Tuesday, May 31, 2011

LOOKING FOR CLASS OF 1981

The 30th reunion for the Royalton-Hartland Class of 1981 will be held Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 5:00pm at the Elks Lodge, N. Canal Rd., Lockport, NY.

Sandy Kress needs your help in finding classmates who are "missing" or for whom no addresses can be found. If you are one of the following, or know how to contact them, please contact Sandy Hobbs-Kress at skress001@rochester.rr.com:

Joanne Brown
Christa Binning
Patty Brandenburg
Debbie Demmer
William Gaylord
David Jordon
Lenora Miller
Robert Pinzon
Ed Mount
Melissa Love
Anne Pearson
Ben Pohl
Linda Stern
John Sink
Sandra Smith
Jeff Sidebottom
Jackie Storms
Joe Szymanski
Gerald Taylor
Mark Willard
Kellie Townsend

Monday, May 30, 2011

MORE THAN A LONG WEEKEND

Americans everywhere are enjoying this long weekend, an extended respite from the daily grind of work or school. It’s a joyous occasion, the unofficial start to summer.

That enjoyment of life and the rare chance to relax too often mask the real meaning of the Memorial Day holiday, one that recognizes the men and women who gave their lives so that we – and others around the world – might savor these weekends shared with family and friends. It’s vitally important that each and every one of us take some time today to honor those who fell in battle. You need not partake in a parade or attend a solemn service but you should, in your own way, quietly and genuinely reflect upon and appreciate the accomplishments and lives of our fine militaries of wars past and present.

Since the start of the Revolutionary War, 1.344 million people have paid the price for American goals. To put that into perspective, that’s slightly more than the population of the entire Western New York region. So, imagine all of the homes and streets being completely devoid of people from Niagara Falls to Jamestown and all points in between and near. That haunting visual should give you a feel for the scale of sacrifice.

It should also give you ample reason to set aside some time to appreciate the meaning of those sacrifices. Those soldiers, sailors and airmen saw and experienced horrors that very few of us ever will, and they gave their lives so that others may live, for the creation and preservation of human rights here and abroad, and for the furthering of our national interests.

America, the greatest and freest nation ever conceived, would never have existed had men not fought to the death against British tyranny.

She would never have remained intact, nor would 3.5 million blacks have been freed from slavery, had the North not found it morally necessary to preserve our nation or better the human existence.

The whole modern world would have been torn asunder and many millions more innocent lives taken by evil, had we not entered the two World Wars with cost of a half-million American lives.

Communism would have gained immeasurable might and influence had we not waged a proxy war against its principle powers – China and Russia – in the Koreas.

The Vietnam War may have been the most contentious in American history. 58,000 perished while having the honor to stick with America, regardless of our nation’s sociopolitical divide, showing the patriotism and allegiance lacking by 100,000 draft dodgers.

The War on Terror has been waged in Iraq and Afghanistan, with our men volunteering to fight for our security, wanting not to see a recurrence of 9/11 on our soil and ensuring those who initiated the attacks experience what their victims had. Nearly 5,800 have lost their lives to date in those theatres.

Those high profile wars are but a few of the dozens that have occurred in and out of our borders. American history has long been saddled with military conflicts and occupations. In all of them, many died in - and because of - combat. All of those fallen soldiers should be recognized for giving of themselves so that America can be and will be a nation of power, honor and integrity, just as they were in the moments leading up to their ultimate sacrifice. Without them, we wouldn’t be here. So, please, memorialize them today. It’s our patriotic duty and the right thing to do.

Friday, May 27, 2011

HISTORICAL SOCIETY PICNIC

The Town of Royalton Historical Society will have their Annual picnic this year on Thursday, June 2nd at 5pm. The picnic will be held in the basement of Town Hall at 5316 Royalton Center Rd, Middleport.

All are welcome to come. We are always looking for new members and we will also be electing new officers for 2011-2012 year. Please come visit and bring a dish to pass if you'd like. If you have any questions, please call Jennifer Bieber at 716.735.7335.

