The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY) articles from September 2001

The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY) archives from September 2001

Buffalo, N.Y., Gas Firm Cited in Death of Woman.
September 29, 2001... Sep. 29--The cold killed Velma Fordham in February as she huddled under a blanket on the floor of her unheated apartment near Schiller Park. But National Fuel Gas Co. appears to have "directly contributed" to the 58-year-old woman's...

Irate Buffalo, N.Y., Business Owners Seek End to Status Quo.
September 28, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 28--A group of successful local business owners spoke out Thursday imploring Erie County Executive Joel A. Giambra to move faster in improving the region's business climate before more people pack up and leave....

Firm Buys Syracuse, N.Y.-Based Marketing Company.
September 28, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 28--Eric Mower and Associates announced that it has bought Sage Marcom, a Syracuse-based business-to-business marketing company. With this combination, Eric Mower will climb to the 72nd largest...

Lancaster, N.Y., Firm Gets Big Order for Pipe Joints from Beijing.
September 28, 2001... Byline: Matt Glynn Sep. 28--Advanced Thermal Systems in Lancaster is preparing to ship $250,000 worth of pipe expansion joints to China for use in a petrochemical plant. The company's 50 ball joints will allow pipes that carry steam...

Auto Sales Increase as Dealers Give Incentives to Lure Customers Back.
September 27, 2001... Byline: Matt Glynn Sep. 27--Auto sales are showing signs of rebounding, more than two weeks after terrorist attacks dealt a blow to a critical component of the economy. The Big Three automakers responded aggressively to the financial...

Coke Company Owner Decides Not to Buy Lackawanna, N.Y., Ovens.
September 27, 2001... Byline: Matt Glynn Sep. 27--The owner of Tonawanda Coke Corp. will not buy Bethlehem Steel's Lackawanna coke ovens, leaving the plant on schedule to halt production Friday and eliminate 340 jobs. "We were not able to come to terms...

Williamsville, N.Y., Electronics Dealer Must Pay Workers in Overtime Dispute.
September 27, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 27--Stereo Advantage in Williamsville must pay 68 workers for overtime they earned in 1996 and 1997, a federal judge has ruled, capping a four-year Labor Department case against the electronics dealer. ...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Benefits from Hosting Amateur Sporting Events.
September 26, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 26--People visiting the Buffalo Niagara region to attend amateur sporting events spend an average of $341 each, and 57 percent of them plan to return within two years to visit local attractions, according to a...

Clarence, N.Y.-Based Battery Maker to Hire 65 New Employees.
September 26, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 26--Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, the fast-growing Clarence battery maker, plans to add 65 people as part of a project that will increase the size of its Wehrle Drive research center and expand the company's...

New York Governor Approves Municipal Business District Designations.
September 26, 2001... Sep. 26--Gov. George E. Pataki signed legislation Tuesday that will allow two or more municipalities to work together to establish a business improvement district that benefits each municipality. Sponsored by state senator Mary Lou Rath,...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Business Group Extends Leader's Contract.
September 26, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 26--Andrew J. Rudnick has received a three-year contract extension, a raise and a "strong vote of confidence" from the board of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, despite growing public frustration with his...

Enrollment Up 40 Percent at University of Buffalo, N.Y., MBA Program.
September 26, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 26--Enrollment in the University at Buffalo's MBA program shot up by 40 percent this fall, following positive reviews from national business publications. The Management Business Administration program...

Rift Between Union, Buyer of Western New York Coke Plant Dooms Project.
September 26, 2001... Byline: Matt Glynn Sep. 26--The owner of Tonawanda Coke Corp. said he's prepared to buy Bethlehem Steel's coke ovens and keep the plant running. But the United Steelworkers of America officials say J.D. Crane's proposal calls for...

Niagara Falls, N.Y.-Based Waste Cleanup Firm Plans to Become Private.
September 26, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 26--Sevenson Environmental Services stock has stopped trading after the Niagara Falls hazardous waste cleanup firm moved to deregister its shares as a precursor to taking the company private. With...

