Niagara Frontier Publications

A barbecue team, headed by Roy “Honcho” Gregory, organizer of the upcoming Wheatfield Smokin’ Eagles Barbecue Competition, took sixth place among 47 teams in the chicken category at the Rock City Rib Fest in Rochester over Memorial Day weekend. Shown from left are Todd Krupa, a Rock City sponsor, and the team – Robert Giordano, president of The Barbecue Shop in Lewiston; Noel Grosskopf, retired Delphi worker, and Gregory.

With new sponsors, more competitors, more vendors and additional contests, Wheatfield’s Smokin’ Eagles Barbecue Competition is firing up for its second year.

The competition will run from Aug. 21 to 23 at The Summit mall parking lot in Wheatfield.

Last year, 18 U.S. and Canadian teams competed in the event, which offers as a top prize a ticket to the invitation-only Best of the Best competition in Georgia in October.

This year, organizer Roy “Honcho” Gregory is hoping for at least 40 teams competing in the chicken, ribs, pork and brisket categories on Saturday, and even more competing in the backyard and kids’ competitions planned for Sunday. The Supervisor’s Cup Competition also will be back, with the supervisor’s team from Wheatfield defending its title against the team from Town of Niagara. This year, there also will be supervisor’s/mayor’s teams from Boston, Evans and Angola – “And we’re looking to add more,” Gregory said. “Winner takes all for the charity of their choice.”

Speaking of charity, proceeds from the Smokin’ Eagles Barbecue event this year will benefit Niagara Hospice and Juvenile Diabetes.

The Baptist Church in Ransomville was struck by lightning about 2 p.m. on Thursday, as storms raced through the northern Niagara County area. Its chimney was damaged, but, due to the quick response from the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Co., there was only minor fire damage to the church roof and eaves. (photo by Wayne Peters)

William L. Ross, Niagara County Legislature chairman and Wheatfield resident, presented a proclamation on behalf of the Niagara County Legislature at the grand opening of Niagara Alliance Church on June 14. Shown from left in front of the church sign are Elder Brian D. Shiah, Ross, Pastor Mark Patterson and Head Elder William L. Brumfield.

Now that the dust has settled on the construction and the merger, Niagara Alliance Church took time this month to celebrate.

The church at 7041 Witmer Road, Wheatfield, held its grand opening celebration on June 14, welcoming the public in to its new, dome-shaped church and showing off its programs.

The church actually has been in Wheatfield for many years, known as Wheatfield Neighborhood Church. It originated as a home Bible study group in North Tonawanda some 75 years ago and moved to Wheatfield in 1980. Last September, the Wheatfield church merged with 60-year-old Niagara Falls Alliance Church, previously located on 22nd Street in Niagara Falls. The blending has gone well, according to the Rev. Mark Patterson, pastor since 2000.

Head Elder and Bergholz resident William L. Brumfield, a member of the Niagara Falls church for more than 10 years, is enthusiastic about the merger.

“I continue to be excited about all the things happening here,” he said. “Usually, it takes a year at least (to get used to a merger) before you can say anything positive. It’s just gone great!”

Youngstown is a little village overflowing with a lot of history. Dating back to the 1800s, many of Youngstown’s historical landmarks are still standing. Featuring the Swain Homestead, a converted schoolhouse, and a cobwork house, the third Youngstown Historic Home Tour and Tea is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Hosted by the Town of Porter Historical Society, the Youngstown Garden Club and the Youngstown Study Club, the Historic Home Tour includes six historic homes. Three of the locations in this tour are connected to the Swain family.

The Swain Homestead, built by Isaac Swain, one of the original landowners in Youngstown, is located at 914 River Road. Although his first home burned down in 1813, Swain became a prosperous landowner and farmer after building his home in 1836. This cobblestone structure housed the Swain family until 1946.

Another part of the tour, currently the Van Zandt home, is located at 900 River Road. Swain’s son, William, built this house sometime after 1890. After returning from the 1849 California Gold Rush empty handed, William resolved himself to farm and raise his family.

Frequent rains, poor drainage, overgrowth, untended properties, mosquitoes – all warm weather aggravations – are beginning to get on the nerves of area residents. And Lewiston Town Board members heard about them and more Monday night.

“We’ve had the same problem every spring,” said Moore Road resident Victoria Lacey, of the ongoing problems and aggravations attributed to poor drainage that’s been affecting her property. “The water floods my driveway,” she said, adding that it’s cost her roughly $800 to address repairs.

