H-1 N-1

A resident of the Eastern end of the County passed
away earlier this week from a suspected case of the
H1 N1 flu. County Health Director Dan Stapleton
said it was a middle aged adult who had underlying
medical conditions. It's the first death in the County
linked to the flu since the outbreak began in April.
Stapleton said it did not mean the virsus has
changed ane become more severe and that most
people get well at home in in two to seven days.
The Health Department will have a community meeting
at 7 tonight in the Newfane Middle School auditorium
about the clinic they will hold on December 11.
Stapleton told WLVL plans have changed and they
don't have enough vaccine for every member of
the household, only the children will receive the shots.

LOCKPORT CARES

Ribbon cutting ceremonies were held yesterday
for Lockport's new emergency shelter at 192
Genesee Street. It's called Lockport Cares and
UCC Pastor Steve Hall welcomed all the
volunteers who helped in the 2 1/2 year effort
to open the facility. "Lockport Cares" is a
broad coalition of a number of agencies,
individuals, businesses, social service
organizations and churches. The shelter is
designed to help men, women,and children
who have no place else to go. They'll be given
food and shelter for up to ten days and be
provided with counseling to get their lives
on track. The festivities were attended by
Sheriff Jim Voutour, Town of Lockport Supervisor
Marc Smith, Mayor Mike Tucker and State Senator
George Maziarz. The director of the Outreach
Ministry at Saint John The Baptist Church, Jim
Haid, recognized the growing need for the shelter
back in 2007.

NEW COUNTY GOP PARTY CHAIRMAN

Mike Norris was named the new Chairman of
the County Republican Party yesterday during
a meeting at the Wheatfield Community Center.
He immediately resigned as a prosecutor for the
Town of Lockport. He also handles traffic court
for the City and Corporation Counsel John
Ottaviano said the matter needs to be discussed.

NIAGARA FALLS LIBRARY

Members of the Niagara Falls Library Board
decided Thursday to hire an interim director
while they search for a replacement for
Betty Babanoury. The former executive
director quit November 4. The five trustees
also hope to improve their relationship with
the city in a meeting with the Mayor later this
month. The Board also announced, after a
45 minute closed door session, that they plan
to ask the director of the NIOGA Library System
for reccomendations on former librarians
who might be interested in the interim posiiton.
They said it might take several months to find
a permanent executive director.

FLASHING SIGN

State Supreme Court Judge Richard Klock said
yesterday he is not willing to bar Town of Lockport
businessman Dave Mongielo from using his flashing
video sign unless a Town Justice finds he violated
the Town's Zoning ordinance. Klock said he would
dismiss lawsuits filed by the Town and Mongielo if
Mongielo is found not guilty by Town Justice
Raymond Schilling next Tuesday night. Mongielo is
charged with four counts of alleged code violations,
each carries a maximum fine of $250.

TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT

The six members of the Niagara Falls Public Works
Department who filed suit over alleged racial
discrimination could be paid $33,000 each under a
tentative settlement announced Thursday. The City
Council will vote on the proposal Monday. Emmet
Cox, Joe Paulk, Richard Hill, Bruce Palmer, Bill
Wilson, and Hugh Leftwich had wanted as much
as $16-million. City Corporation Counsel Craig
Johnson said the deal was reached with the help of
State Supreme Court Judge Ralph Boneillo. The
suit was filed six years ago.

BIG DOINGS IN WHEATFIELD

Big doings in Wheatfield this morning as
ceremonies were held welcoming the Viatran
company to the Woodlands Corporate Center.
It'll be their new headquarters for their
operations in Western New York. They've
signed a lease for about 18,000 square feet of
space at 3829 Forest Parkway. Viatran was
formed in 1965 by three people inside an old
garage on the West side of Buffalo. They now
have offices on Grand Island, in Franklin, Ma,
and Malaysia. They currently employ about 50
people and plan to add another 25 workers
within the next three years. Viatran makes
pressure and level sensors used by oil and
gas services, steel producers, and food and
medical producers. The Dynisco Company
is their parent and they will receive low cost
electricity from the Empower Niagara program.

