video

KENAN ARTS COUNCIL CHRISTMAS SALE

You'll find handmade gifts by 48 quality artisans at this
weekend's annual Holiday Gift Show sponsored by the
Kenan Arts Council. Co-chair Joyce Lane says there
are gifts in every price rangw. Admission is only $3
and that includes a look at all the festive decorations.
There are Christmas trees in each of the three buildings
and a mitten tree can be found outside. The Shamus
will be serving gourmet soups, sandwiches, and
desserts in the Greenhouse Cafe and you'll find herbal
gifts made by the Kenan Herb Club. The show runs
from 5 till 9pm Friday, from 10 till 5 Saturday, and from
11 till 5 Sunday. The campus is at 433 Locust Street.

TURKEYS

The people responsible for putting on Lockport's
free Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army
need some help. Al SanMarco said they need
15 to 20 turkeys and they can be dropped off
between 9am & 3pm weedkays. They also
need desserts and are asking anyone that
cares to make or buy a pie to bring it by next
Wednesday or early on Thanksgiving. The
annual event is put together by San Marco,
Jack Rinaldo, and Wayne Wagner. For the past
two years, they have served almost 600 meals
either in the Hall or thru deliverys and pick-up's.
Call 434-1276 if you'll want a meal delivered
next Thursday.

BYRON BROWN

State Senator George Maziarz says the Governor should
appoint Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown to replace Senator
Hillary Clinton if she's chosen as the next Secretary of
State. He said Paterson has a moral obligation to pick
someone from Upstate who realizes the unique and
severe challenges facing our region. He said Brown
was always wlling to work with anyone to get the job
done while he was in the State Senate.

FALLS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The outgoing chairman of the Niagara Falls Human Rights
Commission said yesterday racial tensions are continuing
to fester in the City's Public Works Department. Richard
Williams Senior said he's concerned that an unresolved
discrimination suit filed five years ago has created an
environment where workers of all races have felt targeted
by racial comments. He produced a copy of a letter he
received in September from a temporary city worker who said
he was told by black employees he could not advance in his
job because he was white. Williams said the man complained
to supervsiors but nothing was done. The members of the
Commisison also met last night with representatives of the
FBI and the U-S Attorney's office about ways to address
issues of racial bias. Williams announced last night he was
stepping down from the volunteer post for personal reasons.

FALLS SCHOOL BOARD

The Niagara Falls School Board last night named
Deputy Superintendent Cynthia Bianco as it's
interim superintendent. She'll take over when
current School Chief Carmen Granto retires
December 22. Bianco is Granto's sister. She
said she may put her name in consideration for the
post on a permanent basis. The School Board
approved a memorandum spelling out all the
benefits Granto and his wife are entitled to upon
his retirement. Granto said he would talk more
about his 42 years with the District at a board meeting
next month.

STEVE & BARRY'S

One of the four anchor stores in the Summit Mall will
be closing. Steve & Barry's is going out of business
nationwide and all of their 173 locations will be
shuttered. The chain was acquired by a couple of
investment firms about three months ago when the
original owners filed for bankruptcy. They say all the
inventory will be liquidated by the end of this year or
early next year.

SECOND D-E-C HEARING

More than 170 people were at the Lew Port High School
Auditorium last night for another round of criticism of the
State DEC's draft plan for the disposal of hazardous waste.
Twenty-eight people spoke during the three hour session
and only three supported the plan. The draft was released
in July. It's authors maintain there is an equitable geographic
distribution of hazardous waste facilities in the State, despite
the fact that CWM is the only hazardous waste landfill facility
in New York. State Senator George Maziarz said he's been
talking with County leaders, environmental groups, and
residents about a lawsuit once the final plan is released.
He said "we're not going to allow DEC Commissioner Pete
Grannis to do what past administrators of both political
parties have done to Niagara County and to the people
of the Lew-Port area.

METROPOLITAN

During a closed door meeting yesterday, the Greater Lockport
Development Corporation decided to repossess and sell the
contents of the closed Metropolitan Bar and Grill. Owner Pete
Caleri owes them $376,000. The contents may only bring it around
$150,000 at auction and Mayor Mike Tucker told the Union Sun
& Journal they will hold him personally responsible for the rest.
Tucker said they want all the money back and they can't settle
for the proceeds of an auction and let it go. The Metropolitan
closed November 3.

