FAMILY LITERACY AT ST. MICHAEL'S

CHICKEN & BISCUITS AT ST. MICHAEL'S

DOWNTON ABBEY TEA AT THE LIBRARY

With one episode left of Downton Abbey, loyal fans are invited to enjoy a Downton Abbey Tea on Saturday, February 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Royalton Hartland Community Library, 9 Vernon Street in Middleport.

Enthusiasts can have all sorts of fun chatting about the Crawley family and all of the series’ marriages, deaths, the Great War, as well as the lives of their large and interesting kitchen and household staff.

Delicious desserts from the Stone Hollow Farm Bakery will be served at the tea along with, of course, tea. Party goers are invited to bring their favorite teacup to the party if they so choose, but a lovely selection of teacups will be available to use at the party.

Along with discussion of the popular PBS series that is nearing the end of its fifth season, games related to Downton Abbey will be played.

The Downton Abbey Party is free, and as seating is limited, it is recommended that anyone interested in attending call the library to register at 735-3281.

More information about the tea and the library’s other programs can be found online at www.RoyHartCommunityLibrary.com

ROY-HART DELAYED

Due to the cold, windy weather, Roy-Hart is on a 2-hour delay for Monday

A HISTORY OF FRIEND MANUFACTURING

With yesterday's fire bringing about the demise of yet another building once associated with the great Friend Manufacturing, many people are contemplating what once was with the company.

If you want to know more about Friend, this webpage on the Australian website Steam & Engine of Australia is the single best source on the internet for a really thorough history of Friend. It was written by the late Dave Dickinson of Newfane and is a must-read for Gasport residents.

http://www.steamengine.com.au/index.php/ic/engines/252-a-friend-to-the-world

REPORTS ABOUT GASPORT FIRE

Here are various media reports about the Gasport fire...


Lockport Union Sun and Journal: http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/fire-hits-vacant-gasport-building/article_938dd927-84fd-54e1-9240-12a1b2313cb8.html

WIVB Channel 4: http://wivb.com/2015/02/19/smoky-blaze-rips-through-gasport-industrial-building/

WKBW Channel 7 (with video): http://www.wkbw.com/news/fire-crews-battling-flames-at-manufacturing-plant

GASPORT FIRE

This is how the building once looked

Nobody wants a fire to happen. But, of all days of the year, there's no day worse than a zero-degree day.

That's what Gasport, Terry's Corners and other fire companies face battling a fire at 4441 Prospect Street in Gasport.

Imagine getting soaking wet on a day like today. No fun. But these guys volunteer to do it.

So, if you live in the hamlet, be a pal and take them some coffee and hot cocoa.

4441 Prospect was a vacant building (it may have had some storage) that decades ago was a part of the once-sprawling Friend Manufacturing complex.

The assessment records on the town of Royalton's website say the building is owned by David Snediker of A Superior Concrete who bought the building in 2013. It was assessed at $60,000 and was built in 1915.

WKBW Channel 7 has a film crew on site, so be sure to check their newscasts today.

The fire scene courtesy of  the Twitter account @JaclynAsztalos7

ASH WEDNESDAY AT ZION

Zion Lutheran Church will be holding Ash Wednesday services at 7:00 PM on February 18th.

CABIN FEVER MOVIE: LEGO MOVIE

The Cabin Fever Movie night hosted by the Gasport Beautification Committee is this Tuesday February 17th at 6pm at the Gasport Fire Hall . This year's movie is "The Lego Movie". Admission is free. They will have the snack bar open and have pizza, candy , popcorn and drinks for purchase. Join them for a fun family evening!

ZION CLOSED SUNDAY

A message from Zion Lutheran's Facebook....

