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GOWANDA PRESS
The preferred local newspaper of the Gowanda Area Chamber of Commerce March 17-23, 2017
Village appoints new Maple Weekends officer-in-charge By Rich Place
January by Steve Raiport, and said Tuesday he already Managing Editor planned to meet on Wednesday with village officials to GOWANDA — The discuss his budget. village board on Tuesday Then he said he’ll spend appointed Dennis Feldmann some time going over the poas its next officer-in-charge lice department’s roster and following an extensive inorganizing the list by elimiterview process that spanned nating names of inactive offiseveral weeks. cers still listed there. He also A resident of Evans and hopes to implement an email active in his hometown, the system for officers for better 54-year-old officer has been Dennis Feldmann communication and wants employed with the Blasdell to straighten up the policies, Police Department since procedures and create a standard operating 2013. He got his start as a full-time police procedure within the department. officer in Evans in 1985 and rose to the rank When asked about his immediate reaction of lieutenant there. after hearing he would fill the officer-inHe retired from the Evans Police Departcharge position in Gowanda, Feldmann said ment in 2012 when he joined the Evans it was a mix of “relief” and “excitement” Town Board, which he continues to serve and that he welcomed the “new challenge” on. He was also a member of the Lake Shore in his life. School Board from 2006-12. He said he was informed about the vil“I really think we are going to hit the lage board’s decision to hire him on Sunday ground running,” he said after taking the night. oath of office on Tuesday from Mayor “I was very impressed with this village Heather McKeever. board and how professional it was through Feldmann will jump right into the officerSee Police, Page 19 in-charge position, which was vacated in
‘on tap’ By Deb Everts Press Reporter
GOWANDA — Maple Glen Sugar House will join approximately 150 other maple producers across the state for the 22nd annual Maple Weekend, March 18-19 and 25-26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Along with other members of the New York State Maple Producers Association, the Lesefske family will host free open houses where the public can learn about the process of making maple syrup. Co-owners Paul Lesefske and his brother, Dana, invite visitors to their state-of-the-art sugar house, located just outside Gowanda at 2266 Zoar Road. They will give tree tapping demonstrations and compare the “old days” of maple sap collection with new methods. See Maple, Page 21