Meet Marty

Marty Katon, born and raised in Michigan, spent the majority of his childhood working on a farm with several fellow foster children.

His parents couldn’t care for him and his brother, due to financial problems, so the siblings were taken to live and work on a farm. The foster children were treated like slaves; they slept in the barn and spent the majority of their days working.

Katon found joy and inspiration in working with the animals. He would feed them, bathe them, and heal them when they were sick or hurt. When officials would come to check on him and the other kids, their legal guardians would bring them inside the house and pretend that they were being care for and treated like family.

At age 18, Katon began studying medicine, but to his surprise, was drafted. Katon was sent to Vietnam, where he was discharged after only a few months, after shooting a fellow soldier in the foot for raping a woman.

Katon showed no remorse for his action and said he would shoot anyone else who rapes a woman. He and a friend who also agreed to shoot anyone who admitted to raping a woman were sent to receive psychiatric help, because their mindsets were “not right,” Katon recalled.

Instead of pursuing his dreams of becoming a doctor, Katon decided to become a political rights and animal rights activist.

Civil rights involve ensuring people’s physical and mental integrity, life and safety. They also include protection from the discrimination of race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, and religion.

Katon devoted his time and effort restoring Native American culture. Shortly after his time in Vietnam, he met a Native American man named Stone-Horse. Stone-Horse brought Katon back to his home in Tonawanda. Katon helped Stone-Horse and others who resided in the town get back their rights, along with possessions taken and stored in museums.

The Native American culture heavily influenced Katon in his work and his life. His vision, philosophies, and spirituality, all combine to richly and honestly represent Native American culture and wisdom in his art. “In my paintings, my own heritage comes together,” he said. “I come from Scottish craftsmen, English writers, and traders who married Native Americans. Craftsmanship is important in my work. There are stories in all of my paintings.” The majority of Katon’s artwork involves animals; his love for animals is undeniable. He grew up on a farm, where his task was to tend to the animals, which is why he believes he can so easily paint them.

Katon often rescues animals, both domestic and wild. Along with the Indian artifacts in his studio, a live a rat, hamster, tarantula, and baby raccoon, the latter of which he bottle-feeds.

Instead of using his childhood as an excuse, Katon uses it to help children who also come from disadvantaged backgrounds. He teaches painting to Make-A-Wish and Angel Wings children, YMCA camp children, autistic children, and other children in society who are sometimes forgotten.

With all of time Katon spends with animals and children, it’s almost unbelievable that he also has time to paint every day.

“I paint with oils on linen canvases, I use my hands on the canvas to paint and sometimes a cloth. I use all sorts of brushes. I sometimes use knives to make shapes. I use whatever works.

Katon will use whatever tools are around him when painting, stating that he likes to invent his own techniques. He is passionate about the skies he paints, “The sky tells the story,” he said. Katon (how old is he?) has been painting for almost 50 years and earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. In addition to being a painter, he has been a lumberjack, a Thai kick boxer, an oil painting instructor, a Mexican cave explorer, a common participant in Native American ceremonies, and a professional drummer who toured with many groups.

Galleries that display his work include the Merrill Chase Galleries of Chicago; Joe Wade Gallery of Santa Fe; and the Toledo Museum of Art.

Katon has earned many awards and first place ribbons throughout his years of work. Many Native American nations own and display his paintings, as do many Wild Animal Rescue organizations. 

