LIFE AND TIMES IN GASPORT, NEW YORK

ROY-HART GRAD JANDA GRADUATES FROM BASIC TRAINING

2012-02-01T15:08:00.003-05:00

Hometown News (http://www.bmtgrad.info/HOMETOWNNEWS) reports the following today...

Air Force Airman 1st Class Cynthia M. Janda graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Janda earned distinction as an honor graduate. She is the daughter of Daphne Berg and a 2003 graduate of Royalton Hartland High School.

SPORTS BOOSTERS CASH RAFFLE

2012-02-01T14:43:00.003-05:00

Rick DeWaters of the Roy-Hart Sports Boosters Club has announced that the Roy-Hart Sports Booster Club will hold a Cash Raffle on February 18, 2012, at the Middleport Fire Hall. All proceeds from this event will benefit all Roy-Hart Sports Programs and students.

A 1st Place award of $10,000 will go to the winning ticket. 2nd Place will award $1500 and 3rd Place will win $1000. There will be 15 cash prizes awarded and a maximum of 300 tickets sold. This translates into a 1 in 15 chance of winning, if all the tickets are sold.

A donation of $100 will admit the ticket holder and a guest (need not be present to win). Doors open at 7 PM. Complimentary beverages, a food buffet, and a wonderful desert table will be available. Music will be presented by John Harnish and World Wide Music Production.

Tickets to this fun and exciting event are selling fast! For information and tickets, please contact Rick DeWaters (716-531-0046), Mike Meal (716-706-8900) or Suzanne Bobbitt (716-310-7394). Or you can email bostonrick123@yahoo.com for assistance.

Rick is hoping that this event and other fundraisers sponsored by the R-H Sports Booster Club will continue to bring our community together and make us stronger, as we seek solutions to what will keep sports programs available for our kids, during some very trying financial times. The Boosters are so very grateful to parents and friends, alumni, coaches, students, and the business community for their undying support and dedication to keeping sports (and other programs as well) alive in the Royalton-Hartland School District.

MAKIPLASTIC GETS SOME PRESS

2012-01-31T07:27:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-31T07:23:00.002-05:00

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.

THE GAS IN GASPORT

2012-01-27T08:44:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-27T08:37:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-27T08:31:00.002-05:00

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

HARTLAND MAN COMMITS SUICIDE IN NIAGARA COUNTY JAIL

2012-01-24T05:38:00.003-05:00

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

TURKEY & BISCUIT DINNER

2012-01-22T12:44:00.003-05:00

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

2012-01-22T12:37:00.002-05:00

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.

CO-FOUNDER OF GASPORT WOOD PRODUCTS HAS PASSED AWAY

2012-01-19T07:19:00.001-05:00

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

BLOOD DRIVE THIS FRIDAY

2012-01-18T05:29:00.003-05:00

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/

JANUARY 17th IS WARREN HULL'S BIRTHDAY

2012-01-17T05:47:00.001-05:00

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

2012-01-17T05:32:00.003-05:00

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

2012-01-17T05:28:00.002-05:00

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

BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE RECOGNIZED WITH VOLUNTEER AWARD

2012-01-14T12:53:00.003-05:00

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)

SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TONIGHT

2012-01-12T13:02:00.001-05:00

The Royalton-Hartland school board meets tonight at 7:00 in the High School auditorium. Download the agenda here:

http://royhart.org/BOE%202011_12%20Agenda%20and%20minutes/011212%20Agenda.pdf

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

2012-01-11T13:17:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-11T08:01:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-11T05:41:00.003-05:00

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.

US&J REPORT ON ROYALTON'S AUDIT

2012-01-10T06:59:00.000-05:00

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

2012-01-10T06:04:00.002-05:00

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/

THE 19% GROWTH IN THE DRAINAGE TAX

2012-01-09T10:08:00.003-05:00

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.

MIDDLEPORT CHOIR PRESENTS "O SNOW"

2012-01-08T11:41:00.001-05:00

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

2012-01-08T11:31:00.001-05:00

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

2012-01-08T08:49:00.002-05:00

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

BELVA LOCKWOOD ON NCIS

2012-01-07T18:54:00.004-05:00

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

2012-01-07T10:01:00.003-05:00

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

2012-01-07T09:54:00.002-05:00

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.

WAKE UP ROYALTON FACEBOOK PAGE

2012-01-06T05:47:00.003-05:00

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

MISTAKES DISCOVERED IN AUDIT OF ROYALTON

2012-01-05T10:00:00.003-05:00

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

GASPORT FIRE CO. DOES WELL IN STATE AUDIT

2012-01-04T13:50:00.003-05:00

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

THE GASPORT BLOG IN 2011

2012-01-01T19:11:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-01T06:27:00.005-05:00

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.

2011 YEAR IN REVIEW

2011-12-31T08:11:00.006-05:00

Click on the stories below to relive some of the news items from 2011 in Gasport and Royalton-Hartland...

January

Niagara Metals has Customer Appreciation Days. The prize: A pick-up truck!

Albion man busted for sexually abusing Gasport boy

Dorothy Silsby, fixture of Gasport community, passes away at 90

95 year old robbed of Christmas gifts

Roy-Hart students participate in Fitness For Kids Challenge

Roy-Hart analyzes staffing levels

Niagara University hockey team honors the late Meghan Redenbach

Gasport's Partick Ginavan relinquishes leadership of 107th Airlift Wing

Spring Modified sports saved by Boosters Club

Gasport post office faces consolidation

State allows municipalities to approve/disapprove snowmobiling on towpath

February

Roy-Hart students win WKSE's (Kiss 98.5) School Spirit contest in honor of Meghan Redenbach

Winterfest was a huge success

100-mile winter run passes through Gasport

Roy-Hart teacher Mrs. Ramming passed away

Royalton teen shoots his twin brother

More heartache at Roy-Hart as junior Allie O'Grady passed away

March

Fatal crash takes life of Adam Jones

Roy-Hart's Mrs. Sadler passes away

Outcome of 2010 Census for Gasport

Father-son busted for growing weed on Ridge Road

April

Roy-Hart is most fiscally conservative school in WNY

School budget sees taxes go up, football return

Dale Road farm gets WNY Land Conservancy grant

Boyer's Tavern robbed, police chase ensues

Gasport pounded by strongest wind storm in memory

May

Dan Bragg is selected as Distinguished Citizen by Boy Scouts of America

June

Mr. Mault's 4th grade class hosts history night

Eunice Hernberger is celebrated by YWCA

Callaghan and Conley are tops at Roy-Hart

July

Absolut workers approve new contract

Durf fixes iconic Google Car

Bicycling while intoxicated?

Nutrition returns to Gasport

Roy-Hart and Barker combine football teams

Roy-Hart ID'ed as having high dropout rate

Bullets intended for racoon end up in house

Shane Ackerson, Medina firefighter, dies in accident on Route 31

August

ATV accident in Royalton Ravine Park

Gary McCollum has a close call

September

Library tax appears on school bills

Near drowning in Hartland

Petunia's Pizza opens in Gasport

Long-time school board member Bill Howell passed away

October

Royalton's windmills are up and running

School buses vandalized, delaying start of school

November

Zion Church begins 100-year celebration

New supervisors in Hartland, Royalton

December

Hunter shot in Gasport

And, there are many, many more stories and events that can be found in the archives of this website!

JANUARY ON THE WINE TRAIL

2011-12-28T14:39:00.002-05:00

The Niagara Wine Trail will approach their January event a little differently than most months, when it is limited to just one weekend. During January, every weekend will fall under the special event umbrella.

Here's a synopsis of the event that will be bring visitors to Gasport...

January: Warm Your Winter with Wine!

(Saturdays and Sundays in January)
Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm

Price: $20/person online or at the door

Each winery has a different discount on wine purchases when you show your event ticket during the event! Check out the wine specials below and restock your wine collection. Participate in our wine glass competition!

Tickets valid each Saturday and Sunday in January and include 3 tastes of wine at each participating winery and the individual winery discount.

Wine glasses are NOT included with this ticket. Please bring your own wine glass or purchase one at the wineries.

Visitors may bring a wine glass from a past event or participate in a wine glass-decorating contest:

• Guests are encouraged to decorate a glass to use during the event.
• When a winery staff member sees a glass they admire, they will ask for the guest’s ticket number, name and preferred contact information to record it. If possible, they will take a picture of the glass.
• At the end of the event, the list of candidates will be compiled. The person whose glass received the most votes will receive a pair of tickets to a future wine trail event.
• Glasses should be decorated in good taste and show creativity.

