Sentencing of Bike Path Rapist tops 2007 news
Amherst represented at Super Bowl, Stanley Cup
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

The Amherst Bee has highlighted the following major stories from 2007:

• Jan. 10 - "Wal-Mart - Town sued over rezoning decision." The Town of Amherst was sued by developer Anthony Cimato over the Town Board's decision to rezone 4300 Millersport Highway - a proposed site for a Wal-Mart. The attorney for Cimato said the board cannot rezone property simply to appease certain anti Wal-Mart residents.

• Jan. 10 - "Mohan changes mind on deputy position, does not choose a board member." Roy Wixson, an attorney in Williamsville, was named deputy supervisor by Supervisor Satish Mohan. His decision to not name a board member launched months of debate by the board, leading to the November election when the public denied a proposition that would have required the deputy to be a board member.

• Jan. 17 - "Co-workers of suspected 'Bike Path Rapist' baffled by arrest - Cheektowaga man pleads not guilty to murder charge." The Amherst Police Department was part of a multidistrict task force involved in the arrest of 48-year-old Altemio Sanchez. A DNA sample from a Williamsville restaurant was used to charge the man who had been attacking women, killing three, in the past two decades.

• Jan. 24 - "Police force finally reaches 154" Approximately two years and one lawsuit later, the Amherst Police Department had its force of 154 officers. Mohan was refusing to file the proper paperwork, stopping the hiring of five officers.

• Jan. 24 - "Change in town's assessment program will increase school taxes." One of the biggest town stories of the year was the town's inability to remain at 100 percent assessed value. Administrators from the three school districts had serious concerns about the change, saying it would increase school taxes. The full effect of the change has not yet been realized.

• Jan. 31 - "Town Board's plan would save green space - Residents might vote in November." Council Member Bill Kindel sponsored a resolution for a November referendum on protecting green space. The plan caused organizations that support development to launch a large ad campaign against the proposal, which failed in the election.

• Feb. 7 - "Edward Rath III to follow in mother's footsteps, run for Erie County Legislature seat." The election took shape early in the year, and Rath won 10 months later. The 15th District seat, which had been held by Dr. Barry Weinstein, was once held by Rath's mother, Sen. Mary Lou Rath, R-Williamsville. Weinstein won a seat on the Town Board.

• Feb. 14 - "October storm - Town bills $22.6 million to FEMA." One of the biggest stories from 2006 carried into 2007, as the town dealt with tree issues. The town sent the Federal Emergency Management Agency a bill for $22.6 million from the October 2006 storm.

• Feb. 14 - "Sweet Home grad helps Colts win Super Bowl XLI." Keith O'Neil, a 1999 Sweet Home High School graduate, earned a Super Bowl ring with the Indianapolis Colts. O'Neil played on the Colts' kickoff return, punt, and punt return teams. The Colts beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17, in Super Bowl XLI on Feb. 4 in Miami, Fla.

• Feb. 28 - "Major development on Rensch Road tabled." GMH Communities' proposal to build student housing, buying several single-family homes to make room, was met with much controversy. The board went back and forth on the proposal for months, facing lawsuits along the way.

• Feb. 28 - "Totes will be arriving in April." A bond for $1.7 million was approved for the purchase of more than 33,000 garbage totes. The town was taking action against the influx of rodents in the town, which resulted after Buffalo enforced the use of totes.

• March 7 - "Sweet Home upsets Falls, play in Far West Regionals on Sunday." The Sweet Home varsity boys basketball team upsets Niagara Falls, 66-64, on March 3 at Buffalo State Sports Arena for the Section VI Class AA title. The Niagara Falls' roster was headlined by Johnny Flynn, who is having a great freshman season at Syracuse University. Sweet Home went on to lose to Section V's Fairport, 57-53, in the Far West Regional.

• March 14 - "Measer family celebrates a century of journalism." One hundred years ago George J. Measer purchased The Amherst Bee from the widow of Adam Rinewalt, the man who founded it on March 27, 1879. Then on March 18, 1907, The Bee was purchased by Measer and remains in the same family today.

• March 21 - "Rensch Road rezonings approved - Jones says vote was illegal." The Town Board approved the rezoning of 14 parcels on Rensch Road to make way for the proposed GMH Communities student housing project, despite the advice of Town Attorney Tom Jones. The board was later sued by various applicants, including the University at Buffalo, and had to redo the process.

• March 28 - "Town pressed for time - Assessments." Attempts to return to 100 percent assessed value drew opposing opinions from the assessor and supervisor. The town dropped to 92 percent and has not yet released a new plan to return to 100. Taxes could possibly rise as a result.

• April 25 - "Anderson feeling 'stumped' - Funding needed for final step of tree removal." Highway Superintendent Robert Anderson continued to deal with the removal of storm-damaged trees as costs continued to grow.

• May 2 - "Rodents now face totes in town, village." Village of Williamsville and Town of Amherst received garbage totes. The town has distributed 30,000 and secured funding for more in the 2008 budget.

• May 2 - "Court ruling: Town was within rights to rezone 'Wal-Mart' parcel." One of the first major stories of January was the lawsuit filed by Wal-Mart after the town rezoned 4300 Millersport Highway, making the building of a store impossible. Five months later, State Supreme Court Judge Timothy J. Drury has ruled in favor of the town, the defendant in the case.

• May 9 - "Vacant Eggertsville buildings get new life" Redevelopment of older sections of town gained attention. A Dunkin' Donuts, a AAA automotive service center and a new Consumer's Beverage Center were approved at Eggert Road and Sheridan Drive.

