Sunday, April 30, 2017

Reminiscing: Working for a Loving

Last year I wrote an article about the first job I had, which was as a paperboy for the local newspaper. Those jobs are long gone, and it’s been over thirty years since I got that first job. Over the intervening years, I’ve had several other jobs. Some were good. Others were terrible. And there have been a couple of great ones.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Quick Thoughts of Bacon Vol. 7

After debating the idea for months and months, I finally decided to take the plunge and buy some DNA kits from Ancestry. I’ve been into genealogy for years. I’ve done way more research than my grandmother did, though to be fair, the research if far, far easier these days than it ever was before. Despite all that, there are still some mysteries in the family that I hope can be cleared up the with Ancestry tests.

Friday, April 28, 2017

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Let it Grow

With the nice, warm weather finally back, I started my normal morning walks before I go to work. The sounds and smells of spring are in full bloom around the neighborhood. Me, I’m thankful for the opportunity to get back out and walk a little. I used to hate going on walks, but I’ve learned to love it in the last year or so. I welcome all those sounds and smells. It means warmth.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Niagara County Historians Office Receives Newspaper Grant

The Niagara County Historians Office has received a grant from the Grigg-Lewis Foundation which will be used to digitize 28,000 newspaper pages in the County archives. Most of the newspapers date from the 19th century, but do take in years 1826 to 1920. Many of the papers are unique, being the only copies known in existence. In some cases, these papers are not even listed on the New York State Newspaper Index.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

George Armistead, the Fort Niagara Flag, and the Star-Spangled Banner

by Robert Emerson, executive director Old Fort Niagara

“We, Sir, are ready at Fort McHenry to defend Baltimore against invading by the enemy.  That is to say, we are ready except that we have no suitable ensign to display over the Star Fort, and it is my desire to have a flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from distance.” so wrote Major George Armistead in June 1813 to General Samuel Smith, commander of Baltimore’s militia.

Saying It Is One Thing, Doing It Is Another

I posted an article today on my Facebook page about a 10-year-old boy who was arrested while at school, put in handcuffs, shoved into the back of a police car, and taken away as his mother recorded the incident. Throughout the whole thing, the boy kept saying he was confused and didn't understand what was going on. The mother kept asking the police to tell her why they were taking her son away, and the police never responded.

A little later in the article, it explains that the boy was arrested for an incident that took place in October that involved the boy striking his teacher at school. The school name had the word "academy" in it, so I am assuming it is a specialty or exclusive kind of school. Apparently, the boy would not stop being disruptive in class so the teacher told the boy to go to time out. When the boy would not go, the teacher grabbed the boy to move him and the boy struck him. Now, you could say that the teacher was guilty of assault as well, but that is not how this played out.

Fort Niagara Honors Bicentennial of Treaty

The public is invited to a free program at Old Fort Niagara on Friday, April 28, at 11:00 a.m., to commemorate the bicentennial of the Rush-Bagot Treaty, a landmark agreement between the United States and Great Britain that led to the limitation of naval armaments on the Great Lakes and the creation of the world’s longest undefended border.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Literally the Best Reviews: Born to Run

Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Simon & Schuster
528 Pages

I’ve said before that reviewing a nonfiction book is not one of my favorite things. That’s especially true when it comes to memoirs or autobiographies. I mean, who knows more about a person’s life than that person? It can sometimes be difficult to review those books. However, I thought I’d give it a try with this week’s review, Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen.

HOWIE BALABAN: Thinking Out Loud

I am a sports fan. Specifically, I have three loves: all things Syracuse University, the New York Rangers, and the New York Yankees. However, I also try to keep myself open to other sports stories as they emerge. To say that things have been quiet on the sports front in the past two weeks would be like saying I like doing laundry.
Anyone who has ever listened to talk radio has heard the phrase "hot take" and we've likely heard variations of such takes by callers to whichever show we were tuned into at the time. Truth be told, I've called some shows before.
That said, here is my not-so-hot take on two of the most recent issues to grace the sports world. One is local, and one is not.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Living With Kids (Episode 5) - Movie Night

Ever since my four-year-old was born, we have been taking him to the drive-in movies. Images such as him peaking his little head up over the seat to look through the car door window and smile at my wife and I will be memories I will hold onto for years.

