Sunday, August 30, 2009

ROY-HART REPORT ONLINE

The September 2009 edition of the Report, the school district's newsletter, is available online. Read it here:

http://www.royhart.org/The_Report_2009.pdf

KEVIN MACDONALD WELCOMES THE SCHOOL YEAR

The Roy-Hart school district website features a letter from new superintendent Kevin MacDonald, welcoming students and parents to a new school year. Here's the letter:

To all members of our school community,

I would like to welcome our students who are returning for the 2009-2010 school year. I hope all of you have made the best out of a summer that was a bit late in arriving and have found the time to relax and re-energize for what is sure to be a fantastic school year.

I am thrilled to be back at Roy-Hart and look forward to meeting many of our parents and community members at the various activities throughout the school year. In my short time since returning, I have experienced an incredible amount of positive energy from the staff and community and look forward to getting the year started. I am enjoying my interactions with all stakeholders and taking the time to look, listen, and learn all the great accomplishments of the district, and viewing potential challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow. Please, if you see me at an event or out in the community, introduce yourself if for nothing else just to say “hi” (it will help me attach names with faces).

I would like to welcome Mr. Michael Murphy as our new High School Principal. I am excited to have Mr. Murphy as part of our team and I know he is looking forward to meeting the staff, students and community members. There have also been a few staff changes due to retirements, etc. Please read the articles from the Building Principals inside the newsletter for changes specific to each building.

There are a number of exciting new initiatives beginning this year. We will be implementing Fundations and Wilson Reading at the elementary level and participating in deep curriculum alignment for mathematics in grades K-8. At the high school level all students will be participating in a pilot program called Invisionit which will provide students with a wealth of information about themselves. Based on their interests, the program will offer further insight into what career areas, high school and college majors may best fit their profile. In grades 5-12 the district will continue with "Rachel’s Challenge" which focuses on teaching kindness and compassion in the school and community. A community event is planned for October 19th; more information will be available shortly.

I have a healthy respect for all the good work and accomplishments of the past, and a tremendous faith in our future, and look forward to working together to chart a course with a bright future! Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at 735-2000 ext 2318.

ROYALTON'S AUGUST MINUTES

If you missed the August 10th meeting of the Royalton town council you can read the minutes of the meeting here:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/9:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/108

TROOP 23 ALL-YOU-CAN EAT BREAKFAST

Boy Scout Troop 23, which is headquartered in the Scout House on Route 31 in Middleport, serves the youth of Royalton-Hartland and the adjoining area. Their scoutmaster Tim Herriven sent us the following announcement about an upcoming community service project:

Once again, Boy Scout Troop 23 will be doing a breakfast next Saturday, September 5th from 7-11AM at the Masonic Hall on Main Street in Middleport. All proceeds benefit the MDA and the Challenger Sports League. Cost is $5 for 11 years and up and $2.50 for 10 years old and under. If you are in town and up for a hearty breakfast, stop on by! I hope to see you there. Please feel free to pass along to family and friends in the area also!

RECENT ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN

The police blotter in today's Buffalo News reports on an incident that occurred on August 17th:

A woman in the 8300 block of Chestnut Ridge Road in Gasport told sheriff’s deputies she was awakened at 9 a. m. by someone removing the screen from the master bedroom. She said she was startled, said hello to someone in the window and saw the person flee. Deputies called a K-9 officer to help investigate, but said the dog lost the trail on Gasport Road.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

US&J LOOKS AT BECKER BREWING

Yesterday's edition of the Lockport Union Sun and Journal looked at the upcoming grand opening of Becker Brewing.

The story mentioned where the concept came from...


“It’s not unusual to hear a person say, ‘My wife likes wine, but where do I get a beer?’ ” he (Becker Farms owner Oscar Vizcarra) said.

In the past several years, Oscar has heard many people say they were looking for a good, local beer, including his son, Andres Vizcarra, whom Oscar said is representative of a younger generation.

“We want better beer,” Andres said, smiling.

“He said, ‘We want something other than the regular beer. Something quality, something local,’ ” Oscar said. “This (generation) demands better quality and demands local. That is the reality.”


About the beers....


There are four types of beer available: Local Lager, which Andres described as an “easy to drink” lager: Rooster Red, a red amber beer; Art’s Amber, a “darker” beer; and Frank’s Seasonal, a variety which will change with the seasons.

Art’s Amber and Frank’s Seasonal are named for Frank Becker, Melinda Vizcarra’s grandfather, and his brother, Art.

The beers are being sold by the glass and by the gallon — not yet by the bottle.

Andres said he believes the beers offer a good selection for people with all different tastes.“It’s more of a friendlier palate choice, for people that aren’t really into microbrews,” he said. “If people are really into it, they can do the amber beer, and that has more of a hoppy flavor. If they’re more used to their Michelobs or their (Labatt) Blues, they can try the lager.”

To read the entire article, go here:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_238000042.html

ROY-HART BOARD MEETS TODAY

The Royalton-Hartland school board meets tonight. Following their facilities walk-through, the regular meeting will begin at 7:30 PM in the high school media center.

The agenda can be downloaded here:

http://royhart.org/BOE_2009_10/A_08_27_09.pdf

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

BECKER BREWING CO. TO OPEN THIS FRIDAY

This has been a really slooow month for news in Gasport. You can tell by the lack of August posts prior to this one. 2. Only 2! Depending on the circumstances that lack of news can be a good thing. But, with other circumstances, it can be a bad thing.

The month ends with a bang, though, with something that has been perking some ears and raising some eyebrows across WNY....the grand opening of Becker Brewing Company.



The newest addition to the limitless attractions available at WNY's premier agri-tourism destination -- Becker Farms -- will launch this Friday, August 28th with a shindig from 6:00 until midnight.

The brewery will show off their 4 new brews: the Local Lager, Red Rooster, Art's Amber, and Frank's Summer Gold.

The party will include a BBQ (chicken, ribs, and pork) and live music with David Stockton from 7:00 till 10:00.

For more info visit www.beckerfarms.com

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

GASPORT TO TEST NEW VOTING PROCESS

Gasport residents will have the honor of being the guinea pigs for the Niagara County Board of Elections in regard to the new paper ballot based system.

Voters in the town of Royalton will be the first voters to test the process in the September primary.

The testing will continue in Royalton in November as well as across the Canal in Hartland when residents will use the new system in the general election.

What our community determines to be good and bad with the new process will aid the BOE in launching the system county-wide in 2010.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

AUGUST POLL

The July reader's survey has been completed. It asked where this site's regular visitors hail from in an effort to determine who makes up the blog's fanbase. 105 people responded and this is where they were from:

Royalton: 55 respondents
Hartland: 19
WNY outside of Roy-Hart: 21
Former Gasport resident: 10

The August survey asks you to rate your children's education at Roy-Hart.