tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84959037976575239642024-03-14T01:33:03.919-07:00BusinessBengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-47587339527125083382018-12-11T07:09:00.001-08:002018-12-11T07:09:10.761-08:00Bazaar to be part of senior meal program
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
Olimpcia Desamour and Michael Gibas</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Buffalo
Review – West reporters</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The sounds of vegetables
sizzling, young girls chattering over cups of bubble tea and old men in great
debates: The West Side Bazaar has long been a melting pot for different
cultures and now thanks to a new program it could see a new influx of people
joining its tightknit community. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Erie County Department
of Senior Services was recently awarded a two-, $500,000 <a href="https://acl.gov/news-and-events/announcements/acl-awards-grants-support-innovations-nutrition-programs-and-0">grant </a>from the federal
government in order to expand its current <a href="http://www2.erie.gov/seniorservices/index.php?q=feature/restaurant-dining-pilot-program">senior meal program</a>. The current
program allows senior citizens to walk into senior centers and receive a free
lunch. The new program will partner with local restaurants and will allow
seniors to come in any time of day and receive a meal based on the menu of said
restaurant. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is where the West Side
Bazaar comes in, home to several up and coming restaurants Erie County
approached the organization will be among the first locations to be a part of
the new program and has also recently received their own grant that will allow
them to expand to a larger location on the West Side<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But Bob Doyle, the
operations manager at the West Side Bazaar, knows this program is more than
just about the food, especially for seniors in the refugee community here in
Buffalo and especially the West Side, which is the second most diverse zip code
in the state of New York. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Doyle hopes that the program
will allow seniors who may feel excluded from places like senior centers for
whatever reason will see this new program as a chance to both be able to get
more culturally relevant food and start <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-356573449/bob-doyle-5">forming some connections</a> outside of
their families. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This fits right in with what
the West Side Bazaar is all about, a business incubator that understands the
importance of community.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Our goal as a business incubator, we really
want to develop businesses, but we want to make sure that we are developing
entrepreneurs that come from our neighborhood,” Doyle said. “Our neighborhoods
are only as strong as the communities that make them up.” </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The new program will
hopefully be bringing many new faces and customers to the West Side Bazaar, a
possibility that excites some of the vendors. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9o-h9GJznF1qKvFunQ4dlhlPQRohJBcng2BQ6IzczghsDjZo85PeCfEbmnABI9kt0uG97Lh9ArCPutoWhc-sSPIpHyMndgvd24RZZQWaxXQNUQXXFYFCSEk6gtREuWYC85vinDAuKlAp/s1600/Picture1.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="975" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9o-h9GJznF1qKvFunQ4dlhlPQRohJBcng2BQ6IzczghsDjZo85PeCfEbmnABI9kt0uG97Lh9ArCPutoWhc-sSPIpHyMndgvd24RZZQWaxXQNUQXXFYFCSEk6gtREuWYC85vinDAuKlAp/s320/Picture1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria and Alain Rodriguez</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Maria and Alain Rodriguez
owners of Kiosko Latino, a Mexican and Puerto Rican place in the West Side
Bazaar are among them. They believe the program will help them expand their
restaurant. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The other surrounding food
vendors also seemed interested, but Kap Thang from Thang’s Family Restaurant has
some reservations. He said that while he thought the program would be good for
the community, he is still unsure if the it will help his business. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once the bazaar does move
Doyle hopes to keep the same feeling of crowdedness that is so common in other
countries while creating more seating and places for new vendors. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The program is expected to
start in either January or February of next year and will be available to all
seniors over the age of 60. </span></div>
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Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-39608495495102479082017-05-02T18:55:00.000-07:002017-05-02T19:08:22.202-07:00Bars, patrons do battle over fake IDs <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fCHCcyI_pOrdxkfyP6DlUxKuGi3RB1JE3NDCQeN9XR_ZW7V5aK6PuVUjgSaENkYoghNwFJX0atW9OBq92kJEQkGWifAq5m-TBlKFK5cp2ldSiFZynzyYqrJuolVX-nR9wIupuLu72PtK/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fCHCcyI_pOrdxkfyP6DlUxKuGi3RB1JE3NDCQeN9XR_ZW7V5aK6PuVUjgSaENkYoghNwFJX0atW9OBq92kJEQkGWifAq5m-TBlKFK5cp2ldSiFZynzyYqrJuolVX-nR9wIupuLu72PtK/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessica Cain attempts to use her fake ID </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">By Jessica Freda and Meaghan Michel</span></b><i><b><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Bengal News West Reporters</span></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> When
you live in a popular college town with bars left and right, you want to be
able to experience them for yourself one by one. However, this could be a
difficult task if you have yet to hit the age of 21, which most college
students do not do until their junior or senior year.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In an effort to be able to go out
with their older friends, underage college drinkers are attempting to find a
way to get into bars without being the legal age. While some bars make it easy
for underage drinkers to get in, other bars are not so willing to break the
law.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One place in particular that’s known
for not allowing underage college drinkers in is </span><a href="http://www.mrgoodbarbuffalo.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Mister
Goodbar</span></a><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">,
located on Elmwood Avenue.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bob Rabb, owner of Mister
Goodbar, believes the bar has a good reputation when it comes denying
those who are not of age just yet.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Our bartenders are TIP certified
and our bouncers are New York state security certified. We use scanners,
cameras, ID books; so they know how to do their job. They have procedures they
can go through to confirm one way or another and once the decision is made they
can make as big of a fuss as they want,” Rabb said. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jessica Cain, a 20-year-old West
Side resident, has been trying to get into bars with her older sorority sisters
since she joined her sorority her freshman year. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'm not gonna lie and say that
there were times that I wasn't successful in getting into a bar because there definitely
were, but there have also been times where I was told that I couldn't come in
because I was caught and it was honestly extremely embarrassing," Cain
said.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While it may be typical for underage
college drinkers to attempt to get into bars so they can enjoy time with their
friends, not every single college student believes that drinking before 21 is a
smart idea.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Evan Glover, a 19-year-old West Side
resident believes that the age of 21 is actually still too young for people to
be drinking given that not all college students truly understand the
consequences of their actions when they drink.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"This past year I lost my
friend from drinking and driving. He was over the age of 21, but still? I
question whether or not 21 is still too young being that a lot of drinking and
driving accidents and tragedies are from the younger generation," Glover
said. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The </span><a href="https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/CollegeFactSheet/CollegeFactSheet.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism</span></a><u><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">ss</span></u><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">- ??</span><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> revealed that the
consequences of underage college drinking affect students, families, and
college communities every year on a large scale. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Research showed that about 1,825
college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries,
including drinking and driving accidents. It also showed that about 97,000
students between the ages of 18 and 24, experience an alcohol related sexual
assault per year. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Janice Burns, the program director
for the </span><a href="http://www.eccpasa.org/assets/documents/ECCPASA_Focus_on_Consequences_Adolescents2.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Focus on Consequences: Adolescents</span></a><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> program at the Erie
County Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, says that the
reason the legal age to drink was raised to 21 was because of the new brain
science.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> Janice Burns:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="100" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/320199069&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We know that the brain is still in development until mid 20s, and
any alcohol or other substances that are introduced into the body effects the
brain and the way that the brain develops, particularly for people under the
age of 21,” Burns said. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Burns believes that a helpful tactic
to prevent underage drinking is educating the youth through prevention programs
in schools.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We've realized the value of
prevention programs in the schools. So going in and talking to youth and middle
school ages and not to scare them but to explain to them the science and
valuing their own brain as far as making good decisions with educating I would
say that has been a huge impact,” Burns said.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While it’s evident that some bars
aim to prevent underage college students from drinking and the consequences
that can come with it, the question remains unanswered – are ID scanners and
statistics enough to make people cautious and aware of their actions? </span></span></span></div>
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Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-16025175178137853492015-10-21T03:21:00.001-07:002015-10-24T15:10:59.734-07:00Credit union gets federal OK, needs $300k<style>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">By Troy Licastro and Tony Reyes</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Bengal News West Reporters</b></i> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The <a href="https://www.blogger.com/goodneighborsfcu.com">Good Neighbors Federal
Credit Union</a>, a proposed credit union on the West Side that is two years
into development, received primary federal approval to become a credit union in
September, but must still raise $300,000.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The organizers have started a crowd-funding campaign to raise the money, which will help support a grant application, said Clinton
Parker, a member of VISTA AmeriCorps, one of the organizers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The grant application would be to become a CDFI, or a community development financial institution, which is a federal
charter for any organization that’s helping develop a community-based access to capital. If and when the proposed credit union does become a certified CDFI,
it can then apply for grants, and those grants will go towards hiring a
full-time fundraiser to get the rest of the money. <span style="color: red;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> To help in the process of raising money the credit union has
established a partnership with <a href="https://www.blogger.com/pushbuffalo.org">PUSH Buffalo</a>,
whose main goal is also to help the people of the community that need it the
most. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “It’s something that we think our members can benefit from
and people in the neighborhood should have,” Lonnie Barlow, communications
director at PUSH said. “Instead of dealing with a big corporate bank, whose
bottom line is basically just making money, no real social conscience, we hope
that they are successful and could work for the community and grow.” <span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> According to the credit union organizers, one in four people on the
West Side, Riverside and Black Rock, don’t have access to basic financial
services in this area. A credit union would offer a resource to fill the gap. It will
protect people from things like predatory financial services, check-cashing
services and rent-to-own companies. It will do this by offering all the
financial services people need without the high interest rates big banks have, organizers said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PW_M1bLwDVM" width="640"></iframe><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The people of the community have responded well to it also.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “I think this is a great idea,” Betty Cordone, a West Side
resident said. “I think it would help people buy homes and fix them up, so
there aren’t so many abandoned.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The credit union will serve anyone who lives, works,
worships or volunteers anywhere west of Elmwood Avenue from City Hall to
Kenmore Avenue and Vulcan Street. Customers are considered "members" and buy shares in the company for $15 to $20 in order to use the credit union. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span>“I think that they can
make a big difference on the West Side,” Barlow said. “We started out with a
couple of organizers 10 years ago doing our thing on the West Side and look at
what PUSH has grown into.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The project is still at least two years away from opening
its doors if everything goes to plan, and the search for a location is still on,
but a location somewhere on Grant Street is the most popular choice as of now. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-82842914403962429272015-04-12T09:54:00.003-07:002015-04-12T09:59:35.202-07:00 Sweetness 7 awaits liquor license renewal<style>
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{page:WordSectio</style><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>By Ryan Beiter and Jonny Mora<i>n</i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Bengal News Reporters</b></i> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> If you
have gone to <a href="http://sweetness7.com/"><span style="color: #0b4cb4;">Sweetness 7 Café</span></a>,
220 Grant St., recently in hopes of grabbing a beer while relaxing in the
upbeat atmosphere, you were most likely told to visit the other location on
Parkside Avenue. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Sweetness
7 has not been able to serve alcohol since early March, and owner Prish Moran
said it is because of a legal matter. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Prish Moran, on the cafe liquor license: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zPWykR9_WPg" width="560"></iframe> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Moran
said her lawyers have advised her to incorporate her café
separately from the rest of her building, which consists of storefronts
and a performance space. The move has delayed the renewal of her liquor
license, which she's had for two years. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Moran
owns all the buildings on her block, which she bought for renovation in 2007
for $112,000. Besides the Sweetness 7 building, Moran owns five storefronts on
the block, seven apartments and a church that she says she's building into a
performance space. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Moran's
attorneys originally advised her against spending the money to get her café
incorporated separately from the rest of the building space. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “They’ve been
under the same corporation for eight years, and no one ever thought my café
would work,” Moran said. "But it’s worked quite well.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The café's inability to serve alcohol
at her Grant Street location stemmed from her unknowing of just how complicated
the process of branching off from her building was. While Moran said the Liquor
Authority has taken longer than expected to pass her application, she expects
to be able to serve alcohol again within the next few weeks. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “It takes a
long time to get a liquor license,” Moran said. “It’s kind of silly, but the
law is the law so I didn’t mess around and stopped serving liquor until the
transition happens ...It’s like applying for a new license, so the timing was
just a bit off. Nothing’s changed with the corporation, but with the way the
law’s written, I have to apply as a brand new applicant. “ </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The
Flying Bison Brewing Co. and Community Beer Works stickers on the windows
of Sweetness 7 are indicative of Moran’s passion for seeing local business
thrive. “We sell only local draft beer,” Moran said. "We sell a lot of
it." </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> She said craft
beer has been popular with college students, who would often come in and drink
a few while working on schoolwork. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Moran
estimates that a quarter of Sweetness 7's business comes from alcohol sales,
but she won't know for sure until the end of tax season. Still, she said,
business hasn't changed that much in the weeks since alcohol's absence. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Joel
Standard, a cook at Sweetness 7, said the café is not typically sought out as a
drinking location, but customers appreciate the option. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> "This
isn't a place where people typically come to drink, but sometimes a customer
may want a mimosa or bloody Mary with their meal, or a shot of whiskey in their
coffee," he said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 48.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Caffe.Aroma.Buffalo"><span style="color: #0b4cb4;">Caffé Aroma</span></a>,
957 Elmwood Ave., is another local coffee shop that serves beer, wine and
liquor. Their alcohol sales closely resemble Sweetness 7's, with a majority of
their sales being in craft beer and whiskey for coffee, according to barista
Jon Bonini. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> While she has
been able to serve alcohol at her other café, Moran said there will be a slight
change coming that will add to their selection.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> "My
Parkside location currently has a beer and wine license, but will have a full
liquor license before summer," Moran said. </span></span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-56797210875639057662015-03-07T14:07:00.001-08:002015-03-07T14:14:35.155-08:00Grant St. bustling again, a shop at a time<style>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BMNHZnVjhbVEIXa_DRbFq6BBCAIFxpcyl0qz7vDdAFOmhWoOG7hB0fox1ozLeEj06x-fFDeIyS_vu8XRX4m7cHessrT2Vk0-PruSzWtpQihzM5eCIyz6kok0i4uZSLXq2jjb1Rhlwv05/s1600/petri.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BMNHZnVjhbVEIXa_DRbFq6BBCAIFxpcyl0qz7vDdAFOmhWoOG7hB0fox1ozLeEj06x-fFDeIyS_vu8XRX4m7cHessrT2Vk0-PruSzWtpQihzM5eCIyz6kok0i4uZSLXq2jjb1Rhlwv05/s1600/petri.png" height="263" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jeanenne Petri owns Westside Stories with her husband Joe</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>By Amber Rinard</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>and Dallas Taylor</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Bengal News West Reporters</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Grant Street is not just a street,
but its own little community.
