ROY-HART'S PERFORMANCE IN ENGLISH & MATH

Thursday's Buffalo News and Lockport Union Sun and Journal both ran stories about the state raising the bar on math and English proficiencies since the state as a whole had experienced grade inflation as a result of weak exams.

According to one report....


The state said as a result of raising the bar for proficiency, fewer students met or exceeded the new mathematics and English standards in 2010 than in previous years. Across grades 3 through 8 statewide, the majority of students, 53 percent in English and 61 percent in math, met or exceeded the new proficiency standards this year. By contrast in 2009, 77 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency in English and 86 percent of students did so in math.


How did Roy-Hart fare?

In fourth grade math, 87.2% and 94% of our school's students were proficient in 2008 and 2009. For 2010, the number was only 62.5%.

In fourth grade English, 71.5% and 87.7% of our school's students were proficient in 2008 and 2009. For 2010, the number was only 59.6%.

In eighth grade math, 79.2% and 90.4% of our school's students were proficient in 2008 and 2009. For 2010, the number was only 48.8%.

In eighth grade English, 61.4% and 81.7% of our school's students were proficient in 2008 and 2009. For 2010, the number was only 61%.


Read the Buffalo News story here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article84439.ece

BURGLARIES AT AIRPORT

The US&J reports on trouble at the airport...


ROYALTON — Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a report of an alleged burglary and attempted burglary at the Royalton Airport on Mackey Road on Sunday and Monday.

Kenneth McArthur of Ransomville told deputies Sunday someone entered his office and stole $500 in cash from his desk drawer and $20 from a container in the office refrigerator.

A report said the suspect entered the office through an unlocked hangar on the east side of the building.

The second report came Monday when Martin Lander of Gasport told deputies someone kicked open the door to his airplane hangar, causing $50 damage.

Deputies said a partial shoeprint was seen on the door where it was kicked and confirmed they are keeping an eye out in the area.

“Periodic checks with be made of the area,” Deputy Paul Harrer said.


Source:

http://lockportjournal.com/crime/x1255112179/2-burglaries-reported-at-Royalton-Airport

GASPORT'S TWO TOWNS SHARE ASSESSOR

This week the Lockport Union Sun and Journal reported on the towns of Royalton and Hartland consolidating one of their functions...

In 2009, Michael Hartman, the Hartland town assessor, and Tom Arlington, Royalton’s town assessor, started talking about consolidating their jobs.

There’s been a merger.

As of July 8, Hartman, 43, began assessing for both towns. Arlington, who retired as assessor July 7, retained his position as building inspector in Royalton.

What are the savings for us?....


The merger is saving each town about $15,000 a year, Royalton Supervisor Richard Lang estimated.


So, how do they make it work?....

Hartman, who is also the Hartland building inspector, can work out of either town hall. On Mondays and Thursdays, he sets up business in Royalton. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, he’s in Hartland. The towns have the same database.

Read the entire article, which offers a bio about Mr. Hartman here:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x854234848/Royalton-Hartland-share-one-assessor

BIKINI CAR WASH AT DURF'S

Durf is hosting a bikini car wash and open house on Wednesday the 28th from 11:00 to 2:00 at MJ Auto Care on Route 31. 97 Rock's Carl Russo will be there and dogs and soda will be served for a dollar each.

VOTE FOR ROY-HART IN KOHL'S PROGRAM

Kohl's has a program called "Kohl's Cares" in which 100% of the profit of select merchandise is donated to worthy youth causes. They are now soliciting votes, looking for 20 schools in the USA to receive up to $500,000 each for a total of $10 million in donations. Voting ends on September 3rd.

To vote for Roy-Hart, go to:

http://apps.facebook.com/KohlsCares/search

NEW CHIROPRACTOR IN TOWN

Gasport has another chiropractor in town: Dr. Heather Mahley just started this past week at Gasport Chiropractic with Dr. Aaron Pazik. For more information about the services provided by Heather and Aaron, visit www.gasportchiropractic.com

MISSING GIRL IS FOUND

The Lockport Union Sun and Journal reports that the missing (or more aptly put, "runaway") Gasport girl has been found...

Police have found a 17-year-old girl from Gasport who had been reported missing earlier this week.

She was found in Medina on Monday with a man who reportedly harassed her parents.

The man, Lucas Williams of Medina, is wanted on charges of second-degree harassment in a warrant through Royalton Town Court.

A report said that while the girl’s father was filing information with the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office for a missing person report on Sunday night, Williams sent several threatening and vulgar text messages to the man and reportedly said he knew where the man’s daughter was.

