Tuesday, January 31, 2012

MAKIPLASTIC GETS SOME PRESS

Scott Brauer's company, Makiplastic, got some great press this weekend in the outdoors blog at Syracuse.com. The report begins as follows:


It’s a small, family-owned company that makes artificial ice-fishing bait for a higher spiritual purpose — and it was formed following a 1997 Oneida Lake fishing trip.

It all began when Scott Brauer met Tony Busco, of Liverpool, on a fishing-related chatroom on the Internet. While online, Busco asked Brauer, who lives in Gasport, northeast of Buffalo, to come visit and check out Central New York’s fishing hotspot.

After the two fished Oneida Lake together, they were relaxing on the porch of a friend of Busco’s, overlooking the lake. Brauer mentioned that he worked as a shop teacher and that in a previous job he used to make molds for plastic products.

“So Tony drags out this bag of plastic fishing baits and says, ‘Dude, we’ve got to be able to do better than this,’” Brauer said.

And that’s how Makiplastic got its start.


Read the entire article online here:

http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2012/01/maki.html

GASPORT'S SCOUTS WIN KLONDIKE DERBY AGAIN

Congrats to Boy Scout Troop 18 for their success in last weekend's Klondike Derby. Here's the report from their blog (www.GasportTroop18.com)....

This years Klondike derby was held at Camp Windy Meadows in Cambria, NY. It was hosted by Troop 8 of Cambria who did a great job of organizing the event. Thank you to them. There were 100 scouts and 40 leaders who participated. Despite the muddy conditions and no snow till Sunday morning the event was a success for all troops involved.

Congratulations to the T18 scouts who participated in the Klondike derby. They did an awesome job of working as a patrol and winning the overall trophy. This is the 6th consecutive time the troop has won the event. That is something to be very proud of. The scouts truly enjoy this event.

Friday, January 27, 2012

THE GAS IN GASPORT

In this week's column for the local papers I discussed hydrofracking and used Gasport as an example for putting to bed some of the propaganda involved with the issue:


SIFTING THROUGH THE HYDROFRACING PROPAGANDA
By Bob Confer

Hydrofracing ranks among the most contentious issues in New York. For each person clamoring for the jobs and economic development it will bring to the Empire State, there’s another who strongly opposes the method of natural gas extraction for it’s potential to damage the environment.

I can see the points on both sides. I’m 100 percent confident that the economic benefit to the counties that border Pennsylvania will be absolutely astounding. They are among the poorest regions in our state and it would be good to see their residents finally do well. Yet, on the other hand, I see considerable risk in the consumption of vast reserves of fresh water and the use and disposal thereof, only after it has been tainted by unidentified chemicals. The Allegheny foothills and the waters that flow from them are unique habitats, home to equally unique plants and animals. It would be horrible to see them forever altered as a consequence of Man’s actions. Our predecessors already did that with the Niagara River in the name of progress.

So, I see much benefit in the moratorium on fracing and the associated public comment period. If we allow the Department of Environmental Conservation some time to assess such development in other states, we can maximize our successes and minimize our failures. The DEC also needs time to sift through all the baloney. Both sides of the issue have inundated the agency with mistruths and half-truths.

The DEC as a public entity must be able to approach hydrofracing from a reasonable, thoughtful, and well-informed perspective. That’s difficult with all of the one-sided propaganda thrown their way. As an example, one of the most sensationalized talking points that dominate the conversation against hydrofracing – ultimately doing a great disservice to meaningful aspects of the environmental movement – is this belief that the process can set your drinking water on fire.

This goes back to the popular anti-fracing documentary Gasland. In a famous moment from it, Colorado property owner Mike Markham puts a lighter to his running tap and a huge fireball ensues. What the film did not say is the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission found that the methane in Markham’s drinking water was naturally-occurring and not a result of fracing. The COGCC also notified Markham and others with similar complaints that they should be venting their private wells to prevent the entrapment of excess levels of gas found in them. In short, Markham’s problems are the doing of Mother Nature and himself.

