Current News

by Joshua Maloni Village of Lewiston trustees received an earful Monday from Oneida Street resident Jacqueline Lampman at their monthly board meeting. They heard complaints on everything from traffic models to spending patterns. "It's not a quiet place to live anymore," Lampman said of the village. She began her comments with observations of the north Fourth Street and River Road areas. "(Cars were) going 50 mph," she said, noting they weren't stopping, either. But, with the arrival of Lewiston Police vehicles, "It stopped. These people significantly slowed down." Lampman said quality of life in the village has diminished with the increase in concerts and other large events. "You just keep adding them (festivals), and adding them, and adding them," she said. "Now I've got tour buses (driving down my street) ... I've got Modern (Disposal trucks) in the middle of the night. ... It's horrible." "I didn't come into this village to listen to rock music at 8:30, 9 o'clock," she said. "I know I'm not the only one who feels that way." Lampman said Ridge Street has become a "horrible" haven for "bar traffic"; village parks have become overrun with "older kids from Niagara Falls" who "intimidate all the younger kids"; and questioned spending for recreation programs. Trustees listened to Lampman, but didn't engage her in a debate. "We are working to try to make things better," Mayor Terry Collesano said. He stated sound levels were adjusted at Artpark and Water Street Landing (two popular noise complaint targets), and parking adjustments were implemented for "Tuesday in the Park" concerts. Wiz Khalifa concert questioned The Artpark conversation turned to the Wiz Khalifa concert on Aug. 4. The 23-year-old Pittsburgh rapper is currently on his "Rolling Papers" tour. "There could be some very tense moments that night," Village of Lewiston Police Commissioner Al Soluri said. "We don't want a reoccurrence of what happened in Niagara Falls." Soluri was referring to a July 2 concert at the Rapids Theatre on Main Street, which ended with a shooting, several fights and multiple arrests. Responding after the meeting, Artpark & Co. President George Osborne said, "The Wiz Khalifa concert should not be compared to the 'after hours' private party at the Rapids Theatre. Wiz Khalifa plays to a demographic of 16 to 20 year olds, and our concert is scheduled to end at 10:30. The Rapids party didn't even start until 11 p.m." Lewiston Police Chief Chris Salada said Osborne would not cancel the show. Khalifa's show is a ticketed, Mainstage Theater event. Soluri said the previous indoor show, the July 13 Black Keys concert, was larger than police expected. "Chris doesn't know when they have a big crowd coming," Soluri said of ticketed events. Salada said he is ready for the Khalifa show. "We're going to have all our guys in, and we're going to try and get some (Niagara County) Sheriff's Department and state police in there for that, too," he said. Salada also is preparing for larger outdoor crowds. Artpark's next two "Tuesday in the Park" concerts feature Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top. Weather permitting, crowds are expected to range from 15,000 to 25,000. "The next two weeks are probably going to be our biggest," he said. "Besides the coverage we now have between the state police and sheriff's department, I'm also going to write a letter to the Town of Niagara - (Police Chief James Suitor) says he could probably give me five guys - and I'm going to get at least one officer from Youngstown to supplement the patrols for those nights." Salada and the Lewiston Police Department also have worked this summer with New York State Parks Police, Niagara County Auxiliary Police and U.S. Border Patrol to ensure crowd control, run driving while intoxicated checkpoints, and direct traffic out of the village. News and Notes •Music promoter Steve Goodman was granted permission to host the first "Hot Pepper & Salsa Festival" on Aug. 16-17 at Academy Park. Proceeds will be used to pay for security cameras, which will be installed on Water Street. •The Village of Lewiston Recreation Department is planning a Facebook course this fall for people looking to learn the ins and outs of the social networking site. The department was also given permission to use Marilyn Toohey Park and the Red Brick Schoolhouse grounds for its 15th annual Country Fair and Community Yard Sale on Saturday, Sept. 17. •Theatre in the Mist was granted a facility contract to use Academy Park from 5 until 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25, for a Chiavetta's chicken barbecue fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit the company, which is staging "Annie" in September. •Paving was expected to end this week. The Department of Public Works placed new blacktop on Mohawk and South Ninth streets.

Niagara County Sheriff's Deputy Allen Gerhardt continues his recovery from surgery at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo following a serious automobile accident early Monday morning on Lake Road in the Town of Porter.

If you seek a weekend activity combining educational merit and whimsical fun, look no further than the Sanborn Area Historical Society's upcoming annual Farm Festival.

A trio of powerhouse actors - Lindsay Wagner, Sasha Roiz and Rene Auberjonois - will guest star on Syfy's hit series Warehouse 13 Monday, July 25, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

In a unique format twist during Sunday's episode of Oxygen's "The Glee Project," the remaining eight contenders paired up for four separate performances to learn the art of the duet.

You can satisfy your sweet tooth without the guilt when Bravo's most delectable series, "Top Chef Just Desserts" returns for a second season on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 10 p.m.

