Born in Welland, Zavitz taught for more than three decades at several elementary schools in Niagara Falls. During this period he always managed to squeeze some local history into the curriculum.

"As a kid it fascinated me, especially Canadian history and then local history," he said. "I taught for 35 years, It's a great profession. I have no regrets whatsoever."

Zavitz was named the city's official historian in 1994. Three years later he was named the official historian for Niagara Parks Commission. Many of the parks along the Niagara River were the sites of some major battles in the War of 1812, he said, including the battles of Chippewa, Fort Erie and Queenston Heights Park,

"Queenston Heights -- that's where Isaac Brock was killed on Oct. 13, 1812," Zavitz said,

His two new books, a revised and enlarged edition of his popular It Happened in Niagara, and Niagara Falls: Historical Notes, comprise a whopping 123 stories about the city's past from 1678 to 1997. It Happened in Niagara is a compilation of three earlier books of the same title. It contains several new stories, revisions to some of the original stories and a number of additional photographs, including the first pictures ever taken of Niagara Falls, photographed by Hugh Pattinson in 1840. Zavitz had to obtain special permission from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom to publish the photos, which are believed to be the first photographs ever taken in Canada.

The book was published by the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, which decided it would be more practical to combine the three earlier books into one volume rather than trying to keep them in print. The collection includes Niagara's First Honeymooners; Benjamin Lett: A Terrorist At Niagara; Jarvis Hanks: Drummer Boy at the Battle of Lundy's Lane; Nikola Tesla: Electrical History is Made at Niagara Falls; John Birchall: Swindler and Murderer; and Marilyn Monroe: The Making of Niagara.

Niagara Falls: Historical Notes is a compilation of 45 of Zavitz's favourite stories, which were originally published in the Niagara Falls Review. Similarly, Zavitz made some revisions and included additional photographs. Interestingly, the book's cover features an old photograph of the late Canadian writer and social activist June Callwood and sportswriter husband Trent Frayne at Niagara Falls in 1950. The couple, who were at the time both writing for Maclean's magazine, were asked by Maclean's editor Pierre Berton to go to the falls and pose as honeymooners for a feature story.

At age 68, Zavitz is still quite active. In addition to his weekly columns, local walking tours and Rotary Club meetings, he's on the city's task force for the War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations.