Business First of Buffalo articles from October 2000

Business First of Buffalo archives from October 2000

Mortgage deals boost hospitals' funds.(Department of Housing and Urban Development will allow hospitals to reduce mortgage reserves)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Six hospitals in the Buffalo region are poised to loosen up some capital and realize greater savings under a pair of initiatives by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD plans to, first, allow the half-dozen Western New York...

52 years and out.(General Motors Corp.'s oldest employee, age 82, retires)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... GM's Testa calls it quits Eventually, enough is enough. Even for Jim Testa. General Motors Corp.'s oldest U.S. hourly worker has told management at the Tonawanda engine plant that, at age 82 and with a factory career lasting 52...

Rigas era dawns as Sabres strive to cut losses.(Rigas family has full control of Buffalo Sabres franchise)
October 2, 2000... As players and coaches wrap up the preseason schedule this weekend, the other side of the Buffalo Sabres operation is also applying the finishing touches in anticipation of the start of another National Hockey League season. This will mark...

Plant relocation firm has global clientele.(Industrial Contractors and Consultants Inc. and current customers)
October 2, 2000... You've been slogging away through the '80s and into the early '90s trying to make a go of it as a small manufacturer in Niagara County and the handwriting on the wall for businesses such as yours is not good. You're thinking about chucking the...

5th Coast.(Francis Bannigan's idea praised; David Swarts' failure)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Thumbs up ... to Francis Bannigan, a Town of Tonawanda resident who proposed the sensible solution of naming rooms in the new courthouse after jurists, politicians and party stalwarts. Until he stepped forward with his grand idea, the...

Theatre in the rain.(Buffalo, New York, had a rainy week-end)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Does it have to rain for every Curtain Up? We don't mean to be petty, but your humble scribes at Fifth Coast are running out of dry clothes. Don't show business folks watch Don Paul? Can't they ask him ahead of time when it's going to...

Falls hospital chief hired to lead UCPA.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The president and CEO of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has stepped down to lead the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Western NewYork. Thomas Sy will continue in the top job at the hospital until Oct. 20. An ad hoc search...

Local KeyBank officials await impact of cuts.(KeyCorp. will cut 2,300 jobs)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Cleveland-based KeyCorp., the parent of KeyBank, said it will eliminate 2,300 jobs over the next 15 months to more than double the cost savings it had expected when the bank began its costcutting program last year. How much impact, if any,...

Deadline is Oct. 6 for Works in Progress.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Do you have a new office building or shopping center on the drawing board? Maybe there's an apartment building or medical center in your future. If your company is expanding, building or renovating, we want to know about it for our...

National report grades Blues.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The parent company of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Western NewYork has been given a poor but higher grade for improved finances by a national rating agency. HealthNow New York Inc. was upgraded from D+ to C-by Weiss Ratings Inc. based on a...

Celmer named president at Multisorb Technologies.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Former DeGraff Memorial Hospital CEO Mark Celmer has joined Multisorb Technologies Inc. as president. "Mark Celmer brings to the president's office a unique set of leadership talents, management skills and experience. We are very fortunate...

Ciminelli will build Jamestown twin rinks.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Louis P. Ciminelli Construction Co. Inc., the area's largest general contractor, has been tabbed to build the $12 million, twin-rink complex in Jamestown. Ciminelli was the lowest of several bidders for the general contracting portion...

Lobby is centerpiece of Brisbane facelift.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... BUSINESS FIRST The Brisbane Building, one of downtown's landmark buildings, is undergoing a facelift that will see the facility get a new and enlarged main lobby. Work on the project began last week and is expected to be completed...

GM acquires property for plant expansion.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... General Motors Corp. has taken the first step in moving forward with its plans for a $500 million reinvestment in the Tonawanda Powertrain plant. With little fanfare, GM has acquired a 12acre Vulcan Street parcel that neighbors...

Proposed Amherst office building may house Remarketing Services.
October 2, 2000... The Amherst Industrial Development Agency, later this month, will consider a deal that could be a prelude for another expansion by fast growing Remarketing Services of America Inc. The IDA, at its Oct. 20 meeting, will consider a $3.9...

