DELPHI

Delphi plans to maintain a prescence in Lockport
even after the plant is sold back to General Motors.
Company spokeswoman Claudia Piccinin says
they will continue to run the Lockport Technical
Center. She explained that it's part of the sale
because it's located on the same parcel of land
as the plant, but Delphi will lease it from
GM and they will continue to operate it in it's
present form, that they will continue to
employ the engineers, technicians, and the
professionals at the Center. That's expected
to include about 200 workers. Federal anti
trust regulators have o-k'd G-M's plan to
buy back four Delphi plants and it's global
steering business. They hope to complete the
deal on or before October 1. Delphi has said they
plan to emerge from bankruptcy by the end of this
month. Anti-trust approvals are still needed from
some other parts of the world for the acquisition
of the steering operation.

SOMERSET TOWN HALL

The Somerset Town Hall will be closed today,
September 4, because the parking lot is
being resurfaced. It'll re-open Tuesday.

MAZIARZ CRITICAL OF MORE APARTMENTS IN THE FALLS

State Senator George Maziarz says all the
new apartments that'll be created in the Falls
as a result of the two Restore New York grants
announced by the Governor yesterday are not
needed. He says a federal agency came out with
a report several months ago that said the City
had a housing vacancy rate of about 21%. It's
double the national average for a city of it's
size. He says there are enough vacant apartments
already and spending $6-million for more is bad
public policy. Maziarz says he was invited to
the press conference but declined. He says
the money could have been spent to restore
the STAR rebate checks that had been taken
away in the State budget. Maziarz told WLVL
he was contacted all day yesterday by landlords
in the Falls talking about all the vacant apartments
they have. Maziarz said what they don't have are
people to fill them. Paterson indirectly called
Maziarz a caveman yesterday when a reporter
told the Governor Maziarz had said Paterson
was only annoucing the grants to deflect
attention away from the loss of the star
rebate. Paterson said it was so easy to
say what you would not cut and that even
a caveman could do it...he waited a
second or two...and added..."and he did."
Paterson was there to announce a $5-million
grant to help convert the former South Junior
High School into 52 market rate live and work
spaces that'll be the called The Niagara City
Lofts. Another $1.3-million will help remake the
former 39th Street School into 35 to 40 patio
style apartments for the elderly and to turn the
former Police Station into an assisted living
facility and commercial space. Assemblywoman
Francine del Monte said the latter was needed,
that the Falls currently has no such facility.
The Mayor also announced a new playground
would be built behind the Lofts and an
annoucement would be forthcoming.

LEWISTON QUEENSTON BRIDGE

Canadian Prime Minister Steve Harper said
yesterday the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
would ask Congress for funding to renovate the
American side of the Lewiston Queenston Bridge.
He said they wanted the cash included in the
federal budget for the fiscal year begining
October first of 2010. Bridge Commission Chair
Norma Higgs said they had done a feasibility
study and she had talked to Congresswoman
Louise Slaughter and she's aware of the need
and is lobbying for the Commission. She said
the American side had not seen an upgrade since
1962 and they're making plans to move ahead.
The estimated cost of the upgrade, at this point,
is $117-million. Harper was there to take a look
at the recently upgraded facilities on the
Queenston side. There's more work to do
though, the Canadian government has pledged
to spend as much as $62.5-million more to
add additional inspection lanes and facilities,
toll boothes, an animal inspection facility,
and a new building for the Canada Border
Services Agency and the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency.

MIDTOWN INN FREE OF SEX OFFENDERS

The State Division of Parole announced
Thursday 16 level 2 & 3 sex offenders had been
moved from the MidTown Inn in the Falls. The
apartment house at 1967 Niagara Street was
found to be too close to the Niagara Street
Elementary School and that violated a city
law. A spokeswoman said five of the offenders
were back in jail after violating their probation.
Another had completed his sentence and was
no longer under their supervision....and the
other ten are living in various spots around the
County. School Superintendent Cynthia
Bianco said the district is forming a task force
to work on enforcing the 1500 feet buffer.