Supervisor Fred Newlin queried the women on whether they had ever contacted the town on this, and both said they have. “They drive by and they don’t do anything,” said Kusk of town drainage crews.

“We’ll get someone out to look at (it),” Newlin hastily responded, directing Town Engineer Robert Lannon of the CRA engineering and environmental firm to visit the property and check it out.

Having succeeded with the debut Ransomville Street Dance last summer, the event is back in 2009.

“We bring the people of Ransomville together to have fun,” organizer and Casey’s Malt Shoppe proprietor Carl Fellows said. “Tons of people came out (in 2008) and had a ball.

On Thursday, July 2, the second Ransomville Street Dance will be held along Academy Street. It begins around 5 p.m., and features the live music of Electric Rodeo, a classic country and rock band.

And, of course, the event will include a variety of summer foods, courtesy of North Country Deli and Casey’s Malt Shoppe.

Due to an increase in larcenies from vehicles in the Lewiston area, the Lewiston Police Department is requesting residents to be vigilant in locking their vehicles at night, and to call the police to report anything in their neighborhood.

Police Chief Chris Salada said town neighborhoods, including the 1000 block of Upper Mountain Road and in the Morgan Drive area, saw several vehicles ransacked and items stolen from them. “These vehicles were unlocked during the theft,” he said

Residents are advised to call either 911 for emergencies or the Lewiston Police at 754-8477.

New York State Park Police will be on the lookout for intoxicated boaters across New York as part of Operation Dry Water, taking place the weekend of June 26-28. Marine law enforcement units from state, county and local law enforcement agencies, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and the U.S. Coast Guard are joining together in an intensified effort to detect intoxicated boaters and enforce Boating While Intoxicated, or BWI, laws.

“Over 20 percent of boating-related fatalities each year result from alcohol use – and it’s not just intoxicated boaters whose lives are endangered,” said Richard O’Donnell, director of law enforcement for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

O’Donnell said that, earlier this week, Park Police marine patrol officers risked their own lives to rescue a male boater and female passenger whose vessel had entered the danger zone near the brink of Niagara Falls, near the eastern tip of Goat Island. The 38-year-old operator of the boat was arrested and charged with BWI.

25, 50, 75 years … all considered milestones; milestones that every area store hopes to reach someday.

Well, Beeton’s Cyclery on Main Street in Niagara Falls has surpassed these milestones, and is now celebrating 100 years of serving the community of Niagara Falls.

Beeton’s Cyclery and its subsidiary, Cataract Safe & Lock Co., were founded by Basil Moon in 1909. In an attempt to keep the store in the family, Ted Beeton, son-in-law to Moon, took over the store after Moon’s passing. Through the years, Beeton’s has been an example of a true family-run business. The current owner, Tony Rick, works side-by-side with his wife, Barbara, and his two sons, David and Jeff.

The Rick family is happy to have maintained and expanded Beeton’s to allow for the family business to continue to grow and prosper in Niagara Falls.

In honor of its 100 years of service, Beeton’s is hosting a celebration right on Main Street. The festivities began June 22 and run through June 27, at which time two bicycles will be raffled.

Niagara County lawmakers provided $20,000 to help launch “Complete Senior Care,” an effort to provide seniors with medical and social services while they remain in their own homes, at last week’s meeting of the County Legislature.

The program, a joint effort by the Health Association of Niagara County Inc. and the Dale Association, seeks to offer frail seniors an alternative to being placed in nursing homes. It also promises to create as many as 75 new jobs over the next five years.

Participants will attend a day center two to three days a week for meals, activities, medical services and rehabilitation therapies. A physician, nurse practitioner and other medical staff will be available on site at a clinic operated by Mount St. Mary’s Hospital and Health Center. HANCI has already undertaken $1.8 million in renovations at its Main Street, Niagara Falls facility to create a day center and clinic that will serve as the hub for the program.

The Niagara Power Coalition re-elected William L. Ross to his fifth term as its chairman at its recent annual meeting.

The N.P.C. is the maintenance or regulatory body of the seven entities that negotiated the $750 million, 50-year agreement with the New York Power Authority – the City of Niagara Falls, the towns of Lewiston and Niagara, Niagara County and the Niagara Falls, Lewiston-Porter and Niagara-Wheatfield school districts.

