Feb. 25 & 26 • 12-5 pm

Create your own stone carving in this weekend workshop.
Instructor: Tom Huff, an award winning artist.
Weekend workshop Age: 12 yrs. and older. Admission:
$40 per person (includes both days and all materials).
Date: 2012-02-25

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The Work of the U.S. Border Patrol in Niagara County

The History Center is pleased to welcome Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Christopher Griffiths who will present a free, public program on Thursday, February 23 at 2 p.m. at 215 Niagara Street, Lockport. Griffiths is in charge of the Border Community Liaison program and will focus his talk on the changes that have taken place in the organization over the last decade. The Border Patrol’s national strategy in light of post-9/11 reality will be explained and how this is implemented locally as they work to secure our nation’s border in the Niagara Falls area as well as the rest of the United States. Griffiths has worked for the Border Patrol in Niagara County for eight years and is eager to clear up any misconceptions about the role of the agency. Griffith’s presentation will be followed by Q&A and refreshments. For more information, contact the History Center at 434-7433.
Date: 2012-02-23

2012 Annual Dinner
In Celebration & Recognition of Business Excellence

February 25, 2012
5:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception
7:00 p.m. Dinner
9:00 p.m. Music by Soul Committee

Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel Event Center

Black Tie Optional

Award Recipients

Modern Corporation
Business of the Year

Louis H. Knotts
Business Person of the Year

Western New York Regional
Economic Development Council
Visionary Award

Kathleen A. Granchelli
Community Advocate of the Year

Stephen F. Brady
Chairman’s Award
Event Sponsors

Title Sponsor
Niacet Corporation

Presenting Sponsor
Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel

Media Sponsor
Greater Niagara Newspapers

Inner Circle Sponsors
Calamar
CWM
Keybank
LP Ciminelli
Wendel Companies

Wine Sponsor
Arrowhead Spring Vineyards

President’s Special
Calspan
Diversified Manufacturing, Inc.
Durham Staffing
E3 Communications
First Niagara Bank
Grand Tours & Ridge Road Express
HSBC Bank
Manning & Napier
Modern Corporation
National Grid
Niagara County Community College
Niagara University
R Gonzalez Consulting
TAM Ceramics
Urban Family Practice PC

Reservations: 716-285-9142 or mcardamone@niagarachamber.org

Date: 2012-02-25

Date: 2012-02-19

Phone: (716) 282-5154
Meet at one of Fort Niagara’s historic buildings to view a power point presentation on Ice Volcanoes. We’ll visit the shoreline at Fort Niagara and Wilson Tuscarora State Parks in search of ice volcanoes.

Registration: Required

February 10, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEWISTON—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will exhibit some of the best engineering creations from sixth, seventh and eighth grade students from various Western New York schools from Feb. 11 through Feb. 26. The exhibition coincides with the observance of National Engineers Week. The designs are based on projects developed for the National Engineers Week Future City engineering competition. Approximately 15 designs for cities of the future will be on display daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Niagara Power Vista’s visitors center, the Power Vista.

The Future City Competition is a hands-on way for students to learn about engineering by building and designing model cities. Working under the guidance of an engineer and a teacher, students develop a project plan to guide team activities, use SimCity™ software to design a logical model of their city and build a physical model of their city using recycled materials. They demonstrate their writing skills through a research essay about an engineering design problem and by writing a narrative explaining the features of their city design. This year’s design theme was “Fuel Your Future: Imagine ways to meet our energy needs and maintain a healthy planet.”

For more information about the Future City Competition, contact Western New York Regional Coordinator, Future City Competition, Karen Armstrong, at 51 San Rafael Court, East Amherst, NY 14051, 716-228-9191 or futurecitywny@gmail.com.

In addition to the Future City exhibits, the Power Vista features displays and interactive exhibits relating to the production of electricity, energy efficiency and the area’s history, plus spectacular views from the observation deck, 350 feet above the Niagara River Gorge. Parking and admission,
including entry to the exhibition, at the Power Vista, located at 5777 Lewiston Road in Lewiston, are always free of charge.