CHET A PALOOZA

Another benefit for Lockport's Chet Secrist
is set for Sunday at Groff's Tavern. Steve
Whalen is a member of the group putting
it together. He says it'll run from 1 till 7pm
and includes a large pig roast donated by
the Lockport VFW and Ray Pierce, who'll
cook it. There'll also be hamburgers and
hot dogs donated by Reid's, a beer truck,
basket and other raffles. The pig roast is
expected to be ready about 4pm but the
burgers and dogs will be available all day.
Several disc jockeys will provide tunes.
The basket raffle is expected to be decided
late in the afternoon but you don't have to
be present if your bid is chosen. There'll
also be a seperate raffle for a pig roast
donated by Pierce, three prints of the
canal provided by Whalen's dad, , and a
membership to the County Golf Course
donated by Tom Yeager. They're hoping
Secrist will be able to be there for a couple
of hours.

WOMAN ATTACKED DURING DOMESTIC DISPUTE

A 42 year old Lockport man was charged with
assault following a domestic incident just after
1:30 this morning at 67 Webb Street. Edwin
Harris of 4 Harvey Avenue allegedly struck a
woman several times in the face. Police said
they could hear someone being struck repeatedly
and yelling in pain as they arrived. The door to
the house was open and they could see Harris
in a fighting stance and about to strike the
woman again in the face with a closed fist.
They went inside and pulled Harris out of the
house and onto the lawn where he was
subdued. The woman's nose was red and
swollen and she said she was in pain but she
refused to sign a statement.

DOXEY CASE

County Judge Matt Murphy denied a motion
Wednesday to dismiss the case against a 23
year old Lockport man charged in the death
of his 13 month old daughter. Nicholas Doxey
is charged with criminally neglient homicide.
He was arrested in June following a 15 month
investigation into the death of Sierra Doxey
in March 2008. The girls mother, 23 year old
Sara Nigro is facing similiar charges. The two
will be back in court October 9. Police say the
toddler died of acute opiate poisioning.

LOCKPORT COUNCIL MEETING

Lockport lawmakers last night voted to seek bids
for a company to update the City's tax rolls. Mayor
Mike Tucker said Acting Assessor Joe Macaluso
told him it could cost between $230,000 and
$250,000. The cost would be spread out over
18 months with most of the bill due in 2010.
Tucker said they hoped to get it done by 2011
but it might spill over into the following year.
The company would inspect properties from
the street to obtain details about external
upgrades such as patios and decks. The
Council continued to talk about the proposed
recycling program. The city has a couple of
options on the table. They could haul the trash
to Allied Waste Services in Kenmore or go with
Modern Disposal of Lewiston. Allied would do
the job for about $130,000 but Modern would do
all the work for a million dollars. The Council is
said to be more interested in the Modern
proposal. Tucker said the City could apply for
some grants to offset the initial cost. The
Council also voted to ask for bids to buy six
new police cars, four would be marked, two
unmarked.

SUPER WAL MART

Lockport Town Attorney Dan Seaman predicted at
last night's board meeting that construction on the
Wal Mart SuperCenter would start early next year.
Seaman said he spoke to representatives of the
retailer yesterday. He expects they will close out
the purchase of the former Lockport Mall from
General Growth before the end of the year. General
Growth is under bankruptcy protection so a federal
court would have to approve the sale. Seaman doesn't
think that'll be a problem because they would be taking
a negative asset off the company's books.

JUMPER

Falls police say a 56 year old city woman handed
her purse to a stranger Tuesday night before she
jumped off the Rainbow Bridge. Captain John
DeMaerco said the identification in the bag showed
she would have turned 57 next week. The man said
he was walking toward the American side around
9:45 when she stopped to talk. He said she started
to inch toward the railing...he thought she wanted
him to take her picture...but she climbed onto the
railing and looked at him. He ran toward a Customs
Booth but she jumped off the span as he and the
agent ran back towards her. Her body has not
been found. Her name is being withheld pending
notification of relatives.

