Lewiston
Kiwanis Club celebrates 50th anniversary
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
The Lewiston Kiwanis Club marked its 50th anniversary
with a dinner-dance and awards banquet Saturday at Suzanne’s Fine
Dining. Founded on March 26, 1958, and chartered that May 17, the
service organization has raised more than $1 million for local
charitable organizations and causes.
Last weekend, Kiwanians and their wives gathered
together to fondly recall the past and look forward to the future.
As part of the event, New York District Kiwanis Legion awards were
presented to members with 5, 10, 25, 30, 45 and 50 years of relationship
with the club.
Moreover, the Outstanding Service Award was presented
to Brad Martin and the Sebastian Lombardi Community Service Award
was given to Don Smith.
read more
Chamber says
‘thank you’ for Citizen of the Year
Grand Island
Dispatch, May 2, 2008
John Cannon
Those who missed the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce’s
42nd annual Citizen of the Year Awards banquet can watch the entire
event on television. Cable Channel 22 will air the dinner on the
following Saturdays: May 10, May 17, June 14, and every Saturday
thereafter in June and July. All air times are scheduled for 8
p.m.
Mark Traina from Mile Stone Video Production filmed
the event for Time Warner Cable.
More than 200 people joined the Grand Island Chamber
of Commerce for the Citizen of the Year Award banquet, held on
April 24 at the Holiday Inn Resort & Conference Center. The
event honored Cannon Design, Tony Brindisi of Keller Insurance
Group, Mary Dunbar-Daluisio, Dolly D’Orazio, Carol Horrigan and
the Zonta Club of Grand Island for their dedication to making Grand
Island a better place to live.
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Volleys fly
as Maziarz visits Lewiston Town Board
Photo and
story by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Sometimes you never know what you’re going to get
into when you stop by Lewiston Town Hall.
Such was the case Monday evening when, upon approaching
Town Hall coming down Indian Hill, one found fire company trucks
and emergency vehicles scattered about the fire lane and at its
front entrance.
What was going on here? A fire? An emergency?
Well an emergency of sorts, you could say.
State Sen. George Maziarz, R-C, 62nd District, Newfane,
paid a visit with members of Lewiston No. 1, Lewiston No. 2, Upper
Mountain and the Sanborn volunteer fire companies. He was there
on their behalf to confront Supervisor Fred Newlin and the Lewiston
Town Board on questions and concerns they had over low-cost power
allocations and other forms of assistance to Lewiston’s four volunteer
fire companies.
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Chamber
to honor area businesses and individuals at gala
Annual gala recognizes outstanding contributions, achievements
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Here’s a sure rite of spring that many in northern
Niagara County have come to look forward to and enjoy each year.
The Lower Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce
invites the community to partake in “An Evening in Paris” at its
annual gala, Friday, June 13, at the Niagara Falls Country Club,
Mountain View Drive in Lewiston. The event begins at 6 p.m.
Carrying lead sponsorship by HSBC Bank USA, visitors
to this year’s affair will experience the finest in Parisian culture,
with hors d’oeuvres and wine tastings from the regions of France,
and continuing with servings from fine food stations and entertainment
offered throughout the evening. Tickets are $75.
read more
Marra back
in the race
by Joshua
Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Trustee Mike Marra said Friday he intends to run
for re-election in the June 17 Village of Lewiston election.
“I am running. I am going to run as an Independent,”
he said.
Despite losing the Republican endorsement last week,
Marra said he would obtain the 50 necessary signatures to appear
on the ballot and seek a second, four-year term on the Board of
Trustees because, “I think the board has done some great work.
I think I’ve done a good job.”
With David Baird declining the GOP endorsement this
week, speculation arose that Marra would claim it. Republican Chairman
Rob Nichols said the caucus is over and, as of now, Ron Winkley
is the only endorsed Republican. However, Nichols said his committee
may meet to back a second candidate.
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Giannetti,
Baird seek open government
Pair intends to create new Lewiston
Independent Party
by Joshua
Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
For the second week in a row, David Baird has made
significant political waves in the Village of Lewiston.
On April 24, he upset Deputy Mayor Mike Marra in
the Republican caucus to earn the GOP nomination for the June 17
Village Board election. On Monday, he attended the Democrat caucus
– but not as a spectator. He was nominated to run on the Democrat
line alongside Bob Giannetti, owner of Bob’s Olde Books on Center
Street. He accepted and both secured an endorsement.