According to reports, in one message, Williams told the victim he would shoot him, and in another, the suspect sent a photo of himself holding a gun aimed at the man’s daughter.

A report said this was not the first time the teen had run away from home to Medina.

Medina Police assisted in the investigation.



Source:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1300294079/Missing-girl-found-warrant-out-for-Medina-man

MERCHANT'S FAIR TODAY

White Pines Nursery (located next to the Yellow Goose in Gasport) is hosting a Gasport Merchant's Fair from 12 to 3 today where you can meet local businesses and dine on free burgers and dogs. There will also be a live remote by WLVL 1340 AM.

ROYALTON'S REAL PROPERTY DATABASE

Have you ever wondered how much your neighbor's house is worth? Have you ever wanted to verify the assessed value of your home versus homes of similar size and structure? Now you can, easily and online. The Town of Royalton has made available the town's real property database, which lists the value of all 3,925 parcels of homes and land in the town.

To check this out, go to:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/RealProperty

You can search the database by any means possible...structure style, recent sales, address, owner's name.

Some folks will see this as an invasion of financial privacy while others will appreciate the tool when selling their home or paying their property taxes.

CLAM BAKE ON AUGUST 14th

The Covenant Church is holding a clam bake on August 14th from 2 to 6. Menu includes clams, sweet corn, beans, burgers and dogs. A clam dinner is $12 while a non-clam dinner is half that price. Additional clams are $5/dozen. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Call the church at 772.7802 to make your purchase.

CONGRESSMAN LEE'S OFFICE TO HOLD SATELLITE HOURS

Representatives from Congressman Chris Lee's office will be holding satellite office hours this coming Wednesday the 21st from 11:30 to 1:00 at the Hartland Town Hall on Ridge Road. You are invited to stop by, ask questions and air your concerns. Appointments are not required.

ZION CHURCH TO MAKE NEW PHOTO DIRECTORY

The Zion Lutheran Church is going to publish a new pictorial directory of its families through Olan Mills. Reserve your appointment time at the church or by contacting the church through its Facebook page. Each family/household that comes for photography and portrait viewing at the church will receive a complimentary directory and 8x10 custom color portrait. Photography dates are Friday, August 20th from 2-9:30pm and Sat., August 21st from 9:30am to 5pm.

GASPORT MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD PORN

WIVB reports the following:

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jason David Willis, 38, of Gasport, New York, pleaded guilty before Chief District Judge William M. Skretny to a felony charge of transportation of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Wydysh, who is handling the case, stated that on February 23, 2007, special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant issued by Honorable H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr., U.S. Magistrate Judge.

Read the entire story online at:

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/niagara/Man-admits-transporting-child-porn

BARKER BAND TO PERFORM MONDAY

The popular Barker Community Band will perform at Hartland United Methodist Church, 8017 Ridge Rd., Gasport, on July 19 at 7pm.

GASPORT GIRL IS MISSING

Niagara County sheriff’s deputies reported Monday they are looking for a missing 17-year-old girl from Gasport and asking anyone with information to call the sheriff’s office at 438-3393.

Katelyn Renee Phol was reportedly last seen wearing ripped jeans with a black and white hoodie heading east from Gasport on Sunday night. Phol is 5’6”, 180 pounds, with long black hair, blue eyes and a pierced lip, nose and ears.

A report said Phol’s mother told deputies around 8:30 p.m. Sunday her daughter ran away from home.

Deputies said they think Phol might be in the Medina area.

DONNA NIEMAN BENEFIT

A group of her friends will be holding a benefit for Donna Nieman on August 22nd at the Gasport Fire Hall.

In June, 2009 Donna, age 52, was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer. Since that time she has had several surgeries, procedures, and chemotherapy to treat the cancer. Despite all these interventions, there has been continued metastasis to her liver and lungs. Donna’s ongoing challenge to fight this relentless disease is compounded by extensive medical costs and co-pays.

Donna has been a nurse for 26 years and has worked at Mount St. Mary's Hospital since 2003. Her illness has recently forced her to go on disability.

Donna’s husband of 25 years, Terry Nieman, also serves the community in his capacity as Highway Superintendant of the Town of Royalton. Together they raised two children, Ann and Brian.

Donna's friends are asking for your support and/or donations of any kind. Money, basket raffle donations, door prizes...all will be greatly appreciated. Your help with their event will go along way in making her benefit successful.


CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
DONNA NIEMAN BENEFIT FUND

For more information contact:

Michelle Luscher (e-mail: MDJ5313@verizon.net)
Deb Holliday (e-mail: dkholliday@msn.com)
Gina Carter (e-mail: daysnon@yahoo.com)


Regarding the benefit:

Sunday, August 22, 2010
2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Gasport Fire Hall
8412 State Street
Gasport, NY

Admission Free
Dinner Tickets: $20.00 Donation
(Kids 8 and under free)
Presale tickets are available or may be purchased at the door

Basket Auction, 50/50 Split, Food & Live Music!
Food served 2:00-6:00pm

HARTLAND HISTORICAL MEETS MONDAY

The Hartland Historical Society meets Monday the 12th at 7:00 PM at the schoolhouse at Carmen and Seaman Roads. The guest speaker will be Melissa Dunlap who will speak about the famous Sutherland Sisters. Everyone is welcome to attend.

MORE COLD STORAGE HISTORY

Here's another neat item from Jesse Bieber. This image is a snippet taken from a 1943 Sanborn Fire Insurance map. It gives a good look at everything that burned down on Thursday.

1st RESPONDER REPORT ABOUT THE FIRE

Stephen Wallace wrote this piece about the Gasport fire for the 1st Responder Broadcast Network, a great source for emergency services news...

Niagara County has had four straight days of high 90's and off the scale humidity. Thursday around 730 PM the heat index was still unbearable when the alarm of fire came in. Calls started coming in to the Niagara County Sheriffs dispatch of a fire at the old landmark cold storage building On Telegraph Road and State street near route 31 and thankfully a yard away from the canal.

Responding Deputies called in that they could see smoke from blocks away, actually witnesses saw the smoke over 20 miles away. Gasport's Fire Chief could not believe it...another major structure fire in his small community in under a month. The flames were reaching to the sky and spreading through the 200 year old building. Immediate mutual aid alarm were sounded.

Terry's Corner's was called to the scene their pumper under the experience hand of Pumping engineer "Durf" was crucial in handling the water that would be brought in by tankers. "Durff's" watchful eye, kept fire lines and trucks flowing with the proper pressure and never allowing anyone to run out of water without warning that the level was getting low.

Other fire units set up a draft on the North side of the building where the canal was and feed a nearby Aeriel truck. South Lockport Fire Company was called to the scene with their 101 foot aerial to attack from the south over the rail road tracks. Niagara County Tankers from Hartland, Wolcottsville and from Orleans County Shelby were used. Dual water pounds were put into use providing water to feed hand lines, deck guns and aerial's. The nearby hydrants either failed or could not put out enough pressure for the firefighters.

Gasports Chiefs fought this type of rapid moving fire just a few weeks ago with the almost the same companies helping. They knew they needed to provide a safe working condition and protect surroundings structures which they did masterfully. Gasport's Chief also had an immediate rehab set up do to the extreme heat index.

Niagara County Elite CIS unit was called right away to the scene, and evidence collection expert CIS Deputy Joesph Shanley started photographing the complete scene right away for investigators to use at a later date. He also photographed the crowd, a procedure that experience trains you to do.

The roadway was shut down for hours as manpower rolled to the scene to help control the blaze. Origin and Cause investigator Joe Fries was on scene right away paying close attention to details that would help him piece together the investigation at a later safe time. The fire was still going at 10:30 and it was decided it would be safer to document details in the morning.

Source:

http://www.1strespondernews.com/webpages/news/displaynews.aspx?ID=291bbfd1-600f-4e96-a557-e2ac33975b04

ANOTHER PART OF THE PROPERTY

Here's another one from Mr. Bieber. This is the other cold storage that burned down on Thursday. It is to the west of the more familiar Silsby Cold Storage. This one was known as the Sweeney Cold Storage for many years.

THE COLD STORAGE FACILITY IN ITS PRIME

Courtesy of town historian Jesse Bieber, here is a picture of the H.H. Dobbins/Silsby Bros. Cold Storage building that just burned down. Picture taken circa 1960.

TONAWANDA NEWS FOLLOW-UP ON FIRE

One of the most telling things about how outdated the cold storage plant was can be found in the opening paragraph of the story in today's Tonawanda News: Despite the size of the place and the brutal flames, look at what the damage was tallied at:

Niagara County sheriff’s fire investigators said Friday that $550 worth of damage was done Thursday after flames engulfed the Cold Storage Building around 7:34 p.m. This marks the second major structure fire in Gasport in the past two months.

