Western New York)
December 30, 1991... Western New York will get its first Saturn dealership in early February, when Saturn of Orchard Park opens its doors. Ron Slisz, co-owner and general manager, said work on the dealership's 8,700-square-foot building should be completed by...

Nurses at St. Joseph approve union in narrow vote.
December 30, 1991... Registered nurses at St. Joseph Hospital have opted to organize after an 18-month campaign tinged with allegations that hospital administration used "union-busting" tactics. By a 109-91 vote, nurses approved representation by Nurses United...

Community Blue gets OK for 17.2 percent rate hike.
December 30, 1991... Subscribers of the health maintenance organization, Community Blue, will bear an average 17.2 percent rate increase in 1992. Effective Jan. 1, the rate increase will affect the more than 130,000 subscribers of the HMO of Blue Cross of Western...

M&T corporation to handle mortgages. (Manufacturers and Traders Trust Co.; M&T Mortgage Corp.)
December 30, 1991... M&T Bank has formed M&T Mortgage Corp. to administer the out-of-state mortgage business it acquired from defunct Goldome and Empire Federal Savings Bank of America over the last 18 months. The corporation has been integrated into the bank's...

Business says New York must go on a fiscal fast. (economic reforms)
December 30, 1991... Just how serious is state government about pursuing a reform movement to fix New York's chronic fiscal problems? That was a question posed by business people to legislators when they gathered Dec. 13 for the 1991 Legislative Reception,...

Mustang Tool & Die adds wire machine.
December 30, 1991... Mustang Major Tool & Die Inc. of Eden has spent $250,000 on an expansion of its wire EDM department. The company has added a fourth machine that uses a wire to cut and burn through steel to make tools and dies for industrial companies, David...

Brimms Inc. (People on the Move) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... Brimms Inc., Tonawanda, promoted Robert Berghash to CEO. He joined the family-owned and -operated business in 1960. David Berghash, who joined the company in 1984, was promoted to president.

Blue Cross of Western New York Inc. (Business notes) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... Blue Cross of Western New York Inc. has installed an electronic door at its main customer service center to better serve its disabled clients. It also offers free parking that is wheelchair-accessible.

Toski, Schaefer & Co. P.C. (Business notes) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... Toski, Schaefer & Co. P.C., an Amherst CPA firm, has completed a quality review by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Epicure Securities Inc. (Business notes) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... Epicure Securities Inc. of Williamsville was named the Pennzoil distributor for Poland by Pennzoil Overseas B.V. of Zaandam, The Netherlands, a subsidiary of Pennzoil Products Co. of Houston.

Ryder Automotive Operations Inc. (Mergers: Erie County) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... New name: Ryder Automotive Operations Inc. Companies: Ryder Automotive Operations Inc. and Delavan Industries Inc. Filer: James Herron

Big L Distributors Inc. (Mergers: Erie County) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... New name: Big L Distributors Inc. Companies: Big L Distributors Inc. and Horbett Industries Inc. Filer: Dubin, Sommerstien & Hunter

Tower Group International Inc. (Mergers: Erie County) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... New name: Tower Group International Inc. Companies: Tower Group International Inc. and William R. Neal Inc. Filer: McGraw Hill Inc. Legal Department

Eberl Iron Works Inc. (Mergers: Erie County) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... New name: Eberl Iron Works Inc. Companies: Eberl Iron Works Inc. and Unistrut Buffalo Inc. Filer: Phillips Lytle et al

William C. Maunz Co. Inc. (Mergers: Erie County) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... New name: William C. Maunz Co. Inc. Companies: William C. Maunz Co. Inc. and Delavan Heating Supply Corp. Filer: Hodgson Russ et al

Pleasures and Pastimes Inc. (Mergers: Erie County) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... New name: Pleasures and Pastimes Inc. Companies: Pleasures and Pastimes Inc. and Wayside's Pleasures & Pastimes of Southgate Inc. Filer: Robert Sandler

Niagara Sanitation Co. Inc. (Mergers: Niagara County) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... New name: Niagara Sanitation Co. Inc. Companies: Niagara Sanitation Co. Inc. and Joe Ball Sanitation Service Inc. Filer: Browning Ferris Industries Inc.

