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The West Seneca & Elma Sun / Saturday, November 29, 2014
w e st se n e ca & e l m a Locally Owned!
WEEKEND FORECAST FRI
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30 %
30%
32o/16o 36o/29o 37o/30o Mostly cloudy with Partly sunny with Partly sunny with occasional sun 30% chance of snow 30% chance of snow showers overnight showers
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VOL 2 NO. 48
DISTRICT GIRLS MERGE WITH HAMBURG
CHEERS STAR VISITS ELMA
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VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.WESTSENECASUN.COM
Meegan applauds volunteers for efforts during storm By Kimberly Snickles
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014
Helpful hands amid Winter Storm Knife
WEST SENECA SUN EDITOR
Winter Storm Knife took West Seneca and other areas by storm last week, but that didn’t stop the town and its residents from banning together to lend a helping hand. “People going above and beyond their job speaks volumes of who we are as a town and as a community,” said Town of West Seneca Supervisor Sheila Meegan. The West Seneca Sun spoke with Meegan on Tuesday morning to discuss the efforts that were made during the storm. Meegan said she couldn’t be more proud of the Town of West Seneca’s employees, volunteers, and residents. She credited the town highway department, police department, sewer department, emergency operations center volunteers, building inspectors, WS Community Emergency Response Team, Erie County departments, local construction companies, NY National Guard, and Governor Andrew Cuomo for their prompt response during the town’s critical time of need. “We collaborated our efforts the best we could with our own equipment and our own crews, but we also recognized early on that we would need additional help,” said Meegan. “No community has ever seen that amount of
By Angela Rupp SUN CORRESPONDENT
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Supervisor Sheila Meegan stands with Governor Andrew Cuomo at a press conference held in front of Buffalo Creek. snow in such a short period of time.” The emergency operations center worked tirelessly answering phones to rescue those stranded, help the elderly who ran out of medication, and shovel in various neighborhoods. Even Wegmans and pizzerias that were closed during the storm opened their doors to accommodate town employees with food, water, and supplies. But once the storm subsided, the next big worry for the town was flooding. In this year alone, West Seneca experienced a blizzard, two floods,
Winter Storm Knife, and now there was the potential for another flood. Knowing the severity of the matter, Governor Cuomo asked Meegan to tour Buffalo Creek. “Right when we were there it immediately went up two to three feet so he was able to see that,” said Meegan. “We then went to Lexington Green and I said we really should help these people.” The NY National Guard placed sandbags outside of homes that were at risk for flooding. Pumps were also provided along the street to ensure proper precautions
were taken and the creek was consistently monitored by the emergency operations center. Fortunately for residents, Buffalo Creek remained below flood stage. “We did everything we could to help residents in the town,” said Gullo. “You never know, every incident is different, but we are always planning and we will have a sit down after this to see what we can do better.” All schools in the West Seneca School District will remain closed until Monday, Dec. 1.
WSPD participates in ‘Movember’ to raise money to buy presents for children By Kimberly Snickles WEST SENECA SUN EDITOR
Even the toughest of the tough have big hearts, which is exactly why the West Seneca Police Department participated in an unusual fundraiser to buy Christmas presents for children in need. It’s called “Movember,” a spirited effort where police officers grew a beard or goatee for the entire month of November. Participants paid $25 to join in on the fun with the Police Benevolent Association matching the funds. “We always help out anyways and this will just be an extra $2,000, which means more kids will be able to enjoy presents during Christmas time,” said Officer Brian French.
