Regarding Gorge Parkway: Commentary by Bob Baxter

[The following is a guest submission for NiagaraHub.com – the content or opinion expressed within does not necessarily reflect the opinion of NiagaraHub.  Readers are encouraged to submit articles and videos, but NiagaraHub expresses the right to approve or disapprove each submission.  Each submission will be posted as is.  Enjoy!]

As a founding member of the Niagara Heritage Partnership (NHP), and of the Niagara Frontier Wildlife Habitat Council (NFWHC), I’ve been an advocate of total gorge parkway removal for 15 years. I’m one of thousands of other individuals who also want the parkway totally removed–and the gorge rim restored with forests & long-grass wildflower meadows. I’m guessing others imagine the bicycle and walking trails through this wonderful gorge park, as I do.For some time EDR has been working on a study entitled “Regional Economic Growth Through Ecological Restoration of the Niagara Gorge Rim,” the results, conclusions, and recommendations of which have not yet been released to the public, but about which we know the following: 1) total removal is affordable (3.8 million, including re-leveling with soil) 2) total removal makes economic sense, given the annual costs of maintaining the road, and especially considering the cost of replacement, which will be required in the short term (within 15-20 years), and which would cost in the tens of millions. The study therefore recommends total removal.

The study concludes that removal in sections would be the best approach, and that the first section to be removed (as the most environmentally significant) should be that between Findlay Drive and Devil’s Hole (the City line); the study has obviously rejected the notion of removal being only from downtown Niagara Falls to Findlay as without merit. We strongly agree with that.

Further, the study has documented that if the parkway were removed, increased traffic on alternate routes would be insignificant. It also projects potential economic growth for the region, realized as a result of increased visitations and other development, because of the accessibility of the new and remarkable parkland–and that the increase in regional income would be significant. This is where and how environmental restoration and economics are linked.

Two things make the EDR study more reliable, better, than all the other “studies” completed over the last thirty years: 1) this is the first time in history that the entire gorge rim has been considered, studied, and acknowledged as an organic whole, an ecological landscape connected to the natural waterfalls and to the gorge below, and 2) the so-called studies that preceded it were not studies at all, but plans drawn up based on how some individuals thought the gorge rim should appear–with little or no recognition, care, or knowledge of # 1.

But the natural gorge rim should not a be a monopoly set, manipulated according to the political whims of the moment. When a genuine study, therefore, such as the one EDR is providing, demonstrates to us, based on scientific data and other factual information, what should be done, it’s time to set those other schemes aside (and most of the “options” being gathered by State Parks, based on whatever “visions” were thrown into the hat, are among these), and to get to work with cooperative plans for total removal. It is the cleanest, most rational, and most elegant of the options: total removal and the environmental restoration of a natural gorge rim.

[ TWO NOTATIONS: 1) The EDR study is not endorsed 100% by 100% of either the membership of NHP or NFWHC: that may be one of the distinctions between studies and plans. Plans can turn out exactly as planned, studies may result in producing elements that not everyone likes. For those interested in what the objections arising from these groups were, they can be found under Recent Postings at www.niagaraheritage.org  2) Many members of these two groups believe that State Parks is opposed to total removal and will do what they can to prevent it, including the presentation of many “road-retaining” options. Many believe the main reason they oppose total removal is that with a road in place gorge rim maintenance is paid for by the Department of Transportation; with the road gone, we then have a park, the maintenance of which becomes the responsibility of State Parks.]

But make no mistake: the NHP & NFWHC, along with the nearly 80 other groups and organizations listed on the NHP site, do support 100% the total removal of the gorge parkway and the restoration of the natural environment, as has been recommended by the EDR study. We further appreciate NiagaraHub’s providing yet another poll opportunity re whether or not to remove the gorge parkway. Some few of us even voted on it. What the rest have suggested is that the “poll-keepers” visit the NHP site, take note of the 2000+ individuals on the petition in support of removal there…and then punch that poll removal button 2,202 more times.  (Keeping in mind that the organizational memberships would add hundreds of thousands more.)

