RECYCLING COMMITTEE

A Lockport committee will present it's plan for
curbside recycling to the Common Council
April 22. Lawmakers will have to decide whether
they want to have city workers pick up the
material and have a company process it,
or to accept a bid for a private company to
do all the work. The Committee decided last
night that the City should drop off
recycling bins at each address rather than
have residents come and pick them up. They
still want to phase in the program and it looks
like it'll start on the Monday garbage route.

ASSESSOR

A Batavia man will return to Lockport as it's
Acting Assessor. Joe Macaluso filled in
three years ago and has agreed to do so
again. Mayor Mike Tucker says he will
work one day a week starting April 23.
He'll be paid $50 an hour plus mileage.
The post has been vacant since Peter
Galarneau resigned in February. Macaluso
is retired from the State Office of Real
Property Services. Tucker says it's a
short term fix and he doesn't think
Macaluso is looking for a full time
job. He said his commitment is
open ended while the City decides
whether to hire another assessor
or to share one with another
municipality.

MONGIELO CASE POSTPONED

A hearing was postponed yesterday in State
Supreme Court on the Town of Lockport's
attempt to stop Dave Mongielo from operating
the video portion of his sign outside his Robinson
Road auto repair shop. It's now set for May 7.
The Town maintains it violates a zoning law.
Mongielo's attorney told the Union Sun &
Journal he's in the process of countersuing
the Town. He wants the court to order the
Zoning Board to consider Mongielo's
request for a variance. He said he wants the
countersuit heard along with the Town's
injunction request in May.

CROSSWALK

Seven churches took part in today's
annual "Good Friday" Crosswalk in Lockport.
It started at noon at Emmanuel United
Methodist Church at 75 East Avenue.
The cross is about 8 feet high and 4 feet
across and comes from Saint Mary's
Roman Catholic Church, one of the
stops in the 3 hour processional.
The theme of the walk was "The Scandal
of the Cross In Our Lives." Between
100 and 150 people were expected to
participate.

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND

The 8th grade Odyssey of the Mind team at DeSales
is headed to world competition. They placed
second in a field of 17 last weekend during the
State Tournament in Binghamton qualifying them
to compete in the world tournament May 27-30
at Iowa State University in Ames. The 7 member
team includes Emily Cavagnaro, Megan Isherwood,
Meredith McCaffery, Emily Hillman, Hailey Stapleton,
Matt Strasel, and Kelsey Wohleben. They're coached
by Mary Hillman and Krista Isherwood. Odyssey of
The Mind is a worldwide creative solving problem
program where teams chose a problem, find a
solution, and present it in competition. The
School's Development Director, Ellen Roth,
says they need to raise $5,000 in five weeks.
There's a $2,500 registration fee and it'll cost
nearly that much to send the seven members and
two coaches to Iowa.

SALES TAX RECEIPTS

Sales tax receipts in Niagara County fell 7.9%
in the first quarter according to a report from
the New York State Association of Counties.
Niagara took in $23.7-million from January
thru March, about $2-million less than a year ago.
Erie County also saw a decline of 2.8%. Nine
other counties saw a drop even worse than
Niagara. Revenue in Putnam County fell
by 12.1%. The State also lost cash with
receipts off by 5.7%. The Association also
reported the unemployment rate is above 10%
in 23 counties.

MARKEL SENTENCED

The Niagara Falls man who raped and robbed a
clerk at the Watson's Candy Store in the Pine
Plaza last August was sentenced to 35 years in
prison yesterday by County Judge Matt Murphy.
Anthony Markel of Buffalo Avenue apologized
to the woman, her family, and his own. He showed
no emotion as the now 19 year old woman read a
15 minute statement. She said that despite her
suffering, she is not a victim. She said she was
a survivor and hopefully an overcomer, that she
had gained maturity and poise. She maintained
her composure while speaking in a strong, clear
voice...but after returning to her seat she broke
down and sobbed.