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Not only was it for a good cause, officers said the fundraiser has been a great morale booster for the team. “It brings some camaraderie for all of us and gives us a little chance to heckle each other,” said Officer Jim Kocieniewski. “Some people lasted longer than others and some people’s beards look better than others,” joked Officer Anthony Serafini. Captain Edward Baker presented the idea to Police Chief Daniel Denz who was all for Movember. The officers explained that they were surprised their chief allowed them to go full beard, but that the fundraiser was go big or go home. Residents were also amazed to see their officers rocking scruffy faces and even children gave them
PHOTO BY: KIMBERLY SNICKLES
In the wake of the historic Winter Storm Knife in Western New York, tales are being brought to light of those who went above and beyond the call of duty to help. In one of the hardest hit areas of West Seneca, residents found themselves barricaded with the massive amounts of snow most were not prepared for. When cars became abandoned and workers struggled to clear the thruway, many people felt a sense of panic set in. When the weather did not let up, and fatalities became reported, residents braced for the worst. One man, local business owner of Super Pawz Pet Grooming, decided there was no time like the present to help. Mike Zak, along with his wife Michelle and their four teenagers, Jake, Tyler, Riley and Claire, feared for the elderly neighbors around them during this storm. Mike called the West Seneca emergency response line and told them that he could help keep the streets around him clear. Once plowed, Mike jumped in his Jeep to drive up and down surrounding streets, keeping the snow from piling up in the road. “I stayed up for two days straight, doing whatever I could. We have a lot of older folks around us. We thought, why not use this time to help people?” said Zak. They made it to Wegmans and were given donations to distribute to those in need. The Zak family put together care packages of bread, milk, peanut butter and pet food, and handed them out to residents in Langner and Fisher Court. “My sons set out to check and clear furnace out-take pipes to make sure people were safe in their homes,” Zak explained. “Anything I could do to help, I knew I had to. We shoveled a lot of driveways. There were so many people who couldn’t do it alone,” he said. Another resident who helped others out of the goodness of his heart was Bill Kalenda, owner of A 1 Enterprises in West Seneca. He was called early on in the storm to help clear roads, and he too, couldn’t believe the amount of snow that fell in such a short period of time. “I was out, on a little bit of sleep, getting to the roads as best I could. I dropped off a friend on Tiff Street in South Buffalo. There I saw an elderly man shoveling his driveway with his cane. I told him to move aside and took care of it for him. He tried to pay me, and I wouldn’t let him. He called me his angel. I told him, I’ve been called a lot of things in life, but never an angel. It felt good to help,” Bill said. A 1 Enterprises is a freight and transport company that Bill owns and operates. He couldn’t believe how hard and fast the weather hit in the case of this storm. He rented a piece of equipment and used it for the whole week to aid in the recovery efforts. “My priority was to help people trapped in houses. Older folks with no medication or little food, that was my priority,” he said. Owner of local in-house day care Brite Beginnings, Gale Weremblewski, said she was lucky not to need help, but she herself was ready to give it. “My husband and I cleared out the driveway ourselves. We were able to do it. The day care remained open in case anyone needed me. It would have been tough with the driving ban, so it’s fortunate.” No child was stranded at Brite Beginnings, but as a RN, Gale was ready to help anyone who needed medical attention. She opened her doors to the day care on Monday, Nov 24, for any parents that were going back to work and recovering from the storm. She had a flood watch and emergency evacuation plan in place. The lesson in humanity with any bad snowstorm is to help if you can, and always look out for each other, as these brave West Seneca residents proved. To all of them and others who did the same: thank you.
Officers Anthony Serafini, Jim Kocieniewski and Brian French rock their beards and goatees. a few digs. “Kids honestly have no filter,” said Serafini who works at the West Seneca Middle Schools. “They say what they are thinking and that’s where I’ve gotten most of my ridicule
from.” The officers will purchase gifts for children before school lets out for the holidays. They hope their efforts will put a big smile on those faces that need it the most.
