Business First of Buffalo articles from November 2000

Business First of Buffalo archives from November 2000

There's no business like snow business.
November 27, 2000... Joe lannarelli contributed to this story Stranded motorists storm downtown hotels, restaurants The snowstorm that turned downtown Buffalo into a parking lot turned out to be a preholiday boon for some and a nightmare for most. ...

Convention center could be back on track.
November 27, 2000... Plans for a new downtown convention center, stalled for the better art of the year, may soon be coming out of the deep freeze. County officials have retained Ecology & Environment Inc. of Lancaster to oversee the environmental impact...

5th Coast.
November 27, 2000... Thumbs up ... to Erie County Exec Joel Giambra for his pledge to block pork-barrel funding by the County Legislature. He says he Democrats want $8 million for pet projects. The Dems deny this. But the point is Giambra bra is either very...

Looking for a miracle.
November 27, 2000... Don't get us wrong, we think Father Baker was an all-around good guy, but we don't understand this need for miracles to elevate him to serious player status in the Catholic Church hierarchy. Isn't it enough that blue-collar Lackawanna has...

Looking for a map of somewhere?
November 27, 2000... Erie County has developed an Internet site that permits users to prepare maps based on a variety of topics. The Erie County Internet Mapping Services Web site allows users to view, overlay and print maps such as highways, parks, school...

New lodge to open Holiday Valley season.
November 27, 2000... The $3 million Yodeler Lodge is nearing completion at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville. Construction began in April as crews demolished the existing Middle Chalet in the center of the ski resort. The original Middle Chalet, built in 1957,...

Upstate group focuses on inventions.
November 27, 2000... The University at Buffalo has joined an alliance of upstate New York partners that targets economic success in the western half of the state. The Upstate Alliance for Innovation includes UB, Rochester Institute of Technology, University...

Clarifications & amplifications.
November 27, 2000... Spherion Inc. is ranked 85th in the Private Cos. List. It has recently changed its name and the list did not reflect that change. Three McIntosh brothers: Robert, Richard and Randall are principals of Mac's Antinique Auto Parts. Randall...

'One-on-one' targets WNY firms.
November 27, 2000... Collaborative efforts among the region's economic development forces took another step forward with the launching of the "Buffalo One on One" business retention program. The program, championed by Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello, is a...

Warehouse on Elmwood Ave. plans expansion.
November 27, 2000... The demand for more space is prompting an Elmwood Avenue warehouse to expand. The Elmwood Warehousing Go. Inc. has filed a proposal with the Buffalo Planning Board for a 17,600-square-foot expansion, a move that will increase the...

Business First names new research director.
November 27, 2000... Laura Suttell has been named research director at Business First. Suttell comes to Business First from the Buffalo law firm Lipsitz Green Fahringer Roll Salisbury & Cambria, where she was a law librarian. Before returning to Western New...

Delphi equipped race cars on fast track to NASCAR.
November 27, 2000... The NASCAR race circuit makes a pit stop in Lockport these days. Through a several-months-old partnering agreement with Griffin Radiator, a South Carolina maker of custom-made radiators for NASCAR race cars, Delphi Harrison Thermal...

Entrepreneurship course is all about business.
November 27, 2000... When Eric Reich decided to sign up for the dual MBA/JD program at the University at Buffalo, he thought he could use the law degree to help him get ahead in strategic planning with some big company. Doing something out on his own was the...

After- school program targets key age groups.
November 27, 2000... Middle school children at three Niagara County school districts will have access to a unique after-school program coordinated by the YWCA of Niagara. The agency has received $250,000 in grant funding to develop after-school programs at...

Purchasing power inches upward.
November 27, 2000... The typical American worker is better off than a year ago, but just by a couple of bucks. Average weekly earnings for nonsupervisory employees rose 4.3 percent between October 1999 and October 2000, according to newly released figures...

Canada trade deficit continues to grow.
November 27, 2000... Western New York's most important trade relationship has turned into a lopsided one. Canada accounted for 11 percent of America's total trade deficit during the first nine months of 2000, according to, new figures from the U.S. Bureau of...