Greetings everyone! Are you staying warm? Well, bundle up because the worst is going to be here by tomorrow morning (Sunday), and since we want everyone to stay safe and warm, stay bundled up under those covers for a few extra hours! Because of the certainty of severe weather conditions, we are cancelling all worship services and Sunday School tomorrow morning. But don't forget about Ash Wednesday this week: 7pm on the 18th. NOEL Bible study is still on for Thursday morning at 10am at Trinity in Wolcottsville. And if you are in the youth group and haven't yet done so, call Diane Grosslinger to let her know you are going to the Volleyball Marathon Friday evening! Blessings to everyone. Be careful and be safe! In the next two days we are expecting to experience the worst weather conditions in over twenty years! Crack open your Bibles, say a prayer, and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate! - Pastor Rod

ROY-HART CLOSED

Royalton-Hartland is closed Friday, February 13th due to the frigid temperatures

ROY-HART MULLS DEC PROPOSAL

Last night the Roy-Hart School Board had a meeting to mull over the DEC's proposal for remediation of the soil on the Middleport campus. A decision wasn't made, but here is the Lockport Union Sun and Journal's report on conversations that were had:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/roy-hart-mulls-dec-proposal/article_ce9e179e-7c1a-595c-b26a-3ae1ca7f1523.html

NIAGARA-ORLEANS BRIDAL SHOW

FMC'S REMEDIATION UPDATE

From FMC...

On February 10, 2015, Ogden Holding Co. Inc., the owner of the Old Mill Mobile Home Park (OMMHP) in Middleport, NY, announced its intention to close the mobile home park and to sell the property to FMC Corporation. This decision was made after extensive discussions between FMC and Ogden Holding, in light of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC’s) request that FMC evaluate possible interim remediation for the property.

In September 2014, NYSDEC directed FMC to consider interim remedial options for the mobile home park based on the residential use of the property and soil samples showing elevated arsenic levels.

Representatives from FMC, NYSDEC, and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) spoke with Old Mill Mobile Home Park residents on November 13, 2014 about NYSDEC’s direction to FMC at the mobile home park, including FMC’s review of possible scenarios for addressing contaminated soil at the property. Throughout the process, FMC has been and continues to be committed to working in a manner that is respectful of those living in the neighborhood, as well as working with the agencies to follow all laws and regulations.

During FMC’s consideration of remedial options, FMC determined remediation and reconstruction of the park would likely take years to complete and could result in significant disruption to the mobile home park and its residents and complications arising from the property’s location within a floodplain. Accordingly, it was determined that operation of the mobile home park is no longer feasible without material disruption and uncertainty to its residents, and Ogden Holding and FMC entered into an agreement of sale for the property. FMC also announced that it will be providing help to relocate park residents.

FMC attended the meeting with park residents on February 10, 2015, during which Ogden Holding made its announcement. FMC informed residents that it is offering a Mobile Home Park Relocation Assistance Program to all residents to help find and transition to new housing. The Relocation Assistance Program will provide residents with help to identify and move to new housing. The program will provide reimbursement of relocation expenses and will ensure mobile home owners receive fair market value for their homes. FMC will be focused in the coming months on assisting residents in this transition.

While difficult, the decision by Ogden Holding to close the mobile home park represents the least disruptive alternative for its residents, and the Relocation Assistance Program is intended to minimize the difficulties of this relocation on the park residents.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Middleport Rotary Club needs host families within the Royalton Hartland Central School District for the International Youth Exchange program.

Details here:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/community/roy-hart-exchange-student-hosts-needed/article_639dd587-d09e-57a2-b71a-10977363b5e5.html

BOARD TO DISCUSS DEC PLAN

The Royalton-Hartland Central School District Board of Education is holding a special meeting on Thursday to discuss the presentation the state Department of Environmental Conservation gave to district officials last week.

Details at the Lockport Union Sun and Journal:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/roy-hart-to-have-dec-talk-thursday/article_fde53019-ce43-546f-aa73-2ddfd0e308e7.html

GRIGG LEWIS FOUNDATION HIRING STUDENT FOR SUMMER JOB

The Grigg Lewis Foundation workership program is taking applications to fill a student office assistant position it will fund at the Niagara History Center this summer. Eligible applicants must be students currently enrolled in college or accepted for college this fall, and must be residents of Eastern Niagara County, so this is perfect for a Gasport resident.

