ROY-HART MAY SEE 13% TAX INCREASE

From the Lockport Union Sun & Journal...

The Royalton-Hartland Board of Education is looking over the first draft of the proposed 2009-10 budget, which has a 12.59 percent increase in the tax levy.

Superintendent Paul Bona made his first budget presentation to the board Thursday night. The proposed $23,702,342 budget is an increase of 1.23 percent from the current school year budget. Bona said the budget was being planned with the governor’s exact proposed state aid numbers in mind.

The proposed federal economic stimulus may not be enough help. Bona said he felt most of the stimulus money would head toward larger or poverty school districts. With the stimulus up for a vote in U.S. Senate next week, Bona said he couldn’t count on it, because nothing is definite. According to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Roy-Hart would get $600,000.

To help with the revenue, Bona said $1 million would be coming from the fund balance and $200,000 from a reserve account. After state aid, the rest of the budget would be coming from the tax levy, the amount of budget revenue that comes from taxpayers. Bona said compared to some other districts in the state, Roy-Hart was in a better spot. “Some other districts are facing 20 to 30 percent (increase in tax levy),” he said.

The proposed contingency budget has a tax levy increase of about 19.53 percent. A contingency budget is enacted if the public votes down a proposed budget.

To help the district with the financial difficulty, the board laid off seven school monitors Thursday. The seven positions, together the equivalent of five full-time positions, were removed from the proposed budget, along with the two reading recovery teaching positions. The elimination of the school monitor positions will save Roy-Hart between $20,000 to $30,000, Bona said.

The board is planning to have a budget workshop Thursday.

In other district news, School Board President Patricia Riegle asked Bona for a detailed update on the $8.3 million facilities project. At the next board meeting on Feb. 26, Bona said he would have the update and the architect, McKenna and Associates, present. Voters approved the project a year ago.

Riegle said there wasn’t an update yet in the district’s superintendent search. But once Bona’s replacement is found, the board will host a special meeting.

“Once the final decision is made, we’ll invite everyone and introduce that person at that time,” she said.The final three candidates are Joseph Hochreiter, deputy superintendent of the Elmira City School District; Thomas Manko, superintendent of the York Central School District; and Kevin MacDonald, assistant superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara Board Of Cooperative Educational Services.

Source: http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_030011718.html

CAIN'S ACCOMPLICES SEE DELAY

BUFFALO — The sentencing of a Somerset man who prosecutors said helped his cousin terrorize his business competitors was adjourned Wednesday.

James “Jamie” Soha was found guilty in federal court in December 2007 on charges of arson, racketeering conspiracy and aiding and abetting his cousin, David Cain Jr., who was sentenced earlier this month to 55 years in prison. Cain, one-time owner of Dave’s Tree Service in Royalton, was found guilty of using violence and intimidation against his business competitors from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. During his sentencing, Cain was ordered to pay $599.330.45 in restitution, split between nine victims.

Soha’s sentencing was adjourned until Feb. 27 after his defense attorneys filed a last-minute motion, court clerks said.

Cain’s mother, Ann Cain, convicted of witness tampering, was originally scheduled for sentencing today, but her case has been adjourned until March 2.

Cain’s brother, Chris Cain, 36, of Barker, convicted of several charges including arson and racketeering, had his sentencing postponed earlier this month. He will be sentenced Feb. 23.

All will appear before U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara.


Source: http://www.lockportjournal.com/archivesearch/local_story_029004538.html

ROY-HART & THE SNOW

All of Royalton-Hartland's afternoon and evening activities have been cancelled because of the snow.

ATTEMPTED MURDER IN ROYALTON

ROYALTON: Woman charged with attempted murder
Staff Reports
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

A Royalton woman was charged with attempted murder after she allegedly tried to kill another person following a lengthy domestic incident. Deborah A. Kozody, 49, 5324 Royalton Center Road, was charged Tuesday with one count of second-degree attempted murder.

The arrest came after an investigation into a domestic incident involving Kozody and another person, though authorities did not say whether that person was male or female. The victim was an adult family member, the report said. The alleged incident took place about 7:36 a.m. Tuesday, after a domestic incident that reportedly escalated over a 24-hour period. Kozody allegedly tried to suffocate the victim.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home after a call from a concerned third party, the report said. The victim did sustain injuries, but did not require hospitalization, the report said. The Niagara County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating the incident.

Kozody was arraigned Tuesday in Royalton Town Court and held in lieu of $50,000 bail. She remains at the Niagara County Jail pending a medical evaluation and a future court appearance.

GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ON WEDNESDAY

Early last week the Lockport Union Sun and Journal reported on a special event that will be held at Becker Farms tomorrow. Check it out....


The public is invited to come to Vizcarra Vineyards next week for a bit of wine, some tasty morsels and a quick introduction to 28 small businesses in the Royalton-Hartland area. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28, Vizcarra Vineyards, Quaker Road, will host a free Wednesday at the Winery mixer with Gasport and Middleport-based goods and services providers.

The “speed marketing” event, a take-off on the speed dating concept, has representatives of each business talking quickly to members of the public about what they offer and why they’re worth a shopping trip off the beaten path.

“It’s important for people to support local businesses, and if you don’t know what’s out there you can’t do it,” said Helen Feron, a member of the Royalton-Hartland Business and Professional Association that’s co-sponsoring the event with her local employer, Absolut Care.

“In small towns especially, small business is the bread and butter of our neighbors.”

The mixer works like this: Every participating business staffs a station and, as visitors come in, they pick one and listen to the pitch. Every two minutes, a bell is rung, indicating the visitors should move onto another station and listen to another pitch. Hitting every business in the room should take less than an hour, Association member Patt Fagan said.

“The advice we’re giving (business representatives) is, ‘have your elevator speech ready.’ In the time it takes to ride an elevator, you should be able to say who you are, what you sell or do and why you’re the best at it,” she said. “It’s going to be loud and it’s going to be wild.”

Twenty-four stations are reserved by businesses including Maedl’s Woodcrafts, Standish-Jones Hardware, The Gift Garden, Hard Rock Stables, Middleport Tractor, Lockport Home Medical, Absolut Care, Eclectic Acres grooming and kenneling, Serenity salon, Canal Country Inn and Pampered Chef executive Vonda Westcott.

Four dining establishments — Darryl’s Place, Pizza Place II, Alternative Grounds and The Basket Factory, all of Middleport — will introduce themselves by serving free samples of their fare. Vizcarra Vineyards is doing free wine tastings; a cash bar will be set up as well. Vendors are encouraged, but not required, to offer product giveaways, discount coupons, price lists and other take-away literature.

It’s the association’s first-ever speed marketing event and Fagan says business owners are excited for the opportunity to strut their stuff. Stations were booked so rapidly after the event was announced, organizers ran out of room and had to turn some businesses away.

“If it goes over well, I can see it becoming an annual event,” she said.

Feron says Absolut Care, a corporation, encourages its facilities to do business with their host communities. On numerous occasions, she said, the Gasport facility has found the local “little guy” is price competitive with — or better than — big-box retailers.“Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s going to be more expensive,” she said. “Plus, the customer service usually is superior because they want you to come back. ... It’s great to have large retail outlets to frequent in Lockport and Erie County, but it’s amazing what you can find right in your own backyard, too.”

CHECK IT OUT•
What: Wednesday at the Winery, a “speed marketing” event
When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28
Where: Vizcarra Vineyards (Becker Farms), 3724 Quaker Road, Gasport
Admission: Free
Features: Food, wine and quick intros to 28 Royalton/Hartland-based small businesses

ROYALTON'S JANUARY MINUTES AVAILABLE

The Royalton town board's minutes from their January 12th meeting are available online. They are quite extensive since it was an organizational meeting, covering everything from appointments to salaries to fire contracts to investing and buying. You can check it out here:

http://townofroyalton.org/content/MinuteCategories/View/9:field=minutes;/content/Minutes/View/95

FEBRUARY POLL: YOUR FAVORITE FOR THE SCHOOL'S HEAD HONCHO

I ended the January poll with a few days to go. That's because I think we should focus on something timely...who will our new superintendent be?

Last week, stakeholders and community members got to meet with the three candidates. And, on Friday evening, the school board picked their man. "Mum" is the word because they won't make the official announcement until all the contractural issues are finalized.

So, I thought it would be nice to conduct this survey while we're awaiting the answer from the district.

Will their choice match public sentiment? We'll see!

JANUARY POLL RESULTS (BONA'S LEGACY)

55 people voted in the January poll, which asked what they thought about Paul Bona's legacy at Roy-Hart. The results don't look good...

Great: 5%
Above: 7%
Average: 18%

Below: 16%
Poor: 52%

LEGAL SNOWMOBILING ON THE TOWPATH MAY BE IN THE FUTURE

If you live along the Canal, you know that snowmobiling on the towpath is a common occurrence...despite it being illegal.

