"Eat your peas" is more exciting if it's sugar snap peas you're talking about.

The dust is just starting to settle from this weekend's announcement that First Niagara Bank  reached agreement to purchase 195 retail branches, primarily in Upstate New York, from HSBC.  The $1 billion all-cash purchase is expected to close in early-2012 subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions.  As of May 31, the branches held approximately $15 billion in deposits, $15 billion in gross assets including $2.8 billion in loans, and held $4.3 billion in assets.

First Niagara is going to be required to sell or close some of the branches to meet antitrust requirements.  Expected divestitures and consolidations include approximately 100 locations according to First Niagara.  Most of the 1,900 people currently employed in the 195 branches that are part of the transaction are expected to be retained by First Niagara and other financial institutions that purchase certain branches that the company expects to divest however.

First Niagara expects to have approximately $38 billion in assets, $30 billion in deposits and 450 branches across Upstate New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, upon completion of the transaction.  At that time, First Niagara anticipates employing more than 4,000 New Yorkers, up from about 2,600 today.  That workforce will include some of the 500 new non-branch jobs announced this past May, as well as the more than 500 the bank already created in 2009 and 2010.

"Buffalo and Upstate New York is home for us. While we continue to invest and grow in every region where we do business, this transaction is a real 'win-win' for New York State," said John Koelmel First Niagara President and Chief Executive Officer.

The purchase is good news for the Larkin District where First Niagara is headquartered and has been expanding its footprint. 

"I have every expectation that over the next 12 to 18 months, given our growth plans and track record, any short-term jobs impact from this transaction will have been completely mitigated," Koelmel added.  "We're very proud to once again lead by example by further investing in the future of New York."

The future of HSBC in Buffalo is somewhat less certain.  Globally, British banking giant HSBC is slashing 30,000 jobs but has not detailed where the job cuts would be.  In a statement, HSBC said its focus in the U.S. will be on commercial and corporate banking and "remains committed to serving and further developing corporate banking relationships in Upstate New York."

What impact the restructuring will have on a mortgage center in Depew and workers in One HSBC Center and the Atrium building is unclear.  The bank is renovating the Atrium property on Washington Street to accommodate 2,000 employees, up from 1,200 currently working there.  The bank also announced its intention to honor its lease for over 600,000 sq.ft. of space in the tower, but that lease expires in late-2013. 

Business First is reporting that the bank is evaluating its space needs and the Atrium is likely to be the 'hub' of HSBC's local presence.  That doesn't sound good for One HSBC Center owners that already face the prospect of losing law firm Phillips Lytle to a revamped Donovan Building.

Police did not administer DWI-related tests following accident on Skyway ramp, according to prosecutor.

First Niagara hopes to decide fate of some local offices within 6 to 8 weeks.

Deficit reduction package will allow government to continue to borrow.

Like all smart Western New Yorkers, I would rather wear a Brett Hull jersey to a Sabres game than drive on Niagara Falls Boulevard.

BlueCross BlueShield has committed $1 million to splash pad at Martin Luther King Park.

Once again, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York has come up big when it comes to supporting the community. This time the company is donating $1,000,000 to the Olmsted Parks Conservancy. The money will go towards Martin Luther King Park's Humboldt Basin (see back story). To start, $100,000 will go toward bridging the gap that was lacking for capital improvements, while the rest of the donation will be spread out over the course of ten years. The City of Buffalo has also dedicated close to $4,000,000 towards the project. The BlueCross BlueShield monetary allocations are all part of a 'building a healthy community initiative' that will help to ensure that upkeep and programming run smoothly in years to come. From Thomas Herrera-Mishler, CEO and President Olmsted Parks Conservancy:

"The basin in Martin Luther King Jr. Park has been out of commission for some time now and the Conservancy has been working hard with the community and the city of Buffalo to assure a project that is beautiful, fun and safe while respecting the original historic integrity of the park.  This restoration project is the most significant and costly underway right now in the Olmsted system and represents an enormous reinvestment in this east side Olmsted Community.  We are grateful that a corporate citizen of such stature as BlueCross BlueShield is committing to support the restoration, and safe programming and promotion of a historic asset like this.  It says a lot about their true commitment to our city, our parks and our people.  I can't wait to get out there next summer and have fun in the largest splash facility of its type in the nation."


^Click to enlarge

State Ed officials know whether Buffalo's failing schools will get millions in grant money this year. But they're not telling. And Buffalo officials are in no hurry to say how they spent last year's planning grants.

By Samantha Murphy:
 
Gloria's No Limit Store, located at 95 Allen Street, has brought beautiful, unique clothing to the Allen community. Gloria's No limit officially opened its doors on June 1, 2011. The store is owned and operated by Gloria McHenry. Born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio this Buck-Eye girl moved to Buffalo and never looked back.
 
Gloria's No Limit Store features all women's apparel, especially dresses, jean wear, jewelry, and accessories. The store also offers body lotions and body oils. Apparel ranges from $20 to $35 and the body lotions and oils start at $5.
 
McHenry describes the clothing in her store as classy, dressy, affordable, and comfortable. The clothing appeals to anyone from ages 20 to 55.
 
While the store has only been open about two months, business is already going great.
 
"Business is going really well," McHenry said. "I've had some really busy days and some slower days, but that's expected to happen in any business."
 
Before opening up her own store, McHenry was busy working full time as a baker for a local hotel. Tired of working long and early shifts and not spending quality time with her husband, McHenry finally decided to take a leap of faith and open her own store.
 