CANDIDIATES FORUM

Only a little more than a hundred showed up last
night for a candidates forum at the Falls Public
Library. City Council incumbents Sam Frusicone
and Charley Walker were joined by five challengers.
They included former Council members Candra
Thomason and Glenn Choolokian. Thomason
said she would create a temporrary tax free zone
near the casino to give potential developers a chance
to compete. Choolokian said he would focus on jobs
and development. Republican businessman Ken
Pawlukovich said the City needed to work with the
Power Authority to get more cheap electricity.
Democrat Elliot white said he would create five
committees composed of citizens to advise
elected officials..and schoolteacher Kristen
Grandinetti said the City needs to improve the lives
of all it's citizens. Incumbents Walker and Frusicone
talked about what they had accomplished so far.

DEMOLITION TO BEGIN TODAY

The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation
says the demolition of their old visitors center
at First & Rainbow Boulevard will begin today.
A new 8,400 square foot facility is slated to be
built on the same site at a cost of $2.4-million.
It'll mark the first new construction in the downtown
corridor since the Casino Hotel was built in 2006.

CORRECTIONS OFFICER ASSAULTED

A corrections officer at the County Jail was
treated at ENH-Lockport Monday night after
he allegedly attacked by a female inmate.
Officer Joseph Moll said Christine Johnson
refused to submit to a search and struck him
in the face with her fingernails while another
official was opening the door to remove
her from the cell.

SUMMIT PHARMACY BREAK IN

Two boxes of fentanyl patches and a partial box of
a third were taken early Wednesday during a
break-in at the Summit Pharmacy at 2578
Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield. The
Sheriff's Department responded after a burglar
alarm went off around 1am. The West window to
the pharmacy was found broken. A worker
said a security camera was not working, that
it had been damaged during a previous break-in
last Thursday. That one is being investigated by
the State Police. The worker said the same window
had been broken to gain entry in the previous
burglary.

STIMULUS MONEY FOR TRANSIT NORTH CORRIDOR?

The Town of Lockport Board voted Monday
to apply for $20-million in federal stimulus
money for the Transit North Historic
Corridor project. Economic Development
Director Dave Kinyon says, if it's approved,
the money would pay to relocate a water line
that's buried beneath Transit and to
move power lines along the roadway. They
would either be buried or moved to other
poles not on Transit. The cash would also
pay for streetscape improvements such as
landscaped medians. The application will be
submitted by September 15 and Kinyon says
they would expect to know if they're approved
by next February. The project would cover
Transit from it's intersection with Route 31
to the County line. Kinyon says they are
starting to see a resurgance of interest in the
corridor now that the economy is improving.

TERRY BUCHWALD APPEARS AT IDA FRITZ PARK

Lockport's Ida Fritz Park was packed Monday
night for Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald's
tenth visit to the Monday Night Cruise. Buchwald
thanked police for their escort as he arrived
on his motorcycle and treated fans to two
sets. Among the tunes were "Are You Lonesome
Tonight," "All Shook Up," "Suspicious Minds,"
and "Don't Be Cruel."

U-P-S TRUCK RUNS INTO PHONE LINE

A UPS tractor trailer that was pulling out of the
parking lot at the Pine Plaza in the Falls became
tangled up on low hanging phone line around
1:45pm Monday. It went on to snap two
power poles and cracked a third. Police closed
down traffic on Niagara Falls Boulevard from
82nd Street to Military Road for two and half
hours. Nobody was hurt, just inconvenienced.