LOCKPORT COMMON COUNCIL MEETING

The Lockport Common Council voted last night to
spend $15,000 to build a female locker room at the
Police Department. Mayor Mike Tucker said the
department now has 4 female officers and they
don't have any place to shower and clean up.
The money will also be used to expand the
evidence storage capacity by utilizing some
unused office space. The Council also agreed
to sell a 40 by 40 foot piece of property next to
the Outwater Park parking lot to Scott Allan
of Prospect Street. He lives next door to the
land and will pay the City $1,000 for it.

OBAMA TICKETS

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter is also holding a
lottery for tickets to the Obama inaguration. You must
live in her district to be included. The number for her
office in the Falls is 282-1274. The last day to enter is
Wednesday, November 26. Winners will be notified
by December 10. Slaughter's district does not
include Lockport. It does take in Niagara Falls and
generally, areas along the lakeshore.

MASSAGE PARLOR OPERATOR SENTENCED

The Mayaysian immigrant who plead guilty in April to running
massage parlors in Niagara and Erie counties will spend the
next six years in prison. Forty-five year old Len Wah Chong
was sentenced yesterday on felony charges of recrruiting
women to work at the operations in Lockport, Wheatfield, the
Falls, and Tonawanda. A series of arrests were made in
December of last year following an investigation by the "Human
Trafficking Task Force & Alliance. Three other members of her
family also face charges from the US Attorneys office. Chong
was also ordered to pay $350,000 in restitution and she had
to forfeit several business buildings to the Federal government.

STATE BUDGET PROBLEMS

The Governor met yesterday with New York's Congressional
delegation in Washington. They decided that our representatives
will push for major aid for our state in a new federal economic
stimulus package expected to be acted upon early next year.
Senator Chuck Schumer said Congress would take up a larger
package than the one currently destined to fail in the Senate.
He said it would include increased aid to the States and it
would not erase New York's problems but would alleviate
them to a great deal.

D-E-C HEARING

A steady wave of criticism last night at the Falls Public
Library for the State D-E-C's draft plan for handling the
treatment and disposal of toxic waste. About 70 people
were there including individuals and representatives of
various groups. They were especially concerned about
how it would affect C-W-M's request to expand their
landfill in Porter. A representative of the Presbyterian
Churches in Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus
counties said they were opposed to it as people of faith.
Gladys Gifford said it was time to stop dumping on
Western New York. Some of the other groups opposed
to the plan inlcuded the Sierra Club, the Buffalo-Niagara
Riverkeeper, and the Western New York Campaign for the
Environment. The DEC released the plan in July and the
hearings are the first round of it's review. Anorher hearing
will be held at 6pm tonight at Lew Port High School. A
second round can be expected next Summer following
the release of the final plan.

DRUG ARRESTS

Lockport police made two drug arrests Wednesday. Twenty-
three year old Brian Malcomb of 152 Cottage was charged with
selling suboxone to an undercover agent of the Drug Task
Force. Malcomb was arrested around 5pm at 459 South
Transit. Later on last night, a 36 year old resident of the Falls
was arrested after police got a tip that a black male was
involved in drug activity on Green Street. Police went there
and allegedly saw Rodriquez Bembo of 649 Ashland Avenue
walking in the street. They stopped him for that offense
and questioned him about drugs. Bembo denied having any
and gave them permission to search him. Police say they found
a plastic baggie containing an off white substance in his left
coat pocket. It tested positive for cocaine.

NIAGARA FALLS BUDGET

Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said yesterday he would veto the
City Council's attempt to do away with the job of City Planner
Tom DeSantis. Lawmakers voted 3-2 Tuesday to cut the
position from the Mayor's proposed 2009 budget. Dyster
said the city needs a planner and DeSantis was a critical
part of their plan to form a highly capable economic development
team. The Mayor's veto will probably save the position because
the Council would need 4 votes to over-ride his veto. Councilmembers
Chris Robbins and Charley Walker voted against doing away
with the position Tuesday.

NIAGARA HOSPICE

The co-founder of Niagara Hospice was named one of five
Western New York "heros" yesterday by Time Warner Cable
and the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. Patricia Evans
won the "Community Crusader" category in a contest run
on the cable company's "All That Matters" program broadcast
on cable channel 13. Time Warner says more than 85,000 votes
were cast in the on-line competition. Hospice got a check for
$3,000 and Evans was presented with a gold statue. The ceremonies
will be rebroadcast at 3pm today and Friday on channel 13.