My deep gratitude and thank you to those who, without reward, have offered their support for total removal, who signed the petition, who against all odds have taken a stand, who understand the value of reclaiming our natural environment and heritage for the generations that will follow us.

Bob Baxter

erbaxter@aol.com

Biz Announcement: Murphy’s Cafe will be closed during remodeling

Mike Murphy
Owner of Murphy’s Cafe on Rainbow Blvd and Third Street
(located on bottom floor of the historic Jefferson Apartments)

For eat in or to go menu and hours of operation, check out Murphy’s Cafe online here: http://www.murphyscafeusa.com

Organizers hope Hangover 150 can run on Saturday

(Alex and Helen Bruce photo)

It’s become a tradition in the western part of Niagara County, the new year brings one of the wildest races of the year to Ransomville Speedway.

But with a barrage of wet weather, organizers of the Hangover 150, which is scheduled for its 12th running on Saturday at the dirt track, are hoping they can simply salvage the event.

For the first decade, the race was run promptly on New Year’s Day, but last year wet weather caused the event to be pushed back into late January.

The same thing happened this year, and marketing director Tana Robinson said earlier this week she’s holding out hope the event can go off without a hitch tomorrow.

The rains aren’t the only thing the event is up against. Although Robinson said the event is one of the biggest the speedway hosts, it was the biggest about five years ago.

The first race had just over 40 entries. Saturday’s is expected to have just over 100.

But in its heyday, the Hangover saw nearly 250 racers brave the snow and cold.

“Scrap prices have brought down our entries a little bit,” she said. “To take a junk car to the junkyard right about now, it’s worth quite a bit of money.”

The racing starts at noon, but Robinson says fans will be waiting for her when the gates open at 8 a.m. The event includes three 50-lap races, split into categories for 4, 6 and 8-cylinder vehicles.

If the rains don’t make the track and parking lot unmanageable, the racers and spectators should enjoy a few hours of winter fun.

“A lot is determined by rack conditions. If it’s real muddy, it might take a little longer to run. The colder the better. We’d love some snow. The last thing we want is torrential rains just before,” Robinson said.

“Our race fans are the best. A lot of the regular race fans are here, and there are people who come in just for this, too. Some from Rochester, Syracuse, wherever.”

Full SPCA of Niagara investigation online

A number of sources are unveiling the details of the SPCA of Niagara study undertaken by the Erie County SPCA.

Among the atrocities that Barbara Carr of the Erie County SPCA revealed on Friday was the mistreatment of animals who were given shots that caused them to vomit.

Here’s the entire report, courtesy of Channel 2.

The report doesn’t mince words, including the following:

“The Board of Directors of the NCSPCA is self-admittedly dysfunctional.

Koshinski: Memories of Niagara’s Murphy are just that

Former Channel 7 and Empire Sports Network guru Bob Koshinski’s had the chance to cover some of the biggest events on the sports landscape.

He says watching former Niagara start Calvin Murphy for three years, though, stands out as big as any of them.

With Murphy coming back to Monteagle Ridge tonight (and Sunday), Koshinski recalls some of his greatest memories in his most recent column at AllSportsWNY.com, and also mentions his frustration with the lack of Murphy footage that’s survived.

Here’s an excerpt.

“I was a teenager when I watched Murphy play and felt he was the most exciting athlete I had ever seen. Now in my 50s I can say he is still among the top three. I was in the stands at the Gallagher Center the night Murphy scored 68 points against Syracuse University. Murph had 34 a half and no matter what he threw up that night, it went in. To this day I still have in my possession a Niagara basketball scrapbook I created back then that has the game program from that night and I had to use the margins to chart Murphy’s points because the score sheet didn’t go up to 68.”

Here’s the rest of his column, linked here.

Yous Guys Talk Funny (Do you reckon?) – By Andrea Galyn

[The following is a guest submission for NiagaraHub.com – the content or opinion expressed within does not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of NiagaraHub.  Readers are encouraged to submit articles and videos, but NiagaraHub expresses the right to approve or disapprove each submission.  Each submission will be posted as is.  Enjoy!]

