Nestled on the eastern shores of Lake Erie, Buffalo, New York, is a city bubbling with charm, community spirit, and a rich tapestry of cultural experiences. Often dubbed "The City of Good Neighbors," Buffalo embodies a welcoming atmosphere that makes it feel like home to anyone who walks its friendly streets. Whether you're exploring the historic architecture or savoring culinary delights, Buffalo offers a warm embrace to all.
Buffalo has been experiencing a vibrant renaissance in recent years, with its rejuvenated waterfront and remarkable public spaces leading the way. The remarkable Canalside District is a hub of activity, featuring outdoor concerts, kayaking, ice skating, and urban markets infused with local artistry. Buffalo’s diverse art scene is a treasure trove of inspiration, from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery to the annual Curtain Up! theater season, showcasing the city's creative pulse.
Culinary enthusiasts find Buffalo to be a feast for the senses, with its famed chicken wings just the appetizer. The city’s growing roster of farm-to-table restaurants, global cuisines, and craft breweries highlights the vibrant flavors and innovations of its culinary community. The weekly farmers' markets offer fresh, locally...
Buffalo, New York
4 | HelloBuffalo, New York • Winter Issue
Buffalo, New York: The City of Good Neighbors Beckons
Nestled on the eastern shores of Lake Erie, Buffalo, New York, is a city bubbling with charm, community spirit, and a rich tapestry of cultural experiences. Often dubbed "The City of Good Neighbors," Buffalo embodies a welcoming atmosphere that makes it feel like home to anyone who walks its friendly streets. Whether you're exploring the historic architecture or savoring culinary delights, Buffalo offers a warm embrace to all.
Buffalo has been experiencing a vibrant renaissance in recent years, with its rejuvenated waterfront and remarkable public spaces leading the way. The remarkable Canalside District is a hub of activity, featuring outdoor concerts, kayaking, ice skating, and urban markets infused with local artistry. Buffalo’s diverse art scene is a treasure trove of inspiration, from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery to the annual Curtain Up! theater season, showcasing the city's creative pulse.
Culinary enthusiasts find Buffalo to be a feast for the senses, with its famed chicken wings just the appetizer. The city’s growing roster of farm-to-table restaurants, global cuisines, and craft breweries highlights the vibrant flavors and innovations of its culinary community. The weekly farmers' markets offer fresh, locally sourced ingredients, reflecting the city’s commitment to sustainability and support for local producers.
Above all, Buffalo's true magic lies in its people—a tapestry of kindness and resilience that has transformed the city into one of America's most endearing places to live. From generations-old neighborhoods to bustling new developments, Buffalo is a dynamic tapestry woven with tradition and modernity, making it an enchanting place to call home.
Hello Buffalo, New York • Winter Issue |5
Buffalo, New York
What to Expect from a Free Consultation with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you were hurt in an accident, a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney offers you a no-cost opportunity to better understand your legal rights after an accident. It's a first step for many who are dealing with medical bills, time off work, and the uncertainty of what to do
next. During this meeting, the attorney will listen to your account of what happened, ask questions to clarify the details, and evaluate whether you might have a case worth pursuing.Even if you don’t have every document or detail ready, it’s still helpful to bring what you can to this meeting,
6 | HelloBuffalo, New York • Winter Issue
What to Expect from a Free Consultation with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you were hurt in an accident, a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney offers you a no-cost opportunity to better understand your legal rights after an accident. It's a first step for many who are dealing with medical bills, time off work, and the uncertainty of what to do next. During this meeting, the attorney will listen to your account of what happened, ask questions to clarify the details, and evaluate whether you might have a case worth pursuing.
Even if you don’t have every document or detail ready, it’s still helpful to bring what you can to this meeting, such as the police report, medical records or bills, accident photos, and insurance information. These materials can support the conversation and give the attorney more insight into your situation. If you don’t have everything, that’s okay. A good legal team will help you gather what you need.
The most important part of the consultation is understanding your legal options. The attorney will explain what rights you may have, including compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering. They’ll also answer any questions you may have.
It’s also common to go over how the law firm operates. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything upfront. You only pay if the firm successfully recovers compensation for you. This can provide peace of mind knowing you don’t have to spend money up-front to hire an attorney.
The consultation is pressure-free. There’s no obligation to move forward after the meeting. Some people are ready to hire legal representation right away, while others prefer to take time to consider their options. Either way, the goal is to provide you with clear, honest information so you can make the best decision for your circumstances.
Preparing a brief timeline of what happened, listing any witnesses, and organizing your paperwork ahead of time can make this meeting more productive. But the most important thing is to show up and ask the questions that matter to you.
Ross Cellino & Timothy Cellino
of the consultation is understanding your legal options. The attorney will explain what rights you may have, including compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or pain and suffering. They’ll also answer any questions you may have.It’s also common to go over how the law firm operates. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything upfront. You only pay if the firm successfully recovers compensation for you. This can provide peace of mind knowing you don’t have to spend money up-front to hire an attorney.The consultation is pressure-free. There’s no obligation to move forward...
such as the police report, medical records or bills, accident photos, and insurance information. These materials can support the conversation and give the attorney more insight into your situation. If you don’t have everything, that’s okay. A good legal team will help you gather what you need.The most important part
The most important part of the consultation is understanding your legal options.
About the Author
Ross Cellino, founding partner of Cellino Law, has built a firm rooted in decades of experience and dedication to securing justice for accident victims. Alongside him, Timothy Cellino brings a lifelong passion for advocacy, helping clients navigate challenging times with compassion and determination.
