MITTEN TREE CEREMONY THIS TUESDAY

The annual Mitten Tree Gift Drive will kickoff this Tuesday with a 10:00 AM ceremony at the corner of Main St. and Route 31. This program is run by the Gasport Lions Club, Roy-Hart, and Absolut Care of Gasport.

If all holds true to what happened last year, here's the gameplan...

There will be an 8-ft. tall Christmas tree at the corner of Main St. and Route 31 on which will be placed cardboard mittens with the age and gender of needy Gasport kids. To help these kids have a wonderful Christmas, you are to take a mitten, buy a gift and then drop it off (unwrapped), with the mitten attached, at the Gasport elementary school or Absolut Care.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CONCERT THIS WEDNESDAY

The always entertaining and enjoyable Christmas concert put on by the students of the Elementary School will take place this Wednesday at 7:00 PM...at the high school auditorium.

20 POINT BUCK TAKEN IN GASPORT

In his outdoors report for the Greater Niagara Newspapers, Bill Hilts, Jr. reports on a beast taken in Gasport (photo courtesy www.outdoorsniagara.com)...

Sean Blackley of Custom Whitetail Taxidermy (735-7897) out in Middleport/Hartland area sends word that he took in another Niagara County monster into his shop. This deer, which was taken out in the Gasport area by Tom Wagner of Gasport, had 20 legal points, as well as some smaller ones and a broken drop tine. It should have a gross score in the 180s, a non-typical rack with a four by five main frame and huge mass. The deer weighed 202 pounds field dressed.

According to Wagner, he was walking out to a particular area around 8 a.m. last Saturday morning when he heard some deer coming through. Out came a doe followed by this big buck. They all stopped to look at each other in the lane and Wagner took careful aim with his Winchester 1300 — thanks to some new fiber optic sights he had just installed — and recorded a direct hit on the trophy. Right place at the right time with a little bit of luck. How does that saying go? I rather be lucky than good! While it’s the biggest rack he’s even taken, Wagner did shoot a 10-point that weighed in more than 225 pounds a few years ago.

Source:

http://www.tonawanda-news.com/sports/gnnsports_story_334225947.html

NOVEMBER MINUTES AVAILABLE

The November minutes for the Royalton town council are now online. Among the highlights: lengthy discussions about the town budget and employees' wages/benefits.

See the minutes here:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/9:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/88

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

May everyone who frequents this site have a great Thanksgiving!

For those heading out of town: safe travels!

For those visiting your family and friends in Gasport: welcome back!

THE INCREASE IN THE STATE'S SCHOOL AID IS CUT

The Lockport Union Sun and Journal has a piece about Governor Paterson's "cuts" to school aid...

School districts received a warning from Gov. David Paterson after he withdrew his proposal to cut $836 million of the expected growth in state aid to schools during the current school year. Be prepared for some major cuts in the 2009-10 school year.

“Fiscal management is all about making hard, painful decisions, and the rejection of a mid-year school aid reduction by the Legislature means that deeper declines in funding for school districts will now be necessary in 2009-10 to ensure a balanced budget,” Paterson said.

The governor’s proposal would have decreased the growth in education spending from 9 percent to 5 percent over last year and allowed most school districts to receive an increase from last year. Overall, school aid still would have increased by $1 billion from the previous year, instead of the previously expected $1.8 billion. Paterson sent a letter to superintendents and school board presidents throughout the state Tuesday. The letter was sent to notify the districts that because mid-year reductions were not enacted, Paterson was withdrawing the proposal, and deeper reductions in education spending will be required in next year’s state budget. Paterson was giving advance notice so school districts could plan accordingly as they prepare to work on their budgets for the next school year.


How does this affect Roy-Hart? The article goes on to say....


Royalton-Hartland was facing a mid-year cut of $499,000, about 5 percent of its school aid from the state. Superintendent Paul Bona said the district was pleased no mid-year cut was coming, but now faced another challenge, later. However, Paterson’s letter gives districts time to work on their budgets.

“It’s allowing districts seven months to prepare,” Bona said.


To read the article in its entirety, go here:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_331013022.html

ALUMNI BASKETBALL GAME TONIGHT

Roy-Hart's third annual alumni basketball game is at 7:00 tonight at the High School. Cost is $5 per family, 3 bucks per adult and $1/kid.

DAVID CAIN LOSES BID

David Cain, Jr., who was involved in racketeering of the tree service market in Gasport, had his bid for a new trial dropped this week. Here's what the Bufaflo News reports....


