Designing Downtown

Link to August 29 Warren Times Observer article.

Excerpt:
Arts corridor, health and wellness zone, local agriculture indoor market, a medi-spa, shared kitchen, retail incubator, mini-districts, and clusters.

Warren Main Street has grand designs.

To make it all happen, the organization is looking for potential entrepreneurs with grand designs of their own.

Halt to Seneca casino construction follows nationwide slump in gambling income

Link to August 28 Buffalo News.

Excerpt:

“The weakening U. S. economy is pressuring the casino business as consumers pare back discretionary travel and entertainment spending,” said the report written by Moody’s analyst Jacques Ouazana.

The Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino is also in jeopardy because of the continued success of the lawsuit by those who oppose the casino in Buffalo’s Cobblestone District.

Wednesday afternoon’s suspension in building the $333 million casino and hotel in Buffalo, as well as the $130 million expansion of the hotel at the Seneca Allegany Hotel and Casino in Salamanca, followed the opposition’s latest victory in U. S. District Court.

Old Meets New

A construction crew uncovers the original sign for Lander's Men's Store, a family-operated clothing shop at 215 N. Main St. that used to be located next door. The sign was uncovered as the structure undergoes a facelift as part of the Jamestown Renaissance Corp.'s ongoing effort to make facade improvements along North Main Street. (From the Jamestown Post-Journal, 8/27/2008)

Link to August 26 Great Falls Tribune article.

Excerpt:
The $30 million project spanned the 33 blocks of Highway 2 within Havre's city limits. More than 280 businesses and residents have entrances to their property off the highway, making it the busiest road in town.

"The town was totally disrupted, totally torn apart," said Sam Weyers, the project manager for Nelcon Construction. "It was a complete rebuild — all new water and storm system, new landscaping, new sidewalks — everything."

The work meant diverted traffic, frustration for drivers and lost business dollars. But it also brought as many as 150 construction jobs to town. Now that it's complete, the town has a shiny facelift and a brand new water and sewer system.

City firemen douse blaze in vacant Beaty St. house

Link to August 22 Warren Times Observer article.

Excerpt:
The property was added to the city's blighted property list in October, 2007. At that time, city officials said the house had not been lived in for years and was owned by a Jamestown, N.Y., resident.

William Jerman

William M. Jerman, 52, of 636 Hemlock Road, Warren, Pa., died on arrival at Warren General Hospital Emergency Room Tuesday morning, August 19, 2008, after suffering an apparent heart attack.

He was born April 8, 1956 in Warren, Pa. and was a 1974 graduate of Warren Area High School.

After graduating, Bill served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

He was employed with the United Refinery Company as a number one Operator for 32 years.

He was a member of Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church and the Warren Eagles Club.

Bill was an avid little league baseball fan and enjoyed hunting rabbits with his beagle, Simba.

He is survived by his wife, Susan L. Sorensen Jerman, whom he married June 24, 1994 in Falconer, N.Y.; his mother, Barbara A. Johnson Jerman of Warren, Pa.; three children, Michelle L. Bankoske and her husband, Jeffrey of Homestead, Fla. and Amanda R. Lester and William M. Jerman, Jr., both of Warren, Pa.; three stepchildren, Jeremy D. Bennett of Houston, Tx. and Holly S. and Matthew C. Bennett, both of Warren, Pa.; three grandchildren, Michael K. and Mackenzie R. Lester, both of Warren, Pa., and Brookelynn Lee Bankoske of Homestead, Fla.; two sisters, Lauri Wroblewski and husband, Scott of Swickley, Pa. and Barbara White and her husband, Richard of Glade Twp.; five brothers, James H. Jerman and his wife, Julu of Glade Twp., George E. Jerman of Warren, Pa., John L. Jerman of James City, Pa., Stephen G. Jerman of Clarendon, Pa. and Patrick R. Jerman and his wife, Shari of Warren, Pa.

Several uncles, one aunt, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, George H. Jerman and one sisterinlaw, Susan Jerman.

House may be saved

4 Maple Place

Link to August 20 Warren Times Observer article.

Plans to raze Wintergarden meet opposition at hearing

Link to August 19 Buffalo News article.

Excerpt:

The Wintergarden, constructed in 1977 with federal funds, operated as a free public garden until 2003 when the city, unable to afford its operating and maintenance costs, sold it for $1 million to a group of investors that included Anderson.

Niagara Gazette, August 8, 2008. Last Call for Wintergarden.

Excerpt:

Built in 1977, the old Wintergarden served as a popular arboretum that residents and out-of-towners visited, hosted parties and even served as a backdrop for marriage ceremonies. Its glass frame is among the most recognizable in the city’s skyline, but has drawn criticism from tourism enthusiasts because it splits up Old Falls Street and has become an eyesore.

After purchasing it from the city for $1 million in 2003, Anderson gutted the building’s contents and turned it into Smokin Joe’s Family Fun Center. He closed last December and the building has been locked up since.

USA Niagara’s plans have the Wintergarden being razed to restore the Old Falls Street corridor, which is now split into the east and west pedestrian malls with the building in between.

Violent crime 'much greater' now

Link to August 19 Rockford Register Star article.

Excerpt:
A lawyer, a stay-at-home dad, an aspiring artist, a barkeep and a caregiver are among the 14 people who were killed in Winnebago County so far this year.

Some were shot. Some were stabbed. Some were beaten. One had a heart attack and died after someone pointed a gun at him.Some lived in Rockford their whole lives. Some moved here as children, grew up and had children of their own. They range in age from 18 to 75, and sometime between Jan. 1 and today, they were killed.

