Report: WNY business leaders gaining confidence in economy

Western New York is by no means booming, but a study released Tuesday suggests the confidence of local business leaders has returned to where it stood before the recession took hold.

First Niagara’s Annual Survey of Upstate New York Business Leaders was unveiled and Buffalo’s confidence numbers ranked the best out of the four biggest upstate cities.

Responses from 636 leaders of private businesses in the four major markets of Buffalo, Albany, Rochester and Syracuse were used in First Niagara’s fifth annual survey, conducted by Siena College Research Institute during the last two months of 2011 and the first week of 2012.

Responses came from 199 business leaders in the Buffalo Niagara area, including chief executive officers, chief financial officers and other senior managers of private businesses with $5 million to $150 million in annual sales in the service, manufacturing, engineering and construction, retail, wholesale and distribution, financial and food and beverage industries.

“Leaders of Buffalo Niagara area businesses are showing rays of optimism in an uneven economic period and they continue to demonstrate an acute realism in projecting their future revenues, profits and company investments in this post-recession world,” said Buford Sears, Western New York Market Executive for First Niagara Bank.

This year, Buffalo Niagara business leaders registered an overall Confidence Index of 94.8, up 1.4 points from last year, up 12.4 points from two years ago and up 54.8 points from 2008.

The Buffalo Niagara area also registered a 100.5 for the “future” Confidence Index, its highest over the past five years. This represents an increase of 4.5 points over last year, 13.1 points in 2009 and 54.0 points over the 2008 survey.

Lockport man becomes county’s 17th lottery millionaire

Paul Schneider has no plans to go quitting his job, even after pulling in a cool million from the New York Lottery.

With the winds whipping and a throng of media snapping pictures, Schneider became Niagara County’s 17th person to win at least a million smackers when he was awarded the prize on Tuesday at Noco Express Mini Mart on South Transit Road in Lockport.

Schneider got a scratch off Big Bills ticket, realized he’d matched a winner, then called his girlfriend and then his mother to tell them the good news.

After taxes, Schneider will get $33,091 per year through 2031.

Hydrogen Peroxide transported through Niagara

Could this be yet another environmental disaster waiting to happen?  Hydrogen Peroxide.  Sure sounds dangerous; hope I’m not behind a truck carrying this stuff.

Actually, this stuff may just be the “elixir” that was sold in the old westerns, or may be Mother Nature’s own remedy to the ills of our progressive society.  The chemical concoction is sold in those little brown plastic bottles in the drug store for anywhere from 79 cents to $1.29 per bottle.

It may be the material that the big drug companies doesn’t want you to know about, that’s why they keep calling it Hydrogen Peroxide instead of a more appealing moniker like, “Nutri-heal” or “Bio-solve.”

I discovered its healing prowess when I poured it over a gash on my hand.  With no pain like the old days of merthiolate when you had to bite on a bullet to prepare for the sting, hydrogen peroxide just started to bubble, giving you the visual of germs dying by the millions.  How cool.

I bought a few jugs for my daughter’s first apartment inNew York City, knowing that I had just done all I could do as a caring Dad to keep her safe.  She loved the stuff and couldn’t wait to slam her hand in a door just to use it.  She found a website that touted all the uses of this miracle drug, and sent it to me.

You can sanitize your countertops, brush your teeth, gargle, water plants, kill shower mold, cure canker sores, whiten teeth, clean clothes, germinate seeds, and dry up acne.  But the best — and the reason for this article — is it stops the common cold dead in its tracks. Yes it does. I didn’t want to say anything till I was sure, but now you’ll know:

The theory is that most of the time common cold germs enter your body through the ear canal.  When you first feel the signs of a cold, it is your body’s reaction to these germs hanging out at the Anvil and Stirrup Lounge just past your eardrum.

They’re about to embark on a fantastic journey through your body and make you miserable.  You know the feeling, stinging in the back of your throat, eyes burning, ears uncomfortable — you also know what comes next — three days of congestion, stuffed head, then a cough, whatever happens to you is your way of getting a cold.  So nip it in the bud – quick. You lie down on your side and have a close friend pour some hydrogen peroxide in your ear.  Yes, fill ‘er up.

Now I say a close friend, cause if you ask some guy at the gas station or a lady on an escalator to do it, they may think you’re a bit whacked.  Anyway, things get real quiet cause the liquid in your ear blocks the sound, and you are laying on the other ear.