*Discount is valid at each winery once.

Each winery’s discount is below:

* The Winery at Marjim Manor – 20% off: Lady at the Window (dry white), Plum Dandy (Medium Plum), Treasure Beyond Measure (sweet plum)
* Arrowhead Spring Vineyards – 20% off any white wine purchase
* A Gust of Sun Winery –25% off bottles of "Trismegistus" - our Meritage-style blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot
* Eveningside Vineyards – 10% off all purchases
* Honeymoon Trail Winery – 20% off Blackberry wine, 10% off 6 bottles, 20% off 12 bottles
* Victorianbourg Wine Estate – Chardonnay ice wine buy 2, get 1 free. All other wines discounted 5% - 20%, depending on the specific wine
* Schulze Vineyards – 20% off Chardonnay unoaked 2010, Cabernet Rose 2009, Cabernet Franc Reserve 2009 and Meritage 2009
* Vizcarra Vineyards - 20% off Perfect Plum and all Red Wines
* Niagara Landing – 10% off all White Wines – Ice Wine included!
* Spring Lake Winery – 20% off award-winning 2009 Riesling
* Long Cliff Winery – 10% off all purchases
* Midnight Run Wine Cellars – 25% off our dessert wine, Icey Apple
* Black Willow Winery – 1 year anniversary celebration sale for the month of January: 15% off Flight 6-1-37 (port style wine), any Mead or Chardonnay. 20% off Trilogy Red or Cabernet Franc. Buy $75 or more of wine and get a set of (2) Black Willow Wine Glasses FREE.*cannot be combined with other offers, discounts, or promotions
* Freedom Run Winery – 15% off three bottles of wine

SNOWSHOEING IN GASPORT

2011-12-28T05:36:00.002-05:00

Paths, Peaks, and Paddles, a Tonawanda-based outfitting company will be holding 2 events in Gasport this February. Here's a copy of their blog postings....

Come out and join Paths, Peaks & Paddles on Saturday 2/4/12 at Royalton-Hartland Elementary School (4500 Orchard Place, Gasport, NY) for our annual snowshoe event. This exciting event will be held from 11:00am to 4:00pm. You can’t miss us! We will be outside with our snowshoes and poles waiting very patiently to take you, your friends and family on a snowshoe demo.

Instructors and Guides will be present to assist you with putting on your snowshoes, the use of poles and walking on the snow. Your instructors and guides will take you on a short tour around the school property so you can experience how to walk with snowshoes.

All are welcome to join us for this exciting event. Please dress for the weather as your snowshoe demo will keep you outdoors between 15-30 minutes. If you have any questions regarding snowshoeing, clothing or footwear feel free to contact christine@pathspeakspaddles.com. See you on the 4th!

-------------------------

FREE Full Moon Snowshoe Hike at Royalton Ravine in Gasport
February 7, 2012

Come out and join Paths Peaks & Paddles for a “Full Moon” snowshoe hike out at Royalton Ravine. If there is no snow we will hike in the Ravine. Meet in the parking lot out in Royalton at 6:00 PM SHARP! We want to head into the ravine by 6:15 at the latest with an expected ETA back to the parking lot between 9:00 PM & 9:30 PM.

There is no cost if you have your own snowshoes & poles. (Poles are a must to aid in ascending & descending aka stability) If you do not have snowshoes contact us for rentals. Snowshoe rental with poles is $10.00 pp.

If you have never snowshoed this is the time to come out and try it. This is a great evening adventure into the Ravine hiking the trails, up and down the hills and a short break in the pines.

Instructors and NYS Licensed Guides will accompany you on this hike. For further information or directions call 716-213-0350.

CEDENO'S LETTER TO THE SCHOOL BOARD

2011-12-28T05:31:00.002-05:00

At last week's school board meeting Mary Cedeno continued her fight to bring ethical practices and legality to the library vote. She presented the following letter to the school board:

To All Board of Education Members:

Given that the Library Tax vote of June 7th, 2011 was neither legal, nor ethical, the residents of the District request that the Board exercise their legal right per Section 2007 of the NY State Education Law, and duty to the District, and take up the REPEAL of the tax at the next annual budget, or sooner. According to the facts as we have determined:

1. The Board passed a Resolution on Dec. 9, 2010 to hold a special election for the Library. By law, the District, as the taxing authority, was to give the public notice and run the election. Yet, you did not give notice or run the election. This is effectively a dereliction of your duties.

2. By Law, the School District is required to mail the annual budget information to residents. The Special Vote was to be held the same as the annual budget…yet residents received no mail notifications.

3. You, School Board members, knew that “no one knew” about the vote. Yet you did nothing to notify us. Our constitutional right to vote was violated by your actions! This is extremely unethical in principal, and a violation of your own Ethics rules.

4. There is proof that the law was broken when you allowed the Library to run a District election. This resulted in an illegal tax to the District residents.

It is your duty to the District residents to act on behalf of the taxpayers, as our representative, to assure that we are not “taxed without representation”. You are our representatives in this situation.

It was clear that the Library had motive for keeping the vote quiet. They knew the support of Gasport would be crucial for their vote, but because of their failure to gain Gasport’s support in the past for a playground in Middleport, they chose to leave Gasport out of the election by not giving proper notice and not conducting an educational campaign. A notice to “Middleport Free Library” is not a notice to Royalton Hartland School District Residents! In fact, the Library’s highly unethical behavior has effectively created an atmosphere where the community no longer views them in a positive light.

In fact, per Section 2010 of the Education law, these deceitful actions alone make this an illegal tax..

§ 2010. Effect of want of due notice of district meetings. The proceedings of no district meeting, annual or special, shall be held illegal for want of a due notice to all the persons qualified to vote thereat, unless it shall appear that the omission to give such notice was wilful and fraudulent.

Residents of the District have been disappointed in the events leading up to the Library Tax vote, and even more disappointed afterward by the failure of the BOE to act on this injustice in our community.

We encourage you to regain the trust of your community and do what is right, and legal. A repeal of the Library Tax on the next ballot is the only way to give voters in the district a true chance to have their voices heard. It is your right and your duty.

Sincerely,

Mary Cedeño

PROPERTY TAX RATES TO CHANGE

2011-12-23T05:40:00.002-05:00

Depending on the town in which you live in the Gasport community, the county's portion of your property tax bill will rise or fall as a result of the 2012 budget passed by the Niagara County Legislature earlier this week.

In Hartland, the rate per $1,000 of assessed value will be $7.64, down 80 cents (a drop of 10.5%).

In Royalton, though, the rate goes up by 37 cents to $7.87, an increase of 4.7%.

ROY-HART BOARD MEETS TONIGHT

2011-12-22T05:23:00.002-05:00

The Roy-Hart School Board meets tonight at 7:00 PM in the High School Auditorium. Read the agenda here:

http://royhart.org/BOE%202011_12%20Agenda%20and%20minutes/122211%20Agenda.pdf

Mary Cedeno -- who has been fighting the manner by which the library tax was put upon the community -- will be in attendance and plans to ask that the board take up a resolution to put a repeal of the library tax on the next ballot. She needs your help in influencing the board...there's strength in numbers.

BARN DESTROYED IN GASPORT FIRE

2011-12-20T05:31:00.001-05:00

Fire destroyed a barn on Gasport Road early Monday.

The blaze, fought by Terry’s Corners volunteer firefighters, struck and fully engulfed the barn at 4870 Gasport Road, near Dale Road, around 6 a.m.

Due to high winds, firefighters were unable to extinguish it and had to turn attention to protecting the house next to the barn, an eyewitness said. Steady wind of about 20 mph was blowing sparks around and blowing water from the fire hoses into the air.

Read the Lockport Union Sun and Journal's full report here:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1759193568/Barn-destroyed-by-fire-in-Gasport

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT GASPORT FIRE HALL

2011-12-15T20:14:00.002-05:00

The Gasport fire department will be hosting a New Year's Eve party from 7:00 to 1:00 on the 31st. Tickets are on sale now for $20 each. To buy yours, see any Gasport firefighter or stop by Drum Oil or Standish and Jones. Ticket includes BBQ dinner, music by Last Call, beer, pop, and champane Jell-o shots at midnight. Hats and a noise maker provided.