WORK TO BEGIN ON PINE AVENUE

Travelling down Pine Avenue in the Falls
could be a tricky maneuver in the coming
weeks. DPW Director Dave Kinney says
a $1.36-million resurfacing project will
begin using federal stimulus dollars. The
contract was finalized last Wednesday and
they have five business days to start the
work and fifty days to complete it. The project
will be done by Accadia Site Contracting
of Depew. Kinney said some curb cut work
for handicapped access is included and he did
not know if they would begin with that or
start by milling the street.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO TAKE UP SPORTSMENS CAUSES TONIGHT

County lawmakers will take up a series of measures
tonight denouncing recent actions in Albany that
are seen as unfriendly to sportsmen. Clyde
Burmaster and John Syracuse are concerned
about the increase in fees for fishing and hunting
licenses that will have a direct impact on those
in Niagara County. The resolutions will ask the
State Legilsature to re-think them and roll them
back. Lawmaker Tony Nemi says the State even
raised the price of children's hunting licenes. Most
of the fees were increased anywhere from 26 to
53 per cent. The cost of a fishing license went from
$19 to $29. The legislature is also expected to
support a bill sponsored by State Senators George
Maziarz and Cathy Young of Olean to provide
free licenses for active duty military personnel and
disabled veterans. It currently lacks a sponsor in the
Assembly. The agenda also includes a resolution
asking Cornell Cooperative Extension to reverse a
change in policy that now prohibits air rifle safety
training at the County Fair. In 2008, more than
350,000 young people particicpated in such
training and at least five County Fairs included
air rifle insruction.

BILLS GAME BLACKED OUT

Thursday night's final pre-season Bills game
will not be seen live on TV. The team
announced Monday a few thousand tickets
were still left for the game to be played against
the Detroit Lions at 6:30 Thursday night at
the Ralph. The game will be blacked out
and be aired at 7pm Friday on channel 7. The
Bills regular season begins on Monday, September
14 when they play the Patriots in New England.
The first regular season home game will be at
4pm Sunday, September 20 against Tampa Bay.

ALCOHOL & DRUGS

Lockport police arrested two people just before
11pm Monday after they were found on the
porch of a vacant home on Harvey Avenue.
Twenty-one year old Joshua Cooney of 111
Elmwood Avenue was charged with providing
alcohol to an underage male and possession
of marijuana. Eighteen year old Zachary Smith
of 42 Ashley Place with possession of
marijuana.

COCAINE FOUND IN TRAFFIC STOP

a 28 year olf Gasport man was allegedly found
to be in possession of a small quantity of
cocaine during a traffic stop in Lockport
around 3pm Monday on Washburn Street.
Jason Clark of 4241 Royalton Center Road
was charged with possession of a controlled
substance.

CASEY'S MALT SHOP

Thieves struck Casey's Malt Shop in Ransomville
late Saturday or early Sunday. Nearly $700 in fast
food and electronics were taken including beer,
chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, burgers, and
pizza logs. A satellite radio, tower, and knives
were also missing and an air conditioner that
had been pushed out a window was damaged.

THE HEALTH OF THE MAYOR

Rumours can have a life of their own...and many
times they are not true. There is no truth to the
rumour that Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker suffered
a heart attack last week. Tucker told WLVL today
he had been having dizzy spells over the past few
months and after a fairly bad one last week, he
decided that it was probably in his best interest
to to the Emergency Room at ENH-Lockport.
He said they determined that his heart rate was
a little low so they decided to do some tests and
he was there for a couple of days. He said most
of them came back fine and he's feeling 0-k and
is back at work. He will do a follow up with some
other doctors this week. There is a possibilty
he may need a pacemaker. Tucker said they were
talking about giving him one before he left but
decided instead he should see some specialists.
Hell l be undergoing some testing for the
next couple of weeks and he said we'll see how
it goes. Tucker thanked all the people who have
expressed their well wishes.

PINE AVENUE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Members of the Pine Avenue Business
Association say they still have not been
reimbursed after their health insurance
was dropped four months ago when the
Association failed to keep up to date on
premiums. A story in today's Gazette indciates
the problem arose when the Association
failed to collect the payments from some
members, and they're trying to collect them
to pay back the 20 who were not late in
making their payments. James Cancemi is
not on the board, but he's volunteered to
try and figure out the situation and that's
the reason no refund checks have been
issued yet. A portion of the proceeds from
last month's Italian Festival...put on by the
Christoforo Columbo Society will be used
to make good some of the debt but they
still have not determined how much they
took in.