WNY grant program targets skills training.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Employers often complain they are unable to find workers with the skills needed to fill vacant positions. A local collaborative of three area business groups has created a $250,000 grant program to allow employers to provide customized...

Medaille plans on- campus residence hail.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Faced with a rising on-campus population, Medaille College is preparing to build its first residence hail. The three-story building, which carries a $4.6 million development price tag, is set for the eastern portion of Medaille's campus....

China, Japan, Canada build U.S. trade deficit.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Three countries were responsible for almost half of America's trade deficit during the first seven months of 2000, according to new figures from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Goods imported from Japan, China and Canada were worth...

Executive VP buys paving company with plans to expand operations.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Midland Machinery Co. Inc. hopes to solidify its presence in the road maintenance industry by expanding its product line throughout North America. Former Executive Vice President Barre Banks acquired 100 percent of the company's stock,...

Welte trades dealer's association for retirement.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Richard Welte has steered the Niagara Frontier Automobile Dealers Association Inc. for nearly 30 years. As president, he built the trade group into the second largest dealer organization in the state with 175 members in western and central...

Small business puts its money on Republicans.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Clark Jones is about as Main Street as they come. He owns an automobile dealership in Savannah, Tenn., a city of 7,000 people on the Tennessee River about 10 miles north of Shiloh, where Americans fought one of the bloodiest battles of the...

2 HMOs report losses in midyear filings.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Numbers posted by the region's HMOs showing their performance for the first half of the year showed vastly different financial experiences at the three plans. Independent Health and Community Blue reported losses while Univera showed a...

Survey shows abundance of jobs.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The first semiannual survey from the WNY Works collaborative effort adds strength to the notion that there is a plentiful supply of jobs available regionally. The survey, which went out this spring to members of the Buffalo Niagara...

Acme awaiting review of acquisition offer.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... In light of large sales contracts now being negotiated with a current customer, Acme Electric Corp. wants a review of its pending sale price to prospective buyer Key Components LLC of Tarryton. Acme is wondering if the price is fair or needs to...

Moog agrees to acquire Italian manufacturer.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Moog Inc., the East Aurora-based aerospace and industrial components manufacturer, said it has agreed to purchase an Italian-based maker of high-performance electric drives from the Eaton Corp. The company, Vickers Electrics Division of...

Grant applications available for nonprofits.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Junior League of Buffalo is taking applications for its community grant program through Nov. 27. The Community Assistance Small Grants Program is available for nonprofit agencies that are formed as a 501 (c)3 organization. The Junior League...

Bills' TV ratings rack up big ratings.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... To the surprise of no one, Buffalo Bills games are a hit in the ratings. The team released data from Nielsen Media showing that the first three games of the season all scored the highest ratings for each broadcast week. This marks the...

UB football receives scholarship endowment.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Kathleen Shepard has made a $250,000 gift to the University at Buffalo Division of Athletics in the name of her late husband, Richard. The funding will be used for an endowed football scholarship at UB. Richard Shepard graduated from UB in...

ECC plans extravaganza to aid football program.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Erie Community College is hosting a "Celebrity Chef Culinary Extravanganza" Oct. 10 in the Ilio DiPaolo Restaurant in Blasdell. Three local chefs -- Michael DiPaolo from the host restaurant, Mark Hutchinson of Hutch's Restaurant and Kirk Van...

LaFontaine takes role with charity program.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Former Buffalo Sabres' captain Pat LaFontaine has been named spokesperson for Hockey's All-Star Kids, a program sponsored by the NHL and the NHL Players' Association. The initiative is in its second year in all 30 league cities and is an...

Houghton signs deal with King's College.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Houghton College has reached a licensing agreement with The King's College that will allow the New York City college to use the curriculum for Houghton's Program for Accelerating College Education, known as PACE. King's College has...

Hauptman-Woodward appoints DeTitta.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... George DeTitta has been appointed chief executive officer and executive director of the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute. The new position was created in conjunction with the institute's expansion and its role in building and...

Partnership plays host to annual Sabres event.
October 2, 2000... The Buffalo Niagara Partnership will host the annual Buffalo Sabres Official Season Face-Off Luncheon 11:30-1:30 p.m.. Oct. 3 from at The Harbour Club inside HSBC Arena. Sabres players and coaches along with management will be in...

