Sunday, July 31, 2016

My Imperfect Plot: Grazing From the Garden

The last couple of weeks have been great for the garden.  We got a little more rain, and a lot more sun.  The beans, despite having been accosted by a deer (or a few) have continued to produce.  I will not get enough to can up for the winter, especially since we are not sharing with the deer, but we have had several good meals of them and shared with a few neighbors too.  

REMINISCING: Family Vacations

As my twins head off to camp for the first time this week, I think back to family vacations. I know, it’s a weird connection but it made me think of the vacations me and my siblings took as kids. There weren’t very many vacations. We were more of a staycation type of family long before it was cool. But the vacations we did go on were great. I can remember four times that we went away. I’m sure if there were more, my Mom and Dad will let me know.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, the mighty cataract, is the most prominent natural feature in the county as it is plunges over the Niagara Escarpment. The roar of the water is still fairly loud, but just try to imagine how it sounded to Father Hennepin in 1677, before all the modern diversions made by man. It has been said that the roar of the falls could be heard in Lewiston, 7 miles away. Wouldn't it be cool to see the Falls with its full might for just one day?

Belva Lockwood for President

With all the attention lately around the selection of Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee for the President of the United States, it seems only fitting that we touch upon the history of Belva Lockwood of Royalton. Lockwood ran for president twice, in 1884 and again in 1888. She was the first woman to officially appear on the ballots for that position. There were a few firsts in her life.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Lockport Express 3rd Annual Golf Tournament

The Lockport Express will be holding their 3rd Annual Golf Tournament on Sunday, August 28th, at Tan Tara Golf Club. (4193 Tonawanda Creek Rd., North Tonawanda, 14120). The 4-person scramble will start at 1pm with a shotgun start. The cost is $100 per golfer and includes lunch, green fees, golf cart, awards and prizes, and dinner after the round.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Harrison Radiator

How many people have walked through the doors beneath this sign? Harrison Radiator began  in the late summer of 1910. Today, the West Plant still hums with the sounds of production, albeit at a far lesser capacity than at its heyday. The Main Plant, on Walnut Street where this photo was taken, is now home to Trek, Challenger Learning Center, and other small businesses. A century after its construction, the old Harrison plant continues the stand sentry over the city of Lockport.

Some Changes in Your Program

Effective today (July 28, 2016)...
The columns "When Music Mattered" and "Original Versus Cover" will be permanently retired.

We want to thank everyone for reading these columns, and we certainly do hope you enjoyed them.

"Spotlight on Independent Films" will continue, but every attempt will be made to give a local angle to each week's spotlight. We will also strive for more industry interviews and content that is engaging and interesting.

"Looking at Movies" will no longer have a classic movie component, so the (First Run) part will be dropped for all future installments.

We look to have some new ideas coming your way soon, and we appreciate all of your support and interest!


These Old Walkin' Shoes: Look at Me, I Could Be Centerfield

This week has been a disaster for me me with regard to my columns. My book review was a day late and I wasn’t sure what I was going to write for today’s “Walkin’ Shoes.” I had some plans in mind for both, but I couldn’t really make it grab my attention. I know that if it’s not grabbing my attention, it would be absolute torture for some of you to read. Then I walked my kids over to the Fosters’ house so they could board the bus for VBS. My column for today came to me in a sudden burst of clarity.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Middleport and Wildcat Creek

Here's a photo of part of the canal wall in Middleport where Wildcat Creek runs under the canal. It is labeled in the NYS Archives as the Middleport Waste Weir. In the 19th century, this creek provided power for 16 manufacturing businesses along its banks. When the Erie Canal was going through its enlargement 1908-1918, this fine, stone culvert was constructed to channel the flow of water to the north side of the canal.

A Word About Our Johnson!

That's right, America! Are you fed up with the choices (or lack thereof) in this year's presidential elections? Then take a long, hard look at Johnson! Gary Johnson is running under the idea that he's not Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, and that should take him all the way to the White House! And if there is one thing we need in the White House, it is a strong Johnson!