There's a movement afoot to make it legal from Day Road in Lockport to Marshall Road in Medina.

But, there's a hang-up in Middleport as the Buffalo News reported on Thursday...


Middleport Mayor Julie Maedl said Wednesday that she opposes the idea, although her board hasn’t voted on it, and the director of New York State Canal Corp. said that all municipalities along a route must support it.

Carmella R. Mantello said the canal corporation wants to see year-round use of the waterway, so it created a pilot program 11 years ago to allow snowmobiles to use canal property if local governments agree.

Five such permits have been granted, including approvals for clubs in Pendleton and Medina, Mantello said, and the canal corporation board may soon make the pilot program permanent with the same rules.

“We want all the local communities to be on board,” she said.

Gary Broderick of Shawnee Sno-Chiefs, who is also vice president of the New York State Snowmobile Association, is pushing for a 13-mile trail from Day Road to Marshall Road outside Medina.

He said the Niagara and Orleans county legislatures have passed resolutions of support, and Lockport Supervisor Marc R. Smith said the Town Board will probably follow suit at its Feb. 4 meeting.

Maedl said she could not recall anyone approaching Middleport about it, although Broderick said he had already learned of her opposition. He also said the canal corporation sent him a rejection letter even before an application had been made, but Mantello could not confirm that.

Maedl said Middleport rejected a snowmobile trail plan along the canal 10 years ago. “There are people walking on that canal bank yearround,” she said. Maedl also said that it might set a precedent for all-terrain vehicles on the towpath, which she opposes. Maedl, who lives right along the canal, said that before she got cable television, there used to be so many snowmobilers that they would create interference with TV reception, and they would park all over the sidewalks heading to Middleport’s bars. She said the trail “is not policed the way it ought to be.”

Broderick acknowledged that some snowmobilers use the canal towpath illegally now. “One percenters,” he called them. “They make us all look bad.”

Broderick said that if the towpath were legalized as a trail, a speed limit could be set — he suggested 25 mph — and state troopers, environmental conservation officers and state parks police could enforce it.

He also said the Snowmobile Association carries a $1 million liability insurance policy that would protect municipalities and landowners along the route.

Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/556678.html

The Lockport Union Sun and Journal also had a lengthy story about this. You can read it here:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_022013226.html

ROY-HART MEETS THOMAS MANKO

Highlights from the Lockport US&J's article about superintendent candidate Thomas Manko...

Thomas Manko is looking for the next challenge.

“You get to a point where you say, ‘What’s next,’ ” he said. “I’m looking for an organization that’s bigger, has more resources and is in a good position to take the next step toward greatness.”

Manko is the third and final candidate in the search for the next superintendent of the Royalton-Hartland School District. Current Superintendent Paul Bona is retiring June 30 after 10 years at the district’s helm. Like the first two candidates before him, Manko met with various groups of staff, faculty and students before meeting with the community Friday.

What brought Manko to Roy-Hart was research and a chance to take the district to that next step.

“I found a school district that has very good scores,” he said. “And this represents the challenges I’m looking for in my career.”

Asked about some challenges Roy-Hart faces, Manko said he wants the district to offer more professional in-service training sessions for faculty and staff. Also, Manko wasn’t the only one looking for challenges at Roy-Hart.

“I’ve heard there’s a strong push for more higher level courses for students in the high school,” Manko said. “They were very clear about that. They want more challenges.”

Some challenges facing most school districts are the current state economic climate and declining enrollment. Manko said he’s kept in touch with state legislators, seeing what kind of funds are possible for districts. Relocating resources can also be a solution, too, Manko said.

“Maybe you don’t cut here, but move something,” he said. “Sometimes you make cuts. You don’t do it lightly, unilaterally. Maybe cut supplies and materials, ask people to do more with less.”

Read the entire article here:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/archivesearch/local_story_024013234.html

ROY-HART MEETS KEVIN MACDONALD

Highlights from the US&J article about superintendent candidate Kevin MacDonald...

When asked what he thought the strength of the Royalton-Hartland School District was, Kevin MacDonald said one word.

“People.”

MacDonald, Roy-Hart’s second candidate for the superintendent position, met with community members Thursday night. Currently the assistant superintendent at Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services, MacDonald said the strength of the district was in its students, staff, parents and the community.

“I think the human capital of the district is absolutely a strength,” MacDonald said. “Why I applied here is the size of the district. I think it lends itself to be more personal. It allows the superintendent to be out and to get to know the kids.”

