The Allentown Neighbor – September/October/November 2013

The Allentown Association: Marking 50 Years of Service to Buffalo’s Great Historic Neighborhood
The Allentown Neighbor September -­ October -­ November 2013 Volume 48, Number 3 Published quarterly by The Allentown Association Inc., 14 Allen St., Buffalo, New York 14202 (716) 881-­1024 Email: [email protected] Website: www.allentown.org Annual meeting set Oct. 8 The Twentieth Century Club will host the Association’s 50th anniversary gala. Celebrate 50 years of hard work All in Allentown invited to attend gala Sept. 28 By JONATHAN WHITE Members and friends of the Allen-­
town Association will come together Sat-­
urday, Sept. 28, to celebrate a 50-­year milestone of working to create a vibrant, attractive, desirable and safe community and to acknowledge current initiatives to further improve the historic district. The Association will host a gala din-­
ner in the Twentieth Century Club, 595 Delaware Ave., featuring entertainment and a look back at the creation of Buf-­
falo’s first preservation district. Highlights of the evening will detail 50 years of accomplishments and guests will be able to view exhibits that describe the Association’s current and future goals. The elegant ambiance of the Twenti-­
eth Century Club is the perfect setting to celebrate the longevity of the Associa-­
tion. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. After cocktails in the garden at 6 p.m., dinner will be served at 7. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the
club’s magnificent private garden followed by a gourmet dinner in the grace-­
ful club rooms that feature coffered ceil-­
ings, refined details and hand-­painted murals. A silent auction and basket raffle will offer exciting prizes for attendees to bid on or enter to win. Tickets are $75 per person or $140 for a couple and can be obtained now by calling 881-­1024 or emailing [email protected]. Continued on Page 10 The annual membership meeting of the Allentown As-­
sociation will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the Allen-­
dale Theater, 203 Allen St. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a half-­hour of social-­
izing. Refreshments will be offered. Members will be brought up to date on progress of plan-­
ning the Allen Street improve-­
ment project, which will in-­
volve the reimagining and re-­
construction of the main street
of our urban village. Chairs of the Association's
major committees  Beautification, Housing & Historic
Preservation, Crime Prevention & Safety Awareness, and
Business Development  will
make presentations. President Ed Castine will speak and take questions. While the 50th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 28 will be a swanky celebration of the As-­
sociation's 50 years of service and of our historic district's history, progress and future, the annual meeting will be a Continued on Page 10 For quick updates on what’s happening, like The Allentown Association on Facebook. Page 2 The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 Neighborhood news notes Allen West Festival was huge success The Association's biggest fund-­raising event, the Allen West Festival, was hugely successful in its 15th year, earn-­
ing $22,700 to help support our neighborhood-­
improvement activities. Revenues totaled $36,800, and expenses $14,100. There were 145 booths and vendors, including artists of every type, T-­shirt makers, book publishers and pet suppliers. Expenses are low, of course, due to the volunteer labor that makes all the Association's activities possible. Special thanks go to Allen West Committee chair Gretchen Grobe who works for months with Executive Di-­
rector Andrew Eisenhardt preparing for the festival. Sev-­
eral members help staff the event, but working especially hard were Melissa Dayton, Steve Earnhart and Mark McGovern. Please support the festival's corporate sponsors: First Niagara Bank, the title sponsor;; Allen Street Hard-­
ware, 245 Allen St.;; Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Al-­
len St.;; Don Tequila Mexican Restaurant, 73 Allen St.;; Ja-­
son Urbaniak, Esq., Attorney and Counselor at Law, 438 Main St.;; and Old Fashioned House Painting, 2030 N. French Rd., Getzville. The festival runs on Allen and Wadsworth streets from Elmwood to Hudson on the same weekend as the Allen-­
town Art Festival, always the second full weekend in June. Buffalo Car Share adds to fleet Buffalo Car Share, which shares offices with the Asso-­
ciation at 14 Allen St., has added two all-­electric Ford Fo-­
cus subcompacts, bringing its fleet to 16 vehicles, includ-­
ing a small pickup and a minivan. It plans to add two more of the Focus Electrics soon. The new vehicles are on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. They were acquired through a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. RFP out for updated website The Association has distributed a Request for Proposals for redesign of its website, www.allentown.org. Ekua Mends-­Aidoo, who is chair of the Website Committee, is looking for increased user friendliness, a consistent design throughout, easier updating capabilities, and blog possibili-­
ties, among other enhancements. Allen West drew 145 vendors and earned $22,700. with Chief Building Inspector Louis Petrucci for updates and information-­sharing about them. In a couple of cases, a committee member has gone to Housing Court to keep Judge Patrick M. Carney appraised of issues and counter-­