MULLEN

Members of the Board of Directors of U-S-A
Niagara yesterday appointed Dave Mullen
as their new chairman. He's currently the
President of the Upstate Division of the
Empire State Development Corporation.

GAY MARRIAGE

State Senator George Maziarz says the Governor's
announcement that he plans to introduce a bill
to legalize gay marriage is designed to take the
public's mind off other issues. Maziarz says just
Paterson..just last week...signifcantly raised
taxes on everyone last week and inceased the
cost of doing business that'll cost thousands
of jobs Upstate. Paterson says he doesn't know
if it has enough votes to pass. A similiar bill
was introduced last year by former Governor
Eliot Spitzer but it failed in the Senate. It was
in Republican hands then, now it's controlled
by Democrats. Maziarz says he doesn't know
if it'll pass but he's opposed to the idea. He
also blasted Paterson for his announcement
yesterday that he plans an outreach program
for people unable to pay their energy bills.
Maziarz says the Governor opposed a plan
by the Power Authority to increase taxes on
electricity, and then 11 days later approved
a plan to hike utility taxes in the new State
budget that was 500% more than the one
he opposed.

NORTH PARK PRINCIPAL

Students and faculty at Lockport's North Park
Middle School raised more than $3,000
Wednesday for a 7th grader injured in an
auto accident in December. They did it by
paying a dollar for a 3 foot piece of duct
tape used to attach Principal Jim Synder
to a wall. The process started around noon
and Synder spent about two hours on the
wall. He said it was for a very good cause.
Selena Torres has been in a rehab center
since the accident that took the life of
her mother. The money will go to the
family for various needs. The duct tape
was donated by Spalding Ace Hardware.

SNOW PARK

The County I-D-A yesterday approved a ten
year payment in lieu of taxes deal for Joe
Anderson's proposed Snow Park in downtown
Niagara Falls. The 120,000 square foot
attraction at First & Main will be operational
year round. It's expected to open this Summer.
Anderson plans to invest $5.2-million in the
project.

BUDWEY'S

Frank Budwey could be getting low cost
power from the County for his proposed new
store in Newfane. The Legislature's Economic
Development Committee last night o-k'd an
allotment of 250 kilowatts for three years. The
full legislature must still approve the deal
April 21. The power comes from the county's
allocation, received from the Power Authority
as part of their support for the relicensing of
the Power Project. The IDA is also slated to
vote next month on a ten year property tax
break for the same store. A public hearing on
that proposal will be held at 4pm April 20 in
Newfane Town Hall.

LOCKPORT SCHOOL BUDGET

Members of the Lockport School Board last night
talked about a proposed $77-million budget for the
upcoming year. It calls for just a O.25 per cent
increase in taxes. The Board is expected to o-k it
at their next meeting April 22. A public hearing will be
held May 6.

POINT AVENUE BRIDGE

Demolition of the old Point Avenue Bridge in
LaSalle was completed yesterday. The span
had been closed to traffic for about 15 years
but had been used by pedestrians as a way
across Cayuga Creek. The city paid KEK
Excavators $37,000 to tear it down. They've
been working on the project on and off
for the past few weeks.

LIBRARY VOTE

Voters in the Lockport City School District
yesterday o-k'd a $30,000 increase in the
library budget. There were 279 "yes" votes
and 48 "no." The total library budget from
all sources will be $1-million, 486-thousand
dollars. Local tax support totals $1-million,
224-thousand. The new spending plan kicks
in July 1. The library's annual "My Favorite
Character" kids vote featured favorite pigs
in childrens books. The winner was Porky
Pig with Olivia and Jakers following behind.

