Bulldog Coffee?E-mail is added at the top and moves to the bottom as it ages
Seeks Help With Info On Lockport Artist
I am trying to find
out about a talented Lockport artist who worked and lived in Lockport at the end of the
19th Century. She was Mrs. Daniel Niles Pomeroy, or Harriet Bottsford; or Botsford before
her marriage. I am seeking information about her because I have two exquisite pastel
portraits done by her of my grandmother and her sister. In fact, they are so very, very,
very, good, that I thought perhaps someone interested in Lockport history might know of
this artist. I don't think I have ever seen pastels this good, so perhaps she did others
and perhaps there is local lore of her?
Complains Of Another Unjustified Property Assessment Hike In Lockport
To the Editor and the Citizens of Lockport,
We all would like to believe our homes are worth a million dollars, Sadly, that is not the case. In the year 2000, the assessment of the home my wife and I live in was raised 38%, well exceeding an increase of $26,000.00. Needless to say this was a shocking revelation. I Then remembered when we were WACKED the first time back in 1980 and years after resulting in ensuing, unbelievable increases in our property taxes.
After doing some research and getting our marbles in order we requested and received an appraisal from a very established Lockport Real Estate Agent amounting to our home being valued for
An assessment increase at the most 12%, I started the grievance procedures applying for that appraisal value (What this Home would actually sell for) only to be denied by a Notification of Determination from the Board of Assessment.
The reason for denial stated, was that the proof of value I submitted, was inadequate even though I provided much data to support my claim. It was not easy to convince the then arrogant and in my opinion incompetent, flim-fam assessor that an excessive square footage measurement of our property had been wrong for many years. No retroactive retribution was ever made for that mistake.
We then retained an attorney from a Buffalo Law firm to assist us, which resulted in going all the way to a sham hearing, which reduced the assessment, from $95K to $88.5K. We then of course had to pay the Legal fees. Much to our surprise some sensibility must have crept in to the Lockport Assessment Office in 2004, when we actually received a reduction of $6,100.00 to $82.4K which we thought was not an unreasonable amount considering the market….Right? NO Wrong! Along comes 2006 and We were WACKED again to obtain a 16.5% increase to 96K! An increase of $13,600.00.
We are presently looking at all possible ways to get out of this obscene tax trap now assaulting the citizens of Lockport but realize that a Catch 22 is in effect especially for the sick and old. We have decided not to challenge this time remembering what we went through 5 years ago and realizing that a reversal has occurred. We, have now become the PUBLIC SERVANTS.
Yes, we support the elite Bureaucracies with incomes and benefits superior to most of ours. When our HMO Medical costs increase, WE pay for it. We do not simply depend on the taxpayers. All the politicians owned by the powerful Public Sector Unions of course support their every desire . These same Politicians are also responsible for School Budget voting powers being reduced to nothing better than a mean joke.persauding 90% of eligible voters to not even bother to vote and allowing less than 10% to throw out any School Board member guilty of suggesting sensible fiscal integrity.
Donald Stoll
5-26-06
Bulldog Coffee?
Well, we've heard of Bull Dog (blush) wine, sold by one Niagara County winemaker. So why not? The celebrity shown is one of the participants in the Dog Show, Saturday, May 27th at Outwater Park. Our photographer didn't ask for a sample of the coffee.