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">When you walk down the street, you
can smell all the different ethnic foods, hear the sounds coming from the shops,
and see the different nationalities and races coming together to shop and work
in one area. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a two-mile long street, three small stores are
starting to revive the area into what it used to be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A neighborhood. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Westside Stories, Press Raw Food
& Juice, and Sweet_ness 7 are rebuilding the neighborhood by establishing a
relationship between each other and the customers that regularly shop there. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jeanenne and Joe Petri, owners of <a href="http://www.westside-stories.com/">Westside Stories</a>, 205 Grant St.,
opened the bookstore in June four years ago. Since then, they have been working
to enhance the neighborhood to make it a better place. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Petris
originally chose to live on the West Side, because before they met with their real estate agent they
had coffee at Sweet_ness 7 Café, and loved it so much that they decided to buy
whatever house was the closest to it. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We chose
to open the shop in the neighborhood because we firmly believe that a strong
retail corridor really helps to create a vibrant neighborhood,” Jeanenne said. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jeanenne Petri, on the value of a neighborhood bookstore: </span></span><br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/193430675&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her older customers tell her there used
to be bustling shops up and down Grant Street. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “A lot of old timers will talk
about what an interesting place it was to grow up, and it’s great to see that
revival coming back,” Jeanenne said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Westside
Stories works together with many of the other stores on the street to create a
place that is special and valuable. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Esther Pica,
owner of Press Raw Food & Juice, 197 Grant St., is a friend of the Petris. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “We all tend to look out for each
other. Knowing that they’re next door, gives me a sense of comfort,” Pica said.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The stores
on Grant Street also benefit from each other.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What makes this little part of Grant Street
work is that the bookstore and I, and even Sweet_ness 7, we all share the same
customer base,” Pica said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many people
discover the bookstore by going to Press Raw Food & Juice, and others
discover the restaurant by going to the bookstore. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’re more
of a destination,” Pica said. “You pick up your juices; check out the
bookstore, you stop for a meal, where as if we were just here isolated by
ourselves maybe people could rationalize not making a special trip just to go
to one place.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dan Moscov,
Manager at <a href="http://www.sweetness7.com/">Sweetness 7 Café</a>, 220 Grant
St., said businesses benefit from the others' traffic and benefit the community by creating neighborhood jobs. <span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s great
for the community to have small businesses,” Moscov said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
walking down the street, you can feel the sense of community between the store
and the customers. Customers will stop into these stores simply to talk and see
what is going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is a
great vibe that comes from Grant Street. The customers support their local
small businesses and the businesses work together to change the West Side into
a great community. There are over 40 languages spoken in the area, yet they are
all united as one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We like
being someone’s neighborhood bookstore, where they can stop in and see if they
can find something interesting to read or something that inspires them,” Petri
said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-25738866790378389042014-12-07T17:36:00.000-08:002014-12-07T17:51:08.004-08:00Elmwood Village hosts holiday celebration <style>
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</style> <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Laney Hill and Stephanie Vogel</span></b></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><b>Bengal News West Reporters </b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You better watch out, and you better not cry, because Santa
Claus is coming to </span><a href="http://www.elmwoodvillage.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&category=Community%20Interest&refno=16804"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elmwood Village</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. This
Santa, though, comes with four rules and a green screen.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kenneth Irwin, better known as Santa
Ken, is convinced he’s Santa Claus; he even answers the phone in character. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Santa Ken will be on Elmwood Avenue from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 to take pictures and spread holiday cheer
for the first Christmas in the Village.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Twenty years ago people told me I was
good at it,” Irwin said. “So now I’m part of a multi-billion dollar business.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Santa
Ken’s four rules are simple. One: Each child who visits with him gets one toy. Two: Children should use
words like “please” and “thank you”. Three: They need to go to bed on time and brush their
teeth. Four: Clean their rooms plus the living room, the dining room and under the
couch, because Santa knows that children hide things under there.<span style="color: red;"> </span> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Santa Ken brings with him green screen technology, which is a green wall that kids can stand in front of
and get their pictures taken. After that, a background of Santa is inserted into the scene, which allows for timid children to
still get a good picture with Santa. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We call this the no trauma drama
zone,” Irwin said. “Some kids get scared of getting their pictures taken with
Santa, so this eases kids into it.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the past, the Elmwood Village had
Open Light Fridays, where each Friday in December there would be a different
event, such as tree lighting and caroling. The main motivation behind Christmas
in the Village is to celebrate the holidays on one main weekend, while bringing
people to the shops and to support local businesses. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This
is the first year that we’re doing this,” Ashley Smith, community engagement
manager for the Elmwood Village Association, said. “We wanted something to add
a different amount of interest and atmosphere to the holidays in the Elmwood
Village to give people a reason to come here.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Each month
Elmwood Village shop owners and the Elmwood Village Association meet to <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGWmUzCm4bF-PKCnpP-LZdm-IS236JmQkBDDVetUPxXXecx-jdzHgvADEIYroWK8gTpMKOjoBDJPShl1SAvgX6aLcSoeu3P6tU0qiFx95AC4Zpxo-FIbtZb0i7F7mtyBqF3b7HKXkiA2Y/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGWmUzCm4bF-PKCnpP-LZdm-IS236JmQkBDDVetUPxXXecx-jdzHgvADEIYroWK8gTpMKOjoBDJPShl1SAvgX6aLcSoeu3P6tU0qiFx95AC4Zpxo-FIbtZb0i7F7mtyBqF3b7HKXkiA2Y/s1600/Untitled.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashley Ohl of Renw Bath & Body</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ashley Ohl, of Renew Bath & Body</span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
discuss
how business and sales are going for the stores. The holidays are an important
time for everyone, and this year they are switching from Open Light Fridays to
something different.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If we
could bill it as the catch-all weekend maybe we’ll get more people coming in,
and it could be a bigger deal,” Smith said. “So that was the idea for Christmas
in the Village.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Along with
Santa walking through the stores, the businesses on Elmwood will be serving hot
chocolate, hanging lights and decorating their windows. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
participate every year,” said Sue Marfino, owner of ShoeFly, 801 Elmwood Ave.
