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Destino is a 2014 Leadership Niagara graduate and a recipient of the NYS School Board Association’s Life-time Achievement Award in recognition of the extensive time and effort he has spent as a school board member striving to expand his knowledge and skills for better board governance.

Better Cooperation Between City and School District Long Overdue

News April 28, 2016 at 4:46 pm

The most recent project I’ve been involved with was helping select a new operator for Sal Maglie Stadium. Needless to say, I think the City of Niagara Falls has hit a home run with the new group currently making major aesthetic improvements to the ball park – including plans to erect a new scoreboard and playing host to major youth baseball tournaments.

Are Grandparents Automatically Entitled to Visit with Their Grandchildren?

Are Grandparents Automatically Entitled to Visit with Their Grandchildren?

Featured April 28, 2016 at 4:45 pm

by Nicholas A. Pelosino, Jr., Esq. We all know that grandparents do many things for their grandchildren and these meaningful relationships are as varied as the people in them and the families of which they are a part. Grandparents may become caretakers when needed; grandparents can have special teaching roles;Read More

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) said, “”Each has freedom to do all that he wills provided that he infringes not the equal freedom of any other.” Was he a liberal?

A Libertarian View: War of the Words

Featured, News April 28, 2016 at 4:41 pm

by Jim Ostrowski The older I get, the more I think that politics is a battle of the dictionaries.  Whoever has the best words, wins. The political movement I have been active in for 35 years is the contemporary revival of the movement that is responsible for most of whatRead More

Will America Vote For or Against the Constitution?

Will America Vote For or Against the Constitution?

Uncategorized April 28, 2016 at 4:40 pm

by J. Gary DiLaura In order to get America back on its feet we need to create jobs for the American people and do it fast. We are in an energy and economic crisis. We must become energy independent if we are to survive as a Nation. Right now theRead More

Your Weekly Horoscopes – by Jean Topascani (April 21 – 27)

Your Weekly Horoscopes – by Jean Topascani (April 21 – 27)

Uncategorized April 21, 2016 at 1:15 pm

Aries: (March 21 – April 19): Attractive, but wall-eyed Libra seems to be staring at you. Neptune in 8th house prompts sudden job–related travel to exotic locale with plenty of money. Avoid extradition. “I can’t wait any longer!” is something you will shout through a random keyhole at 3 a.m.Read More

Grandinetti’s Cat Plan Could Apply to Her

Grandinetti’s Cat Plan Could Apply to Her

Featured, News April 21, 2016 at 1:00 pm

In reading about Council member Kristen Grandinetti’s boneheaded idea about fining or jailing people who are taking humane steps to manage the area’s feral cat population, I couldn’t help but think that it’s too bad we can’t trap, spay and release Grandinetti somewhere other than Niagara Falls.

On Kristen’s airbnb listing she posts nine pictures of the room she rents in her house on Orchard Parkway. The reviews have been favorable. There about 300 other property owners in Niagara Falls who also list rooms or apartments for rent by the night to tourists. If Kristen rents her room out for 60 nights per year she earns about $3,000 which will make a small dent in the super high property taxes she [and everyone in Niagara Falls] has to pay.  In a free society, we are trying to find anything wrong with this free enterprise.

Crackdown on Renting Rooms Makes Little Sense in City where Money is Tight

Featured, News April 21, 2016 at 12:56 pm

Airbnb is a website for people to list, find, and rent lodging. Founded in August 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company is privately owned, and in the business of matching vacationers and business travelers with locals who want to rent out a room, apartment or house.

Double Trump

Trumping the Left

Erie County, Featured April 21, 2016 at 12:50 pm

By Jim Ostrowski What better topic to introduce my new column in this paper than Trump’s visit to Buffalo Monday night?  So there I was, in the press pen, literally walled off from the event with no food, no booze, no nothing.  What a glamorous life the media lead.  MostRead More

Dynamic Dicienzo Sharp Contrast To Dull, Plodding Hamister Here. Choice Seems Obvious

Dynamic Dicienzo Sharp Contrast To Dull, Plodding Hamister Here. Choice Seems Obvious

Featured, News April 21, 2016 at 11:48 am

Last fall, the Niagara Falls City Council agreed to sell a landlocked half-acre city owned parcel to Sheraton at the Falls owner NFNY Hotel Management for $190,000. DiCienzo confirmed that the intentions are to add a water park to the hotel that has in recent years developed a T.G.I. Fridays, Rainforest Cafe, a candy store, and a Starbucks Cafe.

