Hyde Park Business and Professional Association’s upcoming events

MAY
Tuesday 1st,
-HPBPA monthly meeting, NFFD Headquarters 3115 Walnut, 6pm.

Saturday 26th,
-Niagara Falls Veterans Memorial Day Parade, meet 10:30am at the City Market.

JUNE
date TBD
-HPBPA monly meeting, on the agenda-Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County is currently working on a work site wellness initiative, and will discuss their initiative and overall goal to make Niagara Falls a healthier place.

Saturday 16th,
-NFPD Law Enforcement Fundraiser, for NFPD Honor Guard, at Sal Maglie Stadium 11am to 7pm partnering with NF Block Clubs, HPBPA will have a table set up.

Video: Groups join to create peace garden at Gill Creek Park

A picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth 1001.  So with three videos, you’ve got 3003 words.

What a great day for Gill Creek Park as volunteers and employees of National Grid team up and begin to construct a peace garden at a popular area park.

There was no parking available along Niagara Street (just like Third Street) on Thursday as workers were jammed in to help beautify and make functional, a neighborhood respite.

Check out these videos for the real story.

The Soapbox with Craig Avery (April 19, 2012): Nina Vosburgh, Niagara University and Hyde Park Bus. Assn.

Nina Vosburgh of Niagara University and the Hyde Park Business Association is our guest today.  A U.S. Navy veteran and a sophomore in marketing at NU, Nina talks about working in the community helping businesses with new marketing initiatives.  She contacted the hub to share a few observations.  How cool!

Tired of the naysayers? Check out “The Soapbox” where everyday we present a new friend of the Hub making a living here in Western New York, and can speak positively about the experience.

Learn about businesses that have been here for decades, or hear about new ventures from our area’s entrepreneurs. Upcoming events, political issues, and funny stories of days gone by, you’ll hear it all on Niagara Hub’s Soapbox.

Click play to listen!

Don’t see the player above on your device (iPad or iPhone)? Click here to hear the Soapbox!

Legend’s and Old Falls Street team up for Cinco de Mayo celebration

Event Features Sanctioned National Chicken Tamale Eating Championship

Old Falls Street, USA, and the neighboring Legends Bar & Grill are teaming up to host their first ever Cinco de Mayo Block Party, Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 6 to 9 p.m., on the Middle Block of Old Falls Street, in Downtown Niagara Falls, NY. The Block Party is the first special event held on Old Falls Street, USA, in 2012. The main attraction of the festive Mexican-themed celebration is “The Legends Bar & Grill National Chicken Tamale Eating Championship Presented by Old Falls Street, USA,” featuring nationally recognized Professional Competitive Eaters including All Pro Eating’s #1 Ranked Professional Competitive Eater, Eric “Silo” Dahl, battling against one of the world’s most recognized and most talented female competitive eaters, Stephanie “Xanadu” Torres.

The outdoor Cinco de Mayo Block Party also features traditional Mexican food and beverage vending. All ages are welcome, although proof of age 21 must be shown to consume alcoholic beverages. Live music will also be featured by Dos Amigos, from 2 to 6 p.m. and Murphy’s Law, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., inside Legends Bar & Grill (www.LegendsBarNF.com).

All Pro Eating Promotions (http://competitiveeaters.com) will sanction The Legends Bar & Grill National Chicken Tamale Eating Championship Presented by Old Falls Street, USA. Prize money will be awarded to the top three finishers, including a first place prize of $600, and a new All Pro Eating National Chicken Tamale Eating Record will be decided. “Chicken Tamales will soon be known not only as a food item that celebrates the rich traditions of our nation’s delicious history but on May 5, they will also be known as the food item that settled a great debate in the competitive eating world!” said Todd “The Hungry Genius” Greenwald, chairman of All Pro Eating, in referencing the impressive collision of competitive eating “heavyweights” that will be at the event.

“The scene at the Cinco de Mayo Block Party on the Middle Block of Old Falls Street, USA, will certainly be inspiring and All Pro Eating will be proud to record the results in the record books!” Eric “Silo” Dahl, from Minnesota, will attempt to keep his unbeaten record intact, but will face tough competition from Stephanie “Xanadu” Torres, who resides in New Mexico. Dahl holds several eating titles including World Hands-Free Pumpkin Pie Eating Champion and National Pulled Pork Sandwich Eating Champion. Not to be outdone, Torres recently won the National Spring Break Eating Championship and previously devoured 10.3 pounds of spaghetti in seven minutes.