Lamont Storage Co. Inc. (Mergers: Orleans County) (Brief Article)
December 30, 1991... New name: Lamont Storage Co. Inc. Companies: Lamont Storage Co. Inc., Lamont Enterprises Inc., Lamont Fruit Farm Inc., Lamont Land Co. Inc. and Ridge Equipment Co. Inc. Filer: Lance Mark

Odd's-N-End's going public.
December 16, 1991... Close-out chain plans 6 new stores a year from $5.31 million offering Odd's-N-End's Inc., a closeout retailer with headquarters in Buffalo and 21 stores in the immediate area, plans to go public in January with a $5.31 million stock offering....

Bell in WNY: a shadow of what it once was. (Bell Aerospace Textron; West New York)
December 16, 1991... Generations of employees and Niagara County residents have known the plant informally as "Bell." Bell Aerospace Textron, a subsidiary of Providence, R.I.-based Textron Inc., is one of the area's oldest and most famous corporate citizens....

Rates fall sharply on passbook savings accounts. (bank deposit interest rates)
December 16, 1991... Several Western New York banks have joined an industry move to lower rates by slashing interest they pay on passbook savings accounts. Other banks, including some that cut their rates months ago, are watching developments before deciding...

UniFirst new laundry plant to hire between 60 and 100.
December 16, 1991... UniFirst Corp. is looking to clean up Buffalo's dirty laundry. The professional cleaners, based in Wilmington, Mass., are working with city officials to build a 45,000-square-foot industrial laundry facility in the Thruway Industrial Park....

CID leaving Hamburg to buy Nu Car site for headquarters. (CID Group Inc.; Nu Car Carriers Inc.)
December 16, 1991... The CID Group Inc., one of the area's largest waste management companies, has embarked on a systemwide expansion that includes the purchase of a bankrupt competitor's assets. In late September, CID acquired assets of J&I Disposal Inc., I&J...

Varity analyst downgrades stock from buy to hold after losing quarter.
December 16, 1991... A $4 drop in the price of Varity Corp. stock is being interpreted as a reaction to some analysts' recent gloomy assessments of the Buffalo-based company's immediate future. "Several of us in late November came out with downgrades after the...

Schmitt Sales to fill up with Coastal gas stations.
December 16, 1991... The Coastal Corp., a Houston energy holding company, has entered into an agreement with Buffalo's Schmitt Sales Inc. to bring Coastal brand gasoline to Western New York. The deal is one of several the public company is making in its...

Eaton closing furniture store. (Eaton Office Supply Company Inc.)
December 16, 1991... Eaton Office Supply is closing its Eaton Furniture Center in Tonawanda and has put the building on the selling block. "We're just reallocating our space," said Bruce Eaton, president. "We're consolidating into three locations." The...

Freed Maxick works with Batavia CPAs. (Freed Maxick Sachs and Murphy P.C.; Battaglia Andrews and Moag) (Company Profile)
December 16, 1991... Freed Maxick Sachs & Murphy P.C., a Buffalo accounting firm, has affiliated with Batavia accountants in the first of several expected expansion moves in Western New York. The affiliation with Battaglia, Andrews & Moag, a firm employing 18...

Roswell union watches hospital's spending plan. (Roswell Park Cancer Institute employees union) (Company Profile)
December 16, 1991... The union representing Roswell Park Cancer Institute employees is monitoring the hospital's efforts to gain more flexibility in spending money. Leaders of the New York State Public Employees Federation say giving the state-run institute a...

Hospitals told to clean up waste or pay up by Jan. 1. (New York hospitals)
December 16, 1991... A Jan. 1 deadline is bearing down on New York hospitals to help clean up the air by changing the way they get rid of medical waste. State Department of Environmental Conservation mandates require hospitals with medical waste incinerators to...

Surge in local business prompts Coca-Cola Bottling expansion.
December 16, 1991... Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Buffalo Inc. hopes to pop the cap soon on local expansion plans. The soft-drink bottler, which occupies 100,000 square feet on Milens Road in Tonawanda, is shopping the Western New York real estate market for...

Title Network Ltd. (People on the Move ) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... Title Network Ltd., agent for Chicago Title Insurance Co., appointed John Langer chief operating officer. He holds a master's degree from the William E. Simon Graduate School at University of Rochester.

Randolph Brown. (People on the Move) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... Randolph Brown was appointed president and CEO of Salamanca Trust Co. His previous positions were with Wyoming County Bank, Norstar Bank N.A. and Exchange Bank, Olean.

