FRIEND FEST TAKES PLACE ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2nd

LEGO CLUB AT THE ROYALTON HARTLAND LIBRARY

Most adults don’t know that the name “LEGO” is an abbreviation of the two Danish words "leg godt", meaning "play well", but you don’t have to tell the kids that. They know all about how much fun they have creating and playing with LEGO bricks.

Children, teens and even adults have been “playing well” at the weekly meetings of the LEGO Club at the Royalton Hartland Community Library every Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the upstairs Community Room.  Children of all ages are invited to come and create wild vehicles, super buildings and creatures with LEGOs as they exercise their imaginations.  

The LEGO as we know it was born in 1932 in a small carpenter’s workshop in Denmark and over the past 80 years has been enjoyed by generations, including the 20 or so members of the newly formed LEGO Club at the Royalton Hartland Library.

“The great thing about LEGOs is that building with them encourages an active and collaborative approach to problem solving. And they make learning fun, which everyone can appreciate,” says Sonora Miller, Library Director.

“No registration is required for the LEGO Club. We know folks are busy and we want them to come, create, have fun and build new things whenever they can stop in for a meeting. We have all about 25 children of all ages attending the meetings, and since parents are required to attend with their children during the summer months, families are discovering that LEGO club is a fun activity that they can all enjoy together. ”

“We are also looking for donations of LEGOs for our members to use at our meetings. Anyone can drop off their previously used LEGOs and we will put them to good use at our Wednesday afternoon meetings,” Miller adds.

For more information about the Royalton Hartland Library’s LEGO Club and the library’s other programs please call the library at (716) 735-3281. Additional details can be found online at the library’s website at www.RoyHartCommunityLibrary.com .

FREE MOVIE NIGHT: AUGUST 14th

On Friday, August 14th, the Gasport Beautification Committee will be hosting their annual free movie night at Veterans Park in the hamlet. This year's film -- Toy Story -- will begin at 9:00 PM.

They will be selling candy, popcorn, ice cream, pop, pizza, water and coffee while offering a family deal of 12 food items for $10. Proceeds from concessions will go towards this and other activities undertaken by the Committee.

SPARKS IS CANDIDATE FOR HIGHWAY POST

The Town of Royalton Republican committee has selected long-time highway department employee James Sparks to run for highway superintendent.

Details at the Lockport Union Sun & Journal:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/candidate-appointed-for-royalton-highway-superintendent/article_aa09367f-b54e-5fe7-85b6-2300f9fa4309.html

ROYALTON VOTES DOWN CHURCH TAKEOVER

The Royalton Town Board voted down a resolution to enter into a shared services agreement with the Town of Hartland for the takeover of the Universalist Church, located in the village of Middleport.

Details at the Lockport Union Sun and Journal:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/royalton-town-board-votes-down-universalist-church/article_e2c6ecbe-3aa7-5655-93b2-3a8fba740680.html

ROYALTON COMMUNITY DAY

The Town of Royalton's 3rd Annual Community Day will be held on Sunday August 23rd from noon to 4:00 at the Town Hall.

The fire companies that serve Royalton will be bringing their trucks. The Niagara County Sheriff will have the Command Center that was purchased with a Homeland Security grant. The K-9 Unit will be doing a demonstration. The American Red Cross will be doing a blood drive as well.

They will also have a place for 20 tables on a first come, first serve basis for a small flea market area. Please contact Pat Hinds at 772-2431 ext. 29 to get on the list.

ALSO, if you are a local business (big or small), church, club or organization please call Town Supervisor Jennifer Bieber and they will find a place for you at the Community Day. If you can’t participate that day, feel free to drop off fliers, menus or catalogs at the Town Hall and she will have them put out for the public.

For town residents they will also be doing an e-recycle from noon to 3:00 the same day.

ROSSELLI GETS COACHING GIG

Lou Rosselli, the greatest athlete in Royalton-Hartland history (he was a 1996 Olympian), has been named to the coaching staff of USA Wrestling for the 2015 World Championships:

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-wrestl/spec-rel/070915aaa.html

TRI-TOWN OPEN HOUSE, BBQ, RAFFLE: JULY 11

FRIDAY NIGHT AT CANALSIDE

BRAGG IS BOARD PRESIDENT

Congrats to Dan Bragg on being elected president of the Royalton-Hartland school board.