Published by CPOWNY
FIND HEALTH INFORMATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AT
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
EDITORIAL ............................................... SECT. A PAGE 4
SPORTS............................................... SECT. B PAGES 1 – 3
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS...................... SECT. A PAGE 4
CHRISTMAS EVENTS ................................ SECT. B PAGE 4
OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ......................... SECT. A PAGE 5
BOOK TO HELP CATS................................ SECT. B PAGE 4
WINTER STORM KNIFE............................ SECT. A PAGE 5
CLASSIFIEDS ..................................... SECT. B PAGES 5 – 7
www.westsenecasun.com editorial@westsenecasun.com
CARMASTERS ........................................... SECT. A PAGE 7
TEEN CHEF ................................................ SECT. B PAGE 8
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The West Seneca & Elma Sun / Saturday, November 29, 2014
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With the holidays just around the corner, the Made In America Store in Elma has teamed up this year with actor John Ratzenberger to provide American-made gift options for all ages. The Made In America Store, which is the only brick and mortar general merchandise store in the country that sells 100% American Made Products, will offer three different gift boxes as part of the collaboration: one for men, one for women, and one for kids. The men’s and women’s gift boxes are $79 a piece and the kid’s gift box is $49. Perhaps best known for his role as Cliff Clavin, the mailman on the hit television show “Cheers,” Ratzenberger has spent over three decades spreading the word about the importance of buying American-made products. In this case, the purchase of the Made in America Gift Box contributes to the employment of 3,000 American workers. “The holiday gift boxes are a fantastic way to spotlight several great American companies making their product right here in the USA,” Ratzenberger said. “By supporting American made goods we are sup-
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Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs is reminding residents to “Renew Local” on Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting area businesses across the country the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Jacobs is making it easy for shoppers to “Renew Local” while out bargain-hunting by having green “Renew Local” mailboxes placed outside the Erie County Auto Bureaus located in the Northtown Plaza, Eastern Hills Mall and Urban-
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John Ratzenberger visited Elma’s Made in America Store on Saturday, Nov. 22. to manufacture these items remain here too. “We’re starting to see a really large gap in the number of manufacturing jobs that are out there and the number of people who are qualified to fill those positions,” Ratzenberger said. “Manufacturing is what brought us to the dance. It wasn’t actors or rock stars. Manufacturing is to America what spinach is to Popeye. Without manufacturing, America looks a whole lot different.” Along with the work he is doing to promote Americanmade products, Ratzenberger
recently established the Foundation for America, which is dedicated to help train the next generation of skilled laborers, and is set to reprise his role as Hamm in the fourth “Toy Story” movie for Pixar. Just last week it was announced that the film, which stars Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, would hit theaters June 16, 2017. The three different gift boxes are currently available on the Made In America store website, www.madeinamericastore.com
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porting American workers, families and businesses at an important time of year.” Originally scheduled to appear Wednesday, Nov. 19, Ratzenberger joined Made In America Store founder Mark Andol to sign gift boxes from 11 a.m. until noon Saturday, Nov. 22 at the flagship location on Maple Road in Elma. Following that appearance, Ratzenberger and Andol visited the McKinley Mall location from 2 to 3 p.m. and from 4 to 4:45 p.m., they made an appearance at the Eastern Hills Mall. In addition to his time spent on “Cheers” and holding the title of the only actor who has voiced a character in every Pixar film, Ratzenberger is the former host of the Travel Channel’s Made In America show. Having grown up in Bridgeport, CT, Ratzenberger attributes some of his passion for promoting American Made Products to his youth and witnessing first hand what can happen when a business moves overseas. “Bridgeport was a big factory town, and at a certain point the factories left and went overseas,” he explained. “It tore apart lives and it really hurt the town.” For Ratzenberger, buying American is a way of helping neighbors and ensuring that not only do the products remain here, but that also the skills that are needed
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programs and services important to the community. Motorists can simply place their registration renewal form and check, made payable to the Erie County Clerk, in the postage-paid green envelope and drop it in the signature green box outside the Erie County Auto Bureau locations or any mailbox that is convenient for them. “I want to encourage individuals to support the region’s economy and patronize locallyowned businesses on Small Business Saturday,” said Jacobs. “I believe our ‘Renew
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The West Seneca & Elma Sun / Saturday, November 29, 2014
Kiwanis Club of Marilla honors veterans
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From left to right: Jim Gingerich, Brian Stiller, George Martzolf, Pete Reader, Art Nintzel, Mike Leonard and Maurice Janeczko The Kiwanis Club of Marilla sets aside a dinner program every year to honor veterans. This year the club was led by current President Art Nintzel and hosted by Marilla Veterans Commander Pete Reader and his wife Shirlee along with Brian Stiller Director of the Veterans Administration Western NY Health Care System, which includes the Buffalo and Batavia Veterans Hospitals. The dinner was held at the Whistle Stop Restaurant with those attending very pleased with the meal and service as usual. Reader gave a brief history of his time as a soldier in WWII and then updated the Kiwanis Club members about the Marilla Veterans Club activities. The Marilla Veterans Club currently has 15 members and will hold an election of officers in the near future. Stiller, who is a veteran, spoke of his many roles as a director of services for very busy hospitals. He manages the budgets to help coordinate the best possible services for veterans. This job is very intense as the needs for the veterans have changed in the last few decades and he is dedicated to keeping up with those changing needs.