POST OFFICE SPAT

A 45 year old Lockport woman was arrested
around 10:30 Wednesday morning after she
allegedly picked a fight with another woman
while they were standing in line at the Lockport
Post Office. Denise Bennett of 4967
Escarpment Drive is charged with harassment,
criminal mischief, and endangering the welfare
of a child. A Pendleton woman told police
Bennett was behind her and started a conversation.
She questioned her about her two year old son,
the woman answered a few times and then told
Bennett she didn't wish to continue the
conversation. Bennett allegedly then said,
"what if I grab you by the hair and pull you
outside like you do to my niece? If you
ever touch my niece again I will come to your
house and beat you." She then allegedly
grabbed the woman by the hair and pulled her
around. The woman said she told Bennett to
let her go but she refused. The victim said
she struck Bennett a few times in order to
get away. The incident happened in front of
the two year old. The woman said her $10
sunglasses were broken in the incident.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE

The County Legislature voted last night to take the
State to court over the casino money. Assemblywoman
Francine del Monte got a measure inserted into the new
State budget that gives the county's share to the City
of Niagara Falls. The county wants it back and also a
larger share pf the 75 per cent taken each year by the
State. Majority Leader Rick Updegrove said there would
be no county property tax if the County got what the
State takes. Lawmkaer John Syracuse said the
legislature represents the entire county, that it was
unfortunate that it had come to this point, but they
had to take action. He read from a newspaper
editorial that said Del Monte took the action for
political reasons and didn't really care about
the City of Niagara Falls. Three of the five
representatives from the city were not at the
meeting. The two that were, Jason Cafarella
and Renea Kimble, voted no. Kimble said they
should just go after the State's share because the
amount the county lost to the city is small. She
said to go after less than a million dollars is
somewhat problamatic and petty.

SLAUGHTER VISITS COUNTY

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter made several
stops in the County yesterday. She started at the
Falls Air Base where she touted a $23.6-million
construction project that begins today. A new
Armed Forces Reserve Center is being built to
replace the old one on Porter Road in the Town of
Niagara. The 2 story, 86-thousand square foot
facility is expected to open next August. It'll give
the Army a permanent training site on the base
for the first time. Slaughter said it would make
the base "more and more indispensible" in the
eyes of the Pentagon. The congresswoman also
visitied the Falls Medical Center where she met
with officials and workers from SEIU local 1199.
They voiced support for the President's health
care reforms and outlined steps they're taking
to reinvent the way the hospital delivers
services. Slaughter wrapped up the day by
presenting a long overdue Purple Heart to
Korean War vet Anthony Bruno.

WILSON HAZING CASE

The trial of the three high school baseball players
in the Wilson hazing case is set to begin June 20.
Town Justice George Berger also said yesterday
he will decide by April 23 if purported hazing
incidents in previous seasons can be used against
two former coaches in their yet-to-be scheduled
trial on child endangerment charges. The three former
players are accused of improperly touching some
j-v players on a team bus ride home from the Falls
a year ago. The former coaches, Bill Atlas and
Thomas Baia allegedly failed to stop it.

OPPENHEIM STOCKED

The State Department of Environmental Conservation
yesterday stocked the lake at Oppenheim Park in
Wheatfield with 100 brown trout and 190 rainbow
trout. Children from a Northwest Buffalo Community
Center helped out.

DOXEY'S

Two members of a Lockport family turned
themselves into police yesterday following
an incident at a John Street home last Saturday
night. Twenty-three year old Nicholas Doxey
of 172 Niagara is charged with two counts of
third degree assault. Twenty-eight year old
James Doxey of 55 Franklin with one count
of the same charge. Police reports say they
got involved in a physical and verbal argument
between two women that escalated as others
joined in. Nicholas Doxey allegedly used his
hands to grab one women around the neck and
throat. It brought her to the point where she could
not breath and was afraid of passing out. He also
allegedly grabbed another woman and repeatedly
struck her in the head and face causing swelling
and bruises. James Doxey is accused of throwing
a glass beer bottle at another man. It hit him in the
head. All three victims were treated at E-N-H
Lockport. Police said the man needed stitches
to close a wound to the head.

N-T MAYORS RACE

North Tonawanda City Clerk and Treasurer Robert
Ortt says he will announce he's running for Mayor
tonight. The 29 year old is a member of the Army
National Guard and served 9 months in Afghanistan
before returning in February. He says citizens are
demanding accountability and results and confidence
must be restored in our civic institutions and those
we elect to lead us. His announcement is slated for
6pm tonight at the Stephen Sikora Post at 950
Payne Avenue. He's a Republican and would face
Larry Soos in the general election in the Fall.