For more information, call 716-286-6661 or 1-866-NYPA-FUN, or visit www.nypa.gov/vc/niagara.htm for a complete schedule of activities.

About NYPA:
■ The New York Power Authority uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. ■ NYPA is a leader in promoting energy efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives. ■ It is the nation’s largest state public power organization, with 17 generating facilities in various parts of New York State and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. ■ Approximately 80 percent of the electricity it produces is clean renewable hydropower. Its lower-cost power production and electricity purchases support hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the state. ■ For more information, www.nypa.gov
Start Date: 2012-02-11
End Date: 2012-02-26

He plays classical, pop, jazz, flamenco and rock solo guitar .
The evening usually begins with smooth finger-style classical solo guitar and moves through jazz and pop favorites, culminating in “coffee-house” vocal/guitar arrangements and classical rock songs.
Below are some of the composers James Jeckovich features:

Bach
Tarrega
The Beatles
Al DiMeola
Harry Chapin
Villa-Lobos
Diabelli
Elton John
Stanley Myers
Kanas
Yes
Gershwin
Billy Joel
James Taylor
Bread
ELP
Hoagy Carmichael
Led Zepplin
Rolling Stones Doors Pink Floyd

Jim Jeckovich has performed with This Vehicle, The Fun Zone, Broken Silence, Carl Filbert Band, Jerry D’Amico’s Brimstone, Ivory Tower, The USA Band, “Hello Vegas Show”, Lixx, Vienna.
Date: 2012-02-18

Contact: Sharon Bachman, Community Educator for Agriculture
Phone: 716-652-5400 x 150
Email: sin2@cornell.edu
Date: February 1, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Join the Cornell Garden Based Learning (CGBL) and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie and Niagara Counties for a Tend the Garden Training session February 22nd at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center; 3242 Main Street; Buffalo, NY 14214. The program will begin at 10:00 am and end at 2:30 pm; lunch will be provided. Cost is $15.00. The session is designed to assist existing youth garden programs (small or large) in developing a longer-term approach to garden-based programs in hopes of expanding existing programs that foster a commitment to yearlong food systems. The Tend the Garden session is part of a three part professional development program offered by the CGBL called Take Root! A Training for Garden Educators (http://blogs.cornell.edu/garden/takeroot/).

During this session, the CGBL Team will introduce a logic model as a tool to create project sustainability both on the ground, in the garden and within a program. The training session will cover building capacity, forming collaborations, extending the gardening season, building healthy soil and composting, and more. Groups with an existing school or community garden program hoping to expand and increase project sustainability are encouraged to attend. If there is a particular topic you would like to see addressed that is not listed, please let us know at 716-652-5400 x 150. Registration required by February 15th to Laurie Korb at 716-652-5400 x 130 or llk47@cornell.edu. Cost is $15.00. Class size is limited.
Date: 2012-02-22

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food”
-George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)

Tomato and Couscous Soup
Sheppard Pie
Ambrosia

When: February 21, 2012
Where: 542 Sixth Street Niagara Falls
Seating: 11:30am to 1:00pm
Cost: $10.00
RSVP: smale@ywcaniagara.org or call 716.278.9662 x13

Date: 2012-02-21

• Eliminates all dedicated funding for public transportation
• Fails to do enough to create jobs and put Americans back to work
• Eliminates environmental protections
• Eliminates funding for highway safety, and
• Does not adequately fund the growing backlog of repairs to deficient bridges and roads.

A mouth-watering benefit for the Aquarium featuring music, food samplings, wine tasting, and a whole lot of fun is coming soon.
Called “The Original Taste of Niagara,” SEAsonings 2012 will be held on Thursday, March 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Aquarium of Niagara.
For more information see announcement below or visit www.aquariumofniagara.org
Start Time: 2012-03-01
Date: 2012-02-10