The valuable downtown parcel which was given to Hamister for $100,000 remains vacant. In recent years it was used as a parking lot.

Hamister Hotel Still Dormant if Not Dead

Featured, News April 21, 2016 at 11:40 am

Buffalo developer Mark Hamister was given “preferred developer” status on a valuable piece of property on Rainbow Boulevard just a few hundred yards from the state park entrance for two reasons.

The speed limit on Hyde Park Blvd has been reduced in front of Gaskill Prep (above) from 35 to 25 mph. Meantime the speed limit in front of nearby Hyde Park Elementary is still 35 mph.

DOT, City At Odds Over Speed Limit Schoolkids Remain At Risk

Featured, News April 21, 2016 at 11:30 am

While the Hyde Park Boulevard speed limit was lowered recently in front of Gaskill Prep, a middle school, from 35 mph to 25 mph, the speed limit past Hyde Park School, serving children Pre-K through 5th grade, remains at 35 mph.

Print Edition 4.21.16

Print Edition 4.21.16

News April 21, 2016 at 11:15 am
Illegal dumping of garbage

Down and Dirty: DPW Compost Pile Has Become Dumping Grounds For More Than Just Dead Dogs

Niagara Falls April 21, 2016 at 8:32 am

In our business, people frequently come to us as whistleblowers troubled by what they perceive as official misconduct and yet afraid that if they blow the whistle at work they will be retaliated against. It is necessary for us to protect their identities. This week two such people came toRead More

LIUNA Leaders  From Across US  Lobby Congress

LIUNA Leaders From Across US Lobby Congress

Uncategorized April 20, 2016 at 1:54 pm

This week, nearly 100 leaders of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America –spread out across Capitol Hill, and visited 200 Congressional offices as part of the North American Building Trades Union Legislative Conference. Participants, who represent workers predominantly in the construction industry, discussed key issues, including: –Read More

Print Edition – 4.14.16

Print Edition – 4.14.16

News April 14, 2016 at 9:51 pm
For those who drive, Uber represents a flexible new way to earn money. For passengers, it helps strengthen local economies, improve access to transportation, and make streets safer.

Uber Taking Country By Storm; Everywhere Except For Here!

Niagara Falls April 14, 2016 at 8:40 am

While most people consider New York to be a progressive state, many of the rules and regulations imposed by Albany’s notoriously big government seem downright archaic by 21st Century standards. Take the state’s byzantine laws regarding taxicabs. Passed back when John Montana’s taxi monopoly in Buffalo made him look more likeRead More

Johnny G. Destino (left) and Alan Stockings (right) with the Niagara Falls marching band.

Destino Announces Candidacy for Niagara Falls School Board ‘Time to bring back Vocational Education and Restore Recess for Children.’

Uncategorized April 14, 2016 at 8:40 am

  Attorney Johnny Destino announced this week that he is running for one of two seats up for election this year on the Niagara Falls School Board.  Destino was a former member of the school board who served from 2010-2015. Destino was appointed by Mayor Paul Dyster to head theRead More

Robert Restaino

Striking a Balance Between Educational Goals and Respecting Taxpayers is the Goal of Niagara Falls School Board

Uncategorized April 14, 2016 at 8:40 am

By Bob Restaino   Each year board members for the Niagara Falls School District work diligently to present an on time budget with no increase in the tax levy. Budget preparation is among the most important tasks of the board. Critical thinking and inquiry into the educational goals of ourRead More

With Three Popular Candidates, School Board Election May Have Higher Than Usual Turn Out

With Three Popular Candidates, School Board Election May Have Higher Than Usual Turn Out

Niagara Falls April 14, 2016 at 8:40 am

By Matt Ricchiazzi There are two seats up for election on the City of Niagara Falls’ school board, which will be held on May 17th. The full slate of candidates is still in flux, with a crucial filing deadline of April 27. As a body, the school board has immenseRead More

Niagara Falls School Board Election on May 17; Two Seats Up for Election

Niagara Falls School Board Election on May 17; Two Seats Up for Election

Niagara Falls April 14, 2016 at 8:40 am

By Gia Arnold The Niagara Falls City School District election will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Not only will the annual budget be voted on that day, but there are also two [out of a total of nine seats] for the School Board up for re-election. Incumbents Robert RestainoRead More

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