The Buffalo News: Northern Suburbs

Northern Suburbs

Now who’s drowning in debt? Bill collectors: By Fred O. Williams

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Updated: 11/20/08 8:11 AM; You know the economy’s bad when debt collectors can’t pay their bills.

Modified soccer pushed for Tonawanda district: By Mark Ciemcioch

NORTHTOWNS CORRESPONDENT

Updated: 11/20/08 10:09 PM; An overflow crowd of soccer moms, dads and kids filled the Tonawanda High School Media Center on Tuesday night to petition the School Board to implement a modified soccer program in the district.

Newstead informally approves changes at Kreher’s plant: Updated: 11/20/08 10:10 PM; Kreher’s Poultry Farms, in order to comply with new safe-quality food regulations, has to make some changes at its Davidson Road plant in Newstead.

High benzene levels found in Tonawanda: By Janice L. Habuda

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Updated: 11/19/08 6:58 AM; Concentrations of benzene, a known carcinogen, exceeded state guidelines at Town of Tonawanda sites monitored during a yearlong study of air quality, residents learned Tuesday. The state Department of Environmental Conservation says it has a good idea what industries are contributing to those levels and continues to work toward reducing emissions of benzene and other toxins.

Timely budget approval hikes property taxes: Updated: 11/18/08 6:58 AM; A couple of years after the Town of Tonawanda’s annual budget was adopted by default, lawmakers unanimously approved a 2009 spending plan before the Thursday state deadline.

$877,383 goes to Amherst board’s control from department budgets: By Sandra Tan

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Updated: 11/20/08 10:11 PM; The Amherst Town Board voted Monday to move $877,383 out of town department budgets and into a board-controlled contingency account to forestall an anticipated year-end “spending spree” by department heads.

Enterprising Williamsville science teacher earns grant for climate exploration: By Peter Simon

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Updated: 11/17/08 8:14 AM; With the help of a $10,000 grant, a science teacher at Mill Middle School in the Williamsville School District is about to turn the area’s snowy weather into a cool way for pupils to learn.

Applications accepted for crossing guard post: Updated: 11/17/08 6:33 AM; The Village of Akron is accepting applications for a part-time crossing guard.

Street design poses access problems: By Sandra Tan

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Updated: 11/17/08 10:25 AM; Some Amherst residents have learned an inconvenient truth: If you make it difficult for outsiders to drive into your neighborhood, you also make it difficult for insiders to drive out.

Clarence resident wins $16,000 on ‘Millionaire’: Updated: 11/15/08 6:58 AM; Brian Haseltine, an insurance agent from Clarence, walked away with $16,000 in winnings on Friday’s episode of the television program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” which was broadcast on channel CW 23.

Tonawanda ‘Mudflats’ cleared by corps for developing: By Janice L. Habuda

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Updated: 11/14/08 11:16 PM; Land near the Town of Tonawanda’s northern border has been cleared for development by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, leaving only a town environmental review before work can begin on a long-anticipated business park.

Veterans share experiences with pupils in Amherst: By Barbara O’Brien

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Updated: 11/14/08 7:44 AM; For an hour and a half Thursday morning, Amherst Middle School pupils didn’t squirm in their seats, roll their eyes and sigh or talk about the latest video game.

Principal’s departure stuns Amherst school: By Sandra Tan

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Updated: 11/14/08 7:54 AM; The principal at Smallwood Drive Elementary School resigned unexpectedly last week, leaving the Amherst Central School District scrambling to find a replacement.

Two events will mark abduction, death of Cote: Updated: 11/14/08 6:48 AM; Two upcoming events will mark the November 2006 abduction of Iraq War veteran Jonathon M. Cote, the former Amherst resident who was murdered by terrorists.

$4 million Newstead budget OK’d with no rise in general tax rate: By Laura E. Winchester

SUBURBAN CORRESPONDENT

Updated: 11/11/08 7:54 PM; The Newstead Town Board on Monday unanimously adopted a $4 million budget for 2009, which carries no increase in the general town tax rate of $1.32 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.