ROYALTON 4th OF JULY

Sunday July 4, 2010

2pm: Ravine Park is open, as is parking within the Park. The shuttle will start from Terry's Corners Fire Hall and Gasport Fire Hall

4pm: Parade will start from Hartland Bible Church parking lot on West Ave.

5pm: Kids games start, Dixieland band in kid's area, Gasport Lions Club chicken bar-b-q starts, food Vendors open, Problem Child Band plays

6 pm: Jonsie Band

7:30pm: Strongman Contest

7:30pm Last Call Band

8pm: Kids games end

9:30pm: Red House Band

10 pm: fireworks

11 pm: Park Closed

There will be new contests for different age groups of kids plus the original games like pig pong toss, pluck-a-duck, lollipop gambling, bowling, knock-em down, wheel of fortune, and putt & drive. There is face painting, balloon creations, crafts and more in the craft tent. They will have two street performers in the kid's area all evening, doing their tricks and acts. There will be bounce houses for the little ones and a rock climbing wall for the bigger ones. And, don't forget that their sand boxes all have a special prize to find. The kid's area will be alcohol-free.

Parking at the Ravine Park has always been an issue, so again this year they will be offering a shuttle bus from the two fire halls. This has been a big help in the past to help alleviate the traffic coming into and exiting the park. The shuttle is free, although they ask for a $1 donation per rider to help with the costs of the fireworks and the kids program.

Also, there will be NO tailgating in the parking lot due to limited space. There will be no parking on either side of the road on Gasport Rd. between Route 31 and Dale Rd...cars will be towed.

FLY-IN BREAKFAST: JUNE 27th

The 15th annual fly-in breakfast will take place at the Royalton Airport on Sunday, June 27th from 8:00 to 12:00. For details, contact Paul O'Neill at royalton1@verizon.net

COMMUNITY WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, June 20th, the churches of Gasport will hold their annual Strawberry Extravaganza Community Worship Service at Becker Farms at10:00am. Participating churches are the Zion Lutheran Church, the Covenant United Church of Christ, and Hartland Methodist Church.

TOWN-WIDE GARAGE SALE

The town of Royalton is having a town-wide garage sale during the Independence Day weekend, July 2nd to 4th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

A listing of all participating homes is available online at:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/LocalEventCategories/Home/:item=8&field=events;/content/LocalEvents/View/36

To add your name to the list (free publicity!), contact the town clerk at 716.772.2431 or trclerk1@rochester.rr.com

ROYALTON BOARD MEETS MONDAY

The Royalton town board meets Monday at 7:30 PM (preceeded by a 7:15 public hearing on flood damage prevention). The agenda can be seen here:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/Calendars/View/1;/content/CalendarEntries/View/1082

WILD STRAWBERRIES

One of the joys of the late-Spring in Gasport are the strawberries to be had at Becker Farms or Harris's.

Even better than those strawberries: wild strawberries.


You can find them in sunny areas of fields, hedgerows, or young-growth woodlots. Some folks even have them in their yards. Although they are VERY small, they are amazingly tasty. Their flavor far rivals that of any domesticated strawberry. It's not even close. They're that good!

Grab them now before it's too late. This week is the peak. Some are just becoming ripe while others are already rotting. Look for the three-leafed plant..and be sure not to confuse it with posion ivy.

SNELL'S GRAND OPENING

Snell's Gas-n-Go in Hartland Corners is having its grand opening this Saturday, June 12th, featuring special deals and a pig roast.

STRAWBERRIES AVAILABLE AT BECKER FARMS

Strawberries are now ready for picking at Becker Farms. It's Kid Day this weekend and U-Pick will be available. It's wise, though, that you call in advance to check on conditions as the weather can change everything in a hurry: 716.772.2211.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S GRADE

Business First has capped off their week of ratings with the final grades for the school districts. Of 97 school districts in WNY, Roy-Hart comes in at 50.

See the list here:

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/06/07/daily92.html

GARCIA REJECTS PLEA DEAL

The saga of Gasport's Christmas morning murder continues. The Lockport US&J reported the following:


A woman claiming self-defense in the death of her companion will take her chances on a jury trial.

Gwendolyn Garcia, 31, rejected a plea deal offered her by the Niagara County District Attorney’s office in brief proceedings Tuesday. She remains jailed without bail on a charge of first-degree manslaughter in the Dec. 25, 2009, death of Randy R. Whitney, 38, in Hartland.

