Virtuoso offers Town of Niagara spring update; leaders hard at work on myriad projects

Guest Editorial by Sylvia Virtuoso

Town of Niagara Supervisor

After an exceptionally long and harsh winter – especially on our roads – spring is on its way. It is time to enjoy warmer weather, fresh air, and cleanup efforts as we prepare for a great summer.

•Recreation is hosting an Easter egg hunt, first annual “Family Kid Fun Run,” and hiring summer staff.

•Assemblyman Morinello has been holding mobile office hours at the Community Center every month (watch for dates), and recently held a lung screening with Roswell Park. More screenings are planned for summer, as well as baseball, soccer, bocce, cornhole and mini-golf.

•Parks crew is refreshing the park for everyone’s enjoyment after working all winter on the “Noel at Niagara” displays, equipment maintenance and snow removal.

•Highway staff have been busy with plowing, salting, chipping and leaf pickup, while Water and Sewer continue working on the 385-foot sewer collapse in front of Wegmans, as well as all their other duties.

This was an unfortunate and inconvenient but necessary emergency project expected to wrap up soon. FYI: For all the great suggestions we heard, the town Sewer Department staff was on site every night in the coldest nights of the year – since Feb. 6 – pumping so there was no sewer overflow in the area and no disruption to traffic to the Wegmans plaza.

NYSDOT makes the rules and regulations for the traffic control. A contractor had to be hired and they needed NYSDOT permits. As many suggested, just having police and flag men there 24 hours a day is just not realistic, affordable or required. Patience and attentive driving is the better answer.

As I write this, we are on day 8 of what might be a 20-day emergency repair.

•Our police officers are a call away and prompt to show up for all your safety needs.

 •“Music Mania Monday” is gearing up for another exciting concert season. The schedule will be released soon. The Town of Niagara business liaison with the Recreation Department will be featuring 10 craft vendors each week on concert nights, and offering “Shop the Town” discounts at local businesses. Look for more information on Facebook.

Local nonprofit groups will be on site accepting donations – please support the volunteers who serve our community. The Highway and Parks Departments are also expanding the parking lot to accommodate these larger events and weekend sports.

Town of Niagara Supervisor Sylvia Virtuoso

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•Ongoing cleanup helps keep our town a great place to live, shop, and do business. Please pick up winter debris, get your required permits from the Building Department for property improvements, and note that one large item may be placed at the curb weekly.

Garbage should NOT be at the curb before 6 p.m., but must be there by 6 a.m. Return your containers back to the side or back of your home.

Keep lawns and vacant lots mowed and remember that placing grass clippings in the road is both dangerous and against NYS law.

•Paint drop-off will return this fall, and Sherwin-Williams continues to offer its PaintCare program all year round.

•I am still working diligently with Code Enforcement to correct the blight and violations. Just because you have been able to do this for years doesn’t make it right, and your neighbors should not have to live with your blight and not following the law. Nobody is being “picked on”; you are being required to follow town law like everyone else does, even if you have not in the past.

•You have all received a letter from Niagara Active Hose Fire Co. for a donation drive. Together, let's empower the Niagara Active Hose all-volunteer fire company! Visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-429. Every act of kindness counts, and your generosity will make a lasting impact.

•Town Hall will be closed on Good Friday, April 3.

We have many great projects are on the horizon. As they get final approvals, we will be sharing all of the information. Planning, Zoning, the Town Board and the Building Department have been busy reviewing and approving proposals. While progress may feel slow at times, there is much to be excited about in the months ahead.

Happy spring from your town supervisor!