TPHA Inauguration 2002 set for Tuesday, February 5th
Exxon-Mobil to expand operations at Harlem Road & Genesee Street
Proud Johnsons announce new arrival
Pine Hill 75th Anniversary Dinner Dance set for Saturday, May 18
New member takes reins as webmaster

Town Clerk Richard M. Moleski will be master of ceremonies and install 2002 officers on Tuesday, February 5 at the Alexander Community Center, 275 Alexander Avenue, Cheektowaga.

Ceremonies will begin following a brief meeting at 7:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30.

The dinner menu will consist of oven-baked chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, antipasto chef salad, coffee and Pepsi.

Members are asked to bring a dessert to pass. Donation of raffle prizes will be accepted.

There is a nominal dinner charge of $5 per person, reservations must be made before January 29, please call 893-5910 or send e-mail to: skaz@buffnet.net. TPHA

(Related Story)

The Exxon-Mobil Oil Company has purchased two homes at 2623 and 2627 Genesee Street next to the gas station it owns at Harlem Road and Genesee.

The two properties were purchased for a total $245,000 and are slated for demolition and rezoning, to make way for construction of a new 3,200 square foot "Mobil On The Run" convenience store, a five-station gas pump island and a 1,152 square foot car wash.

While this is generally a good project, that could clean up the corner of Genesee and Harlem, there are several concerns we feel are needed to be addressed by Exxon-Mobil.

The car wash, which is a fully-automatic coin-operated robot wash, is going to generate noise and stacking of up to 12 idling automobiles adjacent to the homes on Genesee and the back yards of several homes on St. James Road.

Enough noise is generated by the car wash even though the doors are closed during the wash operation. It will prove annoying to adjacent residents; especially during the summer months when neighbors sit in their back yards.

A visit, by one of our members, to a similar Mobil facility in Pittsford, New York confirms our concerns. Therefore, we would recommend that the car wash be eliminated from the plan.

Design should blend in with neighborhood

The proposed convenience store building is the standard non-descript corporate box building.

In addition, a larger version of the existing free-standing pump island canopy is planned; not at all attractive, or in keeping with the character of the surrounding community.

One idea worth exploring would have a 1920's era design for the building and canopy. A design approximating an antique gas station, could emulate various aspects of the Craftsman era style homes in the Harlem - Genesee neighborhood, making this a very attractive corner.

In response to a similar situation in the Town of Pittsford, NY, Exxon-Mobil built a turn of the century style building to blend with the existing village appearance.

"Mobil On The Run" Pittsford, NY.

A large part of the business at the Harlem - Genesee location comes from the local community. A community that already has other revitalization projects in progress.

Therefore, in allowing portions of this site to be rezoned to Motor Services, Exxon-Mobil, as a member of our community, should work with us and take advantage of the opportunity to greatly improve this commercial corner. TPHA

More snow clean-up reports from members on the Internet

The town has an emergency plan in the case of heavy snowstorms, why was it not implemented and private contractors brought in to assist?

We had snowplows from the City of Buffalo (thanks to a Pine Hill Firefighter) open Genesee Street, Normandy, Pine Ridge Terrace, Olcott and Alpine days before the town ever showed up so we would have access in the event of an emergency. During the actual storm, town plows were nowhere in sight.

Another firefighter and I plowed a path for an ambulance down Marne and Preston Roads. I heard via the scanner, a police officer on the south side of town ask if the plows were out and the dispatcher responded that the plows were off the streets at 2 a.m., that was Wednesday, the 25th.

On one good point, there was a plow in the area that cleared the way for us very promptly when we had a car fire at Peachtree and Winkler Rds. early Christmas morning.

For the past several months TPHA webmaster Ron Kaznowski has been searching for someone to take over the duties of maintaining our Web site and the Town Park Informer message board. Ron has done an outstanding job with designing our Web site. He put our organization on the cutting edge of Internet technology, always adding new ideas and improvements. And he has never accepted one cent for his efforts. We have gotten praise for our site from people across the country.

Thank you Ron!

New member Herb Mueller has come forth to volunteer his time and expertise for the position. Herb is also involved with the operation of the Buffalo Free-Net, a provider of free Web hosting services to Non-Profit Organizations throughout Western New York.

We have developed a system whereby we email the text of the printed newsletter to Herb, saving him the trouble of retyping everything. Herb can then simply paste this text into the online newsletter and only needs to do a little bit of formatting.

Recently we had the opportunity to test this system when a Pine Hill firefighter visited our office and delivered a list of 2002 officers who were just elected. The information was sent to Herb via e-mail and in minutes the update of new officers was posted on our Web site.

Over the coming months Herb will be building upon the work already done by Ron to increase the usefulness of our Web site. Eventually the Web site will be moved to the Buffalo Free-Net.

click for full size image

Mrs. Kumpf is a beautiful person who has been a resident of our town and a next-door neighbor to Stan Kaznowski for over 56 years.

The TPHA is active in the town's Neighborhood Wellness Program to improve our quality of life. We have a verbal agreement with both the Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (NiMo), and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) to report any problems with streetlights in the town. We have experienced quick response time with both utilities.

You may report streetlight problems to our office by calling 893-5910. You may also contact us 24 hours, 7 days by e-mail at skaz@buffnet.net. If you contact us through our Web site, please type your e-mail address in the body of your message so we may answer your complaint. TPHA

No Richard, thanks to NiMo.

Councilman Tom Johnson and his wife Barbara are proud to announce the arrival of their second grandchild. Eric Thomas Smith was born into this world at 9:35 p.m. Monday, January 7, 2002 in Youngstown, New York. Baby Eric weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces at birth and was 21 inches long.

His dad and mom are David and Jennifer Smith. Little Eric has a sister Natalie Grace who is 15 months old.

Stan Kaznowski Jr. will serve his ninth year as president. Also reelected are vice president John Marriott, secretary Alice Kaznowski and treasurer Chet Kasprzyk.

Ben Kline will serve his seventh year as board chairman, elected directors are Mary Russell, Angus Russell, Walter Wawrzynek and Stan Kaznowski III.

Two honorary members will be recognized, Mrs. Rose Kumpf, who will celebrate her 96th birthday February 3, and Mrs. Clara Zotter, who will be celebrating her 97th birthday later this year.

Five life members will be recognized for their 213 total years of service. They are Joe Greenauer, 47 years; Chet Kasprzyk, 46 years; Joe Kulczyk, 46 years; Stan Kaznowski Jr., 39 years and Ben Kline, 35 years.

The 60 block of Parkedge Drive - An attempted theft of a snowblower from a garage was reported.

The 100 block of Victoria Blvd. - A bicycle was reported taken from a garage.

The 40 block of Alpine Place - The theft of a stereo and CD's was reported taken from a vehicle.

Residents should be especially alert and keep their garages and vehicles locked.

The Pine Hill Fire Company is making plans for its 75th Anniversary Dinner Dance which will take place at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave. on Saturday, May 18, 2002.

If you have photographs or any memorabilia about the Pine Hill Fire Company in your collection, the firefighters would like to borrow them for a special anniversary video they are producing. Please call the fire hall at 896-8690 to submit your photos, newspaper articles or any items of interest. Your material will be returned.

The Fire Company, however, is still looking for residents who want to join their organization. Persons who are interested in serving their community are asked to stop by the hall on any Wednesday night and pick up an application

He wrote, "The Town Park Home Owners Association has done an outstanding job of keeping the Cheektowaga community informed on important town issues. I wish you continued success in all your endeavors.

"Once again, congratulations. If I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please feel free to contact me."