Niagara Gazette - Local News

CITY COUNCIL: Budget cuts attack raises, travel
Cuts to employee raises and travel and training dominated the list of budget amendments approved by the Niagara Falls City Council on Thursday.
FALLS SCHOOLS: Open positions filled; district investigating more than a dozen employees.
The Niagara Falls Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to fill the two remaining vacancies stemming from September’s controversial residency firings.
LEWISTON: Siting plan forum draws familiar responses
The latest version of New York’s statewide hazardous waste siting plan prompted many familiar arguments during a public hearing on Thursday.
More than 200 people gathered inside the auditorium at Lewiston-Porter High School for the session in which officials from the state Department of Environmental Conservation fielded comments from the public about the agency’s tentative siting plan.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 20
A Grand Island woman told police Thursday an 18-year-old acquaintance snatched $80 from her after she gave him a ride.
TOWN OF NIAGARA BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 20
Kenneth E. Drake, 47, 2172 Seneca Ave., Niagara Falls, was arrested for petit larceny after shoplifting $88.60 worth of merchandise from Kmart on Nov. 8.
NIAGARA FALLS: Special invite: Wear pink to breast cancer awareness free luncheon
A “Pink Affair,” and free luncheon to promote breast cancer awareness is being hosted on Saturday by Niagara Falls gospel recording artist Marsha McWilson.
NIAGARA COUNTY: Treasurer Broderick won't seek another term
Treasurer David Broderick, who has held the position for 37 years, announced that he will not be seeking re-election because he wants to spend more time with his family.
NIAGARA FALLS: Fighting fire ... with information
As smoke and flames filled her Monteagle Street home, 10-year-old Kheyarra Williams told her sister Khasmir, “I gotta get mommy. I gotta get mommy.”
She disappeared back into the smoke, leaving 13-year-old Khasmir at the door and never returned. Neighbors then had to restrain the teen as she too fought to go back into the burning home to rescue her mother and sister.
TONAWANDAS: United Way ousts director
George O’Neil, who has served as the executive director of the United Way of the Tonawandas for 22 years, was terminated from his post Wednesday by group’s executive committee.
POLITICS: Andrews seeking treasurer’s post
Niagara County lawmaker Kyle Andrews wants to be the county’s next treasurer.
The Democrat from Wilson announced Thursday his candidacy for the county’s top fiscal officer.
The 29-year-old Andrews has served in the legislature for four terms. He is a public finance attorney with the law firm Harris Beach and said he has the right educational background, leadership background and approach to government to be the right candidate for the treasurer’s job.
FALLS SCHOOLS: District officials ate well in NYC
Times Square for breakfast, midtown Manhattan for lunch, So-Ho for dinner.
All courtesy of the taxpayer.
A review of receipts from a Niagara Falls School District funded trip shows how district officials spent more than $18,000 over three days at the New York State School Board Association Conference in Manhattan.
FALLS SCHOOLS: Students earn honors
Ninety-nine students from the Niagara Falls School District will be honored today for receiving perfect scores on two standardized New York state exams.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT: N-W student's death a confirmed H1N1 death
Local officials have confirmed that the second Niagara County resident to die from complications related to the H1N1 flu virus was a 10th grade student from the Niagara-Wheatfield School District.
NIAGARA FALLS: Council voting on over 30 amendments to Dyster’s proposal
The Niagara Falls City Council will vote to slash more than $200,000 from Mayor Paul Dyster’s proposed budget during a worksession today, including cuts that are expected to directly target members of Dyster’s administration.
NIAGARA FALLS: Cops nab robber, lose victim
Falls cops are dealing with an unusual dilemma after the robbery of an elderly woman in the parking lot of a Pine Avenue pharmacy.
Detectives say they have a suspect, but can’t find the victim. She is described only as “an elderly woman.”
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 19
A community police officer assigned to the new South End police substation notched his first arrest on Wednesday.
COUNTY IDA: A lesson in industrial development for the Falls
The head of the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency on Wednesday gave a presentation aimed at explaining his agency’s role in the City of Niagara Falls.
