Southtowns Weekly Newspapers

0:00or have another print disability which makes reading holding a book or turning a page difficult or impossible. The content is copyrighted by the respective publishers. For more information, please visit us on the web at nfradioreading.org. Around our area, a weekly look at community newspapers from around Western New York now continues. Your reader for this hour is Donald. Reading from the Sun. Round of change orders coming in for Brad Haffner Senior and Community Center. Center building expected to be delivered to Lakeview Roadside this month. By Chris Graham Sun Editor. As construction of the Brad Haffner Senior and Community Center at 2982 Lakeview Road in the town of Hamburg ramped up over the spring and summer.

1:11Construction crews have run into some challenges with the town looking to make revisions to the Community Center project. Restrains construction. Correction. Restartist construction. The general contractor on the project presented a town with three change orders as of August 24th. They include additional built-in cabinetry in the classrooms for $12,466. Increase and water service from 2 inch to 6 inch line due to existing drawings having the existing service mislabeled for 93,253.50. And a revised front entrance of the building to add a drop-off loop and associated sidewalks for $107,094.90.

2:19The town passed a bind resolution of 9,334,700 for construction of the building last September. Councilman Daniel Kauh's wish that some of these changes could have been caught before the construction began so the town wouldn't be paying additional money in change orders. The town supervisor Elizabeth Ferrell Lawrence said some of the costs couldn't be anticipated such as the change in the water line which was originally communicated then it was a 4 inch water line and then that being a 2 inch water line. Ferrell Lawrence said the change orders have not affected a timeline for the center which is expected to be open to the public in March 20, 27.

3:22The town currently has its youth, recreation and senior services department and programming station out of SUNY Airy South Building 4. The department and programming has been here since moving from its previous home at 4.540 Southwestern Boulevard in June 2025. The town is paying a SUNY Airy $6,655 a month for use of the building for the original lease on the building was set to expire in December. But in February the town and SUNY Airy agreed to a month to month lease extension for when the current lease expires. At the end of 2026 the town will continue to pay the same amount of money for use of the facility.

4:23The move to SUNY Airy actually played a role in one of the change orders. There revised front entrance to the new center to have a drop off loop and associated sidewalks came directly from communication from seniors and staff about the current setup. When we moved to ECC one of the lessons we learned was that there was a longer walk for those who are going to the facility there and it's difficult the supervisor said. We quickly realized that our plan for the night site was a much shorter walk from the parking lot to the front door. With the comments we were getting from ECC we said there's something we can do here to adjust our plan to shorten the distance for people being dropped off and for the van service. Instead of having an open grass area in front we were able to put a semi-circle driveway so there will be a drop off points that will be adjacent to the covered front entrance.

5:31We felt that we will eliminate a lot of issues that people are typically encountering as some of the other facilities we've had. We felt there was an important additional feature that would add to the function of the ability. Construction on the new center which began earlier this year has included mostly foundation work so far. Crews were expected to complete foundation work, backfill the site and begin under slab plumbing and electrical work by the beginning of September. Once that work is done the interior concrete slab will be prepared ahead of the arrival of the building which is scheduled for Tuesday September 15. The planned 21,000 square foot center is expected to include a slightly larger fitness room, a gymnasium, new folding wall, multi-purpose classrooms, outdoor pick-up wall, cords, and an outdoor gathering space.

6:40Board officially throws support behind Roundabout Project by Chris Graham Sun Editor. The Hamburg Village Board has officially announced its support for the New York State Department of Transportation Project that would change the signalized intersection at Main Street, Pierce Avenue Lake Street and South Lake Street to a Roundabout. The Board adopted a resolution at August 17 and favor of what the DOT has proposed. Would Village Mayor Thomas Tomman saying the intersection shouldn't have been made around about 20 years ago when four other Roundabouts were made their way to the community during the Route 62 Reconstruction Project? We had hoped that it wouldn't have been put at a 20 years ago when Main and Buffalo Streets were done but it didn't happen.

7:46Tomman said DOT officials presented the project to the public in July. They outlined that the project would include replacing curves and curve ramps and construction new sidewalks as necessary. There would also be upgraded traffic signals, new signage and pavement markings and the installation of new closed drainage. The project would also look to stabilize the slope of the drainage outfall at East Main Street across from Pine Street with heavy stone fill. The project would also include the resurfacing of a section of the Lake Street and Norwood Avenue to the intersection of Main Street and Pierce Avenue. While many in attendance applauded the project, there was some opposition from the business community. The project will include the purchase of land to accommodate the new sidewalk, curve ramps, travel lanes, drainage improvement and traffic signals.