LIBRARY BOARD MEETS MONDAY

2011-12-14T10:27:00.003-05:00

Since the Royalton-Hartland/Middleport Library is now a special district associated with the school tax bill, more taxpayers are keen on being involved with what the Library does with taxpayer money.

The next board meeting for the Library will take place Monday, December 19th at 7:00pm in the upstairs meeting room of the Library at 9 Vernon Street in the village of Middleport.

They have made available on their website their May presentation about the district-wide taxation issue. Check it out here:

http://middleportfreelibrary.org/MIDDLEPORT_FREE_LIBRARY_PUBLIC__FINAL_files/frame.htm

SHOT HUNTER IDENTIFIED

2011-12-13T07:48:00.002-05:00

Niagara County has released the name of the hunter shot Sunday morning in Gasport. He is Nicholas P. Dougherty, 27, from the Town of Lockport. Dougherty was treated at ECMC for a 4"-long gash across his back from a 12-gauge slug.

CONSIDER THIS....

2011-12-12T08:05:00.000-05:00

The hamlet of Gasport as IDed by the US Census Bureau has a population of 1,248. This website's Facebook page has 1,247 fans. Soon more people will "like" Gasport than live in it.

ROYALTON BOARD MEETS TONIGHT AT 7:30

2011-12-12T07:59:00.001-05:00

TOWN OF ROYALTON

REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA

December 12, 2011

1. Open Meeting
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Additions or corrections of the minutes as presented
4. Public Comment - Agenda Items Only
5. Communications / Petitions
6. Regular Meeting Agenda
7. New Business

•Ø Resolution to authorize a line item transfer in the Historian budget FROM A7510.4 - Historian, Contractual TO A7510.2 - Historian, Equipment in the amount of $50.00.

•Ø Resolution to authorize a line item transfer in the Highway budget FROM DB5110.4 - Repairs, Contractual TO DB5142.4 - Snow Removal, Contractual in the amount of $18,000.00.

•Ø Resolution to authorize a line item transfer in the Highway budget FROM DB5110.4 - Repairs, Contractual TO DB5130.4 - Machinery/Garage, Contractual in the amount of $10,000.00.

•Ø Resolution to increase the Culvert Pipe Pricing effective January 1, 2012 due to the increase in costs for these materials as follows:

PIPE PRICE PRICE OF MINIMUM
PER FOOT 30 FOOT PIPE
LENGTH OF PIPE WITHOUT STONE* WITH STONE*

8" $ $ 405.00
10" $ 4.75 $ 412.50
12" $ 4.90 $ 417.00
15" $ 6.96 $ 478.80
18" $10.20 $ 576.00
24" $16.35 $ 760.50
30" $25.55 $1,036.50
36" $32.85 $1,255.50
42" $47.80 $1,704.00
48" $57.18 $1,985.40

*The Town of Royalton reserves the right to increase prices without notice as the market dictates.

•Ø Resolution to authorize a line item transfer in the Court budget FROM A1110.12 - Court Clerk, Salaries TO A1110.4 - Court, Contractual in the amount of $6,500.00 and further resolve to authorize a line item transfer FROM A1110.2 - Court, Equipment TO A1110.4 Court, Contractual in the amount of $5,000.00 to cover the cost of Courtroom chairs.

•Ø Resolution to authorize a line item transfer in the Assessor's budget FROM A1355.4 - Assessor, Contractual TO A1355.2 - Assessor, Equipment in the amount of $208.00 to cover the balance of the new computer purchased for this office.

•Ø Resolution to accept for filing the Liquor License Renewal Application for Hoganey, Inc., dba Canalside Inn, 4431 Main Street, Gasport, NY 14067.

•Ø Resolution to authorize Supervisor Lang to enter in to an agreement between the Town of Royalton and the Niagara Community Action Program, Inc. and further resolve to issue a check in the amount of $1,500.00 for their fiscal year 2012.

•Ø Resolution to accept the application for membership with the Terry's Corners Volunteer Fire Company from Brandon W. Balcerzak.

•Ø Resolution to schedule the Year-End Board Meeting on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 5:30 PM.

•Ø Resolution to reschedule the January Work Session meeting on Wednesday, December 28, 2011. This meeting will immediately follow the Year-End Board Meeting.

1. Unfinished Business

1. Public Comment - Good and Welfare of the Community

1. Adjournment - Motion to adjourn

SHOOTING IN GASPORT!

2011-12-11T10:05:00.006-05:00

Just before 10:00 this morning the calls came across the police scanner for a shooting in Gasport at the corner of Kayner and Mill Roads. Piecing together the transmissions, it appears to be a hunting accident. The Sheriff's deputy on scene told dispatch that it was a grazing wound in the fellow's back.

The deputy also indicated Tri-Town Ambulance should proceed with caution, meaning the accident wasn't too bad. Phew! The community could have had a tragedy on its hands.

The Ambulance was delivering the injured party to Lockport Memorial but was rerouted to ECMC.

More to follow as news becomes available on the scanner!

BOOSTERS CLUB CASH DRAW

2011-12-11T09:41:00.002-05:00

The Roy-Hart Sports Booster Club will have a cash draw on Saturday, February 18th at 7PM at the Middleport Fire Hall (need not be present to win).

Tickets are $100 each (allows 2 people to get in). Food and beverages are included. Only 300 tickets are available = 1 in 15 chance to win!

1st PRIZE = $10,000
2nd PRIZE = $1500
3rd PRIZE = $1000
20 Cash Prizes in all will be awarded.

Early Bird Raffle will be held on January 15... (5) $100 cash prizes will be awarded. Tickets will be returned to the main draw.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!! You can contact any one of the following people for tickets and information: Mike Meal, Rick DeWaters, Suzanne Bobbitt, Sandy Smith, Patti Riegle, Sara Fry, Colleen Albee, Kim Metz.

If you have any questions or concerns about this huge event, please drop Rick DeWaters a line at bostonrick123@yahoo.com. All proceeds will benefit Roy-Hart sports and students.

DEC REPORT ON DEER SEASON ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

2011-12-11T09:32:00.003-05:00

Lieutenant Frank Lauricella of the Region 9 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Police issued on Saturday a mid-season summary of hunting-related enforcement actions that have occurred during the first two weeks of the regular deer season – from November 19 to December 2. Region 9 covers six counties: Erie, Niagara, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany.

Following is a summary of enforcement actions throughout the towns of Hartland and Royalton that occurred during the first portion of the regular season.

Town of Hartland
Matthew J. Scott
Niagara Falls, NY
-Possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle

Town of Hartland
Lawrence H. Toni
Amherst, NY
-3 counts of failure to immediately and properly fill out DMP tag

Town of Hartland
Daniel T. Gullos
Lockport, NY
-Possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle

Town of Hartland
Carol Burch
Lockport, NY
-Failure to tag deer as required

Town of Royalton
Mark E. Prosser
Lockport, NY
-Possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle

GASPORT WEB DIRECTORY UPDATED

2011-12-10T14:37:00.001-05:00

My directory of websites for businesses, people, and activities in Gasport has been updated. I added 5 new sites today:

http://www.bobconfer.us/gasportlinks.html

FIFTH ANNUAL MITTEN TREE

2011-12-09T05:49:00.002-05:00

When you’re out and about shopping for Christmas, please extend your giving beyond your family. Please buy a gift for a needy child in Gasport.

The Mitten Tree is back this year.

This is the fifth year for this awesome program that is run by Absolut Care, the Gasport Lions Club and the Roy-Hart Schools.

Here’s how it works…

The tree will be located out front of the Gasport post office at the corner of Main Street and Route 31.

Take a mitten from it and give a gift that is appropriate to the age/gender of the child noted on the mitten.

Attach the mitten to the unwrapped gift and drop it off by Wednesday, December 14th at Absolut Care (they have a drop box) or at the Elementary School (under the tree in the lobby). The Lions Club will distribute the gifts in time for the holidays.

It’s extremely important that the community supports the Mitten Tree. The economy is still a mess, unemployment is still high, and we need everyone in the community to be heroes to those who can't afford to brighten their kids' Christmas.

Please participate and make Christmas a little better for a child – maybe even your neighbor – who is in need. That’s what the holiday is all about.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING

2011-12-08T13:18:00.001-05:00

LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM EST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM EST FRIDAY. THIS UPGRADES THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW WATCH WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT.

