I'm going to the Sabres game on Thursday with work a few people from work. It is going to be the first time I think for a hockey game that I've been in the 200's they should be great seats. I havn't been keeping up with the sabres like I should have been lately. I don't come here for a few days and a bunch of things are new. The News has a differant look and there is a web cam or something link that I didn't see. There is New thing called Gather I have no Idea what that does. There are a few new people here. It seems like that Hotel Debate is still going on, I hope that is over I think everyone has said everything they can say about it. The other night I watched this great Show Called Tattoo: Under the skin. They showed jail Tats and gave some of the meanings and showed people in Thailand geting tattoo with spritual power it was verry interesting. It werid how you miss a couple days of posts and chat and you sord of feal like you are missing others lives. I can't read all the posts but I've read some. Hope the Sabres win that would make the day even better but as long as it is a good game it will be fun.

I admit that I was looking for a post that I found [inlink]metalpeter,428[/inlink]. I'm sure those of you who read it may remember it. . It was about how if Elmwood will expand to Grant St and if that is a good thing or a bad thing here is the link to it [inlink]metalpeter,428[/inlink]. I think Paul and either Uncut and or leetee respondend to it. I'm I little bit Tired of the Hotel Debate. The reason that I'm sick of it is it seems to be all about asthetics and looks and not weather or not it is good for elmwood. So I add this thought what if the hotel opened on Grant Street instead? Would anyone stay there? Would that depend on where it was. I remeber growing up when the Black and Gold Signs went up and that was a huge deal that they all matched. In any event this article from the news sounds like it grant might be able to be able to come around and get better.

Former Forever Elmwood chief sets sights on Grant-Ferry
By MICHELLE KEARNS
News Business Reporter
3/6/2006



Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Bob Franke stands on Grant Street where a revitalization effort will be launched to help businesses prosper.

To help solve the puzzle of how to make businesses on Grant Street prosper like they do on Elmwood Avenue and develop a plan for new Grant-Ferry Association, Bob Franke parked his car, studied Guercio's market and watched people dash in and out.
The grocery at 250 Grant with a reputation for obscure variety in herbs, cheeses, pasta, dried beans and produce, manages to draw cooks to the old Italian section of the city even though it now has a bleak, dangerous look with graffitied walls and boarded-up buildings.

Franke, who hopes to start a series of business improvement committees at an upcoming meeting, watched customers climb into their cars and drive away without stopping elsewhere as they do on Elmwood.

"The thing I can't understand is the buildings right across the street from it don't seem to spring to life," said Franke, 50, who quit his job as director of the Elmwood Avenue association in December to work on business-improving community action on Grant Street.

Guercio's faces a record shop and a derelict store with its windows papered in newspaper and a sign promising a new shop opening soon. A hole smashed in the glass revealed a bare room. Franke traces such neighborhood decay to a decline in population after the Italians moved away.

Newcomers from Somalia, Puerto Rico and Vietnam have since moved in, but the numbers are still down. Modern immigrants move out and don't stay as long as others did. "I'd like to see Somalian markets," said Franke. He measured the change by analyzing census data that showed fewer people and fewer homeowners, a sign of socioeconomic decline.

In 1970, the population in the district several blocks west of Elmwood was 23,837 with 4,600 owner-occupied households and 3,000 rentals. In 2000, there were 17,000 people in 2,156 owner-occupied households and 3,925 rentals in the same area. That is a 29 percent population drop and a 53 percent drop in owner-occupied households in 30 years.

"The big goal is to increase the population," Franke said. "You have to start making a more attractive, desireable neighborhood and that starts with the businesses."

To figure out how to make things better for the part of the city that surrounds Franke's own Dorchester Street residence, the former communications manager for Delaware North Companies spent two years with Forever Elmwood and its 600 or so resident and business members.

The Elmwood neighborhood has been thriving lately with million-dollar building projects and increasing residential demand. For the last two months, Franke has been working to apply what he learned to Grant Street. He wants to get businesses and residents to pitch in and develop an identity with a street festival, outdoor concerts and a farmer's market.

Instead of Elmwood's fashion and boutiques, Franke said Grant could become a specialty food district with an international food festival. Already he has offers of help from Guercio's and potential grants and loans from the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC). "This is a project that I've been trying to get somebody to bite for the last two and a half years," said Fred Heinle, CPC assistant vice president.