8:55This will affect four property owners. Chuck Pizek, who owns 523 and 25 Lake Street, stressed that the DOT has no right to take his property. Find a win owner of Limehouse Sushi in Raman at 5 Lake Street, believes the roundabout would hurt her businesses, business as it would be difficult for cars to enter or exit her restaurant. The project will result in her losing some of her parking lot, which she feels will translate to a loss of customers. As explained at the meeting, the DOT's office of right of way will work with an appraiser and inspection on the land that is needed to be acquired for the project.

9:57The full appraiser offer will be offered to the property owner for the land needed. If a property owner disagrees with the offer, there is a process to negotiate a settlement upon providing documents to show why there should be an increase in the offer. There is also an option for a property owner to file a claim against a state in the court of claims. Following with the opposition, Talman feels the roundabout would be a major addition to the community limiting accidents and potentially driving economic revitalization. Hopefully it will be a way to reduce congestion and potential accidents the mayor said. I also think it might help with economic revitalization, we're hoping to do some things with Lake Street over the next few years. The government stressed that when the roundabouts were added to the area of main and Buffalo streets, the downtown section began to boom with an abundance of restaurants, coffee shop, bars and boutiques.

11:08The DOT project is also set to include work on the town of Hamburg at the intersection of South Park Avenue with Quimby Drive, Maylude Drive. This would include a traffic signal replacement and new pedestrian accommodations. The project would include the installation of new sidewalks and all the quadrants of the intersection and the installation of a new ADA compliant pedestrian accommodations throughout the area. This project would also include the purchase of land and affect for property owners. Comments from the public and the project close on August 24, the project is expected to receive design approval in the summer fall. Bidding on a project would begin in the winter of 2027 with construction beginning in spring of 28 and finishing by the end of 2028.

12:14Revamped Union Pleasant Elementary School highlights HCSD's Return to School by Chris Graham Sun Editor. A hallmark of students returning to the classroom for a new school year is additions and upgrades that have made it to a given school building. The case is no different in the Hamburg Central School District but for one of its schools, Union Pleasant Elementary School, the upgrades have been a long time coming. The district is completing the last remaining parts of its 2021 capital project which includes a bulk of work at Union Pleasant. Hamburg Superintendent Thomas Adams said within the school building some of the learning spaces will be transformed.

13:16The Union Site Auditorium received new seats and a paint shop and the Pleasant Site Auditorium which is over 100 years old is also being revamped with work expected to be completed in early 2027. Other work in the final phase of the project will include work on corridors and stairways of the Pleasant Site, updating bathrooms, improving fire and safety access for the doors on the Pleasant Site and roof work. The ongoing construction will not impact drop off or dismissal as Adams said they will run as it has in the recent past. He said with construction still progressing in the school building there will be some areas that are off limits who staff and students but that the work will not cause any interruptions there in school day.

14:17The construction of the building which began in 2026 will run through 2027 is expected to total about $15 million in upgrades. The district is also expecting all weather, rubbery surface playgrounds at Union Pleasant, Charlotte Avenue and Boston Valley elementary schools to be operational very soon. There is a lot of things that are going to improve the students and staff experience. Adams said students head back to school and Wednesday September 9th. That is a later start than the average school year due to Labor Day following on Monday September 7th. Adams said that while a number of school districts explored starting prior to Labor Day, Hamburg never entertained the idea. Our families are very much accustomed to the pattern of the Wednesday after Labor Day being the first day of school the superintendent said.

15:22He did note that the September 9th start date is a bit eye-popping as in an average school year the students are starting earlier in the month. In the classrooms, Adams said the district has made some changes at the elementary and high school levels. First students in kindergarten and first grade instead of being one to one with devices as they have in the past, there will now be a shared device card between two rooms. Adams says this had to do with striking the balance between screen time and non-screen time. The feedback of our student experience with it, it was a case of what can we do better, reflect the amount of we need we have for the devices. Adams said about the change we found that we didn't need to go one to one. Adams said school officials are interested to see how students adapt to a decrease in access to devices at that level.

