The I N F O R M E R

The I N F O R M E R
The Newsletter of Concerned Citizens Published Monthly by the Town Park Home Owners Association Inc. - Volume XII, Issue 4, April 2002

This Month's Highlights

Pine Hill / Walden Steering Commitee
Kopacz: Parental behavior at hockey programs
Lice problem at school
Neighborhood report
Town parking code
TPHA activity

Mobile Citizen Patrol
'goes for the gold'

patrol.jpg (30504 bytes)

POLICE AWARD… Town Park Home Owners Citizen Patrol members received a commendation award from Cheektowaga's new Police Chief, Christine M. Ziemba. Shown from left to right: Sue Pietrowski, Ben Kline, Joe Greenauer, Stan Kaznowski Jr., Walter Wawrzynek, Angus Russell, Mary Russell, Chief Ziemba and Hooker McComb.

Not shown: Elsie Allyn, Frank Bush, Beverly Bystryk, Chet Kasprzyk, Alice Kaznowski, Stan Kaznowski III, John Marriott, Roxi Rakowski and Frank Stanczewski.

(See complete story in March 2002 newsletter)

Steering committee reports on joint effort

The Pine Hill - Walden Preservation Steering Committee was named by the Town Board five years ago to identify and solve problems and to establish relations with residents and business owners in the neighborhoods bordering the city line along Genesee St., Walden Ave., and East Delavan Ave.

Thomas Adamczak, supervising building and plumbing inspector chairs the committee, Lawrence Kensy, managing housing inspector is co-chairman. Members are heads of the Cheektowaga Police Dept., Chamber of Commerce, Senior Citizens, Parks, Recreation and Youth, Economic Development, Villa Maria College, the Walden Taxpayers Assoc., and the Town Park Home Owners Assoc. The group meets bimonthly in Villa Maria College and is charged with tackling neighborhood problems. The committee also meets with Buffalo Councilman Richard Fontana to solve cityline problems.

At the last meeting members discussed the town-wide Geographic Information System (GIS). Supervisor Dennis Gabryszak explained, "GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographic information. The town has utilized a grant to create a town-wide model for access to the system. We look forward to having as many departments as possible on board for implementation."

Captain Thomas Rowan is charged with spearheading the GIS project. He said, "The police department is joining forces with all other town departments in a needs assessment project, under leadership of Erie County, to share GIS data."

Rowan said, "We had an organizational meeting last week to look at the benefits of the system under the county project. Representatives from most of the town departments were in attendance and we found that there is a common need to share data and work cooperatively in this project. The Engineering Department plans to head a town-wide committee to enhance our local efforts."

Rowan said, "The police department will analyze calls for service, repeat calls, parolees released into the community, registered sex offenders, and what are known as "hot spots" of criminal activity to enhance patrol and investigative crime prevention and apprehension activities.

"We will also be working closely with the Building, Zoning and Neighborhood Preservation offices to look at crimes and calls for service as they are associated with zoning and neighborhood issues," Rowan said.

Larry Kensy reported on compiling a list of all vacant structures in town. He said, "We use resources of our own inspection staff; the police department; the various residents of our neighborhoods, and the Buffalo News which features weekly property transfers."

"The list will be distributed on a monthly basis by our office to our fire chiefs; to the police department; to the Community Development Department; to our crime watch groups; and eventually to all of our various taxpayer and homeowner groups, " he said.

Kensy said. We should all be concerned with the growing number of vacant structures in each of our neighborhoods. Our office will be responsible for a bimonthly inspection of these vacant structures and pertinent Code Enforcement actions. The police department will also be monitoring these vacant structures for the criminal element. The residents of our various neighborhoods are responsible for reporting any suspicious activity at these structures to our police department.

TPHA director, Stan Kaznowski III, attending his first meeting said, "The committee represents every town department. Problems are thrown on the table and everyone shares their ideas to solve them. I am very impressed."

Guest Susan Wozniak, proprietor of the Edge of Town Restaurant, said, "It was very interesting to see the way the committee operates. My husband and I love the Pine Hill community, our customers are great."

Kopacz: we take a dim view of irresponsible parental behavior….. in our hockey program

Ken Kopacz, Executive Director, Cheektowaga Dept. of Parks and Recreation and Youth Services, wrote a letter to the editor of the Cheektowaga Bee last week about parental behavior in hockey programs. Kopacz said, "Our department takes a dim view of irresponsible parental behavior and has taken the lead in addressing such issues as part of our hockey program.

"The department commented on the topic of rink rage by directing the rink manager to prominently post on the parents' message board in the foyer of our ice rink, the Buffalo News article on the convicted hockey parent Thomas Junta, with a memo on parental behavior," Kopacz said.

