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“It’s not something that’s going to be over in two months.”







Blasz's house destroyed (copy)

An aerial view of what remains of Ed Blasz’s East Eden home that was destroyed when the tornado tore through the area last week.


Derek Gee/Buffalo News


Tornado recovery: ‘It’s not something that’s going to be over in two months’

As the Eden community rallies around friends and neighbors affected by last week’s tornado, it’s hard for those who survived the tornado to forget.

Ed and Rosemary Blasz were in their home on Sisson Highway (Route 75) with their grandson when they received the warning and the sky darkened. Ed and his grandson ran to the basement. Rosemary said she was right behind.

But when he looked, she wasn’t there, he said.

She went to get their dog, Oscar, and didn’t make it to the basement before the roof blew off.

After the party was over, he ran up the stairs and didn’t see her.

“My heart stopped,” said Ed, a Vietnam veteran and retired American Standard volunteer firefighter.

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She was in an interior hallway, just around the corner from a street. No one was injured, although an hour later Rosemary went to the hospital after experiencing chest pains. She was released three days later with a clean bill of health.

Their home wasn’t the only one destroyed. Ed’s brother James lives across the road. His home also has no roof, while the adjacent Blasz Tree Farm suffered little damage. Homes on Sauer Road and Gary Drive have trees through their roofs, and barns on two farms have been destroyed.

In West Falls, Ray and Pat Kaminski saw the warnings and went to a room in the middle of their home on Tannery Road. Their dogs, Yogi and Honey, who don’t like loud noises, stayed close by.

“It was so scary, and then we heard a big boom, and that’s when the tree hit the back of the house,” Pat Kaminski said.

WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT

The Buffalo diocese is among many in the United States closing churches to compensate for declining numbers of priests and faithful: Catholics in Baltimore, New Orleans, Detroit, Madison and St. Louis also face radical changes brought on by a declining interest in organized religion, a shrinking number of priests ministering to the flock, weakened finances and demographic shifts that have eroded Catholic populations in historic strongholds of the faith.

Global Windows outage affects Western New York government computer systems: Western New York institutions were not spared from the computer outage that rocked banks, airlines, businesses and government operations around the world. The state’s public safety emergency response systems were not affected, but many other state and local government departments were, and the Erie County DMV will be closed Saturday while it recovers from the outage. Read more

Forest Lawn commemorates its 175th anniversary with festivities throughout the year: At Forest Lawn, every grave has a story. This year, the cemetery aims to tell them. A cherished icon of America’s rural cemetery movement, Forest Lawn is preparing to host a year-long celebration to commemorate its 175th anniversary, kicking off with a fundraising gala on August 10. Read more

‘An incredible night’: Western New York Republicans hail Trump’s third presidential nomination: Like previous versions, Trump 3.0 took the stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday night — and delegates from Western New York were thrilled. Read more

Niagara County Prosecutor Prosecutes Man Whose Convictions Were Overturned Last Year: Michael D. Agee, who spent a decade in prison, had his robbery and attempted robbery convictions overturned after his lawyers showed that prosecutors failed to share evidence with his defense before and after his trial, state Supreme Court Justice Betty Calvo-Torres ruled last year. Read more

‘I Believe in the Cause’: Olean Concert Organized by Soldier Slain at Fort Hood Benefits Wounded Warriors: Ask Patrick Miller why he continues to organize and direct a benefit concert for veterans and their families in the Southern Tier 300 miles away, and you’ll understand that he was shot and killed by a fellow soldier who went on a rampage at the old Fort Hood in Texas.

Erik Brady: Buffalo, who needed it least, gave the world air conditioning: Willis Carrier was only 25 years old when he worked for the Buffalo Forge Company. He solved a humidity problem in a Brooklyn printing plant by using cooling equipment to control the dew point and was awarded a patent for his “Air Treatment Apparatus.”

The Lighter Side of News: Bald and Crying; Training Day; Dolphin Day: Read the unusual stories our reporters have gathered for this week’s Off Main Street column. Read more

WEATHER REPORT

Don Paul: Buffalo’s warmest year yet, with more seasonal warmth to come: The thermal consequences of overreliance on fossil fuels in much of the world continue, according to meteorologist Don Paul. Read more

ENTHUSIASM

It’s summer in Buffalo and I want to get on the water: Being close to the water and enjoying water sports is a great way to beat the summer heat in Western New York. Local waterways for sightseeing, exercising and cooling off include two accessible Great Lakes, a network of rivers and streams and the historic Erie Canal. Read more

BUFFALO NEXT

Amherst IDA Supports Housing Tax Breaks Based on Independent Study: Severyn Development will receive $8.5 million in sales, property and mortgage tax exemptions from the agency to support its $54 million Sawyers Landing apartment project at the Muir Woods site in North Amherst.

Rochester company plans affordable housing in former West Seneca mansion: A Rochester developer specializing in affordable housing and community development is targeting a former West Seneca mansion and surrounding land to bring 75 new apartments to Southtowns on a scenic property abutting Cayuga Creek. Read more

INVOICES

These 10 Buffalo Bills players have the most to lose as training camp begins. Take a look: Training camp is approaching and presents Buffalo Bills players and coaches with a unique opportunity to prove themselves. There is a lot at stake, whether it is to play at a higher level or even just to make the roster. Some have more to lose than others. Read more

Ryan O’Halloran: Bills tackle Spencer Brown is focused on the field, his health — not his contract: Bills right tackle Spencer Brown said his shoulder is healthy for the start of training camp. Could this be his final season with Buffalo? Read more

SABERS

Former Buffalo Sabres Captain Kyle Okposo’s Thank You Letter to the City and Franchise: The former Sabres captain thanked the city of Buffalo and Sabres fans for their eight years of support. Here is his exclusive open letter. Read more

PICTURES

#EveryDayAPhoto: Check out our photo series each morning to see our favorite image of the day.

See more photo galleries here.

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