The Buffalo News -

LOCKPORT – Joel S. Zsebehazy, who said he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder after serving in Afghanistan in 2003, was sentenced Friday to a year in jail for trying to choke a woman. He also was arraigned on a fresh indictment.

The new charges against Zsebehazy accuse him of second-degree assault and third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance. He allegedly stabbed and punched a man during a contentious crack cocaine sale Nov. 9 on 86th Street in Niagara Falls.

Zsebehazy, 29, of Grand Avenue in the Falls, drew his jail term for an April 13 incident at the home of a Lockport woman who had a restraining order against him. He had pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal contempt.

NIAGARA FALLS – Dr. Komal Chandan has been elected president of the medical staff at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, the hospital announced Friday. He will take office in January and serve a two-year term.

A 21-year member of Memorial’s medical staff, Dr. Chandan is a graduate of the University College of Medical Sciences in India. He is board certified in family medicine and serves as medical director of Memorial’s Schoellkopf Health Center nursing home.

Elected vice president was Dr. Robert Gadawski, chief of Memorial’s Department of Pediatrics since 1999. He is a graduate of Niagara University and SUNY Health Science Center, now Upstate Medical University. He has been on Memorial’s medical staff since 1997.

The new treasurer is Dr. Mark Perry, chief of the medical center’s Department of Radiology since 1995 and a member of Memorial’s board of directors. A graduate of the University of Rochester and Albany Medical College, Dr. Perry has been a member of the medical staff since 1983.

Petite and soft-spoken with a hint of an Alabama accent, Sonia Whitlock tries to smile and look for positives. But she can’t stop the tears as she talks about a life-changing car crash and what that means to the future for her and her family.

“It’s hard. I just take it one day at a time,” Whitlock said.

At age 39, the Niagara Falls mother of three had already been dealt some tough breaks in life, losing both her parents within five months of each other in 2011. She grew up in Alabama, but had been living in Buffalo since 1998. She went to Georgia for a time to be near family and returned this past year.

She recently settled in with her family in a nice, three-bedroom apartment in Niagara Falls and found work as an assistant manager at a 7-Eleven.

But within months of her return, she was dealt another blow: On the evening of Sept. 28, she was seriously injured, nearly losing her left arm, after being trapped in a rollover crash. Her two youngest children, daughters Skylar, 4, and Summer, 3, were in the SUV, a Ford Expedition, but were not injured. Her 16-year-old son, Wardell – “Wardy” – was not with them.

She said the man whose car they struck was able to get the two girls out without injury, but she was trapped with her arm crushed under the truck, bones protruding. The truck was lifted to free her, and then she was airlifted to Erie County Medical Center.

Whitlock has been unable to use her left arm since the crash and has no feeling in her fingers. She said it remains unclear whether doctors will be able to save her arm. She was hospitalized for three weeks and has had seven surgeries since September. More surgeries and intensive therapy are expected to take more than a year.

Left alone to care for herself and her children, she admits she is struggling. She has her necessities covered, such as food, rent, utilities and medical care, but as she waits to be approved for disability, she has no cash coming in.

Wardy is a big help and a great big brother, walking his sisters to Head Start classes, running errands, making dinners and helping around the house, but Whitlock said she can’t even afford to buy him a winter coat and sadly there is nothing extra for Christmas – not even a tree.

“He would really like a bike and a trailer to pull the girls to school; he said they walk pretty slow,” Whitlock said.

But she’s getting some help.

This past week, a nurse referred Whitlock to the Heart, Love and Soul Food Pantry, where Sister Beth Brosmer, executive director, met with her.

“We can get that for you,” she told Whitlock in a calm and reassuring voice. “We can get that for you.”

Brosmer’s organization is a United Way of Greater Niagara agency and benefits from donations to The News Neediest Fund, which accepts toys and cash donations to purchase holiday meals and gifts for families, including Whitlock’s. Brosmer said they will distribute toys to more than 300 children at Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club through the help of The News Neediest Fund and other members of the Western New York Holiday Partnership. Now in its 32nd year, the News Neediest drive benefited nearly 11,000 families in Western New York last year.

“We certainly can help them, and we are going to get them a tree,” Brosmer said.

She also offered to provide a box of food for the Christmas meal and clothing gifts for the children.

She said her food pantry provides holiday meals in a box to 325 households, serves breakfast and lunch every day, 50 for breakfast and 60 for lunch, and supplements 700 individuals on a monthly basis at the food pantry and dining room at 939 Ontario St. in Niagara Falls.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do, waking up Christmas morning having nothing,” Whitlock said. “The warmth of Christmas is very special to me.”

She agreed to be interviewed by The Buffalo News to help put a face on the struggling families who are helped by the Fund.

She said her wish is to have use of her arm, be able to do things with her kids, have a normal life, go back to work and “just be able to buy soap and toilet paper.”

“It’s crazy how your life can change in the blink of an eye,” Whitlock said.

email: nfischer@buffnews.com

Barker
The School Board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the district’s administrative offices, Quaker and Haight roads. Cambria
The Planning Board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in Town Hall, 4160 Upper Mountain Road, Sanborn.

• Also this week, the Zoning Board of Appeals will meet at 8 p.m. Monday in Town Hall. Lewiston
The Village Board will meet for a work session at 6 p.m. Monday in Village Hall, 145 N. Fourth St.

Also this week:

• The Lewiston-Porter School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Resource Center on the district’s Creek Road campus. Lockport
The Common Council will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Municipal Building, One Locks Plaza.

Also this week:

• The town Planning Board will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Town Hall, 6560 Dysinger Road.

• The town Industrial Development Agency will meet at 8 a.m. Thursday in the Town Hall annex, 6560 Dysinger Road. Middleport
The Village Board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in Village Hall, 24 Main St. Newfane
The School Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Early Childhood Center on Godfrey Road. Town of Niagara
The Town Board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Town Hall, 7105 Lockport Road. Niagara County
The County Legislature will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the County Courthouse, Park Avenue and Hawley Street, Lockport.

Also this week:

• The Niagara County Community College board of trustees will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Notar Administration Building on the school’s Saunders Settlement Road campus. Niagara Falls
The Niagara Frontier State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Porter/DeVeaux Room at the Niagara Falls Conference & Event Center, 101 Old Falls St.

Also this week:

• The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers at City Hall, 745 Main St.

• The Water Board will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the municipal water plant, 5815 Buffalo Ave. North Tonawanda
The Common Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, 216 Payne Ave. An agenda review session will be held in the city clerk-treasurer’s office at 6:15.

Also this week:

• The Property Maintenance Task Force will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall. Pendleton
•The town Planning Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Town Hall, 6570 Campbell Blvd. Porter
The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Town Hall, 3265 Creek Road. Starpoint Schools
The School Board will meet for an executive session at 6 p.m. Monday, followed by a musical presentation by Stephanie Teichman and the sixth-grade band at 6:45 and a regular meeting at 7, 4363 Mapleton Road, Lockport. Wilson
The Town Board will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Town Hall, 375 Lake St. Around Town/

LEWISTON – Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue was the vision of four Niagara County women who met while volunteering together at the Niagara County SPCA and left to form their own not-for-profit organization with their own vision and goals.

Since incorporating in January, they have adopted out 100 animals, more than double their annual projection, and invested their time and their money, along with donations from the public and a network of more than 60 volunteers to save the lives of homeless, abandoned and discarded dogs.

“There are so many animals that need homes that we are trying to find homes for,” said Linda van Harssel, of Lewiston, Heart of Niagara media director and one of the four founding members. “We never have enough foster (homes), and this is not just us, but shelters across the country. There are so many animals that are euthanized simply because there is no room for them and no one is there to take them.”

She said their garages and basements are full of donated items, such as food and crates and blankets. The next step is to purchase a building, which will be used to house transitioning dogs, store materials, hold staff meetings and serve as a place to come and meet, and then hopefully adopt, animals.

Van Harssel said the organization hopes to achieve this through the “Holiday Wishes Come True” grant sponsored by the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Petco Foundation. The top grant is $100,000, with a second prize of $50,000 and third prize of $25,000. Additional runner-up grants range from $5,000 to $10,000. Winners will be announced this month.

DeGeneres encouraged qualified animal rescue groups to submit their best animal success stories to make their case. Heart of Niagara shared stories of discarded animals that were to be euthanized, animals rescued from puppy mills and nursed back to life, and another who was viciously attacked and blinded in one eye. All were rescued and have found new lives in their new “forever homes,” said van Harssel.

She said all the stories are important, but the one that touches them all the most was the story of Faith, the first dog they rescued.

