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Let's celebrate: June bicentennial events deliver a bang in Town of Niagara

by jmaloni
Thu, May 31st 2012 08:45 am

The Town of Niagara started celebrating its 200th anniversary in January, but in June, things will be heating up, starting with a cannon and ending with fireworks.

The month starts with the dedication of a War of 1812 cannon replica at the corner of Packard and Military roads on Friday, June 1, and ends with what is being billed as a "Grand Celebration" the weekend of June 30 and July 1.

This Friday's cannon ceremony begins at 5 p.m. with Boy Scout Troop 841 presenting the colors and an unveiling of the cannon and plaque.

"This replica cannon represents not only the era the Town of Niagara was established, but it also represents a military presence in which Military Road served as a supply route between Fort Niagara and Fort Porter," said Town Clerk and Bicentennial Committee Chairman Sylvia Virtuoso.

She thanked Villani Landscaping, CMC Concrete, M & M Electric, LaFarge Inc., Lime Energy, Fashion Outlets Niagara, Wayside Nursery and Gui's Lumber for their volunteer services in establishing this site.

The Town of Niagara enlisted the help of Buffalo Architectural Casting to create a field cannon replica for the bicentennial's memorial.

Residents attending the Grand Celebration on June 30 and July 1 at Veterans Memorial Park, 7000 Lockport Road, will have plenty to do.

Events on Saturday, June 30, begin with a parade by the Town of Niagara Business and Professional Association. The parade will start at 11 a.m. at Fourth Avenue and proceed down Military Road to Kmart.

The theme of the parade will be "Celebrating 200 Years, a Patriotic Birthday." The parade sponsor is Allied Waste Industries of Niagara Falls.

All entries (except classic/historic vehicles) must be decorated and costumed to reflect the theme of the parade. Applications are available at www.tnbpa.com,www.townofniagara.com or at the town clerk's office at the Town of Niagara Town Hall, 7105 Lockport Road. Contact Virtuoso at 716-297-2150, ext. 133, or Gary Strenkoski at 716-550-0673 for more information.

The application deadline to participate in the parade is June 10.

Events in the park on Saturday, June 30, will include

•Classic car/motorcycle show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., sponsored by Joe Cecconi's Chrysler Complex. Prizes will be awarded. Rain date is Sunday. Applications are available at www.townofniagara.com or at the town clerk's office. Deadline for applications is June 10.

•Ladies bocce tournament, 10 a.m.

•Volleyball tournament, 10 a.m.

•Chiavetta's chicken barbecue, 1 to 4 p.m., sponsored by Niagara Presbyterian Church.

•Clowns, face-painting, balloon creations, 2 to 4 p.m.

•Puppet show by Niagara Presbyterian Church, 3 p.m.

•Town of Niagara Historical Society display in Community Center.

•Basket auction by Town of Niagara Lioness, noon to 5 p.m.

•Vendors for arts and crafts, jewelry, food.

•Musical entertainment: Pirate Dreams, 2 to 5 p.m.; Shawn Klush, voted the "World's Greatest Elvis" in Great Britain, 7 to 9 p.m.

•Beer and wine tent

•Fireworks display, 9:45 p.m.

Events on Sunday, July 1, will run from noon to 5 p.m. Included will be:

•Men's bocce tournament, 10 a.m.

•Tour of historical homes, 2 p.m., sponsored by DJ the Dee Jay.

•Clowns, face-painting, balloon creations, 1 to 3 p.m.

•Reptiles show, 1:30 p.m., sponsored by Wegmans.

•Town of Niagara Historical Society display in Community Center.

•Musical entertainment: 90 West, noon to 3 p.m.

•Vendors for arts and crafts, jewelry, food.

•Beer and wine tent

•Re-enactment of Fort Niagara War of 1812, 3 to 5 p.m.

•Presenting of the colors, 4:30 p.m.

•Closing ceremony, 5 p.m., with flyover by the 914th Airlift Wing.

Other sponsors include Hodgson Russ LLP Attorneys, KeyBank and Fashion Outlets Niagara.

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