During his time at BOCES, MacDonald said he became more involved with financial decisions and budgets. Making tough financial decisions is something MacDonald said he has been doing at BOCES and something that’ll have to be done at Roy-Hart.

“Those types of experiences prepare you for the next level,” MacDonald said.

One way to help with any financial burden a district might face is collaboration with community-based organizations, MacDonald said. His experience with BOCES, as well as his relationships with other organizations and districts, could be a benefit for Roy-Hart, he added.

What would he do if he started as superintendent tomorrow?

“Walk around,” he said. “Get to know people. Learn what’s revered, what people are most proud of. Listen to people to try and hear their concerns. Then from those items and working with the board, get into goal setting and find out what’s beneficial for the district.”

To read the entire article, visit this webpage...

http://www.lockportjournal.com/archivesearch/local_story_022233941.html

IS YOUR HOME NOW IN A FLOOD ZONE?

A few months ago FEMA introduced a new series of maps indicating what they believe to be the flood zones in New York. These designations will affect homeowners and business owners whose homes and buildings are found in the zones by increasing their insurance rates.

Are you one of the folks who now finds their home in a flood zone?

To find out if you are, go to the Niagara County page on FEMA's website to explore the interactive maps:

http://rmc.mapmodteam.com/rmc2/counties_niagara.htm

The usual culprits are shown on the map (waters like Red Creek and Johnsons Creek), but there are some new additions like their feeder streams, an extensive area between Orangeport and Hartland Roads, Red Creek as it runs through the hamlet of Gasport and more!

If you are in an affected area I strongly suggest you attend a (lengthy) public meeting on Monday, February 2nd from 4:00 to 8:00 at the Public Training Facility, 5574 Niagara Street Ext., Lockport.

The DEC and FEMA will be there to talk about the maps, the national flood insurance program, building standards, and insurance ratings and premiums.

AN INTERVIEW WITH DAN GOLLUS

On January 12th, Judge Richard Arcara sentenced Barker native David Cain, Jr. to 55 years in federal prison on multiple counts of arson, extortion, and racketeering. So ended a drama that began in 2000 and affected many families in the area…especially those of his competitors in the local tree service industry.

The Department of Justice notes of these experiences in its news release here:

http://buffalo.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/bffo011309.htm

Among those affected by the acts was Gasport resident Dan Gollus, of Dan’s Tree Service. Dan faced years of intimidation from Cain and, in one of the more well-known events from this saga, had his plane burned in one of the arsons for which Cain was convicted.

Dan expressed interest in sharing his story with the community at large, so I recently interviewed him…



CONFER: Between the acts committed against you and the court proceedings, this has gone on for years. You must be relieved that it has finally come to an end...

GOLLUS: It is a relief that we are finally seeing some closure but I can honestly say that others along with myself do not feel this is all over and we can move on. There are several of this group that are still free that we were unable to get a conviction on. Those of us involved still have to worry although we have been told that "they" are being watched very closely and law-enforcement is satisfied that we are safe from further trouble.



CONFER: Very few of us know what it's like to go through a federal court case. How was that process?

GOLLUS: The Federal trial was actually quite interesting and very thorough. It lasted for quite a while with over 80 witnesses for the prosecution being called and not one for the defense. This took a very long time but I was not able to attend most of it because I was called late in the trial and you can't "set in" until you have been called. It was heard before Federal Judge Arcara in Buffalo and we had to go to Buffalo several times. I'm glad it is over, very taxing and wearying.


CONFER: Does Cain have any chance with his appeals?

GOLLUS: As for his appeals, we have been told on good authority that he has very slim to no chance of making any headway although Cain has had 4 years to spend in the prison law library and is well versed in clogging the courts with technicalities and motions. He is not in any way remorseful, only looking for ways to overturn his convictions of which there are about 20.


CONFER: We've all read about the harassment and violence that befell you and the police officers. What other acts happened that went unreported by the newspapers?

GOLLUS: As for the things that were not reported and involved intimidation and life threatening situations, I can only tell of a few. If I were to tell all of it, we would be talking a whole book. A small sample is, I was run off the road twice by a large logging truck just weeks after being told "he" was going to mess me up real good and kill me. Needless to say as I saw the truck coming at me I thought, “my God here it comes.” I can tell about these incidents only because there are 2 police reports to the incidents. I also have suspicion my plane engine was tampered with before it was burned. It suddenly developed a case of badly sticking valves and took much work to fix. I was told by the FBI that they were involved in the shipping of stolen 4-wheelers and snowmobiles out-of-state and many other things I can't even relate at this time. Very intimidating and not all of the players are behind bars


CONFER: Has your business survived all this trauma and stress?