ing some of what he's been told by attorneys for owners of cited properties. Before calling in the building inspectors, the Committee tries to consult with offending property owners to see if there are extenuating circumstances that led to problems, to cajole them into making repairs, or to advise them about possible solutions. Contact committee chair Pete Carroll at [email protected] to report housing violations. Next Litter Mob is Sept. 19 Meet some new people. Do a little labor and have a few beers with the Allentown Litter Mob on the third Thursday evening of each month. They meet at 6:30 p.m. near Fat Bob's Smokehouse at 41 Virginia Place to get trash bags. Then they spend an hour picking up litter before returning to the bar, where they get snacks and a drink for $5. Some people walk to the rendezvous point and pick up litter en route. Upcoming dates are Sept. 19, Oct. 17 and Nov. 21. Fire damages 50 Park St. house Fire caused considerable damage to a two-­story house at 50 Park St. June 25 and left six people temporarily home-­
less. Michael Baumann, owner, said contractors would re-­
pair the house as soon as arrangements with the insurance carrier are worked out. The cause was undetermined but 15 properties on watch list may have been electrical, he said. The fire apparently The Association's Housing & Historic Preservation started in the basement, but damage occurred throughout Committee is following about 15 properties that have obvi-­
the house. Fire trucks filled the block of Park Street be-­
ous code violations that are troubling neighbors. Most are tween Allen and Virginia for several hours while firefight-­
already in Housing Court. Committee members have met ers were at the scene. The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 Page 3 More than 300 people view 50th anniversary art show More than 300 people attended the three-­day Allentown
-­themed art exhibition sponsored by the Association as part of our 50th anniversary celebration. "It was a tremendous success," said Jonathan White, a member of the 50th Anniversary Committee. "The artist community responded wonderfully. Some said they wished the exhibition could have been up for a month." The weekend show opened with a wine and hors d'oeu-­
vres reception Friday evening Aug. 2, and continued noon to 5 p.m. the next two days. It was hosted on the second floor of the Wilcox Car-­
riage House at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, 641 Delaware Ave. The staff and volunteers there, under Executive Director Molly Quackenbush, were accommodating and enthusiastic. There were 82 pieces of art displayed, about 50 of which were for sale, and 14 of which were purchased. Most were paintings depicting Allentown street scenes, architecture and people. The Allentown Village Society contributed a few of its best posters from 56 years of the Allentown Art Festival, as well as some memorable photo-­
graphs of art shows past. Christopher Brown created a lengthy PowerPoint pres-­
entation that ran continuously, depicting the challenges faced and achievements of the Association over its 50 years. Opening night coincided with the regular Allentown First Friday Gallery Walk, with the final weekend of the Infringement Festival, and with Go Bike Buffalo's “Artists
and Cyclists” festivities that closed Allen Street between
Franklin and Delaware for bicycle events, a hula-­hoop con-­
test, sidewalk chalk art and hip-­hop dancing. All-­in-­all, quite a night in the neighborhood. White had hoped the art exhibition would break even, and was pleased that it actually earned nearly $400. The Bubble Man himself, Chas Incorvia, poses with the acrylic on canvas portrait, “Bubbleman of Allentown,”
and the artist who created it, Mary Ellen Bossert, at the Association’s Allentown-­themed art exhibition. Buffalo Spree editor Elizabeth Licata and Buffalo artist Jerry Mead judged the exhibition and Mead supervised the installation. Best of Show award went to Michael Killelea for his watercolor “Crossing Allen.” Best Painting went to Rita
Argen Auerbach’s watercolor “Mod Nod.” Best Photograph was Michele Agosto’s digital print “Open Door 23
North Street.” Judges Choice went to Michael Mulley’s
c-­print, “Symphony Circle.” For the reception, Rick Sasala of Allentown Liquors donated two cases of wine and Leon Rung of Cafe 59 do-­
nated food platters. Greg and Sara Hyatt of Hyatt's Art Supply donated art supply packets to the winners. Mulley, who owns College Street Gallery, donated a poster of Allentown street scenes from the 1930s for a chance drawing, and also loaned use of displays. Several volunteers moved the art, hung it, took it down and performed other chores to make the event a success. www.bnmc.org Page 4 The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 $6 million renovation to put apartments in Kof C building By PETE CARROLL The Farrar Mansion, also known as the Knights of Co-­