Kopacz added, "This whole issue is not a new phenomenon within our program. In my message to the public within the department's Fall 2000 program brochure, I used the Massachusetts incident as an example of parental behavior gone awry. The issue of adult and parental behavior was again touched upon in the Fall 2001 as well as in our Winter/Spring 2000-2001 brochures."

Kopacz said, "Every new hockey parent is required to attend an orientation program where behavior is addressed. We make available to parents our publication 'Youth Sports and Your role as a Parent.' As a member of the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA), we promote and also offer coaches training workshops.

"Council member James Jankowiak, chairperson of the Cheektowaga Parks and Recreation Committee, and a former hockey parent and coach, joins me in emphasizing that we will not tolerate such behavior. Parents exhibiting negative behavior will be asked to leave the rink," Kopacz said.

"We want our program to be the leader in WNY. By taking such initiatives as outlined above, we send a clear message to our hockey participants and parents. We want to lead by example," stated Jankowiak.

Lice problem at school concerns parent

"There has been a lice infestation at Maryvale Primary School since October," says Tracy Lupejkis, parent of a 5-year-old girl attending the school. She said, "My daughter has had lice five times and I followed every direction of the school nurse, pharmacists, her doctor and University websites. It keeps coming back."

"I have spoken to the school nurse, the principal and to the superintendent. I have been told that they are following proper screening procedures and floor washing at night. I am told they don't have to do any more. I suggested that they escalate the screening procedures, since it has continued almost 6 months. They will not.

"I am a single parent. The expense is incredible, the physical exertion in decontaminating a home of lice is incredible. I am close to losing my job, due to the number of times I have had to leave to pick my daughter up from school. The lice problem comes from there, yet they will send my daughter home if they find lice in her hair.

"A dozen pupils were sent home with lice one day last month. They were able to identify a couple of sleepovers the previous week at which the lice may have spread. My child has never had a sleepover at anyone else's home. She has no other child to share hats, etc. with.

"I feel the school is not doing their job and that there is one or more parents who are not either. I am hoping bringing some attention to this outbreak matter will effect a positive change, " said Lupejkis.

Editor's note: Tracy Lupejkis logged onto the TPHA Website and joined our Town Park Informer group to bring this very serious problem to our attention. Thank you Tracy.

Pine Hill Fire Company Goes for "A" rating

Commissioner Dave Reinhardt and Chief Ed Dean Jr. addressed TPHA members at their March 3 meeting to explain the district's plans for the immediate future.

Dean explained that district residents' fire insurance polices are rated Class B because when answering an alarm our ladder truck must exit onto a side street, Normandy Ave. This has always held our fire company to a Class B rating.

Dean said, "The insurance rating agency (ISO) governs fire district ratings across the state. It acts as watchdog for insurance companies and policyholders. The agency also sets rates determined by distance of fire hydrants from homes, training level of personnel and turnout equipment of firefighters."

He proudly stated, "All district hydrants and fire trucks are approved, training of our firefighters is second to none and their equipment is the latest."

Reinhardt said the district plans to add a 20 x 50' truck bay onto the west side of the building which will come right up to the present bay so all trucks would exit onto Genesee St. This should reclassify fire policies to Class A rating and residents should realize a savings on their insurance policies. Construction cost is esti-mated at $100,000.

Also, the district plans to purchase the house on Normandy Ave. behind the fire hall and demolish it for park-ing by firefighters.

He added, "The district has the funds to pay for construction costs and purchase of the house, however, voters must approve the expenditures during a public referendum."

Reinhardt explained that the district lost $17,000 in annual tax revenues after the recent revaluation, however, Chief Dean applied for a $10,000 federal grant and an additional $2,100 grant to reimburse the company for costs it incurred during the recent snowstorm. TPHA

From our mailbag…

Dear Mr. Kaznowski:… They say that if you don't learn from past mistakes ~ you are bound to repeat them. As a member of the Town Park Home Owners Association (TPHOA) ~ I would like to express my opinion in citing lessons not learned from the immediate past ~ to wit:

The TPHOA, along with other community-minded organizations was instrumental in the initiation, identification of funding sources and the continuing effort to build a large bandstand/shelter in the Cheektowaga Town Park. However, when the Cheektowaga Town Board was presented with a resolution by the Lions Club for its naming rights they unanimously agreed ~ even those board members who say they are TPHOA members ~ to accept that proposal without further consideration because the Lions are such a community-minded organization ~ so what is the TPHOA and its allied organizations?

