For more than 40 years, Nancy Varco has called Werkley Road in the Town of Tonawanda home.
“It’s a wonderful neighborhood, the neighbors are great we’re all close, the school system is wonderful,” Varco said.
It’s what’s behind her home that has dozens in the tight knit community concerned.
Varco says about 20 year ago the Amigone Crematory home directly behind her home began cremating on site. She says the smoke wasn’t bad, at first, but things quickly took a turn for the worse.
“In the summer time you have to wipe your furniture a lot because there is soot, which we found out was human ash,” Varco told 7 Eyewitness News.
But for the last four years things have been quiet. In May of 2012, the Department of Environmental Conservation issued a notice of violation of environmental laws.
Amigone Crematory suspended operations because of concerns to the environment but Wednesday at 2 p.m. in front of Judge Ogden the company is heading back to court to determine if they are allowed to reopen.
Several local political leaders both at the town and county levels say they are behind the residents and their desire for change.
For those directly impacted, the neighbors seeing, smelling, and often tasting the soot in the air, Wednesday is the day they say will determine their future quality of life.
“I can’t imagine sitting back on the patio this summer and having to face the noise the smell the soot. . . it just wasn’t a pleasant experience."