16:29For freshmen at Hamburg High School, students will now receive an iPad instead of a Chromebook. Adams said the changes came from listening to teachers and students as to which tool would best support their learning throughout the school year. There was a sentiment that perhaps iPads could give some benefit so we're trying it out. One of the major talking points for district families for the 2025-26 school year was transportation. Throughout the course of the year, parents brought up several issues with Fisher bus service, the Districts Transportation Partner. These issues included bus runs and time of routes, the company's inability to accurately communicate with parents about what issues were surrounding busing, and implementation issues with the My Ride K-12 app, which the company had launched to start the year.

17:38The abundance of issues led to the company refining its app to make it more user friendly while also adding a site manager with a focus on the Hamburg school district. Heading into the school year, Adams feels much more confident in the company's ability surrounding busing and communication of that busing to families. With an array of new changes for the 2026-2027 school year, Adams said that all district students and staff are ready to start the academic campaign. We have a lot to look forward to, he said. You are listening to around our area and then Agre Frontier Radio Reading Service. Rotary Club of Hamburg Sunrise Seas' Operations. Remaining funds donated to Scholarship Fund at Hilbert College.

18:42The Rotary Club of Hamburg Sunrise and its related foundation founded in 1991 and 1999 respectively have ceased operations as of this year due to declining membership. The club's current and former members thank the community for supporting its fundraising endeavors and being able to serve the community for 35 years. Those activities including awarding scholarships to high school students from Hamburg, Frontier, St. Francis and Immaculata as well as grade improvement luncheon for students of Hamburg and Frontier dinners to honor veterans including a scholarship to a veteran returning to school at Hilbert College, supporting the efforts of Cradle Beach, meals on wheels, Blazedel Soup Kitchen, Feed More Western New York, Saints Peter and Paul Food Pantry, Warm the Children's Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hamburg and other organizations requesting the club's assistance over the years.

20:00The remaining members met recently at Spot Coffee in Hamburg to present a check to Michael Cornell, president of Hilbert College, which represented all of the organization's remaining funds. The donation was designated to Edmund and Edna Pizziski Scholarship Fund in memory of Edmundet Pizzisni, a founding member of the club and long time president of Hilbert College. This fund was established by Pizziski to aid students in need, which was one of the club's guiding principles to help those in need club meetings were held at Hilbert College from its inception. The club members encouraged members of the community looking to serve those in need to consider joining the Rotary Club of Hamburg, which runs the Warm the Children project each year as one of its many projects.

21:10Woman who jumped on hood of car injured driver charged. An unknown woman was injured following jumping on the hood of a vehicle in a town of Hamburg on August 28th. The town of Hamburg police department is investigating an incident that began in the Walmart parking lot on south, western Boulevard and ended with the vehicle struck a commercial building. At 4.38 a.m. on August 28th, officers responded to Mercy Ambatory Care Center after a female was injured in a vehicle related incident in the town. While investigating officers were also made aware of damage to a building located at 5.25 south western Boulevard. According to investigators, a man and woman were involved in argument in the Walmart parking lot.

22:11As the vehicle left the parking lot, the woman reportedly climbed onto the hood of the vehicle. The male driver, Louis Alberto Hernandez 30, allegedly continued driving with the woman on the hood according to the police report. The vehicle traveled east on southwestern Boulevard before striking the building. The woman was initially treated at MACC and was transferred to the Erie County Medical Center where she is receiving treatment for her injuries. Hernandez was charged with a reckless endangerment in the first degree. Additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Jason Napple at 716-648-5111-Extension-2623.

23:23Crime Incidents. Hamburg Man Out $2,100 in Gift Card Scan. The town of Hamburg Police were called to a residence on Dover Road and August 21st. First about a Gift Card Scan. The victim told police he received a text message from someone claiming to be with Amazon saying that another individual had made a fraudulent purchase under the man's account, the report said. The victim was transferred to several different people with one telling him that his Wells Fargo account also compromised authority said. The unknown individuals said to reactivate the Wells Fargo account, the man would have to purchase $2,100 worth of target gift cards and provide the codes over the phone.

24:23The man purchased the gift cards and gave the codes to the individual on the phone. The caller requested more gift cards to be purchased. The victim became suspicious and ended the conversation. The victim is out $2,100 for the gift cards. There are no suspects at this time. Search of vehicle leads to police finding through grams of cocaine, metal, knuckles. A vehicle is pulled over for speeding on Boston State Road on August 26th. Town of Hamburg Police said, after speaking with the driver Kenneth Kruger, 75, the town of Boston, a canine unit was requested to come to the scene. The report said the canine alerted police to a further search. The search revealed three grams of cocaine and a pair of metal knuckles inside a center council police said.

