ROYALTON'S OCTOBER MINUTES

The minutes from Royalton's October town board meeting are now available on the town's website. Read them here:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/9:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/212

ALWAYS CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

ALWAYS CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

The Always Christmas store will be having their annual open house this Saturday, November 3rd from 11 am to 4 pm at Standish-Jones Building Supply in Gasport. There will be games, giveaways, discounts, and refreshments. Plus, the kids can visit with Santa, have their photo taken aboard the "S-J Express," and make a train ornament to take home. For more information, please call Standish-Jones at 772-2611.

ERIE CANAL IS CLOSED

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Canal system is closed to navigation effective immediately.

“Travel along the canal system will be made far too dangerous by the winds and flooding that Hurricane Sandy will bring with it to New York,” Governor Cuomo said. “This closure will protect boaters and allow public safety officials and first responders to continue to prepare for the storm’s arrival.”

Guard gates and lift bridges statewide will be maintained in a lowered position until further notice, to prevent structural damage from forecast high winds associated with Hurricane Sandy.

Water levels throughout the Canal system may change with little advance notice as the storm progresses.

The Canal Corporation began lowering water levels in many sections of the Canal system on Thursday, in anticipation of the storm.

Portions of the Canal system will be re-opened as conditions allow.

For up-to-date information, call 1-800-4CANAL4 (press 3 during non-business hours), visit www.canals.ny.gov , or sign up for free updates from the Thruway’s Authority’s TRANSalert system. To subscribe, please see http://www.thruway.ny.gov/tas/index.shtml

BINGO CANCELLED

A sign that the apocalypse is upon us: Tonight's bingo at Terry's Corners has been cancelled. 

POWER OUTAGES & DOWN LINES

Town Supervisor Jennifer Bieber sent along this message...

I was on a conference call with National Grid this afternoon.  A few things that everyone should know...

If there are downed wires or broken poles, people should be calling 911 for those types of emergencies. 

If there is an outage, people can call 1-800-867-5222.  Updates on restorations can be checked by going to the website, www.nationalgrid.com and click on NY and then on the outage central.  You can also text the word STORM to 64743 to get updates. 

National Grid will be handling emergencies all night and will be fully staffed as this storm hits our area.  It's hard to diagnose problems in the dark, so they will be on the ground running at 5 AM to start taking care of outages.  The priority will be the downed lines and the high voltage lines, then working their way out, the sub stations, the critical areas where there are hospitals, nursing homes, water and sewer plants. 

 

Please remember, if you see a downed power line, treat it as a LIVE line!  Stay away, report it, stay safe.  If you're running a generator, make sure it's in a well ventilated area!  This storm will be ramping up around 5pm and the worst time will be from 8 PM to 8 AM.  Stay safe!!

WLVL & HURRICANE SANDY

WLVL 1340 in Lockport will be offering updates throughout the day and Donna Pieszala will be live during the 5:00 PM hour tonight. They also broadcast WGRZ TV2's news audio at 6:00. At 6:30 they will have a new local talk show (focusing on cars and bikes, I believe) that will also talk about the storm as needed. The crew at Culver Communications is also on call to broadcast local updates throughout the night as needed. 

TROOP 23 MEETING CANCELLED

Boy Scout Troop 23 of Middleport has cancelled tonight's meeting due to the weather.

KEEP CONNECTED TO THE BLOG DURING HURRICANE SANDY

In the event that the storm actually lives up to the hype and isn't mass hysteria, you can count on the Gasport blog and its Facebook page to keep you posted of what's happening in Royalton and Hartland. I always have an ear to the scanner and various other news sources, so I will post things as they become known. If you get any news tips or snap some good pictures, send them my way for posting. The email address is bobconfer@juno.com  

ROY-HART'S AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Per a news alert on WLVL...

All after-school activities at Roy-Hart have been cancelled for Monday, October 29th in advance of Hurricane Sandy.

EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES

With Hurricane Sandy bearing down on the region, you might want to unearth your police scanner to track wind damage, power outages and more.