“Faith was our very first, our number one rescue. She was a mom who was going to be euthanized. She was in an overcrowded shelter, and she had a litter of puppies, and we took them all in,” van Harssel said. She said they all received 24-hour care from a veterinarian technician at the Village Vet in Lewiston. Faith survived, but some of her puppies was just too ill and too weak, she said.

“It was very sad, but some survived. Two puppies and Faith are each living happily in their own new homes,” van Harssel said. “When we named her – it was faith in our organization and faith in what we are doing, and that’s why we named her Faith.”

Other founding members are Kathy Nowakowski, of Niagara Falls, who serves as managing director; Cyndi Luna, of Lewiston; and Margie Kwiatkowski, of Lockport.

To see all the rescue stories of Molly, Shelby, Gracie and Dusty, or learn more about Heart of Niagara, visit its website at www.heartofniagara.org.

Today
SERVICE: 2 p.m., Second Presbyterian Church, 71 Van Buren St., Lockport. Special service featuring Hands Up Ministries in partnership with lead pastor Al Robinson of Spirit of Truth Ministries. Monday
PRAYER: The Healing Rooms of Buffalo Niagara is open to pray for anyone who needs physical, emotional or spiritual healing, 7 to 9 p.m., Potters House Christian Community Church, 723 Seventh St., Niagara Falls. No appointment or fee necessary. For more information, call 884-0048. Tuesday
RECOVERY GROUP: 7:30 p.m., Wheatfield Community Church, 3571 Niagara Falls Blvd. Addiction Conquerors will offer a Life Recovery Group every week to those who are victims of any addiction. The Rev. Pat Lavery, co-founder of the group, will lead. For information, call 553-3794 or visit www.wheatfieldcommunitychurch.org. Wednesday
worship service: St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1073 Saunders Settlement Road, Lewiston. First Hour Serviced, followed by refreshments and devotional time, 7 a.m. Vespers, followed by “Learning About the Ancient Christian Faith and Practice,” 6:15 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, call 297-2668 or email saintgeorgeorthodox@yahoo.com.

WORSHIP SERVICE: 7 p.m., Grace Church, 100 Genesee St., Lockport. An ecumenical 12-step worship program open to anyone but designed for people in programs facing addictions. Service consists of readings, prayers and music. Refreshments served before service. For more information, call the church at 433-2878, visit www.gracelkpt.org or email gracechurchlkpt@wny.twcbc.com. Thursday
GROUP DISCUSSION: 6:30 p.m., Mount Olive Lutheran Church. “Step One,” an informal group gathers to discuss various faith-based topics. All are welcome. For information, call 434-8500. Next Sunday
WORSHIP SERVICE: 10 a.m., Grace Episcopal Church, 100 Genesee St., Lockport. Service of Lessons and Carols. Christmas Eve services will also be held Dec. 24: Family Service at 4 p.m., Worship Service at 11 p.m. Nativity concert with organ, choir and soloists start 30 minutes before each Christmas Eve service. For more information, call 433-2878.

If you would like your event included, send the information two weeks in advance to: Niagara Community Calendar, c/o The Buffalo News, P.O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240, fax to: 856-5150 or email to: niagaranews@buffnews.com.

NIAGARA FALLS – A group home for pregnant teenagers and young mothers opened here recently to help address a growing problem in the city, which has the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the state.

It is called “the CRIB” – which stands for Caring Responsible Independent Beginnings – and is run by Family and Children’s Services.

The organization decided to start the group home after seeing more and more youth coming to the door of Casey House, its transitional home for homeless teens, said Family and Children’s Services Director of Youth Services Jeffrey Wierzbicki.

“It was very hard to turn them away, but we just couldn’t let them stay overnight,” Wierzbicki said.

“A lot of it is generational,” he said of the youth homelessness. “When kids get to a certain age, their families don’t always take care of them, and they find themselves bouncing from house to house. I’ve seen kids as young as 12 years old who are on the streets. We’ve had kids at 17 years old who haven’t lived with their guardian for four of five years. A lot of it is dysfunction in the home.”

Wierzbicki said a large part of what the organization tries to do is break this cycle, including teen pregnancy.

“You’ll see a girl who is pregnant at 15, and her mom was pregnant at 14 or 15, and grandma was pregnant at 14. We’ve seen teens with multiple children. So it’s a cycle, and once they reach a certain age they are left to fend for themselves. There’s no guidance or direction,” he said.

Kenneth Sass, president and CEO of Family and Children’s Service said, “Our goal is to break the cycle of dysfunction in families where teen pregnancy is an issue.” He said their 12 years of work operating a Healthy Families program for expectant parents and parents of newborns and 18 years of experience of providing shelter services to runaway and homeless youth at Casey House made them “uniquely qualified” to operate a maternity group home in Niagara County.

Designed for safe and comfortable living, the house at 1622 Falls St. offers a total of 10 beds, for a combination of moms, babies and children, and was funded by an $180,000 federal grant from Health and Human Services. The group home provides counseling and positive role modeling, connections to medical care, budget management and parenting education to young women between ages 16 and 21. The young women can stay at the transitional home for up to 18 months.

Wierzbicki said one of the requirements of the voluntary program is to be attending school, GED classes or some type of job training. He said they sit down and do mock interviews, help them fill out applications, take them to job interviews and follow up with a phone call.

“With this shelter the goal is to teach them that they are better able to care for their children on their own because we want to eliminate the strain on county services they will be using as they get older,” Wierzbicki said. “From day one we start working on a plan, and the plan focuses on education, stability, responsibility and accountability. Through the time they are with us we want them to see that there is a better way. Our goal is self-sufficiency. The reward from getting their own paycheck and depositing in their own bank account is one most have never experienced.”

He said the kids have no one in their lives to act as role models. “These kids have been put down, most have been in trouble with the law. We try to teach them self-worth. We want them to see that there is a better way,” Wierzbicki said. “A lot of them don’t know how to care for children, and we have to teach them the basics.”

He said that despite the dysfunction, they do try to involve family as they go along.

The organization reaches out to doctors’ offices, school counselors, child protective services and probation in search of teens who could be placed in the group home.

Wierzbicki said they are also trying to address the issue of teen pregnancy with safe-sex programs for youth.

“We deal with kids ages 12 to 17 and estimate about 80 percent that come in have indicated to us that they are sexually active. We teach them to respect themselves and their bodies, and try to give them a different avenue to express themselves to other people, different activities other than going out and having sex,” Wierzbicki said.

For information or to make donations, contact the CRIB Maternity Group Home at 236-7870.

email: nfischer@buffnews.com

Delaney Laper had her Division I dreams dashed in one freak fall.

A standout junior on North Tonawanda High School’s powerhouse girls volleyball team in 2010, Laper was already being recruited by Division II and III colleges when she tore up her knee in the sectional playoffs.

The injury prevented Laper from playing club volleyball as a junior and took her off the radar of most college recruiters.

Three years later, Laper is a junior college All-American who believes her ruptured right anterior cruciate ligament ultimately advanced her career.

“I remember that being the most devastating point in my career,” said Laper, now a sophomore at Niagara County Community College. “I knew it was one of the most important times for colleges to look at you and it was going to be a really long road to recovery.”

North Tonawanda was undefeated in the season and ahead in its Class A semifinal match when Laper got hurt.

“We had destroyed Hamburg in the first game, and we were all ready to move on,” Laper said. “We were already down our middle (hitter), and I went up for a hit and landed awkwardly. In a split second, I was on the ground. It was the biggest disappointment. Nobody thought it was going to end like that.”

After successful surgery performed by Dr. Andrew Stoeckl and a nine-month rehabilitation program with Ronald Brisette at Excelsior Orthopedics, Laper returned in time for her senior year.

“After nine months of hard rehab, I came back stronger,” Laper said.

But having missed the club season that is so vital to volleyball recruiting, Laper only had nonscholarship offers to play in college.

“Everything does happen for a reason, and that brought me to a better place,” Laper said. “It led me on the path to NCCC.”

Laper was attracted to the once-struggling program because of the recent success it had under coach Joe Daigler and his assistant, Lindsay Matikosh, both North Tonawanda natives.

Over the last five seasons, NCCC has gone 132-33 and reached the regional semifinals each year. The Thunderwolves won the regional championship in 2009 and 2011.

Laper is the Thunderwolves’ third NJCAA Division III All-American in three years, following Jessica Crooks, a Niagara Wheatfield graduate now playing at SUNY Buffalo State, and Kristine Ripson, a Lewiston-Porter graduate who is also the top player on NCCC’s women’s basketball team.

Daigler said that when he took over the program five years ago, he wouldn’t have even bothered to recruit a player the caliber of Laper.

“They have completely turned the program around,” Laper said. “You see their record, and the girls they are recruiting, and it definitely made me want to play there. And I thought it would be a good chance to show off for other colleges, like my junior year all over again.”

