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Politicians back culinary school at Frontier House Story by Joshua
Maloni
Lewiston Mayor Richard Soluri summed up Thursday’s Culinary Arts Institute press conference best by saying “We told Dick (Hastings) there’d be 47 people. It looks more like 97!” The Frontier House was filled with a pack of politicians, business leaders and residents pledging their desire to see Niagara County Community College locate its proposed culinary school in the historic Lewiston building. Those in attendance filled the former McDonald’s ground level playroom and spilled out into the hallway. Soluri, wearing his black winter coat and standing between a windowsill and two propane-fueled space heaters, served as emcee of the event. He said, “What we’re trying to do here is establish support. “We think Niagara Falls is a good site (for the CAI). We know Lewiston is the better site.” Wide Support Standing in the corner with the mayor were Frontier House owner Richard Hastings, state Sen. George Maziarz, Lewiston Supervisor Fred Newlin and Niagara County legislators Clyde Burmaster and John Ceretto. Each elected official took a turn saying why they believe the Lewiston site is the right match for NCCC. “I want to lend my support to locate the Culinary Arts Institute here in Lewiston,” Maziarz said. “I think this is a no-brainer.” Burmaster, the legislature chairman, said, “I think it really is great for Lewiston. It’s totally fitting to be in the Frontier House.” “It would be so nice to see this building with doors open,” he said. The Frontier House has been closed since December 2004, when McDonald’s decided to pull out for reasons not publicly stated. Despite a lack of income from the building since then – save some fees accrued for parking lot usage – Hastings has put his own money into winterizing the building. He also replaced the roof and repaired the front porch late last year. Suffice it to say, he’s in favor of the CAI occupying his building. “This is a very good fit,” he said. “It takes one of the most historic buildings and puts it in public use.” “It’s a win-win,” Hastings said. The NCCC board of trustees is currently studying the feasibility of establishing a culinary school and the pros and cons of locating it in Niagara Falls or Lewiston. Robert S’Dao, a member of the NCCC board, said he favors locating the CAI in Lewiston. “I strongly support Lewiston because of what it has to offer,” he said. “I think we have a lot to offer. I see this as ‘Restaurant Row.’ ” Of the turnout in support of Lewiston, he said, “I’m totally impressed.” When asked if those who support the school’s proposed downtown Niagara Falls locations – the Conference Center and a vacant lot on the corner of Third and Niagara streets – have put forth such a rallying point, he simply said, “Not to my knowledge.” It is expected that the CAI would employ 30 faculty members and boast up to 700 students. Ceretto speculated the cost to establish the school would be $14 million. “This will benefit the Falls just as much if it’s here or there,” Soluri said, while Ceretto added, “It’s time for Niagara County to have a presence in Lewiston.” At the press conference, an envelope containing a Frontier House historic postcard and a premade letter in support of Lewiston were distributed in the hopes those in attendance will sign their name and mail them back to the NCCC board. Newlin spoke to the grassroots campaign. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed and work as hard as we can,” he said. The Frontier House would serve as the CAI’s restaurant. Additional classroom and parking spaces would be needed. The NCCC board is expected to vote on the culinary school’s location in June.
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