“This is the first year of being one full weekend, rather than four separate
days.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Manager of
Renew Bath and Body, Ashley Ohl, is excited to participate for the first time
in Christmas in the Village, and bring in business.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We’re looking forward to all the
lights being up on Elmwood and getting some new people who don’t always get to
come down,” Ohl said. “You know, get some new faces.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ashley Ohl, on Christmas in the Elmwood Village: </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9Hs2-l5ZKqo" width="560"></iframe></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Phil Kline, composer of </span><a href="http://buffalo.unsilentnight.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unsilent
Night</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, is scheduled to perform at 7p.m. on
Friday, Dec. 12.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He made this musical piece in the 90s to be played on multiple boomboxes at a
time,” Smith said. “It’s to create a moving sound cloud. You’ve got a couple of
people playing different tracks that synchronize, and they’ve now adapted it so
you can do it on smart phones. They want to have people play it on their smart
phones and create a march.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throughout the weekend there will be
local bands and street musicians playing, and the Lexington Co Op. will be roasting
nuts outside and other activities.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“For the community it’s a really cute
event,” Smith said. “People really like it.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-74366718025849834112014-05-12T18:39:00.000-07:002014-05-12T18:39:35.932-07:00Chippewa in transition after under-21 banBy Fran McCann<br />
Bengal News West Reporter<br />
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chippewa Street, also
known as the <a href="http://www.buffaloplace.com/nightlife">nightlife district</a>, has about 13 bars and restaurants that
welcome thousands of people every week. The area has built its reputation as
the hot spot for many people to gather, but many people see it heading in a
different direction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since the under-21 ban
in October 2012 because of underage crimes on Chippewa Street, the district has
been trying to find another image. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Real
estate developer Adam March, who owns <a href="http://www.thelodgebuffalo.com/">The Lodge</a> and buildings 67-79 W. Chippewa
St., was one of the lead activists to protest the under-21 ban. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He, along with bar owner
Daniel Valentine and University at Buffalo student Colin Miller, filed a
lawsuit in late January 2013 against Mayor Byron Brown, Common Councilmembers,
Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda and James Comerford Jr., commissioner of
permits and inspections. They argued the ban hurt their right to earn a living
and restricted their business. <span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
lawsuit is at a pause right now,” March said. “It went through its initial run
but we weren’t seeing any results.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">March said he believes
the ban isn’t because of violence by people under 21, but instead because of a lack
of police control over the crowd. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“On
any given night we would have 8-10,000 people in our bar and I don’t think the
police wanted to deal with the crowds anymore,” he said. “Things will happen
when people drink, but in our bar’s existence we have never had one crime occur
other than an occasional scuffle. There were never any injuries and we handled
the customers very professionally.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thomas
Cowan, owner of City Tavern bar at 51 W. Chippewa St.,<span style="color: red;"></span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>said he
thinks the ban was a good thing for the street and city as a whole. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
bars that participated in the 18-and-up had a good thing going,” he said. “They
created a fun and safe place for college kids to go and dance, but then again
Chippewa is an entertainment district that was designed for the 21-and-up
patrons.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Andrew Rechin, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">head of Security at Bottoms Up, 69 W. Chippewa St.,on what his job involves: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/E_TVRcWx-E8" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Cowan
said the ban has affected businesses in the area, and “Thursday nights have
become a lot quieter.” He said he could see the area slowly starting to go in a
different direction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
think the ban was a positive step to rebuilding the entertainment district and
in time the street will be back,” he said. “I think we will be more of a
restaurant row in the next few years rather than a late night dance club
street.” <span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With
Chippewa starting to rebuild its image as more of a restaurant scene, some
might wonder what will happen to the nightlife. March said even though he
believes the ban to be “unfair,” he is reinventing his investments. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’re
in the process of investing in restaurants,” March said. “We have the idea of a
high-end Japanese restaurant and we’re confident that it, along with whatever
other ideas we have, will do well.” </span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-27831399814025055012014-04-27T13:20:00.001-07:002014-05-04T09:52:33.739-07:00Amodeo peddles pasta in family business<style>
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</style><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By Fran McCann</span></b><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bengal News West Reporter</span></b></i>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Pasta Peddler, which
operates at Horsefeathers Market, sells a variety of pastas, sauces and many
other products. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The <a href="http://www.pastapeddler.com/">Pasta Peddler</a>
started in 1994 making gift baskets. In 1999 Mike Sedia bought the business but
a few years later he was ready to sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A young man who was engaged to Sedia’s daughter decided to take a stab
at the business, and in 2003 Eric Amodeo became the co-owner <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of the Pasta Peddler.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When Amodeo hopped on
board with the business, it was very difficult for him to figure out how to
operate things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He not only had to
understand how to sell the pasta, but he also had to figure out how to make it.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The first pasta I made
was absolutely terrible,” Amodeo said. “The old way we used to make the pasta
was with counter top machines and it required us to work the dough a lot more,
which resulted in not a very good product.”</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eric Amodeo, on the machine behind The Pasta Peddler:<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RsYxOBAgIk8" width="560"></iframe> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When Amodeo helped take
over the business, his initial plans were to only concentrate on it during the
summer. Working from his basement in the double he and his wife lived in,
Amodeo, with the help of father-in-law Sedia, was selling product to the
Lexington Cooperative and the Elmwood-Bidwell farmers market. In 2004 Amodeo’s
wife, Andrea, decided to join her business, Blackbird Sweets, and try and help
grow the business.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As demand grew bigger, Amodeo soon realized
the business was taking off and it was time to move into a bigger location. In
March 2013, The Pasta Peddler moved into the Horsefeathers building at 346
Connecticut St. Amodeo, his wife, and father-in-law worked together to maintain
the business and keep its reputation up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although the business is
doing well, the economic downfall in 2008 forced the Pasta Peddler to change
its prices. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“During that time the
price of wheat quadrupled,” Amodeo said. “We were forced to raise prices but
since that time, our prices have not gone up.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Pasta Peddler sells
a variety of gourmet pastas in individual 10-ounce packets, starting at
$3.75.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the size of the
order, the Pasta Peddler offers a discount and also a 10 percent discount for
students with a valid I.D. card.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blackbird Sweets also
works with the Pasta Peddler selling baked goods. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Joe Kirchmyer, a West
Seneca resident and longtime customer of the Pasta Peddler, was never a huge
fan of pasta until he came across the business. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The ravioli is out of
this world,” Kirchmyer said. “The freshness and flavor is so different and way
better than something you would buy at Wegmans or Tops.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kirchmyer said people
should consider buying local and keep the money in the community. He guarantees
the food to be fresh and says it is great to “support the little guy.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This upcoming spring to
fall, you will find the Pasta Peddler at various farmers markets. Starting this
spring, it will be at the Hamburg, <a href="http://www.elmwoodmarket.org/">Elmwood-Bidwell</a>, East Aurora and
Williamsville Farmers Markets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Regular farmers
market-goer Margaret Lalley is a supporter of local food businesses. During the
summer, she finds herself going to a market at least once a week. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I love the Pasta
Peddler’s pasta and sauce,” Lalley said. “When you buy local and freshly made,
you definitely pay a little more. In the end, I believe the quality is
definitely worth paying a little bit more.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The demand for the Pasta
Peddler is growing, and Amodeo
is looking into the future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Right now we’re in
talks with a business called Mercado,” Amodeo said. “It’s a large-scale
community market and we’re looking to add a location with them in the next 12
months.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-59017210130757766332014-03-26T14:56:00.001-07:002014-03-26T14:56:15.049-07:00$3 million medical office planned for W.S.<b>By Angelica Rodriguez and Brandon Waz</b><br />
<i><b>Bengal News West reporters </b></i><style><!--
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
new medical facility on the West Side is set for construction in mid-April,
provided that tax credit approval will be gained toward the end of this month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
<a href="http://gbuahn.org/">Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network</a> (GBUAHN), a free service
through Medicaid located at 393 Delaware Ave., is investing $3 million in the
facility, which will be built on a vacant lot on 7th Street, between Jersey and
Pennsylvania streets. It will be placed just behind the Urban Family Practice
on Niagara Street. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
building will help expand GBUAHN’s primary care functions and provide a central
location for the eight-practice collaborative. A 28,500-square-foot building,
it will contain <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>offices for
primary care, a behavioral wellness center, a nutrition and diabetes treatment
center and a conference center. It already provides care for 1,500 Medicaid
patients in the health home program and hopes to attract more from other parts
of the city. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">Dr. Raul Vazquez, on the 7th Street medical facility: <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/goaGts5UNJI" width="560"></iframe> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dr.
Raul Vazquez, based at Urban Family Practice and president-CEO of GBUAHN,
said that the collective is moving forward with full support from the community
at this point despite some misgivings. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“There
was a little misunderstanding in the beginning, because they thought we were
going to have <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a detox program at
the facility, and that’s not what we do here at GBUAHN,” he said. “(We want to)
expand primary and behavioral care, so once they found that out, they were all
in agreement.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With
that issue resolved, the facility just has to clear one more hurdle in the Erie
County Industrial Development Agency, which GBUAHN is depending on for tax
credits. Dr. Vazquez said the project will move forward if the ECIDA approves
tax credits at its meeting this month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
facility will provide accessible health care for everyone in the vicinity while
also creating job opportunities for those living on the West Side. Dr. Vazquez
said the project will likely create over the originally projected 75-100 jobs,
and, noting the area’s diversity, added that one of the collective’s goals is
to engage <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"people who look
like the community." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“In
our offices, we have people from Somalia, Arabs, Puerto Ricans, African
Americans… we want to serve all of that community,” he said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>GBUAHN
office manager Jillian Deuble stressed that above all, the new building would
facilitate more of a community effort and that the West Side is the perfect
location.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s
so close to where our office already is, but that is the community where it is
hard to get around,” she said. “A lot of people there do take the bus, and
there is very limited opportunity – if there is one, it’s not a very
sustainable opportunity.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mayor
Byron Brown was on hand at a recent announcement GBUAHN's partnership with Rite
Aid, called Rite Aid Health Alliance. The partnership links local physicians to
Rite Aid professionals in working with patients various health conditions to
set goals and improve self-management abilities. Buffalo is the third market to
engage in the Health Alliance, and there are 10 stores within the city limits.
Three of them – Niagara Street, West Ferry Street and Connecticut Street – are
on the West Side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Brown
welcomed the idea of economic development and expansion in the city, as well as
expanding much-needed health care to residents who cannot always access it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
think it’s also important that medical practices located in the city of Buffalo
grow and expand to provide more and new and better health care services to the
residents of this community,” he said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: lines-together no-line-numbers;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
physicians at GBUAHN have been doing that for a long time, they know how to do
it well, and this unique partnership of physicians in an integrated health
facility on the West Side of Buffalo is something that I think is very much
needed.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br /><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-86109982132472049972013-12-15T11:22:00.001-08:002013-12-15T11:27:26.949-08:00Press Raw Food plans to open on Grant St.<b>By Sean Dwyer and Youleidy Vega</b><br />
