ROYALTON FOURTH Of JULY

The Royalton 4th of July at Royalton Ravine Park is fast approaching. Here's a look ahead to the events of the day...

Monday July 4, 2011

1pm: Ravine Park and parking open
2pm: Shuttles will start from Terry's Corners fire hall and Gasport fire hall
2pm: Chicken bar-b-que and food venders open
3pm: Parade through the hamlet
5pm: Kid's games start
10pm: Fireworks (the best in Niagara County!)

The following bands will take the stage...

4 pm til 5 pm: 21 Skidoo
5 pm til 7:30 pm: Urban Renewal
7:45 pm til 9:15pm: Last Call
9:30 pm til 11 pm: Red House

Jeff Brown, committee chairman, stresses the importance of taking the bus. Park at either fire hall. They only ask for a $1 donation per rider to help with the costs of the kids games and fireworks. There will be no tailgating in the parking area!

This family-friendly event would not be possible without your help. Anyone who would like to donate time and/or money, please contact Jeff at jeffb2010@verizon.net or send donations to:

Royalton 4th of July Committee
4457 Central Ave.
Gasport, NY 14067

JULY 4 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Two organizations need volunteers for the upcoming Royalton Fourth of July.

The July 4 committee is not having much luck in finding volunteers for the 'minute to win it' games. The kids really enjoyed these games last year and they only need about 12 people from 5pm til 8pm. There will be someone there to help guide the volunteers; its all pretty easy. If interested, email Jeff Brown at: jeffb2010@verizon.net

The Sports Boosters need some Boosters to help with their booth where they will be selling popcorn, pop, snow cones and candy. All proceeds will benefit Roy-Hart sports. If interested, email Rick DeWaters at: bostonrick123@yahoo.com

ROY-HARTS TOP SENIORS

Yesterday's Lockport Union Sun and Journal featured a cover story about Roy-Hart Valedictorian Connor Callaghan and Salutatorian Brendan Conley.

It noted this about Connor...

Callaghan, 17, played golf, basketball and tennis during his time at Roy-Hart. He also belonged to the National Honor Society, served on the student council and was Roy-Hart’s representative in the Leadership for the Youth of Niagara County. LYNC is a community leadership program run by Leadership Niagara. He was also very involved with the school’s music program.

The article said the following about Brendan...

While at Roy-Hart, Conley, 18, played soccer, basketball and baseball, where he was named to the First Team All Niagara Orleans League. Conley was also a class officer, belonged to the student council, was in the National Honor Society and a member of the school band.

Read their full bios and interviews here:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x177908994/Roy-Hart-pair-lead-the-pack

CELEBRATING EUNICE

Sunday's Lockport paper featured a front page article about the award being bestowed upon Eunice Hernberger. She's 96 years young and one of the most knowledgeable people about Royalton's history. On top of that, she's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

Here's what the article had to say...


Few are more familiar with the past century’s local history than Eunice Hernberger.

From the transformation of country lanes to state highways, rural electrification and central schooling to ways of life lost to progress, Hernberger knows things you won’t read in any textbook, and she shares her insights in the first person.

The longtime member of four local historical societies says their leaders look to her frequently for program ideas and fact checking.

And why wouldn’t they? At 96 years old, Hernberger is a resident expert in trends and changes.

“The historical societies come to me all the time. That’s because nothing’s as old as me,” she says.

Hernberger of Lockport has been named the YWCA of Niagara’s 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award winner for her decades of volunteer work with history associations, faith-based outreaches, including the National Council of Christians and Jews and the National Council of Catholic Women, and arts booster groups, including the Kenan Arts Council and the Lockport Theatre Organ Society. So moved are others by her giving spirit, she’s been an Eagles’ Citizen of the Year and a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow.

Hernberger has been pretty much a full-time volunteer in the community for more than 50 years, ever since she gave up her bookkeeping job at the Heinz plant in Medina to be Edward Hernberger’s wife. Even now, as a member of the Dale Association’s “over-90 group,” she has a date to keep nearly every day.

Admittedly some of her dates are with doctors she didn’t used to need, but tending to her causes, and the friends she’s made through them over the years, remain her reason for rising cheerfully each day.

“I still can’t say no (to volunteering), as long as I can get a ride,” she said. “It’s helped me live an enjoyable life; I’ve made friends almost all across the world.”

The YWCA of Niagara Board of Trustees recognize women who’ve spent a lifetime contributing to their community with the Lifetime Achievement Award winner, explains YWCA Executive Director Kathleen Granchelli.

“Eunice Hernberger is the epitome of that award, that’s for sure,” Granchelli said. “The board could not find a better candidate to honor than her.”


Read the entire article here:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x947032543/Good-long-life-achieved

"AMERICA IS..." VIDEO

Mr. Mault's fourth grade class at Roy-Hart recently held it's local history night. As a part of the class efforts, they produced a video called "America is.." offering the students' beliefs about what makes America great. The video also features many photos showing our community in days gone by. It's projects like this that highlight the good of our education system and give hope for our future...

ROYALTON BOY PLEADS GUILTY IN SHOOTING

Yesterday's Buffalo News reported the following about this sibling dispute taken too far...

A Royalton youth who shot his twin brother Feb. 21 pleaded guilty Tuesday in Niagara County Family Court.

The 16-year-old, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, admitted to second- degree assault under a section that covered reckless conduct rather than intentional injury.

“I thought from Day One we didn’t have an intentional act,” defense attorney Sunil Bakshi said. “The disposition is in line with what really happened.”

The prosecutor, Assistant County Attorney John S. Sansone, told Judge John F. Batt, “I believe the case will end up with the respondent being put on probation, but that’s up to Your Honor once you read the [presentencing] report.”