Deputies said upon their arrival, two large warehouse-type stone and brick structures at 8101 and 8105 State St. were fully engulfed in flames.

The article also said that the investigation into its cause is ongoing:


Sheriff’s Capt. Bruce Elliott said the Crime Scene Identification Unit was sent to the scene Friday to determine a probable cause.

“They’re not sure if it was an accident or arson,” Elliott said.

Deputies said they spoke with two male witnesses who were playing basketball nearby who said they did not see anyone in the area near the buildings on State Street.



Read more at:

http://tonawanda-news.com/local/x739951566/Cause-sought-in-Gasport-fire

WIVB'S FRIDAY UPDATE FOR FIRE

WIVB's updated report on the cold storage fire in Gasport...

RASPBERRY JAMBOREE THIS SUNDAY

Becker Farms will be having its annual Raspberry Jamboree this Sunday the 11th. Their website announces the following:

We welcome you to join us in celebrating this years raspberry harvest. Pick your own raspberries (weather permitting) with already picked berries available for sale as well. Feed the animals. Go for a pony ride or hayride. Visit the bakery, for our homemade pies and cookies. Also enjoy our fudge, ice cream, gift shop and much, much more. Live entertainment by "Fiddlestix." Also make sure to visit Vizcarra Vineyards and Becker Brewing Company for all of your favorite wines and beers.

For more information: www.beckerfarms.com

WKBW COVERAGE OF FIRE

US&J COVERAGE OF FIRE

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1907083141/Gasport-landmark-hit-by-fire

WIVB TV COVERAGE OF FIRE

MORE FIRE PICS

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Bieber...




















Photo courtesy of Stephanie...




















Photo courtesy of Brian Little...




















Photo courtesy of Nick Vincent....

FIREBUG IN TOWN?

Is there a firebug in town? It is unknown at this time whether or not this was arson, but you never know: I was just told that yesterday someone saw a trash can at the Gasport school grounds that was set on fire.

COLD STORAGE FIRE PHOTOS

Photographs will be added to this post as they are submitted by our readers. Thank you to all of the photographers!

Photo courtesy of Shannon Griffith...

Photo courtesy of Andy Drum..

Photo courtesy of "unknown" with this message: As seen from 31. Had to be 50 cars parked on either side of the road between Silsby's barn and the school.

FIRE IN GASPORT

Only weeks after fire claimed the old depot in the hamlet of Gasport, another ancient site is in flames. There is currently a working fire in the cold storage building on West Ave, along the Canal and rail line. More to follow.

NIAGARA METALS IS NOW OPEN

Today's Lockport Union Sun and Journal mentioned the following about Gasport's newest addition...


Niagara Metals is up and running as of Wednesday on Route 31 between Middleport and Gasport, while a community group waits for a state Supreme Court ruling to check the Niagara Falls-based plant.


It noted this about operations...


The “feeder plant” at 8729 Rochester Road is fully operational, Niagara Metals President Todd Levin said. The transfer station is managed by Dawn Laubacker and designed to take scrap from the Royalton area and transfer it to the main plant in Niagara Falls on Packard Road.

It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday mornings and accepts ferrous and nonferrous metals, excluding automobiles.


The article also went on at length about the unfortunate lawsuit put against the company and the town, courtesy of some local residents. Read the story online at:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x739949030/Niagara-Metals-open-for-business

GASPORT TEEN GETS 60 DAYS FOR BRUTAL BEATING

Yesterday's Lockport Union Sun and Journal reported the following:


A Gasport teen who beat another teen so savagely with a wrench he is now permanently scarred with a detached retina was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to 60 days in Niagara County Jail and five years post release supervision.

Brandon Buryta, 16, 4871 Royalton Center Road, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault May 4 in relation to the Dec. 5 incident.


Read the entire article, which notes the extensive medical woes for the victim (and was the top headline of the front page) here:

http://niagara-gazette.com/local/x657356660/Jail-for-teen-in-wrench-beating

GASPORT'S FIREWORKS BEAT LOCKPORT'S

I live in a unique spot where I can see the Royalton and Lockport fireworks displays (the latter being a ways off in the distance). The Gasport fireworks kicked Lockport's butt. There was a greater variety of explosive styles, much more color, and a better finale. Congratulations to the Royalton July 4th Committee for another job well done!

RECAP OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The Lockport Union Sun and Journal offers this recap of last night's school board meeting, focusing on the annual realignment of the board, goals for the year, and a bid for cabinetry:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1671037046/Riegle-re-elected-Roy-Hart-president