On my desk here at my office, I have one holiday decoration hanging around from last year: an eight-inch tall gingerbread house figurine with 'Ginger Land' written on a banner over the door.

Yes, I realize Christmas was over nine months ago.

Back in January I just couldn't bring myself to put this one away. Ginger Land seemed like the perfect label for my cluttered cubicle, tucked back in a cozy corner of the office.

Ever since I was little I have loved everything about gingerbread houses. To this day I continue to search for the perfect gingerbread recipe: spicy, sweet, a little chewy and structurally-sound enough to build an edible skyscraper.

Today I decided that I should go searching for the "real" Ginger Land, and was shocked to discover that it really exists! Located in the two-island Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (Leeward Islands, West Indies), Saint George Gingerland is a parish on the southeastern part of the island of Nevis.

Commonly referred to as Gingerland, the area is named for the valuable ginger crop that used to be grown there. Nowadays the area is known for its fresh fruits and vegetables, fishing and tourism.

Just from the satellite view, you can imagine it must be a beautiful place:


View Larger Map

One thing that struck me as funny is that "my" Ginger Land is in St.Catharines, Ontario, Canada (also known as St.Kitts to us locals). We too are known for our fresh fruits and veggies. Sport fishing is a popular activity around here. And being nestled amidst Niagara Falls and Niagara Wine Country, tourism is a big part of our local economy too.

Looking across my desk at that little candy cane-embellished house, Ginger Land is now just one more reminder to me of how small our cozy little planet really is.

Stuff you can do:

Go to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Tiny market but good stuff. Don't eat breakfast before you go, grab something there instead because the yummy chef-made goodies are really that good. Get the honey, organic greens, jams and really beautiful fruits and veggies. They have unusual ones that you can't find elsewhere, like garlic scapes, burgundy beans and heirloom tomatoes. Also get the Herbs de Provence from Niagara Herb Farm. The mix is gorgeous and is not loaded with fillers like salt or dehydrated garlic, which you'd see in some of the store brands.

Go to the Niagara Falls Farmers market. No matter how busy it is, go see the baker inside the market building and get some cookies. You'll never want a store-bought cookie ever again. This is a good old fashioned farmers market with double-yolk eggs, homemade pickles and an extensive collection of vegetables and flowers. Plus the butcher must be good because there are line-ups out the door every Saturday.

Canadian Organic Growers - Niagara Chapter:
http://www.cog.ca/niagara/index.htm#Contact

Map of Organic Growers in Niagara:
http://www.cog.ca/documents/niagara_map.pdf

Niagara Organic Growers Directory:
http://www.cog.ca/documents/niagara_directory.pdf

Mason Jar Organics (organic food pick-up service in Fonthill):
http://www.wildflowerrestaurant.com/mj.html
Catalog: http://www.wildflowerrestaurant.com/order.html

Which Fruits Are In Season In Ontario Right Now? Ask Foodland Ontario:
http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca/availabilityf.htm

Which Veggies To Eat When In Ontario? From Foodland Ontario:
http://www.foodland.gov.on.ca/availabilityv.htm

Niagara Cooks Magazine (plus links to Lynn Ogryzlo's recipes from Niagara This Week):
http://www.lynnogryzlo.com/magazine.htm

Niagara Culinary Trail (an extensive list of 'Who Makes What' in Niagara and how to find them):
http://www.lynnogryzlo.com/trail.htm

Directory of Goodies on the Niagara Culinary Trail:
http://www.niagaraculinarytrail.com/directory.php

(reprint of Amy Lazar's article from the St.Catharines Standard)

There’s a lot more up in the air at the Niagara District Airport than just planes.

There’s brainstorming.

“This is a sleepy little airport that needs a bit of a shake. I think we can raise the bar,” newly appointed airport manager Kenn Moody said Friday.

Over the last six months, the Niagara District Airport Commission has been working on plans to prove the airport’s value to neighbouring municipalities.

The commission’s 10 members have also been discussing branding and marketing options for the airport and expect many changes over the next year under Moody’s leadership.

“We need someone to take us to the next phase,” commission member Henry Zwolak said.

Moody, 65, is a retired military officer and pilot who also worked as an aviation inspector for Transport Canada and NAVCanada.