lumbus building, at 506 Delaware Ave. will be converted to 19 rental housing units and some commercial space in a $6 million project, according to plans approved by the city’s Preservation Board. The three-­story brick structure in Second Empire style consists of the original mansion built about 1870, with two additions, one built about 1915 south of the original and facing Delaware, and a second in the rear, built about 1940. Chilion M. Farrar, founder of the Farrar & Treffts iron works, which pioneered engines for Pennsylvania oil wells in the late 19th century, built the mansion for his family. It A rooftop patio and skylights are part of the plan. was owned by the Knights of Columbus from 1915 until 1985. The Knights' Buffalo Council and its Downtown Athletic Club continue to occupy the basement as a tenant. Plans approved July 25 by the Preservation Board call property includes a parking lot on the south side of the building. for no changes to the frontage and relatively few exterior Plans call for private financing with federal and state changes to the remainder of the building. The plans were historic preservation tax credits with a goal of completing presented by Wendy J. Ferrie of the architectural firm of Carmina Wood Morris for 506 Delaware Ave. Associates the project next year. Exterior changes include a new door and lift on the LLC, headed by Jim Jerge. south side of the building a few feet toward Delaware Ave-­
There will be six two-­level rental units described as nue from the present door and ramp, which will be replaced “lofted town houses,” ranging from 1,300 to 1,500 square
by a restored window. Two double-­hung windows similar feet, on the south side of the building’s first and second
floors. There will be no exterior doors for individual units. to existing windows will be added on the west side, along There will also be 13 one-­level apartments ranging from Holloway Alley. A portion of the roof will be replaced, and windows will provide light to an interior court. A patio area 700 to 2,000 square feet, as well as three areas of “future
on the roof is also planned. commercial space” totaling about 7,000 square feet. The
Sisti Park gets refurbished Sisti Park, the sculpture park at North and Franklin streets that commemorates the late Allentown artist Tony Sisti, has been refurbished. The city fixed the overhead illuminaries and installed new ground lighting that highlights the sculptures. New garden plantings were installed through a grant from Garden Walk Buffalo, with the assistance of the Lin-­
wood Preservation District & Friends group and the Allentown Association. A couple of years ago, the park was enlarged to make the intersection safer for pedestrians, and now it's nicer than it's ever been. There was be a party the evening of July 27 with live music by Six String Circus, Buffalo Boys and Danielle Di-­
Stefano. There was also dancing, food and candlelit lumi-­
A celebration of Sisti Park’s renovation was held July 27. naria. The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 Page 5 Merchant discounts can lure BNMC employees Allentown business owners should realize that the more-­than 12,000 peo-­
ple working on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus are potential custom-­
ers with money in their pockets who just might need a little wooing to cross Main Street to patronize neighborhood restaurants, shops, galleries and salons. To encourage employees to do just that, the BNMC earlier this year launched its Neighborhood Explorer program, an initiative in which busi-­
nesses can offer incentives and dis-­
counts to BNMC employees as a way of getting them to explore Allentown retail and entertainment venues. People working on the Medical Campus can sign up for a wallet-­sized Explorer Card, which they show at participating businesses to get a dis-­
count. Each business chooses what kind of discount or incentive it wants to offer. There is no fee to BNMC or anybody else to participate. Susan Lenahan, CRS, CBR Associate Broker 2007-­2012 Agent of the Year 431 Delaware Ave., Buffalo [email protected] www.susanlenihan.com Your City Expert! Cell: 864-­6757 Businesses that do sign up get a decal to post in their windows to make it easy for BNMC employees to iden-­
tify them. They also get a free listing on the www.bnmc.org website that contains each business’s name, address, web link, logo and discount of-­
fered, so BNMC employees can easily browse places to explore. Among the Allentown businesses that have signed up are: Antique Man, Hyatt's All Things Creative, Les Jardines Hair Salon, Quaker Bonnet Eatery, The Pilates Loft, El Buen Amigo, Betty's restau-­
rant, Cafe Taza, Coco, Fat Bob's Smokehouse, Hamlin House, Lenox Grill, Scarlet, Rick's Cycle Shop, City Wine Merchant,and Just Vino. To view a full list of participating businesses, go to www.bnmc.org and click on the Neighborhood Explorer link. It's hard to understand why nearly every neighborhood business isn't on board, whether they offer food, drinks, clothes, art, entertainment, or other specialties. Neighborhood Explorer serves as an introduction for many doctors, nurses, researchers, administrative staff and students to an area outside their work environment. As the BNMC continues to grow, the hope is that its neighboring com-­
munities such as Allentown become the hub for urban living as medical Merchants participating in the BNMC’s Neighborhood Explorer
program get this decal to post in a window, identifying them easily. campus employees become exposed to the housing, entertainment, and ameni-­
ties in the area. For more information about the program and to have your business participate, please contact Ekua Mends
-­Aidoo at emends-­[email protected] or call 218-­7806. Page 6 The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 Calendar of Autumn Events Allendale Theater, 203 Allen St. Theatre of Youth pre-­
sents “A Year with Frog & Toad,” musical by Willie and
Robert Reale, based on books by Arnold Lohel, Sept. 20, 8 p.m.;; Sept. 21, 22, 28, 29, Oct. 5, 6, 12 and 13, 2 p.m. For in-­