It should also be noted that flammable water can occur throughout the United States, even in areas far away from the typical hotbeds of past and future gas extraction; case in point: Gasport. It’s called “Gas”port for a reason. The hamlet once known as Jamesport had its name changed in 1826 when an engineering team working on the Erie Canal found gas emanating from the ground and water.

Most of those sites have long since been built over, but one remains on our farm. There is a small area, maybe an acre in size, where, even in the heat of summer, the soil remains cold to the touch. The shore of a stream froths white, stinky methane-loaded compounds, and, most interestingly, the water itself bubbles non-stop from gas. There, I can repeat Markham’s experiment, although in a more natural setting (sans tap). If I place a match over the bubbles, the flame expands and puffs. If I lay a plastic bag over the water and allow the gas to build up within it and then light it, the bag “explodes”. Decades ago when hoboes traveled the land they set pipes in the water to create eternal flames for cooking. And, believe it or not, hydrofracing has never occurred here!

The moral to the story is this: We, as good citizens, – and the agencies that oversee our public welfare – should proceed intellectually, not emotionally, when it comes to hydrofracing. We must ignore the hype from both sides (such as this fire water mythology) and proceed in manner that best serves our people, economy and environment. We have but one chance to get it right.

WINTERFEST: FEBRUARY 4th

The Roy-Hart Winterfest will be held from 11:0o til 4:00 on Saturday, February 4th at the Gasport Elementary School.

Tickets are $2 for anyone over the age of 10 while 10 and younger get in for free.

Activities include:

Nickel City Reptiles & Exotics
Dog Sled Demonstration
Magic Show
Irish Dancing
House of Bounce
Balloon & tattoo artist
$5 haircuts provided by Deja vu Salon
Crafts for kids
Child ID Kits
Craft Fair
UNYTS Blood Drive
Snowshoeing by Paths, Peaks and Paddles
Carriage Rides
Face Painting

There will be a basket auction at 3:00. Any business wishing to donate a basket/gift certificate should contact Jean Morse at 716-417-1978.

LIBRARY VOTE STANDS

The Roy-Hart school board met last night and today's US&J makes note of their finding regarding the library tax issue:


The Royalton-Hartland School District followed the rules regarding the Middleport Library vote, but cannot void the outcome of the election and call for a new vote, according to what officials were told by the district’s attorney.

So the question was asked if the school district did what it was supposed to in regard to the vote. And Board of Education President Patricia Riegle informed residents of the answer at a meeting Thursday.

“What has been determined is the district did follow education law to the letter, we’ve done everything we’ve been asked to do,” Riegle said. “We were also told the Board of Education has no authority to void that vote.”


The entire article is a must-read. It addresses the library issue, the preliminary budget, budget talks and a donation. It can be found here:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x431311656/Library-vote-will-stand

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

HARTLAND MAN COMMITS SUICIDE IN NIAGARA COUNTY JAIL

Yesterday Niagara County inmate and Hartland resident Harold Case committed suicide at the Jail by jumping head-first from a walkway that was 2 stories high.

At the time, he was being escorted out of the prison for a trip to state prison for a 15-year stint. The sentence was in response to a his attempted rape of a Lockport woman last March.

Various media agencies are reporting on this, including the Buffalo News:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article715315.ece

Sunday, January 22, 2012

TURKEY & BISCUIT DINNER

Covenant Youth, the youth group of Covenant United Church, will be hosting a turkey and biscuit dinner at the Church on Main Street from 4 to 7 Saturday, the 28th. Proceeds will benefit the organization's mission projects.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The organizers have changed the date to March 11th from 11-3.

IDENTITY THEFT WORKSHOP

Thrivent Financial will be offering a workshop about identity theft this Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 at the Zion Lutheran Church. The free 50-minute workshop will tell you how theft can occur and what you can do to prevent it. To reserve a seat, call Paula at 471.6446.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

CO-FOUNDER OF GASPORT WOOD PRODUCTS HAS PASSED AWAY

William R. Luff, 79, of Grand Island, NY, passed away January 16, 2012 in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. He was born March 13, 1932 in Lockport and was the son of Norman and Marie (Searles) Luff.