* LOCATIONS...THE NIAGARA FRONTIER. GREATEST ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE NORTHERN SUBURBS OF BUFFALO...SOUTHERN NIAGARA COUNTY...AND INLAND TO NORTHWEST GENESEE AND WESTERN ORLEANS COUNTY.

* TIMING...LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY EVENING.

* ACCUMULATIONS...2 TO 4 INCHES OVERNIGHT AND 4 TO 6 INCHES FRIDAY...LEADING TO STORM TOTALS OF 6 TO 9 INCHES IN THE MOST PERSISTENT LAKE SNOWS.

JOE DERDA: GASPORT'S SANTA CLAUSE

2011-12-08T10:22:00.003-05:00

Joe Derda of Hartland sent along a message to let us know that during the holiday season he is a Santa for many kids.

If you know of someone that may need Santa to come by, please contact Joe. Kids in hospital, people in nursing homes, private home visits....he's very accommodating! Joe said that with just a few hours notice he can be there.

Joe does not charge a fee, staying away from being a shopping mall Santa who would flush the kids through to get rich on photo ops.

His main reason to volunteer his time is that when the kids get to the point where Santa is out, they are too old and younger children are present, a short visit may just squeak out one more year of believing in something. Pretty cool!

You can contact Joe at: jtderda@gmail.com

ANNABLE RETIREMENT PARTY TONIGHT

2011-12-08T10:14:00.001-05:00

The Hartland Town Board invites the public to a retirement gathering for Supervisor William A. Annable from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at the Hartland Town Hall

Annable will retire Dec. 31 after 33 years at the helm. He ties Floyd Snyder, who served as Lockport supervisor from 1962 to 1995, for length of service in that job in Niagara County.

DECEMBER'S NUTRITION MENU

2011-12-02T20:06:00.002-05:00

Every Monday at the Hartland Bible Church in Gasport (the former St. Mary's Church) Niagara County Office for the Aging offers its nutrition program serving the population age 60 and older. All Meals are served with bread, skim milk or 2%, coffee or tea. Suggested Contribution for meals is $3.00. Menus are subject to change without notice.

Please reserve a lunch a day in advance by contacting the site director of the nutrition program in your building, Bonnie Tilyou – 418-4143.

Here is the menu for December:

December 5) Chicken Parmesan/ Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan Cheese Tomato Sauce Shell Pasta Chef Salad / Cucumber Slices, CarrotsChilled Apricots

December 12) Baked Ham with Pineapple SauceScalloped PotatoesGreen Beans/Pimientos WW Dinner Roll Green/Red Gelatin/Whipped Topping

December 19) See Below

December 26) No meal due to Christmas weekend

December 19th will be a holiday celebration at noon!

Chicken Cordon Bleu
Small Red Potatoes/Parsley
Baby Carrots L’Orange
Whole Wheat Dinner Roll
Cherry Cheesecake
Skim, 2% or Chocolate Milk
Coffee or Tea

Suggested Contribution: $3.00

ROYALTON'S NOVEMBER MINUTES

2011-12-02T19:57:00.002-05:00

The minutes from Royalton's town board meeting of November are available online.

The first set of minutes looks at the public hearing that addressed the town's plans to institute a local law allowing an override of the tax cap:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/9:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/179

The second set focuses on the public hearing for special benefit assessment roll:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/9:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/178

The third set is from the public hearing over the town budget:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/9:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/177

The last set looks at the general business portion of the get-together:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/9:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/176

HOLIDAY DINNER AND CHRISTMAS AUCTION

2011-12-02T19:52:00.002-05:00

The Hartland Fire Company on Route 104 in Gasport is having a holiday party and Christmas auction this Sunday, December 4th. Dinner starts at noon and the auction starts at 3:00. There are hundreds of new gift items to bid on. The auction will be conducted by RD Harriger.

SCHWAB'S OPEN HOUSE

2011-12-02T19:44:00.002-05:00

Schwab's Farm Market on Route 31 is having their holiday open house this Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 5. There will be fun, prizes, and refreshments. There will be all kinds of Christmas baked goods, deli platters, cookies, crafts, fruit baskets and more. Order your roast beef for holiday parties this weekend and get 20 cents off per pound. For more info go to http://www.schwabsfarm.com/

CATCH ME ON NIAGARA'S TALKING FRIDAY

2011-11-29T13:15:00.002-05:00

Catch me on "Niagara's Talking" on Friday December 2nd during the 11:00 hour on WLVL 1340 (streaming online at wlvl.com). Donna Pieszala and I will talk about a wide variety of topics including the Wage Theft Prevention Act, the weaknesses in NY's tax cap, Congress's new way to (mis)calculate inflation, and the private cemetery issue in Royalton.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHRISTMAS PARTY

2011-11-28T06:55:00.001-05:00

The Town of Royalton Historical Society will be holding it's Annual Christmas Luncheon on Saturday, December 3rd at 1:00. It will be held at Town Hall, 5316 Royalton Center Rd, Middleport. Everyone is invited and asked to bring a dish to pass. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Bieber at 716-735-7335.

LIGHT UP GASPORT & CHRISTMAS PARTY

2011-11-28T06:51:00.000-05:00

Light up Gasport & Christmas Party

Free Fun for the Whole Family

When: Sunday, December 11, 2011
Place: Gasport Firehall
Time: 4:00pm

Festivities will include: Santa Claus, Music, Caroling, Decorating and Lighting of Community Christmas Tree, Basket Raffle, Hot Chocolate, Christmas Cookies, Apple Cider and Back by popular demand…..Sleigh rides!!!!!!!

All proceeds go to the Gasport Beautification Committee to help support this event and decorating of Main St. Gasport.

For more information about this committee please contact committee member Debbie Babcock at 772-2902

GARDENS BY THE MILL OPEN HOUSE

2011-11-26T09:35:00.003-05:00

Gardens By the Mill is having their holiday open house today from 11:00 to 5:00 and on Sunday from 11:00 to 4:00. Located at 8443 Slayton Settlement Road (just west of the intersection with Quaker Road), they will have cookies and beverages and holiday ornaments.

They sell home decor, gifts, tea, cards, candles and soaps and can be followed on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gardens-By-The-Mill/247353421984747

CHRISTMAS TREES IN GASPORT

2011-11-26T08:37:00.002-05:00

Here is a list of tree farms in Gasport that sell Christmas trees. As more information about other vendors becomes available, I'll add them to the list.

Rickard Nursery: They are selling trees from their Checker Tavern Road location (not their retail oulet behind the Yellow Goose). Their tree farm is located on Checker Tavern Road between Wheeler Rd. and Elicott Rd. Hours are Friday-Saturday-Sunday
10:00am to Dark.

Bucolo Greenhouse and Farm: Located at the corner of Slayton Settlement and Orangeport Roads, they are open Monday - Friday noon to 7:00 and then on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 - 4:00. They also sell wreaths.

Merrell's Evergreeen Acres: They can be found at 3573 Wruck Road and are open every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 - 5:00 until sold out.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2011-11-24T08:39:00.002-05:00

Thank you to everyone who frequents this site, submits news and events, and acts on some of the issues mentioned here that effect our community. You make this site all the worthwhile.

May you have a happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the special times had with your families today.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY DRIVE

2011-11-24T08:36:00.000-05:00

In a recent post I mentioned the peanut butter and jelly drive. The Royalton Town Hall has been added to the list of sites where your donations can be dropped off.

OBITUARY: PHYLLIS ZIMMERMAN GEORGE, CLASS OF '52

2011-11-24T08:31:00.000-05:00

Phyllis A. (Zimmerman) George, formerly of Rice and Ennis, Texas, entered into eternal rest on Monday, November 21, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. She had been residing with her son in Garland, Texas.

She was born on January 16, 1932 in Lockport, New York, the daughter of the late Frederick A. and Elida (Arns) Zimmerman. She resided in Gasport, New York in her early life and was a graduate of the Royalton-Hartland Central School, class of 1952.

Phyllis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where she met and married her husband, William George, who has predeceased her. She worked in the electronics industry for several years and trained new workers in the job program. She was affiliated with Anthony Drive Baptist Church of Ennis, Texas.