formation and tickets, call 884-­4400, see www.theatreofyouth.org. Allentown Association, 14 Allen St. Annual membership meeting, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. preceded with refreshments at 6:30 p.m., Allendale Theater, 203 Allen St. Board of Directors meeting, Sept. 10, Nov, 12, 7 p.m. For information call 881-­
1024 or see www.allentown..org. Art Dialogue Gallery, 1 Linwood Ave., Tuesday to Fri-­
day, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. New works by Edward G. Bisone, Sept. 17 to Nov. 15;; Small Treasures, Nov. 22 to Dec. 27. For information call 885-­2251 or see artdialoguegallery.com. Betty’s restaurant, 370 Virginia St. at College St. Sept. 16, Paula Sciuk, photography, Sept. 16 to Nov. 17. Bill Herod, paintings, Nov. 18 to Jan. 19. Buffalo Big Print gallery, 78 Allen St. Recent paintings by John Berg, Sept. 6 to Nov. 25. Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information call 884-­1777. Casa de Arte, 141 Elmwood Ave. Illuminations: Art and Spirituality, works of Ann Therese Kelly, through Sept. 20. College Street Gallery, 244 Allen St., Wednesday to Fri-­
day, 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday by appointment. Works by 20 artists in co-­op. Open mic for musicians, poets and writers, Thurs-­
days from 7 to 9 p.m. For information call 868-­8183. First Friday Gallery Tours, Allentown galleries will have extended evening hours, some with new exhibits and recep-­
tions, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1. For more information, go to wwws.firstfridaysallentown.org. Indigo gallery, 74 Allen St., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs-­
day, Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, noon to 5, Satur-­
day, noon to 3. Cottage Industry, work by Richard Huntington, Sept. 6 to 29;; new work by Dorothy Fitzgerald and Lily Booth, Oct. 4 to Nov. 2. For information, call 984-­9572. Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 220 North St. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Mondays through Oct. 31, begin-­
ning Nov. 1, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 19th Century Classical Composers. For information call 885-­1986. Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo Philharmonic Orches-­
tra: Classics series, An Evening with Yo-­Yo Ma, Stravinsky, Osvaldo Goluov, Sept. 18, 8 p.m.;; Falletta and Brahms, Bar-­
ber, Bruch, Brahms, Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m. and Oct. 5, 8 p.m.;; Ro-­
meo and Juliet, Oct. 10. 7 p.m.; Mozart’s Magic Clarinet, Oct.
19, 8 p.m., Oct. 20, 2:30 p.m.;; Legendary Wagner, Wagner, Prokofiev, Nov. 2, 8 p.m., Nov. 3, 2:30 p.m.; Vivaldi’s Four
Seasons, De Falla, Haydn, Vivaldi, Nov. 16, 8 p.m., Nov. 17, 2:30 p.m.;; Bartok and Beethoven, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m., Nov. 23, 8 p.m. Pops series, Bernadette Peters, Sept. 28, 8 p.m.;; ABBA: The Hits, Oct. 12, 8 p.m.;; Gordon Lightfoot and His Band, Oct. 25, 8 p.m.;; Doc Returns! Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m., Oct. 26, 8 p.m.;; A Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, Nov. 9, 8 p.m. Rock, The Music of Queen, Sept. 21, 8 p.m. Kids, Symphonic Spooktacular, Oct. 27. For tickets, call 885-­5000 or see BPO.org. Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Attacca Quartet, Oct. 8, 8 p.m. New York Woodwind Quintet, Nov. 12, 8 p.m. For tickets, call 462-­4939 or seer www.bflochambermusic.org. Quaker Bonnet Eatery, 175 Allen St. Paintings by Julie McIndoo, September;; paintings and digital photographs by Glenn Kroetsch, October;; paintings by Valerie Szeluga, No-­
vember. Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Hotel Lenox, 140 North St. Tuesday through Friday 10 to 5, Saturdays by appointment. For information call 882-­5777. Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St. Tangential poetry reading, Set. 26, 7 p.m. Elmwood Writers Group reading, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. Play presented by Brazen Faced Varlets, Oct. 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 8 p.m. For information call 885-­9535. Studio Hart, 65 Allen St. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 to 3. New Talent: Four Artists Under 30, Sept. 6 to 28;; new work by Mark McLoughlin, Oct. 4 to 26;; Partially Present, group invitational, Nov. 1 to 30. For information call 536-­8337. Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (Wilcox Mansion), 641 Delaware Ave. Hours, Monday to Fri-­
day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.;; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Symposium and annual meeting of national Theodore Roose-­
velt Association, Sept. 19 to 22, with Doris Kearns Goodwin as dinner speaker and T.J. Dionne as luncheon speaker. For further information, call 884-­0095 or see www.trsite.org. Western New York Artists Group, 1 Linwood Ave. Paintings and screen prints by Jim Pappas, Sept. 6 to Oct. 11. Book sale, Sept. 27. Regional artists’ exhibition, juried by
Grace Meibohm Oct. 18 to Nov. 15. Artful Gifts, Nov. 22 to Dec. 27, For information call, 885-­2251or see wnyag.com. The Calendar of Events is compiled by Pete Carroll. Email submissions to him at [email protected]. The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 Page 7 Retailers, food venues among new businesses By PETE CARROLL free. The “chicks” are Barbara Buchnowski and Arlene
Coyne, baker of the pastries and sister of Leon Rung of the nearby Caf 59. Rick Smith is the “rooster.” Open 11 a.m.