Business advocates join Niagara lobby.
November 27, 2000... Strength in numbers. That's what Niagara County's chambers of commerce and business advocates have thanks to a joint effort aimed at increasing their lobbying power. The Eastern Niagara Chamber of Commerce, Niagara Falls Area Chamber...

Volunteer board named to oversee Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre.
November 27, 2000... As promised, Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello has created a volunteer board of directors to oversee the Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre, the eight-screen downtown complex. The board will work jointly with Dipson Theatres, which operate the...

Delphi competitor expands base in WNY.
November 27, 2000... Visteon Corp., one of Delphi Harrison Thermal System's chief competitors, arrived in Western New York two years ago and its local operation, which lies only 35 miles from Delphi headquarters in Lockport, is growing. Visteon Climate...

Eight companies sign agreements to lease space at Seneca complex.
November 27, 2000... The sprawling Seneca Industrial Center, one of Buffalo's largest multi-use facilities, has signed eight new tenants and seen three others lease additional space. All told the new leases total 88,250 square feet. The center, which is...

Business groups agree to mentor private schools.
November 27, 2000... Three area business groups are teaming up with Buffalo's independent schools in a new mentoring program. The New Millennium Group, InfoTech Niagara and WebGrrls will work with students at 19 area member schools of BISSNET, the Buffalo...

Acme shareholders approve offer.
November 27, 2000... Publicly traded Acme Electric Corp. of East Aurora reverted to a private company last week following a special shareholders' meeting that showed majority approval of a $9-per-share purchase offer by Key Components LLC. Sixty-nine percent...

It pays to join a union, study shows.
November 27, 2000... It pays to belong to a union. That's not a philosophical statement. It's a financial one, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Members of labor unions earned a median of $672 per week last year. That was 30 percent...

Daemen, UB projects receive IDA tax breaks.
November 27, 2000... The Amherst Industrial Development Agency is helping two collegiate student housing projects that together represent about $45 million in new investments. The projects are part of the fast-growing student housing construction wave that...

Waterfront Village signs Adelphia.
November 27, 2000... The Waterfront Village complex, a 100,000-square-foot building that overlooks the Erie Basin Marina, is nearing capacity. The building, once targeted to be the corporate headquarters for Graphic Controls Corp., has reaped the benefits of...

Gas tax fuels campaign by convenience stores.
November 27, 2000... Most convenience stores in Western New York are like comedian Rodney Dangerfield, they get no respect. At least that's the contention of one industry leader. Robert Newman, president of Noco Express Shops, will continue an advertising...

Great Lakes Collections invests in WNY offices.
November 27, 2000... Officials are praising a collection agency's plans to invest heavily in its two operations. The Erie County Industrial Development Agency, at its Nov. 15 meeting, approved a $7 million inducement package for Great Lakes Collection Bureau...

NHL struggles for positive publicity.
November 27, 2000... Until a few weeks ago the lasting impression of Brad May would be his series-clinching goal over the Boston Bruins in 1993. That was the highlight reel goal where he went around Hall. of Famer-to-be Ray Bourque and, at long last, advanced the...

D'Youville, Info Tech cultivate link to India.
November 27, 2000... India's link to the Western New York economy may come by way of the information technology industry. Many large U.S. corporations are looking to India in an effort to address a shortage of IT workers here. D'Youville College hopes to...

Bequest from UB alum will fund scholarships.
November 27, 2000... The University at Buffalo has received a $250,000 bequest to support initiatives of its Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Study Center. The bequest comes from Nila Gnamm, a UB alumna who is retired from the Buffalo Police Department. ...

Progress report release scheduled for Nov. 29.
November 27, 2000... The public release of the State of the Region Progress Report 2000 will be held at 9 a.m., Nov. 29 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. The report covers 11 topic areas including economy, education and, government and includes 44 indicators of...

Car's high-tech gadgets drive buying decisions.
November 27, 2000... The ultimate driving experience these days isn't about leather interiors and refined steering as much as it is about staying connected. Today's vehicles are "infotainment" centers on wheels, with high-tech options that offer instant...

