Business First of Buffalo articles from October 1999

Business First of Buffalo archives from October 1999

Sabres project $17 million loss.(National Hockey League club Buffalo Sabres)
October 4, 1999... If you thought last season was extraordinary for the Buffalo Sabres, watch the 1999-2000 campaign unfold. And we don't mean on the ice. After saying the franchise lost close to $15 million in 1998-99, a season that saw the team advance...

Local stations find little news in Ch. 4 lockout.(WIVB-TV, Buffalo, New York)
October 4, 1999... For the third time in recent years there is labor strife at a network affiliate television station in Buffalo. And for the third time there has been scant coverage of the contract squabble on local stations that offer news programming. ...

Contractors sharing in cleanup of West Valley.(West Valley Nuclear Services Co.'s cleanup contracts)
October 4, 1999... West Valley Nuclear Services Co. awarded a $31 million contract, the first of its latest clean-up phase, to Butler Construction Co. of Western New York Inc. For Buffer Construction, it's the largest contract the Springville general...

Bonito's success helps others.(Michael Bonito elected president of the New York Association of Mortgage Brokers)
October 4, 1999... Life became hard and gritty when Michael Bonito was 17. His father got sick and the financially strapped family was forced to move into the Lakeview Projects off Niagara Street on the city's Lower West Side. When his father died with no...

Hospitals staggered under Medicare cuts.(hospitals in Western New York State)
October 4, 1999... Western New York hospital officials are warning of greater cutbacks of personnel and services if they are forced to withstand another year of drastically diminished reimbursements from government programs and private insurers. The area's...

Niagara U expansion targets landmark hall.(Niagara University's Institute of Travel and Restaurant Administration)
October 4, 1999... Niagara University has begun a significant expansion plan for its Institute of Travel Hotel and Restaurant Administration that includes a facility renovation and a revised, expanded curriculum. Among the highlights of the plan is an $8...

N. Tonawanda cuts taxes for city-based businesses.(North Tonawanda, New York)
October 4, 1999... Part of the tax burden paid by businesses in North Tonawanda will be paid by residents next year. The Common Council voted Sept. 21 to eliminate for 2000 the city's two-tier tax system, ultimately decreasing business property taxes and...

Cattaraugus landmark opens under new owner.(historic Castle Restaurant in Cattaraugus County, New York)
October 4, 1999... ALLEGANY - The new owner of the historic Castle Restaurant is a member of the Butchello family who has worked to bring the half-century-old facility more in step with the times. One of the more notable changes inside is the lounge section,...

Prison contracts lock out small business.(laws requiring the purchase of Federal Prison Industries products)
October 4, 1999... Standard Business Furniture had completed the space planning and design work for Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Now it was time for the payoff: a $160,000 order for office furniture. But the order never came. Federal...

Lovely homes youll never live in.(Special Report: Luxury Living & Residential Real Estate)(cost of restoring historic mansions)
October 4, 1999... You know the credit card commercial,that lists the value of certain intangible items as "priceless"? Well, the same can be said for certain pieces of real estate. Take the Buffalo Convention Center. It was built in 1978 for $20 million. By...

Neighborhood store: a place for North Buffalo residents to buy gifts without going to a mall.(Design Details store in Buffalo, New York)(Company Profile)
October 4, 1999... What's going on: Kathleen Zimmer has held an array of jobs, including working at the Courier-Express and selling residential real estate. But she found her calling earlier this year when she opened her first store, Design Details, on Hertel...

Holiday Valley upgrade puts resort on the Internet.(ski resort establishes its Web site)
October 11, 1999... ELLICOTTVILLE - Checking out Holiday Valley to make lodging reservations got easier with a major upgrade and redesign of its Web site, which is just part of the $1.7 million in renovations the resort made for the upcoming ski season. ...

Area printer presses on with statewide work.(profile on Remly and Company Inc.'s president Richard Remley)
October 11, 1999... When Richard Remley moved to Western New York, he found more than just a job waiting for him. He found a whole new life. Remley and his father, Robert, moved from Milwaukee to Albion in 1976 to buy the Eddy Printing Corp., a full-service...

GM store proposal angers dealers.(General Motors Corp. to buy as mush as 10% of its dealerships within 10 years)
October 11, 1999... A General Motors Corp. plan to buy as much as 10 percent of its present U.S. dealerships in the next 10 years is provoking anger and anxiety, say two of Western New York's biggest dealers. "I would say we are outraged. I haven't had any...