Here are some good frequencies to listen to that affect Gasport residents:

Niagara County Sheriff: 154.755
Niagara County Sheriff tactical: 154.475

Fire & ambulance dispatch: 425.4625
Fire  "Ops 1": 425.3125
Fire "Ops 2": 425.3375

Erie Canal boat traffic: 156.650

Lockport ham radio repeater: 146.820

WINTER PARKING RULES IN EFFECT NOVEMBER 1

NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Local Law Number 1 for the year 2001 entitled "An Amendment to the Winter Parking Law of the Town of Royalton" which was adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Royalton on the 12 th day of March 2001 be advised as follows:

SECTION 2. PARKING LIMITS .

It shall be unlawful for any person to park any vehicle on a Town Highway and/or right of way within the Town of Royalton between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. from November 1 st of any year to April 1 st of the year immediately following.

A copy of Local Law No. 2, 2001 can be viewed in the Town of Royalton Town Clerk 's Office, 5316 Royalton Center Road, Middleport, New York 14105 during regular business hours.

Terry Nieman Superintendent of Highways Town of Royalton

HARTLAND TO HOLD BUDGET HEARING

TOWN OF HARTLAND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of Hartland will hold separate public hearings on the matters referred to herein at the Town Hall, 8942 Ridge Road, Gasport, New York, on the 08th of November, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Said public hearings will be as follows:

1. A Public Hearing on the preliminary budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2013, as required by Town Law section 108 for the purpose of considering the preliminary budget, and receiving comments from the public relative thereto. Said Budget is on file with the Town Clerk of the Town of Hartland where it may be inspected by any interested person during normal business hours.

Pursuant to Section 108 of the Town Law, the proposed salaries of the following Town Officers are hereby specified as follows:

SUPERVISOR $ 15,810.00
COUNCILMEN (4@) $ 5,310.00 each
TOWN CLERK $ 41,295.00
SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS $ 41,817.00

All persons, interested will be heard at the Public Hearing to be held as aforesaid.

2. A public hearing on amounts raised by taxation are as follows:

HARTLAND WATER DISTRICT $388,513.00
HARTLAND FIRE DISTRICT $214,773.00
HARTLAND REFUSE $272,252.00

All persons, interested will be heard at the Public Hearing to be held as aforesaid relative to assessments and amounts to be raised in said districts.

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 2013 budget.

Dated: October 24, 2012 Order of the Hartland Town Board Cynthia S. Boyler, Town Clerk

HARTLAND TO HAVE HEARING ON FIRE PROTECTION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACTS FOR THE TOWN OF HARTLAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

NOTICE IS GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Town Board of the Town of Hartland, Niagara County, New York, at the Town Hall, 8942 Ridge Road, Gasport, New York, on November 08, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of considering contracting with Hartland Volunteer Fire Co., Inc., Middleport Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Inc., Gasport Fire District #1, Town of Royalton on behalf of Gasport Chemical Hose Company, Inc., Miller Hose Company, Inc. and Wrights Corners Fire Company, Inc. for fire protection for the Town of Hartland Fire Protection District, which embraces all of the Town of Hartland except that portion thereof within the Village of Middleport upon the following terms:

A. Each of the above named fire companies will answer and attend all calls in the district according to zone designations established on a fire protection map on file for public inspection at the Town Clerk 's Office during business hours.

B. For this service, Hartland Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. will receive $121,558.00

For this service, Gasport Fire District #1, Town of Royalton, on behalf of Gasport Chemical Hose Company, Inc. will receive $28,173.00

For this service, Middleport Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Inc., receive $39,374.00.

For this service, Miller Hose Company, Inc. will receive $9,386.00 For this service, Wrights Corners Fire Company, Inc. will receive $3,174.00

C. Each fire protection contract shall run from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013 and shall thereafter be automatically renewed on a yearly basis until December 31, 2013 unless terminated according to the provision of Section 184 of the Town Law.

Dated: 10/25/2012 Cynthia S. Boyler, Town Clerk Town of Hartland

SWEENEY TODD AT ROY-HART THIS WEEKEND

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” the musical thriller by Stephen Sondheim will be presented by the Lake Plains Players this weekend (October 26, 27, and 28) at the Royalton-Hartland High School.  Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $10 for students and $7 for seniors and students age 13 and older. They are available at the door and online at www.lakeplainsplayers.com

Due to the sometimes graphic nature of the story, children age 12 and younger will not be permitted into the show and children ages 13 and 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

You can learn the details of the musical --- synopsis, cast, crew, etc -- at the Lake Plains Players website.

