Niagara Community College

Business calendar

Business groups

• BNI Executive Marketing Team, breakfast meeting, 6:45-8:30 a. m., Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga. Program: “Meet, Talk and Share with your Customers on Facebook,” presented by Kevin Evanetski, Social Yeah. Information, Jeff Murbach, 504-1500 or www.bniemt.com.

• Pro-Net Professional Networking Group meeting, 8a.m., today and 8:30 a. m., Wednesday, Amherst Chamber of Commerce, 350 Essjay Road, Suite 200, Williamsville. Free, Chamber members and prospective members. Reservations, call Kim Whelan, 632-6905.

• The Buffalo Niagara Travel Professionals, August Summer Outing, 5:30 p. m., Pearl Street Grill, 76 Pearl St., Buffalo. Bus starts boarding at 5 p.m. and returns to Pearl Street Grill, 7:30 p. m., for a “Buffalo-style” buffet dinner. Cash bar. Cost: $35, BNTP Member; $48, guests. Reservations, contact Marydel Gaiser, e-maildel125@roadrunner.com.

Business groups

• The Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce, morning business exchange, networking group meeting, 8 a. m., Lucky’s Family Restaurant, 3400 Transit Road, West Seneca. Information, call the Chamber, 681-9755.

• The Parachute Group, a networking group for individuals who are in career/ job transition, 10 a. m., Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst. Information, call 276-1117.

Seminars and classes

• The Niagara County Community College Small Business Development Center, the Lockport Library and Lockport Main Street, free business workshops, 1:30-3:30 p. m., Lockport Public Library, Community Meeting Room, 23 East Ave., Lockport. Topic: Using Facebook and LinkedIn to Promote Your Business. Registration, call NCCC SBDC, 434-3815 or e-mailsbdc@niagaracc.suny.edu .

Information, visit www.niagarasbdc.org.

Business groups

• The WNY Business Alliance, business to business networking meeting, 7:30-8:30 a. m., Millennium Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga. Information, call David Nestico, 310-3235 or visit: www.wnyba.com.

• The Western New York Business Network Group for business professionals, 7:45 a. m., Comfort Inn, 1 Flint Road, Amherst. Call 553-8883 or visit www.wnybiznet.com.

• Southtowns Business Network, breakfast networking meeting, 8a.m., Alton’s Restaurant, 2221 Transit Road, Elma. Information, call Bob Fuller, 681-5311 or visit www.southtownsbiznet.org.

Niagara Rises Homecoming 2011 a Big Success without the help of ...

By Frank Thomas Croisdale

Recently, Niagara Rises held its third annual Niagara Homecoming weekend. Over 20,000 people took part in the festivities. It went by in a blur, but here are some of the highlights at what has become the signature event for the city of Niagara Falls, N.Y.

On Sunday afternoon, country music recording artist Ricky Lee put on a free concert on Old Falls Street. Ricky and his great backing band, the Mustangs, started out in fifth gear and managed to upshift from there as they tore through three sets of high-energy material that included covers of Top 10 hits and their own well-written songs.

Lee was there with “Made in America” store owner Mark Andol. Mark’s store in Elma, N.Y., only sells products that are 100 percent made in the USA. Andol promotes Lee’s “Made in America” tour and he has plans to expand his shops from coast to coast.

The following day, Diane Sawyer of ABC News did a great piece on Andol and the impact his vision of supporting American workers is having, as his concept has taken hold and begun to grow.

A great thing happened at that concert, something that I am really proud of having had even the smallest part in making happen. Mary Ann Hess from Honeymoon Sweets and artist Paul Hanover were on hand and presented some of their work to Lee and Andol.

Hess makes the most amazing chocolate engravings and picture frames — all edible. Hanover paints Niagara Falls like no one else ever has, and his work is critically acclaimed in many corners of the art world.

Lee was truly touched by Hanover’s gift of one of his paintings of the falls, and Andol was amazed by Hess’ ability to create a photograph that could be eaten, frame and all. While event organizer Georgia Brannan was making announcements on the microphone, Andol pulled Hess and Hanover aside and right there on the stage told them he wanted to have their products sold in his store.

When he goes national, they’ll go, too. It couldn’t have happened to two nicer, more industrious and talented people — both of whom are great ambassadors for the city of Niagara Falls. I couldn’t have painted a sweeter ending to the weekend if I had Rembrandt’s hands.

Yours truly had a first for the Cataract City during Homecoming Weekend. I became the first person in the long annals of professional baseball in Niagara Falls to throw the first pitch at a game while wearing a tuxedo.

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