to 8 p.m.;; closed Mondays. Shop 43 at 43 Allen St. offers retro furniture and house-­
hold accessories. Jessica Petrella and Roger Bryan are co-­
owners. The shop opened in June and operates Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5. Gloria’s No Limit at 95 Allen St. is not brand new, open since 2010, but new to this column. Gloria sells women’s clothes and accessories and is open daily except
Sunday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Phone: 361-­4916. Email: [email protected]. Allentown Pizza at 94 Elmwood Ave, at Allen Street opened in August and plans a grand opening in September. Cousins Joe and Frank Mahiques, owners, are offering pizza, wings, wraps and subs with vegetarian and vegan options. Open until 1 a.m. weekdays, 4 a.m. weekends. The Savoy bar and restaurant at 149 Elmwood Ave., is a cozy, well-­appointed lounge offering light fare including baguette sandwiches, salads, deviled eggs and cheese plates. Open daily at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Music on Friday and Saturday, com-­
edy on occasional Wednesdays. Noel Sutton is the owner and Shannon Callahan is manager. Contact Pete Carroll at [email protected] to get a new business listed in The Allentown Neighbor. Several unusual shops and new eating establishments have opened in Allentown recently. MyBuffaloPride, a retail business which also publishes a monthly newspaper serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, has set up operations at 224 Allen St. Michael Rizzo, owner and publisher of "In The Loop," a 1,750-­circulation monthly, bought the building this year and makes his home there. He began MyBuffaloPride in 2010 as an online retail outlet offering gay-­pride wares and novelty gifts, which are now also for sale on the premises. The shop and office are open Tuesday to Saturday 1 to 5 p.m. Phone: 768-­3238. Email: MyBuffaloPride @gmail.com. Website: MyBuffaloPride.com. Glow Gallery has been opened by Marcus Wise in the storefront adjoining MyBuffaloPride at 224 Allen St. Wise also owns 464 Gallery on Amherst St. Phone: 983-­2112. Email: [email protected]. The Roly Poly Sandwich Shop opened in July at 846 Main St. in the Granite Works, offering a large variety of hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups for eat-­in or take-­out. Ken Sfeir owns the business, the first Buffalo-­
area franchise of a national chain. Hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m,. Monday through Friday. Phone: 885-­7659. A Rooster and Two Chicks is the offbeat name of an unique shop at 93Allen St., also opened in July, with gifts such as stained glass lamps made out of toasters and un-­
usual plants, as well as a selection of cookies, some gluten-­
The Allentown Association: Marking 50 Years of Service to Buffalo’s Great Historic Neighborhood
Incorporated in 1963 as a 501(c)3 charitable not-­for profit community organization. Our Mission Statement: The only purpose of The Allentown Association is to serve its com-­
munity. It does that through efforts to beautify the neighborhood;; to encourage historic preservation and property maintenance;; to promote appropriate business development;; to fight crime, and to protect and enhance Allentown’s unique urban ambiance. OFFICERS: President: Ed Castine Vice presidents: Brian Gould, Barbara Hart, Jonathan White Treasurer: Matthew Moscati Secretary: Steve Earnhart Leon Rung, Adam Sokol, Max Stephen, Jillian Stiefel, Laine Walnicki Ex-­officio (non voting): Melissa Dayton, Richard DIRECTORS: Chris Brown, Caitlin Crowell, Pete Carroll, Bob Fink, Gretchen Grobe, Mark McGovern, Ekua Mends-­Aidoo, Jim Nash, Andrew Pace, Haynes, Holly Holdaway, Elizabeth Licata, Matt Ryan Executive Director: Andrew Eisenhardt The Allentown Neighbor The newsletter is published quarterly;; mailed to members and others, and distributed for free at retail venues in Allentown. Editor: Richard R. Haynes, email: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] or [email protected] Page 8 The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 TR Site walking tours show off neighborhood Jim Kerelchuk is a real Allentown ambassador. He heads a group of about a dozen volunteer docents at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site who give walking tours of Allentown, guiding people down our streets, pointing out architectural styles, telling neighborhood lore, explaining some Buffalo history. Suburbanites and city residents from other neighbor-­
hoods may know Allentown for its nightlife, but "they did-­
n't know there were streets like Park, Irving and Arling-­
ton," he said. "They're just fascinated by the streets, fasci-­
nated by the architecture, the detail." The main tour takes in Franklin Street from North to Virginia, and goes on to Cottage, Mariner, College, Arling-­
ton, Park, Irving, and parts of North and Allen streets. It
takes at least 2 hours  more if people ask a lot of questions, or if residents along the way invite the tour group in to see their homes. That's a pretty long hike, and doesn't even cover the whole neighborhood, leaving out many other interesting streets such as Days Park and Trinity. Even though it's not a garden walk, "They love to see people outside gardening," Kerelchuk said. "People are fascinated by gardens," and Allentown has some beautiful ones. The tours depart at 10 a.m. every Monday from July until Sept. 9. The cost is only $10 for adults and $5 for stu-­