"Certain things had to happen at my job to make me say okay I'm ready," McHenry said. "I started at 2:30 in the morning and wasn't done until 11:00am. By the time I would come home I was exhausted. My husband and I had to find something to help us balance our marriage. Finally, I just decided I would go for it."
 
Unlike many small business owners, McHenry had her own personal guide, her husband. Her husband has owned and operated his own boutique for over twenty years. Class Act Boutique is only a block away from Gloria's No Limit and features both men's and women's apparel.
 
McHenry admits that opening up your own business is not an easy thing to do.
 
"I was in fear for quite a while," she said. "You hear a lot of stories and a lot of negativity. I just had to put that all behind me and move forward. Life is a risk, so I took the chance."
 
As for her location on Allen Street, she couldn't be happier.
 
"Allentown is a great community," she said. "I really love all of the different cultures and different nationalities. I couldn't have picked a better location. All of the traffic, the local restaurants and hotels nearby really help my business."
 
As for taking that risk, Gloria McHenry is very glad she did.
 
"I used to think to myself, 'There has to be something better out there for me,'" McHenry said. "Everybody has to start somewhere. And I did. It was tough but I did it. I'm so much happier now."
 
Gloria's No Limit is open:
 
Monday - Thursday: 11-8
Friday: 11-9
Saturday: 12-7
Sunday: Closed
 
95 Allen Street
Buffalo NY 14201
Phone: 716-884-3171
 

Image via Wikipedia

This is what I’m thinking:
* Channel 4 newcomers formerly known as the Kiddie Corps are getting mixed results on weekends from local TV viewers.
You could even blame the station’s decision to showcase Nalina Shapiro, Anthony Congi, Bryan Shaw, Rachel Kingston and Amelia Segal on weekends without sprinkling in many news veterans for allowing Channel 2’s 11 p.m. newscast to beat Channel 4 from Monday through Sunday.
Channel 4 still wins the 11 p.m. news from Monday through Friday,  but Channel 2’s margin of victory at 11 p.m. Saturday has more than doubled and enabled the NBC affiliate to win the seven-day average by the slimmest of margins after weekends are included.
Channel 2 averages an 8.3 on Saturday night, down 8 percent from the 9.0 a year ago. Channel 4 averages a 6.1, down 24 percent from a year ago. Channel 7 is third with a 3.2, down from a 3.8 a year ago.
The results at 11 p.m. Sunday are more favorable to Channel 4’s youth movement. Channel 4 wins by the same .2 margin it won by a year ago, but both 2 (down 14 percent) and 4 (down 13 percent) lost a significant portion of the audience from a year ago.
The 11 p.m. weekend figures are the only ones that can be compared consistently because 6 p.m. newscast on weekends can be disrupted by overruns of sports programming.
* I’m sure I’m not alone in turning on the TV every night and wondering why the broadcast networks have practically given up on everything but reality shows.
The recent July ratings show how disinterested most of Western New York is in broadcast summer shows.
The seven top local broadcast TV stations – Ch.2, 4, 7, 23, 29, 49 and 51 averaged a combined 16 ratings points in prime time in July, down about 20 percent from the 19.0 they had a year ago. That means a greater majority of viewers is heading to cable or elsewhere.
* The departure of Meredith Vieira from NBC’s “Today” hasn’t hurt the morning news program locally. With Ann Curry in Vieira’s old seat, “Today’ has maintained the audience it had and actually grown by 2 percent. ABC’s “Good Morning America” is a distant second and has slipped 5 percent. Channel 4’s new young morning anchors and reporters didn’t move the needle at all. Its third-place audience is flat despite Kenmore native Jeff Glor’s participation on the morning team and the occasional shout-outs he gives the area.
* The 6:30 p.m. national news race hasn’t changed much locally since Scott Pelley (see above) took over for Katie Couric as the anchor of The CBS Evening News.
NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams remained No. 1 in July and grew by four-tenths of a point from a year ago to a 6.9. Williams owes the gain to Channel 2’s competitiveness as his lead-in. Pelley’s newscast – he was off for several days – slipped three-tenths of a point from a year ago to a 5.9. He has Channel 4’s minor slip at 6 p.m. to blame. ABC World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer had the same 4.9 rating it had a year ago due to Channel 7’s poor lead-in.
The Buffalo market illustrates how important the local news lead-ins are to the national nightly news ratings.
* Bill O’Loughlin is going to get some help when his talk show moves Sept. 6 to noon weekdays on Channel 2. Lydia Dominick, who was the host of Channel 2’s Lunchtime with the Classics, is going to be part of O’Loughlin’s show.
A Channel 2 release noted that Dominick is “a social media guru” who “will bring her quick wit and irreverent style to the show.”
Who knew? It wasn’t as if Dominick had time to illustrate her quick wit as the host of “Lunchtime” or as the former CW 23 spokesperson.
pergament@msn.com

BlueCross BlueShield has committed $1 million to the splash pad at Martin Luther King Park.

Amherst Town Board OKs $18 million, three-story complex on Youngs Road

Every Tuesday, folks gather at Nietzsche’s to watch the debauchery that is stand up comedy open mic.
Tonight will be no different, other than we have an extra amazing lineup and an amazing headliner to close out the show!

Folks you can see tonight:

Kat Horan
Jim LeChase
Carm Capello
Mike Canestro
Jimi Pidd
Jake NIetopski
Jeremy Eli
Phil Machemer
Josh Potter

and Many more!
PLUS an awesome surprise guest headliner!
totally worth the trip!
besides you’ll be in A-town to catch some infringement things, so come on down!

Doin’ Time Comedy @ Nietzsche’s
248 Allen Street
BUffalo
8pm
$5

A quick look at what's happening today in Western New York.