Spindle items
JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

• BEYOND OUR CONTROL - I know that many of you enjoy reading the police blotter entries and will be disappointed to learn that The Amherst Bee is without such report this week. My attempts to obtain that information fell short as the program used by the media to read police reports was still down as of late Monday. Chief John C. Askey assured me he would look into the progress and give me an update as he is able.

I had said this past weekend, that as helpful as technology can be some days, it can also be an annoyance. Look for the blotter to return (I hope) next week.

• HARRY POTTER PARTY - When it comes to the world of Harry Potter, I am clueless, but I know I am in the minority. For the many Potter fans, Barnes & Noble in Williamsville will stay open late on Friday, July 20 to sell copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." There will be a Midnight Magic Costume Party with special Harry Potter events.

The book, to be officially released on July 21, is the seventh and final Harry Potter book. The party begins at 10 p.m. Friday, July 20 at the 7370 Transit Road location, and at the stroke of midnight, copies of J. K. Rowling's last Harry Potter book will go on sale.

Attendees are welcome to go dressed as their favorite Harry Potter character for a night of enchanting activities, spellbinding prizes and photo opportunities. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will sell for $20.99, 40 percent off the list price of $34.99. Barnes & Noble members can buy the book for $18.89, a savings of 46 percent. The compact disc and audiocassettes for the unabridged book will also be available. Customers can order the book at any Barnes & Noble or B. Dalton store or online at the Web site www. bn. com/ midnightmagic.

by DAVID F. SHERMAN Managing Editor

• HOLIDAY CONCERT FACTS - We published a comment in our Bee Heard column last week from a person upset with the music provided during the town's Independence Day celebration at UB. We have since been informed that the Erie County Wind Ensemble was indeed scheduled to play during the event, but was canceled by town officials at noon because of rain. The concert has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Bassett Park.

"We do not want to be seen as the bad guys here," said Geoff Richter, director of the wind ensemble.

He suggested the town could have prevented the confusion through signage at the UB stage.

• ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - Beginning this week, our listings for major regional events, entertainment, concerts and film reviews has a new look. "Bee Entertained" is the title of this new grouping, which combines the old "Bee There" listings and the newer Entertainment pages.

Our goal is to give readers useful information about leisure time activities both in the suburbs we cover as well as those in Buffalo and other nearby communities. Packaging this news with information about books and films gives Bee readers more to enjoy each week.

Information for the Bee Entertained pages can be sent to Bob Kupczyk at ent@beenews.com or call 204-4916.