CHECK OUT THE COMET IN THE NIGHT SKY

Gasport residents are blessed in that we don't have the "light pollution" so common to other areas. At night we can go out in the fields and actually see stars. The folks in places like Buffalo and its suburbs aren't that lucky.

Take advantage of it and check out the comet in our nighttime sky.

Last month Comet Holmes suddenly became visible to the naked eye...a VERY rare occurrence. The comet had a flare-up, meaning the ice that is coming off of it is reflecting the sun as it vaporizes. The comet is only 2 miles in size but its coma (the dust and gas surrounding it) is half the size of the sun!

To see the comet look at the Perseus constellation. The best way to find teh constellation is to use a planisphere. If you don't have one, go out before midnight and face the Big Dipper (low in the northern sky). Move your head to "1:00" and then crane it upwards as far back as your head can go. You will see a fuzzy dot in the sky. Look at it through binoculars....the difference between clarity and size versus the naked eye is significant. It's an impressive sight.

Do this soon as the scene may peter-out today, tomorrow or in weeks.

HARTLAND TAX RATE TO RISE BY 10%

Royalton residents are not alone in their paying of higher taxes. The Buffalo News ran this story this past weekend...

Hartland budget has 10.1% hike in tax rate
By Teresa Sharp

Under the 2008 spending plan adopted Thursday by the Hartland Town Board, taxpayers will see a 46-cent tax rate hike per $1,000 of assessed valuation next year — the largest increase the town has seen in the 29 years Supervisor William Annable has been in office.

The hike translates into a 10.1 percent increase in the tax rate.

In Hartland, taxes will rise from the current $4.57 to $5.03 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in the town’s $2.7 million budget, Annable said, for a variety of reasons.

“We’ve been trying to update our water system and install automatic meters so we don’t have to go out and read them,” he said, “and that raised the water district tax from $1.80 to $2.20 per $1,000.”

It’s a one-time increase, Annable said, “and that was one of the biggest reasons for the hike.”
The supervisor said he was disappointed in the rate, “but I ran the numbers several times, and this is what I came up with.

“Maybe we should have done this in small increments over time instead of a big increase like this,” he said.

The town cut taxes 21 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation last year.

“I call this a bare-bones budget,” Annable said. “It doesn’t get any easier. There’s no place to get extra money from.”

The board unanimously approved the budget, which also includes a 3 percent, across-the board pay increase for town employees.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TWO OF GASPORT'S AMBASSADORS

Two of Gasport's best celebrated milestone birthdays on Monday the 12th. Eunice Hernberger and Gerry Reynolds are key members of the Royatlton Historical Society, Eunice organizing their monthly programs and Gerry editing and typing the newsletter. Eunice turned 93 and Gerry turned 96! If you see these lovely ladies, wish them a happy belated birthday!

AND WHILE YOU ARE VOTING....

While you are voting "yea" or "nay" on the school expansion the district will be hosting a family fun night at the high school. See the informational postcard below.

Roy-Hart does it all the time...hosting an activity like this on an election night. I really don't care for it. It's dirty, almost like influencing the outcome by pushing school pride. This same tactic was grossly apparent in the last budget vote when the Teachers Union served pizza to everyone. How do you think they wanted people to vote?

Can you imagine such behavior at a regular political election? The offending party --democrat or republican -- or candidate would be in really hot water.

Family fun nights are great....just have them on a non-voting night!

ROY-HART SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTING THIS THURSDAY

The Royalton-Hartland School District is holding a vote for facilities expansion this Thursday, November 15th at the high school from noon to 9:00 PM. In order to vote you need to have lived in the district for 30 days. Click the image below to enlarge it and read details about the project and its cost:

IMPORTANT: GASPORT PLANNING MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY

Town planners and Camoin and Associates will hold the second of three public workshops at the Gasport Fire Hall, Wednesday, November 14th, at 7:00pm. The strategic plan will address economic growth and development of the community. The purpose will be to finalize a vision and a list of potential revitalization actions for the Hamlet of Gasport. Please take this opportunity to help shape the future of Gasport.

Click the image below to see the flier....

COUNTY PASSES RIGHT TO FARM LAW

This is big news for all of the farmers (the heart and soul) of Royalton and Hartland: At last night's meeting the Niagara County Legislature passed a much-need Right-To-Farm bill. Here's a snippet from the Greater Niagara Newspapers....

The right-to-farm law, introduced by Legislature Vice Chairman Bill Ross, C-Wheatfield, was created in response to concerns from farmers...who receive complaints from nonfarming neighbors who do not approve of smelly livestock or noisy farming equipment. Under the new proposal, farmers and nonfarmers will be afforded the opportunity to have disputes resolved by the county’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board. The law also requires individuals wishing to purchase property near farmland to acknowledge the presence of farming activities and waive their rights to object to them. In addition, the law gives farmers added protection from having to pay for costly legal expenses in civil cases where the courts rule in their favor.

GASPORT FOOD DRIVE

There's a community-wide food drive taking place now through November 18th. This will benefit the Gasport Ministerium, a food pantry run by the churches of the village. You can drop off your donations at the elementary school and Absolut Care.

TERRY'S CORNERS' TURKEY PARTY THIS WEEKEND

The Terry's Corners Fire Company is having its 48th annual turkey party this Saturday, November 10th, starting at 7:00 PM in the fire hall. Admission is free, as are the beer, soda, and snacks. Their will be raffles galore for turkeys, prime ribes, booze, baskets, and hams.

