From Niagara's Watercooler to All of You

From Wendy, Craig, George, Howie, and the cast of Shenanigans we all wish you a very Merry Christmas.

As part of a holiday tradition that we at the Cooler would like to continue for many years to come, we present you with the full text of "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Better known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas," it was first published anonymously in 1823. It has been commonly attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, after he claimed authorship in 1837. Members of the Livingston family believe that their relative, Henry Livingston, Jr., penned the poem. In any case, the poem has long been a classic Christmas tradition. In it's entirety, ready to be read to your children, is that famous work:

On the Homefront: Viewing Comfortainment

A few days ago I presented you with my randomly ordered list of the best songs a person might hear this time of year. Here is the sequel to that list, and it gives you the best movies.

Also randomly ordered, this list is mine. It is purely subjective, hardly scientific, and most definitely open to scrutiny. For instance, you'll notice one movie many consider a Christmas classic is conspicuously absent. That movie is Christmas Vacation, and I simply can't sit through it. Proving that all comedy is subjective, I do not like Chevy Chase's brand of humor. I find him (and his dramatic counterpart, James Spader) completely off-putting.

Reminiscing: Lights Up Main Street

Last week, I wrote about how we couldn’t put up Christmas decorations until after my birthday. I made mention of liking to drive around to see the decorations. So, I figured I would expound upon that thread and give you another Reminiscing article. Besides, it’s Christmas time, so it’s the best time to write about it. Although, next week, I may write about summer because I’d rather it be warm.

On the Homefront: December is My Comfortainment

Lists.

We love lists. We argue over lists. We spend too much time dissecting who is on a list and where they are placed on the list. Or whether a person or thing was snubbed from the list.

This time of year is no different as from as early as Nov. 1, we are bombarded with Christmas music on multiple stations and a variety of holiday movies on numerous channels. And there never fails to be a list generated by someone somewhere ranking the best songs or movies of the season.

Reminiscing: It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I just had my birthday this past Thursday. In the broad scheme of things, it really means nothing, but I do thank all the people who took the time to wish me a happy birthday. Also, I want to thank Paul Oates for making sure all the listeners of WLVL knew it was my birthday. However, in my household, my birthday is a big deal. And it has nothing at all to do with my day. It has to do with Christmas decorations.

Shenanigans Episode 10 - The Happy Birthday Show!

The guys talk a little bit about some upcoming birthdays in the group, and a lot about comments on things found on the Internet. Howie educates the guys on the happiest little town in the world, and we all learn about the mass destruction capabilities of sugar-free gummy bears.

Scrooge Fills the Palace With Song and Dance

How do you know that it’s Christmas season in Lockport? Is it the 42 inches of snow we got in the last four hours? Nah. Is it the beautiful decorations lining Main Street? Maybe. Most likely, however, it is the annual appearance of “Scrooge: The Musical” at the Historic Palace Theatre. Despite it being in the mid-50s the evening we went to the show, there was definitely a feeling of Christmas around the city.

Old Fort Niagara Castle By Candlelight Tours December 9th & 16th

Old Fort Niagara invites the public to experience the holiday spirit in the company of 18th century-style merrymakers at this season’s Castle by Candlelight tours on December 9 and 16. Music, crafts, demonstrations and more will make the French Castle, decorated by the Youngstown Garden Club, brim with festivities. The event will also include the feu de joie celebratory cannon and musket firings.

Thinking Out Loud: I'm Positive That I'm Optimistic.

Hello, again, everyone. It's certainly been awhile since I graced this virtual space. Silly me; I thought the school year would offer me extra time to do what I wanted. Alas, there is but one day per week when something is not planned or scheduled, so all that extra time - even for this stay-at-home dad - was a pipe dream.

PowerHawks Fall to League-Leading Vengeance

With a pair of wins over the visiting Niagara Falls PowerHawks this weekend, the PIttsburgh Vengeance have now taken over the NA3HL with the most wins by any team. With 42 points, they lead the North Iowa Bulls and the Yellowstone Quake by a single point for the overall league lead. The also extended their lead over divisional rivals, Metro Jets, to five.

This Is Not How You Build A Hockey Team

I haven't done a sports column in a long time, and I am seeing a pattern emerge with the Buffalo Sabres that inspired me to write about sports today. There have been rumors about the Sabres trading Evander Kane since last season, and now the media is speculating that every player on the roster except for Jack Eichel is up for grabs. It seems to me that the Sabres in general, no matter who the general manager may be, have no idea how to actually build a winning hockey team.

Defiant Monkey at Taylor Theater December 6th

Defiant Monkey Improv will perform their live "Master of Improv Comedy Show" at the Kenan Center Taylor Theater at 7:00pm on December 6th, 2017.  The Kenan Center is located at 433 Locust St, Lockport, NY.  Over an hour of live comedy improv presented by Karen & Andy – The First Couple of Comedy! Admission is $10.