SCAM

A Lockport man telling police yesterday he had
gotten several phone calls saying he had won
cash and a Mercedes and he needed to send
money to claim them. The caller's name was
Peter White and the calls originated from the
876 area code. Police found the calls were
coming from Jamaica and say charges could
be applied to your phone bill if you call them
back. They are advising you to ignore the calls
should you get one.

BUSTED AT THE LAUNDROMAT

Falls police say they found nine ounces of crack
cocaine ona 19 year old woman last night at a
laundromat at Hyde Park & Ontario. Chiaka
Gabby of Hyde Park Boulevard was busted around
6pm after police allegedly found the drugs in a
laundry bag. Narcotics Captain Morris Shamrock
said the laundry was targeted as a pick-up and
drop off site. The cocaine was said to have a street
value of more than $15,000.

DRUG CHARGES AFTER TRAFFIC STOP

Two Lockport residents are facing drug charges
following a traffic stop just after 2am today on
Cottage Street. Forty-one year old Anthony
Luke of 178 Green allegedly had crack cocaine
hidden in a body cavity and police said they found
more on the passenger side where he was sitting.
Twenty-nine year old Josephine Brooks of 355
Pine allegedly had four tizandine pills in her front
pocket. She was charged with not having them in
their original container and Luke with possession
of a controlled substance.

DRAMA AT NCCC

Some drama at NCCC yesterday after a student
was allegedly caught smoking behind the school.
Eighteen year old Jason Schaefer of Clarence
told an official he was not a student when he
was told to stop. He refused to show an ID and
started walking away toward the lobby...and as
officials got closer he started running down the
hallway saying they had no authority to stop him.
Schaeffer tripped and was caught but continued
to insist he was not a student and he would not
identify himself. College Security eventually
confirmed he was a student and the sheriff's
department charged him with disorderly conduct.
He's due in Cambria Town Court Tuesday night.
He's also suspended pending an administrative
hearing.

DIRECT AIR TO ADD FLIGHTS

Falls Mayor Paul Dyster is welcoming Wednesday's
annoucement by Direct Air that they will begin offering
service February 4 from Melbourne Florida to Niagara
Falls. Direct Air President Ed Warneck made the
announcement in Melbourne. He said there would
be two flights a week from the Falls to Melbourne
and the flight would then continue on to Port Charlotte
Airport in Punta Gorda/Fort Meyers. The airline will use
a 150 seat Falcon Air MD 83.

NO EXTRA FOR MUSCARELLA

County lawmaker Jason Cafarella has dropped
a proposal to give County Undersheriff Sam
Muscarella extra pay for serving as Acting
Sheriff last year. He suggested last month that
Muscarella should be paid around $5,000
more for his five months as Acting Sheriff in
2008 when Tom Beilein resigned. Cafarella is
an attorney. He says further research showed
he submitted the proposal too late. Sheriff Jim
Voutour says it should have been done when
Muscarella was appointed. The Chairman of the
Community & Safety Committee, Pete Smolinski,
had vowed to fight the proposal, he said
Muscarella was only doing his job.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Lockport's new second ward alderman says he
wants his constituents to easily be able to get
in touch with him. Jack Smith has set up a
seperate e-mail address to send their comments
and concerns. It's aldermanjacksmith@yahoo.com"
He'll also be sending out a personal letter and he
says you can also call him at 434-8003. He also
thanks outgoing alderwoman Amanda Alexander
for her two years of service and wishes her good
luck in her future endeavors.

OZ

The Union Sun & Journal reporting today a
Buffalo engineering company has taken legal
action against the proposed Oz theme park
in Wheatfield. Nussbaumer and Clark says
they are owed nearly $100,000 for work they
did to study the park's potential impact on
traffic. The company says they were paid
about $25,000 and want the rest. Oz CEO
John Simon says they cancelled payment
because the company submitted bills that
exceeded the cost figure contained in their
bid. He said they actually paid them more
than they should have received under their
original bid. Simon also said they are
currently working on the environmental impact
study and they hope to complete it next year.

EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER

A group from the Lockport Carenet Pregnancy
Center on East Aevnue baked some cookies
yesterday and delivered them to workers at the
Extreme Home Makeover TV show in Buffalo.
Volunteer Judy Hensal says they met yesterday
morning at Lockport Alliance Church and made
two-thousand cookies. They got a special pass
to get on the site of the work on Massachusetts
Avenue in Buffalo. Hensal said it was amazing
to see all the volunteers....everybody just pulling
together. The project has expanded from one
home and about 30 are seeing some sort of
work such as the installation of new driveways
and windows. The Lockport contingent had
their picture taken with the show's decorator
and designer. About 45-hundred volunteers
are involved in the effort.

DOMESTIC INCIDENT

Forty-eight year old Dennis Burkett of 331 South
Street was charged with coercin and harassment
Wednesday night following a domestic incident
at his home. The argument started after the
victim complained about his drinking. She
said he slapped her in the face, kicked her in
the shi, and threw her to the floor. She called
911 but Burkett grabbed the phone before she
could say anything. Police called back and
she asked them to come to the home.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY

A Gasport man told the Sheriff's Department
yesterday someone tried to break into his
pizzeria sometime over the last three days.
Twenty-nine year old Matt Auston said they
tried to pry open a rear delivery door at his
restaurant at 8396 Telegraph Road. Deputies
found pry marks along the door frame near
the dead bolt.

SMOKEY BLAZE IN THE FALLS

A 24 year old Falls man was treated for smoke
inhalation at the Medical Center Wednesday
following an afternoon blaze in his home. Daniel
Lounsberry of 1823 1/2 Pierece Avenue called
firefighters around 3pm. Officials believe the
fire started in the kitchen of the two story wood
frame home. Damage was estimated at $20,000.

BEGGING

A 35 year old Lockport man was arrested on charges
of fraud accosting just after midnight today. A Vine
Street couple told police they had given Daniel Appis
of 152 Cottage some money several days ago when he
told them his son was in the hospital. They said he came
back last night asking for more. They called police and
Appis was arrested on Walnut Street.

SPECIAL SESSION

Lawmakers left Albany last night after one day of
the special session failed to produce any action
on the State's $3.2-billion current year budget
shortfall. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
said they were close to a deal on the budget. It
seems they are willing to go along with about
$2-billion worth of Pateron's proposals but are
having problems stomaching his plan to cut
health care and education. The chief lobbyist
for the New York State United Teachers Union
said the Governor should dip into the state's
rainy day fund or try to collect more from deadbeat
taxpayers. The Governor and Senate democrats
did announce a deal last night on his request
that they vote on the gay marriage bill. Paterson
said it would be taken before the end of the year.
The Legislature also o-k'd a couple of secondary
bills. One makes it easier for local governments
to merge some services and another tightens
parole for certain kinds of felons. Lawmakers are
expected to return to the Capitol next Monday or
Tuesday.

BEER IN CAR

Lockport police say the man who died during a
Monday night chase had beer in his car. They
also say that 42 year old George Davis had been
sentenced to a year in jail in 2001 after he led them
on a similiar chase. The North Transit Steet
resident was pronounced dead at the scene
Monday night after his car rolled over around
10:30 at Vine and Garden. His passenger, 51
year old Duane Whalen is still in critical condition
at ECMC. Full and empty beer cans were found
at the scene of the rollover.

HIRE A VET

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is asking employers
to hire a veteran. She says a provision in the
stimulus bill offers them a tax credit for doing so
but most people don't know about it. The measure
offers a 40% tax credit for the first $6,000 paid to
a veteran....a savings of $2400. The veteran needs
to have left the service within the past five years
and must have spent at least 4 weeks of the past
year on unemployment. Gillibrand said 15 per cent
of new veterans in our state don't have a job and
that in Western New York an estimated 8800 vets
are unemployment and that the number grew
by an estimated 2400 in the past year. She said
every veteran she's ever met has an unrivaled work
ethic and any business should be eager to hire them.

MILLS JEWELERS IS 80!

