I hope you all enjoy the holiday this week and that the New Year brings all the best to our readers and their families. In February of 2010, The Towpath Partyline and Chatterbox columns will mark their 10^th anniversaries. We would like our readers to let us know if our local news is still important to them, so let’s hear from you. You can leave a comment in the comment section or email towpathpartyline@rochester.rr.com

       Click into the Partyline with all your good news. Don’t be shy; call me at (716)735-6549 or email me your good news at towpathpartyline@rochester.rr.com  For the news Deadline is Sunday at 11 p.m; no attachments please. 

  There’s a new website available on the internet for the Village of Middleport.  I have put a  link on the site here on my blog for readers to take a peek.

   Thanks to Rebecca Schweigert , the Village Clerk-Treasurer for all her hard work . This new site that is up and running and includes information on the Village Government in our area.  FMC also has a good site with local events, clubs and photos listed on the teapot hollow site.  The new site is  www.villageofmiddleport.org

  Again this holiday season the Middleport Area Tourism and Beautification Committee is sponsoring a Mitten Box at the local HSBC office, Park Ave and Main Street.  The group greatly appreciates gloves, scarvess, hats, canned goods, toys and monetary donations being placed in the box. The donations are distributed to those in need, just before Christmas.

  The Lockport Theatre Organ Society presents a Christmas concert featuring Bruce Woody and Greg Gurtner on the Mighty Wurlitzer and Brian Reingold on piano.

  The concert is at 7 p.m. on Monday Dec 7 at the Dale Association Senior Citizen Center 33 Ontario St in Lockport. Admission is free and parking is free.  Please park on the back side of the Center. Refreshments during the intermission period.

          Are you interested in local history? Why not check out the newest DVD called “Everything Changes,” on sale as a fundraiser for the Niagara Historical Society in Lockport. The project began when the late Stuart Brown, a resident of Lockport started collecting the photos. Photos from the past 100 years show local areas and there are some pictures of Middleport area. Mark Beckstein of White Bird Productions produced the DVD that includes about an hour of pictures and memories for local residents. It also sounds like a good gift for the holiday season for friends and relatives that may have moved from the area. The cost is $17.00 and they are available at the Niagara County Historical Society. 

http://www.niagarahistory.org/

Photo from the www.teapothollow.com NY website.

            The Middleport Fire Dept. hosted the first “Taste of Middleport” event this past weekend at the fire hall on Main St. The event featured terrific foods and fine wines from the Niagara Wine Trail. Local wineries carried a number of their customers’ favorites, and also gave samples to visitors new to the wine trail. As I visited the tables I checked on local wines for the Thanksgiving holiday season. Jessica suggested Gewuztraminer, wine that goes great with stuffing and turkey, from Spring Lake Winery in Lockport. I also was able to taste the Select Late Harvest Reisling. Who knows? Maybe it was made from the grapes that I helped to pick last winter. Tyler from Schultze Winery suggested a Crackling Catawba, it’s a sparkling wine made with Catawba grapes. For a wine that goes great with turkey dinner, Robin of Arrowhead Springs suggested the Dry Rose` 2008. It pairs great with Thanksgiving dinner and is great with cranberry dishes. Leonard Oakes Estates suggested their Reisling, Fuji Apples or Blanc d` Orleans; all three are great with turkey or ham dinner. Niagara Landing has a deep rich cranberry wine, perfect for the holiday season. They also have a Raspberry Rosebud and Chocolate Dream that are great for dessert. Vizcarra Vineyards suggested  Rusty’s Reisling, a white semi dry wine. As I stopped by the tables and checked out the foods there were many types to choose from. Gloria from Pizza Place II was selling her homemade pizzelles, Peggy’s Towpath Café set up their goodies and beef on weck was the most popular menu item of the day. 

     Mayor Julie Maedl, Patt Fagan and I all enjoyed the mushroom ravioli from Alternative Grounds, and my favorite chicken Marsala from the Basket Factory. The event was a fundraiser for the Middleport Fire Department. At least 200 people attended on Saturday and Sunday was also busy. Thanks to the Middleport Fire Department and all the restaurants and wineries that brought their terrific taste to the Village of Middleport. 

          The winter meetings of the Middleport Rod and Gun Club (November thru March) are going to be held at the home of Mark Pittler. Anyone needing directions or  other information call him at 772-2207.  You can also call club President Kevin Teeter at 439-5862. The club is also reminding all members that their club dues are now due.

         Girl Scout Junior Troop #78 of Middleport is asking our community to donate new pajamas, slippers, and robes for area women’s shelters. All girls and boys clothing sizes and women’s sizes will be accepted. Please drop them off at the Middleport Free Library on or before November 30. No used clothing will be accepted.

Come one, come all!   Lake Plains Players presents “Once Upon a Mattress.”  Mark your calendars for 7 p.m. on Nov. 20 and 21 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 22.  All performances will be held at the RoyHart High School Auditorium.  Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and students, and children 12 and under will be admitted free with an adult paid admission. If you are familiar with “The Princess and the Pea,” you will love this musical variation.  Bring your entire family for a fun – filled performance.

              Christmas at the Schoolhouse is scheduled for December 6 at the District 10 Cobblestone Schoolhouse at Carmen and Seaman Roads. The event is sponsored by the Hartland Historical Society and will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a dinner of roast beef or ham, mashed potatoes, candied carrots and apple crisp for only $7. Children 10 and under pay $4. There will be a bake sale, 50/50 raffle and door prizes of a live Christmas tree and Pointsettias. Paula Phillips will sing Christmas carols from 1 to 3 p.m.. For more information call Laurie Haseley at 735-7602 or Butch Schultz at  735-9032.