dents, and comes with a half-­off discount for an optional tour of the TR Site itself. On the day we met up with him, Kerelchuk was the sole docent leading a group of 15. Usually, he said, there are two docents on each tour. "Two minds, two different per-­
spectives. Some docents are interested in history, some used to live in Allentown and have stories to tell, others are
into the architecture." There is a second tour  this one of Main and North
Pearl streets  once a month on Sundays in summer. The Jim Kerelchuk points out the architectural details of 564 Franklin St. on one of the weekly tours of Allen-­
town sponsored by the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. last one this year is at 1 p.m. on Sept. 15. The price is also $10 for adults, $5 for students, and it's at least a half-­hour shorter than the main Allentown tour. It explains the major renovations and new commercial construction on Main Street, and shows off the restorations and gardens of the 19th century homes on North Pearl. Kerelchuk says that unfortunately, very few Allentown residents take the tours. If you're new to the neighborhood, or if you think you've been taking the historic district for granted or don't know much about it, you should grab one of these opportunities to learn more. No reservations are necessary. Just show up at the TR Site, 641 Delaware Ave., 10 minutes before a tour is sched-­
uled to leave. Allentown Literary Ghost Tour to be historic, spooky Get in the mood for Halloween by taking the new Allentown Literary Ghost Tour this October. Take a spooky walk down historic streets that were the scene of a bloody War of 1812 battlefield filled with dead bodies scalped and tomahawked. Pass dark brick Victorian mansions ornamented with gargoyles that cast grotesque shadows on sidewalks. Learn what homes are built upon the vestiges of old graveyards. Hear the ghostly tales that inspired writers such as Mark Twain, Anna Katharine Green and Harry Castlemon, and experience the shudder of an au-­
thentic Victorian ghost story. The tour will be offered the eve-­
ning of Saturday Oct. 19, and repeated Saturday Oct. 26. Both begin at 4 p.m. at the Theo-­
dore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, 641 Delaware Ave., and will take about 2 hours. The cost is $10. They will be led by Christopher Brown, and are sponsored by Buffalo Tours, an educational program of Pres-­
ervation Buffalo Niagara. The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 Page 9 Police work to counter summer spike in crime Adding officers at weekend bar closings, assigning bicycle and targeted foot patrols Crime is up in Allentown, and the police are increasing their visibility and adding some patrols to counter it. In the 2 months of June and July in our neighborhood there were 6 robberies, 20 burglaries, 6 assaults, 5 cars stolen and 45 larcenies, according to statistics provided by B District police and the city's Crimestats data base. Crime normally spikes in summer across the city, but nobody's being complacent about it. Every month, a member of the Association's Crime Prevention & Safety Awareness Committee and represen-­
tatives from other neighborhoods meet with B District Police Chief Brian Patterson to review statistics and dis-­
cuss ways to respond to crime trends. In Allentown, assaults are concentrated in the Allen-­
Elmwood, Main-­North and Delaware-­North vicinities, in keeping with late-­hour, after-­bar altercations. The police have increased patrols in those areas from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. on weekends. The Association would like to see that extended to the 4-­5:30 a.m. timeframe weekdays, when exiting bar patrons are both potential victims and potential perpetrators of crimes of convenience. Police officers, residents, councilmen and candidates mingled at Symphony Circle for National Night Out. ter for hours without getting on a bus, leave large amounts of litter, and create an unsafe perception of the area by making loud and rude sexual and other comments to peo-­
ple walking by or waiting for a bus. Take sensible precautions against theft Chief Patterson is very responsive to neighborhood Most larcenies in the neighborhood are "car pops." Too concerns, but the police needs citizens to do their part. many residents are leaving items in their cars overnight in Always report a crime easy view of anyone walking by. It is very important that residents call 911 to report
Not enough people are leaving outside lights on over-­
every crime, even non-­emergencies  even petty larcenies
night. Doing so discourages prowlers and adds illumina-­
