SPAGHETTI DINNER THIS SATURDAY

The Gasport Lions Club is hosting an all-you-can eat spaghetti dinner and basket raffle from 4 PM to 7 PM Saturday at the Gasport Fire Hall.

The basket raffle will be held at 6:30 p.m.; winners do not need to be present.

Cost is $7 for adults; $5 for children 6 to 11 and free for children under 5. Take-outs will be available.

The function is a fundraiser to help with the many community projects the Lions support, including vision screening for preschoolers, ramps for the handicapped, a medical loan closet, Christmas for the needy and many other activities.

For more information, call Joan Nachtrieb at 380-0724 (daytime) or 772-7688 after 5 p.m.

SEE THE SPACE SHUTTLE!

The Space Shuttle crew is doing some work on the International Space Station. You'll be able to see both objects as one this week as they make a fly-by over the region. The magnitude of brightness on these trips will range from -1.9 to -2.5, making them brighter than the brightest star.

Here's when and where you can see them...

Thursday, November 20: 6:13:54 PM, coming from SSW with a maximum elevation of 36°

Friday, November 21: 6:39:40 PM, coming from WSW with a maxium elevation of 50°

Saturday, November 22: 5:30:35 PM, coming from SSW with a maxium elevation of 40°

Sunday, November 23: 5:56:24 PM, coming from WSW with a maximum elevation of 61°

COYOTES HAVE RETURNED

A couple of months ago I noted the year-long demise of coyotes in Gasport. After being fairly common for years they had virtually disappeared (no doubt following their food sources). Over the course of late-2007 and 2008 coyote evidence was slim to none and some of their prey (rabbits and woodchucks) saw population explosions in Gasport.

Well, probably because of the latter, the coyotes are back.

On Sunday evening I heard 3 different coyotes howling and yipping and I'm seeing more and more tracks.

Make it a point to go outside on a winter evening and listen to these critters.

TAX RATES DOWN...BUT....

This article ran in Sunday's Buffalo News. I hate articles like this because it allows for some dangerous spin. At first glance, most people would skim the article and think, "hey, my tax rate is going down! Yay!"

It's a mirage, folks....


2009 Royalton budget reduces tax rates for town, village

ROYALTON — The Town Board last week adopted a $5.7 million town budget for 2009 that reduces the tax rate in a town that saw whopping increases two years ago.

Next year, residents outside of the Village of Middleport will see their tax rate decrease by 50 cents, to $3.18 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, while Middleport residents will see their tax rate drop 27 cents, to $1.81 per $1,000.

Town Assessor Thomas Arlington attributed the board’s ability to drop the tax rate to an increase in the tax base because of a townwide reassessment this year.

Supervisor Richard Lang said spending stayed the same or dropped slightly in each of the town’s departments except refuse collection, which saw a slight increase.

Lang said the town was able to offer a decrease in taxes due to the reassessment and the town’s fund balance.

“Our new accountants are quite pleased with our books,” he said.

In November 2006, the board adopted a 2007 budget that included a 266 percent tax increase in Middleport and a 67 percent increase in taxes for residents outside the village.

COUNTY BUDGET A MIXED BAG FOR GASPORT RESIDENTS

The Buffalo News reports on th County's 2009 budget....


Niagara County Manager Gregory D. Lewis is proud of his proposed 2009 county budget, which he released Friday.

“It’s the best budget I’ve ever been associated with,” Lewis said of the spending plan, which features a small property tax decrease for most homeowners.

The $304 million budget spends $2 million more than this year’s version, but the average homeowner sees a tax rate reduction of 21 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, or $21 on a $100,000 house. However, the actual tax rates vary by municipality, depending on how close to full value assessments are and the equalization rates set by the state. County Real Property Services Director William F. Budde Jr. calculated that if Lewis’ budget is adopted unchanged by the County Legislature, there will be tax rate reductions in seven towns and two cities.


What does that mean for us in Gasport? It depends on what side of the border you live on...