• May 23 - "Board admits Rensch Road rezoning was a mistake." After being sued by UB in March, the town restarted the process of rezoning Rensch Road.

• June 6 - "Moslow ends career after eight years as chief." After 32 years of service to the Amherst Police Department, and eight as chief, John Moslow retired on July 9.

• June 6 - "School resource officer approved for Sweet Home" A full-time police officer was approved to serve at the Sweet Home Central School District as a response to changing needs in school safety.

• June 13 - "Amherst superintendent retires; plans for future yet unknown" Superintendent Dennis Ford left the Amherst Central School District after serving 11 years in the position. He had tallied 43 years in education.

• June 13 - "Will East grad Todd Marchant help Anaheim Ducks win first NHL crown. " In his 14th year of playing in the National Hockey League, Todd Marchant won his first Stanley Cup, earning the honor as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. Marchant is a 1991 Williamsville East graduate. The Ducks beat the Ottawa Senators in five games.

• June 20 - "Assistant chief named head of town police department - Follows in family's footsteps" John C. Askey, who had served as assistant police chief for a year, was appointed to replace retiring John Moslow. Askey's father, John, served as Amherst police chief from 1989 to 1999.

• June 20 - "Plimpton named Gatorade NYS softball player of the year." Williamsville South's Chelsea Plimpton was named the Gatorade 2006-07 New York State Player of the Year. Plimpton finished her five-year career first in New York State history for career strikeouts (1,427), shutouts (78) and perfect games (10); second in pitching victories (109); third for most no-hitters (16); and fourth in career ERA (.24). In July, she was named a first team Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School All-American. Plimpton is a freshman at St. John's University.

• June 27 - "Accusations, recount mar village election." Mary E. Lowther was elected mayor of the Village of Williamsville in a close race. She was officially named after a recount. The mayoral race was close, with Lowther receiving 388 votes to Harmony Party challenger Brian Geary's 382 votes.

• July 11 - "Cost of unsettled contract exceeds budget." After 19 months, the unsettled highway contract had cost the town more than it budgeted in 2007 for health care costs. It was just one of several issues swirling around contracts.

• Aug. 8 - "Assessments - State says not enough time, pulls aid." The town waited too long to make a plan to reassess the town and lost its state funding of $250,000.

• Aug. 15 - "Sanchez sentenced in three murders." Bike Path Killer Altemio Sanchez received the maximum sentence for the murders of three area women. Sanchez had confessed to as many as 15 additional rapes, starting in 1979.

• Sept. 5 - "Accepted contract puts highway employees on one insurance." The town and the highway union finally agreed on a contract, which included a monthly savings of $50,000 in health care costs. The contract had been unsettled since Jan. 1, 2006.

• Sept. 19 - "Fires close two restaurants Eighty firefighters battle Maple Road blaze." Fires at two Amherst restaurants within less than 24 hours last week caused nearly $1 million in damages. The first, at the McDonald's, 5150 Sheridan Drive near Hopkins Road, broke out at 10:19 a.m. Friday. The second blaze gutted Chang's Garden Restaurant, 938 Maple Road at Sundown Trail, at 4:55 a.m. Saturday.

• Oct. 17 - "Holiday Motel closes doors after 50 years - Property sold to Iskalo Development." The Holiday Motel, an icon in Williamsville, hosted its last guest on Oct. 1. Owners Pat and Paul Riedel sold the land to Iskalo Development. A plan for land use has not been released.

• Oct. 31 - "Budget adopted - total, tax levy unknown at time of vote." The 2008 Town of Amherst budget total was not known at the time the spending plan was voted upon. It was just another example of disorder on the board.

• Nov. 14 - "RECOUNT - Winner not yet declared in town highway election." Highway Superintendent Bob Anderson was finally named the winner three weeks after the election. Also named winners were Guy Marlette, Dr. Barry Weinstein and Mark Manna, who were elected to the Town Board. Winning re-election were Town Clerk Sue Jaros and Justice Geoffrey Klein.

• Nov. 21 - "Matthews wins third state diving title." Casey Matthews capped off an unbelievable diving career at Williamsville North with her third New York State 1-meter diving title in four years. She also broke her own 11-dive state meet record with a score of 538.15. Matthews will attend Purdue University next fall.

• Nov. 21 - "North field hockey earns first state title." Casey Matthews wasn't the only person at North from the week of Nov. 21 who excelled. The North varsity field hockey team capped off a perfect season with its first New York State Class A championship. The Lady Spartans were led by six-year starter Chantae Miller, who finished with 148 goals and 134 assists. Miller will graduate from North in January and will attend spring classes at Michigan State University.

• Dec. 5 - "Site plan for Sheridan Drive Wal-Mart approved - Lawsuit already in place." Another Wal-Mart proposed, another lawsuit. This time it was a group of residents suing the approval of a 184,914-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter at Sheridan Drive and Sweet Home Road. That issue will continue into the new year.

• Dec. 12 - "Kindel's 12-year stretch comes to an end." Bill Kindel left the Town Board after three consecutive terms. He had been defeated in the November election.

• Dec. 19 - "McGuire honored as upstanding council member." Council Member Michael G. McGuire retired from the Town Board after 16 years.

• Dec. 19 - "Sold: People Inc. buys Mennonite House." In the final 2007 board meeting, the board sold the Mennonite Meeting House to People Inc. It also adopted the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Town Centre on Maple Road, thus moving the project forward. A vote on the requested rezoning will happen in 2008, with six yes votes needed for approval. It's expected to be a major story in the new year.

(Editor's note: sports reporter Patrick Nagy contributed to this article.)