| Left of Center
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Lewiston taken to the cleaners
Fortunately, Russ Petrozzi had some screwy insulation.
The fluffy pink stuff in the ceiling, which usually
works to keep heat from leaving a building, did the exact opposite
at his Capitol Cleaners location on Porter Road. It stopped flames
from entering the building when a fire erupted two weeks ago in
the adjoining Laundromat.
With a big assist from Lewiston firefighters, no
one was hurt and no merchandise was tarnished.
“We were very lucky,” Petrozzi said this week. “The
(Lewiston) firemen vented the store immediately. … There was no
damage to the clothing.
“It could’ve been a lot worse for everyone.”
Petrozzi said the quick work of firefighters kept
his losses to a minimum. He thanked the Lewiston firefighters and
policemen “for their fine work and kindness. They did a hell of
a job.”
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Separate
LOOW info sessions
by Terry
Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
News continues – albeit on separate fronts – regarding
upcoming public information sessions covering studies and activities
at the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works site in Lewiston and Porter.
The Outreach Committee of the LOOW Restoration Advisory
Board, an existing citizens stakeholder group that addresses LOOW
concerns, announced this week that power point presentations covering
both the LOOW site and the Niagara Falls Storage Site will be held,
Monday, May 5, to the Lewiston Village Trustees, 6 p.m. at the
Red Brick Hall in Lewiston, and to the Porter Town Board, Monday,
May 12, at Porter Town Hall, beginning at 6 p.m. Both sessions
are open to the public.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has opted
recently to branch off from its association with the Lewiston RAB
group, announced recently it will be holding a separate information
session on its Remediation Investigation Report covering the NFFS
(Sentinel, Dec. 22, 2007). That session will take place Wednesday,
May 7, at the Town of Lewiston Senior Center, 4361 Lower River
Road, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and continuing to 9 p.m.
It is likewise open to the public. For further information,
contact the Corps Buffalo office at 879-4438.
Gifford announces
candidacy for Lewiston-Porter School Board
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Bonnie Gifford, mother of three Lewiston-Porter students
and owner and vice president of Heritage Health Care Group LLC,
a local health care consulting business, announces her candidacy
for the Lewiston-Porter Board of Education.
“As a single mother and small business owner, I am
intimately aware of how difficult it is to make ends meet each
month,” Gifford said. “Taxpayers are already overburdened in New
York state, and our school board needs to work as a team to hold
the line on taxes and creatively seek new revenue streams.
Gifford believes when you effectively manage finances,
you will provide resources that are needed to develop and enhance
educational programs.
Gifford is a graduate of Lewiston-Porter, and she
served on the Starpoint School Board for five years before moving
her family back to the Lewiston-Porter district. “Lewiston-Porter
is an exceptional school district, and I wanted my boys to be educated
here,” Gifford stated. “As a board member, I will ensure that every
child receives a top-notch education while watching every penny
on behalf of the taxpayers.”
read
more
Mezhir to
seek re-election to Lewiston-Porter Board of Education
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008
Incumbent Lewiston-Porter School Board Vice President
James A. Mezhir has decided to seek re-election to the board in
May. Mezhir, professor of criminal justice and coordinator of the
Emergency Management Program at Niagara County Community College,
is excited about the opportunity to continue to represent the taxpayers,
school district, and most importantly the children of the Lewiston-Porter
community.
During Mezhir’s tenure as a school board member,
many things have been accomplished:
•Lewiston-Porter joined the School Boards Association
(NYSSBA), which is a state organization that provides guidance
and information to run fiscally responsible school boards.
•Board members have participated in all types of
training through the NYSSBA, including financial accountability,
contract negotiations, legal issues, and best practices for searching
for a superintendent.
•Worked with environmental groups in an effort to
ensure that the Lewiston-Porter campus is as safe as possible,
and that changes can be made if necessary.
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Public can
address Frontier House proposal
by Joshua
Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 19, 2008
The Village of Lewiston Planning Board will provide
residents an opportunity to voice their opinion on the Frontier
House proposal on Monday, May 12. A public information meeting
will be held at the start of the board’s 6:30 p.m. session.
On Monday, the Planning Board accepted Frontier House
owner and developer Richard Hastings’ first submission. The project’s
environmental impact is currently under review.
Though the project has been the talk of the town,
and extensively covered by area media outlets, no formal question-and-answer
session has occurred.