CLASS OF '91 REUNION

The Roy-Hart Class of 1991 is looking for all graduates to contact the 20 year Reunion Committee. Please email your name and contact information to: royhartclassof1991@gmail.com.

The 20 year Reunion is scheduled for the weekend of August 19th-21st, 2011.

DAN BRAGG: DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN

On Tuesday night the Iroquois Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America (which represents Eastern Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties) held their annual BoyPower dinner at Genesee Community College. It’s their single largest fundraiser of the year.

The 300 (+) attendees (business, community and political leaders from across the region) were able to hear an inspirational keynote address from USAF Captain Scott O’Grady who was shot down over Bosnia in 1995 and survived 6 days in hostile territory. His story was the inspiration for Behind Enemy Lines.

The attendees also celebrated Gasport’s Dan Bragg, who received one of the coveted Distinguished Citizens Awards. If you know Dan – and who doesn’t? – you know that the award was well-deserved. And, it was long-coming: surprisingly, until now, he’s never received the recognition that other community leaders have.

The BSA recognized these -- of many -- accomplishments of Dan. Just look at his service to the region over the years:

• He and his wife Diana organized and led a 4-H club for special needs children
• He helped manage Gasport’s Little League, taking it from 30 players to 250
• He’s an active member of the Royalton Republican Committee
• He serves on the Royalton town council
• He serves on the Royalton-Hartland school board
• He’s a social member of the Gasport fire company
• He’s a deacon at his church
• He’s been the manager of Standish-Jones for 24 years, a Gasport fixture
• He’s the proud father of 8 children

So, if you see Dan, please congratulate him on his award and thank him for everything he does for all of us.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

KIM BEYER BENEFIT THIS SUNDAY

Kim Beyer is a heart attack patient with an aggressive cardiac disease. The disease and the treatment of the disease has placed financial hardship on Kim. A benefit is being held to raise money for Kim this Sunday, May 22nd from 12:00 to 6:00 at the Hartland Fire Hall. A pasta dinner, 50/50 raffle, Chinese Auction, live music and bake sale are going to be occurring. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12 and 5 and under are free.

ROY-HART BUDGET PASSES

On Tuesday, Royalton-Hartland residents voted 406-235 to approve the school district's $22.5 million budget. The budget comes with a 4.84 percent increase in the tax levy and a 1.47 percent increase in spending from the current $22.1 million budget.

The district had to make $645,000 in cuts. Among them...

* Elimination of transportation for universal pre-kindergarten ($73,000)

* $12,000 cut in extracurricular activities

* Elimination of three teacher aides ($49,000), a clerical position ($33,000), a math teacher ($55,000), a library media specialist ($66,000), a special education teacher ($58,000) and the elimination of a half of an administrator position ($45,000)

* A pair of $45,000 cuts in the materials and supplies budget line and the operations and maintenance budget line

* A $26,000 cut in athletics includes the elimination of an athletic trainer ($10,000). The budget does include varsity football, which was cut last year


Roy-Hart resident Kenneth Koch, incumbents Jeffrey Waters and Keith Bond were elected unopposed for three open seats with 473 votes, 498 votes and 484 votes resepctively. All are three-year terms.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

FLY-IN BREAKFAST: JUNE 26th

The 16th annual pancake breakfast (fly-in or drive-in) will take place at the Royalton Airport on June 26th. The event runs from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and is hosted by the Gasport Masonic Lodge No. 787.

For more info contact Paul O'Neill: royalton1@verizon.net or 716.639.3740

Thursday, May 12, 2011

JOE LOUGHREY BENEFIT THIS WEEKEND

Joe Loughrey along with his wife Lyn and their two children Joseph 15, and Marguerite 11, live in Middleport, N.Y. where Joe has spent time working as an EMT as well as doing work for both Middleport and Gasport Fire Companies. Joe is known for being the type of person willing to help anyone that needs it.