Soaring With the PowerHawks Week 9

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks are back in action this Saturday and Sunday as they travel to Pittsburgh for some games against the Vengeance. Pittsburgh sits in first place in the East Division by a single point over the Metro Jets. Meanwhile the PowerHawks sit in third place in the Northeast Division, only four points behind Binghamton for second. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 6:30pm. Sunday’s is set to get underway at 11:40am.

Shenanigans Episode 9 - Using our Doggy Style

The guys finally bring out the Bibizzle and read the 10 Commandments from it. Everything just sort of goes downhill from there.

Cast: Howie, George, Charlie, Craig, Rich, just enough Yoko to make it interesting

Runtime: About 60 minutes

Reminiscing: It's in the Cards

A couple of weekends ago, our nephew, Luke, asked if he could spend the night at our house. Since we normally seem to have more than our own children around for sleepovers, this was no big deal. It’s cool that the kids want to sleep over at our house, even if it is extraordinarily annoying when there are groups of girls giggling late into the night.

PowerHawks Sweep Weekend Series At Oswego

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks swept the Oswego Stampede in a pair of games over the weekend. With a 4-1 victory, and another 5-1 win on Sunday, the PowerHawks have bypassed the Stampede for possession of third place in the Northeast Division. After 19 games on the season so far, Niagara Falls has 23 points, only four points out from the Binghamton Junior Senators in second.

Shenanigans Episode 8: By George, Get Out of My Head!

George and Charlie couldn't make it, so it was Craig and Howie leading Rich and Yoko. Howie paid some money to walk through a door, and we all followed him. And never looked back. The group explores how everyone is offended by everything. We also talked about some interesting sky art. And can we talk to the flat-earther who is going to blast into space on recycled alumunum? Without George to rein us in, we go way over on time...

CAST: Craig, Howie, Rich, Yoko, and the door into George's head.

Runtime: 90 minutes.

A Thanksgiving Retrospective

I know the first question many of you have is, “Where the heck have you guys been?” Well, it’s holiday time and things have been quite hectic. Writing time (and reading time) have been limited by preparations for everyone to come over for Thanksgiving. Now, I helped out quite a bit, but I’m sure Wendy would like me to do more. I try, though. With a big family and numerous siblings and cousins on her side of the family, we need to make sure everything is well picked up to fit everyone comfortably into the house.

Happy Thanksgiving from Niagara's Watercooler

Tomorrow the day starts at about 7:00 a.m. when I get up and then the babies get up. The wife would have been home from work for about an hour, and she will be cooking something. Every year I try to convince her to lay off on all of the pies and stuff she makes, but the lady loves to cook. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two days out of the year when I stay out of her way. At 9:00 a.m., the babies and I will turn on the parade while the fire in the fireplace just gets started. Thanksgiving will be in full force, and it will be awesome.

Shenanigans Episode 7 - The Stuff They Sell On Amazon

The guys talk a lot about poop and then get distracted by books. Craig announces the pending arrival of the Bibizzle, and then the guys do a little shopping on Amazon. Charlie starts to say a lot more than 7 words in an hour, and Howie retains his title as Shenanigans champion. Once the guys realize Rich is not there, the show comes to an end.

Soaring With the PowerHawks Week 7

After a dominating performance last weekend, the Niagara Falls PowerHawks are prepared to set flight for a pair of roadtrips this week. They start this week’s action with a short trip to Jamestown for a Thursday morning matchup with the Southern Tier Xpress, before heading to Binghamton for a pair of games against the Junior Senators on Saturday and Sunday.

Literally the Best Reviews: The Boat Runner

The Boat Runner -- Devin Murphy

Harper Perennial

400 Pages

There has been quite a bit of historical fiction on the book shelves lately. I find that there are two types of historical fiction. First there is the really good stuff, where the author has done great research and takes the time to make sure the minutiae is correct. The other is where an author sets his or her modern characters in an historic time where they stick out like sore thumbs. Devin Murphy’s debut novel, The Boat Runner, is one from the first category.

He Ain't Heavy

I have a very unique position here with Niagara's Watercooler in that I do what I can, when I can. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been so sick that I could not talk or really do much of anything else. I am one of those "lucky" people who can turn a regular cold into a bedside watch. I remember when Craig and I started the Watercooler, and then I had to take a backing role to his lead when my health just showed no signs of getting better. But in my capacity as unpredictable contributor, I get to sit back and watch the volumes of material Craig puts out. And I don't think many people realize just how much he puts into educating Lockport about itself.

Reminiscing: Happy Meals and Happy Kids

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped in at Burger King in Medina to grab something to eat after bowling. I know the food is terrible for me, but I had a hankering for greasy, non-nutritious food. It happens. We all seem to fall for it. Considering Burger King alone makes $1.2 billion each year, and they’re not even the top earner, most of us like that food. Anyway, after I got my bill for a burger, fries, and a drink, I had an idea for an article.

PODCAST: Niagara Falls PowerHawks vs Skylands Kings 11/12/2017

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks capped off the weekend with a 9-1 win over the visiting Skylands Kings. You can read the write up of that game HERE. This game introduces "The Seantor" Phil Buffone on color while Craig Bacon attempts to give play-by-play a shot.

