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• PROCEEDING PROPERLY: We applaud Lockport Town Court and Judge Leonard G. Tilney Jr. for recusing themselves from the driving-while-intoxicated case against local attorney Daniel E. Seaman due to conflict of interest. Seaman is attorney for the Town of Lockport, as well as for the towns of Pendleton and Hartland, so the court and the judge are right to disqualify themselves from the case to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. Officials said they believe the court could be fair and impartial, and we agree with them on that point. But we also agree that recusal is the best choice to avoid any possible public question over integrity or impartiality in the case. Similarly, the Niagara County District Attorney’s office dismissed themselves from the case because Seaman’s son, Brian, is an assistant district attorney there. A special prosecutor has been appointed, and a new court will be assigned to take the case. They’re all doing the right thing.
• OUNCE OF PREVENTION: We’re glad that the Lockport Police Department is again teaming up with the Drug Enforcement Administration to hold a local prescription medication drop-off day. Chief Larry Eggert said that last year, the LPD collected between 500 and 600 pounds of pills during their four-hour event. The goal is to eliminate street use of these drugs, a form of drug abuse that is quickly replacing abuse of other drugs like heroin — especially among young people. We urge residents to drop off old or unused prescription medication during the drop-off hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30 at Lockport Plaza, 300 S. Transit St.
• HUGGABLE HERO: Starpoint sixth-grader Lexi Keller is a true inspiration. A heart transplant recipient at 4, she has helped to raise awareness for Upstate NY Transplant Services and has helped to raise $75,000. She also helped recruit more than 300 donors who gave more than 32 gallons of blood. She’s a finalist for the Huggable Hero award and is being considered to receive a $10,000 scholarship. She gets our vote. Congratulations, Lexi, and good luck.
• GOAL-ORIENTED: You’ve gotta like a school principal who’ll allow himself to get drizzled with paint to motivate kids to read. John Diodate, principal of Thomas Marks Elementary in Wilson, offered to become a human painting as a reward if the kids met their Parents As Reading Partners reading goal of 50,000 minutes. They did, that, plus an extra 6,000 minutes.
• OUCH: This week, gas prices in the Lockport area rose nearly 7 cents cents a gallon, with an average currently at $3.935. It won’t be long before that $4 gallon of gas will be upon us. People are cutting down on trips, adjusting their budgets and spending less on other things. But it hurts.
