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2 • RIVERROCK T • Thursday, December 4, 2025 MOOSE LAKE http://mooselakecartoons.com

EDITORIAL

What are we paying for?

Last year the New York State Education Department reported that
statewide 54% of students tested proficient in math and 46% were profi-
cient in English Language Arts. So, roughly half the students are making
the grade. This week Buffalo Business First runs a story with the headline
"34 WNY school superintendents will earn $200K+ this year."
Certainly running a school district is not an easy job but the conflicting
perspectives – students not learning but administrators being well paid – PERSPECTIVES
raises eyebrows.
Consider this: Christopher Scanlon, the acting mayor of Buffalo, is
paid $178,519. A City of Tonawanda school superintendent in one district CNN - Fake News - Fake Weather
with 1,646 students is paid $200,631. In Cheektowaga, there are five
school districts – Cheektowaga-Sloan Union Free School District, Cheek- By John Duke . . . just two days ago (less South District Council seat in
NN, you remember the phony 2012, when Mickey Kearns vacat-
towaga Central School District, Cheektowaga-Maryvale Union Free than 48 hours ago), Dec. 2,
School District, Depew Union Free School District, and Cleveland Hill Cnews network that made fun of 2025 they reported Buffalo ed the job to take the Assembly
and mocked Dyngus Day (Ander- seat Burke now holds.
Union Free School District – the sum of the superintendents’ pay is over was at the center of a snow
$1 million. That is about three times the pay of the City of Atlanta School son Cooper, April 10, 2012) and The final tally for Buffalo’s
put it on his RedicuList live on "Bomb Cyclone". . . mayoral race, including the Demo-
District Superintendent who serves about 50,000 students.
Business First reported Buffalo Public Schools superintendent Pascal CNN. Well, Fake News T.V. got it Other storms brewing cratic primary and the general elec-
wrong again, among hundreds of tion, is over $3.6 million. Ryan, the
Mubenga is paid $285,000 to oversee 27,827 students. The weather is predicted to be
As with healthcare, the education system in the United States is in need times. so cold next week that lawyers victor in both, spent more than $1.6
They get more than 90% of million going back to October of
of a serious overhaul as outcomes don’t match up with the amount of have been told to try to keep their
money being put into the system. But, who has the courage to change the their "news stories" wrong, but on hands in their own pockets. If it last year. Scanlon spent nearly $1.4
Tuesday, just two days ago (less million on the primary. Gardner
system? proves too difficult for the lawyers,
than 48 hours ago), Dec. 2, 2025 spent close to $500,000, most of it
PERSPECTIVES they reported Buffalo was at the Dewey, Cheatum and Howe will be his own money, in the general elec-
center of a snow "Bomb Cyclone" holding code blue classes for an tion.
outrageous fee, of course.
City & State reports that state
With nostalgia as a motivator, that would affect 55 million people. In political news that will affect Assembly Member Pat Burke “is
I looked out my window in Black
St. Mark's & All Saints' Rock and called a few friends in Black Rock and Riverside, a move seriously considering a run for Erie
that has the local political class
County executive” in 2027. The
Riverside, and the most anyone
saw was 3 inches on the ground. gossiping, Buffalo Acting Mayor four-term incumbent, Mark Polon-
to hold Mini-Bazaar CNN surprisingly showed a real Chris Scanlon last week changed carz, is not expected to seek reelec-
photo of Buffalo with a light dust- the scope and purpose of his long- tion. Burke, a Democrat, served
by Evelyn Vossler ‘60s and ‘70s are now bringing ing of snow. standing campaign committee. The five years as a county legislator
or many a Christmas season, we good prices. The cardboard red- committee, Friends of Christopher
False weather reports could hurt before winning the 142nd District
Fran an annual Christmas Bazaar brick fireplace for Christmas is businesses in downtown Buffalo. P. Scanlon, had been a county-level Assembly seat in 2018. “
in both the upper and lower meeting popping up in homes. I just saw one committee whose purpose this year
People aren't going to fly in for the The Democrats were the minor-
halls at St. Mark's in Riverside. for sale for $100 and I bet it went shows, sporting events, night clubs was to elect Scanlon mayor. ity at the time, and I was able to get
Those were the days before there fast. Prior to the mayoral race, its
and restaurants. But as of right significant legislation done,” Burke
was an elevator and I would surely So, as with others, nostalgia has now, nobody has asked for an apol- declared purpose was to elect him told City & State. “I would feel re-
get my exercise up and down those crept into my heart and I long to see to the South District Council seat.
ogy. Maybe nobody cares? ally confident going into that race
stairs. people come and shop and chat CNN's ratings have dropped He has held that office since 2012 …I feel quite good about it.” Other
We did quickie raffles of items over lunch at our church. Carmela and will return to it in January