Laper was an all-conference, all-region and all-regional tournament selection last season and was third in voting for Region III MVP, which went to Ripson. In May, Laper was named NCCC’s Freshman Athlete of the Year.

As a sophomore, Laper set single-season records for digs (395), aces (120) and passing percentage (.769). She became the program’s career leader in attempts (1,769), digs (705), aces (120) and passing percentage (.768) and ranks second all-time in points (1,056) and kills (800), fourth in service points (393) and fifth in blocks (60).

“She is the finest serve receive player I have ever had,” Daigler said. “Talent-wise it was all there, and she came in with the mindset that she was going to buy in to whatever myself and Lindsay were trying to preach. Once she did that, her game advanced further, and she became a phenomenal player for us.”

Matikosh said sitting on the sidelines during club play three years ago helped Laper develop the technical aspects of her game.

“It might have been good for her getting hurt so young because it made her watch the game and see things that you don’t see when you are on the court,” said Matikosh, who played for the University at Buffalo and was a varsity assistant at North Tonawanda early in Laper’s career.

Laper credits Daigler and Matikosh for her refined game. “The coaches have taught me so much about the sport,” she said. “I’ve been playing for 11 or 12 years, and I have learned more in these last two years than I have in a long while.”

“She comes from an athletic family and is such a natural player,” Matikosh said. “I’m so proud, watching her from eighth grade and when she was coming to NCCC, I was so happy to finally get my hands on her. She has grown so much as a player and a person.”

Matikosh believes there are a lot of coaches who lament that Laper was not on the club volleyball scene three years ago. “They missed out,” she said, “either because they were afraid of her knee, or they didn’t get to see her.”

Laper wants to continue her volleyball career, but she isn’t sure where that will happen. Daigler said a few Division II and several Division III schools are already interested, and recruiting could heat up in the coming months as the club season gets underway. Laper would prefer to stay local, which could limit her playing opportunities.

Regardless of what the future holds, Laper is content with her career path.

“I can’t believe,” she said, “how well it has turned out.”

YOUNGSTOWN – When I heard that The Bistro at the Old Fort Inn was reopening under new management, I was intrigued. The old place had been one of our local favorites, after all. Would the new management uphold the old standards?

When I was told that the new place would have a Latin/Mexican flavor, I was more then intrigued. In sleepy little Youngstown? You could have knocked me over with a straw sombrero.

Upon learning that plans were to stay open throughout the often challenging winter months, I must admit to shaking my head. Mexican, in Youngstown, in the dead of winter? A tough trifecta, indeed.

After stopping by to see what the new place is all about, my concerns have been allayed, to say the least. I say ole! to Jaguar at the Bistro. And bring on the snow! To borrow an expression from Jose Feliciano, Feliz Navidad, prospero ano y felicidad! It should be an interesting solstice along the sultry shores of ye olde Shorten Strait!

The place looks pretty much the same – still standing in the shadows of the Old Fort’s ordnance. A stone and timber interior, that wonderful central fireplace, the inviting baby grand. The piped-in jazz sounded vaguely familiar. The wine collection seemed impressive.

I have to admit that, after my initial glance at the menu, I called our very nice waitress, Jessica, over and asked when the “changing over’’ of the menu takes effect. “Oh, it already has,” she responded. “This is the new menu.”

But I didn’t notice any words like tamales, tortillas or quesadillas at all ... and it was small enough that I had perused the whole thing before inquiring. Interesting, I thought.

Instead of enchiladas there was lobster over risotto; rather than fajitas, they offered filet mignon with crab stuffing. But what about the Mexican flavor?

Turns out, chef Victor Parra Gonzalez (as nice a fellow as you’ll ever meet) plans to blend it in gradually, while keeping some of the old standbys’ on board. So you’ll still find the likes of chicken and biscuits, shrimp Alfredo and the pork chop with apple chutney.

You’ll also find stuffed poblano peppers, crammed with a filling of pork, beef, dried fruit and nuts, and smothered with Nogada foam, a Jaguarian take on the classic walnut foam. Taken in its entirety, it results in a dashing dish of red, green and white tones reminiscent of the Mexican flag. Aka, Mexican flavor.

The pork spare ribs were oven-braised to a fall-off-the-bone tenderness, then “perfumed with traditional aromatics” and coated in tomato sauce. It wasn’t “barbeque,” by any stretch of the imagination – at least not traditional “American” style – but it was darned fine eating.

Hey, we said a Mexican flavor, didn’t we? Not an entirely Mexican menu! There’s a big difference, and as such, it should be monumentally easier for Jaguar to breeze through the winter months like a stiff Nor’easter, and well beyond. Even in Youngstown – or should that be, especially in Youngstown?

Chef Victor is trained in classical French cuisine and is most recently of the International Buffet at the Seneca Niagara Casino. He plans to blend his French background with his Latin roots (Acapulco native) to create some dishes uniquely tailored for the Niagara Frontier. Dishes that invite you to “eat with your eyes,” as Miss Jessica explained. Meals that look as good as they taste.

He’s right on target so far. The scallops ($20) were wonderful, several absolutely huge pieces seared to a crisp exterior and beautifully complemented with a butternut squash and lobster sauce on one side and apple chutney on the other. All my wife could say is, “I want more!”

“Of the scallops?” I inquired.

“Of everything!” she gushed.

Tangy-sweet pomegranate arils were used to offset the restrained spiciness of the poblano peppers in that dish ($18). They added an unexpected crunch, as well as a fleeting blast of deep-bodied sweetness.

The old standbys’? The Alfredo ($15) was utterly delicious, Jack said, the white cheesy sauce neither too thin nor thick, as is often the case. Generously adorned with perfectly done shrimp, he said it was the best Alfredo he’s ever had.

The ribs ($18) could have been eaten by a toothless man, so tender were they. The sauce didn’t overpower anything but let the flavor of the meat shine through. Well done. The creamed spinach and mashed potato side dishes were both excellent. And the filet ($22)? Thick, but oh-so-soft. At eight ounces, a generous cut, topped with sautéed crab and French demi glace. Absolutely fantastic.

The appetizers were, well, appetizing. We were comped an order of the signature chicken tinga ($8), a chicken concoction served atop a crackery pastry. Very good. We also sampled the French onion soup ($3/cup), seeing as to how the area was once under French control and all that. I doubt the French themselves ever made onion soup this good! The broth was simply superb, the onions and croutons melded in, and the cheese topping perfectly melted over.

We topped the evening off with the traditional Mexican flan and a helping of the bread pudding ($5 apiece), and couldn’t decide which we liked best. The flan was warm and creamy and tasty, as was the bread pudding – except that it had a nice bite with it, due to an ample dashing of alcohol. Yo ho ho, half a bottle of rum! Yum!

Chef Victor wants to make the Jaguar at the Bistro “a destination,” and he’s well on his way toward accomplishing that. Stop by, if you’re in the neighborhood – make a special trip if you’re not. Either way, it’ll be worth the effort.

An uncanny ability to discern subtle nuances and use them in bigger-than-life bronze statues of a wide variety of personalities has helped catapult sculptor Susan J. Geissler into the national art scene.

But, with the help of the Historical Association of Lewiston, she is finally gaining more recognition in her own backyard – first with her “Freedom Crossing” bronze monument on the banks of the Niagara River commissioned by the Historical Association and now with her “Tuscarora Heroes” bronze monument to be unveiled Thursday at Center Street and Portage Road.

“We are so proud to have Susan as a part of this,” said Lee Simonson, the association’s volunteer project director for the new monument. “One hundred years from now, people will be saying, ‘That’s a Susan Geissler.’ ”

“It’s a pleasure working with Susan,” added Simonson, who has known Geissler for decades. “What makes her special as an artist is that she unselfishly allows others to become a part of the process. She asks, ‘What do you think?’ and ‘What do you like?’ So, by the time she’s done, everyone is thinking they are a part of it. She is a valuable treasure for Western New York.”

Geissler recently took some time out of her busy schedule to chat among her statues – prototypes and finished products – in her Main Street storefront studio overlooking the Niagara River in Youngstown, where people often wander in to visit.

Are you a Lewiston native?

I was born in New Jersey and moved here when I was 14, when my father was transferred here with Chemetron-Noury Corp. I graduated from Lewiston-Porter High School in 1971 and then from Niagara County Community College, which had an outstanding art program, then from Buffalo State College, in fine art.

How did you embark on this career as an artist?