And while the overview was created for the benefit of Mayor Paul Dyster and members of his administration, none of them got the message, leaving NCIDA Chairman Henry Sloma to state his case to members of his own board and a handful of residents.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: Mark Onesi named to Underground Railroad panel
A Niagara Falls Republican who came up short in his attempt to secure a seat in the Niagara Legislature earlier this year has been appointed to a commission that will oversee the development of local attractions related to the area’s connection to the Underground Railroad.
STREET TALK: Third Street's future
Q: What needs to be done to transform 3rd Street into a permanent entertainment district.
RANSOMVILLE: Garage fire contained
Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a structure fire on Youngstown-Lockport Road Tuesday. Deputies said no one was injured.
LOCKPORT: Missing girl found by police
The missing 12-year-old girl from Wyndham Lawn Youth Facility was found early Wednesday morning by Lockport Police.
NIAGARA FALLS: Cops open up South End substation
Shabbir Hussain smiled broadly when asked about his new neighbor on 19th Street.
The owner of the Valero gas station and mini-mart at 19th Street and Ferry Avenue, Hussain was looking across the street toward the Falls Police Department’s new South End substation.
TOWN OF NIAGARA: Board member called out
The Town of Niagara’s $7.6 million budget for next year was passed Tuesday, but not without some fireworks between two political adversaries.
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Deputies seek missing 12-year-old girl
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is looking for leads on a missing 12-year-old girl from the Wyndham Lawn Youth Facility, 6395 Old Niagara Road.
LEGISLATURE: County adds fuel to fire over gas company move
Add Niagara County lawmakers to the list of people who aren’t happy with National Fuel’s plan to close a customer service center on the outskirts of the City of Niagara Falls.
COURTS: Man involved in DNA Taser incident gets 45 years in prison
The Falls man who was “tased” to give up a DNA sample, Ryan Smith stood silent and did not speak as he awaited sentencing in Niagara County Court on Tuesday morning.
His lawyer said it was because his client was “an innocent man.”
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 18
Police are investigating a theft from an apartment in the 1300 block of South Avenue. The tenant told officers sometime between 7 a.m. Nov. 10 and midnight Friday his landlord let an unknown man into his apartment.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT: County investigating possible second swine flu death
Niagara County health officials are investigating another suspected death related to the H1N1 flu virus.
NIAGARA COUNTY: Swine flu shots to be scarce
The majority of those waiting for an H1N1 vaccine likely won’t see a dose until well into 2010, Niagara County’s top health official said Tuesday.
During Tuesday’s meeting of the county Legislature, Public Health Director Dan Stapleton told lawmakers the scarcity of the vaccine has forced health officials to concentrate near-term delivery on members of priority vaccination groups, including younger people, caregivers of infants and pregnant women.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 17
Police are investigating the discovery of drugs in an apartment in the 3300 block of Ninth Street.
NIAGARA FALLS: Schumer, mayor will met with real estate mogul Milstein
He controls large amounts of prime South End real estate.
Yet Howard Milstein, the money man behind Niagara Falls Redevelopment has done little to actually develop that land and has battled with a succession of Falls mayors.
VILLAGE OF LEWISTON: Geiben officially named mayor
For the first time in more than 15 years, Richard Soluri was just a spectator at a Board of Trustees meeting.
Soluri watched quietly from the back of the room as trustee William H. Geiben was confirmed as mayor in a 2-0 vote.
NIAGARA FALLS: Investigators close to cause in fatal fire
A double-fatal fire may have been averted had smoke detectors in the home been working.
CITY COUNCIL: Six settlement approved, new policies coming
On a day when the City of Niagara Falls put an end to a long-standing racial discrimination case it entered into a new agreement aimed at improving the way it deals with bias, harassment and other issues in the workplace.
CITY COUNCIL: City to fight National Fuel closure plan
National Fuel’s plan to close a customer service center on Packard Road is not sitting well with officials and residents in the City of Niagara Falls.
HEALTH: Starpoint holding H1N1 clinic Saturday
The Niagara County Health Department will conduct its first H1N1 school immunization clinic from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday at Starpoint High School, 4363 Mapleton Road.
NIAGARA FALLS: Border Patrol agent rescues gorge hikers
A Border Patrol agent, from the Niagara Falls station, helped to rescue two hikers stranded in the Niagara Gorge near Whirlpool State Park on Sunday.