Maurice Janeczko, former Kiwanian, also spoke of his military career and many current members were pleased to see him. The Kiwanis Club of Marilla grilled hot dogs and served beverages for those attending the Veterans Day Parade with supplies provided by the Town of Marilla. The next event for the club is the selling of memorable/honorarium bulbs to be placed on the Town of Marilla Christmas Tree in the Pavilion. The bulbs are provided by the Kiwanis Club and cost $1 per name. Forms are available at the Marilla Country Store, or bulb name information with the cost per bulb can be sent to Kiwanis Club of Marilla 12655 Williston Road, Alden NY 14004 before the Dec. 11 deadline. This tradition of purchasing bulbs has been part of the celebration of Christmas in Marilla for over 20 years. The annual Rural-Urban Business Dinner hosted by the club will be held on Nov. 20t and will feature a speaker and dinner. For information on club membership or activities, please call 652-7608.
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The West Seneca & Elma Sun / Saturday, November 29, 2014
The Sun Editorial W W W. W E S T S E N E C A S U N . C O M
Groups dedicated to helping community need our help I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving. As we prepare for this holiday, many groups are collecting donations to help our neighbors who are less fortunate. We can’t thank those volunteers enough for the hours they dedicate collecting, sorting and delivering goods. Their efforts are often unsung, and while many prefer it that way, thanking them for the essential work they do is important. The Rural Outreach Center, which is located in South Wales, serves much
of the district I represent. It provides various methods of assistance, designed to help individuals become selfsufficient. Currently, the group is focused on its yearend fundraising campaign and its goal of launching the capital campaign to build a center that will be a regional asset. It also just concluded its coat drive with more than 60 coats collected for families in need. Learn more about how you can help at https://theroc.co Our local food pantries are always in need and this is a good time of year to remind
donors where they are located. The pantries that serve our smaller communities play a huge role in helping to put food on the table. Located at 960 Main St., East Aurora, FISH (call 6527272) collects food, clothing and household items. The West Seneca Community Food Pantry (call 8238376), which is operated through Food Bank of WNY, is located at 3951 Seneca St., West Seneca. Located at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 13021 Main St., Alden, the Alden-Marilla Food Pantry (call 937-6922) also serves
residents living in the district I represent. Contact these groups for hours and information on how to donate. Erie County supports many charitable organizations with funding from the county budget or by partnering to promote fundraiser initiatives. If you are involved in a group from Aurora/East Aurora, Colden, Elma, Holland, Marilla, Wales or West Seneca, I would be happy to support your efforts. Please contact me at 858-8922 or joseph.lorigo@erie.gov if I can ever be of assistance. I also want to thank ev-
eryone who donated to “Costumes For A Cause,” which collected Halloween costumes and accessories for kids last month. I joined elected officials from all levels of government to promote the drive and held a drop-off location at my law office in West Seneca. It was great to see the outpouring of support and hundreds of kids were able to choose a costume and enjoy the holiday. As we move from fall into winter, please be reminded that winter parking bans are now in effect. Please check
with your town if you are unsure of the hours for the ban. These bans ensure that plows and emergency vehicles can do their job during winter months. Do your part and do not park your vehicle on the road during the hours of the ban. If you have any questions, please contact me at 8588922 or joseph.lorigo@ erie.gov. Joseph Lorigo Erie County Legislator Majority Leader
West Seneca Emergency Operations Center works diligently to help residents during storm
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The West Seneca Emergency Operations Center had several town employees and volunteers assist in helping residents during Winter Storm Knife.