ROYALTON'S NEW LEADERSHIP

Without a doubt this was the most hotly-contested election cycle in Royalton's history. After the state comptroller's office brought to light numerous issues of psuedo-corruption and property taxes rose by over 70% people wanted a change and many wanted to make a difference. The town now has a new leadership in place following yesterday's elections. The winners are:

Dick Lang, town supervisor

Jennifer Bieber, town council

Brad Rehwaldt, town council

Jim Budde, town council

GASPORT MAN AWARDED PURPLE HEART

Here's a story for the Lockport Union Sun and Journal, recognizing Ian Perry....

Army captain receives Purple Heart
By April Amadon

It’s the kind of phone call a parent never wants to get.

When the phone rang at William and Teresa Perry’s Gasport home in late April, their son, Army Capt. Ian Perry, on the other end. Ian was calling from his hospital bed with some grim news. Ian, on his second tour of duty in Iraq, had been seriously wounded during a rocket attack on his forward operating base. The blast severed an artery and cut into a nerve bundle in his right arm and left him without the use of one of his eyes.The injuries were severe enough that Army chaplains had given Ian his last rites. Fortunately, he recovered enough to make the phone call to his parents.“(He said) he had a bad day,” William recalled.

Ian — attached to the 10th Mountain Division, Second Brigade, 1/15 Field Artillery, based at Fort Drum — has received treatment and rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.Ian was awarded the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars at a ceremony Oct. 26.

“We’re very, very proud of him,” Teresa said, though both Ian’s parents said the pride they feel pales in comparison with the relief they feel at having him back safe.“No matter what the injuries were, we were just so happy that he was going to be alive,” Teresa said.“We’re really relieved he’s OK,” William said. “Walter Reed has done miracles.”

Through physical therapy, Ian has regained some use of his arm, and he’s being treated for the injury to his eye.Teresa said the ordeal has brought the family closer together. Ian, a 1998 graduate of Royalton-Hartland High School, is the grandson of Vivian Pietroboni of Middleport and Joseph Perry of Barker, and his brother, Jeremiah, lives in Tucson, Ariz.

The army flew in Ian’s wife, Gilda, of Beni, Bolivia, to be by his side. He’s currently living at Mologne House at WRAMC as an outpatient.

Teresa said the family has received a lot of encouragement from the community.“He gets letters from people across the country praying for him,” Teresa said. “There’s a lot of support here for the families and the soldiers.”

FIVE COWS DEAD...MAYBE POISONED

Here's one for the X-Files...

The local news media reports that a farmer on Quaker Road found five of his cattle dead. Because he has not changed his herd or had a sick cow in years he believes they were poisoned. Adding to his claim, his friend overheard two guys talking about the dead cows at a local store before the community knew about it.

Strange.

ANNUAL TURKEY DINNER: NOVEMBER 3rd

The Covenant United Church of Christ on Main St. will have its annual turkey dinner on Saturday, November 3rd, starting at 3:30. This great meal is donation-based, so pay what you'd like. It's always a great meal, cooked by the Church members and served by Boy Scout Troop 18.

ST. MARY'S TO CLOSE

On Sunday the Buffalo Diocese's bishop Edward Kmiec announced his latest plans for downsizing and streamlining churches in his district. Among the closings slated to occur: St. Mary's, Gasport's ONLY catholic church.

The church will merge with St. John the Baptist of Lockport, with the buildings and property in Gasport never being used again. It is unknown exactly when this will occur. The complete closings and merging list can be read at the Diocese website here:

http://www.buffalodiocese.org/stories/latest_parish_restructuring_announced.htm

This is tragic. Gasport is a loving, close-knit community and the Catholics in it have always relied on St. Mary's not only as the venue to share their religion but also as an outlet to positively affect the community with fundraisers, dinners, outreach, clothing drives, food drives, scout meetings, and more.

This sort of thing, though well-intentioned, further adds to the erosion of small town America.

ROY-HART LOOKING TO EXPAND

The Roy-Hart school district is planning to expand and renovate its properties. Read here: http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_285023028.html

GASPORT'S HOLLYWOOD STAR

Many people don't know that Gasport produced one of the more popular action stars of the mid-1900's, Warren Hull, who appeared in many movie serials. Here's the Wikipedia entry about him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Hull

ERIE CANAL TO CLOSE EARLY THIS YEAR

Boating on the Erie Canal will end on November 1st this year, NOT November 15th as usual. The NYS Canal Corporation says drought condtions in the Mohawk Valley have required this endeavor as a means to conserve water.

So, get out and enjoy Gasport's signature body of water!

ROY-HART OFFERS YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAM

The Royalton-Hartland school system is offering basketball to the elemntary school students. The program starts October 30th and the kids must sign up by this Friday. Read about it in detail here:

http://www.journal-register.com/sports/local_story_278113504.html

ROY-HART RAMS ACTUALLY WIN ONE!

The Roy-Hart Rams football team has been atrocious in recent years. Despite trying their darnedest, the team hasn't won in what seems like five years and rarely have they even been in the game...30(+) to 6 scores being common.


Well, that changed last night as the Rams won!


Read about it here:


http://www.lockportjournal.com/sports/gnnsports_story_279003433.html?keyword=topstory

ROYALTON TOWN BUDGET DRAFT: 2% HIKE

The town of Royalton is in the planning stages of its 2008 budget. Writes the Lockport Union Sun and Journal...

The town board is getting its first look at a 2008 spending plan that appears almost ordinary.

Supervisor Cal Rhoney on Wednesday released copies of the tentative budget showing a roughly 2 percent increase in year-over-year spending. Given the fiscal tumult of the last couple years, and the inescapable knowledge that the town is significantly in debt, he said, “I think it’s an excellent budget.”

To read the article in its entirety, go here:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_277010253.html