Home sales raise roof on real estate market.(Buffalo, New York)
October 11, 1999... Consumer confidence is fueling one of the strongest residential real estate sales periods this decade. "The phones, and I mean the regular phones and the agents' cell phones, are ringing off the hook," said Judy Benjamin, a broker and...

SBA loans gain popularity among WNY businesses.(Small Business Administration; West New York)
October 11, 1999... It took Peggy Puglia nine years to find a lender willing to look to the future of her business. Puglia, owner of Niagara's Golf Wonderland (also known as the Wonder Dome by patrons), received a $660,000 loan from Westminster Development...

Lockport Savings wins Y2K rating upgrade.(Lockport Savings Bank)
October 11, 1999... Lockport Savings Bank has won its argument with a Florida-based ratings company that gave it a grade of "below average" for Year 2000 preparedness. Weiss Ratings Inc., which compiled its list on the state of readiness for 1,316 U.S. banks...

Patient care issues emerge from survey.(patient satisfaction survey of Western New York hospitals)
October 11, 1999... The quality of care provided by Western New York hospitals is the same or better in many cases than that at facilities across the country, according to a patient satisfaction survey released by a coalition of area business and health-care...

Sabres, Bills celebrate anniversary seasons.(the Buffalo Sabres professional hockey team and the Buffalo Bills professional football team)
October 11, 1999... Through the years with the Bills . . . In case you haven't noticed, the Buffalo Bills are in their 40th season of play, the Buffalo Sabres in their 30th. How each franchise celebrates those birth years is almost as different as a football is...

Uplifting business.(Small Business)(Reimann and Georger Corp.)
October 11, 1999... Company with roots from the turn of the century has gone from ladders to hoists and construction tools Need a boost to the roof, or a powerful saw to cut through concrete? How about a stationary lift to keep your boat docked safely above...

Driving up volume.
October 18, 1999... Acquisitions boost area's 2nd largest auto dealer Northtown Auto Companies, which is Western New York's second-largest dealer, is getting bigger. The acquisition of Sheridan Chrysler-Plymouth in Amherst and becoming the area's first...

Keating lauded as choice to lead BNE.
October 18, 1999... Brian Keating, a Buffalo banking executive and community leader, was expected to be named chairman of the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise effort. The BNE directors, at their Oct. 14 meeting, were expected to elect Keating as the initiative's...

Niagara County hospitals find common ground.
October 18, 1999... Now that the hospitals in Lockport and Newfane have agreed to affiliate, officials might look for some how-to pointers from a similar attempt between facilities in Niagara Falls and Lewiston. Or they might not. The affiliation...

Graybar Electric doubling size of local facility.
October 18, 1999... Graybar Electric Co. Inc., one of the area's oldest suppliers to the electrical and data industries, is working with area officials on an expansion that will nearly double the size of its Buffalo operations. Graybar has been meeting with...

5th Coast.
October 18, 1999... Thumbs up ... to the Benderson Development Co. for tearing down another old area eyesore -- the former Buffalo Forge plant in Cheektowaga. The 225,000-square-foot building on a 16-acre site near the Galleria will be recycled, possibly...

On the Street.
October 18, 1999... On the Street Sabres edition Subject Word on the street Record No one pays attention to the won-loss column this early in the season. People are either watch- ...

Signs of trouble.
October 18, 1999... Sam Young Goodman Hoyt wants to save us from ourselves. He says the billboards on the I-190 between Ogden Street and Elm Street advertising adult clubs in Canada are embarrassing. So he wants them taken down "Of the 29 billboards along this...

State-funded study examines cost of labor.
October 18, 1999... Is Western NewYork an expensive area to do business when it comes to she cost of labor? That's what a recently funded $75,000 state grant aims to find out. The study, which will be conducted this winter, will be done by Cornell...

Rand Capital invests in Buffalo company.
October 18, 1999... Rand Capital Corp., a public Buffalo venture capital firm, said it has made a $300,000 investment in G-TEC Natural Gas Systems Inc. of Buffalo. G-TEC makes and distributes systems that allow natural gas to be used as an alternative to fuel...

Promedicus, HMO kiss and make up.
October 18, 1999... Promedicus Health Group LLP has rejoined Independent Health a year after the doctors left the HMO over medical practice issues. The doctors and the HMO now have a three-year agreement effective Jan. 1. With 118 Promedicus doctors, the...

Drivers on fast track with NASCAR.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is looking to get on the fast track of NASCAR. Beginning Oct. 16, the state DMV will become the first auto bureau in the country to offer motorists NASCAR license plates. NASCAR's popularity...