Pictures
Most all the pictures you see in the Lockport Home Page are available for sale. Photos shown are relatively low quality and compressed. Originals are about $25 per order. We also take pictures of just about anything in upstate New York on order. Contact:
Dislikes CWM Operation at Model City
A friend of mine just sent me a article on CMW and what they were storing there. That's a no brainier, we all know what is there. We all know how dangerous the chemicals that lurk there. What I would like to know is, WHERE IN THE HELL WERE YOU PEOPLE IN NIAGARA COUNTRY, when a few people formed CAP and try to block the pipeline to the Niagara River? This was done in the late 70's early 80's. We had about 20 to 30 members and we did make a monetary dent in SCA which is now CMW. Have any of you ever sat in front of Semi's to block them from delivering the poison to SCA? That was fun, Yep, I did a lot of praying when I sat there. Thank goodness, the drivers were warned that we were there and stopped. One of our members got their hair pulled out while demonstrating outside the gate. His hair grew back in two months. One grandmother go run over by another employee. She still has bad headaches, plus, the idiot State Troopers arrested her in the hospital. That really made sense. Need I tell you that they were on our side because they had families that went to LewPort and lived there. A New York Assemblyman, got hit by another employee's car. Yes, I'm the Mother that took her child out out Lewport with 3 TV channels filming it. Got a special meeting called by John LaFace to point a finger to " an hysterical housewife". Guess what happened to the school that I pulled her out of? IT WA CLOSED because, green slime was coming out of the water pipes.I never was an activist, but one never know when one might have to make a point. I took that stand, and became burnt out. We had no backing from any one in Niagara County. We did however have backing from the EPA. One of the speakers was asked if he would move he and his family here? His answer, " I wouldn't move my family within a hundred miles from Niagara County". Heck, they think they have problems in New Jersey? We have MT. Ceco's that grows day by day and chemical dumps in the Lewiston Porter districts. Would I help these people, yeah, just liked they helped us.
Getting out of Dodge.
S. Woodcock
May 1, 2006
A Viewpoint On Falun Gong Incident At White House
By now, most readers have probably heard about the Falun Gong practitioner who
interrupted Thursday's White House ceremony for the Chinese Communist Party leader by
shouting "Hu Jintao, stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners," and other
things. I have heard that she is going to prison for it. She was willing to give up her
own freedom to speak out for those who have none. I am a local Falun Gong practitioner and
I would like to share some thoughts about this incident with my neighbors.
First, let me explain that Falun Gong is a peaceful spiritual practice that incorporates
gentle, meditative exercises with the cultivation of one's moral character based on the
principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. The practice was first introduced
to the public in 1992 in China and by 1999 one hundred million people were practicing
Falun Gong in 50 countries. Sadly, though, in that same year, the CCP began to persecute
Falun Gong practitioners because that number exceeded the number in the Chinese Communist
Party. Tragically after 7 years, thousands have been tortured and killed for their
beliefs. The latest news from China is that the CCP has set up dozens of secret
concentrations camps around the country for the sole purpose of killing Falun Gong
practitioners and extracting their organs for considerable profit.
The situation is quite desperate. Falun Gong practitioners who benefit from the liberties
of freedom cannot simply stand by and watch as this brutal and horrific massacre occurs in
China.
Some have said this incident was embarrassing to the United States and the President. Are
we trying to impress the brutal communist regime with how well we can kowtow? Imagine if
this had happened in the late 1930s. Imagine if Hitler had come to the White House for a
welcoming ceremony while back in Germany they were persecuting the Jews and all those with
beliefs other than that of the Nazi regime. What if some courageous American stood up and
put basic human rights ahead of their own self-interest and yelled, "Adolf Hitler,
stop persecuting the Jews."
Welcoming a communist dictator to the White House is embarrassing. Telling him to stop
killing people is honorable.
Arleen Richards
Lake Hiawatha
4-22-06
Loves The Road Back Home, Looking For Lockport Photos
I am pleased to find such a web site to reminisce with fellow Lockportians. I grew up in Lockport and have lived there almost all my life. I no longer live there, but enjoy visiting.
My grandparents lived in the same neighborhood when I was a child on. One set of grandparents lived on Michigan Street,( before the projects) I lived on Highland Ave. and my maternal grandparents lived on Hillcrest Dr.
I also enjoyed the kiddy pools and parks and was hoping someone might have some photos to share of Hayes Park and might know what year they closed down ?? I am also looking for photos of Outwater Park in the 60s and 70s.( kiddy pool, community pool etc. ) I would love to see them posted on this site.