Late last year, Hastings, via architect Timothy E.
Kupinski of the EI Team, presented the Planning Board with a concept
to wrap a retail hub and senior condominium structure around the
Frontier House. As part of the proposal, the historic building
– the centerpiece of Center Street’s business district – would
be revitalized and reopened.
The Planning Board rejected the proposal on March
17, as it required four variances to the Lewiston Village Code.
The next night, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved the variances,
which related to the project’s density, parking, playground and
green space.
read
more
Town Board
moves on parks requests
by Terry
Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 19, 2008
You can always tell when the nice weather begins
to occupy the mindset of area residents as well as government officials
– particularly so when it comes to board meetings. The Lewiston
Town Board – minus Sean Edwards and Al Bax who were out of town
on vacation with their families – sensed that on Monday at a first-of-the-month,
scantly attended work session as it moved to the fast track on
reviewing a limited number of items, acting on some and tabling
others.
In a nutshell, not too much happened.
Town Supervisor Fred Newlin opened the session with
discussion on Niagara Power Coalition relicensing-related concerns
with the New York Power Authority and the topic of consensus when
it comes to NYPA’s working with Greenway communities on approving
projects. “Consensus is ideal,” said Newlin, adding he felt compromise
voting among members was more appropriate. “A simple vote should
be good enough to avoid arbitration issues,” Newlin said.
Councilman Ernie Palmer piped in, observing how Lewiston
is still paying out legal fees regarding relicensing issues with
the Coalition, and agreeing that building consensus among Greenway
members should be the way to go.
read
more
Lew-Port
budget ready for adoption
by Janet
Schultz
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 19, 2008
The Lewiston Porter Board of Education plans to adopt
a $40,426,958 budget for the 2008-09 school year.
The budget contains no increase in the property tax
levy, even though it is $1.6 million above this year’s budget of
$38.8 million. For district property owners, this represents the
second time in six years that there has been no increase in the
tax levy.
Board President Robert Laub announced that the district
would be receiving a $968,858 (7.19 percent) increase in state
aid. That amount was more than the $455,000 provided in the governor’s
budget proposal.
The board cited three areas that will benefit from
a move to transfer $100,000 in the legal fee line to other areas.
Those areas include music, science and the hiring of a part-time
athletic director/part-time vice principal for the middle school.
Their discussion of a part-time athletic director
and part-time vice principal for the middle school revealed it
would benefit the district in two major areas. At the present time
a faculty member is serving as an athletic director for a $20,000/year
stipend, and due to his status is now allowed to evaluate other
faculty who serve as coaches. Hiring an athletic director would
eliminate this conflict of interest. Naming that person as a part-time
vice principal would provide for an assistant to the principal’s
position in the Middle School.
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more
New hours
at Fort Niagara
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, April 19, 2008
Old Fort Niagara’s new operating hours are in effect.
Open year-round, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s
Day, the fort is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., January through June; 9
a.m. to 7 p.m., in July and August; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., September
through December.
Admission to the fort is $10 for adults (ages 12
and over); $9 for seniors (ages 65 and over) and $6 for children
(ages 6 to 12 years). Children under age 6 are free. Parking is
free and visitors are entitled to a refund of their State Parks
vehicle fee when the Fort Niagara State Park tollbooths are open.
For further information, call 745-7611, or visit
www.oldfortniagara.org.
Nichols family
honored for good grapes
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, April 5, 2008
As the Town of Lewiston plans for its future, integrating
new housing and agriculture-based industries, one area family has
earned recognition for its past endeavors in support of farming,
most notably the grape industry.
David C., Jeanette and Andrew Nichols, of 1906 Ridge
Road, were honored recently with the Donald Crowe Memorial Award,
presented by the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program of Cornell Cooperative
Extension at the 15th annual Grape Grower Conference at SUNY-Fredonia
on March 26.
The “Person of the Year” award is presented to those
who give exceptional service and volunteer for the educational
program of the grape industry.
As a lay-leader organization, Cornell Cooperative
Extension and its Lake Erie Grape Advisory Committee has benefited
for at least 40 years from the committee support in various capacities
by David Nichols, which often entailed his traveling to Fredonia.
read
more
Lewiston
mulls new options for plumbing contractors
by Terry
Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 5, 2008
The Lewiston Town Board’s plan to establish licenses
and restrictions for plumbers working within the town “went down
the drain” in the form of protests by dozens of contractors who
packed Town Hall at a March 24 hearing.
