Tuesday, August 30, 2011

GROPER IS BEATEN UP

A 38-year-old Depew man was beaten Saturday night after allegedly groping two women and assaulting a third at a party on Ridge Road in Hartland. The party was attended by between 70 and 100 people and, according to the Sheriff's Department, no one knew the men who beat the victim in retaliation for the incidents against the women.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

THE ROY-HART - BARKER FOOTBALL TEAM

Today's Buffalo News features a story about Roy-Hart and Barker combining forces on the gridiron:

In recent years, football players at Royalton-Hartland and Barker schools never had a problem getting playing time.

With only 20 or so players on the roster, most played offense, defense and special teams, barely stepping off the field during practice and games.

But this season, football players are welcoming the idea of a little less playing time, since it means the team’s roster will be twice as big as before as the two high schools combine their varsity and modified programs to overcome declining enrollment and financial struggles in both programs.

“I think it’s great,” said Barker senior Josh Haight during the team’s second week of practice. “Last year, our practices were kind of limited because we really didn’t have enough people to run 11-on-11 all the time. This year we can do a lot more stuff.”

The decision to combine both programs, which last year had a combined record of 3-11, was an easy one, said Barker Superintendent Roger Klatt.

“I think we saw the promise that a combined team would have for each respective school. It was really a team effort on the leadership of the districts and the Board of Education was very supportive.”


Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article536715.ece

GARY McCOLLUM HAS CLOSE CALL

Today's Buffalo News reports on a very scary, death-defying experience had by Gary McCollum, patriarch of McCollum Farms. I'm glad that Gary is safe. He's a good neighbor and one of Gasport's very best citizens. Here's the story:


A farmer narrowly escaped his burning tractor Friday morning after he inadvertently knocked down a live electrical line, which came to rest atop the vehicle, officials said.

Sheriff’s deputies said that Gary McCollum, 72, of Gasport, called just before 8:30 a. m. to report being trapped in his $100,000 Cat tractor in a field on Hartland Road, just south of Champman Road.

He was advised to remain inside the vehicle due to the danger from the live wire, and crews were sent to the scene.

Upon arrival, they found a fire burning beneath the tractor, but were unable to douse it with extinguishers.

At that point, with the cab of the tractor filling with smoke, McCollum jumped safely from the vehicle, after which it erupted into flames.

Crews from the Hartland Volunteer and Gasport Chemical Hose fire companies were able to put out the fire, but not before the tractor and a $20,000 disc tiller were damaged. No one was hurt in the incident.



Source:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/niagara-county/article536812.ece


Saturday, August 27, 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

THE GASPORT NUTRITION SITE

Glenda Reardon, the Nutrition Director for Niagara County's Office For the Aging, has some great news to share with local seniors: The Office for the Aging lawyer, Gary Billinglsey, is going to visit the Gasport nutrition site approximately every 3 months. Seniors will know ahead of time by a schedule that he sends out...we'll post it here. He can do living wills, health care proxies and give advice on legal questions. This is free service...but anyone can make a donation for the service if they wish.


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Looking ahead at September at the nutrition site (Hartland Bible Church)...

There will be no nutrition program offered on Labor Day due to the holiday.

The meals for the rest of the month are:

September 12th:

Lentil, Rice and Vegetable Soup/ Crackers
Polish Sausage on Roll Peppers and Onions
Mixed Fruit/Mandarin Oranges

September 19th:

Meatball Submarine on Roll Tomato Sauce and Parmesan Cheese
Garden Salad/Ranch Dressing
Hot Dog Roll
Cherry Whip

September 26th:

Chicken a la King over Rice
Broccoli
12-Grain Bread
Chilled Peaches



People age 60 and over should sign up for lunch the Friday before by calling Bonnie Tilyou at 434-7206.


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Glenda has also shared this recipe for Waldorf Salad:


Waldorf Salad
Serving size: ½ cup

(New and improved! No Mayonnaise!)

3 golden delicious apples, cut into small pieces, with skin on
½ cup golden raisins
½ cup chopped cashews (optional)
½ cup chopped carrots or sliced thin or grated
½ cup finely chopped celery (optional)
¼ cup coconut
1 cup lemon yogurt

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. For best results serve soon after preparation. Healthy and delicious!