Insurers sue OSHA over ergonomics rule.
November 27, 2000... A dozen insurance companies challenged OSHA's ergonomics regulation in federal court, the third major lawsuit filed by business groups over the new workplace requirement. Insurers allege the Occupational Safety and Health Administration...

Voters favor review panel over suits against HMOs.
November 27, 2000... A postelection poll commissioned by the managed care industry found that two-thirds of voters think health coverage disputes should be resolved by appeals to independent panels of doctors instead of laws suits against health plans. Only...

Court decision impacts utilities.
November 27, 2000... Earlier this year, Federal Judge John Curtin of the Western District of New York issued a decision that may have far-reaching implications for condemnation efforts by utility companies under the Natural Gas Act throughout New York state:...

Competition made tough trucks.
November 27, 2000... John Mack and his brothers, Augustus and William, opened their first truck manufacturing plant in 1901. Their first successful vehicle -- a 40-horsepower, 20-passenger bus -- carried visitors around Brooklyn's Prospect Park. ...

Forecasters weather the storm -- again.
November 27, 2000... Next to a snowplow driver, the person with the most challenging job in a record snowstorm is a meteorologist. Predicting a winner in the presidential election might be easier, but that's not what Tom Niziol and the staff of...

Replacing cold call with a hot call, or anything.
November 27, 2000... The three word definition of a cold call is -- waste of time. No one likes cold calls. Not the salesperson who makes them. And surely not the prospect who receives them. It's a way to sell, just not the best way to sell and getting worse...

Veto preserves cap on malpractice legal fees.
November 27, 2000... Gov. George Pataki this week vetoed a controversial bill that would have lifted the caps on contingency fees for lawyers in medical malpractice cases. This and other bills recently acted upon by the governor are reviewed below. ...

Small business optimism continues to decline.
November 27, 2000... A growing number of small-business owners see signs of an economic slowdown. The NFIB Education Foundation's small-business optimism index dropped for the second month in a row in October. The index is based on 10 economic indicators...

Savings bank approved to open third branch.
November 27, 2000... Greater Buffalo Savings Bank plans to open its third branch office Dec. 1. The state Banking Department, which already had approved the office at 396 Kenmore Ave., said the branch can open one month earlier than originally scheduled. ...

Flying high.
November 27, 2000... Internet has a long way to go when it comes to travel planning The business travel industry is flying high amid a global economy, with more travel suppliers than ever and cutting-edge technology that promises market advantages in the form...

Globetrotting is family business for travel pro.
November 27, 2000... Not many people can say their job took them to Kenya for a two week photo safari. Or to Iran for a sightseeing tour. Or even to Germany for a two-week concert tour. But that's just the sort of life Herman "John" Endres Jr. has...

Dare not to be so dull at next business meeting.
November 27, 2000... Everyone who is in business sits through long, boring, non-productive meetings. The wildly popular Dilbert comic strip has had tremendous success showing the foibles of corporate America's meetings. Wouldn't it be nice if you could...

Function beats form in the hospitality trade.
November 27, 2000... When Tom Keller goes on the road, he looks for convenience. A partner in Keller & Grimm Real Estate, he travels about three times per month. Others in his company travel far more often, some are out of town two or three days per week. ...

Keeping in touch helps keep you in business.
November 27, 2000... Establishing a continuous line of communications with your suppliers is a vital necessity in today's global world. There is so much information that is transmitted via email, fax and telephone that if anything can go wrong, it will be...

Smaller means cheaper with cars.
November 27, 2000... Driving a typical mid-size car in such cities as Sioux Falls, S.D., Des Moines, Iowa, Eau Glaire, Wis., and Bismarck, N.D., could save you as much as $3,000 per year when compared to driving in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Providence, or...

Mind your manners when traveling abroad.
November 27, 2000... The flight is longer, the food possibly strange, and they may speak a different language, but there is so much more to international travel. Effective use, of cultural awareness skills can make or break a foreign trade relationship in a...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
November 27, 2000... Joseph Atkinson was named director of the University at Buffalo's Great Lakes Program. A UB faculty member since 1984, he is professor in the university's civil, structural and environmental engineering department and last year earned a...