Niagara Falls Dominates With 9-1 Victory Over Skylands

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks capped off a weekend series against the Skylands Kings with a 9-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the Niagara Falls Ice Pavilion in Hyde Park. The PowerHawks also won the game Saturday evening, 7-3 against the same Skylands team.

PowerHawks Earn 7-3 Victory Saturday Evening

The PowerHawks were eager to get back on the ice after nearly a month-long break, and it showed as they came out fast against the visiting Skylands Kings. The home team came out on top of the contest 7-3. The same two teams will face off Sunday afternoon at 1pm at the Niagara Falls Ice Pavilion.

On the Historical Trail: Lockport's Veterans Monument

I live right around the corner from the Monument at Vet’s Park across from the hospital. I knew that there were going to be some big renovations happening at the monument, but I was unprepared for what I saw as I drove by Tuesday afternoon. Virtually the entire base has been torn out, and it appears there will be a lot more work done.  It will take most of the winter to get the marble back in place, fully repaired. According to the Mayor’s office, the work should be completed in time for Armed Forces Day on May 19, 2018.

Shenanigans Episode 6 - The Vatican's Porn

Craig, Rich, and Charlie bring in Wendy to talk about a variety of topics, including the extensive porn collection owned by the Vatican. One can only wonder.

Cast: Craig, Charlie, Rich, Wendy, Howie's balls (always there in spirit)

Soaring With the PowerHawks Week 6

After a month long layoff for the Niagara Falls PowerHawks, they will be back in action at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion this weekend for a pair of games against the visiting Skylands Kings. The games on Saturday and Sunday, are set to get underway at 6:00pm and 1:00pm respectively.

Literally the Best Reviews: Ember

Ember -- Brock Adams

Hub City Press

318 Pages

Post-apocalyptic novels always intrigue me, especially if they’re well written and have something just a little bit different than the normal fare in that genre. Immediately, I think of the novels by James Dashner and Suzanne Collins. Those novels set new tones of the apocalypse that were significant diversions from the books we’ve seen since The Time Machine or On the Beach. The debut novel by Brock Adams, Ember, sets off in another whole new direction.

Reminiscing: Encyclopedia Bacon

When some of us got in trouble as kids, we’d get grounded. Our “timeouts” were much fiercer than standing or sitting in the corner for as many minutes as our ages. We’d be sent to our rooms to think about whatever stupidity we had done. These were the days before cell phones, computers, or tablets. Sitting for the day or evening could be tortuous for many of us, especially if we were just a bit high strung.

Literally the Best Reviews: Execute Authority

Execute Authority - Dalton Fury

St. Martin’s Press

304 Pages

Every once in awhile, when you’re engrossed in a good book series, you find yourself looking forward to seeing your old friends each time they appear in a new novel. Such was the case with the Dalton Fury books, featuring Kolt “Racer” Raynor. I eagerly anticipated each volume in the Racer series as it appeared on the “New Releases” shelf at the Lockport Library. When I first found Execute Authority on the shelf, I was excited there was another book. Then I read the forward to the book.

Shenanigans Episode 5 - The Worst Halloween Special Ever

The guys start off with an honest attempt at a Halloween special, but beverages get served and everything just goes wrong. Rich gives his website of the week, and the big story of the show puts an emphasis on punctuation.

Reminiscing: Falling for Leaves

As I looked out this window this cool, rainy Sunday morning, I noticed that there are still a lot of leaves on the trees. To me, it seems like there are way more than normal still on the trees. Apparently, the awesome, warm fall we’ve had has allowed the trees to hold onto their foliage for a bit longer than usual. However, with the change towards a late fall feeling, the days are numbered for the leaves. That means we’ll have some raking in our very near future.

Let's Eat! - Papa Leo's

Papa Leo's is a local business started and run by a local guy that serves really good local food. The Main Street location has been around long enough that everyone should have eaten there at least once. There used to be a lunch buffet at Papa Leo's that was out of this world, but they no longer do it. I would imagine expenses got in the way. But that buffet was my introduction to Papa Leo's and we have been going back ever since.

Shenanigans Episode 4 - Dude Looks Like A Lady

In this episode the guys start off discussing some of Howie's potential friends and Rich suggests that Howie could be friends of a future Playboy centerfold. Charlie speaks up, Rich gives us the website of the week, Craig talks about where his thumb holes are, and Nicholas Cage's suspect skills as an actor are examined.

Rest In Peace Officer Lehner

For the past week or so, we have all seen the tributes to Officer Craig Lehner on Facebook. Officer Lehner was one of those specialists who was trained to do things most other officers could not do. When the police needed an expert diver for difficult situations, Officer Lehner was one of the experts they called on. When one of his extreme training sessions went wrong, Officer Lehner was suddenly and unjustly taken from us. His passing is a tragedy, but what Officer Lehner was able to accomplish in the wake of his accident was more significant than anything any politician has been able to do for a very long time.