Literally the Best Reviews: Relativity

Relativity -- Antonia Hayes
Gallery Books
368 Pages

It’s another week with another review of a debut novelist. I guess I am expanding my old favorites to new favorites as I just finished Relativity by Antonia Hayes. Again, this is another book built on the deep, well-written characters that drive the action. I enjoy finding new authors to read, and possibly follow throughout their careers.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Light Up History

During the City of Lockport's 150th anniversary celebration, various landmarks around the city were lit to showcase their places in our history. One night, we took the girls around the city to visit some of these sites. One of my favorites, and their favorites, was the train station on Union Street. The ruins of the brick building were lit, casting shadows across its facade. The juxtaposition of the light and shadow were far greater in person than what I captured with my phone, but the picture still grabs my attention.

Monday, July 25, 2016

PHOTO OF THE DAY: On the Way to Band Camp

Last week, three of my daughters were involved in the Summer Honors Band program at Starpoint. This week, IdaLena was asked to participate in the 7/8 Honors band. I guess they needed more trombone players. Her band teacher said she was capable of handling the more difficult music. She loves it. Today, I had to drop her off for the first lesson of the 7/8 Band. She was a little scared about being so young, but she worked through it. She can't wait to go back tomorrow.

Looking at Movies (First Run) - Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Before anyone gets the crazy notion that there could be many more Star Trek movies to come with this cast, both Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Karl Urban (Bones) have indicated that this may be it for them. Quinto indicated that he might be interested in a fourth movie, but that would be it. The reason I find this sad and significant is that it looks like this rebooted series finally got a Star Trek movie right, and now it may be one of the last ones. The first movie was good, but the second one was a disaster. I am not surprised that removing J.J. Abrams from the director's chair has resulted in the best movie of the trilogy.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Waiting at the Drive-In

Saturday night at the Sunset Drive-In in Middleport. We took all four girls to see "Star Trek: Beyond" and "Ghostbusters." Amazingly, the girls stayed awake for both features. Although drive-ins are disappearing across the country, in the Lockport area, we are fortunate to have 2 theaters with a total of 8 screens.

REMINISCING: Garage Sales, Music to My Ears

We went to a garage sale earlier in the day (I’m writing this Friday night). We found a couple musical instruments at the sale which came home with us. We added a second trombone and a second trumpet to our collection. Meanwhile, we still rent a saxophone for Patience to play. Anyway, this week’s “Reminiscing” will be a two-fold column. I will talk about music and what I’ve learned about it. I will also talk about garage sales from the pre-eBay days.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This is a new idea from Craig's mind. Hopefully he can convince George, Howie, Wendy, and the rest of the staff to contribute occasionally. He was checking out garage sales and took a couple of photos from around town. Sometimes, there could be a cool story behind them. Or, they might just be something that grabbed attention. These, by no means, are professional photos. They are simply snapped with the phone while out and about. Hope you enjoy.

On the Homefront: Taxi Service Extraordinaire

A few years ago my wife and I took the parental plunge and purchased a minvan. At the time, she was driving her four-wheel-drive SUV and I had a four-door sedan.
The sedan was just shy of 100,000 miles, and it was becoming less and less reliable on the road. On top of that, our family of four just wasn't that comfortable in it anymore.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Ron Cary: What the Camera Captured

Editor's Note: Ron Cary's discovery of some of his father's photos from World War II came up in casual conversation and we thought others might be interested in the story. As a special to Niagara's Watercooler, we'd like to thank Ron for taking the time.

