Answer Governor’s call to prepare students for future leadership roles

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (February 25, 2014) – Responding to a recent call-to-action from Governor Andrew Cuomo, members of the Niagara Falls City Council and the Niagara County Legislature are collaborating on a government internship program for Niagara Falls High School students. Set to kick off this spring, the program will provide Falls teens with an up-close view of how local government works.

In his presentation of Governor Cuomo’s proposed 2014 budget back in January, Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy took time to meet and talk with government students from Niagara Falls High School. The conversation that followed between Duffy, Niagara Falls City Councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti and Niagara County Legislator Jason Zona led to the local legislators taking the lead on establishing the program.

Zona, who has served on the County Legislature since 2011, worked with Grandinetti to craft an internship program for the City Council that is based on the program currently in use by the Legislature. The Council will coordinate with Niagara Falls High School, who will identify interested students.

Niagara County Legislator Jason Zona: “The Governor has expressed his commitment to keeping young people involved in the political process. We completely agree. If our local high school students are able to see how government works and get involved in the process at an early age, it will benefit our city by promoting civic engagement and by helping these young people to realize that they can put down roots in our community and be a part of making it a better place.”

Niagara Falls City Councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti: “We’ve been discussing the merits of an internship program for some time. The City Council is now more committed than ever to making sure that city government is transparent and open to the people of Niagara Falls, and the time is right for a partnership like this one to move forward. Giving our high school students a first-hand look at city government will help prepare them to take leadership roles in the future.”

The program will allow students to shadow City Council members at legislative meetings and community events and will culminate in a mock legislative meeting where the students will present ideas to the Council members on issues they feel are important to the city of Niagara Falls.

The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center in co-operation with the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, will host the first annual March Along the Portage lecture & workshop series in preparation for the permanent Niagara Portage Interpretive Exhibit that will be opening at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center this spring.

The free public lectures will focus on the historical legacy of the Portage and Niagara Falls. Each lecture will be conducted by local experts. All are free and open to the public.

The first three lectures will be followed by special common core workshops for all educators (public, private & home school) looking to learn more about incorporating information on the Niagara Portage into their curriculum.

An additional a “hands on history” event will be held on Saturday, March 29th. This workshop will focus on traditional fabric dying techniques and the history of fabrics and textiles that would have been transported along the portage.

March 13th, 4pm : Overcoming Obstacles: Formation and Impact of a Portage (Free)
Paul Gromosiak, Author “Niagara Falls: 1840-2000”

March 20th 4pm: Travel & Trade in the 19th Century

Dan Davis, Author “The Life and Times of The Suspension Bridge Village”

Lewis Buttery, Deveaux Historian (Free)

March 27th 4pm: I Fear ye Portage will be Difficult, Niagara & Pontiac’s War, 1763-1764

Robert L. Emerson, Old Fort Niagara Association (Free)

March 29th 12-4pm: Hands on History: Natural Dyeing Techniques Workshop

Susan Borden, Fabric Arts Instructor (Free Lecture / $25 materials fee)

All lectures will take place at the NACC, 1201 Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY.

More Information:

The Niagara’s Historic East Portage Road Exhibit: is the next phase in developing the NACC as a cultural tourism destination. This project began to formulate in 2008 when the NACC and Seaway Trail Inc. unveiled a cultural heritage interpretive panel about the Portage. The panel showcased the facts, and events associated with the formation of Portage Road. This new exhibit will foster a greater awareness of historically significant sites along the route, will act as an information distribution center, as well as highlight some of the current cultural treasures.

The March along the Portage lectures and workshops are designed to educate the public about the significance of the portage, and to allow teachers in the Niagara Area to take part in dialogue about the significance of the Niagara Portage and help develop excellent Common Core lesson plans and interactive activities for students.