Expanding firm develops image in New York City.(American Images)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
October 18, 1999... American images has begun a strategic expansion plan, starting with New York City. The Buffalo company opened an office on 7th Avenue at the offices of its parent company, American Color. The New York office will be its first pilot market...

Deal with Delphi triggers growth for West Seneca manufacturer.(Delphi Saginaw, Griffin Automation Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... A multi-million dollar contract with Delphi Saginaw in Michigan has opened the door to bigger and better things for a West Seneca manufacturer. When Griffin Automation Inc. won a $5.2 million order from Delphi in January, company President...

Graphic arts companies struggle to find benefits.
October 18, 1999... After three years in business, Guillermo Izquierdo is ready to take Bright I Design to the next level by incorporating and hiring employees. The only problem: Finding a way to offer an affordable compensation and benefits program to...

Radical changes await U.S. electric industry.
October 18, 1999... Deregulation of the U.S. electric industry is off to a slow and chaotic start. But one thing is certain, the experts say: In coming years, consumers, will be buying electricity much differently than now. And maybe from some, unexpected...

Transition by Buffalo firm fueled by customer demand.(Buffalo Industries)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... Buffalo Industries has increased plant space five-fold and doubled its work force thanks to the largest contact in company history: a $4.5 million agreement to supply conveyor systems for the Hampton Corners Salt Mine in Mount Morris. But...

Uncertainty growing as Dresser buyout nears.(Dresser-Rand Co. to be purchased by Ingersoll-Rand Co.)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... Dresser-Rand Co. workers in the Southern Tier aren't able to shed much light yet on the fate of the company, which will be bought out by partner Ingersoll-Rand Co. for eventual resale. Some axe hesitant to say much at all, opting instead to...

D'Youville College adds health-related program.(Brief Article)
October 18, 1999... D'Youville College has added certificate programs in health services, administration and clinical research associate. The health services administration certificate program is designed to provide a focused course of study for individuals...

HSBC kicks off suite deal for WNY charities.(Brief Article)
October 18, 1999... Eight area charities that have fund-raising programs tied to the performances of several Buffalo Bills players are keeping track of those efforts in the comfort of a suite at Ralph Wilson Stadium. HSBC has turned over the key to Suite 129A...

And the name is...(Brief Article)
October 18, 1999... Banks. Telephone and cable television companies. Soft drink manufacturers. Breweries. Even tire companies. The list of naming rights holders at area sports facilities continues to attract varied business interests. The latest to join the...

Bills launch kids TV show.
October 18, 1999... It's called "Kids in the End Zone" and the program is hosted by former Bill Adam Lingner, senior manager, of community affairs, and 11-year old Kiesha Adamczyck, who burst on the scene last hockey season as a national anthem singer at many...

Niagara, UB announce, athletic hall inductees.
October 18, 1999... A half-dozen new members were inducted into the Niagara University athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 9. The class includes Les Dugan (football, class of 1949), Steve Schafer (men's basketball, class of 1970), Carrie McConkey and Kelly Chase...

Anti-development bill would box in retailers.
October 18, 1999... Retailers around the country breathed a big sigh of relief late last month when California Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a controversial anti-development bill. The bill would have virtually killed any chances of new "big box" retail development...

State strengthens bid for high tech chip plant.
October 18, 1999... For slightly more than a year, the phrases "chip fab" and "shovel ready" have seemed ever-present on the lips of economic developers and state officials. The point of all the talk is to win the grand prize of high-tech business: a...

Buffalo chosen as site for French week fete.
October 18, 1999... Buffalo is one of 10 cities in the United States to be chosen by the American Association of Teachers of French as a national site for the AATF celebration of National French Week Nov. 4-11. The purpose of the event is to bring the French...

Clarkson Center venture takes aim at theater crowd.
October 18, 1999... A downtown cigar bar has found a new life as a restaurant geared toward the theater-going crowd. The Clarkson Center debuted Over 658 Main Street last week, just in time for patrons heading to Shea's Performing Arts Center, Studio Arena...

Bills - Miami rivalry is worth preserving.
October 18, 1999... The biggest deal within the National Football League season thus far hasn't been the record price Houston will pay to get back into the game, or the fact that the Texas city will get its team back in a few years while the city of Los Angeles,...

Public companies.
October 18, 1999... Public companies David Fink Ranked by most recent fiscal year revenues Revenues Net ...

