From the Niagara Falls Review:
Sunday, Jan. 22, 1899, was a day of high drama on the Niagara River. Several days before, a large ice bridge had formed just below the falls and many people, as was the habit at the time, spent Sunday afternoon walking on it.
Two such individuals were Charles Misner of Buffalo and his friend, Bessie Hall from Johnsonburg, Pa. Starting from the American side, they worked their way across the jagged ice to a point about 185 metres from the U.S. Maid of the Mist landing. There, they found a huge ice boulder and sat on it for nearly half an hour, enjoying the scene.
Misner, in an article he later wrote for a magazine, recalled, “I felt perfectly safe, but Miss Hall remarked she could hear a singing noise under her feet. I assured her it was only her fancy.”
Today is the last day of my first week of daily features (did you follow that?). Every Friday I plan on showcasing some pictures of Niagara Falls. I expect that half of the time it will be pictures that I have taken and posted to my gallery, and the other half of the time will be links to other sites with Niagara Falls images.
I actually thought I’d be a late with this gallery. Last Wednesday we had a brutal snow storm and we ended up with over a foot of snow in one day. I was out the following day and took pictures of all of the snow. But then it warmed up over the weekend and we lost a lot of the snow. Then, wouldn’t you know it, it snowed again last night, so the pictures are still timely. I’ve posted a Niagara Falls in Winter 2007 image gallery. Here is a preview of some of the thumbnails:
Visit the Niagara Falls in Winter 2007 image gallery…
From the Niagara Falls Review:
Niagara’s tourism operators offered a mixed reaction to plans by the Ontario government to introduce a new, high-tech driver’s licence with secure information about the owner by the end of this year.
“I think what they’re doing is definitely worth pursuing,” said Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce president Carolyn Bones. “We would continue to encourage the provincial government to explore any and all options that will streamline people and goods across the border.”
However, she was cautious in her enthusiasm of Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield’s announcement the new driver’s licence could be used in place of a passport.
“They must work in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security and everything being equal, the way things are today, you will still need a passport in 2009,” she said.
The Detroit Free Press has an interesting article called FIVE THINGS: About walrus love. CTV’s Canada AM has the same information as I previously posted, but they also have a great 5-minute video. You can also visit the Smooshi and Phil MySpace which has other videos and pictures. It’s all rather fascinating!
Starting today, every Thursday I hope to highlight an attraction, hotel, or other operation in Niagara Falls. As I have with the other new features, I’m starting with something easy.
A year and a half ago the Golden Griddle on Clifton Hill, along with the lobby of the Quality Inn Clifton Hill was torn down to make room for a giant Ferris wheel. Work continued throughout the winter and into the spring, and on Friday, June 16, 2006 at approximately 5:00 pm it finally opened. I’ve had a chance to go up in the SkyWheel several times and it is very impressive.
According to the press release the SkyWheel is 53 metres (175 feet) tall. There are 42 gondolas. Each one is fully enclosed and equipped with heating and air conditioning. I haven’t had a chance to go up in the winter yet, but during the summer the air conditioning worked well. The sides of the gondolas are made with large UV protected, non-reflective glass to reduce glare. This is supposed to make it better to take pictures. Six gondolas can be loaded at one time. They can hold up to eight passengers, but usually don’t load any more than six.
Thanks to regular visitor Louise of Clifton Hill Resorts for providing me with some of the information for this posting.
From CTV News:
Children under 15 will not have to comply with new laws forcing visitors to show a passport at U.S. land or sea borders, American officials will announce Thursday.
The announcement will be made by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff in Detroit, U.S. State Department sources told The Canadian Press.
The new passport requirements are expected to take effect as soon as January 2008.
I’ve read elsewhere that it is under 17. I’m not sure which it is…
From the Niagara Falls Review:
With U.S. visitors to Niagara at a 30-year low, the Niagara Parks Commission acknowledges it must do more to convince our neighbours to the south a trip to the region is both safe and affordable.
That’s why the commission is proposing a partnership with all tourism stakeholders to offer a Niagara visitation program that would offer the equivalent in accommodations, food and beverage and attraction discounts to any American traveller to offset the costs of any travel documents obtained this year up to the cost for a family of four.
In keeping with the new daily features, Wednesday is video day. Last week I took a video in front of the Fallsview Casino. You can see the snow and ice around the fountains, and a couple of the hotels around the area (including the construction going on at the Hilton where the Denny’s used to be). It was very bright and windy that day so it was hard to get a clear, steady video.
This is not directly related to Niagara Falls, but according to Blackpool Today, Greg Frewin was at the 55th annual Blackpool Magicians Convention this past weekend:
Topping the bill in this year’s Gala Show, on Sunday week, is World Champion Magician Greg Frewin who is flying in from Canada specially to perform his incredible dove productions.
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