HelloBuffalo, New York • Winter Issue |7
FEATURED STORY
Warren Clark’s Upstate New York BBB, a Quiet Force for Trust
by HelloNation Staff
Warren Clark has spent decades making sure everyday deals feel fair, and the record shows it. He became president and CEO of the BBB of Upstate New York in 2012 after a long history with the organization, stepping in as the region set its course for a new era of transparency and practical help. That transition was reported at the time as a leadership handoff after his predecessor retired, marking a clean start for the office under Clark’s stewardship.His work has drawn attention beyond the BBB’s own audience. Buffalo Business First profiled Clark
8 | HelloBuffalo, New York • Winter Issue
HelloNation Staff
ABOUT THE AUTHOR HelloNation is a national magazine dedicated to practical consumer education. We translate real marketplace issues into plain steps that help people set fair expectations, compare options, and resolve problems. Our editorial mission closely aligns with the Better Business Bureau’s emphasis on public education and transparent practices, while remaining independent and not affiliated.
as a watchdog for better business, describing an organization headquartered in Amherst that does far more than issue seals. The piece highlighted how people read the BBB mark as a symbol of trust, then look for the dispute resolution and verification that sit behind it. That local framing captures the way Clark approaches the job, not as a brand campaign, but as steady, day-to-day service to buyers and sellers.The scope is large and specific. The BBB of Upstate New York serves 48 counties, a geography that includes dense metros and rural towns where a single bad contract can strain
Hello Buffalo, New York • Winter Issue |9
Warren Clark’s Upstate New York BBB, a Quiet Force for Trust
Warren Clark has spent decades making sure everyday deals feel fair, and the record shows it. He became president and CEO of the BBB of Upstate New York in 2012 after a long history with the organization, stepping in as the region set its course for a new era of transparency and practical help. That transition was reported at the time as a leadership handoff after his predecessor retired, marking a clean start for the office under Clark’s stewardship. His work has drawn attention beyond the BBB’s own audience. Buffalo Business First profiled Clark as a watchdog for better business, describing an organization headquartered in Amherst that does far more than issue seals. The piece highlighted how people read the BBB mark as a symbol of trust, then look for the dispute resolution and verification that sit behind it. That local framing captures the way Clark approaches the job, not as a brand campaign, but as steady, day-to-day service to buyers and sellers. The scope is large and specific. The BBB of Upstate New York serves 48 counties, a geography that includes dense metros and rural towns where a single bad contract can strain a family budget. Covering that ground means working with chambers, nonprofits, and schools to push out simple guidance about estimates, warranties, and refunds. It also means helping small businesses respond to reviews the right way, with a timeline, a plan to fix the problem, and a public record of the outcome. By keeping the focus on facts, the team reduces heat in tough conversations and gives both sides a path to closure. Clark’s tenure has coincided with milestones that connect local work to national history. In 2023, the Council of Better Business Bureau leaders marked the system’s centennial by ringing the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell, a symbolic nod to commerce governed by rules and norms. That moment stood alongside the daily work of correcting ads, educating shoppers, and resolving complaints, and it reminded the public that marketplace trust is not accidental; it is built over time. Symbols matter, but the substance is in the follow-through, the careful documentation, and the willingness to hear both sides before making a judgment. A decade later, Upstate New York’s own centennial gave Clark and his team a chance to celebrate the region’s progress. The BBB hosted events around the state to honor accredited businesses, Torch Awards for Ethics winners, and community partners that model transparent practices. Those gatherings were not just parties; they reinforced standards that any consumer can use, like reading a contract twice, paying in stages, and checking a profile before you sign. Media coverage from Albany to Skaneateles showed how a 100-year legacy can still feel practical and current when the message stays plain. Partnerships have helped extend that message. In Western New York, Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement promoted the Buffalo Tips app, an anonymous tip tool that supports investigations and gives residents a safe way to share information. Clark’s BBB is not a police agency, but it sits in the same ecosystem of trust where clear information helps prevent harm. Pointing people to reliable reporting channels, then reminding them to watch for impostor sites, is the kind of simple, preventive work that pays off. Official pages for the City of Buffalo continue to reference the app and hotline, keeping the public connection visible. Day to day, the Upstate New York BBB still does the blocking and tackling that most readers expect. The team publishes Business Profiles so people can see complaint patterns in context. They mediate disputes with a focus on timelines and documentation, then route qualifying cases into arbitration where both sides agree to a clear process. They publish charity reports through the Wise Giving Alliance standards so donors can confirm governance, finances, and program spending. They also translate national scam alerts into local examples, which helps seniors and new homeowners recognize the same tricks wearing slightly different badges. Clark’s approach in interviews has emphasized plain language, and that tone filters into the office culture. Staff encourage consumers to slow down, compare estimates, and keep copies of every message. They tell businesses to disclose fees, post refund policies, and train frontline staff to resolve problems without defensiveness. They remind everyone that a fair deal is easiest to spot when you can see it coming, and toughest to repair when the paper trail is thin. When you step back, the profile that Buffalo Business First sketched years ago still fits. The watchdog label is not about headlines; it is about guardrails. Across 48 counties, the Upstate New York BBB has used those guardrails to keep pressure low, facts high, and outcomes realistic. That is how a trust organization earns its place in a community. It is also how a leader builds a record that is measured in resolved cases, clearer ads, and consumers who feel confident enough to say yes or no with equal comfort.
Symbols matter, but thesubstance isin thefollow-through, the carefuldocumentation, and thewillingness to hear bothsides beforemaking a judgment.
a family budget. Covering that ground means working with chambers, nonprofits, and schools to push out simple guidance about estimates, warranties, and refunds. It also means helping small businesses respond to reviews the right way, with a timeline, a plan to fix the problem, and a public record of the outcome. By keeping the focus on facts, the team reduces heat in tough conversations and gives both sides a path to closure.Clark’s tenure has coincided with milestones that connect...