David R. Cain Jr., a logger and tree-trimmer who was convicted of running a violent gang in Niagara and Orleans counties, has been turned down in his bid for a new trial in federal court.
U. S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara has scheduled sentencing dates in January for Cain, his brother, his cousin and his mother.

Cain, 38, of Somerset, was convicted of 17 felony charges in December after a lengthy trial on allegations that he used arson, death threats and violence to intimidate business rivals in the two counties. The U. S. attorney’s office has said that it will seek a prison sentence of at least 50 years for Cain. Cain’s brother, Christopher, 35, and their cousin, James Soha, 32, were convicted of lesser charges in the same trial.

In a long-awaited ruling, Arcara recently decided that the three men received a fair trial and that a government prosecutor did not act improperly when he asked that Cain’s preferred attorney — Angelo Musitano — be removed from the case. But the appeal process is not over, one of Cain’s court-appointed attorneys, Daniel J. Henry Jr., said Friday. After his sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 12, Cain intends to appeal to the U. S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City, Henry said.

“[Cain] feels that he did not get a fair trial, that there was no racketeering enterprise and that he was unfairly prevented from having his attorney of choice,” Henry said. In court papers, prosecutor Anthony M. Bruce argued that Cain and his co-defendants did receive a fair trial. He also argued that Musitano was properly excluded from the case because of a conflict of interest involving a witness.

Arcara scheduled sentencing for Christopher Cain, also of Somerset, for Jan. 20. Soha, of Lockport, is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 28.

In the trial, Bruce portrayed David Cain as a ruthless man who used violence and threats to drive rivals out of business. Cain was defended by two court-appointed attorneys, Henry and Joel L. Daniels, who characterized Cain as a hardworking businessman victimized by lying witnesses.

One witness, Dan Gollus, who runs a tree service in Hartland, testified that after Cain threatened to kill him, Cain twice forced his car off the road and into ditches. He also testified that his work equipment was extensively vandalized and a 1949 vintage airplane was set afire and destroyed.
Witnesses testified that Cain was behind other arsons, including a fire that destroyed the personal car of a Niagara County sheriff’s deputy, parked in the deputy’s Newfane driveway.

Sentencing for the Cains’ mother, Ann Cain, 55, of Barker, is set for Jan. 29. She was convicted of felony witness tampering after a trial in 2006.


Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/503476.html

TODAY'S POLICE BLOTTER

DWI: James Norman Reed, 63, 8134 State St., Gasport, was charged Monday evening with aggravated driving while intoxicated, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended registration, driving without valid inspection and driving without valid insurance after a 6:49 p.m. traffic stop on State Street. Reed allegedly admitted to having six beers at a restaurant and failed several field sobriety tests. He allegedly registered a 0.19 percent blood alcohol content on a breath test. Reed was wanted on an arrest warrant in Royalton on a harassment charge, the report said. He was released on his own recognizance on the DWI charges, but was held in lieu of $1,000 bail on the harassment charge.

GASPORT WEBSITES

This weekend I updated the directory of websites for Gasport. You can access the directory from the right-hand tool bar of this website. Give it a look-see and please let me know if I missed anything.

DOG VS. SNOW SHOVEL

Overheard on the scanner...

There was a police call to West Ave. this weekend for someone filing a complaint that they saw their neighbor strike another neighbor's dog with a snow shovel.

Only in Gasport...

TEACHER & SUPER CONTRACTS ONLINE

The website www.SeeThroughNY.net has recently posted online the teacher and superintendent contracts for all school districts in NYS. You can download Roy-Hart's here:

http://seethroughny.net/Contracts/TeacherSuperintendentContracts/tabid/54/Default.aspx

LAKE SNOW ADVISORY

NIAGARA-GENESEE-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NIAGARA FALLS...BATAVIA
337 PM EST FRI NOV 21 2008...

LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM EST SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM EST SATURDAY. LAKE EFFECT SNOW TONIGHT AND SATURDAY WILL PRODUCE LOCALIZEDAMOUNTS OF 3 TO 7 INCHES IN THE MOST INTENSE AND PERSISTENT BANDS. IN LAKE EFFECT SNOW THE WEATHER CAN VARY FROM LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW IN NARROW BANDS TO CLEAR SKIES JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. IF YOU WILLBE TRAVELING ACROSS THE REGION BE PREPARED FOR RAPID CHANGES INROAD AND VISIBILITY CONDITIONS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION FOR THE LATESTUPDATES. ADDITIONAL DETAILS CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BUFFALO

SPAGHETTI DINNER THIS SATURDAY

The Gasport Lions Club is hosting an all-you-can eat spaghetti dinner and basket raffle from 4 PM to 7 PM Saturday at the Gasport Fire Hall.

