A recent visit to the newly opened Centro Culturale Italiano di Buffalo (CCI) was a real treat, in more ways than one. First off, I must say how nice it is to see this particular corner at Hertel and Delaware salvaged. It would be interesting to know what this entire corner once beheld, before it became a series of strip malls and fast food joints.

Thankfully, due to a group of people with passion, gumption, and vision, the northeast corner has been rescued from the grips of similar development, which continues to plague Hertel Avenue heading westward. Who would have thought that the former North Park Branch library building could be repurposed in such a way?