Mills Jewelers is set to officially celebrate it;s
80 years in business tonight with a reception at
the Tuscarora Inn. Several hundred invited
guests are expected at the invitation-only
event. A string quartet and a disc jockey will
provide the music as they enjoy wine, beer,
and hors'deurves. Customers will be modeling
jewelery and new designs will be on display.
Owner George Fritz says Mills got to be the
city's oldest jewelery store by staying new. They
were one of the first jewelry stores in the
country to have a web site. You can actually
watch their goldsmith work with lasers on a
live webcam and join webinar presentations
on jewelery design and education.

A-E-S PILOT

The State Court of Appeals is set to decide if an
earlier ruling in May be the Fourth Appelate
Division in Rochester that negated the AES
pilot will stand. IDA Chairman Henry Sloma
told the Union Sun & Journal if the pilot is
upheld, AES will try to recover any excess
assessment. He said County taxpayers would
be obligated to pay back any over taxation.
Sloma said the company and the Barker School
District and the Town of Somerset are negotiating
a deal now and from all indications the terms seem
to be the same ones that were in the payment in lieu
of taxes agreement.

NEW LICENSE PLATES

The State Department of Motor Vehicles released
the design yesterday of the new license plates they
plan to issue next April. They're a throw-back to a
design used about 25 years ago. The DMV calls them
the "Empire Gold Plates." They'll be gold in color with
dark blue letters and numbers in the central part of the
plate and theyll be seperated by a small dark blue state
silhoutte. There'll be a dark blue banner across the
top with New York printed in gold in the center. "Empire
State" will be in dark blue along the bottom. Officials
say they reflect the state's force and resilience. DMV
Commissioner David Swarts says the State will produce
about 12 million at the Auburn Correctional Facility. The
first will go out in April when motorists renew auto
registrations that expire in May. They will cost $25 and
those wanting to keep their same plate number will be
charged another $20 more. Motorcycle plates will be
$12.50.

ONE TRIAL WITH TWO JURIES?

The Attorney defending the two teens accused of
klling Renee Greco in a group home in Lockport
raised the possibility yesterday of having one trial
with two juries. Robert Viola says 18 year old Anthony
Allen and 17 year old Robert Thousand should be
tried seperately because Thousand is blaming Allen
for his involvement. Thousand told police Allen
recruited him because he feared police would find
out he had taken $160 from an office in the home.
Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrezza said if the conflict
between the two becomes apparent, she would like
to have on trial with two juries. The two teens are
due in court December 21 when a hearing will be
held on the admissibility of statements they made
to police. The trial is expected to begin February 8.

NEW HOME FOR LEWISTON POLICE

The Lewiston Police Department has moved from
it's small office in the Village to the former
Administration Building of the Lew Port School
District at 4059 Creek Road. That building closed
a year ago when the school district moved it's
headquarters into the old Community Resource
Center. School Chief R. Christopher Rosen said
every school would love to have a continual police
presence on their campus. The police department
will pay a dollar as token rent and provide snow
plowing and some training for district staff.

LOCKPORT POLICE CHASE LEADS TO ACCIDENT, ONE KILLED

One man was killed and another seriously
injured around 10:30 last night when the
vehicle they were driving overturned during a
police chase. The driver, 42 year old George
Davis of 340 North Transit was ejected from
a '95 Pontiac Grand Prix and was pronounced
dead at the scene. His passenger, 51 year old
Duane Whalen of 288 Washburn was taken to
ECMC by Mercy Flight. He is in critical condition.
Police Chief Larry Eggert said Davis refused to
stop when an officer tried to pull him over
for a traffic violation near the corner of
McCollum and Chestnut. A number of marked
police cars followed the vehicle on side streets
in the East end of the City. Davis eventually
proceeded North on Vine Street where he lost
control near the corner of Garden Street. The
car rolled over apparently ejecting Davis and
Whalen. An autopsy is slated for later today.
The vehicle belonged to a relative of Davis.
It's not known why the two fled but police said
Davis license had been revoked.

JOINT ADDRESS/SPECIAL SESSION

The Governor asked state lawmakers Monday to
join him in making the unpopular decisions needed
to deal with the State's $3.2-billion budget deficit.
Paterson proposed a $1.8-billion savings plan and said
he had taken the initiative by cutting state agencies
by ten per cent but more needed to be done.
The governor said he would endure the heat from
special interests. He said he would mortgage his
political career on the plan but he would not mortgage
the fate of the state. Paterson also asked the Senate
to pass the same sex marriage act this week. He
asked both houses to o-k changes to the State
pension system that would affect future State and
local government workers. The special session starts
at noon today.