Batt said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

The article goes on to discuss future sentencing and the background behind the incident. And, for concerned parents, it notes this...

Bakshi said the shooter will be leaving Royalton-Hartland Central School and entering “alternative instruction” to obtain an equivalency diploma and a welding certificate.



Read the entire article here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article455384.ece

FMC STORAGE SITE NEAR ATHLETIC FIELDS

Bill Arnold, Chairman of the Middleport Community Input Group sent along this message...


During a discussion with an EPA representative, I was informed that the government agencies with oversight of FMC's arsenic remediation project in Middleport have received numerous comments concerning the Corrective Measure Action Unit (CAMU) with about 95% of them positive. The CAMU would be the permanent storage site for all soils removed from residential yards, school yards, Culvert 105 and the Jeddo Creek tributary south of Pearson Rd.

It is important for interested parties who are not in favor of a CAMU near the Middleport school's athletic fields to send comments to the Agencies stressing their disapproval. Comments should be sent to:

Mr. Matt Mortifolio
NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation
626 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

or E-mail mjmortef@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Comments must be submitted by July 1st.

If we do not speak in numbers, we very well could end up with this CAMU behind the bleachers of the high school football field.

BELVA LOCKWOOD TO BE HONORED TODAY

Norma Wollenberg and Jennifer Bieber will be representing Royalton and the Royalton Historical Society at this luncheon that was mentioned in the Buffalo News...

Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood, the Western New Yorkborn attorney who in 1879 became the first woman to practice before the U. S. Supreme Court, will be among the eight people honored at the seventh celebration of the Women in the Law Luncheon at noon Wednesday in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.

Officials of the Gender and Racial Fairness Committee of the state’s Buffalo-based Eighth Judicial District are sponsoring the event honoring women involved in the local courts for their contributions to the bench, bar and community.

Born in Royalton on Oct. 24, 1830, Lockwood was one of the first women to run for president of the United States in her bids with the National Equal Rights Party in 1884 and 1888. A well-respected writer on women’s suffrage and the need for legal equality for women, Lockwood died in 1917 and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D. C.

In addition to Lockwood, the luncheon will honor Administrative Judge Paula L. Feroleto of the Eighth Judicial District, Niagara County Sheriff’s Capt. Kristen M. Neubauer, retired State Supreme Court chief clerk Christine Nestor, senior state court analyst Veronica K. Rucker, senior court reporter Sandra K. Scruggs, former City Judge Barbara M. Sims and State Supreme Court Justice Penny M. Wolfgang.

Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article454231.ece

GRADUATION RATE AT ROY-HART

The state education department released today the results of its study about graduation rates, noting the success of the 2006 grade 9 cohorts in graduating last year. The rate rose across NY to 73.4 percent. Roy-Hart's rate is at 85%. Read the various reports here:

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/irs/pressRelease/20110614/home.html

ROY-HART RANKINGS PART ONE

Business First today issued its annual rankings of the 280 elementary schools in WNY. Roy-Hart ranks 155th.

Read the complete study here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2011/06/07/southern-tier-catholic-stays-no-1.html

ROY-HART'S CALLAGHAN & SHANAHAN SELECTED FOR BUSINESS FIRST AWARDS

Business First announced Friday morning the winners of their five education-related awards, citing outstanding performances by 197 students, teachers, schools and districts across Western New York.

The awards were presented on the first day of release for Business First’s 2011-2012 Guide to Western New York Schools.

The All-Western New York Academic Team recognizes the 100 best and brightest high school seniors in the region. Roy-Hart's Connor Callaghan was recognized as one of those rare students.

The 2011 Extracurricular Stars program - divided into the fields of art, drama, leadership, music and sports - recognizes 50 students who excelled in their field. Roy-Hart's Bridget Shanahan was a selection in the sports category.

Congrats to 2 of Roy-Hart's -- and WNY's!! -- best.

Learn more about the awards here: http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/

BECKER FARMS OPENS WINE SHOP IN SANBORN

The Niagara Wheatfield Tribune reports on the following business development for Becker Farms...


While so many Western New Yorkers have waved goodbye to their youngsters heading out to greener pastures elsewhere, Oscar and Melinda Vizcarra are keeping their three grown children here in Niagara County by providing good jobs.

And, those jobs are with a traditionally declining business - the family farm.

The Vizcarras have built success by changing with the times ... and adding wine to the menu.

Their farm, founded by Melinda's great-grandfather in 1894, is Becker Farms in Gasport, on the eastern side of Niagara County. Their latest venture is bringing their wines to potential customers in the western end of the county by opening a satellite wine shop inside the Mill Marketplace, 5890 Ward Road, Sanborn.


You can read the rest of the article online. It talks about Becker Farms' & Vizcarra Vineyards' history as well as the story behind the Mill Marketplace.

The link is:

http://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2011/06/02/102605/changes-keep-farm-family-in-business

ROY-HART CONCERTS

Royalton-Hartland's various Spring concerts will be held on these dates...

June 7th: High School Spring Concert @7pm HS aud
June 8th: Elementary School Spring Concert @7pm HS aud
June 15th: Grade 7/8 Spring Concert @7:00pm HS aud

SPORTS PHYSICALS

The Roy-Hart school district recommends that any student planning on playing a sport in the 2011-2012 school year attend the school-provided physicals on June 7th or 8th from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm in the High School nurse's office. This will ensure that the student's physical is on record for the participation in any sport. Any questions contact Rebecca J. Mahar RN in the HS health office 716-735-2000 x2015.

TOWN-WIDE GARAGE SALE

There's only one month to go to the 2011 Town Wide Garage Sale in Royalton. It will be held July 2nd - 4th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Please contact the Town Clerk's office to include your address in the master listing on the town's website. The e-mail address is trclerk1@rochester.rr.com