Editor's Picks

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Robert M. Restaino Candidate for Mayor of Niagara Falls At this point in the campaign, I could have begun my article with any one of the tired, old statements you’ve heard many times in the past:  “This is the most important election in the past 20 years;” “Niagara Falls is at a critical crossroad;” or “The choice you make on Election Day will be the most important decision you make that day.”  I could have written

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     Capitalizing on NF & Town of Niagara as Bedroom Communities for Toronto   By: John Accardo Candidate for the Niagara County Legislature We can call it a tale of two cities. Here in Niagara Falls, New York, the population has steadily dropped to 49,000 over the last several decades, from nearly 100,000 in our heyday. However, an hour and a half away, in a city visible from our escarpment, the population is exploding. According to the United

New York State will fine the Niagara Falls Water Board a measly $50,000 for discharging thousands of gallons of black, fetid and stinking water near the falls during a busy tourist weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday. The agency will be required to make changes at its aging wastewater plant and obtain state approval before any future discharges, according to the governor. In reality, the Water Board received a slap on the wrist for one of the worst environmental disasters in Niagara Falls since Love Canal. Most readers of this paper are well aware of the lovey-dovey relationship between Mr.

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Nicholas D. D’Angelo A story published by the Niagara Gazette on February 5th, 2020, prompted City Council Chairman Chris Voccio to respond. The story reported that Voccio, along with fellow Republican lawmakers Kenny Tompkins and newly-elected John Spanbaur, were “huddling in the back room of a Third Street cafe, out of the sight and hearing of the public, to engage in discussion of city business.” Voccio disagreed that he was sequestered with fellow Republicans discussing city

Despite 160 Tourists for each and every Resident Unemployment is a hardship, so much so that it comprises half of something called the Misery Index, a widely cited economic indicator (the other half is inflation). Unemployment is connected with all kinds of community, family and individual dysfunction. It leads to increased alcohol consumption and drug abuse, spousal arguments, domestic violence and other health and legal problems. Unemployment is linked to depression, anxiety disorders, increased stress-related symptoms such as fatigue or headaches and prevalence of medical illnesses in general, as well as higher rates of crime and lower rates of volunteerism

Rumor has it that the $500,000 fire hall renovation by Isaiah 61 has once again proven the incompetence of the Dyster administration. After spending more than $100,000 fixing the roof, the city just discovered that the back wall is caving in. Reminds us of when Isaiah 61 was renovating a home on Centre Street and forgot to brace it and it collapsed. The Reporter said back when the city was first proposing to rehab the Highland Ave. abandoned fire hall that it would be far less expensive to demolish it and rebuild a new building for Isaiah 61. That was

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 what is good about the modern world.  Alas, today we are stuck with the ungainly term “libertarian”.  Is that why we are getting our asses kicked in politics?  Don’t tell anyone, but I have a secret plan to recapture the beautiful and etymologically-correct word that our movement was known by for

By Tony Farina Things went from bad to worse for one gentleman in February when his brother, a Buffalo public school teacher at Mckinley High, died suddenly and after he took five days off from his job as business development manager from Intandem Solutions which has offices in Niagara Falls, Lockport, and Olean, he was fired when he returned to work without notice or any known reason. As of this writing, Brian Marciniak, who lives with his daughter in Buffalo, still doesn’t know why he was fired from his $70,000-plus commissions job on Feb. 22 and officials at Intandem Solutions,

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9       Frank Bauhm: The Dyster administration spent at least one fifth of a BILLION dollars in taxpayer casino funds and is SOMEHOW broke. That deserves an INVESTIGATION not a reassessment.   Charlie McNeely: Since the streets are paved with gold you shouldn’t mind a tax increase.   John Russell: If even the thought of a property tax increase gets close, I’m out of here. I have completely had it with this city and their inexperience to run

The following was written by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. On Wednesday night, all five members of the Niagara Falls City Council voted unanimously to revoke the membership of council appointed Niagara Falls Water Board (NFWB) member Michael Asklar due to “numerous complaints” and “dissatisfactory performance,” and to replace him with James S. Dean. Mark Scheer of the Niagara Gazette called the council’s decision “a move likely to land them in court.” This bi-partisan, unanimous vote came after months of finger pointing and saber rattling between both entities. Joe Genco of the Niagara Express called James S. Dean a “Democratic political

