Niagara Rises

SECOND ANNUAL ORCHARD PARKWAY GARDEN WALK

Will be taking place on Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 9 am to 3 pm.

A free self guided tour of beautiful gardens and architecture in Downtown Niagara Falls, NY

Walk begins at the corner of the Main Street and Orchard Parkway, Niagara Falls

What a great weekend Niagara Rises had with Niagara Homecoming 2009!   Great attendance, incredible connections and a good time had by all..   Here us a slide show of all the photos in no particular order…  As time permits each event will have it’s own slide show…

Sunday, June 28

Arise & Shine Worship Event

4:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Goat Island

Multiple churches from various denominations will come together in a communal service as the sun rises over the incomparable upper Niagara River. Free parking on Goat Island, Niagara Falls, USA, near Parking Lot #3.

Website for Arise & Shine Detail Document for Arise & Shine

Facebook Page for Arise & Shine

Brunch at the Aquarium of Niagara

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Aquarium

Capping off four days of fun, the Brunch will showcaseand benefit one of the region’s oldest and most respected attractions. Catered by Niagara Falls’ own Alps Catering. Adults: $15, Children 12 & Under: $10.

Proceeds benefit the Aquarium of Niagara.

Website for Sunday Brunch Detail Document for Brunch

Facebook Page for Brunch at Aquarium

Positively Main Street Festival

12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Join us on both Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 for Two Days of Local Talent, Saturday featuring the Junk Yard Dogs and Sunday featuring Free Henry-Free!

Website for Positively Main Street Detail Document for Positively Main Street

Facebook Page for Positively Main Street

Friday, June 26

Empower Your Future Job Fair

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Niagara Power Vista

Network with Niagara County employers, attend career seminars and take in the spectacular views of the Niagara Gorge. Free

Website for Job Fair Facebook Page for Job Fair Detail Document for Job Fair

Art at the NACC

4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Niagara Arts and Cultural Center

The NACC opens its doors to the public with a variety of cultural experiences. Free

Website for Arts at the NACC Facebook page for Arts at the NACC Detail Document for NACC

Niagara Power Baseball

7:00 p.m. - Sal Maglie Stadium

The Niagara Power game will serve as a celebration of Niagara’s former teams, including the Bisons, Pirates, Rapids, White Sox and Mallards. Former Major Leaguers will be on hand to sign autographs. Game Tickets: $4 adults, $2 children

Website for Niagara Power Facebook Page for Niagara Power Game

Title: Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall
Location: Knox State Park, East Aurora, NY
Description: Coming to Knox State Park in East Aurora today is the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, which may tie up traffic a bit as the three tractor-trailers carrying it proceed along Transit Road and Seneca Street. Once it\’s unpacked, the 8.5-foot-tall wall, which is a football field long, will be on display Thursday through Monday with an honor guard watching over it.

The exhibit honors veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as victims of the 9/11 attacks. A kickoff event will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Tops Market, 4777 Transit Road, Lancaster. Then a motorcycle honor guard of Vietnam veterans will escort the trucks carrying the traveling wall to the park.

Start Date: 2009-06-25
End Date: 2009-06-29

In less than three years, the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center has gone from dream to vibrant reality. Today, in it’s sixth year of operation, the NACC is home to more than 75 artists and arts groups - NY State’s largest gathering of artists under one roof outside of metro New York.

In addition to its artists in residence, the NACC is also home to two theaters, two art galleries, an interactive children’s center - NICE for Kids, and a Niagara Falls High School alumni center

NACC galleries host wide-ranging and ever-changing exhibitions, while our theaters regularly feature a broad variety of musical, theatrical and dance activities.

As an education center, the NACC’s role continues to grow. Many NACC artists regularly offer classes to the public. Now, as a 21st Century Community Learning Center, the NACC offers a broad array of art, music and dance classes to area middle and high school students both after school and throughout the summer.

During Niagara Homecoming the NACC is proud to sponsor a program designed to paint a smile on the face of all those who attend.

Agenda for Friday, June 26, 2009

* Two Open Gallery Art Exhibitions (1st Floor & 2nd Floor)

* Wine Bar with Finger Food Items & refreshments

* Gift Shop showcasing art & artistic items for sale

* Theatrical Vignettes in the Woodbox Theater presented by The Western Door Playhouse

* Live guitar music throughout the evening in the Main Gallery on the 1st floor

* Live entertainment (TBD*) in the Grand Theater Auditorium on the 2nd floor

* Souvenir photos for sale of individuals going over the falls in a barrel

What is the Niagara Awards: A Tribute to Women?

The Niagara Awards was established by the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Niagara in 1997 as a fundraiser to publicly recognize and honor women who make significant contributions to the Niagara County community.  All women nominated for one of the seven award categories will be recognized at the dinner, their pictures will appear in local press articles and in the event program.  The recipients in each of the award categories will be announced at the dinner.  A recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be publicly announced in advance of the dinner and presented at the dinner. 

What are the criteria for nominating women for the Niagara Awards?