Note: This should only be made with golden delicious apples as they do not turn brown like other apples do. Coconut and cashews are optional.

Depending on the size of the apples, you made need more than 1 cup of lemon yogurt. Serves 6-8 people.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SEMINAR

Border Community Services of Niagara University will present "Preparing makes sense: personal preparedness tips for you and your family" on Monday, September 26th at 11:15 a.m. at the Hartland Bible Church. The seminar will cover the basics of emergency preparedness and attendees will receive a free mini first aid kit and FEMA literature.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

CAR SHOW AND BBQ

There is some stellar weather on tap for this weekend and where better to enjoy it than Hartland?

There will be a chicken barbecue and car show this Sunday, August 28th, at the Hartland fire hall. Car show registration occurs from 9:00 to noon. Chicken will be served starting at noon. The cost is $8 per dinner.

MORE CRIME IN HARTLAND

Nearly $5,000 worth of building supplies were stolen from a home under renovation on Ridge Road in Gasport. On Saturday the homeowner found that someone pried open a rear door and took several items, including a washer, dryer and stove. A lock was broken off a shed and various supplies were taken.

Friday, August 19, 2011

MORE THEFTS IN GASPORT

Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies are looking into a theft that reported on Thursday. A Gasport man reported that an unknown person had entered his vehicle n his driveway, taking his Magellan GPS and radar detector. The value between the two was $370.

Also, a resident of Chapman Road reported an archery bow and a GPS unit were taken from two unlocked vehicles overnight Monday. The Jennings Buckmaster 2000 bow is valued at $500, and the Magellan GPS unit at $150, according to the sheriff’s report.

BEAST OF BURDEN TO PASS THROUGH GASPORT THIS WEEKEND

Sam Pasceri, known for hosting the 100-mile Beast of Burden run the past two winters, is directing a summer version of the race this weekend. .

The Summer 100 endurance race is an ultra-distance run that takes place on the historic Erie Canal towpath. It begins at the Widewaters Marina on Saturday and lasts 24 hours. The race will follow the same path that it did in the winter, making it's way through Gasport on a 25-mile path that is done 4 times over a 24 hour period.

For more info, visit: http://summer100.com/

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

CLAMS & BBQ AT COVENANT CHURCH

The Covenant Church on Main Street is having its annual clambake this Saturday from 4:00 to 7:00.

Advanced tickets for clams are preferred. Call 772.7802 to get yours. Walk-ins are welcome, though.

For those who hate clams, there will be a pulled pork BBQ as well.

Both dinners come with all the fixins: baked beans, tomatoes, corn on the cob and a brownie.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT IN HARTLAND THIS SATURDAY

An electronics recycling drop-off event, sponsored by the Niagara County Refuse Disposal District and the Town of Hartland, is scheduled for Saturday, August 20th at the Highway Department barn at 3542 Wruck Road. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Electronics recycling is available to all county residents, and includes items like computers and phones.

SADDLE UP FOR ROSWELL: SEPTEMBER 17th

Today's Lockport Union Sun and Journal features a story by Bill Wolcott that looks at this annual event....

More than 100 riders will roam the range of the 100-acre Chestnut Ridge Equestrian Center to participate in the sixth annual “Saddle Up for Roswell” on Sept. 17,

The event, which has raised an estimated $65,000 for cancer research and patient care programs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, offers family fun with basket raffles, pony rides, food and face painting. Admission is free.

Riders of all ages will compete in dressage, stadium jumping and cross country trials. The competition goes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the home of Abdullah, the internationally known member of United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame.


Read the entire article here:

http://lockportjournal.com/local/x670929995/Saddle-up

Monday, August 15, 2011

YOUTHS ARRESTED FOR WEEKEND CRIME SPREE

A 16-year-old and two juveniles were arrested around 2 a.m. Saturday after Niagara County sheriff’s deputies said they broke into a car, stole cigarettes, then spray-painted a tractor-trailer parked at Comsmicoat in Gasport.

Deputies said they found the youths in the parking lot where the truck had been vandalized. A window also was broken out of the vehicle, and an attempt had been made to steal a CB radio. The youths were found in possession of a mailbox stolen from a nearby residence.

