PEACH FESTIVAL

About 25,000 are expected to make their way to Lewiston over
the weekend for the annual Peach Festival. Saturday morning's parade
will feature 10 musicial units including theSanborn Fire Company band,
the McKenzie Highlanders, and the Wolverine Marching Band from
Niagara Falls. It starts at 11 on Center Street. A free concert by Terry
Buchwald is set for 8pm. The three days will wrap up with the
Peach Queen selection Sunday night. Sanger Farms is supplying the
fresh peaches for the shortcake and honorary chairman Jerry Wolfgang
says you'll also see some new rides on the Midway.

ONTARIO HOUSE JAZZ REUNION

Niagara Falls native Joey Defrancisco will be the headliner
Saturday at the 3rd annual "Ontario House Jazz Reunion" in
the Falls. The day is dedicated to the memory of late
saxophonist John "Spider" Martin Junior. Activities start
at noon at the corner of Main & Ontario. There will be two
tents and the event will take place rain or shine. The music is
free but there will be a charge for food and beverages. DeFrancisco
is expected to perform about 6pm.

NEW FIRE HALL

State Senator George Maziarz and Wheatfield Supervisor
Tim Demler expected Saturday when dedication ceremonies
are held for the second station of the Adams Volunteer Fire
company. The new hall cost $500,000. It was completed in
February and is at 3805 Klemer Road. IT sits on land donated to
the department over 30 years ago by the late Frank and
Auggie Moeller. Their other hall is at 7113 Nash Road. They
expect to handle over 600 calls this year.

MEDINA SCHOOL CHIEF RESIGNS

Medina School Chief Richard Galante resigned last night
following an appearance in Shelby Town Court. He had
been charged with falsely claiming on his resume to be a former
Trooper by State Police. The charges were reduced to a
misdemeanor but Galante did not plead guilty. He was issued
an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal and ordered
to complete 60 hours of community service. He did not have
to surrender his teaching certificate. Orleans County Special
Prosecutor Louis Haremski said he was originally charged
on an issue of fraud and to convict a felony you need proof
of fraud. Galante's contract called for him to make almost
$136,000 this year plus benefits.

MISSING WOMAN

The Sheriff's Department resuming it's search today for a missing
84 year old Wilson woman. Lucille Schurr of Cambria-Wilson Road
suffers from dementia and hasn't been seen since 9 Wednesday night
when she may have gone looking for her cat. Two helicopters,
several tracking dogs, and about a hundred people joined in the
search Thursday night. She is described as a petit 5 foot 11, wears
glasses, has salt and pepper hair, and is hard of hearing.

GREAR ENDORSEMENT

Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker says he doesn't plan on removing
John Lombardi as Council Praesident after Lombardi endorsed
Sheriff's Deputy Brian Grear Thursday in Grear's primary battle
against incumbent State Senator George Maziarz. Tucker supports
Maziarz and said he doesn't expect retaliation from him or County
GOP Chairman Henry Wojtaszek and that he never gets
instructions from them as to what to do. Lombardi accused county
Republican leaders of thuggery and intimidation during a press
conference. He said a lot of hard working dedicated Republicans
had been treated badly for no apparent reason...naming Cambria
Supervisor Wright Ellis, former County GOP Elections Commissioner
Lucille Britt, and Jerry Wolfgang as examples. Lombardi said he
may be committing political suicide but sometimes you just have
to do what's right despite the consequences. He said he hasn't
decided yet whether he would run again next year and if he does,
it'll be up the people of Lockport to make their choice. Royalton GOP
chairman Robert Johnston and ousted LCTV talk show host Tom
Christy also backed Grear. Grear charged that Maziarz operates by
using intimidation and personal and professional destruction.

DEER-MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

A 59 year old Lockport man is in stable condition at ECMC following
a motorcycle-deer accident late Wednesday night in Clarence. James
Huntz was operating his 2007 Kawasaki on Transit Road when a deer
entered the roadway in a heavily commercialized and populated area.
State Police say the animal struck the bike and Huntz lost control.
He was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital by ambulance.

WHEATFIELD LOOTING

The Sheriff's Department charging two men Monday with breaking
into cars in Wheatfield. 21 year old William Clare of Woodland Avenue
in the Falls....and 20 year old Cody Miller of Divide Road in Lewiston..
were allegedly found hiding in a garage on Hunt Street with more than
$2,000 worth of electronics, D-V-D'S, and credit cards. Deputies said they
received several calls about suspicious men getting in and out of cars
around 3:30 am Monday and they stopped a car driven by two teenage
girls in Bergholz. While they were interviewing them, they heard a cell
phone call from a male saying he needed to be picked up at his grandmother's
house because police were everywhere. After further questioning, the
two girls told the deputies where the men could be found.