She is survived by her children: son, James Frederick (Sheri) George of Garland, Texas; daughter, Vicki Lynn (Willie) Young of Rice, Texas; four grandchildren, Lisa (Jack) Gifford, William Thomas (Dusty) Young, John (LeAnn) Young, and Billy (Sara) Young; seven great grandchildren; sister, Norma Z. Wollenberg of Gasport, New York; and a nephew, Bryan K. Wollenberg of Middleton, New York. She was preceded in death by her son, David Allen.

Graveside services are scheduled at 1 P.M. on Friday, November 25, 2011 at Rice Cemetery, Dresden Road, exit 242 from I 45, Rice, Texas with Brother Eddie Ricks, officiating.

To view an obituary or sign the guest book, please visit www.bozemitchellmckibbin.com

OBITUARIES COMING TO THIS SITE

2011-11-23T13:24:00.003-05:00

On occasion I've run obituaries on this site. Starting tomorrow I will post every Gasport-related obituary (current and former residents) on this site as they are made available, pulling together the death notices from the internet both here and around the world.

100-MILE RADIUS MEAL: DECEMBER 2nd

2011-11-22T15:45:00.002-05:00

Friday December 2nd will be the final 100-Mile Radius of 2011 for Becker Farms. The meal begins at 6:30.

Reservations are required along with a valid credit card number to hold the reservation. To make reservations email chris.beckerfarms@gmail.com or call 716-772-2211. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to start.

At the dinner you will be greeted by Owner Melinda Vizcarra and Head Chef Amanda Vizcarra. There will be a brief program welcoming you to the farm and inviting you to experience the taste of local agriculture.

The December menu features...

Soup
Tuscan soup with sausage, kale and pinto beans

Salad
Brussel sprout salad with bacon, apple, and cranberries

Appetizer
Antipasti with Italian meats, cheese, pickled veg and bread served with roasted garlic

Entree
Braciole served with creamy polenta

Dessert
Mini dessert sampler with cannoli, cream puffs, eclairs, biscotti, and walnut pie

Cost is $55.00 per person including tax & gratuity

Menu subject to change availability of the produce.

FREE WEEKLY SUPPERS AT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

2011-11-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

Hartland United Methodist Church, 8017 Ridge Road, Gasport, will hold a free weekly supper at the church each Wednesday during the Advent season. Advent is the period beginning four weeks before Christmas and marks the coming of Christ into the world.

The suppers will consist of a half sandwich, a bowl of soup, a beverage and dessert. These suppers are for anyone in the community who would like to share both food and fellowship. Scheduled dates are Nov. 30, and Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Food will be prepared and served by church members and other volunteers.

For more information, call 772-2376.

A THREAT TO FARMING'S FUTURE

2011-11-22T06:17:00.002-05:00

Farming is an important facet of Gaport's past, present and future. Agriculture may account for 90% of the economic activity within our community. The world's most important industry is facing a threat, though, from the Department of Labor.

My column for this week's newspapers identifies that threat and let's you know how we can beat it. Please take the time to participate in the public comment session mentioned in the column (it expires next week).

Here's the column....

Changes to child labor laws hurt farmers
By Bob Confer
The Tonawanda News

Farming is not a job. It’s a lifestyle. The job is never done, and it’s never easy; it takes a special soul to work the long, hard days during the planting and harvesting seasons or live the vacation-free existence that comes with animal husbandry. At the same time, it’s the most important industry on the planet, and farmers will tell you it’s the most fulfilling: Besides raising a family, there is little on Earth more rewarding than tending the soil and growing from it — and raising on it — valuable nourishment for others.

To prepare someone for that intense lifestyle you need to start young and introduce teens to the work ethic and investment of self that are necessary to develop a love affair with farming. Youth have long been able to participate in agricultural work but that could change soon. The Obama administration has unveiled a series of proposed revisions to child labor law specific to farming. Citing provisions that have remained virtually untouched since 1970, the administration felt compelled to modernize them. That act of modernization will irreparably harm farming’s future by destroying its very foundation — the youth who should represent tomorrow’s workforce and farm owners.

Under the new rules, the Department of Labor would end most child labor exemptions that currently exist in farming by denying work to anyone under the age of 16, unless the farm is owned by their parents and one of the parents is directly overseeing their work.

Furthermore, most 14- and 15-year-old workers would be prevented from operating any tractor, all-terrain vehicle, milking machine, or lawn mower. Now, exemptions exist that allow them to operate such equipment given they complete a 24 hour safety course, typically provided by the private sector via farm bureaus or through public-private Cooperative Extension offices. The proposed rules would create and require a 90-hour course that could only be taught through government-run secondary and/or vocational schools. This would add another layer of federal bureaucracy to local school districts; increase the cost to taxpayers associated with the wages, benefits and pensions for the newfound teaching positions; or, more likely, deprive thousands of youth of farming opportunity because their local schools — or any one within reasonable commute — will be unable to provide them the necessary training.

Adding even more hassle, untrained youth will not be allowed in the proximity of any motorized device during their course of work, meaning that young farm workers could not be anywhere near an elevator, or even a wagon pulled behind a tractor, preventing them from baling hay or loading and unloading barns, even though they are nowhere near the controls.

The insanity of the standards doesn’t end there. Everyone under the age of 18 will be strictly prohibited from any and all acts of animal husbandry. They won’t be able to corral and herd cattle, pigs or poultry. They won’t be allowed to brand, breed, treat or raise animals. They’d be denied access to stockyards, cattle auctions, and feed lots. They can’t pitch manure or feed chickens or cows.

They’ll have to wait until adulthood to do any of those tasks. Even Future Farmers of America and 4-H won’t be able to give teenagers the experience they need to be productive rural adults. Because of the limitations proposed by the DOL, those organizations will become mostly obsolete, legally unable to provide the animal rearing experience that has produced many a fine farmer for decades.

Fortunately, there is a chance to stop these proposals from becoming law. The DOL is currently accepting comments regarding their proposals. The deadline, which was originally Nov. 1, has been moved to Dec. 1 due to the initial criticisms and concerns that were certain to befall such laws. Referencing RIN 1235-AA06 and docket ID WHD-2011-0001, submit your comments electronically at www.regulations.gov/ or by mail at: Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S- 3502, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.

Public participation in this decision-making process is a must. If left unabated, the executive branch will pass these rules. If we allow it to eliminate the important agricultural lessons from one’s formative years, we will rob our youth of the building blocks necessary for a lifetime of farming: An appreciation for nature, the creation of an old-fashioned work ethic, an irreplaceable knowledge base and the development of high moral character that comes with living of, on and for the Earth.

SUMMER SIZZLER REUNION: THIS WEDNESDAY

2011-11-21T07:46:00.002-05:00

On Wednesday November 23rd (Thanksgiving Eve) Durf and the Terry's Corners Vol. Fire Co., Inc., will be hosting a Summer Sizzler reunion. Doors open at 6pm. Jonesie and the Crusiers will play starting at 8 pm. Prior to that, Mark Beckstien of White Bird Productions will present a video of 25 years of film, photos, and music from the Sizzler. The bar will be open.

GASPORT TALK ON WLVL

2011-11-21T07:38:00.003-05:00

Local residents should listen to WLVL AM every day for the best in local news and local talk. Donna Pieszala's talk show, Niagara's Talking, is a "must listen" every weekday (except Wednesdays) from 11:00 to 1:00. Listen on-air at 1340 AM or online at www.wlvl.com

Be sure to tune in this Tuesday for sure at 12:00 when Donna's guest will be Tim Durfy (Durf!). He'll be talking about the grand opening celebration of the Terry's Corners fire hall and Wednesday's Summer Sizzler reunion and retrospective to be held at the fire hall on Wednesday night.

Then, on Tuesday, December 6th at noon, Donna will interview Royalton town supervisor Dick Lang and Tom Fleckenstien about the wind project in Royalton.

LIKE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY FACEBOOK PAGE

2011-11-20T13:06:00.000-05:00

"Like" one of the coolest Facebook pages to come down the pike in recent memory. Jesse Bieber has created a page for the Royalton Historical Society, chock full of old-time photos and Jesse's historical perspective. Check it out here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Town-of-Royalton-Historical-Society/176698222421913

ORANGEPORT ROAD HOME BURGLARIZED

2011-11-20T12:59:00.001-05:00

The Buffalo News is reporting about a burglary that occurred in Gasport...

An Orangeport Road woman told sheriff’s deputies on Friday that someone stole nearly $2,500 worth of electronic gadgets from her home the day before.

