Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper is recruiting volunteers to join the fall "Shoreline Sweep" on Saturday, Sept. 22. "Sweep up" from 9 a.m. to noon at one of more than 25 parks and green spaces along the Buffalo Niagara shorelines.

Niagara County weather has been nothing if not extreme this year. Rapid changes include warm winter transforming to sudden cold in March and April, and the onset of one of the driest summers to date.

The American Red Cross is planning two local blood drives this weekend.

Highwire artist Nik Wallenda returned to Niagara Falls on Thursday, Aug. 23, to update the media about his plans to open a daredevil museum. It was Wallenda's first trip back to the area since he crossed over the falls to Canada on June 15.

The Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education meeting was off to an appreciative start last week with a reception honoring the 2011 and 2012 district retirees.

St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 6167 Walmore Road in Sanborn, will host its monthly contemporary worship gathering, "Saturday Night Alive," on Saturday, Aug. 25, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Members of the community are invited to bring their classic cars and join the residents and employees at Northgate Health Care Facility for a 1950s Night on Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 6:30 p.m. at 7264 Nash Road, Wheatfield.

On Thursday, Aug. 23, only, from noon to 8 p.m., the Niagara County SPCA will feature a pick your own adoption fee promotion just for the cats rescued from the recent Somerset hoarding case.

Wheatfield's county legislators William Ross (2nd District), Kathryn Lance (7th District) and David Godfrey (10th District) will hold a six-month review of Niagara County government at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, in the Wheatfield Community Center, 2790 Church Road, adjacent to the Wheatfield Town Hall.

The SPCA is usually all about the animals - like Gabby, shown in the photo at right, taking a cooling dip in a plastic pool.

About 80 percent of the roads in the Town of Niagara will be repaved in a five-year plan proposed by Supervisor Steve Richards at Tuesday's Town Board meeting.

The third time is certainly a charm for the Eternal Brothers Motorcycle Club. The club recently hosted the third annual Elizabeth Bondi Memorial Bike Run in support of the programs and services of Niagara Hospice.

Nik Wallenda will be back in town on Thursday, Aug. 23, for the first time since his historic walk over Niagara Falls. He will join State Sen. George Maziarz and Assemblyman John Ceretto at Niagara Falls State Park to discuss his visit and what's next for him.

A surgical team at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Monday performed Niagara County's first-ever da Vinci Single-Site cholecystectomy. The patient's gallbladder was removed through one tiny incision in the belly button or navel, making the procedure virtually scarless.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center announced Monday that it will be providing primary care services to former patients of Dr. Matthew A. Bennett.

One of Niagara County's biggest events of the year, the Lewiston Kiwanis Peach Festival takes place Sept. 7-9 at Academy Park. A highlight of the festival is the grand midway featuring rides fit for all ages.

Niagara Frontier Publications is giving away three booklets of Peach Festival ride tickets.

The Brickyard Pub & BBQ, 432 Center St., in Lewiston, is hosting its 15th annual Celebrity Bartending Night from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug 23.

Wheatfield Supervisor Bob Cliffe is once again trying to implement something he has been saying is needed in the town since he first took office - term limits.

Mike & Nate give new meaning to the phrase, "God works in mysterious ways."

Over 50 days, the two churchgoing college buddies - Mike Buonaiuto, 22, and Nate Frankoski, 26 - biked 2,500 miles to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Attendance was down a bit this year due to intermittent rain, but organizers of the Smokin' Eagles International BBQ Festival reported a lot of happy customers last weekend at Gateway Harbor in Tonawanda.

Church services, a rock climbing wall, live animals, games, music, demonstrations and plenty of food - the 34th annual Wheatfield Family Picnic at Fairmount Park this Sunday, Aug. 19, has it all.

Mia Skinner has given new meaning to the phrase "pop art."

The owner of Soda Can Earrings, Skinner and her business made a return visit this weekend to the Lewiston Art Festival, the event she said where her business all started.

Another request for a dog park in the Town of Niagara is on the agenda for the Town Board work session Thursday, Aug. 16.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has awarded 2012 Junior Volunteer Scholarships to Allison Kennedy and Brittney Kiely. The scholarships are funded by the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Foundation and Auxiliary.

Time to Dance hosts a free "Community Day" from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25. The dance studio is located at 5000 Saunders Settlement Road, just past the Town of Lewiston.

The New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, in conjunction with the Old Orchard Estates Block Club, will provide a drug prevention program and climbing wall for children in North Tonawanda, from noon to 8 p.m. on Aug. 18.

St. James United Methodist Church, 4661 Porter Road, will hold a drive-thru Chiavetta's chicken barbecue from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15.

The Social Security Administration helps people with disabilities who are interested in working to get the services, supports and work incentives they may need.

American Legion motorcyclists from around the country will arrive in the Buffalo area for the 2012 American Legion Riders Legacy Run Home, hosted by Wheatfield American Legion Post 1451. Beginning Friday, Aug. 17, their ultimate destination will be Indianapolis.

Operating room staff members at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center joined board member Nancy Gara, front row center, and Chief of Robotic Surgery Dr. Donna Azam Feldman, first row right, on Friday to celebrate "SAL" the Surgical Robot's 100th surgery at the medical center.

The regular Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education meeting on Aug. 1 saw a great deal of activity during the nearly three-hour session. Issues covered ranged from the progress of the capital improvement project overseen by Delbert Ambrosia, the district's director of facilities and operations, to financial issues such as budget cuts and layoffs.

"A recent review of our service area indicates that your home is not covered by Water Service Line Coverage. ... Without this coverage, you are responsible for the full cost of maintaining and repairing the exterior water service line that brings fresh water to your property. ..."

The Town of Wheatfield Republican Club will hold its 42nd annual family picnic from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at the Wheatfield Lions Club picnic pavilion on Ward Road next to the Wheatfield American Legion.

Wheatfield often has too much water, especially off Krueger Road. North Tonawanda has two huge, unused pipes going under River Road to the Niagara River.

The 15th annual Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas Charity Clambake and Live/Silent Auction will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the Shores Waterfront Restaurant in North Tonawanda.

The Hot Country Liners Dance Team will perform 40 minutes of high-energy line dancing to a variety of music at the Wheatfield Farmers Market at 6 p.m. Aug. 15.

The Bergholz Volunteer Fire Co. and Ladies Auxiliary's monthly chowder and baked goods sale begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the truck hall on Niagara Road in Bergholz.

There's nothing like a barbecue festival to set your taste buds on alert.

This weekend, wander down to Gateway Harbor in Tonawanda and take a deep breath of sauce, spices and grilling meat - the Smokin' Eagles International Barbecue Festival is back.

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta confirmed the importance of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on his visit here Thursday.

Niagara Hospice Director of Volunteer Services Alice Beck recently announced several new volunteer opportunities with Niagara Hospice and the Niagara Hospice Alliance.