Niagara Gazette - Features

DELUCA: Sunny outlook bites the dust
That two-year-old is having a tantrum and I can feel her pain.
Niagara Biz Q&A: Alessandro Renzi talks about prosperity.
Business leader advises that small businesses stick together.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Local artist looks to help
An internationally acclaimed artist with Niagara County ties recently took part in a charity art event near Rochester.
LIFESTYLE: Study center offers classic education
In one room, a group of elementary-age children spend their mornings conjugating Latin verbs and learning advanced English grammatical concepts.
Down the hall, the middle school-age children learn how to form logical arguments and enhance their public speaking skills.
And across the hall from them, the high school-age students engage in debates and other oratory activities meant to perfect their skills with rhetoric, critical thinking and speech.
LIFESTYLE: WNY native gets Super Bowl ticket after visiting every NFL stadium
For Hans Steiniger, the toughest part of completing his “Quest for 31” wasn’t finding tickets to NFL games in 31 cities or paying his way to and from each city.
Rather, the most difficult task was actually wearing a Miami Dolphins jersey.
BOOK REVIEW: Vegas’ highs, lows are focus of compelling ‘Neon Sky’
Even as Jay Rankin’s life spins out of control in “Under the Neon Sky,” the reader can’t help but remain somewhat upbeat.
The book, Rankin’s memoir about his days as a doorman at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, details how his marriage, health and friendships all evaporated. But, even with all of this tragedy unfolding, there’s the alluring call of bright lights, prize fights and endless nights that define Sin City.
Vegas, baby, Vegas.
CRIB NOTES: Inquisitive daughter is fun — why do you ask?
Color me tickled pink that our daughter has apparently opted to follow in her father’s journalistic footsteps.
What with the copious quantity of questions Penny’s asked of late, I’m not sure that any other career path would seem so fitting.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Local man speaks for vets
A Tonawanda man was recently featured in a Reader’s Digest story about a backlog in requests by war veterans to receive federal assistance.
LIFESTYLE: Sunny outlook bites the dust
Typically, I’m a pretty even keel type human. An optimist by nature. When the great big roller coaster of life is going high and low, I can hang on pretty well and stay close to my peaceful center. It’s one of my favorite things about me.
But, the relentlessness of the challenges are starting to wear on me. And I find that surprising.
LIFESTYLE: Hardcourt clowns return to WNY
When he was asked about the Harlem Globetrotters’ continued relevance in the 21st century, Curly Neal chuckled and grinned.
CARRYING A TUNE: Three Niagara natives making impressions
The Niagara music scene is teeming with talent. Lately a trio of albums have been produced by musicians with roots in the region.
BOOK REVIEW: Let the ‘Coupon Mom’ slash your grocery bills
For about a year now, you’ve tightened your belt, hard. You’ve stretched your pennies until Abe screams. But careful personal tracking has shown that there’s room for financial improvement.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Spring can’t get here soon enough
We have enough restless, little-boy energy bottled up in our little home that if you could manage to hook it up to a power plant, you could probably run the city on it.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Pizza trade mag visits Niagara County
A national trade publication recently profiled one of Wilson’s dining mainstays.
LIFESTYLE: Make art part of Syracuse trip
I am not an art critic. I can’t pick out a Renoir from a Michelangelo to save my life, nor can I even define what the Impressionist period is.
But I know what I like. And I like the Everson Museum of Art.
LIFESTYLE: Extreme Makeover, WNY Edition
On Oct. 12, David Stapleton got the call from ABC that the network wanted his company to build a home for free for a Buffalo family.
On Nov. 7, crews from “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” were in Western New York to make a bit of local history.
Through the efforts of Stapleton, show staffers and a record number of volunteer crewmen and citizens, history was indeed made. The results of their work — the centerpiece of which was an environmentally friendly home that was erected in 99 hours — will be on display tonight when the reality show airs.
PURPLE ELIXIR: Wine tasting club plans dinner
Lewiston sommelier, Lockport restaurateur create regional wine society and plan dinner to celebrate the best in the bottles.
BOOK REVIEW: Post-White House escapades are focus of ‘Truman’s Adventure’
Time has rehabbed Harry Truman like no other U.S. president. He left office in 1953 as popular as chicken pox, cruelly snubbed by incoming President Eisenhower, who of all people should have respected a chain of command.
LIFESTYLE: Being odd Is just ducky
A newsroom colleague of mine called me an odd duck the other day.
He said he meant it as a compliment. I took it as one.
LIFESTYLE: A royal invitation
As beloved as Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel and Disney’s other animated leading ladies are, their yin would be hard to maintain without some sort of yang.
That’s where Caroline Coucher comes in.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: UB named college value
The University at Buffalo was recently named one of the best values among public universities by Kiplinger magazine.
LIFESTYLE: Warm up to some winter fun
With the allure of a white Christmas gone, Western New Yorkers are well into month No. 2 of the winter doldrums.
CRIB NOTES: Birthday offers chance to celebrate, reminisce
One year ago today, Rigby Paul Lane was welcomed into this world. The 365 days since then have been fantastic, if a bit sleep-deprived.
LIFESTYLE: Six ways to unleash your creative genius
Just about 10 days into the new year and a lot of people would probably agree with Kim David. New Year’s resolutions are very often a waste of time.
BUSINESS: Doug’s Famous moves up on Pine Avenue
Doug’s Famous, a hoagie and sub shop specializing in cheesesteak hoagies, has expanded into a new location at 2701 Pine Ave.
DELUCA: Father Barry’s back in town
I had coffee with Barry Lillis at Murphy’s Cafe the other day. Or should I say Father Barry, because he now wears the white collar of an orthodox Catholic priest.
LIFESTYLE: Decade quickly ticks away
As we settle into the second decade of the 21st century, the passage of the previous 10 years — well, where did they go?
ETIQUETTE: Get hung up on phone etiquette
Cell phones have created a great advantage for conducting business, as well. Cell phones have made it possible for us to stay in touch no matter where we happen to be working.
While this has great advantages for mobile professionals, it can also be a means of annoying co-workers and clients. If you fail to use proper cell phone etiquette, you may also risk disclosing confidential corporate information.
BOOK REVIEW: Bills’ origins explored in historical football text

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