The theft occurred between noon and 5:30 p. m. while the victim was out, deputies said, but there was no sign of forced entry to the home.

Read the details here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/police-courts/police-blotter/article641276.ece

OPENING DAY IS SATURDAY

2011-11-16T11:28:00.000-05:00

Deer season has been open for a few weeks now with archery hunters out and about. But, they are a minority in hunting circles.

The day that most hunters consider the "real" Opening Day --- the first day of shotgun season for deer --- is this Saturday. So, the farm lanes and road sides of Gasports will be filled with parked vehicles all weekend, and in the coming weeks, as hunters are out in the fields and woods attempting to fill their freezers.

THANKSGIVING EVE AT BECKER FARMS

2011-11-16T10:47:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving Eve is one of the biggest party/bar nights of the year...many people return to their hometowns for family get-togethers and the Wednesday before the big dinner represents a great time to catch up with old friends.

Becker Brewing Company at Becker Farms will be hosting a Thanksgiving Eve party on Wednesday the 23rd from 8:00 PM to 11:30 PM. There will be beer, wine, and food along with live music by Dave Stockton and Pocket Change.

CEMETERY LAW PASSES

2011-11-15T08:46:00.001-05:00

Royalton's private cemetery law -- which will severely impede family cemeteries on local farms -- was passed last night by a vote of 3 to 2. Budde, Lang and Bragg voted for it and Bieber and Rehwaldt voted against it. The one thing that was changed was the "fee." It was changed from $10,000.00 down to $2500.00.

AN UPDATE ON THE LIBRARY TAX ISSUE

2011-11-15T07:05:00.001-05:00

Mary Cedeno sent along this message about her ongoing investigation into the library tax...

We have continued our research and have discovered discrepancies between the laws that were used to levy the Library tax, and how it was actually done. If readers would like to read the laws for themselves, they can check them out at this link:

http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=@LLEDN+& LIST=LAW+&BROWSER=BROWSER+&TOKEN=14870111+&TARGET=VIEW

They should pay particular attention to 259 (1)(a) and 259(1)(b) . We still contend that 259 (1)(b) was what the Library was supposed to use...and they used 259(1)(a)...In any case, neither of the laws were followed correctly.

PUBLIC HEARINGS IN ROYALTON ON MONDAY

2011-11-13T08:38:00.003-05:00

The town board of Royalton meets Monday night at the town hall. The action starts at 7:00 with public hearing that addresses the following...

Local Law to override the 2% tax levy limit and Public hearing on the Preliminary Budget for 2012

---------------------------------

Special District Assessments

Pursuant to Section 198 of the New York State Town Law, the Town Board has opted to enforce various unpaid accounts for water, sewer, refuse another unpaid town services as indicated below, by placing a lien upon the real property for which such services were provided.

Total Unpaid Water $81,672.86
Total Unpaid Sewer $10,370.84
Total Unpaid Refuse $ 0.00
Total Town Charges $ 1344.20
Grand Total $93,387.90

Special Benefit Assessment Roll
Royalton Water District:
Water District With Improvements $250/unit
Water District Without Improvements $50/unit
Unimproved District With Water $10/unit
Unimproved District Without Water $1.00/unit
Royalton Refuse District $182.82/unit

2011 Town of Royalton Town Budget
Amounts to be raised by taxation are as follows:
Royalton Water District $583,690.00
Royalton Sewer District $155,930.00
Royalton Refuse District $445,532.00
Gasport Lighting District $15,500.00
Royalton Fire Protection $438,804.00
Drainage Fund $143,111.00

Pursuant to Section 108 of the New York State Town Law, the proposed salaries of the Town Officers are hereby specified:

Supervisor (1) $16,000.00
Town Board Members (4) $24,000.00 ($6000 each)
Town Justice (2) $34,800.00 ($17,400 each)
Town Clerk (1) $45,241.00
Superintendent of Highways (1) $57,155.00
Tax Collector (1) $6,367.00

Further Notice is given that pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, the Exemption Report that shows the total assessed value on the final assessment roll that was used in the budgetary process that is exempt from taxation is on file with the Preliminary 2012 Budget.

The Town Board of the Town of Royalton will hear any person in favor of or against the Preliminary Budget as filed with the Town Clerk. All parties in interest and citizens will be heard at the public hearings to be held is aforesaid.

GASPORT MAN ARRESTED IN LAUNDRY BURGLARY

2011-11-11T13:14:00.001-05:00

The Buffalo News is reporting...

A Gasport man was arrested Thursday on burglary and other charges for allegedly being the main actor in extensive damage at the 24-hour Middleport Sher-Wash laundry on Telegraph Road early Tuesday.

Thomas N. Sullivan, 22, was jailed in lieu of $2,000 cash or $4,000 property bail following his arraignment in Town Court on charges of third-degree burglary, felony criminal mischief, third-degree grand larceny and endangering the welfare of a child.

Read the rest of the article to discover just what he did....

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/police-courts/police-blotter/article628205.ece

THE PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY DRIVE

2011-11-11T13:07:00.003-05:00

The Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive is underway in Niagara County. Check out their efforts at:

www.pbjdrive.com

This is their 2nd annual drive to collect PB&J for hungry children and families. Collection will continue till December 3rd, after which they'll begin to distribute the goods to local food pantries.

They need your help! Donate what you can. But know they do not accept money...only peanut butter, jelly or fluff.

Collection sites in Gasport are:

The Chop Shop
Niagara Metals
Schwab’s Market
Porter Agency
NES (New England Seafood)
Hartland Bible Church

WINTER PARKING UNDER WAY

2011-11-11T13:02:00.001-05:00

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Local Law Number 1 for the year 2001 entitled An Amendment to the Winter Parking Law of the Town of Royalton which was adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Royalton on the 12th day of March 2001 be advised as follows:

SECTION 2. PARKING LIMITS.

It shall be unlawful for any person to park any vehicle on a Town Highway and/or right of way within the Town of Royalton between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. from November 1st of any year to April 1st of the year immediately following.

A copy of Local Law No. 2, 2001 can be viewed in the Town of Royalton Town Clerks Office, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, New York 14105 during regular business hours.

Terry Nieman
Superintendent of Highways
Town of Royalton

ROYALTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING: NOV. 19th

2011-11-11T12:59:00.000-05:00

The Town of Royalton Historical Society will be holding their meeting on Saturday, November 19th at 1:00. The meeting will be held at Town Hall, 5613 Royalton Center Rd, Middleport. This month will be a very special occasion...we will be celebrating the 100th birthday of Gerry Radamaker Reynolds and Eunice Hernberger's 97th birthday.

Cake and punch will be provided. All are welcome! There is no need for presents; your presence will be enough of a gift for both of them. Come and celebrate these 2 amazing woman!

Any questions or if you need more information, please contact Historical Society President, Jennifer Bieber at 716-735-7335.

THIS WEEKEND IN GASPORT

2011-11-11T12:56:00.001-05:00

Click on the links to learn more...

Terry's Corners Meat Raffle on Saturday

Lions Club pork dinner and basket raffle on Saturday

WINDMILLS UNDER FIRE

2011-11-08T07:37:00.000-05:00

Be sure to grab a copy of Tuesday's Lockport Union Sun and Journal. An Olcott resident wrote a scathing letter about Dick Lang and the town of Royalton's windmill project.

HARTLAND PLANS TO KEEP TAX RATE STEADY

2011-11-08T05:36:00.001-05:00

Yesterday's Buffalo News reported the following...

The tax rate is expected to remain steady in a preliminary $3.2 million town budget proposed for 2012, which will be discussed in a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday Nov. 10 in Town Hall.

Town officials are recommending the tax rate remain at $2.41 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, according to Deputy Town Supervisor William R. "Ross" Annable.

The proposed $3.2 million town budget for 2012 represents a $220,000 increase in spending over the current budget and an increase of $71,000 on estimated revenues of $1,733,578.

Read the details here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article623125.ece

CHRISTMAS CUPBOARD

2011-11-06T13:18:00.002-05:00

The Christmas Cupboard makes its appearance soon. The crafters will hold their 26th annual craft show at the Hartland Bible Church on West Avenue in Gasport on Nov. 18th (9:30 to 9:00 pm) and Nov. 19th (9:30 to 6:00pm). For sale will be hand crafted items for home and holiday decorating; baked good; jams and jellies. Free admission.

