Latest news with #Paula'sDonuts
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DiPasquale, O'Malley to face off in 3rd Ward Republican primary
Two Republican candidates are destined to face off in a primary for the 3rd Ward alderman's seat. Joe DiPasquale and Rowland O'Malley, both graduates of Lockport High School, have declared themselves candidates for the seat, with incumbent Mark Devine choosing not to run again. DiPasquale previously ran for New York's 144th state Assembly District in 2018 as a Democrat, losing to Mike Norris. 'I decided to switch parties,' DiPasquale said. 'I'm thrilled that I have. There was more opportunity in serving, I felt. And I think serving is serving, regardless of the letter by your name. What matters most is understanding your constituents. The party has been warm and embracing.' DiPasquale said he was motivated to run for alderman because of his interest in revitalizing the 3rd Ward. 'It's the gateway from the west and it should look better,' he said. 'We really should have just spruced up that side of town with the canal anniversary. This is very important to me because I live here.' He said abandoned buildings at the split of Park Avenue and West Avenue need to be addressed. O'Malley said he joined the race for 3rd Ward alderman because he wants to find ways to raise the tax base, provide housing, address empty buildings, and improve parks. 'It's not about raising taxes,' O'Malley said. 'It's about figuring out what we can go do to generate new tax dollars in the city. What can we do to support the businesses we have.' DiPasquale does see the potential to recruit new businesses to the city. 'In terms of the economic growth, I see plenty of opportunity for the city,' he said. 'Let's throw the net out and see and who we can attract.' He said he would like to recruit Paula's Donuts to the west side and envisions a Barnes & Noble downtown. The west side has had its share of environmental concerns, and DiPasquale said he was an effective advocate for the area. He said by speaking out, he made sure that several industrial sites, including Simons Saw and Steel on Ohio Street, and Candlelight Cabinetry on Park Avenue, were on the federal government's agenda. 'We underestimate our voices,' DiPasquale said. 'I met with the Army Corps project manager several times about the clean up of radioactivity,' at Simons. DiPasquale said emissions from Candlelight Cabinetry were an important issue to the community. Referring to odors from the company, he said, 'I think it contributed to the decline and eventual closure of more than one restaurant on the west side.' He said he was able to get the state Department of Environmental Conservation involved, which reduced emissions. O'Malley said during the petition process for candidacy he learned about the ward's priorities. 'When I went around and got signatures from people, I heard a lot about empty buildings — empty homes and empty businesses.' He said this includes the vacant former Eastern Niagara Hospital complex. O'Malley said code enforcement is another issue he would explore. 'I've been asked by a lot of taxpayers about houses with gutters falling down. We should do the best we can do to get answers for them. And I think that's been a challenge for them.' 'Every community is challenged with potholes,' he said. 'Everybody deals with it. Let's deal with the experts who deal with asphalt work to see what we can do for preventive maintenance. How fast do we need to get on it? I think it got very difficult to keep up with it.' A former TV and movie producer in Los Angeles, DiPasquale said he moved back to Lockport and became a professor of film studies at the University of Buffalo. He said his professional experience can transfer to the city office. 'With students, you have to relate to every person individually to be effective,' he said. 'And the fiscal responsibility of producing a film for a network — you're handling a $3 million budget.' As general manager at Lockport's Town and Country Club, O'Malley said he has experience with a wide range of issues that aldermen encounter. He said he has routinely dealt with remodeling projects, plumbing, sewers, irrigation systems, green maintenance, and upkeep of storage buildings. 'I'm in the golf course and country club business that touches on all these things.' He said he has dealt with both the town and city because the country club's property is split between them. 'We deal with most of your government agencies,' he said. With 400 dues-paying country club members, O'Malley said it's like interacting with taxpayers. 'When they ask me something, I always keep track of it,' he said. 'And I follow up when people need something.'
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Williamsville bakeries prepare to sprinkle the love this Valentine's Day
WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Local businesses are spreading the love this Valentine's Day, including two bakeries in Williamsville that are baking up something sweet for the holiday. 'Our donuts are sweeter than chocolates and flowers,' said Morgan Capp, the manager of the Paula's Donuts in Williamsville. The bakery is selling one-of-a-kind donuts to sweeten your Valentine's Day. 'It's very important for us to be a part of someone's special day,' Capp said. 'I think it's very sweet we get to be a part of their Valentine's Day, their special occasion. It's very nice.' The business prepares months in advance and expect to be busy leading up to the holiday. 'It's very hectic, but we do a lot of preparation, a lot of planning,' Capp said. 'We plan weeks and months ahead. We had our donuts ready for Valentine's Day three months ago.' DiCamillo Bakery in Williamsville is also getting ready for the sugar rush of customers. 'It can get quite busy right before. A number of people will order ahead of time, but the two days before Valentine's, you can expect that we'll be busy,' said Margaret Miller, who works at the businesses' Williamsville location. The bakery has it all from cookies to cakes to a heart-shaped loaf of bread. For businesses, the sweetest part of Valentine's Day are the memories. 'It's amazing. People will come in here and they'll say, 'Oh I grew up in Niagara Falls. I've been coming here since I was a child,'' Miller said. Miller said the customers coming in is a real treat. 'When someone comes in and they go, 'That's just what I was looking for,' or they come in and they have no idea what they're looking for and they can find something special,' she said. 'That makes it special for me.' Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