The 2 juveniles were turned over to relatives and will petitioned to Family Court. Charged with second-degree criminal mischief, petit larceny and third-degree auto stripping was Harley S. Miller, 16, of Hartland Road.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

REVIEW OF BRIAN WHEAT'S FAREWELL PERFORMANCE

Today's Buffalo News features a story about Gasport native Brian Wheat's last performance as a Western New York resident...


Brian Wheat is about to shuffle off from Buffalo. But the singer-songwriter couldn’t leave before celebrating the release of his terrific new album “Looking Alive.”

The 30-year-old Gasport native’s wanderin’ boot heels are taking him to Minneapolis, where he has a job teaching high school biology lined up and where his girlfriend’s family lives.

To kick off Friday night at Elmwood Lounge, Wheat ran through an initial set of six “old favorites” with fellow guitarist Pete Gerace.

In a white Western shirt with slicked back hair and homemade chains dangling around his neck, Wheat opened the set with “If Memory Serves” from his first record, 2007’s “Where Have You Been.”

Midway through the set he got all his rowdy friends at the bar to settle down a bit with “For Someone Else” — a timeless gem Wheat said was inspired by a trip to a museum.

Indeed, Wheat’s warm blend of “chamber-folk” flourishes and lush melodies may be better served through a pair of headphones while reclining than in a distracting bar.



Read the entire article here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/gusto/music/concert-reviews/article514806.ece

ATV ACCIDENT IN ROYALTON RAVINE PARK

Niagara County Sheriff Deputies say a 20 year old male was riding his ATV on the trails of Royalton Ravine Park and lost control. He and the vehicle went down an embankment.

The male (who wasn't wearing a helmet) suffered a head injury and was taken by Mercy Flight to ECMC. There is no update on his condition as of yet.

While EMTs from Tri-Town Ambulance tended to him, firefighters from the Gasport and Terry's Corners helped remove the victim from the ravine where he was taken to a landing zone for Mercy Flight.

The man's name is not being released at this time.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

BRIAN WHEAT ALBUM RELEASE


Brian Wheat, a product of Royalton-Hartland, is a talented local musician and songwriter who performs in a style that can be described as folk, roots, and bluegrass. His eclectic style and skills have made him well-loved by the Buffalo music scene.

You might remember that we interviewed him for this website 3 and a half years ago:

http://gasportnewyork.blogspot.com/2008/01/gasport-has-produced-some-folks-of-wide.html

This Friday, August 5 from 8:00pm - 11:00pm he will be having an album release party at The Elmwood Lounge Restaurant & Bar in Buffalo. It will be a bittersweet event, a sort of farewell, as Brian will be leaving Western New York and moving to Minneapolis.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

ROY-HART GRAD INVOLVED IN STANDOFF, SUICIDE

Local media outlets have been reporting on an Orchard Park standoff that ended with a suicide. The individual was 32-year old Albert Raab who graduated from Royalton-Hartland in the 1990s.

According to WIVB TV...


Orchard Park Police Lt. Mark Pacholec says the strict rules and perimeters around the neighborhood were necessary because they arrived at a home at 9:40 p.m. Sunday night to find a distraught man standing outside holding a rifle.

"You don't know what anybody's capable of," said Lt. Pacholec.

Police say they had never been called to this home before. And although the man, who neighbors say has a young wife and child, ran into his home when they got there, it was still a tense situation for all.

"The policeman came over the loud speaker and told the gentlemen to put his gun down and come out with his hands up. Naturally kind of a crazy experience," said Severino.

Sadly, it didn't end that peacefully. Police entered the home just before sunrise to the find man had taken his own life.


Watch the story here:


Man kills himself after police standoff: wivb.com




WIVB ran another story noting how beloved Raab was...


There is much we cannot tell you about what led to a man's suicide after an overnight standoff with Orchard Park Police. We can tell you that it's left behind many broken hearts among the students he taught in East Aurora.

At least 200 people gathered for a spontaneous candle light vigil. The teacher, 32-year-old Albert Raab, was voted 'most popular' by the class of 2009. Raab taught history at East Aurora High School for at least seven years.


Watch that story here:


Students mourn the loss of a teacher: wivb.com