New hours for pistol permit office With the goal of reducing the time it takes to get a pistol permit in Erie County, County Clerk Chris Jacobs announced that beginning December 3, 2014 the Erie County Pistol Permit Office will be closed to the public on Wednesdays to process new applications. This initiative comes just after Jacobs and his team completed a comprehensive “Re-engineering” analysis of the pistol permit depart-
ment. “After the enactment of the NYSAFE Act we took in as many new pistol permit applications in the first four months as we did the entire previous year. It was unprecedented,” said Jacobs. “We needed to determine what processes we could modify to improve the overall function of this office; primarily improving the time it takes to obtain a pistol permit.”
w es t s e n eca & e l m a
The Re-Engineering Project led by Karen Kirbis a loaned executive from Audubon Machinery, identified several system enhancements that optimized resources currently available. It also identified that with current staffing levels, it is not possible to handle the necessary back office operations involved in processing a new pistol permit application, while also servicing over 100
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customers a day. “Our sole function on Wednesdays will be to process pistol permit applications and to get the files ready to send to the Judge for approval,” stated Will Fowler, Supervisor of the Erie County Pistol Permit Department. “Our time will be spent working on new pistol permit applications, preparing files to go to police agencies for background checks and updating current
permit holder information in our system. Activities that cannot currently be done efficiently when trying to take care of the volume of customers we assist on a daily basis.” Since the passage of the NYSAFE Act it has taken between 12-15 months to obtain a pistol permit in Erie County. “Our goal with the new office hours is to cut the time it takes to obtain a permit by 50 percent,” said
Fowler. “We believe that by making this small change in our hours, the end result will be a benefit to the many Erie County residents interested in obtaining a pistol permit,” stated Jacobs. The hours for the pistol permit department on the other days of the week will remain 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
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The West Seneca & Elma Sun / Saturday, November 29, 2014
to the W W W. W E S T S E N E C A S U N . C O M
Want to share your opinion with us? Dear West Seneca & Elma residents: Do you ever feel the need to get something off of your chest? Do you have something important to say, but don’t know how to get your voice heard? Well, welcome to the West Seneca & Elma Sun “Letter to the Editor” page. The letter to the editor page is designed to have community members write in and voice their concerns and/ or opinions. If you have a town issue that you would like to address, please send me a letter. If you want to recognize someone for doing a good deed, please send me a letter. Any topic that you feel is important, I would like to hear about it. All that I ask is that the letter be well written and that you include your name and address in the letter as well. Please refrain from using any profanity or name calling for that will not be published in the paper. The letter to the editor is strictly a constructive way for the community to voice their opinions on matters and have it be published for our readers. I hope that this opportunity will pique your interest. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please send your letters to: Attn: Kimberly Snickles, WS Sun Editor Community Papers of WNY 75 Boxwood Lane Cheektowaga, NY 14227 Email: ksnickles@westsenecasun.com
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect I would like to wish all residents of West Seneca and all outline areas a happy Thanksgiving. On this Thanksgiving Day, let us all reflect on the many opportunities and privileges we share and enjoy. We as citizens of this great country can share our thoughts, ambitions, and many more privileges of democracy that are relevant to our well-being.