The basket raffle will be held at 6:30 p.m.; winners do not need to be present.

Cost is $7 for adults; $5 for children 6 to 11 and free for children under 5. Take-outs will be available.

The function is a fundraiser to help with the many community projects the Lions support, including vision screening for preschoolers, ramps for the handicapped, a medical loan closet, Christmas for the needy and many other activities.

For more information, call Joan Nachtrieb at 380-0724 (daytime) or 772-7688 after 5 p.m.

SEE THE SPACE SHUTTLE!

The Space Shuttle crew is doing some work on the International Space Station. You'll be able to see both objects as one this week as they make a fly-by over the region. The magnitude of brightness on these trips will range from -1.9 to -2.5, making them brighter than the brightest star.

Here's when and where you can see them...

Thursday, November 20: 6:13:54 PM, coming from SSW with a maximum elevation of 36°

Friday, November 21: 6:39:40 PM, coming from WSW with a maxium elevation of 50°

Saturday, November 22: 5:30:35 PM, coming from SSW with a maxium elevation of 40°

Sunday, November 23: 5:56:24 PM, coming from WSW with a maximum elevation of 61°

COYOTES HAVE RETURNED

A couple of months ago I noted the year-long demise of coyotes in Gasport. After being fairly common for years they had virtually disappeared (no doubt following their food sources). Over the course of late-2007 and 2008 coyote evidence was slim to none and some of their prey (rabbits and woodchucks) saw population explosions in Gasport.

Well, probably because of the latter, the coyotes are back.

On Sunday evening I heard 3 different coyotes howling and yipping and I'm seeing more and more tracks.

Make it a point to go outside on a winter evening and listen to these critters.

TAX RATES DOWN...BUT....

This article ran in Sunday's Buffalo News. I hate articles like this because it allows for some dangerous spin. At first glance, most people would skim the article and think, "hey, my tax rate is going down! Yay!"

It's a mirage, folks....


2009 Royalton budget reduces tax rates for town, village

ROYALTON — The Town Board last week adopted a $5.7 million town budget for 2009 that reduces the tax rate in a town that saw whopping increases two years ago.

Next year, residents outside of the Village of Middleport will see their tax rate decrease by 50 cents, to $3.18 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, while Middleport residents will see their tax rate drop 27 cents, to $1.81 per $1,000.

Town Assessor Thomas Arlington attributed the board’s ability to drop the tax rate to an increase in the tax base because of a townwide reassessment this year.

Supervisor Richard Lang said spending stayed the same or dropped slightly in each of the town’s departments except refuse collection, which saw a slight increase.

Lang said the town was able to offer a decrease in taxes due to the reassessment and the town’s fund balance.

“Our new accountants are quite pleased with our books,” he said.

In November 2006, the board adopted a 2007 budget that included a 266 percent tax increase in Middleport and a 67 percent increase in taxes for residents outside the village.

COUNTY BUDGET A MIXED BAG FOR GASPORT RESIDENTS

The Buffalo News reports on th County's 2009 budget....


Niagara County Manager Gregory D. Lewis is proud of his proposed 2009 county budget, which he released Friday.

“It’s the best budget I’ve ever been associated with,” Lewis said of the spending plan, which features a small property tax decrease for most homeowners.

The $304 million budget spends $2 million more than this year’s version, but the average homeowner sees a tax rate reduction of 21 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, or $21 on a $100,000 house. However, the actual tax rates vary by municipality, depending on how close to full value assessments are and the equalization rates set by the state. County Real Property Services Director William F. Budde Jr. calculated that if Lewis’ budget is adopted unchanged by the County Legislature, there will be tax rate reductions in seven towns and two cities.


What does that mean for us in Gasport? It depends on what side of the border you live on...


Rates would fall $1.73 per $1,000 of assessed value in Royalton; 51 cents in the City of Lockport; 27 cents in Somerset; 23 cents in Wilson and Niagara Falls; 22 cents in Newfane; and 21 cents in Cambria, the Town of Lockport and Pendleton.

The communities with tax rate increases would be Hartland, 63 cents; Porter, 36 cents; Lewiston and the Town of Niagara, each 6 cents; North Tonawanda, 4 cents; and Wheatfield, less than a penny.


