Lewiston Kiwanis Peach Festival

For 52 years, the Lewiston Kiwanis Peach Festival has offered residents and tourists alike the opportunity to indulge in some good old-fashioned fun, food and camaraderie toward the end of the summer season. Whether it’s playing games in the midway, listening to live music or simply basking in the local scenery, the event caters to people of all ages who are looking to take advantage of everything this area has to offer.

“We’ve been fortunate to add events through the years to make the festival bigger and involve more people and families. It’s grown to be a spectacular event,” says Festival Chairman Jerry Wolfgang, when discussing how popular the occasion has become since its inception. “We’ve always maintained over the years that this is for families.”

Wolfgang’s emphasis on family is cemented by the absence of a beer tent which, for many festivals, would mean a major hit to overall revenue, but Wolfgang isn’t worried. He points out that the Kiwanis Club alone uses “13,000 pounds of fruit to make the peach shortcake” and that the coveted dessert has a reputation for selling out rather quickly, so the fundraising efforts should be just fine throughout the three-day period.

In the past, the question of venue has come up among concerned members of the community, but this year the inquiries were laid to rest early.

At their Feb. 17 meeting, The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees passed a motion to allow the Kiwanis Club to once again hold the event at Academy Park, which many residents feel is the best fit.

“Having it at the plateau was too congested and drew too many complaints,” says Trustee Michael Marra, referring to one of the festival’s prior locations. “Things such as facility contracts and other insurance issues can be complicated, so Academy Park seems to be the most accommodating.”

Trustee William Geiben also supports the use of Academy Park, saying that local businesses “wouldn’t be able to survive without festivals and spending from visitors,” so it’s important to create a situation where both attendees and vendors can view the festival as a success.

Although the festival has evolved, Geiben also says it’s important to remember that its original purpose was to support the farmers by promoting their annual peach crop. With vendors poised to go through 13,000 pounds of peaches, the initial intention remains firmly in tact.

Time: Friday Sept. 11 (5 p.m. – 11 p.m.)
Saturday Sept. 12 (11 a.m. - 11 p.m.)
Sunday Sept. 13 (11 a.m. – 10 p.m.)

Admission: Free

The Last House on the Left

With a piece of cringe-inducing torture porn such as "The Last House on the Left," you know exactly what you're getting. F-bombs will drop, grass will be smoked and people will be offed in the most grotesque fashion imaginable. That said, the result of this latest horror reimagining is surprisingly effective to the point that Wes Craven's 1972 original looks almost tame in comparison.

What I found interesting about the new film is that its tone is 180 degrees different than what Craven was going for. His work had an absurd sense of Manson-esque anarchy that made you unsure whether or not the obvious comedic elements should be laughed at, but the insanity here leaves no time for antics. When these girls embark on their boneheaded ganja quest, director Dennis Iliadis wastes no time testing the audience's tolerance for moral turpitude.

Those familiar with the original know what happens next, so I'll spare you the grimy details. The bottom line is that if you have the stomach for it, it's actually a pretty well-made, albeit disturbing addition to the genre.

- ** 1/2 out of 4 - It would've been 3, but that final scene was completely superfluous.