ROBERT MOSES PARKWAY

Niagara Falls mayor Paul Dyster said Monday he's
frustrated by the lack of action by the State and he's
going to ask the City Council for money to pay for
design work that would remove a section of the
Robert Moses Parkway. The City signed a deal
with three state agencies in 2006 that said the Office
of State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
would lead the project but Dyster says they haven't gotten
anything done and the City is going to have to take the
initiative. Dyster wants to remove the section within the
City and replace it with a four lane boulevard that would
replace the current Whirlpool Street. He said no
economic stimulus money can be used because
the design work has not been completed. He did not
know how much the design work would cost or where
the money would come from.

TAX PROBLEMS

A Falls couple was charged Monday with filing
false income tax returns for 1999, 2000, and 2001.
Kenneth and Phyllis Kasper were indicted by a
grand jury. They own the Algiers Motel and
allegedly failed to report over $270,000 of
icnome. The charges carry a maximum penalty
of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

FALLS CITY COUNCIL

Former Falls lawmaker Candra Thomason is planning
to run for another term on the City Council in the Fall.
She made the announcement at last night's Republican
party re-organizational meeting in the County Courthouse
on Third Street. She said she would push for more money
to fix up streets and neighborhoods and wants to provide
an incentive program for people wanting to spruce up their
homes and businesses. Thomason said she wants to do
away with the city's two tier tax system and establish a
tax free zone near the Casino so private business can
compete. Local attorney Ted Janese is also planning
to run for one of the three seats.

LOCKPORT PARKING RAMP

A consultant yesterday told the committee in charge
of putting up a new parking ramp in downtown
Lockport the chances of getting any grants to pay
for it are slim. Robert Curtis of Foit Albert &
Associates said there are five possible sources.
One of them is a $2.5-million "Restore New York"
grant but the City wants to use it to help build the
ice rink in the old Jubilee Building. He said the other
four involve state programs tied to housing, parkland
conservation, and a transportation enhancement
program but no decisions on them will be made till
next year. Curtsis said the city could try to put
together a deal where a private operator would help
pay for the ramp's construction in exchange for
future profits. Mayor Mike Tucker said he wants them
to keep looking for grant money.

NIAGARA WHEATFIELD SCHOOLS AUDIT

The State Comptrollers office released an audit of the
Niagara Wheatfield School District today. It found
that district officials consistently overestimated
expenditures and underestimated revenues which
generated significant operating surpluses. The
Comptroller estimates the district has about
$8-million in excess funds that could be used to
benefit taxpayers by paying one time expenditures,
reducing debt, or cutting taxes. The auditors
concluded the district did not put together a
reasonable budget for the fiscal years starting in
2004 and continuing through 2007-2008.

HIGH ELECTRIC RATES

Senator Chuck Schumer saying yesterday New Yorkers
are paying about 10% more than they should be for
their electric service. He called for an investigation
saying the high rates are being caused by deregulation.
Schumer said the state's energy auction system needs
to come out of the shadows before residents have to
needlessly shell out a nickel to power generators who
could be gaming the system to reap profits. An industry
spokesman said New York's rates are far lower but they're
being hidden by high taxes, environmental protection fees,
and an undersized transmission system.

LAKE ONTARIO MEETING

The State DEC will talk about the state of fishing on
Lake Ontario at a meeting in Lockport Wednesday
night. There will be information about this year's
stocking levels and the latest details on invasive
species. The agency will also ask the audience for
their thoughts on how the fisheries are managed.
The meeting will be from 6:30 till 9:30 at Cornell
Cooperative Extension at the Fairgrounds.

FALLS POLICE OFFICER TO RUN FOR LEGISLATURE

A Falls police lieutenant is planning to run for the
Fifth District seat in the County legislature. Bryan
Dal Porto is also an Air National Guard officer
and a veteran of the Iraq War. Dal Porto is a
registered Democrat but said he would be
seeking all ballot lines. He said the City was in
good shape when he graduated from Niagara
Catholic but now the roads are crumbling
and they have no strong voice speaking for them
at the County level. He said he's running for his
two kids....and his neighbors who he watches
working hard every day to build a better future.
Dal Porto said a formal announcement of his
candidiacy will be out within two weeks.

SIGNS STOLEN

Wilson Mayor Tom Bateman told Sheriffs deputies
yesterday 22 of his re-election posters were stolen
overnight. The election is Wednesday and Bateman
said it would be impossible to replace the missing
signs. He has only one opponent , Patrick Kelehan,
and it appears none of his signs were taken.

SAINT PATRICKS DAY

The Lockport chapter of the Ancient Order of the
Hibernians is inviting the community to a noon
Mass tomorrow at All Saints Parish, the former
Saint Patricks Church. A parade afterwards will
go to the Big Bridge where a brief ceremony will
be held honoring the descendents of Irish heritage
in the City. A celebration will follow at the American
Legion. In the Falls, the 27th annual party runs
from 5 till 10 Tuesday at the Conference Center.
The music will be provided by the Lochside
Celtic Band from Buffalo and there'll also be
entertainment by the McCarthy School of Irish
Dance. The party also celebrates the city's birthday
and Mayor Paul Dyster will be there. The festivties
will be preceded by the world's shortest parade
running from the Old Falls Boulevard to the Conference
Center entrance. It begins at 4:45.