CITY HALL NOTEBOOK: Time to talk turkey

<!--Rick Forgione--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Rick Forgione</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:rick.forgione@niagara-gazette.com">rick.forgione@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>

Though it is a few days early — and a little corny — I am dedicating this week’s City Hall notebook to things we can be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

n Let’s start with the less bumpy ride to work. I’ve said this before but it really is encouraging to see how many roads have been fixed in our city over the past nine months, especially on some of the worst spots like Main Street.

I am sure I’m not alone in thinking what a relief it is to drive on smooth pavement along Pine Avenue in front of St. Joseph’s Cemetery without dodging massive potholes and worrying that oncoming traffic will suddenly need to swerve into your lane.

Mayor Paul Dyster’s administration, City Council members, the under-staffed engineering department and Department of Public Works employees all deserve an extra serving of turkey and stuffing this year for doing exactly what they promised would get done — the most streets paved in our city, ever.

Let’s hope they do as good a job plowing as they did paving.

n Speaking of snow, be thankful for the mild weather in recent weeks. Fall is my favorite time of year but I can’t remember one where you could go outside most days without wearing a coat this late into November. Enjoy it while it lasts, you will be shoveling soon enough.

n In a city where so many families struggle to put food on the table, be thankful there are people in our community dedicated to serving up some help during the holidays. For the past two decades, Yvonne and Matt Davis have spent their Thanksgiving hosting a Lord’s Day Dinner, with the only requirement to attend is visitors come hungry and leave happy.

Last year, the Lord’s Day Dinner served upwards of 400 traditional Thanksgiving dinners to the less fortunate. In addition to receiving a hot meal, guests leave with free clothes, footwear, children’s toys and household products generously donated by community members.

And they do it again for Christmas.

This year’s Thanksgiving Lord’s Day Dinner will be served from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday at the VFW Post 917 LaSalle Griffon, 2435 Seneca Ave. Yvonne said volunteers are still needed as are donations, including turkeys, hams, side dishes, beverages and desserts and youth clothing and household items. To make a donation or find out more about the Lord’s Day Dinner, call Matt at 284-6973.

Another option is a free Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Community Missions of Niagara Frontier and the Niagara Falls Hard Rock Cafe. Food will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the restaurant, 333 Prospect St. Along with the traditional meal, guests will also leave with household and hygiene products.

This is the tenth year Community Missions and Hard Rock have partnered to host dinner. For more information, call Community Missions at 285-3403.

n Finally, be thankful for your family. If the rash of tragic deaths locally this past week proves anything, it is that life is fragile and can change in an instant. My condolences go out to the grieving families and friends.

On a personal note, this will be the first Thanksgiving since my grandmother Jane Antonucci passed away in June. She was an amazing person and the glue that really held my family together.

Her presence — and insistence that nobody is finished eating until their shirt buttons burst open — will be sorely missed. I will be forever thankful for everything Noni did for me and the time we had together.

And I promise to eat plenty of turkey, stuffing and pie in her honor.

Contact reporter Rick Forgione

at 282-2311, ext. 2257.