Looking at Movies - The Boss Baby (2017)

If you are someone who studies and follows the movie industry, then you know about the ongoing battle between DreamWorks and Pixar. Even though there is plenty of box office money out there for both companies, it seems like each is trying to outdo the other on a consistent basis. The newest effort from DreamWorks is The Boss Baby, and it is not the kind of film that will make people think of DreamWorks in the same light as Pixar. But it does offer more than a few laughs for every member of the family.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Living With Kids (Episode 4) - Will You Pway Wif Me?

I remember last year when my cohort and one of my closest friends who I would do almost anything for Craig asked me to go on the road with him to broadcast a Lockport Express game. The truth was that Craig's timing was horrible as I had a ton of work to catch up on that weekend and a family event that had been planned for months. I had to decline his invitation, so he went on without me.

I am like that. I have no problem telling friends or family members that I have too much to do to play around with something fun. If there is work to do and money to be made, then that takes priority. It is my universal policy for all of my friends and family members. The problem is, it doesn't work on my four-year-old.

Two Guys Walk Into a Bar...

I picked up the newspaper to read just a few minutes ago. There are certain ways to read the paper, and I have mine. I always check the Local section followed by the Sports. Then come the ads. None of this really matters, except the first thing I saw in the Local section was a small sidebar piece about Dyngus Day and 97 Rock. My initial reaction was “Give me a break.”

REMINISCING: A Day at the Cottage

I’m going to ride the Lake Ontario wave for this week’s “Reminiscing.” No pun intended. Well, maybe just a little bit. My waves will not be nearly as destructive as the waves on the lake right now, though. No, I thought I might talk just a little bit about some of those days I spent on the lake as a kid.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Quick Thoughts of Bacon Vol. 6

I’ll warn you in this first sentence that this edition of “Quick Thoughts” is going to be a rant. If you want to keep reading, it will be your own fault if you don’t like what you read. However, if you decide to take the plunge and see what has me so riled up, I hope you can understand my frustration. Hold on and take a deep breath. Your flight may be a bit bumpy.

These Old Walkin' Shoes: Key to the Highway

We are still working on moving rooms around in the house. The younger girls' room is pretty much set, with just a little fine tuning remaining. It's nothing that would keep them out of the room even for a single night. Meanwhile in our bedroom, Wendy bought a bed from Bear Bottom. I had to set it up before Easter so that the hallway downstairs could be used while all the family members were over. The bed took up the whole hallway.

When Reality Gets Real

By Howard Balaban
Those of you who are regular readers of my work on this site may have wondered what I meant when I referred to reality TV shows when I signed off a few weeks ago. Time to explain.My soon-to-be sister-in-law is a contestant on one of the more popular reality shows for the second year in a row. In fact, she was part of a group that made history in Philadelphia last year, as four women reached that city's final round of American Ninja Warrior.

Friday, April 21, 2017

The Mighty Lake Ontario in 1973

With Niagara County declaring a state of emergency over rising water levels in Lake Ontario yesterday, reference was made to the 1973 lake levels that caused major damage along the lakeshore.  The current levels are very close to those heady days in the late winter of 1973. What happened back then? How much damage was done? Who out there remembers those days?

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Stop Living In The Past

I am writing this today instead of yesterday because I wanted to see what the Sabres would do. Now that T-Pegs has fired both Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma, I have something to talk about. Buffalo sports fans are impatient people, but that comes with a strong history of losing a lot of games in both sports. But still, if Buffalo sports fans would just try to be rational, just for a minute, they could see the glorious opportunity in front of our pro ice hockey team.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Old Fort Niagara Kicks Off Reenactment Season April 22-23

Patriots Day Weekend launches Old Fort Niagara's reenactment season with a salute to veterans and patriotism on April 22 and 23. The weekend's family-friendly, educational and interactive activities will enlighten visitors about the Battles of Lexington and Concord that began April 19, 1775, and started the American Revolution. The programs are suitable for all ages and everything is included with regular admission to the fort.