Marie Benedict Packs the Lockport Library

The Wheeler Room at the Lockport Library was filled to capacity and the overflow crowd spilled into the atrium as author, Marie Benedict, stopped in for a visit. This year’s “One Book, One Community” author talk featured The Other Einstein, a book that took a deeper look into the life of Mileva Maric, the first wife of physicist, Albert Einstein. Judging by the crowd Tuesday evening, Benedict’s book was very popular among readers in the NIOGA system.

Literally the Best Reviews: Reincarnation Blues

Reincarnation Blues -- Michael Poore

Del Rey Publishing

384 Pages

Sometimes weird wins in my house, or what seems weird on the surface. When I picked up Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore, the first thing I thought of after reading the summary was that this could be a strange book. For that reason, the book came home with me for a short visit. By the time I was finished, I realized that my first impression was not quite correct. This was a strange book that evolved into a great story.

Meet The Clinton Street Mural Painter

By now, you may have noticed the new mural that has been put in place on Clinton Street hill and wondered about the guy who did it. There have been plenty of murals painted on that wall, but this one is something different. The new mural also contains a piece that is a tribute to the late, great singer of the Tragically Hip, Gord Downie. The artist who painted the mural is Jeffrey Sidebottom, and we talked to him about his new Lockport piece of art.

Reminiscing: Every Can For Himself

When I was a kid, New York State decided to institute a bottle return law on pop cans and bottles. I think it was 1982 or 1983 when the law went into effect. As a kid this meant that we could get some extra money by simply picking up bottles that we found around the neighborhood. There were always a couple bottles tossed on the side of the road by passing cars. We’d make just enough money to get some candy at 7-11. For those who were willing to work a little, there were plenty of opportunities for making some money at a fairly young age. Even before I got my paper route, I generally had a dollar or two to spend.

Looking Behind the Palace Curtain

The Historic Palace Theatre in Lockport kicked off its 2017-2018 season last weekend with four performances of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Each season at the Palace consists of six performances. One of those is a play in January. There also is the annual performance of Scrooge, and the unveiling of the upcoming season at An Evening With the Stars. This season, after Spelling Bee, will be Scrooge, The Comedy of Errors, The Little Mermaid, An Evening With the Stars, and Singin' in the Rain.

Let's Eat! - Lock 34 Bar and Grill

I give credit to any bar and grill that can stay in business for years in downtown Lockport, because that is not an easy thing to do. Lock 34 has shown that not only is it capable of sustaining itself in that difficult business climate, but it thrives. There is so much to Lock 34 that one review won't do it justice, but I will give it a try!

Craig Bacon to Speak at Genealogical Society October 25th

Niagara County Genealogical Society is hosting a free talk on Wednesday, October 25^th at 7pm at 215 Niagara St., Lockport NY 14094. Join us as Craig Bacon, Deputy Niagara County Historian, speaks about the 'Traces of the Old Erie Canal thru Niagara County' and the families immortalized in the naming of bridges and other structures associated with the canal. Did you know that the Wruck Road bridge was known as Hurd’s Bridge? Or Peet Street bridge was known as Watson’s bridge? Who were these families the bridges were named after?

Trio of PowerHawks Players Receive Honors

Branden Tripi and Nathan Walerowicz of the Niagara Falls PowerHawks were given Honorable Mention by the NA3HL for their play over the past week in the Northeast Division. Additionally, Andrew Logar was credited with the Top 5 Play of the Week in the League. You can watch the video of the Top 5 Plays of the Week below:

Marie Benedict to Speak at Lockport Library October 24th

Don’t miss the upcoming One Book One County program being held at the Lockport Public Library on Tuesday, October 24, 6:30 - 8:00 pm in the Community Meeting Room. Novelist Marie Benedict will be joining us for an author talk and book signing of her title, The Other Einstein, the story of Einstein’s wife Mileva Maric, a brilliant physicist in her own right, whose contribution to the special theory of relativity is hotly debated and may have been inspired by her own profound and very personal insight. It offers us a window into a brilliant, fascinating woman whose light was lost in Einstein’s enormous shadow. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lockport Public Library, Inc. Copies are available to purchase at the library on Floor 2. The cost is $12.00. Copies will also be available to purchase the evening of the program.

Shenanigans: Howie's Balls and Moosehead

Howie shows up late (again) and unprepared, but somehow manages to maintain his title as Shenanigans Grand Champion. This show covers topics such as the Boy Scouts, sketchy run-ins with Canadian wildlife, more movie talk, and Pornhub.

Literally the Best Reviews: The Other Einstein

The Other Einstein – Marie Benedict

Sourcebooks Landmark

304 Pages

Whenever the Lockport Library has an author come to speak, I try to read the books (if I haven’t already) by the author who will be visiting. I want to be familiar with their works for any questions I may have when I go to the event. This year’s “One Book, One Community” will feature Marie Benedict, author of The Other Einstein. This novel is Benedict’s debut work. She will be at the Lockport Library, Tuesday, October 24th at 6:30PM.

R.I.P. Gord - and thanks

It was December 31, 1999 and the Tragically Hip was playing the first of two shows in Toronto's Air Canada Centre. For the rest of the world, the concern was airplanes falling from the sky and ATMs shooting out money when the clock struck midnight. For the 19,800 of us in Air Canda Centre, we were just concerned about seeing Gord. I finally had my chance to see him live, and I took for granted the idea that I will see him again someday. After all, a poet never decides to just stop being a poet.