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff The Niagara County Health Department has confirmed FIVE additional individuals tested positive for COVID-19 in the County. Although Niagara County is not releasing tracing information for each of the individuals, they have confirmed where each person lives: -1 in Lockport -1 in the Town of Lockport -1 in Newfane -1 in North Tonawanda -1 in Wheatfield The Niagara County Health Department released a statement earlier this week that they will “no longer be doing full-scale community contact tracing

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9         This Notice applies to the Towns of Royalton, Ridgeway, Somerset, Hartland, Lockport, Newfane, Shelby and the Villages of Barker, Middleport, and Medina.   What is Being Planned? On Tuesday morning April 17, 2018, a section of the water system will be temporarily shut down due to the planned installation of a new valve on the transmission main. This maintenance may affect water pressure in the above municipalities. In addition, once water pressure is restored, the

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Arthur Pappas Mayor of North Tonawanda As of May15th the NYS Governor has extended the PAUSE order for the WNY region until May 28th with his emergency declaration to June 13th.  Our county continues to see a rise in the COVID 19 cases with 796 cases, 80 being in NT and 50 deaths.  Therefore, residents still need to shelter in place and practice health protocol. Reopening of businesses and other venues will remain a slow process.

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter Mayor Robert M. Restaino greeted members of the community on Thursday, December 3rd, 2020, at the demolition of 1133 Fairfield Avenue. The removal of blight throughout the City in targeted areas is the result of community development funds and other sources secured by the Restaino Administration. Restaino stated that this morning’s demolition is the “first of many” to help beautify Niagara Falls.

Click the link below to subscribe to SPECIAL REPORTS from the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter The Niagara County Department of Health issued the following update on positive COVID-19 cases in Niagara County: We regretfully report the deaths of two Niagara County residents.  We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of these individuals: A 68 year-old female with underlying health conditions. A 74 year-old male with underlying health conditions The rest of the update is a follows:   155 new positive cases Total of 7199 positives to date (isolations + recoveries + deaths) 1531

Robert J. Edwards Guest View Governor Cuomo has seems to have taken an interest in making a show in Niagara Falls. His most recent visit was the “fantastic” news that Albany was going to do something for the city, or so they would like you to believe. The governor’s visit was a rehash of two previous statements: a comment that the Robert Moses Parkway will be renamed to the much less inflammatory “Niagara Scenic Parkway”, and that a chunk of money had been set aside for Niagara Falls State Park. Of course, none of this has much direct impact on

“I don’t make jokes,” Will Rogers wrote, “I just watch the government and report the facts.” I’ve written often about the lack of transparency, ethical accountability and fiscal due diligence in Lewiston, and although some wish to believe the present majority is shining examples of open, ethical and fiscal frugality, the facts, as John Adams notes, are stubborn things. It doesn’t take a Wharton Business graduate to understand why Lewiston taxpayers are paying a town tax. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to assemble the facts as to why. For 10 years Lewiston has been governed by a majority

By Jim Szwedo BUT THIS TIME, WITH A TWIST First off, to start this article, I do know what roles the Mayor and his administration play in governing this City. I am also aware of the role that the City Council serves in this governance. I am also painfully aware of what the City Charter mandates that their respective roles are. Here’s where my problem begins: all of these representatives are elected by the citizens as a catalyst for (what we hope will be) the will of the people that elected them. When running for office, they always promise the

by Niagara Falls City Councilman Ezra P. Scott, Jr. Released on October 7th 2016, I recently had an opportunity to view The Birth of a Nation as a social study of American History. Unlike the original 1915 American silent film The Birth of a Nation (The Clansman), that was directed and co-produced by D. W. Griffith and screened at the White House, this version by Nate Parker focuses on the life of Rev. Nat Turner and takes place in the 1800’s in Southampton County, Virginia. Turner’s owner Benjamin Turner was paid by other slave owners to travel to various plantations to subdue the slaves using

If you’ve been intending to register so you can vote in the November General Election, but  haven’t gotten around to it and you’re going to be in Niagara Falls, New York on Tuesday September 27, 2016, Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC) is participating in National Voters Registration Day. Just drive or walk to the Parking Lot of the Haeberle Plaza, 746 Portage Road, north of Pine Avenue (between Rite Aid and Arby’s), from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on the 27th.  If you’ve never registered, or have not voted in the last four years, or have moved, you