NEW SUPERVISORS IN ROYALTON, HARTLAND

2011-11-06T08:28:00.003-05:00

The Sunday Buffalo News looks at the electoral races across Niagara County and the uncontested races faced by the newest leaders of Royalton and Hartland.

The article makes note that Jennifer Bieber will be Royalton's first female supervisor:

Royalton’s Jennifer H. Bieber is backed by the Republican, Democratic, Conservative and Independence parties. She has served as Supervisor Richard J. Lang’s deputy for three of her past four years on the Town Board. Lang has served as town supervisor for the past four years but declined to seek a third term in office.

Bieber, 41, is a facility assistant for Verizon, where she has worked for 21 years.

About her new, two-year post, she said, “I love it. I’ve lived here my whole life and I love our town. This is a way of giving back to the community. I think it’s good to be involved and I like the problem-solving. It’s very exciting.”

The article also notes that Hartland will see a change of leadership, from father to son...

In neighboring Hartland, William R. “Ross” Annable will succeed his father, William A. “Bill” Annable as supervisor for the next four years, in what should be a smooth transition. Ross Annable carries the backing of the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties. He has served as deputy town supervisor for the past year and was unopposed in his bid for a four-year term on the Town Board two years ago. His father has served as town supervisor since 1978.

Annable, 54, is retired from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and is police chief of Barker.

“I’ve lived in Hartland a long time and our family has roots here,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time seeing how the town is run. It’s a great place to live and I want to continue those traditions we have here.

Read the entire article online:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article621814.ece

TERRY'S CORNERS MEAT RAFFLE

2011-11-05T08:01:00.003-04:00

Terry's Corners Volunteer Fire Company will be having their 52nd annual turkey party and meat raffle on Saturday, November 12th at 6:00 at the fire hall. There will be hams, turkeys and prime ribs. There will be rip tickets, booze and free refreshments available at this event.

ROYALTON PUBLIC HEARING: NOVEMBER 14th

2011-11-05T07:55:00.002-04:00

Town of Royalton
Notice of Public Hearings

Please Take Notice that the Town Board of the Town of Royalton will hold separate public hearings on the matters referenced herein at the Town Hall, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, New York, on the 14th day of November, 2011, beginning at 7:00 PM (local time); said public hearings shall be as follows:

Special District Assessments
Pursuant to Section 198 of the New York State Town Law, the Town Board has opted to enforce various unpaid accounts for water, sewer, refuse another unpaid town services as indicated below, by placing a lien upon the real property for which such services were provided.

Total Unpaid Water $81,672.86
Total Unpaid Sewer $10,370.84
Total Unpaid Refuse $ 0.00
Total Town Charges $ 1344.20
Grand Total $93,387.90

Special Benefit Assessment Roll
Royalton Water District:
Water District With Improvements $250/unit
Water District Without Improvements $50/unit
Unimproved District With Water $10/unit
Unimproved District Without Water $1.00/unit
Royalton Refuse District $182.82/unit

2011 Town of Royalton Town Budget
Amounts to be raised by taxation are as follows:
Royalton Water District $583,690.00
Royalton Sewer District $155,930.00
Royalton Refuse District $445,532.00
Gasport Lighting District $15,500.00
Royalton Fire Protection $438,804.00
Drainage Fund $143,111.00

Pursuant to Section 108 of the New York State Town Law, the proposed salaries of the Town Officers are hereby specified:

Supervisor (1) $16,000.00
Town Board Members (4) $24,000.00 ($6000 each)
Town Justice (2) $34,800.00 ($17,400 each)
Town Clerk (1) $45,241.00
Superintendent of Highways (1) $57,155.00
Tax Collector (1) $6,367.00

Further Notice is given that pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, the Exemption Report that shows the total assessed value on the final assessment roll that was used in the budgetary process that is exempt from taxation is on file with the Preliminary 2012 Budget.

The Town Board of the Town of Royalton will hear any person in favor of or against the Preliminary Budget as filed with the Town Clerk. All parties in interest and citizens will be heard at the public hearings to be held is aforesaid.

BUSY WEEKEND IN GASPORT

2011-11-04T06:06:00.003-04:00

Click on the links below to learn more about this weekend's activities:

Saturday: Open house at Always Christmas

Saturday: Bazaar and turkey dinner at the Covenant Church

Sunday: Launch of 100th anniversary celebration at Zion Lutheran Church

Sunday: Terry's Corners gun raffle

THE NOVEMBER INTERVIEW: PASTOR RODNEY KLINZING

2011-11-03T14:00:00.004-04:00

The Zion Lutheran Church is heading into its 100th year of worship this upcoming Sunday. So, there's no better time to learn about this important part of our community and its spiritual leader, Pastor Rod Klinzing, one of the nicest gentlemen you'll ever meet.

We asked Pastor Rod a few questions about the year-long celebration and where the Church has been and is going. It's an insightful and entertaining interview!

Here it is...

On November 6th you’ll kick-off a year-long celebration of the Church’s 100th year. What will take place on the 6th?

The 100th Anniversary Committee selected this Sunday, November 6th, as the perfect time to kick off a year-long celebration of Zion Lutheran Church’s one hundred years of ministry in Gasport.

Several of our members have been working hard the past few years to put together a Memorial Garden located in the front lawn of the church to honor the “saints” of Zion who have played such an important role in our lives. And so, as we conclude our 10:30am worship service on this All Saints Sunday, we will gather at the monument and the baptismal font in the garden to dedicate this Memorial Garden to the glory of God and to honor the Zion saints who have gone before us.

Memorial coins have been printed and inscribed with the names of all those saints and we hope to see as many family members and friends as possible come to this dedication to deposit those coins into the baptismal font.

Beneath the font, encased in cement, is a vault that will hold those coins forever! Coins of future saints will also be deposited and their memories held in our hearts till we meet again!

What sort of events will take place over the next 12 months?

Over the next twelve months we will live celebrate and live out our theme, “One Hundred Years of Sharing God’s Love.” Each Sunday service will include a hymn that celebrates God’s love for us – a love we share with others. The childrens choir will sing a monthly song focusing on love.

Many of our annual events – the Sunday School Christmas Program, Over Seventy Dinner, Mid-Winter Picnic, etc. – will reflect back on our one hundred years as a congregation.

A very special Confirmation Sunday is being planned in June, a memory book is being published, a CD is being produced – just to name a very few items that will make this coming year special.

Perhaps one of the most significant items to mention is that we want to remember our roots as a farming community and as a church that began as one serving that community. We will do a year-long fund drive for a program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America called God’s Global Barnyard. We will raise funds to establish a farm in one or more of over sixty countries around the world where people are living in poverty, including our own United States. As an example, chicks are ten for $10; ducks are $20; pigs are $30; cows are $500. The sky is the limit!

Of course, we will conclude our year-long celebration next October with a special worship service at church followed by a dinner at the Gasport Fire Hall.

Can you give us a quick history of the Church?

Zion’s humble beginnings go back to the Mill District School on East Slayton Settlement Road in 1912. A small group of German farmers got tired of hitching up the horses and buggies and making the trek to Wolcottsville every Sunday, so they asked the Rev. John Knuebel of Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolcottsville to come up here to lead them in worship on Sunday afternoons. He did so for the outrageous salary of one dollar a service! And, of course, the service was in German! The names of the founding families were Becker, Coulson, Dettbarn, Schlegel, Wollenberg, and Wruck.

On May 11, 1915 the congregation was officially incorporated as “Evangelical Lutheran Zion’s Church”. Shortly thereafter a church building erected in 1878 on Central Avenue in Gasport was purchased from the German Evangelical Society, whose congregation was merging with one in Lockport, for the sum of $1000. That building is still in use, having gone through several renovations and additions in the years since. For those who might be interested, I believe the purchase price would be slightly higher now!

For much of its history, Zion shared its pastor with other neighboring Lutheran congregations. In addition to Pastor Kneubel we have Theophilus Berner, John Stender, Theodore Kuehner, Herman Ewald, Paul Nemeschy, and Carl Scheidt. On October 27, 1968 the congregation extended a call to its first full-time resident pastor, Raymond Ideus, who served until December 1981. I came on board as pastor on July 1, 1982 and am looking forward to celebrating my 30th year with Zion during their 100th anniversary celebration!

How many parishioners now call the Church home?