Louis Guercio, one of the brothers who own the market and restaurant supplier, would like to see Grant Street develop the same kind of walking and shopping traffic that Hertel Avenue has. "I wish they could do that here," he said.

The improvement project will officially begin on March 15 at 7 p.m. when Franke will hold the first organizational meeting of the Grant-Ferry Association at the old library building at 271 Grant. The library's new tenant, the Massachusetts Avenue Project is an agency that helps food entrepreneurs start up and sell their creations, such as quiche and veggie burgers. It is among those interested in collaborating with the new street association.

"I've talked to so many people and now it's time to bring them together," said Franke, who has compiled a contact list of 200 business and property owners. "I just don't want to waste any more time. I'm kind of pushing everybody along now."

As word of Franke's plan gets out, people doing business here say they're willing to consider a new approach.

"Anything that will help the business climate here is a plus," said Jim Lorigo, owner of the Meating Place, sausage maker and meat distributor at 185 Grant. For the last five years that he has been president of the 75-member West Side Business and Taxpayer's Association, he has worked to incorporate charity work, such as food deliveries and winter coat and hat giveaways. Next week, the group, which had about 110 members five years ago, will consider Franke's proposal to affiliate.

"This community is in so much of a need," Lorigo said.

When the owner of Rotundo's dry cleaner at 332 West Ferry St., near the Grant intersection, takes his dog for walks in the neighborhood, he sees houses without footprints in the snow. The population drop and closed shops is a cycle.

"How do you stop it?" said Gary Rotundo. Businesses don't want to open in ailing neighborhoods, and people don't want to move to places that seem decayed and dangerous.

"Elmwood was easy," he said. "Now this one's going to be a real undertaking."

At Russ's Pastry Shoppe at 294 West Ferry, just beyond Grant, the owner has put his three-story building up for sale for $250,000.

When Franke stopped in for coffee and asked the owner's daughter if she could be talked into staying, she shook her head. "Nope. No way," said Rosalie Patronaggio. The bakery's counter stools and window tables were empty. It was Monday, the shop's first day open after closing for the slow months of January and February.

In the third floor kitchen, her father Russell worked spreading carrot cake dough as fig cookies cooled in pans. There was a time during his decades in business when he would sell out of his eclairs and pastry-wrapped baked apples each day.

"Every morning I used to come to work and my shelves were empty," said Patronaggio. "Now I come to work and my shelves are full."

In April he plans to open an outlet store at 1612 Niagara Falls Blvd. in the Town of Tonawanda to lure clients who tell him they won't drive to Grant Street.

Yet Franke is optimistic that dramatic change can come to the street. He wants to start small. To make the point, he stopped at one of the trash bins posted on a pole. The black paint on the metal holder had rust spots. To him, that made it look like nobody cared about the street.

"That's a few bucks and a little bit of paint. That's something we can do right now," said Franke, who expected to talk to business owners about the trash, as he had on Elmwood. "If there's no scold on the street, the culture doesn't change."

Further down the street he tried a gentle "scold" when he stopped by the Rainbow clothing shop at 110 Grant St. Big flakes of red paint hung in peels from the sign. A worker opened the door to explain that someone painted it a couple of years ago and didn't do a good job.

"Maybe you've got to do something again," Franke said before she ended the conversation by closing the door.


e-mail: mkearns@buffnews.com

Yesterday I went to the Bandits game. The Bandits lost the game started out verry good. John Tavares did get one Point so he broke the record, wich is cool, to bad The Bandits didn't win. At the game I found out the Guys who sit next to me where the weekend Warriors in the print ad in the papper. How did I miss that ad, I would have loved to see it. On the way to the game I took a few pictures of downtown and a few Bandits pictures as well. I only put up a few Bandits pictures including a kinda fuzzy one of the celerbration at midfield. Hope people at least like the Buffalo Pictures.

Before I forget I picked up this weeks Artvoice on the way home from the bank, man there are some cuties working there. They Have a verry intrersting article about the Elmwood Village Hotel. It covers a bunch of differant points of view. There is one part that seems like an attack on the Buffalo News. I wish those two would just give there thoughts with out attacking each other, other then that it is a good article. There is another interesting article about the banning of Hoddies at the Regal movie Theatre. I had never heard of this but I do go during the day and havn't been in some time. There is a third piece I havn't read yet about improvment ideas for the HSBC Arena. I'm going to the Bandits game tonight so hopefully I will read it then when at the game look at some of those improment ideas and see what I think. One thing they suggested was doing something with the adelphia Internet kisok area that hasn't been used in a long time. I know somepeople don't agree with a lot of what artvoice says and thinks it is a shitty paper but I think this week they may like it. Oh by the way "Buffalo What"
"B'andits" "Lets go Bandits, Lets go Bandits" " B O X B O X, To The Box To Box To the Box Box Box" . Sorry I had to add that, if Tavares gets one more point he sets the record for most points ever in the league.