The way I remember it, it was 1956, and I was a ten year old kid living in Syracuse, New York.  Having grown up with that relatively new invention, the television, like most boys of my age during the mid-nineteen fifties, I was heavily into watching the westerns (cowboys and Indians), sci-fi (space movies), horror (monster movies), and especially "war" movies that the three TV channels would show every Saturday afternoon.  World War II had seen Hollywood produce many movies about the adventures of "heroic" Americans in our Armed Forces.  These dramas continued to be popular well into the 1950's, and Saturday TV showed all the old ones made during the war years.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

When Music Mattered - A Night At The Opera (1975)

There will never be a band as versatile and eccentric as Queen ever again in rock history. And if another band does try to be as versatile and eccentric as Queen, then they will never be able to pull it off like Freddie and the boys did. If you want to listen to a record that convinces you repeatedly that you are listening to a compilation album made up of several different bands, then check out A Night At The Opera. There has never been, and never will be, an album like this in rock music ever again.

Following the Footsteps of My Ancestors

I wanted to throw a quick, special column out there today. I'm kind of excited about something I just found on the internet, and I felt the need to share it. As many of you know, I am big into family history. I have been tracing the Bacon family for years, but for the last month or so, I have been doing pretty intensive research on the family and from where they came in England.

Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps at OFN July 23rd

This Saturday, July 23rd, at 4:30pm, Old Fort Niagara will welcome the Plymouth Fire and Drum Corps of Plymouth, Michigan, for a performance of 17th through 20th century music. The concert is included with regular admission to the Fort.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Firefly, Can You See Me?

A couple weeks ago my kids did something that a lot of people seem to be doing a lot of lately. Yes, we’ve been hunting for things in the backyards around the house. Actually, we were at a friend’s house, although we could do it at our house. They were out hunting for lightning bugs.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Look! A Shiny Thing!

Apparently, Donald Trump's wife lifted a few lines of her own speech from Michelle Obama's 2008 speech when Trump's wife spoke at the RNC earlier in the week. I didn't see it happen because I am just not interested in either convention this year. But I didn't need to see it happen because there have been literally thousands of memes and posts about it on my social media feeds. I try to ignore the posts and get to more interesting stuff, but people just cannot let the shiny thing go away.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Literally the Best Reviews: Daredevils

Daredevils -- Shawn Vestal
Penguin Press
320 Pages

It’s another week, and another debut novel. I’m always on the lookout for good up and coming authors, so I regularly test the waters with new writers and their first books. So far, I’ve run across several first-time authors while checking the shelves at the Lockport Library. This week’s book, Daredevils, by Shawn Vestal fits into that same mold of a good first-time novel.

Monday, July 18, 2016

La Belle Famille Historic Marker Dedication July 24.

A special ceremony to dedicate the new Battle of La Belle Famille historic marker and honor former Old Fort Niagara executive director Brian Leigh Dunnigan will be held on Sunday, July 24, at 2:00 p.m., at the corner of Lockport and Main Streets in Youngstown. The public is invited to attend the event, which is sponsored by Old Fort Niagara, the Niagara County Historian’s Office, Town of Porter Historical Society, William G. Pomeroy Foundation, and Youngstown Heritage Tours and Tourism Committee.

Robert Rimmer Art Exhibit Coming to The History Center

The Niagara Art Trail, in cooperation with the Niagara County Historical Society, is pleased to present “More Than Just a Funny Face” featuring the works of Robert Rimmer.  Known for his caricatures of the famous and infamous, there’s more to his artwork than just funny faces.

Look At Movies (First Run) - Ghostbusters (2016)

This movie did everything it could to lean on the popularity of the original from several gratuitous cameos to plot devices lifted directly from the script of the original film. But then it would do things like only hint at the popular theme song to try and, I don't know, put some distance between itself and the original. In the end, this movie proves to be a remake and not a reboot. I am not a praying man, but I found myself praying that there are no sequels to this uninspiring waste of time.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

My Imperfect Plot: Attack of the Squashes

These last two weeks have been fruitful.  We got some much needed rain.  Although as I sit here on my new patio chairs, I am listening to the spitter spatter of my sprinkler because it has been a few days again, and there is no rain in the 7-day forecast that pops up on my phone.  It’s not as peaceful as real rain would be but the sound of virtual rain from the garden hose is far more productive than searching for a virtual Pokémon. I’ll take it.

