Quick work by firefighters confine fire damage to first floor of Busti Spice Barn; cause now determined...
An overheated fan motor in a dehydrator is the apparent cause of a fire that damaged the bottom floor of a spice-making business in a barn in Busti. Busti Fire Chief Mike Volpe says they, and several other mutual aid companies, were able to make a good stop on the blaze to prevent heavy damage to the entire building. Firefighters were called to the scene at 4357 Cowing Rd. -- near the intersection with Big Tree-Sugar Grove Rd. -- shortly before 9 p.m. Volpe says they called in mutual aid from Lakewood... Panama... Ashville... Kiantone... Frewsburg... Chautauqua... and, Lander and Sugar Grove from Pennsylvania. He says the firefighting effort "went well." There were no injuries were reported... and, no animal injuries as well. Crews were at the scene until about 1 this morning.
Teresi pleased that Hamister Group strikes deal with Doubletree by Hilton for new downtown hotel...
A western New York based-development group has officially announced it's signed a franchise agreement with Hilton Doubletree for the re-development of the former Ramada Inn in downtown Jamestown. In fact... the Hamister Group says they are planning a "comprehensive," $12-million renovation project for the location at West Fourth and Washington Streets. Senior Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer Daniel Hamister says they "couldn't have asked for a better partnership." Mayor Sam Teresi says this is "exactly what we have been hoping for, and working towards since day-one." Teresi says that's a top-level developer and a premier brand like Hilton Doubletree filling a "crying need" for a high-quality, full-service hotel. Teresi says this is a "major step " towards the complete renovation of the hotel so that it can not only provide excellent accomodations for the traveling public... but, for meetings, receptions... special events... and, business conferences. Once the renovations have been made...Teresi says they'll have 4,000 square feet of space for such events... along with 146 fully-renovated rooms. Once final plans have been approved and final financing is in place... the hotel is expected to open in the Summer of 2015.
