Old Fort Niagara Presents War of 1812 Encampment

Old Fort Niagara will present its final re-enactment of the season, War of 1812 Encampment, on September 3 and 4, when the fort’s staff, volunteers and 150 regional re-enactors will present history demonstrations from the War of 1812 for visitors to our National Historic Landmark. Living history activities will begin at 9 a.m. daily and Saturday evening’s special programming will include a battle demonstration, history tour and bagpipe concert. Everything is included with regular admission to the fort.

REMINISCING: Lockport Alumni

I went to the Lockport Distinguished Alumni Induction Ceremony on Thursday evening at the Lockport High School. The Alumni Foundation was established for community-minded citizens who wish to make Lockport High School a better place to work and learn. The gifts and bequests can be put to good use in the Lockport High School Learning Community, working towards scholarships as well as funding special projects at the school.

Lockport Express Scrimmage Southern Tier

When I woke up this morning and it was only 72 degrees, I knew that the slight nip in the air could only mean one thing. It’s almost hockey season. This morning at the Cornerstone CFCU Ice Arena in downtown Lockport, the Lockport Express played a scrimmage against NA3HL rival, Southern Tier Express.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Good Morning Little Schoolgirl

Taking my normal walks, I stroll past a couple of former schools. It made me wonder how many of us know who the schools were named after. There are eight schools still in use that are named after influential people from the community, and there are several closed schools that have names inscribed above their doors. I would guess that most people don’t know the history behind those names. I wish they taught them in the schools. Maybe they did, but I don’t remember it ever happening.

Here's To Your Health

Yeah, yeah. I know. I missed my deadline yesterday. I own the website. I am allowed to do that. Unless Craig gets really mad. Then I better get writing. But, honestly, I missed my deadline because I have been battling one of the worst upper-respiratory infections I think I have ever had. When you are as acutely in-tune with your body as I have become, 103.5 degree fevers become worrisome. You start to protect things by drinking lots of fluids and trying to rest. But as your bank account ebbs away because you haven't been working, then you start to think that maybe it is time to get out of bed. Poor health sucks.

Literally the Best Reviews: Lily and the Octopus

Lily and the Octopus -- Steven Rowley

Simon & Schuster

320 Pages

This book was recommended to me by one of the librarians at the Lockport Library. It would be fair to say that when I started it, I was not over enamored with the writing style. There were moments that I wasn’t sure I was going to finish it. But, I soldiered on, and by the end, I had about the same emotional response as I had at the end of Where the Red Fern Grows.

Looking at Movies - The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration

My guess is that this movie is going to Blu-Ray fast and will wind up being a top seller for this Christmas season. The Tragically Hip played their last show ever last night, and I watched the simulcast from my home. I wanted to be out with other Hip fans, but this has been a bad weekend for my health. But there was no way I was going to miss that show last night, and I am glad I didn't. It was one for the ages and it cemented the legend of the Tragically Hip as one of the finest bands to ever play rock music and easily the best band to ever come out of Canada (sorry Geddy).

On the Homefront: Stopping the Narrative Before it Begins

For the past two weeks many of us have watched the Olympics. I say this because it is true, but not because I have partaken. It's been more background noise than anything else. Frankly, as a full-time parent and sometime journalist, I'm sickened at how certain stories have been reported in a variety of mediums.

Reminiscing: I Found My High School Yearbook

I ran across my senior yearbook just the other day before I went on vacation. I had no idea where it was hiding until I was looking for my portable DVD player for the trip to Ohio. As soon as we got back, I took a look through those pages. It brought plenty of memories back -- some good, and some great. How many of you still have your yearbooks tucked away somewhere?

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Jailhouse Rock

This week's “Walkin’ Shoes” is taking a little roadtrip. The whole family went on vacation. It was really a long weekend getaway, but it was out of state. On Monday, I walked over 3 miles at a single historic site. (Some of you may remember that I am a Brown Sign vacationer.) The kids liked it too. At least they said they did.

From A Different Dimension (Fictional Story) - by George N Root III

This is a fictional story written solely for entertainment. Enjoy!

Ok Lockport . . . what did we learn?