Rates would fall $1.73 per $1,000 of assessed value in Royalton; 51 cents in the City of Lockport; 27 cents in Somerset; 23 cents in Wilson and Niagara Falls; 22 cents in Newfane; and 21 cents in Cambria, the Town of Lockport and Pendleton.

The communities with tax rate increases would be Hartland, 63 cents; Porter, 36 cents; Lewiston and the Town of Niagara, each 6 cents; North Tonawanda, 4 cents; and Wheatfield, less than a penny.


To read the article in total, go here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/niagaracounty/story/494300.html

DEER SEASON OPENS THIS SATURDAY

Deer season has been open for a few weeks now with archery hunters out and about. But, they are a minority.

The day that most hunters consider the real Opening Day --- the first day of shotgun season for deer --- is this Saturday. So, the farm lanes and road sides of Gasports will be filled with parked vehicles all weekend as hunters are out in the fields and woods attempting to fill their freezers. I'll be one of those guys, hoping to bag a deer like the one shown at right.

The shotgun season is one weekend longer than usual this year, ending on December 7th.

WINE TRAIL EVENT THIS WEEKEND

While the men are out hunting this weekend the women can hit the local wineries, including Gasport's own Vizcarra Vineyards. The monthly special event on the Wine Trail is something called "Share the Bounty".

The Wine Trail news release says:

Help to raise food and monetary donations for the food bank as you sample some excellent wines from the Niagara Wine Trail this weekend. Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday Noon-6pm. Wine tasting at each winery is $2.50 or a canned good donation per person - there are no ticket sales for this event or commemorative wine glass gifts. All proceeds and food donations raised from the event go to the local food bank.

For more information visit www.niagarawinetrail.org

ONE WEEK LEFT FOR FOOD DRIVE

The food drive for the Gasport Area Food Pantry has but one week left. Donations of non-perishable goods will be accepted until November 21st. Drop of points are the Roy-Hart Elementary School and Absolut Care.

GASPORT WOMAN GETS 3 YEARS

The Buffalo News reports....

Plea deal gives mother of 3 year in jail for $950 theft

A Gasport woman who was convicted of stealing $950 worth of rolled quarters in a Lockport burglary was sentenced to a year in jail Wednesday, but it could have been three years.

Niagara County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III threw out the jury’s verdict against Brandi N. Voelker, 25, of State Street, and instead approved a plea deal that allowed Voelker to plead guilty to third-degree burglary in exchange for a one-year County Jail term she won’t have to start until Jan. 2. The alternative was a new trial over the Aug. 13, 2007, incident at a home on Niagara Street.

Murphy told Voelker, a mother of three, “You ought to be thankful to your attorney [Patrick M. Balkin] for his heroic efforts. You were about to be sentenced to three years in state prison.” He did order full restitution to the victim, Daniel Burns.

A jury convicted Voelker on Sept. 25 of second-degree burglary, petit larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. However, Murphy said the evidence was “entirely circumstantial” and the verdict “was against the weight of the evidence.”

Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/437/story/492264.html

CHRISTMAS CUPBOARD

The 23rd annual Christmas Cupboard craft show will take place at the former St. Mary’s Church on West Avenue November 21 to 23:

Hours are:

Friday 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Important FYI: since the phone has been shut off at the church, they cannot accept credit cards. Cash or check only.

DOLLAR GENERAL IS STRUCK

WLVL reports...

The Sheriff's Department says about $1,200 in damage was done to the front of the Gasport Dollar General store when somebody rammed the building with a large vehicle. The manager says it happened between 9pm Monday and 7am yesterday. About 20 feet of the brick wall was damaged at the store at 8405 Rochester Road.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TWO OF GASPORT'S AMBASSADORS

Two of Gasport's best celebrate milestone birthdays today. Eunice Hernberger and Gerry Reynolds are key members of the Royalton Historical Society, Eunice organizing their monthly programs and Gerry editing the newsletter. Eunice turns 94 and Gerry turns 97! If you see these lovely ladies today, wish them a happy birthday!