A Love Canal community meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15. The meeting will be held at the Frontier Volunteer Fire Hall at 2176 Liberty Drive, Niagara Falls. It begins at 7 p.m. Several matters will be discussed at this meeting, including next steps for those with health issues affected by Love Canal.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will present "Taking Control of Your Weight and Your Life" for area residents interested in learning about weight-loss surgery twice in November.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Friday that the New York Power Authority board of trustees has approved a plan to provide assistance to the City of Niagara Falls, which will help the city address budget issues related to an ongoing casino revenue dispute between the state of New York and the Seneca Nation of Indians.

The Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission will hold its annual "Feed the Falls" initiative in Niagara Falls on Thanksgiving Day. Mission staff and volunteers from local churches and the community will prepare 1,000 turkey dinners and deliver them to the homebound, seniors and families in need.

November is the time of year that veterans receive well-deserved thanks. Among local observances in honor of Veterans Day are:

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and George Edwards Jewelers, located at 2131 Sawyer Drive, Wheatfield, is "Going White" for the month of November to honor friends and customers who have suffered from this devastating disease.

The Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, at 3181 Saunders Settlement Road in Sanborn, will hold an open house and pasta dinner on Nov. 15.

As individuals reach the age of 60 and older, they may begin to experience changes to their mind, body and spirit. "Stay Well on Your Feet" is a free health promotion program geared toward identifying these changes and providing tips for maintaining quality living.

The Niagara County Sheriff's Office applied for and received additional STOP DWI grant money for driving while intoxicated enforcement during specific "crackdown" periods throughout the year.

Niagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour has announced that a meeting for Explorers interested in law enforcement as a career will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, in the Patrol Room of Building 1, Niagara County Sheriff's Office, 5526 Niagara St. Extension, Lockport.

Hundreds of Red Cross blood drives have been cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy, representing a loss of thousands of blood and platelet products. The Red Cross is asking people who are eligible, especially in places not affected by the storm, to schedule a time to give blood in the days and weeks to come.

As the end of a perfect summer approached, the members of Kiwanis Club of Niagara-Wheatfield boasted a full schedule of events related to the local community.

The Town of Niagara Town Board is expected to vote on its 2013 budget at the 7 p.m. regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Kids and critters make for a good time when Jeff Musial and his Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics visit the Aquarium of Niagara from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald announced this week the completion of a $4.3 million project to replace the U.S. Route 62 (Niagara Falls Boulevard) bridge over Bergholz Creek.

The eighth annual Niagara Electric Lights Parade honoring the Town of Niagara Bicentennial was held Saturday before a bundled-up crowd.

A steady stream of voters kept Town of Niagara's polling place at the Niagara Active Hose firehall hopping Tuesday as voters decided who to represent them in Washington and Albany.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center will present a free program to help residents and business owners understand the changes mandated by federal health care reform. The event is set for Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Niagara Falls High School, 4455 Porter Road.

As President Obama wins a second term nationally, both Democrat and Republican parties score big victories in Western New York.

We couldn't find any reindeer, but it turns out Santa is an excellent equestrian! Join Old St. Nick in coming weeks on the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum carrousel; just make sure you're on the "nice" list.

As a reminder, all absentee ballots must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 5, in order to be counted in this election.

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara's "Opportunities Got Talent," an annual occasion featuring the aptitudes of individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities through song, dance, theater and comedy in a competitive format, occurred Friday at the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda.

Town of Niagara Active Hose will hold a Chiavetta's chicken barbecue from noon until 7 p.m. or sold out on Election Day, Nov. 6.

St. John Lutheran Church at Ward Road and Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield will hold an Election Day ham dinner and holiday gift boutique from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Our Lady of Fatima Shrine Knights of Columbus Council No. 14622 hosts its fifth annual spaghetti dinner from 4 until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17. The Shrine is located at 1023 Swann Road, Lewiston.

St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1135 Oliver St., North Tonawanda, will hold its annual Candy Cane Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.

The public is invited to hear Missionary Cheri Kommel speak at Faith Community Church at 7 p.m. Nov. 9.

Aside from a lot of rain and some branches down, the Town of Niagara and Wheatfield were relatively unscathed by Hurricane Sandy.

Even though, in some cases, there were 75 years and more between them, local high school students and senior citizens obviously enjoyed an afternoon of dining, dancing and chatting on Sunday at Antonio's Banquet and Conference Center in Niagara Falls.

The Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation is looking for volunteers to wrap gifts at its gift-wrap booth this holiday season. The booth is located inside the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls and is open Dec. 1 to 24 during all mall hours, including holiday hours.

Get in the spirit for the upcoming holidays on Saturday, Nov. 3, with the eighth annual Niagara Electric Lights Parade on Military Road.

More than 70 units have signed up to participate in the professionally judged parade honoring the town's bicentennial.

St. James Lutheran Church invites everyone to join the fun at its annual barbecue dinner and basket/silent auction fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, in its fellowship hall, 2437 Niagara Road , Bergholz.

The Niagara Wheatfield Amateur Athletics Tomcats advanced to the 120-pound division Super Bowl by shutting out the Lew-Port Chargers 29-0 on Saturday, Oct. 27, continuing their undefeated record for their eighth win of the season.

The Town of Niagara's public hearing on its 2013 budget, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was cancelled and rescheduled for Monday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m.

The judge's tallies are in and the winner of the 2012 Niagara River Region Scarecrow Display is The Village Bake Shoppe with "Death By Chocolate."

The community meeting for former and current residents of Love Canal that had been scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Elks Lodge in Town of Niagara was postponed this week, because several key members of the group were unable to travel due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy.

Zion's Bountiful Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10th Street and Michigan Avenue, Niagara Falls.

Check out the entries in our pumpkin contest -- and don't forget to enter for a chance to win some great prizes.

A panel of local professionals will present ideas for local businesses on how to successfully grow their businesses while avoiding common pitfalls during a panel discussion titled, "How To Make Your Business More Successful." The event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 6:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn on Transit Road in Lockport.