If interested, details can be found here:

http://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2015/02/05/119480/applications-available-for-student-office-assistant-summer-position-funded-by-grigg-lewis-foundation

DEC'S PLAN FOR ROY-HART CAMPUS

At last night's school board meeting, the DEC presented its proposed remediation plan to the school board. Due to soil sampling that found 87 of 109 test sites on the Middleport campus having arsenic levels over 20 parts per million (the DEC's threshold), approximately 35,000 cubic yards of soil are slated to be removed on the property by 2018.

You can read the Lockport Union Sun and Journal's report here:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/dec-presents-roy-hart-remediation-plan/article_8f4a6143-6aa8-5c3f-a08e-f2ad379efa05.html

DEC RESULTS TO BE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY

In August of 2014, the DEC conducted soil sample testing on the Middleport school campus. The DEC will present the results of their analysis at the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, February 4 in the high school auditorium at 7 PM.

MR. LARSON HAS PASSED AWAY

Gar R. Larson, of Medina, passed away on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at his home. Mr. Larson was born in New York City, March 27, 1934. He was adopted in June, 1942, at the age of eight, by Herbert E. and Caroline E. (Tremlett) Larson of Edmeston, New York.

He was a graduate of Edmeston High School, Class of 1952 and entered Colgate University in the fall of 1952. He was a student until 1954 when he entered the US Army and served for two years. In 1956, he returned to Colgate and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor's Degree and earned a Master's Degree from the University of Buffalo. He married the former Gayle Johnson of Lyndonville in 1957.

In 1958, he began a thirty one year career at the Royalton Hartland Central School District, as a social studies teacher, and retired in 1989.

Mr. Larson had a deep love of music. As a young man, he sang in several choirs. Also, he played several sports in high school, with basketball being his favorite, which he also played at Colgate. As an adult, he loved to play golf and was especially proud of his two Holes-in-One. He was a former member of the Niagara Falls Country Club, Stafford Country Club and Lockport Town and Country. He was a current member of Shelridge Country Club.

Survivors include his wife, Karen L. (Caleb) Larson, whom he married in March, 1978; three daughters, Nanniscah Larson of North Palm Beach, FL, Natasha (Lawrence) Saubermann of Pittsford and Corinne (Kyle) Grimes of Morrisonville, NY; three grandchildren, Lorenzo Luciani, Delaney and Dempsey Grimes. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife, Gayle, in 1974.

Friends may call on Thursday 12-2 at the Cooper Funeral Home, 215 W. Center St., Medina, where his service will be held at 2PM following visitation. The Rev. Robert Kaiser will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Orleans County or a charity of one's choice.

NO BINGO

Sign of the apocalypse: Terry's Corners' bingo is cancelled for tonight

LIBRARY TO OFFER ELECTRONIC DEVICE TRAINING

If you have questions about your e-reader, Smart Phone, laptop computer or any other electronic device, bring them to the Gadgets & Gear Session at the Royalton Hartland Community Library. It will be held on Thursday, February 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and registration is requested as these are popular and well –attended sessions.

Residents can learn how to use their electronic devices and they can also learn how to download the free e-books from the NIOGA library system’s online service called Overdrive, learn how to use Freegal, the free music download service or get access to a large number of free magazines on the new service Zinio.

Sara Taylor, an e-mobile trainer from the NIOGA Library System’s BTOP Express, will be at the library to answer questions and show how to use just about any electronic device that is brought to the session. 

Interested residents are invited to bring in their own device such as a Kindle, Nook, iPad, flash drive, or laptop computer (including charging cords) and ask questions about them. Attendees will also be able to download items from Overdrive, Freegal or Zinio right at the session so they will know how to use these valuable services.

The Royalton Hartland Community Library periodically offers sessions like Gadgets & Gear and residents are encouraged to check the library’s website at www.RoyHartCommunityLibrary.com for program information or you can call the library at 716.735.3281.

ROY-HART CLOSED

Royalton-Hartland schools are closed today (Monday, February 2nd) due to the snow storm.