ACI Controls Inc. (Business notes) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... ACI Controls Inc., a West Seneca-based distributor of industrial instrumentation products, has become the New York state representative of the Industrial Control Division of Honeywell Inc., Fort Washington, Pa., excluding the New York...

Ronkin Educational Group. (Business notes) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... Ronkin Educational Group has opened a center at 3314 Sheridan Drive, Amherst. The Florida-based public company is a provider of academic advising and enrichment services, undergraduate and graduate test preparation courses at 120 centers...

UniStar Air Cargo. (Business notes) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... UniStar Air Cargo, a joint venture of United Parcel Service and Yamato Transport Co. Ltd. of Japan, has opened a Buffalo regional office at 5500 Main St., Williamsville. The Illinois-headquartered UniStar offers single-source, door-to-door...

Anthony B. Smolen Jr., CPAs. (Business notes) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... The Amherst firm of Anthony B. Smolen Jr., CPAs, was approved by the Quality Review Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Tops Markets Inc. (Business notes) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... Tops Markets Inc. opened new, 81-589-square-foot Tops Super Centers on Dec. 8 at the corner of Grant and Amherst streets, employing 400, and in Lancaster at French and Transit roads. They replaced smaller stores at 1235 French Road and in...

Sportservice Corp. (Contracts awarded) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... Sportservice Corp. of Buffalo was awarded the contract to manage food-service operations at the recently reopened Hialeah Park racecourse near Miami, Fla.

Babinsky-Klein Engineering P.C. (Contracts awarded) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... Babinsky-Klein Engineering P.C., Amherst, received a $13,000 contract from the town of Cheektowaga to provide engineering services for an energy monitoring and control system at four town buildings. It also received a $5,000 contract from Baker...

Mussachio Architects P.C. (Contracts awarded) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... Mussachio Architects P.C., Williamsville, was awarded a contract by Uniland Development Co. to provide architectural services related to developing a site plan review for an office/production facility in the Audubon Industrial Park.

ESI-Technologies Inc. (Contracts awarded) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... ESI-Technologies Inc. of Buffalo was awarded contracts to provide manufacturing and distribution systems to Hydro-Agri Trinidad, in Trinidad, and A.C. Nielsen of Bannockburn, Ill.

General Cinema Corp. (Stock developments) (Brief Article)
December 16, 1991... (NYSE) Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc., a publishing and domestic insurance underwriting company, has become a wholly owned subsidiary of General Cinema Corp. General Cinema, based in Chestnut Hill, Mass., operates one of the nation's...

Book of Lists 1992. (Business First) (Directory)
December 16, 1991... TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR DATA OMITTED TABULAR...

M&T is out shopping for banks again. (Manufacturers and Traders Trust Co.) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Growth-minded First Empire State Corp. has revived its joint partnership strategy for acquiring other banks, but this time it has a new partner. Instead of KeyCorp, which combined with Buffalo-based First Empire State to snap up Goldome in...

Falls scuttles water park plan. (Niagara Falls Mayor Michael O'Laughlin has halted purchase of Niagara Splash water park)
December 9, 1991... Niagara Falls Mayor Michael O'Laughlin has halted the city's efforts to buy the Niagara Splash water park. O'Laughlin told his aides Dec. 3 to stop working on the $18.5 million deal because it no longer seemed to be financially feasible,...

Banking industry: dying dinosaur or cocooning butterfly. (Industry Overview)
December 9, 1991... With bank failures running at a post-Depression high, some experts see the existing U.S. banking industry headed for the scrap heap. One of them is Cornell University law professor Jonathan Macey. He and University of Chicago law professor...

Good news and bad news on the economy.
December 9, 1991... The best anyone can say about the local economy these days is that it lacks direction. It seems that for every piece of good news that raises hopes of recovery, there is a corresponding piece of bad news that reminds us the recession is...

Rainbow Centre operator sour on proposal for hotel. (Rainbow Centre Factory Outlet Mall lays claim to space where proposed hotel is to be constructed)
December 9, 1991... A $10 million Niagara Falls hotel-retail project, unveiled earlier this month, faces a potential legal obstacle. The Niagara Falls City Council on Dec. 2 gave Canadian developer Dino DiCienzo Sr. permission to take preliminary steps for...

