Hi,
Welcome to Niagara Rises. We are a grassroots organization of people who share a common love of the city of Niagara Falls. Our group was formed in 2006 and we have been working toward the revitalization of our once-proud city ever since.
We believe that government alone cannot fix what ails Niagara Falls and that the people of the city - both those still here and those that have moved elsewhere - need to take a leadership role in righting the ship.
The following column is one I wrote a few years back in the Niagara Falls Reporter. I believe that it speaks directly to the issue of how we view ourselves and how we might work together for a more vibrant future.
Enjoy, and please join us at the next Niagara Rises meeting on November 18th.
THINKING OF RELOCATING? WHY NOT TO NIAGARA FALLS?
By Frank Thomas Croisdale
Flashes of insight sometimes come at the strangest of places–the outdoor basketball courts at Niagara University, for example.
It was there a few years back that I figured out what’s wrong with people from Niagara Falls. We don’t like ourselves. A game of b-ball had just ended, and a group of would-be Michael Jordan thirtysomethings stood doubled over, sucking wind. A tall, lanky guy–whom the other players had taken to calling “Windex” because of the number of rebounds he’d cleaned off of the fiberglass backboard–straightened himself up and announced, “Thanks for the game, fellas. By the way, my name is Mike. I just moved here from Florida.”
Before I could open my mouth to say welcome, ol’ Windex was serenaded with a chorus of “Why’s?”
And since that day, it’s always been the same. Whenever someone announces they’ve just moved here, whatever the setting, the response is always the same–”Why?”
It’s heard in boardrooms and bar rooms, in hot spots and in night spots. Whether we are white collar or blue collar, young or old, Jew or gentile, there is just one thing we want to know–”Why?”
Why would you leave warm weather for snow? Why would you leave prosperity for recession? Why leave heaven for purgatory? Why? Why? Why?
Well, draw up a chair and sit for a spell, dear friends–I’ll tell you why. But be forewarned, it just may cause you to fall in love with a beautiful region all over again.
At the top of the list is Goat Island. Slip on a pair of sneakers and partake in one of the most beautiful mile and a quarter walks that the planet Earth has to offer. From the thrilling view of the upper Canadian rapids as seen from Celinda-Eliza–the third of the Three Sisters Islands–to the spellbinding straight-down view of the Bridal Veil Falls from Luna Island, Goat Island is nothing short of a national treasure, and it’s yours free to enjoy in any season.
Ah yes, the seasons. We get four color-packed, weather-infused seasons to enjoy in Niagara Falls. What can be more exciting than to watch spring’s first Robin touch down on your front yard after a long cold winter? Where can you find more beautiful summers? Temperatures that top off in the high 80s, a cooling lake-blown breeze, all set off by the laughter of giddy children jumping through a lawn sprinkler.
How about the dramatic change to autumn? Hop in your car and take a short drive to Allegheny and Letchworth state parks and let nature treat you to a blast of colors that put the Fourth of July fireworks display to shame. Our winters offer a wide array of activities from skiing to snowmobiling. And, hey, even if shoveling snow is not your idea of fun exercise, remember we don’t have to worry about earthquakes, mudslides or cockroaches the size of the Taco Bell dog.
Here are five outdoor activities that I would recommend to a recently transplanted person to our city:
1. Climb down the Devil’s Hole–or lesser known Vanderbilt–steps to the bottom of the Niagara Gorge.
2. Stand on Hurricane Deck at the Cave of the Winds and take off your hood.
3. Hop on board the Whirlpool Jetboat and experience the rapids up close and personal.
4. Cross the bridge to Canada and stroll through the grounds of the Botanical Gardens.
5. Go to the precipice of Whirlpool State Park and watch the world’s largest whirlpool swirl below you.
What about culture, you say? Who’s got more of it than Western New Yorkers?
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery houses one of the world’s most respected collections. Some of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s best creations call Buffalo home. The Royal Ontario Museum of Science is less than an hour’s drive away in Toronto. The towns of Lewiston and Youngstown showcase dozens of properties that are classified as historical landmarks. And Artisans Alley at First Street and Buffalo Avenue features the dramatic creations of artists worldwide, all for sale at affordable prices.
What about food? Even New York City has nothing on the cornucopia of choices offered right here in Niagara Falls.
Can you imagine a pizza tastier than that produced by Aldo at La Hacienda? A better steak and cheese sub than Mrs. Mariposa makes out on Military Road? Try to find a beef on weck or Haddock fish fry outside of Western New York. The Como is known from coast to coast, and John’s Flaming Hearth can’t be beat for food quality and ambience.
Want a view with your meal? Schimschack’s offers a panoramic look over the dales of Sanborn. Mark Turgeon’s Riverside Inn allows you to drink in the lower Niagara along with a glass of Chablis from their award-winning wine cellar. Let’s not forget the Falls themselves. The Penthouse Restaurant high atop the Sheraton on the Falls in Ontario brings together views of all three waterfalls with an exquisite all-you-can-eat buffet.
Combine all of these factors with the fact that we’ve got a low crime rate, good schools, an easy cost of living and friendly people and it’s clear to see why someone would want to relocate here.
So, Windex, if you’re reading this, I’d like to say “Welcome,” and I hope that you are enjoying all that Niagara Falls has to offer. Oh, and to echo the thoughts of our friends out on the basketball court that day, I’d also like to say, “Why?”
Why did you wait so long to call Niagara home?
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