Book Reviews Reloaded: Another Side of Bob Dylan

This article first appeared on East Niagara Post on April 7, 2015. It is repeated here as I work to put all my book reviews in one place. They will be posted on Thursdays or Fridays and only be altered from the original in that I will add publisher information and pages. Hopefully, by revisiting these reviews, other people might find a book they'd like to pick up for their own enjoyment.

Another Side of Bob Dylan -- Victor & Jacob Maymudes

St Martin's Press

304 Pages

I have a confession to make. I am a big fan of Bob Dylan. I know that some people love to hate him, while his biggest fans are rabid. I am definitely a big fan. So, when I saw a book at the library on the new, nonfiction book about Dylan, I grabbed it before anyone else could.  Another Side of Bob Dylan by Victor and Jacob Maymudes is billed as an insider’s account of Bob Dylan’s life. Sadly, this simply is not the case.

Shenanigans Episode 60: Bring Back the Jills!!

Vinnie tells everyone not to call him "Sir." We talk about celebrity beauty tips in a very NSFW segment, and a blind man wants to sue Playboy because he can't read the articles. A college in Ohio is installing vending machines that serve...BACON! Other colleges, this time in Michigan, want to use hockey pucks to keep them safe from heinous acts. Meanwhile, crime in Canada can be tied to penalty minutes in the NHL. And can we PLEASE bring back the Buffalo Jills? This is an open request from the cast of Shenanigans.

Shenanigans: Episode 59: The Christmas Special

Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Holidays. Yes, this is the Shenanigans Christmas Special! For the first time, we have an episode that is entirely family friendly and safe for work. We discuss some odd Christmas traditions from around the world, and we talk about our own holiday traditions. There is a little Christmas movie debate, of course. All of us from Shenanigans and Niagara's Watercooler wish you a very happy holiday season.

James Dyer: From Niagara County to the Fiji Islands

“James, He went to the Sandwich Islands. Married and had children. No details available.”

By Kenneth Brown, Tessa Dyer, Max Dyer.

Most of us have at least one ancestor with little more than a name; This article is about one of those ancestors; including a little family history, a smattering of American history, some old newspapers, genetic genealogy, and the wonders of the world wide web.

The Fiji Islands

James Smith Dyer was the son of Jeremiah Dyer, an early resident of Niagara County, and partner with his son-in-law, Thomas Van Sickler, in the “Journeyman’s Boot and Shoe Store” in Lockport. James was born about 1807 in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York. His father was born in Rhode Island. They were descendants of William Dyer and Mary (Barrett) Dyer, the Quaker Martyr, and Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Jeremiah’s family lived in Brownsville, Jefferson county during the War of 1812, they moved to Lewiston, Niagara county by 1816, by 1820 they’d moved to Porter, and by 1830 they were Lockport residents. Jeremiah purchased lot 4 on South Street and Lot 27 on Genesee Street in 1835. Three generations of Dyers lived at the house 227 Genesee Street. 

Shenanigans Episode 58: Thou Shalt Listen to Ye Olde Podcast

We open this week with a very special opening. It's the best. Trust me. I know the best when I see it. An English high school bans high-end coats, and Vinnie wants nothing to do with it. Starbucks is banning porn on its free wi-fi, which i probably why the commander of a National Guard wing used his plane for a booty call. Who would eat a 3D-printed vegan steak? We were lost at vegan.

Book Reviews Reloaded: Real Santa

This article first appeared on East Niagara Post on January 13, 2015. It is repeated here as I work to put all my book reviews in one place. They will be posted on Thursdays or Fridays and only be altered from the original in that I will add publisher information and pages. Hopefully, by revisiting these reviews, other people might find a book they'd like to pick up for their own enjoyment.

Real Santa -- William Hazelgrove

Koehler Books

244 Pages

Real Santa by William Hazelgrove is the story of George Kronenfeldt, a divorced father with a new wife and family. His youngest child is nine years old and she is starting to question the validity of Santa Claus. He wants her to hold onto that childhood dream for as long as possible. As an engineer, he decided that he would give his daughter, Megan, a Christmas Eve visit from the jolly man in red. Intensive planning ensues, drafting the assistance of his elderly father who is also an engineer.

Shenanigans Episode 57: What the Heck is a Bioga???

Everyone seems to have "Howied" himself on this show. This week, it's Craig's turn and boy, is it a doozy. Vinnie tells us about food from around the world. Can Flat-Earthers own snow globes? Rich wants to know how afghans can ever keep you warm. Never play Yahtzee with a wombat, and Shenanigans takes on PETA. We also explore the saga of a Canadian Raccoon Fighting League.

Old Fort Niagara Castle By Candlelight

Old Fort Niagara brims with holiday merriment, festive songs, creative crafts and booming celebrations at the annual Castle by Candlelight, happening on Saturday evenings, December 8 and 15, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. This annual fundraiser allows visitors to step back in time and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Christmas season within the candlelit-setting of the 18th century fort.