Landmark Statler Towers faces December foreclosure.
December 9, 1991... After more than four years of legal maneuvering, the Statler Towers in downtown Buffalo will be put up for bid later this month. The historic 18-story building will be auctioned in a foreclosure sale Dec. 27 at the Erie County Courthouse. The...

Mr. Goodbar owner files for bankruptcy. (Robert Ponto) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... The owners of the former Mr. Goodbar bar have filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code eight months after the establishment closed. President Robert Ponto listed $30,000 in assets and $116,424 in liabilities owed to...

Partners form new offices; merge with existing law firms. (Richard Sullivan, Sheldon Benatovich, Bill Oliverio, Michael Trimboli, Bruce Hoover and Jennifer Dillon; Sullivan Benatovich Oliverio and Trimboli law firm)
December 9, 1991... Benatovich joins with Albrecht lawyers Four partners from two large Buffalo law offices are leaving their firms to practice together beginning Jan. 1. The new firm will be composed of Sheldon Benatovich from Falk & Siemer and Richard...

Stiller & Pieri start new firm. (David Stiller and John Pieri; Stiller & Pieri) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... The new firm follows an October opening of Stiller & Pieri, a law office combining 50 years of legal experience. David Stiller and John Pieri formed Stiller & Pieri effective Oct. 1. They formerly practiced with Condon, Latona, Pieri & Dillon...

Cox & Barrell joins O'Shea, Reynolds. (law firms merge) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Two Buffalo law firms have merged and at the same time moved into new offices. The firm of Cox & Barrell has joined ranks with O'Shea, Reynolds, Napier, Quinn & Cummings. The new firm is called O'Shea, Reynolds, Napier, Cummings & Kirby. The...

Sweet to buy Rand Building in foreclosure. (David Sweet; Rand Building)
December 9, 1991... A complicated deal will allow local attorney and developer David Sweet to take title to the Rand Building in downtown Buffalo. His company, Lafayette Washington Corp., is expected to be the sole bidder at Dec. 12 foreclosure proceedings. It...

Rustproof business opens U.S. location. (Carwell) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... A Canadian rustproofing company has opened an office in Tonawanda to launch its services in the United States. William Balcom, vice president of operations for Carwell, said the Toronto company picked its location at 750 Ensminger Drive in...

Norstar credit unit takes Ragtops space. (Norstar Bank N.A.; Ragtops restaurant's former location at the Olympic Towers)
December 9, 1991... The sounds of Elvis in Olympic Towers have been replaced by the sound of money. Where Ragtops, a 1950s style restaurant and nightclub, once operated, Norstar Bank's credit card and consumer loan approval division now calls home. Ragtops...

Jamestown company expects to bounce back from bad year. (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Electronic Technology Group Inc., a company that's grown from nothing to $15.85 million in four years, hit roadblocks in 1991 that caused the company to lose $1.4 million. But thanks to a $2.95 million secondary offering in October, the...

CTG streamlines communications units. (Computer Task Group Inc.) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Computer Task Group Inc. has restructured its communications business, naming vice president Philip Paul to head up the three units. "We're coordinating our services to have one communications officer," said Joanne Starr, a spokeswoman....

ECMC home care is patient option. (Eire County Medical Center) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Erie County Medical Center has completed the first year of a program that introduces home health care as an alternative to hospitalization for certain patients. In September 1990, ECMC entered into a three-year contract with Staff Builders...

Barrister Information Systems Corporation. (Proxy Report Excerpts) (Company Profile)
December 9, 1991... American Stock Exchange -- BIS Barrister Information Systems Corp., headquartered in Buffalo, services, develops, assembles and markets integrated open-architecture computer network systems for the legal profession. The beneficial...

Are you prepared if your system fails? Proper coverage can stave off a disaster. (Special Report: Insurance)(includes related article) (Industry Overview)
December 9, 1991... Imagine the consequences if the memory in your firm's entire computer system were completely erased right now. Would the company lose a few hours, a few weeks or a few months of productivity? Or would the organization's future existence be at...

Price Waterhouse. (People on the Move) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Price Waterhouse has transferred partner James Kilzer from the Pittsburgh office to Buffalo. He joined the firm in 1970.

Lisa Massaro Keating. (People on the Move) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Attorneys Lisa Massaro Keating and James Cosgriff III have established Massaro Keating & Cosgriff, Attorneys at Law, with offices in the Main-Seneca Building. They specialize in general civil litigation and previously were affiliated with...