REMINISCING: Saturday Morning Cartoons

Who remembers Saturday morning cartoons? I just read that after 56 years, the practice will be ending on September 16, 2016. It used to be that cartoons ran every Saturday morning from 8am until noon. When I was old enough to run the TV on my own, watching these shows was a Saturday tradition. I must have stopped around age 14 or 15, since the teenage sleep schedule meant this time was firmly in the middle of the night.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Spotlight On Independent Films - An Interview With Joe Bob Briggs

Before we begin this week's spotlight, let's join Joe Bob Briggs in the drive-in oath:



There, now we can begin.

Original Versus Cover - Sweet Child O' Mine

Some songs were never meant to be covered, and most of the songs on the original Guns N' Roses album Appetite for Destruction qualify for that category. You can play your own versions of those songs live, God knows I was in enough bands that pulled off some pretty bad versions of Guns N' Roses tunes, but don't record them.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Lockport Express 2016-17 Schedule Released

The North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) released their regular season schedule for 2016-2017, Thursday, July 14th. The Lockport Express will be playing under the NA3HL banner this year for the first time, after previously playing in the NA3EHL. The Express will pay a 44-game schedule, with 22 home games to take place at the Cornerstone Ice Arena at 34 Chestnut Street in downtown Lockport.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Right Next Door

Walking home from my parents’ house the other evening, I looked up at my attic window and thought back to my childhood for a moment. The woman who lived in the house where I live now when I was a kid used to watch the antics of the children in the neighborhood. I was reminded of all the stupid stuff I did as a kid and how I would get called out on it.

When Music Mattered - The Wall (1979)

When Roger Waters set out to write The Wall, he had everything figured out in his head. He even went so far as to record a demo of the entire album by himself. I've heard the demo, and it is amazing to me that Rick Wright and David Gilmour were able to pull the music that became The Wall out of those original recordings. It was a protest album by Waters that protested, of all things, the very audience that made him successful. David Gilmour once referred to The Wall as "not having a lot of soul." The Wall is not Pink Floyd's best record, but it is definitely a classic.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

American Stupidity - Thy Name Is Pokemon GO

I am a miserable old man. Fine, I can live with that. But I also like to consider myself a relatively smart individual. I do my best to learn as much as I can about something before I agree to do it. That includes downloading apps to my phone. Did any of you people actually read the list of functions the Facebook Messenger app wants access to just to be part of your phone? You should, because half that list has nothing to do with posting pictures of your lunch or liking grandma's first Facebook comment.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Can't Help Falling in Love With "All Shook Up"

Saturday night was date night again at the Historic Palace Theater in Lockport. It was the last show of the 2015-2016 season, and it was a whole lot of fun. If you love the 50s, singing, dancing, and Elvis, then this was the show for you. Yes, "All Shook Up" was one of those shows that had your foot tapping and the audience singing along to the well known songs. Heck, even my Dad liked it, and he is definitely not one to sit through a musical.

Literally the Best Reviews: The A-to-Z of You and Me

Sourcebooks Landmark
275 Pages

Grabbing debut novels generally fall into two categories for me. Either they are really good right out of the gate, or they disappoint with untapped potential. The A-to-Z of You and Me falls into the first category. Here is a book that is intriguing, original, and well written. The premise of this story strikes a chord immediately with our humanity and the emotions that defines it.

Monday, July 11, 2016

On the Homefront: Speaking the Right Language

Before we get into the topic du jour, I'd like to thank you all for your patience with me the past couple days. As written on this site, it was my birthday on Friday, so this bi-weekly piece is appearing a few days later than usual. We'll be back on schedule for July 23 and will remain so for the foreseeable future. At least, I hope so.