As a city and a town, we have had plenty of chances to learn about ourselves over the past week. We had the spotlight on us, once again for the wrong reasons, and we got to see how each segment of our society responds to that kind of pressure. Certain elements of our little part of the world responded with world class precision to the events that took place. Other aspects of our world were embarrassing, plain and simple. Can we do better? Of course we can. The real question is whether or not we want to do better.

Literally the Best Reviews: Liar Liar

Liar, Liar - M.J. Arlidge

NAL Publishing

484 Pages

Sometimes I have a difficult time maintaining interest in authors who churn out 3 or 4 books a year. To me, they’re too formulaic, too predictable, and too rushed. James Patterson is one of those authors who is guilty of churning out book after book. (I love Patterson’s books. They are always quick and easy reads after a long day.) However, the works of M.J. Arlidge and his character, Helen Grace,, seem to break free of redundancy despite his prolific output.

Looking at Movies - Coming Soon

We gave it a try Friday, but the 84 degree temperatures and 89 percent humidity at 9:30 p.m. made it impossible to sit through a movie at the drive-in. This is the first, and hopefully the last, time that the weather has chased us from watching a movie. We have sat through snow, rain, and fog to watch movies, but this was too much. So what I decided to do this week is give a glimpse into the upcoming movies so you can mark your calendars and make the appropriate plans to visit your nearest drive-in. After all, the weather can't stay like this forever... can it?

REMINISCING: Memories of the Lockport Mall

Who remembers hanging out at the Lockport Mall? It was the place to be on a Friday night, at least in those formative teenage years. From the time we were 12 or 13, we wanted to hang out at the collections of stores and eateries. We owned that mall. It was the one place besides school where we could all hang out together. And it was the place that was easiest to divide ourselves into various cliques.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Walk This Way

My “Walkin’ Shoes” was supposed to be out and ready for Thursday morning. However, since the Big Lockport Fire of 2016 took precedence, the column was delayed until today. I normally try to put the column together on Wednesday evenings. However, the excitement had me out visiting with neighbors while we watched the ominous, black cloud grow and float over Lockport. I promise this will be the last mention of the fire in this column.

"Capturing History" Photo Exhibit to Open August 13th.

For many years three men have been capturing local history from behind their camera lenses for the Niagara County Historical Society.  Whether it’s snapping photos at events, photographing changes as old buildings come down and new ones go up, documenting progress as our community reinvents itself, or gathering images for historic publications, Bruce Aikin, Ken Boyd, and Norm Pearson have helped visually preserve our history each in their own unique way.

American Revolution Re-Enactment at Old Fort Niagara August 13-14

Youngstown, N.Y. – Old Fort Niagara will present its annual “Soldiers of the Revolution” re-enactment on August 13 and 14 with regional re-enactors who will share the history of the British-held fort and surrounding frontier during the American Revolution from 1775-1783.

An Open Letter to Firefighters

An open letter to the Lockport Fire Department, the South Lockport Volunteer Fire Company, and every single firefighter from outside of Lockport who answered our call for help:

Wednesday August 10, 2016 will not go down as a banner day for the city and town of Lockport, NY. Our tire factory burned down again and a meth lab exploded on the other side of town. But when every bell went off, you answered the call. You put your lives on the line to save our homes, and you put safety to the side to try and hunt down the criminals who seem to be taking over our area.

Unfortunately, we are not the kind of community that runs from disaster. We run towards it like hordes of mindless zombies with our smartphones in front of us trying to record the event for posterity. Those of us who understand the importance of getting out of your way to do your jobs want to apologize for the mindless trolls who felt it necessary to violate your orders and do what they wanted.

When our city burned, you ran towards the fire and did everything you could to prevent loss of personal property and loss of life. From what we understand, you succeeded. Only crews of dedicated and highly trained professionals could have pulled off what you pulled off last night . . . and we thank you.

Lately, it seems like our firefighters have been in the news for all of the wrong reasons. We really don't understand why politicians and firefighters don't get along, but we know who we stand firmly behind when the chips are down.

Thank you for thinking of the families of others and doing what you were trained to do so well. Thank you for being innovative and finding ways to contain a fire that did not want to be contained. Thank you for putting up with those in our community who feel entitled to do whatever they want, even if it means harming themselves. Thank you for responding to every call for help throughout the city and town last night.