Under the chairmanship of Ross, the coalition signed the historic 50-year agreement with the Power Authority on July 27, 2005, at the Niagara County Economic Development Center.

The signing of the agreement set in motion the release of Community Fund money, Greenway Funds (for parks, recreation, and green space) and 25 megawatts of power to the seven entities.

Niagara Power Coalition will continue to work closely with the Home Community Committee, which reviews applications and dispenses funds to eligible governments and organizations for green space, parks and recreation projects, Ross said.

The standoff between the Town of Wheatfield Republican Committee and current town Supervisor Timothy Demler will lead to a primary to determine the GOP candidate for supervisor this fall.

The town GOP dropped Demler as its endorsed candidate earlier this month and is backing former Town Justice Robert B. Cliffe for supervisor.

A seven-term supervisor in Wheatfield, Demler said Wednesday he already has more than 400 signatures on his election petition, more than enough to run.

Last week, the committee announced it had written to the Niagara County district attorney and the state attorney general asking for an investigation of Demler.

“As chairman of the Town of Wheatfield Republican Committee, I have been asked why the committee withdrew its endorsement of Timothy Demler as our candidate for supervisor,” said town GOP Chairman James D. Heuer. “The public should be aware of a recent letter that was sent to the attorney general and the Niagara County district attorney, outlining certain illegal acts and improprieties committed by Mr. Demler.

With breast cancer touching thousands of lives in Niagara County, Mount St. Mary’s Hospital and Health Center last week launched a $1 million campaign to raise funds to bring state-of-the-art breast cancer detection equipment to Niagara County and the establishment of the Mount St. Mary’s Breast Care Center.

Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Judith A. Maness, FACHE, was joined by Campaign Honorary Chairwoman Mary Montani of Lewiston, Campaign Chairman Robert Minicucci of Health System Services, Chief of Diagnostic Imaging Dr. Peter Ferin, and Mount St. Mary’s Foundation Chairman Michael Vitch of CompuMail in launching the fundraising campaign.

At the event, Minicucci announced the receipt of leadership gifts in the amount of $166,000 to help launch the effort.

“Currently, residents of our community must travel outside of the county for diagnostic procedures that are routine in many communities,” said Maness. “With the establishment of our Breast Care Center, we will bring a comprehensive approach to breast care for all of the women of Niagara that will include digital mammography and Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging, which is the state-of-the-art imaging technique that has proven to be an effective tool in the early detection of breast cancer.”

Paul Cozad explains the Wheatfield firearms discharge map. The area
up for change is at right. (photo by Susan Mikula Campbell)

A group of North Creek Run residents made plenty of noise before the Wheatfield Town Board on Monday, looking for a complete ban on firearms discharge in their area.

Prior to the monthly meeting, a public hearing was held on changing the firearms discharge restriction in the area bounded by Townline, Loveland and Nash roads. Currently, that area is designated an A area, which means shotgun and shot shells are OK. The town’s firearms committee, headed by Paul Cozad, has proposed the area be designated a B area, meaning shotgun slugs would be prohibited. The North Creek Run residents came to the meeting to say they wanted at least the more heavily populated section of the area under consideration to be a C area, with all firearms discharge prohibited.

The matter was sent back to the review board after the North Creek Run residents protested that they are fearful for their children and grandchildren when they are in their yards and hear gunfire.

Cozad pointed out that in either case, large landowners in the section would be able to apply for special permits to shoot on their own land. Although growth in the town eventually will mean all firearms will be prohibited town wide, Cozad also warned that the increasing coyote population in the town could grow even larger if firearms are prohibited, and that is potentially a bigger danger.

The Lewiston Public Library, 305 S. Eighth St., announces the following programs taking place at the library this summer. In keeping with libraries across the state, this year’s theme is “Be Creative @ Your Library.”

•Events get underway at the library Wednesday, July 1, with a kickoff concert featuring Nan Hoffman. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with face painting, T-shirt decorating and snacks. Hoffman will start her concert at 6:30 p.m. Registration packets will be available for lap readers and independent readers. Children are invited to bring a T-shirt (100 percent cotton requested) for decorating.

Board OKs modified
KeyBank plan

Grand Island Dispatch, June 19, 2009

The Grand Island Town Board’s refusal to allow an entrance lane from Whitehaven Road into the Tops plaza is “a deal-breaker” for development of a KeyBank at that location.

The board voted 3-2 Monday to approve a site plan for the KeyBank project, but with modifications that deleted a proposed turning lane from Whitehaven Road.

