Salt & Light canceled

After much discussion, The 2020 Salt & Light Executive Committee has made a difficult decision to cancel this year's Festival.

Independence Day cancelled

The Hartland Independence Day Celebration scheduled for July 3, 2020 is officially cancelled.

This event is a long-standing tradition in our community; one that’s important for us to celebrate. As such, this decision was not easy. However, the need to implement appropriate safety measures for such a large-scale event, while also ensuring physical distancing options for participants, were just a few of the many contributing factors taken into consideration. Uncertainty around New York's timeline to allow large public gatherings was another, as well as the significant planning, and the financial support required of our generous community.

We look forward to the day when we will be able to safely come together for this and other community events.

The Hartland Independence Day Committee

Library being rebuilt

The US&J's Mark Scheer writes of those in Gasport who are helping to rebuild the free little library destroyed by vandals:

https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/rebuilding-connors-little-library/article_a5cc5cbc-3fb8-539b-b0ff-873a763d907f.html?fbclid=IwAR2OpXpcFRZMAR9X_eGD8OnsKuFKq7e0bXRXbqlI-jrvYe0bypY-soWZGDM

Mr. Bowman has passed away

Longtime Roy-Hart residents will remember Mr. Bowman who spent a couple of years at Roy-Hart in the early 1960s as principal. He passed away in February but his family is honoring his life with a limited graveside memorial this week

https://www.nny360.com/news/obituaries/maynard-lester-bowman/article_ffc84a49-8f79-5410-8108-91a3cf806113.html

Middleport guard gate down

Notice to Mariners
Erie Canal – Middleport

May 18, 2020

Mariners are advised that the north span of the Middleport Guard Gate in Orleans County will remain in the lowered position until further notice. Traffic must proceed through the south span.

The operational status of all guard gates can be found at http://www.canals.ny.gov/wwwapps/boating/guardgates.aspx.

NYSCC Cruising Guide Page E-7 showing the affected area can be found at http://www.canals.ny.gov/navinfo/charts/nyscce07.jpg.

Canal opening schedule

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that much of the 524-mile Canal system will open for through navigation of the locks by July 4, 2020 as maintenance and construction projects are set to resume on a regional basis under the “NY Forward Reopening” plan.

Canal Corporation crews and contractors will mobilize to work sites in the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley, Central NY, Finger Lakes, and Western NY regions as those areas reopen. Maintenance work that needs to be completed at specific Canal facilities varies by location and locks along the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals will open for passage in a staggered fashion. Announcements regarding specific lock or regional openings will be communicated through the Canal Corporation’s “Notice to Mariners” notification program available at www.canals.ny.gov.

OPENING SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE)
Capital Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD
Erie Canal from Lock E-2 in Waterford to Lock E-9 in Rotterdam
Champlain Canal from Lock C-1 in Waterford to Lock C-12 in Whitehall
Mohawk Valley Region – Locks opening in phases, targeted for between July 4th & August 10th
Erie Canal Lock E-10 in Cranesville through Sylvan Beach at Oneida Lake
Central NY Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th
Erie Canal from Oneida Lake to Lock E-25 in May’s Point
Oswego Canal – except Lock O-7 in Oswego
Finger Lakes Region – Locks targeted for opening by July 4th
Erie Canal from Lock E-25 in May’s Point to Locks E-34/35 in Lockport – except Lock E-26 in Clyde
Cayuga – Seneca Canal – except Locks CS-2/3 in Seneca Falls
Western NY Region – “NY Forward Reopening” Date TBD
Erie Canal Locks E-34/35 in Lockport through Tonawanda

As maintenance and construction work commences, most boaters, paddlers, and anglers can access sections of the Canal system for recreational use today. Mariners are advised that some sections of the Canal system will have reduced water levels until such time as the Canal Corporation completes its projects. In addition, navigation aids are not currently in place, but will be installed on the Canal system as the regions open.

All users of the Canal system and adjacent Empire State Trail are encouraged to practice social distancing while using boat launches, trails and other public resources.