By Frank Parlato The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Alon, Oren, and Tal Alexander with sex trafficking. According to the indictment, the brothers allegedly used their social status, events, and digital platforms to lure women into exploitative sexual conduct. All three brothers have pleaded not guilty. The charges, based on the government’s expanded post-2019 interpretation of federal sex trafficking laws, carry a sentence of 15 years to life. The Alexanders are currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn pending trial – now scheduled for January 2026 The federal case appears to trace back to a civil lawsuit filed by Australian national

Niagara Falls – With the city’s new train station and Underground Railroad Heritage Museum ready to open by the end of May, a couple of questions linger. How do you open a history museum when not a single artifact has been acquired or display fabricated? Despite the fact that the city’s Underground Railroad Commission has been given $2.45 million in casino cash, it is unknown what – if anything – they have done with the money. Other than issuing a preliminary report shortly after the formation of the commission that failed to establish any unequivocal link between the

Just after 8 pm tonight, Niagara Falls Police Detectives arrested a local man and charged him with  starting the fire at the  boarding house located at 1967 Niagara St in Niagara Falls, that occurred on January 1st at 7:15 pm Police arrested Jerome Wingfield, a  32 year old male, who resides in  the 1400 block of Main St in Niagara Falls.  Wingfield was charged with Arson 2nd Degree, Burglary 2nd Degree and Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree. Wingfield will be arraigned in Niagara Falls City court on Monday morning. The fire caused extensive damage to the building and forced some 20

The following is Part Three of an ongoing series by investigative journalist Ken Cosentino. Part One recap: Niagara Falls DPW removed a sensory garden owned by a family whose 15 year old son has autism. The sensory garden occupied both public and private property. Local journalist Mark Scheer first reported the story on Friday, April 25th, three days after the incident. Scheer’s Niagara Gazette article and a social media uproar prompted a media frenzy, and the news was covered by WGRZ, WIVB and WKBW. As a direct response to the media coverage, the executive office of the City of Niagara Falls

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9         By: Brendan McDonough Reporter for North Tonawanda In just a few short weeks, boats will be flying at speeds of more than 170 miles per hour across the Niagara River. At Gratwick Riverside Park on Monday July 9th, 2018, Mayor Pappas, alongside other city officials and event organizers, announced that the Thunder on Niagara event will be coming to North Tonawanda on August 4th and 5th. This is the 13th year of the event and

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter Six-year-old Charlotte Johnson recently went on a trip with her family to California where they visited the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC). There, Charlotte learned that one of the seals at the Aquarium of Niagara, Lumiere, was rescued and rehabilitated at PMMC. She was inspired by his rescue story and decided to dedicate her birthday to fundraising for the Aquarium of Niagara; the place that gave Lumiere his forever home. The Aquarium of Niagara

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9         By: Brendan McDonough Reporter for North Tonawanda Kids across North Tonawanda are up in arms after an old tennis court – which was transformed into a skateboard park – has seemingly closed for good. The park was located at the end of Miller Street and was a place where kids not only skated, but formed friendships. “It’s been the site of many memories,” said Dustin Finley, North Tonawanda Resident. “We have had cookouts there and

Click the link below to subscribe to SPECIAL REPORTS from the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center joined together Tuesday to celebrate and recognize staff for all their heroic efforts set forth throughout the pandemic, including the important role in Niagara County’s mass vaccination effort. Tuesday’s program acknowledged and awarded non-clinical team member of the quarter, Rasheed Rivers; clinical team member of the quarter, Michelle Lewis, PharmD, MHA, BCACP; Educator of the Year, Dr. John Blundell, Care Team of the Year, Memorial’s hospitalists, and Doctor of the Year to chief of infectious disease.

By: Ken Hamilton Good news and bad news folks: we citizens are the little things that ought to have been doing the right things, and we failed to do pretty much of anything! One local Niagaran sat quietly in the seat near the back wall of the side of the auditorium of the Greek Theater of the-then Niagara Falls Convention Center as Brian Meilleur and other members of Eddy Cogan’s newly-formed Niagara Falls Redevelopment revealed their plans to the excited citizens that crammed into the relatively small presentation room.  It was shortly thereafter a young girl came to the stage,

Please click the link below to subscribe to a FREE PDF version of each print edition of the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Brendan McDonough Reporter for North Tonawanda Hundreds of people packed the Tonawanda’s for the start of the annual Canal Festival. For the past 37 years organizers have been holding the event and it runs from July 14th to July 21st.  There is no doubt it is a week-long event aimed at celebrating the canal and helping to bring the community together. “This event is growing all time and it supports up to 15 non-for-profit organizations between