Beloved husband of Josephine Barone-Luff; brother of Howard (Shirley) Luff; father of Deborah (Michael) Castle, Kim (late James) Hurd, Robert (Patricia) Luff, Richard (Christine) Luff, Mary Kay (Michael) Berhalter, Tracy (Robert) Forquer; and step-children, James (Cheryl) Beauregard, Maria (Mark) Seibert and the late Robert P. Beauregard. Proud grandfather to Jack, Sean and Alison Castle, Eric Hurd, Kathryn (Michael Jr.) Kessler, Karly Hartz, Lindsay (Fernando) Orozco, Andrew, Ethan, Colin, Tristen and William F.H. Luff, Alexander and Lauren Berhalter, Riley, Joshua and Owen Forquer; and step-grandchildren, Alexandra and Mark Seibert, Erin Kreager and Jamie Beauregard. Adoring great-grandfather to Zofia Castle, Sophie Grace Bootes and Eva Luff.

He was the co-founder of Gasport Wood Products and retired as a skilled trade carpenter from "Generous Motors" (as he called it), in 1996.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 20, at 10 AM, at Whitehaven Rd. Baptist Church, 1290 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Salvation Army or St. Jude's Hospital for Children.

Visit www.pruddenandkandt.com

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

BLOOD DRIVE THIS FRIDAY

Upstate New York Transplant Service (UNYTS) is having a blood drive this Friday, January 20th at the Royalton Hartland High School from 8 am – 1:30 pm.

To make an appointment, visit this website:

http://www.unyts.org/events/event:01-20-2012-royalton-hartland-high-school/

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

JANUARY 17th IS WARREN HULL'S BIRTHDAY

On This Day in 1903 actor/game show host Warren Hull was born in Gasport NY. A movie actor in the 30's, he turned to radio in the 40's with announcer/host roles on such shows as Your Hit Parade and Vox Pop. Hull was also the emcee of Spin To Win, only the second game show created by the team of Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. The next two decades he hosted TV game shows Strike It Rich, Top Dollar, Who In the World and Beat the Odds. He died of heart failure Sept 14 1974 at age 71.


Courtesy of Puget Sound Radio at:

http://www.pugetsoundradio.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1326781687/

ROY-HART SEEKS COUNSEL REGARDING LIBRARY TAX

Yesterday's Lockport Union Sun and Journal featured a front page story about the library issue in the Royalton-Hartland School District. Unfortunately, it's not online, so we can't link to it.

But in a nutshell, the article said the District is reacting to the reams of substantial information provided by Mary Cedeno regarding the illegality of the vote that made all District taxpayers financially beholden to the Middleport Free Library. The District is having its legal counsel research Mary's findings and the District will share the counsel's findings at the January 26th board meeting.

You have to admire Mary's resiliency and effectiveness. Most people would have thrown in the towel long ago, but she has been a good citizen, not giving up in bringing to light - and hopefully correcting - an issue in local government that has offended many a district resident (including yours truly).

You can follow Mary's ongoing activism here:

http://fightforyourvote.wordpress.com/

BUFFALO NEWS FINALLY LOOKS AT ROYALTON AUDIT

The Buffalo News finally addressed the State Comptroller's audit of the town of Royalton and the article seemed a little too forgiving of Royalton's transgressions. The article begins as follows:


The town goofed up its budgets between 2006 and 2010 by putting sales tax revenue in the wrong place, according to a recent state audit.

However, the town’s past and present supervisors said that fixing the mistake didn’t cost property taxpayers any money.

In that sense, it was a stark contrast to Royalton’s budget follies of past years, a series of improper interfund transfers that led to a 67 percent property tax increase passed in the fall of 2006.



Read the entire article here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article711766.ece

Saturday, January 14, 2012

BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE RECOGNIZED WITH VOLUNTEER AWARD



On December 22, 2011 the Gasport Beautification Committee received the Town of Royalton Superintendent Volunteer Award. They were presented the award at the Royalton Town Hall from Superintendent Dick Lang. The photo shows five committee members that were able to attend the luncheon and receive the award on behalf of the entire committee. Pictured from left: Superintendent Dick Lang, Committee members, Margie Granzow, Jen Gillings, Linda Drum, Debbie Babcock and Gretchen Lang.