City of Lackawanna, N.Y., Takes Interest in Fate of Coke Ovens.
September 25, 2001... Byline: Matt Glynn Sep. 25--Tonawanda Coke is considering buying Bethlehem Steel's Lackawanna coke ovens, which are scheduled to shut down at the end of this month. Tonawanda Coke and Bethlehem Steel are in talks but haven't...

Dunkirk, N.Y.-Based Ice Cream Manufacturer Files for Bankruptcy.
September 25, 2001... Sep. 25--Dunkirk-based ice cream manufacturer Fieldbrook Farms, filed a petition Friday to be recognized under Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The company plans to continue operating without interruption. Fieldbrook Farms, which...

New York City-Based Internet Sales Company Reduces Buffalo Workforce.
September 25, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 25--Reciprocal, a firm that helps companies sell music and other digital assets on the Internet, is slashing two-thirds of its work force to save money. The restructuring guts the Buffalo office, eliminating...

Interest in Real Estate Pick Up Again after Slowdown in Wake of Attacks.
September 25, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 25--A summer of record-breaking sales continued in August, when homes sold for prices not seen in the Buffalo Niagara region since 1992. However, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks sent shock waves through the...

Canadian Tourism Industry Foresees Some Benefit from Terrorist Attacks.
September 24, 2001... Byline: Barry Brown Sep. 24--TORONTO--Despite fears of a recession, airline bankruptcies and a tumbling stock market, some areas of the Canadian economy -- including theater and private jets -- are defiantly bucking the downward trend....

Tourism and Trade with Canada Slows Considerably at the Border.
September 24, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 24--FORT ERIE, Ontario--Canadian firms near the tense U.S. border are feeling a sharp slowdown, as tourism plunges and trade is tied up by lines at crossing points, business and government officials said...

Buffalo, N.Y., Economic Development Leader Continues to Gain Critics.
September 24, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 24--Andrew J. Rudnick's vital signs these days are 15, 1 and 3. This month marks his 15th anniversary as a community development leader in Buffalo. He has 1 big goal left and he can sum it up in 3 words:...

Energy Company Executive Retires from Position in Buffalo, N.Y.
September 24, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 24--Bernard J. Kennedy started his business career as a lawyer for a stodgy natural gas utility. In a little more than a week, he'll be ending it as the chief executive of a broad-based energy company. ...

Amherst, N.Y., to Gain 40 New Jobs from Health Software Company.
September 24, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 24--Ingenix, a rapidly growing health management software company, plans to add 40 jobs in Amherst. The company's expansion plan was one of several small projects approved by the Amherst Industrial...

Two Western New York Telephone Directories Compete for Advertisers.
September 24, 2001... Byline: Emily Achenbaum Sep. 24--Thud! Thud! The 2001-2002 Talking Phone Book and the Verizon Super Pages have landed, not very gently, on front steps around Erie County. For the vast majority of people, the phone book is a handy...

Latest Round of Interest Rate Cuts Fails to Help Debtors.
September 24, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 24--For many borrowers, the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts are losing some of their punch. While last week's half-point cut in short-term interest rates caused the prime lending rate, which banks...

Retiring Executive of Buffalo, N.Y., Utility to Leave with Large Fortune.
September 24, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 24--When Bernard J. Kennedy retires next week as National Fuel Gas Co.'s chief executive, he'll start collecting on a pension that will pay him $2.35 million per year, plus he'll receive a one-time grant of...

Nimda Virus Hits Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Computer Networks Hard.
September 21, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 21--Computer network managers around Buffalo struggled Wednesday to eradicate the W32/Nimda virus -- which some called the worst they've seen -- after it knocked out popular local Web sites. Compared...

Grocery Store Credit Union to Merge with Another Credit Union.
September 21, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 21--Wegmans Federal Credit Union is merging with New York state's largest credit union to head off future financial difficulties. The National Credit Union Administration approved the merger of Wegmans...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Economy Still Hurt by Decline in Manufacturing.
September 21, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 21--The slump in manufacturing continued to take a toll on the Buffalo Niagara region's economy, causing the area to lose 1,100 jobs during August on a year-to-year basis and extending the longest decline in...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Real Estate Agency Expands into Rochester Market.
September 21, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 21--Stovroff Realty, the area's largest real estate agency, has extended its reach in upstate New York by entering the Rochester real estate market. Merle Whitehead, president of Stovroff, announced...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Based National Fuel Gas Reschedules Vote on Compensation Plan.
September 20, 2001... Sep. 20--National Fuel Gas Co. adjourned a special shareholders meeting in New York City on Wednesday that had been called to vote on proposed changes in the company's incentive compensation plans until next month. While about two-thirds...