RECYCLING IN TODAY'S LOCKPORT PAPER

I may write a weekly column for the Lockport paper, but I have no idea what they will be reporting every day. So it was convenient coincidence that on the same day I post an item about recycling in Royalton, the paper features a front page article about towns throughout the region going the route of Royalton.

Read the article here: http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1684129864/EOW

ROYALTON GOING FORWARD WITH RECYCLING TOTES

An example of what the town is looking into
(ours will be black with red tops)

The Town of Royalton is going forward with their plan to bring large recycling totes -- and recycling on a greater scale -- to our town.

This has been a long time coming, as more and more municipalities are proceeding in this fashion.

I asked Supervisor Jennifer Bieber to give us an update and a lowdown on this program. Here's what she said....


We have send out a bid for carts this past week. We will be opening the bids on November 14 and discussing it at our work session that night.

We do have fund balance money to use for the carts so we don't have to borrow any money. We would continue to have the garbage fee on the tax bill and as people recycle more the rate per household would go down. We would use the difference in the fee to pay back the carts.

So, here is the example: This coming year, the garbage rate is going down about $1.00 per household. If we did enough recycling and in 2014 it dropped $2.00 per household, we would use the same rate as 2013 and use the $2.00 extra to pay down the cost of the carts.

We will also be applying for a recycling grant to off set the cost as well. When the amount of the carts is paid off, either through the grant or the difference in garbage cost, then the fee would drop by household.

The carts we're looking to get will be black with a red top. The reason for the color is basic, it's the least expensive tote to buy. The colored totes cost extra money --- the red, yellow and orange carts are even more expensive based on the suns UV rays. There is a savings in having the cart black, so that was the way we went. There is no extra for the red top. The carts are guaranteed for 10 years. They have a chip in them so if they get blown away for some reason or lost, we can get them back to the correct address.

Also, we can see who's recycling the most or the least and work on an incentive program or try to get people to recycle more.

Recycling, as you know, is a win win for everyone. We're a lot smarter when it comes to recycling and "saving the world" than we were even 10 years ago. We can save money and our small community can also do our part to save the planet.

One thing I notice on garbage day in my neighborhood is most people are recycling more than their totes will hold. The larger cart gives you 64 gallons of room to fill it up. That is over 3 times what we have today.

Also, we would be going to every other week recycling. You only have to take it to the road every other week. Modern will help to get schedules for everyone to know what week they set their recycling cart out.

I honestly don't know one reason why this wouldn't be a good idea. I'm sure someone will think of something but for now I'm looking at this as 100% positive!

MASTER PLAN MEETING

There will be a joint meeting of the Town Board, Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals at the Royalton Town Hall tonight (Wednesday the 24th) at 7:30 PM.  The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the Master Plan and how to proceed from this point and any other matters that may need to come before these bodies at that time. 

HALLOWEEN HOURS IN ROYALTON

Trick-or-treating hours for Halloween have been set by the Royalton town board as 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

MINI CRIME WAVE HITS GASPORT

Last week I was thinking that it's been awfully quiet in Gasport. You can determine how "newsy" Gasport is -- with the good and the bad -- by looking at how many blog posts there are in a month. There have been less than 30 posts per month since July.

Well, it looks like I had thought about the serenity too soon.

There is now a mini crime wave underway in Gasport, this one north of the canal.

On Sunday evening an Orangeport homeowner had stolen from him an ATV and lawnmower and his house was ransacked. You can read the police report here

Then, in broad daylight on Monday, a Slayton Settlement Road home was burglarized and $1,700 in electronic items were taken.

This is not something new to Gasport. In recent years there have been spurts of burglaries in rural Niagara County, something the Sheriff's Department attributed to the drug trade and the bad economy. Things were so bad in Gasport in 2008 that community watch efforts were tried in Royalton while Hartland saw the creation of a block club in 2009 under the watch of young James Solomon. 