LIBRARY VOTE TODAY

Registered voters of the Lockport City School
district are eligable to vote today on the
Lockport Public Library's 2009-2010 budget.
The spending plan includes a $30,374
increase from property tax revenue. You
can cast your ballot from 10am till 9pm in the
Community Meeting Room.

TOWN OF LOCKPORT SIGN

The owner of a Robinson Road auto parts store
will be in State Supreme Court tomorrow. The
Town of Lockport wants the court to order Dave
Mongielo to stop operating the video portion
of his electronic sign at 6115 Robinson Road.
The Town says he broke the law seven times
since December 20 by displaying continuously
changing messages on it. The Town zoning law
says the message on an LED sign may not change
more than once every ten minutes. Mongielo
has twice been denied a variance.

I-D-A REFORM

A bill to reform Industrial Development Agencies
is slowly making it's way through the legislative
merry go round in Albany. It's sponsored by
State Senator Antoine Thompson. It was o-k'd
yesterday by the Senate Committee on Local
Government and was sent to the Finance
Committee. Thompson says the reforms will
help turn a good program into a great one that
benefits our entire economy.

FIRST NIAGARA

First Niagara will just about double it's size with
yesterday's announcement they will acquire
57 branches of National City Bank in Western
Pennsylvania. President & CEO John Koelmel
said they're in the Pittsburg, Erie, and Warren
markets and the deal includes $4.2-billion in
deposits and $700-million in loans. It's the bank's
first venture outside New York State. He said
the 500 workers in Pennsylvania would keep
their jobs and they would be hiring about 200
more here, and there, to support the move.
The acqusition is expected to close in September.
First Niagara will gain more than 400,000 customer
accounts and will have the number three deposit
market share in the combined Pittsburg, Erie and
Warren regions. National City was purchased by
the P-N-C Financial Services Group last December.
The government said they had to sell the 57
branches as part of the acquisition.

FALLS COUNCIL

Falls lawmakers spent most of Monday's lengthy
work session talking about the condition of the
City's streets. Councilmember Charley Walker
said it's getting to be a bigger and bigger problem./.
that there needs to be a major effort to try to
at least patch until they can do some actual
street repair. Council President Chris Robins
told DPW Diretcor Dave Kinney they want a list
each day of which streets are patched. He
said they wanted to know so they could answer
questions from residents. The Council gave the
Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation
a deadline. They have until April 20 to produce
a true and complete copy of their 2009 budget.
Lawmakers also issued a request for proposals
from developers interested in renovating and
re-using the soon to be vacant Public Safety
Building on Hyde Park Boulevard and a former
school building at 555 39th Street. The City is
hoping to get $1.3-million from the State to do
an environmental clean-up of both to
prepare them for commercial or residential
use.

TOWN OF LOCKPORT

Lawmakers in the Town of Lockport were
told yesterday 16 homes should not be on
the new flood zone maps proposed by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Town Engineer Bob Klavoon said they were
at a higher elevation than the threshhold
set by the agency and would be included in
a formal protest the Town plans to file before
the May 15 deadline. Most of them are near
Donner Creek on Old Beattie Road, the
Locust Street Extension, Royal Parkway South,
Sherman Drive, and Amy Lane. Two or three
others are on Tonawanda Creek Road. Lawmakers
also voted to promote deputy Building Inspector
Brian Belson to Building Inspector. The change
will take place April 18, the day after Eugene
Nenni's retirement. Belson's pay will increase
fron $41,000 to $49,000 a year. Nenni was making
more than $55,000. The board also o-k'd contracts
with Belson and assessor John Shoemaker
locking in their post retirement health benefits.

NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

N-C-C-C President Doctor James Klyczek told the
College's Board of Trustees Monday they are
ready to move portions of the school's
Culinary Arts Institute to the Crowne Plaza
but the lease has yet to be signed. He said
they could be up and running about four months
after a deal is competed. The College is
negotiating with N-S Partners.....a partnership
between Namwest and Sentry Hospitality.
Namwest is seeking bankruptcy protection
but it's not expected to put the project at risk.
Klyczek also said they are considering a
3 to 4 per cent hike in tuition for the upcoming
school year to close an expected deficit. He
said it's far from being finalized and it's one
of many steps they're taking to address the
problem. No decision was made on a proposal
to ban tobacco use on campus. It could be
considered next month or in June after they
figure out how it would be enforced and whether
it would apply to residents of the new dorm.
Klyczek said the most reasonable time to put
it into effect would be January 1.

STARPOINT ACCIDENT

Four Starpoint students suffered minor injuries
yesterday after a school bus and a Jeep collided
around 4:15 at the intersection of Saunders
Settlement and Baer Roads. Ridge Road bus
driver Lisa King was not given a ticket when she
failed to stop for the Jeep operated by an Amherst
man. She said the rain prevented her from seeing
it. The Jeep was totaled but the driver was not hurt.
The bus was carrying 11 students ranging from 11
to 18 years of age. The 4 students, two brothers
ages 13 &15...and two other boys ages 12 & 15....
were taken to Eastern Niagara Hospital-Lockport
and Mount Saint Mary's for observation.

SLAUGHTER

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter in Niagara
County today. She'll be at the Air Base at 1pm
to take part in groundbreaking ceremonies for a
$23.6-million construction project that includes
a training building, a maintenance building, and
a storage facility. That 'll be followed by a meeting
at the Medical Center where she'll discuss
healthcare reform and hold a news conference.
She's also slated to present a purple heart to
Anthony Bruno for wounds he received during
the Korean War. The presentation will be made
around 3:45 at 1910 Pine Avenue.

NEW REPUBLICAN LEADER

Republicans in the State Assembly chose
a new minority leader yesterday. Brian
Kolb represents a district that includes
parts of five counties stretching from the
Finger Lakes to Central New York....
Cayuga, Seneca, Cortland, Ontario,
and Onondaga. He told the press
afterwards New Yorkers are worried
about their jobs and $7-billion in new
taxes and fees that were passed in
almost complete secret by the
Democrats. He challenged the media
to cover their activities. Kolb said
he's started and ran successful small
businesses and fully understands
the many obstacles racing employers
and entrepreneurs in light of the
recession that's hit Upstate and Long
Island especially hard. Kolb replaces
Jim Tedisico who said he looked forward
to working with Kolb to make the state
great again.

SEX OFFENDER VIOLATION

A 71 year old level two sex offender was charged
yesterday with violating a law that says he must
notify officials within ten days of changing his
address. Charles Wilson of East Amherst was
arrested at his new home on South Transit.
Lockport Police say he moved from 422 Prospect
last September but did not notofy them until
February 23. Wilson was forced to move because
he was charged last year with violating the city's
law that says he cannot live within a thousand feet
of a park.

PUBLIC LEWDNESS

A 50 year old Ransomville man was charged
with public lewdness around 7:30 last night
after he allegedly relieved himself outside the
Dollar Tree on South Transit. Deputies said
they received nymerous calls about the man
who was also harassing customers by the
nearby Save A Lot. A worker at the Dollar
Tree said he was in their store and bothered
customers and bumped into them. A passerby
said the man had urinated in front of the
building. Eugene Paibomsai of Youngstown
Lockport Road was taken to the County Jail
on $250 bail without incident.

WINTER STORM WATCH

The National Weather Service has a Winter
Storm Watch in effect from this evening
thru Tuesday afternoon. It'll mostly likely
be upgraded to a warning at some point
today. Two to four inches are expected
tonight and 1 to 3 inches are possible
Tuesday. The outlook for Easter Sunday
is for mostly sunny skies with highs around
51.