The History Committee of LaSalle PRIDE, Inc. will present a three week course on researching the history of your house on Monday evenings in the Local History Department of the Niagara Falls Public Library. The series begins on Monday, April 16, 2012 and runs from 6 to 8 p.m. The other two sessions are April 23 and 30th. Local History is located on the 3rd floor of the main branch of the public library at 1425 Main Street. The classes are co-sponsored by the Friends of Local History, the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Society and the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Commission.
The leaders of the workshop series are Teresa Lasher Winslow and Elaine Timm. Ms. Lasher Winslow has been involved with historic preservation and local history for the last 40 years. The former Niagara County Historian has done historic resource surveys and national register nominations for the City of Niagara Falls Planning Department, the Niagara County Planning Department and the NYS Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation and well as consulting for individual homeowners. Most of the individually listed National Register buildings in the City of Niagara Falls were researched by Ms. Lasher Winslow in the 1970s. She has lectured on the subject across New York State. Ms. Timm is presently serving on the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Commission and is a member of the Boards of the Niagara Falls Historic Preservation Society, the Historical Society of North German Settlements in Western New York, LaSalle PRIDE, Inc. and a member of the Niagara County Genealogical Society. Both women are avid researchers who pride themselves in sharing their research for the good of the community.
The workshops are open to people with homes in the city of Niagara Falls and spaces are limited. You must pre-register by calling (716) 283-3295 or (716) 425-4005. Participants are asked to bring photos of their building (old and new), a copy of their title search, if possible, and any other relevant information. They are also asked to bring a notebook and pencils to the class.
This will be a hands–on workshop using the research materials in the library. Each week, time will be provided for the homeowner to find out the date of construction, the architectural style and the residents and former owners of their properties. Information will also be provided on how to get your property listed on the local, state and national registers. Such a listing will make them eligible for federal tax credits for restoration work done on their homes.
Date: 2012-04-16

It’s a Good Hair Day

Whenever the name “Sutherland Sisters” is mentioned, eyebrows are usually raised as people are always eager to hear more about the famous sisters who perhaps define the term “eccentric.” This famous family of seven singing siblings, each with floor length hair, became a sensation at the end of the 19th century, but interest in their rags-to-riches-to-rags story continues even today. Family patriarch, Fletcher Sutherland, exploited his daughters’ singing abilities and their beautiful hair as a way to earn a family fortune. The cash continued to flow when he started to market a brand of “hair-tonic” he named after his seven famous daughters. Seven Sutherland Sisters hair products were an instant sensation and were sold around the world. Millions were made, but sadly, even more was spent.

The History Center is planning to promote the interest in this sensational family through a special afternoon of fun with its biennial event entitled, “A Good Hair Day,” to be held on Saturday, February 18th from 1 to 3 p.m. at 215 Niagara Street. The first order of business is a “long-hair contest,” complete with hair measuring and prizes for all ages and sexes. An interesting program will follow with a guest “appearance” by famous sister, Isabella Sutherland. The Center has created numerous exhibits that feature portraits of the sisters and several “hair-wreaths” and “hair jewelry,” all made from human hair, a custom that grew out of our nation’s mourning following the Civil War.

The History Center is also pleased to announce the much anticipated release of a new biography on the Seven Sutherland Sisters written by local author Brandon Stickney. Brandon has spent years researching this topic and the History Center is excited to be able to publish this interesting and informative history of the Sutherlands. Stickney will be on hand throughout the event to personally sign copies of his latest work which will be for sale in the Gift Shop or online at NiagaraHistory.org. For more information on this event please call 434-7433.

Douglas Farley, Director
Erie Canal Discovery Center
24 Church Street
Lockport NY 14094
716 439.0431
Niagara County Historical Society
Director of Development
215 Niagara Street
Lockport, NY 14094
716 434-7433

Date: 2012-02-18

De-stress from the chaos of the bridal show season and join us for a night of music, food, prize giveaways, and fun!

Cash bar and Photobooth provided by Premier Sound!

Many great WNY wedding vendors will be there to help spark your wedding plans and make for a fun night! Including:

Premier Sound
Neal Urban Photography
Sparkle!
Village Bake Shoppe
The Como Restaurant
E-Legant Chair Covers
Niagara Honeymoon Sweets
Sonoma Grill
Gagster’s
Beau Cheveux
Harris & Lever Florist
Buffalo Wedding
Zoladz Limousine
Sweet Occasions Candy Buffet
Rich’s Catering
….and more!