The committee’s mission statement is "Gasport Beautification Committee is dedicated to enhancing the beauty of the community through positive and meaningful presence". The members are all volunteers and would love to recruit more volunteers interested in helping the committee on one or more of their projects and events that benefits the entire Gasport community. Meetings are on the first Tue of each month at 7:15 at the Gasport Volunteer Fire Hall. For more information call 628-7273.

This year’s events and project are as follows,

Feb: Take down decorations after Winter Fest and vote on this year’s grant request

March/April: Work on Grant

April/May: Weed and mulch three flower beds on Route 31 (2 welcome signs and corners of Main and Rt. 31)

May thru Sept: Water and weed three flower beds

May:
*Sat. May 5th "Clean up Gasport" meet at Zion Church
*Put out Flower Barrels for "Adopt a Barrel"
*Apply for "Matching Funds Grant"

July:
*Royalton 4th of July parking attendants
*Vote on "Adopt a Barrel" (those who adopt, plant and water their barrels for the summer)

Aug: Free Community Movie Night on Aug 10th at Vets Park with family friendly priced snacks/drinks at snack shack

Sept: Final vote "Adapt a Barrel"

Oct: Empty flower barrels for pick up to store for winter

Nov: Decorate town for the Holidays

Dec: Free Community kids Christmas Party (lighting of community Christmas tree, Santa, horse and wagon rides, presents for all who attend, basket raffle, and free cookies and drinks)

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN STRANNGE SEXUAL TRIANGLE INCIDENT WITH 16 YEAR OLD

The Buffalo News reports the following...


A Gasport man pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors Tuesday as the case of an unlawful sexual triangle came to Niagara County Court.

Darwin J. Fifield Jr., 33, of State Street, admitted to sexual misconduct and attempted second-degree menacing. Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas could jail him for as long as 15 months when he returns to court March 16.


Learn about how young his/their victim was and who the other part of the triangle was here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/police-courts/police-blotter/article704914.ece

KOSIOREK IS NOW A SUPERINTENDENT

Some Roy-Hart alumni may have wondered what became of Casey Kosiorek who was a phys-ed and health teacher at the high school in the late-90s and early 2000s. Well, he's become the superintendent of Byron-Bergen schools.

Read about his new job here:

http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_fc80458c-3c14-11e1-8bb4-0019bb2963f4.html

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY OF LAUNDROMAT

The Niagara County Sheriff's Department reports that video cameras showed an someone attempting to break into the change machine at B&B Laundry-Mat on State St. on January 4th and again on January 5th.

There’s evidence someone tried to pry open the door to the room where the coin machine is located. This occurred about 12:30 p.m. January 4.

The same man was seen in the laundry center the next day, at about 4 p.m, wiggling the door knob to the room. He left when a witness entered the building.

The man wore the same clothing both days and is described as a white man wearing jeans, a tan corduroy coat, a brown hat and white-and-black shoes. The suspect possibly was driving an older, yellow BMW.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

US&J REPORT ON ROYALTON'S AUDIT

Reporter Bill Wolcott wrote a piece for the Lockport paper that looks at Royalton's failure to properly assign sales tax revenues:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x2145129758/Middleport-finances-scrutinized-again

CHOP'S SHOP IS THERE FOR YOU

Last night I grabbed a couple of delicious subs at Chop's Shop Pizzeria on Route 31. The owners said they are always open to suggestions regarding new foods, dietary needs, and service. They welcome your feedback and input.

You can submit your thoughts through their website:

http://www.chopsshoppizza.com/

Monday, January 9, 2012

THE 19% GROWTH IN THE DRAINAGE TAX

Quite a few people have expressed concern to me regarding their property tax bills indicating a 19% rise in the drainage tax for the town. They wanted to know where that explosive growth came from. I asked Supervisor Bieber to explain the situation and here's what she says...