<i><b>Bengal News West Reporters </b></i><style><!--
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After months of planning, Press Raw Foods &
Juice is almost ready to open its doors to health food lovers on Grant Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since moving from Horsefeathers Market
on Connecticut Street, owner Esther Pica is excited to officially put down her
roots on the West Side.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once open, Press will provide all organic raw
food and products, including ready to order juices and smoothies. In addition,
Pica also anticipates doing home deliveries for people who are taking part in
cleanses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Great thing about this place is that we have
retail space so we can sell the ingredients to people to go home and
experiment,” said Pica. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Because the only license we could get
without having to change the use of the building is food retail, everything is
packaged to go.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pica has called Buffalo home since 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, she freely admits the choice
to make the move from New York City to open a juice bar occurred entirely by
accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Pica, on her transition from New York City to Buffalo: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/123323410&color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true" width="100%"></iframe> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The market in New York was oversaturated with
juice bars, so I was looking for a college town with a warm climate,” said
Pica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I started looking for a
house based on zip codes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I had mistakenly transposed two of the numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when I thought I was looking at a
house in Georgia, in actuality, I was looking at houses in Buffalo.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Due to the cheap prices, Pica decided to buy a
house in Buffalo originally as an investment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, she started doing research and was encouraged by
businesses like Prish Moran’s Sweetness_7 to look into opening her juice bar
nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sara Ali, is a SUNY
Buffalo State <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>student who
has written for Human Athletics about the benefits juicing can have on
the body and understands the important role a juice bar can have on the health
of community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Fresh juice is loaded with nutrients, vitamins
and minerals,” Ali said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You can
satisfy your body’s need for the essentials with (a) day of juicing.” <span style="color: red;"></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to Ali, juicing can play an important
role in the body’s ability to heal itself and is a key part of the </span><a href="http://gerson.org/gerpress/the-gerson-therapy/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gerson method</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, which is a natural
treatment that requires the intake of large quantities of raw juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“By juicing fruits and vegetables, you remove
the insoluble fiber which the digestive enzymes are locked away in,” said Ali. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Juicing allows you to access those
enzymes you normally cannot by eating the produce.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beyond providing products that are good for the
body, Pica’s new building, located at 197 Grant St., also strives to be good
for the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“This building is a green renovation,” said
Pica. “It’s got geothermal heat and there are sun panels on the roof. We are
marketing everything in as green of a way as possible.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pica boasts that all plastic products she uses
are cornstarch based and biodegradable and has a goal to create as little waste
as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“All the produce that we have is going to b<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>e merchandised,” said Pica. “With there being a lot of young
families in the neighborhood, they won’t have to go all the way to Elmwood to
get an organic banana.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Abaca Press, which is located at 9 Lafayette
Ave., is owned and operated by Peter Sowiski. He agrees that providing families
in the nearby area with more options, beyond shops on Elmwood Avenue, is
positive for the entire West Side community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Obviously, when this happens it creates a spill over that benefits
the whole neighborhood,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Sowiski said
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pica anticipates <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>having a soft open
before the New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Once her
shop is open, Pica plans on advertising coupons and sample opportunities on her
shop’s </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Facebook page</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Despite the delays, Pica is in no rush as she
plans on being here for the long-haul. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I love Grant Street,” said Pica. “My heart
belongs to Grant Street and my house is right around the corner.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-41092272148725397432013-11-24T13:16:00.000-08:002013-11-24T13:32:07.286-08:00Small businesses offer shopping alternative<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>By Michael Loffredo</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>Bengal News West Reporter</i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Oh the holiday shopping season is
upon us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Long lines at the most popular
stores. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Great deals that even Santa
couldn’t make up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The most popular products fly off
the shelves and your wallet takes a hit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">What if there was a way to shop in
a quiet, elegant, unique store without all of the hustle and bustle? —Oh wait,
there is!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The boutique crawl is just one of
the events throughout the year that helps the many small businesses of the
Elmwood Village thrive. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The boutique crawl has “helped
promote the Elmwood Village as a premier stop for holiday shopping,” said Carly
Battin, executive organizer for the event. <span style="color: red;"> </span>“The crawl gives customers a better shopping
experience and helps them get away from the big name stores. Through the event,
each and every participant is helping small business success in Buffalo.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The third
annual Elmwood Boutique Crawl is set to take place on Nov. 29 and stretches
across the entire <a href="http://www.elmwoodvillage.org/">Elmwood Village</a>. Four
stores in particular appreciate all of the support they receive from Elmwood
Village consumers as the holidays create a nice little buzz in the area.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Joe Maniaci, owner of Allentown Music, on shopping locally: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/120129666" width="100%"></iframe> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “People are
finally getting a hang of shopping locally,” said Stephanie Robb, owner of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/turnstylebuffalo">Turnstyle Designs</a> located
on Ashland Avenue in Buffalo. “Customers
that shop locally are keeping their dollar within the vicinities.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Robb also
owns Wild Things Boutique, which is located on Lexington Avenue, not far from Turnstyle. In Wild Things,
Robb houses numerous amounts of jewelry designed by local artists. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Robb’s
philosophy of small business is pretty much every owner’s opinion throughout
the village. These boutiques may only see 20 customers a week, but there is a
reason why these customers choose these small boutiques instead of Macy’s or other
big box stores; they are guaranteed to have something that you’ll fall in love
with. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “Turnstyles
has things that others don’t have,” said customer Jackie Blanco. “I know no one
else will have it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> That is the
exact point that Elmwood Village vendors are trying to draw. The service and
products in these small stores and boutiques are nearly impossible to come by
at a mall or a big name brand store. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Siobhan
Taylor, owner of <a href="http://www.mseyecandyboutique.com/">Ms. Eye Candy
Boutique</a><span class="MsoHyperlink">,</span> located on West Utica Street, carries designs from artists
from the West Coast. She caters to customers between 20 and 50 years old and
believes that small businesses are a great place to shop.</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxCwKrMJfurnhUQZcjU-011f7NqpMv6L5BE4DoDcKI-i7vclKLVCBpLndzaj_Hroo4XoJOHgqphwX-9wvYZ8iqp0Dv5yLkRI1_EMudFcFPNHYFQZYHSQxj7BKZDvNcpT3GpHxDePDlRow/s1600/pic2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxCwKrMJfurnhUQZcjU-011f7NqpMv6L5BE4DoDcKI-i7vclKLVCBpLndzaj_Hroo4XoJOHgqphwX-9wvYZ8iqp0Dv5yLkRI1_EMudFcFPNHYFQZYHSQxj7BKZDvNcpT3GpHxDePDlRow/s320/pic2.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Siobhan Taylor, owner of Ms. Eye Candy Boutique</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “Being a
resident of Allentown I have always committed to shopping in the Elmwood
Village,” said Taylor. “It is nice to get different things as well as help
other peoples businesses. We have a cool little area.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Taylor puts
the nail in the coffin when defining small business. <span style="color: red;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span> “Yes, you don’t hear the name first like
most do when it comes to a store in the mall, but once you visit and shop in
boutiques, you get a different feel. You get to help a community and you get to
own something unique in style,” said Taylor. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Many stores in the village highlight the Queen City in posters, postcards, clothing of all
different kinds, and replicas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Joe Cascio, owner of PosterArt USA located
on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Bird Avenue, believes that small business
is great and defines the Elmwood Village. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “Small
business means a lot to this city,” said Cascio. “These businesses are very important
to this city’s growth.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> PosterArt
carries the famous Buffalo sports teams t-shirt designs, the “Fred-Ex” shirt,
for example, which is designed after Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson
and can only be found online. Cascio compiles all of what Buffalo has to offer
into one store.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Making your
way through the Elmwood Village, the storefronts are mostly clean with a
classic design. Not at Allentown Music. In this storefront, located on Elmwood
Avenue near Forest Avenue, old guitars screwed onto the facade are one of the many things that catch the average passerby’s eye.
<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyrM8H8CRYdo-51WX4ZdghzecaGvrnCN7vzqFy3Vv_7_rnnUGVH9viXuItUKwEMBRN41Ob6-649DoKQLyouO5fOxhVv5Qmb3sTG4BioRTveG4VqfZ9UzPtMwcyHTNRmfBwvtANHq8N6lX/s1600/pic1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyrM8H8CRYdo-51WX4ZdghzecaGvrnCN7vzqFy3Vv_7_rnnUGVH9viXuItUKwEMBRN41Ob6-649DoKQLyouO5fOxhVv5Qmb3sTG4BioRTveG4VqfZ9UzPtMwcyHTNRmfBwvtANHq8N6lX/s320/pic1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Maniaci, owner of Allentown Music</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Joe
Maniaci, owner of <a href="http://www.allentownmusic.com/">Allentown Music</a>
believes in small business and the Elmwood Village in a whole. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “Elmwood’s
small business owners are all people just like myself. People are just trying
to make a living,” said Maniaci. “It is just that personal touch within the
village that you wont get anywhere else. Small businesses help give a unique
experience that you will never forget. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> With small
business Saturday coming up following Thanksgiving, all of these featured shops
and boutiques, as well as many other shops in the Elmwood village, are
expecting higher numbers, more foot traffic, and a lot of sales. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “About 40 percent<span style="color: red;"> </span>of our year is done during the holiday
shopping season,” said Robb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-70167181979195477542013-11-10T09:57:00.000-08:002013-11-10T09:57:07.595-08:00Evolation Yoga aims to relax the West Side <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>By Sade Mckenzie and Shytisha Taylor</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Bengal News West Reporters</b></i> </span></span><style><!--
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">As the vibration of mellow
tunes flow throughout the body and citrus</span>-<span style="color: #222222;">flavored incense fills</span><span style="color: #222222;"> the hot, humidified room, one
can’t help but to feel relaxed by the calmness of one’s mind. </span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.evolationyoga.com/studio-locations/yoga-buffalo/">Evolation Yoga</a><span style="color: #222222;"> made its first appearance
on the Elmwood strip in 2009 as a Bikram Yoga, also known as hot yoga studio. Since then it has become
a transnational meeting ground for diverse individuals sharing a common passion
for yoga.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfaakTDgP2MMfmyt9KqaUEsAq4bSGBr5uWBd2tXY9OadwTkVtbI8CKplOeSIQaLYoXUbteHn-fPVL93cf5C6_-qw-oOsnlaBmwgIEAUMUvuXB8avOSYY2jVc_7sZb10tdmDUuehmhdUhx/s1600/Untitled2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfaakTDgP2MMfmyt9KqaUEsAq4bSGBr5uWBd2tXY9OadwTkVtbI8CKplOeSIQaLYoXUbteHn-fPVL93cf5C6_-qw-oOsnlaBmwgIEAUMUvuXB8avOSYY2jVc_7sZb10tdmDUuehmhdUhx/s320/Untitled2.png" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <style><!--
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<span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><i>Alicia Kirkendall</i></span></a></span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><a href="http://www.bikramyoga.com/BikramYoga/about_bikram_yoga.php">Bikram Yoga</a><span style="color: #222222;">was created by Bikram Choudhury. It is a 26-posture exercise conducted in a 105
degree room. Each individual posture works collectively to create muscle
flexibility, constant blood flow and a clearer mind. </span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The studio has <span style="color: #222222;"> expanded, offering a variety of
classes for students including a beginners</span><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">
yoga class conducted in a less heated room, a faster-paced yoga class also
known as “flow” and Bikram Yoga for advanced students. These classes focus on
controlling the outer body through inner stillness.<span> </span></span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Alicia Kirkendall has been
a yoga instructor at Evolation for two years and says that yoga has helped her
to exude positivity and embrace self-reflection and meditation. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span> </span>“What
are you doing for everybody? You’re just sitting there meditating but without
that inner stillness what would you be projecting otherwise? Chaos or anger?