ALBANY: Paterson expects little action from state lawmakers today
Gov. David Paterson, who had sought legislative action on a $3.2 billion deficit for weeks, now says he doesn’t expect any action on Tuesday, the latest target date.
POLL: Paterson gets slight boost among voters
A new poll says New York Gov. David Paterson’s overall favorability rating has increased slightly in the past month, up from 27 percent in October to 33 percent now.
LEWISTON: Lew-Port student killed in crash
A 17-year-old Lewiston-Porter High School senior was killed in a one-car accident Sunday afternoon after driving his SUV into a tree off of Lewiston Road.
FALLS SCHOOLS: Travel costs defended
On Thursday, the Niagara Falls Board of Education discussed a new travel policy that does away with itemized receipts for district-funded trips.
The new policy would be per diem-based and not require district employees to pay back any leftover funds. The board is expected to vote on the revised policy at a future meeting.
COURTS: Attorney for accused NU player looks for quick resolution of case
The lawyer for a Niagara University basketball player charged in a “ruckus” with Falls cops says the incident was a “misunderstanding.”
ROSWELL PARK: Lewiston girl helping coffee campaign
Western New Yorkers now have a chance to satiate their coffee cravings for the next year while helping local cancer patients.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 16
Rashaad R. Welch, 18, 1320 Ashland Ave., was charged with second-degree assault, second-degree obstructing government administration and resisting arrest on Saturday.
WILSON: Reading ‘going to the dogs’
W.H. Stevenson Elementary has brought in a specialist to help kids with reading. But not your typical specialist, this one has four legs, a tail and wears a collar.
NIAGARA FALLS: Holly Trolley to light a path through city
Event planners hope residents will help illuminate trolley path.
FALLS POLICE: Cops will take the wraps off new 19th Street substation on Tuesday
GLYNN: The check is in the mail
NIAGARA FALLS: Mother, daughter die in fire
One sibling escapes from Monteagle Street blaze
POLICE REPORTS: Nov. 14, 2009
BRUNO TRIAlL: Judge rejects motion for mistrial
State Sen. George Maziarz isn’t sure if he will be called to testify in trial.
FALLS LIBRARY: Focus shifts to city
Trustees discuss communication, funding process.
COPS NOTEBOOK: Sheriffs honor their own
COUNTY LEGISLATURE: Holding line on spending
Niagara County tax rate declines projected for all but three areas
LOCKPORT: U.S. Marshals capture man
An LPD officer uses Taser to handle suspect.
NIAGARA FALLS: Settlement pending in Falls six case
A high-profile racial discrimination case in the City of Niagara Falls could end in settlement next week.
Mayor Paul Dyster’s administration will ask council members on Monday to accept a $240,000 settlement with the group of city employees commonly known as the Niagara Falls Six.
COURTS: Eva Hedges pleads guilty to housing violation
The City Housing Court case of a Falls woman accused of running an illegal bed and breakfast at her Fourth Street home has been settled.
Eva Hedges’ defense attorney George V.C. Muscato said Thursday his client has corrected building code violations at her property and all the charges against her have been resolved.
NIAGARA FALLS: Granddaughter of Main Street’s ‘Godfather’ looks forward
There’s a special spring in the step of Janelle Jenss Montazzoli.
It might be the fact that she walks in a pair of navy blue spectator pumps that were named after her.
COURTS: Prosecutors still want DNA from Carter
Prosecutors have renewed a request for a DNA sample from accused killer Darnell Carter.
At the same time, a complicated series of pretrial hearings has apparently derailed plans for jury selection in the case to begin on Nov. 30.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 13
A Niagara Falls woman was arrested Thursday night after narcotics detectives and Roving Anti-Crime Unit officers caught her with $15,000 worth of crack cocaine.
HARTLAND: Dog missing after roll-over accident
A rare Catahoula leopard dog named Buddy that was rescued from Hurricane Katrina is missing after fleeing from the scene of a one-car crash Wednesday morning in Hartland.
LOCKPORT: State official says McKinney violated terms of release
Paroled sex offender James McKinney violated a half dozen terms of his controversial release last spring, according to Assistant state Attorney General Wendy Witing.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT: First county H1N1 death reported
The illness commonly called the swine flu has claimed its first victim in Niagara County.
