GUN SHOW IN HARTLAND THIS WEEKEND

There is a gun show this weekend -- November 1st and November 2nd -- at the Hartland Fire Hall at 8945 Ridge Rd. in Gasport. Hours are 9AM to 4PM both days. General admission is $5 while kids under 12 are free.

NEW DUGOUTS AT ROY-HART

Here's a nice write-up at the Orleans Hub about the new dugouts made possible by the Roy-Hart Sports Boosters, All Metal Works, and A Superior Concrete:

http://www.orleanshub.com/sports2014/RoyHarts-field-hockey-softball-teams-benefit-from-community-support-project.htm

SPECIAL DOE TAG SALE THIS SATURDAY

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced yesterday that remaining Deer Management Permits (DMPs) in several Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) will be available to hunters beginning November 1, 2014.

Deer Management Permits, which allow hunters to harvest antlerless deer, are issued for specific WMUs to control deer populations. In some WMUs, all applicants received permits during the initial application process, but the DMP target still has not been reached.

Among the WMUs available are 9A and 9F which include the Gasport and Middleport areas.

The DEC will re-open the DMP application process on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters may apply for up to two additional DMPs in theses WMUs at any DEC license sales outlet beginning November 1, 2014. Leftover DMPs will not be available by phone, by mail or via the internet. Applicants who previously paid the $10 DMP application fee or are exempt from the application fee will not be charged for this additional application.

To help local hunters acquire their doe tags under this special offer by the DEC, the town of Royalton will have special clerk's office hours this Saturday, November 1st  from 9:00 till noon.

HEART OF NIAGARA AT BECKER FARMS

Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue returns to Becker Farms and Vizcarra Vineyards with adoptable dogs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday.

For details, read this report at Niagara Frontier Publications...

http://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2014/10/22/118123/heart-of-niagara-animal-rescue-returns-to-becker-farms

CHILI BOWL 2014

It's being hailed as "the greatest flag football tournament around" as well as "one of the greatest chili cook-offs around." It's the Ridgewood Bible Church Chili Bowl Championship of 2014.

Starting at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 1, teams of five to nine players will compete to be crowned Chili Bowl Champion 2014.

For details, read the report at East Niagara Post...

http://www.eastniagarapost.com/2014/10/ridgewood-bible-church-to-have-chili.html

SOLID ROCK ASSEMBLY OF GOD YARD & BAKE SALE

GASPORT LIONS CLUB CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN PARTY

ROYALTON TAX RATE TO DROP

The Royalton Town Board will offer tax breaks to its residents as it presents its proposed $6 million budget for 2015 in a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday.

The tentative $6,036,809 budget includes a seven-cent decrease in the tax rate to $3.22 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for town residents outside of the Village of Middleport. It also includes a tax rate drop of 32 cents to $1.70 per $1,000 for Middleport residents.

Details at the Buffalo News...

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/hearing-set-on-royalton-budget-that-offers-tax-breaks-20141017

BOOK CLUB MEETS MONDAY

Royalton Hartland Community Library Book Club’s next meeting will be held on Monday, October 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the upstairs Community Room.

This month’s selection, “The Painted Girls” by Cathy Marie Buchanan is a special one as it is part of the One Book, One County program. The Royalton Hartland Book Club is one of the many libraries throughout the county that is participating by discussing this book at their book club meetings.

The One Book, One County program ends with a book signing and presentation by the author, Buchanan, the next evening, October 21, in the Wheeler Room at the Lockport Public Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Set in belle époque Paris, “The Painted Girls” is said to be inspired by the real life model for Degas’ artwork entitled “Little Dancer Aged 14”, and by the era’s most famous criminal trials.

New members are always welcome and they are invited to attend the October 20 meeting at the library and/or the presentation and book signing at the Lockport Public Library the following evening.

For more information about the Royalton Hartland Book Club and the library’s other programs please call the library at (716) 735-3281. Additional details can be found online at the library’s website at www.RoyHartCommunityLibrary.com

GARAGE SALE THURSDAY - SATURDAY

With summer gone, so are the garage sales. Or, are they? Taking advantage of the recent warm weather, there is a large, neighborhood garage sale today (Thursday, October 16th), Friday and Saturday on Central Ave. in Gasport. The hours are 9 to 5 and Saturday’s prices are half off.

TROOP 18 CHOWDER SALE

FOLLIES COMING TO ROY-HART

INMATE FROM SUICIDE ATTEMPT HAS PASSED AWAY

It is being reported today that the 41 year old Middleport woman who attempted suicide at the Niagara County Jail last week has died from her injuries.

PAWLAK TO COACH ROY-HART BASKETBALL

After the retirement of head boys basketball coach Mark Rydza, Roy-Hart needed to find someone to fill the position, and that led to the hiring of Joe Pawlak.

Here's the report from Community Papers of WNY...

http://www.communitypapersofwny.com/story/559-Pawlak_to_guide_Roy-Hart_hoops_in_2014.html

ZION TO HOST "WHEN GOD LEFT THE BUILDING"

MICHELLE'S MEMORIAL IS NOVEMBER 15th

The goal of Michelle's Memorial is to provide a scholarship at Royalton Hartland for graduating Seniors, encourage sports in our community as well as the remembrance of Michelle Bewley (Schuler) who, in 2006, passed away at the age of 29 in a car accident.

Although the exact requirements of the scholarship change year to year based on participation, the goal is still the same; reward a student that took part in music and sports, excelled academically and portrayed a whole lot of heart both on and off the field, just as Michelle did.