CEO to Step Down at Buffalo, N.Y.-Based National Fuel Gas Co.
September 20, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 20--Bernard J. Kennedy, who guided National Fuel Gas Co. during the last 13 years of its transformation from a local natural gas utility to a broad-based energy company, said Wednesday that he will retire at...

Travelers Switch to Rail and Bus amid Fears over Airline Safety, Reliability.
September 20, 2001... Byline: Matt Glynn Sep. 20--Reuben and Edith Solonsky never expected to be standing on an Amtrak platform in Depew on their way home to Eugene, Ore., after visiting their son in Bethesda, Md. On the morning of Sept. 11, they were...

New York State May Suffer from Higher Workers' Compensation Costs, Experts Say.
September 19, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 19--A flood of claims from the World Trade Center attack could drive up the already high cost of workers' compensation insurance in New York state, according to industry experts. Workers' compensation is a...

Western New Yorkers Change Destinations and Mode of Travel.
September 18, 2001... Byline: Emily Achenbaum Sep. 18--Call it cold feet: Americans are understandably skittish about traveling. The trip home for Christmas is still on, but flying next week? Many are saying, no way. Still going abroad this month? Maybe...

Parcel-Delivery Disruptions Ease as Shipments Return to Normal.
September 18, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams and Matt Glynn Sep. 18--Transportation experts say delays are easing as air freight systems return to normal after last week's shutdown. UPS and FedEx both reinstated on-time delivery guarantees for packages...

Two New Restaurants to Open in Buffalo, N.Y.
September 18, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 18--A number of new restaurants and shops are calling Elmwood Avenue home. Both Nektar and Bistro Vite restaurants are set to open their doors by this Friday. Nektar, which advertises itself as the home...

Western New York Investment Advisers Remain Bullish on Stocks.
September 18, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 18--The shock waves from last week's terrorist attacks hit most Americans hard Monday, as the reopened stock market plunged in a wave of selling that wiped out $590 billion from investors' brokerage and...

Businesses Take New Perspective on Airline Travel after Terrorist Attacks.
September 17, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 17--Karen Merkel-Liberatore is scheduled to fly to Dallas on business later this month. But after last week's terrorist hijackings, hopping on an airplane will never be the same -- for her and everyone else....

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Businesses Reminded to Watch for Information in Trash.
September 17, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 17--A few years ago, George F. Hasiotis found three boxes along with some old carpeting in the parking lot of his West Seneca chocolate and candy company, Antoinette's Sweets. The boxes contained patient...

New Era Cap Co. in Buffalo, N.Y., Made Hats for Bush Trip to Trade Center.
September 16, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 16--New Era Cap Co.'s plant in Buffalo produced 500 caps for America's head of state Thursday after receiving an urgent White House order for hats that display a military seal, the company said. ...

Western New York-Based Baseball-Cap Maker Issues Special Run with U.S. Flag.
September 15, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 15--While other businesses slow down in the wake of terrorism, New Era Cap Co.'s Buffalo plant is getting busier. On Friday, the maker of baseball caps began a special production run of caps bearing the...

FedEx Adds 190 Jobs at Tower Group in Buffalo, N.Y.
September 15, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 15--FedEx Corp. will expand its international trade services business and add at least 190 jobs at Buffalo-based Tower Group International, company officials said Friday. FedEx Trade Networks has contract...

Therapists' Unions Reach Contract at Two Buffalo, N.Y., Hospitals.
September 15, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 15--A four-year contract with pay raises of at least 5 percent annually has been reached by unions representing pharmacists and other professional staff at Buffalo General Hospital and Childrens Hospital. ...