To read the article in total, go here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/494300.html

DEER SEASON OPENS THIS SATURDAY

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

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 as hunters are out in the fields and woods attempting to fill their freezers. I'll be one of those guys, hoping to bag a deer like the one shown at right.

The shotgun season is one weekend longer than usual this year, ending on December 7th.

ONE WEEK LEFT FOR FOOD DRIVE

The food drive for the Gasport Area Food Pantry has but one week left. Donations of non-perishable goods will be accepted until November 21st. Drop of points are the Roy-Hart Elementary School and Absolut Care.

GASPORT WOMAN GETS 3 YEARS

The Buffalo News reports....

Plea deal gives mother of 3 year in jail for $950 theft

A Gasport woman who was convicted of stealing $950 worth of rolled quarters in a Lockport burglary was sentenced to a year in jail Wednesday, but it could have been three years.

Niagara County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III threw out the jury’s verdict against Brandi N. Voelker, 25, of State Street, and instead approved a plea deal that allowed Voelker to plead guilty to third-degree burglary in exchange for a one-year County Jail term she won’t have to start until Jan. 2. The alternative was a new trial over the Aug. 13, 2007, incident at a home on Niagara Street.

Murphy told Voelker, a mother of three, “You ought to be thankful to your attorney [Patrick M. Balkin] for his heroic efforts. You were about to be sentenced to three years in state prison.” He did order full restitution to the victim, Daniel Burns.

A jury convicted Voelker on Sept. 25 of second-degree burglary, petit larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. However, Murphy said the evidence was “entirely circumstantial” and the verdict “was against the weight of the evidence.”

Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/437/story/492264.html

CHRISTMAS CUPBOARD

The 23rd annual Christmas Cupboard craft show will take place at the former St. Mary’s Church on West Avenue November 21 to 23:

Hours are:

Friday 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Important FYI: since the phone has been shut off at the church, they cannot accept credit cards. Cash or check only.

DOLLAR GENERAL IS STRUCK

WLVL reports...

The Sheriff's Department says about $1,200 in damage was done to the front of the Gasport Dollar General store when somebody rammed the building with a large vehicle. The manager says it happened between 9pm Monday and 7am yesterday. About 20 feet of the brick wall was damaged at the store at 8405 Rochester Road.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TWO OF GASPORT'S AMBASSADORS

Two of Gasport's best celebrate milestone birthdays today. Eunice Hernberger and Gerry Reynolds are key members of the Royalton Historical Society, Eunice organizing their monthly programs and Gerry editing the newsletter. Eunice turns 94 and Gerry turns 97! If you see these lovely ladies today, wish them a happy birthday!

KNIFE PULLED ON HARTLAND ROAD

MENACING: Jeffrey C. Denton, 18, 6248 Autumnview Station, was charged Saturday with second-degree menacing. Deputies responded to a Hartland Road home for a report of a man threatening another man with a knife. A Dysinger Road man reportedly said Denton pulled a knife on him and threatened to get a gun. Denton allegedly told deputies he was arguing with the man about some property they were supposed to trade. He was held in lieu of $500 bail and is due Nov. 18 in Hartland Town Court.

SCHOOLS' CAPITAL PROJECTS ON TRACK

From the Lockport US&J...

ROY-HART: Capital project is on track

The Royalton-Hartland Central School District’s $8.3 million capital improvement project is moving full steam ahead.

Superintendent Paul Bona will provide a detailed update to the school board at its regular meeting Thursday. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the high school media center, 54 State St., Middleport. Bona said the plans and specifications for the project are with the district’s architect, McKenna and Associates. The firm is putting the capital project plans together.

“Completion should be by the end of next week,” Bona said.

All three schools will see upgrades to the high school science and art rooms, new generators and regular maintenance items. Aside from maintenance and repairs to all three schools in the district, the project will provide an addition that will house an Orleans/Niagara Board Of Cooperative Educational Services program in the elementary school. The addition is a 10-classroom wing BOCES will lease.

The facilities project will be done in two phases. The first is the BOCES addition, maintenance and improvements to be made to the elementary school. The second phase is maintenance and improvements to the middle and high schools. Bona said the current plan is for the classroom wing to be open in September 2009.

Residents passed the $8.3 million capital building project by a 329-174 vote in January. It has no additional cost to the taxpayer.

ROYALTON BUDGET PASSES

Our friends at WLVL report the following...

