KCA ANNUAL HOLIDAY SOCIAL TO BE HELD ON MONDAY DECEMBER 19, 2005
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Our neighborhood holiday tradition, the KCA holiday social, will be a "pot luck" affair. Soft drinks (as always, no alcohol, please), plates, cups, etc. will be provided. Please bring your favorite dish to share. The event will take place from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church (in the "Blue Room"), One Symphony Circle. This is a wonderful event and is a good opportunity to meet your neighbors and discuss neighborhood common interests in a friendly, relaxed environment. The KCA will also bring pizza to the event. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you!

BUFFALO GAY MENS CHOIR PLANS BENEFIT FOR AIDS FAMILY SERVICES
ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2005 IN KLEINHANS-AREA LANDMARK
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Now is your chance to experience first hand one of region's great cultural treasurers and one of the neighborhood's great architectural landmarks at the same time while helping a great cause to boot. The Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus, as part of World AIDS Day, will be performing a concert called "Keep the Promise" at the First Presbyterian Church on Symphony Circle.

All proceeds will benefit AIDS Family Services, founded by Robert J. Perelli, CJM. Tickets are $18 and $16 for seniors, students and handicapped. For more information, call (716) 881-4612, or check out the AIDS Family Services website.

Date: Sunday, November 27, 2005

Time: 3:00 PM

Place: First Presbyterian Church, Symphony Circle

The historic Byers House and Carpentry Shop, circa 1870, is in need of a caring
homeowner to restore the beautiful Italianate-style home.

299 PENNSYLVANIA STREET - LOOKING FOR A NEW OWNER
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The historic John W. Byers house at 299 Pennsylvania Street is available to a caring homeowner for a reasonable cost. The house, a detailed single family Italianate-style wooden house built circa 1870 has paired brackets in the gable and arched windows on the first floor surrounded by rope molding. It has a full front porch. It has a nice-sized back yard. In the rear of the lot is a Victorian-era carpentry shop that has been converted to an income apartment. When it was in full operation, over a dozen carpenters worked out of the shop -- many of homes in the neighborhood were constructed by the father and son team of James W. and James N. Byers. It is located on a good block of mostly owner-occupied homes adjacent to the Allentown Historic Preservation District.

The historic house is in danger of demolition but you can save it! Please contact the Kleinhans Community Association at (716) 884-1914 for more details if you are interested.

Joe Dallos, owner of 30 Plymouth Avenue, erected this sign
and evicted several tenants who were engaged in illegal activities.

CAR BREAK-INS PLAGUE NEIGHBORHOOD
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Many residents in the neighborhood have experienced car break-ins during the autumn of 2005. Most break-ins have occurred very late at night, from midnight until dawn. Small items have been stolen such as cigarettes, etc. and windows have been smashed.

The Allentown Association, Inc. and the Kleinhans Community Association have met with the Buffalo Police to increase surveillance of the neighborhood in an effort to curb this criminal behavior, but we need your help.

In order to deter the thieves, please follow the following instructions:

• Lock your car at night
• Do not leave anything visible in your car that can be removed
• Park your car in a location that is visible from your residence
• Park in a well-lit location
• If possible, leave your porch light on all night or install a motion-detector light on your porch
• Keep a watch out and report any suspicious activity to the police
• If your car is broken into, be sure to report it to the police (911) and let the block club know by calling 884-1914

NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS URGE CITY OFFICIALS: PLEASE HELP WITH OUT-OF-CONTROL TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
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Due to complaints from residents and homeowners on Hudson Street, the KCA will be contacting Public Works Commissioner Joe Giambra and requested his assistance to resolve a significant neighborhood traffic safety concerns.

The following top the list of neighborhood concerns:

• Need for approved traffic calming devices at strategic residential locations at the Hudson Street/Cottage Street/Plymouth Avenue intersection in order to reduce the level of noise pollution and increase safety conditions created by accelerating vehicles.
• Need for stop sign on Hudson Street at Orton Place to stop speeding vehicles down Hudson Street and allow children easier access to the playground on Hudson Street at Orton Place.
• Traffic light or stop sign at the dangerous intersection of Normal Avenue/Jersey Street/Porter Avenue. (A neighborhood resident was killed at this intersection in 2004.)
• Study to determine whether on-street parking can be returned to the block of Normal Avenue between Pennsylvania Street and Porter Avenue.