What surprised some Democrats – including party chairwoman
Diane Roberts – was that, prior to the vote, Baird, a registered
Republican, announced he would not run on both lines. Earlier in
the evening, he turned down the GOP endorsement.
read
more
Myrtle Beach
flights grow
by Susan
Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Myrtle Beach Direct Air is adding to its roster of
low cost flights out of Niagara Falls International Airport to
Myrtle Beach, S.C., but dropping, at least temporarily, its flight
to St. Petersburg, Fla.
The airline now will offer five flights a week to
Myrtle Beach from the Falls airport. There will be a flight out
on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, plus two on Saturdays.
“Niagara Falls has done very well for us,” said
Ed Warneck, company president. “We have been continuing to increase
the number of flights coming from Niagara Falls to Myrtle Beach.”
The reason, according to company officials, is the
load factor. Most of the 150-seat flights leave full.
Myrtle Beach direct air began flying out of Niagara
Falls a year ago.
read
more
The Eagles
are Smokin’
by Susan
Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Fire up that grill and whip up your signature sauces
and rubs. Big time barbecue is on its way to Wheatfield.
Local barbecue-meisters who think they’re hot can
try to smoke some of the best from other areas in a cook-off that
will lead to a ticket to national competition.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 1411 will hold
the Smokin’ Eagles BBQ Championship, the area’s first nationally
sanctioned barbecue competition, on Aug 15 and 16 at The Summit
mall.
The top prize will include a ticket to participate
in the National Best of the Best Invitational to be held Oct. 31
and Nov. 1 in Douglas, Ga.
Roy Gregory, who with fellow Eagles Dan Kwiatkowski
and Kurt Huer is organizing the event, expects that the Best of
the Best ticket will draw teams of barbecue experts from up and
down the East Coast who haven’t qualified elsewhere.
read more
Superintendent
search under way
by Susan
Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008
Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education members heard
a report from their consultants last week on what residents, parents
and staff want to see in a new superintendent.
Current superintendent, Dr. Judy Howard, will be
retiring in August, and the board hired Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates
Ltd. of Glenview, Ill., to conduct the search for a replacement.
Consultant John O’Rourke reported that meetings were
held last month with 175 members of the community and that 67 people
filled out profile sheets defining a set of characteristics a new
superintendent should have.
People want the teamwork and focus on instruction
developed over the past 10 years under Howard’s leadership to continue.
They also are concerned about the ability to maintain financial
support with the current economic climate and the need to deal
with the continuing growth of enrollment, which primarily comes
from Wheatfield, he said.
read more
Board OKs
Riverwalk Final Plat, Chicora lighting
by Terry
Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Monday’s Lewiston Town Board session grew to an active
and lengthy one – going hours beyond the board’s leadoff dialogue
with State Sen. George Maziarz over concerns regarding fire company
assistance. Newsmakers that night included:
•The Riverwalk housing development expansion. Following
the Maziarz session, a public hearing was held on Final Plat Phase
3 plans to add 15 cluster lots in the Riverwalk housing development.
The lone resident who appeared raised issue with drainage concerns
in Riverwalk’s western area – which was also shared by Joe Deck
Jr., who called the area behind the Town of Lewiston Water Pollution
Control facility “a swamp.” Deck suggested that talks ensue with
State Parks regarding potential drainage relief via a channel to
Joseph Davis Park to outflow ground water to the Niagara River.
read more
NFP 10-mile
Garage and Sidewalk application deadline approaches
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Anticipation and excitement is building for the 16th
annual 10-Mile Garage and Sidewalk Sale in the towns of Lewiston
and Porter on June 7 and 8. Area residents are now picking up their
applications at the sale’s various sponsor locations in both towns
and forwarding them on to Niagara Frontier Publications to obtain
their own garage sale kit. They are also securing their spots in
a special NFP 10-Mile Garage and Sidewalk Sale center section pull-out
that will be found in the Lewiston-Porter Sentinel, Niagara-Wheatfield
Tribune and Grand Island PennySaver the week of May 31 to June
5. Additional copies of the pullout sections will be available
at key locations in the area, and the event will be publicized
throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario. This annual treasure
hunt draws thousands of people from all over Western New York and
southern Ontario.
read more
Lewiston
Police recognize contributors
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, April 26, 2008
This past Monday, the Lewiston Police Department
recognized the efforts of its own, as well as those from the Lewiston
governmental and business community who have helped make an impact
on its law enforcement operations over the past year. Those recognized
ranged from LPD Justice Clerk Lisa Rizzo, on her securing more
than $100,000 in grant funding for department operations, to community
members Brad Hardison of Hardison Funeral Homes and Ron Parent
of the Lewiston Kiwanis Club, whose financial contributions have
benefited LPD in the form of new dress uniforms for its officers
and assistance to LPD DARE education programs.
read more
Lewiston
Republicans opt for change
Marra fails to receive endorsement in re-election
bid
by Joshua
Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 26, 2008
As acting mayor, Mike Marra successfully ran the
Village of Lewiston during the first quarter of 2008. He appeared
at numerous community events and consequently earned praise from
the full-time mayor, Richard Soluri.