Lawmakers in Royalton voted 4-1 last night to approve a $5.6 million 2009 budget. It contains a less than one percent hike in taxes and a two per cent across the board payraise for all town workers. The spending plan uses $580,000 of the fund balance. The "no" vote was cast by Board member Jim Budde.

WHY COMMUNITY WATCH IS NEEDED

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF: A Gasport resident reported that about 11:30 p.m. Saturday an unknown person damaged the back window of her Chevrolet which was parked in her driveway. A witness saw a white Toyota Corolla driving slowly near the residence minutes before the incident and then saw a subject running north.

COMMUNITY WATCH MEETING

Even though the two scumbag kids who committed many of Gasport's burglaries were arrested recently, we can't be guarantee that they were the only perpetrators. That said, the individuals who started the Royalton Community Watch Group are still forging ahead with their much-needed efforts. Their next meeting - open to the public - is this Wednesday at 7:00 at the Town Hall.

ROYALTON BOARD MEETS MONDAY

The Royalton town council meets Monday at 7:30 at the town hall. You can see the agenda here:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/1:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/81

A BANNER YEAR FOR GASPORT APPLES

On Saturday, the Lockport Union Sun and Journal ran a story about this year's Niagara County apple crop....

Nobody knows better than farmers: Mother Nature is fickle. The 2008 apple harvest is wrapping up in Niagara County with mixed results. Some farmers’ output was severely hurt by frost and hail earlier this year, while others are reporting strong, and possibly strongest-ever, growing seasons.

The article then goes on to talk about the latter occurring in Gasport....


Eight miles away in Gasport, Alan Buhr, whose New Royal Farms has nearly one-tenth of Niagara County’s total apple acreage, reports one of his best years ever. The harvest is done and output — about 240,000 bushels — is about 15 percent higher this year than in 2007.

Buhr said the bounty comes despite hail damage done on 30 percent of his fields. “The truth of the matter is this is one of the best years we’ve ever had,” Buhr said. “We’ve had good demand, good supply, and that works for us. I’m only speaking for myself, though; I know there are many growers out there who’d like to forget (this year).”


The article speaks of Buhr's apples making their way into mass public consumption...


Weather conditions in Michigan were so bad this year, Buhr said whatever apple output wasn’t wrecked there came in badly flawed, making his lesser damaged apples more desirable. He’s done a brisk business with processors needing fresh slices to make “apple fries” for McDonald’s and Burger King, he said.


He's not the only Gasport apple grower doing well....

Innovation, technology and marketing together have done much to lift the industry locally, Gasport grower Kent Schwab said. Development of new varieties creates public excitement for the harvest; and better storage methods prolong the fresh-apple season, giving customers a reason to return to places like Schwab’s Farm Market past October.

“The apple industry has taken a turn for the better the last few years,” Schwab said. “Honey Crisp (a newer apple) is so much better than any other apple you’ve tasted. That’s really helped a lot.”

Schwab said his 70-acre orchard suffered some hail damage in one summer storm, but ultimately, thanks to ideal growing conditions afterward, the apples are bigger, and there are more of them, than last year.

TAX RATE TO RISE 8% IN HARTLAND

Last night the town of Hartland held a public hearing on its budget. Here's what they addressed...

The proposed $2.75 million budget includes a tax rate hike of 44 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This raises the tax rate to $5.47 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Overall spending is expected to increase slightly in the 2009 budget, due to “the rising price of everything from fuel to paving, like it is for everyone,” said Town Clerk Beverly Snell.

“We’re trying to keep costs down and are pretty much operating with an austerity budget.”

In the town’s three special districts, taxes decrease 5 cents to $2.13 per $1,000 assessed valuation in the water district; rise a penny to $1.13 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in the fire district; and increase $61 per household in the refuse district, from $150 to $211 “due to a new contract,” Snell said.

The board may adopt the budget following the hearing, but is expected to delay approval until it meets in regular monthly session next Thursday. Officials have until Nov. 20 to adopt the budget.

Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/485679.html

COLE GETS SENT TO PRISON

The Lockport US&J reports....

COURTS: Ex-teacher Marcy Cole sentenced to prison on DWI plea

A former city elementary school teacher will serve at least a year in prison after pleading guilty to two felony charges of driving while intoxicated.Marcy L. Cole, 35, of Main Street, Gasport, was sentenced Thursday in Niagara County Court to two terms of one to three years in prison, to be served concurrently.

