Business First of Buffalo articles from December 2001

Business First of Buffalo archives from December 2001

Adelphia narrows design search to 2.(Adelphia Communications Corp., choice between Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum Inc. and Perkins and Will Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... And then there were two. Adelphia Communications Corp. has narrowed its list for architectural firms for its $125 million downtown Buffalo regional operations center to two New York City firms. Both are partnering with local architectural...

Holiday sales off to festive start.(according to International Council of Shopping Centers and National Retail Federation reports)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... 'Twas the month before Christmas and all through the malls, people were stirring. Stirring, yes, but, by far, not the busiest shopping day of the year. The true peak shopping days are still some three weeks away, according to the...

GM provides doctors with high-tech tool.(General Motors Corp., hand-held electronic device for writing prescriptions)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... A tool to decrease medical errors is being put in the hands of Western New York doctors by General Motors Corp. with cooperation from the region's HMOs. Doctors in the Buffalo area are the third group in the country to receive hand-held...

Buffalo's smog gets low grade in report by environmentalists.(Sierra Club gives Buffalo, New York low environmental grade, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority looking to improve conditions)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... Buffalo doesn't make the grade when it comes to smog, according to The Sierra Club. The international environmental advocacy group has graded America's largest cities based on transporation-produced smog. The Sierra Club calculated a...

5th Coast.(Joe Marren's depiction of Buffalo, New York)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... 5th Coast Fifh Coast by Joe Marren On the Street Fiscal gimmicks edition Subject Word on the street Selling bricks [up] Since political party bosses will never endorse...

Driving home a point.(view on the economy, people should buy things in order to keep economy stable)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... I've done my part. Now it's your turn. Since it doesn't look like Bill "I fought the law and I won!" Gates or Warren "The Money Vacuum" Buffett will come up with hard cash to help our distressed nation and city, us poor folks have to pump the...

'Season's Readings' launched by Verizon. (To the Point).(Verizon Communications national literacy campaign)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Verizon launched a national literacy campaign from Buffalo on Wednesday with a reading by NYS Regent Robert Bennett of "T'was the Night Before Christmas" to a group of second grade children at Buffalo's Early Childhood Center No. 17. The...

Delphi gives $5,000 to soup kitchen. (To the Point).(Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems, Sister Mary Loretto Memorial Soup Kitchen)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems has donated $5,000 to the Sister Mary Loretto Memorial Soup Kitchen, the annual Lockport charity that assists the needy at Christmas.. The financial gift was made possible through a recently completed...

Submissions sought for works in progress. (To the Point).
December 3, 2001... Is there a new office building or shopping center in your future? Perhaps, there's a major expansion or renovation in the pipeline. If so, we're interested. Business First will include a Works in Progress section in the Jan. 28, 2002 issue...

Too much student credit a worry.(Republican George Maziarz of North Tonawanda, New York, bill to sway credit card companies from certain marketing to students)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... Long gone is the time when credit on college campuses only had to do with how well students performed in the classroom. Today, credit means how many credit cards a student has and how close to being maxed out they are. Last year, the...

Falls, Ont. tourism seeks cash.(Niagra Falls, Ontario)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... Niagara Falls Tourism, the key tourism bureau in Niagara Falls, Ont., is looking to the city fathers for financial help. The agency has made an annual request to the Niagara Falls, Ont., city council for $940,000 in public sector funds. The...

Why mow dandelions when you can eat them?
December 3, 2001... Like the product they sell, business is sprouting up for Ma Ma Theresa's Frozen Dandelions. The 6-year-old company, with headquarters at 274 Delaware Ave, is ready to bring several new products to the retail market in the coming months. Ma...

Inspection company passes the test of time.(Quality Inspection Service Inc. acquires Scientific Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... Diversity has been the key to Quality Inspection Service Inc.'s path to success. The nondestructive testing firm started out with two employees in the late 1980s and has grown to several offices around Western New York arid three in other...