The Canal Corporation appreciates the public’s patience during this time and urges all users to register to receive updates through the “Notice to Mariners” notification program at www.canals.ny.gov.

Fonzi catches TWO record white bass

Gasport's Morgan Fonzi is a record breaker -- TWICE!

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/2020/05/western-ny-angler-breaks-the-new-york-state-fishing-record-for-white-bass-twice.html?fbclid=IwAR1SLX-uHz5svKFQXY3_1V0h_aDFU9MkdlZtjFUGqnJDGISwlVm9W_ztcLY

Cycle the Erie Canal cancelled

Due to Covid-19 concerns, Cycle the Erie Canal, which brings more than 600 bicyclists through our community every July, has been cancelled for this year. The next event is scheduled for July 11-18, 2021.

Best wishes for a public ceremony

It's a bummer that this year's commencement ceremony won't be held here but, at the same time, if it is at Sunset Drive-In it will be something unique, something that our young men and women -- and their families -- will always remember in vivid detail. A little bit of history will be made -- you'll be living it.

I hope things do work out for our seniors and you can have a public ceremony at Sunset. You and your families need it given the year you've had...and you deserve it, because your past, present and future -- YOU -- need to be celebrated publicly.

Dr. Stopinski May 12 message

Today's message from Dr. Stopinski...

Community Members:

As we near the end of the 2019-2020 school year, we are faced with many challenges in celebrating many of our traditional events. Concerts, athletic seasons and field days have been canceled. Award ceremonies, honor society inductions and moving up days have all been moved to a virtual model. One of the most frequent questions of late has been what are we doing for our seniors and what about the graduation ceremony?

I want to thank Mr. Bell, High School Principal, Mrs. Albee, School Counselor and senior class co-advisor, and Mrs. O’Connor, senior class co-advisor for their efforts this past month making certain we recognize our seniors and plan for special recognitions in these final weeks of school. Thank you to the community for adopting many of the seniors and to those organizations who have donated towards the effort.

We have been exploring multiple options for the commencement ceremony since the first weeks of April. As you can imagine, each option has had its benefits and challenges. Please know that we have carefully considered each option through the lens of the guidance we continue to receive from the Governor's Executive Orders and guidelines from various health agencies. My hope is that we can obtain permission to gather as a school community to celebrate this important milestone. In an effort to capture the commencement ceremony, we are putting a contingency plan in place to create a digital ceremony if it is deemed we are not allowed to convene.

The current guidance for all schools in Niagara County prohibits the District from assembling for a commencement ceremony as we have in years past. We continue to plan and prepare for a ceremony on June 27 or July 25 in hopes that we will have permission to proceed. A ceremony will likely not take place on school grounds, rather plans are being developed and presented to hold the ceremony at the Sunset Drive-In where we may be able to provide appropriate social distancing and opportunities for a more traditional graduation ceremony. In the event we are not allowed to hold a more traditional ceremony, we are preparing a virtual ceremony so that we can capture this important day for our graduates and families. I encourage community members and students to reach out directly with Principal Bell at the High School for the most current plans for our seniors.

These are challenging times for each of us. I know that if we continue to communicate and support each other we will grow as a school community. As always, I hope that you will make an effort to reach out directly or follow me on Twitter @DrStopinski

Sincerely,

Dr. Hank Stopinski

Superintendent of Schools

Gavyn Boyle is highly rated

Prep Baseball Report has posted an article looking at the Top Ten outfielders in the state representing the class of 2022. #2 on the list is Roy-Hart's own Gavyn Boyle. The rankings also have him as the 11th best Class of 2022 baseball player -- any position -- in the State. Congrats!

https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/NY/Inside-the-Rankings-Top-10-Class-of-2022-Outfielders-3102698754

Roy-Hart candidates

The list of candidates for the Royalton-Hartland school board has been finalized. Five people are running for three seats. They include incumbents Carol Blumrick, Tom Brigham and Jeff Waters and challengers Melissa Bundrock and Jason Wilhelm.

