In Thursday’s (9/22) Buffalo News (New York), Mark Sommer writes, “On a recent morning, the vividly colored Tiffany windows in First Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary, at Symphony Circle, glowed brightly. Outside the church, the 168-foot-tall Medina sandstone tower, crowned with a blue-green patina, showed the wear and tear of its age. The tower was built in 1897, but it has never been repointed. The roof and other parts of the building are also in need of repair. Monday, more than 60 musicians from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra—who perform across the street in Kleinhans Music Hall—will take part in an 8 p.m. benefit to support preservation of the West Side landmark, whose 300-member congregation celebrates its bicentennial in 2012. ‘We want to be a partner in the community, so we’re donating our time, and the stage crew is hauling everything over,’ said Ron Daniels, a bassoon player and president of Local 92, American Federation of Musicians. ‘It’s important to have that part of Symphony Circle very vibrant.’ … The tower was stabilized a few years ago in the first phase of restoration, with steel brackets, still visible, used to secure it. The second and last phase, to repoint the tower, carries a $250,000 price tag, according to business manager Christina Trachtenberg.”
Posted September 23, 2011