State lender has record year for loans to small business.(New York Business Development Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... The New York Business Development Corp. has closed the books on its fiscal year and, for the 10th consecutive year, said it has established another record-breaking year of lending to small businesses. For the fiscal year ending Sept. 30,...

Aircraft deicing system on hold in Norway.(Radiant Energy Corp. financing slowed by terrorist attacks on U.S.)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Radiant Energy Corp. of Orchard Park said the planned installation of its patented aircraft deicing system at Oslo Airport Gardermoen will not be completed this year. The company said due to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 financing for...

Sabres' TV broadcasts show higher ratings.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... The Buffalo Sabres slumped into last place in their division in the first quarter of the National Hockey League season yet that hasn't stopped fans from tuning in to the team's games on cable television. Empire Sports Network, the regional...

Outgoing chamber CEO sees casinos as catalyst.(Charles Steiner, marketing Niagara Falls)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Greater strategic alliances will drive Niagara County's future prosperity, according to Charles Steiner, outgoing president and CEO of the Niagara Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Momentum surrounding casino gambling is just the start, he...

'Power' merger on line for 2002.(National Grid Group and Niagara Mohawk merger waits for approval)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Final approval of the merger between National Grid Group and Niagara Mohawk is expected in the early part of 2002. The New York Public Service Commission approved the plan and rate reduction on Nov. 28. The merger is still subject to...

Payments to Kaleida key to new HMO deal.(Independent Health and Kaleida Health ink 2-year agreement)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Independent Health members who use Kaleida Health's hospitals and services can continue to do so for the next two years with little change except the cost. The Buffalo region's largest HMO and hospital systems have negotiated a two-year...

Bond club of Buffalo takes new direction.(donates cash to Children's Hospital)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... The Bond Club of Buffalo, a 72-year-old organization of investment brokers and financial counselors and one of only a handful of clubs like it in the nation, will present a $2,500 gift to Children's Hospital. The donation, which is the...

CPA qualifying exam going high tech in 2003.(redesigned exam to test practical skills)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... The road to CPA status no longer will lead through a paper-and-pericil qualifying exam that requires lots of rote memorization. Beginning in November 2003, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants will put the test on...

Web site designers find niche as development demands grow.(Wizard Communication Systems Inc. and Algonquin Studios)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Designing and maintaining Web sites has become an important sideline for area companies,, both for computer technology firms and those who previously earned their bread and butter in other areas. While having a Web site was a novelty 10...

OSHA ready to launch injury recording rule.(must record illnesses that require more than just first-aid treatment)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... After more than a decade of effort, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued major final revisions to its record-keeping rule. Effective Jan. 1, employers required by OSHA to record workplace injuries must comply and...

Hotel vacancies reflect slump.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Not that the industry needs any reminder, but just-released hotel occupancy numbers for Buffalo offer further proof that September was not a good month for the tourism and travel industry The reason can be pinpointed to the other end of the...

Uniland spec project is symbolic of trend. (Inside Real Estate).
December 3, 2001... On the surface, plans by Uniland Development Co. to add another 41,000-square-foot spec building to its increasingly popular CrossPoint Business Park shouldn't raise a lot of eyebrows. What's another spec building in Amherst? Right....

On the waterfront. (Inside Real Estate).(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Adelphia has taken another step with its plans to build its downtown Buffalo regional operations center. Adelphia has hired Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers of New York to handle the geotechnical services related to the building's...

Office overview. (Inside Real Estate).(in western New York)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... To no one's surprise, there were few surprises in the latest overview of the Western New York office space market. The review, issued by the local CB Richard Ellis office, shows that the vacancy rate in the city's central business district...

More construction news. (Inside Real Estate).(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Speaking of interesting industry statistics, the latest information from the F.W. Dodge Division of the McGraw-Hill Cos. shows that the construction industry hasn't fallen off since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Dodge's September numbers...

Web design firms.
December 3, 2001... Web design firms Research by Mark Webster mwebster@bizjournals.com Ranked by number of Web sites developed in past year Phone ...

Gift options abound for no-tech crowd. (Holiday Season in Wny).
December 3, 2001... The annual search for non-tech gifts has begun. It's a challenge of sorts, this holiday quest for nice presents that don't require, a computer chip. Electronics and tech toys seem to be on everybody's wish list these days, but you can round out...

Even P.R. gimmicks backfire on futile Bills. (Inside Straight).(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... File it right up there in the "no good deed goes unpunished" column. Bills' owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. does good by the community, lifting the blackout, thus allowing the Nov. 25 game versus the arch-rival Miami Dolphins to be televised in...

Power for jobs program surpasses state goals.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... The New York Power Authority's "Power for Jobs" program has surpassed employment commitments by nearly 8,400 jobs in the past three years. A report given to NYPA trustees shoed that more than 200 companies and not-for-profit organizations...

Thruway travel goes up over holiday weekend.(4.4 million vehicles used the toll road this year, up from last year's 3.9 million)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... Whether it was better weather, cheaper gas prices or an apprehension about flying, traffic on the. New York State Thruway was up 13 percent over the recent Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Thruway Authority announced 4.4 million vehicles...

Tech lawyer: Martha Buyer is a woman with a unique combination of technical, communications and legal skills. (Special Report Office Technology & Communications).(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Martha Buyer, 44, is like a detective. She has the ability to sift through facts and figures and find the real answers for her clients. As a telecommunications attorney and consultant, her word is golden. Her expertise in the legal and...

Extra course work might give job edge.(advantages of continuing education)
December 3, 2001... Don Myers took some extra time recently to complete a course in Visual Basic programming at Erie Community College. Myers, a senior electrical controls engineer at MicroData Technologies LLC, has a good reason for taking continuing...

Stickiness: Bad for kids but great for Web sites. (Tech Talk).(Web sites need to be interactive, dynamic and personal)(Brief Article)(Column)
December 3, 2001... ********** Everybody wants their Web site to attract as many visitors and generate as many responses as possible. But counting the number of "hits" on a site isn't always the best way to gauge effectiveness. It might sound great that your...

Biz appears to be slow for new Net domains.(new top-level Domain names not drawing much attention)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... It seems it's still a dot-corn world after all when it comes to area businesses and their Internet presence. Despite much hype when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced the creation of seven new...

Being gadget-savvy opens possibilities.(information technology consultant reflects need to be updated on new technology)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... For John Howman, chief executive officer of the Allied Computer Group Inc. of Milwaukee, one of the prerequisites for being in the information technology consulting business is being gadget-savvy. His office fully reflects that need. In almost...

Make Web passage safe for little ones.(how parents can make Internet safe for children)
December 3, 2001... For all the benefits and educational support the Internet can provide to children, the potential dangers of the information superhighway are enough to cause many parents to make it a no-entry zone for kids. Is that the best policy? Are...

Videoconferencing sees sudden surge.(September 11th attacks lead to increase in videoconferencing)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Videoconferencing has been available for years, but the local business community quickly found out how valuable it can be following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Companies were already trying to cut travel expenses in a sluggish economy,...

Security tips for online information offered.(Chris Hawley, professional services security manager, offers tips)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Chris Hawley, professional services security manager with Telenisus Corp., works with clients on information security issues throughout Florida and the Southeast He shared key steps companies can take now to help ensure the safety of their...

Awards & Achievements.(list of various award winners)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... Niagara University gave its Excellence in Teaching Award to Roland Kidwell Jr. of Youngstown. An assistant professor of management who joined the university in 1996 he received a plaque and check for $1,000. He is co-author of "HRM from A to Z:...

People on the move.(multiple personnel changes)
December 3, 2001... The Erie Community College board of trustees elected the following officers: Joseph DiVincenzo, a board member for eight years who is. associate administrator of the Erie County Medical Center, chair man; Richard Quinn, a board member for seven...