25:34He was charged with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, speeding and illegal signal. Front and terror high school sees abundance of changes as students head back for the 2026 27 school year. Chris Graham, son editor as students make their way back into frontier high school for the 2026 2027 academic year. The notice a few upgrades to the school building the frontier central school districts 2021 capital project is currently in phase four. Which includes major upgrades at the high school or frontier superintendents Christopher Svitek said at the revamped pool area at the high schools expected to open around Thanksgiving.

26:37The technology wing has also been revamped and is set to start of the academic year in the cafeteria and kitchen area has also been revamped and ready for the year. We're very excited about the opening of the high school and when our families and students are going to be able to experience the superintendent said it's very impressive what they're going to walk into on day one. But the first thing students will see is a revamped main entrance the entrance way is 12 to 15 feet wider along with there being two additional doors wide indoors and an additional weapons detection system monitor. This was all purposely designed to increase and shorten the waiting time for the kids to get in the building swite tech said frontier will begin the 2026 27 school year and Tuesday September eight joining other school districts including Hamburg starting after the late labor day holiday swite tech said there were discussions and the instructional calendar about starting before the holiday.

27:54But ultimately after discussions with the districts collaborative unions the decision was made to start after labor day swite tech said at the elementary school level the district is adding some security systems to those for buildings as part of the safeguarding health integrity education through layered deterrence project. He said this will include weapons detection systems that should be operational for the buildings by October while there will be some changes at the built school buildings swite tech said he's looking forward to one of the constraints of a new school year the excitement of students and staff to be back in the building. The excitement never changes the superintendent said for me it's looking forward to our staff and kids coming back any energy of day one it's always the energy of the first week it's always special.

28:57Front and tear schools that early dismissal for September 17 due to heavy traffic expected at bills game due to heavy traffic expected for the Buffalo bills. The first home opener and Thursday September 17 against the Detroit Lions and Buffalo's first regular season game at New Heimark Stadium there will be a one hour early dismissal that day for all schools in a frontier central school district dismissal times and a day for the respective schools will be frontier high school 1241 PM frontier middle school 122 PM. Picture Academy 105 PM blazed out elementary school 205 PM big tree elementary school 205 PM pinehurst elementary school 205 PM clover bank elementary school 230 PM.

30:04There will also be one hour early dismissal for the frontiers universal pre-K kindergarten classes on that day. U P K classes starting at 8 a.m. will be dismissed at 12 30 PM while classes starting at 8 15 PM will be dismissed at 12 45 PM and classes started at 8 30 a.m. will be dismissed at 1 PM. Here are listening to around our area and the Niagara Frontier Radio reading service. New lawsuit accuses West Santa Cappalice Chief of Sexual Assault by Eric Kepler South Towns co editor. A new lawsuit alleges that West Santa Cappalice Chief Brian Cosgrove raped a woman while attending a law enforcement conference last year in Atlanta.

31:07The civil lawsuit filed Friday in the Erie County Supreme Court says the alleged incident happened at the Atlanta Marriott Marques. Marques and them night of June 3rd 2025 and continued into the morning hours of June 4th 2025. The alleged assault. She is now suing Cosgrove the town of West Santa Cappalice Police Department claiming Cosgrove was not properly trained or disciplined in the department lacked oversight to prevent sexual misconduct by its members.

32:27The allegations made against Chief Cosgrove are very serious. West Santa Cappalice Supervisor Gary Dixon said in a statement, the Atlanta Police Department investigated this matter and the chief was cleared of any wrongdoing. Throughout the process, the town of West Santa Cappalice filed the advice of our town attorney. Representatives of the West Santa Cappalice Department said they could not comment. According to a copy of the Atlantic Police Department report and the incident that was obtained by WIVB News 4, Cosgrove attended the conference along with members of the West Santa Cappalice Department's Crisis Intervention Team that included Lieutenant John Lorrick and Mental Health Counselor Stephanie Madda.