Historical Village

East Aurora is a fairly small, historical village, 25 miles outside of the city of Buffalo. The village has been home to important people, such as U.S. President Millard Fillmore, and Elbert Hubbard, creator of the Roycroft Arts and Crafts movement.
         The Roycroft was a reformist community of craft workers and artists, which formed part of the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States. Hubbard, an American writer, publisher, artist and philosopher, brought the movement from Europe to America.
         Hubbard founded the community in 1895 in East Aurora, classifying himself and all participants as Roycrofters. The Roycrofters work and philosophy had a strong influenced on American architecture and design in the early 20th century. The name “Roycroft” was chosen after printers, Samuel and Thomas Roycroft, who made a successful living making books in London from 1650 (to) 1690. The word also had special significance to Hubbard, because it means “Kings Craft.”
         The Arts and Crafts Movement was an aesthetic movement that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It began in Britain by social reformers Walter Crane and John Ruskin, and designer William Morris. Their belief was that good design correlated to the notion of a good society. Workers under hardship by the working conditions and machines found in factories often created goods that were poor in design and quality. The movement was solely aimed to reestablish a harmony between architect, designer and craftsman, to produce well-designed, handmade, affordable everyday objects. William Morris founded the Klemscott Press in 1891, as a way to vastly and efficiently produce books using printed technology and styles of the 15th century. Morris and his fellow artists would later go on to design and produce a variety of products such as wallpaper, textile, furniture and glassware.
         Hubbard, inspired by Morris, decided to acquire a printing press of his own and later established the Roycroft Press. It only took a few years before the Roycroft Press would become popular and steadily used to create goods.
         The Roycroft Shops gloated with binder, leather, furniture and metalwork shops, along with a stained-glass studio from 1895 (to) 1938. After 1930, the Campus would soon become a leader of the creation of the American “Arts and Crafts” style, which emphasizes simplicity of design.
         The Roycroft Inn, established in 1897, was originally a print shop, and was later converted into a hotel. The Inn currently booms in business as a restaurant, banquet hall and hotel. Current manager, Suzie Horton states, “I have been working here for about seven years and wouldn’t wants to work anywhere else,” manager Suzie Horton said. “Everything about the inn is absolutely stunning. The handcrafted woodwork is something I often catch myself getting lost and gazing at.”
         The Chapel, built in 1899, served as a meeting hall for the Roycrofters. The building was constructed of fieldstone and was the second structure to be built on the Campus. The Chapel is now known as The Town Hall.
         The Print Shop, built in 1901, is an L-shaped building, made out of half-timber and stone. This building was built to meet the demands of the immensely popular publications. The building is currently used as office space. The Copper Shop, constructed in 1902, also consists of half-timber and stone. This building was used as the blacksmith shop, where hardware for doors, furniture, lighting fixtures, and irons, and tools for all the buildings on the campus were created.
         Today, The Roycroft Inn continues to welcome visitors and be the center of the many community activities the village has to offer. The inn offers its guests a beautiful destination for an overnight stay, a special dining experience, or both.
         Employee Morgan Clapp has worked at the Roycroft for almost three years and claims that The Inn is haunted. “Lights will often turn on and off, doors will open and shut, and a few of us have seen what appears to be a little girl,” Clapp said with a laugh. “The Inn has been around for decades, so I wouldn’t doubt that this place is haunted.”

http://www.arts-crafts.com/archive/hdavis.shtml

The one and only, Bar Bill.

The Bar Bill Tavern, an eatery in the village of East Aurora, is a locally owned bar and grill.  The Bar Bill is one of the oldest establishments in town and also one of the oldest buildings standing.  The building, at 185 Main St. has stood for over 150 years.  Barb and Bill Korzelius, replacing an ice cream shop, originally opened the tavern in the 1950s, serving solely a long list of beer.  Aerospace engineer Joe Giafagilone later purchased the bar in 1977 as soon as it went on the market.

Giafagilone reinvented the tavern by starting the “Mug Club,” patrons would receive a custom-printed mug including the name of their choosing and their mug’s number.  For a small fee, one can join a unique club that will allow them to purchase beers at a discounted price of $1.  The first order of mugs consisted of just 20 mugs, now reaching over 2,500 members.  “I have been a member for 25 years now, joining the club the best $20 I have ever spent,” town resident Jeff Ramsey states.

In 1983, Giafagilone added chicken wings to the menu.  He created his now world famous sauces in the tiny kitchen as he worked, slowly developing and perfecting them.  Giafagilone turned the rugged little bar into one of the regions best eateries, which has won several awards for the “best wings.” People from every walk of life have traveled to East Aurora to see if the rumors about the wings are true and to no surprise, are impressed.  “I am visiting from Florida and every time I come to town, the Bar Bill is the first place I go,” former town resident, Joe Hesketh stated.

After a little over 35 years at the bar, Giafagilone made the decision to retire in 2011.  The buyer was his niece Katie and her husband, former village mayor, Clark Crook.  The couple runs the bar with their son John, keeping the business strictly in the family.  “The Bar Bill has been in the family for nearly 40 years and will hopefully remain in the family for the next 40,” Clark Crook said.

The Bar Bill staff appreciates its customers.  “We are a community asset, the community owns the Bar Bill.  We are a small, confined establishment, just like the town itself,” Crook said. It’s best kept secret? “Most would think that it would be our wings, but I feel that it would have to be our beef on wick, which has been roasted and trimmed to perfection for the last 30 years.”

The Bar-Bill can be an intimidating place to walk into at first, due to the commotion of overcapacity and servers carrying large trays of food that buzz right over your head, but the bar is all about comfort.  “The Bar Bill Tavern is all about coming home. You belong the minute you walk in the heavy wooden doors to when you leave your warm seat at the bar.”, says Clark Crook.  The bar seats roughly 90 people, those eating out for dinner can expect a wait up to an hour or more for a table.

They are open 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 2 a.m. Sunday.  The Bar Bill is a place that does Buffalo favorites and does them well.  The bar is also unique in that its cash only. Meaning they don’t take credit cards, but have an ATM for those who are unaware. 