Register online at www.registerfortheshow.com
Date: 2012-02-10

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University will offer free guided tours at 2:00 p.m. on the following Sundays: February 12, March 11 and April 15, 2012. 30-minute tour includes an overview of the museum’s current exhibitions. Meet your docent at 2:00 p.m. at the reception desk. Reservations are not necessary.

To see what is currently on view at the CAM, visit www.castellaniartmuseum.org.

The Castellani Art Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Admission is free – donations welcome.
Date: 2012-02-12

Title:

“THE MAKING OF A DANCER”

featuring performers from the

GREATER NIAGARA BALLET COMPANY

First Presbyterian “Second Saturday Series”
Performance Hall – 100 Church Street, Youngstown
Free Will Donations Accepted / Reception Following

Date: 2012-02-11

One component of the daily mail haul has been conspicuous in its absence — the handwritten letter. For many of you, just reading that phrase should have called forth a bevy of memories. Thoughts of notes from grandparents sent when you were a child or from lovers when you were separated by miles are part of the tapestry that is woven around most of us born in the middle to late part of the last century.

For anyone born in the 1980s or later, handwritten letters are as foreign as slide rules and teletypes. Those are the generations that put the word instant in front of messaging, and in doing so demoted the pedestrian handwritten letter to the dusty archives in the ever-evolving great American museum of communication.

However, newer doesn’t necessarily mean better. Just as the advent of CDs killed the great medium of album cover art, so too has e-mailing and texting laid waste the century’s old art of letter writing.

The first handwritten letter was crafted by the Persian Queen Atossa in 500 B.C. Ever since, people from all cultures and all corners of the world have been sitting down to express their thoughts, hopes, dreams and love on parchment.

That great tradition is dying. Most people under 30 have never received a handwritten letter. They have never had the great pleasure of standing on the porch, sifting through bills and junk mail, and had their heart leap at the sight of a thick letter addressed to them in cursive handwriting.

They do not know the thrill of tearing open that envelope right there on the porch and letting their tired eyes feast on four or five handwritten pages designed to be an oasis for a water-starved soul.

Better yet, they have no concept of the thrill there is in not opening that letter right away, but in saving it, like a candy bar tucked inside the cupboard drawer, for a quiet moment when all distractions are discarded and a comfy chair is the only accoutrement needed to allow one’s heart to soar to heights unimaginable.

Everyone has one person that forged his or her connection to letter writing. For me, it was Susan Danaher. We met when we were both in high school. I attended Niagara Falls High School and Sue went to Lockport High. Not having a driver’s license meant that the distance between Niagara Falls and Lockport was a chasm that could only be conquered by phone calls and letter writing.

The days that I would arrive home from school and find a letter from Sue were the happiest ones of my whole miserable high school existence. Like most 16-year-olds, I was filled with a liberal amount of angst and general disdain, and I was sure that I existed in some sort of holding cell that one day an iron key would open and I’d get down to the serious business of living my life as I damn well saw fit.

All of those feelings washed away when I’d look down at one of her perfume-scented letters, written in multicolored ink, and realize that inside was a window to her heart. Now, these many years later, I can’t tell you exactly what she wrote about. I’m sure it was a mixture of a retelling of the mundane and a professing of the extraordinary that makes teenagers unique in all the universe.

What I do remember and will as long as I draw breath is the possibilities that her letters fostered in me. Poring over her every word left me with a sense that dreams could indeed be captured, hope surely sprang eternal and love was undoubtedly the saving grace of man.

For that reason, she will always remain one of the few great persons in my life. The purity of her teenage heart opened up a world of possibilities for me that I have attempted to incorporate in all of my endeavors.

Letter writing does that for people, and it does so much more. Many schools are now eliminating the teaching of cursive writing. The thinking is that kids today don’t need it — they simply need to know how to type into a keyboard or keypad.

It’s a big mistake. The connection to language — to expression itself — is directly linked to the art of handwriting. My youngest son is autistic. He has made great strides in his verbal communication, and it is a direct result of his work with handwriting skills and sign language.