Then, a distant noise begins … bubbling!  More and more, bubbling.  The more you hear, the more germs are dying.  They say to let it go for about 10 minutes, then tip your head over, holding a towel to your ear, and dump it out.

Now do the same thing to the other side.  For dessert, take a Q-Tip with a little tea tree oil and olive oil combo and coat the inside of your ears.  This helps trap any more bad stuff, temporarily replacing the ear wax that got neatly dissolved and removed with the hydrogen peroxide.  I’ve done this three times so far. The first time, the symptoms were gone the next day – gone!

But, on the second day, I got hit hard with a cold that only lasted one more day.  Weird.  After that, I have felt a cold coming on two more times, and honest to God, it stops the progression of the symptoms.

Please don’t take my word for it, maybe my kids are pranking me and put Nyquil in my hydrogen peroxide bottle.

Nonetheless, check it out on the internet and then just wait for that scratchy throat to start.  Chemicals … where would we be without ‘em?

Faso lashes back at SPCA of Niagara board

John Faso might be out the door at the SPCA of Niagara, but he’s by no means going quietly.

After being relieved of his duties as the organization’s executive director following a meeting of the board of directors on Monday, Faso spoke with WGRZ’s MaryAlice Demler, then he gave a scathing in-depth with our news partner, WLVL, on Donna Pieszala’s Niagara’s Talking show.

Faso said the entire board should resign — “every single one of them” — then said many were rarely involved in functions.

He said he stepped into a situation in 2009 where files had been shredded, where he was told the animal side of the shelter would be handled by others with more experience, and where the budget was on a loose-leaf piece of paper.

He also said he’s received dozens of death threats, and that he and his family have been traumatized by the events that have unfolded. Faso insisted that he came into the position primarily as a fundraiser, and his resume indicates that.

Previously, Faso worked largely as a facility coordinator, holding positions as the director of groups and conventions at Adam’s Mark and the general manager of the Conference & Event Center of Niagara Falls.

“I wasn’t trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes and convince them I had experience or knowledge that I didn’t. I had never run a kennnel before or an animal shelter. They said that was fine, they weren’t looking for that type of experience,” he said. “They were looking for someone to manage the building and that the veterinarian duties and animal care would be left up to the veteranarian who was on the board.”

Faso said he would have followed any operations manual on hand, but none were to be found when he started on the job. He also said board members Brandi Scrufari, a resident of the area below the falls, and Chris Carlin, a former county sheriff’s deputy who works with the U.S. Department of Labor as an investigator, knew there was little to work with when he arrived.

“What was left for me were 12 personnel files. That’s it. There were no financial documents, there were no operating procedures. There were no job descriptions. There was nothing. On the prior administration’s way out, one of the employees called a board member to report that documents were being shredded,” Faso said. “That report was made to Brandi Scrufari and Chris Carlin on several occasions, and they chose to do nothing about it. I don’t know who shredded them.

“When I got there, that shelter had been there for 25 or 30 years, I found nothing. No annual reports, no financials. The budget I inherited was on a loose-leaf piece of paper and typed. And that was in 2009.”

State Police preparing for Super Bowl driving issues

State Police will be out this Super Bowl weekend looking for aggressive or drunk drivers.

New York State Thruway officials say Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most dangerous days to drive because of how many people drive while impaired.

The four-day crackdown will run Friday through Monday and will include extra patrols on major highways.

During a similar sweep last Super Bowl weekend, more than 30 arrests were made on the Thruway and some 1,400 tickets handed out.

Will new plan help Lake Ontario’s wildlife flourish?

A proposal announced by the international panel that oversees the water levels in Lake Ontario could help restore the lake’s ecosystem. The plan would allow greater fluctuations in levels.

Under the proposal, Lake Ontario would be allowed to be a few inches higher in the spring and fall than is currently allowed. The International Joint Commission says this should restore diversity in plant and animal life in and around the lake.

There are a number of stories on the matter, but here’s one linked from Rochester City Paper, and another from the Watertown Daily Times.

According to a local environmental group, the benefits of the plan include:

— Increased populations of northern pike, black tern and other marsh-nesting birds.

— A 40 percent increase in wet meadow habitats, which have been overgrown by dense stands of cattails since water level regulation began.