Likewise, when the Cheektowaga Central School District's board of education and its administration were desperately seeking district acceptance of a 20 million dollar bond referendum for a Middle School, ALL CCSD board members and the administrative staff pleaded their case before the TPHOA and Pine Hill Fire Company ~ the TPHOA input was needed. However, when the CCSD school board ~ with board members who also claim to be TPHOA members ~ appointed members to a steering committee which will oversee the various organizational aspects of the Middle School ~ they selected 6 teachers, 2 non-teaching staff members, 4 district administrators, 5 students and 2 parents. Of these 19 members ONLY 3 members are district residents who pay school taxes! It is obvious that taxpayer input is not wanted NOW.

So ~ until the third week in May ~ the TPHOA and the Pine Hill Fire Company inputs ~ your VOTE for the annual school budget will not be needed ~~ BUT THAT'S HOW THE COOKIE CRUMBLES!…

Sincerely, Leon S. Regent.

Neighborhood Report…

Pine Ridge Terr. - Vehicle parked several weeks.

Eggert Rd. - Pine Hill EMS, accident with injuries, vehicle struck utility pole, using jaws-of-life to extricate victim.

Peachtree Rd. - Pine Hill EMS, 69-year-old female, difficulty breathing.

Alexander Ave. - Criminal mischief to vehicle.

Eggert Rd. - Suspicious vehicle, 2 male occupants.

Alexander Ave. - 3-5 male youths throwing things.

Preston Rd. - Fist fight upstairs.

Southern Pkwy. - Unknown fire in rear.

Pine Ridge Rd. - Pine Hill Fire, wires down on top of garage.

Pine Ridge & Genesee - Traffic signal out.

East Delavan - Pine Hill Fire, we've got a tree down on primary power lines at Marne Rd.

George Urban Blvd. - Pine Hill Fire, wires burning rear of 48.

Pine Ridge Rd. - Youths fighting, patrol on location, nothing showing, out with 4 youths at Hoerner & Wildy, check the following for outstanding warrants.

Old Maryvale - Church schoolyard, 3 youths swearing at teacher.

ALL NORTHSIDE CARS - 6:30 am, Armed robbery just occurred at the NOCO station, 1635 Kensington, black male, black waist-length jacket, black hat, black scarf, black gloves, last seen on foot toward Treehaven, threatened to use gun, clerk saw barrel of gun, not displayed, 6'-2," 40s, 200 pounds, took surveillance video tape.

Walden Ave. - 1272 at the pawnshop, parking complaint, illegal parking, patrol on location, GOA.

Kensington Expressway - Pine Hill EMS, accident with injuries, victims trapped.

Victoria Blvd. - 4-5 suspicious youths hanging around yellow house next to walkway bridge.

Alpine Pl. - 13-year-old female beat up by 3 females.

Town Code…

Parking of over-sized vehicles on residential streets in town is prohibited. Any parked vehicle longer than 225 inches, wider than 80 inches, or higher than 81 inches is prohibited. Semi-truck tractors, stake trucks, flatbeds or most tow trucks and rental moving vans are illegal. When police are called, the vehicle may be tagged, and if the vehicle interferes with traffic, it could also be towed.

Parking vehicles on any town highway or county road in excess of 24 hours is prohibited. When police are called they may check computer records to see if the vehicle is registered and insured or if there are outstanding warrants against the owner. They may mark the tires on the vehicle, and if the vehicle is still parked the next day it could be tagged. If the vehicle interferes with traffic, it could also be towed.

The all-night parking ban will expire for this year on April 1. Of more than 700 roadways in the town, 37 are exempt from this ban because of action years ago by the Town Board. We will be discussing this exemption during future meetings.

TPHA activity this month

During March our office reported to Niagara Mohawk streetlights out at 48 Greenleaf La. and next to the Reinstein Library driveway. NoMo responded the next day. We thank Elsie and Richard Allyn for bringing this problem to our attention.

We reported to Laidlaw Bus Co. that buses are cutting the corner onto the sidewalk at Andrews Ave. and Schoedel Ave. Laidlaw is sending a supervisor to view the situation. We were very encouraged by their response. We also requested Lt. Mark Nacke to check the area. We thank Mary Ullrich for bringing this matter to our attention.

The E.C. Water Authority was asked to check a small leak at Long and Schoedel Aves. We thank our member Marian Bush for bringing this problem to our attention.

You know spring is in the air when we start complaining about landscaping. We reported to Larry Kensy in the building inspector's office that the bushes at 51 Greenleaf La. next to the walkway to Westchester interfere with pedestrians.

GIVE TO THE ANNUAL PINE HILL HOSE COMPANY FUND DRIVE