Support for Heart of Niagara's 'A Taste of The Niagara Region' growing

Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue's third annual Heart to Heart fundraising event, "A Taste of The Niagara Region," will take place from noon until 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St. Tickets are $20 per person. A paying adult must accompany all persons under age 18.

The wide variety of new restaurants and caterers grows daily. Heart of Niagara welcomes Paula's Donuts, Favorite's Pizza of Lewiston and Legend's Bar & Grill located inside Quality Hotel and Suites at The Falls. More than 25 restaurants will donate delectable food samples, including signature appetizers, main course items and desserts for the fundraiser. To date, restaurants and caterers participating include Bailey O'Riley's Village Pub, The Brickyard Pub & B.B.Q., Brio Pizzeria, Carmine's Catering, Como Restaurant, Conference & Event Center Catering, De La Casa Mexican Restaurant, Donna Eick's, Favorite's Pizza, Formal BBQ and Event Catering, Grandpaws Café for Good, The Griffon Gastropub, Honey's Pizza, Johnnie Ryan Company, Kohinoor Fine Indian Cuisine, La Galera Mexican Restaurant, Legend's Bar & Grill, Mangia Café and Bakery, Niagara University College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, One Eyed Jack's, Orange Cat Coffee Company, Paula's Donuts, Savor Restaurant (Niagara Falls Culinary Institute), The Spicey Pickle Mexican Restaurant, The Village Bake Shoppe and Water Street Landing.

Guests will vote on their favorite dish at the event and then name "The Best of The Taste of the Niagara Region."

More than $1,000 in prizes will be given away in a large basket auction, which includes ticket prize packages donated from Western New York tourism destinations including Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Corning Museum of Glass, Martin's Fantasy Island, The Riviera Theatre and Niagara University Theatre. Other major prize drawings include an autographed Buffalo Bills football and a laser-signed photograph; overnight stays at The Barton Hill Hotel & Spa in Lewiston; a Moondance summer cruise for 40 persons; and an "experience" prize consisting of a WGRZ-TV studio tour and a live viewing of the 5 p.m. evening news.

Music, prizes and entertainment will be provided by "Classic Hits" 104.1-FM WHTT and the acoustic pop/rock sounds of Lewiston Music's Tony Petrocelli and his student, Vincent Bonelli.

This event is a main fundraiser to help the rescue continue its work of rescuing animals in need, providing medical care, and adopting animals into loving homes. Volunteers are in the process of trying to raise funds to be used for the purchase of a building, which will allow them to save more animals.

Purchase tickets online through PayPal at www.heartofniagara.org, or pay by check or money order made payable to Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue (mail to Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue, PO Box 462, Lewiston, NY 14092). Please include an email address and phone number for receipt confirmation.

Tickets will be held at the door for each guest. This eliminates the added cost of postage to mail out tickets.

Heart of Niagara is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit companion animal rescue organization based in Niagara County. Its mission is to protect the health and welfare of abandoned, unwanted and homeless animals. To date, volunteers have adopted out more than 250 animals.

New volunteers are welcome. The rescue operates solely on donations and the generosity and support of the public.

For more information on event sponsorship, or to donate a basket or prize items for the event, contact Linda van Harssel at 716-622-1213, call HON's main number at 716-345-7129, or email [email protected].