The Legends Bar & Grill National Chicken Tamale Eating Championship Presented by Old Falls Street, USA, is open to anyone who would like to participate and local competitors are encouraged to join for their share of the $1,200 prize pool. Additional information can be found on the All Pro Eating website or by contacting Todd Greenwald via email at HungryGenius@CompetitiveEaters.com.

CONTACT:
Susan Swiatkowski
Marketing Director
Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls & Old Falls Street, USA
susan.s@niagarafalls-cc.com
(716) 278-2121

Main Street’s 2nd Annual Music & Art Festival’s Kick Off Party to be held at Orchard Grill

Please join the Main Street Business and Professional Association’s “Kick Off Party” for the “2nd Annual Main Street Music & Art Festival.”

This event will be held on Thursday, April 19th at 6:00 p.m. at the Orchard Grill, located at 1217 Main Street, Niagara Falls, New York.

Come hang out with the organizers of the event and preview one of our “Side Stage” acts, “Scarlet Embrace”. We will also have information available to those interested in getting involved in the Music & Art Festival.

This is going to be a fantastic evening!

For more information, please visit our website at: www.WoMadistrict.com or check out our event on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/149429218519342/

Thank you,

Michele Altman
Co-Chairperson
Main Street Music & Art Festival

Scarlet Embrace

Council passes new chamber resolution, but not at all agree it’s necessary

The Niagara Falls City Council authorized a resolution in support of the creation of a new chamber of commerce in Niagara Falls, which has been initiated by a group led by Frank Croisdale.

But while the council’s resolution read that the city’s 400 businesses “deserve strong support and representation,” not everyone thinks the city needs another promotional arm.

In fact, Candace Corsaro, who heads the Hyde Park Business Association, said on the Soapbox with Craig Avery that it sounds like another group will simply increase the cost of doing business in Niagara Falls. She wasn’t alone.

A number of business association leaders stopped on March 21 at the Niagara Hub as the new chamber of commerce’s steering committee members met for the first time with Niagara USA officials and board member Ron Anderluh at Niagara Hub, 630 Main St.

Also present were representatives of the Downtown Business association and the Main Street Business Association.

The purpose of that meeting was to introduce the concept of the Niagara Falls chamber to the parties present. All agreed that some of the services offered by the new chamber were unique, such as web site design (at a cost to members), but others were redundant (health care benefits).

That’s when Avery offered up air time to each of the business associations on his Soapbox show, with each organization given a forum to discuss the services offered and their feelings related to the introduction of a new chamber of commerce.

Rick Crogan of Main Street Business Association said in his interview: “I think this second chamber right now is just going to confuse more people … it’s going to divide the city divide people, and make people make choices. The business associations have gotten so cohesive. As we grow, the local business associations will grow.”

Candace Corsaro of the Hyde Park Business association said: “The new chamber, I absolutely believe is not needed. I don’t think it’s necessary. We have one, and that’s all we need.”

Sue Swiatkowski of the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association, said: “I wish they could get involved in other ways instead of breaking off and doing their own thing, because Niagara Falls is getting smaller and unfortunately, to be even more fragmented than we are, I think we should be bonding at this point.”

And Ron Anderluh of Niagara Street Business Association said: “The new Chamber was officially formed back in June of 2011, but as Corsaro and other business association leaders have said, the countywide Niagara USA Chamber already offers many of the same services.”

The Soapbox with Craig Avery (April 12, 2012): Sue Swiatkowski, DNFBA

Sue with Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls.

Sue Swiatkowski and Chris Stoianoff join us to discuss the events and happenings in downtown Niagara Falls as members of the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association.

Tired of the naysayers? Check out “The Soapbox” where everyday we present a new friend of the Hub making a living here in Western New York, and can speak positively about the experience.

Learn about businesses that have been here for decades, or hear about new ventures from our area’s entrepreneurs. Upcoming events, political issues, and funny stories of days gone by, you’ll hear it all on Niagara Hub’s Soapbox.

Click play to listen!

Don’t see the player above on your device (iPad or iPhone)? Click here to hear the Soapbox!

Michele Deluca from the Niagara Gazette visits the NiagaraHub

[Click article to enlarge]

A big thank you to Michele Deluca for taking the time to stop in and see what the NiagaraHub is all about.  Looking forward to many more community collaborations!  Have a news scoop or story you want to share?  Submit it to the NiagaraHub: theniagarahub@gmail.com

2nd Annual Main Street, Niagara Falls Music & Art Festival

The Main Street Business and Professional Association is having its 2^nd Annual Main Street Music and Art Festival on the weekend of June 23-24, 2012.  This two-day festival runs Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The purpose of the Main Street Music & Art Festival is to improve the quality of life for individuals, business owners, and the community as a whole through the presentation of a diverse collection of Artists, Musicians, Vendors, and Activities to foster economic growth and cultural diversity.

