WGRZ-TV anchor and feature reporter Kate Welshofer, meteorologist Heather Waldman and news anchor Maryalice Demler will participate in the 2018 Niagara County Peach Festival held September 6^th thru the 9^th at Academy Park in Lewiston.

Welshofer, who joined WGRZ this year will be the Peach Festival Parade Marshall Saturday September 8^th at 11 AM. Welshofer is a native of Western New York, having grown up in the Village of Perry and is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University. Before joining WGRZ, Welshofer spent 10 years as a weeknight anchor in Albany and has received recognition from the New York State Associated Press Association as well as the National Press Photographer’s Association. The Peach Festival Parade takes place on Center Street in Lewiston with 122 units and 13 marching bands.

Meteorologist Heather Waldman will serve as the official starter for the Peach Festival 5K Run on the morning of September 8^th on Center Street in front of the historic Frontier House. Heather moved to the Buffalo area in January 2017 after spending three years broadcasting the national forecast with The AccuWeather Network in State College, PA. Waldman is a graduate of Penn State University with bachelor’s degrees in meteorology and telecommunications.

The 40th annual Peach Festival 5K Run will be held on a course that has now attained USATF Coarse Certification. Proceeds from the 2018 race will go to the “Eliminate Project” as part of Kiwanis International and UNICEF partnering to rid the world of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). The race is sponsored by Niagara’s Choice Federal Credit Union, and the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston. Entrants can register at www.racemanagementsolutions.com.

The Hostess for the Peach Queen finals on Sunday night at 8 PM will once again be WGRZ-TV news anchor Maryalice Demler. The North Tonawanda native and Niagara University graduate has won numerous broadcasting awards include two Emmy Awards from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She’s also received an Associated Press Award for Best Interview and over a dozen other New York Emmy Award nominations for her reporting work.

The 2018 Niagara County Peach Festival is sponsored by the Kiwanis of Lewiston, WGRZ-TV, The Buffalo News, Star 102.5 and the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute.

The Kiwanis of Lewiston held a news conference today, Wednesday August 22^rd at Academy Park in Lewiston to announce what’s new at the upcoming 61st annual Niagara County Peach Festival. The festival is being held on September 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and 9^th at Academy Park on Center Street in Lewiston. The first Peach Festival was held in 1958 and since then the Kiwanis of Lewiston have contributed over 1.2 million dollars in donations to area charities and organizations from Festival proceeds.

Niagara County Peach Festival Chairperson Jillian Colucci, veteran Peach Festival Advisory Chairman Jerry Wolfgang, former Peach Festival Chairman Gerry Gismondi, 5k Run Chairman Randy Gorzka, Niagara Falls Culinary Institute Division Chair Mark Mistriner and Jim Bittner of Bittner Singer Orchards addressed the media. Samples of the Peach Festival’s famous peach shortcake were then distributed by the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute.

Chairperson Colucci, the first woman to be Peach Festival Chairperson, anticipates a crowd exceeding 35,000, weather permitting. Jillian Colucci also announced that the 2018 Festival will officially open at 6 PM on Thursday night September 6^th. Last year the 2017 Festival held a “amusement ride preview night” on Thursday, but this year the entire Festival, including food vendors will be open for Festival attendees.

New this year on the September 6^th opening night will be a meet and greet with Buffalo Bills mascot “Billy Buffalo”, Sabres mascot “Sabretooth” and the Bisons’ “Buster Bison”. All three will be available for photographs with youngsters in a designated area on the Festival grounds at Academy Park. There will also be costumed superheroes and fantasy characters positioned throughout the park for photos as well.

Another highlight and expected to draw a large crowd on the Thursday opening night will be local country favorite “90 West” taking the stage at 7 PM.

Chairperson Colucci also emphasized that the fresh peaches used for the peach shortcake are grown in Niagara County at Bittner-Singer Farms, 6620 Lake Road in Appleton. This year the Peach Festival is expected to serve more than 14,000 pounds (7 tons) of locally harvested peaches along with the fresh shortcake made by the famous local DiCamillo Bakery.

In all there will be twenty-two food vendors serving a wide variety of American and ethnic cuisine.

Amusements of America will again be the ride company at this year’s Peach Festival supplying forty-four thrill, family and kiddie rides, making it the largest midway in Niagara County. The Kiwanis of Lewiston have also hired the ride inspection team of LJM & Associates to add a third level of safety inspections to the rides at this year’s Festival. The rides are also inspected by New York state inspectors and Amusements of America.