33:30All three were known to be all three were known to the accuser and they had gotten together several times during the conference for dinner, coffee and swimming. On the evening of June 3rd 2025, the accuser said Cosgrove went to a comedy club and then returned to the Marriott for drinks. The accuser told police that she had around five drinks that night and was intoxicated but maybe a seven out of ten in the taxication the report said. Lorrick joined them later and the accuser said she remembered playing pool and texting her husband Good Night. She blacked out at some point and at first had no memory of what followed. The accuser said she remembers that she made some comment of having to go outside and that her next regulation was waking up in her hotel room.

34:42The report said she said she wasn't sure what she was wearing when she woke up but thought she had changed clothes at some point. Also her phone had been plugged in. When she went to the Atlanta police, she told them that her body hurt all over and had vaginal injuries and other signs that caused her to think she may have been sexually assaulted. The report said according to the report, she began experiencing memory and flashbacks after returning home that suggested sexual assault. The memories included being kissed and sexually assaulted by Cosgrove. The report said the accuser added that she had no memory of how she got back to her hotel room and no clear memory of anything. She said during the sexual contact. The accuser did not go have a sexual assault exam because she was afraid she would be recognized and feared possible.

35:58The report said the Fulton County District Attorney's Office looked at the case file and said it declined to prosecute due to insufficient evidence.

37:12The report said the case was clearly standard protocol. Cosgrove, a lifelong resident of West Senaqa, began working for the town as a dog control officer in 1997 and has worked his way up the ranks to police force to become the town's top cop in 2024. In 2001, he graduated from the FBI National Academy and currently also serves as the unit commander of the Honor Guard in head of its crisis negotiation team. The trip in question was approved at the cost of up to $5,600 with the expense initially coming from the town of West Senaqa's 2025 police training budget. I respect the accusers' right to pursue whatever means are available, Dixon's statement continued. The accuser, Chief Crosgrove, in a public deserve a thorough and timely resolution to this case.

38:16I expect that at the conclusion the town of West Senaqa will be found to have acted appropriately. The timeline for the procedure is unclear. It could end quickly if the case is subtle or dismissed. If it goes to trial, it could be considered considerably longer. While I agree that everyone would like this to be resolved quickly, my experience with litigation is that it is not a quick process and you are probably looking at a couple of years prior to any conclusion if it goes to trial. What is obvious, however, is that the Fulton County District Attorney's Office did not believe after their investigation and discussing a matter with the complaint that there was sufficient evidence in which to proceed with any criminal case. That part appears therefore to be over.

39:21The Tallah Supervisor dies in accident. The town of Marilla and neighboring communities are more in the loss of superintendent, Earl, Skip, Gengrich, who passed away suddenly in a farming accident on Friday, August 28th. He was 65. In addition to being Marilla Supervisor, Gengrich was a family man with deep ties to the community. He cared deeply about its people, its families, its farms, and its future. A Supervisor Skip worked tirelessly to protect life and property and to help ensure that Marilla remained a great place to live. Work, raise a family, and call home, said Deputy Supervisor Brian Nola. Skip was dedicated to serving Marilla taxpayers and he approached public service with the same values that guided his life.

40:24Hard work, honesty, conviction, and an unwavering commitment to doing what he believed was right at all times. Eric County Legislator Frank Taduro released a statement claiming Gengrich is passing, there is no subject or issue he wouldn't take on if he thought it was good for Marilla. Taduro said he loved the community, the people he served, and it showed no matter the problem, if Skip believed he could help one of its residents, he was involved and that meant so were many others. Alma G. O. P. Chairman, Darryl Nolan, express sadness over the loss of Gengrich. We mourn the loss of a man who deeply loved Marilla, loved this great nation and was a fierce unwavering advocate for agriculture and the hardworking farmers who put food on our tables.

41:31Nolan said, with Skip you always knew exactly where he stood. He never wavered from his principles, never backed down from the convictions and always put Marilla and America first. As Marilla's beloved town supervisor, Skip fought like hell for taxpayers and approached every decision with one simple question, will this help the people I serve? The commitment and passion for public service defined him. The town of Marilla, Republican committee also released a statement and Skip's passing, Wichred, Supervisor Gengrich worked every day to preserve the Marilla. In the Marilla, we have all grown to love. He fought to save farmland for generations who come. Skip was very proud to host events like Independence Day fireworks, Christmas and Marilla, the Ag days that put a spotlight and how beautiful and welcoming the town of Marilla really is.