TOWN OF LOCKPORT SEWER RATES

Sewer rates will probably be going up in the Town of
Lockport. Supervisor Marc Smith rolled out a plan
last night to increase the quarterly base fee from $25
to $30 and also add a usage charge for residential
customers. It would amount to a dollar for every
thousand gallons of water used above the Town
average of 15,000 gallons. There would be no increase
for businesses. They already pay $3 for every thousand
gallons used above 18,000. Lawmakers informally
agreed to hold a public hearing and to vote on the plan
during their last meeting of the year on December 17.
The higher rates would take effect in January.

LOCKPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT PROJECT

Only about a couple of dozen residents showing up last
night at the high school for a public hearing on the
Lockport School districts proposed $29.5-million capitol
project. It's supposed to be mostly paid for with state aid
but some were concerned about the possibility of it drying
up. A representative of the district's law firm of Hodgson
& Ross said it very unlikely. One resident suggested that
rather than spend the money on the project, they should use
it for a tax cut. He was told that was illegal. School Board
member Margaret Lupo said the district should take advantage
of the State aid because the money would only be used for
something else. The proposed project is divided into two
propositions that will be voted on by residents December 16.
The first calls for $23.5-million in upgrades at the high school.
The second would pay for a $6-million athletic complex. The
State will pay for 90% of the cost and there would be no
tax increase. The School Board was criticized last night for
not doing enough to promote the hearing. Another will be
held December 10.

COUNTRY COTTAGE

The owner of Pendleton's Country Cottage Restaurant
reporting the possible theft of $2,500 in cash deposits
from his establishment. Thomas Ferlito said he put
Friday's receipts in a backpack and took it home planning
to deposit the money Saturday. He didn't do it and instead
brought the backpack to work with him Saturday and Sunday.
When he went to deposit all three days receipts Monday he
noticed Friday's cash was missing.

STATE DEFICIT

A lot of fingerpointing in Albany yesterday during a
contentious 90-minute meeting between the Governor
and legislative leaders. The public meeting was called
by Paterson to decide whether to go ahead with a special
session he called for yesterday to cut $2-billion from this
year's budget. The three only agreed to solve the problem
on another day and that Paterson would go to Washington
today to try and get some help from the Federal government.
Paterson said the next opportunity for a special session
would be late this year, or more likely, next year. He said
he would submit next year's budget on December 16
and if they passed it early, they would have 13 months of
spending reductions in a 12 month year.
He said they were addressing one of the worst deficits
that any State has ever seen. He admitted they had
overspent and mismanaged at times in the past. It's
estimated it cost the State $100,000 to hold yesterday's
do-nothing meeting.
deficits

PIEZALA CLEARED

Newfane School Board member Donna Piezala announced at
last night's school board meeting that she's been cleared of
any wrong-doing involving a complaint filed against her with the
State Education Commision in April by trustee Carl Steiffenhoffer.
Board members were caught off guard when she read a prepared
statement...after which she called for Steiffenhoffer's resignation.
He said he did what he thought was the correct thing for the
District and said he would not retire or resign. He had claimed
the nomination of Gretchen DeWitt to the BOCES Board of
Educational Services was improper....but State Education
Commissioner Richard Mills found the complaint untimely,
unorganized, and inconsistent. Taxpayers will now have to
pay the $10,000 in legal fees Piezala racked up in her defense.
Board President Patrick Killcullen says they should learn from
the incident and resolve future problems without using an
attorney.

TIMKEY

The owner of Lockport's Timkey Limousine was treated
at LMH for chest pains and a bite to the finger after fighting
off a would be robber early Tuesday morning. Bill Timkey
told police 19 year old Lamont Washington pointed a gun at
him while the two were in a company car in the 200 block of
Locust. Detective Captain Rick Podgers said it was a BB gun
that looked like a rifle. Timkey grabbed the gun as it was
pointed at him, they struggled, it fell on the car floor, and
Washington fled. He was later captured by police in the
basement of a home at 46 Grant Street.

NEW PRESIDENT OF FALLS BLOCK CLUB COUNCIL

As expected, the Falls Block Club Council last night
chose it's First Vice President as it's new leader. Bob
Miller will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of
longtime leader Roger Spurback. Miller will serve till
out the remainder of Spurback's term which runs
through next September. He's also the President of
the Echota West Block Club. He's single and lives with
his dad on D Street. He's described as a go getter
who managed to get Senator Chuck Schumer to
attend a picnic there last Summer. A spokesperson
said they hoped to set up a meeting between Miller
and the Mayor next week.