The main reason to get this weeks artvoice if you are someone who likes to have there opions heard this is a good week. They have another buffalo's best Ballot. There are at least two Catogories that everyone here might be interested in Best Blog and best website. .

I started reading the Arena article then remembered the other thing in artvoice that is in italics. Hopefully that link leads to the hsbc arena part. Yeah it does lead to the article that I found interesting agreed with some of it and not all of it. But that reminds me I saw some of the Pat Lafonte Jersy being raised in the HSBC Arena on TV last night that was preaty cool. But couldn't stay up for the game.I'm supposed to be going to one more game next week with work. That should be a lot of fun.

For some of you this story may be new. I have read about the idea of a catholic town before. That article was shorter version and in a magizine. I relised that I can't give my thoughts about an article before someone reads it. It changes the persons perspective and they read my thoughts about it first. After words I will say what I belive about the topic.

Catholic town, Catholic law

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New Florida community would ban abortion, pornography, birth control

By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press
3/2/2006



Associated Press


A sketch shows the proposed chapel at Ave Maria University, the new town's focal point.

NAPLES, Fla. - If Domino's Pizza founder Thomas S. Monaghan has his way, a new town being built in Florida will be governed according to strict Catholic principles, with no place to get an abortion, pornography or birth control.
The pizza magnate is bankrolling the project with at least $250 million and calls it "God's will."

Civil libertarians call the plan unconstitutional and threaten to sue.

The town of Ave Maria is being built around Ave Maria University, the first Catholic university established in the United States in about 40 years. Both are set to open next year about 25 miles east of Naples in southwestern Florida.

The town and the university, developed in partnership with the Barron Collier Co., an agricultural and real estate business, will be located on 5,000 acres with a European-inspired town center, a massive church and what planners call the largest crucifix in the nation, at nearly 65 feet tall. Monaghan envisions 11,000 homes and 20,000 residents.

During a speech last year at a Catholic men's gathering in Boston, Monaghan said that in his community, stores will not sell pornographic magazines, pharmacies will not carry condoms or birth control pills, and cable television will have no X-rated channels.

Home buyers in Ave Maria will own their property outright. But Monaghan and Barron Collier will control all commercial real estate in the town, meaning they could insert provisions in leases to restrict the sale of certain items.

"I believe all of history is just one big battle between good and evil. I don't want to be on the sidelines," Monaghan, who sold Domino's Pizza in 1998 to devote himself to doing good works, said in a recent Newsweek interview.

Robert Falls, a spokesman for the project, said Tuesday that attorneys still were reviewing the legal issues and that Monaghan had no comment in the meantime.

"If they attempt to do what he apparently wants to do, the people of Naples and Collier County, Florida, are in for a whole series of legal and constitutional problems and a lot of litigation indefinitely into the future," warned Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist said courts would have to decide the legalities of the plan. "The community has the right to provide a wholesome environment," he said. "If someone disagrees, they have the right to go to court and present facts before a judge."

At the site's groundbreaking early last month, Gov. Jeb Bush lauded the development as a new kind of town where faith and freedom will merge to create a community of like-minded citizens. Bush, a convert to Catholicism, did not speak specifically to the proposed restrictions.

"While the governor does not personally believe in abortion or pornography, the town, and any restrictions they may place on businesses choosing to locate there, must comply with the laws and constitution of the state and federal governments," Russell Schweiss, a spokesman for the governor, said Tuesday.

Frances Kissling, president of the liberal Washington-based Catholics for a Free Choice, likened Monaghan's concept to Islamic fundamentalism.

"This is un-American," Kiss-
ling said. "I don't think in a democratic society you can have a legally organized township that will seek to have any kind of public service whatsoever and try to restrict the constitutional rights of citizens."