Adult day care program opens at Amherst site.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... A social day care program for adults with Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia has been opened in Amherst by the McGuire Group. Located at Evans and Maple roads in the Evanstown Plaza, the center features music, art, massage and pet therapies...

Heritage Centers opens office on W. Ferry St.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Heritage Centers has opened a new satellite office on the city's West Side to serve Hispanic individuals and their families. The new office at 314W. Ferry St. is part of the newly renovated Association of Hispanic Pastors of WNY building....

Congress demands bundling contract data.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Small businesses know they are losing government contracts because of federal agencies' growing tendency to bundle procurement deals into large packages, but they lack hard data to prove how harmful the practice is. That may change with...

New Montessori school receives Oishei grant.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Sisters Columba-Brigid Montessori School, at Hickory and Eagle streets in Buffalo, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation. Since the school opened in September 1999 under the auspices of the Catholic Diocese,...

Residential deals continue to soar in WNY.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... If you happen to run across a residential real estate agent these days and they look a little haggard, it is with good reason. According to statistics compiled by the New York State Association of Realtors Inc., the, past few months have...

Mitri Corp.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Clarence Commons, a strip plaza along Main, Street in Clarence, has been acquired by the Mitri Corp. of Batavia. As part of the deal, it was also announced that two Batavia specialty retailers will be opening second locations in the plaza....

Trinity Industrial Park.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Orchard Park's The Krog Corp., a real estate developer, said it is negotiating with three small businesses to take space in its Trinity Industrial Park in Elmira. But Krog is still looking for a major anchor tenant, someone in the...

Contracting regulation likely to survive challenge.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., says he will "look for every vehicle" to pass legislation that would force the Clinton administration to hold off on. implementing a regulation that imposes new requirements for companies that receive government...

Sabres are poised for quick start.(Buffalo Sabres)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Still caught up in the fervor of the University at Buffalo's first football win in the Mid-American Conference, I almost lost track of the start of the National Hockey League season. It's now less than a week away. That would be Thursday,...

Regier.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... As he seeks to tie up Peca to a contract there is also Regier's own contract situation. His deal is due to expire after this season, he expects to sit down with ownership in the next week to discuss an extension.

Gary Bettman.(there will be no new NHL franchises in the near future)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Sorry Oklahoma City... NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is finished with its decadelong enlargement phase. With teams now in 30 markets across North America Bettman stated, "That's it. There is no further expansion on the radar...

NHL'S club.(reports of NHL teams losing money)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... And to those reports about hockey teams that annually lose millions of dollars each season -- according to league officials that constitutes the majority of clubs, the Sabres very much included -- consider this comment from the newest member of...

Southern Tier Health System convenes summit.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Southern Tier Health System based in Olean will convene health officials and others from rural communities across the state to determine the availability of health services for children. Providers, insurers, policy makers, consumers and...

Fed chief sees threat in math, science gaps.(Alan Greenspan comments on U.S. education)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Alan Greenspan says he is glad he learned math the old-fashioned way: with a pencil and paper, not a calculator. Americans are glad Greenspan developed such an analytical mind, based on the credit, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board...

Business Council identifies key policy issues.(New York legislative policy)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... New York's top business leaders have identified legislative and policy priorities for 2001. The list includes further tax cuts, Superfund refinancing and reform, brownfield. reform, workers' compensation reform, civil-justice reform and new...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(appointments and selections in Buffalo business)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Bryan Bonn joined SEV Sherwin-Greenberg Productions as director of sales and marketing. He has 13 years' experience in the video and television industry. The Buffalo chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants elected Lisa...

Riding in Style.(new models of sport utility vehicles)
October 2, 2000... Manufacturers didn't hold back on luxuries on new models With people preferring their SUVs and other vehicles loaded with gadgets and accessories, manufacturers are becoming more hard-pressed to find add-on bells and whistles. ABS and...

Technology plugs away to help boost TV sales.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... This isn't your father's TV anymore. Like other household items, TV has gone digital. Satellite dishes are becoming the norm. So are direct-to-the-home services that bring everything from movies to sporting events to live concerts. ...