The county Health Department on Thursday confirmed the recent death of a resident from the eastern end of the county as being linked to a suspected case of H1N1 flu.
NIAGARA FALLS: Library board to seek interim director
Members of the Niagara Falls Library Board will reach out to a regional library system for support in finding an interim administrator to replace former director Betty Babanoury who resigned last week.
FALLS POLICE: Tennessee Avenue home raided
Falls police narcotics detectives, along with members of the department’s Emergency Response Team took a bite out of the city’s weed trade with a raid Wednesday night on a Tennessee Avenue home.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 12
Police are investigating a robbery that occurred in the 1500 block of Pierce Avenue.
FALLS AIRPORT: Direct Air adding flights to Melbourne
Last week, Ed Warneck, president and managing partner of Direct Air, attended and spoke at a tourism summit put together by state Sen. George Maziarz whose hope is to find ways to attract more service through the Falls’ new airport terminal. As promised by Warneck during the summit, Direct Air will announce today the start of new air service from Melbourne, Fla., to Niagara Falls International Airport.
ANELLO CASE: Feds oppose defense team's appeal
Federal prosecutors are asking a U.S. District Court judge to reject an appeal by former Falls Mayor Vince Anello looking to overturn recommendations from a magistrate judge.
In a filing with Judge William Skretny, Assistant United State Attorney Paul Campana argues the recommendations made by Magistrate Judge Jeremiah McCarthy should “be adopted.”
SLIDESHOW: Fire on Pierce Avenue
WHEATFIELD: Buffalo firm seeks payment from Oz
A Buffalo engineering firm that worked on the proposed Wizard of Oz theme park in the Town of Wheatfield has taken legal action to secure nearly $100,000 it says it is owed by the project’s developer.
SLIDESHOW: Local Veterans Day events
TOWN OF TONAWANDA: Dunlop plant could expand
Despite a tough job market and stagnant economy, the Town of Tonawanda Dunlop tire plant could see an expansion in the near future.
The facility is preparing to take on an increased workload since Goodyear Tire announced the closing of a plant in Spartanburg, S.C.
BUSINESS: Walmart to keep stores open to ease Black Friday
Wal-Mart Stores said Wednesday it will keep its stores open 24 hours and take new crowd-control measures Thanksgiving weekend after a temporary employee was trampled to death in a Black Friday rush last year.
UNITED WAY: Looking for a boost
The United Way of Niagara needs a financial boost from the community to reach its 2009 fundraising goal.
With less than two days remaining in the fundraising campaign, United Way officials said the agency is roughly 70 percent of the way to achieving this year’s goal of raising $863,954 for 16 partner organizations.
LOCKPORT: Beer cans found in vehicle in fatal crash
Police say half a dozen beer cans were found in the vehicle involved in Monday night’s fatal car accident at the corner of Vine and Garden streets.
Captain Michael F. Niethe said the vehicle belonged to a family member of Charles E. Davis, 42, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
EDITORIAL: Cuts won’t solve Albany’s crisis
The numbers don’t lie — and that puts them in a select class in Albany these days.
Gov. David Paterson called the state’s lawmakers into a rare joint session Monday to slap some wrists and offer a stern talking-to about the impending fiscal collapse of the Empire State.
SHOOTING: Victim may lead cops to killer
Before he died, Jacobi Lovett may have provided police with the evidence they’ll need to catch his killer.
As Lovett lay in a pool of blood in front of a Main Street mini-mart he told officers he’d been shot by a lone gunman and had left his car in the 900 block of Niagara Avenue.
NIAGARA FALLS: Moving a monument to their “Valiant sons”
Some died on the beaches at Normandy.
Others in France, Germany, Belgium and Japan.
A few of the wounded died later in a battlefield hospital.
One went down with hundreds of his shipmates on that day that lives in infamy, Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor at the crack of dawn.
NIAGARA FALLS: HOPE VI back on track
A high-profile housing development that has endured its share of setbacks in recent months appears to be getting back on track.
Stephanie Cowart, executive director of the Niagara Falls Housing Authority, told members of her organization’s board of commissioners on Tuesday that construction has resumed at the HOPE VI housing development site in the city’s North End.
LOCKPORT: Man speeding away from police killed in crash
A city man fleeing from police was killed late Monday night in a one-car crash on the corner of Vine and Garden streets.
