BUSINESS: Wine industry has local representation on state task force

Communities

Related Photos

November 23, 2007

By Joe Olenick/olenickj@gnnewspaper.com The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Fri Nov 23, 2007, 10:49 PM EST

New York state will have a watchful eye on the wine industry.

Margo Sue Bittner, owner of the Winery at Marjim Manor in Appleton on the Niagara Wine Trail, has been appointed to the New York State Wine Grape Task Force.

The task force will be charged with examining any needs or problems facing the wine industry and enhance the state’s wine industry as a whole. The group will also look at regulatory measures necessary to enhance the value of the wine industry. The goal is to double the net income of the industry in five years.

The group’s first meeting took place Nov. 20 in Albany, and Bittner believes it got off to a great start.

“It was wonderful. It is a great group,” she said. “The reason for putting this group together is to make New York more agriculture business friendly.” Bittner’s winery, billed as a W.O.W., or Woman Owned Winery, is located at 7171 E. Lake Road, Appleton.

Also on the task force is Mike VonHeckler of Warm Lake Estate Vineyard and Winery, 3868 Lower Mountain Road, Cambria.

The agriculture business is one of the state’s top industries, and task force members represent the industry through a wide background of ideas and concerns. The group was broken down into major issue areas: legislative, marketing, regulations, economic development and environmental issues.

Bittner said the group will research information about each of the issues. Her areas are marketing and legislative issues.

“It was a nice cross section of all kinds of people,” she said, adding the issues of concern vary for different task force members. The experience and knowledge of the group was why the task force was formed in the first place.

“Grape growers in New York are not only adding value to a commodity, they are adding value to this state,” said state agriculture commissioner Patrick Hooker. “By providing jobs, maintaining scenic vistas, enhancing tourism and generating revenue, the wine industry is an important sector to examine, learn from and assist further if possible,” he said.

Hooker appointed 15 leaders from the state’s wine grape industry to the task force. Kareem Massoud of Paumonok Vineyards on Long Island will serve as the chairperson. In addition to Massoud, Bittner and VonHeckler, members include: Jim Bedient of the New York State Wine Grape Growers Inc.; David Bova of Millbrook Winery; Jim Finkle of Constellation Wines; Joe Gergela of the Long Island Farm Bureau; Frederick Johnson of Johnson Estate Winery; Robert Kern of Martha Clara Vineyards; John Martini of Anthony Road Wine Company; and Scott Osborn of Fox Run Vineyards.

Other members are Larry Perrine of Channing Daughters Winery, Gene Pierce of Glenora Wine Cellars, Julie Suarez of New York Farm Bureau and Jim Trezise of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation and

New York state’s wine, grapes and grape juice industries have a $3.3 billion economic impact each year, and support 36,000 jobs. There are nearly 250 wineries in the state. New York winery sales account for $420 million a year and more than 4 million tourists visit wineries annually.

Text Only

Communities

Newfane's Apple Blossom Fest has something for everyone
An apple a day may keep the doctor away and the apple blossoms of Niagara County are cause for celebration. Sunday’s Apple Blossom Festival will lure hundreds of visitors to step back in time to the good old days.

The Newfane Historical Society’s annual event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the museum grounds at the corner of West Creek and Ide roads. Admission and parking are free, and families can while away a sunny afternoon perusing everything from antique tractors to a Civil War encampment.

May 17, 2012 1 Photo
NFTA targets Lockport bus routes for closure
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s proposed service reductions would eliminate all bus service from, to and within greater Lockport.

December 20, 2011
Library adds online selections
Library card holders can check out and download e-books anytime, anywhere by visiting lockportlibrary.org. Patrons can download to a personal computer, Mac and many mobile devices, according to librarian Claire McDonough.

December 20, 2011 4 Photos
Mayor Maedl
Julia A. Maedl is stepping away from politics after 19 years of service to the Village of Middleport in 2001.
Maedl, who was a village trustee for nine years and village mayor for 10 years, will not seek re-election. She says she will remain very active, however.
Since the death of her husband, Robert Maedl in 2008, the Middleport mayor has been running Maedl Woodcrafts. She is on the tourist committee, chair of business association and trustee of Middleport United Methodist Church. She sings in the choir and is in charge of Harvest dinner and chicken barbecue. She manages 28 apartments.

