Chapter Mission and Objectives: Create in the Niagara Falls and the Niagara River region a sense of place through education about native plants, natural landscaping with the focus on restoring, preserving, and protecting the unique gorge landscape, it's old growth forests, and rare calcareous cliff botanicals.

Sense of Place defined: One of the most difficult challenges every city and its planning department has to face is how to create and maintain a unique sense of place that not only supports and encourages economic development while it maintains its commitment to established businesses and their financial health, but also considers how to protect the quality of life of its residents, the little guys who make up the fabric of the city's neighborhoods. People like you and me. Creating a sense of place is an intangible weave of culture (stories, art, memories, beliefs histories) and the tangible physical components of an area: its rivers, woods, monuments, architectural styles, its pathways and its views. Place also embraces our personal relationships with relatives, friends, and those who think like us, kindred spirits. Wikipedia defines a sense of place as a social phenomenon dependent on human engagement, feelings. This attachment to place, this sense of feeling, is derived from the natural environme nt, but it also includes a mix of natural and cultural features in the landscape. More importantly, a sense of place is strongly enhanced "through modes of codification in ordinances aimed at protecting, preserving, and enhancing places felt to be of value (such as the "World Heritage Site" designations used around the world, the English "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" controls and the like.") Creating and maintaining a sense of place in prosperous times is a complex balancing act. In financially challenging times, this balance is crucial and pivotal.It’s clear that the city's senior planner, Tom DeSantis, in presenting the city’s 2008 three- tiered master plan, understood and gave a great deal of thought to the challenges he’d face in Niagara Falls. In a place that is unarguably the most beautiful in the world, his master plan is an economic development tipping point for Niagara Falls and a strong reflection of Paul Dyster's leadership, a mayor sincerely committed to including us all.

    Oct 06, 2008 (Mon)    

IF ALL NIAGARA READS THE SAME BOOK…

WASTING AWAY A BOOK SERIES of CONTEMPORARY WRITING ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES

Join us for this free discussion group, which uses science writers and novelists to explore our contemporary environmental crisis and calls us to responsible movement in the world that revolves around altered interactions with waste. Beverages and snacks provided.

Sessions will be held at THE BOOK CORNER and will last 90 minutes.
MARY FOLTZ, a professional facilitator, will lead the discussions.

Participants may purchase books through the Book Corner, or provide their own.

Saturday. October 4, 10:00 a.m. GARBAGE LAND: On the Secret Trail of Trash,
by journalist Elizabeth Royle, explores the underworld of detritus and the movement of
personal waste to the landfill.

    Oct 15, 2008 (Wed)    

WEBINAR: Forest Connect Web conference.
Instructor: Peter Smallidge, NYS Extension Forester and Director, Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, Cornell University

Topic: Diseases of Forest Trees in the Northeast. Noon to 1:00 p.m and 7:00-8:00 p.m. eastern time.
Class offers handouts and registered participants are eligible for SAF continuing forestry education credits.

Forest trees are susceptible to a variety of diseases. Some diseases are a normal part of the forest ecosystem while others have the potential to kill large numbers of trees. On October 15, 2008 join Rebecca Hargrave who will provide an Internet web seminar on Diseases of Forest Trees in the Northeastern United States. Participants will learn about the biology of several tree diseases, their impact on forests, and management strategies to minimize their impact. This webcast is part of Cornell University’s monthly ForestConnect Internet seminar series.

The ForestConnect Internet Seminar Series is an interactive web conference and was the first of its kind in the US. Each seminar uses the Internet to distribute, or webcast, a live and interactive presentation. Since May 2007, web-based seminars have connected forest owners, managers, and practitioners from throughout the United States and overseas. More than 800 owners and managers from 40 states and three countries are registered and receiving announcements for the monthly webcasts.

Seminars occur on the third Wednesday of each month. Participation in the seminars is part of the monthly education programs offered to the Niagara Falls and River Region chapter members.

We encourage other Wild Ones chapter members to join us online and enroll in this outstanding education program.

    Oct 22, 2008 (Wed)    

Community Forum - Noon
Niagara Falls Conference Center, 101 Old Falls St. Niagara Falls
Sponsors: Senator Antoine Thompson, Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, Attorney General Andrew M. Courmo and Mayor Paul Dyster
Discussion of issues that affect you everyday: The Environment, Civil and Labor Rights

    Nov 01, 2008 (Sat)    

IF ALL NIAGARA READS THE SAME BOOK…

WASTING AWAY A BOOK SERIES of CONTEMPORARY WRITING ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES

Join us for this free discussion group, which uses science writers and novelists to explore our contemporary environmental crisis and calls us to responsible movement in the world that revolves around altered interactions with waste. Beverages and snacks provided.

Sessions will be held at THE BOOK CORNER and will last 90 minutes.
MARY FOLTZ, a professional facilitator, will lead the discussions.

Participants may purchase books through the Book Corner, or provide their own.

Saturday, November 1, 10:00 a.m. Don DeLillio’s WHITE NOISE, focuses on the
fictional dark comedy of a cloud hovering over a small city and the evaluation of
personal choices it engenders.

    Dec 06, 2008 (Sat)    

IF ALL NIAGARA READS THE SAME BOOK…

WASTING AWAY A BOOK SERIES ofCONTEMPORARY WRITING ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES

Join us for this free discussion group, which uses science writers and novelists to explore our contemporary environmental crisis and calls us to responsible movement in the world that revolves around altered interactions with waste. Beverages and snacks provided. Sessions will be held at THE BOOK CORNER and will last 90 minutes.
MARY FOLTZ, a professional facilitator, will lead the discussions.