GOLLUS: As for my business suffering, yes there are many ways that has happened. I have been mistaken for him many times which is a real slap in the face. He has stolen jobs from me for instance. The customer was told I had fallen and broken my back and he was sent to do the job by me and they were to pay him. Rumors spread about me. There was outright face-to-face intimidation as I was bidding on a job. I don't mind fair competition, in fact welcome it, but his way was: “don't even dare bid on it.” Many of my competitors wouldn't even bid if they found out he had been to the job. There are many, many other examples of all of this and it is exactly what Cain wanted.


CONFER: Most importantly, how have YOU weathered all this trauma and stress?

GOLLUS: I have weathered all this surprisingly well with the help of my Susie sticking by my side (although it has caused severe stress between us from time to time), the support of many dear friends, and I firmly believe God has given me strength to endure. I was made aware that Cain wanted me to give up and leave town as one of our competitors did. I'm too old and weathered to be chased out of my town and community that I love. I have many good friends at the local airport and we share a common bond of flying which has helped immensely. All in all I am beginning to regain my happiness and a smile does cross my face often. I am not happy he is in prison. I only have a deep sadness that it came to this for, you see, before I knew what kind of monster he was I befriended him as a fellow tree-man and actually took him up in my plane twice! Very sad I feel when I think of it and the waste he has made of his life.

NIAGARA WINE TRAIL EVENT THIS WEEKEND

January 24 & 25: Caribbean Vacation

Shake off those "winter blues" and celebrate Caribbean style this weekend! Each winery will be set in a different Caribbean island theme. Your $20 ticket includes a wine tasting at each winery, a commemorative wine glass, and a chance to win a great prize - a $2,000 gift certificate for your own vacation, sponsored by Liberty Travel!

Simply visit each participating winery during the event and turn in your completed ticket at your last winery to enter for your chance to win the grand prize. All wineries must be visited and marked appropriately for entries to be valid to win.

The following wineries will be participating in the event: Eveningside Vineyards, Freedom Run, Honeymoon Trail, Leonard Oakes, Marjim Manor, Niagara Landing, Schulze Vineyard & Winery, Spring Lake Winery, Vizcarra Vineyards and Warm Lake Estate.

For more info visit www.niagarawinetrail.org

ROY-HART MEETS JOSEPH HOCHREITER

On this website we gave everyone a chance to "meet" the three candidates for the superintendents post at Roy-Hart. This week, you get to meet these guys in person. The first meeting was held last night and here are some highlights from the Lockport US&J's article about Joseph Hochreiter...


Joseph Hochreiter believes being involved in the community is very important for a superintendent.

“There’s a difference between being visible and being involved,” Hochreiter said.

Hochreiter said he applied only to Roy-Hart, after talking to a number of local people to find out about the area. He said you don’t just apply to be superintendent, you have to fit in with the community.

“It has to be a good fit — it works both ways,” Hochreiter said. “It sets a tone and a standard that the superintendent believes in the system so much he’s going to be a part of it.”

Hochreiter said his experience would help him if he were to become superintendent. In his current position, Hochreiter is the No. 2 guy in Elmira, a district with more than 7,000 kids and 13 schools. Because of the size of the district, Hochreiter has had to help out the superintendent in a number of ways. Since he has been in Elmira, Hochreiter said student scores have never been higher. The graduation rate is up, and the dropout rate is down.

“I’m more than prepared in terms of experience,” he said. “In terms of working with staff and community. That job has prepared me more than enough.”

During the forum, Hochreiter was asked a question related to the school budget and alternative funding. Hochreiter said Elmira, a financially strapped district, was able to find funding through county funding and aid through the Board of Cooperative Educational Services. The BOCES aid led to a program that gives after-school tutoring to students at risk of failing. It saved the district tens of thousands of dollars in summer school costs, Hochreiter said.

To read the article in its entirety, go here:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/local/local_story_021012938.html

ST. MARY'S FACILITY TO RETURN TO LIFE

An abbreviated version of a story from Sunday's Buffalo News....

Deal’s approval would resurrect Gasport church

ROYALTON — A closed Catholic church in Gasport could get a new life if a deal to sell the building is finalized. The Parish Council at St. John the Baptist in Lockport has accepted a bid from Hartland Bible Church to purchase the St. Mary Church building on West Avenue in Gasport. The building has been vacant since St. Mary’s merged with St. John the Baptist Church last year.