Cole pleaded guilty in September to two felony counts of DWI in connection with her arrests on Oct. 7, 2007, and Jan. 10, 2008. She had a previous DWI conviction, after pleading guilty in October last year to misdemeanor DWI in connection with an April 18, 2007, traffic stop in the Town of Lockport. She was arrested a fourth time in June on charges of DWI in the Town of Royalton.

Cole has been in jail since early September, when Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrazza ordered her bail revoked. Probation officers had reported several incidents in which Cole was reportedly still drinking and causing disturbances while awaiting trial on what was originally an 11-count indictment. Her guilty plea later that month satisfied all counts of the indictment.

Cole’s attorney, Thomas Scirto, said Cole has enrolled in several recovery programs available at the Niagara County Jail.“She’s just now on the long road to recovery,” he said.

He said she has also ended an “abusive” relationship that had been causing her problems and has been reconnecting with her family, including her children, who are “seeing their mother sober for the first time in months.”

Cole read a two-page statement before sentencing was handed down, at times breaking down in tears when telling Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrazza about her recovery process.“I’ve come to realize what ... the recovery program means. It’s taken this to get me to that point,” she said. “My decisions have brought me humiliation. ... I had to be broken, your honor.”

Cole taught fourth grade at Roy B. Kelley Elementary School until January, when she was pulled from the classroom after parents and teachers reportedly complained about her conduct. The school board accepted her resignation in June.

Cole apologized to her family, whom she said have been supportive of her through the past year. “I take full responsibility, and I apologize to those I have hurt,” she said.

Sperrazza said there were “too many troubling moments” in the case to grant Scirto’s request of a six-month local jail sentence followed by probation.

“I see a woman who mouths the words, ‘I now get it,’ but I truly don’t think you do,” Sperrazza said. “Honestly, Marcy, I don’t think you get it yet.”

Source: http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_312012557.html

A THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE ELLEGATE FAMILY

I received this heartfelt message from Julie Rizzo. It's meant for every one of you...


I have been very far behind in getting thank you notes out to all the wonderful people that have given their prayers, support and kindness to our family during this unbelievable, tragic time. In fact, so much has been done for our family, with so many acts of kindness and generosity without any names attached, that I am quite sure that I will never be able to properly thank each and every one. But my heart is full of thanks and appreciation. And I pray every day and thank the good Lord for the wonderful people who have come into our lives to help us. They have been the foundation which gives me the strength to stand tall and keep going.

Not being raised in this area, we chose to move here with thoughts that it seemed like a "nice place to raise our children". Never did I realize more than now just how wonderful a place it is. Please help me convey to everyone how grateful I am for all that they have done for me and my family. The words "thank you" seem so inadequate for all that everyone has done for us.

Sincerely,

Julie Rizzo

WHAT CONSTITUTES "GASPORT"?

Defining the borders of what constitutes Gasport is not an easy task. Sure, it's a small town, but where does it begin and end?

Everyone has their own concept:

1) Is it only the hamlet itself?
2) Is it the "772" telephone district?
3) Is it the 14067 zip code?
4) Is it the Gasport portion of the Roy-Hart district when we had two elementary schools?

It is confusing. Well, to make it easy and to identify what this website focuses on, I prefer to identify with what the USGS considers Gasport in their mapping of the United States. You can see the map in the right hand tool bar where it says "A Map of Gasport".

Some people may not like the boundaries because they might have a favorite of the four factors mentioned above and the map includes points that don't jive with them. But, alas, for the sake of consistency this site will serve as the "online newspaper" for that area clearly defined in the map.

The one recurring deviation from that: articles about the high school, because, after all, it affects all Gasport families.

THE GASPORT COUNCIL RACES

The report from the Lockport US&J...

ELECTION 2008: GOP rules in town council contests

In Royalton, Daniel R. Bragg defeated Mary Cedeno with 59 percent of the vote, 1,541 to 1,078. Bragg, who is also a member of the Royalton-Hartland School Board, will complete the term, which was vacated by Supervisor Richard Lang.

“I’ll start by working with council members to get the financial picture in line. That’s my priority,” Bragg said. “I want to start creating a vision and a plan for the infrastructure and how we’re going to finance it.”

There will be two slots open next year, and Bragg expects Cedeno will run again in 2009. “She’s a good opponent and worked hard,” he said. “She’ll be a voice in this community.”

Cedeno, a member of the Planning Board, noted that Bragg has better name recognition in the town. “He’s been entrenched for a long time. I think I did okay. As people get to know me, they’ll feel more comfortable. Next year will be a different story.”

