The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation
says a survey done by a Toronto research outfit showed
that 57 per cent of the people who visited the Falls
last year only stayed for a day and that most of them
were on their way to the Casino rather than the State
Park. The study was done by Longwoods International
and was based on 521 on-line surveys. Thirty-seven
per cent went to the casino and 32 per cent the State
Park. The company estimates that 6-million people
visited the City in 2008. Those who stayed overnight
said shopping was their main reason for coming,
followed closely by the State Park, fine dining, and
landmark or historical sites. Meantime, Falls Tourism
Advisory Board Chairman Jerry Genova sent a letter
to the City Council Wednesday asking them to call for
the resignation of NTCC Chairman John Percy. Genova
said it's become evident Percy does not have the best
interests of the Falls at heart. NTCC Chair Tricia Mezhir
said the Council didn't hire Percy, the Board of Directors
did, and they're very happy with his performance.
Friday, December 4, 2009
RAPIDS THEATRE
The Rapids Theatre re-opens tomorrow night
in the Falls following two years of extensive
renovation. The nearly $2-million project was
paid for with a grant from the city's Economic
Development Office, KeyBank, and private
contributions. The historic theatre opened in
1921 as Shea's Bellevue. It was renamed the
Rapids in the early 60's and it closed as a movie
theatre in 1974. It was used as a concert location
for many years and was most recently known as
the Dome Theatre. New owner John Hutchins
grew up in the Falls. Tickets for tomorrow night's
reopening are $20. "Classic Albums Live" from
Toronto will perform the Beatles Sergeant Peppers
Lonely Hearts Club Band album complete with a
17 piece band.
in the Falls following two years of extensive
renovation. The nearly $2-million project was
paid for with a grant from the city's Economic
Development Office, KeyBank, and private
contributions. The historic theatre opened in
1921 as Shea's Bellevue. It was renamed the
Rapids in the early 60's and it closed as a movie
theatre in 1974. It was used as a concert location
for many years and was most recently known as
the Dome Theatre. New owner John Hutchins
grew up in the Falls. Tickets for tomorrow night's
reopening are $20. "Classic Albums Live" from
Toronto will perform the Beatles Sergeant Peppers
Lonely Hearts Club Band album complete with a
17 piece band.
SEX OFFENDER
The Sheriff's Department says a sex offender
from Flordia is believed to be in Niagara Falls.
Warrants have been issued for Cyston Brundidge
in Florida and the Falls. He's a 36 year old black
male with black hair and brown eyes and weighs
155 pounds. He did not show up for a parole
hearing in Florida. Anyone with information is
asked to call 438-3393.
from Flordia is believed to be in Niagara Falls.
Warrants have been issued for Cyston Brundidge
in Florida and the Falls. He's a 36 year old black
male with black hair and brown eyes and weighs
155 pounds. He did not show up for a parole
hearing in Florida. Anyone with information is
asked to call 438-3393.
NIAGARA GUTTER
The owner of Niagara Gutter in Wheatfield told
the Sheriff's Department yesterday morning
several ladders were stolen overnight from trucks
parked in front of his business. Brad Cline said
they would have had to have a truck to take them.
Two aluminum ladders, one 32 feet and the other
40 feet were taken along with a 40 foot fiberglass
ladder and a 40 fot aluminum pick. The business
is at 3448 Niagara Falls Boulevard. Cline estimated
his loss at $2,300.
the Sheriff's Department yesterday morning
several ladders were stolen overnight from trucks
parked in front of his business. Brad Cline said
they would have had to have a truck to take them.
Two aluminum ladders, one 32 feet and the other
40 feet were taken along with a 40 foot fiberglass
ladder and a 40 fot aluminum pick. The business
is at 3448 Niagara Falls Boulevard. Cline estimated
his loss at $2,300.
ED'S COUNTRY STORE
Over $500 in cash, along with electronics and
alcohol were taken in an overnight burglary
at Ed's Country Store on Lake Road in Wilson.
The manager said she closed at 1am Thursday
and the break-in was discovered when they
re-opened at 5am. Entry was made through an
outside east door that had been pried open.
Besides the money, $600 worth of liquor were
taken along with a $450 DVR machine and a
$300 computer.
alcohol were taken in an overnight burglary
at Ed's Country Store on Lake Road in Wilson.
The manager said she closed at 1am Thursday
and the break-in was discovered when they
re-opened at 5am. Entry was made through an
outside east door that had been pried open.
Besides the money, $600 worth of liquor were
taken along with a $450 DVR machine and a
$300 computer.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
BUSY NIGHT AT ONE LOCKS PLAZA
Lockport lawmakers ratified a new contract last
night with the Hickory Club Police Benevolent
Association. The deal gives officers a four per
cent raise for this year retroactive to January first.