I started with papier-mâché projects under Polly Nelson at Lew-Port – I always wanted to make life-sized animals. … Years later, when I was installing “Freedom Crossing,” I saw a woman standing nearby and realized it was Polly. I got her picture with me sitting on the (sculpture’s) boat, and she said she didn’t think she belonged there, and I told her, “Polly, you have no idea how much you have to do with this.” To me, that’s where my career started, with the papier mâché animals in her class.

I never studied sculpture. I was in fine arts, in illustration, drawing and design, and I had an interest in textiles, which later became very important in my work because of the clothing I put on my sculptures.

What were the early years like?

I was making animals out of papier mâché, life-sized, at my parents’ house, and I worked at Dr. Sass’ office and then worked as a temp at Fisher-Price, and then I had a job at Howard Johnson’s, where I met the man who would become my husband, Peter Henderson. He handles the business side of my work, and I’m on the production side. We’ve been married since 1999, but we’ve been together more than 30 years. He’s a good man. I’ve been in this studio 15 years, and he found this studio for me.

How do you develop the idea for a sculpture?

In the early stages, you’re figuring out your plan, and you can be interrupted because you’re not in the heart of it yet as far as being emotionally involved. It’s all technical. People like to visit here, come in and sit down and talk to me, because this is not your normal business site. I love visitors, and I love to give tours of my work, and you get to meet people from all over the world here. But this is my job, and when I get to the sculpting phase, I lock the door. Under deadline pressure on a commission, it’s amazing what an artist can do. It’ll be finished because it has to be. You just go on automatic pilot.

When I’m working on a commission, I work from afternoon into the evening. In the morning, I take care of the house and my animals. And there are days when I get to the studio and I can’t get motivated – I have “dry brain.” So I’ll do other things, like vacuum or research. But once I get turned on, I can’t stop. I don’t even want to talk to people, I’m so focused.

How did you develop the idea for the new Tuscarora Heroes monument?

I was commissioned three years ago to do this statue. Lee Simonson and I have known each other a long time, and Freedom Crossing and Tuscarora Heroes were both his visions.

I had a friend come in, and I photographed her, as well as a young woman who is a ballerina, and I had her express different emotions. I told her, “You’re running for your life, people are being scalped, and they’re burning things to the ground. You’re scared to death. The Tuscarora Indians are coming to the rescue and reaching their hand out to direct you down the road to safety.” Gracie got very watery-eyed as she posed. The one Tuscarora is based on photos my friend David took on the reservation, and the other Tuscarora figure wasn’t really based on anyone in particular.

I do a thumbnail sketch, and once the idea is down, I do a small (clay) concept piece, and we sit down and clarify things, and then I do a model, and they come in again and we do some tweaking.

Neil Patterson Sr. helped from the Tuscarora Reservation, and Belinda Patterson, and (artist) Geoff Harding. I had musket experts and re-enactors come in because the dress had to be authentic.

You’ve had commissions for monuments in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, South Dakota, etc. – how do you feel about working close to home?

Lee knew my work was being recognized out West. He said, “We have this artist right here in Lewiston – why don’t we ask our local artist to do this?”

The people in Lewiston and Youngstown maybe didn’t purchase much of my art back then, but they were always supportive of it by loving it, I guess. They’ve only had kind words for me all along the way.

Now, there is NCCC’s life-sized bronze of founding president Dr. Ernest Notar and local philanthropist Norman Sinclair, who was head of Lockport Savings, which is in the NCCC Culinary Arts building in Niagara Falls. I have been commissioned by the Aurora Historical Society in East Aurora to do one of Millard Fillmore. That will be a big project. I also have a statue in the Adam’s Mark Hotel, and there are sculptures in private residences in the area.

How did you make the leap into outsized bronze?

This (success) doesn’t happen overnight. I did outdoor shows forever – Allentown was my first because my husband filed the application for me. I had had enough. I told Peter I wanted to do public commissions, and he said, “That’s the direction you want to go in?” I said, “Yes, big sculptures in bronze.” So, he changed gears on the business end and started seeking commissions. He’s been very important to my career.

What was the evolution of your art?

My papier mâché evolved into pulpy sculpture materials, but there were no fine details. Then I did sculptures out of chicken wire, kind of like ghosts. Then I started to get more refined.

I started using Hydrocal and then Forton (sculpting materials) in the 1980s, and then I thought, “I’m ready for bronze.” “Potato Man” was my first bronze, and things started picking up. I started sending out proposals, and one day it just seemed the door opened up. It was time.

What will the Tuscarora Heroes unveiling mean to you?

This is our thanks to the Tuscaroras for saving our lives and acknowledging that this really did happen.

When you know so many people will show up and be there for it that you know, it can be overwhelming. At the Freedom Crossing unveiling, the music was so emotional. It was really moving – very powerful. When they took the tarp off, the people started coming up in droves to congratulate me. I felt the love. It was remarkable. I won’t ever forget that night as long as I live.

LOCKPORT – Mayor Michael W. Tucker is hoping to have an announcement by February of a new Friday night concert series in the City of Lockport that, unlike the former series, won’t be a cost item in the city budget.

“The new series won’t cost the city a nickel,” Tucker said last week. “It’s possible the city will get a stipend for the use of the parking lot.”

Subsidies for the summer concert series were cut out of the 2014 budget. Tucker, the Common Council and promoter Kathy Paradowski agreed it was inappropriate for the city to be funding the shows at the same time it was laying off employees.

The Council passed a budget with 16 layoffs, although a retirement in the Fire Department subsequently reduced that number by one.

“We had had several conversations about the budget for Lockport. We were aware there were some budget problems. We knew in good conscience we couldn’t pay money for a concert series, i.e., the stage rental, while there were people facing potential layoff,” Paradowski said. “We decided months ago we would not do the concert series, at least this coming year, if that turned out to be the case. We are not upset. We understand.”

“I do think these are important events. It adds to our quality of life. We made a big investment in that thing. I think it’s paid off for us. I hate to just totally discard that. I’d rather take that money and keep an employee or two,” Tucker said.

“I really like Mike Tucker. I think he’s a good guy, and we’ve had a good relationship all these years,” said Paradowski, the veteran promoter who booked Lockport’s Friday night shows for six years.

But she said she doesn’t think it’s possible to make ends meet without the city picking up some of the expenses.

“He wants somebody to do the concerts for free. Thank you to our current government, there’s just not a lot of money out there for people to do free stuff anymore,” Paradowski said. “I do believe he will have a hard time finding a promoter who knows what they’re doing. … It’s not as easy as it looks, and it’s not free. I think he will be hard-pressed to find someone to do them for free effectively.”

During her tenure as the Lockport promoter, the city paid $8,800 per concert to rent the stage and also provided security through overtime for police and firefighters.

Much of the cost was picked up through sponsorships, especially the title sponsorship, which was always a Canadian beer: Molson for four years and Labatt for two.

However, it appears the free admission days will be over, too. Tucker said he expects the new promoter, whom he would not identify, “will probably charge $5.”

Tucker said the response to the news of the removal of the concert series from the budget was sadness in some quarters, although he agreed the concerts had their critics.

One of the most prominent was former Alderwoman Phyllis J. Green, who came within 25 votes of upsetting Tucker in the 2011 Republican mayoral primary. Although the concert costs weren’t her main issue, Green was a consistent critic of the cost of the events.

And those costs were substantial. There were 50 concerts during the six seasons of Paradowski’s tenure, meaning stage rental alone cost the city $440,000. Police and fire overtime for the six seasons totaled $244,414. Thus, the total cost to taxpayers of 50 concerts over six years was $684,414.

Tucker remains convinced that the money the city spent was worth it.

“Anytime you put 10,000 (people) in the middle of your business district, I think it puts Lockport on the map,” the mayor said. “I think it gave us a great deal of momentum. Friday nights, Lockport was the place to be. If you went out on Transit at 11 at night, you saw a solid two lines of cars heading out of the city for a good 20 or 25 minutes. You’d see cars from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Canada. Most of them were staying here at hotels.”

Residents enjoyed the shows, too, Tucker said. “They could walk down here and see a good event,” he said. “You see these concerts popping up all over the place. I think municipalities see the benefit of it.”

Lockport’s overtime tab for the first year, 2008, was just over $25,000, a figure that rose above the $33,000 mark in 2009 and leaped to $45,000 in 2010.

“The first two years, we had the sheriffs on the horses,” Tucker said, referring to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Division. “We also had the (sheriff’s) auxiliaries for the first year.”

Those services were no longer available by 2010, which was the same year the series expanded from eight shows to nine, further increasing costs.

Overtime costs topped the $42,000 mark in 2011 but jumped above $55,000 in 2012. This year, the number of concerts was reduced. The city intended eight, but there was one rainout, and the cost for the seven shows was more than $43,000 in overtime.

The number of officers assigned varied based on the weather forecast and the city’s assessment of what kind of crowd, both in size and temperament, that the headliner was likely to draw.