Thanksgiving Day is also a day for families to bond together and enjoy a wonderful meal and relax. This is what Thanksgiving Day is all about. James Kraft West Seneca resident
The calm after Winter Storm Knife
PHOTO SUBMITTED
PHOTO SUBMITTED
West Seneca residents were more than elated to be able to make some progress of clearing the snow from their homes and roads after the storm.
‘Jingle Mingle’ to benefit food pantry, features jazz musician Enjoy the Journey Art Gallery, located at 1168 Orchard Park Road in West Seneca, welcomes the community to experience our “Jingle Mingle” weekend – a unique three-day holiday celebration – featuring the live music of Mari McNeil Jazz and a special “Soulful Bowlful” Soup Sale to benefit the West Seneca Community Food Pantry. The weekend begins with an opening reception for the “Creative Imagery” members’ exhibit 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5 and features refreshments and live music by Dana Eric Misenheimer. On Saturday Dec. 6, purchase a “Soulful Bowlful” of delicious homemade soup, and 100% of the proceeds go to West Seneca Community Food Pantry. Listen to the smooth sounds of Mari McNeil Jazz singing holiday
classics from 1to 3 p.m.. Take a pop at our Chinese Art Auction, purchase one-ofa-kind, handmade holiday “Gifts from the Heart” and meet our friendly artists and instructors. To cap off the weekend’s relaxing alternative to hectic holiday shopping, we’ll be open all day 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Dec. 7. Enjoy the Journey is proud to be the only suburban gallery represented in Artists in Buffalo’s 14th Annual Holiday Open Studios & Galleries. Find out what West Seneca’s “must see” gallery has to offer our local community. To learn more, please call 675-0204 or visit us at etjgallery.com Stay updated by following Enjoy the Journey Art Gallery on Facebook at Facebook.com/ etjgallery
Local jazz musician Mari McNeil will perform during ‘Jingle Mingle’ weekend.
Donations sought for Holiday Cheer Party Vets H.E.R.D. seeks donations for its annual Holiday Cheer Party, which provides gifts for the children of recently returned or deployed veterans in need. The event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Veterans Hospital of Buffalo, during which Santa makes a surprise visit while his elves help with crafts and fun. We are seeking monetary donations as well as donations of toys, books, craft sets, games and gift cards to local malls and stores. Gifts provided serve children from infancy through age 17. Last year our generous community allowed more than 100 children to receive gifts, and we are counting on the community’s help to make the 2014 season just as bright. We also are seeking donations or sponsorships to cover the expenses of food, beverage, activities, paper goods, etc. used during the event. Vets H.E.R.D is a non-profit organization run 100 percent
by volunteers and provides hands-on services to needy, disabled and returning veterans in the Western New York area that enable them to live their lives the best they can after their return. All monies raised remain in this area to serve our local service men and woman and their families in need. Donations are being accepted through Nov. 30. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the IRS (consult your tax advisor for additional information). Donation drop-offs, questions or concerns can be addressed to DonnaMarie Vaughan, special events coordinator, at 870-4488 or via email at donnamarie@vetsherd.org. Vets H.ER.D., Inc. is a registered charity in the State of New York. Additional information about the organization is available at www.vertsherd. org and on Facebook under VetsHERD.
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The West Seneca & Elma Sun / Saturday, November 29, 2014
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Peace on the playground
Given the jungle rules of some playgrounds, where the biggest and toughest tend to dominate, consider the scene recently at Clinton Street Elementary School. A recess came and went, with children running loose during a sublime afternoon, and nobody cried, got punched, got hurt, or got left out of a game. Nobody got into a fight, got bullied or way dragged back inside the classroom where the teacher had to settle a playground dispute. Sound impossible? It’s not. With the implementation of the Peaceful Playgrounds Program such peace is no accident. The anti-violence and playground organization program is called Peaceful Playgrounds and its aim is to topple the centuriesold Darwinian pecking order of the schoolyard. The concept, developed by longtime teacher and Principal Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer, Los Angeles, California, is an affordable solution to play-
ground woes. The program boasts increasing physical activity a much-needed intervention for the childhood obesity problem sweeping the nation. To kids none of the above really matters. What they care about is best expressed by comments like, “It’s fun!” and “Now we have lots of choices of games to play.” The Peaceful Playgrounds program consists of five main components: • A blueprint for game markings-The first objective is to disperse children evenly across the play area. Colorful, strategically spaced game markings include numbers, letter grids, and various geometric shapes, which delineate play spaces, creating a cheerful amusement park look. • A consistent set of rules- The second objective is to foster consistency and training for kids, teachers and aides. Rules for each game are taught, posted and regularly reviewed.