Now it is Joe that needs the help. Joe was diagnosed last November with lung cancer and subsequently was dropped from his medical insurance.

You can help make Joes wishes come true by attending a pasta dinner and basket raffle to be held on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Middleport Fire Company from 2:00 till 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 1:00). Raffles, auctions and much more!

Any donations, large or small, would be greatly appreciated and can be accepted in the form of cash, checks, gift certificates or baskets for the basket auction. Monetary donations are also being accepted at any First Niagara Bank location, in care of Joe Loughrey.

CORY LETURGEY BENEFIT THIS WEEKEND

Young Cory Leturgey has been fighting Crohn's Disease for a few years now. This academic year he has been too ill to attend school and just this past December he had major surgery. He is awaiting another surgery.

To help his family meet the high costs of care, there will be a benefit held this Saturday, May 14th from 4:00 to 8:00 at the Gasport fire hall. Tickets are $20 and there will be food, drink, door prizes and raffles.

ROY-HART'S EFFICIENCY

Business First, Buffalo’s weekly business newspaper, has done a study that looks at the efficiency of schools across Western New York. Per Business First the study looks at…

“….districts that have the tightest budgets and leanest staffs, regardless of academic performance.

"Each district is assessed in three areas: spending per pupil, ratio of pupils per administrative staffer, and share of budget devoted to debt service. (All statistics are the latest official figures available from the New York State Education Department.) The best scores go to districts with low spending, high pupil-staffer ratios and small amounts of debt service.”


How does Roy-Hart rate?

Of the 98 school districts in WNY, ours is rated the 22nd most efficient, spending $14,317 per pupil.

How do other schools compare? Read the article here:

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2011/05/11/frontier-leads-efficiency-ratings.html

ERIE CANAL FISHING DERBY

Recently, Steve Harrington pretty much lost everything he had in a fire that gutted his Telegraph Road home. This personal loss hasn't stopped him from continuing his 21-year endeavor of promoting fishing on the Canal and bringing families together: The Erie Canal Derby is still on this year!

It will run July 6th to July 17th. Info can be found at www.eriecanalderby.com

Steve is currently looking for sponsors. If interested, call him at 716.830.8434.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

MONEY FOR WELCOME TO GASPORT SIGN

Twenty-two business and civic groups received grants totaling $38,691 from Niagara County last week.

The 14th annual William G. Mayne Jr. Business and Community Enhancement grants, funded by the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, were presented at Tuesday’s County Legislature meeting.

The Gasport Beautification Committee was one of them, winning $1,100 to refurbish the “Welcome to Gasport” sign and to replace 20 wooden flower barrels along Main Street.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

CLEAN-UP GASPORT IS THIS WEEKEND

Margie Granzow sent along this message....

PLEASE HELP THE GASPORT BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ON SAT MAY 7TH @ 9AM FOR "CLEAN UP GASPORT."

WE WILL BE MEETING AT THE ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH.

WE ARE ASKING ANY COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO CAN HELP TO MEET US AT THE CHURCH AND WE WILL SPLIT UP AND CLEAN UP THE HAMLET OF GASPORT.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

BOOSTER CLUB DINNER IS NEXT WEEKEND

The Roy-Hart Booster Club's 2nd annual dinner takes place on Saturday, May 7th from 4:00 to 11:00 at the Middleport Fire Hall. The cost (a donation to the Booster Club and Roy-Hart sports) is $25.

There will be a spaghetti dinner with salad, bread, dessert and beverages at 6:00. The bar opens at 5:00.

Musical entertainment will be provided by last call.

There will be a live auction and a chinese auction as well as door prizes. The night's big prize is a 42" TV.

The Booster Club is still in the process of collecting "auction-able" items for the Chinese and live auctions and will gladly receive donations. Folks can contact Rick DeWaters (bostonrick123@yahoo.com) for arrangements.

Tickets are available around town and from many of the Sports Booster members. Tickets can be purchased at the event as well.

All proceeds from the dinner/auction will support all R-H sports programs and students.