So, if this week's crimes are a sign of things to come (a repeat of 2008 and 2009), do your diligence as a property owner (lock your cars, garages, and homes) and as a good neighbor (keep an eye on your neighbors land). Be sure to report anything that's suspicious.

__

RETAILER LOOKS AT CREEK EDGE ALPACAS

This week's issue of the Lockport Retailer looks at a Gasport business in its weekly business profile....


It’s been 7 years this month since Helen Fink started her new career path with Creek Edge Alpacas.

Fink, who was born and raised in Cattaraugus County, has spent the last 55 years in the Gasport area.

Her husband William Fink owned a greenhouse and flower shop, where they sold many bedding plants. William was the horticulturist and Helen his helper for 45 years.

When he passed away 10 years ago, Helen said she continued to run the greenhouse for a couple seasons but it became too expensive, with the price of natural gas rising.

Helen decided to try something she was more familiar with. She grew up on a berry farm and knew about raising animals and fencing.

“I started with a couple alpacas and wanted to see where it would go from there,” she said.

Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.metrowny.com/businessprofile/205-Stay_warm_this_winter_with_products_from_Creek_Edge_Alpacas_in_Gasport.html

TRASH OR TREASURE EVENT AT LIBRARY

Trash or Treasure Brings Appraisers to Royalton Hartland Community Library

Public invited to bring items to “Antiques Roadshow” style event

If you have ever wondered if some of your family heirlooms or that item that caught your eye at a garage sale are of any great value? Now is the time see what they may really be worth.

Bring them to the “Trash or Treasure” event at the Royalton Hartland Community Library, 9 Vernon Street in Middleport, on Wednesday, November 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. and get a verbal appraisal of their value.

Mr. John Urtel and Mr. Dave Devereau, both experienced appraisers, will be providing their opinion on items that anyone can bring to the library that evening. Items must be manageable by one person, including furniture. The cost is $5 for two items and $2 each for any additional items. Each participant is allowed a total of 8 items.

“We expect a lot of people to bring us their items, whether large or small,” says Mary Collins of the Friends of the Library. “People love to get an idea of what their valuables may really be worth, and we want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to hear their verbal appraisal.”

Refreshments will be served during the evening thanks to the Friends of the Library group. The volunteer group’s activities support and help to promote and publicize the library’s programs and services throughout the Royalton and Hartland area.

“Proceeds from the “Trash or Treasure” event will be used to provide improvements to the upstairs Community Room, which is a popular meeting place for local groups and clubs,” according to Collins.

For more information about “Trash or Treasure” at the Royalton Hartland Community Library, call Rose Bernard at 735-3281 or Mary Collins at 735-7212.

WINNER ANNOUNCED IN TOWN BARREL CONTEST

Pat Hinds, the deputy town clerk, sent along this message for the community:

I would like to thank all of the residents that participated in the Royalton Town Hall Barrel Contest we had this summer.

The winner of the barrel this year was letter B. The department that planted this barrel was the Supervisor’s office.

Thank you to all of the departments that participated in this contest as well.

WIND DAMAGES BUNKER HILL HOME

The Lockport paper is reporting that the wind storm earlier this week damaged a home on Bunker Hill Road...


http://lockportjournal.com/local/x1684127049/WIND-WHIPPED

CRAFT SHOW & FLEA MARKET ON SUNDAY

There will be a craft show and flea market this coming Sunday, October 21st, from 10:00am till 4:00pm. at the Gasport Fire Hall.

FREE Admission. There will be refreshments and a light Lunch.

Vendor space is available, call Patti for info at 772-2551.

This event is sponsored by the Gasport Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary.

FREE COMMUNITY DINNER ON THE 24th

On Wednesday, October 24th from 5:00 – 6:30 PM there will be a free community dinner at Middleport United Methodist Church, which is at the corner of Park and Vernon Streets in Middleport.

They will be serving chicken & rice; salad and a dessert (menu is subject to change).

Activities will be provided for children.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

CHOWDER SALE: OCTOBER 27th

Mark your calendars...Boy Scout Troop 18 will have their annual chowder sale on Saturday, October 27th at the Covenant United Church of Christ at  4449 Main St. in Gasport. The sale starts at 9:30 am. Cost is $7 per quart and $16 per gallon if you have your own containers. It is $17 per gallon with troop-provided containers. Homemade baked goods will also be available. 