42:42Even more important were the unharrowed at K&D and he did for friends and relatives that most people never knew about. He did more for the town's residents and most people will ever know. New York State Senator Patrick Galivan had this to say about Gengrich. I am saddened by the passing and Marilla supervisor Earl Skip Gengrich. He was dedicated partner in government and I enjoyed working with him on behalf of the resident sub Marilla. Skip was a staunch advocate for his beloved Marilla. For agriculture and for all the Western New York. More importantly, he was a proud American and loyal friend. By deepest consulses to the family and all who knew him. Health officials warn of increased bat encounters, rabies risk. Erie County health officials are warning residents about an increase in reported encounters and urging everyone who may have come in contact with a bat to promptly report the incident.

43:51The Erie County Department of Health said Wednesday that bats are particularly active in August increasing the possibilities encounters with people and pets. Bats can carry rabies at fatal but preventable disease. The department approved rabies post exposure treatment for 150 people in in July. The highest number recorded for the month according to Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gail Bernstein. Officials said the calls received so far in August indicate that the county could see another record month. Rabies post exposure paralysis commonly known as rabies shots consists of a series of vaccines administered over several weeks. The county said Erie County residents do not have to pay out a packet for the treatment when it is authorized by the health department. Costs are covered by health insurance or Erie County for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

44:56Bats are the most common animal found to test positive for rabies in Erie County. Although other animals including raccoons, skunks, wood sharks, foxes and cats have also tested positive in recent years. Resident should contact the Erie County Department of Health at 716-916-108-6800. If they find a bat inside their home, particularly in a bedroom or near someone who was sleeping. Officials also recommend calling if a person or a pet has direct contact with a bat or other wild animal. Or if a bat is found inside a home and contact with a person or pet cannot be ruled out. Health officials can access the potential exposure and provide guidance on next steps including animal testing when possible.

45:59Rabies is fatal when symptoms begin, so officials advise residents not to wait before seeking guidance. Residents can help prevent bathroom entering their homes by sealing cracks and gaps around roofs, chimneys and sighting. Installing screens on windows and attic fence and making sure doors close tightly. The health department also recommends working with a wildlife professional to safely remove bats that are roosting in a home. If a bat is found outdoors, residents should not release it before contacting the health department or their local health department. As the animal may need to be tested. Officials advise avoiding contact with a bat and if possible confirming it to one room by closing the doors.

46:59Pet owners should also make sure dogs, cats and ferrets are current on the rabies vaccinations. Officials say they back and white or scratch a pet without the owner realizing it. You are listening to around our area and the Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service. Cheek-to-Waga, Elma, Chambers to Combine. The board of directors of the Cheek-to-Waga Chamber of Commerce in the Lancaster Depu Elma Chamber. L-D-E-C of Commerce are proposing the organizations join forces to form one stronger regional chamber. Once approved, the larger business-evicy group would be known as the Western New York Chamber serving Lancaster Depu, Cheek-to-Waga, Elma Chamber of Commerce and total approximately of 700 members.

47:59Members of both chambers will vote on a proposal in September. When the proposal passes, the merger is authorized and legal proceedings will proceed with the October 1st transition date. In anticipation of the merger, a Western New York Chamber membership mixer has been scheduled to take place 530-730-PM, September 24th at the Depu Community Center, 57-Goal Avenue Depu. We have shared interests and objectives and a lot of crossovers between our groups, so are being intentional about creating one strong business community to share the benefits and opportunities. L-D-E-C Chamber Board Chair Jerry West said West said members will gain access to a larger reference network, stronger advocacy and increased visibility while the local relationship and community pride of each chamber will remain.

49:10On behalf of the Cheek-to-Waga Chamber of Commerce, we are energized and excited about this merger with the Lancaster Depu Elma Chamber of Commerce, Pierre Albert Chamber of the Cheek-to-Waga Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. By emerging, we are creating one of the largest chamber footprints within Western New York, focusing on local businesses and innovation. The new Joint Venture will offer all members a broader network to grow and thrive with other businesses and consumers in the community. The Western New York Chamber will be governed by a Board of Directors representing each community, led by Lancaster Depu Elma Chamber Executive Director Jeffrey Zappowitz and his tenured member service staff.

50:12The office will be located at 11 West Main Street, Suite 100 Lancaster, the current site of the L-D-E-C Chamber. This partnership will create an environment that expands markets, fosters collaboration, and leads to new business opportunities, Zemplow it said. The Chamber staff are here to answer any questions or concerns. All members' ships are expected to continue uninterrupted, including sponsorships, and there are no plans for an increase in dues. For more information, call the Chamber office, 716-681-9755. Buffalo Man arrested after drug search. A Buffalo Man was arrested Tuesday after Erie County Sheriff's Deputy C suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia from a Chick-Dawag home and a vehicle authority said.