Many opined the proposal, which called for plumbers
to pass written competency tests, pay for an annual license, and
only allow master plumbers to be entitled to work, would set the
stage for creating a monopoly in the town. “Passing a test doesn’t
guarantee the competency of a plumber,” said Wilson plumber Doug
Edwards at the session. “By passing this you’ll be benefiting a
few at the expense of many … You’ll be guaranteeing a monopoly”
(for master plumbers) and passing the cost on to residents, he
said.
Youngstown plumber Paul Lotz of Paul’s Plumbing and
Heating agreed. Questioning the quality of work he’s seen done
by some master plumbers, Lotz told Supervisor Fred Newlin and board
members that while not a master plumber himself, he nonetheless
services all towns and has often been called on to repair work
that “wasn’t done right” by a master plumber in the first place.
“I’m not a master plumber … all my work is inspected,” Lotz said.
“Everything gets done; I see no reason for this.”
read more
Lewiston
Police arrest one in bizarre Ridge Road shooting
by Terry
Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 5, 2008
Lewiston Police responded to a call of shots fired
at a Ridge Road residence Wednesday evening, and in the process
uncovered an apparent love triangle turned grudge, which had out-of-state
connections and ultimately ended with a suicide.
According to Lewiston Police Sgt. Frank Previte,
at 8:41 p.m. Wednesday, police received a Niagara County Sheriff’s
dispatch call of shots fired at 2583 Ridge Road. “We received information
that someone had shot through the door … that someone shot the
resident,” said Previte.
Upon their arrival, Lewiston Police encountered resident
Todd A. Allen, 20, who stated that an individual later identified
as Anthony J. Iadicicco, 28, had showed up at the residence. Iadicicco,
who had apparently known the resident, pulled out a handgun from
his jacket as Allen approached the door and fired off one round.
The gunshot missed Allen, traveled through the door and into an
interior wall in the hallway of the home. Iadicicco, who was positively
identified by Allen, fled immediately following the incident. Lewiston
Police issued an attempt to locate request on the assailant to
all area law enforcement agencies soon after.
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more
Porter DPW
informs on pickups
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, April 5, 2008
It’s getting time for some spring-cleaning up in
Porter.
With that in mind, the Town of Porter Department
of Public Works informs that brush pickups begin on Monday, April
21, and that a town-wide pick-up will occur on April 21 and 22.
Starting on May 5, regularly scheduled pick-ups will take place:
•On the first Monday of each month for those areas
west of Lutts Road.
•On the third Monday of each month for those areas
east of Lutts Road.
DPW Superintendent Scott Hillman reports the brush
clearing services are intended for homeowners only. “This service
is for reasonable and routine homeowner tree trimming,” says Hillman,
adding that it does not include trees in wooded areas behind homes.
“We do not clear or extend lots for builders or private
owners,” he says. “If you utilize the services of a contractor,
he is responsible for clean up of the trimmings.”
read more
Town rec
seeks employees
Lewiston
Porter Sentinel, April 5, 2008
Town of Lewiston job seekers, listen up!
Spring is here and summer’s just around the corner.
With that in mind the Town of Lewiston Parks and Recreation Department
reports the “help wanted” sign is now out for summer workers in
the town. According to Director Mike Dashineau, applications are
now being accepted for part-time seasonal employment and the town
is looking for qualified workers. “Work as a recreational aide
is a great way to spend the summer working outdoors and with children,”
says Dashineau. “The recreation aide position is also a great way
for college students who are eying a career in the fields of social
work, education, sports management or childhood psychology to begin
their careers. Applicants with a background in these fields, as
well as applicants with a sports background, will be strong candidates
for these positions.”
All applicants must be Lewiston residents age 18,
or 17 years old with additional qualifications. Applicants must
have a clean driver’s license, and be able to drive to any of the
town’s five staffed parks. Sanborn and Colonial Village area residents
are strongly advised to apply.
Dashineau reports the Town Parks Department is also
looking for seasonal laborers to maintain the town’s seven parks
and various properties. Applicants must be Lewiston residents,
at least 18 years of age, and be physically fit to handle the demands
of the position. A background in lawn maintenance or landscaping
is preferred.
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