PLYMOUTH AVENUE DOCUMENTATION PROJECT IN FULL SWING
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Buffalo State College Students have been interviewing several residents in the neighborhood as part of the Community Storybook project. The historical documentation of Plymouth Avenue and Kleinhans Music Hall is nearly complete and is being proof-read. In addition, the KCA has applied for a grant to reproduce a limited amount of the Plymouth Ave. documentation including interviews with residents.

Time is growing short for the interview process. If you would like to be considered for inclusion in this project, please call Chris Brown at (716) 884-1914. If you are interested in receiving a copy of our completed project, please contact Chris Brown as well.

KCA GIVES LECTURE ON KLEINHANS MUSIC HALL TO WORKING FOR DOWNTOWN GROUP
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On Nov. 2, 2005, Chris Brown gave a lecture/slide show to the Working for Downtown group, showcasing the landmark architecture of Eliel and Eero Saarinen and Franklyn and William Kidd. The lecture was very well received and one of the attendees, Bonnie Kane Lockwood, former South District Councilmember, said that the slide show was a "great, informative presentation" and that those that attended "learned much about Kleinhans and our city history."

The KCA identified trees at these locations that need to be planed
to maintain healthy forestation levels in the neighborhood.

KCA IDENTIFIES TREES IN NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEED TO BE PLANTED
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In late October, the KCA met with representatives from the City of Buffalo and provided a list of trees that need to be planted. Jim Pavel's group from City Hall will be submitting a grant to plant trees and it is hoped that these trees can be planted in 2006.

Meanwhile, the City donated two hydrangea shrubs that were planted at Orton Gardens, the community garden at 20 Orton Place.

Neighborhood volunteers clean up in front of 44 Plymouth Avenue
the historic circa 1850 Bath House planned for restoration in 2006

PLYMOUTH VALIANT! PLYMOUTH AVE. BLOCK RECLAMATION PROJECT
CONTINUES TO MAKE BIG IMPROVEMENTS
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The concerted effort of neighborhood resources to make the first block of Plymouth Avenue a better place to live for all residents has really started to pay off. The autumn of 2005 had many improvements made to the block:

• Organized cleanup of Plymouth Ave. & Hudson Street on November 11, 2005 - The community had great turnout and the street never looked so great and clean. Those that helped included: Chris Brown, David Granville, Stephanie Simeon Lauren Kostek, Tim Wilkinson, Isabel Hartenburg, David Hand and John McKey.
• 44 Plymouth Avenue approved for renovation funding.- Heart of the City Neighborhoods plans to renovate and re-sell 44 Plymouth Ave. It received approval for funding to begin the renovations in late October.
• Dramatic Improvements Seen for Cottage/Hudson Intersection - Architect Joe Delaney, consultant with Heart of the City Neighborhoods, Inc. completed his renovations of the circa 1875 large brick Victorian house at 136 Cottage Street near Hudson. The interior and exterior transformation is simply amazing. Mr. Delaney is looking to extend his success by announcing plans to acquire and renovate the two adjacent homes at 142 and 144 Cottage Street. All three homes are built of brick, date from circa 1875 and designed in the Italianate style. 136 Cottage was abandoned for many years and 142 and 144 Cottage were run-down apartment houses. It is expected that the transformation will not only preserve the historic architecture of the houses but also improve the general health of the community and make the entry into Plymouth Avenue from Cottage Street far more attractive.
  
  Mr. Delaney also hopes to be able to acquire and improve the vacant lot at 146 Cottage Street. A home was demolished there several years ago.
• 314 Hudson Street continues to be improved - Owners Gabe Price and Lauren Kostek continue their dramatic restoration of the corner house at Hudson and Plymouth Avenue. They received approval from the Buffalo Preservation Board to install a large window-like entry door to their second story balcony and are in the process of installing all new electrical, insulation and drywall. The community is indeed fortunate to have such wonderful homeowners as Gabe & Lauren who are working to save the important home.
• 18 Plymouth Avenue in process of being restored - Joe Dallos continues his improvements of the property and has restored some shingles and install period-style light fixtures on the outside of his home.
• 30 Plymouth Avenue cleared of most troublesome tenants - Owner Joe Dallos has evicted some of the most troublesome tenants from his property at 30 Plymouth Avenue, the former Sidway mansion.
• 51 Plymouth Avenue had new tear-off roof installed - The owner of 51 Plymouth Avenue had his roof ripped off and reinstalled with architectural roofing shingles and had new Victorian-style Yankee gutters installed.
• 17 Plymouth Avenue painted - David Swift, owner of 17 Plymouth Avenue, has painted the exterior of his home and the house looks splendid!
• 35 & 20 Plymouth sold at auction - 35 Plymouth Avenue was sold at auction to Cynthia Cruz... 20 Plymouth Avenue, the carriage house to 18 Plymouth Avenue, sold at auction to Lorissa Smutiuk. The KCA has outreached to both owners and have asked them to get involved with block reclamation activities.