“The board finds the need for the Whitehaven turn-in lane does not justify the risk to public safety, including pedestrian safety,” Supervisor Peter McMahon read in a statement prior to the vote. McMahon and councilmembers Mary Cooke and Richard Crawford voted for the modified site plan. Councilmembers Susan Argy and Gary Roesch voted against.

Sean Hopkins of Benderson Development addresses the Grand Island Town Board regarding a proposed KeyBank project in the Tops plaza. The board voted 3-2 to approve a site plan, but with modifications.

Whether it is out of a love of nature or an aspiration for gardening, thousands flock to the annual Lewiston GardenFest. Sponsored by The Lewiston Garden Club and the Village and Town of Lewiston, it will be held on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both days.

Celebrating its fourth year, this event offers a variety of activities relating to this popular pastime. Newly anticipated for this year is the grand opening of the Bi-national Peace Garden. Located in the Historic Lewiston Courtyard behind the Little Yellow Chocolate House on Center Street, it includes a trellis donated by Claudia Marasco.

Celenza Florist’s 10-foot floral rug in the shape of a peace dove is a central focus of Center Street, which will have a section closed for the event. This floral sculpture indicates the location of the Bi-national Peace Garden and echoes its theme.

“There are several communities in Europe that annually put a floral rug down,” says Jacquie Lodico, a member of the Lewiston GardenFest committee. “We’re starting small this year and looking to expand it each year.”

As the Sentinel went to press one week ago, news circulated of a letter, penned by Center Street retailers, that stated objection to the Lewiston Council on the Arts’ plan to close the village’s main road during the Aug. 8-9 Art Festival.

“The closing of (Center Street) for the annual Art Festival, starting at 5 am Saturday August 8th and reopening at 9 pm Sunday evening will directly affect many of our plans to promote our businesses throughout that weekend,” the letter reads. “Many of us depend on the festivals to help keep us afloat during the tougher times, particularly the Art Festival, which for most, is one of our biggest weekends. We believe that by closing off access to the main road, placing the tents in the street, with the back of the tents facing the shops, this will potentially distract festival goers towards the center of the street and away from our store fronts. Also, the loss of the space between the curb and sidewalk will only further deter any usable space for us to participate as well.

“We are requesting that you reconsider the current decision to close off Center Street during this festival and keep the tents in their usual spot, between the sidewalks and the curb.”

Niagara Rises, a grassroots organization started in 2007, has organized “Niagara Homecoming Weekend,” slated for June 25 to 28 in Niagara Falls.

The goal is to have an annual citywide reunion on the last weekend of June and to invite everyone who has moved away from the Falls back home to celebrate both the past and the future for the city.

This year, the four-day event will feature a host of free and low-cost entertainment for the entire family. The centerpiece of the event will be the Positively Main Street Festival, organized by the Main Street Business and Professional Association. The festival will run Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, and feature the best local food, music and art from the area. Performers include: Dale Campbell’s “Toast and Jam” show, Addictive Tragedy, The Vacancy, The Junk Yard Dogs and Disco Duck on Saturday; The Niagara Experience Players, Country Line Dancers, The 441 Band, The Blackstar Project, Jama Jama African Drum Group and Free Henry! on Sunday. Local wineries and food vendors, along with arts and craft tents will also be featured. For the children, there will be a bounce house, a fire safety house, and a children’s activity tent that will be run by the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center’s after-school program.

Amid growing concern over the dangers presented to the Great Lakes by the continued storage and importation of hazardous and radioactive waste within the Great Lakes basin, local elected and appointed officials and environmentalists have joined forces and established the Niagara Watershed Alliance.

The Niagara Watershed Alliance is a newly formed bi-partisan coalition dedicated to the protection of one of the world’s greatest natural resources, the waters of the Great Lakes, and the elimination of the storage and disposal of radioactive and hazardous waste within the Niagara Watershed Region.

“We recognize and appreciate the efforts and achievements of the environmental groups and elected officials who have devoted countless hours and energy to resolving this issue,” said Paulette Glasgow, outreach chair. “It is our hope that an ongoing program of collaboration and education will lead to increased support and success. That through the strength that numbers bring, the Niagara Watershed Alliance will compliment our regions other environment groups.”

Osborne said, “It wasn’t a decision not to continue with Cara,” but that Lacki has more experience with tourism, knows a lot of people, and is very well spoken.

Indeed, Lacki, 51, has worked with John Percy and the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp.

At the conclusion of Monday’s Village Board and impromptu Planning Board meetings, a location for The Silo Restaurant caboose may have been located. Ironically, after months of haggling between residents, project developers and municipal leaders, the spot is not too far from the location first approved by the Planning Board in January.

Trustees unofficially disapproved of the initial proposal, which called for the 36-feet-long, 8-feet-high and 9-feet-wide railcar to be situated on a deck north of the restaurant (about 35 feet away), overlooking the fishing pier. Though no vote was taken, the board agreed with neighbors who claimed the caboose would obstruct their view of the water.

On Monday, after almost two-and-a-half hours of combined meetings, trustees seemed open to moving the caboose farther down that path, to the edge of a grass incline that’s much closer to the parking lot. Alan Hastings, who manages The Silo, also seemed comfortable with that idea.

The Board of Trustees has the final say on the project, as The Silo and the land it sits on both belong to the village. Richard Hastings, Alan’s father, leases the building and property.

Grand Island Dispatch, June 12, 2009

Honorary cancer survivor Dan McBride couldn’t make it to this year’s edition of the Grand Island Relay For Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, but his story wasn’t far from those in attendance.

Hundreds of Islanders and dozens of teams took part in the Relay again this year on June 5-6 at Grand Island High School’s Masters Field. McBride, a yearly participant in the event after overcoming mantle cell lymphoma with a bone marrow transplant in October 2006, was named the honorary survivor for the Relay last year. But in December 2008, he noticed swelling in his neck and a loss of energy and was soon told the bad news that his cancer had returned.

He received a bone marrow transplant in May and is now recovering. Unable to attend the event, McBride called Relay via cell phone.

Rachael McBride holds her cell phone to the microphone so her father Dan can address the participants in the 2009 Grand Island Relay For Life. Dan McBride, the honorary cancer survivor of the event, is recuperating from a bone marrow transplant.

“Hello, Relay,” he said over the phone, to a large heartfelt cheer from the crowd. “I just want to say than I am honored to be the 2009 Honorary Survivor. I want to thank everyone for all the love and support given to my family and I.” He thanked the event committee for their work each year.

Charles N. DeGlopper was remembered at a ceremony Tuesday in Maple Grove
Cemetery on the 65th anniversary of his death. (photo by Larry Austin)

On the 65th anniversary of his death, Grand Island’s Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper was remembered “for the supreme sacrifice he gave to his country in World War II.”

A ceremony was held at 11 a.m. on June 9 at DeGlopper’s grave in the Maple Grove Cemetery on Stony Point Road. A small gathering of people paid their respects to the Congressional Medal of Honor winner who died in France during the invasion of Normandy.

“I’m happy to see these people turn out and pay their respects to Charlie,” said Joe Synakowski, chaplain of the Charles N. DeGlopper VFW Post. “This should be done every year to commemorate and teach our youngsters what happened years ago. It’s not forgotten, it’s in history.”

Anita DeGlopper, wife of Charles DeGlopper’s nephew Ray DeGlopper, read a statement that noted Charles DeGlopper’s life on Grand Island and acts of valor that earned him a posthumous awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor (June 5, 2009, Island Dispatch).

Collin Murray, right, has inspired his family and friends to raise money for
the National Kidney Foundation in support of people with kidney diseases.

Collin Murray has already overcome more obstacles at 4 years of age than most people do in decades.

Today, Collin looks like any other child. He likes to watch The Wiggles, play with his little sister Keira, and swim in the backyard pool. But he's been meeting challenges since before he was even born. Collin, the son of Kateri and Kevin Murray of Grand Island, was diagnosed in utero with kidney and urinary tract problems so severe that his parents were told not to expect to carry the baby to full term. Later, the Murrays were told that their baby wouldn't survive long after birth, and were even advised that they should consider turning off machines that supported Collin's early life. At every step, Collin has beaten the odds.

Kateri wrote a book, "Victory Under Pressure," to describe the miracle of Collin's success. The story continues this month as the Murrays and friends on the team Collin's Cause join Kidney Walk 2009 on June 14 at Coca-Cola Field. The Murrays and other teams will be raising money for the National Kidney Foundation, an organization instrumental in helping Collin pursue a normal life.

"The money the NKF raises brings hope for people with kidney disease," Kateri said. "It allows kidney patients without renal failure to combat it ahead of time."