Moog Inc. (Annual reports) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... (AMEX) Year ended Sept. 30 (in thousands) 1991 1990 Revenues $326,668 $306,978 Net income $7,631 $6,886 Earnings a share ...

Beau Fleuve. (Ad accounts) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Beau Fleuve, a Theatre Place restaurant, named Maguire Advertising Associates agency of record.

Celeste Upholstering Inc. (Ad accounts ) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Celeste Upholstering Inc. named Paragon Advertising agency of record for its campaign to launch an expanded service line for commercial and residential custom upholstering.

Marine Trades Association. (Ad accounts) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Marine Trades Association named Czajkowski Ellis Anderson Inc. agency of record for the 1992 Boat Show scheduled Feb. 1-9 at the Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center. It also was named advertising agency of record by Paul Batt Buick Inc.,...

The Noram Group Ltd. (Ad accounts)
December 9, 1991... The Noram Group Ltd., an international management consulting firm based in Buffalo, has been retained by C.C. Chemical Co. of Canada to prepare a U.S. market development plan.

Acu-Rite Inc. (Ad accounts)
December 9, 1991... Acu-Rite Inc., a Jamestown manufacturer of linear encoders, glass scales, and digital and vision readouts, named Creative Concepts of Williamsville agency of record.

Sportservice Corp. (Contracts awarded) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Sportservice Corp. of Buffalo was awarded the contract to manage food-service operations at the recently reopened Hialeah Park racecourse near Miami, Fla.

Babinsky-Klein Engineering P.C. (Contracts awarded) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... Babinsky-Klein Engineering P.C. of Amherst received a $13,000 contract from the town of Cheektowaga to provide engineering services for an energy monitoring and control system at four town buildings. It also received a $5,000 contract from...

ESI-Technologies Inc. (Contracts awarded) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... ESI-Technologies Inc. of Buffalo was awarded contracts to provide manufacturing and distribution systems to Hydro-Agri Trinidad, in Trinidad, and A.C. Nielsen, of Bannockburn, Ill.

P.D.M. Services Inc. (local distributor of Intelligent Systems of Plainview, Connecticut) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... P.D.M. Services Inc. of Amherst is the local distributor of the DOMAIN 6000 home automation system. It offers homeowners an on-screen floor plan and allows them to pre-program lights, appliances, heating and air conditioning. Prices start at...

C.H. Heist Corp. (Earnings and dividends) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... (OTC) Third quarter, June 30 (in thousands) 1991 1990 Revenues $19,770 $18,992 Net income $666 $1,024 Earnings a share $0.23 $0.35 C.H. Heist,...

Chemfab Corp. (Earnings and dividends) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... (OTC) First quarter, Sept. 29 (in thousands) 1991 1990 Revenues $10,977 $12,155 Net income $622 $1,205 Earnings a share $0.12 $0.24 Chemfab Corp., based in Merrimack, N.H., is the parent...

Figgie International Inc. (Earnings and dividends) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... (OTC) The board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.125 a share payable Dec. 15 on both Class A and Class B common stock to shareholders of record Dec. 1. Figgie International, headquartered in Richmond, Va., operates...

Fleet/Norstar Financial Group. (Earnings and dividends) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... (NYSE) The board of directors announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per share, payable Jan. 1 to shareholders of record Dec. 15. Fleet/Norstar is a diversified financial services company with 1,000 offices in 40 states....

Harsco Corp. (Earnings and dividends) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... (OTC) Third quarter, Sept. 30 (in thousands) 1991 1990 Revenues $447,839 $414,339 Net income $25,143 $18,102 Net income a share $0.96 $0.69 Harsco Corp., based in Camp Hill, Pa., is a...

Microtel Franchise and Development Corp. (Earnings and dividends) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... (OTC) Second quarter, Sept. 30 (in thousands) 1991 1990 Revenues $572 $26 Net income (loss) $158 ($463) Net income (loss) a share $.08 ($0.22) Microtel Franchise and Development...

Niagara Share Corp. (Earnings and dividends) (Brief Article)
December 9, 1991... (NYSE) The board of directors declared a distribution of $1.57 a share payable Dec. 19 to shareholders of record Dec. 2. Niagara Share Corp., based in Buffalo, is a publicly traded investment fund.