Lori Carpenter- age 38
4-17-06
Cites Zoning Infractions For Decline Of Lockport
Almost daily (and nightly) I notice a big truck parked in a West Avenue (residential-zoned) area all over the front yard. It advertises a woman's "Ribs" business. Of course the property also has over-the specified number of cars parked on it in other, less obvious spots. Why does the city allow this? To a lesser degree I see this in many areas of the city. The key to a good city, good business, and good living is to have fair, not overly restrictive zoning laws and enforce them fairly and consistently. Not according to "who you know" or political pressure.
Tammy M.
4-13-06
Appreciates Lockport Home Page, Memories
Hi, I just want to commend you on a wonderful site, well organized and a delightful trip down memory lane for those of us born and raised in Lockport. I was born in Lockport in 1939, and spent my young years there, graduating from the last class in 1957 from St Joseph's Academy. Since 1960, FL has been home. I don't choose to trade the balmy breezes of FL for snow and cold in the winter, but I stand tall with the numerous others who have stated that Lockport was a great place to grow up in! I attended Charlotte Cross, North Park, then the Academy and our family homestead was on Crosby Av. Wish I had some pictures to share, but most of my photos are in my memories of those great years. Many thanks for providing this super site for all of us to enjoy. I look forward to sharing this site with my FL born and raised grandsons.
Rosie Seefried Corrigan
4/10/06
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Wants "Recent Deaths" Restored
Will the recent deaths page be updated any time soon? As a former Lockportian I visit your web site often.
Ralph Watts
Tampa Fl
4/10/06
Ralph,
The "Recent Deaths"
section is a high priority with us to restore. However, it is very labor intensive.
If we could get some sponsorship support, as we have just received from Cornerstone
Community Federal Credit Union for our "Business
& Industrial News" section, we could get it back with daily updates in a
matter of a week. We do have a new, better, format designed for the feature
---Bob Rooney, Editor & Publisher.
Remembers Stella’s Bar & Grill
I remember Stella's Bar & Grill very much. I was just about a baby until I was 7 years old. My Aunt Florence was a bar tender there as well as my Uncle Charlie. I used to go there with my Grandmother Eleanor Simmons.
Going in was always a pleasure. I played the mechanical bowling game until I couldn't anymore. My Grandmother used to drink her favorite Mogen David on the rocks. Of course I drank soda and ate whatever at the time was available from the grill (usually hotdogs and fries). I can still smell the atmosphere as if it were a few minutes ago. It was always friendly and inviting there. I would go outside and admire the bus station when it was still there AHH! the smell of diesel from the buses going to Rochester and Buffalo. The Lenahan's were the family bartenders. Yes, I remember the nostalgia. The 1960's and 1970's,
"Whatever happened to those eras"?
Frederick Sager
4-2-06
Seeks Early Pictures Of House On Summit Street
I remember reading that your photographer has additional photos that have not been put on the website and that it was possible to get copies of those pictures. I am mainly interested in the old house on Summit Street. My Godmother used to live across the street from that house and as children we would watch the house because we could see one light on in the upstairs in the evenings and always wondered who it was. No one was ever seen coming or going. I regrettably, live in California now, but think of that house on Summit all the time. Also, are there any pictures of the old bridge over Prospect Street? Or has the bridge been torn down. On my last visit home in 2000 I was saddened to see it closed. I walked over that bridge many times while I was growing up. Any help you can give me on who to contact for additional pictures would be appreciated. Thank you. Oh, and by the way, I read your daily routine and got tired just reading it. So I know how you must feel. And the guy who is bad mouthing you on the radio needs a good swift kick, in my opinion. Keep up the good work. I for one, really appreciate it.