“If the weather was going to be hot, we put on more paramedics because of heat exhaustion, the parking lot being crowded,” Tucker said, adding that the decisions were made in weekly meetings with the police and fire chiefs.

The shows were held in the Ulrich City Centre “courtyard” – really a parking lot – for the first five years. This year, the series shifted about a block north, to a municipal parking lot at Elm and Chestnut streets. That may be the venue for the new 2014 series.

“Going back to City Centre isn’t off the table, either. I have to talk to the Sinatras (who own the business spaces around the courtyard). We are the owners of that parking lot, but it’s (booked by) mutual consent.”

Although the new series may only have six concerts, “It has the potential to be as big as what we had,” Tucker said.

Across Chestnut Street from the city parking lot, the city’s new ice arena is to be under construction next summer; it has a September target for opening.

Tucker said that although the proximity of the project to the concert venue could be a problem. “I don’t think it’s an insurmountable one.”

Tucker and Paradowski had a disagreement over programming, too.

The mayor said, “I’ve always had a desire to have the series be a classic rock series. She was trying to get a concert that was attractive to 25-to-40-year-olds.”

Paradowski said, “It wasn’t really a disagreement. It was more his taste in music. Our goals were different. He enjoys classic rock. Our thought process is, we’re about trying to make some revenue and pay for the shows. The demographic 25-to-40 works better for us in being able to pay our bills.”

Her reason for skewing the bands younger in recent seasons was simple: Young people buy more beer, and beer sales were paying the bands.

She said she spent as much as $65,000 on a headliner several times, although she wouldn’t name names. The lowest-priced headliner she booked in six years in Lockport cost her $18,000.

“Nobody can ever obtain enough sponsor money to pay for the shows outright. You look to your vending to offset those costs. Unfortunately, with the DWI laws and the economy, you cannot currently bank on people drinking enough or spending enough money on beverages or food to offset the cost of the bands,” Paradowski said. “That was pretty much where we were in Lockport, as was Buffalo Place in Buffalo. We thought what would help was to change the demographic a little bit. Every study shows they spend more money than the older crowd.”

The series had moved to Lockport from North Tonawanda, and she said for the first couple of years, in terms of profitability, “We did OK.”

“Everybody gets paid but you,” Paradowski said. “The promoter gets paid last. If there’s no money left, there’s no money left. … We are not a not-for-profit corporation. We could not effectively make money in the last few years.”

“The new series will be bigger and better,” Tucker said. “We had a great run here with Kathy Paradowski and the Labatt’s and Molson Canal Concert Series. We got to the point where our concerts could use some freshening up. We’re getting a fresh start with some new people. It won’t cost the city a nickel. It’s a win-win-win all the way around.”

“There certainly aren’t that many of us around,” Paradowski said, “and not that many willing to lose our own money.”

email: tprohaska@buffnews.com

Several community members were honored for their contributions to the Niagara County and Western New York communities at the Heroes of Niagara awards dinner held Dec. 5 at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston.

Honorees include: Gary Hall, president/CEO, Waste Technology Service, Philanthropy Award; Reeds-Jenss & Zimmer Family, Business Leader Award; Gary Strenkoski, Strenkoski Brothers Construction, Volunteer Award; and Lisa Tribunella, Inspiration Award.

All proceeds benefited the Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation, whose mission is to create a long-term funding source to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities served by Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, the Niagara County Chapter of NYSARC Inc.

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Two past Starpoint scholars, Dr. Denise (Bishop) Giessert, and Maj. Brian E. Neubauer, along with 121 present Starpoint scholars were honored at the 30th annual Starpoint Scholars Program held Nov. 26 in the Starpoint High School Auditorium.

The program highlighted the academic achievements of the students and provided an opportunity for them to visualize the possibilities of their future. To earn a Starpoint Scholars Award, a student must maintain a 93 percent or higher academic average in each of the four marking periods of the previous school year.

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Western New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association held its 2013 coronation ceremony and testimony dinner in September at the J.W. Jones Hall in Caledonia.

Shelby Siegmann, 14, daughter of firefighter Darren and Lori Siegmann of Lockport, was crowned queen. Shelby is a ninth-grade student at Starpoint High School.

Hallie Dworzanski, 12, daughter of firefighter Ron and Debbie Dworzanski of North Tonawanda, was crown princess. She is an eight-grade student at Niagara Wheatfield Middle School.

Kylee Jones, 6, daughter of Thadis Jones and Laura Walker, was crown little lady. Kylee is the niece of incoming Western New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association president Wendi Walker and granddaughter of past president Robert Walker. Kylee is a student at West Street Elementary School.

The 2013 royalty represents the St. Johnsburg Fire Company in Wheatfield.

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The New York State Council of School Superintendents named Clark J. Godshall the 2014 New York State School Superintendent of the Year. He is district superintendent for Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) since 2000.

“Dr. Godshall is a role model for all educational leaders. His expertise, talent and creativity are examples to other educators, parents, community members and students. Dr. Godshall has served as the district superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES for the past 14 years, having a total service of 24 years at BOCES. During his tenure as our educational leader, Clark has always far exceeded expectations in all of his responsibilities. He is a superintendent’s superintendent,” stated Becky Albright, Orleans/Niagara BOCES school board president, who nominated Godshall.

Godshall has received numerous recognitions including the 2007 Niagara University Administrator of the Year; commander with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons.

Godshall is a graduate of St. John Fisher College and received his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Rochester with advance designations from Cornell University.

As the NYS Superintendent of the Year, Godshall becomes New York’s candidate for national superintendent of the year, to be awarded at the American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education February 2014 in Nashville, Tenn.

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Several military personnel have graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman 1st Class David C. Scott-Gaughan is the son of Tracey and Charles Gaughan of Youngstown. He is a 2012 graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School, Youngstown.

Air Force Airman Douglas M. Waz is the son of Jill Waz of Lockport. He is a 2012 graduate of Lockport High School.

Air Force Airman Joshua J. Lindsley is the son of Amy Lombardo of Lockport. He is a 2012 graduate of Starpoint High School, Pendleton.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

email: citydesk@buffnews.com

NIAGARA FALLS – Next year, the city will have a new a pocket park that’s being dubbed “Niagara Falls Adventure Park.”

The “family friendly” park will be constructed at 730 Cedar Ave., between Main Street and Portage Road, on the site of an already demolished home about a block behind City Hall.

The park will consist of a natural play area and will include features named for people and places from the Falls’ history. It has been designed to mimic the natural landscape of Niagara Falls.

There will be masses of white and blue flowering plants to create the “rapids,” a landscape of grassy mounds, boulders and other elements named for the Horseshoe, Bridal Veil and American falls, as well as a “Rainbow Bridge.”

There will also be tables made of barrels and named for Annie Edson Taylor, the first person to survive going over the falls in a barrel, as well as the “Nik Wallenda balance beam.”

Funding for the construction of the park comes from a grant awarded by the John R. Oishei Foundation. The city, through Mayor Paul A. Dyster’s Task Group to Create a Healthier Niagara Falls, the P2 Collaborative of Western New York and Niagara University applied for the grant together.

“Our task group was created to offer new healthy living opportunities in Niagara Falls. What was once an abandoned house will now be a place for children to play and neighbors to gather,” Dyster said in a written statement. “The city’s strong partnership with the Oishei Foundation, the P2 Collaborative and Niagara University is making a lasting improvement to this neighborhood.”

The total cost of construction will be $12,000.

The Oishei Foundation awarded a $300,000 grant to the applicants in 2011, and Niagara University serves as grant administrator.

The site was selected because it was already on the Community Development Department’s demolition list.

Residents of the neighborhood contributed to the design.

“For nearby residents, the demolition is not just about the knocking down of a vacant building. The property was also symbolic of the blight, neglect and criminal activity that plagued the neighborhood for a number of years,” said Dave Taylor, director of Niagara University’s Rev. L. Joseph Levesque Institute for Civic Engagement.

The home at the site was demolished in October by the city, which used federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.

Construction will take place in the spring.

email: abesecker@buffnews.com

YOUNGSTOWN – Before the crack of dawn on a bitter morning 200 years ago this week, more than 500 British soldiers and their Native American allies stealthily arrived on the banks of the Niagara River from Canada. They were determined to capture Fort Niagara and avenge the burning of Newark, now Niagara-on-the-Lake, the previous week, during the War of 1812.

In a brief but horrific battle in 1813, the British succeeded in taking the sleeping fort and marched on to destroy unsuspecting Youngstown, Lewiston and Wilson.

Two centuries later, these communities will remember that fateful date of Dec. 19 with numerous activities planned throughout the day and evening Thursday.