We anticipate having thousands of people attend our two-day festival, with over 100 art vendors, along with food vendors, wine tastings, chalk walk, classic car show, street entertainers, and much more, all while 26 of your favorite bands from WNY and Canada take to the stage in a lineup of unforgettable, unstoppable music!

We invite the public to join in on the fun!  We are currently accepting applications for Artists, Artisans, and Food vendors.  We are also looking for volunteers to help during the two-day event.

An event such as this is made possible through the kindness and support of our community.  If you were a sponsor last year, we thank you for your continuing support.  If you would like to support our event this year, please consider a sponsorship.  We have various levels of sponsorships available to the public from Corporate Sponsors to Friends and Neighbors.  Please help to contribute to the “sense of community” which has became our driving force.

All forms and applications can be accessed via our website at www.WoMadistrict.com.

For more information, please contact Rick Crogan at 716-534-1546 or Michele Altman at 716-525-0312.  You can also contact us via email at:  MainStreetFestival2012@gmail.com.

This event is going to have a positive impact on the Niagara Falls Community and bring back the arts and culture to Downtown Niagara Falls.  Please join us for the rebirth of Historic Main Street!

MSBPA

PO BOX 442

Niagara Falls, New York  14305

 www.WoMadistrict.com

Volunteers/Runners needed for Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association’s annual 5k

The Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association is looking for
VOLUNTEERS
to assist with the 4th Annual

RUN WITH THE RAPIDS 5K RUN/WALK A USA Track & Field Sanctioned Race
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Registration: 7:30 – 8:45 a.m.
Race Start Time: 9 a.m. on Old Falls Street, USA
Volunteers will assist at each street intersection along the course and distribute water to the runners.
For more information or to become a volunteer, call (716) 278-2115 or e-mail dnfbany@gmail.com

More race information:

The 4th Annual Run with the Rapids 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012, in downtown Niagara Falls, NY. This USA Track & Field sanctioned race benefits the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association (DNFBA). Race registration and & Post Race Party will be held on Old Falls Street, USA. Check-in time is from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. with a race start time of 9 a.m. The Post Race Party runs until 12 noon.

The unique course, certified accurate by the USA Track & Field Association (Course #NY11005JG), showcases a view of the recent developments in downtown Niagara Falls along with a scenic view of the Upper Niagara River Rapids. The race will start on the corner of Third and Old Falls Streets and guides the participants through the Buffalo Avenue Heritage District, along a portion of the Robert Moses Parkway to view of the Upper Rapids while finishing the race by running through downtown while finishing on Third Street. Seasoned and amateur participants are encouraged to attend.

Returning this year will be chip timing by Score This! Runners will receive electronic devices to insert in their shoes that will be able to compute finish times to thousandths of a second.

Pre-registration can be made on http://www.downtownniagarafallsny.com. Pre-registration price for a single participant is $20, $35 for a pair (2 people only) runners, or $100 for a group of five to 10 people. Participants over 75 year’s old or less than 10 years old receive free entry. Onsite race registration is $25 per person. Those who are only interested in attending the Post Race Party may purchase a wrist band for $10 including food, beverage (must show proper ID for alcoholic beverages) and live music by Custode & Parisi.

“This fund-raiser is the official kick-off of the 2012 Old Falls Street summer season,” said Ryan Coate, DNFBA president and general manager of Old Falls Street, USA. “Visitors and residents alike will enjoy the course as it highlights the many new changes to our downtown landscape as well as the thunderous upper river rapids themselves.”

In addition to participants, the DNFBA is also looking for race volunteers. Volunteers will help mark the intersections of the course and provide water for participants. Those wishing to help should call (716) 278-2115.

The goal of the DNFBA is to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, with commercial, retail and residential development elements that will service several market segments and ultimately result in capturing more tourist visitation to downtown Niagara Falls.

The race is sponsored by Global Spectrum, the Quality Inn, the Niagara Gazette, Key Bank on Pine Avenue, Sevenson Environmental Services, the Holiday Inn, the Aquarium of Niagara, Friends to re-elect Judge Morinello, the Comfort Inn, and Morris Protective Service. For more information or to pre-register for the event, visit www.downtownniagarafallsny.com.