Mortgage rates.(of various Buffalo-area banks)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... MORTGAGE RATES Conventional Fixed Adjustable Lender (phone) 30 yr. 15 yr. 1 yr. Amer. Home Loans N. Tona. (692-7007) 7.13 6.50 6.00 Amer....

Great lakes metros economic ratings (November).(for month of November 2001)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 3, 2001... GREAT LAKES METROS ECONOMIC RATINGS (NOVEMBER) Buffalo-Niagara Falls * Chicago-Gary-Kenosha: Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin *** Cleveland-Akron, Ohio ***...

Money market and cd rates-yields.(of various Buffalo-area banks)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 3, 2001... MONEY MARKET AND CD RATES-YIELDS MM 6 mos. 12 mos. 24 mos. Bank of Castile .75-.75 1.66-1.66 1.87-1.87 2.22-2.22 Cattauragus County Bank 1.90-1.92 2.00-2.02 2.25-2.28...

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. (Grants).(offers Erie County Health Department $14,495)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has granted $14,495 to the Erie County Health Department for the purchase of 30 infant stimulators used in the "Baby Think it Over" program.

The Citigroup foundation. (Grants).(awards grant to Buffalo/Niagara WorldConnect)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... The Citigroup Foundation has awarded a $5,000 grant to Buffalo/Niagara WorldConnect in support of the Hands Across The Sea (HATS) global education program and international festival.

Business calendar.
December 3, 2001... * TUESDAY, DEC. 4 Buffalo Cosmetology Association - Meeting at 7:30 p.m., Harkness Center, 99 Aero Drive, $15. Call 632-5179. American Society at Women Accountants - Buffalo chapter meeting at Classica V Banquet Center. Call Christine...

Phone books weigh in through thick and thin. (Bflo. Tales).(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... ********** For me, the annual delivery of the new telephone book has always: been an occasion worth commemorating. It is no different this year. Why? Some people ask: What can be drearier than a telephone book? Those are good...

Moving toward efficiency. (Editorial).(local governments move to share services)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2001... The move toward more efficient government administration advanced on two fronts last week. First, the Erie County towns of Alden and Newstead agreed to share property assessment services. Then the Village of Lancaster and Town of...

Keynes on consumer confidence. (Viewpoint).
December 3, 2001... ********** Momentum can turn a football game around. In medicine, the placebo effect can really make people feel better. In "Peter Pan," the audience's belief in fairies saved Tinkerbell's life. And economists tell us that...

Reviving hospital plans may take years.(Kaleida Health still considering plans for pediatric hospital in Buffalo)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... Construction of a new pediatric hospital on High Street still could be part of Buffalo's health care future, but there's some ambitious financial reconstruction that needs to take place first. Kaleida Health system officials are blaming a...

Jacobs makes major league bid.(Jeremy Jacobs makes bid to buy Boston Red Sox)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... Jeremy Jacobs is looking to play some hardball in Beantown. Jacobs, chairman of Delaware North Cos. Inc. -- one of Buffalo's largest privately held companies -- and an industry leader in the concessions and food services fields, confirmed...

Bank poised for expansion.(First Niagara Financial Group Inc. plans to resume making acquisitions)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 10, 2001... First Niagara Financial Group Inc. has spent the year digesting central New York acquisitions it made in 1999 and 2000. But with 2002 almost here, the parent of First Niagara Bank has its appetite back. Next year promises to bring a return...

Latest plan could mean more cuts at Delphi.(Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems in Lockport, New York)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... The parent of Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems in Lockport is considering further job cuts in the face of a projected slowdown in auto sales next year. Details on how Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. plans to respond to the forecast and what...

On the Street: Sports Edition.(quick overview of Buffalo's sports teams)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... On the Street Sports edition Subject Word on the street Destroyers [up arrow] At least THAT football team made the playoffs. This upcoming season ...

