Construction work will require a toll lane closure at the North Grand Island Bridge, the New York State Thruway Authority announced Tuesday.

New York State Assembly candidate Robert M. Restaino has announced that he was endorsed by the executive board of Service Employees International Union Local 200 United in the race for the 145th Assembly District.

Candidates for congress, state senate and assembly, and county legislator have all accepted invitations to be a part of the 2012 "Candidates Hour" at Southeast Works in Depew.

St. Stephen Church and the Respect Life Group invite Islanders to a "Prayer for Our Nation" on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in the main church, located at 2100 Baseline Road. All are welcome, regardless of religious affiliation.

It's already time for a "spring" musical at Veronica Connor Middle School.

A fundraiser for David S. Kaiser will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Grand Island Rod and Gun Club, 1083 Whitehaven Road.

Chris Connors caught three touchdown passes and quarterback Quinn Corrao scored a touchdown in the waning seconds as Grand Island came back to beat Williamsville North 26-21.

Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard has announced the arrest and arraignment of a Grand Island man who detectives say terrorized an elderly Grand Island woman on East River Road.

Shortly before 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, Grand Island Fire Co. firefighters responded to a call of smoke in a residence, which was discovered by the Love Road occupant who had returned home from a shopping trip.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office celebrated New York State Sheriff's Week by inviting the media and local elected town and county officials to participate in several specialized services provided by the Erie County Sheriff's Office.

The Grand Island Youth Ambassador program was established 18 years ago to promote interaction and goodwill between the business community and students, and also to bring awareness of the economic development of Grand Island to youth of the community.

At its meeting in Town Hall on Monday, the Grand Island Town Board urged its residents to support a local organization celebrating a milestone this year.

This year's fire prevention and life safety theme is "Have Two Ways Out" when you are faced with a fire emergency at home, work or school. This message will be given to Grand Island elementary school students by firefighter teams during the week of Oct. 8 through 12, according to Assistant Chief Mark Sadkowski of the Grand Island Fire Co.

Terry Klaaren lived on Grand Island for only three years, but his time here was an integral part of his life.

October is the time of year when children and families artfully decorate pumpkins, and display these works for friends and neighbors. Now, your most decorative, scariest, funniest or craziest pumpkin designs can win you one of three great prizes in the Niagara Frontier Publications pumpkin-carving contest.

Do you like what you read each week in the Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune, Island Dispatch and Lewiston-Porter Sentinel? Then "Like" us on Facebook!

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced that lottery drawings for the first half of waterfowl hunting season at Beaver Island State Park, Strawberry Island and the West River Parkway have been scheduled.

On Tuesday, representatives Brian Higgins (NY-27) and Kathy Hochul (NY-26) announced $1.4 million in Environmental Protection Agency grants awarded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Recipients such as the Research Foundation of SUNY-Buffalo State College will use the funds to address invasive species in New York state.

It's not too late to play the most natural course around at Beaver Island State Park ... and get a great deal.

Seventeen Grand Island volunteers gathered at the Riverside-Salem Environmental Chapel on a rainy morning last Saturday, Sept. 22, to participate in the Buffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper's annual Shoreline Sweep.

With its first chicken barbecue fundraiser last Saturday, Island Presbyterian Church hoped to provide not just tasty Krolick's chicken, but food for the soul too.

An open house on Sunday at River Lea, home of the Grand Island Historical Society, included fashions from the '60s (that's 1960s), when the society was born.

A fundraiser to benefit Jim McQuestion will take place beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9249, 2121 Grand Island Blvd., Grand Island.

Grand Island passed its first road test of the football season last Friday with a 24-6 win over Huch Tech at All-High Stadium in Buffalo.

Artist Terry Klaaren said he's going to use "all the tricks of the trade" that he's learned in 40 years as a professional muralist to complete the Grand Island Mural Project.

Congressional candidate Mike Madigan of Grand Island said he is pleased to hear his opponent "has suddenly announced the granting of approximately $1 million in federal money" to the neighborhood surrounding Madigan's campaign headquarters.

A healing Mass in honor of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer, will take place on Monday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen R.C. Church, 2100 Baseline Road, Grand Island.

Just three years after picking up a gun, Grand Island's Taylor Kaufman is a trapshooting world champion.

Blackbird Asset Services has announced the bank-owned hotel auction of the waterfront Holiday Inn Grand Island on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m.

On Wednesday, Sept. 12, the Grand Island Rotary hosted ex-Channel 7 reporter and Orchard Park Town Supervisor Mary Travers Murphy for an impassioned talk on the consequences of family violence and ways to help its victims.

St. Stephen R.C. Church Parish's 150th anniversary Fall Festival and Farmers Market will take place Friday, Sept. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 29, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The student section stormed the football field after Grand Island's 31-14 victory over Starpoint on Homecoming.

Mike Amodeo and Mark Grisanti won their primary elections last Thursday for the New York State Senate's 60th District, which includes Grand Island.

After having an admittedly bad week on practice field Monday through Friday, the Grand Island Vikings had a good afternoon Saturday in beating North Tonawanda 35-21 at Masters Field.

Marcus Foligno of the Buffalo Sabres signs an autograph on the shirt of Miracle League ballplayer Ian Cameron during a night game at the Miracle League Field in Veterans Park Wednesday. (photo by Larry Austin)

Monday evening, the Grand Island Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to begin the process for building a new transportation center (bus garage) on Baseline Road behind Charlotte Sidway School.

The Town of Grand Island will honor veterans of past military campaigns during its annual Veterans Day program. This year, the town will honor its Vietnam veterans.

Grand Island High School has moved well beyond just a fire and a football game for its homecoming.

Gerald Bergdorf has the gift of gab, a trait that comes with his job selling home appliances.