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As games are learned, new rules are introduced for more advanced levels of play. • Conflict resolution strategy- Children learn to resolve their own conflicts. Various effective options for working out disagreements are taught to the children, freeing up supervisors to do their job- looking after the safety of all those on the playground. • List of equipment- Game markings and rules are useless without ample and proper equipment to play the games. To allow for budgeting and purchasing, a detailed list of a year’s supply of equipment (various sized balls, beanbags, etc.) is provided. • Consistent expectations and training- It is paramount to the success of the program that each staff member understands and supports the program objectives. Being able to play and work cooperatively empowers children and crosses over into the classroom.
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The West Seneca & Elma Sun / Saturday, November 29, 2014
Operating under new name, CarMasters Collision & Glass providing same great service By William Homan SUN CORRESPONDENT
With a history in the business, it wasn’t long before Kevin Kerl and his wife Debbie were operating a collision and glass business in Depew. In fact, they operated Schmidt’s Auto body and Glass from 1993-2013. However, in 2010, the estate of the building and DBA (doing business as) which was leased and licensed, came calling causing a slight change in their plans. Kevin and Debbie were notified that their lease and the license to use the DBA name that they had used for 20 years would not be renewed when it would come due in 2013. In fact, due to a noncompete clause, they were even going to be required to move five miles away. Kevin and his wife, knowing what the future held, took the chance to build their dream shop and moved forward with plans in 2011. After months of building, CarMasters Collision & Glass opened in December 2012 with the same crew that had been fixing vehicles for the past 20 years at the Depew location. “The hardest thing for us is getting people to understand who we are. We had some very loyal customers and we want them to know we’re still taking care of people, just in a different location,” Kerl said.
Since opening the doors of the new location, Kevin and Debbie have worked endlessly to provide the same quality and care that customers came to love at their location in Depew. Due in large part to the harsh winters, Kevin and Debbie created BODYGUARD Rust Protection®. According to their website, BODYGUARD vehicle rust proofing is a corrosion resistant treatment process that forms a protective barrier from the elements that promote corrosion. Unlike the sealant types which will harden and crack and allows moisture and the other elements in, their oil-based rust proofing remains active penetrating seams and hard to reach areas that sealants can’t reach. While the services they offer have kept customers coming back for years, a new addition to the team has put CarMasters Collision & Glass one-step ahead of similar businesses in the area. CarMaster recently purchased a state of the art 3-D alignment machine. With the new technology, customers are able to receive print outs of the before and after images of their vehicles and the increased accuracy of the alignment machine allows for a higher customer satisfaction rate. Kerl explained that for her and her husband, they have also tried to go to great lengths when it comes to
customer satisfaction. They work with all insurance companies, they offer 3-D alignment, they do collision work, and they work on tires, wheel balancing, and more. While the change in name and the addition of technol-
ogy may throw people off, Debbie Kerl notes that they are still offering the same quality service customers came to expect when they were formerly operating under the Schmidt’s name in Depew. “We’re trying to get people
to realize that we may be a new business to Elma, but we aren’t a new business,” Kerl explained. “When they see us operating under our current name, it can be confusing, but we’re still here and we’re still offering the same services that we’ve
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been offering.” CarMasters Collision & Glass is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. For more information on their services visit www. carmasterscollision.com, or call 674-2000.