Here's the report from the Lockport US&J:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/bragg-elected-roy-hart-s-school-board-president/article_ccdec997-0414-556b-8d71-687032277a40.html

MUSIC IN THE PARK

Sunday, July 19 is the date for the Royalton Hartland Business and Professional Association (RHBPA) to hold their annual Music in the Park at Rotary Park on Rt. 31, which is located behind Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Middleport.

This year the concerts include performances by David Stockton from 3 to 4 p.m. and The Easy Street Big Band from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The musical performances are free and open to everyone come and enjoy.

Ticket holders for the event will enjoy wine tastings from Freedom, Leonard Oakes Estate, Schulze, Vizcarra Vineyards and Salamaca Estate wineries. Beer tastings from Barker Brewing will also be available. In addition, Schwabs and Lynoaken Farm Markets will have fresh produce for sale. There will also be chocolates, hot dogs, Yancy’s Fancy Cheese and other tasty goodies for sale.  A meal catered by Bond Catering can be purchased during the concert.

Each year, the RHBPA also awards one lucky ticket holder a great grand prize that includes an overnight getaway with dinner included and a fabulous gift basket provided courtesy of FMC in Middleport.

Band performances are in the picnic pavilion and tents are available for the vendors and for audience seating. Music in the Park takes place rain or shine.

Tickets are $10 presale and $15 at the door and provide you with free wine tastings, a wine glass and enter you in the drawing for the door prizes. Contact Julie at (716) 735-7631 for presale tickets or purchase them at Village Hall.

FMC HONORS TWO ROY-HART GRADS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS

FMC Corporation, which operates the Agricultural Solutions plant in Middleport, recently honored two Royalton-Hartland High School graduating seniors with separate $1,500 FMC Scholarships from the local plant.

FMC Plant Manager Greg Sullivan presented the scholarship checks to Francesca Bond and Hannah Rausch during the Roy-Hart High School Awards program. The scholarships were awarded based on the submission of a 300-word essay with the main focus on “Changes in Agriculture Over the Last 50 Years.”

Francesa Bond will be attending Buffalo State College after a school career featuring participation in field hockey, school plays, Student Council, Drama Club, and Orchestra; and serving as a counselor at Hartland Summer Recreation and as a PTSA volunteer for a variety of events.

Hannah Rausch will be attending Marist College for the study of fashion merchandising. She was a three-sport athlete in soccer, swimming and softball at Roy-Hart, where she also participated in the National Honor Society, yearbook, Drama Club, and Captains Club. She also served as class and music council treasurer.

KUDOS ON ANOTHER EXCELLENT FOURTH OF JULY

Kudos to the volunteers who organized the Royalton Fourth of July and to all the folks who gave their time and money to make it a success. Another great job!

Once again the parade, evening events and fireworks were awesome...and, once again, the fireworks rivaled those of other communities (I can attest to that, as I watch both Gasport's and Lockport's fireworks from my home).

If you see chairman Jeff Brown and his army of volunteers out and about, thank them for their awesomeness!! Gasport is a great place to live because of folks like them!!

STANDOFF ON CHECKERED TAVERN ROAD

There was a standoff in Gasport today at the corner of Wheeler and Checkered Tavern Roads. Details at East Niagara Post:

http://www.eastniagarapost.com/2015/07/man-detained-following-checkered-tavern.html

TOWN-WIDE GARAGE SALE

Royalton's town-wide garage sale is this holiday weekend. They have posted the master address list on their website:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/LocalEventCategories/Home/:item=18&field=events;/content/LocalEvents/View/73

FOURTH OF JULY

Just a reminder about Independence Day activities...

The Royalton Fourth of July festivities will take place on Saturday, July 4th, 2015.

The parade will start at 6 pm from the Hartland Bible Church, head east on West Ave., south on Main St., east on Park Ave., north on Central Ave., east on Maplewood Ave., north on Mack Ave., west on East Ave., north on Central Ave., west on State St., and back to the church. 