The English language has taken a beating due to the bastardization of texting and instant messaging. Its OK to use ttyl if you know that it stands for “talk to you later,” but many kids today would be hard-pressed to tell you what the acronym represents. Also, the United States Postal Service is on hard times. They are hemorrhaging money, and there is talk of eliminating weekend delivery service altogether. One of the major reasons they are ailing is the fact that people now text or e-mail family and friends rather than write them a letter.

That is why Niagara Falls Library Director Michelle Petrazzoulo and I designated Jan. 17, 2012, as the first-ever “National Send a Handwritten Letter Day.” The date was chosen because it was the birth date of Benjamin Franklin, the first Postmaster General of the USPS.

Over 700 people participated in the event, and the rush of good feelings from both letter writers and recipients led to the decision that the 17th of each month in 2012 would be a “Send a Handwritten Letter Day.”

The idea is to flood the postal service with handwritten letters on those dates. Everyone is asked to choose at least one person — although several are OK, too — and write and mail that person a handwritten letter.

The good people at your local post office benefit with the spike in business, and people all over America benefit because they will get to go through their mail and find a rainbow of thoughtfulness mixed in with the usual grayness of bills and unsolicited mailings.

Many people have said that they will send their next letter to a child in hopes of fostering a new connection to the old art of letter writing. Maybe if they do, some of those kids will one day experience the holiday like Shelli Bridgeman of Iowa did. She sent a letter to her pen pal of 43 years. The two have been corresponding since they were just 7 years old.

To join the movement, visit www.facebook.com/handwrittenletterday and click the “Like” button.

On the 17th of each month in 2012, we make a stand with pen, paper and a stamp. Please join us; it’s the write thing to do.

Last year we had our first Niagara Homecoming Events and we were successful in getting the word out about Niagara County.  This year, we have changed a few things and I am proud to announce we have another four days scheduled with exciting things to do!   Not bad for a group of volunteers working on a shoestring budget.

I sit here in awe of what each of them have accomplished. We thought when we met late last year that we would add a couple of events bringing people to Niagara Falls during Buffalo Homecoming. What happened is what we have happening at the end of June this year!

Read the Rest of the Story History of Niagara Homecoming

• About the people of Niagara Falls
• About the history of Niagara Falls
• About the places in Niagara Falls – Example
• Tourist Tips and Tricks
• Real Estate Market Reports – Example
• Social Commentary – Example
• Stories about local businesses – Example
• Stories about Niagara University – Example
• Stories about Niagara Falls Schools
• Stories about the Block Clubs – Example
• Events for our community calendar

Get the idea?   We want to share your knowledge and your events…

Just read the Forbes list of best cities for young professionals and I can’t stop to think that if Niagara Falls is an area of opportunities for young professionals.   It is a topic that the Board of Directors of Niagara Rises has been discussing a lot in the past several weeks.    Let’s face it, things cannot get much worse then they already are.    Niagara is a land of opportunity, you just have to have a little vision to see it.   The cost of living and opportunity are major factors in why these cities top the list.

It is time to break the typical box thinking in Niagara!

Consider this quote from Richard Branson – “There is no better way to learn how to succeed in business than to learn from mistakes – yours or someone else’s.”

Years of negativity is tough to overcome…   The status quo has ruled for years.   The citizens of Niagara are beaten down and full of a belief system that things cannot change.

It has taken Niagara Rises several years to get where we are today.   Our first goal was to get people to talk.   The first year of our meetings were more a therapy session than something productive.   Today we have a board of Directors with focus and we are moving beyond our Happy Hours and Homecoming events to include a focus on our youth and solving the problems that come with such poverty that Niagara Falls experiences.  We do not spend a lot of time complaining — we are too busy changing things to waste time on complaining.

Read Also:  NEW ONE NIAGARA OWNERS POISED TO BUILD ON PARLATO’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Niagara Rises has started the movement  — change what is happening and create the opportunities that so many desire.   We have long term plans that have started a long time back and we are not just sitting back after Homecoming 2010.   In fact things are happening within our organization that will begin the process of significant change in Niagara Falls.   We are asking important questions and forming answers to build the future of Niagara Falls.