Western New York Companies Hope Windows XP Will Pull Sales Out of Doldrums.
September 15, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 15--The beige boxes that roll down Tony Bruno's assembly line have lost some of their allure. Even before the economic shock of Tuesday's attacks, consumers were cooling on personal computers, sending...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Residents Determined to Buy American Flags.
September 14, 2001... Byline: Emily Achenbaum Sep. 14--You couldn't put a price tag on patriotism for customers at Ace Flag Co. on Transit Road in Depew. More than 60 customers were packed into the modestly-sized store Thursday morning, braving 30-minute...

Western New York May See Increase in Gas Prices if Supply Falters.
September 13, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 13--Gasoline prices in Western New York could rise 5 cents to 10 cents by next week because of supply jitters, but there's no reason for the panic buying that has flared up in other parts of the country,...

Erie County, N.Y., to Adopt Uniform Tax Abatement Policy.
September 13, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 13--Erie County is moving to a uniform policy, covering all industrial development agencies, on projects eligible for tax abatements. The new policy will dramatically change the economic development...

Businesses, Workers Need Time to Recover from Shock of Terrorist Attacks.
September 13, 2001... Byline: Emily Achenbaum Sep. 13--Workers heading back to their jobs this week may wonder how they are supposed to continue business as usual, let alone business at all. According to the American Psychological Association, shock,...

Economists Worry about Impact of Terrorism on U.S. Economy.
September 13, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 13--It was back to business for most Western New York companies on Wednesday, but economists warned that the fallout from Tuesday's terrorist attacks could create a shock wave that could further weaken the...

U.S. Investors Sit Tight as Markets Close in Wake of Terrorist Attack.
September 12, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 12--With the terrorist attacks keeping U.S. financial markets closed, local stock brokers and money managers said investors mostly laid low in the aftermath, but they worried that the assault would make...

Buffalo, N.Y.'s World Trade Center Shaken by Destruction.
September 12, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 12--Buffalo has its own World Trade Center, which was also rocked by Tuesday's destruction. Workers at the World Trade Center Buffalo-Niagara in downtown Buffalo were sent home early, shaken by the...

London-Based Bank's Global Data Center Anchors Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Jobs.
September 11, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 11--Tucked behind a retail plaza off Main Street in Williamsville is one of Western New York's newest, most expensive and heavily secured work sites. HSBC Holdings global data center on Park Club Lane will...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Based Computer Services Firm's Sales Climb 31 Percent.
September 11, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 11--Barrister Global Services Network executives are betting that their focus on fixing computer equipment will help the loss-plagued computer services firm keep growing, despite the meltdown most technology...

Realtors Fight Proposal to Let Banks Sell Homes.
September 10, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 10--HSBC Realty? M&T Real Estate? In the not too distant future, consumers may have the option to buy their next home with the help of a real estate agent from a bank. A proposal before the Federal...

Lockport, N.Y.-Based Automotive Products Maker Fights for Shrinking Business.
September 9, 2001... Byline: Matt Glynn Sep. 9--Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems has more to contend with than internal problems at its Lockport plant. Delphi and its rivals in the automotive thermal products business are feeling the pinch from a slowdown...

Coke, Pepsi Both Pushing Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Loganberry Drinks.
September 9, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 9--Most Western New Yorkers got their first taste of loganberry while enjoying summer days at the Crystal Beach amusement park. They drank the sweet-tart beverage while eating sugar waffles and savoring...

Aviation Manufacturing Firm to Bring 80 Jobs to Lancaster, N.Y.
September 8, 2001... Sep. 8--Scott Aviation plans to move 80 jobs to Lancaster from North Carolina to bolster production of aviation oxygen systems. The company will add a third building to its Lancaster operations to accommodate the new work, said Russ...

Verizon Excludes New York State from Pay Phone Hike.
September 8, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 8--Verizon announced Friday that it's raising the cost of a pay phone call to 50 cents in most of its 33-state territory -- with the exception of New York. That makes coin phones a better bargain than...