There are so many feelings that people feel, that they don’t realize they can
put off to others,” Kirkendall said.<span> </span></span><span style="color: red;"></span><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"> In addition to the advantages
that yoga has for the mind, practicing yoga in a heated room helps to sweat out
toxins held within the glands and organs of the body. The heat also helps to
soften the muscles, allowing students to easily adjust to the various postures
without messing up their body alignment. </span><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">“With the heat, it
increases the circulation of your blood so it gets everything moving around
faster,” Kirkendall said. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Kelly Trip, a Yoga Flow
instructor at Evolation calls it fun. She teaches yoga to her employees at her
corporate job for 50 minutes during her lunch break and calls it “corporate
yoga.” </span><span style="color: red;"></span><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">“It’s really about
connecting the postures in a fluid way,” Trip said.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Yoga also allows students
to connect with each other. Students contribute to the self-healing process of
people around them. They work together by feeding off of each other’s energy
and motivating one another.<span> </span></span><span style="color: red;"></span><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">“It’s amazing having everyone
come together into one room and work hard to better themselves,” Kirkendall
said. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Instructors at Evolation
Yoga continue to build a larger yoga community by teaching their techniques to
students and teachers nationally and internationally. They conduct a series of
training workshops in California, Florida, Costa Rica and Spain, and have
helped open Evolation Yoga studios in Florida, Atlanta, Costa Rica and
Columbia. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">“We all help each other,”
Kirkendall said. “It’s a good network of teachers and guidance. It’s a
well-rounded training.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">They have </span><span style="color: #222222;"> training workshops in California and Hawaii in March 2014, and
later in London, Paris and Amsterdam. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span> </span>“Yoga is a great getaway from a hectic life,” said Lasasha
Oyo, student at SUNY Buffalo State.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Oyo has participated in
yoga classes at Evolation for the past year and calls it a spiritual journey. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The West Side offers many
other yoga studios that contribute to the community and present a different focus
other than hot yoga. </span><span style="color: black;">With all of the different types of classes available, an
individual can find a style specific to what he or she </span><span style="color: black;"><span></span>wishes to accomplish.</span><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Erin Cook, owner of Head to
Heart Yoga, </span><span style="color: #222222;"> says that it is never too
late to begin yoga. She believes that there are various styles and levels to
suit anyone’s liking. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">“</span><span style="color: black;">There are many kids yoga
classes offered around the world and people practice yoga well into their 80s
and even 90s,” Cook said.<span> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span>Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-9078887142002449282013-11-08T17:42:00.000-08:002013-11-08T17:46:44.959-08:00Two West Side shops sell throwback theme <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>By Caitlin Kupiec and James McDonald</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><i>Bengal News West Reporters</i></span> </b><style><!--
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kindles, iPods, eBooks, and iPads
are all things that don’t scare the owners of Black Dots and
West Side Stories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://blackdotsbuffalo.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Black Dots</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, at 223 Lafayette Ave., is
an independently run record store that opened last June on the West Side and a
few doors down </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is the used book store, </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.westside-stories.com/">Westside Stories</a> at 205
Grant St.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Black Dots specializes in selling
vinyl records and carries various genres including rock, metal, punk, hardcore,
hip hop, and pop albums.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Owner Joshua Smith said business
was slow at first, but it has been picking up lately. His friend owned the
building that Black Dots is located in, which is initially why he chose the
storefront. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> But said he likes what is happening on Grant
Street and all of the resurgence businesses and shops </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> on the
West Side.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Joshua Smith, on vinyl: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8-L68ve5fQo" width="420"></iframe> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Smith admits that he thinks
downloading is very convenient. According to him, it’s nice to have all of your
music in your pocket and being able to download instantly, but there is an
experience that music listeners miss when they just download. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It’s just a different experience
I guess,” Smith said. “It’s the difference between watching a movie on your
phone and actually going out and going to see a movie, or play. It’s a
different form of entertainment. It’s a different experience, a more tangible
thing.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eric Bifaro, who owns a print shop
in the same building as Black Dots, thinks that downloading is always going to
be popular, but he believes people are starting to realize that they are
missing out on the experience of downloading that Smith pointed out as well. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I think for a number of
years, people got away from (buying records) because of the ease of
downloading,” Bifaro said. “But people are now seeing that they are losing
something in not having the tangible album."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to Smith, a lot of people still collect records. It’s a hobby and a part of
music culture for some people. He said customers will come over from Canada or
the Rochester area just to check out the store and see what he has in stock.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“That’s the thing about record
collectors,” Smith said. “Wherever you go, if you are traveling around, you
are going to want to search out the best place to find records.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Westside</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stories has been open for a little over
two years, and like Smith, owner Jeanenne Petri has noticed the more time that
passes, the more customers find their way into her small but quaint store,
filled with stacks of used books from floor to ceiling. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jeanenne Petri, on traditional books: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/q1oZWFoAn7U" width="420"></iframe> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Petri said she loves being located
on the West Side, and that she thinks it’s a special place with lots of
diversity. According to Petri, a used bookstore</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is
beneficial to the neighborhood’s reputation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I think having a bookstore
is something that adds a lot of value to the neighborhood,” Petri said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With the new innovations of Kindles
and eBooks popping up, Petri feels that there is still room for both in the
media world. She likes to download books on her iPad and said she thinks
downloading is convenient and easier for travelling. But she still thinks that
owning a physical book is something that holds a greater meaning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“A book is something that you can
pass on physically to someone else,” Petri said. “And that’s something I think
has a lot of value still.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Petri owns a record player and has
wandered down to check out Smith’s inventory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I love the fact that there is a
record store opening in this day and age,” Petri said. “That makes me feel
better about owning a book store.” </span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-42929397724503550262013-10-28T17:47:00.000-07:002013-10-28T18:00:50.260-07:00Business owners tap into Grant St. culture<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>By Sean Dwyer and Youleidy Vega</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Bengal News Reporters </b></i></span></span><style><!--
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Grant Street is home to a community rich with
cultural diversity. Because of this, several business owners in the area have
used their appreciation for the arts as a foothold toward creating a sense of
shared culture in their neighborhood.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Many
new business owners see Grant Street and its surrounding neighborhood as a
blank canvas and a unique opportunity to forge a new path in an area without
the hindrances of working around preexisting retail space. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jeanenne Petri, on opening a bookstore on Grant Street: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/115703094" width="100%"></iframe><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Jeanenne Petri and her husband Joe are the owners of Westside Stories Used Books on 205 Grant
St. Offering a wide variety of
books, the two believe strongly in the importance of introducing arts and
literature to an area with one of the lowest literacy rates in the state. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> According
to Petri, she is fully aware that her current location is not the most
profitable location to open a bookstore.
But her decision to open on Grant Street two years ago was “very
intentional.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “People
ask, ‘why would you put a used bookstore here on Grant Street,’ ” Petri said. “But the reality is a lot
of people do read here, so we try to carry books that attract a wide variety of
readers.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Petri
believes that reading is for everyone, regardless of their cultural
background. She feels that
everyone should have access to a bookstore and according to her, the response
from the neighborhood has been extremely positive. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> In
addition to an enthusiastic community, Petri praised the collaborative nature
of all the other business owners in the neighborhood. She cites each owner’s willingness to help each other as a
reason why businesses celebrating the arts have been so successful. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “Here
everybody cares,” said Petri. “So
when we talk to customers, we are always trying to push people toward other
businesses on the block. I don’t
think that’s something you get when you open a strip mall in Cheektowaga.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Right
up the street from Westside Stories sits Sweetness_7 Café, owned by Prish Moran.
Before opening in 2007, Moran worked in clothing design in New York City. Before moving back to Buffalo, Moran
decorated restaurants for many years before finally deciding to open one of her
own.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlj1KsoY8AG0OfVF7KkDcq5sIQFIZVnpY_Ootex1ui2Z-NKbqhvXK-W3_MGO-OnSLOC48Y5vEtFD_24xu8uePvMjE6dBKvhZwbxH79gdG6_MLtnWw5TQWtuGH7sC3D_dP-0X2ycELSxVM/s1600/Untitled4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlj1KsoY8AG0OfVF7KkDcq5sIQFIZVnpY_Ootex1ui2Z-NKbqhvXK-W3_MGO-OnSLOC48Y5vEtFD_24xu8uePvMjE6dBKvhZwbxH79gdG6_MLtnWw5TQWtuGH7sC3D_dP-0X2ycELSxVM/s320/Untitled4.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant Street area business owners Prish Moran and Peter Sowiski</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Graduating
with a design degree from the SUNY Buffalo State, Moran brings her appreciation
for the arts, applying it to Sweetness_7 to give it a feeling of “renaissance
meets urban life.” Located
at 220 Grant St., Moran's café is a forum for the community
to come together in one tiny spot. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “The
community support on the West Side is unbelievable,” said Moran, who is getting
ready to celebrate her fifth year as being a business owner on Grant
Street. “Everything in my café is
made from scratch – even our own bread – and I think that authenticity is
something this community values.”
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The
success of these shops on Grant Street has created a ripple effect, generating
foot traffic for business owners neighboring areas. One owner who has benefited from this change is Peter
Sowiski, who operates Abaca Press on 9 Lafayette Ave. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> “We
just saw that there was a little more vitality happening,” said Sowiski. “We’ve
noticed a lot more families with children. And when you see more residents who are new to the area
walking around, you begin to see signs of life and the creation visual culture.” </span></span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-28468242334275145272013-10-27T10:18:00.002-07:002013-10-27T10:30:36.189-07:00Popular restaurant to move to West Side <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>By Lauren Coppola and Samantha Wulff </b></span></span><style><!--
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>Bengal News Reporters</i>
</b></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Chefs Steve and Ellen Gedra have
done this dance many times. Preparing food in a small kitchen together for four
years has taught them where to stand and how to move without disrupting the
other. But the routine is getting stale, and a new venue may be the remedy. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnBVttq_tUC1ZHOzIFDLOe-gnQP0FCSKsEVmywwyDgdWogOgrHJgXYoGT6cdoPhWeuPWb-d62dhs7Rn0cmFjcGyfLNqKTP47rpJVndFvWNnwyiXZTdk_P-D9KGfSMBjPNm4vKbM2f6ef5/s1600/photo+pkg-Sam&Lauren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnBVttq_tUC1ZHOzIFDLOe-gnQP0FCSKsEVmywwyDgdWogOgrHJgXYoGT6cdoPhWeuPWb-d62dhs7Rn0cmFjcGyfLNqKTP47rpJVndFvWNnwyiXZTdk_P-D9KGfSMBjPNm4vKbM2f6ef5/s320/photo+pkg-Sam&Lauren.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve and Ellen Gedra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Their restaurant, the popular
Elmwood Avenue restaurant Bistro Europa, is moving to 376 Connecticut St.
most likely in August 2014. They wanted a place that they could own and
be completely in charge of. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">“We’re buying a property instead of
renting from a landlord and that was always the goal,” Steve Gedra said. “For 20 <span style="color: red;"></span> years that’s been the goal. Be our own boss
completely.” </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The first step in the moving process was gaining approval of
the move and reconstruction of their new space, the former Golden Key Tavern,
from the city planning board. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Steve Gedra, on moving to larger space:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/115528088" width="100%"></iframe> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> With that out of the way,
construction of the former pub is now in progress. An extended addition will
allow for a commercial kitchen and more seating space. Rather than the 28 seats
they have in their current location, they will be able to seat 50 and add on a
bar.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">“It’s getting gutted,” Gedra said.
“Some parts are getting knocked down and put back up. It’s in rough shape so
it’s going to take a while.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Gedra
says they are not going to change much when it comes to how the establishment
runs. They have a unique style that they will not alter, only revamp. <span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">On Bistro
Europa’s website, <a href="http://europabuffalo.com/">http://europabuffalo.com/</a>,
customers are given daily updates of what is available for them to order. The
chefs prepare almost everything from scratch. They try to use the freshest
local ingredients to prepare simple dishes for each guest personally, adding to
the intimate feel of the place.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">When Bistro Europa moves, it will be leaving business neighbors it has had for several years. Carly Battin, executive director of the Elmwood Village
Association, said
that it is a shame the restaurant is leaving the village. She said the
move to a different place just shows that they have outgrown their space.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">“It's a little bit sad to see them
moving away, but I think everybody's happy for them that they're expanding,”
Battin said. “I think the West Side, Connecticut Street to Grant Street, is
expanding. I think it's better for the city overall.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Along with a new location comes new
competition from already-established area restaurants. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Left Bank is a restaurant on
Rhode Island Street that has been around for 20 years. Manager Mailien
Chichester believes Bistro Europa’s move is a positive for the West Side and
that the area needs some good business.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">“It's a brave move,” Chichester
said. “I hope it makes them better.” <span style="color: red;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Since Left Bank has been established in that area for so
long, Chichester does not see it being impacted by Bistro Europa’s relocation.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">“I don't think it'll affect us,”
she said. “We already have our clientele.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">According to Gedra, the feedback
has been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone seems excited for the move to
Connecticut Street. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">“It’s always a
gamble but I think it’s kind of calculated,” Gedra said. “I feel pretty good
about what we do, and people definitely believe in us, and they’ll come.”</span></span> </div>
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Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-50365752320563426902013-05-12T11:40:00.000-07:002013-05-12T11:43:51.287-07:00Martin Cooks up unique dining experience<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>By Michael Mazzuto and Mike Provenzano</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>BengalNews Reporters</b></i></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Martin
Danilowicz is the owner of the <a href="http://www.martincooks.com/">Martin Cooks</a> restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But don’t dare call him a chef, he’s
simply a cook. Chefs take themselves too seriously. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to Danilowicz, a chef inspires other people or creates a new genre of food.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b>“I’ve never created a genre of food and I
don’t know anyone who aspires to be me,” Danilowicz said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Until that happens, I’m just Martin.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Danilowi<span style="font-size: large;">cz<span style="font-size: large;">, on Martin Cooks:</span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mTZZqjqqdaI" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
philosophy steams from Danilowicz’s humble beginnings growing up on a farm in
Youngstown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Danilowicz said he was going to
become a professional golfer, but his mother and sister are very good cooks and helped introduce him to
cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Danilowicz
has previously worked for several local restaurants and his own catering
business, which he still runs along with his new place at the <a href="http://www.horsefeathersmarket.com/">HorsefeathersMarket</a> on Connecticut Street. Before Martin Cooks opened on May 1, he also
focused on his home cooking classes. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
go to people’s homes, it’s been a cool gig, we’ll make ravioli, make bread,
braise meat. Everyone is drinking and we’re having a good time. It’s a good
excuse to hang out and drink. And when you’re done you get to all sit around
and have dinner,” Danilowicz said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Danilowicz
has transferred that same philosophy to Martin Cooks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
want food to be fun,” Danilowicz said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You have to take your food seriously, but not yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think you need to be humble.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was Danilowicz’s attitude that brought close friends to work with him at Martin
Cooks.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jim
Wells, bartender at Martin Cooks, has known Danilowicz for more than 10
years and has followed him to the various Buffalo restaurants where he has
worked.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
try not to take ourselves too seriously,” Wells said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I mean, come on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We serve cocktails in mason jars for
God’s sake.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
close friend of Danilowicz, Amelia Nussbaumer, Martin’s right hand woman and
marketing guru joins him in his new endeavor. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This
is the place for me,” Nussbaumer said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Martin is doing something extremely progressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re in this space because it needed
to be off-the-beaten-path, because he’s off-the-beaten-path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the perfect fit.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
menu for breakfast and lunch will remain stable but the dinner menu will change
weekly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every Saturday, Danilowicz
gets a call from local farmers who let him know what food is available for the
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Danilowicz then plans dinner
services around these ingredients. The dinner menu is where Danilowicz gets to flex
his cooking prowess.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“As
far as dinner is concerned, we really want to push the envelope and do some
pretty funky stuff,” <span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Danilowicz said.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Danilowicz
hopes to expand his seating capabilities. It currently seats 12 people but
expansions will be completed by June 1 to accommodate a larger breakfast and
lunch crowd. But he hopes the restaurant retains its intimate setting and
personal customer interactions. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Danilowicz
also has some other projects on the horizon. He plans to incorporate some of
the dining pleasures other cities get to experience, but the West Side has yet
to see.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
have a lot of energy right now,” Danilowicz said. “I have to get it all in
right now.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-33495050691274701382013-05-12T08:21:00.001-07:002013-05-12T08:24:23.767-07:00Credit union for W.S. in planning stage<b>By Bryan Price and Nick Stutzman</b><br />
<b><i>BengalNews Reporters</i></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you look around the busy
streets of the West Side you will see big name banks,
but you won’t see a credit union that is specialized to educate residents and
help out the community. <a href="http://www.westsidefcu.com/">West Side Federal Credit Union</a> looks to be that answer.
