The Cheektowaga Lion’s Club will host a Sight and Sound Fair

The Cheektowaga Lion’s Club will host a Sight and Sound Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 23, held at the Cheektowaga Senior Center, on Broadway and Union Road.

This fair will offer testing for cataracts, glaucoma, hearing, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, blood oxygen and colorectal test kits.

You do not need to make any appointments; the tests are first come, first serve.

UNYTS will be on site to take blood donations, too.

It’s important to detect diseases in their early stages. If you want to see your best and hear your clearest, or if you are worrying that something may be awry, stop down to this informative and beneficial fair. 

If you have any questions, feel free to call Don Sendlak at 668-3844.

Anthony Albert of Cheektowaga arrested for marijuana growing operation

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A Cheektowaga man was arrested at 1:30 a.m. Friday, May 6 after complaints from neighbors led to a police surveillance of the area.

Cheektowaga Police were watching the residence of a man living on Pleasant Parkway, after a multitude of residents in the neighborhood had complained of an increase in vehicle traffic and a pickup truck with a loud muffler frequenting the house in the very early morning hours.

Cheektowaga Police Officers, Michael Menth and Jeff Scaglione, observed a pickup truck with a loud muffler and subsequently saw a drug deal occur between the occupants of the vehicle and a resident on Pleasant Parkway.

The officers prevented the truck from moving and had to chase down male resident, Anthony Albert, 35, of 47 Pleasant Parkway.

Officers found cocaine on the individuals in the truck and the money used in the transaction with Albert.

Albert was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance and resisting arrest.
The truck occupants included Thomas Farruggio, 42, of Wayside Drive in Depew, Amy Farruggio, 35, of Benz Drive in Cheektowaga and David Torgalski, 42, of Gold Street in Buffalo.

They were arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Officers obtained a search warrant for the house at 47 Pleasant Parkway from Judge Thomas Kolbert.

Upon serving the warrant, the officers found crack cocaine and an indoor marijuana growing operating consisting of more than 30 marijuana plants.

Albert was additionally charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, third degree; criminal possession of marijuana, second degree; criminal use of drug paraphernalia, second degree; and unlawful growing of Cannabis.

Judge Kolbert arraigned Albert. His bail was set at $10.000 cash and $25,000 bond.

He was the sent to the Erie County Holding Center.

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Benjamin Mahle, Noco employee, busted for selling alcohol to minor

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Cheektowaga Police Department’s Vice Gambling and Narcotics Unit conducted a joint investigation with the New York State Liquor Authority Friday, April 29 regarding the underage sales of alcohol in a variety of convenient stores and bars throughout Cheektowaga.

At approximately 5:27 p.m. an 18-year-old decoy was employed and sent to numerous establishments to attempt to purchase alcohol.

The decoy selected a can of Tilt Malt Liquor, containing 12 percent alcohol, at Noco, located at 642 Cleveland Drive, from the cooler.

The decoy approached the counter where the offender, Benjamin Mahle, 23, of Harlem Road in Amherst, was working as a cashier. Mahle completed the sale of the alcoholic beverage without asking for identification from the decoy, or even inquiring about the decoy’s age. The decoy gave Mahle $3.08 for the can of Tilt in official Cheektowaga Police Department funds.

An investigator, who was part of conducting the stings, witnessed the sale.

The alcohol was subsequently turned over to the investigator to be held as evidence in any future hearings regarding this sale.

Mahle was arrested and transported to Cheektowaga Police Headquarters and was charged with one count each of unlawfully dealing with a child, first degree, and prohibited sale of alcohol under the ABC Law.

The offender was booked and issued an appearance ticket for a return date of May 9. Judge Dennis Delano will arraign him.

Noco was one of 25 establishments checked for underage sales during this operation.

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Airman Jason Babirad of Cheektowaga helps Japanese after Earthquake

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The son of a Cheektowaga couple didn’t know what to expect. He’d seen pictures of the devastation on television and in the newspapers, and he knew he had to help, but he didn’t know how. It didn’t take long for him to find out.

Air Force Senior Airman Jason Babirad, son of Arthur and Roberta Babirad of Kemp Avenue in Cheektowaga, was one of more than 20,000 U.S. military men and women who have provided assistance in support of Operation Pacific Passage.

The operation provides the authorized voluntary return of military family members from Japan in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11. Operation Tomodachi provides humanitarian assistance and recovery operations to the people of Japan.

Operation Pacific Passage has airlifted more than 7,000 passengers and more than 400 pets via military and commercial aircraft from various locations in Japan, and Operation Tomodachi has resulted in more than 400 missions being flown, more than 2,800 tons of cargo, and more than 400,000 pounds of fuel delivered. Military members are also assisting in the cleanup of communities and airports.
“My role and job during Operation Tomodachi is to help provide fire protection,” said Babirad, who is a firefighter with the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron, Yokota. “We have performed and are continuing to perform hazardous material assistance, including decontamination of aircraft and personnel if needed. We have also taught the Japanese firefighters pump operations on a truck that we sent to the north. Just providing a safe feeling for the base and then knowing that our main priority is the people, property, and environment is important.”