High-tech doesn't have to mean a high price.(new Internet related products)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Interacted with a picture frame in your home lately? The StoryBox Smart Picture Frame, scheduled to hit retail stores this month, is designed to simplify the way people share and print digital pictures by integrating memory, a color display...

Bank exec loans his expertise to community.(James Beardi of M and T Bank)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... For James Beardi, 54, a college research paper led to a 30-year career with M&T Bank. Beardi was just finishing his master's degree at the University at Buffalo when a professor asked him to help research and write a report on inner city...

Vacation destinations will change as people look for more.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The 1980s marked the advent of the eco-tour, and adventure travel got a boost in the 1990s. Now travelers want to become immersed in learning. The best-known outfitter offering that is Lindblad Expedition with more than 250 departures a...

Home libraries booked for double duty today.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... In a world where books made of bytes and pixels have begun to replace the ones made out of paper and ink, is there any room in today's homes for a library? "It's not that room where men went off to smoke cigars and drink brandy," said...

Congress fights unfair marketing.(ambush marketing in relation to the Olympics)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Congress may consider legislation next year to give the U.S. Olympic Committee more power to fight "ambush marketers" -- businesses that are not Olympic sponsors but use images associated with the Games in their advertising. Sen. Ted...

Lack of capital hurts minorities.(minority businesses)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... A new study concludes that America's economic growth could be stifled unless minority-owned businesses gain access to more capital. The number of minority owned businesses grew 17 percent a year over the past decade -- six times the growth...

Biotech caucus follows revival.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... New developments in medical and genetic research have put biotechnology under the microscope, so two senators have started a forum to educate members about the industry. The Senate Biotechnology Caucus is expected to hold its first meeting...

Life, politics environment.(political consultant David Hahn-Baker)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Buffalo is base for international consultant What's up: For some, the work environment and the home environment function as two separate entities. For David Hahn-Baker, the founder of Inside-Out Political Consultants, nothing could be...

Don't let loan process scare you; just do it.(Small Business Administration)(financing small business)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Securing a business loan can be the ultimate Catch-22. You need money to get your business off the ground, but can't get the money because your plans haven't yet been realized. It can be a truly frustrating process, especially if your...

Neuman Claim Administrators Inc.(dividend payments)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 2, 2000... Members of Neuman Claim Administrators Inc.'s Contractors Self-Insurance Trust Fund received average dividend payments of 32 percent. The trust fund, open to contractors and suppliers with premiums over $10,000 per year and proven safety...

Nussbaumer & Clarke Inc.(awarded contract for preliminary and final design of Route 62)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Consulting engineering firm Nussbaumer & Clarke Inc., in partnership with Clough Harbour & Associates and Seneca Design Engineer & Surveyor P.C., was awarded the contract for preliminary and final design of Route 62 in the Village of Hamburg....

The SKM Group.(new name of Marketing Resources of New York Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Marketing Resources of New York Inc. changed its name to The SKM Group and relocated to larger offices at Williamsville's Harbinger Square. The company was founded in 1986 by Susan Kerrigan-Meany, president and CEO, as a direct mail marketing...

Sonwil Distribution Center Inc.(received ISO 9002 registration)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Sonwil Distribution Center Inc. achieved ISO 9002 registration. The locally owned company has locations in Buffalo and Elmira and has been in business for 35 years. Services provided include third-party logistics, real estate development...

Gateway Printing & Graphics Inc.(purchases Heidelberg equipment)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Gateway Printing & Graphics Inc. purchased a Heidelberg four-color Speed Master Printing Press and Heidelberg High Speed Cutter. Jeffrey Donner is president of the 15-year-old company, which has grown from one employee to 25 in that time.

BuffaloAtHome.com.(Web site for events and activities in Buffalo, New York)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Web site BuffaloAtHome.com was launched Sept. 7 with Bob Gerow as president. The site includes an Around Town section detailing events in the city and suburbs; the After Hours Section, which lists area restaurants and nightclubs; a Health...

Mills & Associates.(hired to create corporate identity and advertising)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Communications agency Mills & Associates was chosen to create the corporate identity and advertising for Premier Imaging Inc. A new division of Buffalo Ultrasound, the diagnostic imaging company will be based in Rochester.