Advance ride tickets are now on sale at forty locations throughout the Lewiston greater area at a 50% discount. The discount locations can be found on the Peach Festival web site at www.lewistonpeachfestival.org/ride-tickets.

Friday September 7^th local first responders will take the stage at 5:30 PM and serve as the color guard as both the American and Canadian national anthems will be sung. A “All-star Cheer-leading Competition” will be held at 5:45 PM on stage featuring local units representing youth football and all-star cheering squads.

The morning of September 8^th the 40th annual Peach Festival 5K Run will be held on a course that has now attained USATF Coarse Certification. Race Chairman Randy Gorzka announced that proceeds from the 2018 race will go to the “Eliminate Project” as part of Kiwanis International and UNICEF partnering to rid the world of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). The race is sponsored by Niagara’s Choice Federal Credit Union, and the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston. Entrants can register at www.racemanagementsolutions.com.

Also, on Saturday morning the Peach Festival Parade will take place on Center Street at 11 AM. This year’s parade will feature over 100 units and thirteen marching bands, an all-time high. Serving as Parade announcer once again this year will be Brandy Scrufari from Star 102.5 FM.

The peach recipe “Taste Off” competition will be held again this year sponsored by the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, the Niagara Gazette and Niagara Frontier Publications. Recipe entries can be mailed until August 29^th to Barbara Walck at Niagara Country Community College, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY 14132. The three categories include “Food Enthusiast”, “Culinary Student” and “Children”. Entrants can win up to $500 in prizes.

The finals for the “Taste Off” will be held at 4:30 PM on the Academy Park Stage with judges NCCC Hospitality Tourism and Culinary Arts Division Chairman Mark Mistriner, Dana DeFazio Manager of Savor restaurant and Scott Beahen Director of Food Service Operations at Niagara University.

The Peach Blossom and Peach Fuzz contests for the youngsters will again attract more than fifty contestants and will occur Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

The “Dance Showcase” featuring ten area dance companies, will take the stage Sunday September 10^th from noon to 3 PM.

The finale for the Festival will take place Sunday night at 8 PM as the finals for the Peach Queen Pageant take place. This year fourteen girls from Niagara County have entered the competition for the crown of Peach Queen and the $4,000 scholarship awarded by the Kiwanis of Lewiston. The Hostess for the Peach Queen finals will be WGRZ-TV news anchor Maryalice Demler.

Live musical entertainment will perform on stage throughout the Festival featuring “Summer of 69”, “Terry Buchwald as Elvis” and “Everyday People”. “23 Skidoo” will also be roaming the field and playing in the peach shortcake tent. The full schedule of events is available at www.lewistonpeachfestival.org.

Transportation chairman Gerry Gismondi announced that there will again be free parking available to all Festival attendees at that upper Artpark lot and Greyline Tours shuttle buses will provide attendees courtesy rides from the Artpark upper lots to Academy Park.

The 2018 Niagara County Peach Festival is sponsored by the Kiwanis of Lewiston, WGRZ-TV, The Buffalo News, Star 102.5 and the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute.

Jerald I. Wolfgang, Chairman of the Annual Niagara County Peach Festival Parade, announced that the Lewiston Kiwanis is seeking units for this year’s parade. The parade is taking place on Saturday, September 8^th at 11AM on Center Street in Lewiston. The parade route will be from the Red Brick Schoolhouse on North Fourth, down Center Street to Academy Park in Lewiston, New York.

Any units wishing to march in this year’s parade should go to www.lewistonpeachfestival.org for an application. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday August 29th.

The annual parade will feature over $2,000 in cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to the outstanding school bands, senior bands, majorette units, fire companies, floats, drill teams and color guards.

The 2018 Niagara County Peach Festival will be held Thursday September 6^th thru Sunday the 9th at Academy Park on Center Street in Lewiston New York. More information on the 2018 Niagara County Peach Festival can be found at www.lewistonpeachfestival.org. #NiagaraCountyPeachFestival.

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The Niagara County Peach Festival “Taste Off” recipe contest will be held on Saturday September 8^th at 4:30 PM on the stage at Academy Park in Lewiston. The 2018 “Taste Off” is sponsored by the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, Niagara Gazette and Niagara Frontier Publications.

This year there will be three divisions for entries which include Food Enthusiast, Culinary Student and a new Children category.

Judges for the 2018 “Taste Off” will be Niagara Falls Culinary Institutes Division Chairman Mark Mistriner, Dana DeFazio Manager of Savor restaurant and Scott Beahen Director of Food Service Operations at Niagara University.

There will also be a peach shortcake eating contest on the Academy Park stage featuring local media and dignitaries prior to the announcement of the 2018 recipe winners.

Original recipes must include fresh peaches and be prepared from scratch. The use of pre-made products may result in disqualification. Recipes must be legible and submitted on an 8.5” by 11” white sheet of paper with all ingredients fully listed. The recipe must also include how many portions it can serve.

The entry must include name, address and phone number at the bottom of the paper and be mailed no later than August 29^th to Barbara Walck, Niagara County Community College, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY, 14132. Employees of the Greater Niagara Newspapers, Niagara Frontier Publications and Niagara County Community College and their families are not eligible to enter. Entries are limited to one per person.

Divisions

Food Enthusiast- Whether you are a Home baker or pastry enthusiast this category is for you. Individuals sixteen years or older are invited to enter their secret Peach recipe in this year’s Peach Festival “Taste Off” for a chance to be selected as a finalist and to appear on the Main Stage to prepare your entry live for the judges.

Culinary Student- All up and coming aspiring pastry chefs from the western New York culinary programs are encouraged to enter this category. Enter your very favorite peach dessert recipe for a chance to show off your emerging talents to the world and a chance to make your creation live on stage for the “Taste Off” judges.

Children- This is a new category for children from eight to thirteen years of age who love to bake. Create your own Peach dessert for a chance to be a finalist on stage at 4:30PM on Saturday September 8^th.

For further information contact Jerry Wolfgang at 754-7745 or e-mail at jw4267@gmail.com.

The 2018 Niagara County Peach Festival will be held September 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and 9^th at Academy Park on Center Street in Lewiston. Sponsors for this year’s Festival are the Kiwanis of Lewiston, the Buffalo News, WGRZ-TV and Star 102.5. More information can be found atwww.lewistonpeachfestival.org. 

Mike Hanrahan, Executive Producer of the Spirit of the 80’s event has announced the brewing of “68 Guns”, a special craft beer to honor Mike Peters and The Alarm, the headliner at Saturday’s Spirit of the 80’s concert to be held at Academy Park. “68 Guns” was the first top 40 song recorded by Peters and The Alarm in 1983 and is fan favorite. The announcement was made at the Brickyard Brewing Company, 436 Center Street in Lewiston where the new craft beer was created by Brew Master John Paul Meteer. The annual Spirit of the 80’s concert at Academy Park is sponsored this year by Modern Disposal Services. 

Saturday’s concert will also promote bone marrow screening as part of Mike Peter’s “Love Hope Strength Foundation” with concert proceeds going to Roswell Park’s bone marrow donor screening program. Alexandria Hoaglund, the Youth & Community Fundraising Specialist for Roswell Park Alliance Foundation also attended today’s media event to discuss the program and importance of locating bone marrow donors through screening.

Mike Peters has a unique story as he and The Alarm helped break the mold of the typical rock band of the 80’s and paved the way for alternative bands to make a statement in their music. The Alarm have had seventeen top 50 UK singles, a host of successful albums and over 5 million sales worldwide.

However, in 1995 Mike Peters was diagnosed with cancer, but instead of bemoaning his fate, Peters donned a camouflage jacket and fought back. In the years since his diagnosis and through two subsequent bouts with the disease, the Welsh singer continues to lead the Alarm.

In 2016 Peter’s wife Jules was also diagnosed with breast cancer, but she continues to tour with the band despite wagging a two-year battle with the disease. Peters has since become the co-founder of the “Love Hope Strength Foundation” which promotes music-related outreach and awareness programs for leukemia and cancer sufferers, survivors and their families. There will be volunteer screening for bone marrow donors at the venue on the night of the event and educational cancer awareness information will be distributed.

Also taking the stage on August 4^th will be Canada’s premier U2 tribute band “Desire”, last year’s favorite “Dead Letter Office” and the band “Ten”. Gates open at 3:00 PM with “Ten” taking the stage at 4:00 PM.

Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 in advance at Lewiston Music, 791 Center Street in Lewiston and www.brownpapertickets.com. #Spiritofthe80s

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