Rockford homicides
13 in 2008 (to date)
20 in 2007
19 in 2006
20 in 2005
8 in 2004
13 in 2003
21 in 2002
11 in 2001

Christina Thompson, Obituary

Christina R. Thompson, 86, of 28 N. Center St., Clarendon, Pa. died in her sleep, Friday morning, August 15, 2008.

She was born October 25, 1921 in Clarendon, Pa. To the late Joseph and Agnes Mancuso Pusateri.

She has resided most of her life in Clarendon. She was a former member of the former St. Clara's Roman Catholic Church and was a Sunday School Teacher for 25 years and a member of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, where she belonged to the Catholic Daughters of America.
Chris was a charter member of the Clarendon V.F.W. 314 Ladies Auxiliary. She was a Cub Scout master for 23 years and a volunteer with the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. She was a recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award.

Chris also served as treasurer for 20 years with the Warren Women's Bowling Association and received permanent membership from the Women's Bowling Congress. She served as chairman for 10 years for the American Cancer Society Bowlathon. She was employed with the Bureau of Forestry Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 20 years as a clerk typist II, and was secretarytreasurer for the Clarendon Municipal Authority.

She is survived by her husband, Howard R. Thompson whom she married 65 years ago on August 14, 1943 in Clarendon, Pa.; four children, Candy Wescott of Sheffield, Pa., Robert Thompson and his wife, Mary of McKees Rocks, Pa., Penny Moore and her husband, Don of Warren, Pa., and Kerry Thompson of Clarendon, Pa., one sisterinlaw, Helen Pusateri of Clarendon, Pa.; ten grandchildren, 12 greatgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Judy Waller, Rose Pusateri, and Mary Bullock; and two brothers, Sam F. Pusateri, and John J. Pusateri.

Cruisin’ Success

Link to August 16 Jamestown Post Journal article.

Great Turnout For Downtown Jamestown Event. ("400 to 500 cars". I take it the event didn't require registration.)

Trash Tracker: Vacant Rockford house attracting squatters

Link to August 14 Rockford Register Star article.

Excerpt:
The vacant property at 1636 S. Main St. in Rockford is surrounded by broken glass, while overgrown plants and weeds have taken over the backyard. Wiring in the back of the house is hanging down. Old newspapers and litter are strewn about the yard, and the house’s front siding has been torn off.

The windows and doors have been boarded up for years. Signs are posted: “Private property, no trespassing.” But neighbors say that hasn’t stopped people from tearing off the plywood and squatting.

Suzanne Moore of Beloit, Wis., is hoping to sell the two properties to the south of the boarded-up house, but she’s having no luck.

A.J.’s Texas Hots Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Link to August 12 Jamestown Post-Journal article.

Excerpt: Sam Colera took over for his father, John, after the Jamestown Urban Renewal Project planned to reconstruct the area in 1970, forcing Colera and other business owners out. Since then, A.J.'s has been located on Foote Avenue and has become a staple of Jamestown.

Planned project will shut Niagara bridge for a year

Link to August 12 Iron Mountain News article.

Excerpt:
MDOT and WisDOT have agreed to replace the bridge, which was originally built in 1929, with a new, wider structure in 2010-11. Estimated cost is $4.2 million.

The project will be coordinated with an urban reconstruction project on U.S. 141 in the city of Niagara.

Officials say an obituary for Springfield is premature

Link to August 8 Springfield Republican article.

Excerpt:

Hey, Forbes.com - it's the City of Homes, not the City of Funeral Homes.

The Web site of the famous Forbes business magazine ran a story Tuesday that included Springfield on list of America's top 10 dying cities.

The somber summation, according to Forbes.com - "Home Page for the World's Business Leaders" - was based on factors that include "fleeing populations, painful waves of unemployment and barely growing economies."

Springfield's rank ranking rankled people such as Judith A. Matt.

"Some of what they said is accurate," said Matt, president of the Spirit of Springfield Inc., a nonprofit event-organizer.

"However, they're not focusing on any of the positives that are happening in this city, everything from the (new federal) courthouse to the State Street corridor to the wonderful arts events that are going on in the city," Matt said.

Change in Route 5 design would open more lakefront, advocates say

Link to August 8 Buffalo News article.

Excerpt:

Opponents of the Southtowns Connector are going to court today with a proposal to change the $55 million highway project and open up more lakefront land.

The four groups trying to block the project filed court papers that, if successful, would require the state to modify its plans so Route 5 becomes an at-grade boulevard.

Saving Springfield

Link to August 7 Valley Advocate article.

Excerpt:

The overarching question, of course, is where the city will find the resources to do all it needs to do, from training workers to fixing aging infrastructure. There are signs of hope, like Gov. Deval Patrick's recent announcement of more than $2 million in state aid, including a grant for improvements in the Armory Street area, the creation of an "economic growth district" along Main and State streets, and worker-training grants for three local businesses.

Springfield also needs to build a successful development track record to draw skittish investors back to the city. What does Panagore consider the two or three most crucial projects for the city? "How about the top 16?" he asks with a laugh.

But he narrows it to two: the South End, where the decrepit Hollywood section and the site of the former Gemini factory are reminders of years of neglect; and 31 Elm Street, the handsome but largely dormant block opposite City Hall, a site that could draw new retail and revivify downtown "so we can prove to the market that downtown living can work for Springfield," Panagore says.

2nd Avenue North construction to block traffic on 9th Street for two weeks

I used to cross this intersection on my way to kindergarten at Whittier School. (1955-56)

Link to August 4 Great Falls Tribune article.

Excerpt: Crews from United Materials of Great Falls are rebuilding 2nd Avenue North from Park Drive to 15th Street, but they also are tearing up 9th Street from 3rd Alley North south toward Central Avenue beginning today.