If you speak with a linguist, she’ll tell you that Niagara Falls is in the Great Lakes Geographical Dialect region. Joining us is Syracuse, Cleveland and Detroit. I bet you realized we were quite distinct from the New York City dialect but did you know that Albany is even different from both of us?

You probably did. In fact, I’d guess that a lot of native Western New Yorkers have traveled around quite a bit, living away from home for a little while; ever conscious of people saying “soda” instead of “pop” or  “SEE-ment” instead of cement. The crazy things people will say! I spent an entire decade confusing lunch and supper because people in the country called it all dinner! Dinner! For lunch!

I once was accused of being a primadonna because I didn’t know what a “sweeper” was. Well, no, I didn’t know what a sweeper was! In my frame of reference a sweeper was a person working in a flour mill in downtown Buffalo who swept up the dust all day. A street-sweeper drove by once a week so that the police could hand out parking tickets. A chimney-sweep was a character from Mary Poppins. How was I to know an entire chunk of this nation calls a vacuum cleaner a sweeper? There’s even a Sweeper World store in Ohio!

And did you know the trunk of a car is called a boot? Now, you have to say “boot” with a southern accent too. “Put it in the boot”. The boot of the core. Because ladies and gentlemen, if you are not calling a car an auto-MOBILE then you are calling it a “core”. Think you’re going to get smart and just ride a motorcycle? Well consider it a “sickle”.

Some of those “parts” out there call a living room the front room the stove a cooktop,  the closet is a press and the kitchen has a spigot instead of a faucet. Southerners might ask you where to find the commode- which is really a bathroom. Canadians are looking for the washroom- after all, you aren’t going to take a bath in there! Brits are wondering why it’s called a restroom because nobody is going in there for a rest.

Many people say “y’all” in this country. In fact when you drive across the Kentucky border from Cincinnati you will be greeted by a giant water tower that says, “Florence Y’All!”  In Appalachia people turn the “you” plural into “you-ins”. Seriously. That’s real.  I was near the Mason-Dixon line and someone asked me a question and before I could answer they said, “Do ya reckon?” No, I’m pretty sure I don’t reckon. At least, I’ve never tried reckoning before. Does it feel Southern?

While we wait IN line, they are waiting ON line. While we are clearly looking for a pen to write with, they are wondering if we need a pin or an ink-pen. When we order a Coke, we really want Coke. We don’t see Sprite, Mountain Dew, and Doctor Pepper all being variations of Coke.

Some words and phrases are generational. My grandparents referred to the sofa as “the Davenport”, which was actually a brand name of a furniture company that produced couches. The men wore dungarees instead of jeans, and fishing took place on the crick instead of the creek. I remember when the news papers advertised Apartments for Let instead of for rent. We are seeing some words phase out even past our generation. Some of us may still call the basement a cellar, but less and less. Our kids don’t know what we are talking about when we talk about album collections. We say things like “turn the channel”, but there is no turning taking place anymore! When is the last time you dialed a phone? “Hello Ma Bell? I’d like to place a person to person call to the past but I don’t have a dial on here.”

Even amongst ourselves we have some little differences. How did it happen that some Niagarans are pushing a shopping cart and some are pushing a buggy? Are you bringing those groceries home in a bag or in a sack? Do you want to get a sub or a hoagie?

But take heart, for we can unite in the preservation of a phrase close to our hearts. Yous guys know what I am talking about. We grew up being a part of “yous guys”. We aren’t “ya’ll”, we aren’t “you-ins”… we are yous guys. Where ever we travel, when someone refers to us as “yous guys” we’ll know they are from the homeland!

In the meantime, the rest of them reckon we all talk funny up here.

[Submitted by Andrea Galyn]

Buffalo Guitar Heroes: Part I – A Retrospective by Tom Proctor

[The following is a guest submission for NiagaraHub.com – the content or opinion expressed within does not necessarily reflect the opinion of NiagaraHub.  Readers are encouraged to submit articles and videos, but NiagaraHub expresses the right to approve or disapprove each submission.  Each submission will be posted as is.  Enjoy!]