Unidex Inc.(launches Quick Lift mobile workstations)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Unidex Inc. introduced Quick Lift mobile workstations to its line of positioning equipment. The units, made of powder-coated steel, are designed to transport tooling, parts and materials safely and efficiently. Ergonomically designed, they...

Compare apples to success -- buying back time.(sales management)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... An apple a day keeps the doctor away. If that were true, everyone would eat an apple a day, right? -Wrong. Some people would put it off - then try to make up for it by eating two the next day. Does, that mean you' can eat seven apples on Sunday...

New state tax relief law aids home businesses.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Gov. George Pataki has signed into law a bill, to provide up to $60,000 in grants to' agricultural businesses in New York state. This and other recently enacted laws are reviewed below. STAR Bill A1936A. Sponsor: Tokasz This new law....

Graycliff Conservancy.(recipiant of Samuel H. Kress Foundation grant)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Graycliff Conservancy has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation in New York City. The grant will provide research info the furniture built for Graycliff as well as the study of colors and fabrics found in drawings...

Chautauqua County Department of Social Services.(awards grant to prosecute child abuse)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Chautauqua County Department of Social Services has been awarded a $49,130 grant to prosecute child abuse cases and treat victims.

For number crunchers the bottomline adds up.(Humor)(Brief Article)(Column)
October 2, 2000... Number crunching has never held much attraction for me. I somehow sweated through trigonometry and differential calculus, but it did me no good. Today I couldn't tell the difference between hypotenuse and hyperbole. But there are plenty of...

Tolls are a barrier to region's health.(New York Thruway Authority to consider toll plaza construction)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Public information sessions on a proposal to relocate the Williamsville toll barrier are generating a wide range of comment. Union Road area residents within earshot of the Thruway are overjoyed at the consideration that is being given to...

Cellular phone mania loses luster.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... I'll never forget the first day I got a cellular phone. I was so excited, I asked a co-worker to call my cell number as I stood beside her desk. The cell phone was a product I wanted for years. I was jealous of people who had them. One guy...

Open (wide) for learning.(Textbooks banned in favor of DVDs at dental school)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... UB Dental School bans textbooks and goes to DVD in bid to remain on top The first-year dentistry students at the University at Buffalo are easy to pick out from the upperclassmen: The freshmen have laptop computers; everyone else is...

Business take a shot at winning flu battle.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The great invasion is about to begin. Disease-causing microorganisms are out there, ready to strike at any moment. Rub your eyes, scratch your nose or touch your mouth and that's it. Your first cold of the season -- or worse, the flu --...

Gateway-Longview.(Trains volunteers to work w/ special needs foster children)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Gateway-Longview is seeking Western New York families to participate in its Foster Family program. The program is designed to provide special needs children with stable, nurturing and home-line environments in which they can develop and grow....

Center for Hospice and Palliative Care.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care will hold an open house from 7-8 p.m., Oct. 17 at its Cheektowaga campus at 225 Como Park Blvd. The event will include free tours of the campus with presentations by representatives of the...

Chiropractic Health Center.(Kids day)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Chiropractic Health Center in Depew participated in Kids Day America last month, a national health, safety and environmental awareness event. Doctors at the center provides information on health and disease prevention, child safety and...

Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC).(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Applications and informational brochures are available for the enhanced Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program, which goes into effect Jan. 1. The enhancements, which make the program available to more seniors, include raising...

Genesee Community College.(Superior to other nursing schools)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Graduates of Genesee Community College's nursing program have scored better on licensing examinations than their counterparts across the state and nation over the last decade, according to a report by the school. Among members of the 1999...

Medical terminology course.(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... Genesee Community College is offering three courses this fall to help area residents begin or advance their careers in the medical coding field. The courses include: a 24-hour medical terminology course for individuals with no prior medical...

Hispanic Pastors of Western New York.(Get building space donated)(Brief Article)
October 2, 2000... The Association of Hispanic Pastors of Western New York opened a headquarters and community resource center Sept. 19 at 314 W. Ferry St The building, near the corner of Grant Street, formerly housed a clinic operated by Kaleida Health's...