The Village of Angola has not “stopped dead in its tracks.” It is moving ahead, looking to the future to be bright for the Village, the Town of Evans and the surrounding area. Cruise Night in the Village will take place, for this its second year, on Thursday nights. Gazebo Concerts will be held on Wednesday nights. The New Angola Theater’s movies play on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights. Additional events are currently being discussed for the Village. And if the weather during the Summer of ‘06 is like the Summer of ‘05, the Village will be the place to be. Another project that is taking place in the Village of Angola, is the restoration/preservation of the Angola Nickel Plate Depot. About 15 years ago, the structure was placed on a structural steel frame and moved to its current location next to the Angola Fire Department’s Sub Station on South Main to prevent its demolition. Plans are being completed to move the 30 x 70-foot depot to a new site on North Main Street next to Twister’s and adopt it for commercial use, probably a shop and local museum. Pictured above is the sign, painted by Lake Shore Art Club members Chris Eubanks, Alicia Jeffers, Sarah Murphy and Jessica Kondrick, that is on the site the depot will occupy. The sign is a visual representation of the funding of and progress the project is making. The train, located on the right hand end of the sign, will be moved closer to the “depot” on the left hand end of the sign as the project nears completion. The inset picture shows Alicia Jeffers adding some finishing touches to the sign. Another rail-oriented project backed by Angola Mayor Howard Frawley would commemorate the “Angola Horror,” an 1867 Lake Shore Railroad derailment that killed 51 passengers. Two passenger cars were derailed and fell off the Big Sister Creek viaduct, catching fire from their heating stoves, a disaster which received wide publicity. Trains were a part of Angola’s past and they will play a part in Angola’s future, a future that will shine bright.

The Angola Village Board met on February 6, 2006. The first order of business after calling the meeting to order and approving last meeting’s minutes was to honor Judy Powell with a beautiful plaque to commemorate her 26 years of service and acknowledge her retirement on January 28, 2006. Mr. Ron McPeek brought several interesting points to the Board’s attention from a resident’s standpoint. He complimented the DPW for the improvements to the Main Street crosswalk. He then proceeded to comment on a group of kids using Main Street for a loitering area. The police are aware of the problem, but it is unconstitutional to do any more than encourage them to move on. They are limited in what they can do. Mr. McPeek has received verbal threats to his building and his fence at the rear of the building has been torn down. Even with police presence pressuring them, the group is on Main Street sometimes at 1:00 A.M. throwing the football across Main Street, bothering residents with their noise. An 11:00 P.M. curfew is in effect for sixteen year olds and younger. Mr. McPeek plans to install a video camera on the front of the “Town Crier” building to protect his property. Mr. McPeek touched on a topic concerning all the Board members and listed under new business for the evening’s agenda. The closing of North Star Convenience and Bill the Barber are noticeable signs of the economic plight of the area. It was mentioned by a Trustee that driving through the Village at 6:00 P.M. with all the businesses closed is not conducive to growth nor is it a big draw for people to come to the Village. Lori Szewczyk is looking into leasing options or others interested in the North Star building. Mayor Howard Frawley will contact future clients for this and other closed businesses. Projects like the impending Train Depot station and possible Senior Housing with People, Inc. are great ideas, but are “pie in the sky,” according to Mr. McPeek. He stated, “The Village cannot wait 2-3years for things to happen. Incentives are needed now to get everyone to stay.” Trustee Mike Stockman pointed out there are viable business opportunities along Main Street. Recent closings were due to personal or proprietor circumstances not to bad business locations or lack of business in the Village. Mr. Ron McPeek touched on the point concerning the discontinuation of the summer Village activities like JAMFEST and Cruise Night. JAMFEST would have been in its fourth year and it was just beginning to catch on. The Village can’t loose momentum by skipping a year. Extenuating reasons were given as the cause of both activities being cancelled. Trustee Jonica DiMartino commented on a group of interested people trying to re-work the basketball theme to another form as a summer event or festival of sorts to incorporate a street party. No one is giving up on doing something for the summer. The entire Board agreed with the need for new people to energize the activities. New volunteers are welcome to join in with their ideas and energy to make things work. The Middle School teachers held a Dress Down Day to benefit the Angola Library to help maintain the hours that were cut by Erie County due to budget cuts. Lynne Kaminski represented the Lake Shore Middle School teachers in presenting a total of $201.00 to Library Liaison Jonica DiMartino. Mayor Frawley read two correspondences from residents asking that the Village of Angola be represented at a train whistle meeting with Federal R.R. Administrators and Officials, to be held at Frontier Middle School on March 1, 2006. A 32 -year resident living on Rail Road Avenue wrote asking for representation at the meeting and a chance to improve the quality of life because of living near the tracks and hearing the loud train whistles. Trustee Bill Houston presented a list of all the properties owned by Claddagh Commission, Inc. to the Board to clear up any unanswered questions as to their property holdings and locations. Trustee Houston met with Robert Remillard of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from Albion, N.Y. to inspect the Big Sister Creek at Herman Park. He is interested in protecting what the Corps of Engineers did and wants to help the Village maintain this area for recreational fishing. The thirteen Memorial Markers donated by numerous residents were on display as the Memorial Tree Project nears completion. Crew Chief Jeff Kaminski has the specific tree location for each marker. Trustee John Wilson and Crew Chief Jeff Kaminski attended a Disaster Orientation course where a false working disaster was presented and groups worked to solve the problems posed by the “created disaster.” Both men are expected to take a Water Disaster Coordinator exam on the 100 level allowing them to be eligible for Federal grant monies. Fire Commissioner Lynne Kaminski reported the Village Board presented a check for $1000.00 and a new roster board to the Angola Fire Department at their annual Installation Banquet. The roster board is a welcome addition to the exterior of the Fire Hall. The community can be kept informed of the names of dedicated firemen and members of the Explorers Club. Clerk/Treasurer Linda Giancarlo organized the first meeting date for the budget preparations to be held on February 18, 2006 at 10:00 A.M. Under new business, the Board discussed the needed clean up of Eber Inman on Mill Street. Code Enforcement Officer Chuck LaBarbera will follow up again this year. Street repairs need to be added to this year’s budget according to Board members, so major rebuilding and resurfacing can occur on numerous streets in the Village. In other matters: Water shut-offs were approved due to non-payment, unless paid in full by 2/9/06, in the amount of $15,111.87. Engaged the law firm of Shaw and Shaw to represent the Village pursuant to the matter involving the NYS Thruway Authority and the Water Project to replace Harris Beach PLLC, upon their withdrawal. Authorized Mayor Frawley to sign and approve the Annual Software Support Contract from Williamson Law-Books in the amount of $550.00 for payroll and $700.00 for Municipal accounting for the dates 11/1/05 – 10/31/06 and to charge A1325.4 Village Clerks contractual. Adjourned to the budget workshop on 2/18/06 at 10:00 A.M., the Grievance Meeting on 2/20/06 at 6:00 P.M. and the next regular scheduled meeting on 2/21/06 at 7:30 P.M.