LIBRARY DIRECTOR RESIGNS

Niagara Falls Library Director Betty Babanoury
has resigned from her job. Library Board President
Delores Marino said yesterday she got the notice in
a short letter that was delivered Monday but written
November 4. Babanoury gave no reason for her
decision. She is 68 and has held the post for 15 years.
The Library Board will meet at noon Thursday to
talk about the vacancy. Merino said she had asked
the NIOGA library system for guidance. Babanoury
was said to be unhappy about cuts in funding over the
years and former Board trustee Ken Hamilton said he
spoke to her last Friday. He said the "straw that broke
the camels back" was that no one from the library was
consulted when next year's budget proposal was
put together by the Administration. Mayor Paul Dyster
says every department was asked to operate next year
with no increase.

FRUSCIONE CALLS FOR RESIGNATION

Niagara Falls Council member Sam Fruscione Monday
called for the resignation of City Democratic Committee
chairman Michael Lewis. He said Lewis did not provide
adequate support to selected candidates and failed to
undertake fundraising campaigns. He further charged
Lewis was subject to influence from outside sources
which led him not to listen to actual requests from
Commitee members. He said other Democrats
agreed with him though he did not mention any names.
Lewis said he was mystified by the request and that
he had not heard any criticism about his leadership.

CONGI

The former President of Laborers Local 91 was
on the stand yesterday in Albany in the trial of
former State Senate leader Joe Bruno. Mark
Congi said his late boss, Michael Quarcini,
expected favors from Bruno if the Union
invested it's pension funds with the company
that employed Bruno. Bruno worked for Wright
Investment Service and they would pay him
commissions when he helped land new union
accounts. Prosecutors alledge Bruno received
$3.2-million in commissions over 13 years from
Wright and a stock brokerage that handled funds
from11 of the 15 unions Bruno solicited as well
as payments from three businessmen. Bruno says
he got paid for his sideline work as a consultant
and broke no laws.

PROPOSED SETTLEMENT

The County Legislature's Administration Committee
last night o-k'd a deal to pay a $60,000 settlement
to a female corrections officer at the County Jail.
Traci Haner of Newfane filed suit after being kicked
out of the Corrections Officer Academy in 2006
because she was pregnant. Sheriff Jim Voutour and
County Attorney Claude Joerg say the settlement
involves a confidentiality agreement and they can't
say much about the case. The full legislature is
expected to approve it next Tuesday.

HEALTH CARE REFORM

Your Congresswoman closed the debate on
health care reform Saturday before the House
went on to o-k the bill by a close vote of 220-215.
Louise Slaughter called it a wonderful exciting
day and the culmination of nearly a hundred
years of work. She said the US would join the
community of nations that believe that people
within them are deserving of decent health care
regardless of their financial situation. She said
she was proud that her life had brought to this
point. Slaughter and Congressman Brian Higgins
voted for the bill, Chris Lee said no. The measure
now moves to the Senate. Citizen Action of
New York is planning a "thank you" event for
Higgins Saturday in Buffalo.

SPECIAL SESSION

The pressure is on State lawmakers as the
special session is about to get underway in Albany.
It doesn't start till noon Tuesday, but the
the Governor is slated to address a joint
session of the Legislature at 3pm today.
Tomorrow's agenda includes implementing
a deficit reduction plan to address the current
year gap abd improve the State's long term
fiscal stability. Paterson also wants lawmakers
to o-k same sex marriage, enhance penalties for
drunk or drugged drivers, and to reform the
pension system by creating a new tier of benefits
for certain newly hired State and local government
employees.

DOG & CAT DIE IN HOUSE FIRE

A dog and a cat were killed around 2pm Sunday in
a house fire at 6112 Walmore Road in Wheatfield.
The owner told Sheriff's deputies she left her home
at 1:30 and came back 40 minutes later to find it
totally engulfed in flames. The 9-1-1 call reporting
the blaze said heavy black smoke was coming from
the kitchen area. Deputies desrived the damage to
the structure as "extensive." The cause is under
investigation. The two residents are being assisted
by the Red Cross.