The credit union’s mission is to create affordable financial services by
creating a socially responsible community-banking alternative for residents
that are unaware there is a better way to bank.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Emma Wright is the West
Side FCU project organizer and is aware that this isn’t just a credit union you
can put up and make successful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The need in the 14213
is great for a low cost financial institution. I think when people realize they
won’t have to pay at the corner store to cash their check, they will come to
(the credit union),” Wright said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Emma Wright, on plans for the credit union:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GKaEF459xto" width="560"></iframe> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> In a recent steering
meeting for the credit union held by Wright, the aim was to get the foundation
started so that the process can begin. The first step is to get the word out
about what the credit union is, get response from the community and gauge the
residents in a survey. Wright is looking for volunteers to man these sub
committees that can help with the research, funding and public relations for
the credit union. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The steering committee
will essentially identify sponsors, develop an organizing budget, hold a pledge
drive, identify officials, and then work on getting the funding needed to open
the credit union. Wright estimated that the credit union’s chartering would be
about two years away and that it would take almost 18 months to get enough
funding needed to open properly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sterling Smalley, one of
the first subscribers to the credit union, has local ties to the community and
is trying to get the word out on why a bank like this is so beneficial to the
West Side community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Financial education is
going to be a huge part of it, just telling people there is an alternative,”
Smalley said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Smalley believes that
the mean banking that is occurring right now on the West Side has been a
detriment to the residents, and the predatory lenders aren’t helping businesses
off the ground. He says the more residents can understand what a credit union
is, the quicker they can start saving money. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pou Ma, owner of Anokha
Leewu Enterprises at the West Side Bazaar, was at the proposed steering committee
meeting and believes the credit union will be a great idea. She believes that
once residents, especially the international community, become educated on
finances, the more financial support they can get to start up businesses like
hers. She knows those opportunities like the West Side Bazaar is looking for
startups with capital. Ma hopes that this credit union can be a motivational
avenue to give back and learn to the community that has given so much to her.</span></div>
Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-65050381929486877232013-05-09T06:20:00.000-07:002013-05-09T06:43:53.726-07:00Art vendors praise area for its support <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By Brielynn Bell and Margot Harris</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">BengalNews Reporters</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Hand knitted
accessories, self-painted sculptures, self concocted cosmetic and body products
and self-welded jewelry filled the Burchfield Penny Art Center April 26 and 27
at the first ever <i>Artists in Buffalo </i>Spring
Show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> The event showcased local West Side
companies on the rise and was also a fundraising opportunity for Burchfield
Penney. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> All of the artists who participated will
be donating 20 percent of their sales to support the ongoing <a href="http://www.burchfieldpenney.org/the-museum/our-mission-and-vision/">mission</a> of the museum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Many businesses at the event are
located on the West Side or have sold their products in the community and at the
art center. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Vendors give their views of the business side of art: </span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aHHftoDtq_Q" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Allison Kurek is a mixed media
artist who sells original paintings and prints as well as small gift items such
as, bottle stoppers, magnets, notecards and pendants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Western
New York isn’t the most vibrant economic area, but I think that people want to support
local.” Kurek said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Kurek
believes that the West Side offers ample opportunity for new business owners to
venture into the professional world. Her advice for fellow business owners was
to be able to market ones brand and to have faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Kurek does not have a storefront,
but has focused on selling her Silent Mylo Studio products in the West Side
because she feels that the area itself is a great market to be in. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Shaun Silverwood is a copper
enamellist who lives on Amherst Street and sells her line of jewelry Roadkiln Products
from home. Silverwood showcased her originally designed jewelry at the show and
She explained that she doesn’t make jewelry for the money, she does it to make
customers enjoy their shopping experience and to keep them satisfied with one
of a kind jewelry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> The West Side has helped her
business reach broader scopes than she anticipated. Silverwood began her
business selling jewelry out of her house, but has gained popularity in the
West Side and started to sell her products at local stores such as Westside
Stories and the art center. The show has contributed to helping Silverwood
promote her products as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> “This has been a fantastic show for
me,” Silverwood said. “It’s a first-time show, so we didn’t have high
expectations, but I’ve been doing really well.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She
feels that events like this give hope to business owners who don’t have
storefronts, but are still trying to be successful in their trade. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.buffalogalorganics.com/">Buffalo
Gal Organics</a> is an
online cosmetics company owned by West Side resident Kasia Cummings. She is the
chemist behind her line of natural, vegan body and cosmetic products. She sells
her products in the community but also ships her products nationally and
internationally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> “I grew up on the West Side and
although I have been blessed with the opportunity of travelling, this is home
and will always be home,” Cummings said. “I think that local is the best way to
go and I sincerely want to give hope to other local business owners by saying
‘you can make it here.’ It takes a lot of dedication, but it’s definitely
possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> A full list of artists who showcased
at the event can be found on Buffalo State’s event <a href="http://newsandevents.buffalostate.edu/events/artists-buffalo-spring-show-burchfield-penney?date=2013-04-27">calendar</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-24386601078905970202012-05-10T19:30:00.000-07:002012-05-10T19:42:58.507-07:00Rehabbing houses can prove to be costly<b>By Cortney Drakeford and Alana Ransom </b><br />
<b><i>BengalNews Reporters</i></b><br />
<b><i> </i></b>
Real Estate Broker Dave Weitzel spent about $20,000 at the city auction for a vacant two story home at 458 Vermont St.<br />
His dreams at first were to make the two-story home a duplex but realized the challenges that came along with building a duplex when entering the property. His dreams may cost more than he expected.<br />
People like Weitzel can be presented with problems and costs they weren't expecting when they buy properties in the annual city auction.<br />
When Weitzel first saw the property, he did not realize there was a second house on the property. His dreams of a duplex soon changed to rehabbing both single-family houses.<br />
<br />
Real estate broker Dave Weitzel on rehabbing a Vermont Street property:
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FJbuV4u036k" width="520"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Weitzel says it has been a slow process on the house. There are so many issues with the home that need to be handled. Some for example are the electricity lines because a main power cord has been broken. Flooring and walls need to be fixed because of water-pipe damage. The basement is one of the main places that need fixing and ceilings in the houses need fixing as well. Walls will be broken down and new pipes and gas tanks will be installed in the home.<br />
Although Weitzel has made some changes, he still has a few issues with utility and other things in the houses.<br />
“Challenges building a two story home are trying to figure out how to separate the utilities and it doesn’t help when the utility company doesn’t know how to have water running throughout both houses because they do not know where the water line is for both houses,” Weitzel says.<br />
Weitzel plans for both houses to be almost ready in about three or four months. He set the selling price at $150,000.
<br />
They are not able to see the homes before purchasing them and are not able to see the conditions they have to deal with inside the homes.
Investors are able to go to the neighborhood and ask questions to people who have been around for a long time in the area to find out what kind of work needs to be done in the home. They also have to make sure they start working on the house as soon as they buy it because if the city sees no progress being made as investors promise, the city will take investors to city court.<br />
Before rehabbing homes, there is a process that has to be followed. First, the homes go into arrears, which are when two tax years have not been paid. Once property is cleared in arrears, then people will receive letters about the vacant homes. The city holds an auction presented by the chairman of assessment and taxation. Investors bid on the property. Bids start at $500. Twenty five percent of the money has to be paid on the day of the auction. The remainder has to be paid within that month.
Auctions are in October. Auctions are held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.<br />
“The city produces a list of homes to be auctioned the first part of June and it can change up to the day of auction because owners can satisfy the bill. The fiscal year is July 1st to June 30th of the next year,” says Assessment Clerk Al Thompson.<br />
If no one bids on the property, the case is adjourned and the house goes back to the owner.
The tax law allows the city to foreclose property if it does not satisfy the tax bill. If by the end of year owners do not comply to pay with property taxes, the city enters an agreement preventing the foreclosure of a home until the money is paid.<br />
“Foreclosure in the city charges an increasing amount of money as penalty,” says Thompson.
Overall, many people feel houses being rehabbed are beneficial for the community.