Left to right: Mark Krurnowski, Ron LoCurto,Bruce Wojick, and Jamie Holka.

Jeremy Hoyle has been a live music performer in the Western New York area since 1999 – but on Saturday, January 21^st, 2012 – the promoter of Buffalo Guitar Heroes Part I became a fan. Four guitarists were asked by Hoyle for the first installment of the concert series, which was held over the weekend at the Tralf Music Hall in downtown Buffalo, NY.

“The whole idea started to come about actually over the summer, while I was filling in for Bruce Wojick’s band.” Hoyle said.  “It then hit me when I saw a guitarist named Jamie Holka play (who is in Wojick’s band) – and he just amazed me.”

“He had me thinking to myself – how did he do what he just did, while I was filling in on stage on vocals and guitar for the band?” Hoyle said.

And so it began in December of 2011, Hoyle began to reach four men that have been on his ‘short list’ for a long time to attempt his concept. The chosen – in order of performance were Bruce Wojick, Jamie Holka, Mark Krurnowski and Ron LoCurto.  All of them instantly accepted his offer to play at the famed music hall in Buffalo.  None of them had to open for any bands.  It was four gifted artists, playing their own style of music – in four acts.

“I was immediately sold when Jeremy had called me and asked me to play.” Ron LoCurto said.  “We have great respect for each other and musicians and we all wanted to be a part of this night.”

Ron’s style of guitar is what is deemed to be, as brain scrambling fast – something that is so complex and good, that it resembles that of a trying to solve a difficult physics problem.  He was the final of the four to play at Tralf Music Hall and welcomed the idea of being the last person up.  His full band on stage consisted of PhD drummer, John Bacon and the blistering Victor Wooten-like bass style of Greg Piotnek.

“I knew that the others played so well – and that the energy was so high…it was really hard not to keep that going.” LoCurto said.

Bruce Wojick was the first act to go up – with his versatile drummer, Denny Pelczynski and long time bass player for the band, Klear, Leo McDonald.  Wojick was amazed at the turnout, which was at capactiy at Tralf Music Hall. His reaction as he looked through the stage curtain to his surprise of the great turnout –

“I was looking over to one of the guitarists beforehand (Mark Krurnowski) and told him – that all I felt were butterflies.” Wojick said.

Bruce Wojick’s smooth southern style of rock got the crowd into it early – and even had Jamie Holka out on stage for one of Wojick’s latest songs, ‘Cheap Wine’.

Jamie Holka didn’t talk to me about guitar at first during his interview for the piece – no.  It was about his experience as a spectator at the 2011 Tennis US Open in Flushing Meadow, New York.

“My favorite tennis player on the tour right now is David Ferrer – I had to make sure that I could make it to Arthur Ashe Stadium in time for good seats.” Holka said.  Holka jokes about his sprint to the stadium. “It was like I was in search of one of The Beatles.”

David Ferrer is known for his unconventional style of tennis – and his temper.  Holka recalls that day in New York City watching his favorite player erupt during the match resulting in Ferrer, defacing a courtside clock.  “Yeah – it was stuck at 12:10pm for the whole match after that part.” Holka said.

Holka erupted the crowd during the evening with his percussive hand technique taught to him by the famous guitarist, Ben Lacy, on his (Holka’s) jazz-style Gibson guitar. The guitar is simply known simply as the ‘L-5’.  He was also of the four – the only performer without a full band.

“It certainly is a different feel when you’re up there and it puts you under the microscope – it also helps make me focus.” Holka said.  “I kept my eyes closed almost the entire set, so I could get the feel of the sound and the crowd surrounding myself.”

Holka’s performance surprised many who didn’t see him on stage before, as he played everything from Stevie Wonder’s ‘Sir Duke’ to Steely Dan’s ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’. The crowd would cheer during the introduction of his songs and Holka readily acknowledged them, as he continued his set.

