Allentown Association elects new directors

Allentown Association members elected 21 directors,  believed to be a record at the annual meeting Oct. 21 in the Allendale Theater.

The slate of officers announced at the annual meeting is expected to be elected Nov. 18 by the Board of Directors: Matthew Ryan, president, succeeding Wayne Parry; Lura Bechtel, first vice president; Timothy Riordan, second vice president Matthew Moscati, treasurer;  and Gina Maramag, secretary.

The new directors are: Ed Castine, co-owner of Sample restaurant at Allen and College Sts.; Caitlin Crowell of Trinity Place, a teacher; Joseph Fell ofTrinity Place, a waiter;  Donald  Kinsman, of Elmwood Ave., a  home-repair contractor;  Marc McGovern of North Pearl St., Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus project manager; Jim Rhoades of North Pearl St., a real-estate agent with Metro Polis of Allentown; Adam Sokol of North Pearl St., an architect and University at Buffalo faculty member; Keith R. Vona, a lawyer with Lipsitz & Ponteiro and Edward St. resident.

Re-elected directors, in addition to the slate of officers, are Eric Arzola, Melissa Dayton, Deborah Ellis, Sarah Gilewicz, Holly Holdaway, Elizabeth Licata, and LaVerne Peaks. Pete Carroll, a former director, was elected to a new term. All positions are for one year. Retiring members of the Board of Directors are Wayne Parry; Anthony Armstrong, outgoing treasurer, and Ed Hogle.  Elected as /ex officio /non-voting directors were Anthony Armstrong, Robert Fink, Peter Grin, Gretchan Grobe, Wayne Parry and Jonathan White.

Holly Holdaway headed the Nominating Committee which presented the slate. Wayne Parry, who served as president since June, presided at the annual meeting and noted that the Allendale Theater was saved from demolition by its purchase by the Allentown Association for the city in 1985.  The Theater of Youth leases the Allendale from the city.

He and Christopher Brown, who served as president from November, 2006 until June, were presented framed prints of Allen St. in the early 1900s. In a  tribute to Chris Brown, Wayne Parry said:   "nobody works harder for the Association than Chris", citing his passion, knowledge, and commitment.

Andrew Eisenhardt, Association office manager, gave a financial report in the absence of the treasurer, Anthony Armstrong. The Association has about $20,000 in its savings and checking accounts, and $20,000 in certificates of deposit, as well as a restricted fund of about $120,000, of which about $100,000 is proceeds from the sale of the Coit House, in three-month certificates of deposit. The fund is restricted by Association bylaws to use in a financial emergency, investment in revenue producing property, or pay for the sole employee. The Association also has about $20,000 in gas-meter mitigation grant funds.

Tim Riordan and Gina Maramag, co-chairpersons of the Crime and Safety Committee, reported that police have stepped up patrols and arrests and reduced quality of life crimes in Allentown. B District Police Chief Donna  Barry attended the meeting and was introduced. LaVerne Peaks, co-chairperson of the Secrets of Allen- town tour of homes, and Andrew Eisenhardt reported on the successful Sept. 14 tour which drew 1,140 visitors and turned a profit of $7,300. Revenue totaled $13,384. Expenses of $6,076 included $1,200 paid to the D.A.R.

Pen and ink drawings by Donald J. Mayer of each property made available for the tour, and a bottle of wine, were presented to the property owners: Dan and Karen Kinsman, Dinah Gamin and  Lynn James, Matt Moscati, Ginger Schröder, Gerhard Yaskell, Tim Riordan, Buffalo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Jung Institute. Don Mayer also made his home available for the tour.

Matt Moscati, Housing and Historic Preservation Committee chairman, said concern continues about several threatened historic structures including First  Presbyterian Church and the Bosche Building at 918-920 Main St. Peter  Grine reported on the success of the Buffalo  ReUse program, salvaging materials from house to be demolished, and the program of grants to mitigate gas meters in  front of properties in historic districts.

"We're looking for someone to take the message to other historic districts, where grants are also available. I challenge the new board members;  I want to see what you're going to do," he said.  Jonathan White, a former Association president who has served as Allentown representative of the Medical  Campus board for six years, reported that the campus is growing, with four major projects underway.  He is being succeeded by Lura Becthtel as the Association's representative on the board.

Sarah Gilewicz is the new membership chairperson, it was announced. Gretchan Grobe reported that the Allen West Festival in June netted a $14,849 profit for the Association. Wadsworth St. is undergoing a renaissance, with all vacant houses recently purchased or rehabilitated, Daniel Culross, chairman of the Wadsworth St. Committee, reported.  "We're still working on the city component, seeking new, historically appropriate street lights and traffic calming measures, with some improvements expected in 2009," he said.