Local boy diagnosed with cancer

Young Jack Waterman has been diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer. A GoFundMe has been set up for his family to help with the medical expenses. His parents, Cortlyn and Jamie, are deeply involved in the community -- Cortlyn is an aide at the Roy-Hart elementary school and Jamie is a little league coach. As you will see on the GoFundMe, the support for them has been incredible since their friend made the page 3 days ago.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/7a2ph-help-jack-fight-cancer?utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR12qh91qByvhspfb7D3r8G0nr_gjyUtSdLR0Lrt44DGhsnoKaT1yTWV-QA

 

TC meat raffle

 

October distribution for food pantry

 If you know of someone in need in the towns of Royalton and Hartland, the monthly distribution of the Gasport food pantry and clothing closet takes places this Saturday

 

 

More doe tags available

Effective November 1st, more doe tags are available in 9A and 9F, the Wildlife Management Units that cover the towns of Hartland and Royalton.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/124033.html?fbclid=IwAR1UiFGFPOcxihnz0v08m1HFaXslT358joTRCRVsAen51TT57rsQ3aUbw9Y

Hometown Heroes coming to Royalton

 The town of Royalton has launched a Hometown Heroes banner program, similar to those that you've seen in neighboring communities, including Hartland. Here are the details and forms: 

 

 

Senator Ortt tours FMC

 

New York State Sen. Robert G. Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) toured FMC Corporation’s Agricultural Sciences plant in Middleport this week and presented workers with a proclamation celebrating the 75th anniversary of FMC assuming full operations of the plant.

In issuing the proclamation, Sen. Ortt noted specifically FMC’s planned future investment in the plant, the plant’s economic benefit to the community, new hiring efforts, corporate environmental goals, and workplace safety records.

“The company is an important contributor to the Middleport and eastern Niagara County economies; that economic contribution is set to grow as FMC makes major investments in new employee hiring, product offerings and capital improvements at the Middleport plant,” the proclamation stated.

Plant Manager Brent Sensenich is looking to hire seven new employees, increasing the plant’s workforce to over 70, to meet global demand for agricultural science products to protect and increase food supplies. The Middleport plant formulates and packages a number of key product lines to protect over 100 crops in more than 75 countries worldwide.

“FMC’s Agricultural Sciences Plant in Middleport plays a key role in FMC’s global leadership position in agricultural sciences,” Sen. Ortt’s proclamation further stated.

“We appreciate very much Sen. Ortt’s support for industrial facilities and his encouragement on our 75th anniversary as we continue to work hard for the betterment of our local community and to provide sustainable employment opportunities in our region,” Sensenich said.

The proclamation recognized that “FMC is also committed to the safety of its employees, with ongoing safety training to keep workers safe at home and on the job; that commitment has enabled the Middleport plant to go more than two years as an accident and injury-free workplace without an OSHA recordable incident.”

Regarding environmental goals, FMC announced in August the goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and will use science-based targets aligned with keeping the global temperature at one-and-a-half degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times.

Transformers make their way through Gasport

Yesterday, two VERY heavy wide loads made their way through Gasport. Each load weighed 800,000 pounds. Here's the Orleans Hub report with photos:

https://orleanshub.com/giant-transformers-get-escort-from-medina-to-royalton/?fbclid=IwAR2ayvs6Y_4pltWuODQVqkotMWKFwgE4cJkYKS8eyZTghPqILmxsp4SMD8k

Many people have speculated that the giant devices are batteries for local solar farms. They are not. They are transformers for outfitting a new electrical substation that manages a high-voltage line that runs from Royalton to Elma. Here's a 2017 article about that:

 https://energycentral.com/news/power-agency-backs-219-million-upgrade-elma-royalton

Niagara County redestricting plan

The Niagara County Redistricting Commission today released its proposed map for the county’s 15 legislative districts based on 2020 census data. Redistricting takes place once every 10 years. The commission also announced two public hearings for the public to comment on the plan before it is forwarded to the Niagara County Legislature.

“The five members of the commission reviewed the initial census data and unanimously decided that, given the relative stability in population across the county and the fact the current legislative map was unanimously adopted by the Legislature 10 years ago, our focus would be to bring districts into compliance with a minimal amount of disruption to the current district map,” said Steve Brady, chairman of the Redistricting Commission. “The map we are proposing would make no changes to 10 of the districts and only slight population adjustments to the other five.”

Brady said the commission will present the map, explain the redistricting process and accept public comments at two public hearings scheduled for:

• Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.in the Niagara Falls City Hall Council Chambers located at 745 Main Street, Niagara Falls, New York

• Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers, Niagara County Courthouse 175 Hawley St., Lockport, New York.

“I think it’s important for the public to understand the different parameters we have to work under to ensure the redistricting map is constitutional and how that impacts our suggested district lines,” said Brady. “I look forward to their comments.”

The maps and other redistricting information can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/8ybs4v8c.

 

Superintendent update on strategic plan

Dear Community Members,

During the summer of 2020, the Board of Education identified the need to develop a long range strategic plan for our District. Over the past year a committed group of citizens and District employees have spent countless hours in meetings, hosting focus groups, analyzing a community survey and considering additional information presented to them. Their service to our District is greatly appreciated and has resulted in what we believe to be a quality plan that will help sustain a continuous improvement in the quality of our educational program.

On Wednesday, October 13, the Board of Education will host a public hearing regarding the District’s proposed strategic plan. The plan includes four goals and supporting objectives and measures. The goals include:

School Safety, Security, and Learning Places: The Royalton-Hartland Central School District will create, implement, and maintain a caring, safe and orderly learning environment. The facilities and grounds will meet the current and future needs of the students, staff and community.

Academics: The Royalton-Hartland Central School District will strive to ensure that all students will receive a rigorous academic course of study.

College and Career Readiness: The Royalton-Hartland Central School District will strive to ensure that all students will receive a comprehensive K-12 course of study in preparation for college and career.

Student Supports and Services: The Royalton-Hartland Central School District will strive to ensure that all students will receive a comprehensive set of supports and services to address challenges that impact student learning.

We continue to monitor guidance that helps our schools navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. I ask you to continue to monitor your child's health each morning and if needed, keep them home if they are exhibiting any flu-like symptoms or running a temperature of over 100 degrees. I also encourage you to regularly check our District Website to see updates on the CDC, NYS Department of Health, NYS Department of Education and Niagara County Department of Health websites. All those who are eligible should also consider obtaining a COVID vaccination.

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

The strategic plan can be downloaded here:

https://www.royhart.org/cms/lib/NY01913927/Centricity/Domain/4/Strategic%20Plan%20Final%20Draft.pdf