February 11, 2011 1 Photo
Memorial tree program off to a good start
The town’s new memorial tree program has been growing quickly.
Councilwoman Cheryl A. Antkowiak said the program is being done with Stedman’s Nursery of Newfane. Residents who wish to have a tree planted will receive an information packet from Stedman’s as well as a map of Day Road Park showing where each of the 85 trees are located. Stedman’s sells the trees along with a plaque if the resident wants one to be put up.

February 3, 2011
New recycling bins available soon
Town residents could have some new bins to go along with its new recycling incentive program.
At Monday’s work session meeting, Town Board members approved the purchase of new recycling bins. The town placed an order of 1,000 of the 18 gallon bins for $8,845 and another order of 200 of the 32 gallon bins for $3,110. The large bins are 31 and a half inches in height and 22 inches in diameter.
Both sets of bins will be blue in color and the 32 gallon bins will come with lids.
The 18 and 32 gallon bins were produced by Otto Environmental Services in Charlotte, N.C., a company Supervisor Marc R. Smith said the town has used before for bins. The company still has a rubber stamp with the town logo on it.

February 1, 2011
Library names new director
Beverly Federspiel, Director of the City of Tonawanda Public Library, has been appointed as the new Director of the Lockport Public Library.
Federspiel, 49, will succeed Marie Binderman, who is retiring, on Feb. 28.
“I’m excited,” said Federspiel, who has been at the Tonawanda Library three years after serving at the Buffalo and Erie County Central Library for 18 years. “I’ve always loved the Lockport building and the community is very supportive. There are lots of opportunities out there.”

February 1, 2011
Winterfest, take two
Winterfest was a big success last year and Winterfest 2011 may even be bigger Saturday at Royalton-Hartland Elementary School and the Hartland Bible Church.
“Last year was the first year and well over 650 people attended, that’s a huge response for an inaugural event,” said Helen Feron, the chairman of the steering committee. “This year we expect more.”
Entertainment and activities are scheduled from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. including a basket auction at the Hartland Bible Church at 3 p.m., where Magician Robert Geckler will also perform at 2:15 p.m.
The event is geared towards school aged children and free to children 10-and-under. Admissiong is $3 for adults and includes Chinese auction tickets.

February 1, 2011
High school project coming along
Construction on Lockport High School is continuing throughout the winter months. Construction crews work on a scaffold on the west side of the building, which is the Locust Street side. The school is undergoing a $23.5 million capital improvement project that includes adding a fitness center, a six classroom addition and completely renovate the auditorium into a brand new fine arts center. The auditorium will also have stage work completed, new music rooms, a renovated foyer and a new entrance on the Locust Street side. There will be improvements made to ventilators and mechanical systems, an art gallery, new windows, as well as new padding and bleachers in the gymnasium. The technology wing also will be updated, and the library renovated to make room for a computer lab. Also, bathrooms will be added nearby. The entire project is expected to be completed in September.

January 28, 2011 2 Photos
Going green
With a symbolic “shot heard ‘round the community,” Lockport’s historic Kenan Center Arena unveiled its new artificial turf indoor soccer field and renovated “annex.”
About a dozen local dignitaries were on hand Thursday night at special dedication ceremony, attended by about 200 parents and soccer players, who wasted little time putting two new soccer fields to work.
The new turf installation was part of a larger arena capital project, which included the renovation of the arena’s adjacent annex room, which was gutted last year to create almost 6,000 square feet of additional space. Parts of the old artificial turf field were used to cover the new, smaller soccer field in the annex.
Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker lauded the Kenan’s effort and others who joined in to make the $106,000 capital improvement project — more than 10 years in the making — a reality. Funders include the Kenan soccer players, who raised about $60,000 selling candy, the Grigg-Lewis Foundation, the Kenan Arts Council, Rotary Club of Lockport and the Lockport Lions Club.

January 28, 2011 4 Photos
More Communities Headlines

Communities

Search Results

Related Photos

BUSINESS: Wine industry has local representation on state task force

Site Map

Contact Us