The NACC is a 501c-3, Not-For Profit. Established in 2001, The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center has grown to become the largest multi-arts center in NY. The NACC is open to 7 days a week, is visitor ready, and offers a broad array of events and classes to the public. The NACC has taken a positive role in the community as an educational center and has positive impact in terms of economic development, historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization.
To register for workshops and lectures please contact:

Kelly Lang Buckley

Program Development Director
Niagara Arts and Cultural Center
1201 Pine Ave
Niagara Falls, NY 14301

Office: 716-282-7530
Cell: 716-359-5098

If you are going to attend and participate in any basket auction this year, you obviously don’t want to miss this one!  Theme baskets GALORE! Raffles, food and fun… call 297-6400 x335 to volunteer or donate.  See you there!

More than 2,500 guests will fill The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls (101 Old Falls St.) for the 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), on Monday, March 17, beginning at 5 p.m. Advance sale tickets are $7 or $8 at the door. Children under 12 receive free admission. Proceeds benefit local charities, as directed by the AOH’s Niagara County Chapter, Division 1.

The party features traditional Irish food and beverages, music by The Blarney Bunch, and Irish dance performances by the McCarthy School of Dance. Attendees are asked to bring in non-perishable food items to be donated to Heart & Soul Food Pantry.

“This is truly the largest annual party of its kind in Western New York,” said Jason Murgia, assistant general manager at the Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls.

Prior to the party, guests can experience the “World’s Shortest Parade,” at 4:45 p.m. The parade route begins about 75 steps away, from Old Falls Street at First Street into the entrance of The Conference & Event Center.

Advance sale tickets are being sold at B&B Cigars on Main Street and McCleod’s Pharmacy on Buffalo Avenue, in Niagara Falls; Always a Party on Military Road in the Town on Niagara; Cheri Amour on Center Street in Lewiston; and at McNerney’s Irish Imports inside the Eastern Hills Mall

Sat. 1st, Scott Celani, 8pm

Wed. 5th, Matt & Stacey, 8pm

Sat. 8th, Piper Harrington and Hawk, 8pm

Wed. 12th, Tim & Casey, 8pm

Sat. 15th, Stevie Fleck, 8pm

Mon. 17th, Step In Time, Irish Folk Music, 8-11pm

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Wed. 19th, Michael Krisch, 8pm

Thurs. 20th, Art Opening for Devi Devi & Rebekah Brydges-Kallin, 7pm

Sat. 22nd, Zak Ward, 8pm

Wed. 26th, Chris Borgatti & Friends, 8pm

Sat. 29th, Sarah Elizabeth Genco, 8pm

NO COVER!!

501 Third Street

Niagara Falls, NY

716.285.9463

Had enough slipping and sliding, sneezing and freezing? No need for cold medicine, just drop by the Aquarium of Niagara on Thursday, March 6th from 6 to 9 pm. It’s time for our annual winter fundraiser, “SEAsonings – The Original Taste of Niagara.” So come join us for this delicious event at the Aquarium, 701 Whirlpool Street.

It’s the winter event you won’t want to miss. SEAsonings is all about tasting and enjoying good food from area restaurants and fine wines from regional wineries and other vendors. Tickets are $55.00 per person or $100.00 per couple.

This mouth-watering benefit for the Aquarium and its living collection also will feature music by Premier Sound with DJ Pat Proctor, floral arrangements by Piccirillo Florist and Joe Chille as emcee.

Food samplings will be provided by Delaware North Parks Service, Hard Rock Café, Barker Chocolate Box, Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, Red Coach Inn, Just Say Cheesecake, Quality Hotel & Suites, The Conference & Event Center Niagara, Dominic’s Little River Bar & Grill, Four Points by Sheraton, Murphy’s Café on 3rd, The Village Bake Shoppe, Dick & Jenny’s Bake & Brew, Everyday Gourmet Bakery Café and Sheraton at the Falls.

Participating wineries include Flight of Five Winery, Long Cliff Vineyard & Winery and Willow Creek Winery. Other beverages will be provided by Certo Brothers Distributing and Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

SEAsonings is sponsored by Greater Niagara Newspapers, and Niagara Frontier Publications. Tickets are available at the Aquarium or by calling 285-3575, ext. 216. Tickets also available at the door, but if possible, please make your reservations by February 28.

Come & enjoy this tasty event!