From footnotes to headlines.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... I was in sunny St. Petersburg, F-L-A, last week trying to qualify for the Metro Gulf Coast Florida Journalism Hall of Fame. I didn't get in. (Insert heavy sigh here.) Oh well, although I failed in my pursuit of fame and riches, I did catch....

Leadership Buffalo arrives on Main Street. (To The Point).(new location)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... Leadership Buffalo has taken up residence on Main Street in downtown Buffalo in the Main Seneca Building. The organization had been in the Main Place Tower with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. "This move gives us an opportunity to grow and...

Submissions sought for Works in Progress. (To The Point).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... Business First will include a section on Works in Progress, an update of local commercial construction projects, in the Jan. 28, 2002, issue of Real Estate and Construction. All submissions must include artwork, such as a rendering or...

Sierra Research nets big Navy deal. (The Second Front).($16.2 million contract)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... Sierra Research has been awarded a $16.2 million defense contract for data transfer systems to be used on Navy destroyer ships. By using fiber optics to transfer critical information, the new systems will replace a copper wire system that...

Rink opens while spring has 'cameo'. (The Second Front).(Rotary Rink in downtown Buffalo)
December 10, 2001... The calendar says December but the temperatures feel more like April. Even so, Mother Nature's prolonged, spring-like temperatures haven't stopped the successful seasonal debut of free skating at downtown's Rotary Rink. The...

Little Buffalo fallout seen in latest DFT acquisition. (The Second Front).(Buffalo, New York; DFT Security Inc. acquires American Alarm Services Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... The sale of American Alarm Services Inc. to Dunkirk's DFT Security Inc. should have no impact on the company's Buffalo area presence. If anything, DFT may increase its Buffalo presence. "This acquisition reinforces DFT Communications'...

Congress kills low-income contract program.(Hubzone program funding cut)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... Congress has eliminated funding for the Hubzone program, which gives small businesses in low-income areas preferences for federal contracts. The $2 million Hubzone budget cut was part of an appropriations bill signed Nov.28 by President...

Warm weather cools natural gas prices.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... Natural gas prices are just like the weather: Unpredictable. While residential rates have increased by 2.3 percent over last month, the equation is a bit different for nonresidential customers. "Commercial accounts are less sensitive to...

Home sales set record in state during October.(New York, October 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... More than 8,400 single-family homes in New York state changed ownership in October, a new record according to the New York State Association of REALTORS (NYSTAR). All together, 8,419 homes were sold, nearly 13 percent more than September...

CVB sales pitch pays off as events bookings soar.(Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, New York)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau has set a record for new convention and meeting bookings. The CVB will likely finish the year with somewhere around 210 new bookings, a nearly 13 percent increase from the 186 meetings booked...

Ohio supermarket is Tops' 150th.(Tops Markets L.L.C. opens store in Madison, Ohio)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... Tops Markets LLC has a new item in its shopping cart. Store No. 150. When Tops opened the doors of a 49,000-square-foot store in Madison, Ohio, on Dec. 5, it marked the 150th outlet in the Amherst-based company's chain. The opening...

Tech professionals seeking some balance.(life/work balance)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... Is it tougher for women to balance home and work responsibilities than for men? Women have traditionally faced greater challenges to the life/work balance than their counterparts, with the addition of family and homemaking responsibilities...

Businesses sign on with Red Cross for crisis planning.(classes to help businesses develop emergency response plans)
December 10, 2001... If last fall's snow fall didn't convince the American Red Cross to host disaster planning sessions for businesses, the terrorist attacks in New York did. The Buffalo chapter has two more sessions this year, on Tuesday, Dec. 11 and...

Interest rate reductions not enough, expert says.(Ian Morris forecasts tow more rate cuts)
December 10, 2001... Ten interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve will not suffice predicts Ian Morris, economist for HSBC Securities USA. Morris is forecasting at least two more rate cuts very soon although financial markets have begun to respond to actions...

