Monday, October 4, 2010

Pearce Family Making Waves in the Music Industry!

Check this out, Pearce Family!
http://www.yimari.com/music.html - Brian Cooper is releasing his first album October 15th. Thanks, Tony Johnson for passing this along!

http://www.myspace.com/kathygrant44 - My sister - Kathy Grant is grooming new artists as well as advancing her own career as a performer, writer, and radio host. Her latest project, CRED the DVD will be released soon.

Don't forget to check out Wilma Pearce Gift's son, Kevin Gift - an amazing talent and one of our family's best kept secrets - http://www.kevingift.com. You'll be blown away!

Have you any updates that you would like to be posted to the Pearce Family Blog? Pass them along! Let's keep the family updated!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

T- Shirts and Meet n Greet Friday the 17th

Hey everyone - just a quick note... T-Shirts have been ordered. Because we had to rush them in order to get them here in time for the reunion, there was a slight surcharge. Please budget $10 US for the T-Shirts. On the bright side - They look really cool! Thanks to Cayla Christiansen for the awesome design, and a huge thank you to Wilma for taking care of the order. :)



P.S. - Mide Bistro and Yoga Studio is where we will be having our meet and greet Friday evening at 7 p.m. Mide is located at the corner of Queen Street and Erie Street in downtown Niagara Falls. Parking is available on the street, or behind Mide Bistro - enter from Erie Street and walk around to the front. There is ample parking behind the building.



To access Queen Street from Great Wolf Lodge, go South on Victoria Avenue to Queen Street - turn left on Queen and follow a few blocks down - Mide Bistro is on the left at the corner of Erie Street. If you get to Niagara Falls City Hall, you have gone a little too far.



From the tourist district of Niagara Falls, follow Lundy's Lane/turns into Victoria Avenue north to ValleyWay Drive. Turn right. (There are large pillars there welcoming you to downtown). Valley Way will run into Queen Street. Keep right. Follow Queen down to Erie Street. You will see Mide Bistro on the left.



Looking forward to seeing you on Friday the 17th! Please remember that the meal Friday night is $12 per person. This includes soups (the best soups you will ever taste), finger foods, and a non-alcoholic beverage. The bar will be open and you may purchase alcohol on your own, and you may also feel free to order something from the menu in addition to the buffet if you like; however, Joseph will have lots for us to munch on, and ordering additional food over and above your $12 budget will not likely be necessary.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Passport Rules Come into Effect Today

I thought it would be prudent to also post the new requirements for travelling between the US and Canada whether you are flying or driving. Please read this carefully as these new rules are in effect as of today.

On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.
CHILDREN: U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 will be able to present the original or copy of their birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card.Groups of U.S. citizen children ages 16 through 18, when traveling with a school or religious group, social organization, or sports team, will be able to enter under adult supervision with originals or copies of their birth certificates or other proof of citizenship. See the Department of Homeland Security's
GetYouHome.gov for more information on the changing travel requirements.
U.S. PASSPORT AND WHTI COMPLIANT DOCUMENTS:
U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport to enter or re-enter the United States when traveling via air, land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
The U.S. Passport Card: The passport card is only valid for re-entry into the United States at land border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.
WHTI-Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen travel via land or sea, as of January 31, 2008:
Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
State Issued Enhanced Driver's License (when available)
Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
Form I-872 American Indian Card
For further information see U.S. Customs and Border Protection's website
Ready, Set...Go!

Pearce Family's Got Talent!

Hi everyone,
I thought I would share some of our family members websites (if I missed yours, it is because I am unaware of it - please send yours in if you want it posted) to showcase some of the tremendous talent that resides within the Pearce Family. Simon Cowell, eat your heart out...

I was introduced to my cousin Kevin Gift's (Eloise Gift's son) website some time ago. You have to check this out - he is incredibly talented! http://www.kevingift.com.

My sister Kathy, as you all know has pursued her lifelong dream of professional singing - you can keep tabs on her progress at http://www.kathygrantmahon.com. You can also find Kathy on Myspace and Facebook.

My brother, Ray is a minister of a thriving church in Nepean, Ontario (Ottawa), and here is a link to his church's youth chorale site: http://www.myspace.com/biblewayyouthchorale. Bibleway's website is http://www.biblewaymin.com

Our cousin Danny Holgate has been tearing up the Broadway music scene for years - you can see some of his credits at http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=86136

Of course, you can check out my new website at http://www.juliechristiansen.com.