Pfannenberg expansion is cool news for Buffalo.
October 18, 1999... At first glance, an increase in the number of people using cellular phones on digital networks wouldn't seem to have an effect on business at a manufacturer of air-conditioning units. But for Pfannenberg Inc., a German company that opened...

Elmwood Franklin opens research center.
October 18, 1999... Elmwood Franklin School has opened a library research center. The 3,700-square-foot center, which opened Oct. 2, will feature more than 12,000 volumes of periodicals and texts in an interactive environment. The research/reference area...

URS Greiner examines power transmission line.
October 18, 1999... The New York Power Authority has awarded a contract to the Buffalo office of URS Greiner Woodward Clyde to develop a geographic information system and related data along the Niagara Adirondack Transmission Line. The 200-mile line runs from...

Restaurants await impact of rising minimum wage.
October 18, 1999... As vice president of new concepts development, Darrell Woods helped. San Antonio-based Luby's develop a smaller prototype restaurant that can be staffed with only 35 full-time employees, compared with 70 in the low-price chain's full-size...

Ergonomics programs survive efforts by Senate.
October 18, 1999... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration beat back the latest effort on Capitol Hill to prevent it from requiring businesses to establish ergonomics programs. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., tried to attach an amendment Oct. 7...

OSHA Self-audits will help, not hurt, employers.
October 18, 1999... Meanwhile, OSHA took a step to encourage employers to do their, own audits of workplace safety: It announced it won't use these audits as evidence of "willful violations" in cases where the audits identify safety or health hazards and the...

Government cites itself for environmental lapses.
October 18, 1999... The federal government just got a taste of its own medicine: The Environmental Protection Agency cited the U.S. Department of Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing for alleged hazardous waste violations at its currency and postage stamp...

Liability fears would lead many to cut health plans.
October 18, 1999... Nearly two-thirds of the businesses surveyed recently by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce would drop their health insurance plans if new legislation exposes employers to legal liability over coverage decisions. Critics of the patients' rights...

County workers joining the ranks of ECC students.
October 18, 1999... A new program at the county level will allow county employees to take advantage of discounted educational courses without ever having to leave the worksite. The College Within the County program, set to begin as early as Dec. 1, will see...

Small businesses aided by new law.
October 18, 1999... Two bills to expand a small-business lending program have been signed into law by Gov. Pataki. The bills, both sponsored by Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D-I-Kenmore) will allow businesses to apply for multiple loans and increase the...

NFL SEASON-TO-DATE.
October 18, 1999... NFL SEASON-TO-DATE Team Dates Total Average Arizona Cardinals 2 121,115 60,558 Atlanta Falcons 2 120,267 60,134 Baltimore Ravens 2 137,759 68,880 Buffalo...

BILLS HOME SCHEDULE.
October 18, 1999... BILLS HOME SCHEDULE Game Season Sept. 19 vs. New York Jets 68,839 68,839 Sept. 26 vs. Philadelphia 70,872 139,711 Oct. 10 vs. Pittsburgh 71,038 210,749 Oct. 17 vs....

BILLS SEASON-TO-DATE.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... BILLS SEASON-TO-DATE Home attendance (through 3 games) 1990-99 comparison (through 3 games) 1991 240,163 1993 238,669 1992 237,150 1996 235,603 1994 234,324 1990...

NFL'S LARGEST CROWDS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... NFL'S LARGEST CROWDS Date Home team Visitors Crowd Sept. 12 Washington Dallas 79,237 Sept. 19 New York Giants Washington 78,717 Sept. 19 Kansas City Denver 78,683 Oct....

NFL'S SMALLEST CROWDS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... NFL'S SMALLEST CROWDS Date Home team Visitors Crowd Oct. 3 Cincinnati St. Louis 45,481 Sept. 19 Cincinnati San Diego 47,660 Oct. 10 Arizona N.Y. Giants 49,015 Sept. 26 Oakland ...

A diverse investment plan stands test of time.
October 18, 1999... One of the most frequently asked questions about investing is, "Am I better off in a mutual fund or individual securities?" There is no universal answer to this. Most investors today create an asset allocation plan by diversifying among...

Hodgson Russ attorneys complete tax book.(Brief Article)
October 18, 1999... New York tax attorneys Paul Comeau. and Mark Klein, partners in the state and local tax practice group of Hodgson Russ, have released the third edition of their book, "The New York Residency & Allocation Audit Handbook," a reference for...

