A year ago at this time I was in a very different countdown. It was exciting and I never thought I could be prouder than I was at that very moment. I was part of Buffalo Homecoming 2008 and wow what an amazing four days I had. What a great celebration for the City of Buffalo.
A year later, I am filled with such pride and admiration for a group of people that words seem to fail me.
I sit here in awe of what each of them have accomplished. We thought when we meet late last year that we would add a couple of events bringing people to Niagara Falls during Buffalo Homecoming. What happened is what we have happening at the end of June this year!
Buffalo Homecoming welcomes Niagara Homecoming
But let me back up just a little bit and fill those of you who are wondering wha
t exactly is Niagara Homecoming? How did Niagara Rises get the idea?
To do this, I have to give my return to Western New York. Seeking an opportunity to meet new people and build my Real Estate business I got involved in Twitter. I went to the very first Buffalo Tweetup and meet Marti Gorman, and I immediately got invovled with Buffalo Homecoming.
I had been involved with Niagara Rises organization but like many grass roots organizations we were stuck. I saw an opportunity to do greater good with Buffalo Homecoming at that time, so I focused on that still involved with Niagara Rises. Still very much part of Niagara Rises, but not sure how I was going to make a difference, I got Niagara Rises involved with Arts at the Park last year.
Little did I know that that my involvement with Buffalo Homecoming would turn the energy from Niagara Rises around and plot us on a new course. At the end of Buffalo Homecoming, I looked at Marti and said "Niagara Falls should do something like this". Marti never missed a beat, and said absolutely! S
he has been a resource for us and we lovingly refer to the two events as "Hands Across Grand Island".
But sparking the idea does not create a four day of amazing events in Niagara Falls. No that happened because of great volunteers in our group, Niagara Rises. Niagara Rises, as an organization took it on. All of us excited and thrilled, everyone having a part of this great event. People started coming to our meetings, new people started to join our efforts. For those of us that sat at that very first meeting what we have today is amazing. We thought, oh we thought we might have some tours, perhaps a job fair, and something involving the Aquarium. Then we brainstormed, I tossed the idea 
of a Sunrise Service at the Top of the Falls, someone else suggested a Sunday Brunch, someone else suggested doing something with the Niagara Power Baseball team. We talked about the "old days" and how we envisioned Niagara Falls in the future. No longer were we looking back but we are looking forward, and the city is following our lead.
The Folks at Main Street moved their festival Positively Main Street to the same weekend. We talked about a Happy Hour and we now have every month a Still Fallin for the Falls Happy Hour. Niagara Falls Mayor, Paul Dyster has stood proud with us from the beginning.
So this event, Niagara Homecoming, has become the bolt of lightening that Niagara Falls has needed to effect change. We all feel it. We all are excited and proud. We know that we made a difference, a small but significant change in how people see Niagara Falls. So on June 25-28 we ask you to support our efforts and celebrate what is and what we can become. Everyone at Niagara Rises stand up, take a bow! We did it!
2009 Niagara Homecoming Events
Kick-off Cocktail Reception/Benefit
June 25, 2009 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. - Crowne Plaza Hotel
The Students of the NCCC Culinary Institute present an evening of wine, food and song. Enjoy wines from the Niagara Wine Trail and great food from the premier culinary school in WNY. There will be a basket auction and live Jazz music. The recipient of the first ever "Niagara Rises Volunteer of the Year Award" will be announced. Tickets are $20 pre-sale/$25 at door. Proceeds to benefit the NCCC Scholarship Fund.
Empower Your Future Job Fair
Friday, June 26 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Niagara Power Vista Most former residents say that the right job would bring them back home in a heartbeat. We hope to link those people with employers looking to hire qualified candidates. Multiple companies will be on hand and a job seeker seminar will be conducted, giving you the tools to get the job of your dreams.
Art at the NACC
Friday, June 26 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Niagara Arts and Cultural Center A full day of events including: NACC Open House & Open Artists' Studios, Two Open Gallery Art Exhibitions (1st Floor & 2nd Floor), Wine Bar with finger food & refreshments, Gift Shop showcasing art & artistic items for sale, Theatrical Vignettes in the Woodbox Theater presented by The Western Door Playhouse.
Niagara Power Baseball
Friday, June 26 7:00 p.m. - Sal Maglie Stadium The Power will take on the rival Hornell Dodgers. Bring the kids out for a wonderful evening of baseball featuring your hometown Niagara Power. The game will serve as a celebration of Niagara's former teams including the Bisons, Pirates, Rapids, White Sox and Mallards. Former Major Leaguers will be on hand to sign autographs.
Discover Niagara Falls
Saturday, June 27 All day, all over Niagara Falls Take any of a number of exciting tours, visit the Positively Main Street Festival or peruse open houses in the Echota neighborhood - whatever you do, get up and take in Niagara. • Niagara Falls Bus Tour • Wine Trail Tour • Mob Tour • Echota Neighborhood Open House and Reunion • Niagara Falls High School Open House
Real Estate Expo
Saturday, June 27
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., doors open at 9:30 - Power Vista Lewiston NY Whether you are starting your search to purchase your first or your fifth home, you will want to attend this Real Estate seminar. Presentations on the first- time home buyer tax credit, home energy efficiency, commercial real estate, searching for homes, and selling your home will be presented. Free of charge and open to all. Pick up your list of Open Houses for Saturday and Sunday for you to tour.
Positively Main Street Festival
Saturday, June 27 & Sunday June 28 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. Join us on both Saturday, June 27 and Sunday June 28 as we close off Main Street to traffic and open it up to fun, fun, fun. Arts, crafts, a Kid's Bounce House and plenty of great food and drink are on tap for both days of this signature festival. And don't forget the live music - more than 20 bands will perform, including crowd favorite Disco Duck.
Arise & Shine Worship Event
Sunday, June 28 4:30 - 9:30 a.m. - Goat Island Multiple churches from various denominations will come together in a communal service as the sun rises over the incomparable upper Niagara River. Isaiah 60:1: Arise, Shine for your light has come and the Glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Free parking on Goat Island, Niagara Falls, USA, near Parking Lot #3.
Brunch at the Aquarium of Niagara
Sunday, June 28 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Aquarium Capping off four days of fun, the Brunch will showcase and benefit one of the region's oldest and most respected attractions. Catered by Niagara Falls' own Alps Catering, the menu will feature the usual breakfast favorites along with an assortment of foods indigenous to WNY including the Alps succulent Beef on Weck. Tickets may be purchased online at Citybration.com, $15 for Adults and $10 for children under 12. Proceeds benefit the Aquarium of Niagara.
Open Houses hosted by Buffalo Niagara Board of Realtors will take place throughout the region all afternoon, showcasing Western New York's extraordinary real estate values.
Contact niagararises@yahoo.com or call 716-990-1910 for more information about this unique event: www.Citybration.com. Join us on Facebook or Twitter.