ALBANY: New state license plates unveiled
David J. Swarts, state commissioner of Motor Vehicles and chair of the governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, unveiled the “Empire Gold” license plate Tuesday which will be issued to most vehicles registered in the state beginning in April, 2010.
NIAGARA FALLS: Fruscione calls for shakeup of city Dems
A newly re-elected city councilman is calling for a change at the top of the Niagara Falls Democratic Party Committee.
Councilman Sam Fruscione, a Democrat who was successful in his bid for another term on the council during the Nov. 3 election, on Monday publicly requested the resignation of current city Democratic Committee Chairman Michael Lewis.
LEWISTON: Budget bonuses for several local groups
With $10,000 more in sales tax revenue than was originally projected, the town board went on a little spending spree of sorts while adjusting 2010 budget numbers Monday night during a board worksession.
LEWISTON: A change in supervisor salary?
Since it was such a major point of contention in the recent election, Supervisor Fred Newlin said Monday night that the supervisor’s salary could be lowered — if Supervisor-elect Steve Reiter wants to make the change.
NIAGARA FALLS: Babanoury makes it official
Betty Babanoury has officially tendered her resignation as head of the Niagara Falls Public Library.
Delores Marino, library board president, said she received notice from Babanoury on Monday. Marino said the short letter was dated Nov. 4 and indicated that Babanoury’s resignation was effective immediately.
NIAGARA FALLS: City offers $650K for Inn on the River project
One phase of a larger hotel development project that was at the center of a tax break controversy earlier this year will get a financial boost from the City of Niagara Falls.
Members of the board of directors for the UFC Development Corp. on Monday agreed to provide a $650,000 grant to LaSalle Hospitality, Inc., a company that is looking to purchase and renovate the former Inn on the River at 7001 Buffalo Ave.
VETERAN PROFILE: Charles Decker recalls life as a belly gunner in South Pacific
As another Veterans Day approaches, a World War II vet recalls the hardships and friendships that made his military service an unforgettable chapter in his life.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 10
Several people reported hearing shots fired on the 2200 block of LaSalle Avenue early Monday morning.
BRUNO TRIAL: Former Local 91 member Congi expected favors
A former union president imprisoned for racketeering testified Monday that his late boss expected “favors” in Albany from then New York Senate leader Joseph Bruno in return for investing union pension funds with the company that employed Bruno.
COURTS: City attorneys respond to suit filed by Matteo Anello
City lawyers say a federal lawsuit filed by the brother of former Mayor Vince Anello is “frivolous.”
They also say, in a filing in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, that Matteo Anello failed to file his suit within time limits required by law and any injuries he suffered while being arrested during an incident at a City Council meeting were his own fault.
WILSON: Service isn't limited to same ol’ thing
A coffee bar in the basement, a rock band wearing shades indoors in the sanctuary and a 30-something Scotsman who never planned to be a pastor.
It’s probably safe to say the Sunday night get-together at the First Baptist Church in Wilson is not your grandfather’s church service.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 9
An A Street man foiled a burglary attempt by catching a man trying to break into a home Sunday.
EVENT: Sheriff’s Department hands out a few awards
Friday night at the Como Restaurant was a rare time for the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department to celebrate the hard work put in by road patrol deputies and corrections officers.
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Leftover election goodies
I managed to accumulate 30 or so samplings of the campaign literature that made its way into mailboxes in Niagara Falls, Lewiston and Wheatfield during this year's primary and general elections.
WHEATFIELD: All along the waterfront
Wheatfield town residents are invited to help plan the future of the town’s waterfront and discuss the Wheatfield Local Waterfront Revitalization Program during a meeting set for 7 p.m. Monday at the Wheatfield Community Center, next to Town Hall on Church Road.
RANSOMVILLE: Local girl brings in the ’doh with $10K prize
No one would pay $10,000 for a Friday fish fry. Expect maybe Hasbro.
Ransomville’s Teagan Clark and her “Friday Fish Fry” are the winner of the Hasbro “Ready, Go Play-Doh” national food Play Doh sculpture contest.
SANBORN: Fire causes extensive damage; pets die
A fire Sunday afternoon at 6112 Walmore Road caused extensive damage to the house and claimed the life of a cat and dog.