Spelling Bee Brings Laughs to the Palace

In a lucky twist of fate, the opening of the Historic Palace Theater’s season coincides with my wedding anniversary. Because of that, we get to celebrate the opening of the new season and we get to celebrate all the years of wedded bliss. This year was our twentieth anniversary and we got to go out to dinner, also, where the restaurant gave us a complimentary bottle of wine. Add a funny show to the day, and it ended up being a great day.

Reminiscing: Let the Music Do the Talking

At some point in every child’s life, they want to be like their parents. A boy will want to be just like his first hero -- his dad. Likewise for little girls. They want to be just like their mothers. Somewhere along the line, that idea slowly fades away and each child becomes their own person. Still, no matter how hard we try to not be like our mothers or our fathers, there’s always a little bit of that parent shining through. It’s only natural. Almost every moment of our formative years are spent with our parents. We try to emulate them, and they are our first guides to moving through life.

Let's Eat! - Reid's Drive-In

Reid's Drive-in is one of those places that people in Lockport expect to be open every summer and offer the same kind of foods year after year. The menu at Reid's has not changed a whole lot over the years, which no one seems to mind. There is a location near Buffalo, but Reid's will always be a Lockport thing. There is even a Reid's food truck that brings everything to those very small parts of Lockport that may have not experienced Reid's just yet.

PowerHawks Take Down Stampede 5-2 Sunday

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks capped off a long weekend of hockey with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Oswego Stampede on Sunday afternoon at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion. The PowerHawks will have a lengthy break before they are back in action. Their next games will be November 11th and 12th in Niagara Falls, as they take on the Skylands Kings.

Erie Canal Discovery Center to Host Dr. Kathleen L. Riley October 18th

Professor and author Kathleen L. Riley, Ph.D., will explore “Lockport’s Religious Foundations” as she speaks at the Erie Canal Discovery Center, 24 Church St. in Lockport, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m.

New York State Women, Inc To Hold October Dinner Meeting

The Niagara Frontier Chapter, New York State Women, Inc. will hold their October dinner meeting on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:00 pm at Pane's Restaurant, 984 Payne Avenue, North Tonawanda.  The community is invited and you do not have to be a member to attend. 

PODCAST: Niagara Falls PowerHawks vs Oswego Stampede 10-15-2017

The Niagara Falls rebound after a 6-4 loss to the Oswego Stampede Saturday night to finish the weekend with a 5-2 victory over the Stampede on Sunday afternoon. Branden Tripi led the team in points with a goal and two assists. Kris Augustine turned away 27 of 29 shots that he faced on the afternoon. Listen again as Howie Balaban and Craig Bacon call all the action.

PODCAST: Niagara Falls PowerHawks vs Southern Tier Xpress 10-13-2017

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks kicked off a long weekend of games with a match up against their southern foes, Southern Tier Xpress. The visiting Xpress were able to skate away with a 4-3 overtime victory after 60 minutes of exciting hockey.

The Boy/Girl Scouts of America

Earlier this week, everyone got all up in arms when the Boy Scouts of America announced it was going to allow girls to join. On the surface, it looks like another move made by an organization to put half the country up in arms and the other half on the defensive. But when you look at all of the information that came out about the decision, it becomes readily apparent that the Boy Scouts made a business move and really did not care who it offended. It was a pretty good business movie if you ask me.

Shenanigans: Episode 2 - A World Without Howie

In a world without Howie, how would the boys from Shenanigans fare? Would they be able to make it through the night without invoking the spirit of Howie? Yes, yes they would. We talk about time traveling drunks, Paul Revere's privy, should we colonize Mars, and what's the best way to lure Ron Jeremy onto the show.

Niagara Aerospace Museum Honors 70th Anniversary of X-1

The Niagara Aerospace Museum will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Bell X-1 becoming the first aircraft to break the speed of sound. Chuck Yeager piloted the Niagara Falls-produced aircraft on October 14, 1947 when he achieved Mach 1.06. Dubbed Glamorous Glennis in honor of his wife, the X-1 was dropped from the bomb bay of a B-29 Superfortress, safely landing on the dry lake bed after its historic achievement.

Soaring With the PowerHawks Week 5

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks return to the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion for a trio of games this weekend, October 13-15. Friday night will see the Hawks take on the Southern Tier Xpress, while Saturday’s and Sunday’s games they will take on the Oswego Stampede. Game times are 7:00pm Friday, 6:00pm Saturday, and 1:00pm Sunday.

Literally the Best Reviews: Bring Her Home

Bring Her Home -- David Bell

Berkley Publishing

438 Pages

When you find an author that you really like, you have to read his or her works as soon as they are released, or as soon as possible if you’re getting them from the library. I had to wait for this book for a couple weeks before I got it. Once, I did, I was off and running. I finished it in less than two days. So far, all of David Bell’s novels have been great reads. I devour them as fast I can read, and then eagerly await the next, new book. That does not change with Bring Her Home.