That wasn’t enough for Republicans caucusing at the
Red Brick Municipal Building on Thursday. The deputy mayor didn’t
receive enough of their votes to take the GOP line in the June
17 Village Board election. Instead, the party will back David Baird,
an active Republican, and Trustee Ron Winkley, the former Lewiston
police chief who replaced Ken Kenney in November 2007.
With virtually no GOP challengers arising in recent
elections, Marra said he was caught off guard when he arrived and
found a challenger with a cheering section in Baird.
“I didn’t think to ask any supporters because it’s
usually a formality,” he said. “I certainly learned a valuable
lesson.”
Marra is considering running on a different party
line. He said he’s looking into election law and will shortly make
a decision. Whether he runs for re-election or not, Marra said,
“I always did what I thought best for the village.”
read
more
Roast beef
dinner features fun, food
by Alice
E. Gerard
Grand Island Dispatch, April 25, 2008
Alicia Sommer and Dan McBride of The Record Breakers Featuring
the Polka Dot Chix flank Relay For Life chair Mary Dunbar-Daluisio.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane… it’s a human sized hot
dog?
Yes, that’s right. A human-sized hot dog will be
present at the roast beef dinner from 2 to 7 p.m. April 26 at the
Knights of Columbus Hall, 1841 Whitehaven Road.
The roast beef dinner is a fundraiser being put together
by The Record Breakers Featuring the Polka Dot Chix, one of 49
teams that will participate in the June 6 Relay For Life, to be
held on the Grand Island High School track, to raise funds for
the American Cancer Society. Tickets for the roast beef dinner
are $6.
According to team co-captain Alicia Sommer, “We’re
doing the roast beef dinner and the basket raffle and the 50-50
split and the silent auction. For the silent auction, we have two
beautiful paintings that are made in purple for our relay, and
we have some autographed Sabres items and some Buffalo Bills items
as well.”
read more
Proposed
development sparks debate
by Alice
E. Gerard
Grand Island Dispatch, April 25, 2008
The Grand Island Town Board accepted the final environmental
impact statement for the proposed Country Club Cottages cluster
development, to be located on the Fix and Baseline roads area,
but not before receiving an earful from concerned citizens.
According to Lois Shriver, a Snyder resident, several
swales at the site were not delineated in the final environmental
impact statement. She added that the Town Board visited the site
during the summer of 2007. “You also saw the very large cattail
swale at the southwestern corner of the parcel. Mr. McMahon, you
looked at it, and you said, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s got to go back
about 100 feet.’ There’s no place where that was delineated. Just
to the east of it is another very large wetland. I call it a swale.
Right now, there has to be at least a foot or a foot and a half
of water in it. It is not delineated.”
Shriver said, “I know that this is taking a long
time for this project.” She asked why developers seem to get their
projects pushed through the approval process. “The citizens have
something to say, too.”
read
more
Bullet found
at GIHS indicates no threat to students
by Kathleen
Duff
Grand Island Dispatch, April 25, 2008
Superintendent Robert Christmann informed the Grand
Island Board of Education at its regular meeting Monday evening
of a minor security issue at the high school earlier in the day.
Christmann said that a student found a rifle bullet in a school
hallway and turned it into the office, resulting in a “hold in
place,” during which halls were cleared and state troopers had
their dogs sweep the halls for the presence of a weapon. None was
found.
“This was a routine handling of the situation,” Christmann
told trustees, saying the matter was never considered a serious
threat to student safety. He also stated that the student responsible
for leaving the bullet on school property “will be identified over
the next few days.”
In other business, Christmann said new regulations
governing the participation of homeschooled students in intramural
sports are now available online. Basically, the rules are in place
through June 2009, when the board has the option to continue or
discontinue them. Rules of conduct and vaccination standards for
these students will be the same as for district students. An application
for intramurals is also available at www.grandisland-cs.k12.ny.us.
read more
Lewiston
Town Board mulls draft proposal covering service contractors
by Terry
Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 26, 2008
Leading to its planned joint village/town meeting
on Monday and furthering work done by a recent Ad Hoc Committee
on plumbing related concerns, Town of Lewiston Supervisor Fred
Newlin and Councilman Sean Edwards reported this week that among
its agenda items that evening, the board will be reviewing a new
draft proposal covering all construction done in the town by service
contractors.