The park and parking will open at 7 pm. Buses will start at 7 pm from Gasport Fire Hall and Terry's Corners. Food vendors will open at 7 pm.

There will be a children's movie at 7:30.

The dixieland band, "23 Ski Doo" will play from 7pm till 8pm. Jonsie & The Firecrackers will play from 8pm till 10pm.  Fireworks start at 10 pm.

If anyone would like to help, please contact Jeff Brown at jeffb2010@verizon.net 

The Committee would like to thank all the area businesses and town's people who donate to make this day a success. The Committee wants everyone to know this is not a Town or County event -- it is made possible entirely by donations and volunteerism. Donations can be mailed to: Royalton 4th Of July Committee  8511 East Ave. Gasport, NY 14067 

SUMMER PROGRAMS AT THE LIBRARY

Children of all ages have the chance to be super heroes during this year’s Summer Reading Program at the Royalton Hartland Community Library called “Every Hero has a Story”. The six-week-long program that runs from July 9 through August 13 offers children of all age categories a range of activities that combine learning and fun and encourages them to read as much as they can.

Little Storytime for Preschoolers

Children ages 0-5 are invited to join Miss Sonora on Saturdays from 10:30 to 11 a.m. for stories and activities that are full of movement, songs and learning. Summer is no time to sit still, and the reading activities for your little ones are meant to keep them learning and moving. Sessions run from July 11 through August 8.

Super Storytellers for Kids Ages 4-9

Kids will have a have a super time learning about all kinds of heroes on Thursdays beginning July 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Traveling storytellers Allison and Ian will be entertaining and enthralling us with tales about heroes. Each session also includes time to create with crafts.

Mythology Madness for Ages 8-13

Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is when the fun and fantastic world of mythological heroes will come alive. Participants will get to know Percy Jackson & the Olympians, a series of fictional adventures, and the Goddess Girls, four goddesses getting to know the ins and outs of Mount Olympus Academy. And of course, pizza will also be part of these special sessions just for the “tweens” that begins July 11.

Fantastic Family Movies on Wednesdays

Every Wednesday from July 8 through August 12 from 2 to 3:30 p.m., children and their parents are invited to come for a movie complete with popcorn! Popular family-friendly flicks starring super heroes will be shown in the upstairs Community Room. The complete schedule of movies is available on the library’s website and at the library Circulation Desk.

Tuesday is Time for Hartland Heroes and Royalton Rescuers

In addition to this summer’s programs at the library, every Tuesday Miss Sonora will be at the Town Recreation Programs at both Hartland and Royalton. She will be working with the Hartland Heroes on Tuesdays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and with the Royalton Rescuers from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Each week events taking place for “Every Hero Has a Story” can be found on the library website’s home page. A complete schedule of sessions can also be found on the Children’s Programs page and hard copies can also be picked up at the library.

The Royalton Hartland Community Library provides residents a wide variety of programs and materials that can be found on the library’s website at www.RoyHartCommunityLibrary.com . For more information or to register call the library at 735-3281.

ERIE CANAL DERBY UNDERWAY

The Erie Canal Derby, run by Gasport's Steve Harrington, begins today and lasts until Sunday, July 12th.Get out and fish the Canal and compete to win some $20,000 in  prizes including a boat, motor, and trailer and a $2,500 tagged fish. There are divisions for 7 fish species and two categories for each -- adult and children...making it the perfect family event. Entry fees are: 14 and under $10.00, adults $15.00, family $25.00.

For information visit: www.eriecanalderby.com

As a long time supporter of the event I can attest to Steve's passion in making the Derby an awesome one. He one's of Niagara's good guys and he really cares about using the event to highlight an underutilized fishery and to get families outdoors and kids hooked on fishing. If a kid makes a splash in the derby, he or she will be an outdoorsperson for life. I can still remember the first fish I ever caught...a northern pike in the Canal, back when I was 7 or 8 years old. I haven't stopped fishing. 

RAIN IS IMPACTING LOCAL FARMS

WIVB Channel 4 looks at the impact that the rains have had on local farms -- including Becker Farms...