Potpourri for a Wednesday

Restaino Jr. in, Massaro out

Sunday’s story about Lawrence Blaber running for school board brought an anonymous tip claiming:

Angelo Massaro is being forced off the board because of his age/health.

His anointed replacement is rumored to be Anthony Restaino Jr. which makes no sense because the son of the city administrator and nephew of the mayor lives in the Town of Niagara where he is a justice.

Myles not an NU employee

A resident reached out to report Bridgette Myles is not an employee of Niagara University. When I spoke to her a few weeks ago, she said she was. I found a listing for her online but when I clicked on it it dead-ended. So maybe she used to work for NU

Blue Cave opens

We went for dinner Friday and had an outstanding meal. Beet salad with feta, arugula and walnuts and spinach lasagne with bechamel sauce.

We love La Hacienda, Fortuna’s and Michaels. Casa Antica has great arancini for Lewiston festival time.

Our dining experience at Casa Antica has been mediocre on three visits mostly because it seemed like the serving staff wasn’t happy to be there. Our presence was an imposition.

N-Town Wings

Visited Demetreus Nix’s N-Town wings for an order of 10 hot last week. $16. No celery. Loud rap music. One worker there. Average wings for takeout but still, happy to support small business.

St. Raphael’s

Visited the school Friday and purchased a small table to use in the kitchen at Beth’s office in Williamsville. Pine, plywood top with mouldings, turned legs. All wood. $10.

It is eerie wandering through an old school closed since 2013 and seeing Latin on the blackboards and promotional posters for the annual appeal.

Someone mentioned the sanctuary has been sold and will become a Baptist Church. The rectory will become apartments. The school sold as well but there was no mention of what fate awaits.

Walking

Took a stroll Saturday afternoon near the Underground Railroad Heritage Museum and went down the stairs into the gorge in an Irish mist. The crashed Toyota still rests in the brush.

We hiked the trail south to the trailhead not far from the Aquarium and walked back along the top.

Fog was already hanging over the cataract because ice in the river was chilling the high humidity. As we worked our way back the mist followed, filling the gorge. It was eerie. Or is that Erie, like where the ice came from . . .

The Como is coming

I messaged Ujjal Aladin about the Como and asked if it is ever going to reopen.

Aladin replied “yes, but it is taking longer.”

More walking

Took Gord to Stonehaven Sunday for a walk and to look for ramps. I found wild onions and trout lilies but it may be too soon for ramps which I have yet to find east of Route 78 in Niagara County.

I will give it a few more weeks and then perhaps roadtrip to a favorite patch in Clarence that, as a bonus, sometimes yields chicken of the woods.