Author: Michael J. Billoni

A journalist for nearly 50 years who was an award-winning sports reporter for the Buffalo Courier-Express until it closed in 1982. He was the former vice president/general manager of the Buffalo Bisons and a member of the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. Handled the promotions and publicity for Buffalo’s undefeated heavyweight boxer, “Baby Joe” Mesi. Founder and is managing partner of Billoni Associates. He authored and managed “Robert E. Rich—Memoirs of an Innovator,” the biography of the founder of Rich Products Corp; published 'All In," the memoir of businessman Ronald Zoeller and is currently publishing The Seasons of Buffalo Baseball, the most comprehensive history of professional baseball in the city. It will be released April 17, 2020. Mike and is wife Debbie love Western New York and always try to help others and encourage positive thoughts

Erie County Clerk Michael P. “Mickey” Kearns, a long-time advocate in the fight against vacant and abandoned zombie homes, has announced the creation of the Erie County Clerk’s ZOMBIES Initiative. The Initiative kicked off after an agreement was signed between Erie County and the Western New York Law Center. The Initiative Team will provide technical assistance and outreach services for Erie County municipalities and communities facing zombie foreclosures.  Due to the severity of this issue, the New York State Attorney General began allocating funds called Zombies 2.0 to municipalities with high concentrations of zombie foreclosures.  Smaller municipalities were not eligible…

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The 14th annual Colvin Cleaners Gowns For Prom program, presented by The Allstate Foundation and sponsored by Townsquare Media and Shea’s Performing Arts Center, distributed more than 850 gowns with over 300 of them professionally altered by volunteer seamstresses and tailors. Young ladies from high schools throughout Western New York selected from several thousand new and gently used gowns on the stage of Shea’s over three days this spring. They were then escorted by volunteers to three floors of dressing rooms to be fitted before the gowns were then altered, dry cleaned, packaged and delivered for free by Colvin Cleaners…

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On a recent, warm, sunny afternoon I visited the exquisitely manicured landscape of the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park’s Veterans Memorial Gardens that is home to many monuments recognizing wars and our veterans. I was especially interested in visiting the park’s newest installment, The Battle Within Memorial, which was unveiled this year on Memorial Day to honor our veteran heroes who have taken their own lives due to PTSD. The monument is also meant to be a place of hope and gratitude for the thousands of families and caregivers who struggle each day to help be a…

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and from someone who has suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury since my near fatal bicycle accident nearly 27 years ago, I have seen first-hand the struggles many in our community have had with brain injuries, mental illnesses, PTSD, depression, anxiety and ultimately, suicide.  Unfortunately, I have also seen first-hand the horrible stigmas associated with mental illnesses and that is why ending that stigma is one of my life goals. Over a year ago, when I was a member of the Naval & Military Park’s Board of Directors, I was the keynote speaker at…

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The 14th annual Colvin Cleaners Gowns for Prom program is in need of experienced seamstresses and tailors to volunteer during the free distribution of gowns to high school students, who otherwise could not afford one, on the Shea’s Performing Arts Center stage Tuesday, April 16, Wednesday, April 17 and Thursday, April 18 from 3 p.m.-8 p.m.   Once the young ladies select a gown, they are fitted upstairs in the stars’ dressing rooms by professional seamstresses and tailors. The gown is then altered, dry cleaned, packaged and delivered for free by Colvin Cleaners to the young ladies’ school in time for…

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The 14th annual Colvin Cleaners Gowns for Prom program, presented by The Allstate Foundation and supported by Reeds Jenss, Shea’s Performing Arts Center and Townsquare Media, has officially begun and the family-owned, 88 years young dry cleaners is anticipating a record campaign as it is communicating with nearly 90 high schools in Western New York seeking students who are unable to afford a gown for this year’s prom. These young ladies are encouraged to visit the website www.gownsforprom.com and click Get A Gown to schedule a time to select their gown on the Shea’s Performing Arts Center stage April 16-18…

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The timing of this year’s Rotary Club of Grand Island’s annual Undie Sunday to benefit the homeless in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and surrounding areas is ideal considering the recent subzero temperatures during the Blizzard of 2019. Beginning on Sunday, Feb. 10 and concluding on Sunday, Feb. 24 donations are encouraged of the basic needs of new and unused underclothing and socks for homeless men, women and children. Donations may be placed in the hampers at the following churches on Grand Island: Bible Fellowship Center, 1136 Baseline Rd.; Bible Presbyterian, 1650 Love Rd.; Island Presbyterian, 1822 Huth Rd.; St. Martin’s in…

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Sixteen months ago Hurricane Maria, a once in a lifetime deadly catastrophic natural disaster delivered a body blow to the island of Puerto Rico, knocking it to its knees. The United States Territory has an extensive and impressive boxing history and much like Puerto Rico’s most famous pugilist, Miguel Cotto, the island’s first four-division world champion, it has picked itself up from the mat in a spectacular comeback. “Puerto Rico is back and open for business,” Jimmy Fallon shouted to the millions who watched his “Tonight Show Live with Jimmy Fallon” on December 18 at the end of an interview…

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With its supply of kids coats, gloves, hats and scarves nearly depleted after two free distributions in the 23rd annual Colvin Cleaners Coats 4 Kids program, the first “Drive & Drop” event will occur this Saturday, November 24 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lots of Reeds Jenss, 4001 Maple Road, Amherst and 3515 Abbott Road, Orchard Park. Jeffrey Zimmer, owner of Reeds Jenss and Paul A. Billoni, President and CEO of Colvin Cleaners, are encouraging everyone to check their closets for gently used winter coats for kids, teens and adults along with hats, gloves or scarves or new…

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When Russell J. Salvatore created the Patriots & Heroes Park in front of his Steaks Chops & More Restaurant and Salvatore’s Grand Hotel at 6675 Transit Road in Williamsville, he envisioned the park as being a gathering place for veteran’s celebrations.  On Sunday, November 11 at 11 a.m. he will celebrate that vision when the third annual “Jump In On PTSD” patriotic and elaborate Veteran’s Day tribute is held.  What makes this year’s celebration so special is that it will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. The local Veteran’s Association of the 3rd Battalion, 19th Special…

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