MARKETING MANAGER HIRED

A former college administrator and Red Cross fundraiser
has been given a three year contract to lead the marketing
efforts for Downtown Lockport. Heather Peck was among
those interviewed Saturday. She will make $29,000 in the
first year, $30,000 in the second, and $31,000 in the third.
She's a native of Lewiston and is married to the County's
Public Information Officer Christian Peck. They live in the
Falls but plan to relocate to Lockport soon. She starts her
job December 1.

NIAGARA POWER COALITION

Members of the Niagara Power Coalition voted Tuesday to
pay former Executive Director Mark Zito $175,000. The
money settles a $37.5-million lawsuit he filed last August
when he claimed the coalition reneged on a performance
bonus. Each of the seven members will pay $25,000. The
Coalition includes Niagara County, the City of Niagara Falls,
the towns of Lewiston and Niagara, and the Lew-Port,
Niagara Wheatfield, and Niagara Falls school districts.

WILSON HAZING CASE

Two suspended baseball coaches in Wilson will soon find
out if charges against them in connection with the April
hazing case will be dismissed. Town Justice George
Berger said last night he would issue a decision within
two weeks. He took no action on a request to also toss
out charges against the three former players. That happening
after Assistant District Attorney Robert Zucco said he may
have digitial photos of one of the victims. He said he had
not seen them but they were supposedly taken by a
State Trooper during a medical examination. Berger said
the attorneys representing the three boys should be back
in court December 9. It's expected they will argue for the
dismissal of the charges at that time. The school district
is expected to decide tomorrow whether the two 17
year olds charged in the incident can return to classes.
They're currently being home schooled.

DEER HUNTER

A deer hunter was killed Sunday when he was shot by
another member of his hunting party in Cattaraugus
County. Twenty-three year old Derrick Lockwood of
Humphrey died at Olean General Hospital around 10:45am
after he was shot by a rifle in the Town of Humphrey.
State DEC officials have not released the name of the
shooter. The accident happened as they were holding a
deer drive.

ROBBERY SUSPECT CAUGHT

The Sheriff's Department was called to help around 12:30
this morning after Lockport Police tracked an alleged robbery
suspect to a home at 46 Grant Street. Nineteen year old Lamont
Washington of 129 Gooding was wanted in connection with
an attempted robbery on Locust. Police thought he was
hiding in the basement at 46 Grant but the resident was
initially unwilling to give them permission to search it. She
eventually consented and police and deputies yelled into
the basement for Washington to come out or they would
send down a dog. Washington emerhed with his hands in
the air. Lockport police say he attempted to rob Bill Timkey
and then took off running. They tracked his tracks in the snow
to Grant Street. He's charged with robbery, assault, and theft
of services.

NIAGARA FALLS BLOCK CLUB COUNCIL

The Niagara Falls Block Club Council is expected to choose
First Vice President Bob Miller as it's new president tonight.
Miller is from the Echota West Block Club. The decision is
made by the Executive Board. Former President Roger
Spurback resigned last week in response to comments
made by City Councilmember Bob Anderson. He asked
Spurback why he stayed on as President after he moved
to the Town of Niagara. Tonight's meeting is the final one
for 2008 and we're told members will also discuss plans
for next year. The session starts at 6:45 in the 18th Street
Community Resource Center at 1667 Linwood.

FALLS CITY COUNCIL

Lawmakers in the Falls tonight will consider 50 changes to the
$80.2-million city budget submitted by Mayor Paul Dyster.
Chairman Sam Fruscione said whatever they cut will be put
into a contingency account rather than making further tax cuts.
He told the Gazette they were already going to stay at a zero
tax increase for the third year in a row. He said there would
definitely be reductions in the budget for the City Planning
Department. The Council is also expected to trim the amount
requested for gas. There is $885,000 in the budget for fuel
but the spending plab was put together in the Summer when
prices were much higher.

STATE BUDGET CRISIS

The Governor saying this morning he will try to go ahead with today's
special session to cut $2-billion from the budget. The session
seemed to fall apart last night when Paterson said he learned that
the Republican lame duck Senate planned to introduce his bill
and then vote against it. Paterson said this morning he was concerned
because he introduced his plan last Wednesday and no-one offered
any comments, critiques or suggestions. He will meet with legislative
leaders at 12:30 in Albany and see if a compromise can be reached.
He said if nothing happens today, he may go to Washington tomorrow
to push for another stimulus package. He said this year's cuts are
nothing compared to what lawmakers will face next year. He said the
State frittered away all the money it took in from Wall Street in the
good years. He said the country hasn't seen this type of fiscal
peril since the Great Depression.