Unique Eats

Elm Street, a locally owned whole foods bakery/café, opened about four years ago, specializing in foods that can be made in its unique wood-fired oven.
         Local residents Jay and Kim DePerno are the owners Elm Street. They returned from Paris with memories of a bakery and a dream to own one of their own. They turned a rundown office supply store into a town mainstay for bread and pastries.
         Elm Street is a two-story café with available seating on both floors, and windows just about everywhere. The café also serves alcoholic beverages; there is a wide selection of bottled and draft beer, cider, and wine.
         Elm Street is best known for its tasty breads and pizzas. Bakers make an assortment of breads and pizzas that are served fresh daily. Not only does Elm Street make its own bread, but also its own butter.
         Elm Street uses meat, vegetables, and fruit, which are all purchased locally. It also sells a lot of food made from scratch, including crème fraiche, ricotta, pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, preserved citrus; and even roasts its own coffee.
         Until March of last year, Elm Street was only open for breakfast and lunch. “Extending our hours and expanding our menu for dinner was a challenge, but it certainly worked out to our advantage,” Jay DePerno said. Dinner has brought in more revenue than the couple expected.
         “I’ve been working here on and off since the day we opened and I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else,” said employee Addie Ohler. “I honestly look forward to coming home on school breaks and coming back to work. My favorite thing about working at a café in a small town is all of the regulars that I meet and get to know.” Ohler works behind the counter, cashing our customers and catering to their needs.
         The price range includes appetizers and small plates from $4 to $13; pizzas from $8 to $16; and large plates from $25 to $34.
         Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday; and closed on Sundays.            
         Elm Street is located on 72 Elm St, in the village of East Aurora. They can be reached by email through their website, elmstreetbakery.com, or by phone at 652-4720. Reservations are only made for parties consisting of six or more.

Small business owners

Matthew Dunaif, owner of East Aurora Veterinary Hospital, speaks up about the struggles of owning a business in a small town. Dunaif has been his own boss for a little over 23 years and claims he wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Opening your own business is one thing, but keeping it open is another. East Aurora is a fairly small, historical town, located 25 miles outside of the city of Buffalo. East Aurora has been home to important individuals, such as U.S. President Millard Fillmore and creator of the Roycroft Arts & Crafts movement, Elbert Hubbard.

In order to open a business in East Aurora, one must obtain a permit from the Village and pass various inspections that are conducted by Village Hall representatives. Building additions, conversions, repairs, plumbing, demolitions, decks, and signs all require permits.

Bringing in over 1,000 customers yearly, Dunaif said he is still worried for the future. “Although I have a large clientele, most being loyal customers that I’ve had for years, I am always worried about the future,” Dunaif said. “In order to obtain loyal customers, you must give them reasons to come back,” He added. Those reasons include; giving out discounts and getting to know your customers; knowing your customer’s names and a little bit about them will surely make them feel comfortable and stay loyal.

Another fear Dunaif has for the future of his business is the constant wonder of, “Will my business get purchased when I’m ready to sell and will anyone even want to buy it?” Owner of Visual Impact Designs, Eric Zimmermann, also has the same concern. What happens when you’re finally ready to retire and sell your business? What if no one wants to purchase it?

Zimmerman has been his own boss for 31 years and hopes to one day sell his successful sign business to someone, seeing that his four children show no interest in taking over the business. Both Dunaif and Zimmermann feel that they are the “go-to man” in town when it comes to animal care and sign design.

The definition of a “go-to man,” would have to be townie and owner of his own renovation business, Jeff Ramsey. Ramsey has owned Ramsey Renovations for nearly 25 years. Ramsey is the guy you call when you need just about anything fixed; he is known as the town handyman. “I believe it’s all about being kind and caring towards your customers and their homes,” Ramsey said. He also claimed that he does not use any social media. He does business by word of mouth and dropping off his business card at local establishments.

Dunaif and Zimmermann both said that one of their main reasons for success is the fact that they both have establishments on Main Street, the street that runs through the entire village of East Aurora. Zimmermann has a large paintbrush sculpture, which he crafted and mounted on top of his roof. The paintbrush is quite the eye catcher for all who pass by.

Owning your own business is clearly quite the responsibility. Before one plans on opening a business, they should be aware of how challenging it is. When running a business, one must make sure they hire the right people, pursue the best opportunities, stay organized, manage their money well, and secure a loyal clientele.

People, who are their own boss should expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised. “Owning your own business is like riding a rollercoaster, there are so many ups, downs, twists, and turns, but at the end of the day, you feel accomplished and satisfied,” says Zimmermann.