Thank you for being there when we needed you. We hope that you all were able to do your jobs and go home to your families, mostly because your primary concern were the families you were trying to protect.

We hope that we never need you again for a night like we had last night. But we all sleep a little better knowing that if we ever do have a night like that, you will be there to bail us out again.

Thank you so very much for everything you have done and everything you do on a daily basis,

Craig and George
Niagara's Watercooler

Now We Burn Again

No, this fire did not start in the tire factory. But allowing a tire factory to operate in a heavily populated area is a stupid idea. Especially since that factory has already burned once before. Unfortunately, it appears that this fire will finish that factory off. But that is not the end of it.

Literally the Best Reviews: Delta Lady

Delta Lady -- Rita Coolidge

Harper

240 Pages

You’ve probably all figured out by now that George and I love music. I go to a lot of concerts and listen to lot of music. George listens to a lot of music and plays guitar. Being an audiophile, when I see a book on the shelf for someone in the music world, I grab it as quickly as I can. This week’s review is a multi-faceted review. I will review the book along with the concert I saw last year, featuring the author and subject of this book.

Looking at Movies - Suicide Squad (2016)

Thanks to the many online petitions and the inexplicable strong feelings people have developed about this movie one way or the other, you are supposed to either love this movie or hate it. I never subscribe to peer pressure and have developed my own opinion of Suicide Squad. DC is trying to compete head-on with the Avengers universe, but DC continually forgets to invest in the tools needed to make good superhero movies. Suicide Squad has nothing but potential, but it lacks the backing of a studio that understands its own product and cares enough to deliver movies that are both entertaining and loyal to the fan base.

REMINISCING: This Old Box of Photos

One of my favorite things to do at work is to go through old photos. There is something exciting about seeing how life used to be. Sometimes, just looking at old photos give you more of the story than simply a picture of great-grandma or great-grandpa looking sternly into the camera. What’s going on in the background? In old photos, sometimes everyday life photobombs the main subject. We can learn so much just by looking at these pictures.

On the Homefront: A Subtle Attempt at a Healthier Life

When I was in high school I was gifted with enough athletic prowess to be a "good teammate." I even "earned" a couple varsity letters by playing left bench on the soccer team and by being the tackling dummy for most of the middleweights on the wrestling team.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Get Your Kicks on Route 62?

I’m sure that most of us know about that iconic highway, Route 66. It’s been immortalized in song, film, and velvet artwork. This “Main Street of America” was one of the first highways in the US Highway system. Initiated in 1926, this highway, and others like it, served as to modernize the way Americans traveled across the country. But how many of you knew there was one of these transcontinental highways in Niagara County.

Random Thoughts From An Insane Person

I gots my mind on my money and my money on my mind.

I am fearing the start of the Summer Olympics. Why am I fearing it? Because I really hate it when perpetually negative people are proven right. People from all over the world have been warning the IOC for months that Rio is a dangerous place for a lot of reasons. Athletes are reporting that they are getting robbed in the Olympic Village, and the village isn't even done yet. This could get ugly before it is over, and it could get really ugly.

Literally the Best Reviews: Harry Potter & the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child -- J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany

Arthur A. Levine Books

320 Pages

I threw aside my regularly scheduled book review for this special one. Yesterday, the new Harry Potter Book came in the mail, and I read it that afternoon. I finished it early this morning, and felt that it had to be today’s book review in place of the original. So, without further ado, I present the review of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Postal Service to Change Spelling of Pittsburgh?

Members of the United States Postal Service Carrier Division have petitioned the City of PIttsburgh and the United States Census Bureau to drop the “H” at the end of the name of that city. According to papers filed with the Pittsburgh City Council and the Mayor’s Office, carriers across the United States are arguing that the extra letter inhibits them in fulfilling their duties in a timely and safe fashion.

Looking at Movies - Jason Bourne (2016)

I saw the first Bourne movie when it originally came out and I really liked it. The story was coherent, the action never stopped, and I liked how I was never lost despite everything that was going on. There was a bit of magic in that movie because it not only held together very well, it was one of the best action movies I have ever seen. Director Paul Greengrass and actor Matt Damon played huge roles in creating the magic that made the first three Bourne movies successful. But after seeing Jason Bourne, it looks like that magic may have run its course.