It begins with re-enactors charging the gates at Old Fort Niagara at 5 a.m. Spectators are invited to watch the simulated assault from a safe area, but they must arrive at the fort between 4:30 and 4:45 a.m. Admission is free, and the re-enactment will be followed by a brief ceremony. Calling it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Old Fort Niagara Executive Director Robert L. Emerson said he had no trouble attracting re-enactors, even at this early hour. “We want this to be an authentic experience, and we are replicating the assault as closely as we can,” he said.

At 7:15 a.m., events move to Falkner Park on Main Street in Youngstown, where re-enactors will light ceremonial flares and fire musket volleys as part of a brief ceremony recalling the burning of the village.

At 8:15 a.m., two historical programs will be presented at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Main Street, with the Niagara County Historical Society giving a PowerPoint presentation followed by the screening of “Niagara on Fire,” a video produced by the Niagara-on-the-Lake War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee.

Youngstown restaurants will open at 6 a.m. for event spectators, while a catered breakfast for the 150 re-enactors will be served at Youngstown Fire Hall.

At 9:30 a.m., 650 students from Lewiston-Porter, Wilson, Stella Niagara and Tuscarora Nation elementary schools will arrive at the fort for a special program illustrating the 1813 capture of the fort, where interpreters in period costume will give demonstrations. At 11 a.m., the students will travel to four learning centers in the village, where they will experience everyday life circa 1812, and learn about topics ranging from Fort Niagara’s 1812 flag to the music and military life of the era. They will also watch “Niagara on Fire.” These student learning centers will be hosted by the Youngstown Village Center (Red Brick) and St. John Episcopal, First Presbyterian and St. Bernard Catholic churches.

Each student will receive a haversack and quill pen, according the Gretchen A. Duling, chairwoman of the Youngstown events committee.

In addition, each student will receive a copy of a new map created by Porter Town Historian Suzanne Simon Dietz, who worked with Historical Society member Karen K. Noonan in researching and documenting the residents and where they lived in 1813. They created a map of the early settlements in Porter from 1800 to 1829 and co-authored a booklet, “Early Town of Porter Residents 1800-1829,” based on U.S. census data, Holland Land Co. records and federal documents, as well as oral history and genealogical data.

In Porter churches today, the names of the “sufferers” – a term used for people who suffered as a result of the War of 1812, whether they lost family or friends or property – will be read aloud or be printed in bulletins. Bells will be rung following the services, Duling noted. She also said a new souvenir program will be distributed at the Falkner Park ceremony Thursday.

Emerson said, “This is a combined effort, and there are a number of things going on. It’s a progressive event, and it’s going to be a full, full day.” Events involve more than 150 volunteers and are supported by the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council, the Niagara River Greenway Commission, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area and the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. For more information, visit www.oldfortniagara.org.

Attention shifts in the early evening to Lewiston, where thousands are expected to gather at 6:30 p.m. on Center Street and Portage Road, for the “Flames Through Niagara” re-enactment marking the 200th anniversary of the destruction of the village and the unveiling of the new “Tuscarora Heroes” monument.

Lee Simonson, the Historical Association of Lewiston’s volunteer project coordinator, said the Lewiston event will commemorate “a forgotten moment in a forgotten war that will never be forgotten” with the dedication of the new monument.

Simonson said spectators need to arrive early to witness the dramatic re-enactment of the day the British and their Mohawk allies traveled down River Road from Youngstown and stormed Lewiston, armed with torches, guns and tomahawks. Unsuspecting and unarmed civilians – even children – were murdered, while many tried to flee the chaos.

The new monument to be unveiled depicts two Tuscarora men helping a Lewiston resident and her baby to safety as her village is besieged by the British. Lewiston artist Susan J. Geissler was commissioned to create the bronze monument by HAL, which has been raising funds for four years through grants and donations. The monument also contains a time capsule, placed Oct. 16, 2013, containing items from Tuscarora Nation Elementary students.

“This is a remarkable story of how Native Americans, our Tuscarora neighbors, intervened here during the British attack, allowing some residents to escape, which saved dozens of lives,” Simonson said. “… The British were so infuriated that they destroyed the Tuscarora village atop the hill, and all of their winter supplies. They were homeless for a year or two, because they defended their neighbors and friends in Lewiston and sided with us in the War of 1812. And they were never thanked!”

Lewiston’s commemorative event will begin with British re-enactors firing muskets, inciting screams as those playing besieged Lewiston residents who run for their lives amid flames burning in giant barrels on Center Street, against the backdrop of dramatic music. The re-enactment – which will last less than 15 minutes – will culminate in the unveiling of the new monument.

“It’s important that people realize that this monument is not government-conceived,” Simonson said. “Our local governments certainly gave us tremendous support, but this is the voice of the people. The people of Lewiston are thanking the Tuscarora Nation for a courageous act that occurred 200 years ago and that has been ignored and unappreciated since that time.”

Sponsors for the Lewiston event include the Town of Lewiston and Niagara County, through Niagara River Greenway Commission funds; the Village of Lewiston; KeyBank Foundation; Margaret L. Wendt Foundation; Niagara Falls National Heritage Area; and Daughters of 1812. For information, visit www.historic lewiston.com.

LOCKPORT – Employees in the City Clerk’s Office and the Highways and Parks Department, slated for layoff in the 2014 budget, would get their jobs back under terms of a resolution on Wednesday’s Common Council agenda.

The measure from Alderman Patrick W. Schrader, D-4th Ward, would restore the jobs of a senior account clerk and a laborer, reducing to 13 the number of job cuts in the budget. The original budget included 16 layoffs, but one firefighter job already has been saved because of a retirement.

Schrader said Mayor Michael W. Tucker scrounged up enough money within the budget to save the two jobs, and now all Schrader has to do is scrounge up four votes on the six-member Council.

“I think I do [have the votes], but I need to do some lobbying,” Schrader said.

Council President Anne E. McCaffrey, R-2nd Ward, said she opposes the measure because no concessions have been obtained from the unions that represent the two workers.

The laborer is a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the city’s blue-collar union, while the account clerk belongs to the Civil Service Employees Association, the white-collar union.

Schrader said terms of the AFSCME contract protect the laborer from layoff. He said dropping the single full-time employee would require the city to drop all seasonal and part-time workers in the blue-collar field, putting a crimp in the city’s workforce during the street paving season.

Also, the city gave AFSCME a no-layoff pledge in exchange for the union’s agreement to let the city privatize garbage pickup in 2011.

Schrader said Scott Cercone, a former alderman who now drives a truck for the city, chased him down recently in a local restaurant to insist that the pledge was still good even though the contract has expired.

That’s because no new contract has been reached, and under state law, public employee contracts continue until they are replaced, regardless of how long that takes.

Schrader said Deputy Corporation Counsel David E. Blackley, the city’s labor lawyer, agreed with Cercone’s claim.

Schrader, chairman of the Water and Sewer Committee, said the laborer job is crucial if the city is to continue repairing leaky water and sewer lines. “I need the body,” Schrader said.

The clerk post can’t be spared because of a coming shuffle of hourly workers within City Hall, which Schrader said he’s not at liberty to discuss.

email: tprohaska@buffnews.com

Forget the hype and spin, Justine Nadherny has the undeniable truth on her side.

And in this case, the truth is 45 inches deep and powder perfect, ideal for skiing the slopes at Kissing Bridge.

“We have a guy who’s worked here 35 years and he says this is the most snow we’ve ever had this time of year," said Nadherny, social media director for the Glenwood ski resort.

It also is the earliest opening in 13 years and more snow is heading this way.

After four days of on again, off again snow, the region is expected to get another 1 to 2 inches today and 3 to 6 inches tonight.

And this time, everyone from Niagara County south to the Pennsylvania line will get it.

“This is a different type of snow storm," said Dan Kelly, meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

The new storm is moving north from Indiana and Kentucky and will hang around long enough to add an inch or two on Sunday, maybe more south of the city.

In southern Erie County, which was hit hard the past few days, a few more inches may go virtually unnoticed.

In Glenwood, the snowfall today measured 45 inches, surpassed only by Warsaw, which has 46 inches.

Meanwhile, 9 inches fell at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

CAMBRIA

• Shenk Road, Leo Benevento to Hunt & Associates, $504,000.

• 3072 Shenk Road, Villella Associates Limited to Leo Benevento, $350,000.

• Lower Mountain Road, Judith A. Schultz; Julie L. Jessee; Greta A. Briody to Michael T. Dwyer; Crystal L. Dwyer, $187,000.

• 5796 Campbell Blvd., Cynthia M. Tudor-Schultz; Shirley H. Tudor to Angela M. Townsend, $99,910.