Looking at Movies (First Run) - The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

I cannot even begin to tell you how much my wife and I were looking forward to seeing The Secret Life of Pets. We were still bouncing off the walls from Inside Out, and the Minion movie was starting to grow on us. When you have three and one year old children in the house, the minions get a lot of play. We are fans of the Despicable Me movies, so we figured that a fresh story from the same people who made Despicable Me would be awesome. Well, we were wrong.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Reminiscing: Baby Don't Forget My Number

This week’s “Reminiscing” comes courtesy of my youngest child, Josephine. I was kind of toying around with a couple other subjects to write this week, but nothing really grabbed my attention. I really wasn’t sure what I was going to write until my cellphone rang while I was at work. And then it rang again. Both times I answered it, I heard a little giggle and then the call was cut. The incoming number showed “HOME,” so it was one of the kids trying to prank me. Josephine and her friend, Craig (It's weird when someone else has your name).

Saturday, July 9, 2016

A Little Niagara History: Hartland Anti-Swearing Society

Editor's Note: With Howie's birthday and his vacation from writing, we needed some new content for Saturday. Since Bacon is off doing God knows what following some band, and George is celebrating his un-birthday, the rest of the Watercooler staff decided to run a piece on some local history. This was previously published in the Buffalo News in 2012 by the Niagara County Historians Office, and written by Craig Bacon. Here's hoping you enjoy a bit of little-known Niagara County history.

“Dadnamit, but that cussed Nancy-boy gave me the bull when he sold me the ‘Ever Sweet’ necessary!”

We Miss Howie, And So Do You

Anyone who was hoping to see another installment of Howie Balaban's "On the Homefront," you will just have to wait a couple days. I know, we're bummed about that, too.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Spotlight on Independent Films - Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)

I am pretty sure that giving Edward D. Wood Jr. the spotlight in an independent movie column is going to elicit the same types of responses Time Magazine got when they made Hitler man of the year. I will say the same thing now that Time Magazine said back in 1938 to defend its decision - sometimes it is about the people who make the biggest impact, and not necessarily the people who gave the best results.

Cover Versus Original - Come Together

This week's cover versus original column is a little difficult to judge because the cover attempts, in every way, to sound exactly like the original. Aerosmith did absolutely nothing to make Come Together their own when they added the song to the Sgt. Pepper's soundtrack in 1978. So what's the point? Well, there are a few differences between the two that warrant a discussion about which one is better.

When Music Mattered - At Folsom Prison (1968)

Just about anything Johnny Cash does has reached classic status at this point, but At Folsom Prison will always have a soft spot in the heart of every country music fan. I always had a difficult time looking at Johnny Cash as a country singer because his look, attitude, and music never seemed to fit the role for me. He was just an awesome singer that I had the privilege to see live when I was young. The songs on At Folsom Prison are stories as you would expect with country music, but they are told in a way that only the Man in Black could tell them.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Glory Days

This week’s “Walkin’ Shoes” takes a slight departure from the normal columns and from my typical route. This week, instead of walking through Lockport, I was in Lyndonville for the Independence Day festivities. We did a lot of walking and my brain was working in overdrive while we strolled the streets of that small village. I could probably write a series just about times in Lyndonville, but maybe that will be for another time. For this edition, I just had some thoughts about that town and my place in its history.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Where Has All Of My Time Gone?

It seems to be happening more and more often that I plan out my day and the math just doesn't work. I leave myself six or seven hours to sleep at night and I am still coming up with 30-hour days. I don't have a job to rush to five days a week, so where has all of my time gone?

Guinness Book of World Records Attempt at Niagara County Fair

An attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the Most Dots in a Dot to Dot Puzzle will be completed during the Niagara County Fair in Lockport, NY on August 6, 2016.

The puzzle was created by Lockport resident Michael Weber and will be completed by a challenger during the Niagara County Fair for eligibility as a World Record.

