Richard M. Moleski is 'Clerk of the Year'
Mobile Citizen Patrol goes for the gold
TPHA Installation 2002 now behind us
Inside….. Pine Hill Fire Hall
Profile: Ben Kline
Town Proclamation Honors Rose Kumpf

Town Clerk Dick Moleski, known to everyone in Town Hall as TC was just named the 2002 Erie County Town Clerk of the Year by the Erie County Town Clerks Association at a luncheon at the Deerhead restaurant on Clinton Street.

Moleski received a plaque which reads, "In recognition of your professionalism and dedication in your everyday service as Town Clerk." Erie County Town Clerks Association and North Collins Town Clerk Margaret Orrange said Moleski was "elected by all of his peers."

Richard Moleski has served as Cheektowaga Town Clerk since 1976.

Among Moleski's major accomplishments in the job has been the transfer of older town records using grant money.

Moleski said, "Thanks to the hard work of our records manager, Lisa Bolognese, Cheektowaga now has an organized Records Retention Center which allows citizens to retrieve documents they need much more quickly and efficiently than ever before."

He was named Our Lady of Czestochowa Holy Name's Man of the Year twice, in 1971 and 1982.

Moleski also serves in several organizations including the Polish National Alliance and Polish Union of America.

Now in his 27th year as Clerk, Moleski is the longest serving Town Clerk in Erie County. He's also a former president and vice-president of the Erie County Town Clerks' Association.

TC is truly a friend of our Association. He and his staff in the Town Clerk's'office have extended the services of the department many times. And each year when we contact him to install our officers, he accepts without hesitation.

The awards committee comprised of Captain Richard S. Chamberlin, Lieutenant Cheryl A. Rucinski and Sergeant David J. Przepiora nominated the 17-member volunteer patrol for its outstanding performance. The committee presented the Chief's Citizen Commendation award to the Town Park Home Owners Citizen Patrol during ceremonies held March 3 at the Cheektowaga Senior Center.

TPHA president, Stan Kaznowski Jr. said, "We are deeply honored by this commendation.

"Two years ago, the Mobile Citizen Patrol received the coveted 'award for excellence' from attorney general Eliot Spitzer ~ we were among six groups singled out for statewide honors," Kaznowski said.

The attorney general came to Buffalo to present the award with Buffalo Police Commissioner Rocco J. Diina and former Buffalo FBI chief Berny Tolbert in attendance.

Last summer the award winning patrol was featured in a story published in the Buffalo News with a photo of a unit on the front page.

Two years ago, WIVB-TV Channel 4 sent a camera crew to travel with one of the four patrol units and ran a 2-minute segment on the evening news.

Kaznowski said, "These people have volunteered hours of their time away from their families to help our community, We are extremely proud of them."

The weather cooperated on Feb. 5 for our annual installation and dinner. In past years, we experienced snow blizzards and extreme cold temperatures.

The evening began with a brief meeting to accept six new members.

Cheektowaga Town Clerk Richard M. Moleski was master of ceremonies and installed the officers.

Stan Kaznowski Jr. was installed to serve his ninth year as president. Other officers installed were vice president, John Marriott; secretary, Alice Kaznowski; and treasurer, Chet Kasprzyk.

Ben Kline was installed to serve his seventh year as board chairman. Directors include Mary Russell, Angus Russell, Walter Wawrzynek and Stan Kaznowski III.

(click for larger view)

2002 OFFICERS ~ Seated left to right: director, Mary Russell; president, Stan Kaznowski Jr.; secretary, Alice Kaznowski. Standing left to right: installing officer, Cheektowaga Town Clerk, Richard M. Moleski; treasurer, Chet Kasprzyk; director, Angus Russell; board chairman, Ben Kline; director, Walter Wawrzynek. Last row: director, Stan Kaznowski III. Not shown: vice president, John Marriott.

Five life members were recognized for 213 total years of service to the association. They are Joe Greenauer, 47 years; Chet Kasprzyk, 46 years; Joe Kulczyk, 46 years; Stan Kaznowski Jr., 39 years and Ben Kline, 35 years.

Two honorary members were recognized ~ Rose Kumpf, who celebrated her 96th birthday Feb 3, and Clara Zotter, who will be 98 later this year.

On the front 40 acres, Ben said he grows a stand of more than 50 maple trees called a sugarbush that he taps for syrup.

He said, "This is a busy time of the year for sugarmaking, when the sap is running. Warm days and cool nights cause the sap to run through the trees."

"When the temperature climbs to the 40's in the day and eases back below freezing at night, it is known as the 'sugaring off' season."

Sap is collected from the maples in buckets which are hung from spigots driven into each trunk. The sap is carried to the sugarhouse where it is boiled down for hours in an evaporator till it becomes syrup. It takes 40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of pure maple syrup.

At least 40 cords of wood are consumed in the evaporator firebox each season which is cut from dead trees that are cleared to make room for new saplings that need 30 to 40 years to reach tapping size.