LOCKPORT BUDGET

The Lockport Common Council will
begin work this afternoon on next year's
City budget. They're slated to hear the
needs of the Building Inspection Department
at 3pm, the Police Department at 3:30, and the
firefighters at 4:15. The meetings will continue
Wednesday at 3 when the Council will listen
to budget requests from Engineering and
Building Maintenance, Highways & Parks,
and Utilities.

TERRY BUCHWALD @ MONDAY NIGHT CRUISE

About a thousand people are expected at
Ida Fritz Park in Lockport tonight for
Terry Buchwald's annual visit to the
Monday Night Cruise. Monday Night
Optimist Club President Pat Schrader
says Buchwald should arrive on his
motorcycle between 6:30 & 6:45. He'll
do two sets with a 15 minute or so
break in the middle. Buchwald has put
on a free show every year since the
Cruise started ten years ago. Schrader
says they'll have a special section for
the handicapped tonight.

CHILD ENDANGERMENT

A Falls woman is facing three counts of
child endangerment after police allegedly
found her eight year old daughter and two
younger siblings home alone early Sunday.
Twenty-seven year old Loretta Gates of
Willow Avenue got home as police and fire
personnel were searching her house. She
told them she had left the children in the
care of a babysitter but the eight year said
it wasn't so. Officers described the home as
"filthy" and said the two youngest, ages 1 & 2,
were in dirty diapers. They were released to
relatives after police called Child Protective
Services. Officers had been called to the
home by a neighbor.

HELP FOR DAIRY FARMERS

Two Republican members of the State Assembly
say the Governor should use $150-million in
federal stimulus funds to help the State's
struggling dairy industry. Minority Leader Brian
Kolb of Canandaigua and member Clifford Crouch
of Guilford say the money could be used for a two
year assistance program. Crouch said he would hold
regional meetings throughout Upstate to hear
feedback from dairy farmers about the program. One
will be in Western New York and another in the Southern
Tier but they have not yet been scheduled. The
average price farmers get for a hundfredweighth of
milk was $7.40 lower in June than it was a year ago.
Crouch said the program would be the single most
definitive action the government could take and it
would ripple throughout Upstate economies.

IN FAIR CONDITION

A 45 year old Lockport woman is in fair
condition at ECMC following a crash
between two SUV's around 4:45 Saturday
morning on South Transit. Charlene Cescon
of South Street was rescued by Sheriff's
deputy Roger Schreader minutes before
her vehicle caught fire. The driver of the
other vehicle, 29 year old Gary Miles, was
charged with DWI, failure to keep right,
and aggravated unlicensed operation. He
was taken to ENH-Lockport and treated for
body aches. The accident happened in
front of Heritage Fireplace & Stove Shoppe.
South Transit was shut down for almost
two hours in both directions. Cescon was
treated at the scene by a nurse and the South
Lockport Volunteer Fire Company.

TOWN OF ROYALTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Town of Royalton Historical Society will
resume their regular meetings Thursday. The
director of Wyndham Lawn will talk about the
history of the facility. The meeting starts at
7:30 Thursday night in the Town Hall.

BICYCLIST FACES DRUG CHARGES

A 42 year old Falls man was arrested on drug
charges following a short chase around 2:15
Sunday morning. Anthony Tamborello of
LaSalle Avenue was riding his bike on Hyde
Park Boulevard when officers asked him to
stop. He started pedalling faster instead but
eventually jumped off the bike and ran into an
alley. He allegedly had two hydrocodone pills
in his pocket. He was also charged with
resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

SPECIAL MEETING

The Lockport School Board will hold a special
meeting at 5pm Ttuesday to deal with personnel
matters. It'll start with an executive session and
be immediately followed by the public meeting.