People Inc.
November 27, 2000... People Inc. received a $6,000 grant from FleetBoston Financial Foundation for a career development program for special education and minority students. The program is done in conjunction with the Buffalo Public School District.

Belated confessions of a youthful sinner.
November 27, 2000... I lied to me bus driver. I lied about my age so I wouldn't have to pay the fare. Offenses such as that can be unearthed years later and cause embarrassment. Look at George W. Bush and his drunk driving conviction of 1976. He says he...

Keep private schools private.
November 27, 2000... Computers in the classroom are critical to the educational experience. In fact, a strong argument can be made that computers are as important to the learning process as any tool available to teachers. Not surprisingly, the biggest...

GIVING A HELPING HAND.
November 27, 2000... Area students find ways to contribute time and energy Fundraising appeals from nonprofit and charitable organizations often target adults and seniors, encouraging them to remember the organization in their wills and through planned giving...

JOIN UP.
November 27, 2000... There is much to gain being active in clubs and sports Throughout your life, you will make decisions that will stay with you forever. Whether the decision is as important as choosing what college to attend, or as simple as choosing what...

Sacred Heart grads earn alumnae honors.
November 27, 2000... Three Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart graduates were honored as distinguished alumnae with the Christus Super Omnia Award: Carmela Anastasia Colucci '51, executive director of the Peter and Tommy Fund, a fund for children with pediatric...

Japanese high school establishes ties with Immaculata.
November 27, 2000... Nakamura Junior and Senior Girls High School in Tokyo has chosen Immaculata Academy as one of four American high schools for an exchange student program. Through the Japan Education Advancement Association, Nakamura's chairman, Kazuo...

Architecture firm sets scholarship program in Southern Tier.
November 27, 2000... The firm of Harrington Sandberg Architects P.C. has established a scholarship for high school seniors in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in architecture. The first $2,500 will be...

AIA Buffalo/WNY chapter architects contribute to community.
November 27, 2000... Bridging the Gap has been a chapter focus over the past few years. The Gap represents itself in many ways -- public awareness of our organization and our profession, the distance between architects and contractors, and the inherent...

2001 AIA New York State Annual Convention.
November 27, 2000... Buffalo Sept. 13-15, 2001 Hyatt Regency Buffalo STATE OF THE ART The theme for the 2001 AIA New York State Annual Convention is State of the Art. This year is a perfect time to reflect on the past and explore the directions...

Friends of Architecture Honor Award.
November 27, 2000... Presented annually to an individual or group that has performed outstanding service to the community or the public at large through volunteer efforts or community programs on behalf of, or relating to the built environment. This year we are...

Outstanding Chapter Service Award.
November 27, 2000... This award is given to a member of the AIA Buffalo/WNY Chapter who has actively served his/her chapter at the local, state and/or national level. This individual has volunteered their time and effort to advance the profession of Architecture...

Construction Exchange gives industry support.
November 27, 2000... The Construction Exchange of Buffalo & Western New York is pleased to join in recognizing our friends at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for the outstanding contributions they have made to our construction industry and in helping...

AIA Design Award Winners.
November 27, 2000... What are the Design Awards? The Design Awards are given to a representation of projects that have reached a recognized level of design. Local architectural firms that are within our membership area submit these projects to be reviewed by...

AIA Buffalo/Western New York Design Award submissions.
November 27, 2000... S.R.O. APARTMENT BUILDING CLIENT: H.E.L.R Buffalo ARCHITECT: Flynn Battaglia Architects, PC PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The historic masonry building (c. 1870), formerly the Buffalo Awning and Tent factory was adapted to house seven...

On the Street.
November 27, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Energy producers/distributors.
November 27, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Carbo expands in Amherst.
November 20, 2000... Carborundum Co. is planning an expansion of its Amherst plant that will nearly double its facility and see a significant increase in employment. The expansion is fueled by rapid growth in the boron nitride field. Boron nitride is a...

Papers' circulation slide continues.
November 20, 2000... In the newspaper business a decline in circulation is no longer the big news it once was. The slide that began several years ago continued during the last 12 months for many of the the nation's newspapers. Data from the Audit Bureau of...