from Number 1 (Numero Uno) to Democrats interested in the seat
donated to the church from the 20 Doyle-Gambino wanted to put out number 25. Before, on the infa- when Sean Ryan, currently a state include Erie County Comptroller
some vendors who were mostly and sell some of her collected jew- senator, is sworn in as mayor.
mous Dyngus Day, Airborne Eddy, Kevin Hardwick and Deputy Coun-
selling hand-crafted items, so up elry pieces. She loved stopping at Eddy Dobosiewicz, held a rally As of Friday, Friends of Chris ty Executive Lisa Chimera.
and down I would sell tickets every estate sales and picking up some of Scanlon is a state office committee
against CNN, making them apolo- Have questions to ask Sean Ry-
1/2 hour. the gems there over the years. gize to all the people they insulted. whose purpose is “undeclared,” an, Buffalo’s next mayor? Send
Wonder why we stopped? Well, Now, she wants to see others according to state elections board
A lot of people wrote in to Alex them to info@investigative
it wasn't the stairs! It seems that the enjoy owning some of the beautiful Storozynski, president and execu- records. post.org. On Friday, Dec. 12, Jim
“dollar” stores came to town and pieces from the past. Other folks Scanlon might be considering a
tive director of the Kosciuszko Heaney and Geoff Kelly will inter-
sold cute stuff for much cheaper are donating pieces they have Foundation,15 East 65th St., New bid for the 142nd Assembly seat, view Ryan on stage at the Burch-
than any of us could make it. Plastic grown tired of, or maybe they in- currently represented by Pat Burke.
York, NY 10065. While Dyngus field Penney Art Center, 1300
canvas was no longer cherished for herited them. So we decided to mix Day has its roots in Poland, their Both are South Buffalo Democrats, Elmwood Ave., Black Rock. The
its many items it could clone. Home old and new, and put items out at though Burke now lives in Orchard
Italian, Irish and Spanish friends event begins at 7 p.m. Admission is
sewn placemats or silk flower ar- low cost so that new owners can be join in here in Buffalo! Park. They have been rivals since free, though, of course, tax-deduct-
rangements couldn't compete with found. There will also be used both sought appointment to the ible donations are welcome.
the Chinese imports. People bought books, clothing, gift-wrapping, and
into all those cute and disposable that perfect gift for mom there, so Quinn Minute – Christmas trees
lunches being served. There may be
pieces; the ones that didn't come
with the sentimental value that the we are giving any youth that shops
by Rix Quinn
homemade ones did. If you got tired with an adult a $1 off coupon to be hristmas trees are like a distant
of something, or it collected too used that day.
Ccousin. They come to your
much dust, it could easily be ditched So, please stop in and browse. house, surround themselves with
and replaced with a new one for just Have a cup of soup, chili, or a des-
presents, and stay a month. Then
a dollar or two. sert and coffee or cocoa. Sit a spell they begin to shed, and need some-
But, now I see nostalgia rearing and enjoy the seasonal atmosphere.
body to drive them off.
its head. People are grabbing up the Soak up some nostalgia with us at People often do strange things
old Christmas decorations like they St. Mark's & All Saints', 256 River-
with cut trees. One of my neighbors
are prized possessions. And they side Ave. The sale is from 10 a.m. - pulled out a chain saw and widened
are! The "popcorn plastic" and blow 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. Please,
his front door three feet. That al-
mold pieces that were popular in the stop in and say hi.
lowed him to bring in the tree with-
out bending it, and it made a great
spectacle the neighbors could video.
Email your community event information to:
Once inside the home, some
riverrock@email.com people say you should cut a couple
or mail to: RiverRock Times, inches off the base of a live tree
c/o 979 Grant St., Buffalo, NY 14207 trunk, and immerse it in a tree stand
filled with water.
Never use water on an artificial
tree. And if you cut anything off its
trunk, you’ll have a shorter tree next
Published by Buffalo Standard Printing Corp. year.
Roger Puchalski - Editor Do not use flammable decora-
Roxie Harbison - Sales & Marketing tions on a tree. The new smaller,
Printed in Buffalo by Buffalo Newspress safer tree lights seem better. I even
E-MAIL riverrock@email.com saw one guy try to wear these lights Image by HANSUAN FABREGAS from Pixabay
(716) 835-9455 • FAX (716) 835-9457 to a party, but his extension cord
kept coming out. After the holidays, dispose of your artificial tree. Plastic mulch
The views of columnists and letter writers do not necessarily Some people surround the tree your tree properly. Many cities will will not grow anything.
reflect the views of the RiverRock Times. Letters to the editor are with a decorative tree skirt. I have remove it from your lawn, and recy- Presented by (paid link): Smart-
welcome at riverrock@ email.com or by mail: RiverRock Times, never worn a tree skirt to a party, cle it into mulch. watch https://amzn.to/449Ef87
c/o 979 Grant St., Buffalo, NY 14207. They should be concise. because I do not shave my legs. Therefore, do not dispose of