I don't think there is anything wrong with this idea. That is as long as there are a few things they follow. The town must be built on vacant land other people can't allready live there. This way everyone who lives there does so by choice and is chosing what freedoms they have or don't have. They have to maintain the seperation of church and state and it allways has to be maintained. That means that they get no State or Federal money. This is a privately foundend town. This goes for all businesses. This would mean that they would have to pool there money. If they where to try to get state funds then that would could be uncositiunal. I think that as long as the guy has enough money to build his owen self sustaining town then go for it. If it works it will be amazing. The one flaw I see in it is outsiders. There are supplies they will need to be trucked in and for a towne to survive people have to have a place to work and make an income and sellthings or atleast barter and at some point outside influnace may work itself in. I wonder how it would work with the college since I'm sure it gets funding. I have to admit I think it is a great idea. I think the guy is power hungery and wants to push his morality off on others and control them. But as long as everyone in the town knows what they are getting into then I have no problem. I hope it works out and they don't do anything that might violate the constitution.

not much to say but I hope everyone enjoyed Mardi Gras even if it just was by watching American Idol. I like the fact that there are people who belive enoguh to wear ashes on ash wendsday. I saw one person today who did it in the form of a cross that is cool. I can respect that because ashs on your forhead just make you look like you are dirty and it looks kinda silly. I like the fact that someone can wear that on them and they don't have to debate there beliefs.

I hope that some people on this site got to see Buffalos Mardi Gras Parade and have a fun time out and about at the bar and get to see or expose lots of boobs. But my question is if a girl gives guys beads do they have to pull there pants down or whip it out or at least pull out there balls? It would seem fair, but that would change the holiday so much and would make things really get ugly quick. But back on track for a minute I have seen some good Mardi Gras pictures linked from an article on Buffalo.com The fact that they are still having Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a good sign. Some of the outfits I read about really bash Bush, Fema, and Leeve inspecters so it seems like for they are really imbrassing it. One of the Pictures was of Britney Spears and This Young actor from American Pie (the real senistive one who is also in that movie with Julia stiles).

But that brings up an important question. Is it ok to rebuild New Orleans? The Saints will play there next year. We know they will be hit with another Huricane at some time. Maybe it won't be for another 80 years but what if it is less then 5 years they won't be fixed up by then. They can get flooded from a bad rain storm since they are below sea level from what I understand. I also understand that it was a verry racialy devided city and there are a lot of poor blacks there. That is why blacks where on the news and not whites the whites left town. There is something known as beach erosin where beachs or any land on water breaks down and moves back or shifts. I think people need to relise this and maybe think twice about rebuildning New Orleans. If I give money and that money helps keep people there and then a storm hits next year and kills those people didn't I basicly kill them. I would say I did. In the article I read it said that parts of the ground are still wet. That is insane. I'm not saying lets leave the people who still want to live there. But what happens if we dump all this money into New Orleans then next year a Huricane destroys half of Miami and all of south beach then we have to rebuild it to. I know Humans want to fight mother nature. But is it really the smart thing to do. Maybe there could be a New New Orleans and you keep the french Quarter I don't know the gegrophy well enoguh to know.

Before I get into last night and my topic I wanted to give this link It is an article about bog sites in buffalo from the Buffalo News. I think it is good that (e:strip) was mentioned. I belive it was the first time ever in the news.

Over the weekend I was In a chat with (e:ladycroft) that really got my mind going last night. Or maybe it was just that I was tired and missed the first few minutes of The L Word and that and some of the closing ceremonies of the olympics; not sure. Last night I had trouble sleeping for some reason also so recalling my thoughts may come across in a strange way. I think that a lot of us guys are affraid of good girls. Yeah the slutly girls, or the dumb girls, or the ladies who only party and don't do anything with there lives are easy to take. But rad chicks who like sports. Or who are really smart. Or who have travled the world or are super busy. They are verry intimadating because we can feal that we arn't worthy or that why would they be with us. Sometimes we think wow they are so busy when would they have time for us and that can be a problem. I think another thing that hurts our self estem or confidance in our selves is that a lot of people lie or tell half turths and we know this so we don't know if ladies are telling us the truth or lieing to us. When it is some chick who is only a one night who cares. But when it is someone rad and we think that maybe she is saying stuff about how we are cool or good in bed or rad ourselves to not hurt us. Yeah so this soundend a lot better in my head last night. Sometimes a great chick is a lot more pressure for us guys. With how fast my mind was racing last night I knew if I wasn't able to post it then that it wouldn't come out right. Last night was verry strange I was fealling kinda down and not really lonely but sord of but once I started watching TV I mellowed a bit. I saw part of really funny cartoon on Adult swim called Moral Oral it was great maybe that is what put me over the limit or maybe I just wanted some hot chick to talk to, who knows.