They were bidding for the final year of Lang’s four-year council term which had been handed over to Lee Criswell.

In Hartland, W. Ross Annable turned back newcomer Joseph T. Derda for a one-year term. Ross Annable, the son of Supervisor William Annable, got 66 percent of the votes.

“I got out and saw the people and got a good response,” Ross Annable said.

William Annable had been hospitalized with back surgery, but will soon be back in business, his son said.

Ross Annable is retired from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department and is police chief of Barker. He was endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties.

“He’s a good man. He’ll do a good job,” Derda said of Annable.

Derda feels that there may be two openings next November and said, “Oh yeah, I’ll be back next year.”

Derda said he was a 3-1 underdog and got more votes many expected. “I’m happy with the turnout,” the Democratic candidate said. “I learned a lot and appreciated the opportunity. I will be back. I’ll be keeping a closer eye on what’s going on in town.”

Source: http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_310032456.html

GASPORT'S WINNERS

Hartland Council: Ross Annable

Royalton Council: Dan Bragg

Royalton: propositions that extended the terms of the town clerk and the tax collector

GASPORT HORSE GETS TV TIME

Gasport made the Channel 7 news last night. But, not for anything good. They ran a story about the horse that was tied-up roadside. You can watch the video here:

http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/33804929.html

SCOUTING FOR FOOD

Boy Scout Troop 18 will be hitting the streets of Gasport this Saturday to distribute fliers for their service project - - Scouting For Food. A week later, on the 15th, they will visit the same routes to collect any food that the community is donating to local food banks. For more information about Scouting For Food, visit this website: http://www.scoutingforfood.net/

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETS THURSDAY

The Royalton Historical Society meets Thursday at 7:30 PM at the Town Hall. The guest speaker will be Norm Pearson who will show photos of National Historic Sites. The public is welcome to attend.

TWO OF GASPORT'S THIEVES FINALLY CAUGHT

WLVL reports...

Lockport Police arrested two people last night that have allegedly confessed to a number of car burglaries and residential break-in's in the City and in Gasport. They are 17 year old Dennis Schultz of 816 East High Street and 18 year old Benjamin Stump of 193 Washburn.

Detective Captain Rick Podgers says a special detail was set up and last night they found a Chevy Tracker stolen from Hyde Park in Lockport in a lot on South Street. They watched it and the two men returned to it around 9:30 and sped off. They pulled into Kibler Park and fled into the fields after police activated their overhead lights. The Sheriffs Department helped set up a perimeter around the park and called in theK-9 unit. They fled again but Schultz was captured by Podgers and two Sheriff's deputies in front of Emmet Belknap School. Stump surrendered in the fields behinda house on High Street.

Podgers said they're being interviewed by State Police and Sheriff's investigators. He said one of them confessed to stealing cars in the Gasport area and told him where he had put them. They are expected to be arriagned in City Court this morning after all the paperwork is finished.

ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGE

Numerous times I have heard police being dispatched to this guy's house to investigate problems with the horse, passer-bys always phoning in what they see as mistreatment. This time, he was arrested:

A Hartland man was issued an appearance ticket for mistreatment of his horse which was found tied to a guard rail on Wheeler Road near the intersection of Checkered Tavern Road on Saturday. The horse was tied with a lead line to a guard rail which was a foot off of the road. It was tangled up in the lead line. The owner was arrested at the scene and released on an appearance ticket at the Town of Hartland Court on Nov. 18.

ELECTION NIGHT DINNER

Even though the church won't be a polling place this year, the Hartland United Methodist Church at Hartland Corners will maintain its long-running tradition of offering a dinner on election night.

This Tuesday's spread will be available from 4:30 to 6:30. $8 (adults) or $3.50 (kids) will get you chicken and biscuits as prepared by Donna Eick.

LONGTIME ROYALTON COURT CLERK PASSES AWAY

Y. Christine Bass (nee Hopkins), age 57, of Gasport, entered into rest on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at her home. Born September 11, 1951 in Columbus, OH, she was the daughter of Dr. J. Harold and Dorisa Jean (nee Terry) Hopkins II.