• Upper Mountain Road, Cambria Volunteer Fire Co. Inc. to Sean Manning VI Llc, $15,000.

HARTLAND

• Pearson Road, Greg Vanderwalker to Steve Johnston, $240,000.

LEWISTON

• Ransomville Road, Hilborn Duncan; Yvonne M. Duncan to Paul Saya; Mary Saya, $166,000.

• The Circle, Carol Feger; Thomas Canterbury; Linda Moore; Charles E. Canterbury; Thomas Feger to Jon M. Marotta, $120,000.

• Fenton St., Mary Jane Cosgrove; William P. Cosgrove to Vinette M. Kroetsch; Thomas E. Kroetsch, $116,000.

• Oak Run Drive, Stephen J. Fuller to Edward Demizio; Marianne Demizio, $51,000.

LOCKPORT Highest price: $93,000 Average price: $29,677 Median price: $10,000 Number of Sales: 11

• Jackson St. & Scovell St., Jeffrey R. Kowalski to Darlene Lanphere; Anthony R. Lanphere, $93,000.

• 111 Mcintosh Road, City of Lockport to Michael H. White, $76,500.

• Lincoln Ave., John F. Daigler; Diane M. Daigler to Sharon K. Wilson, $72,000.

• 156 Juniper St., City of Lockport to Douglas E. Haak Jr., $20,000.

• 288 Washburn St., City of Lockport to Dan M. Turk, $16,000.

• Independence Drive & Davison Road, Nazir A. Gilkar to Marea A. Eggert; Lawrence M. Eggert, $10,000.

• Saxton St. & High St., City of Lockport to Leo Benevento, $9,000.

• Olcott St., Joyce Baldwin; Phyllis A. Seiler to Troy C. Green, $8,700.

• Park Ave., City of Lockport to Upstate Development Group, $8,500.

• Grand St., City of Lockport to Zachary S. Baldwin; Paul R. Baldwin, $7,750.

• 799 Hinman Road, City of Lockport to Zachary S. Baldwin; Paul R. Baldwin, $5,000.

TOWN OF LOCKPORT

• Lockwood Lane West, Mary Boron; Christian Boron to Nicholas J. Boron; Alyssa M. Boron, $250,000.

• Sherwood Drive, Karen A. Rohe; John R. Rohe to Jean Boyd Lowry; Harold Maynard Lowry, $240,000.

• Bear Ridge Road & Murphy Road, Osman Kariman; Janice L. Kariman to Jennifer L. Conklin; Brad M. Conklin, $113,900.

• Cambridge Drive/Unit 4821-H, Devora D. Smith; David W. Smith to William L. Allan, $82,000.

• Crosby Road, Frank A. Marotta to Paul X. Mayers, $23,000.

NEWFANE

• Lake Road, James R. Frey; Andrea P. Frey to Carol S. Delbalso; Angelo M. Delbalso, $225,000.

• Lockport-Olcott Road, Jeffrey M. Russell; Diane M. Russell to Nicole A. Reinard, $150,000.

• Corwin Ave. & William St., Rosemarie E. Wagner; Brian K. Freh to Fannie Mae, $125,226.

• McKee Road, Jon C. Carlson; Jennifer A. Carlson to Grace P. Miller, $88,000.

• Lockport-Olcott Road, Walter C. Hiller to Steven W. Clark, $69,000.

TOWN OF NIAGARA

• 8424 Carol Court, June R. Cook; Edward H. Cook to Joseph R. Blantern; Barbara A. Blantern, $176,000.

• Colonial Drive, Angeolina Amantia to Hilborn Duncan; Yvonne Duncan, $155,000.

• Lockport Road, Glenn Lloyd Tilyou; Glenn L. Tilyou to Bank of America, $79,205.

• 4921 Tuscarora Road, Lisa Pelczynski; Lisa McCue to Nadina M. Garfalo, $55,000.

• 8310 Lockport Road, Bank of America to Michael Greenawalt, $36,750.

NIAGARA FALLS Highest price: $235,000 Average price: $68,144 Median price: $54,250 Number of Sales: 26

• Pine Ave. & 16th St., Donald R. Spacone Jr. to Miranda Properties, $235,000.

• 8424 Carol Court, June R. Cook; Edward H. Cook to Joseph R. Blantern; Barbara A. Blantern, $176,000.

• Colonial Drive, Angeolina Amantia to Hilborn Duncan; Yvonne Duncan, $155,000.

• Parkway Condo Unit 1407, Marlene S. Mallewick to VCZD Trust; Valerie C. Doris, $135,000.

• 74th St., Martha Beahen Templeton; Timothy J. Beahen; Thomas W. Beahen Jr. to Christopher Bensch, $85,000.

• 23rd St., Roberta D. Frisoni to Xiao Sheng Shi, $82,000.

• Lockport Road, Glenn Lloyd Tilyou; Glenn L. Tilyou to Bank of America, $79,205.

• Parkway Condo Unit 305, Thomas L. Batt to Joseph J. Silvaroli, $79,000.

• Linwood Ave., Joel Robert Paradise; Elsie M. Paradise to Stacie D. Whitaker, $74,160.

• 563 80th St., Justin Demartin to Peter A. Milicia, $62,500.

• Jerauld Ave., Stephen F. Doyle; Elvira M. Doyle; Francis S. Doyle to Daniella Salvatore-Chalfant; Jeffrey T. Chalfant, $62,000.

• Independence Ave., David William Kinney to Cheryl A. Conti, $61,500.

• 4921 Tuscarora Road, Lisa Pelczynski; Lisa McCue to Nadina M. Garfalo, $55,000.

• 66th St., Vyron J. Worthing; Susan W. Finnen to Kristi A. Murawski, $53,500.

• 75th St., Melton H. Shobert; Ruth M. Bennett to Margaret Crawford; Mary J. Knight, $53,000.

• Welch Ave., Terrance J. Franckowiak; Marie C. Franckowiak to Amangela Bot Holdings, $42,000.

• MacKenna Ave., Terrance J. Franckowiak to Jeserae Latte, $41,340.

• 76th St., Charlene McDonald to Phyllis Stallard; Michael Stallard, $41,000.

• 8310 Lockport Road, Bank of America to Michael Greenawalt, $36,750.

• Niagara Ave., Brian W. Shaffer to Thomas Irvin, $35,000.

• 23rd St. & Monroe Ave., Lisa J. Paschke; Patrick R. Brown to Frank Doran, $25,000.

• Church Ave., Mary Ann Murphy; Francis A. Murphy to 8001 Buffalo Avenue Inc., $25,000.

• Niagara St., Pratab Angria; Pratab Angira to Dora Properties, $25,000.

• Haeberle Ave., Pratab Angria; Pratab Angira to Dora Properties, $23,000.

• 23rd St., Sharon F. Brown; Patrick R. Brown to Lisa J. Paschke; Patrick R. Brown, $19,800.

• Linwood Ave., Lee E. Myles to David Grapes, $10,000.

NORTH TONAWANDA Highest price: $165,900 Average price: $93,191 Median price: $68,500 Number of Sales: 12

• Thomas Fox Drive West, Mary Ellen Lukaszonas; Paul J. Lukaszonas to Kelly A. Sowinski; Brandon J. Fox; Kelly A. Fox, $165,900.

• 1529 Nash Road, David C. Roberts; Arly A. Roberts to Keith M. Szczepaniec, $149,900.

• Sisson Drive, Yelena P. Panasyuk; Ruslan K. Panasyuk to Neav Abramov, $149,000.

• Birch Drive, Robert C. Tulett; Judith A. Tulett to Steven T. Burek, $130,000.

• Linwood Ave., Joann Laska to Patrick R. McQuade, $125,660.

• Christiana St., Clifford J. Cline to NT Port I Llc, $72,000.

• Schenck St., Vera Draganac; Joseph Draganac to Catherine Elizabeth Abramowski; John Chester Abramowski, $65,000.

• Sisson Drive, Darlene Burgett; Joan C. Carbeck to Christopher L. Geist; Cassandra A. Geist, $65,000.

• Payne Ave. & Linwood Ave., Kenneth L. Vigrass; Kathleen A. Jay to Bachar Husami, $60,000.

• Bryant St., Margaret A. Johnston; Andrew W. Johnston to Albert Portera III, $58,500.

• 59 7th Ave., Laura Lockley; Jeffrey Aponte; Laura Aponte to Jeffrey Aponte, $47,327.

• Erie Ave., Jacqueline Sullivan; Joel Weiler to Square One Property Group, $30,000.

PENDLETON

• Lakeview Court, Joseph Farace; Brenda Farace to Patrick M. Noe Jr.; Jennifer A. Noe, $348,750.

