NEW HEALTH CARE POLL

The majority of New Yorkers responding to a Sienna
College poll on health care say they want more
information before making up their minds. Forty-three
per cent responded to a direct question on whether they
support or oppose the plan by saying they want more
information before they can be put in eitjer category.
Thirty six per cent said they support it and 21 per cent
are opposed. That's against a backdrop of over 8 in
10 New Yorkers saying they are paying attention and
following the debate closely. The President has greater
support among Democrats but a majority of his own
party do not agree to the plan. The director of the
College's Research Institute, Doctor Don Levy says
they asked a series of questions on the topic.
He said overwhelmingly New York voters agree
that it's a moral issue, that it's something they should
fix. They also agree that we must fix health care or
it will bankrupt the country and that it ought to be
illegal to deny people coverage for pre-existing
conditions. However over half of New Yorkers
say the health care proposal is risky and even
40% of Democrats agree. The public option
barely gets approval. Thirty-eight per cent of
all respondents said the plan is leading the Country
toward Socialism. The Presidents approval rating
fell 5 points in New York between August and
September and his unfavorability rating rose by
8 points.

PATERSON URGED TO STEP ASIDE

The Governor said last night he still plans
to run for another term even though the
President has leaked word he doesn't want him
to. Obama's worried key federal and state
posts could be lost to the GOP if Paterson
tops the ticket. Paterson said last night his
plans have not changed and that he's said
time and time again he plans to run. His
approval rating is 20%. Meantime, Long
Island Republican Rick Lazio says he plans
to announce his run this week. He's 51 now
and is known for losing the 2000 Senate race
to Hillary. He's been advising on investments
and public policy for JP Morgan Chase since
leaving Congress.

H-1 N-1 MEETING

The County Health Department is planning a
meeting on the H1 N1 flu a week from tonight.
Public Health Director Dan Stapleton says they're
going to have a summit, a meeting for all of the
public to educate them about the H1N1 progress,
educate them on where we are, and what they
can do to help us. The session will include
physicians who are experts in the area and a
superintendant from a local school district.
He said misconceptions will be addressed
and the basic steps you can take to avoid
getting sick. The meeting will be in Room
E140. The doors will open at 6:30 and the
presentations and discussions will start at 7.

NOLAN TO SPEAK AT N-C-C-C

Former Sabres Coach Ted Nolan will lead off
this year's NCCC college speaker series with
an address at the school next week. The former
NHL Coach of the Year is slated to speak at 12:30
next Tuesday in the Fine Arts Auditorium. He
says he will discuss heritage, responsibility,
and leadership. There's no charge to attend.
Nolan is currently Vice President for Hockey
Operations for the American Hockey League's
Rochester Americans. He won the Jack Adams
Trophy as the NHL's top coach after leading the
Sabres to a Northeast division title in 1996-97.

ALZHEIMERS DAY

The Horseshoe Falls was illuminated in blue and
yellow for three 15-minute intervals last night,
and the American Falls were bathed in purple...all
on the eve of today's celebration of World Alzheinmers
Day. A reception at the Hard Rock Cafe was
followed by a vigil on the Rainbow Bridge. Over
70,000 Western New Yorkers suffer from Alzheimers
or a related dementia. The need for services is
expected to triple in less than ten years. The Peace
Bridge will be illuminated in purple tonight.

FALLS COUNCIL MEETS TONIGHT

Lawmakers in the Falls will vote tonight to pay
a couple $800,000 to settle a claim dating from
December 2004. Ron and Joanne Meyer were
hurt when a police car collided with their
vehicle at Seventh & Niagara. The Council
will also decide whether to rent a building at
496 19th Street for a police substation. It
houses a former tavern and apartments and
is being bought by Carl DeFranco. He's
offering to lease it to the City for $400 a month
plus utilities. Police say it would make an
excellent substation.

ROUGH LANDING

Nobody was hurt Sunday afternoon when an
ultra-light plane made a rough landing in a
cornfield near Terry's Corners. The small
plane landed around 3:30 in a cornfield near
8437 Dale Road. The pilot was 54 year old
Stephen Beleveau of Day Road. He told
deputies he took off from Royalton Airport
and soon began to have trouble gaining
altitude, then an engine failed. A local
farmer used his forklift to remove the
craft from the field.

DRUG & WEAPONS CHARGES

A 44 year old Lockport man is facing drug and
weapons charges after he was pulled over on
Locust Street around 2:15am Sunday for
allegedly failing to keep right. Police say Donald
Bartholomew Junior of 77 Main Street gave them
the o-k to search his car. They allegedly found a
silver pipe with a mesh screen blackened at both
ends under the driver's seat along with an
unspecified quantity of cocaine. A pair of
knun chucks were found under the passenger
seat.

UNDERAGE DRINKING PARTY

Three people will be in Town of Lockport court
October 13 after the Sheriffs department broke
up a drinking party around 1am Sunday in an
apartment at 6491 Dysinger Road. Eighteen
year old James Bardanis of the Falls, 20 year
old Milton Sands of Sanborn, and 27 year old
Rory Tobias of Purdys, New York were all
charged with procurring alcohol for people
under age 21. Reports say 19 others were
crowded into apartment five and that some
were found hiding in closets, the bathroom,
behind doors, and in the Utility room. One
damaged a screen as he tried to climb out
the window. Deputies said not everyone
drank but some were visibily intoxicated and
others admitted to having one or two. One
of the actual residents of the apartment was
18. The State Police also assisted in the
bust.

ALLEGED DRUNK DRIVER HITS TREE @ MIGHTY TACO

A 23 year old Lockport man was arrested for DWI
after his car struck a tree behind Mighty Taco on
Transit Road around 3am Sunday. Michael Wagner
of 5772 Sweetwood Drive was found asleep behind
the wheel. The car was against the tree with the
motor running, it's doors locked, and the vehicle
was in drive. Wagner would initially not wake up
and deputies unsuccessfuly tried to break out the
rear drivers side window. Back-up was called and
Wagner woke up when deputies started to rock the
car. He said he had been drinking at his sister's
house and admitted he should not have been
driving, but refused three requests to take a
breath test. He was taken to the County Jail on
$250 bail.