“I have to admit, I would have been happy to have just seen seventy-five people show up for this.” Holka said. “But filled to capacity? – the night couldn’t have been any better for this event.”

Those who had paid their ticket at the door walked in with smiles, as if they were trying something new.  Jeremy Hoyle – the promoter of founder of Buffalo Guitar Heroes Part I, was surprised at what he assumed, the simplicity of his concept to get four of the region’s best guitarists and their bands to play in the same evening.

“I couldn’t believe that no one had never attempted to put for great area guitarists on stage for one show before.” Hoyle said.  “I wanted to create something that had a little bit of everything – because I’m a fan of these guys, too.”

And it little bit of everything was absolutely correct.  Mark Krunowski and The Filter Kings brought an electric atmosphere for their set, with drummer  Cave Wilson and bassist Brian Burd.  Krurnowski’s hard, driving style, yet precise – resembled that of Brian Setzer on performance enhancers.  The Filter Kings performance followed Jamie Holka, and sucked the full capacity crowd in with their rockabilly jams.

“Before Bruce Wojick’s band were on stage, I looked through the curtains and couldn’t believe what I saw.” Krurnowski said.

What he saw were the center and upper levels of Tralf Music Hall, filled to watch these acts play music.  “I was so appreciative of that – I mean…they all came out to see all of us, and that meant so much to everyone.” Krurnowski said.  “It was by far, the best show out of eleven years, that The Filter Kings have played live.”

After the show, every musician seemed to reflect and all were thankful to be a part of something that was a first.  “I am grateful to have such an opportunity to be on the same stage as these guys – to Jeremy Hoyle for asking us to join something that we will always be known to be first to have done.” Krurnowski said.

Every musician as mentioned before, opened for headliners, but this time – the night belonged to them and only them.  The four guitarists, Bruce Wojick, Jamie Holka, Mark Krurnowski – have played Tralf Music Hall a handful of times before.  All of them rated this at the top of their experiences there.  All have great respect toward each other for their musician.

Ron LoCurto – whose incredible performance wowed the spectators, remains humble.  “It’s like a brotherhood of musicians – Bruce, Jamie and Mark are all class acts.” LoCurto said.

None of them seemed to pick themselves as the best out there either.  After the show, LoCurto blurted backstage to Jamie Holka – “Holka was the best by far!”  Holka shook his head while smiling just seconds after that comment.  “LoCurto, note for note is the cleanest guitarist that I’ve seen yet.” Holka said.

Having been fortunate enough to be immersed in this experience from soundcheck to final song, it is safe for me to say this – it is really refreshing to see four guitarists have great respect toward each other .  It was an original and historic experience to be a part of.

Take a look at these awesome YouTube clips from the show:

1. Bruce Wojick (w/Jamie Holka) – Cheap Wine –  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR2Anrpjhoo

2. Jamie Holka – Elenor Rigby – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29mSQJAod4w

3. The Filter Kings – Point Break/Where You Gone? – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LTx6bD4KnE

4.Ron LoCurto – Superbad – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKf-F3GEUMg

– Submitted to NiagaraHub.com by Tom Proctor

Longtime Democratic leader Rivera resigns

Members of the executive committee for the county’s Democratic Party announced early Thursday that longtime chairman Dan Rivera has tendered his resignation.  The party’s executive committee unanimously chose Jeremy M. Schnurr, a North Tonawanda attorney, to succeed Rivera.

(More news on this to follow)

 

See Niagara Gazette’s Mark Scheer’s story here: http://niagara-gazette.com/local/x1456429549/BREAKING-NEWS-County-Democratic-leader-resigns

@ the Library – by Michelle Petrazzoulo, Library Director

“That’s nothing to tell of
That won’t do of course
Just broke down the wagon
That’s drawn by a horse
That cant be my story. That’s only a start.
I’ll say that a ZEBRA was pulling that cart!
And that’s is the story that no one can beat,
When I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street.”

This week marks the 75^th anniversary of And to Think That I Saw it On Mulberry Street, written by Theodor Geisel – better known around the world  as “Dr Seuss.”