APARTMENT BREAK IN

$750 in cash and 15 movies were taken from an apartment on
Sweetwood Drive last night while it's occupants were at Lockport
Memorial Hospital. The Sheriff's Department says the female
occupant fell around 6:30 and her boyfriend left work to be with
her at the hospital. When the two returned home around 10:45 they
found the back door ajar. The money was taken from a coffee table.

OBESITY

Lockport is one of six school districts in the county that'll be
required to begin collecting data on the weight of it's students
starting this month. It's the result of a law passed last year designed
to cut down on childhood obesity. The districts chosen must report a
summary of student's weight status to the State Health Department.
The other districts are Lewiston-Porter, Newfane, Starpoint, Wilson, and
North Tonawanda. The law requires body mass index and weight status
categories to be included on each student's health certificate when
they enter school....in either pre K or kindergarten...and in grades
2, 4, 7, & 10. The data must be collected but parents can request that
their child's information be excluded from the summary sent to the State.

SENECAS

The Seneca nation says it will appeal Wednesday's ruling by the
National Indian Gaming Commission that it's temporary casino
in downtown Buffalo is illegal and must close within five days. The
notice of violation is based on a ruling by Federal Judge William
Skretney issued in July. The government said the Senecas could
be fined as much as $25,000 a day if it stays open. The Senecas say
it will.

GARAGE FIRE

A fire Wednesday morning destroyed the garage of Porter Town
Justice Walter Holmes. The blaze was reported just before 10am
at 3893 Ransomville Road. A 2007 Chevy and another vehicle were
lost along with antiques, a snow blower, and a lawn mower. Ransomville
Fire Chief Steve Hillman said the blaze started after Holmes turned on a
backup generator in the garage to make sure it was working. He went into
the house and then heard glass breaking in the garage. Holmes is a member
of the Fire Department and had just returned from a meeting with them
earlier in the morning.

NYSEG

The State Public Service Commission yesterday o-k'd a $4.5-billion
merger between the owners of NYSEG and Spanish power producer
Iberdrola. The o-k clears the way for the new owners to take over
"Energy East Corporation," which also owns Rochester Gas & Electric..
if they accept the conditions imposed on the deal. The Commission saying
the new company must provide a $275-million reduction in electricity and
natural gas delivery rates over 5 years. They must also spend $200-million
on new wind power facilities in the State within two years. The Public Service
Commission is expected to issue a formal order spelling out the terms and
conditions . The company said they would review it to determine their
next steps. NYSEG provides electric service and some natural gas service
to about 175-thousand customers in Western New York.

HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS

The Falls City Council is considering a request by the Diocese
of Buffalo to wait before they award local landmark status to two
closed churches. The city's Historic Preservation Commission has
reccommended the designations for Saint George and Our Lady of
Lebanon and it's on the agenda for Monday's council meeting....but
representatives of the diocese asked the Mayor yesterday to delay the
vote for four months while they develop plans for the closed structures.
They promised not to make any changes to them in the meantime.
A council designation would mean the diocese can't tear them down
or make any changes that affect their historic features. The Council has
already o-k'd such designations for Holy Trinity and Sacred Heart. The
diocese closed the four as part of it's restructuring plan called "Journey
In Faith & Grace."

LOCKPORT CITY COUNCIL

The Lockport City Council last night delayed one of the four
public hearings set for the session. Mayor Mike Tucker says
a last minute change by the Planning Board postponed the hearing
on the proposed sign ordiance. He said it may be held September 17
or on some future date. 0nly one person spoke on the proposed
historic preservation ordiance and no one had anything to say about
the adoption of the hiring policy proposed by NOAH or the change
in the allocation of the water and sewer money. In other action, city
leaders voted to draft an agreement with the school district to keep
the resource office at the high school. The council also accepted
nearly $2-million in grants. One of them will supply $1.5-million to fix
the roof on Harrison Square.

ROYALTON SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

The Roy Hart School district will hold two meetings to
gather public input as the search for a new school
superintendent begins. Paul Bona will step down at
the end of June and Doctor Clark Godschall has been
hired to conduct the search. The meetings will be held
at 6pm September 11 and at 10am September 13 in the
High School Auditorium.

BOY TAKES A TUMBLE

A 15 year old Middleport boy was taken to ECMC Tuesday
after he was ejected from his A-T-V while riding in a field off
Johnson Road in Royalton. State Police said the youngster
landed nearby while the vehicle flipped over and landed back
on it's wheels. He was wearing a helmet but complained of back
pain. His name was not released.

