Tuesday, January 31, 2017

31 Years Ago...

Sometimes there are moments that slap you right in the face of the realization of the amount of time that has passed. When I was a kid, I was a huge space nerd. I wanted to be an astronaut, exploring new worlds, and living the the adventures of my favorite science fiction novels. I watched the very first launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia back in 1981 from the cafeteria at Washington Hunt. The Right Stuff was one of my favorite movies.

Monday, January 30, 2017

PODCAST: Lockport Express vs Syracuse Stampede 1/29/2017

Stampede Derails Express Saturday and Sunday

The Syracuse Stampede rebounded from Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Lockport Express with a big win Saturday, 7-2, and a hard-fought victory Sunday afternoon, 4-3. For the Express, it was leaving points on the table in their playoff hunt. The gap between Lockport and Roc City did close to 7 points by virtue of Lockport’s Friday night victory and a pair of losses by the Royals to the Northeast Generals on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

PODCAST: Lockport Express vs Syracuse Stampede 01-27-2017

Express Divert Stampede 5-3

The Lockport cashed in on a very strong start out of the gate with a 5-3 victory over the visiting Syracuse Stampede Friday evening. The same two teams will face each other two more times this weekend, Saturday at 8:00pm, and Sunday at 2:00pm. Both games are at the Cornerstone Ice Arena in downtown Lockport.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Catching Up With the Lockport Express Week 17

The Lockport Express are coming off a pair of wins over the Roc City Royals as they chase them for the final playoff spot in the Northeast Division. Lockport currently trails the Royals by 9 points, with two games in hand. This weekend, the Express will play a trio of games against the Syracuse Stampede at the Cornerstone Ice Arena in downtown Lockport.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

See..The Real Problem Is...

It is still Wednesday...so this counts.

Our government has been filled with masters of deception ever since it was started. On November 8, 2016, we elected the ultimate master of deception and we are already starting to pay for it. Although, I have to admit that I am not on board with picking at poking at every little detail to try and make Trump look bad. It should not take that much effort to get a guy like that to look bad.

While alternative facts and mysterious inauguration crowd pictures are nice distractions, the biggest distraction of all time has to be health insurance.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

PODCAST: Lockport Express vs Roc City Royals 01-21-2017

Lockport Sweeps Weekend Series With 4-3 Win

The Lockport Express made it a sweep of the Roc City Royals in NA3HL action Friday and Saturday evenings. After a 7-4 victory Friday at the Lakeshore Arena, the Express returned home to the Cornerstone Ice Arena for a 4-3 win over the visiting Royals.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

A Look Back at the Inauguration(s)

I spent the day yesterday glued to the screen. I watched coverage of the inauguration from the arrival of dignitaries to the first dance at one of the inaugural balls. Probably much to the chagrin of my wife and children, my laptop was talking all day. Regardless of your views on the new president, or any president for that matter, observing the pageantry and pomp around the transfer of power is something to behold.

Express Scores 7 in Victory Over Roc City

The Lockport Express scored 7 goals in Friday’s contest to take down the ROc City Royals 7-4 at the Lakeshore Arena. Lockport was led by Blake Bennett, who scored fours goals for the visiting team. The same teams will face off this evening at 8:00pm at the Cornerstone Ice Arena in Lockport.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

These Old Walkin' Shoes: The Sound of Silence

Hello readers, my old friends. It’s good to be writing once again. Yes, sometimes it takes a lot of thinking to figure out what to write each week. The easiest writing is when the inspiration hits you like a magnificent bolt of lightning. I thought I had that last night, only to wake up this morning with an entirely new idea.

Catching Up With the Lockport Express Week 16

The Lockport Express will have a pair of games this weekend, a home and home series with the neighboring Roc City Royals. The first game, Friday night, will be at the Lakeshore Hockey Arena at 8:30pm. The second half of the series will be at the Cornerstone Ice Arena in downtown Lockport Saturday evening at 8:00pm.

Monday, January 16, 2017

Genealogical Society to Hold Workshop January 21st

Not sure how to get started tracing your family tree? Maybe you’re a seasoned genealogist looking to shake up the nuts in your tree? This is the session you won’t want to miss! The Niagara County Genealogical Society will hold a ‘Beginning Genealogy” workshop on Saturday, January 21st at 1:00pm in the community room of the Lockport Public Library.