Hartland Bible Church has been looking for a new facility to replace its Johnson Creek Road church for several years and had considered constructing a new building, said the Rev. Lowell Gypson, pastor. The closure of St. Mary’s presented a new opportunity for the Hartland Bible congregation. If the sale goes through, the new location would allow Hartland Bible to more than double the attendance at its Sunday services, Gypson said. The St. Mary’s building can seat about 475. Hartland Bible is currently located in a smaller church that was built in the 1800s.

Gypson said the sale has not yet been finalized and church leaders do not know when they will be able to begin to hold services at the new location.

Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/lifearts/religion/story/553000.html

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

A message from Diane Grosslinger, Youth Advisor at Zion Lutheran Church...and my aunt :)...


The Zion Youth Group is participating in a Scavenger Hunt throughout the hamlet of Gasport from noon – 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 31st to collect canned goods for the Gasport Food Pantry located at Zion Lutheran Church, 4447 Central Avenue, Gasport, NY.

This collection is part of a nationwide Service Blitz, where we are joining thousands of other young people across the country simultaneously the Saturday before the Souper Bowl, doing various charity works in our communities.

This is all part of the “Souper Bowl of Caring” which is set for Sunday, February 1st. The Souper Bowl is a simple effort to “love the Lord our God..and love our neighbors” by encouraging people to give one dollar each as they leave worship on, or near, Super Bowl Sunday. Every penny collected is sent directly to the soup kitchen, food bank or other charity of each group’s choice.

The “Souper Bowl” is a partnership of people responding to God’s gracious love by loving their neighbors.

The “Souper Bowl” not only began in a Senior High Youth Fellowship; it also enables young people to see that, by God’s grace, they can make a difference in the world. So that our young people might learn, we prefer that young people be involved in the collection of funds and in the decision making as to where the funds are sent.

In an age when division and dissention tear at the fabric of our land, the “Souper Bowl” illustrates the wonderful possibilities that exist when we move beyond ourselves and work together in partnership with others.

This simple yet significant effort empowers us to help one another while reflecting our own blessings.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please contact the Zion Food Pantry by leaving a message at the church at 772-2277. We would be happy to assist you with a supply of food and necessities from our Food Pantry.

GIRL SCOUTS COOKIE SALE HAS BEGUN

A local scout leader shares this message with us...


It's that time of year again...

When girls are traveling the neighborhood asking you the familiar phrase "Would you like to buy some Girl Scout Cookies?"

So if Thin Mints are your thing, be on the lookout for girls dressed in various shades of blue, green, beige or brown selling that annual treat.

The cookie sale starts today and runs through March. The cookies will start arriving in town during the first week of March, and should be available for purchase throughout the month of March.

You might want to know why you should pre-order from your favorite scout, instead of just purchasing them outside the grocery store. Here's why: youcan keep your money local and guarantee your favorite flavor. Due to newproduct sale rules, booth sales will be limited and those ever popular ThinMints, Caramel deLites and Peanut Butter Patties will be the first to sellout.

And, if you're watching your waistline, but still want to support scouting,consider making a cash donation to send cookies to our men and womenoverseas or those staying in the local Veteran's hospitals.

When you purchase cookies from your local scout, $2.18 of the $3.00 box goesto your local troop and Girl Scouts of Western New York. The national organization does not receive any direct profit from cookie sales. This enables local girls to do lots of fun stuff like camping, hiking, serviceprojects, science projects and fantastic trips. Girl Scouts is not just crafts anymore.

FORMER GASPORTER OUT OF RUNNING FOR CHIEFS JOB

Jim Haslett, who once lived in Gasport and owned the Double Nickle Ranch in town, was denied the KC Chiefs coaching job today, following a season when he went 2-10 as the Rams interim head coach. He is now in the running for the defensive coordinator position at Green Bay.

MEET-AND-GREETS WITH THE CANDIDATES

The community will have a chance to meet with the three Royalton-Hartland superintendent candidates next week.

Dr. Clark Godshall of BOCES, who has overseen the entire process, is making each candidate available on their own for some quality one-on-one time with the public. These meetings will begin at 6:00, not 5:30 as previously announced and they'll be held in the High School media center.

The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday the 20th: Joseph Hochreiter

Thursday the 22nd: Kevin MacDonald

Friday the 23rd: Thomas Manko