I know there is tonnes more talent floating around out there - so if you have a website, or a Myspace page that shows us that side of you, please send it along, and I'll post it here.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Congratulations, Peter Green!

University of Michigan lands $19.5 million solar energy project for federal government
by Nathan Bomey Michigan Business Review
Tuesday April 28, 2009, 11:33 AM
The University of Michigan is poised to strengthen its role as a national leader in solar energy technology after landing a 5-year, $19.5 million research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The White House has named U-M one of its 46 "Energy Frontier Research Centers" -- collaborative research efforts designed to generate breakthrough alternative energy technologies.
U-M researchers, led by Peter Green, will pursue new technology designed to improve the efficiency of solar materials, which are used in photovoltaic solar panels and geothermal technology.
Business Review first reported last month that the university was among 260 applicants vying for EFRC funding delivered through the DOE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
DOE is expected to invest $777 million in 46 projects over five years. The projects are designated as multi-disciplinary research efforts involving universities, national labs, nonprofit groups and private businesses. Funding for 16 of the projects, including U-M's, comes from President Barack Obama's $787 billiion economic stimulus package approved in February.
The "center" is not expected to be a physical building but instead a research collaboration aimed at bringing together 22 U-M scientists, including six from U-M's Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute.
"It's a big win for the state in terms of trying to grow a solar energy industry here," said Gary Was, the MMPEI director.
Contact Nathan Bomey at (734) 302-1725 or nathanb@mbusinessreview.com or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/NathanBomey.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Hotel Accommodations

Hello Family!
I feel the need to clarify something about the hotel accommodations.
Great Wolf Lodge was chosen as the venue based on feedback I received from some family members who have already RSVP'd. I understand that GWL rates are somewhat high - however, you have to see this place to realize the value we'll get if we stay there. They have offered us a GROUP RATE of $269.00 per night if our family books a minimum of 10 rooms at the hotel. This is $100 off their regular rates for July. I am only getting trickles of feedback but recently, I have heard concerns about these rates.

Of course there are other hotels in the Falls that have more reasonable rates - they are everywhere. I have also looked into the other large waterpark in Niagara Falls, which is atop the Casino, overlooking the Falls, and they have rates especially for locals, which means if we wanted to stay in other, more affordable accommodations, and take a trip to the waterpark, we could do that and it would free funds up for sightseeing, shopping, etc.

So, I am including TWO other options for accommodations in and around the Clifton Hill vicinity of Niagara Falls. Great Wolf Lodge is about 5 to 8 minutes away from Clifton Hill by car.
My suggestions are:

The Days Inn - http://www.daysbythefalls.com/ $416 for two nights on the weekend of the reunion, including taxes.

The Hampon Inn by the Falls - http://www.hamptoninnatthefalls.com/index.php $347 for two nights on the weekend of the reunion, excluding taxes.

Both of these are very accessible to the tourist area, and close enought to GWL so that if anyone wants to stay at Great Wolf Lodge, we can still all connect very easily. At this rate though, if you have not booked your hotel because of the high rates, now you have options.

PLEASE contact me directly if you have any questions at all! I am eager to hear from you. As always, please pass this information along to family members who may not know about it, as I am dealing with a limited contact list.

Thanks, and we'll see you in July!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Update on Family Reunion

Just wanted to remind you all that the Family Reunion is coming soon this July, 2009 in Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada). So far, we have attending - the Christiansens, the McKenzies, and the Grants. Will you be joining us?
If you don't want to stay in a hotel but would like a more family feel, there are several vacation homes available for rent in the Niagara region. This will allow you to come and go as you please; most homes have 3-4 bedrooms so a large family can stay there comfortably for one rate, rather than trying to cram everyone into a small hotel room, or worse yet, having to pay for several hotel rooms for the whole family. Don't forget that Great Wolf Lodge also has some large suites that can sleep up to 7 people, so you have plenty of affordable options.
If you are a descendant of the Pearce Family (Gardenpiece, Jamaica) and need any information at all, please email me (julieATjuliechristiansen.com).
See you in July!