Future cloudy for Falls favorite Maid of the Mist
From the Washington Examiner:
Deliberations in Canada over the future of the Maid of the Mist sightseeing boats at Niagara Falls are being closely watched in the United States, where elected and tourism officials want to avoid disruptions to an iconic draw that brings millions of tourists to the Falls each year.
The double-decker boats ferry people from both sides of the Niagara River to the base of the Horseshoe Falls under separate agreements with New York state and Ontario, Canada. The tours have run continuously since 1846.
The Niagara Parks Commission, an arm of the Ontario government that controls the land and buildings around the Canadian falls, approved a 25-year contract with the Maid of the Mist Steamship Co. in 2008. But the lack of competition for the deal drew criticism, so the commission called for bids from competing boat tour operators for the first time.
The multimillion-dollar bids are under review; the commission is expected to make its recommendation to Ontario’s tourism minister in February, though at one point it had anticipated choosing a company by the end of last year.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/travel/2012/01/future-cloudy-falls-favorite-maid-mist/2147516?utm_source=feedburnerdcexaminer%2Fwheels&utm_medium=feedWheels&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dcexaminer%2Fwheels+%28Wheels%29%24%7Bdistribu&utm_content=%24%7BdistributionCha#ixzz1kx3vjMZd
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Wallenda needs Canadian approval or Falls walk proposal is dead: New York State Parks
So as the details of the Nik Wallenda/Michael Chan meeting were coming out, there were also reports that if this is going to happen at all, it has to happen as a walk between the two countries. Apparently New York State officials have said a walk solely on the US side is not an option. It would cost too much money. This doesn’t really make sense to me. One of the big things that Mr. Wallenda was promoting to the Niagara Parks was that it wouldn’t cost them anything, as he would cover the costs for everything. If he would do that here, wouldn’t he do that in the US?
From the Niagara Falls Review:
It’s America to Canada — or bust — for Nik Wallenda, according to New York State Parks.
In a statement sent to The Niagara Falls Review Friday evening, New York State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey said she has reached out to the tightrope walker to inform him the agency can’t support a high-wire act limited to the American Falls.
Wallenda has not been able to secure approval for an international crossing from Canadian authorities.
“A walk limited to the American Falls is not what New York approved or envisioned in legislation authorizing Nik Wallenda to traverse the Niagara River Gorge from the United States to Canada,” Harvey said in the statement.
“The costs to New York State of managing a walk only across the American Falls would exceed $1 million in direct state expenses, while, because of the physical topography of Niagara Falls and crowd-safety concerns, the number of people who could watch such a walk would be extremely limited.
“As a result, despite the costs to New York State, the vast majority of people on the U.S. side would be turned away from the park and never see the walk.”
Related posts:
- Members of New York delegation respond to Wallenda rejection From Niagara Frontier Publications: In the wake of the Niagara...
- More on approval by NY for Wallenda to talk over Falls Yesterday I posted a few links to articles about Nik...
- Wallenda won’t give up on falls tightrope dream From the Niagara Falls Review: Both Nik Wallenda and the...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Investigating who owned the falls
From the Buffalo News:
Once, when Jane A. Porter was visiting Europe in the late 19th century, someone asked her if she had ever seen Niagara Falls.
“Seen them?” she allegedly replied. “Why, I own them.”
She wasn’t kidding.
As an heir to the property bought by her grandfather, Augustus Porter, Jane Porter did indeed own the mighty cataracts—at least until 1885, when the family’s waterfront property was bought by New York State to form the nation’s first state park.
The Porter family’s other land holdings, worth millions of dollars even in 19th century money, were the focus of a series of lengthy court fights in the 1880s and ’90s.
At the end of it all, Jane Porter was declared mentally ill — a “lunatic,” in the terminology of the time — even though it’s far from clear that she was really insane by today’s standards, or indeed by any standards.
She seems to have been done out of her property by a greedy sister and a lawyer who supposedly was on her side but had a blatant conflict of interest.
The story was a sensation at the time, gaining coverage even in the New York Times.
But for a century, it was forgotten until it was unearthed in the basement of the Niagara County Courthouse.
Related posts:
- State Parks Commissioner Outlines Niagara Falls State Park Improvement Plans From WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo: New York State Parks,...
- Niagara Falls State Park attraction admission scam leads to arrests From the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal: New York State Park...
- Wallenda won’t give up on falls tightrope dream From the Niagara Falls Review: Both Nik Wallenda and the...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Wallenda won’t give up on falls tightrope dream
From the Niagara Falls Review:
Both Nik Wallenda and the Niagara Parks Commission are digging in their heels.
Wallenda wants to be the first person in more than a century to walk across the Niagara gorge on a tightrope. The Commission seems determined not to let it happen.
The performer was in Niagara Falls Wednesday morning to make his pitch to the Commission’s public meeting. He’s already received approval for the tightrope walk from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and he has the support of Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati. But without the blessing of the Parks Commission and its chair Janice Thomson, the tightrope walk – as Wallenda wants it – can’t happen.
With permission already granted from New York State, Wallenda said the option is there to walk across the American falls. But it’s the international crossing over the Horseshoe Falls he really wants.
However, the Niagara Parks Commission banned stunting over the falls more than a century ago, and hasn’t budged since.
“We can listen to Mr. Wallenda and listen to his proposal, but (the Niagara Parks Act) is the guiding document for us,” said Thomson.
Related posts:
- Some Wallenda posts today I know I’m behind, but I still wanted to post...
- Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire From the Toronto Star: A daredevil’s plan to be the...