The drainage increase of 19% is a change from .32 cents a thousand last year to .39 cents a thousand this year. We are purchasing a tractor with a boom extension to mow deep ditches. We have budgeted 120,000 and that cost will be shared with the highway department because they will also be using this piece of equipment. We have been building up fund balances in order to buy equipment when it is needed instead of creating a debt by borrowing money.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

MIDDLEPORT CHOIR PRESENTS "O SNOW"

Celebrate winter with the Middleport Community Choir.

They will be performing "O Snow" on Friday, January 27, at 7:00pm at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 133 Telegraph Rd., in Middleport, and on Sunday, January 29th, at 2:00pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 67 Saxton Ave. in Lockport.

From softly falling flakes to blustery blizzards, the choir rejoices in our winter weather with the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Shakespeare, as well as popular medleys featuring Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.

The Middleport Community Choir has been performing sacred and secular music for more than ten years. This chilly repertoire was the brain child of director Ric Jones who said, "There are many wonderful songs about snow and winter, and this is the perfect time of year to sing them. We hope people will come in and warm their toes while we warm their hearts with music."

Both concerts are free to the public. A free-will offering will be taken. For more information, see www.Middleportcommunitychoir.com

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETING

The Middleport Hartland and Gasport block club council is having a meeting on Saturday, January 14th at the Hartland Town Hall at 10:00 am. This meeting is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION AT ROY-HART

This Wednesday, January 11th the Roy-Hart school district will have Coffee and Conversation at 6:30 PM in the high school media center. It will be hosted by superintendent Kevin MacDonald and Kelly Griffith, the school business official.

Learn about the tax levy limit, inequitable distribution of state aid, and what's in store for next year.

Future dates to keep in mind:

January 26th: Preliminary 2012-2013 budget presentation; 7:00 PM in high school aud
February 2, 9, 16 and 23: Budget workshops in high school aud; 5:30 PM
February 15th: Coffee and Conversation; 6:30

Saturday, January 7, 2012

BELVA LOCKWOOD ON NCIS

One of Royalton's most famous people - Belva Lockwood - made an "appearance" on a recent episode of NCIS. The team was searching for a woman who used Belva Lockwood as her secret alias when checking into a hotel. The character of Tony DiNozzo IDed Lockwood as being the first woman to run for president.

SEE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ONLINE

If you are like me and your property taxes are within the escrow of your mortgage, you won't see your tax bill for some time. But, no doubt you wonder what you'll be paying this year, especially after hearing about your family's and neighbors' tax bills.

Well, you need not wait long. Using this tool on the internet you can see assessments and what taxes you'll be paying this year...and you can do the same for anyone in the town:

http://egov.basny.com/royalton/


http://egov.basny.com/hartland/

Upon reviewing my county/town taxes, I noticed that my tax "obligation" rose by 3.3% versus last year. It leaves me wondering...what tax cap?

ORDER SEEDLINGS NOW

The Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District is now selling tree seedlings that will be available for pick-up on April 27th and 28th.

You can download the order form with their winter newsletter:

www.niagaraswcd.com/Winter_2012_Quarterly_color.pdf


I wrote about this important program for one of my weekly newspaper columns last year:


REGROWING THE NIAGARA FRONTIER
By Bob Confer

Green is the buzzword of the 21st century. Businesses and governments everywhere endeavor to pursue green practices in an effort to preserve Earth’s fragile natural world and her limited resources. A lot of people try to live green as well, but beyond recycling and buying sustainable products and packaging most either know not what to do or don’t care to, figuring they’ve done their part to save the environment.


Maybe that’s because we can’t see the forest through the trees. In all of the aforementioned cases, green is looked at as the other green (money) and it is nothing more than an economic transaction. One’s efforts – or the cumulative efforts of a company or community - are traceable to inputs and outputs, revenues and expenses, savings and costs. Even most carbon footprint calculations are based in economic theory.


Rarely do we look past the dollar and focus on what being green is really all about: Mother Nature. If you truly want to have an effect on the environment, you don’t focus solely on what you can take from it. Instead, focus on giving back to it. It’s kind of like a modified version of the old JFK axiom: Ask not what your environment can do for you -ask what you can do for your environment.


