Nancy Timm Bowen presents Jack Kuebler with Citizen of the Year plaque.

     The Evans-Brant Chamber of Commerce honored outgoing president Linda Potwara and 2006 Citizen of the Year Jack Kuebler at their Annual President’s Award and Recognition Dinner on Saturday, March 31, 2007. Linda Potwora was thanked for her two years of leadership and sacrifice, as president of the Chamber. New president, John Latimore, was wished much success in his term. The recipient of the Citizen of the Year award must meet the qualifications of working or living in the Towns of Evans or Brant. He or she has contributed time, and unselfish service for the benefit of the community, over and above the normal duties of a paid position. And has done this in the scope of lifetime achievement. This distinguished award is the highest tribute the Chamber can pay to someone who is outstanding in caring for others and volunteerism. Nancy Timm Bowen, Chair of the Citizen of the Year selection committee said of Jack Kuebler, “The man I am presenting tonight is a man of his word, a man of honor, integrity and a truly caring individual. He has a tremendous sense of humor and I had to make a difficult decision…do I toast him or roast him!” In the end, Ms. Bowen made the decision to toast Mr. Kuebler for his many acts of volunteerism dating back to 1955 when he joined the Blasdell Fire Company. Jack moved to the Town of Evans in 1965 and has been very active in the Evans community ever since. Jack is also active in the county and state in fire service and disaster coordination. Also honored were Evans Ace Hardware - 2006 Large Business of the Year, Schiavone Funeral Home Inc - 2006 Small Business of the Year, Evans Historical Society - 2006 Not-for-Profit of the Year and Addison Funeral Home Inc - 2006 Project of the Year.

Farnham Fights Fire in Abandoned Structure

By: TIGER SCHMITTENDORF/Erie County Emergency Services

A Farnham Firefighter uses their Thermal Imager to check for hot spots through a second floor window.

TOWN OF BRANT – April 1, 2007 --- Heavy smoke was pouring from an abandoned two-story residence at the end of Detroit Street when Assistant Chief John McEvoy arrived around 3pm and established command for the Village of Farnham Volunteer Fire Department. The first alarm brought a full response from Farnham and the Brant Volunteer Fire Company. Farnham’s first engine on scene tapped a hydrant across the street from the house and stretched lines to three sides of the building. Knowing the building was unoccupied, McEvoy called for an exterior attack to minimize the risk of firefighter injuries. He then called in an engine and a rescue from the Lake Erie Beach Volunteer Fire Company to supplement the crews on scene. Firefighters dumped water on the fire for more than an hour to bring it under control. Farnham was assisted at the scene by the Angola Fire Control Dispatch Center, Town of Brant Police and the New York State Park Police. Fire Investigators from the Erie County Sheriffs Department were called in to determine the cause and origin of the fire.

Crews stretch the first attack lines on the fire.

TOWN OF EVANS --- A virtual wall of flame greeted North Evans Fire District Chiefs Nick Mecca Jr., Joe Gian and Jack Hazard when they arrived at a Depot Street residence around 6pm on March 30, 2007. Mecca called for a tanker from the Brant Volunteer Fire Company to supplement the water supply or in lieu of the hydrant if it was not functioning. Involved was a detached two-story garage with fire quickly consuming the building. An engine from North Evans arrived and used their deck gun to create a water curtain to protect the adjacent residence and a truck in the driveway. A second North Evans fire engine and an engine from the Highland Hose Fire Company arrived as initial crews were stretching a supply line to the nearby hydrant and a large attack line to the fire. The large garage eventually collapsed on to itself, making a tedious job of extinguishing and overhauling all of the burning materials. Crews remained on the scene for a few hours pulling apart all of the debris and hitting remaining hotspots. North Evans and Highland were assisted at the scene by the Angola Fire Control Dispatch Center, Evans Police and Rural Metro Medical Services. Engines from Lake View and Eden were on stand-by at the Highland and North Evans fire stations during the operation.

   On Wednesday March 14 at 6:30pm comcerned parents of the Town of Brant met with Town Supervisor Leonard Pero and a Seneca Nation representative to discuss the possible closing of the Brant Elementary School. Supervisor Pero informed those in attendance that he had a meeting earlier in the day with Superintendent of Schools Jeff Rabey and assured everyone that a decision on closing one of the three schools in question would not be made until January of 2008. It is possible that none of the schools would be closed if information obtained would be detrimental to any of the communities. There will be an ongoing dialog with the Supervisor’s office and those involved. Supervisor Pero also stated that the cost to operate all three schools is approximately ¼ of 1% of the total budget but it will improve the quality of education for the district. Smaller classrooms do create a better grade of education. If one of the schools are closed, the room sizes will be over 26 students per class room. The group will hold another meeting on April 25th at the Saylor Community Building on the Seneca Nation at 6:00pm. All concerned parents are invited.