Since 2002, he has been running a bed-and-breakfast with his wife, Peggy, in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Last month, a commission member asked Moody to apply for the management position.

The decision to hire him didn’t take long, Zwolak said, adding the commission is pleased to have someone with Moody’s aviation experience on board.

Moody will be the liaison between the commission, airport tenants and municipalities as they move forward with plans to expand and develop the airport services and property.

By December, the commission will present an economic impact study to the councils of St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Thorold and Niagara Falls — municipalities that split $273,000 in airport funding.

“We need to show them the operation and the benefit of the airport,” Zwolak said.

In April, Thorold informed the commission the city will no longer contribute its $21,000 share.

“We’re not opposed to the airport,” Mayor Henry D’Angela said.

“We feel it would be more economically run through the Region. It fits more into the regional transportation plan.”

The commission has taken Thorold’s decision as a cue that municipalities need to be shown value for their money, Zwolak said.

Over the next year, more than $1 million in development is planned for the 321-acre (130-hectare) property.

“We’re seriously looking at expanding the runway by 1,000 to 1,200 feet (about 350 metres), which will attract a different type of aircraft,” Zwolak said.

The Niagara Stone Road airport is home to the St. Catharines Flying Club and a number of other longtime tenants who offer services to the community.

For more than a year, air ambulances have landed at the airport, transferring patients from across the region to area hospitals.

Private planes for entertainers headed to Niagara’s casinos also use the landing strip and plans are underway to bring back the Wings and Wheels Niagara Air Show, and to expand it to bring more exposure for the airport, Zwolak said.

“So many people don’t even realize the Niagara District Airport is there,” Air Show organizer, Ginger Blythin said.

“Over the years, it has been underdeveloped and hasn’t reached its full potential. We believe it has the potential to be a really great asset to the Niagara Region.”



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Moody fun fact:

“The first time I saw this airport was in 1959. I was on a solo navigation trip, working toward my private pilot’s licence and had to land here and get my log book signed,” Moody said, adding he returned in the 1970s as part of an air show team.

“It’s been the same size since I saw it in 1959.”



A short airport history

The Niagara Regional Airport officially opened Sept. 13, 1929.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, it was deeded to the federal government and the No. 9 Elementary Flight Training School was established in 1940. There were 1,848 graduates of the program, which was halted Jan. 15, 1944.

The airport was then home to No. 4 Wireless Training Unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force until Aug. 15, 1945.

After the war, the city of St. Catharines regained possession of the airport land under a long-term lease of $1 a year.

In 1959, the Niagara District Airport Commission was formed, with a mandate of overseeing the maintenance and operation of the airport.

Source: Niagara Regional Airport website

-- from http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/webapp/sitepages/printable.asp?paper=www.stcatharinesstandard.ca&contentid=649538&annewspapername=St%2E+Catharines+Standard

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONT. -- After much consideration, the organizers of the Wings and Wheels Niagara Air Show have decided to cancel their 2007 event, scheduled for the weekend of August 25 & 26.

"We are very disappointed to have to cancel this year's show." says airshow organizer Ginger Blythin. She continues, "We had to ground it mainly due to lack of sponsorship support from the business community. A common misconception has been that the air show performers come to the area for free - this simply isn't true. Ever-rising expenses for insurance, lodging, hospitality and other necessities for putting on an event like this is the main reason that we have been forced to cancel."

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the CF-18 "Hornet" Demonstration Team, the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team and Third Strike Wingwalking were among the acts slated for 2007 at the Niagara District Airport in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

Wings & Wheels Niagara is an annual non-profit community event that has been held in Niagara since 2003. Past performers at the show have included the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the Canadian Forces Skyhawks Parachute Team, the CF-18 "Hornet" Demonstration Team, Scott Manning in his BD5 MicroJet "Stinger", and precision aerobatics by Rick Volker, Julie Clark, Paul "Pitch" Molnar and Melanie Rader.

As Niagara's only not-for-profit airshow, proceeds from previous Wings & Wheels Niagara events supported community partners such as the local food banks, air cadets and Tender Wishes. This year's show was to have supported the CDS Military Families Fund.

According to air show organizer Neil Blythin, "A show like this simply isn't possible without local community support. Each year this event is run by a dedicated crew of 100% volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to making the show a success."

Not to be deterred, plans are already underway to bring back the show in 2008.