Vote totals add up for Jamestown company.
November 20, 2000... Andrew Wynham isn't surprised at the outcry surrounding the presidential sweepstakes that has cast a shadow as long as the state of Florida. From his office in Jamestown, where he serves as national customer support manager in the...

Tops tops Wegmans.
November 20, 2000... New competitors prepare to challenge food store giants Janice Cipolla, Maryann Herman and Ann Mangione all live within minutes of both a Tops Friendly Market and a Wegmans Food Market. When it comes to shopping, the three Buffalo...

5th Coast.
November 20, 2000... Thumbs up...to Erie County Exec Joel Giambra, a Republican, and the leaders of the Democrats in the County Legislature for working together to give county taxpayers a proposed budget for 2001 that will cut taxes yet again. Just think of it,...

WNY work force study key to BNE jobs effort.
November 20, 2000... Almost since its inception, the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise has been touting the need to build the region's work force. Now the BNE has a study and groundwork for a game plan to back its contention. A review of the region's labor...

Giving thanks.
November 20, 2000... You can keep your namby-pamby reasons to give thanks like health, wealth and happiness. At Fifth Coast we prefer to see things in our narrow world view that feeds on people and their foibles. Hey, where would we be without Tony Nanula? (Who,...

Heritage Centers to honor Billittier.
November 20, 2000... Heritage Centers, a nonprofit that creates opportunities for people with disabilities, will re-dedicate its 101 Oak St. facility to the late Louis Billittier of Chef's Restaurant. The ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17. ...

Syrinex, VirtualTek sign technology deal.
November 20, 2000... Syrinex Communications Corp. has signed an agreement with VirtualTek Corp. that will integrate technology between the two. The agreement will see Syrinex license and integrate VirtualTek's Joydesk Groupware server into its NexServer line...

Niagara agency receives state grant.
November 20, 2000... The Niagara County Office for the Aging will receive $25,500 from the state to fund vehicle and equipment purchases. The agency is among 23 senior service agencies in New York that will share in $750,000 of state improvement funds awarded...

Clarifications & amplifications.
November 20, 2000... Daniel Schwartz was incorrectly identified in an Oct. 30 story about his purchase of the 2000 Delaware Apartments. Schwartz is a Buffalo-based investor.

CVB launches search for exec VP.
November 20, 2000... Who's in charge at the Greater Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau? That would be Richard Geiger, the GVB's president. But who is Geiger's second in command? That's a question the GVB hopes to have answered in the next few months....

Benderson buys plaza in Cheektowaga.
November 20, 2000... Benderson Development Co. Inc. is adding to its Cheektowaga holdings with the purchase of a plaza there. Benderson, the area's largest real estate development company, has acquired the Walden-Harlem Plaza. The 45,000-square-foot plaza had...

Graphic artists help students.
November 20, 2000... Area professionals in the graphic design and video production industry hope a networking and scholarship program will help keep graduates from the field in Western New York. Keystone Film Productions Inc. received applications for three...

Renamed theater group expands Daemen facilities.
November 20, 2000... MusicalFare Theatre has begun a capital campaign to fund an expansion and renovation of its quarters on the Daemen College campus in Snyder. MusicalFare, formerly known as SummerFare, is more than halfway to a goal of raising $575,000 by...

M&T said to be the frontrunner as Albany-based bank seeks buyer.
November 20, 2000... The Albany battle of the banks, where Buffalo-based M&T Bank is thought to have a keen interest, could enter a new and possibly final phase in two weeks. Cohoes Bancorp Inc.'s annual shareholders meeting is set for Nov. 30 and one...

Loans to retail sector top 2000 SBA awards.
November 20, 2000... Betsy Priester had been in business for 20 years before she got her first commercial loan. Priester, owner of Sweet Briar Farm Country Store in Franklinville, took out a $40,000 loan from Wyoming County Bank to stock her store with...

Online co-op taps into Internet marketplace.
November 20, 2000... Three business partners have formed a Lockport company that aims to provide online marketplace services to the nation's 48,000 cooperatives and 600 cooperative associations. Daniel Judge, president and CEO of cby.com LLC, which was...