Parent Company for Swiss Chalet Restaurants Buys Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Outlets.
September 6, 2001... Byline: Lisa Haarlander Sep. 6--The parent company of Swiss Chalet restaurants has bought back four independently owned franchises in the Buffalo area and plans to renovate and expand the chain, known for its rotisserie chicken. Cara...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Based Company Backs $350 Million Pipeline to Import Canadian Gas.
September 6, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 6--National Fuel Gas Co. and a major Canadian natural gas pipeline company are proposing to build a 215-mile pipeline that would bring natural gas from northwestern Ontario through Western New York to a gas...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Manufacturers Have Increase in New Orders, Survey Shows.
September 6, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 6--While manufacturers in Western New York continue to struggle, a new survey of local purchasing managers offers a glimmer of hope that the worst might be over. A new survey by the National Association of...

French Auto-Parts Maker Begins Operations at Buffalo, N.Y., Plant.
September 5, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 5--Fabrication Conception Mecanique Plastique has launched production in its new Buffalo plant with $1 million of automated manufacturing equipment. The French auto parts maker ultimately plans to employ...

Syracuse, N.Y.-Based Banking Firm Sells Stock to Raise More Capital.
September 5, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 5--Community Bank System, the Syracuse-based banking company that owns Elias Asset Management in Amherst and a network of branches, mostly along the Southern Tier, is hoping to raise $31.2 million to $36...

Minneapolis-Based Outdoor Sports Firm May Open Two Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Stores.
September 5, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 5--Gander Mountain, a Minneapolis-based outdoors store devoted to hunting, fishing and camping, is looking to open a pair of stores in Amherst and Orchard Park next fall, a company official said. Gander...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Group Promises to Fight Fast Track.
September 5, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 5--Using the former Trico factory in Buffalo as a backdrop, activists launched a local anti-globalism campaign Tuesday, as Congress considers a step toward a free trade zone covering the Western Hemisphere....

New York State's Share of Biotech Jobs Is Shrinking, New Study Finds.
September 3, 2001... Byline: Fred O. Williams Sep. 3--Could New York's biotechnology industry, the great hope of economic developers, already be in trouble? The Empire State has seen its share of U.S. biotech jobs shrink in recent years, despite numerous...

Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Residents Unveil Computer Version of Educational Game.
September 3, 2001... Byline: David Robinson Sep. 3--A year after launching a board game to help third and fourth graders gear up for New York's tougher learning standards, a pair of Niagara County entrepreneurs are preparing to bring their game into the...

Toronto Firm's Web Site Offers Private Islands for Sale or Rent.
September 3, 2001... Byline: Barry Brown Sep. 3--TORONTO--Ever wonder what it might be like to escape the hustle of the city and kick back on your own private island, starring at the star-drenched sky and listening to the waves lap on the shore? Well, a...

More Companies Are Installing Sophisticated Security Systems to Thwart Theft.
September 3, 2001... Byline: Matt Glynn Sep. 3--A propped-open door at a manufacturing plant has caught the eye of an employee in Sonitrol Security Systems' computer nerve center in Buffalo. An electronic message about the door appeared on his monitor,...

Bank Reaches Out to Lockport, N.Y., Car Dealers for Automobile Loan Deals.
September 1, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 1--First Niagara Bank is trying to strengthen ties with Lockport's strip of car dealers to get a growing share of the automobile lending business. Despite car sales slowing with the economy this year,...

Canada's Economy Seen `Stalled, Alongside the U.S'.
September 1, 2001... Byline: Barry Brown Sep. 1--Canada's economy is slowing in tandem with America's. Canada's real growth in gross domestic product posted a meager 0.1 percent gain in the second quarter, down from 0.5 percent in the first quarter, and...

Computer Producers Slash Prices in Attempt to Boost Sales.
September 1, 2001... Byline: Emily Achenbaum Sep. 1--People looking to buy a new computer are in luck: The computer industry's first-ever sales slump means retailers and manufacturers are taking drastic measures to offer consumers low prices. How low?...

Conventions in Buffalo, N.Y., More Numerous, Shorter Events.
September 1, 2001... Byline: Chet Bridger Sep. 1--The number of conventions and meetings booked by the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors have increased 35 percent this year, compared with last year's sales activity, but most of them are shorter events...