Literally the Best Reviews: All Our Wrong Todays

All Our Wrong Todays -- Elan Mastai
Dutton Books
384 Pages

This is a book about time travel. Now, before you roll your eyes, it’s not your typical time travel story. This is by no means a science fiction novel. It is something far different, and it’s a good thing. Personally, I love time travel stories, so I eagerly grabbed this book when I saw it on the New Release shelf at the Lockport Library.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Looking at Movies - The Fate of the Furious (2017)

I never do any research on the back story behind a movie before I see it because I am never interested in learning about any issues that actors or directors may have had while the production is being made. I do, however, go right to IMDB to see any trivia on movies after I have seen them because I love behind the scenes stuff. Most times, I find that movie studios have a way of getting around the on-set drama and producing a movie that looks like everyone was happy and smiling the whole time. But after I learned about what happened on the set of The Fate of the Furious, a lot of what did not happen in the movie and made the movie fall short of its potential made sense.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

REMINISCING: Driving Aunt Dot

Sometimes the Reminiscing articles come to me in a flash of inspiration. Other times I wrack my brain all week until something finally clicks with me. This week, I wracked my brain all week until something finally came as we were driving home from Chimney Bluffs State Park. Something I saw on the ride home triggered a memory from my childhood. Combined with the Easter holiday, it just seemed perfect.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

SUV Crashes Through Lockport's Ace Hardware

It was an exciting evening on the east end of Walnut Street. Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. Just as we were finishing up dinner, firetrucks, police cars, and an ambulance flew down the street. The twins ran outside and reported back that they had all stopped at Ace Hardware at the end of the street at the corner of Walnut Street and Davison Road.

Friday, April 14, 2017

Quick Thoughts of Bacon Vol. 5

It was announced earlier this week that the NHL will not be sending any of its players to the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018. It was really no surprise and most people support the idea of not having NHLers in the Games this time. I wholeheartedly agree with not having the players in the Olympics, but not for the reasons that have been stated ad nauseum by the pundits and sportswriters.

PETA Protests Consumption of Chocolate Bunnies

With Easter just around the corner, there has been a new assault on the chocolate bunnies that began last year with a rumor of rabid samples. This time, People for the Ethical Treatment of  Animals (PETA) have come out to decry the cruelty to the chocolate animals that are popular gifts for the holiday.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

These Old Walkin' Shoes: On the Road Again

This week is Spring Break for Wendy and the kids. We try to take the girls to a museum or something for a day trip when we have breaks like this. We’ve gone to the Strong Museum in Rochester, the Buffalo Museum of Science, and some other local attractions. This time, we made plans to go a little bit farther than normal. We were going to take the girls to the Women's Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls.

Genealogical Society To Host Talk April 26th

"The Niagara County Genealogical Society will be hosting the free program "Organizing Your Genealogy" on Wednesday, April 26th at 7pm at 215 Niagara St., Lockport.

Did you turn your calendar to a new year and vow to get your genealogy papers and files organized this year? Join us as Michelle Ann Kratts teaches us the key principles and basic strategies for organizing our genealogy research.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Living With Kids (Episode 3) - Ulterior Motives

I really have no idea when kids develop the ability to have ulterior motives, but I am pretty sure two and four are too young for that. Maybe the four-year-old will get a little sneaky sometimes and try to play one of us against the other, but I think four years old is still an age where there is only purpose in what they say, and not deception...I hope.

Are We All United On This?

When United Airlines had a paying customer violently removed from a plane just because that customer wanted United to honor its promise when he paid for his ticket, United was well within its legal right to do so. It says right on the back of your ticket, in print most people over the age of 45 cannot read, that paying customers can be asked to give up their seat if the airline needs to use it. In this case, the airline needed to transport a crew or that crew's flight would have been moved to the next day. United says that it was within its legal right to inconvenience one passenger to accommodate 150 others, but I am not sure that is the point here.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Defiant Monkey At Taylor Theater April 12th

Defiant Monkey Improv will perform their live "Master of Improv Comedy Show" at the Kenan Center Taylor Theater at 7:00pm on Wednesday, April 12th, 2017.  The Kenan Center is located at 433 Locust St, Lockport, NY.  Over an hour of live comedy improv presented by Karen & Andy - Masters of Improv! Admission is $10.