Women nominated should be those who have consistently demonstrated through their employment, self-employment, volunteer service, or lifestyle an outstanding commitment to the mission of the YWCA—the empowerment of women and the elimination of racism—in one of the following awards categories:

·         EDUCATION AWARD—Women who are involved at any level of education, including religious or community, in any position, including superintendent, principal, teacher, teachers’ aide, college dean, assistant dean, professor, assistant professor, instructor, teaching assistant, professional staff, etc.

·         ENTREPRENEUR AWARD—Women who are proprietors and managers of their own companies.

·         FRONT LINE AWARD–Women who are support personnel, such as receptionists, sales associates, clerical workers, secretaries, bookkeepers, administrative assistants, cashiers, bank tellers, and customer service representatives.

·         MANAGEMENT AWARD—Women who are top executives and/or officers of corporations, businesses, non-profit organizations, directors, supervisors, and managers.

·         HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AWARD—Women who serve as health care providers, case managers, nurses, physicians, social workers, etc.

·         PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD—Women who serve in the public sector; including elected officials, community volunteers, etc.

·         YOUTH AWARD—Young women under 18 years of age who demonstrate remarkable leadership skills and/or serve as a role model for other young women.

Are previous nominees eligible?

Yes.  Many organizations and individuals chose to honor a co-worker or friend more than once.  Previous nominees are eligible, but previous Niagara Award recipients, YWCA Board of Directors, YWCA Board of Trustees, YWCA employees and Niagara Awards Committee members are not eligible for nomination.

What is the nomination procedure?

Nominators must submit a separate nomination packet for each nomination by July 15, 2009.  Faxes cannot be accepted.  Forms may also be downloaded (forms may NOT be returned electronically) at the YWCA of Niagara Web site at www.ywcaniagara.org and clicking on the Niagara Awards link.  There is no nomination fee.

How are award recipients selected?

Award recipients will be selected by the Niagara Awards Selection Committee based on the nomination form and narrative. 

When are the nominations due?

Nominations must be postmarked no later than July 15, 2009.

Can copies of the nomination materials be used?

Yes.  Copies of the forms will be accepted, however, original signatures are required where indicated.

When is the Niagara Awards Dinner?

The 2009 Niagara Awards:  A Tribute to Women will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at 6 p.m. at The Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, N.Y.  Dinner tickets are $75 (nominees are complimentary) and can be obtained by calling the YWCA at 716-433-6714.  Patron tables at a cost of $750 (10 seats) and award sponsorships are available.

What: Head-to-head chef cooking competition

Where: Artisan Kitchens & Baths, 200 Amherst Street, Buffalo NY

When: Kick-off June 21st, 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (once a month throughout the summer)

How much: $20 per person includes a free drink from the bar and catered snacks

On Friday, June 12th, tickets go on sale for Nickel City Chef, and seating is limited!

You’ve seen them on TV, now you can experience the energy and excitement of a professional cooking competition in person! Nickel City Chef is Western New York’s premier live cooking competition and features top chefs from our region, local ingredients and feisty challengers.

During each of the four summertime competitions, one of our Nickel City Chefs will be challenged by a qualified contender in a culinary fete featuring ingredients grown and raised right here in Western New York. The two chefs and their assistants will strive to complete technically perfect, innovative dishes showcasing a secret ingredient. A panel of three foodie and celebrity judges rate each dish based on the skill, flavor and the creativity demonstrated in each dish.

All of the action happens in one of Buffalo’s best-kept secrets, a fully restored turn-of-the-century warehouse on Buffalo’s emerging West Side. This former stove factory is now home to Artisan Kitchens and Baths, Western New York’s leading high-end appliance retailer. This gorgeous and historic space is completely outfitted with two side-by-side competition-worthy kitchens.

At each event, a live audience will watch the contest unfold live while enjoying drinks and catered snacks. Their ability to enjoy the event will be enhanced by the flat screen televisions throughout the venue airing live up-close footage of the cooking action. Additionally, the audience members’ opinions count toward the final judging tally.

While the outside world may tend to think that Buffalo has little to offer culinarily outside of wings and beef on ‘weck, Buffalonians know they’re wrong. We have skilled chefs and kitchen daredevils waiting to show the world what they can do in just under an hour!

The first Nickel City Chef pits the venerable Chef Krista Van Wagner of Curly’s against a qualified competitor (TBA on June 10th). The showdown begins at 3pm on Sunday, June 21st. Other Nickel City Chefs include Chef JJ Richert of Torches, Chef Paul Jenkins of Tempo and Chef Adam Goetz of Sample.

More information regarding the 2009 season of Nickel City Chef can be found online at NickelCityChef.com. For specific inquiries, please contact founder and producer Christa Glennie Seychew of Feed Your Soul at 716.812.1615 or via email at NickelCityChef@gmail.com.

A media-only event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 10th at 1pm. Want to come meet the nickel City chefs, taste some delicious food and see the amazing, state-of-the-art competition location? Please RSVP to NickelCityChef@gmail.com- cameras and crews are welcome.