NORTH TONAWANDA: New business blows in
Hurricane Bar on Oliver Street in North Tonawanda has been open for a month, since owners Robert and Wieslawa Orefice returned to their native Western New York a year ago.
NORTH TONAWANDA: Tailgaters revel in Jacks' big win
The chili was hot, the sausages were on the grill and Kim Tuzzo was just fine thinking about everything except for the big game.
VETERANS: Local man proud to have served
As another Veterans Day approaches, a World War II vet recalls the hardships and friendships that made his military service an unforgettable chapter in his life.
NIAGARA FALLS: Future uncertain for North End institution
Leadership void still issue at shuttered facility
NIAGARA FALLS: Man shot to death
GLYNN: Prince Charles draws small crowd
WHEATFIELD: All along the waterfront
Monday meeting is about revitalization program.
ROTARY CLUB: Giving the gift of literacy
Late member’s project carried on by current members
NIAGARA FALLS: Airport plans are flying
Officials discuss ways to promote new terminal, region.
NIAGARA FALLS: Babanoury leaving library?
The board is expected to receive director’s resignation soon
FIRE CALLS: Nov. 7, 2009
WHEATFIELD: Crash sends four to hospital
Sun blamed for Niagara Falls Boulevard collision.
CITY OF TONAWANDA: Falls man charged after car break-in
NIAGARA FALLS: Cottrell complains to police of strong-arm tactics
The man leading a push to promote the area’s ties to the Underground Railroad told Niagara Falls police that he had a “very intimidating” encounter this week with an individual who identified himself as a relative of a Niagara County lawmaker.
NIAGARA FALLS: Dyster's new plan for inspections
While the status of three suspended employees remains in limbo, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster is proposing renaming and reorganizing the Inspections Department to better address code enforcement issues in the city.
FALLS POLICE: “Quest” for love gets awfully expensive
A 30-year-old Lancaster man laid out a story of love and betrayal to Falls police on Thursday.
The man said he joined the phone chat line “Quest” and began talking with a woman who said she was a 24-year-old Falls resident. On Oct. 15, the two met up at an apartment on Niagara Street where they had sex.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 6
COUNTY GOP: Henry Wojtaszek heading back to Harris Beach law firm
Two days after helping his party score several key victories in local elections, the long-time chairman of the Niagara County Republican Party announced his decision to step down.
Henry Wojtaszek, who has led the local GOP for nearly a decade, said Thursday the “timing was right” for him to hand the party reins off to someone else.
FALLS SCHOOLS: School rallies around sixth-grader
According to her former teacher, 11-year-old Jessica Stone always has a smile on her face.
She also suffers from a rare type of bone cancer and needs some help from the community.
FALLS SCHOOLS: NFHS getting more security cameras
The Niagara Falls Board of Education was told Thursday that an additional 56 security cameras will be installed inside Niagara Falls High School, including in a stairwell where an alleged rape happened last month.
SANBORN: Vietnam vet will sign his book at Ambrosia Bookstore on Saturday
A Vietnam veteran who says he exorcised the demons of his war experiences by writing about them, will be hosting a book signing on Saturday at Ambrosia Books in Sanborn.
HEARING: Return to school rejected
Judge refuses to allow NFHS student charged in rape to resumes classes.
POLICE BLOTTER
COURTS: Carter case moves toward trial
Judge continues to weight whether police search warrant was valid.
BUDGET: Office shuffle coming
Mayor to propose department restructuring during council review.
COMMUNICATION: Event ‘toasting’ good speaking skills
Workshops highlight event in falls this weekend.
CAMPAIGN: Coats for Kids drives kicks off again
Capitol Cleaners accepting donations on Saturday.
CONFERENCE CENTER: Comedian survivor to entertain at day-long women’s health event on Saturday.
Ladies: Live, laugh
SAY YES TO THE DRESS: Lewiston native and her mom are featured in TLC show.
TV Bride-to-be
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 4
Gabriella Manarino, 17, 517 81st St., was charged with petit larceny on Tuesday. A store employee said she observed Manarino take $13.99 worth of cosmetics at 3:15 p.m.
LEWISTON: Reiter ousts Newlin
At 9:27 p.m. Tuesday, Lewiston Town Supervisor Fred Newlin turned to one of his supporters and said simply, “I’m not going to win.”