— Return of the muskrat, an essential habitat engineer which has almost disappeared since regulation began.

Deal eager for chance on NTCC board

They’re at different points on both the socioeconomic scale and the Robert Moses Parkway, but local realtor Thomas Deal thinks neither Niagara Falls or the Village of Lewiston can reach their full potential without the other.

That’s why he was eager to get started in his new role as a board member for the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation.

Deal was officially sworn into the post late last week. With offices in both Niagara Falls and Lewiston, Deal sees how the two entities need to pull together.

“I think it’s gone on for too long where different areas have cannibalized each other,” he said. “By working together, we can do better things.”

According to a press release from the NTCC, the new members were selected following a rigorous process which included the interviewing of 14 candidates by the nominating committee. The board of directors of the NTCC includes representatives from the Niagara County Legislature, cities of Niagara Falls and Lockport, and various hospitality and general business stakeholders. It is comprised of 16 seats including 13 voting members and three ex-officios. They are responsible for budget and marketing plan approvals in addition to providing accountability and oversight for the fiscal and policy decisions of the NTCC.

Deal’s first meeting on the board came last Thursday and the longtime Lewiston resident (he and his wife Cheryl have lived below the falls for 16 years).

Also named to the board were Frank Strangio, the owner of the Quality Inn Niagara Falls/Antonio’s Banquet and Conference Center; and William R. Vanecek, the director of aviation for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.

Deal said that through his realty company, he’s constantly trying to extol the virtues of the region.

“We’re selling Niagara Falls every day. We’re trying to convince people to stay here and buy here,” Deal said. “We have some experience with that. Hopefully, we can add something to what the board does.”

Breaking News: SPCA Board fires John Faso

The SPCA of Niagara Board of Directors has terminated Executive Director John Faso, according to Channel 4 News.

Here’s a link to their story: http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/spca-board-terminates-director

More information to follow as the story develops.

 

Best Pizza in Niagara Falls – The Results!

The results are in from our extremely unscientific poll that asked the question, “Who has the BEST pizza in Niagara Falls (presently or in the past) EVER?!”  From over 150 comments and votes, we’ve culminated the following top ten list – now don’t go killin’ the messenger, we’re just reporting what the commenting viewers of NiagaraHub expressed, so feel free to conduct your own taste test and let us know what ya think:

1.  Pizza Oven (by far, the most popular vote, no other place came close! I’m ashamed to admit my lack of pizza knowledge on Pizza Oven’s offerings – I’ve never had it!  But now, I must…)

2.  LaHacienda

3.  Buzzy’s

4. Mister B’s.

5. Goodfella’s

6.  Joey’s

7.  Leon’s

8.  Ventry’s

9.  Jaco’s

10.  Pee Wee’s

Honorable Mention:  Sammy’s, Truscello’s, Michael’s, Macri’s, Dave’s Pizza Joint, Mom’s, LaPalermo’s, Honey’s, DiCamillo’s, Gagsters, Frenchy’s, Pizza Time Plus.

Stay tuned for more on this topic, it is OBVIOUS that residents (past and present) are very passionate about their hometown pizza.  We may have to have an OFFICIAL taste off at some point over at the NiagaraHub!

Announcement: Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association

Dear DNFBA Members and Friends:

As the new president of the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association, I would like to cordially extend an invitation to all current members to attend our next meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m., at the Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls.  It has been quite some time since we have all met as a cohesive group.

This candid discussion will serve as a “State of the Association” meeting and allow for members to openly discuss the following, while planning for the future:

• DNFBA Mission
• Status of the DNFBA Community Coordinator position
• Role of DNFBA Officers, Board, Members
• Fundraising efforts
• Role of the Conference Center/Old Falls Street in DNFBA activities
• Need for more participation by members/alternates
• Need to invite new members to the Association
• Association benefits

In order to reinvigorate our Association, we need your help, your participation and your reaffirmed effort to unify our Downtown businesses in this collaborative way.  Please make every effort to attend this meeting so that we can begin to reach loftier goals benefitting us all.  If you cannot make this particular meeting, please try to send a delegate from  your business to serve as your replacement.

I look forward to seeing you.

Sincerely,

Ryan Coate
DNFBA President
General Manager – Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls / Old Falls Street, USA