“This covers all construction work,” said Edwards,
noting its application covers plumbers but also extends to electricians,
heating and ventilation contractors, and others -- basically anyone
seeking to do contracted service work on properties within the
town, be they public or private.
The town, coming off a rather heated March 24 hearing
on a proposed law for licensed plumbers, one which was heavily
attended by area non-union contractors, took no action that night
and instead deferred the matter to an Ad Hoc Committee. The group
met on April 3 and was comprised of Edwards, Councilman Mike Johnson,
Water Pollution Control Center Administrator Tim Lockhart, Building
Inspector Tim Matheson and invited area plumbers Paul Lotz, Paul
Game, Doug Edwards and Glen Andrews. That session (Sentinel, April
5), moved from the initial licensed plumbing issue to expanded
discussions on the need to address all service related construction
in the town and to better manage and monitor it. “We don’t have
a process,” said Edwards that evening. “There’s no coordination
… we’ve got to change.”
read
more
Budget OK’d;
grease law enacted
‘Little Blue House’ asbestos hindering move
by Joshua
Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 26, 2008
Thanks to the influx of Canadian shoppers into Niagara
County, the Village of Lewiston has earned enough additional sales
tax money to offer residents a 2008-09 financial plan requiring
no additional resident fees. On Monday, the Board of Trustees approved
a budget of $2,827,069 with a tax rate of $6.27 per $1,000 of assessed
property value.
“We are pleased to say that our tax rate remains
the same,” Mayor Richard Soluri said. Despite rising costs in fuel
and ever-growing medical expenses and employee wages, Soluri said
the village was afforded the opportunity to toe the tax line thanks
to increased sales tax revenues and property values. “We’ve done
a good job of budgeting tightly,” he said.
At $6.27 per $1,000, Lewiston has the lowest tax
rate of any village in Niagara County.
read more
6 candidates
in school board race
by Susan
Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 24, 2008
Two incumbents will face four new candidates in the
election for three seats on the Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education
on May 20.
Deadline for submission of petitions to run was Monday.
Current board members Michele Hoerner and Donald Moyer Jr. are
seeking re-election. The third seat open on the board is held by
Denny Klidonas, who announced earlier this year that he would not
be seeking re-election in order to spend more time with his family.
Also on the ballot will be Russell Brumby and William
Conrad, who have sought seats in the past, and newcomers Henry
Foote and Richard Crossley. The candidates’ position on the ballot,
randomly drawn on April 21, are: Brumby, Foote, Conrad, Moyer,
Crossley and Hoerner. The top three vote getters will win the three
board seats.
read
more
LaSalle wants
out and in
by Susan
Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 24, 2008
Dana Tweed wants to be adopted by the Town of Niagara.
Tweed, a resident of Shantz Avenue in the LaSalle
section of Niagara Falls, told the Town of Niagara Town Board on
Monday that she and many of her neighbors are tired of being ignored
by the city. They’d like to find out if LaSalle could be incorporated
into the town.
Tweed cited poor roads, schools and services in LaSalle.
“They took away a high school and two elementary
schools, but they’re building brand-new schools downtown,” she
said. “We basically get nothing.”
LaSalle became a part of the city in 1923. Both the
city and LaSalle originally were part of the town, according to
Supervisor Steve Richards. In fact, the Masonic Lodge on South
Military Road in LaSalle used to be Town Hall.
“Speaking for myself, I would love to have LaSalle
residents back,” Richards said. “We’re not perfect up here, but
I tell you we give you a good quality of life and do it for a small
dollar.”
read more
Something
is up there
UFO acknowledgement pursued by reporter
by Susan
Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 24, 2008
For the past eight years, investigative reporter
Leslie Kean has been chasing unidentified flying objects.
She’s not talking about little green men or even
reported alien abductions. Her quest is to bring official data
into the public arena and to get the U.S. government to stop being
so secretive and acknowledge that something is up there.
Kean was guest speaker at Niagara County Community
College on Tuesday. Her articles have appeared in newspapers such
as the Boston Globe and the Sacramento Bee and on national wire
services.
Zillions of reports and photos can be found on the
Internet, most of which can’t be trusted, she said.
“This is material nobody can argue with,” she said.
“That’s the way it works in journalism – to present facts.”
When you’re talking about UFOs, you’re not talking
about a craft from outer space, but simply an object in the sky
that is unidentified, she said. However, many of the documented
and investigated reports do show very sophisticated capabilities
that don’t exist here, such as the ability to fly at right angles
and stop in midair.
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