“It is a good investment. When someone is beneficial they take care of the property and live in it. The houses are affordable for people who want to migrate to the West Side,” says Sean Mulligan, Legislative Aide to Councilmember David Rivera.<br />
Houses tend to stay affordable so low income families can stay in the neighborhood, he says.<br />
“People(s) views on the west side are changing. We let them come visit and they see what is being done for the community and quickly change their minds. They see that the West Side is a pretty nice place and are exposed to the diversity of people and the education system,” says Mulligan. <i>Edited by Richard Cumpston</i>Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-85994721977134638712012-04-16T19:04:00.001-07:002012-04-16T19:11:27.733-07:00Grant-Amherst abuzz with business activity<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>By MacKenzie Clarke, Stephanie Delaunay and Cheri St. Croix</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>BengalNews Reporters</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><style>
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</style><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; font-size: small;"> There’s a
neighborhood strip of unique foods, art made by local artists
and staple businesses that are recognized throughout the area, bordering the
Upper West Side but it’s not the Elmwood strip. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> Businesses like Spar's European Sausage Shop, Quality Bindery Services Inc., Graser’s Florist, Wegmans, and Nick’s Place; the Grant-Amherst area is built on a solid foundation that has lasted decades.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> There are also been an ample amount of new businesses bringing more people to the neighborhood within the last few years. Businesses such as 464 Gallery, Lucy Ethiopian Cuisine and Variety Store, Delish Cooking School and Pastry Shop, The JumpOff, Black Rock Kitchen and Bar, now call Amherst Street home as well.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Owner of Delish Cooking School and Pastry Shop and member of the Grant-Amherst Business Association, Deborah Clark, couldn’t be happier having recently moved from Elmwood Avenue to 414 Amherst St. The area still steadily attracting new businesses shows the positive results of the work done by Grant-Amherst Business Association, and members as they receive incoming businesses. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “They were just so welcoming and thrilled,” said Clark. “The new people who own new businesses here, the pride of the people who’ve had businesses for years; they have a really strong business association, and I think this is going to be a good spot to be in. I’m on the ground floor of something that’s really going to be really exciting.” </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> While people in the area may know of the up and coming neighborhood, some may still be unaware of the hullabaloo surrounding the Grant-Amherst corridors, Clark said.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VEzQtuYSopNctuUVI5LN_-BqbkyY1w5IqVo_xrH-DHmfLkLWP8bJSDPMJJw1e3NAj5uSHny6ut7Yx11i6VkVGapCMwR1AQr0_BqImJZM3fXXrqBIDbRDVLVp98YH2iodDyal-Za5dGEh/s1600/Untitled1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VEzQtuYSopNctuUVI5LN_-BqbkyY1w5IqVo_xrH-DHmfLkLWP8bJSDPMJJw1e3NAj5uSHny6ut7Yx11i6VkVGapCMwR1AQr0_BqImJZM3fXXrqBIDbRDVLVp98YH2iodDyal-Za5dGEh/s320/Untitled1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan Patterson staffs 464 Gallery, 464 Amherst St.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"> “I think people are starting to realize that now. I think people are always in such a hurry to speed past because it is not as developed as some of the other neighborhoods. It takes a little extra work to get people over here; I don’t know if it’s a disadvantage, but it’s definitely a challenge,” said Marcus L. Wise, active member of the Grant Amherst Business Association and owner of 464 Gallery located at 464 Amherst St. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The great location and affordable real estate make the Grant Amherst district a prime spot for business owners, said Mark Bojarsai, an employee of Black Rock Kitchen &Bar.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The Grant-Amherst Business Association is firmly geared toward the revitalization and cleanup of Grant-Amherst Street area to induce growth into the neighborhood as well as entice patrons from around the city, said Wise. One of the many ways the Grant-Amherst Business Association attracts the public to the area, is the annual Rediscover Amherst Street Festival, said Wise. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 464 Gallery has found nothing but positivity from the area and exponential growth in business, since opening its door three years ago on Amherst Street. Wise is now looking to rent studios above his gallery.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Business on Amherst Street is doing very well,” said Wise. “I think one of the big advantages of Amherst is that it’s still up and coming, so you can get in here, and you kind of have a little more room to make a difference and have a little more input as to how the neighborhood gets shaped.”</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> New owner, Demetrius Williams, opened his retail clothing store, The JumpOff, located at 440 Amherst St. at the end of March and is looking to add to the economic growth of the area. Williams, having lived on Amherst Street, said the overall energy of the neighborhood drew him to open his business there.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The JumpOff is already thinking ideas that would to add to the community, having the dream of hosting open mic nights for artists in the community. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Being on Amherst Street gives us a lot of opportunities
do things that you probably wouldn’t be able to do in a more established
neighborhood, said Wise.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> “It seemed like a good place to open up and I want to do the best I can,” said Williams, hoping to generate a productive business that would ultimately add to the past and current growth of Amherst. “I want to bring people together.”</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div>Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-12446733333247651352012-03-31T05:58:00.013-07:002012-03-31T06:09:39.372-07:00Santasiero's serves up 90 years of business<b>By Pasquale Maggiore and Alexa Myers<br />
<i>BengalNews Reporters</i></b><br />
Amongst abandoned factory buildings and old parking lots, a building colored red white and green stands out. The sign reads, “<a href="http://santasieros.com/index.html">Santasiero’s</a>.” For West Side inhabitants, and even those all over Buffalo, this name means more than just a restaurant. Santasiero’s has lasted 90 years in a location that has seen many cultures and businesses come and go, and they plan to continue their success no matter what. <br />
Dominic and Philomena Santasiero moved to the United States from Italy in 1920. With their eight children to care for, they decided to open a restaurant right underneath their home. The business took off. Located on the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Niagara Street they were in a prime spot. Busy Niagara Street had commuters constantly driving by the small Italian restaurant. The population of the West Side was also predominantly Italian so the restaurant fit into the neighborhood.<br />
<br />
John Brands Jr. , grandson of Santasiero's founder, talks about the family business: <br />
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During the 1920s the Santasiero family was mostly focused on building up a reputation that customers could trust. The Santasiero’s dream when coming to America was to build a family-run, trustworthy business. And they did just that. Customer loyalty is still the most important aspect to keeping their business successful. Eventually Dominic and Philomena’s three sons took over the restaurant and were in charge until the 1970s. Their cliental only grew as time continued. <br />
As Santasiero’s flourished, the surrounding area saw big changes. The demographic of the West Side began to change, it was no longer mostly Italian. By the 1990s the West Side was mixed with all different types of cultures from all over the world. With more ethnically diverse businesses moving into the area, the little Italian corner restaurant continued to stand strong. Unfortunately, other area businesses were not as lucky. Sharon Boyd, who was been a server in the restaurant since the 1980s has seen the hardships and closures. <br />
“Businesses on Niagara Street should be thriving,” said Boyd. “There is so much traffic that goes up and down this street every day.”<br />
So what is the secret to keeping a business open for 90 years in a rapidly changing setting? The Santasiero family believes it is customer loyalty, quality food and reasonable prices. Their home cooked food is something that can speak for itself, as they have even expanded to shipping their products all over the country. John Brands Jr., grandson of Dominic Santasiero said. <br />
“We have to make sure that we are open over the holidays,” said John Brands Jr., grandson of Dominic Santasiero. “Because people who have moved away come back during that time, and this is the place they want to come.” <br />
The customer allegiance was easy to see as the restaurant began to fill up only moments after opening on a dreary Monday morning.<br />
The family also prides themselves on how well a family can eat at their restaurant without breaking the bank. The menu has classic Italian dishes along with other traditional favorites. Despite the economic drop, the Santasiero’s hasn’t had to raise its prices at all. <br />
“(The) economy hasn’t affected us that much,” said Boyd. “We still see new faces and the same people that have been coming back for years. I am on a first name basis with a lot of our customers.”<br />
Santasiero’s family restaurant history is unique and special. The restaurant is a West Side staple that continues to stay strong, and owners see no slowing down in sight.<br />
<i>Edited by Michael Hargrave</i>Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-22563186714762815012012-03-17T09:03:00.007-07:002012-03-17T09:46:30.819-07:00Motor Works hoping business takes off<b>By Michael Hargrave and Shayna McKie<br />
<i>BengalNews Reporters</i></b> <br />
Running a small business on Buffalo’s West Side involves more than simply creating a plan for making money. As Andre Sadoff and Dan Sciolino, co-owners of <a href="http://www.buffalomotorworks.com/Buffalo_Motor_Works.com/Welcome.html">Buffalo Motor Works</a> have found, businesses on the West Side need to be involved in improving the neighborhood. <br />
Buffalo Motor Works, located at 202 Rhode Island St., is a small auto dealership in the process of becoming specialized in energy efficient vehicles. With a green motto and focus on improvement, Buffalo Motor Works is reaching out to the neighborhood in more ways than one. <br />
“It is our hope to establish a community garden nearby,” Sadoff said. “This could promote neighborhood interaction, accountability and help to improve the vacant lot situation.” <br />
Sadoff, an environmental planning and design graduate of the State University at Buffalo, said he hopes by improving the neighborhood it will help to improve their business. <br />
But it’s harder than it appears.<br />
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Buffalo Motor Works co-owner Andre Sadoff talks about the challenges of going into business:<br />
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Among their various challenges: an old disused building, city zoning issues, city hall bureaucracy and a lack of planning. <br />
“Starting a business is like trying to start a fire with wet wood,” said Sciolino, a former BMW mechanic and part owner of Buffalo Motor Works. <br />
These hardships are normal, said Bill Grieshober, a financial business advisor in the <a href="http://www.buffalostate.edu/sbdc/">Small Business Development Center.</a><br />
“The big problem that most businesses have is that they have tremendous competition out there,” said Grieshober. “Even people who think they don’t have competition, have competition.” <br />
Grieshober recommends doing competitive analysis before starting a business to determine where the competition comes from. As Sadoff and Sciolino have found out, business is hard to find. The two have resorted to using Craigslist and eBay in order to publicize their business. <br />
In order to drive more business, and increase their profit margin, Sadoff and Sciolino have switched from selling pristine vehicles that they have restored, (no comma needed) to vehicles with damage.<br />
“We’ve gotten into some of the salvage vehicles just so we can stay afloat,” said Sciolino. “Some cars with damage go a lot easier.”<br />
The co-owners are also finding that their green dream is a bit harder to sell than they had originally hoped. Sciolino said that many people seem to be hesitant with second hand hybrid vehicles, especially the battery.<br />
“We are looking to offer a battery warranty in the future” said Sciolino. <br />
Mostly Sciolino said he regrets not putting more time and effort into the initial planning stage of their business. Issues such as cash flow and a lax business plan have hampered their ambitions.<br />
One of the bright spots for the pair is the building that they occupy. While it is in a certain state of disrepair, the former Chrysler dealership, has a massive amount of space, as well as some of the original flooring which dates all the way back to the 1920s.<br />
Sadoff said he has received many compliments from the community, words of thanks for putting the old building to use again, as well as words of encouragement for the two young entrepreneurs.<br />
“They’ve got to get out into the market and publicize, not advertise, publicize” said Grieshober. “Get out into the community and let people know they are there.” <i>Edited by Alana Ransom</i>Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-46239164737291615802012-03-16T15:19:00.000-07:002012-03-16T15:19:18.676-07:00West Side eateries buy local to save costs<b>By Elaundress Ballard and Christie Jok<br />
<i>BengalNews Reporters</i></b><br />
Sweetness 7 Cafe and Boomerang’s Bar & Grill have found the key to running a successful business and the secret isn’t too far from reach. <br />
The two businesses continue to thrive on the West Side largely due to their dedication of ordering products from local farmers and manufacturers in the Western New York area. <br />
Prish Moran, owner of the Grant Street cafe, says she’s able to keep her prices at a fixed rate mainly due to cutting out the middle man and dealing directly with farmers and manufacturers. <br />
Moran utilizes different farmers in the area depending on which farm is able to provide during a certain season and based on availability. <br />