N-C-C-C

Two events are going on at Niagara County
Community College this week. The students
are celebrating Green Week with speakers
this morning , but the big event happens
at 12:30 Tuesday when Summer Rayne
Oakes will speak in the Fine Arts Auditorium.
The model wrote the book, "Style Naturally."
She's dedicated her career to "cause
related modeling" working with more
environmentally and socially
conscious companies and brands. The
activites continue Wednesday with a free
computer and electronics recycling event.
It runs from 12 till 8 and anyone can turn in
computers, laptops, modems, servers, cell
phones, and fax machines. They will
charge $7 for T-V's and $5 for computer
monitors. The clothesline project is also
back to recognize sexual awareness month.
It's a display of shirts decorated by men and
women who have been affected by sexual
violence as a victim, survivor, friend or
family member. The exhibit can be seen
in the Student Senate Meeting Room in
building G117b. There are signs on
campus directing you to the area. It'll
be open from 9 till 5 thru Wednesday and
till noon Thursday.

POWER OUTAGES/SCHOOLS

No classes today at Wilson and Barker due to a
power outage. As many as 2,471 National Grid
customers were affected at one point. Spokesman
Steve Brady said the biggest outages were around
the Town of Somerset and the Village of Barker where
about 1200 customers were affected. The remainder
were primarily in Hartland and some on the Town of
Wilson. He said a fairly large tree had fallen on
a transmisison line and it affected several substations.
One hundred 14 customers were also without service
in Orleans County. Some were out in Ridgeway but
the bigger numbers were in the Town of Yates.

I-D-A PUBLIC HEARINGS

The County IDA will hold a public hearing
April 20 on the tax breaks they're proposing
to give to Frank Budwey for his new
supermarket in Newfane. It'll start at 4pm
in Town Hall. The agency will hold another
April 27 in the Falls to listen to comments
on the tax incentives being proposed for
Globe Speciality Metals. It'll also begin at
4pm at City Hall. The IDA expects to vote
on the applications May 13.

EXPOSURE

The Sheriff's Department is investigating a
complaint that a man exposed himself to
chldren yesterday at a park near 240
Autumnview Drive in Wilson. Two women
told deputies this is the second time he's
done so. The latest incident happened
around 3pm Sunday, but they allege he
also did so March 21. He's said to be
about 6 foot 2 with short buzzed blonde
hair. He was wearing a zip up black sweater
with a white T-shirt under it and baggy
jeans. They said he got into a two door
Plymouth Neon type vehicle with a blue
green top and gray bottom and drove away.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Buffalo Bishop Edward Kmiec announced last
night that Catholic Charities had collected
about 79 per cent of their $11-million goal.
With the totals received as of 8 last night, they
still need to raise $2-million, 315,000 more.
Co chair Sherri Ciminelli said they knew this
year would be difficultm but living in the
community made the challenging task a
little bit easier, Donations and pledges are
being accepted till the end of June at 856-
4494 or at www. CCWNY.org.

A-T-M ROBBERY

A Buffalo man who allegedly robbed an elderly
man yesterday morning while he was using an
ATM machine at the Bank of America branch on
Williams Road in Wheatfield is being held on
$22,500 cash and property bail in the County
Jail. Stevie Williams was arrested on Buffalo's
East side after a lengthy car chase involving
several police agencies. He was arraigned in
Wheatfield Town Court charged with robbery
and grand larceny. More charges are expected.
Williams was arrested off Michigan Avenue around
11am, about 45 minutes after the robbery. A
witness gave police a description of the getaway
car and a border patrol officer saw it on the
Niagara Thruway. Williams drove into Buffalo
with several police agencies in pursuit. He got
on the Scajaquada Expressway, then onto
the Kensington and was finally arrested after
police stopped his car in the city.

BIKE RIDER ARRESTED FOR DRUGS

A 41 year old Lockport man was charged with
possession of a controlled substance yesterday
after police stopped him for allegedly riding his
bike on the wrong side of the road. Michael
Sutton of 272 Green was pulled over on Hawley
Street around 1:15. Police said they found a
copper pipe with a burnt brillo pad on one end
and it tested positive for the prescence of cocaine.