such as a stolen garden gnome. Call 911 and ask that an tion to sidewalks. incident number be logged on the complaint. That is how Also, consider investing in a burglar alarm system. the police track problems, so they can adjust manpower to You may recently have seen officers riding bicycles meet changing crime patterns. through our neighborhood. That's in response to a joint The Crime Prevention & Safety Awareness Committee request by the Allentown Association, Elmwood Village revived its long-­dormant National Night Out observance Association and the Linwood Preservation District & on Aug. 6. The Association partnered with Kleinhans Friends for greater street-­level policing in warm-­weather Community Association to host a cookout on Symphony months. The idea is to create an inclusive area of patrol Circle. A large turnout of residents was joined by Council-­
that does not simply move undesirables off Elmwood or men David A. Francyk and David A. Rivera, Chief Patter-­
Allen, but creates a sense as far as Linwood/Franklin that son, both B District community police officers, represen-­
street-­level officers are on patrol. tatives of Mayor Brown and mayoral Candidate Bernie Chief Patterson also has created a six-­week foot patrol Tolbert. to show a police presence and remove loiterers from the The Association and KCA provided a grill, charcoal, bus shelter sculpture at North and Elmwood and also from hot dogs, sausages and beverages. the steps of the Karpeles Document Museum and from the Saizon Criollo and Quaker Bonnet provided salads, low railing around the Elmwood Market lot and the stone
and neighbors brought salads and desserts to share. wall in the public garden there. The event was very successful in its goal of bringing That is in response to complaints  by the Allentown
residents together to interact with police and elected repre-­
Garden Club, which tends the garden, and the owner of
sentatives and provide a show of solidarity. Elmwood Market  that individuals loiter in the bus shel-
Page 10 The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 After 5 decades, there’s a lot worth celebrating Continued from Page 1 This year, Association members have worked closely Imagine Buffalo without the Allendale Theater or the with the University at Buffalo to ensure that the new Medi-­
Birge Mansion; without the George Coit House (Buffalo’s cal School to be built on Main Street at the end of Allen oldest house), the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National will integrate seamlessly with the neighborhood and create Historic Site (the Wilcox Mansion) or half the 19th and a flow of staff, students and Medical Campus visitors to early 20th century buildings on Main Street between Vir-­
support our businesses and increase the economic growth ginia and Allen. Imagine every home on the east side of of Allentown's commercial corridor. Irving Place demolished to create The Association works with ReTree parking lots. WNY to plant trees, with police to main-­
These and dozens more historic tain a safe environment, with other organi-­
properties would not exist without zations statewide to get tax credits enacted the dedicated volunteer efforts of for restoring historic properties, which hundreds of Allentown Associa-­
helps boost property values. Working with tion members who have worked Allentown gallery owners, the Association hard for the past half century to produces and promotes First Fridays, maintain and continually improve which brings throngs of people each month the unique character of the walking our streets to visit art galleries and neighborhood. stay to dine in one of our many restaurants. The Twentieth Century Club man-­
Since the Association’s incor- sion is more than 100 years old. The Association produces the annual Allen poration in 1963, it has been the West Festival that gives local artists and instrumental guiding force in making certain Allentown crafters a high-­profile showcase alongside the nationally remains a great place to live, work and play by preserving recognized Allentown Art Festival. our historic buildings, engaging neighbors and strengthen-­
It fills hanging baskets and planters with flowers on Al-­
ing the sense of community, advocating issues in the public len Street, and keeps them watered all summer. arena and improving the aesthetics of the historic district. It is only with the support of residents that the Associa-­
The result is a stable residential community that’s seen tion is able to accomplish these kinds of initiatives. millions of dollars invested in rehabilitating and repurpos-­
Through the years, the Allentown Association has re-­
ing historic buildings over the last 10 years, such as the mained an entirely volunteer-­driven organization, led by University Club on Delaware at Allen, the National Casket residents and business owners who identify needs and work Co. building on Virginia, the Granite Works on Main Street to find solutions. Working together over the past half cen-­
and the new condos on Virginia at Delaware  all attesting tury, we have created an enviable record. to the fact that Allentown has become one of the most de-­
We invite you to celebrate with us on Sept. 28 to show sirable residential communities in Western New York. your appreciation and support. For tickets to the black-­tie-­
