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/

             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.

            Stop by the 24^th Annual Christmas Cupboard Craft Show on November 20 and 21. Christmas Cupboard hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. There will be no Sunday hours this year. The show will be held at Hartland Bible Church (formally St. Mary’s R.C. in Gasport). Crafters have been busy with wall hangings, ceramics, runner’s for holiday tables, artistic painting, homemade dolls, stuffed animals, lawn ornaments, cabinets making, tree ornaments and stocking stuffers. You will also find homemade jellies, jam, salsa, cookies, breads, Nick’s popcorn, sweet rolls and candy. Cash or checks only; no credit cards will be accepted this year. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a cookie while you browse.

              The Middleport Fire Dept. will be hosting their first “Taste of Middleport” event at the fire hall from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The event will feature the finest wines and foods of the Niagara Wine Trail and the Middleport area. Local wineries have been invited from the Niagara Wine Trail. Are you looking for a new wine for the Thanksgiving holiday?  Please note due to the wines being served age is 21 and over. Taste wines from Spring Lake Winery, the Winery at Marjim Manor, Arrowhead Spring, Eveningside Winery, Freedom Run, Honeymoon Trail, Leonard Oakes Estate, Niagara Landing, Warm Lake Estates, Vizcarra Vineyards and Schulze Vineyards. Stop by and enjoy samples of food from Alternative Grounds, Barker Chocolate Factory, Darrell’s Restaurant, Peggy’s Towpath Café, Pizza Place II, Pony’s, and Talk of the Town in Gasport.  Admission is free, tickets will be sold for $5 for the Grand Prize. Food can also be purchased at the event. The grand prize will be a four hour limousine tour of the Niagara Wine Trail and dinner for 6 at the historic Basket Factory Restaurant (a $300 value).  The tour service will be provided by Timkey Limousine. You can get your raffle tickets at the Middleport Fire Hall, 28 Main St., or from any Middleport Fireman. The tickets are $5 and the event is a fundraiser for the Middleport Fire Department.

Hunters are reminded of changes in the hunt programs at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Beginning with the 2009-2010 hunt season the refuge is using standardized application forms and permits which is necessary to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Privacy Act.
For deer, and upland small game (including woodcock, snipe and rail) the refuge will be instituting combination Refuge Hunt Brochures/Permits. There will be one brochure/permit for “Deer Hunting” and another for “Small Game and Other Migratory Bird Hunting”. When signed on the front the brochures will serve as valid permits for the duration of the State hunting seasons except that there is no hunting before October 1 or after the end of February. The brochure(s)/permit(s) must be on the hunter’s person while hunting on the refuge. Brochures can be obtained at any of the five hunter information kiosks, at the refuge office in person or via mail. Harvest reports will be optional this year; however, the information they provide to the refuge is valuable and we hope hunters will voluntarily complete these reports. Harvest reports can be obtained at the hunt kiosks, from the refuge office or downloaded as follows: for upland small game — http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-2362.pdf; for migratory birds other than waterfowl (woodcock, snipe and rail) — http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-2361.pdf; and for big game (deer and turkey) http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-2359. The refuge allows turkey hunting in the spring only.
For additional information, contact refuge staff at 585-948-5445. Also consult our website and printed fact sheets.
Iroquois NWR is located midway between Buffalo and Rochester, NY, in Genesee and Orleans Counties, and is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Individuals with disabilities and any other person who may need special assistance to participate in this program should contact the Refuge at 585/948-5445 or at the Federal Relay No. 1-800-877-8339.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.