FIRE VICTIMS

A basket auction will be held December 6 to help the
family that lost three young boys in a house fire in
Hartland. Organizer Denise Noble says they're
looking for people to donate baskets or items needed
for the auction. You can reach her at 940-8286. The
auction will be at the Hess Road Wesleyan Church in
Appleton. If you can't attend the auction, you can make
a donation at any location of First Niagara Bank. Checks
should be made payable to "Sondra's Boys Memorial
Fund." The family did not have life insurance and
there was also no insurance on the house, which was
completely destroyed.

HOLIDAY

A Lockport woman turned herself into Falls police Friday
on charges she lied to them about knowing the
whereabouts of her brother. Police were looking for
Charles Holliday after he allegedly shot his wife to death
November 1. Valerie Holiday of Michigan Street allegedly
told officers twice she did not know where he was. Police
say they talked to her immediately after the shooting and
she offered to arrange his surrender...but at the same time
she had a friend get him a motel room in Amherst. Holiday
shot himself to death in that room November 3. Valerie
Holiday is charged with hindering prosecution. She's free
on $1,000 bail and is due back in court November 26.

CHURCH PROPERTIES

More than a hundred people are expected to attend an
event in Lackawanna tomorrow morning designed to
find new uses for the many closed churches in the
Catholic diocese. Spokesman Kevin Kenan says once
is all said and done they will probably have closed more
than 70 church properties. Thye have already sold 18
of them and another 14 are under contract. Tomorrow's
event is by invitation only. They were sent out to federal
government officials, state and local leaders, not for
profit agencies, and real estate developers. The churches
were closed as parishes were consolidated under the
"Journey In Faith & Grace." Kenan said the profits of
any sales will go to the new parish that resulted from the
restructuring. Tomorrow's event is at the Saint Barbara
Parish Center in Lackawanna.

BAR FIGHT

One man was arrested and a report was sent to the State
Liquor Authority after a large fight erupted inside and
outside the Club New York early Sunday in the Falls.
Police said about 25 people were involved in the melee
around 3am at the Third Street bar. Most of them
scattered after a gunshot was fired. Police never found
the shooter and no one was hurt. Thirty-two year old
Clifton Porter of McKenna Avenue was charged with
disorderly conduct after refusing to leave the scene.
Police said broken glass littered the street around the
building.

BLOCK CLUB COUNCIL

The Niagara Falls Block Club Council will meet Tuesday
night to choose a new President. Longtime leader Roger
Spurback announced last week he would step down today.
His decision coming after Councilmember Bob Anderson
publically criticized him for staying on as President after he
moved to the Town of Niagara. Spurback has been involved
with the Council since it was formed in 1996. Tomorrow night's
meeting will start at 6:45pm in the 18th Street Community
Resource Center at 1667 Linwood.

YELLOW GOOSE

The Sheriff's Department is investigating an attempted
break in late Saturday at the Yellow Goose Market on'
Lockport-Olcott Road. Neighbors said they saw a man
dressed in black fleeing from the scene after they heard
glass shattering shortly after 11pm. Both front doors
were broken and deputies said the hole looked big
enough for someone to get through...however store
officials said it appeared that nothing was taken. Thery're
doing an inventory to make sure.

INAGURATION TICKETS

Senator Chuck Schumer is holding a statewide internet
lottery for tickets to Barak Obama's inaguration. Schumer
says his office has received tens of thousands of requests
for tickets from upstate residents. They'll distribute 350
during a random drawing the first week of December. A total
of 240,000 are being funnelled to the public through Congressional
offices and Schumer said they should be handed out fairly.
To enter the lottery, go to Schumer dot Senate dot gov.
You can also fax your entry to 202-228-3027. You cannot
enter over the phone.

SNOW

The National Weather Service expecting Niagara County
to fall under the lake effect gun tonight. Forecaster Dave
Sage says the winds will shift to the North and Northwest
bringing bans of lake effect off of Georgian Bay and Lake
Huron coming across Lake Ontario. Two to four inxhes
could fall in some areas tonight and another one to three
inches are possible tomorrow. He said a couple of
snowshowers could fall tonight in Orchard Park for the
Bills-Browns game but they won't amount to much.
It shouldn't affect the travel and it shouldn't affect the
game. It will be cold with the temperatures below
freezing and the wind chills might be below 20 by the
end of the contest.