Class of 2020 graduation ceremony

A message from Royalton-Hartland about the Class of 2020 Virtual Graduation Ceremony

Dear Families of a Roy-Hart Senior - Class of 2020

As all of us are living through an unprecedented time and making sure our communities are healthy and safe, I want to assure all of you that you are missed and not alone during this time. As a school community you are among millions of other students across the country that will be leaving high school as the graduating class of 2020 to pursue your dreams.

We as a district are continuing to discuss plans for your June commencement. Such plans consist of a digital platform that will provide the opportunity for all students to be recognized and celebrated as a graduating Senior. Just as it became clear that continuing public education in our school buildings was no longer an option, planning for commencement ceremonies is also challenging as the COVID-19 crisis is still impacting us in ways previously unimaginable.

Roy-Hart is committed to provide the Class of 2020 a ceremony that recognizes you as individuals and as a collective community representing Ram Pride through Music, Art, Theatre, Sports, Technology, Agriculture, and Academia.

As we continue to plan; information will be shared with you that will assist us in creating a ceremony celebrating our Seniors. At the same time, we will be adhering to the guidelines put forth by the Department of Health and NYS regarding social distancing and safety procedures.

We know this is a difficult time, and we are working hard to make sure our school community continues to support families in every way we can.

To the graduating Class of 2020 - although the end of this school year is like no other, your future is still yours, your dreams are still yours and your future is for you to determine. Stay strong, stay committed, continue to grow and learn, not only from our current situation but for all the future experiences and opportunities that come before you.

Hartland Town Park vandalized

In the overnight hours of Friday May 8th, Hartland Town Park was vandalized. Gates and Storage Shed along with several Park Benches were damaged and Portable Toilets knocked over. Anyone with information is asked to call the Town Hall @ 735-7179 or the Niagara County Sheriff's Dept. @ 438-3393. This is"Your Park". Any and all assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

May 7th school board meeting

Watch last night's school board meeting here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpRASjIvXSg

Flyover May 12th

Roy-Hart's decade of dominance

The Orleans Hub looks waay back at Roy-Hart's dominance of track in the 1960s and 1970s:

https://orleanshub.com/rooy-hart-had-a-decade-plus-of-dominance-in-n-o-league-boys-track-competition/

Curtains the musical

Important update on Curtains the musical from the Roy-Hart Music Parents Club...

Roy-Hart still plans to perform Curtains with dates to be determined. To accommodate any Federal, State or local mandates in place at that time, previously purchased tickets will be refunded to allow for appropriate ‘at the door’ ticket sales at the time of the show. More to come!

We appreciate your support. Patrons that previously purchased Curtains tickets through BOOKTIX can expect a full refund.

Hartland gun raffle

From the Hartland fire company...

Unfortunately our gun raffle scheduled for Saturday May 9th, 2020 has been postponed to October 17th, 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Everyone that has already purchased a ticket will be contacted and given the choice of either a refund or they can keep their ticket for the rescheduled raffle. Tickets for the rescheduled raffle are available for purchase. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Fire Company at 716-735-3283. Thank you, and stay healthy!

Internet issues in Gasport and Middleport

Excellent reporting by the Lockport US&J's Connor Hoffman about the internet woes in eastern Niagara County:

https://www.govtech.com/network/Shelter-in-Place-Orders-Underscore-Rural-Internet-Limitations.html

Gasport Community Gardens

Stephanie Jaczewski is looking for help getting the community gardens up and running this year. These are the gardens located across the street from Hartland Bible Church.

Earlier this week she spent a beautiful afternoon clearing out some of the beds. She'd like to see them ready to be planted by mid to late May.

She's currently drawing up plans for each bed. She is going to be ordering cattle panels to be used as trellises so she can maximize growing space. She'd like to be able to provide lots of fresh, delicious produce for our community and she will be reaching out to the Gasport food pantry soon.

She said she's thankful to be able to go ahead with this project while so many things are shut down. The beds are spaced far enough apart so everyone will be able to work together in small, socially distant groups. She'd love to get the kiddos involved as soon as possible.

Please let her know in the comments below or PM her on Facebook to let her know if you're interested in helping!