Reminiscing: TV Land

I really don’t watch a lot of television, although my wife would sometimes like to beg to differ. Really, I don’t watch that much television. There are occasional days where it never even gets turned on. Honestly, when you figure that the average American in my age group watches over 33 hours a week, I am far behind my peers. It’s just about five hours a day in front of the tube. Two hours is about all I can handle these days.

Niagara Falls Tops Roc City 11-4

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks skated away with an 11-4 victory against the Roc City Royals in their lone game of the weekend on Saturday evening at the Lakeshore Ice Arena. Brandon Schweickert and Andrew Logar combined for  seven goals and eleven points. Brandon Corey had three goals for the Royals.

Quick Thoughts of Bacon Vol. 13

The other night I was driving over to the YMCA to pick up one of the kids. As I was nearing the corner of Harrison and East Avenues, I flicked on the turn signal to indicate to other drivers that I would be making a left. From the backseat, my seven-year old asked, quite innocently, “When you use the turn signal, how do you know which way to push the lever?” It’s a great question, and I had to stop to think about it.

Shenangans: Episode 1: 10-6-2017 Breaking All the Rules

We are off and running with Shenanigans - The Next Generation. Right off the bat, the guys start discussing topics that are considered off the table for Shenanigans - religion and politics. But it all comes around to what's so special about Howie's cat. Stick around to the end. It's definitely worth it.

Let's Eat! - Wagner's Restaurant

Wagner's Restaurant is one of those places that you rarely hear people talking about, until the lists of the best restaurants in Lockport start popping up. If you have never been to Wagner's, don't feel bad. It is another one of those well-kept Lockport secrets. But if you are looking for a place to go where everything on the menu is worth the price, then it is time to get to Wagner's.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Be Cool To Your School

We had open house at Emmet Belknap Wednesday night for our sixth grader. I went over, meeting Wendy and Corliss there so we could see her classroom and revisit the school I once went to. Today, the school is home to the Lockport City School District’s fifth and sixth grades. Back when I went there, it was a little bit different. It was a true junior high school then.

Literally the Best Reviews: One on the Ground

One on the Ground-- Karen Wielinski

Librastream

336 Pages

Those of us in Western New York remember February 12, 2009 pretty well. Haunting images filled the television screens as we woke up in the next morning. For some people, it was a long night filled with terror and chaos. For Karen Wielinski, she lost more than a house when Continental Flight 3407 crashed on Long Street in Clarence, New York. She lost a husband, a partner, a soul mate. One on the Ground is her story of that winter evening.

Maybe The Politicians Should Shut Up

America has become pretty predictable over the years when it comes to tragedy. Someone can't handle things the way they are, they go out and shoot innocent people, and immediately two sides of a perpetual argument stand off in a pointless and unproductive conversation. The victims get brushed to the side while the murderer or murderers are glorified, nothing of substance gets accomplished, wash, rinse, repeat. What gets lost is any kind of mass sense of loss for the victims, and any sense of decency in addressing an issue that is obviously a problem. Maybe it is time for the politicians to shut up and the people to start opening up real dialogue on what is going on out there.

Soaring With the PowerHawks Week 4

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks are coming off a pair of big wins against the Roc City Royals, and will be facing off against them again this Saturday, October 7th. The game will be at the Lakeshore Ice Arena in Rochester with puck drop set for 8:30pm. The game will be the only one for both teams this week.

Annual Medina Walk Good For What Ales You

For several years, now, the Medina Business Association has hosted something that has become a well-oiled machine of an event: Ale In Autumn. Much like its Februrary counterpart, Wine About Winter, the annual walk around the historic district has become a local "must-do" for hundreds of people, whether they live locally or not.

REMINISCING: That October

It’s October. That means fall is here and the leaves will soon be making way for bare branches, ice, and snow. While that may be great for some, it’s not my favorite. October, however holds a special place in our family. Aside from being the last good weather until spring, October has had its share of ups and downs in our family, both with Wendy and I, as well as with other family members. Those Octobers, good and bad, have had an indelible effect on all of us.

When Do We Stop And Listen To Each Other? - Special Editorial

We don't do news here at Niagara's Watercooler. People always ask us why we don't do news, and we usually give some vague and wisecracking answer. The truth is that news is depressing, and we would rather not mix our attempts to make people smile, laugh, and cheer with the reality that is the world we live in. We prefer the world we have created to the real world, and yesterday we were reminded why we think that way.

Looking at Movies - The LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017)

The drive-in season is winding down, but you can still catch first runs on the biggest screens in the area for at least a couple more weekends. My grandson and I decided to venture out and see The LEGO Ninjago Movie last weekend, and it was another surreal LEGO experience. If you have never seen a LEGO movie before, then this might not be the best one to start with. But as LEGO movies go, this one lives up to the reputation of the others, but just barely.

PODCAST: Niagara Falls PowerHawks vs Roc City Royals 10-1-2017

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks shut out the Roc City Royals Sunday afternoon, 9-0. You can listen to the game below and revisit the write up HERE.