What if Niagara Falls was more supportive of entrepreneurs?

Big question, and one that has to be answered responsibly.   Any development is not what we think is best for Niagara Falls — but there needs to be incentives for those that are willing to take the chance and build Niagara Falls.    Perhaps it is the entrepreneurs that can make a difference?   There are all sorts of programs available to those that could create small businesses in Niagara Falls.

The thing Niagara Falls needs is a reason why people will come to Niagara Falls from the local area.   We need more than the Casino to come here or a visit from an out of town friend or relative.    We need more businesses like El Casino, Wine on Third and the like to draw consumers to the area.   But these businesses need a greater reason for them to come and stay beyond the site of the falls, Hard Rock Cafe, or the Rapids Theatre for entertainment.   And visitors to the Falls do not need to see a tacky midway or aggressive car parking attendents as they approach our nations oldest park.

What if Niagara Falls reached out to already successful venues?

We think that it is important to develop what we have to take advantage of the thousands of visitors to the Falls.   Thinking only small business is short sided for the future of Niagara Falls.  Just look across the way to the Canadian side.   Perhaps what we really need to do is think big!  Having huge draws that would give reason for people to come here and a plan to support those small businesses develop here to add to the reason to stay.  Niagara Falls would benefit from some of these types of venues:

1. Disney Quest.   Don’t know about DisneyQuest?   DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive theme park is a one-of-a-kind gaming experience in the Downtown Disney area. Discover 5 floors of cutting-edge technology, virtual reality and 3D encounters fueled by Disney innovation and imagination.   Ticket price are $35-41 per person.
2. Snow Dome. What if the Snowpark was something like the snowdome?  What’ll they think of next? You may have to go to Europe to find indoor skiing– but mega-projects in North America are in the works.
3. Mega Movie Theatre.   Everyone loves going to the movies.   While on vacation, often people like to go to the movies.  Locals too would benefit from having a theatre downtown Niagara Falls.    With a selection of additional dining options and entertainment opportunities would make a downtown Niagara Falls the place to go in Western New York.
4. Hell’s Kitchen. Gordon Ramsey has created an international known brand with the TV show.  Each season he opens a new restaurant in a destination city.   Can you think of a better destination city than Niagara Falls?   It belongs here in Niagara Falls!
5. Celebration Florida. Create a special downtown district like Celebration Florida where we could retain tourist with great dining options, entertainment options and a place where people want to be.
6. Lego. Legoland has Discovery Centers all over the world.   What is a more a worldwide destination than Niagara Falls?
7. Indoor Flying. Indoor Flying (Vertical Wind Tunnels) now you really can fly… and zoom up 30 feet high, and roll and flip in the air; and so can your kids over three years old, thanks to giant electric fans in a wind tunnel. Check out iFLY, near Universal Studios Hollywood in southern California; or Paraclete XP SkyVenture, in North Carolina.
8. American Girl. American Girl” not only makes unique dolls, it also has extrardinary stores (in LA, Chicago, NYC) built for fun. Guests might eat at the “American Girl Cafe”, with “Treat Seats” for doll guests, or visit the Doll Hair Salon. Check for packages with hotels that include American Girl goodies in your room.

The list is not the be it end all.   For each of the item listed above there are at least a dozen others that could be looked at.  It is one to start the conversation.    Are you ready to take it from talk to action?   Then we want you get to know you at our next happy hour at the Giacomo Hotel in Niagara Falls on September 2nd.   For more details visit facebook.   Can’t make it, reach out to our Board of Directors and tell us what you may be able to do to make a difference in Niagara Falls.

THE CORVETTES
Reserved Seating Tickets: $23 & $25
Proceeds to Benefit CAN
“Cultural Alliance of Niagara”
The Historic Riviera Theatre
67 Webster Street
North Tonawanda, NY
Box Office: (716) 692-2413
www.RivieraTheatre.Org
Date: 2012-03-23

FOR FREE!