Over 530 people call Zion their home. I would be more precise, but that one church mouse and its family keeps scooting back and forth between us and Covenant United Church of Christ. (At least they know how to avoid the neighborhood cats!)

Tell us a little about the Sunday services and some of the other activities offered by the Church...

We offer two services each Sunday morning: 8am for the early risers and 10:30am for everybody who wants breakfast at the Talk of the Town before worshiping! Sunday school for all ages is held between the services.

Currently we have an active Youth Group that meets several times a month for fun and games and service to the church and community.

WELCA is our Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America group that provides the congregation with many social activities.

WHO is our Women Helping Others group that strives to meet the needs of groups and individuals in our immediate eastern Niagara area.

GOHL – Gasport’s Own Healthy Lifestyles – is a small but dedicated group that meets weekly for learning and support.

A Thursday Night Fellowship Group meets to sing, laugh, and pray together for an hour – mostly laughing!

Yoga and Zumba classes are also a part of the life around here.

And our congregational Thrivent Financial for Lutherans group is very active and supportive of community activities.

How many of those 100 years have you been the Pastor at the Church? What sort of memories do you have from your first days as a part of the Zion Lutheran community?

As mentioned before, of the 100 years of Zion’s existence, I have been blessed with being a part of it for nearly 30 years now. My wife, Janice, along with our six children consider this our home. No, I will not give up my allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I have enjoyed rooting for the Bills and Sabres. I have also immensely enjoyed – and almost come to tears – with the blessing that few other pastors experience: baptizing the babies of babies I baptized! To be in one place long enough to share in all the joys and all the sorrows of so many families is truly a blessing that is beyond explanation. I feel both privileged and honored to be given the gift of this call by God in one place for so long!

Now that we have established that my confirmation students call me old, what are some of my favorite memories of when I first came to Zion?

It wouldn’t be coming here on a late weekend in March of 1982 to interview with the Call Committee of Zion – only to wake up at the Lockport Motel to about a foot of fresh snow outside, especially since we left Columbus, Ohio behind with its 65 degree temperatures, would it? It wouldn’t be Leola Mietz calling up one morning to ask, “Would you and Janice like some apples for your family, pastor?” and coming home later in the afternoon to find ten bushels of the sweet, juicy things on the front porch, would it? It wouldn’t be balloons being released into the air as we celebrated our 75th anniversary as a congregation and dedicated our new front entrance on the same warm afternoon, would it? Or runs along the canal to raise money to send kids to summer camp at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center? Or “Ten Bags of Doom” unleashed on my head to raise more money to send those kids to camp? Or scores of members gathering around families who have lost loved ones to tragic accidents or illness? Or singing Christmas carols in the barn at Becker Farms on Christmas Eve – and then coming to the 11pm service later that night to sing those same songs by candlelight?

By the grace of God those memories will keep on coming! And by the grace of God, Zion will continue to be a beacon of light and love to the world around it!

ALUMNI BASKETBALL GAME

2011-11-03T08:54:00.002-04:00

The 6th annual Roy-Hart alumni basketball game will take place Wednesday, November 23rd at 7:00 at the high school gym. Tickets are $3/adults, $1/students. There will be prizes and basket raffles! All proceeds benefit Roy-Hart sports. If alumni are interested in playing, email Rick DeWaters at: bostonrick123@yahoo.com

ROYALTON LOOKS TO EXCEED TAX CAP

2011-11-03T07:02:00.000-04:00

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TOWN BOARD TOWN OF ROYALTON

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Royalton, New York, will hold a public hearing on November 14, 2011, at the Royalton Town Hall, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, NY, 14105, at 7:15 PM as follows:

A Local Law allowing the Town to override the 2% tax levy limit.

Persons wishing to appear at the hearing(s) may do so in person or by attorney or other representation. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed with the Town Clerk, or at such hearing.

LIONS CLUB DINNER: NOVEMBER 12th

2011-11-03T05:36:00.001-04:00

On Saturday November 12th the Gasport Lions Club will host a pork roast dinner and basket raffle at the Gasport Fire Hall, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Basket drawings start at 6:30, and you do not have to be present to win. Cost is $8.00 adults, $5.00 for children 11 and under.

TURKEY DINNER AND BAZAAR THIS SATURDAY

2011-11-01T17:37:00.003-04:00

Gasport's most popular annual dinner takes places this Saturday, November 5th.

The Covenant Church on Main Street is hosting its annual donation dinner. Pay as much as you'd like for turkey and all the fixings...it's the church's way of funding its operations. The dinner runs from 3:30 until gone (usually 7:00). Takeout is available. The meal will be prepared by churchfolk and served by Boy Scout Troop 18.

The dinner is preceeded by the annual bazaar from 10:00 to 6:00. A luncheon will be served from 11:30 to 2:00.

THE BUTCHER SHOP IS SELLING BRITT TURKEYS

2011-11-01T06:34:00.002-04:00

The Butcher Shop in the Lincoln Square Plaza in Lockport is selling thanksgiving turkeys raised by Britt Farms on Route 104 in Gasport. These birds are all-natural, hormone-free, and always fresh, never frozen. Orders must be placed by November 16th. Call the Butcher Shop at 434.1006.

TERRY'S CORNERS GUN RAFFLE

2011-11-01T06:31:00.001-04:00

Terry's Corners annual gun raffle is this Sunday, November 6th at the fire hall. The festivities start at noon. Tickets may NOT be available at the door as this event has been known to sell out. To get your tickets stop by Durf's (MJ Autocare).

DICK LANG INTERVIEWED BY BUFFALO NEWS

2011-11-01T05:44:00.002-04:00

The Niagara section of Sunday's Buffalo News featured an interview with town supervisor Dick Lang. Here's a sample...

ROYALTON—Richard J. Lang is retiring in December as Royalton supervisor after four years at the helm of this town of 7,600 and two years on the Town Board.

“I never wanted to make a career out of this,” he said.

He will be succeeded by Councilwoman Jennifer Bieber, who is unopposed in her bid for the top post in the Nov. 8 election.

Lang, 70, retired after 34 years as a state Department of Environmental Conservation officer but has kept very busy with a variety of interests, from wrestling—yes, he still wrestles—to farming.

Many in the area know your name from your association with wrestling, and you were honored this fall by the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, based in Oklahoma. Tell us about that.

We went to Syracuse, where I received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” on Sept. 18. I started coaching at Royalton-Hartland High School in 1978 for 10 years, before going to Newfane High School, where I coached another 19 years. I retired from coaching in 2007. My teams earned 17 Niagara-Orleans titles, and we had two state titles. I still wrestle with the high school kids and volunteer as coach. I have also been selling wrestling equipment for the past 20 years. I go to the little kids’ tournaments and set up a booth.

You grew up in Orchard Park. How did you happen to settle in Royalton, and how long have you had a farm?

When I became a conservation officer with the DEC, I had to move to Niagara County and live around the Lockport area. We moved here in 1969—I have 75 acres, it’s more of a play farm, really. I grow a variety of wetland seeds—I’ve been doing that for 20 years. These are seeds that can be planted in or on the borders of wetlands. I also show chickens— Blue Cochin bantams and Buff Brahma bantams. I’ve been doing it since 1951, when I was 10 years old.

How did you get involved in politics?

When I ran for the Town Board, that was the first time I got involved in politics. It was something I had always wanted to do, to be involved in some form of town government, for a period of time.

Read the entire interview here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article613329.ece

TAXES IN HARTLAND

2011-10-28T11:19:00.001-04:00

Today's Lockport Union Sun and Journal features a lengthy front page story about taxes and the budget in Hartland. It begins as follows:

While its tax rate will remain the same, the town is joining the ranks of municipalities that are busting New York State’s 2-percent “tax cap” with their 2012 budgets.

The town board will vote Nov. 10 on a local law authorizing it to override the cap. The same night, it’ll hold a public hearing on the proposed 2012 town budget, which shows the tax levy rising by 7 percent.

The state tax cap law compels municipalities to publicize times when the annual tax levy — the amount of money raised from property taxes — is set to increase more than 2 percent. Municipalities can disregard the cap by enacting a local law, which has to go to a public hearing first.

In Hartland’s tentative $3.3 million budget, according to Acting Supervisor Ross Annable, the only way to get the levy increase under 2 percent is by cutting $58,000 in necessities — or niceties tied to town development.

Read the well-done article here:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x783645233/Hartland-tax-levy-increases-rate-stays-the-same