Participants may purchase books through the Book Corner, or provide their own.

Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. WATER WARS: Privatization, Pollution and Profit,
A conversation by Vandana Shiva, which explores the global problems of access
to clean water and of private purchase of this natural resource.

Saturday, January 3, 10:00 a.m. Octavia Butler’s PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
The series concludes with an examination of human life after a fictional environmental
collapse and celebrates the human capacity for change.

    Dec 10, 2008 (Wed)    

Conference Call with Doyle Canning, Patrick Reinsborough, smartMeme.org and Eric Hoffner, The Orion Society.
"Topic: Changing the Story of what's possible. Story- based strategies, creative ways to change the world.
Building relationships through telling our stories. Upgrading methods for the information age, and cutting through the clutter of the modern media climate with clear calls for justice. A holistic vision of people-powered change that connects struggles for social justice, peace, democracy, and ecological sanity.

    Jan 03, 2009 (Sat)    

IF ALL NIAGARA READS THE SAME BOOK…

WASTING AWAY A BOOK SERIES ofCONTEMPORARY WRITING ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES

Join us for this free discussion group, which uses science writers and novelists to explore our contemporary environmental crisis and calls us to responsible movement in the world that revolves around altered interactions with waste. Beverages and snacks provided. Sessions will be held at THE BOOK CORNER and will last 90 minutes.
MARY FOLTZ, a professional facilitator, will lead the discussions.

Participants may purchase books through the Book Corner, or provide their own.

Saturday, January 3, 10:00 a.m. Octavia Butler’s PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
The series concludes with an examination of human life after a fictional environmental
collapse and celebrates the human capacity for change.

    Jan 07, 2009 (Wed)    

WEBINAR: Orion Society
Environmental Leadership Program's
January Webinars
* * *
January 7, 2009
A Conversation with Alan Hipólito, Executive Director of Verde
"The Diversity Work of Verde:
Improving the Economic Health of the Disadvantaged"

    Jan 21, 2009 (Wed)    

WEBINAR: Orion Society January 21, 2009
A Conversation with Emily Enderle, Editor of the book
"Diversity and the Future of the U.S. Environmental Movement"

    Feb 07, 2009 (Sat)    

FIELD TRIP: DeVeaux Woods State Park (Old Growth Forest)
Members will join Niagara USA and NYS Parks Naturalist
2-4pm, 6:30-8:30pm. DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls. What would you do if you were in "survivor man's" shoes and lost, hurt and stranded in the woods? Join a park naturalist for an informal presentation and hands-on display about wilderness survival.

    Feb 13, 2009 (Fri)    

FIELD TRIP: DeVeaux Woods State Park (Old Growth Forest)
Members will join Niagara USA and NYS Parks naturalists
6:30-8:30pm. DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls. Join park naturalists for an evening full of surprises. Learn about superstitions, urban legends and why this day and date seems to be all about bad or good luck. We will explore the phases of the moon and learn some basic constellations.

    Feb 21, 2009 (Sat)    

FIELD TRIP: Goat Island Icicle Walk, NIagara Falls
Members will join NYS Parks 10am-12pm. Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls. Park naturalists will lead a walk through a winter wonderland. Learn the history of Niagara Falls

    Mar 14, 2009 (Sat)    

FIELD TRIP: 1-4pm. Artpark State Park, Lewiston. Learn about the amazing cultural and geological history that took place in one of our most historic and picturesque parks in Western New York. Free

    Mar 15, 2009 (Sun)    

FIELD TRIP: Ice Bridges of Niagara – 1-3pm. DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls. Learn about the fabulous ice bridges of the Niagara River and the many stories from years gone by. Take a walk with us to view this winter wonder of Niagara Falls. Fre

    Mar 21, 2009 (Sat)    

FIELD TRIP
Old Growth Trees – 11am and 1 pm. NYS Power Authority's Visitor Center, 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston. What is Old Growth? Most of these trees are at least 150 years old and 36 inches in diameter. Learn about their characteristics, which trees are considered Old Growth, why they are important, and reasons for scattered areas of Old Growth. Free - For information and registration, call the NYS Power Authority at 716.286.6661

    Mar 28, 2009 (Sat)    

FIELD TRIP
Great Gorge Route – 11am and 1 pm. NYS Power Authority's Visitor Center, 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston. Learn about the trolley route that once took people on a spectacular journey throughout the Niagara Gorge. Free - For information and registration, call the NYS Power Authority at 716.286.6661

    Jun 27, 2009 (Sat)    

FIELD TRIP
27-28 GardenFest - 10am-5pm. Presented by the Lewiston Garden Club in beautiful Lewiston, NY on the lower Niagara River. This is an outdoor venue along Center Street in the heart of the historical and picturesque village. Venue includes vendors with garden and yard related items, free speakers forum, information on gardening, workshops, free musical entertainment and open garden tour. 716.754.898

    Jun 28, 2009 (Sun)    

FIELD TRIP
27-28 GardenFest - 10am-5pm. Presented by the Lewiston Garden Club in beautiful Lewiston, NY on the lower Niagara River. This is an outdoor venue along Center Street in the heart of the historical and picturesque village. Venue includes vendors with garden and yard related items, free speakers forum, information on gardening, workshops, free musical entertainment and open garden tour. 716.754.898