51:24J.C.I. Turner, 29 of Buffalo, was taken into custody without incident, surely before 6 a.m., while Deputy's executed a search warrant and a residence I'm Crescent Court and a Black 2019 Chevrolet Econox, according to Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia. The war was signed by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case. The investigation was conducted by the Sheriff's narcotics and intelligence students with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms, and explosives and a Chick-Dawag police department. Deputy's located in C's a quantity of suspected cocaine, suspected fentanyl, suspected meth and fenamine, suspected phillospin and drug paraphernalia.

52:25Turner was charged with three counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, three counts of a second degree criminal, criminal use and drug paraphernalia, and two counts of seven degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was taken to the Erie County Holdings Center pending a raiment. Each and every one of the Erie County citizens have a right to live in a neighborhood free of illegal narcotics that are intended for sale, said Garcia. It's more than a basic quality of life issue. It's a public safety issue. This is why our narcotics and intelligence units is laser focused on finding these drugs and removing them from the streets. Funding secured for EAPD upgrades. Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lerigo has secured funding for upgrades to the Easter or a police department, including new tactical equipment and improvements to the department's emergency dispatch center.

53:34The first investment will provide new tactical gear for SWAT training according to the regal. The equipment is expected to allow Easter or officers to receive specialized training and work with more effectively with neighboring departments during mutual aid responses. This equipment allows the Easter or a police officers to receive specialized training, work more efficiently with neighboring departments during mutual aid responses and support other communities when additional resources are needed. Lerigo said, the department also received upgrades to his dispatch equipment. Easter or a police chief Patrick Welch said the cost of operating a modern law enforcement agency and 911 emergency dispatch center has increased significantly over the past two decades, largely because of technologically advances.

54:36Welch said the regal has allocated more than $45,000 to the Easter or a police department over the past two years. The funding has supported improvements to the department's tactical response capabilities, emergency dispatch center, speed monitoring equipment and police e-bikes. We are extremely fortunate to have the supporter of the Eerie County Legislator Lindsay Lerigo Welch said, the Easter or a dispatch center also provides dispatch services for 11 fire companies across six towns. Officials that upgrading the center's aging equipment will help Easter work continue serving as an emergency response hub for the surrounding communities that rely on its services. Aurora Historical Society announces speaker lineup. The Aurora Historical Society will host a five-part speaker series throughout the 2026-27 season.

55:44Featuring presentations and presidential history, local pioneers, historic churches and preserving family histories. All presentations will be held at the Aurora Senior Center 101 King Street in Easter. All presidential suite. On November 19th, presentation, the pioneers of Aurora will be led by Robert LaWalgallor, Aurora Town Historian.

56:44The series will continue February 4th, 2027 with historic churches of Easter. The final program will be presented by Mary and Galapagher of the Easter or a preservation committee. The final program, how to keep your own history, will take place April 22nd and will feature an open public forum focused on preserving personal and family history. The Aurora Historical Society speaker series is open to the public. For more information, visit www.arorhistoricalsociety.com. CDC, New York sees major decline in overdose deaths. New York has seen a roughly 45% decline in drug overdose deaths since 2022, according to data complied by the Centers for Disease Control of Prevention released by the state Monday.

57:51The number of predicted overdose deaths in New York fell from 6,630 in 2022 to 3,775 in 2025, a decrease of about 2,855 deaths over three years. The decline also represents a drop in the average number of New Yorkers dying from drug overdoses each day in 2022, about 18 people died from overdose each day statewide by 2025, that figure had fallen to about 10 people per day. You have been listening to around our area, a weekly look at community newspapers from around Western New York. Your reader for this hour has been Donald. Thank you for listening. Coming up next to the Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service, we have the Ampolegal. At 4 o'clock we have the Grand Island Niagara County Tribune Sentinel, and following that 5 o'clock we have the Lockport Union Sun and Journal.

58:55Stay with us for these readings and more throughout the day. The following program is intended for listeners who are blind, have low vision, and will be able to see more of the results of the following program.

59:55The following program is intended for listeners who are blind, have low vision, or have another print disability.