The 3rd annual Michelle's Memorial 5k will take place on Saturday, November 15th at 9:00 AM at the fire hall in Middleport.

Early bird registration is available online for $20 and sign-up is encouraged prior to October 20th so you are guaranteed a t-shirt.

You can register here:

https://reg.score-this.com/regx/step1.jsp?eventID=1383

You can also register the day of the event for $25.

For more information, the Michelle's Memorial Facebook page can be liked here:

https://www.facebook.com/michellesmemorial5k

The Facebook event page for this year's race can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/324020111109623/

MAZIARZ TO SPEAK AT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING

Town of Royalton Historical Society will be hosting this month's joint meeting with the Town of Lockport Historical Society at the Royalton Town Hall, 5316 Royatlon Center Rd, Middleport on Thursday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. The guest speaker will be Senator George Maziarz, who will be reflecting on his 20 years in the New York Senate.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Royalton's Historical Society President, Jennifer Bieber at 716.735.7335. Meetings are open to the public.

KLATT IS NU'S EDUCATIONAL LEADER OF THE YEAR

Niagara University’s College of Education recognized the contributions of seven educational leaders from the Western New York and Southern Ontario communities during its annual professional recognition ceremony on Thursday, October 9th at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

Royalton-Hartland superintendent Dr. Roger J. Klatt was chosen as Educational Leader of the Year. Prior to becoming one of the first “shared superintendents,” (for both the Barker and Royalton-Hartland Central School districts,. Dr. Klatt spent 17 years in administrative roles at Barker Central School, including middle school principal, director of instructional services, assistant superintendent and superintendent. His 17 years of teaching experience were highlighted by being selected as Albion Central School’s Educator of the Year in 1995.

JOB OPENING AT BOCES GASPORT SITE

Orleans/Niagara BOCES is seeking a personal care aide in Gasport, N.Y., to provide one-to-one academic and behavioral support for a student during all activities. High school diploma or GED required. Applicant must be a resident of Orleans or Niagara Counties.

Obtain application from our website at www.onboces.org or submit letter of interest and resume (optional) to the attention of the Labor Relations Office, Orleans/Niagara BOCES, 4232 Shelby Basin Road, Medina, NY 14103 or fax to (585) 798-1943, ATTN: Labor Relations.

BOYER'S TAVERN DESTROYED BY FIRE

Boyer's Tavern on Ridge Road was destroyed by a fire early Thursday morning. Here's the report from the Union Sun and Journal...

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/article_4696c97a-c23e-5a79-bc8d-301db32a3353.html

PIT BULLS KILL ALPACAS

Pit bulls went on a rampage in Johnson's Creek and killed 4 alpacas. The dogs were subsequently killed by Niagara County Sheriffs Officers. Details at the Lockport Union Sun and Journal...

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/article_c3337c5b-de50-5fa7-a13e-e2117f80212e.html

STUDENT DRESS CODE COMMITTEE

Royalton-Hartland held a public hearing on Wednesday, October 1 to solicit feedback on initial revisions made to the Student Dress Code section of the Code of Conduct. To gain additional feedback, a committee of students, school staff, parents and other community members will conduct a final review of the dress code.

The School District believes that input from all stakeholders is essential. If you are interested in being part of this committee please contact Mr. Gary Bell, High School Principal, at 735-2000 ext. 2016 or email at bellg@royhart.org or Mr. John Fisgus, Middle School Principal, at 735-2000 ext. 6712 or email at fisgusj@royhart.org by Friday, October 10.

NAMES RELEASED IN MURDER-SUICIDE

The names have been released regarding the Royalton murder-suicide...Darryl McDaniel and Kimberli Socha.

Details at East Niagara Post:

http://www.eastniagarapost.com/2014/10/update-names-released-in-royalton.html

2 DEAD IN FISK ROAD SHOOTING

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police were called to a residence on Fisk Road in the Town of Royalton at 11:10 am Sunday for a report of a possible shooting. A family member of the victims called 911 reporting that an adult male and an adult female were deceased in the home. Upon arrival, patrol located the male and female deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office and the State Police are currently processing the crime scene on Fisk Road. The names of the victims are being withheld at this time pending notification of relatives. The shootings appear to be domestic related and investigators are not currently seeking any suspects. The investigation is on-going and further information will be released at a later date.

VIZCARRA FEATURED IN WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP REPORT

In their latest installment of Women in Leadership, WKBW Channel 7 news looked at Gasport's own Mindy Vizcarra of Becker Farms. Watch the report here...

PUBLIC HEARING ON DRESS CODE

Yesterday's brief Lockport Union Sun & Journal article mentioning a public hearing about the Royalton-Hartland school district's new dress code made for a lot of speculation by parents.

The proposed code is available in its entirety on pages 19  to 21 of the Code of Conduct working document that can be downloaded here:

http://royhart.org/cms/lib/NY01913927/Centricity/Domain/17/Code%20of%20Conduct.PDF

I have scanned those pages and posted them here as images so you can see what language got struck and what got added. Click on any of the 3 photos to make them larger.

You will see that they are reasonable changes and go a long ways in addressing some of the very questionable sartorial senses of the kids and the parents who allow them to go to school dressed as they are. It's sad that you even have to make rules about this.

If you want to prepare students for the real world and the expectations of professionalism that come with it, this dress code is a good start. "Bravo" to the Roy-Hart school board.

The public hearing will take part at 7:00 PM tonight (Wednesday, October 1st) as a part of the school board's monthly meeting.