The three year deal also provides for a two per
cent raise every six months during the year's
2010, 2011, and 2012. It also looks like the three
Council members who'll leave office at the end of
the year will still be involved in government. The
Council scheduled a public hearing for December
16 on increasing the number of members on the
Fire and Police Boards from four to five. Mayor
Mike Tucker said he wants to give the extra seat
on the Fire Board to outgoing alderman Pat
Schrader. He's been on the board for most of his
time in office. Tucker also said outgoing Council
President John Lombardi is interested in joining
the Police Board and that Amanda Alexander
could get a job in the City Treasurer's office. She
was one of six people who tied for first place on a
civil service test. The job pays almost $28,000
a year. The Mayor makes the appointment. The
Council also created a reserve fund to pay for
the operations of the Flight of Five Locks and
the Lockport Harbor Canal Marina projects,
provided they go forward. The Lockport Locks
Heritage District Fund will get half of each year's
annual increase in sales tax revenue. The City
needs about $6.5-million more for the Flight of
Five. At their work session, lawmakers seemed
to lose interest in building a new downtown parking
ramp after a consultant told them it would now
cost $10-million, about $2-million more than a
previous estimate. City Clerk and Budget Director
Dick Mullaney said the only way to pay for it would
be to borrow money in the bond market.
night with the Hickory Club Police Benevolent
Association. The deal gives officers a four per
cent raise for this year retroactive to January first.
The three year deal also provides for a two per
cent raise every six months during the year's
2010, 2011, and 2012. It also looks like the three
Council members who'll leave office at the end of
the year will still be involved in government. The
Council scheduled a public hearing for December
16 on increasing the number of members on the
Fire and Police Boards from four to five. Mayor
Mike Tucker said he wants to give the extra seat
on the Fire Board to outgoing alderman Pat
Schrader. He's been on the board for most of his
time in office. Tucker also said outgoing Council
President John Lombardi is interested in joining
the Police Board and that Amanda Alexander
could get a job in the City Treasurer's office. She
was one of six people who tied for first place on a
civil service test. The job pays almost $28,000
a year. The Mayor makes the appointment. The
Council also created a reserve fund to pay for
the operations of the Flight of Five Locks and
the Lockport Harbor Canal Marina projects,
provided they go forward. The Lockport Locks
Heritage District Fund will get half of each year's
annual increase in sales tax revenue. The City
needs about $6.5-million more for the Flight of
Five. At their work session, lawmakers seemed
to lose interest in building a new downtown parking
ramp after a consultant told them it would now
cost $10-million, about $2-million more than a
previous estimate. City Clerk and Budget Director
Dick Mullaney said the only way to pay for it would
be to borrow money in the bond market.
TENTH STREET TO BE REPAVED IN THE FALLS
Falls Mayor Paul Dyster will be joined by
Medical Center President & CEO Joe Ruffalo
at 2pm today to announce plans to reconstruct
Tenth Street. It's paving has been awaiting
State approval for years. It's a major city
arterial that crosses the city's South End
and Memorial Park neighborhoods. The
reconstruction will be a "full depth dig."
Medical Center President & CEO Joe Ruffalo
at 2pm today to announce plans to reconstruct
Tenth Street. It's paving has been awaiting
State approval for years. It's a major city
arterial that crosses the city's South End
and Memorial Park neighborhoods. The
reconstruction will be a "full depth dig."
EVENTS TONIGHT
The County Historical Society has it's annual
holiday event tonight at the Colonel William Bond
House. It runs from 6 till 8:30 pm and includes
a full tour of each of the 12 rooms adorned for
the season. Randy Andropolis & Friends will
provide the sounds of the season and therell
be hot mulled cider and fancy cookies. The home
was decorated by Gloria & Becky Pittler. There is
a $3 admission charge. The home is at 143 Ontario.
Meantime, the Lockport High School Guidance
Department is sponsoring a free Financial Aid
Awareness Seminar starting at 7 in the High
School Auditorium, It's for the parents of college
bound seniors, but the their kids are also welcome
as are the parents of juniors and their children.
Also tonight, the man considered to be the founding
father of UFO research appears at NCCC. Ted
Phillips is the Director For Physical Trace Evidence.
He will speak at 7pm in room E-142. A $3 donation
will be taken at the door for Niagara Hospice.
holiday event tonight at the Colonel William Bond
House. It runs from 6 till 8:30 pm and includes
a full tour of each of the 12 rooms adorned for
the season. Randy Andropolis & Friends will
provide the sounds of the season and therell
be hot mulled cider and fancy cookies. The home
was decorated by Gloria & Becky Pittler. There is
a $3 admission charge. The home is at 143 Ontario.
Meantime, the Lockport High School Guidance
Department is sponsoring a free Financial Aid
Awareness Seminar starting at 7 in the High
School Auditorium, It's for the parents of college
bound seniors, but the their kids are also welcome
as are the parents of juniors and their children.