REMINISCING: Little People Worlds

I had no idea what I should write about for Reminiscing this week until I walked into the dining room last night before Wendy and I left for Royalton’s Bicentennial dinner. There on the table was a bunch of Little People arranged into beds and wheelchairs. Wendy explained to me that Josephine had put them together and declared that it was her hospital. You can see the picture later in this article.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Lockport Express Now Niagara Falls Powerhawks

With a new city comes a new name and a new coach. The Lockport Express will now be the Niagara Falls Powerhawks, with Jason Hill taking over coaching duties from Frank Vecchio. He was also named the Associate Director of Hockey Operations.

On the Homefront: Motivating Our Children

This is going to be a stretch for some of you to grasp, and I get that. But if it's one thing I've successfully done in my life in the past, to varying degrees, it is create links where links did not previously exist. For instance, when I was in college taking a class on Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, I managed to draw a parallel between Ebenezer Scrooge and Ivan Illych. Don't ask me to remember how now, but man was I pretty convincing then.
Here's the deal:

Friday, April 7, 2017

Thinking Out Loud: Here We Go Again

Thursday night, about an hour or so after filing my latest "On the homefront" submission for this website, my wife turned to me while we were watching The Big Bang Theory and said the United States had launched an air strike against Syria.

Living With Kids (Episode 2) - Say My Name One More Time

I live with a two year old and a four year old. This is my story, and I am sticking to it.

My grandchildren call me Bapa. It is a name I am told that I created when I was trying to call my paternal grandfather something he would recognize. I apparently blurted out Bapa, and it stuck. I consider it an honor to carry on that name as my Bapa was a great man.
My wife is Nana. For my son, the name Nana is a family name. Lots of families use it, but it has special significance to my son. So that is what the kids call my wife.
They call me Bapa, and they call my wife Nana ... over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Living With Kids (Episode 1) - Nap Time

I live with a two year old and a four year old. This is my story, and I am sticking to it.


Kids are confusing because all of the things I like to do, they hate. Both my little ones hate eating, although the two-year-old can get on a roll and down more food than even I could eat. But the four-year-old is not a big fan of eating. He has more important things to do like ask to do things he is not allowed to do and getting upset when he is told "no."

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

What Is "Fake News"?

I have always believed that misinformation on the Internet was going to have serious repercussions at some point in time. The election of 2016 proved my point, and now the misinformation is only getting worse. The biggest problem is that we have a proliferation of what is being called "fake news" on sites like Facebook, and people are not bothering to do any research before believing what they read. I have an issue with the term "fake news" and I still believe there should be a confirmation button on every social media site that forces the poster to confirm that they did their homework before trying to misinform the public.

REMINISCING: Our First Date

I’m a day or two late again this week. Sometimes life just gets in the way and my schedule gets completely thrown off. The two musicals this past weekend and subsequent reviews took more time than expected, and I spent more time getting issues with my car straightened out. So, my schedule is definitely out of whack this week. Without further ado, here is my Reminiscing article. It’s only two days late.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Beauty & the Beast Roars Across Palace Stage

It was date night again in the Bacon household. “Beauty and the Beast” was playing at the Palace Theater in downtown Lockport. It was a long day for us, though. Earlier in the day, we took the girls to Lockport High School to see “The Little Mermaid.” That was after I took one child to Medina for bowling in the morning, and Wendy took the littlest one to two hours of dance class. It was a little bit of a hectic date night, to say the least.

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Granite City Lumberjacks NA3HL Silver Cup Champions

The Granite City Lumberjacks are the NA3HL Silver Cup Champions for the 2016-2017 hockey season. The Lumberjacks defeated the Metro Jets 2-1 in the championship game Sunday afternoon. The new champions advanced to the title game after defeating the Binghamton Junior Senators 3-2 in the semi-finals game on Saturday. The jets advanced upon a 6-1 victory over the Yellowstone Quake.

The Little Mermaid Swims Into Lockport High School

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a musical at Lockport High School. The last one I know for sure that I went to was “Brigadoon” back in 1990. I was a new sophomore at the school (I went to ninth grade at Emmet Belknap), and I thought I should be more involved with events that were happening at the school. In the intervening 27 years, by the look of the list in the back of the program, I’ve missed some pretty good shows.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Quick Thoughts of Bacon Vol. 4

It’s April Fool’s Day. Want to talk about “fake news!” It used to be one of my favorite days of the year. These days, however, the PC Police have made April Fool’s Day a mere shadow of its former glory. We have lost our collective sense of humor. So, today, I will regale you with some tales of April Fool’s Day from years past.