Dipson gives theaters new seats, fresh look. (Inside Real Estate).(Dipson Theatres)
December 10, 2001... Pardon their dust. But, only temporarily. If you happen to catch a flick at the Amherst Theater in the University Plaza, don't be surprised if the three-screen cinema has a decidedly different look. Now, Dipson Theatres isn't...

USA Niagara names consultant. (Inside Real Estate).
December 10, 2001... USA Niagara Development Corp., the special arm of the Empire State Development Corp. whose mission is to help redevelop Niagara Falls, has taken a significant step toward reaching its goal. The agency, on Nov. 28, named Hunter Interests...

University at Buffalo has officially turned the deed to Darwin Martin House. (Real Estate Notes and Tidbits).
December 10, 2001... It may be pro forma at this point, but the University at Buffalo has officially turned the deed to Darwin Martin House in Buffalo over to the Martin House Restoration Corp. The nearly decade-old corporation is charged with returning the...

The Eastern Hills Mall in Clarence has welcomed two new tenants. (Real Estate Notes and Tidbits).(Shoe Show's The Shoe Dept. and Elitine's Nail and Spa)
December 10, 2001... Just in time for the Christmas season, the Eastern Hills Mall in Clarence has welcomed two new tenants and seen another expansion of its space. The Shoe Dept. has leased 6,000 square feet in the mall and Elitine's Nail and Spa has leased...

Former Buffalo Bills defensive back Henry Jones has sold his house on Southwick Drive in Orchard Park. (Real Estate Notes and Tidbits).
December 10, 2001... A couple local sports figures have been involved in recent residential transactions. Former Buffalo Bills defensive back Henry Jones has sold his house on Southwick Drive in Orchard Park. According to public records, Jones received...

State businesses seek a healthier alternative.
December 10, 2001... Some of the largest employers in Western New York are being asked to get together to measure how the health of their workers affects things like absenteeism and productivity. It's an initiative through state Sen. Mary Lou Rath, who leads...

Former Chek.com finds blue light special.(Synacor to provide e-mail and portal services to Kmart BlueLight Internet service)
December 10, 2001... Synacor Inc., formerly Chek.com, will provide e-mail and portal services to thousands of users of Kmart's BlueLight unlimited Internet service. The new agreement will provide BlueLight ISP customers with access to a mybluelight-branded...

Sheet metal industry replenishes workforce.(scholarship program)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... For the second year in a row area sheet metal companies have taken a unique approach to replenish their workforce. By awarding scholarships in the form of employment to area high school students, these businesses hope to increase their pool...

Expansion of Albion loan center expected to take several years.(Dime Bancorp Inc. merger with Washington Mutual Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... Dime Bancorp Inc.'s loan servicing center in Albion will be expanded and employment more than doubled to almost 900 jobs after the banking company's merger into Washington Mutual Inc. The announcement, made Nov. 29 by Seattle-based...

The List: Travel/tour agencies; Ranked by gross sales volume.(dircetory of travel agencies in New York)(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... Travel/tour agencies Ranked by gross sales volume Research by Mark Webster mwebster@amcity.com Rank Prior Phone Rank ...

Plastic parts producer finds room to grow.(American Form Tech Inc. management)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 10, 2001... The plastics company American Form Tech has made a $200,000 equipment purchase that will enable it to do more complicated custom orders in less time. The expenditure is substantial for the 15-employee Salamanca company, but the payback should...

Proposed Ontario ferry still afloat.(ferry from Rochester to Toronto)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... A ferry service from Rochester to Toronto could be part of a larger transportation project for the Monroe County city. Congress has allocated $4.5 million to help pay for a terminal at the Port of Rochester to accommodate a high-speed ferry...

UB provides course for adopted students.(University at Buffalo to provide services for Chinese children adopted by Americans)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2001... The University at Buffalo will provide education for Chinese-born children adopted by American parents living in the Buffalo area through a new weekend school sponsored by UB'S World Languages Institute. The AC (Asian Connection) Chinese...