The book, finally published in 1937 after being rejected more than 40 times, tells the story of Marco and his walk to and from school. His father instructs him to keep track of the sights and experiences that he has along the way, which in reality are quite uneventful. Marco, imaginative child, conjures up stories of sights and sounds that surprise and astonish. For Seuss the book is a commentary on how children have imaginative minds and how adults can often suppress this innocent gift. Originally entitled “A Story That No One Can Beat”. Seuss obviously could foresee the future, as he went on to become the most famous children’s author of all time.

Thank you Vanguard Press for publishing the book and thank you Dr. Seuss for sparking not only the imagination of children. but helping adults world wide rediscover thier own.

-Michelle Petrazzoulo, Library Director

Tell us about your own favorite Doctor Seuss book in the comment section below:

Youngstown’s Rusch finds a hit with guitar-making business

Like numerous cover band guitarists before him, Youngstown’s Robert Rusch has an affection for sporadically dropping in at local music shops, ogling the six-stringed wonders that sit perched on mini-pedestals.

But during one trip in the year 2000, Rusch dug a little deeper, contemplating the process of designing and manufacturing the guitar from nothing but its most basic elements.

That’s when it hit the self-professed tinkerer.

“I can do this,” he thought. “I can build guitars.”

Now, he does so for a living, all while huddled in a small shop outside his Lake Road home.

But while picking one of his hand-crafted guitars up and hammering out a tune doesn’t take much effort, the process of creating his own home-based business has required plenty of nurturing.

After that initial epiphany at the music shop, Rusch ordered a number of books, one of which was “Making an Archtop Guitar” by Robert Benedetto, a book he still refers to at times. While he was at it, he purchased some mahogany and figured maple to begin crafting.

Many of his first creations ended up, literally, in the fireplace. As he continued to tinker, however, Rusch realized he’d tapped into a skill, something that could develop from avocation to vocation. He started listing his guitars on eBay to positive results, and later developed what he called a “primative” website.

In 2010, after the better part of a decade of building the instruments part-time, he decided to pursue as a career. He’s now got orders starting to pile up, although he insists he won’t pump out the product, insisting he won’t make more than two dozen per year.

Rusch also prefers variety, determined not to get pegged into crafting one type of guitar.

“I want to stay away from mass production. I want to have that personal touch and have a one-on-one relationship with the customer,” he said. “There’s no two alike. They’re all one of a kind. The design it, if they want an extra switch or a different kind of wood, I’m happy to work with them.

“And I’ve always wanted to stay fluid in my approach to building and not box myself in with one style of stringed instrument.”

He has a number of models on his website, including acoustic, archtops, solid electric and the popular Jerry Garcia tribute guitars. He also can assemble kit guitars, and will occasionally take on a restoration project. This isn’t a passion that came late in life, Rusch called the sounds that eminated from his mother’s Gibson acoustic back in the 1970s as “unearthly,” and added that he “couldn’t understand how a wooden box could make these harp-like sounds.”

He said he became enthralled not only with the guitar’s ability to produce art, but with the beauty of the guitar itself. He immersed himself in everything from classical to jazz to country music, and remembers competitions back at Tonawanda High School to see who could learn songs by Van Halen, the Beatles or AC/DC first.

He still plays, but now his expertise lies on creating the physical instrument, and he’s currently building the Rik Jonna model archtop, no small feat considering that Jonna has worked with Benedetto, Cris Mirabella and Jimmy D’Aquisto. Rusch said it’s a “culmination of years of design.”

And hopefully, that means even more esteem, not to mention the chance to work with bigger names. Rusch caters to what he call a high-end clientele, where guitars typically start at $3,000.

Still, the money isn’t the reasoning behind the creations. Rusch, who worked as a project manager for a sign company before starting his business, clearly considers this a labor of love.

“I love doing this. I wouldn’t pick anything else in the world to do. When I’m done, it’s always a thrill,” Rusch said. “And it’s intuitive. I just go and do it now. Most every guitar I build is different from the next.

“It’s working out for me.”