It doesn’t have to be some life-changing event. You don’t have to become a real-life Tarzan, one with the jungle. You don’t have to abandon the comforts of human progress. No, it’s really quite simple and requires you only to get your hands dirty. There is no better and easier way to help the biosphere than by planting trees.


You can start with your own property. The Niagara Frontier is in a state of flux, its once predominantly agrarian landscape changing before our eyes. Many long-time family farms have done one of three things over recent years: They’ve been consumed by larger farms, they’ve been allowed to revert to woodlands, or they’ve been transformed into an extension of Erie County’s northern suburbs. In the last two scenarios, the arborist within you could make a significant impact on the health of the environment by aiding Mother Nature in her attempt to reclaim what was once hers and transform our region to a semblance of the great forest that it was before the white man arrived.


As the fields remain fallow, you could speed up the reclamation process, one that can take decades where the cover develops from weeds to shrubs to small short-lived trees to tall long-lived trees. To do so, you could plant saplings en masse and manage the area as a woodlot, even a small forest, focusing on trees of the deciduous and coniferous sort that thrive in the type of soil found on your spread, trees that will be of benefit to bird and beast.


In regard to growth of suburbia, the barren lawns can be appropriately transformed not through gardening and normal landscaping but via natural landscaping whereby trees and shrubs native to the region are introduced, much to the benefit of the wildlife and even the homeowner (it takes far less effort to grow a plant fit for this climate). A wooded lawn is more attractive – and far more environmentally-beneficial - than any flowered lawn.


The resources are there for you to do this; that is, as long as you act quickly. The Niagara County Soil and Water District’s annual seedling sale is underway now through March 18th. Through this program you can buy bundles of seedlings (18" or less in height) of any one of 40 species of trees and shrubs. They are incredibly affordable, most available for well under 1 dollar each. The County’s website can help you choose the trees that are best for the applications you desire. The seedlings will be available in late-April, allowing you to plant them at the best time of the year. You can download an order form and planting instructions at their website, www.niagaraswcd.com.


If you’d like to really save the environment – and not go through the motions - take the time to do it this spring. Planting trees is a simple, completely natural way to be green. As your yard or forest grows you’ll be able to admire the fruits of your labor for years to come.

Friday, January 6, 2012

WAKE UP ROYALTON FACEBOOK PAGE

Scott Wymyczak is the most active analyst and critic of town government in Royalton. He's a fixture of town board meetings and local talk radio and he does his homework when it comes to town finances and operations.

Scott has created a Facebook page that every town resident should like. Called WAKE UP Town of Royalton, it offers insight and discussions into the inner workings of the government.

Check it out here:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/WAKE-UP-Town-of-Royalton-New-York/145056685605855

Thursday, January 5, 2012

MISTAKES DISCOVERED IN AUDIT OF ROYALTON

The State Comptroller's Office conducted an audit of the town of Royalton in late-2011 and in December issued the findings of their audit, which shows some glaring errors in financial management.

The state found that sales taxes were being improperly allocated, repeating an issue the Comptroller's office had discovered in 2007. The auditors determined that the highway fund was underfunded to the point that the general fund owes it $672,000.

The auditors also found that the town supervisor improperly handled interfund advances in that the transfers were not authorized by the board, the advances were not paid off per General Municipal Law, and there was inadequate recording of these financial events, resulting in unknown balances and account dating.

The Comptroller's report and the Town's response dated 15 December 2011 can be downloaded as a PDF here:

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/towns/2011/royalton.pdf

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

GASPORT FIRE CO. DOES WELL IN STATE AUDIT

Since the organizations receive substantial amounts of taxpayer funding, the Office of the State Comptroller conducts periodic audits of fire companies throughout the state. Some audits turn up glaring mistakes, such as the recently released audit of Corfu Fire Department that showed $7,000 in undocumented expenditures.

The Office publicly released their audit of the Gasport Chemical Hose Company this week, along with Gasport's official response.

You'll see that Gasport fared very well. There were no discrepancies in the financials and the Comptroller's team offered only some minor suggestions regarding procedural oversight by the board.