County Judge Matthew Murphy III set a trial date of Aug. 9 for Garcia. The trial is expected to last about one week.



The rest of the article makes note of her and her lawyers' reasoning and can be read online at:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1996918790/Plea-deal-rejected-in-fatal-stabbing-case

THE HIGH SCHOOL'S RANK

Today Business First announced their rankings of high schools. Of 133 schools in WNY, Roy-Hart came in at 86th.

Check out the report at: http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/06/07/daily64.html

COMET TO GRACE OUR RURAL SKIES

A fresh comet is swinging through the inner solar system, and it is brightening rapidly as it approaches Earth for a 100 million mile close encounter in mid-June. Comet McNaught (C/2009 R1) has a vivid green head and a long wispy tail that look great through small telescopes. By the end of the month it could be visible to the naked eye perhaps as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper. Because this is the comet's first visit to the inner solar system, predictions of future brightness are necessarily uncertain; amateur astronomers should be alert for the unexpected. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps, photos and more information.

ROY-HART'S MIDDLE SCHOOL RANKING

Today Business First announced their annual rankings of the 212 middle schools in WNY. Roy-Hart came in at 81.

Check out the rankings at:

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/06/07/daily38.html

ROY-HART ELEMENTARY'S RANKING

Today Business First announced their annual rankings of the 287 elementary schools in WNY. Roy-Hart came in at 153.

Check out the list:

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/06/07/daily15.html

SUPER'S PAY GETS A SUPER BOOST

Today on their website, in their ongoing annual series on education, Buffalo's Business First features a story that says 13 school districts in WNY saw an 80% increase in the salaries of their superintendents from 1998 to 2010. Roy-Hart was on that list, coming fifth with an 88% gain.

Check out the report at:

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/06/07/daily2.html

JOE MONTI IS ONE OF WNY'S BEST

Friday's edition of Business First announced their selections for the All-WNY Academic Team. Roy-Hart's Joe Monti was one of 25 students selected. The senior is the class valedictorian and sports a 1,540 SAT and had a perfect score on 5 Regents exams. After graduation he will be going to RPI to pursue a degree in physics.

ROYALTON RECREATION

The town of Royalton will be sponsoring it's recreation program again this Summer. It is open to all town residents aged 5 to 15 as of July 1st. Each day will feature crafts, games, sports, and special events. The program will take place from 9:00 to 3:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays at Vet's Park. It starts July 12th and ends August 13th. Parents must complete a registration form and provide a $5 fee. Contact the town for more information.

COLLEGE & CAREER FAIR THIS WEDNESDAY

There will be a college and career fair this coming Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Hartland Bible Church on West Ave in the hamlet of Gasport. Representatives from businesses, WNY colleges and the military will discuss the hows and whys of pursuing careers and/or education.

This event was industriously organized by Roy-Hart sophomore Blair Yaiser who is working towards her Girl Scout Gold Award, courtesy of this project.

CLASS OF 1960 REUNION

The Roy-Hart class of '60 is having it's 50th reunion on July 17th at 5:00 PM at Becker Farms in Gasport.

There will also be a get-together on Friday July 16th at 4:00 PM at the home of Marilyn Landers. and a school tour on the morning of the 17th.

Class members are urged to call Bill and Barb Jamieson at 716.735.7694 for reservations and information.

PUBLIC HEARING ON FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Royalton, New York, will hold a public hearing on June 14, 2010, at 7:15 PM, at the Royalton Town Hall, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, NY, 14105, on the Town of Royalton’s proposed Flood Damage Prevention local law.

The proposed local law is designed to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions and specific areas of the Town. The proposed local law contains a statutory authorization and purpose; definitions; general provisions; administration; construction standards; variance procedures; and effective date. The local law is open to inspection at the Office of the Town Clerk of the Town Royalton, New York, and may also be viewed on the Town’s website located at www.townofroyalton.org.

Persons wishing to appear at the hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representation.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the environmental significance of the proposed local law will be reviewed by said Board incident to said hearing.

Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed with the Board, or at such hearing.

By order of the Town of Royalton Town Board dated April 10, 2010.

DEMOLITION & INVESTIGATION OF RUINS

The Buffalo News reported the following earlier today...