Also tonight, the man considered to be the founding
father of UFO research appears at NCCC. Ted
Phillips is the Director For Physical Trace Evidence.
He will speak at 7pm in room E-142. A $3 donation
will be taken at the door for Niagara Hospice.
DELPHI RETIREES
Congressman Chris Lee spoke out on behalf
of Delphi workers and retirees yesterday during a
House Education & Labor Pensions subcommittee
hearing. The pension benefits for salaried retirees
could be cut by as much as 70 per cent as a result
of decisions made by the company, GM, and the
Auto Task Force. The decision affects thousands
of Western New Yorkers and about 20,000 more
people across the country. Lee submitted a stack
of letters from current and former salaried Delphi
workers. He said it was just wrong that they'll
lose most of their benefits while union employees
will get their full retirement pay. Delphi left
bankruptcy with only $2.4-billion in it's pension
fund, about $2.6-billion short of what they need.
The Delphi Salaried Retiree Association has filed
a lawsuit against the Federal government.
of Delphi workers and retirees yesterday during a
House Education & Labor Pensions subcommittee
hearing. The pension benefits for salaried retirees
could be cut by as much as 70 per cent as a result
of decisions made by the company, GM, and the
Auto Task Force. The decision affects thousands
of Western New Yorkers and about 20,000 more
people across the country. Lee submitted a stack
of letters from current and former salaried Delphi
workers. He said it was just wrong that they'll
lose most of their benefits while union employees
will get their full retirement pay. Delphi left
bankruptcy with only $2.4-billion in it's pension
fund, about $2.6-billion short of what they need.
The Delphi Salaried Retiree Association has filed
a lawsuit against the Federal government.
GAY MARRIAGE BILL DEFEATED
The State Senate voted 38-24 yesterday not to
legalize gay marriage. Every Senator from Western
New York voted against the measure except for
Antoine Thompson. The Assembly o-k'd the bill
earlier in the day. The Governor was on a Rochester
radio station this morning. He said he would not
reintroduce the bill next year unless he saw a
substantial change in the position of the legislators.
He said he believed the votes were there for passage
but said people don't want to go down on a losing ship
and they were afraid to vote for it unless they knew there
were enough votes to pass it. He said he respected
the religious beliefs of those who were opposed to it
but we live in a secular society and every couple should
have the same rights. The Senate did pass a plan to cut
$2.8-billion from this year's budget, but the deficit is at
least $3.2-billion. Paterson said lawmakers can't keep
putting off their obligations, that the State Comptroller
has said the day of reckoning is coming at the end of
December. He said the legislature blissfully came to
Albany and cut a couple of things. He charged they'll
now go back to their districts and proclaim they saved
the schools. Paterson said "they did not save the schools, that
they didn't cut them, but the payments that will have to be
delayed will be far more painful than what the legilsators
were saying they avoided". Lawmakers did o-k the first
reforms to the state pension system in 25 years. It creates
a new Tier five pesnion level and raises the minimum age
at which most civilians can retire without penalty from 55
to 62. A seperate Tier Five benefit structure is included for
members of the New York State Teachers Retirement
System. It raises their minimum retirement age from 55 to
57 and increases their annual contribution from 3 to 3.5
per cent. Paterson said it would produce billions in long
term savings.
legalize gay marriage. Every Senator from Western
New York voted against the measure except for
Antoine Thompson. The Assembly o-k'd the bill
earlier in the day. The Governor was on a Rochester
radio station this morning. He said he would not
reintroduce the bill next year unless he saw a
substantial change in the position of the legislators.
He said he believed the votes were there for passage
but said people don't want to go down on a losing ship
and they were afraid to vote for it unless they knew there
were enough votes to pass it. He said he respected
the religious beliefs of those who were opposed to it
but we live in a secular society and every couple should
have the same rights. The Senate did pass a plan to cut
$2.8-billion from this year's budget, but the deficit is at
least $3.2-billion. Paterson said lawmakers can't keep
putting off their obligations, that the State Comptroller
has said the day of reckoning is coming at the end of
December. He said the legislature blissfully came to
Albany and cut a couple of things. He charged they'll
now go back to their districts and proclaim they saved
the schools. Paterson said "they did not save the schools, that
they didn't cut them, but the payments that will have to be
delayed will be far more painful than what the legilsators
were saying they avoided". Lawmakers did o-k the first
reforms to the state pension system in 25 years. It creates
a new Tier five pesnion level and raises the minimum age
at which most civilians can retire without penalty from 55
to 62. A seperate Tier Five benefit structure is included for
members of the New York State Teachers Retirement
System. It raises their minimum retirement age from 55 to
57 and increases their annual contribution from 3 to 3.5
per cent. Paterson said it would produce billions in long
term savings.
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