PORTER

• Carrollwood Drive, Norma Bugyi to Elizabeth Corieri, $180,000.

• 1 Main St./Unit 12, Theresa C. Brzusek; Theresa A. Brzusek; James C. Brzusek to Donna T. Fowler, $163,000.

• Blairville Creek Road, William P. Cantara; Mary M. Cantara to Mary K. Girasole; Kevin F. Girasole, $155,000.

ROYALTON

• Mill Road, Mark D. Brungart to Laura L. Fritz, $125,000.

• New Dysinger Road, Linda A. Musgrove; Henry J. Musgrove to Joann M. Schneegold; Mark B. Caprio, $99,500.

• Prospect Ave., James Bewley to David Snediker, $35,000.

• Creek Road, Robert E. Fimbel to Joseph Burg, $6,489.

SOMERSET

• Lakeview Drive, Norma Z. Wollenberg; Bryan K. Wollenberg to Mary Jo Costello, $105,000.

• Quaker Road, Richard E. Newman; Joyce L. Newman to Ann Groell, $52,500.

• Arlington Road, Michael Bishop to Richard J. Chown, $25,000.

WHEATFIELD

• David Drive, Donna Hulub; Timothy O. Hulub to Baljeet Singh; Jaswinder Kaur, $260,000.

• Wildwing Drive, Gregory S. Guido; Elizabeth A. Guido to Sirva Relocation Properties, $249,500.

• Wildwing Drive, Sirva Relocation Properties to Tracyanne McMahan; Andrew M. McMahan, $249,500.

• Shawnee Road, Mark J. Berube to Mary A. Reed; Ronald E. Reed Jr., $156,000.

• Ward Road, Wallace L. Fuller; Carey F. Fuller to Timothy E. Kudla, $120,000.

• 3629 Klemer Road, Joseph M. Biekowski Jr. to Marcy Hutchings, $100,700.

• Town Line Road, Kenneth W. Kumm to Fred Mallone, $19,000.

WILSON

• North Road, Jeremy Eberly to Gabriela O. McCann; Curtis R. McCann, $45,000.

• Dox Ave., Allissa M. Lilly to Jeremy R. Clement; Erica R. Clement, $7,000.

Kelsey Russell, 20, was charged with five counts of petit larceny after a string of car break-ins in the Cambria area Nov. 7. The suspect, who was arrested Friday, was misidentified in a report Sunday.

...

The Buffalo News corrects published errors of substance. To request a correction, please notify the editor by writing to: P.O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240; call The News at 849-4444 and ask to speak to the editor of the department in which the article was published; email citydesk@buffnews.com; or fax your request to 856-5150.

LOCKPORT – Lafarge North America, which received a controversial approval of an enlargement of its stone-quarrying operations in the Town of Lockport a year ago, is making a similar request for its adjacent quarry in the City of Lockport.

The move comes as Lafarge has finally responded to a letter that the town sent eight months ago, asking for details about its future expansion plans. The letter doesn’t say when the company might seek to begin mining on the south side of Hinman Road, opposite its existing quarry.

“It is too early to tell at this stage what the exact economic value of the material south of Hinman Road might be,” the letter says.

However, Perry A. Galdenzi, Lafarge’s Western New York manager for aggregates and asphalt, said in an interview that the company anticipates that the strip of land north of Hinman Road that it began mining after last year’s town approval contains two years’ worth of usable material.

The 9.1 acres of land that Lafarge is now seeking approval to mine in its existing quarry within the city limits, at 400 Hinman, would add another two years to the operation’s life, Galdenzi added.

Lafarge still calls the city mine by its former name, Redlands Quarry, although Lafarge acquired that gravel pit several years ago.

“It’s the same quarry where the (town) expansion was. The city-town line runs right through the quarry,” Galdenzi said.

Jason C. Dool, chief city building inspector, said that if the Niagara County Planning Board approves the request today, the city Planning Board likely will add the project to its Jan. 6 agenda.

Galdenzi said the land in question is a 15-acre piece of former farmland once owned by the Murphy family, which Lafarge acquired about six years ago.

Subtracting mandatory setbacks from the property lines, Lafarge will be able to quarry about 9.1 acres. It would need state Department of Environmental Conservation approval if the city and the county give the green light.

“We’ve been looking for reserves, hunting and pecking within the quarry,” Galdenzi said. “It’s good-quality limestone. It contains the good-quality aggregate we need for Department of Transportation projects.”

Dool said the Common Council would have to vote on a one-year renewable special-use permit for Lafarge, but not on a two-year extraction permit that his office would issue.

Meanwhile, Galdenzi’s eight-page response to the Town of Lockport’s April letter is still being read within Town Hall, Supervisor Marc R. Smith said. However, Galdenzi released a copy to The Buffalo News.

Lafarge has bought up property on the south side of Hinman in recent years, pointing to an eventual expansion.

Smith said the town, which expects to adopt a new master plan next year, would have to approve any expansion, but that approval would come in the form of a revised zoning map to be drawn after the master plan is adopted.

“I believe it is the truth that without expansion they might go out of business in a few years,” Smith said. “You have to weigh that. Our concern is the safety of the residents.”

Town residents near the quarry will be forwarded copies of the letter shortly, Smith said.

The document rejects a town proposal to establish a dedicated fund to pay claims from residents who say their homes are being damaged by blasting. The letter says Lafarge has enough money to pay any claims as they come along.

The company said that it is willing to provide baseline assessments of the properties near the quarry to make it easier to identify damage, and is open to discussing a host community agreement to pay the town for expansion to the south side of Hinman.

email: tprohaska@buffnews.com

LOCKPORT – Lafarge North America, which received a controversial approval of an enlargement of its stone-quarrying operations in the Town of Lockport a year ago, is making a similar request for its adjacent quarry in the City of Lockport.

The move comes as Lafarge has finally responded to a letter that the town sent eight months ago, asking for details about its future expansion plans. The letter doesn’t say when the company might seek to begin mining on the south side of Hinman Road, opposite its existing quarry.

“It is too early to tell at this stage what the exact economic value of the material south of Hinman Road might be,” the letter says.

However, Perry A. Galdenzi, Lafarge’s Western New York manager for aggregates and asphalt, said in an interview that the company anticipates that the strip of land north of Hinman Road that it began mining after last year’s town approval contains two years’ worth of usable material.

The 9.1 acres of land that Lafarge is now seeking approval to mine in its existing quarry within the city limits, at 400 Hinman, would add another two years to the operation’s life, Galdenzi added.

Lafarge still calls the city mine by its former name, Redlands Quarry, although Lafarge acquired that gravel pit several years ago.

“It’s the same quarry where the (town) expansion was. The city-town line runs right through the quarry,” Galdenzi said.

Jason C. Dool, chief city building inspector, said that if the Niagara County Planning Board approves the request today, the city Planning Board likely will add the project to its Jan. 6 agenda.

Galdenzi said the land in question is a 15-acre piece of former farmland once owned by the Murphy family, which Lafarge acquired about six years ago.

Subtracting mandatory setbacks from the property lines, Lafarge will be able to quarry about 9.1 acres. It would need state Department of Environmental Conservation approval if the city and the county give the green light.

“We’ve been looking for reserves, hunting and pecking within the quarry,” Galdenzi said. “It’s good-quality limestone. It contains the good-quality aggregate we need for Department of Transportation projects.”

Dool said the Common Council would have to vote on a one-year renewable special-use permit for Lafarge, but not on a two-year extraction permit that his office would issue.

Meanwhile, Galdenzi’s eight-page response to the Town of Lockport’s April letter is still being read within Town Hall, Supervisor Marc R. Smith said. However, Galdenzi released a copy to The Buffalo News.

Lafarge has bought up property on the south side of Hinman in recent years, pointing to an eventual expansion.

Smith said the town, which expects to adopt a new master plan next year, would have to approve any expansion, but that approval would come in the form of a revised zoning map to be drawn after the master plan is adopted.

“I believe it is the truth that without expansion they might go out of business in a few years,” Smith said. “You have to weigh that. Our concern is the safety of the residents.”

Town residents near the quarry will be forwarded copies of the letter shortly, Smith said.

The document rejects a town proposal to establish a dedicated fund to pay claims from residents who say their homes are being damaged by blasting.

The letter says Lafarge has enough money to pay any claims as they come along.

The company said that it is willing to provide baseline assessments of the properties near the quarry to make it easier to identify damage, and is open to discussing a host community agreement to pay the town for expansion to the south side of Hinman.

email: tprohaska@buffnews.com

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Correction

Lafarge seeks 9.1-acre expansion of quarry in City of Lockport

Lafarge seeks 9.1-acre expansion of quarry in City of Lockport