PowerHawks Shut Out Royals 9-0

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks continued their dominance over the Roc City Royals this weekend as they followed up Saturday’s 8-1 victory with a 9-0 win Sunday afternoon at the Hyde Park Ice Arena. The lone game for the PowerHawks next weekend will be an away game against the Royals Saturday evening at 8:30pm.

Niagara Falls Powers Past Roc City 8-1

Niagara Falls powered by the Roc City Royals Saturday, 8-1, in the first game of a home and home series this weekend. Saturday’s game, taking place at the Lakeshore Ice Arena in Rochester, will be complemented by a game between the same two teams today at the Hyde Park Ice Arena. Game time is set for 1pm.

Let's Eat! - Sunny's Family Restaurant

I have lived in Lockport my entire life so far, and the one constant thing I remember for all of those years is Sunny's Family Restaurant. While Transit Road seems to constantly change around it, Sunny's has remained exactly the same. That is a testament to how good everything from the food to the service is in this small town restaurant that has seen nothing but stability over the years, while the big names around it come and go.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Who Are You?

Who doesn't love a mystery? Any genealogist will tell you, half the fun is uncovering something that you weren't expecting, and we all have those skeletons in the closet despite what grandma says.  Today, I will tell you the story behind the parentage of Sarah Allen, my paternal great-great-great grandmother. Her story was a mystery that took a long time and a lot of hands-on research, but finally the deep, dark secrets were revealed.

The NFL Just Destroyed Everything It Created

I love watching football. I never let politics ruin my love of watching football. This time of the year is my absolute favorite, and football is a big part of that. So, no, I won't be boycotting the NFL. That is my right. You have your opinion, and I have mine. Neither of our opinions are right, so stop acting like I have to do what you say. I just read the open letter from Taya Kyle. She is the widow of the sniper who was portrayed in the movie American Sniper. She is a wise lady, and I think the NFL could learn from her words.

Soaring With the PowerHawks Week 3

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks are coming home from New Jersey with a tough pair of losses to the Skylands Kings last weekend. They are back in action this Saturday and Sunday with a home and home series against rivals, Roc City Royals. Saturday’s game, at the Lakeshore Hockey Arena in Rochester, will get underway at 8:30pm. Sunday’s contest at the Hyde Park Ice Arena is slated to get underway at 1:00pm.

Roy-Hart Teacher Celebrates Book Release

Whenever I hear of an author’s book release and it’s happening locally, I generally try to find a way to make an appearance and show support for local authors. I always look forward to seeing aspiring writers finally show off their projects to the public. So, when Daniel Mault sent me an invitation on Facebook to his book release extravaganza, I knew that I would be making a trip out to Burt for the event.

Literally the Best Reviews: Window Across Time

Window Across Time -- Cynthia Cotten

Self-Published

120 Pages

A young adult, or middle grade, book is not normally on my reading list, although I have, on occasion, found one or two on my reading list. This week, I found myself reading one from Lockport author, Cynthia Cotten. Window Across Time is a series of vignettes that tell a story set from the same house in the same town across nearly 200 years of its history.

Looking at Movies - IT (2017)

Hollywood has yet to prove to me that it can take a Stephen King story and turn it into an entertaining movie. Stephen King is one of the most brilliant and detail-oriented writers of our time. He sets moods, and then he weaves his story together gradually. There is no way an 800-page book that relies on every page to tell the story can be adapted into a good movie. While movies are simply adaptations to books, they should still be able to stand on their own. With IT, we have yet another King movie that absolutely does not do the story justice, much less the book.

Niagara Falls Topped 10-4 By Skylands

The woes continue for the Niagara Falls PowerHawks as they were soundly defeated by the Skylands Kings 10-4 on Sunday afternoon in Stockholm, New Jersey. Eric Vanderhoff and Craig Garrigan both scored four goals for the Kings on their way to victory. The pair combined for 8 goals and 6 assists during the penalty-filled game. There were 77 minutes in penalties on 24 infractions between the teams.

Reminiscing: Grandma's Counter

I had a weird vision the other night when I was trying to find some cookies in the house. Now, I’m not normally much of a cookie eater. My kids love them. They eat them all. Sometimes, they bake cookies (they are awesome, trust me) and attempt to leave some for me. A lot of times, I don’t get to them quickly enough and I miss out. I miss out a lot. We don’t keep very many pre-packaged cookies at the house. So, me looking for cookies was very unusual, to say the least.

Skylands Kings Defeat PowerHawks 4-2

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks dropped a 4-2 decision to the Skylands Kings Saturday evening at Skylands Ice World in Stockholm, New Jersey. The same two teams will face off again Sunday at noon at the Skylands Ice World.

September Genealogical Program: Finding Ancestors in Newspapers

Newspapers are a fantastic source of research leads, information and historical context for your family history. The stories of our ancestors' lives, from birth to death and everything in between, can be found in the pages of archived newspapers.