SATURDAY SLAYING

Police in the Falls are continuing to investigate
the shooting death of a 36 year old Buffalo man
early Saturday near Niagara Avenue and Main
Street. Jacobi Lovett was found in the doorway
of a convenince store at Main & Niagara around
1am. He was pronounced dead a short time later
at the Medical Center. Police believe he was shot
once in the upper left leg while in a car near Niagara
and Main. The car was later found behind a home
on Cleveland Avenue a few blocks away. Anyone
with information is asked to call Detectives at
286-4553.

MATTEO ANELLO

Calling it "frivilous," lawyers for the City of
Niagara Falls are asking a US District Judge
to throw out a lawsuit filed by the brother of
former Mayor Vince Anello. They also say
Matteo Anello failed to file his suit in time and
any injuries he suffered while being arrested
were his own fault. Anello was charged during
the public comment session of a City Council
meeting in October 2007. He was speaking
about anti-Italian remarks allegedly made
by councilmember Bob Anderson when officials
said he did not have the floor. Anello claims
he was falsely arrested and falsely imprisoned
and that he was speaking during a porion of the
meeting designated for public comment. He
claims a police officer used excessive force.
His suit names the City and the members of the
Council at the time and he is seeking
unspecified damages. The issue is pending before
District Judge William Skretney. It's been referred
to US Magistrate Judge Leslie Foschio for review.
It's not known how long the matter will be under
review.

SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH

Diocesan spokesman Kevin Keenan says the sale
of the former Saint Anthonys Church in Lockport
is very close. He tells WLVL they are close to
finalizing the sale and the potential buyer is
putting the finishing touches on their financial
package and it's their expectation the sale will
close probably within the next month. Saint
Anthony's and Saint Joe's were merged with Saint
Patricks to form All Saints parish. Saint Joe's
became an oratory of All Saints and a city wide
religious education center. Saint Anthony's was
built in six months time in 1928 at a cost of
$40,000.

CHARITY BALL

Lockport Mayor Mike Tucker says his Third Annual
Charity Ball will be held on Saturday December 5th.
It'll run from 8 till 11 at the Lockport Town & Country
Club. There'll be hor'deuvres and cocktails with the
music supplied by disc jockey Hank Nevins. This
year's proceeds will be shared by The Eastern
Niagara United Way and the Dale Association. Tickets
are $99 per couple or $50 per person. Call 434-7724
for tickets. The past two balls benefitted the Palace
Theatre and the Sister Mary Loretto Soup Kitchen.
Around 125 people attended last year.

VETERANS DAY TO BE OBSERVED AT NCCC

A professor in the NCCC Criminal Justice Department
will offer remarks tomorrow morning as the college
holds it's Veterans Day observance. James Mezhir
is a 27 year veteran of the Army & Army Reserve. The
ceremony will be at 11am in the school's Veterans
Park, which is located near the Saunders Settlement
Road entrance.

SAINT BRENDAN ON THE LAKE

The pastor of the Catholic Church in Newfane
reported Sunday someone tried to break into
the food pantry. Father Robert Wozniak says he
found a locked aluminum door pulled open just
before 8am Sunday. The door is on the South
side of the church behind the rectory. He asked
dputies to make periodic checks. The door
suffered $25 damage.

LAKEVIEW ORCHARDS

An estimated $7600 worth of tools and
electronics were taken overnight Friday
from Lakeview Orchards in Newfane. The
owner told the Sheriff's department the door
to the mechanical shop on Wilson Burt Road
would not open correctly Saturday and he had
to force it. Once inside, he saw the door to the
office was open. A thousand dollar computer
and a 19 inch flat screen TV were taken along
with chain saws, air impact guns, and assorted
hand tools. Locked cabinets throughout the
building had been pried open.

LOCKPORT TRASH COLLECTION

There will be no trash collection in Lockport
Wednesday because of the Veterans Day
holiday. The City will do a double pick-up
Thursday. City and County offices will be
closed Wednesday, but the Lockport
Common Council will still have it's regular
work session at 5pm.