You can download the report here as a PDF:

www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/firedists/2011/gasport.pdf

Sunday, January 1, 2012

THE GASPORT BLOG IN 2011

Happy New Year! I hope you had a great 2011 and that your 2012 is even better.

2011 was a good year for the Gasport website. It had 43,068 visitors, a 25% increase over 2010 and the second year in a row of 25% growth in traffic.

New Yorkers accounted for 32,200 of the visits. The Gasport expats who most frequented the site hailed from Massachusetts, Texas and California in that order.

The most viewed stories were those addressing the passing of Roy-Hart student Allie O'Grady, the Royalton Fourth of July, and the reason behind the purple boxes in ash trees.

The most visitors on one day were 502 on December 11th.

A big "thank you" to everyone who frequents this site. You keep me going and push me to always improve coverage. The ongoing growth in visits proves to me that my efforts in reporting the news and events in Gasport (the good, the bad and the sad) are valuable to local residents and former residents alike.

Gasport is a great place -- my hometown forever -- and I enjoy spreading the word about it.

THE JANUARY INTERVIEW: JENNIFER BIEBER

New Year's Day is synonymous with change.

Among them is a changing of the guard in local government, the day that those elected in November assume the roles that the voters gave them.

Of those changes, is a significant shift in power in the town of Royalton, with Jennifer Bieber making the accession to supervisor after having served as a town board member.

For the January interview we meet with our new supervisor to assess her new role and our community.






You are the first woman supervisor in a town that's nearly 200 years old, a town that produced a women's' rights leader in Belva Lockwood no less. It must be an awesome feeling to achieve that milestone....


I have to say, one of my historical society members said to me, "you would have made Belva proud". I was surprised myself how much that meant to me, I had never thought of it that way before. I have 2 quotes on my desk..."Well behaved Women never make history" and "If you want something done, ask a busy woman." I think those are 2 things Belva and I probably had in common.


It is an awesome feeling to not only be the first woman supervisor but that the people have faith in me to represent them. That means the world to me!




You've now become the face of Royalton and, in effect, our #1 salesperson. What attributes make our town so attractive to new residents and new businesses?



In my eyes, Royalton is the greatest place on earth. This town has so much to offer for new residents. We have our local farmers that produce everything from milk to fruit and vegetables, home grown beef and even places to pick up a dozen eggs. We have the greatest places to order a pizza, meet friends for breakfast or for a drink and wings. You can go out for a nice fancy supper, pick up prescriptions or bread and lunch meat. Buy American...yes, Buy Royalton...YES! Everything you would need, is right here in our own back yard.

We have our Master Plan done for the Town and we have areas in the town that are identified for new business. I think that's a great thing to have those areas planned and work with companies that would like to come and set up here. We have a great work force right here locally that could support new business.




What are some of the goals you've set for yourself and the town as supervisor?


Eyes to the future! We need to keep taxes within reason and spend within our means. We also have to keep in mind that we have an old sewer and water infrastructure that will need replacement and repairs. We have a town wide water district to complete some day. That doesn't get done by planning year by year. We need a plan for our future. We need to be prepared to make improvements and to work together. I'd like to see us work on the Master Plan and implement some of the goals that have been identified. I can find a silver lining in any situation, I will stay positive and have open lines of communication. I will be accessible to all. I will also make it a priority to get back to residents in a timely matter.



Tell us a little bit about yourself...


I have lived in Royalton my whole life. I'm a 7th generation Royalton resident. My dad, Wayne Bruning, was a dairy farmer and our agricultural roots are very important to me. I will turn 42 years old on January 1.

My husband, Jesse, is the Town Historian. For the record, he has been Town Historian longer than I've been on the board. We have been married 23 years. We have two children, Joshua and Jolene. We are all Royalton Hartland Graduates.

I have been employed at Verizon for 22 years and I work full time in North Tonawanda. For those that are wondering the Town Supervisor job is strictly a part time position. Most of the Town Supervisors in the county have full time jobs outside of being supervisor.

I serve on the Board of Directors at Cornell Cooperative Extension. I participate every year in the Ride for Roswell. I am also the president of the Royalton Historical Society.