"It is all about prevention. You never know if it can happen to you," said Kevin, a social studies teacher at Grand Island High School. "Our Kidney Walk team raised $5,000 last year. We hope to raise $8,000 this year. If we can help one family from having to go through this, it's worth it. We would never want anyone to go through what we went through."

Richard and Alan Hastings seek to renovate the Ted Mars caboose and turn it into
an ice cream stand adjacent to The Silo Restaurant on Water Street in Lewiston.

Generally speaking, when the Village of Lewiston Planning Board approves a developer's plan, that person can freely move forward with whatever the project entails. That hasn't been the case with Richard Hastings, his son, Alan, and their proposal to add a caboose to The Silo Restaurant on Water Street.

Since the Planning Board approved their design on April 13, both father and son have been accosted by concerned neighbors. More than that, the Village Board of Trustees, which almost always rubber-stamps projects approved by the Planning Board, unofficially rejected the plan.

So, on Monday, Alan Hastings presented a new caboose design, one he said was in keeping with the Village Board's wishes. The result was a dissatisfied Planning Board, whose members still prefer the original plan.

"I don't know where to go with this," a clearly frustrated Alan Hastings told the Planning Board.

The original caboose idea called for the addition of a rail car to the north of the restaurant. The 36-feet-long, 8-feet-high and 9-feet-wide caboose would sit two feet into the ground, and be held by a deck. Customers would enter at ground level, and purchase ice cream.

Demler did not return calls asking for comment, but said prior to Saturday's meeting that he had weathered primary elections before in his seven terms as supervisor and still intended to run.

Despite uncertainties from the area's poor economy, a change in hours and a number of coinciding events, Lewiston-Niagara Relay For Life 2009, held Saturday, June 6, on the Lewiston-Porter campus, was deemed a success with $65,000 raised so far and contributions still coming in, according to American Cancer Society tabulations. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. Our Relay For Life was an astounding success, and the efforts of everyone who Relayed online played a huge part in our achievements," said ACS rep Tami Gabri. At right is a scene of the Relay's opening Survivor's Walk on the Lewiston-Porter High School running track, which saw 75 cancer survivors participating. All said, a total of 50 teams signed up, bringing 435 walkers, along with thousands of area residents who attended and contributed to the Saturday afternoon-evening Lewiston-Niagara Relay. A photo collage appears inside today's Sentinel.

Discussions for an off-leash dog park in Lewiston picked up momentum, as a small group of residents gathered Wednesday at St. Peter's School to hear ideas, exchange views, and set a plan to follow with the goal of turning what is now a wish for some into a reality for thousands of area dog lovers.

"The initial group of dog owners was very enthusiastic about the prospect of a Lewiston dog park," remarked Molly Chamberlain, who, along with pet groomer Andre Bell of Grandpaws Place has been spearheading the idea over past months. Wednesday's more-than-one-hour-long session saw roughly a dozen on hand – all professed dog lovers -- and area officials, including St. Peter's pastor, the Rev. Sebastian Pierro; Lewiston Police Chief Chris Salada; and Niagara County Legislator John Ceretto, R-12th District. Ceretto was the first to sign on as the new Lewiston Dog Owners Group formed that night.

All dog owners spoke of positive instances of experiencing dedicated dog park settings in other towns and cities – noting such examples as a privately run venture in Shaggy Pines, Mich., to successful municipal dog parks in Columbus, Ohio, and New York City.

"A dog park is an attractive entity; a nice community event," said Bell, pointing out its benefits to a community range from accurate dog license counts, to revenues, to quality of life attributes for residents.

While most people were spending Memorial Day weekend grilling hot dogs and saluting veterans at area ceremonies, Town of Niagara Supervisor Steven C. Richards and a group of local residents took it a step further.

Richards was among 10 people (seven from the Town of Niagara, two from Pendleton and one from Buffalo) who climbed on their motorcycles and drove all the way to Washington, D.C., for the annual Run for the Wall.

The Run was started in 1989 by two Vietnam veterans who traveled the country on their motorcycles, publicizing the fact that there were men and women who were unaccounted for from all wars. It evolved into the current Run, which brings motorcyclists from all over to the Vietnam Wall to honor not only POWs, MIAs and those killed in action, but all veterans. This year's Rolling Thunder parade on May 24 drew more than 350,000 riders.

"I always dedicate the ride to my father (Calvin Richards) who is a World War II vet," Richards said.

