New York's leading small business association, the National Federation of Independent Business, has endorsed State Sen. George Maziarz for re-election in the 62nd Senate district.

The start of the school year marks the beginning of rehearsals for the Greater Niagara Ballet Company's presentation of "The Nutcracker." The family-oriented holiday production showcases dancers and character performers under the direction of artistic director Beverley Feder, FISTD.

The Rivershore Foundation presents Rivershore's third annual gala dinner, "Pathways to Excellence," on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the Niagara Falls Country Club, 505 Mountain View Drive.

The Business Council of New York State Inc. has released its 2012 Voters' Guide, which measures New York State legislators' commitment to promoting fiscal reform and improving the state's economic climate by scoring their votes on key legislation during the 2012 session.

The New York State Department of Transportation will host a public information meeting on Monday, Sept. 17, to discuss the proposed rehabilitation of three bridges over the New York Power Authority Reservoir spanning the towns of Niagara and Lewiston.

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara is the proud recipient of a $2,000 Guillemont Memorial Grant from the Niagara Falls Episcopal Urban Ministry. The funds will be used to purchase vital stand-up lifts that are critical to many of the 700 people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities served by the agency.

The boards of directors of two Niagara-area credit unions have announced that Niagara County's Federal Credit Union will merge with Niagara's Choice Federal Credit Union, effective Dec. 1.

Orleans/Niagara BOCES is getting ready to start the fall driver and traffic education course on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Founded in 1954, Buffalo Exterminating is the area's oldest locally owned pest management company. The company has a service center on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield for fast, responsive service to residents of Niagara County.

Niagara County Legislator David E. Godfrey has been drumming up support for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and the work of the Niagara Military Affairs Council.

Tri-Community Ambulance Service will hold its 10th annual basket auction on Sunday, Sept. 9.

The next meeting of the Niagara County Builders Association will be Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the Lewiston Village Pub, 840 Center St., Lewiston.

Faith Community Church in Sanborn is planning a huge yard sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15.

WBBZ-TV will introduce "The Fred Jackson Show" to the local program roster beginning Monday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m. Jackson, star running back for the Buffalo Bills, has been a member of the team since 2007.

Michael Dallessandro, supervisor of transportation at Niagara-Wheatfield School District, joined area law enforcement representatives at AAA headquarters in Williamsville recently to remind the public about staying vigilant on the roads now that schools are open.

As one of the hottest summers on record draws to a close, county, local and state officials officially dedicated a new resource designed to help children in central and western Niagara County cool down.

It's being called Wheatfield's "Off the Beaten Path" Farmers & Specialty Items Community Market, tucked into the parking lot at Town Hall, 2800 Church Road.

M&T Bank will once again be the grand marquee sponsor for the Aquarium of Niagara's annual "Winds, Waves & Wines" celebration of the area's grape harvest. "WWW III" will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls.

The North Tonawanda History Museum invites readers to check out its fall slate of programming, focusing on the War of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier, Polish-American heritage in Western New York, and the importance of North Tonawanda in making the Pan-American Exposition a reality in 1901 in Buffalo.

The North Tonawanda History Museum and the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum will offer free admission on Saturday, Sept. 29, along with more than 1,400 other participating venues in the nation for the eighth annual "Museum Day Live!" sponsored by the Smithsonian Magazine.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tuesday that NY Works restoration projects are under way in Niagara Falls State Park, making much-needed improvements at the Three Sisters Islands and Luna Island viewing areas.

Friends and family of Crystal Walker will hold a benefit in memory of her daughter, Isabella Sara Tennant, on Monday, Sept. 10, at The Evening Star Concert Hall, 8810 Niagara Falls Blvd., LaSalle.

Anu and Komal Chandan, M.D., Russell Hurlburt and John Percy have been named co-chairs of The 2013 Premier, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's annual black tie dinner and entertainment gala.

The Kiwanis Aktion clubs of Western New York will hold their first regional conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Hearthstone Manor, 333 Dick Road, Depew.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded a youth literacy grant in the amount of $2,200 to Henrietta G. Lewis Campus School at Wyndham Lawn in Lockport.

Over the past year, YMCA Buffalo Niagara has successfully assisted more than 100 Western New Yorkers in their battle with diabetes. By taking part in a 16-week diabetes prevention program, participants saw a positive change in their heath. This program was such a success that a need arose to expand the offering.

Members of the Wheatfield Lions Club are inviting local residents to the Five Senses Nature Park at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, as they dedicate the park at 6535 Ward Road, Sanborn, in honor of the late Lion Henry Scibisz.

The Niagara Small Business Development Center at Niagara County Community College, in conjunction with the Pathstone Corporation, the Workforce Literacy Training Program, the Lockport Public Library and Lockport Main Street, Inc., are presenting two workshops on using eBay for business.

Two community CPR classes will be taught by Alan Stevens on Sept. 11 at Town of Niagara's Calvin K. Richards Senior/Youth Activity Center in Veterans Memorial Park on Lockport Road.

Head coach Kevin Miller has announced the addition of two players to the Niagara University men's golf team for the 2012-13 season as Jackson Lizardo and William Lumadue join the squad.

Niagara begins play with the Little Three Tournament in Orchard Park on Saturday, Sept. 15.

It was another beautiful summer evening, Thursday, Aug. 16, when four civic groups met at Five Senses Park on Ward Road to enjoy Wheatfield Lions Club's annual steak roast.

The Niagara County Board of Elections at 111 Main St., Suite 100, Lockport, will be open extended hours on the following dates for absentee balloting for the Sept. 13 primary election:

Aug. 1 marked the kickoff to a national effort called "Feds Feed Families." The 914th Airlift Wing made it a personal challenge to raise more than 1,000 pounds of food to support families struggling with the economic downturn.

The party isn't over in the Town of Niagara.

This Saturday, Wegmans on Military Road will offer its own salute to the town's bicentennial celebration with its version of a "Town of Niagara BBQ" to finish off the summer season.

For the second time since he was elected, Wheatfield Supervisor Bob Cliffe sought approval Monday for expanding the supervisor's term of office to four years and limiting each supervisor to a maximum of two terms.

Once again, his request for a second on his motion was met by silence from the members of the Town Board.

Cliffe said he had tried to change the individual board members' minds on the matter since he brought it up in his first year in office.

Volunteers are needed by The Dale Association to serve as long-term care ombudsmen, working as advocates for residents at 15 nursing homes in Niagara County, including Northgate and Elderwood at Crestwood in Wheatfield.

Niagara County Republican Chairman Michael J. Norris released an audio statement Tuesday afternoon, telephoning directly from the floor of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., moments after delegates formally selected Gov. Mitt Romney as the Republican Party's presidential nominee.

Ladies, this one's for you.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will host the second annual "Ladies Night Out: Women's Health & Wellness Expo" from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, at The Conference & Event Center, 101 Old Falls St., Niagara Falls.

Louise Hines, R.N., center, of Niagara Falls, has been awarded the Ruth and William O. Sass Nursing Scholarship for 2012-13.

State Sen. George Maziarz recently received high ratings from both The Business Council and Unshackle Upstate in preparation for this fall's election. Maziarz received a 90 out of 100 from The Business Council and an 88 out of 100 from Unshackle Upstate.