Month: December 2018

About

About The Editor

     

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Photo Credit: Tess Moran Photography Studio

Julie A Pappalardo

     I live in Newstead.  Newstead is the town around the Village of Akron.  Outside the village, is mostly farmland where farmers grow corn and soy (for now at least).  On any given day when I go outside, depending on the way the wind is blowing, I can smell the sweet smell of bubblegum from the Ford Gum Factory, Ice Cream from the Perry’s Ice Cream Plant, or, you know, farm smells. 

After growing up in a Connecticut suburb of NYC, and spending the bulk of my 20’s in South Florida, I transplanted here in Western NY.  Both of my parents families are from Batavia.  I’m a DJ by trade, meaning I went to school for “radio broadcasting”.  My first job was at 1490 WGCH-AM in Greenwich CT when I was 15.  I was too cool for school when I got to drive around in the WGCH van with my cassette recorder and WGCH microphone 🎤 to go interview people, and write/edit news.  Naturally, I ended up being a radio DJ for a while, which turned into starting a Mobile DJ service that I ran for years.  I DJed everything you could imagine from bars, to parties, to parties on drift fishing boats, to playing music for people who had suffered horrific brain injuries and could maybe only tap their pinkie to the music.  At some point I decided that it would be a great idea to be a bar owner, so I did that🤦‍♀️….Twice🤦‍♀️.  I also thought it would be a great idea to buy rental property (I could write a book on that🙄). I have been out of the bars and DJing for about 10 years, and have now started winding down my real estate.  That means it is time for something new. 

So now, I am getting back to my roots like when I worked at the radio station, and have started The Newsteader, a new online only site for community/cultural event info, news, weather, recipes, and who knows what else for Akron/Newstead and the surrounding areas.  This is a completely new journey for me.  I’m going to make mistakes along the way, but hopefully learn from them.  I look so forward to learning about different topics and enriching my own life in doing this.  I hope you all find this site engaging, informational, and entertaining.  JAP

PS: You can also catch me playing bass guitar in the local Folk Noir Band, Harvey Brice & The Unbroken.  We are on break for Winter, but will be out again in Spring! #ShamelessSelfPromotion 

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Local News

New Years Festivities In Akron

The New Years Eve Gala at the Senior Center Kicks off at with dinner and dancing from 5:30 to 9PM

Then

The Akron New Years Eve Ball Drop at 11:30, FREE hot cocoa at the pavilion and fireworks at Midnight!

There is also a taster menu dinner at Bistro 93, but that could be sold out at this point.  Give them a ring if you are interested.

Please remember we might have some wind tonight, so dress accordingly!

Local News

About The Newsteader

    What is The Newsteader?

 

The Newsteader is the NEW online only source for news, information and community events in Akron/Newstead and the surrounding areas.  The site was created to consolidate community events into one, convenient, easy to navigate spot for everyone.  On The Newsteader you will find:

  • Local News
  • Feature Articles 
  • Police Beat
  • Death Notices
  • Birth Announcements
  • Weather

 

 The Events Calendar is for ALL general events going on out, about and around town.

  • For Music fans: Concert listings for the whole WNY area
  • For Motor Heads: Summer Cruise Nights for the whole WNY area
  • For Parents: The Summer Carnivals and Festivals.
  • For Hunters and Fisherman/Women:  Hunting Season Tips
  • For Farmers: News Releases from the DEC and Dept of Ag that seem of interest.

**Readers have asked for an Obituary section.  Obituaries are now an option on The Newsteader.  Please talk to your funeral director about that, or you can contact The Newsteader directly for pricing**

     If you have news or a story to share, for example:  Your child wins an award, opening a new business, or someone turning 100, we want to hear about it!  We want to showcase our residents!  There are several links on the site to “contact us”, please fill out the form and someone will get back to you ASAP.  

    If you have a community event/fundraiser, please let us know so we can get it on the calendar and let everyone know about it.  

Please go to the “press release” link to send press releases.  We will get them on the air within 24 hours. 

Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @Newsteader

Local News

Saving The Little White House

EAA0F9A7-DF45-484D-9337-BAF8EE8FE517                The Little White House   10375 Main St Clarence 

     If you travel West on Rt. 5,  right before the Clarence Fire District Fire Station on the left side on Main St. sits the Little White House (LWH).  There used to be two houses here, but the Town of Clarence bought the property, demolished one house to make space for the Fire Department, and left the Little White House standing.  It’s pretty old, probably of the 1800’s vintage, but no one really knows for sure as of this writing.  Right now, it’s just sitting there deteriorating.  If nothing is done to preserve it soon, it will be too damaged from our harsh weather to be saved.  The Town has owned the property for quite a while and has no plans for it looking forward.

     Recently a group of local residents formed a grass roots group to help preserve the LWH.  “Friends of The Little White House” would like to see the house rehabbed and made into a cultural center.  Some of the ideas floated around for the house have been:  making the house into a Welcome Heritage Center with a welcome/gift shop, wall mounted TVs with programmed history of the area, and vending machines for refreshments.  The bedrooms could easily be converted into offices for the Town Historian and genealogy records storage.  There is also a garage that could be used for a recreational hub with bike rentals, tennis racket rentals and sales of related sports equipment that people can use to enjoy at the Main Street Town Park.  They envision a Community Garden in the front yard and would like to offer Master Gardener Projects to help with the landscaping.   The Clarence Arts and Crafts Society would like to create an Art Trail that would be part of the bike path/trail system that is already in place.  

 

    Currently, there is no way to buy the LWH from the Town, and the Town has done little to preserve it.  The Friends of the LWH have gone to the Clarence Town Board and offered  a GIFT of a shiny new shingle roof, installed by a local contractor selected by The Friends and paid by The Friends.  They also offered to patch holes, and windows etc to keep the critters from Wintering in there and causing more damage.  They would acquire all of the permits, insurances and licensing required to get the project done as well as follow all local zoning laws.  The Town has rejected this offer, but had a tarp placed over the roof to help keep moisture out.  

     The Friends are in the process of forming a 501c(3) non profit charity to help in raising funds to save and rehab the LWH as they do not want the Town to incur any costs associated with the project.  The Friends want to keep HOPE alive that together, they can find an adaptive reuse of the property that will enhance the area as a whole.  

     If you are interested in getting involved, you can join the Facebook Group:  Friends of The Little White House.  It is a CLOSED group, so you have to request  to join from the group page.   John O’Hare is the administrator.  The group is up to over 1200 members and counting.

     

Local News, Weather

Hazardous Weather Outlook for New Years Eve

The National Weather Service has issued a HIGH WIND WATCH in effect from Monday evening through Tuesday morning with wind from the Southwest 25-35 mph with gusts up to 60-65 mph.

Strong wind gusts can bring down trees and power lines.  Minor property damage is also possible.  Make sure to secure your outdoor property and if you have a generator,  make sure it is operable as power outages may occur.