Bridge construction delay beats lawsuit deadline.(Brief Article)
October 18, 1999... An agreement has been hammered out between the Buffalo and Fort-Erie Public Bridge Authority and public sector-driven review panel. The agreement came less than 48 hours before State Supreme Court Justice Eugene Fahey was expected to rule...

Noco expands propane market share.(Brief Article)
October 18, 1999... Noco Energy Corp. has completed a second acquisition, further expanding its share of the propane energy products market in Western New York. The merger with A&A Propane of Randolph adds more than 750 residential and commercial customers to...

Review your portfolio when stock market dips.
October 18, 1999... What do you do when the market falls? This is a question many people are asking these days. With the market down close to 10 percent over the past three months, many people will see their 401(k), IRA and other retirement plan quarterly...

Energy analyst doesn't play around when it comes to helping utility's clients.
October 18, 1999... Weekends bring a favorite ritual for Marc Bukaty. He and his wife, Dawn, load their three young girls into the car and begin a festive quest. Through neighborhoods and down streets they travel to hamlets and towns in Western New York. "We...

Erie County builds success by recycling.
October 18, 1999... An effort by Erie County is helping create a second life for materials from demolished buildings. In the two years since the county began its Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling Program, more than 15,000 tons of materials have...

Environmental consultant can save money.
October 18, 1999... When buying a piece of property, make sure you aren't buying into problems down the road by calling in an environmental consultant to do a site assessment. A professional consultant will research past use of the property and review current...

Oil up the computer to find the reservoirs.
October 18, 1999... At one time, exploration and retrieval of oil and natural gas required guesswork, crossed fingers and prayer. And those were on the so-called good days. Today, some of those techniques still apply, but thanks to technologies infiltrating...

Forgetting environment has stopped development.
October 18, 1999... As many real estate developers and permit applicants know, the state Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) governs a vast array of projects that are approved, funded or directly undertaken by local, regional and state agencies. SEQRA...

Our abundant water can be an economic tool.(Brief Article)
October 18, 1999... One of the greatest resources we enjoy in Western New York and the entire Great Lakes region is an abundant quantity of fresh water. It is often overlooked in terms of its value to our economy, and its usefulness as an economic development...

Science mulls energy idea.(Brief Article)
October 18, 1999... Gold fusion was a bust. Nuclear fission has its environmental problems. But have you heard of hydrinos? Chemist Randell Mills is testing a theory that promises the world a clean, economical and unlimited energy source. Mills believes...

Five women to receive awards.
October 18, 1999... Five area women will receive the Governor's Awards for Excellence in business, communication, community service, education and health advocacy at a luncheon at the Statler Golden Ballroom on Oct. 26. Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue will present the...

Feeling great.(Shear Creations and Wellness by Design)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... From hair to massage to alternative therapy, business offers relaxing way to health What's going on: The company combines two businesses: Shear Creations, a full-service beauty salon with skin and body care treatments, and Wellness by...

E-mail makes sense as marketing support.(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... Opponents object to the growing avalanche of daily messages that clog their computer mailboxes. Proponents tell us that it is a technology support tool whose universal acceptance and use is inevitable. I think of my own recent experience...

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS.
October 18, 1999... Adelphia Business Solutions honored Bill McCormick as regional sales manager for the Northeast region and Lou Ebert as general manager for the Northeast region. The awards were presented at an appreciation golf outing at Holiday Valley Resort....

Network marketing can be road to wealth.
October 18, 1999... Downsizing America. Millions of people a year are victims of corporate cutbacks. For many it's devastation. The rug pulled out from their secure job -- house, car, and lifestyle in jeopardy. For others it's the opportunity of a life-time. A...

Adelphia, five schools make beautiful music.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... Five Buffalo schools will begin music education programs with help from Adelphia Communications Corp. The company, in partnership with the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, donated $125,000 worth of musical instruments to the Buffalo Public...

Process changed for filing corporations.(includes news of other business-related legislation approved by the New York state Legislature)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... The state Senate approved several bills that were passed by the Assembly at the end of the regular legislative session. Corporations Bill A7648. Sponsor: Vann This measure corrects errors in the law with regard to the filing of...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
October 18, 1999... Clark Crook was named president of Western New York Computing Systems. The company has offices across the state and, 117 full-time employees in Buffalo. State Education Commissioner Richard Mills appointed Charles Michaux, Buffalo city...

International truck traffic.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 18, 1999... A total of 212,291 trucks rumbled across the four international bridges in August 1999, setting a new record for the month. The previous mark was set a year ago, when 184,893 trucks passed between Western New York and Southern Ontario. The...