While the cause of Monday’s six-alarm fire remains under investigation, demolition cleanup of the the old railroad house at 4440 Main St is expected to get under way soon, possibly today.

Capt. Kristen Neubauer, chief of investigation for the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, said Wednesday that the investigation is targeting juveniles and includes one tip that careless smoking by a teenage boy triggered the fire.

“There’s nothing of a criminal nature that we are looking at right now,” Neubauer said. “It’s still under investigation with the Niagara County Fire Investigation Unit and our investigative unit, but there’s no determination whether something was accidental or intentional.”


Source:

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/06/03/1069618/demolition-imminent-after-monday.html

SMOKING CAUSED FIRE

The Lockport Union Sun and Journal has the aftermath of the Gasport fire on today's front page. The article says...


Niagara County sheriff’s investigators say a teen tossing a cigarette may have caused the fire at the old railroad house Monday night.

A 12-year-old boy said Tuesday that his 15-year-old friend caused the fire at the structure at 4440 Main St. Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Elliott confirmed the boy’s story.

“That’s the lead we’re following,” he said.

The boy said he and his two friends were hanging out behind the building near the train tracks when the fire started from a cigarette that lit a small pile of cottonwood on fire.

“(He) was smoking and when he threw out the butt (of the cigarette) the white stuff caught on fire,” the boy said. “We tried to put it out, but it just spread.”


The article features much more information -- and a picture of the ruins.

Check it out online at:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1910022964/Careless-smoking-may-have-caused-Gasport-fire

CONGRESSMAN LEE TOWN HALL IS TONIGHT

www.niagarabuzz.biz reports the following...

The Royalton-Hartland Business and Professional Association (RHBPA) and Absolut Care of Gasport announce a “Town Hall Meeting” on Wednesday, June 2, 2010, from 7-9 p.m. at Absolut Care of Gasport, 4540 Lincoln Drive, Gasport, NY.

Headlining the event is U.S. Representative Chris Lee. There will be a short presentation by Representative Lee and a time for comments by other elected officials in attendance, followed by an open forum for questions from the audience.

Topics of discussion will include health care reform and education. This is the third event in the series sponsored by the RHBPA and Absolut Care and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.

MORE ABOUT THE GASPORT FIRE

Steve Wallace reported about the Gasport fire for 1st Responder Broadcast Network...

The Niagara County Sheriff's department Dispatch put the call out, a report of a brush fire near a warehouse, by the Gasport railroad tracks. Gasport Volunteer Fire hall is located minutes from this location. The railroad tracks are also only a few blocks from the Erie Canal. Dispatch, within a minute called Gasports Fire Chief and advised him that they received a call that the building may have propane inside. Gasport Chief was pulling up, and he had a situation, a fully involved structure fire by the railroad tracks and homes and it was moving fast. Waisting no time the Chief had mutual Aid Companies heading his way with others standing by at their respective fire halls in case he needed them, and he would. The Structure was already half involved, and fire storm was whipping up toward the middle of the building feeding its way toward the front of the building. It was clear drafting from the canal was going to be needed and plenty of manpower was also needed. The Chief wanted to protect the homes and other businesses on Main Street Gasport. The Fire Chief from Gasport contacted fire control to Notify the RailRoad that all train traffic has to be halted. Mutual Aid from Terry's Corners, South Lockport, Wolcotsville, Wrights Corners, Hartland, Middleport, with many more on stand by. The Fire was possible feed by Acetylene tanks and propane and the the fire worked its way to the front of the building. The heat from the fire brought down power lines and also possibly damaged the near by railroad tracks. The Volunteers with their endless experience and many various pieces of fire equipment held the fire from running rapid through the Gasport residents. Niagara County Sheriff Investigators responded to the scene along with, expert CSI Deputy Joseph Shanley, and Sheriff James Voutour. At this time no dollar amount has been established on the damage and no one that has been reported was hurt at the scene.

Source:

http://www.1strespondernews.com/webpages/news/displaynews.aspx?ID=e1331812-7f3a-4bcf-b940-b8a9dd69e8ab

TV CHANNEL 4'S COVERAGE OF FIRE

PHOTOS OF FIRE

The Lockport Union Sun and Journal has plenty of photos of last night's fire in Gasport:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1414121449/Fire-destroys-abandoned-railroad-house-in-Gasport