All Cemeteries Deserve Respect

Today I’m delivering a public service announcement about the An-Jo fields behind the old Social Services Building on Davison Road. Let me start off by saying that I love having baseball fields over there. When I was a kid, we used to have practice on one of the fields over there for Lockport Little League. Of course, back then the fields weren’t as nice as they are now. Plus, throughout the summer, we can hear the cheers of spectators as their children excel at America’s pastime. It is one of the finest sounds of summer.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Literally the Best Reviews: Since She Went Away

Since She Went Away -- David Bell
NAL Publishers
432 Pages

If you’ve been following my reviews since I started, eighty-nine books ago, you’ll notice that this is the third review I’ve done for novels by David Bell. There are just some authors whose writing just grab you and won’t let go. Bell’s books are that way for me, and that is why Since She Went Away is today’s review.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Looking at Movies (First Run) - The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

I watch the movie schedules very carefully all year round, and somehow I missed this new Tarzan movie. The advertising for this film was weak, and it started to remind me of how Disney tried to bury John Carter before it was released by skimping on the advertising. Why would a company fund the making of a movie and then not advertise it? That is just the way the movie industry works. If the company is not happy with the film they get, then the company will pull back on support for the film.

The lack of advertising and any previews for The Legend of Tarzan indicated to me that maybe Warner Brothers was not as high on the movie as the producers had hoped. With John Carter, I felt the movie deserved a chance. With The Legend of Tarzan, I may have to side with Warner Brothers.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

My Imperfect Plot: Rain is a Good Thing

We got some much needed rain Tuesday night.  It was a good rain too, not so heavy that it threatened to damage plants, but a nice steady rain. It was the all night kind that makes everything seem fresher and greener in the mid morning sun.  An added bonus was that it took place over night while we slept, Mother Earth refreshed herself bringing a beautiful sunny Wednesday for us to enjoy amidst our work and play.

REMINISCING: An Independence Day Tradition

It’s Independence Day weekend, and it’s my favorite time of the year. George has Christmas, but I love summer and especially July 4th weekend. Ever since I was a kid, it’s been the day I’ve looked forward to all year. It’s not just the parades or the fireworks. It’s the weather, the family, and friends. Sure, we have family around for Christmas, but in July, it seems like we have a little more room to in which to move.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

The Guns of Seneca

Have you ever woken from a light sleep just after actually falling asleep thinking that you’ve heard an explosion or a gunshot? I’ve had it happen several times. Since the advent of Facebook, I’ve immediately checked their pages to see if anyone else had heard the same strangeness that I did. Generally, several other people have, but the authorities come up with nothing. No, we’re not all crazy. There is a phenomenon that can explain it all. Well, maybe it can. There are no real answers, just some theories.  

Spotlight on Independent Films - Nosferatu: A Symphony of Terror (1922)

We have all seen bits and pieces of Nosferatu either in Halloween costume commercials, music videos, or as part of some Halloween video that goes viral for a week or so. But if you have not seen the whole movie yet, then I invite you to watch it here, because I included the whole thing in this review. It is well worth the watch, even if you are only watching it to see the parts you recognize from other movies and YouTube videos.

Original Versus Cover - Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

Leadbelly is an old blues singer that most non-musicians have never heard of. However, if you study the religion that is music, then you are very familiar with the haunting voice and creepy lyrics of the man who pretty much started a long list of music genres. With just an acoustic guitar, his voice, and his lyrics, Leadbelly established a library of music that musicians around the world still celebrate. Non-musicians also celebrate Leadbelly's catalog, they just don't realize that it is Leadbelly they are listening to.

Rose's: A Place to Support

I’d like to take a break from my normal topics. I’d like to talk about something much more societal, rather than the inward facing things I usually ramble on about. Have you ever sat down and found a small nugget of information, one group, or even just a singular person who gives you a little bit of hope for humanity? Someone or something that just makes you think, “Maybe we can learn to work together, and love one another.” Through all the carnage happening in dark world we live in, it’s nice to see a glimmer of light. A pizza shop in Philadelphia hopes it can give you your glimmer of light for the day.