Chemical Waste Management, located on Balmer Road in the Town of Porter, held its annual open House on Friday, July 16.

Situated on Lake Ontario 11 miles east of Fort Niagara in picturesque Wilson Harbor, the 43-year-old Tuscarora Yacht Club has just completed a $400,000 upgrade of its entire facility.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo officials reported Wednesday that the 2011 Appeal exceeded its $10.5 million goal by June 30 with cash and pledges received in the amount of $10,601,157.94.

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours is being credited with saving a St. Louis woman's life.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, today thanked the governor for signing legislation into law that will greatly reduce regulations placed on wineries by the State Liquor Authority.

An absolutely gorgeous night greeted race fans and drivers last Friday for the Investor's Services and RPM-sponsored event. A five-division program was on tap, resulting in the largest car count of the season, coming in at 111.

The following activity occurred Monday, July 11, to Sunday, July 17, as reported by the Lewiston Police Department. LPD reported a total of 116 responses during this period.

On Monday evening, July 25, Old Fort Niagara and the Town of Porter Historical Society will join to commemorate the 252nd anniversary of the Battle of La Belle Famille with a walking tour of the original battle site.

Professor Herbert Richardson, an author with Edwin Mellen Press, is selling his roughly 8,500-square-foot mall on the corner of Center and North Fourth streets. The Village of Lewiston space consists of merchants selling ice cream, books and art, as well as a vacant center that was intended to house artisans and/or community events.

Fuccillo Chevrolet added another assist to its stat sheet of corporate good will.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, is urging residents of Niagara County to take advantage of extended hours at local parks and swimming facilities. Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced that the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will begin extended hours today through Saturday evening.

The 45th reunion of the Niagara-Wheatfield Class of '66 will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at the Rapids Theatre on Main Street in Niagara Falls.

Celebrate Greek and other cultures, c'mon!

The following is a sampling of calls received by the Town of Niagara Police between June 27 and July 3.

Presti Karate's Demo team "Team Fierce" was voted No. 1 by Chuck Norris, his wife Gena, his brother Aaron, and famed stunt man Richard Norton on July 15 in Las Vegas.

Donations are starting to pile up at the Wheatfield Community Center.

The sale of Fashion Outlets of Niagara on Military Road will double the amount of money the Town of Niagara receives for construction at Veterans Memorial Park on Lockport Road.

Change was rife at the Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education meeting last week.

Niagara County is experiencing a heat wave that is expected to last for the next several days. Heat waves can have serious health effects or even cause death in overheated individuals. The Niagara County Public Health Director, Daniel Stapleton, offers some common-sense measures the public can take to prevent health consequences of heat exposure.

The Town of Niagara Town Board was fighting mad Monday at a show cause hearing on a vacant property linked to a local junkyard owner who is delinquent on his taxes.

The Town of Niagara will present its fourth annual American Graffiti Car Show and Concert from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Veterans Memorial Park off Lockport Road.

Niagara and Erie county officials will jointly cut a ribbon dedicating the new Cedar Street-Foote Road Bridge over the Tonawanda Creek between the towns of Royalton and Newstead today.

New York State Sen. Mark Grisanti and Assemblyman John Ceretto wrote a letter to seek clarification as to whether or not the directors of the USA Niagara Development Corporation have the jurisdiction in their bylaws to increase the size of their footprint within Niagara Falls.

Beyond the tragedy, the history, the raging guitars and the killer songs, ultimately, Lynyrd Skynyrd is about an indomitable will.

Five Niagara University students will be among the 20 taking higher education to the high seas later this month when they participate in an educational program that takes place aboard an authentic 19th century wooden sailing ship.

Organizers are anticipating huge crowds for the upcoming "First Niagara presents Tuesday in the Park" concerts with Lynyrd Skynyrd (July 26) and ZZ Top (Aug. 2), and will thus suspend the free children's art activities that are normally held during the free outdoor concert series.

On Saturday, July 30, at 1 p.m., Old Fort Niagara will sponsor a free public lecture by Richard V. Barbuto, deputy director of the Department of Military History at the United States Army Command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Ka. Barbuto will discuss the history of the Third United States Artillery Regiment, a unit that served at the Battle of Queenston Heights, Fort Niagara, Fort George and Fort Erie.

More of the hottest names in the music industry have been added to "LIVE! with Regis and Kelly's" summer music lineup this season, with a wide range of artists stopping by to perform for the "LIVE" audience.

In celebration of the highly anticipated series premiere of "Terra Nova," FOX invites fans to embark on a "dino-sized" interactive adventure. The "Journey to Terra Nova" fan experience kicks off Thursday, July 21, at the Comic-Con Interactive Lot at Petco Park in San Diego, and will travel to 20 additional markets around the U.S. this summer and early fall.

Niagara County and City of Lockport officials publicly thanked a top Environmental Protection Agency official Tuesday for that agency's decision to award a major grant to rehabilitate an abandoned site in the city.