She prides herself on using almost all organic products for her cafe goods. But, according to Moran, organic farmers don’t have enough resources to provide one restaurant for all the produce and dairy products they need. Moran said she orders from 12 local organic farmers for her goods. <br />
Moran said she also receives goods from an even closer provider in the area - Guercio & Sons Inc., located right across the street from the cafe. Sweetness 7 uses Guercio’s for fruits and vegetables especially in the summer when they are out of season, Moran said. Lorigo’s Meating Place also across the street, provides the cafe with paper products such as wraps and bags, Moran said. <br />
Moran is satisfied with her local providers because it has allows her to keep prices consistent and avoid a “trickle down” due to using resources from farther away.<br />
“The trickle down happens when people get their food from outside sources. I even have my coffee roasted locally. The kid even comes by on his bicycle when the weather is good from the roaster. It’s pretty awesome,” Moran said. <br />
And despite the rising gas prices in Buffalo over recent weeks, Moran said her cafe prices will not be affected. <br />
“Buying local is huge and there’s so much to be said about local organic farmers,” Moran said.<br />
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Tom O’Keefe, manager of Boomerang’s, discusses the impact of gas prices on the restaurant: <br />
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Boomerang’s Bar & Grill also takes full advantage of local providers. Tom O’Keefe, manager, said by using local providers for the restaurant’s fish, dairy and liquor products, the restaurant's menu items are able to remain at a consistent price range of $5 to $10, except for the 14 ounce strip-steak which is $14. <br />
Schneider’ s Premium Sea Food located in Cheektowaga and Willowbrook Farms on Clinton Street in Buffalo are two of the main providers, O’Keefe said. <br />
The restaurant receives orders of fresh seafood either every day or every other day depending on the need for more products, O’Keefe said. <br />
Products from Willowbrook are often picked up by a Boomerang’s employee while Schneider’s will deliver to the restaurant, O’Keefe said. The delivery charge of $5 but if the order hits a minimum, it’s free of charge. <br />
The farthest distributor to the restaurant is Yuengling in Pennsylvania, O’Keefe said. <br />
Like Sweetness 7, Boomerang’s is not changing menu item prices due to rising gas prices.<br />
“We may be affected by it, but we won’t raise our prices because we get people who drive in from Clarence, Williamsville, and Amherst. If they spend the money to drive here, we’re not going to tag on another charge for them. We’re not going to raise our prices for the gas prices going up,” O’Keefe said.<br />
Local products may help keep Boomerang’s Bar & Grill thriving, but there are patrons from distant regions willing to make the trip to the restaurant.<br />
Barbara Smith and husband Joe, residents of Fort Erie in Canada, have been coming to Boomerang’s for over six years. <br />
“The food is excellent, the staff is fantastic and what can I say? The meals are great and the prices are very good,” Smith said. <i>Edited by Alana Ransom</i>Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-32225106150710851692011-12-15T08:28:00.000-08:002011-12-15T08:28:13.741-08:00Small businesses gear up for holiday season<b>By Samantha Murphy and Desiree Wiley<br />
<i>BengalNews Reporters</i></b><br />
With Christmas right around the corner, small businesses on the West Side are gearing up for their busiest time of year. Businesses such as West Side Stories, <a href="http://guercioandsons.com/">Guercio & Sons Inc.</a>, <a href="http://www.krudmart.com/">Krudmart</a> and the <a href="http://www.westsidebazaar.com/">West Side Bazaar</a> are a just few of the small businesses hoping to make big money this year. <br />
According to <a href="http://americanresearchgroup.com/holiday/">American Research Group Inc.</a> consumers anticipate spending $646 on gifts this holiday. However, 37 percent of those shoppers will be doing so online. Still, local businesses remain very optimistic and have been hard at work attracting customers. <br />
With the birth of the company in 2002, Krudmart is enjoying its success. Its location at 212 Grant St., has been up and running for two years. Krudmart’s owner and employees are dedicated to offering creative and revolutionary street wear items at affordable prices. <br />
Brands such as 10 Deep, ArtistiCreation, Acapulco Gold, Black Scale and many more can be found 15 percent to 50 percent off during the holiday season. Employees plan to see a full store throughout the month. <br />
“Business picks up during the holiday season, especially black Friday,” said Richard Rouse, boutique manager, “people really like to get into the fashion fall wear.”<br />
This fashion outlet is excited to introduce another big name to their store, the Billionaire Boys Club. Shoppers have already cleared out some of the inventory. <br />
“This is a unisex boutique, but the female clothes that we have are pretty much sold out,” said Rouse, “now we’re looking forward to get more in.”<br />
Krudmart isn’t the only local business thriving during this holiday rush. Just a few doors down at 242 Grant St., the West Side Bazaar is also preparing for the influx of customers. <br />
“Next week we have many more things coming in because we have more customers coming in for the holiday season,” said Novi Pulach, a vendor at the bazaar from Indonesia. <br />
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The bazaar has also teamed up with <a href="http://www.zgmfinearts.com/html_info.cfm?menu_itemID=290696&load=html&parentID=290695">ZGM Fine Arts Gallery</a> to offer a global market of products. Entrepreneurs from Indonesia, Nepal, Africa, Peru and others sell items from their native lands- and food too. <br />
“We have some food from Peru, like cookies and potatoes,” said Paluch. “It is really good food.”<br />
After satisfying your appetite, you can browse the booths of many vendors.<br />
“We have jewelry and carvings from all the different countries,” said Paluch, “and for December we are giving 10 percent off.”<br />
Shoppers can even have their purchases gift-wrapped.<br />
Guercio & Sons Inc., located at 250 Grant St., has been providing the West Side with local, quality produce and groceries since it’s opening in 1961. Like any other retail store, Guercio’s is also already seeing an increase in sales. <br />
Tom Guercio, treasurer of Guercio’s, said, “We get much busier with the holidays, especially Christmas and New Year’s.”<br />
Unlike other small businesses, Guercio is not intimidated by the growing popularity of huge grocery chains. <br />
“We have our own clientele and we get a lot of wholesale from the restaurants, so we’re not worried about competition,” he said. <br />
West Side Stories, located at 205 Grant St., just opened its doors on July 15, so owner Joe Petri isn’t expecting a big holiday rush. <br />
“I’m not expecting a huge rush of Christmas shoppers buying used books,” Petri said. “The bulk of our business is from people who are out shopping for themselves, buying used books.”<br />
But Petri is still working on ways to get more holiday shoppers into the store. <br />
“We do have some other things, gift certificates, gift item type things like hand made journals and also some jewelry,” he said, “so we do have some things that will appeal to Christmas shoppers.”<br />
West Side Stories is also offering a special book bargain: If you purchase a $20 gift certificate you will receive an additional $5 gift certificate for free. <br />
But making money isn’t Petri’s biggest holiday concern. West Side Stories is also hoping to contribute to the revival of the West Side community.<br />
“We want to make books cheap and accessible to everyone and we want to help the neighborhood,” he said. “I feel like putting your money into the West Side is helping what has already been a great revitalization. We’re doing our little bit to help.”Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495903797657523964.post-59086440354689404742011-12-05T09:13:00.000-08:002011-12-05T09:29:33.444-08:00Brewery hopes to revive Buffalo tradition<b>By Kevin Freiheit and Melissa Kania<br />
<i>BengalNews Reporters</i></b><br />
One of Ethan Cox's goals for his upcoming Lafayette Avenue brewery is to "embeer" Buffalo.<br />
<a href="http://www.communitybeerworks.com/">Community Beer Works</a>, a project that has been brewing since Cox and David Foster came up with the idea in spring 2010, is slated to open in 2012 at 15 Lafayette Ave., near Niagara Street.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5gKQ5vTMfXca9X2oK822lplj4luu13d9xjYEfDM_hUFmU9GN96mmoZ2_yKpW6BQP5QWI-ugpYalMSCUFU-fB1ZpwmkBnDESpLvpiJv95Z7nuazSRCLiYEyXgPFF3iPJza54GvSYSOmfa/s1600/brewery_photo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5gKQ5vTMfXca9X2oK822lplj4luu13d9xjYEfDM_hUFmU9GN96mmoZ2_yKpW6BQP5QWI-ugpYalMSCUFU-fB1ZpwmkBnDESpLvpiJv95Z7nuazSRCLiYEyXgPFF3iPJza54GvSYSOmfa/s320/brewery_photo3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan Cox stands amid construction at Community Beer Works</td></tr>
</tbody></table> They chose the location for several reasons, partly because in a world where brewing has become largely industrialized, CBW will be a neighborhood brewery.<br />
"We feel really good about being here," Cox said. "Bidwell Park, the Niagara River…. Grant [Street] is picking up, and we're helping with that."<br />
Philip Kneitinger, a supporter of Community Beer Works, said he thinks it's a great location.<br />
"So often, businesses stick to neighborhoods like Elmwood, Allen, Hertel - neighborhoods that are move-in ready and friendly - because maybe it's easier," he said. "Setting up on Lafayette, CBW found a building that suits them that isn't necessarily in a pretty part of town.”<br />
Kneitinger said that by setting up on Lafayette, CBW will help to bring business and activity to a traditionally ignored part of Buffalo.<br />
The building is also connected to <a href="http://www.buffaloah.com/h/jablonski/breweries/index.html">Buffalo's brewing history</a>. The Meyer Malting Company used the building for vehicles and storage, according to Cox, and out-of-town executives may have used the apartments on the second floor.<br />
"All the grain stopped in Buffalo briefly and was stored in those towers," Cox said. "A malting industry was a natural thing to do; you've got all this grain and it's just sitting here. You can buy it, malt it and sell it for three times as much as what you bought it for."<br />
The location near Niagara Street is also suitable for other reasons.<br />
"For a small brewery where we're really depending on foot traffic," Cox said, "you really have to be in a place where people can get to," which is why the West Side location works.<br />
City zoning laws dictate where businesses, industrial and commercial properties can be located, and Cox said the brewery is in exactly the right zoning location.<br />
"There is some foot traffic," he said. "The immediate neighborhood is probably not our target demographic, but we're as close to that target demographic as we can be legally."<br />
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Ethan Cox, president of Community Beer Works, discusses how the process of brewing is both art and science, and how the two components come together:<br />
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Born in Ohio, Cox moved here when he was four and considers himself a Buffalo native. He attended Bennett Park Montessori, Olmstead 56 and City Honors before moving onto boarding school and going away for college. Stints in Boston, Tucson and Chicago led him back to Buffalo, where he and his wife chose to raise their family.<br />
Foster, one of Cox's partners in the project, was born and raised in the West Side area, attending Lafayette High School and working at a local record store.<br />
For both men, the location makes perfect sense for the brewery.<br />
"I'm Buffalo through and through," Cox said. "This is our community."<br />
To stay connected with the neighborhood, Community Beer Works plans to partner with the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) and urban farmers.<br />
Cox referred to MAP's tilapia growing project as an example of how Community Beer Works plans to remain involved in the neighborhood. Donated grain will be fed to worms, which turn compost into fine dirt. The dirt is then distributed into the aquaponics system and helps to filter water, which is pumped through a system for the tilapia tanks.<br />
Cox said many breweries do something responsible with their grain, often donating it to farms to feed cattle.<br />
"This works for Buffalo and for our community," Cox said. "They're right there and we're small enough, and their needs are small enough."<br />
Urban hop farms are another project that Cox is interested in.<br />
He's been contacted by people from Wheatfield and the East Side of Buffalo who are growing hops, which is a complicated process because hops need to be dried and processed before they can be used.<br />
Although the hop-growing process is very involved, Cox said he loves to use fresh hops and wants to encourage professional, but small-scale, local hop agriculture, as well as all different aspects of brewing a beer culture.<br />
"Once or twice a year, we probably can make a beer with just people's backyard hops," he said. "That won't be the same beer year after year at all; that will be fun."<br />
ox said Community Beer Works does not have a targeted open date yet, but mid-January is a realistic expectation for when brewing will begin. They have put in their application to the State Liquor Authority, and construction is still in progress. After that's finished, it will take two weeks to brew the beer.<br />
Aside from the goals of making enough money to stay in business and producing 'ridiculously good' beer, Community Beer Works has one main goal.<br />
"I hope we kick-start a brewing focus and a brewing culture in Buffalo," Cox said.<br />
He said preservation and architecture are great efforts, but a city needs diversity and bringing a brewing culture back here will provide just that, giving Buffalo a new identity.<br />
"The Buffalonians that are left here are pretty into Buffalo," Cox said. "Those that remain are the kind of die-hards, and this town can easily support a bunch of breweries."<br />
Kneitinger said that Buffalo's brewing culture is largely due for a revival.<br />
"Buffalo once boasted dozens upon dozens of small breweries, but as time rolled on, they all vanished," he said. "With this new craft brewing movement starting to really pick up steam, it feels like small brewing endeavors can really take off again and a place like Buffalo would embrace it. For CBW to join big players in Buffalo like Flying Bison and Pearl Street, it helps reestablish that Buffalo brewing tradition again." <i>Edited by Samantha Murphy</i>Bengal News Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03209451649003025385noreply@blogger.com0