Porter Town Board members accepted a $5,000 grant Monday from Keep America Beautiful, submitted on Porter's behalf by Waste Management, parent company of Porter's CWM Chemical Services. The monies will go to benefit Porter-on-the-Lake, a park opened by the town last year on Lake Ontario. Shown at the check presentation were (left to right) board members Tom Baia, Larry White and Jeff Baker; Jim Pavel of Keep America Beautiful; board member Nancy Orsi; Mike Mahar of CWM; and Town Supervisor Mert Wiepert.

The Porter Town Board held a rather routine meeting Monday, where among other items, financials were discussed -- some good, and one troubling.

Town Engineer Dave Brittain of CRA consultants informed the board of a new problem discovered at the Cain Road crossing over 4-Mile Creek. "I met with the Highway Department on the Cain Road problem," said Brittain, appraising members of sinkholes developing in the road embankment, and of land that's beginning to slide and pull towards the creek. "There's a need to address the sinkholes," he said of the new problem found on the south side of the roadway.

Brittain said among the short-term solutions are culvert work to stabilize the land. "A permanent solution needs to be addressed," he said, telling the board the guardrail is starting to slide in.

Town Highway Department spokesman Dave Gombert, filling in for Highway Superintendent Scott Hillman, who is recovering from heart bypass surgery, said that barrels are currently in place in the problem area, but the road remains open to traffic – albeit in a one-lane setup in the sinkhole area. He said signage should be installed, informing motorists of the safety problem. "There's school buses that travel that route also," Gombert said.

The Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced it will be holding a workshop focusing on the Niagara Falls Storage Site on Wednesday, June 24, at the Lewiston Senior Center, 4361 Lower River Road, beginning at 6 p.m.

According to Arleen K. Kreusch, outreach program specialist, the workshop will be detailing the status of the Corps' work at NFSS and its proposed projects in the future. The workshop announcement follows recent Corps' news that it has received $8.5 million in federal stimulus funding to begin preliminary work toward the final demolition of Building 401 – the decrepit and radioactive contaminated former steam energy complex on the NFSS property.

"While working on the responses to your comments on the NFSS Remedial Investigation Report, the Corps is developing a scope of work for an addendum to the Remedial Investigation Report and transitioning into the feasibility study phase for the site," said Kreusch. "We will be discussing future actions at NFSS, which include our focus on the Interim Waste Containment Structure in the feasibility study, which will include the development and screening of various remedial alternatives for the IWCS."

As America's 12 million cancer survivors observe the 22nd annual National Cancer Survivors Day, Roswell Park Cancer Institute is taking the celebration in a new direction with the launch of an online cancer survivors community.

A specially designed Web site – myRoswellPark.com – allows patients, their families and friends to easily share stories, photos, videos and more.

"Cancer survivors and their families face each day with courage and dignity and serve as an inspiration to all of us," said Donald L. Trump, M.D., president and chief executive officer, RPCI. "Each cancer survivor has a story to share when the time is right. Through myRoswellPark.com, survivors from across Western New York can candidly talk about their lives since a cancer diagnosis and what survivorship means to them."

Patients will receive a free T-shirt, while supplies last, when they contribute their stories to myRoswellPark.com or mail to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, Attention: Department of Public Affairs.

Two annual events return to the area this weekend, providing plenty of family fun – the Town of Niagara Lions Club Niagara Strawberry Festival and the Shawnee Volunteer Fire Co. annual Field Days.

The Lions are inviting everyone to the Niagara Strawberry Festival on Sunday, June 14, at the old St. Leo's Church at 2748 Military Road, Town of Niagara.

This year there won't be a Niagara Idol competition, but there will be a basket auction extravaganza from noon to 5 p.m., a Chiavetta's chicken barbecue from 1 to 5 p.m., a performance by the Niagara Experience Players at 2 p.m., split club, hot dogs, and of course, strawberry shortcake.

Shawnee's annual Field Days starts at 6 p.m. today, June 11, and ends with a bang of fireworks at 10 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the fire company grounds, 3747 Lockport Road, Wheatfield.

"We responded to his call. It was very hard for us to respond in that situation," said Niagara Active Hose Chief Daniel Hosie. "He was a good fireman. He was a good family man."

A fireman's funeral was held Tuesday with honor guards, flag ceremony and presentation of firefighter badges to family members, Hosie said.

"Neighboring companies reached out to us and covered our calls while we were at the funeral today," he said.


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