Ok there is a catch…   you have to attend the next Niagara Rises meeting on June 15, 2010 6pm Days Inn 443 Main Street Niagara Falls NY and we will allow you to submit a Niagara Falls Listing in an article here on the site.

Becoming a member of Niagara Rises has it’s benefits.   Our website is now focused on reaching out to those that want to relocate back to the Niagara Falls area!   And what better way than showcasing some of the finest Real Estate we have here!   Your Niagara Falls listings!

Bring a Word Document with the following information:

• Property Address (Must have Niagara Falls mailing address)
• Property photo
• Details about the property
• Listing Agent’s Name, Company, email address and phone number

Keep the document under 450 words and we will be happy to post it on the site.

At each meeting we will collect the documents, and post them giving each post 24 hours in the first position in the Real Estate category.   Order will be random.   You must attend the meeting in order to get your home listed on our site.

Georgia A. Brannan of Niagara Falls, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2011 at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. She was 66. She was born in Altoona, PA on October 6, 1945, the daughter of the late George and Caroline (Scarangella) Ruckinger.

She attended schools in Altoona before moving to this area in 1961. She graduated from Riverside High School and then received her bachelor’s degree from Niagara University. Mrs. Brannan has long been involved in the community in numerous developmental projects over the past 30 years, along with being a successful business entrepreneur, which includes real estate, property management, hospitality and tourism, and much more. She was most proud and known for her creation and growth of the Summit Life Outreach Center and being the voice for the unborn Babies. She was also the owner and operator of the “Spirit of Niagara” tours and most recently held the position of President of Niagara Rises in Niagara Falls. Georgia never looked for recognition in all of her achievements in her life’s work, in which she stated “It is not work, if you love what you are doing.”

And among all that, a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many. Mrs. Brannan is survived by her husband of 44 years, James (Gary) Brannan; two daughters, Jill (Heath) Kinney and Danielle (Bill Willer) Brannan; two grandchildren, Kaitlin and Ryan Kinney; five siblings, Carol (John) Marlett, Frank (Karen) Ruckinger, Donna (Jim) Kowalczewski, Greg (Patricia) Ruckinger and Debbie (Jimmy) Meyer. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Roger (Marie) Brannan; sister-in-law, Lucille (late Vincent) Vara; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and many grand-pets.

Friends may call at the LANE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 8622 Buffalo Ave. on Monday from 4-8 PM. Services will be held on Tuesday at 10 AM at Saint Stephen R.C. Church, 2100 Baseline Road, Grand Island, NY 14072. EVERYONE PLEASE ASSEMBLE AT THE CHURCH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Summit Life Outreach Center, Inc., 1622 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls, NY 14301-2212.

Welcome to Niagara Rises. We are a grassroots organization of people who share a common love of the city of Niagara Falls. Our group was formed in 2006 and we have been working toward the revitalization of our once-proud city ever since.

We believe that government alone cannot fix what ails Niagara Falls and that the people of the city – both those still here and those that have moved elsewhere – need to take a leadership role in righting the ship.

The following column is one I wrote a few years back in the Niagara Falls Reporter. I believe that it speaks directly to the issue of how we view ourselves and how we might work together for a more vibrant future.

Enjoy, and please join us at the next Niagara Rises meeting on June 15 th at 6pm at the Days Inn 443 Main Street Niagara Fallls.

THINKING OF RELOCATING? WHY NOT TO NIAGARA FALLS?

By Frank Thomas Croisdale

Flashes of insight sometimes come at the strangest of places–the outdoor basketball courts at Niagara University, for example.

It was there a few years back that I figured out what’s wrong with people from Niagara Falls. We don’t like ourselves. A game of b-ball had just ended, and a group of would-be Michael Jordan thirtysomethings stood doubled over, sucking wind. A tall, lanky guy–whom the other players had taken to calling “Windex” because of the number of rebounds he’d cleaned off of the fiberglass backboard–straightened himself up and announced, “Thanks for the game, fellas. By the way, my name is Mike. I just moved here from Florida.”

Before I could open my mouth to say welcome, ol’ Windex was serenaded with a chorus of “Why’s?”

