State side short take

Stateside Short Take from Niagara Express
Back in town. It is going to take a few weeks to catch up on all I missed. Today starts the catch-up. Tomorrow will be an Ireland dump. I could write about Ireland every day for the next two weeks and not run out of material.

Rest in peace, Mr. DiFrancesco. You were a kind man and legend and will be missed. Generations looked up to you.

Rapids needs National Register protection
Rick Pfeiffer published an article this morning about the deepening legal woes of Rapids Theatre Owner John Hutchins. Ownership of the deeply leveraged property is in flux.
One thing that should not be in flux is preservation of the historic theatre. Come on, Historic Preservation Commission and Preservation Buffalo Niagara. The Turtle is important. So is the Rapids.
Maintenance has been deferred. There are major plumbing problems. When the city or new owner gets in, I predict there will be numerous fixtures missing, for example the sound board and equipment in addition to chairs and tables.
The theater is in receivership now. I doubt the trustee, Steve Bengart, the trustee has any knowledge of how much has been stripped but it could lead to additional charges when he finds out.
Also, the Gazette, in typical lazy fashion, didn’t have a current photo for the paper this morning because the “R” is missing on the sign.

NACC has lots of events coming
There is great stuff going on at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center. Learn more at www.thenacc.org.

Pedal across the north North Grand Island Bridge
Pedal for the Parks is coming Sunday, Sept. 22, register here. I am planning to do the 36-mile ride. Pedaling across the Grand Island Bridge in the road will be fun. The ride leaves from Beaver Island. https://nystateparksbikeride.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx...

Perry says rants are not ‘for the good’
Dogs still matter, but ranting and raving before the Niagara Falls Council is not for the good of the community, according to Jim Perry, even if the city’s dog shelter contract is at best suspect and Taj Ma Dog Shelter in Hyde Park is at best, rushed and expensive. Still, for citizens to rant and rave at the council over things the mayor, not council controls, is nonsensical. Perry at times seems clueless about running a meeting but on the matter of controlling speakers, he is right.

United Way does ‘Equity Challenge’
The United Way is doing an Equity Challenge and is two weeks in. I signed up but have not done much because of travel. You can still participate here. (uwgn.org/equity)

‘Spirits with the Spirits’ and ‘Magic Rocks!’
Oakwood Cemetery is hosting Spirit with the Spirits from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. Dinner will be served from 4-6 p.m. Beth and I will be there. Please join us. Tickets are $40 for One Body, $75 for Two. Catering from Ghada Have It! & drinks from Scotland Road Distilling are included. I know Scotland Road Distilling from its location east of Akron near where we used to live. https://www.oakwoodniagara.org/spirits-with-the-spirits-2024
After Spirits, head to Lockport
Leon Ettiene is planning a “Magic Rocks!” Palace Theatre Show at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. Front row Tickets for one of the only magicians to fool Penn and Teller twice are just $35 https://historicpalaceinc.thundertix.com

Nix is a lot of things. Lazy ain’t one.
Demetreus Nix may be going to jail, or maybe not. It is too soon to tell but don’t ever doubt his work ethic. Sentencing is coming.

Shootings down, new program addresses overdoses
Gun killings in the hood are way down in Niagara Falls. GIVE, SNUG and WAWG deserve credit.
Niagara Path, a Community Missions Program making a difference with Niagara PATH.

The Urbacon Data Center is moving forward.

Tugby’s Bazaar is about to open again.

Harris is surging, the parties are reversing
Kamala Harris will be President for 8 years. Then Pete Buttigiej will have his turn for 8 more. Eventually, the current left will become the right and the current far left will be the new left with a new party. The parties are switching places like they did after the Civil War. The Republicans will go the way of the Whigs.

This is the best Bills team we have ever seen.

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