<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3zsFsd_1GpcLfBl00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3zsFsd_1GpcLfBl00" width="1296" height="892" ><figcaption>"Lunch with Leaders." From left: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, Niagara County Legislator Michael Casale, Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick, New York State Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce President Amanda Haseley, Niagara County Legislator Irene Myers and Upward Niagara Board Chairman Matt Villnave.</figcaption></figure>The Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce held its annual “Lunch with Leaders” event on Thursday at Syros Restaurant in Lewiston. Elected officials joined business owners in discussing issues affecting residents and local merchants.Emcee Michael Ragusa, chair of the Upward Niagara Chamber government affairs committee, welcomed guests and said, “We look forward to this event every year. It's a great way for us to all get together and talk about how we can strengthen our communities.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3MmL93_1GpcLfBl00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3MmL93_1GpcLfBl00" width="1008" height="756" ></figure>Michael Ragusa offers introductory remarks.••••••••Leaders in attendance included New York State Sen. Rob Ortt; Assemblyman Angelo Morinello; Niagara County legislators Irene Myers, Michael Casale and David Godfrey; Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick, council members Bill Burg and Sarah Waechter, and Clerk Tamara Burns; Village of Lewiston Mayor Dan Cota and Trustee Leandra Collesano; Town of Porter Supervisor John “Duffy” Johnston and Councilman Jeff Baker; Village of Youngstown Trustee Nicole Quarantillo; and from the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa.Topics of conversation included the high price of utility bills, generating more support for local volunteer fire companies, the use of state funds in the City of Niagara Falls, and strengthening ties between the regions of Niagara Falls, USA, and Niagara Falls, Ontario – particularly as it pertains to shopping, dining and entertainment.Of particular note, Waechter explained, “As everybody is discussing these issues, I just want to let you know that the Town of Lewiston is working on their comprehensive plan. We've actually opened it up. We want to see where we want to go in the next 10 years. So, all of these ideas that you're talking to one another about, that we're bringing up today, please, please, please: Go to the town website or go to the Facebook page … and take the survey. There should be a link to it. Let us know what you're thinking. Let us know what direction you want us to go, as far as infrastructure, bringing economic development, bringing residential housing. Please, please, please take that survey, because we’d appreciate it, and it will inform our decisions moving forward.”Chamber President Amanda Haseley said, “I wanted to take a moment to recognize just how much our elected leaders mean to this Chamber. When I say you guys show up, you show up. You guys are there for every ribbon-cutting, every special event, every festival, every business milestone, and we really appreciate that because it means so much not just to the Chamber, but to all of our small businesses and their employees. Thank you, guys, for continuing to show up.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=13gyC9_1GpcLfBl00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=13gyC9_1GpcLfBl00" width="648" height="749" ></figure>New York State Sen. Rob Ortt answers questions from the audience.Morinello, Haseley and Ortt (Photo by Matt Villnave)<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0bmgJy_1GpcLfBl00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0bmgJy_1GpcLfBl00" width="1296" height="847" ></figure>Chamber leaders with sponsors Modern Disposal Services and Joe Cecconi’s Chrysler Complex.••••••••“Lunch with Leaders” was sponsored by Modern Disposal Services and Joe Cecconi’s Chrysler Complex.“Democracy is an important part of this country – both countries – and it's good to get views out on the table and have dialog; and we need more dialog,” Modern Disposal Services CEO Derek Veenhof said.He explained, “Modern has great bones – it's a great company – but we have been renovating the inside of Modern for the last two, two-and-a-half years; and we've been spending a good bit of time and money as we do that. Most of you won't know that. In fact, most of you will look around the room and say, ‘Wow, I don't recognize anybody at Modern anymore.’ It's a totally different company. We've been spending money on infrastructure. We spent several million dollars in the landfill on advanced controls into the landfill. We've been spending money on our technology stack, in-house, the finance system, our maintenance system, even the systems that are in the trucks – the camera systems that we have as of this year, we're leading edge. We are innovating at Modern again, and I think representing what a big part of the waste industry would like to look like. I think there's a lot to be proud of at Modern today as we move forward.”Speaking of Tuesday’s election results, Joe Cecconi’s President Mike Jensen said, “Obviously, for some of us, the election results landed differently, of course. Some are happier, some are not. But I think it’s always good to remember that the United States, when we finish with an election, we all come back together. We go back to our families, to our house, and we get ready for the holidays that are coming up. Those are the things that we all celebrate together.”He added, “Joe Cecconi’s opened in 1963. If anyone knows Mr. C, he's 88 years old. He still stops by. Just an unbelievable guy … that I had inherited the business from, and what a great example. I've tried to remember that throughout the years. And to make sure that I do, he stops in every couple of weeks, just sits over my shoulder like a little angel up there.”He added, “In 2025, we purchased what was an old Fuccillo Hyundai store on Grand Island, and we are moving that up to Military Road, at the end of the street. We hope to begin construction in 2027, and if things go well, we hope to complete that construction in 2027.”</div></body>

Block Source: wnypapers.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

The Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce held its annual “Lunch with Leaders” event on Thursday at Syros Restaurant in Lewiston. Elected officials joined business owners in discussing issues affecting residents and local merchants. Emcee Michael Ragusa, chair of the Upward Niagara Chamber government affairs committee, welcomed guests and...

Upward Niagara hosts 'Lunch with Leaders'

NewsBreak

The Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce held its annual “Lunch with Leaders” event on Thursday at Syros Restaurant in Lewiston. Elected officials joined bus

Upward Niagara hosts 'Lunch with Leaders'

Comments