And since that day, it’s always been the same. Whenever someone announces they’ve just moved here, whatever the setting, the response is always the same–”Why?”

It’s heard in boardrooms and bar rooms, in hot spots and in night spots. Whether we are white collar or blue collar, young or old, Jew or gentile, there is just one thing we want to know–”Why?”

Why would you leave warm weather for snow? Why would you leave prosperity for recession? Why leave heaven for purgatory? Why? Why? Why?

Well, draw up a chair and sit for a spell, dear friends–I’ll tell you why. But be forewarned, it just may cause you to fall in love with a beautiful region all over again.

At the top of the list is Goat Island. Slip on a pair of sneakers and partake in one of the most beautiful mile and a quarter walks that the planet Earth has to offer. From the thrilling view of the upper Canadian rapids as seen from Celinda-Eliza–the third of the Three Sisters Islands–to the spellbinding straight-down view of the Bridal Veil Falls from Luna Island, Goat Island is nothing short of a national treasure, and it’s yours free to enjoy in any season.

Ah yes, the seasons. We get four color-packed, weather-infused seasons to enjoy in Niagara Falls. What can be more exciting than to watch spring’s first Robin touch down on your front yard after a long cold winter? Where can you find more beautiful summers? Temperatures that top off in the high 80s, a cooling lake-blown breeze, all set off by the laughter of giddy children jumping through a lawn sprinkler.

How about the dramatic change to autumn? Hop in your car and take a short drive to Allegheny and Letchworth state parks and let nature treat you to a blast of colors that put the Fourth of July fireworks display to shame. Our winters offer a wide array of activities from skiing to snowmobiling. And, hey, even if shoveling snow is not your idea of fun exercise, remember we don’t have to worry about earthquakes, mudslides or cockroaches the size of the Taco Bell dog.

Here are five outdoor activities that I would recommend to a recently transplanted person to our city:

1. Climb down the Devil’s Hole–or lesser known Vanderbilt–steps to the bottom of the Niagara Gorge.
2. Stand on Hurricane Deck at the Cave of the Winds and take off your hood.
3. Hop on board the Whirlpool Jetboat and experience the rapids up close and personal.
4. Cross the bridge to Canada and stroll through the grounds of the Botanical Gardens.
5. Go to the precipice of Whirlpool State Park and watch the world’s largest whirlpool swirl below you.

What about culture, you say? Who’s got more of it than Western New Yorkers?

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery houses one of the world’s most respected collections. Some of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s best creations call Buffalo home. The Royal Ontario Museum of Science is less than an hour’s drive away in Toronto. The towns of Lewiston and Youngstown showcase dozens of properties that are classified as historical landmarks. And Artisans Alley at First Street and Buffalo Avenue features the dramatic creations of artists worldwide, all for sale at affordable prices.

What about food? Even New York City has nothing on the cornucopia of choices offered right here in Niagara Falls.

Can you imagine a pizza tastier than that produced by Aldo at La Hacienda? A better steak and cheese sub than Mrs. Mariposa makes out on Military Road? Try to find a beef on weck or Haddock fish fry outside of Western New York. The Como is known from coast to coast, and John’s Flaming Hearth can’t be beat for food quality and ambiance.

Want a view with your meal? Schimschack’s offers a panoramic look over the dales of Sanborn. Mark Turgeon’s Riverside Inn allows you to drink in the lower Niagara along with a glass of Chablis from their award-winning wine cellar. Let’s not forget the Falls themselves. The Penthouse Restaurant high atop the Sheraton on the Falls in Ontario brings together views of all three waterfalls with an exquisite all-you-can-eat buffet.

Combine all of these factors with the fact that we’ve got a low crime rate, good schools, an easy cost of living and friendly people and it’s clear to see why someone would want to relocate here.

So, Windex, if you’re reading this, I’d like to say “Welcome,” and I hope that you are enjoying all that Niagara Falls has to offer. Oh, and to echo the thoughts of our friends out on the basketball court that day, I’d also like to say, “Why?”

Why did you wait so long to call Niagara home?