"WHITES ONLY"

The man accused of putting a "whites only" sign on a drinking
fountain at the DPW garage in the Falls pleading not guilty
during his arraignment Tuesday. 52 year old James Curtis will
return before Judge Mark Violante 0ctober 14th for a preliminary
hearing. He's charged with second degree aggravated harassment
as a hate crime....an E felony. Mayor Paul Dyster says his administration
is now taking action to have Curtis fired after he serves a 20 day
suspension without pay. Court papers released Tuesday indicate
Curtis put the sign up as a joke. He said he took it down and threw it
in the garbage after a co-worker told him there was going to be trouble.
Before that happened, an African American co-worker took a picture
of it on his cell phone. Curtis remains free on $500 bail. His attorney
Harvey Siegel, says his client feels terrible and didn't mean to hurt anybody's
feelings. He also thanked members of the African American community
that have contacted Curtis and lent their support.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

The Diocese of Buffalo has a new Catholic School Superintendent.
Doctor Rosemary Henry started in July after a stint as the
assistant catholic school chief in Seattle. She had worked at
numerous colleges and school districts in Texas prior to that.
She intends to focus on creating bridges of support, trust, and
partnerships. Henry says she's happy she moved to Buffalo....
says a favorite aunt lives nearby and she has cousins in the
Syracuse area. They're already planning a big gathering for
Thanksgiving.

BREAK-IN'S

Two businesses reporting break-in's over the long Labor
Day Weekend. The owner of a new steakhouse in Newfane
says someone broke in and took over a thousand dollars
worth of equipment. Kevin Stubbs of Ransomville is
renovating the former Rib House...now called Del Fuego..
and says an air compressor and air gun were taken. A speaker
cone, two toilets, and a cash register were damaged. Stubbs
told deputies he thought the door had been kicked in to gain
entry. Meantime about $6,000 worth of copper and nickel were
taken from a Voss Manufacturing on Lockport Road in Wheatfield.
The shop foreman says five 75-pound coils of nickel and
648 pounds of copper were taken from a storage building.
The coils of nickel are worth $725 each, the copper about
$2300. The foreman said all the workers had access to the
key and the building was not forcibly entered. He thinks someone
may have intentionally left the door open.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE

County lawmakers Tuesday night sent a resolution to cut
the number of representatives in the legislature to the Administration Committee.
The proposal is to reduce the number from 19 to 11 but it's
only a starting point. Nothing can be legally done till after the
2010 census. The proposal was co-sponsored by John Ceretto,
Danny Sklarski, and Gerry Farnham. Bergmann Associates
of Rochester was awarded a $555,000 contract to design the
reconstruction of Lincoln Avenue in the Town of Lockport.
Lawmakers tabled a resolution to issue $6.7-million in bonds
for an assortment of construction projects and equipment purchases.
They set a public hearing for September 16 on creating a commission
to improve recycling efforts in the county.

LEGISLATURE

It's expected to be sent to Committees, but three County lawmakers
will introduce a resolution tonight to cut the size of the legislature.
Danny Sklarski says they're suggesting the body be parred from 19 to
11...but admits it's just a starting point. They're starting early because
Sklarski says the number could not be cut till after the 2010 census. Lawmakers
are also expected to schedule a public hearing on creating a solid waste
management council. Tje 9-member panel was part of a state mandated
solid waste plan o-k'd last year by the D-E-C. Their job will be to try to
entice cities and towns to increase recycling efforts and citizen
participation. The members of the Council will be appointed and
receive no salary. The hearing is expected to be held September 16.

TOO DRUNK TO STAND UP

Lockport police say they could not perform field sobriety tests
on a suspected drunk driver from Newfane Monday because
he was allegedly so intoxicated he could not stand up. 45 year
old Louis Scinta of 3043 Brown Road was allegedly involved in a
hit and run at Beattie and Lincoln and was eventually stopped just
after 4pm on Waterman. He's charged with DWI, refusing a chemical
test, speeding, leaving the scene of an accident, and failing to yield
to an emergency vehicle.

DAVIS & POWERS

Congressional candidate Jack Davis refused to shake the hand of
his principal opponent Monday when the two crossed paths at the
annual Labor Day parade in Clarence. Davis reportedly shouted
"get out of here" as Iraqi war vet Jon Powers extended his hand.
He persisted for a moment, and then walked away muttering under
his breath. Davis told the Buffalo News he called Powers a "lying
politician." The third candidate in the race, Alice Kryzan, was also
there but spent her time jogging from one side of the crowd to the
other and shaking hands. She also went up to Davis. He said hello
and shook her hand. Powers is slated to accept the endorsement
today of a general whose been highly critical of the way the Administration
handled the Iraqi war. Major General Paul Eaton was in charge of
resestablishing the Iraqi security forces in 2003 & 2004. He'll also
participate in roundtable discussions with Powers and local veterans
today in Lancaster and Rochester.

MOLSON CANAL CONCERT SERIES

Molson Canal Concert Series promoter Kathy Paradowski says
she may add two shows to next year's schedule. She says it all
depends on whether she can find good acts...but adds that all of
this year's performers liked the new Lockport location at the Ulrich
City Center. She says the August 15th show with REO Speedwagon
drew the biggest crowd at estimated that 24-thousand people were
there. Mayor Mike Tucker expects the City Council will budget
$80,000 to $90,000 for them next year. They were not included in this
year's budget because no one knew the shows would be effectively
kicked out of North Tonawanda as a result of Paradowski's fued with
Mayor Larry Soos.