The house at 136 Cottage was restored by Joe Delaney
who plans on restoring the two adjacent homes at 142 & 144 Cottage.

NEW PARTNERSHIP TO BEAUTIFY HUDSON STREET, WADSWORTH STREET
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Mark Goldman, of the Allen St. Hardware Cafe, sponsored a meeting with community residents and representatives from Friends of the Night People soup kitchen located on Hudson Street at the corner of Wadsworth Street.

Community members want to work on better relationships with Friends of the Night People and plan to do that through volunteering to serve meals at the soup kitchen and to improve the parking lot at the corner of Wadsworth and Hudson Streets and the gateway to Days Park located at the intersection of Wadsworth Street and Allen Street.

More meetings are planned for 2006 and it is hoped that positive change can be accomplished in the spring of 2006.

WELCOME TO ALL NEW AREA HOMEOWNERS
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Several properties have changed hands in the last few weeks and the KCA extends a warm welcome to the newest homeowners in our Kleinhans community:

• 28 St. John's Place - David Hendrich
• 35 Plymouth Avenue - Cynthia Cruz
• 20 Plymouth Avenue - Lorissa Smutiuk
• 117 Plymouth Avenue - Scott Dunkle

94 Plymouth Avenue, a 1880s house designed by noted Victorian architect Charles Day Swan
was painted in autumn, 2005 in electric colors that emphasize its architecture.
Neighbor Larry Bartz helped out by sanding the double "casket" door to reveal its
beauty and it was stained and varnished by the owners, the Gonez family.

HOUSING IMPROVEMENT BOOM CONTINUES IN NEIGHBORHOOD
2005 WITH PRIVATE FUNDS
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Many homes in the Kleinhans neighborhood were improved during the autumn of 2005. Here are just some of the highlights:

• 3 St. John's Place - Holly Holdaway and Daniel Culross painted their window trim this fall with a dramatic purple color.
• 32 St. John's Place - Ted and Sherill Flemming have put up the scaffolding and are in the process of having a new roof installed. It will be a sight to see the roof go back on this building!
• 103 Plymouth Avenue - The home at 103 Plymouth, that has been vacant for several years, was purchased by a new large family who is in the process of renovating it and preparing it for occupancy.
• 112 Plymouth Avenue - Josie Bodami installed a new roof on her home.
• 94 Plymouth Avenue - The Gonez family painted their 1880s Queen Anne style house in shades of electric blue. Neighborhood resident and property owner Larry Bartz decided the door needed to be refinished, so he took his own time and sanded down the door for his neighbor. The Gonez's then stained and varnished the entry.
• 136 Cottage Street - Joe Delaney completed his major renovation of this long-vacant house and with a earth-tone paint job and some enhancements to the verandah completely changed the appearance of this home for the better.
• 50 Normal Avenue - Scott Dunkle continued his renovation of the property at 50 Normal by completely restoring the small cottage in the rear of the property, defying all who told him that the property needed to be demolished... Scott installed a lofted bedroom and skylight to make the most of the small space.
• 117 Plymouth Avenue - Scott Dunkle also made an additional investment in the neighborhood by purchasing at auction 117 Plymouth Avenue and plans to renovate the property. It backs up to his property at 50 Normal Avenue and he plans to incorporate the property for access by his tenants on both Normal Avenue and Plymouth Avenue.

KCA SETS PRIORITIES FOR 2006
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The KCA has set as priorities for 2006 the following planned accomplishments:

• Completion of Plymouth/Pennsylvania Beautification Project
• Continued focus on Plymouth Valiant! Block Reclamation Project, including marketing of 23 & 44 Plymouth Ave.
• Publication of Plymouth Ave. Documentation
• Planting of trees in neighborhood where needed
• New fencing around School 36 parking lot on Hudson Street
• Creation of KCA neighborhood directory
• Participation in GardenWalk with as many neighborhood residents as possible
• Historic tours of Kleinhans Music Hall and KCA neighborhood