GASPORT FARMS HOST LEADERSHIP NIAGARA

Leadership Niagara is a community-based leadership development program for adults. The 12-month class meets once a month with each day-long endeavor focusing on a specific topic -- business, energy, social services, etc.

September's class focused on agriculture. The class learned from folks who represented Gasport and farming very well --- Gasport View Dairy, Harris Farm Market, and Becker Farms.

One of this year's students -- Michele DeLuca, who is a reporter for the Greater Niagara Newspapers - wrote an excellent recap of the day for the Niagara Gazette. Check it out here:

http://niagara-gazette.com/features/x1618662852/Pay-dirt

GREAT LAKES TRIATHLON TO PASS THROUGH GASPORT SATURDAY

The Great Lakes 100-Mile Triathlon takes place this Saturday, October 6th.

44 athletes are participating in this event, which includes a mile swim in Lake Ontario, 84 miles of cycling, and 15 miles of running.

The biking portion will take the participants through Gasport, so drive with caution and cheer on the triathletes.

The cycling route will take them down the length of Hartland Road, through the hamlet of Gasport, after which they will head west on Route 31.

ZION LUTHERAN'S 100th BIRTHDAY

Zion Lutheran Church will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on Sunday, October 14th.

Festivities will begin with a service at 10:30 a.m. at the church followed by a dinner at the Gasport Fire Hall (catered by Donna Eick) and an afternoon of memories.

There is no charge for the dinner, but a free-will offering will be collected. Reservations must be made by calling Nancy Luckman at 778-7117 no later than this Friday.

For more information about the Church, refer to the interview held with Pastor Rodney Klinzing last November when the 100th year of worship began:

http://gasportnewyork.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-interview-pastor-rodney.html

TEA AT THE LIBRARY

From the Royalton-Hartland Community Library...

Join us for tea at the library on Saturday, October 6 from 1 to 3 PM and learn about the wonderful customs surrounding that traditional, yet not exactly American, experience of "tea time" being sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Bring your own tea cup and learn from Cindy Robinson of the English Rose Tea Shop in Medina as she presents information about how others around the world experience tea time. Meet some new friends at tea.

As space is limited, please RSVP at 735-3281. For more information call the library at 735-3281.

The Royalton Hartland Community Library provides residents a variety of programs, events and materials that are listed on the library’s website at www.RoyHartCommunityLibrary.com .

DONATIONS STRENGHTEN COMMUNITY LIBRARY

The Royalton Hartland Community Library recently received a donation in honor of Betty W. Querns from her family for books to memorialize her love for family and her years of service at the library

Betty Querns of Middleport felt strongly about family and the joys of motherhood. When she passed away on May 3 of this year, her family decided to share her interests with the community in a special way. Her family donated several books in her name to the Royalton Hartland Community Library.

“As Betty had worked at the library for a number of years, the family felt that donating books on topics that Betty loved would be a wonderful way to remember her,” says Rose Bernard, Library Director.

“Her family donated the hardcover editions of ‘I Already Know I Love You’ by Billy Crystal; ‘When a Child is Born, So is a Grandmother’ by Mary Engelbreit; ‘Grandmother's Book of Promises’ by Karen Hill; ‘I Loved You Before You Were Born’ by Anne Bowen; ‘Mother’s Song’ adapted by Elliot Greene; and ‘Momma Will You?’ by Dori Chaconas.

The library places a placard inside the cover of each book or DVD in memory of the person whose family or friends have made the donation. They also send a note to let the family know about it. “Families tell us that it is a great comfort when we notify them that a donation to the library has been made in their loved one’s name,” Bernard adds.

Bernard advises families that it is best to make a monetary donation for a specific book title or a topic as a memorial rather than bringing in new books. “The book may already be on the shelf. If we do have that book title, we would then be able to add a new book to our collection that we don’t currently have for the whole Royalton Hartland community to read and enjoy.”

For more information about the books listed above or about making a memorial donation, call the library at 735-3281. The Royalton Hartland Community Library provides residents a variety of programs, events and materials that are listed on the library’s website at www.RoyHartCommunityLibrary.com