- More on approval by NY for Wallenda to talk over Falls Yesterday I posted a few links to articles about Nik...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Body Found at Cave Of The Winds
From WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo:
New York State Park Police officers responded to a call at 11:10 a.m, of a body found floating in the lower Niagara River at the Cave of the Winds.
Also seen at:
- Niagara Gazette – Body reportedly found at Cave of the Winds
Related posts:
- Niagara Falls State Park attraction admission scam leads to arrests From the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal: New York State Park...
- Hafen to the rescue, again From Niagara This Week: A Niagara Falls helicopter pilot once...
- State Parks Commissioner Outlines Niagara Falls State Park Improvement Plans From WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo: New York State Parks,...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Governor OKs tightrope walk over falls
From the Buffalo News:
The Flying Wallenda who wants to cheat death with a tightrope walk across Niagara Falls will get his wish, at least with the blessing of New York state.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation today permitting Nik Wallenda’s bid to walk 1,800 feet across the falls on a two-inch wide steel cable.
Officials on the Canadian side of the falls have yet to signal their final word on the matter.
In an interview this afternoon shortly after his team was told Cuomo signed the bill, Wallenda said, “For me, it’s as big as it gets. There’s tears in my eyes because it’s a dream come true.”
Wallenda said if all goes well he is looking at walking across the falls next June. He said he will wait until after upcoming elections in Canada to formally apply with Ontario parks officials. A backup plan, if Canada rejects the plan, is a walk just on the U.S. side of the falls.
The story was reported in other places as well:
- Niagara This Week – Governor OKs Wallenda’s tightrope bid
- Niagara Falls Review – Wallenda gets New York governor’s approval for wirewalk over falls
- WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalow – Daredevil In The Falls Good to Go in NYS
Related posts:
- More on Nik Wallenda’s attempt to walk across the Falls The articles about Nik Wallenda’s proposal to walk over Niagara...
- Protecting the brand: Niagara Falls debates tightrope walk From CBC News: The pitch by international daredevil Nik Wallenda...
- Niagara Falls high-wire plans could go haywire From the Toronto Star: A daredevil’s plan to be the...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Niagara Falls State Park attraction admission scam leads to arrests
From the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal:
New York State Park Police have charged six people in connection with a scam that involved the theft and re-sale of tickets from both the Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist attractions.
Their arrests were announced on Friday after an investigation that included assistance from the New York State Police.
Park Police investigators said they discovered an organized ring of individuals that were stealing Discovery Pass tickets.
Related posts:
- State Parks Commissioner Outlines Niagara Falls State Park Improvement Plans From WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo: New York State Parks,...
- Niagara Falls State Park getting upgrades after critical NY Times article From an Associated Press article seen on Yahoo! News Canada:...
- Schumer: Falls State Park a top priority From WIVB Channel 4 in Buffalo: Senator Charles Schumer is...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Fearless high-wire walker eyes Niagara Falls
Nik Wallenda, the man who recently got approval from New York State legislators to walk across the Falls on a wire, was on the NBC Today Show a couple of days ago. it isn’t a long segment, but he talked about some of the walks he’s done, and his desire to walk over Niagara Falls. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the video…
Related posts:
- Should experienced high-wire walker be allowed to cross the falls? From the Niagara Falls Review: Since he was a boy...
- Wire walk across Niagara Gorge gets political support in the U.S. From 610 CKTB: A tightrope walker who wants to walk...
- Artist to get show off ground From the Buffalo News: The idea of walking across a...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Should experienced high-wire walker be allowed to cross the falls?
From the Niagara Falls Review:
Since he was a boy Nik Wallenda has dreamed of walking over Niagara Falls on a tightrope.
“It’s just something I’ve wanted to do my entire life,” said Wallenda, 32, a U.S.-based highwire walker who hopes to do a 2,200-foot crossing of the Niagara River Gorge and Horseshoe Falls next summer.
That lifelong dream got a boost from lawmakers on the American side of the Niagara River on Wednesday when the New York State Assembly voted overwhelmingly, with just one dissenting member, to permit Wallenda to do the walk. Before that, the state Senate voted 62-0 to give him the OK.
But Wallenda needs more than just the support from Albany if he is to realize his dream. To cross into Canada, he would need the approval of the Niagara Parks Commission, an agency that has long been opposed to such endeavours.
Related posts:
- Wire walk across Niagara Gorge gets political support in the U.S. From 610 CKTB: A tightrope walker who wants to walk...
- Wallenda gets OK to cross the falls From the Buffalo News: The walk is on — at...
- State Parks Commissioner Outlines Niagara Falls State Park Improvement Plans From WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo: New York State Parks,...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Hafen to the rescue, again
From Niagara This Week:
A Niagara Falls helicopter pilot once again swooped into action after two New York State Parks Police officers were reported stranded in the Niagara River waters above the Horseshoe Falls.
The Niagara Parks Police Service received a call shortly before 6 a.m. on Saturday mroning, with reports that a New York State Parks Police vessel was in distress above the Horseshoe Falls. The officers had been responding to reports of another vessel in distress in the heavy fog, when they began to experience difficulties themselves. The NYSPP vessel had provided assistance to the private boater and then needed help themselves.
In the darkness, the NYSPP officers were unsure where they sat in relation ot the brink of the falls, and used emergency measures to keep the vessel in place until a possible rescue or until sunlight
Ruedi Hafen, owner of Niagara Helicopters, was called to the scene after attempts for a land rescue were unsuccessful.
Related posts:
- State Parks Commissioner Outlines Niagara Falls State Park Improvement Plans From WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo: New York State Parks,...
- Group puts Falls on list of most ‘playful cities’ From the Buffalo News: The City of Niagara Falls, which...
- Dedication to mark Falls park’s anniversary From the Buffalo News: The yearlong celebration of the 125th...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.