LEGISLATURE: Dems add, lose seat on Election Day
While there will be a few new faces in the Niagara County Legislature next year, there will be no change in the balance of decision-making power.
CITY COUNCIL: Incumbents, Grandinetti claim three City Council seats
Niagara Falls Democrats posted a clean sweep over Republicans in the race for three City Council seats as incumbents Charles Walker and Samuel Fruscione were re-elected and newcomer Kristen Grandinetti defeated Republican challengers Kenneth Pawlukovich and Candra Thomason.
WHEATFIELD: Cliffe cruises as Demler pulls in 800 votes
For the first time in 14 years, Wheatfield residents will have a new town supervisor.
But the old supervisor says he may not be ready to hang up his hat.
ELECTIONS: County follows downsizing trend
Voters on Tuesday approved a proposition that called for the size of the Niagara County Legislature to be trimmed from 19 members to 15.
LEWISTON: Bax, Marra win town council seats
Alfonso Bax was the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s election and earned his second term on the Lewiston Town Council. He will be joined by two-time village trustee and council newcomer, Michael Marra.
STATE: Voters OK land swap, inmate work
Voters across New York have overwhelmingly approved a minor land swap in a remote northwestern corner of the Adirondacks in one of two statewide ballot propositions.
WHEATFIELD: Cliffe the winner in supervisor's race, Demler gets 809 write-ins
LEGISLATURE: Downsizing measure overwhelmingly approved
LEWISTON: Newlin out as supervisor
NIAGARA FALLS: Early returns have Fruscione, Grandinetti in lead
WHEATFIELD: Odd flier causes stir
Town of Wheatfield attorney Robert O’Toole on Monday encouraged voters to ignore a questionable piece of campaign literature that was delivered to several homes on the eve of Election Day.
CITY COUNCIL: NAACP takes issues to City Council
More than 100 people stood up in unison Monday night to help deliver a message encouraging Niagara Falls City Council members to join in on the fight against racial discrimination in the city.
FALLS SCHOOLS: School board approves $20,000 raise for Maria Massaro
Niagara Falls School District assistant attorney Maria Massaro has been granted a $20,000 raise for additional duties school officials say she will be taking on.
The Niagara Falls Board of Education approved a new contract with administrative counsel Massaro that will pay her a salary of $65,000 for the 2009-10 school year, up from $44,829.
FALLS SCHOOLS: Student arrested in rape that occurred at school
A Niagara Falls High School junior has been charged with raping a classmate at the school.
The attack reportedly took place in a stairwell of the high school while classes were in session on Oct. 7.
CITY OF TONAWANDA: First responders converge on area for week of disaster drills
Three piles of concrete, mangled cars and simulated wounded littered the landscape at the former Spaulding Fibre site Monday as the first day of Vigilant Guard rescue exercises got under way.
BLOTTER: Police reports published Nov. 3
Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a pharmacy on the 2500 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard for a reported burglary early Monday morning.
NIAGARA COUNTY: Lining up funds for air base support
Niagara County and the City of Niagara Falls are considering plans to provide financial support to a struggling local advocacy group.
A pair of Niagara County lawmakers have co-sponsored a resolution calling on the county to provide a total of $40,000 in funding from its 2009 budget to support the Niagara Military Affairs Council.
ELECTION: Voutour supports inmate work measure
Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour supports a ballot question up for statewide vote today that would permit inmates to work for nonprofit agencies.
NIAGARA FALLS: Memorial drains outstanding water bill
With one cash payment, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has nearly wiped the slate clean on all of its debt with the Niagara Falls Water Board.
Water Board Executive Director Gerald Grose confirmed Friday the hospital has paid off $465,000 of a $510,000 bill that’s been accumulating since 2007.
NIAGARA FALLS: ‘Ruckus’ leads to NU basketball player arrest
Niagara University officials are investigating the arrest of a 20-year-old member of the basketball team who was charged after creating a disturbance at a Main Street bar early Sunday morning.
Christopher M. Armstrong was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest by Falls police following the incident.
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Quality crop of candidates
I’ve covered some crazy and not-so-kind campaigns over the years.
I’m happy to report that this year’s Legislature races weren’t like any of those.

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