This past year, Ben built a brand new 12 x 16 foot sugarhouse with help from his son John and son-in-law Dave Rapin. He also installed a larger evaporator.

Ben said when we get tired after a long day of sugarmaking we relax around the fireplace inside a 20 x 20 foot cabin that sleeps six people very comfortably.

Ben proudly explains that no preservatives are added to his syrup. Only pure maple syrup is produced. In the spring, Ben will turn to nature again when he works 15 beehives on the property.

The History of Maple Syrup in America
How to make maple syrup
Cornell Cooperative Extension

Supervisor Dennis H. Gabryszak presented TPHA member Mrs. Rose Kumpf the following proclamation on behalf of the Town Board, paying tribute on her 96th Birthday:

Cheektowaga Supervisor Dennis H. Gabryszak, left, and Councilman Thomas J. Mazur, center, are shown presenting a Proclamation on behalf of the Town Board, to Mrs. Rose Kumpf paying tribute on her 96th Birthday. The presentation was made on February 5 during the TPHA Installation Dinner.

From Dee, our Internet Correspondent

A man was in his front yard mowing grass when his attractive blonde female neighbor came out of the house and went straight to the mailbox.

She opened it, then slammed it shut, and then stormed back into the house. A little later she came out of her house again, went to the mailbox and again opened it, and slammed it shut again. Angrily, back into the house she went.

As the man was getting ready to edge the lawn, she came out again, marched to the mailbox, opened it and slammed it closed harder then ever.

Puzzled by her actions the man asked her, "Is something wrong?" To which she replied, "There certainly is!" the blonde said, "My stupid computer keeps saying, YOU'VE GOT MAIL!"

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The 50 block of Barbara Pl. - Police recovered a vehicle stolen in Buffalo.

The 50 block of Olcott Pl. - The theft of a radar detector and CD player was reported taken from a vehicle.

The 30 block of Barbara Pl. - Three males at the door claiming that the occupant stole something.

203 Eggert Rd. at Sugar Rd. (Samsun factory) - Pine Hill alarm of fire, electrical fire in semi-truck near building.

The 50 block of Olcott Pl. - Male running around neighborhood without outer clothing, now on Vera Ave. Taken via ambulance to ECMC.

The 10 block of Paradise Ct. - Assault of 13-year-old male occurred yesterday at the school bus stop at Tillotson and Freda.

The 10 block of Andrews Ave. - Larceny from a parked vehicle.

The 80 block of Wanda Ave. - Unknown trouble, father reported daughter is out of control.

The 140 block of Avery Pl. - Black male wanted by Buffalo for incident on Inter Park involving display of weapon. Patrol on location, vehicle involved is on location, notify Buffalo.

Pine Hill Fire Company EMS - Male suffering possible heart problem at the Metro bus loop, 2320 Genesee St.

Pine Hill welcomes newest firefighter

Nick resides on Winkler Road and is the son of Ron and Diane Kaznowski, and grandson of Stan and Alice Kaznowski Jr.

Grandpa Stan said, "The first thing Nick did when he turned 18 was to join the Pine Hill Fire Company, we're real proud of him."

Firefighters responded during power outage

Fire chief Ed Dean Jr. said, "We've had a busy two months. So far this year (Feb.19), we responded to 83 alarms.

Anniversary Dinner - Dance Set for May 18

If you have photographs or any memorabilia about the Pine Hill Fire Co. in your collection, the firefighters are preparing a special anniversary video. Please call the fire hall at 896-8690. Your material will be returned.

2001 Alarms, Drills & EMS calls

Alarms: For the year 2001 the Pine Hill Fire Company answered 420 total alarms. Of these, 330 were calls for Emergency Medical Service (EMS). An average of 10 members responded to each alarm with a total 103 hours on the alarms.

Drills: For the year 2001, company officers conducted 97 drills, with an average of 10 members per drill for a total of 216 hours on drills.

Alarms: During the month of January 2002, the company answered 38 alarms with an average of 8 members per alarm.

Drills: During the month of January 2002, company officers conducted 5 drills with an average of 8 members per drill.

EMS calls: During the month of January 2002, the company answered 18 routine emergency medical service calls. Two were requests for first aid assists; and two were motor vehicle collision calls with injuries.

Appointments: Timothy Wojdan was appointed to Fire Police Lieutenant. Scott Kowal was appointed as qualified driver on Engine One.

THE ANNUAL PINE HILL FUND DRIVE IS COMING IN MAY

From our mailbag…

I took over as den leader when my predeccesor's wife died of cancer leaving him with three boys under the age of 10. I'm sorry, but what can you do?

Please give everyone my best wishes and let them know that I commend all of you on the great work you do and that I'm always with you in spirit. Thanks again.

… Mike Pietruszka (Erie County Judge).

Rita has asked me to pass on her best regards to all members of this wonderful association.

… Franklin A. Stachowiak, Attorney at Law.