The Association also has helped secure $4.1 million to optional gala, contact the Association at 881-­1024 or fund design work and begin a complete reconstruction of [email protected]. Allen Street from Main to Wadsworth. For more information, visit www.allentown.org or "like" the Association on Facebook. Members are invited to apply for a seat on the board of directors Continued from Page 1 nitty-­gritty informative session with an important piece of business: members will vote on a new slate of directors for the 2013-­2014 term. Three new directors were recently added mid-­term to replace three who resigned. New directors are: Andrew Pace and Jillian Stiefel, both attorneys, and Jim Nash, di-­
rector of the Keck Center for Computational Biology at the UB School of Medicine, who also is renovating the former NY Style Pizza storefront on Allen at Park streets. A few more new directors will be needed, however, be-­
cause some current ones are hitting term limits and others are not standing for re-­election. Any member who is inter-­
ested in serving should immediately contact Nominating Committee chair Caitlin Crowell at [email protected]. Members are welcome at any regular monthly meeting of the board, the dates and times of which are always listed in the Calendar column of this newsletter. But the annual meeting is a special opportunity to get updates, give feed-­
back and feel part of the larger neighborhood. The Allentown Neighbor / Autumn 2013 Page 11 Be sure you’re linked to city’s CodeRED system The city has joined the CodeRED Emergency Notification System, which allows it to quickly send out telephone calls, text messages, or emails to residents to notify them of urgent or dangerous situations. Besides emergencies such as evacuation notices, bio-­terrorism alerts, boil water notices, and missing child reports, the system can alert city residents to issues such as road clo-­
sures due to paving or weather prob-­
lems. If you have a land line, you should have received an automated call Aug. 8 confirming that your phone number is registered with the system. If you didn't get that call or don't have a land line, you should register your cell phone with the system, which is easy to do. You can also add other contacts, such as work numbers and email addresses. Just log on to the city's website, www.city-­buffalo.com, and follow the link to the “CodeRED Community
Notification Enrollment” page. Those
without Internet access may call 311 to supply their information over the phone. Enrollment forms can also be obtained at all Buffalo firehouses. “These types of emergency notification systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them," said Fire Commissioner Gar-­
nell Whitfield. "No one should auto-­
matically assume his or her phone number is included. If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called.” There is also a digital application that smart phone users can download for free that allows notification mes-­
sages in cities throughout the country. So if you have the app and you're traveling and an emergency message is
transmitted there  say about a tornado
or wildfire  your phone would get the
message. The app is available at www.coderedweb.com. CodeRED, operated by the Emer-­
gency Communications Network, is funded by a $307,400 federal grant. ALLENTOWN ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
NAME: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE: __________________________ EMAIL: ____________________________________________ If business, name of manager or owner: _______________________________________________________ Please select a contribution level: Optional activities/committees you’d like to help with: □ Benefactor $1000 □ Beautification □ Crime prevention □ Patron $ 500 □ Housing/Historic Preservation □ Membership/PR □ Contributing $ 250 □ Business development □ First Fridays □ Sustaining $ 100 □ Nomination to the board of directors □ Business $ 50 □ Allen West Festival (adjacent to Allentown Art Festival) □ Family $ 40 □ Hot dog stand at Allentown Art Festival □ Individual $ 35 □ Secrets of Allentown (annual tour of homes) □ Student/Senior $ 20 □ Special events/50th anniversary events □ To strengthen the Association in its 50th anniversary year, I’m making an additional contribution of $______. All contributions are tax-­deductible. Please make a check payable to: The Allentown Association, Inc. Mail to: Allentown Association, 14 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. Please feel free to enclose a note with any ideas you have for improving the neighborhood, or suggestions for strategies you think the Association should be pursuing or additional activities you think it should engage in. COME CELEBRATE WITH US!
Help the Allentown Association commemorate its 50 years of service
to Buffalo’s Great Historic Neighborhood
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB
595 Delaware Avenue
6 PM cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the garden
7 PM dinner in the club rooms
Gazpacho
Duet plate of 6 oz. chicken breast and 4 oz. salmon
Seasonal vegetables
Oven-browned potatoes with garlic and herbs
Silent auction and raffle
$75 per person / $140 per couple
Semi-formal attire;; black tie optional
For reservations, leave a message at 881-1024
or email [email protected]