Christine received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. She married Gregory A. Bass on April 20, 1974 in Stow, OH in her father’s church. She had worked at the Royalton Town Court as a Court Clerk for 21 years, 19 years of which she was clerk for her husband, Greg. Christine was a loving caregiver to her eight cats, two dogs and three horses…of which C.D. (Chris’ Dream) was her favorite boy. An avid reader, she also enjoyed music, gardening, antiquing and restoring their 100 year old home. Christine was a member of the NYS Magistrates Court Clerk’s Association. She had lived in Gasport for the last 23 years; previously of Middleport.

Loving wife of Gregory A. Bass. Dear mother of Joshua A. Bass (Nichole Syracuse) of Lockport and Teri L. Bass (Sham Mayo) of Barre Center, NY. Daughter of Dr. J. Harold and Dorisa Jean Hopkins II of Mansfield, OH. Daughter-in-law of Dorothy June (Edwin) Lipa of Rockport, TX. Sister of John H. (Jan) Hopkins III of Columbus, OH and Kimberly Lown of Ravenna, OH. Sister-in-law of Gary (Ann) Bass of Westchester, OH, Kathy (Rich) Baehr of Nunda, NY and Karen (David) Maclam of Newfane, NY. She is also survived by he grandson, Cory Joe Leturgey of Gasport and several nieces and nephews.

There will be no prior visitation. Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 1:00 PM from the Royalton Town Hall, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, NY. Reverend Jackie Thompson will officiate. Arrangements entrusted to the Sherrie-Bream Funeral Home, Gasport. In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to Equi Star of Newfane. Please sign guest register at www.sherriefuneralhome.com

ROYALTON PUBLIC HEARINGS ON NOV. 5

TOWN OF ROYALTON
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Royalton will hold separate public hearings on the matters referenced to herein at the Royalton Town Hall, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, New York, on the 5th day of November, 2008 at 7:00 PM (local time). Said public hearings shall be as follows:

1. Amounts to be raised by taxation are as follows:

ROYALTON WATER DISTRICT $581,348.00
ROYALTON SEWER DISTRICT $134,740.00
ROYALTON REFUSE DISTRICT $429,645.00
ROYALTON LIGHTING DISTRICT $ 15,500.00
ROYALTON FIRE PROTECTION $363,923.00
GASPORT FIRE PROTECTION $ 33,730.00

All persons interested shall be heard at the public hearing to be held by the Town Board as aforesaid relative to assessments and amounts to be raised in said districts.

2. 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.

3. Pursuant to Section 108 of the Town Law, proposed salaries of Town Officers are hereby specified:

SUPERVISOR (1) $16,000.00
COUNCILMAN (4) EACH AT $6,000.00...$24,000.00
TOWN CLERK (1) $37,390.00
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT (1) $53,856.00
TOWN JUSTICE (2) EACH AT $16,395.00.....$32,790.00
TAX COLLECTOR (1) $ 6,120.00

All parties in interest and citizens will be heard at the public hearing to be held as aforesaid.

4. FURTHER NOTICE is given that pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, the Exemption report that shows 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 2009 Budget.

DATED: OCTOBER 31, 2008

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD
TOWN OF ROYALTON
MARIE L. LITTLE, RMCTOWN CLERK

#L07514606
November 1, 2008

GASPORT PEDOPHILE BUSTED IN LOCKPORT

The Lockport US&J reported on last night's proactive sex offender sweep by the Sheriff's Department. Here is an abbreviated version of the story...

As trick-or-treaters filled the streets Friday night, a small task force of law enforcement was going door-to-door as well — checking in on the area’s sex offenders. With so many children out and about, sex offenders had been told to stay inside, leave their porch lights out and not answer the door.

Representatives from the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, the Lockport Police Department and the probation department The group gathered at the sheriff’s department about 3:30 p.m. to prepare for the day. They mapped out a route, through the City of Lockport and surrounding areas, including Middleport and Ransomville.

This is the third year the probation department has made the home visits — and perhaps the new initiative is a sign of the times.

“When I was a kid, trick-or-treating ... my parents would go, ‘Don’t go to that house, there’s weird people there,’ “ Sheriff’s Investigator Brian Schell said, as he prepared to start the sweep. “Now, we’ve identified the houses and people our parents warned us about.”

The article goes on to talk about the only arrest....

The sheriff’s department made one arrest during the evening — Richard Baker, 28, whose listed address on the registry is Chestnut Ridge Road in Gasport.

Baker, a Level-2 offender, was wanted on an arrest warrant for allegedly failing to notify officials of his change his address. He was convicted in 2007 of second-degree sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl. Sheriff’s Investigator Leonard Guagliano said officers found Baker at a relative’s house on Church Street.