This promises to be an amazing weekend…
Archive for » August, 2010 «
Birth Date: November 17th, 1984
Place of Birth: Buffalo, NY
Niagara Falls Big Brothers Big Sisters provides a variety of mentoring programs for children and youth throughout our community. It’s their goal as an organization to work towards providing a mentor to every child in need of a mentor in Niagara Falls. To address the growing need for volunteer mentors, BBBS has increased their volunteer recruitment efforts, streamlined our intake process, and added a variety of new Mentoring programs to meet the changing needs of volunteers. These strategies have resulted in a significant increase in children participating in programs over the last few years. In 2007, over 190 children were involved in one of our programs. Last year, we offered services to over 100 additional children, which means that close to 300 children in our community were impacted by the presence of a caring, volunteer mentor.
However, Big Brothers Big Sisters still has a lot of work to do. They have close to 50 children on our waiting list, some of whom have been waiting for close to 18 months. There are several schools waiting for BBBS to be in a position where they can offer one of our popular School Based programs to their students. In short, there are many children still waiting for that special person to make a difference in their lives. As John Crosbie said, “A mentor is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” We want to make a difference in the lives of these children.
You can help! – The 2010 Golf For Kids Sake is one of our most crucial fundraising events every year. This golf tournament helps us raise close to $30,000 annually, which in turn helps us find more volunteers to support those children in our community in need of a mentor.
Please consider joining us this year, as we strive to fill our tournament, and increase our sponsorship levels.

Want to operate a tour boat from the Canadian shores of the lower Niagara River?
Then, the Niagara Parks Commission wants to hear from you and your company.
The parks commission, Friday afternoon, set a Nov. 24 deadline for any company to bid on tour boat operations. The Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co. has been running tour boats from both the U.S. and Canadian shores of the lower Niagara River for generations and while its U.S. pact runs for more than three decades, it’s Canadian lease has been under fire for the past year.
Last year, a 25-year extension between the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co. and Niagara Parks Commission became a political issue in Southern Ontario as some potential competitors cried foul. The uproar resulted in several commission members resigning and a new regime installed to oversee its operations. more…
The first public hanging on record in the Niagara peninsula took place outside the jail in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Monday morning, August 17, 1801.
Patrick Kane is bringing the Stanley Cup to Niagara Falls USA tomorrow Thursday August 12th! You are invited to be on Goat Island at 9 a.m. when Mayor Paul Dyster will present Kane with a key to the city.
Zach Anner will be featured this Friday in our Famous Friday post. Here is one of his hilarious videos.
This is Part 2 of an investigation, by the EVP Society of Ontario, of the Drummond Hill Cemetery. With so much history behind this site, it would be hard to believe that something had not made it’s home here. The site of the fierce Battle of Lundy’s Lane, Drummond Hill sure has it share of surprises.
Link to part 1: Drummond Hill
In the middle of a work week, when it is hot and steamy in the city, it’s a dream to think of spending the day in Niagara having lunch with Mark Picone, one of Canada’s top chefs. Picone, former chef at Vineland Estates Winery, now has his own culinary studio in Vineland, where people can book private meals or classes for eight to 12 guests. Our lunch, sponsored by Ontario Tender Fruit Producers, included nectarines, peaches and plums, but Mark promotes local food every chance he gets.
After lunch I visited The Moyers’ Cherry Avenue Farms “Pick-Your-Own” and picked (and ate) apricots in the middle of the orchard. If you can’t make it to Vineland, they have three stands on Saturdays at St. Lawrence Market (north side) in Toronto and also sell the red fife wheat pasta they make from the wheat they grow near their peach trees.
NECTARINE SALAD WITH MINT CHILI DRESSING
Add grilled steak or chicken for a main course salad.
Dressing:
- 3 tbsp (45 mL) Niagara Ice Wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) maple syrup
- 1⁄4 tsp (1 mL) sea salt or more to taste
- 1⁄4 tsp (1 mL) hot red pepper sauce
- 1⁄2 cup (125 mL) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fresh mint
- 2 tbsp (25 mL) sniped chives
Salad:
- 12 cups (3 L) mixed greens
- 3 nectarines, cut into wedges
- 1⁄2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1. For dressing whisk vinegar with maple syrup, salt, hot pepper sauce and olive oil. Add mint and chives. Season to taste.
2. Place lettuce in a salad bowl and top with nectarines and onions. Toss with just enough dressing to coat the greens. Makes 6 to 8 servings
SUMMER RISOTTO WITH PEACHES
To peel peaches you can use a soft skin peeler or drop them into boiling water for 30 seconds, refresh under cold water and pull skins off with a knife. (Often I don’t peel them at all.) Mark served this with sautéed scallops. more…
Have you ever visited Niagara Falls at night? Here is a video of a drive through of Clifton Hill at night.