For the ladies of (e:strip) I think I may need to start that service. Granted I don't have a cell phone or a car to get to anyone so I doubt the service will go anywhare really. Some people for theropy like to start politcal fights and name call online. But I'll take ladies hitting me if it makes them or myself feal better. I know there is something I'm forgetting. I wish I could write my thoughts the way they came flying out last night, they where driving me insane. If I feal I need to post before I go to bed it may be an addiction. On another note there is the lady I work with who if she gets mad or looks upset I always tell her she can take it out on me, she never does, but thinks it is funny. Oh in case no one can tell I'm a little fucked up in the head.

Recently I have seen two good Documentaries that I taped. One of them is really a TV series and the other not sure if it would be considered a documentary by film makers but I really enjoyed both of them.

The first one was called "Sucide Girls the first Tour". That was interesting there were some really hot ladies in that. There was one quick shot of Niagara Falls in it. There was some good perfomances and great nudity. But there was also footage of the girls on tour. It was about the girls who toured and it did get into the site a little bit but it is tough to cover the site when there are so many ladies on that site.
[inlink]emily,66[/inlink] (past post on it). Not that there are any sites that I currently pay for other then webshots if I was going to join an adult site that is the one I would join . I don't go there verry often at all because there are so many girls it is overwhelming. In any event I know there have been a few posts about them I wanted to talk more about the show about the tour. They came to ICON last summer I think I don't know why I didn't go I really should have.

The Second one was part of MTV News Documentary series called True Life. This one Followed 3 Competative eaters. I found it interesting how some of them trained . Some with weights some with eating things to stretch there somach. One of the guys was the Japanase guy who holds the record for eating the most hotdogs.

Today I had to work. I didn't want to be there is a lot of work. On wendsday I may get to meet Dave Mira. If it works out that would be awesome. He is supposed to be at the company I work at. He does Adds for Oxy not sure if they are one of his sponers but I do know they Had some adds at the X games. Today on break I was Reading the Paper and found this article in the business section about Cliff Claven aka John Ratzenberger. Hopefully it will increase sales and profits and how much work we have. Hopefully I will have some issues or more interesting things to post about. Maybe I will have a crazzy dream or something.



In the first ad, John Ratzenberger offers advice on Mentholatum's WellPatch to a "canoe guy' with sore muscles.


John Ratzenberger used a WellPatch on his leg after mountain bike riding.

Mentholatum hires 'Cliff Claven'

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'Cheers' actor will wear firm's WellPatch in TV commercials

By MICHELLE KEARNS
News Business Reporter
2/25/2006



A national ad that begins airing on TV stations today features the actor who played postman Cliff Claven in the 1980s sitcom Cheers, a canoeist with a sore arm, medicine made by the local Mentholatum Co. and the creative work of a small Orchard Park firm.
"They let me make up my own lines and they let me have fun, so it was a pleasant experience," said actor John Ratzenberger, whose latest work includes voices for Pixar animated movies and hosting the Travel Channel's "Made in America" show.

In the new commercial, developed by Campbell Associates, Ratzenberger appears driving an RV as he does in the Made in America shows, which are about U.S. made products - including Westfield's Welch's grape juice and Olean's Cutco knives.

In the first ad to debut for Mentholatum's WellPatch - medicine patches that work like nicotine patches - Ratzenberger pulls up to a lake somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. He sees a canoeist rubbing his shoulder and calls out to the "canoe guy," a reference Ratzenberger ad-libbed into the script. "Hey canoe guy, try a little WellPatch relief on those sore muscles," the actor says in the spot.

The script for the ad was written by Bob Campbell, president of Campbell Associates, a four-member ad firm that counts Mentholatum as its chief client. Another Orchard Park firm, Media Pros, arranged for scheduling the commercials.

"They are the largest national ad spenders in Western New York," said Ken Dobmeier, president of Media Pros.

WellPatches come in formulations for muscle aches, arthritis, migraine headaches and coughs and colds. They first came out four years ago. Ratzenberger said he had friends and family try them before he agreed to be spokesman. "They all reported back that this stuff actually works and so I said, "Yes,' " recalled Ratzenberger, who tried one on his leg after a strain from mountain bike riding.

Campbell said the actor was a creative pleasure to work with, improving the commercials with his suggestions. "Every time he added something, he added something that was a keeper," Campbell said.


e-mail: mkearns@buffnews.com