While nothing can totally prepare service members with the training they need to handle a disaster of this magnitude, the fact that they must be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice has come in handy during this operation.

“This is my first time being involved in an operation like this,” said Babirad, who graduated in 2003 from Cheektowaga Central High School.

“To prepare for this type of operation, we do training monthly on different types of incidents. We train daily on new techniques and operation of new equipment. When this incident happened, we spun up quickly on different types of aircraft being used in support of the operation and anything else in support of the operation.”

Operations of this type are very important because they further demonstrate the longstanding and close working relationships that the United States has developed with many countries around the world over the years.

“This operation is important because we are helping the Japanese who have become family to us,” said Babirad. “Helping a country that has been good to us has never felt better. This type of operation again proves to the world that the United States does care.”

Operation Tomodachi, or Operation Friendship, in the Japanese translation, means helping friends. For Babirad and the others, it has become more like helping family.

“Being involved with this type of operation, helping the Japanese with whatever is needed, makes me feel great,” said Babirad. “Working closely with the Japanese local nationals everyday at the fire station and helping them with their needs is sad. My thoughts go out to all affected. The Japanese are family to me and it feels great to be there for them.”

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Four defendants sentenced for selling prescription pills in Cheektowaga

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By: Nicole Gawel

Daniel Smythe, 23, of Cheektowaga, Lindsay Lang, 19, of Orchard Park, Sophie Wroblewski, 39, and Olivia Paschell, 40, both of Buffalo, were convicted of conspiring to distribute oxycontin pills. Chief District Judge William M. Skretny sentenced the offenders to probation.

The four defendants were arrested July 15, 2010 along with 22 others following a long-term investigation into the widespread illegal sale of prescription drugs in the City of Buffalo and its eastern suburbs. To date, 10 of the 26 defendants have been convicted.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. McCabe, Wroblewski and Paschell sold their oxycontin pills in the City of Buffalo. Smythe and Lang obtained oyxcontin pills from a source with ties to a prescription pill trafficking network. They distributed pills to customers in the Cheektowaga and Lancaster area.

The sentences are the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dale Kasprzyk, in conjunction with many local and state authorities such as the New York State Police, the Buffalo Police Department, the Cheektowaga Police Department, the West Seneca Police Department and the Lancaster Police Department.

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Woodrow Wilson Elementary School event focuses on reading

 Today's Buffalo and WNY News from Metrowny.com

By Nicole Gawel

Woodrow Wilson Elementary School recently held the Read, Write and Share event where books ruled.

Earlier in the school year, Andrea Galenski, principal at Woodrow Wilson, instated a literacy committee in order to gain ideas to be utilized during the inaugural event. It took months to finally bring the event to fruition.

“We knew that the day was going to be centered around literacy and we wanted to be sure that every activity that the children were involved in focused on reading, writing and presenting,” said Galenski.

Each grade level participated and the teachers put their students in groups.

Each group had a few weeks to plan on how they were going to present a book of their choosing to their teachers, family and classmates. Selena Soler, Stuart Mcleod, Bethanie Johns and Caitlin Cork, all third graders in Michelle Struzik’s classroom, explained the process.

Each group was able to select a book that they were already familiar with, and choose the method that they would present it, in the style of book in a bag, script it out, or a PowerPoint presentation.

“We wanted this learning experience to be rich and valuable so we emphasized the importance of using authentic literature,” said Galenski. “Every presentation was based on literature and how that literature could be brought to life through the presentation styles.”

Elizabeth Biro, Christina DiJoseph and Gregory Schulz, reading specialists at the school, created the three presentation styles that students could choose from.

“The presentation expectations became more sophisticated in the higher grade levels,” said Galenski.

“For example, the script it out in grade 5 allowed students the opportunity to create a newscast, or talk show. We really tailored the presentation options to each grade level so that they were age appropriate. The group work was non-negotiable because we wanted to give students the opportunity to work in groups, which is a lifelong skill that they need to have.”

In addition to children presenting various pieces of literature to their parents, they also had the opportunity to attend a book fair in the school’s gymnasium following the day’s presentations.

The Scholastic Book Fair truly was a carnival offering musical chairs with the prize being a book, face painting, coloring, a chance to purchase books and reading supplies, a place to take a picture on the reading coaster scenic background, made by the school’s art teacher, and enormous red and white striped containers complete with golden balloons serving as giant popcorn.

“We wanted the entire day to be focused on literacy, so we created a literacy environment in the gym,” said Galenski.

The school librarian, Jessica Stokes, along with the assistance of the publicity committee made the carnival inspired book fair possible.

“The most important part of the day for me was the incredible number of parents and guests that attended this event,” said Galenski.
“It was heartwarming to see so many parents walking through the hallways of our school and participating in the gymnasium activities and watching the students perform in the classrooms.

They say that the more students see their parents connected to school, the better that they do in school and the more that they care about the quality of work that they produce. The students were so proud of their accomplishments, which made them truly excited about sharing it with others, especially their families. I was so grateful for the support that we received yesterday and as I told students that morning, I am so proud of each and every one of them.”