National Heritage Area to Sponsor Old Fort Niagara Field Trips

The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is proud to announce its sponsorship of field trips for school districts to Old Fort Niagara’s “Fridays on the Frontier” program for the third year in a row. “Fridays on the Frontier” are interactive hands-on education programs for fourth and seventh graders that immerse students in the experiences of people who lived in the Niagara region during the American Revolution. The programs will take place every Friday during the month of October 2017.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Why Can't We Be Friends

When and how does a friendship start to fade away? When you’re young and are surrounded by your friends, you make claims that you’ll be friends forever. Sometimes, that happens. There are people who are genuinely friends for life. Other times, those friendships slowly erode over time. It’s like you’re friends one day and not the next. It’s more of a matter of longer and longer times between encounters until they just don’t occur anymore.

Let's Eat! - Molinaro's Ristorante

Molinaro's Ristorante is one of those places that kind of snuck up on me and then became a part of our family routine. I remember having lunch with my mom at Molinaro's when it was in a house, and then taking the wife to the actual restaurant years later. A pizza place that also has a bakery is a dangerous combination for anyone afraid of excess. What makes it worse is that both sides of Molinaro's are usually the best there is in the city.

Literally the Best Reviews: Beartown

Beartown -- Fredrik Backman

Atria Books

432 Pages

It’s fairly obvious from reading our website that I like to read, and I really like hockey. So, when I found a book that was about hockey, it was destined to be a part of my reading list. Add to that the fact that the author, Fredrik Backman, also wrote one of my favorite, recent books, and you have an equation for another fantastic book review.

Soaring With the PowerHawks Week 2

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks dropped a pair of games to the Jersey Shore Wildcats over the last weekend. With one win and three losses, the Hawks sit in third place in the Northeast Division. The team heads to New Jersey for two games against the Skylands Kings on Saturday and Sunday. Niagara Falls next has a home game on October 1st, against the Roc City Royals.

Looking At Movies - David Gilmour: Live at Pompeii (2017)

During his "Rattle That Lock" tour in 2016, David Gilmour decided to revisit the amphitheater in Pompeii where his band Pink Floyd made a promotional film in 1971. The film lives on as a cult classic, and Gilmour decided to commemorate his return with a new motion picture from the Pompeii amphitheater. The catch with David Gilmour: Live at Pompeii is that it only played in theaters for one day. While the blu-ray will be available later in September, this was definitely a movie that was made to be seen on the big screen.

Reminiscing: The Times They Are A-Changin'

I had two different kids ask me two questions over the last week that just had me shaking my head. I’m sure that every parent wonders how their children can be so clueless sometimes, but with the world changing more and more quickly each day, kids probably say the same thing about their parents. Still, it was the simple questions this week that had me perplexed.

PODCAST: Niagara Falls PowerHawks vs Jersey Shore Wildcats 9-17-2017

The Jersey Shore Wildcats shut out the Niagara Falls PowerHawks 2-0 on Sunday afternoon.

Jersey Sweeps Weekend With 2-0 Victory

It took until the six-minute mark of the third period before either the Niagara Falls PowerHawks or the Jersey Shore Wildcats were able to break the scoreless tie. Unfortunately for the hometown PowerHawks, it was the first of a pair of goals the Wildcats scored in the period on the way to a 2-0 victory Sunday afternoon.

PODCAST: Niagara Falls PowerHawks vs Jersey Shore Wildcats 9-16-2017

The Jersey Shore Wildcats Shoot Down the Niagara Falls PowerHawks 5-3.

Jersey Shore Defeats Niagara Falls 5-3

The visiting Jersey Shore Wildcats took the first game of a two game series against the Niagara Falls PowerHawks at the Hyde Park Ice Arena Saturday evening. The Wildcats skated off the ice with a 5-3 victory. The same two teams will face off Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm in Niagara Falls.

Soaring With the PowerHawks Week 1

The Niagara Falls PowerHawks will be back in action this weekend at the Hyde Park Ice Arena as they take on the visiting Jersey Shore Wildcats. Saturday’s contest will faceoff at 6:00pm, while Sunday’s game will get underway at 1:00pm. Both teams are coming off splits in their opening weekend matchups.

And The Battle Rages On . . .

We are not quite two years removed from December 27, 2015, and I am still here. Ever since that day, my wife and I have been in a battle with stage four kidney cancer that we both know we are eventually going to lose. Well, I will do most of the losing. But, for now, we have an oncologist who keeps telling me to make long-term plans and take better care of myself because I am going to be around for a while. So the wife and I have long-term plans and I have dropped a decent amount of weight over the past month. But today is scan day, and the world stops for scan day.

Live In Concert - Roger Waters (KeyBank Arena - Buffalo, NY - September 9, 2017)

I am a lifelong Pink Floyd fan, but I have never been fond of Roger Waters. Yes, he wrote the lyrics that acted as part of the soundtrack to my entire life, but he is kind of a jerk. In order to be able to write the kinds of songs he writes, he has to be egotistical to a certain extent. But Waters, in my opinion, always took the ego part to an extreme. He went so far as to talk poorly about deceased former bandmate Rick Wright in an interview earlier this year. But when that jerk gets on stage, he knows exactly what he is doing.