Anna Marie DiGiorgio
4-2-06
Questions Suspension Of Boater Fees On Erie Barge Canal
Not to throw water on the suspension of boater fees on the Erie Canal, but please, consider the reality of this action.
The New York State canal system is subsidized by the Thruway Authority. The Thruway Authority raised tolls in 2005, which not only costs automobile drivers more, but increases the cost of all good shipped via the Thruway. That cost is passed on to consumers in western New York. Eliminating tolls on the Thruway would do more to boost the upstate economy than any elimination of fees for the Erie Canal. And the real issue with the canal is that there are not enough quality destinations for boaters and other visitors to serve as an attraction.
There are few places where boaters or land visitors can spend a dollar in places such as Albion, Clyde, Lyons, Lockport or North Tonawanda. Let's have complete, in-depth and realistic reporting on economic issues in western New York.
William P. Condo
Rochester, NY
4-2-06
Offers Correction To Our Feature On Rignel’s Feed
I believe the caption to the photo of "Locust Street Downtown......." (In Lou's Views) should be corrected. The Rignel's Feed never moved to Lockport Plaza. It was Young's that moved from just past St. Mary's RC Church to the plaza on Transit. The photo posting is old - from 2000 - since that time Young's has closed.
Jeff Bald
4-2-06
Update On Sister Helen
Sister Helen is now in Williamsville. Many may remember Sister Helen, the Catholic nun who started a food pantry and cared for the needy for so many years in Lockport. Sister writes from her present home in Williamsville at the St. Mary of the Angels Convent. She is happy and active in visitation ministry at St. Amelia's and Sacred Heart parishes.
TR
12/23/05
Why Is The Water Department Responsible For Inspecting Fire Hydrants?
In your article on the fire on Irving street, you mention the council questioning the Fire Dept's inspection of hydrants.
Unfortunately, that duty was taken away from the Fire Dept
many, many years ago, by a previous council. The Water Dept. at the time felt they could
and should be responsible for it. I, being a fire fighter, believe that we, the Fire dept,
should test hydrants. After all, when we go into a burning building like they did this
night, the only weapon we have to fight the fire is water. And with my life at the end of
that hose line, I certainly want to know I will have that water for protection.
Unsigned
11-27-05
Fire Hydrant Mess Up Is Unions' Fault
Thank the unions again for this one.
It's the Water Department's job to ensure that fire hydrants work. Sadly, they don't do a good job. It was much different when the Fire Department took care of their own equipment, but due to 'union issues', it became the job of the Water Department. When will 'the powers that be' (specifically, the Union heads) realize that when everyone fights about things like this, nobody wins.
Look at all the posturing between the Fire Department's union and the City. It's pathethetic. Nobody wants to give an inch because nobody wants to give an inch. Anyone can clearly see that we need LESS O/T in the fire department (ask some of the guys that work there, they would be more than happy to actually go home and see their family once and a while) but until the city starts writing blank checks, the union does not want to do anything about it.
What's the truth? Is it due to bad inflexible scheduling?
Is it due to a large number of people calling in sick (granted, I don't want a firefighter
who's sick on the job, but there are reasonable levels of 'sick')? I'm sure that part of
the solution is to hire a few more firefighters. That has to be cheaper than all of the OT
that we are currently paying out.
DS
Lockport
11-27-05
A Melody On Our Pages Was A Song In His Heart
My father passed away on March 23, 2005. A week before he passed, he came to me with a
song in his heart. The song was "Roses are Blooming in Picardy."
In his demented state, we only knew that the song was something special and he wanted to
publish it. I didn’t have the heart to tell this 87 year old man that the song had
been published years before.
After his death, I could not get the song out of my mind and decided to research it on the
internet. My first stop was your page
with the beautiful pictures of the roses and the song that he loved so dearly. I have
bookmarked the page and listen to it often. I just want you to know that your page often
brightens up my day and brings peace to my soul.
Rita Svoboda
Lake Placid, Florida
11/3/05
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