Skylands Use Man Advantage to Down Lockport 8-5

The Skylands Kings took advantages of Lockport penalties to emerge with an 8-5 victory Sunday afternoon at the Skylands Ice World in Stockholm, New Jersey. The Kings scored three goals with the man advantage, and took two out of three games over the weekend. The Express now trail the Kings by a single point in the Northeast Division.

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Skylands Rebounds For 5-3 Victory Over Lockport

The Skylands Kings were able to rebound from Friday evening’s loss to the Lockport Express, and emerged win a win in Saturday’s rematch, 5-3. The Kings trail the Express in the standings by a single point heading into Sunday’s noon contest between the teams.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Lockport Overthrows Kings 6-2

Blake Bennett nailed the hat trick on the empty netter and lead the Lockport Express to a 6-2 victory over the Skylands Kings in NA3HL action Friday evening in New Jersey. The same two teams will faceoff again this evening at 7:30pm, and tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 noon.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Catching Up With the Lockport Express -- Week 15

The Lockport Express dropped a pair of games over the weekend in New Jersey as they faced off against the 2015-16 NA3EHL champions, Jersey Shore Wildcats. Saturday’s loss was 4-0, that was closer than the scoreboard indicates, while Sunday’s match up saw them drop a 3-2 decision.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Former Watercooler Contributor Releases Original Music With Band

Derick Sears, former contributor to Niagara’s Watercooler, has released a series of original music as a member of a college band, Steve Buscemi. The band released six songs on their Soundcloud page on Monday, January 9th.

Nominations Being Accepted for Key to the Locks

Nominations are being accepted for the 12th Annual Key to the Locks Award.  Nomination forms are available at The History Center, 215 Niagara Street, Lockport, NY 14094, or download key-to-locks-nomination-form-17 Please mail or return nominations to the History Center. The deadline is March 10, 2017.

Sunday, January 8, 2017

REMINISCING: These Old Houses

I’ve written about my grandmother’s house a couple times before. I’m going to talk about that house again, but not only that house. I’ve been looking through some old family photos as I scan them for my cousins. Plus, I was over to my parent’s house looking for some Christmas decorations to put up before my sister arrived for the holiday from Indiana. All that put the idea of homes, rather than houses, on my mind.

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Inching Your Way Through Dead Dreams

I got a message on Friday while I was at work and another Saturday afternoon after I got home from bowling with IdaLena. Both were a surprise considering who they were from. George, with whom I message regularly, sent one about a missing Grateful Dead show that suddenly had a reward attached to its discovery. Not so strange that it came from George, but the subject was strange. The call came from Wendy’s uncle, John, regarding the same subject. That was strange in that I don’t think I’ve ever had him call me in the last 25 years of knowing him. He’s cool. We like a lot of the same music, but we aren’t really on speed dial with each other.

Thinking Out Loud on the Homefront -- Changing Perspectives

Frequent readers of Niagara's Water Cooler know that my wife and I have three children. Many of my posts regard the trials and tribulations of being a stay-at-home dad to those children.
This one is a combination of that and my forays into more standard column writing, which I've done in the past when given the opportunity in printed mediums.
Like the last time I wrote a strict opinion piece for the NWC, I am sure it will have a reaction. What that reaction will be, I can't say. I'd be especially curious what fellow parents think.
Let's get to it, shall we?

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Catching Up With the Lockport Express -- Week 14

After a two week break for the holidays, the Lockport Express will be back in action this weekend as they travel to Jersey Shore to take on the Wildcats. There will be two games, with the Saturday game taking place at 7:15pm, and the Sunday game facing off at 11:00am. The Express are currently on a three-game winning streak and have won 4 out of the last 5.The Express have now moved ahead of the Skylands Kings in the standings holding four games in hand.

Sunday, January 1, 2017

REMINISCING: New Year Resolutions

Welcome to 2017. If you’re a celebrity, you’re probably breathing a big sigh of relief that 2016 is over. Meanwhile the rest of us are ready to take on a whole new year. With each new year comes a rash of new year’s resolutions that none of us ever really fulfill. We do our best and we go in with the best intentions. New Year’s is also the time we take a look at all our traditions.

Happy New Year!!!