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St. Catharines Arts Awards set for June 8

Plans for Father's Day Lawn Mower Races underway

The annual Grand Island Father's Day Lawn Mower Races, Classic Car Show and 5K Kevin Doring Memorial Walk are taking registrations for the kind of competitive but mostly fun day, Sunday, June 16, on West River Parkway between Long Road and Sunset Drive. Proceeds benefit the Grand Island Relay For Life/American Cancer Society.

New to the day is a 5K walk in memory of Kevin Doring, son of race organizers Floyd and Chie Doring. Kevin passed away from cancer during the spring of this year. Registration for the walk begins at 8 a.m., with the race starting at 10.

Each year, the race committee emphasizes the family nature of the event with sportsmanship and courtesy to be the hallmark of the day.

25th annual Development Disabilities Awareness Day is this Thursday

The silver anniversary Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day conference is Thursday, May 23. It will feature Western New York professionals and businesses that specialize in services for people with developmental disabilities. The full-day event will be held at The Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St.

The convention runs from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Professionals from many different area agencies who specialize in services for people with developmental disabilities and similar health-related industries will be on hand to provide guidance, literature and general information about services that their organizations or businesses provide.

The event, also commonly known as DDDAY!!, has long been a staple of the local developmentally disabled community,

Renowned adventurer to lead gorge hike and talk

The New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, in partnership with Old Falls Street and the Comfort Inn The Pointe, will host the 2012 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Jennifer Pharr Davis.

Pharr Davis, who currently holds the overall record for hiking the Appalachian Trail in just 46 days, will lead a hike of the Niagara Gorge on June 19 followed by a lecture and signing of her new book, "Called Again," which chronicles her record-setting hike.

The hike will begin at 11 a.m. at Niagara Falls State Park and will end at Artpark (lasting about four-and-a-half hours). Following the hike, at 6:30 p.m., Pharr Davis will give a talk on her accomplishments and sign copies of her new book on Old Falls Street by the Comfort Inn The Pointe. Both events will take place rain or shine.

YMCA to collect American flags for proper retirement

The eight area YMCA Buffalo Niagara locations will be collecting old worn and tattered flags ready for retirement from June 3-7. Flags will be taken to Forest Lawn Cemetery on Saturday, June 8, for proper retirement. Flags can be donated to any YMCA Buffalo Niagara branch.

For more information, call 716-565-6000 or visit www.ymcabuffaloniagara.org.

Locally founded in 1852, YMCA Buffalo Niagara is an inclusive association of people committed to a common effort to help individuals and families reach their fullest potential in terms of spirit, mind and body. The YMCAs focus on health and wellness is reflected in the variety of programs that are offered for all ages and abilities.