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Wednesday, March 27, 2024
The Lake Report to host official launch party

From its very inception, The Lake Report — Niagara-on-the-Lake’s new hyper-local newspaper — has been a community endeavour. And so, to celebrate its six-month mark, the paper will host a community event this Friday.

You’re invited to the paper’s official launch party at Mori Gardens on Friday, Sept. 28.

This is a chance to meet and mingle with your neighbours and the paper’s staff, including editor-in-chief Richard Harley, the venerable journalist Penny Coles, staff writer Lauren O’Malley, and advertising sales rep Rob Lamond.

More importantly, though, it’s an opportunity to celebrate all things Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Many local businesses, individuals and institutions have shown their support in a number of ways, including advertising in the paper, helping with distribution, and spreading the word. The paper is eternally grateful to all of them, and looks forward to showing that at the party.

Several of these local businesses have extended their generosity in the form of donated prizes for the raffle which will be held at the event.

Lucky winners — having first made donations towards keeping the paper free of charge — will walk away with gift baskets from local businesses including Kurtz Orchards, Ravine Vineyards, Silversmith Brewing Company, Joseph’s and Konzelmann wineries, among many more goodies.

The event will be held in the green and fragrant environment of Mori Gardens’ garden centre. The location was chosen for its charm, and also for the business’ commitment to “locals helping locals.” The space also reflects TLR’s dedication to safe environmental practices, including the use of sustainable paper fibre and vegetable-based ink.

Local caterer Gooddine Catering will be providing delicious canapés free of charge, and Oast House brewery and Perridiso winery will be selling drinks by the glass, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the newspaper.

The masters of ceremony for the event will be Niagara’s own “punniest comedian in Canada,” David Green, and local musician and artist Cary Frank — whoi often contributes illstrations to the Lake Report. They will be introducing musical guests Juliet Dunn — TD Niagara Jazz Festival’s executive director — and harmonious locals Taylor Hulley and Laurel Minnes. If you stick around until the end of the night, you’ll have a chance to see editor-in-chief Richard Harley in his alter-incarnation, with guitar instead of computer/camera in hand. He’ll be joined by Miguel Mori on percussion for a couple of songs “before the sprinklers come on at 9:30,” says Mori —who also happens to be the Lake Report official launch event coordinator, Grow Manager at Mori Gardens, and a dedicated supporter of the newspaper.

A few people who have been seminal to the paper will make brief speeches, including Penny Coles, Lord Mayor Pat Darte, and lauded journalism professor and former senior Toronto Star editor Charles Kopun.

In true community fashion, there are many who have offered to volunteer at the party. Silversmith’s Patrick O’Neil will be running a donations booth and Joan King — fresh off another successful Terry Fox run — will be helping out, as will various other readers and supporters.

If you are unable to attend the event on September 28th, please join us on October 6th at the Niagara-on-the-Lake community centre in the Sweets & Swirls Café, for a casual meet and greet with the Lake Report team.

What: The Lake Report official launch party

Where: Mori Gardens, 1709 Niagara Stone Road, NOTL

When: Friday, Sept. 28, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

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