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Non-profit organization seeks representatives ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE) is seeking new area representatives in your local community. ASSE provides academic year and semester exchange programs in the United States for high school students from around the world. Students are 15 to 18 years of age, have passed a series of academic and character requirements, and are awaiting an opportunity to embark on their American adventure. Area representatives recruit and screen prospective host families, interview students to study abroad and supervise the exchange students in their community. Area representatives are compensated based on the
number of students they are supervising. ASSE’s primary goal is to contribute to international understanding by enabling students to learn about other languages and cultures through active participation in family, school and community life. ASSE’s area representatives are the cornerstone of the organization, making all of this possible. For more information about ASSE or becoming an area representative, call our eastern regional office at 1-800-677-2773 or email us at asseusaeast@ asse.com. We look forward to welcoming you to the ranks of area representatives nationwide – striving towards a world of understanding, one child at a time.
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The West Seneca & Elma Sun / Saturday, November 29, 2014
Festival of Lights postponed until Dec. 5 as fairgrounds sustains storm damage
As a result of damage incurred during last week’s unprecedented lake effect storm, the opening of a beloved Western New York holiday tradition has been delayed one week. The 10th annual Fairgrounds Festival of Lights, the region’s largest annual holiday festival, was scheduled to open the day after Thanksgiving Friday, Nov. 28. A new opening date for the Festival of Lights has been scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. “After an extensive tour of the grounds and an assessment of damage, we felt it necessary to give our crews an additional week to secure the fairgrounds for the fes-
tival,” explained Dennis Lang, Erie County Agricultural Society CEO. “We can assure the community that this popular Western New York Christmas tradition will continue despite the temporary setback due to the heavy snow.” The remaining Festival of Lights dates are scheduled for Dec. 7, Dec. 12 - 14 and Dec. 26 - 28. Gates open between 5 and 9 p.m. (buildings and grounds open until 10 p.m.). Admission to the Festival of Lights is $20 a carload. Patrons can save 50 percent with pre-sale tickets for just $10 at the Event Center Box Office (M-F, 9am-4:30pm) or at participating local Tops
Friendly Markets locations until Saturday, Dec. 6th. Admission to the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights includes a wide array of activities and holiday fun. There will be two live shows inside of Expo Hall; Nels Ross Comedy Show and the Kids Game Show. Outside there will be a 16-foot snow globe for groups to get inside and take a photo, and a building will become the stage for an incredible Dancing Light Show. One hundred and fifty trees will twinkle with lights inside Christmas Tree Forest, and crafty kids can take part in Tops Winterland Workshop. This is all in addition to the nearly two miles of illumi-
nated displays in the drive through portion of the event. The showpiece of this celebratory 10th season will without a doubt be the North Pole Experience. This 10,000-square-foot walk through display will transport guests to the North Pole. After traveling through a town built for elves and Santa’s workshop, visitors will come face to face with the Claus household. There on the front porch Santa will be meeting guests, hearing wish lists, and taking photos. Guests will then exit the experience by “trekking” through the artic, complete with penguins, ice, and the Northern Lights. For an additional cost
guests may ride the rides on Santa’s Magical Midway, or take a spin on the all new Express Train. For those brave enough, the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights will feature Snowzilla, a seventy foot long inflatable tubing track. Cookie decorating, s’mores, shopping, and other concessions will be available for purchase as well. The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights will be hosting various special events, including the return of Walk Around Week (Dec. 15 - 18). This week allows a unique view of the lights, as families travel the nearly two miles of displays on foot. Other events include Retro
Winter (Dec. 5), the Buffalo Marketplace (Dec. 12 - 14) and Dickens Weekend (Dec. 19 - 21). For more information about the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights, visit www. fairgroundsholiday.com or download the free mobile app on your Apple, Android, or Kindle devices. On social media, use #HamburgLights to keep up with everything festival. For the first time, complete Fairground’s Festival of Lights guides will be available online, or by request.
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