Artpark celebrates 2006 successes at annual meeting

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, November 4, 2006

The Artpark and Company board of directors convened at the Niagara Falls Country Club on Wednesday, Oct. 25, for the not-for-profit organization’s annual meeting of members. There, board chairman Thomas J. Fatta shared the official results of Artpark’s very successful 2006 summer season and nominating committee chairman J. Michael Kelleher announced the new roster of directors for 2007.

The programming board maintained its recent momentum, drawing an estimated 190,000 visitors to scheduled Artpark events in 2006. Since 2002, the park has seen a 126 percent attendance increase, largely due to the popularity of its “Tuesday in the Park” concert series, recently-established collaborations with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, WNED Great Guitar Festival, Buffalo Society of Artists and the Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival – not to mention a substantial increase in family-oriented activities. Artpark’s resurgence – and resulting high visibility – has also led to a sizeable increase in corporate sponsorships, which also reached an all-time high in 2006.

“Thanks to the very diligent efforts of the Artpark board and staff, we are continuing to create a very positive impression in the region,” Fatta said. “The addition of a strong incoming class of directors for 2007 will serve as a springboard for sustaining – and building upon – this success.”

Newly elected to the Artpark board are Dena M. Armstrong, a Lewiston resident and Sevenson Environmental assistant vice president; John Camp, an East Amherst resident who is the senior vice president of support services at HSBC Bank USA.; Michael J. Dowd, Esq., of Lewiston; Dr. Kerry S. Grant of Buffalo, a professor of music history at the University at Buffalo; Skip Mazenauer of Grand Island, Niagara Frontier Publications (Lewiston Sentinel) publisher; Jim Morabito, a Williamsville resident and managing partner of the Main-Transit Plaza in Clarence; Buffalo’s Henri L. Muhammad, a concert violinist, and founder and executive director of Muhammad School of Music; Buffalo resident Tyra Johnson, a project manager of diversity and neighborhood development at LP Ciminelli; and Ray Walters, an Amherst resident, who is president of Regional Waste Solutions, LLC.

Fatta, chief administrative officer of Emprexe Analytical and a Snyder resident, was re-elected as chair of the organization’s board of directors for the fourth consecutive season. Wendy L. Montante of the J.W. Daigler Company and Clarence Center was re-elected as vice chair, while Brown and Company’s Christopher H. Brown rotated from treasurer to vice chair. Vincent Agnello of Youngstown, a faculty member at Niagara University, will assume the position of treasurer while also retaining the role of secretary.

Directors re-elected for three year terms include Fatta, Glenn Bobeck, Erin Harris, Michele O. Heffernan, Janice L. McCaw and Sophia Smith. Advisory board members re-elected to a one-year term include Thomas E. Brydges, Francine DelMonte, Pamela Jacobs-Vogt, Seymour Knox IV, George Maziarz, Rhodes C. Palmer, Joseph Pillittere, Richard Soluri and Joanne Willmott. Thanks to their lengthy and dedicated service to Artpark, Frederick G. Attea and Rose Gellman were each granted status as director emeriti.

Artpark and Company is set to enter its 11th season of operating Artpark under a license agreement with the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation