Published: July 15, 2008 09:20 pm            

IN BRIEF: Lew-Port Capital project takes a blow

LEW-PORT

LEW-PORT

Capital project takes a blow

The Niagara River Greenway Commission voted Tuesday that Lewiston-Porter School District’s capital project is not consistent with the greenway plan, an advisory opinion that could affect funding for the project.

The $10.9 million project includes new baseball fields, track facilities, walking and bicycling paths, locker rooms and an already completed artificial turf football field. Lewiston-Porter officials are counting on money from the New York Power Authority relicensing settlement to pay for the debt service on the project, which is expected to be paid off over 15 years.

But the decision is not binding as the ultimate vote on whether the project is funded with relicensing settlement money lies with the Host Communities Standing Committee.

The commission did approve two projects Tuesday, including the creation of a boardwalk and pavilion along the shore of Niawanda Park and an application from the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper to put together for the Niagara River greenway and blueway.



NORTH TONAWANDA

Jett nixes canal gig

Joan Jett is off the Saturday night concert list.

The well-known artist and her band, the Blackhearts, have booked another gig — at the Seneca Niagara Casino — Aug. 22.

No mention of the North Tonawanda venue is made on the band’s official Web site.

“I talked to Larry Denef and he told me that she has a new agent and he booked her at the Niagara casino,” Mayor Larry Soos said.

Common Council President Brett Sommer said wind of the news came to him through the grapevine, not official city channels.

“I was told on Sunday by somebody whose family works for the concert productions that the Joan Jett concert is not going to happen and that it has been that way for about three weeks,” he said.

It was announced in late April that Jett would play Aug. 26 as part of the Gateway Harbor Park Saturday concert series.

The Niagara River Greenway Commission voted Tuesday that Lewiston-Porter School District’s capital project is not consistent with the greenway plan, an advisory opinion that could affect funding for the project.

The $10.9 million project includes new baseball fields, track facilities, walking and bicycling paths, locker rooms and an already completed artificial turf football field. Lewiston-Porter officials are counting on money from the New York Power Authority relicensing settlement to pay for the debt service on the project, which is expected to be paid off over 15 years.

But the decision is not binding as the ultimate vote on whether the project is funded with relicensing settlement money lies with the Host Communities Standing Committee.

The commission did approve two projects Tuesday, including the creation of a boardwalk and pavilion along the shore of Niawanda Park and an application from the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper to put together for the Niagara River greenway and blueway.



NORTH TONAWANDA

Jett nixes canal gig

Joan Jett is off the Saturday night concert list.

The well-known artist and her band, the Blackhearts, have booked another gig — at the Seneca Niagara Casino — Aug. 22.

No mention of the North Tonawanda venue is made on the band’s official Web site.

“I talked to Larry Denef and he told me that she has a new agent and he booked her at the Niagara casino,” Mayor Larry Soos said.

Common Council President Brett Sommer said wind of the news came to him through the grapevine, not official city channels.

“I was told on Sunday by somebody whose family works for the concert productions that the Joan Jett concert is not going to happen and that it has been that way for about three weeks,” he said.

It was announced in late April that Jett would play Aug. 26 as part of the Gateway Harbor Park Saturday concert series.

        

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